bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Life Cycle Assessment of Bioethanol Produced from Banana Peduncle
Authors: Daniel K M , Escaño J V , Palada J L , Aberilla J M 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Biofuel production has been promoted in part to reduce dependency on fossil fuels in transportation due to fewer environmental emissions. Feedstocks for biofuels include agricultural waste and non-edible crops, suggesting that large amounts of waste can be used to produce biofuels such as bioethanol, which is currently being blended with gasoline in the Philippines as transportation fuel. However, shifting from non-renewable fuels to bioethanol and other biofuels as the dominant transportation fuel must consider aspects other than fuel usage. The objectives of this study are to perform cradle-to-grave life cycle analysis on bioethanol produced from banana peduncle and determine the contributions of each stage in the life cycle to different environmental impacts and compare the results with those of other transport fuels. The contributions of each stage in the life cycle of bioethanol are modelled in openLCA software with the ReCiPe impact assessment method. It was identified that electricity use in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, and sulfuric acid consumption are the main contributors to the different environmental impacts. Comparison of the results of banana peduncle bioethanol production stage to those of the first-generation bioethanol production showed that most of the emissions were lower except for those pertaining to freshwater ecotoxicity, human toxicity, marine ecotoxicity, and metal depletion. Comparing fuel use, environmental impacts of conventional gasoline were slightly lower than those of a 10% mix with bioethanol. But impacts of the 85% mix with bioethanol in climate change and marine eutrophication are higher by 29% and 37%, respectively, than those of conventional gasoline. Overall, increasing the ethanol concentration would reduce the emissions during fuel usage but impacts of production will increase. Potential process improvements for environmental performance of bioethanol from banana peduncle are in the pre-treatment methods and fermentation set-up in bioethanol production, use of renewable power, and ethanol blending concentrations with gasoline.
Chemical activation of biochar derived from coffee husk for the adsorption of phytohormones from waste coconut water
Authors: del Barrio M A M , Migo V P , Detras M C M , Alfafara C G 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
The potential of NaOH-activated biochar derived from waste coffee husks via pyrolysis for the extraction of phytohormones from waste coconut water was investigated. The raw coffee husk biochar (CHB) and coffee husk activated biochar (CHAB) were characterized and compared in terms of morphology, particle size distribution, elemental composition, surface functional groups, bulk density, phytohormone adsorption efficiency and equilibrium adsorption capacity. The phytohormone adsorption efficiency of the CHB and CHAB produced were 62.36% and 91.33%, respectively. Future work includes flask adsorption experiments and using the phytohormone content extracted from the coconut water for tissue culture studies. Collectively, results from this study present an alternative use of coconut and coffee wastes, and ultimately contribute to the waste management processes of the coconut and coffee industries.
Preparation of Jackfruit Artocarpus Heterophyllus Seed Starch-Grafted Polyvinyl Acetate by Emulsion Polymerization
Authors: Almarez K M , Calasanz B J S , Coritana A M , Jaraula D I C , Malimban S T , Roque E C , Olay J G , Melendres A V 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Petrochemical-based materials are depleting for the past decades and alternative methods to replace them are being studied over the years. This includes a wide range of probable applications such as adhesive industry. Starch, in its native form, possesses inadequate bond strength and viscosity. The said properties limit the possible applications of starch thus improvement should be employed. Jackfruit seed (JFS) starch is a viable substitute for other starches that is commonly used in the industry. This research developed a starch grafted polyvinyl acetate formula that can be used as an alternative to non-renewable and food consumable resources. Parameters such as monomer/starch ratio, temperature, and amount of initiator were observed and how it affected the graft percent, shear strength, and viscosity of the samples. This process was conducted via emulsion polymerization using PPS as initiator and SDS as emulsifier, Ethanol was also utilized to wash away homopolymers. Each run was done under ambient conditions. The samples were triplicated in the software to ensure the data credibility. From the statistical analysis, it was concluded that all three parameters which are temperature, monomer/starch ratio, and initiator amount were all significant. The appearance of 1735 cm−1 band in FTIR spectrum of the grafted starch and the visible roughness in the spherical-shaped granules in SEM photographs indicated that the VAc has been successfully grafted onto jackfruit starch. DSC analysis showed that Tg of starch-g PVAc was shifted to a little higher value as compared to Tg of native jackfruit starch which suggests that material can be used in a wider temperature range.
Life Cycle Assessment of Blended Cement Product: A Case Study
Authors: Martinez B , Demafelis R , Alcantara J , Matanguihan A E , Magadia B , Echavez F J , Frogoso S A 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Large-scale cement production has led to serious environmental issues since the process is energy and resource intensive. Moreover, the cement industry is one of the sources of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. As a matter of fact, in the Philippines, the CO2 emission increased by 88.23% in over a decade. Hence, this research conducted a life cycle assessment of blended cement products in a cement manufacturing facility in Bulacan, Philippines from cradle to gate. The research utilized functional units of one metric ton of clinker, and one metric ton of blended cement. For the life cycle assessment (LCA), SimaPro 9.3.0.3 software was employed, and the impact assessment was conducted using the IPCC 2021 Global Warming Potential (GWP) at a 100-year timeframe and the Cumulative Energy Demand Method. Results of the research showed that the baseline carbon footprint and cumulative energy demand for the clinker are 995 kg CO2-eqv and 4.74 x 103 MJ, respectively. Also, the baseline carbon footprint and cumulative energy demand for the blended cement are 760 kg CO2-eqv and 4.13 x 103 MJ, respectively. Further, the evaluation of the carbon footprint of clinker, and blended cement in this research is comparable with the results from similar studies, with slight variation on certain instances. The energy utilization in the production of clinker, and blended cement in this research is significantly lower than the result of other studies
Density functional theory (DFT) analysis of the effect of oxygen vacancies in TiO2 for the binding of oxides
Authors: Lee C J N , Mangulabnan C F L , Mendoza J A M 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Challenges in the environment, particularly the rise in atmospheric pollution, entail the development of new methods to assist in sustainable development. Earlier studies have proven that oxygen vacancies (OVs) occur as the most prevalent defect in transition metal oxides, which play an essential role in gaseous pollutant degradation. Titanium dioxide (TiO2), a naturally occurring semiconductor, is widely employed in pollutant removal. It is significant to examine the effects of oxygen vacancies on the adsorption characteristics of surfaces since O deficiencies are common on metal oxide surfaces. To date, earlier studies have centred on the reaction mechanism of TiO2, leaving the observation of OVs largely unexplored. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of OV in TiO2 on the binding of oxides. In this case, the CP2K software performed DFT calculations to determine the effect of OVs on the overall binding of oxides and identify the TiO2 energy correlated with computational analysis. As a result, having OVs in the anatase TiO2 structure decreased the formation energy, thereby increasing its adsorption affinity for oxide binding. Therefore, it is significant to study the OVs in TiO2 and to further modify TiO2 to improve oxide binding for the removal of pollutants.
Hydrothermal extraction of microcrystalline cellulose from post-consumer indigo denim fabrics and evaluation of its UV blocking property
Authors: Sarmiento F M , Aquino C E , Balela M L 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Waste cotton clothes, including post-consumer denim fabrics, are abundant biopolymer sources due to their high cellulose content. These waste materials commonly end up in landfills, posing health and environmental concerns and losing valuable cellulosic materials. To address these, this study aims to extract and characterize microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from post-consumer indigo denim fabrics using a one-step hydrothermal method and evaluate its UV-blocking properties. FTIR and TGA analysis of raw and bleached denim confirmed the presence and purity of cotton cellulose and the indigo dye. Extracted MCC yielded 70-84%, with a degree of polymerization (DP) of 281-299. XRD analysis of the MCC showed a cellulose Type I structure. FTIR suggests the removal of amorphous phases of cellulose, leaving the crystalline structure. SEM meanwhile revealed rod-shaped and rough-surfaced MCC particles with diameters of 10-20 μm and lengths of 45-60 μm. Both FTIR and SEM indicated the retention of indigo dye on MCC surface. Increased acid hydrolysis time led to smaller particle sizes and higher degree of crystallinity (CrI). Indigo PVA-MCC films showed good transparency and effective UV blocking. These results indicate the successful conversion of denim to MCC via the hydrothermal method and the stability of indigo dye in the cellulose matrix.
On the Viability of Hydrofluoroolefin-R245fa Mixtures as Organic Working Fluids in a Low-Temperature Solar-Powered Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC)
Authors: Icaranom J , Bolo W F , Yap K J , De Leon R 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
To address the intermittent nature of solar and other renewable energy (RE) sources, an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) can be employed to facilitate steady production of power. Organic working fluid (OWF) mixtures in ORCs are of interest due to the possibility of reducing irreversible losses in the system and having a better sense of control over its environmental impact while not compromising on the performance benefits when paired with conventional fluids such as R245fa. Hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) are considered as one of the components due to their zero ozone depleting potential (ODP) and very low global warming potential (GWP). This study evaluates the performance of binary zeotropic mixtures of R245fa and HFOs with available thermodynamic properties (R1234yf, R1234zeE, and R1234zeZ) as OWFs in a simple low-temperature solar-powered ORC. Specifically, the optimal compositions of each pair of HFO-R245fa mixtures within the specified operating conditions are identified via the performance indicators (1 kW net power output; thermal efficiencies; and GWP); and are compared against their pure components and known conventional OWFs. The turbine power outputs and efficiencies of the mixtures, determined from ASPEN Plus simulations, were observed to be competitive as alternatives for the pure components, and conventional fluids. At optimal compositions, R245fa/R1234zeZ (0.2619 mass fraction R245fa) was shown to be the most viable OWF blend with peak efficiency at 7.5545% and GWP of 274.2, accomplishing the target 1kW turbine power output, followed closely by R245fa/R1234zeE (0.2678 R245fa; 1kW power output; 7.4824% peak efficiency; GWP = 281), and R245fa/R1234yf (0.3589 R245fa; 0.9595 kW power output; 7.4338% peak efficiency; GWP = 372.2). It is recommended that more HFO-R245fa mixtures, as well as other complex blends, be explored and be subjected to further studies.
Modeling and characterizing of surface texture produced by scraping process
Authors: Tian Chifeng , Wang Lihua , Wu Yinchu , Yu Yingxiang 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Scraping technology is widely used in the guideways manufacturing of high-precision machine tools, yet the scraped surface texture formation mechanism is still not fully understood owing to the complexity and randomness of the scraping process, which limits the study of the tribological properties of scraped bond surfaces. To reveal the formation mechanism of the scraped surface texture, this study adopts the stratified theory to model and characterize scraped surfaces based on the characteristics of the scraping process. The research found tri-Gaussian stratification features in a scraped surface texture and establishes surface stratified model. Tri-Gaussian segmented separation and continuous separation methods are proposed to calculate the component surface parameters for characterizing the scraped surface texture. Segmented and continuous separation methods are respectively applied to analyze and reconstruct simulated tri-Gaussian stratified surfaces and experimental scraped surfaces. The results indicate that the continuous separation method is superior to the segmented separation method and leads to almost the same height and process parameters as the measured surface in the surface reconstruction. This verifies the feasibility and accuracy of the scraped surface texture model and characterization methods. This paper reveals the surface texture formation mechanism from the viewpoint of the scraping process and provides new insights for modeling and characterizing research on scraped surface texture.
Simulation of laser plasma wakefield acceleration with external injection based on Bayesian optimization
Authors: Zhong Jianhua , Guan Jiabao , Liu Lanxin , Xia Guoxing , Wang Jike , Nie Yuancun 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
In laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA), injecting an external electron beam at certain energy is a promising approach to achieving high-quality electron beam with low energy spread and low emittance. In this paper, the process of laser wakefield acceleration with an external injection at 10 pC has been studied in simulations. A Bayesian optimization method is used to optimize the key laser and plasma parameters, so that the electron beam is accelerated to the expected energy with a small emittance and energy spread growth. The effect of rising edge of the plasma on the transverse properties of the electron beam is simulated and optimized in order to ensure that the external electron beam is injected into the plasma without significant emittance growth. Finally, a high-quality electron beam with an energy of 1.5 GeV, the normalized transverse emittance of 0.5 mm·mrad and the relative energy spread of 0.5% at 10 pC is obtained.
Experimental and numerical study on double wedge shock/shock interaction controlled by a single-pulse plasma synthetic jet
Authors: Xie Wei , Luo Zhenbing , Zhou Yan , Liu Qiang , Deng Xiong , Zhu Yinxin 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
The phenomenon of shock/shock interaction (SSI) is widely observed in high-speed flow, and the double wedge SSI represents one of the typical problems encountered. The control effect of plasma synthetic jet (PSJ) on double wedge type-VI and type-V SSI was experimentally and numerically investigated, and the influence of discharge energy was also explored. The findings indicate that the interaction between PSJ and the high-speed freestream results in the formation of a plasma layer and a jet shock, which collectively governs the control of SSI. The control mechanism of single-pulse PSJ on SSI lies in its ability to attenuate shock and SSI. For type-VI SSI, under the control of PSJ, the original second-wedge oblique shock is eliminated, resulting in a new type-VI SSI formed by the jet shock and the first-wedge oblique shock. For type-V SSI, under the control of PSJ, Mach stem, supersonic jet and the reflected shocks are significantly attenuated, resulting in a transformation of type-V SSI into type-VI SSI. The numerical results indicate that the maximum reduction of peak pressure is approximately 32.26%. The development of PSJ also extends in the Z direction. The pressure decreases in the area affected by both PSJ and jet shock due to the attenuation of the SSI zone. The control effect of PSJ on SSI is gradually enhanced with increasing discharge energy.
Persistent trends and geographic traits of heat waves in a changing climate
Authors: Ren Diandong , Hu Aixue 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
By adopting a heatwave (HW) definition with a ∼4-year recurrence frequency at world hot spots, we first examined the 1940–2022 HW climatology and trends in lifespan (duration), severity and recurrence frequency, by comparing the first and last 20-year periods of this 83- year record. Generally, HWs are becoming more frequent and more severe in the extra-tropic and mid-latitude regions. Increased HWs are not temporally uniform and tend to cluster together, posing a one-two punch for ecosystems. North America, regions affected by HWs in the early 21st Century expanded by ∼47% relative to those in the mid-20th Century, contributed primarily by regions starting to be exposed to HWs in the early 21st Century. Mid-latitude basins are vulnerable areas. Geographic shifts can be attributed to adjustments in planetary wavelengths due to increased air viscosity (related to global warming). Polar amplified warming, leading to a reduced equator to pole temperature gradients and an overall reduction in zonal wind speeds across midlatitudes, promotes amplified planetary wave amplitudes, leading to more severe and persistent blockings and cutoffs, thus an increase in HW frequency, severity, and duration. Climate model simulations under a business-as-usual emission scenario corroborate trends in HW severity and lifespan increases, supported by a strong intermodal consensus. HW periods correspond to heightened planetary boundary layer (PBL) depths, which increase with eddy viscosity. The temperature-dependent nature of air viscosity underscores the similarity between trends in PBL depth and HW areal extent in a warming climate.
Experimental investigation on climate-control nano-composite polycarbonate sheets enhanced with TiO2, ZnO, and zeolite nanoparticles for polyhouse use
Authors: Jadhav Aniket , Chavan Sachin , Sutar Kailasnath , Chendake Yogesh , Shaikh Israr A , Sihna Mukesh Kumar 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Optimal food production is achieved when crops receive the necessary nutrients, and the desired levels of temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and sufficient water. Climate Control Agriculture, or Controlled Environment Agriculture, utilizes a technology-based approach to grow plants in a controlled environment. This study focuses on the experimental investigation of polycarbonate sheets doped with TiO2, ZnO, and zeolite nanoparticles for potential use in polyhouse applications. The thermal performance of these synthesized and standard polycarbonate sheets was tested in a laboratory setting. A specialized experimental setup, consisting of two cabinets, was designed and fabricated for this purpose. Ten synthesized sheets each with thicknesses of 50 μm and 70 μm, and two commercial sheets of 70 μm thickness were tested experimentally in the laboratory for their thermal performance. Results indicated that % doping concentration of 0.3% was the most effective, while 0.1% was the least effective. Among the three doping materials, TiO2-doped sheets demonstrated superior ultra-violate light absorption capacity due to their high refractive index and band gap energy, which enhances their ability to absorb and scatter ultra-violate light. ZnO offered stronger UV protection than the remaining three materials. However, it has a lower refractive index than TiO2. Its overall thermal performance was lower than TiO2. The desired properties of nanocomposites for use in polyhouse applications such as thermal performance in the laboratory, UV protection, mechanical strength and durability, transparency, photostability, and safety were compared based on the experimental results and the data available in the literature. It was concluded that polycarbonate doped with ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles was the most suitable.
An improved lower bound on the Shannon capacities of complements of odd cycles
Authors: Zhu Daniel 
Published: November 2024

Improving a 2003 result of Bohman and Holzman, we show that for

n
≥
1

n \geq 1

, the Shannon capacity of the complement of the

2
n
+
1

2n+1

-cycle is at least

(

2

r
n

+
1

)

1

/

r
n

=
2
+
Ω
(

2

−

r
n

/

r
n

)

(2^{r_n} + 1)^{1/r_n} = 2 + \Omega (2^{-r_n}/r_n)

, where

r
n

=
exp
⁡
(
O
(
(
log
⁡
n

)
2

)
)

r_n = \exp (O((\log n)^2))

is the number of partitions of

2
(
n
−
1
)

2(n-1)

into powers of

2
2

. We also discuss a connection between this result and work by Day and Johnson in the context of graph Ramsey numbers.
Introduction
Authors: Krauss Alexander 
Published: November 2024

AbstractScience has driven our remarkable advances in modern society. But we do not yet understand well some of the most fundamental questions about science: What are the origins, foundations and boundaries of science? How have we learned what we know about the world around us? Why is it that how we advance science is poorly understood, even though it has an enormous influence on our lives through medicine and technology? No consensus yet exists on these fundamental questions, as researchers who do study them mainly do so from their particular disciplinary perspective. The different subfields that study science (economics of science, scientometrics, history of science, philosophy of science etc.) each capture one aspect of science, its evolution or its boundaries, but not the whole story. We need to integrate the different subfields to reveal the bigger picture of science. Each subfield has something specific to contribute to our understanding of science, and of scientific methods and instruments as the foundation of how we conduct and advance science. To integrate them, we need to better focus on methods and instruments because they are the common thread where the subfields all overlap. As an analogy, science can be described as a massive (methodological) tower of science that consists of three elements: its foundation made up of our cognitive and sensory abilities; its different floors made up of each major scientific method and instrument; and its rooms made up of different fields that apply those tools. This holistic framework for science helps guide the book.