bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Updated sustainability status of cadmium telluride thin‐film photovoltaic systems and projections
Authors: Fthenakis Vasilis , Leccisi Enrica , Sinha Parikhit 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the up‐to‐date life‐cycle sustainability status of cadmium‐telluride based photovoltaic (PV) systems. Current production modules (Series 6 and Series 7) are analyzed in terms of their energy performance and environmental footprint and compared with the older series 4 module production and current single‐crystalline Silicon (sc‐Si) module production. For fixed‐tilt systems with Series 6 modules operating under average US irradiation of 1800 kWh/m2/year, the global warming potential (GWP) is reduced from 16 g CO2eq/kWh in Series 4 systems to 10 CO2eq/kWh in Series 6 systems. For operation in US‐SW irradiation of 2300 kWh/m2/year, the GWP is reduced from 11 to 8 CO2eq/kWh and for 1‐axis tracking systems operating in Phoenix, Arizona, with point‐of array irradiation of 3051 kWh/m2/year the GWP is reduced to 6.5 CO2eq/kWh. Similar reductions have happened in all environmental indicators. Energy payback times (EPBT) of currently installed systems range from 0.6 years for fixed‐tilt ground‐mounted installations at average US irradiation at latitude tilt installations to 0.3 years for one‐axis trackers at high US‐SW irradiation, considering average fossil‐fuel dominated electricity grids with fuel to electricity conversion efficiency of 0.3. The resulting energy return on energy investment (EROI) also depends on the conversion efficiency of the electricity grid and on the operation life expectance. For a 30‐year operational life and grid conversion efficiency of 0.3, EROI ranges from 50 (at US average irradiation) to 70 for US‐SW irradiation. The EROI declines with increased grid conversion efficiency; for CdTe PV operating in south California with grid conversion efficiency of 49%, the EROI is about 50 and is projected to fall to 30 when the state's 2030 target of 80% renewable energy penetration materializes. Material alternatives that show a potential of further reductions in degradation rates and materials for enhanced encapsulation that would enable longer operation lives have also been investigated. A degradation rate of 0.3%/year, which has been verified by accelerated testing, is assumed in 30‐year scenarios; this is projected to be reduced to 0.2%/year in the near‐term and potentially to 0.1%/year in the longer term. With such low degradation rates and enhanced edge‐sealing, modules can last 40‐ to 50‐years. Consequently, all impact indicators will be proportionally reduced while EROI will increase. This detailed LCA was conducted according to ISO standards and IEA PVPS Task 12 guidelines. The study revealed that the choices of system models, methods and temporal system boundaries can significantly impact the results and points out to the need to include assumptions regarding these choices in the “transparency in reporting” requirements listed in the IEA PVPS Task 12 Guidelines.
Theoretical investigation on the influence of H2 ${{\rm{H}}}_{2}$ additions on the He + 1% O2 ${{\rm{O}}}_{2}$ plasma reactivity for water treatment applications
Authors: Shabaek Osama A. , Kher‐Elden Mohammad A. , Abd El‐Fattah Zakaria M. , Elakshar Farouk F. , Yassin Osama 
Published: August 2024

AbstractPlasma‐based technologies offer environmentally friendly means of effective water purification. Here, we present a discharge system with He + 1% . Tunable amounts of were introduced to control the yield of reactive species. Detailed exploration of the system provides a deeper understanding of some of the fundamental chemical kinetics related to plasma‐based wastewater treatment. A global model was used to investigate the effect of additions on the yield of some important reactive species for advanced oxidation treatment of wastewater. Humidity leakage was considered to simulate the effect of humidified environments. The pathway analysis module provides deeper insight into chemical kinetics. It was concluded that additives can be used in tailoring plasma yield for water treatment applications.
Process Safety Maturity Assessment Tool
Authors: Cranston Joey 
Published: August 2024

AbstractDue to rapid change from divestitures, acquisitions, and greenfield startups, Albemarle found it challenging to communicate and assess our Process Safety expectations. We decided we needed a tool that would both guide site management through the milestones related to process safety management systems and one that would allow senior management to assess progress. In addition, a tool was needed to challenge existing sites with continuous improvement goals in process safety management. For this reason, one key aspect of the tool is applicability to every site in the company; even though the maturity of the process safety program is diverse.
Advances in Quantum Metrology with Dielectrically Structured Single Photon Sources Based on Molecules
Authors: Lombardi Pietro , Georgieva Hristina , Hirt Franziska , Mony Juergen , Duquennoy Rocco , Emadi Ramin , Aparicio Maria Guadalupe , Colautti Maja , López Marco , Kück Stefan , Toninelli Costanza 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIn the realm of fundamental quantum science and technologies, non‐classical states of light, such as single‐photon Fock states, are widely studied. However, current standards and metrological procedures are not optimized for low light levels. Progress in this crucial scientific domain depends on innovative metrology approaches, utilizing reliable devices based on quantum effects. A new generation of molecule‐based single‐photon sources is presented, combining their integration in a polymeric micro‐lens with pulsed excitation schemes, thereby realizing suitable resources in quantum radiometry. The strategy enhances the efficiency of generated single photon pulses and improves stability, providing a portable source at 784.7 nm that maintains consistent performance even through a cooling and heating cycle. The calibration of a single‐photon avalanche detector is demonstrated using light sources with different photon statistics, and the advantages of the single‐molecule device are discussed. A relative uncertainty on the intrinsic detection efficiency well below 1% is attained, representing a new benchmark in the field.
Research on double‐USVs fuzzy‐priority NSB behavior fusion formation control method for oil spill recovery
Authors: Chen Congcong , Liao Yulei , Tang Xiaoyu , Sun Jiaqi , Gu Junlin , Li Haohan , Ren Zijia , Zhai Zizheng , Li Ye , Wang Bo , Pang Shuo 
Published: August 2024

AbstractReplacing manned ships with unmanned surface vehicle (USV) for oil spill containment can reduce the consumption of manpower and resources. This article studies the formation control method of dual USVs during the process of capturing oil spill, based on the engineering background of towing oil boom by dual USVs oil spill recovery system. To calculate the drag force of the oil boom acting on the USV, the shape of the oil boom is simplified into a catenary, the oil boom is modeled, and the hydrodynamic numerical simulation is carried out. To address the issue of “winding” phenomenon and “towing separation,” the formation behavior is designed when double USVs are towing oil fences to capture oil spill. In response to the problem of low task execution efficiency caused by fixed behavior priority in traditional null‐space‐based (NSB) behavior fusion methods, a fuzzy‐priority NSB (FNSB) behavior fusion formation method is proposed by combining fuzzy control with NSB behavior fusion method. In the FNSB behavior fusion formation control method, a smooth transition rule is introduced to make the behavior priority change, USVs can still maintain good formation performance, ensuring the smooth execution of oil spill recovery tasks. Simulation shows that FNSB behavior fusion formation method based on flexible transition rules can improve the rounding efficiency by 26.6% in the environment without obstacles and 37.2% in the environment with multiple obstacles compared with the NSB method. The effectiveness and practicality of this method have been verified through simulation experiments and field experiments on the “Dolphin” series of small USVs.
Riverbank fascines mostly fail due to scouring: Consistent evidence from field and flume observations
Authors: Leblois Solange , Piton Guillaume , Recking Alain , Jaymond Delphine , Buffet Alexis , Evette André 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe willow fascine soil bioengineering technique is commonly used worldwide in river restoration projects to stabilize riverbanks, thanks to high theoretical shear stress resistance and adaptable configuration. Fascines are composed of bundles of living branches fixed between stakes. When positioned in meanders at bank toe, they are subjected to strong hydraulic constraints. Here, we present the field back‐analysis of 470 willow fascines alongside experiments in a small‐scale model (scale 1:25). We describe the dynamics of failure in various situations. The field analysis revealed that 78% of fascines present no signs of bank instability. No fascines were pulled out, and they rarely showed signs of destruction once vegetation had established. Flume experiments confirmed that the main mechanical process of failure is erosion at fascine toe and extremities (9% and 3% of occurrence in the field, respectively). The dynamics of failure occur through: (i) erosion at the fascine toe, removing materials under the bundle; (ii) bank sediments, sliding underneath the fascine; (iii) scouring, leaving stakes exposed to falling into the river. Based on these observations, the fascine toe should be protected sufficiently deeply against undermining to keep sediments in place while vegetation is established. Bank slopes should be reduced as far as possible to decrease scouring. Finally, the mean shear stress values used as reference when designing bioengineering techniques do not capture the local and continuous scouring processes leading to failure. Thus, bend curvature, degradation, grain sizes, and level of fascine implementation should be considered when adapting design.
Leveraging global south sports mega events to advance sport for development and peace theory and practice
Authors: Banda Davies , Whitley Meredith A. , Al Khori Nasser 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe article aims to contribute to the relationship between sport for development and peace (SDP) and sports mega‐events (SMEs) as viable platforms for accelerating human development and social change goals at local, regional and international levels. Recently, there has been a notable increase in the number of emerging economies in the global South demonstrating their aspirations to bid and (if successful) host SMEs. The article argues that the SDP‐SME nexus can be strategically utilised to redress some of the criticisms levelled against the nature of deployment of SDP activities, particularly in the global South. Therefore, the article argues for leveraging global South SMEs to advance SDP theory and practice. However, leveraging SMEs by the global SDP field requires a fresh strategic direction. The article employs qualitative approaches by drawing upon data from two roundtable discussions and Fédération Internationale de Football Association World Cup 2022 panel discussions held in New York and Doha. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to analyse the transcriptions of the discussions. The article is unique in its advocating for the role that global South SME actors can play in advancing global SDP policy and practice that supports southern agency. The article therefore contributes to a more nuanced understanding of leveraging global South SME hosting towards addressing limitations in global SDP praxis.
Heterogeneous Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Reduction in Aqueous Medium Using a Novel N4‐Macrocyclic Cobalt Complex
Authors: Sun Libo , Su Tan , Fisher Adrian C. , Wang Xin 
Published: August 2024

AbstractMolecular catalysts represent an exceptional class of materials in the realm of electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction (CO2RR), offering distinct advantages owing to their adaptable structure, which enables precise control of electronic configurations and outstanding performance in CO2RR. This study introduces an innovative approach to heterogeneous electrochemical CO2RR in an aqueous environment, utilizing a newly synthesized N4‐macrocyclic cobalt complex generated through a dimerization coupling reaction. By incorporating the quaterpyridine moiety, this cobalt complex exhibits the capability to catalyze CO2RR at low overpotentials and reaches near‐unity CO production across a wide potential range, as verified by the online mass spectrometry and in situ attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Comprehensive computational models demonstrate the superiority of utilizing quarterpyridine moiety in mediating CO2 conversion compared to the counterpart. This work not only propels the field of electrochemical CO2RR but also underscores the promising potential of cobalt complexes featuring quaterpyridine moieties in advancing sustainable CO2 conversion technologies within aqueous environments.
W/holistic participatory democracy: An ideal societal governance design
Authors: Dostal Elisabeth 
Published: August 2024

AbstractCurrent societal systems (including societal governance) are legacy systems of the industrial age. They are derived from reductionist thinking, the worldview of the industrial age. With the advancing information age, they become increasingly problem riddled and need to be transformed, based on a new worldview (i.e., w/holistic or systems thinking). The aim of this paper is to create an ideal w/holistic democracy design that dissolves current problems, serves citizens, and allows their direct participation in governance. The research method is a theory‐based design, whereby generic organizing principles of Biomatrix Systems Theory are applied to create the design. The theory distinguishes between organismic and functional systems, whereby an organism (e.g., nation) emerges from the interaction of its functions (e.g., political, economic, cultural, and ecological) organized by an ethos, as well as from the interaction with other organisms (i.e., citizens, organizations, and other nations). Those distinctions give rise to a five‐faceted governance design (i.e., concerned with the conceptual and physical reality of the nation, single and multifunctional development, and relations with other systems), which is executed by different governance structures (i.e., a Citizens Forum, National Development Forum, and Function Forums), with the dual participation of citizens as equal members of the nation (using a general vote) and as expert citizens associated with a specific societal function (using a functional vote). Because the theory describes generic w/holistic organizing principles, it can be concluded that the implementation of the design (called W/Holistic Participatory Democracy) will dissolve problems derived from the current reductionist representative democracy model.
Predicting slump for high‐performance concrete using decision tree and support vector regression approaches coupled with phasor particle swarm optimization algorithm
Authors: Sun Qingmei , Gongping Yu 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe main focus of this study is to assess the slump characteristics of high‐performance concrete (HPC) using decision tree (DT) and support vector regression (SVR) models. In the first step, the models were solely fed via HPC samples to reproduce the slump rates. By coupling phasor particle swarm optimization (PPSO) to main models, hybrid DT‐PPSO and SVR‐PPSO frameworks, simulate the slump rates accurately. Using the correlation of determination and root mean square error (MAE) metrics for the DT, 96.04 and 5.097 were computed, respectively. SVR was obtained at 92.62 and 6.965, alternatively. In the hybrid approach, DT‐PPSO could improve by 3% and 55% in terms of correlation of determination and root MAE, respectively. DT‐PPSO appeared high‐accuracy model compared to others; however, a single DT had more desirable results than SVR. Overall, the advantages of this study encompass its methodological approach, comparative insights, and practical relevance, offering valuable contributions to the understanding and prediction of mechanical slump in HPC.
Influence of circadian rhythm on effects induced by mechanical strain in periodontal ligament cells
Authors: Peters Lena I. , Marciniak Jana , Kutschera Eric , Luiz Caio , Calvano Küchler Erika , Kirschneck Christian , Jäger Andreas , Beisel-Memmert Svenja 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of mechanical strain on clock gene function in periodontal ligament (PDL) cells. Furthermore, we wanted to analyze whether effects induced by mechanical stress vary in relation to the circadian rhythm.

Methods
Human PDL fibroblasts were synchronized in their circadian rhythm with dexamethasone and stretched over 24 h. Unstretched cells served as controls. Gene expression of the core clock genes were analyzed at 4 h intervals by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Time points 0 h (group SI1) and 12 h (group SI2) after synchronization served as starting points of a 4 h force application period. Collagen-1α (COL-1α/Col-1α), interleukin-1β (IL1-β), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2/Runx2) were assessed by qRT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) after 2 and 4 h. Statistical analysis comprised one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc tests.

Results
After synchronization, the typical pattern for clock genes was visible in control cells over the 24 h period. This pattern was significantly altered by mechanical strain. Under tensile stress, ARNTL gene expression was reduced, while Per1 and 2 gene expression were upregulated. In addition, mechanical stress had a differential effect on the expression of Col-1α and IL1‑β depending on its initiation within the circadian rhythm (group SI1 vs group SI2). For RUNX2, no significant differences in the two groups were observed.

Conclusion
Our results suggest that mechanical stress affects the molecular peripheral oscillator of PDL cells. Vice versa, the circadian rhythm also seems to partially influence the effects that mechanical stress exerts on PDL cells.
Microbial Succession on Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Exploring the Complexities of Microplastic-Microbiome Interactions
Authors: Kwiatkowska Klaudia , Ormaniec Paulina 
Published: August 2024

AbstractDespite some effectiveness of wastewater treatment processes, microplastics accumulate in sewage sludge and their further use may contribute to the release of plastic microplastics into the environment. There is an urgent need to reduce the amount of microplastics in sewage sludge. Plastic particles serve as solid substrates for various microorganisms, promoting the formation of microbial biofilms with different metabolic activities. The biofilm environment associated with microplastics will determine the efficiency of treatment processes, especially biological methods, and the mechanisms of organic compound conversion. A significant source of microplastics is the land application of sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants. The detrimental impact of microplastics affects soil enzymatic activity, soil microorganisms, flora, fauna, and plant production. This review article summarizes the development of research related to microplastics and discusses the issue of microplastic introduction from sewage sludge. Given that microplastics can contain complex composite polymers and form a plastisphere, further research is needed to understand their potential environmental impact, pathogenicity, and the characteristics of biofilms in wastewater treatment systems. The article also discusses the physicochemical properties of microplastics in wastewater treatment plants and their role in biofilm formation. Then, the article explained the impact of these properties on the possibility of the formation of biofilms on their surface due to the peculiar structure of microorganisms and also characterized what factors enable the formation of specific plastisphere in wastewater treatment plants. It highlights the urgent need to understand the basic information about microplastics to assess environmental toxicity more rationally, enabling better pollution control and the development of regulatory standards to manage microplastics entering the environment.
Comparing oncologic and surgical outcomes of robotic and laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: a propensity-matched analysis
Authors: Chang Jenny H. , Wehrle Chase , Woo Kimberly , Naples Robert , Stackhouse Kathryn A. , Dahdaleh Fadi , Joyce Daniel , Simon Robert , Augustin Toms , Walsh R. Matthew , Naffouje Samer A. 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Background
The frequency of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy is gradually exceeding that of the open approach. Our study aims to compare short-term outcomes of robotic (RDP) and laparoscopic (LDP) distal pancreatectomies for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) using a national database.

Methods
The National Cancer Database was utilized to identify patients with PDAC who underwent distal pancreatectomy from 2010–2020. Short-term technical and oncologic outcomes such as margin status and nodal harvest were included. Propensity-score matching (PSM) was performed comparing LDP and RDP cohorts. Multivariate logistic-regression models were then used to assess the impact of institutional volume on the MIDP surgical and technical oncologic outcomes.

Results
1537 patients underwent MIDP with curative intent. Most cases were laparoscopic (74.4%, n = 1144), with a gradual increase in robotic utilization, from 8.7% in 2010 to 32.0% of MIDP cases ten years later. For PSM, 698 LDP patients were matched with 349 RDP. The odds of conversion to an open case were 58% less in RDP (12.6%) compared to LDP (25.5%) with no statistically significant difference in technical oncologic results. There was no difference in length of stay (OR = 1.0[0.7–1.4]), 30-day mortality (OR = 0.5[0.2–2.0]) or 90-day mortality (OR = 1.1[0.5–2.4]) between RDP and LDP, although there was a higher 30-day readmission rate with RDP (OR = 1.71[1.1–2.7]). There were statistically significant differences in technical oncologic outcomes (nodal harvest, margin status, initiation of adjuvant therapy) based on MIDP volume quartiles.

Conclusion
Laparoscopic and robotic distal pancreatectomy have similar peri- and post-operative surgical and oncologic outcomes, with a higher rate of conversion to open in the laparoscopic cohort.