There are clear signs that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a straining impact on the higher education sector in South Africa and the far reaches of the world. This chapter examines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) STEM lecturers’ experiences with digital assessments and perspectives on the continuity of digital transformation in the higher education sector in the post-COVID-19 era at one of South Africa’s rural universities. In 2022, a survey of ten (10) lecturers was conducted and the reports were also consulted by four (4) e-learning practitioners to obtain their views on the use of online learning and contact courses in the post-pandemic period. A qualitative research approach was used to understand the puzzling issues faced by STEM lecturers at a previously disadvantaged institution in Limpopo Province. The results of this study show that there is a puzzling conundrum that hinders the integration of effective online learning. Furthermore, online education as the new normal in the post-COVID-19 era seems unattainable due to extremely complex and difficult-to-understand mathematical symbols. Software and tools proved to be limitations in terms of establishing an interactive learning environment for students and lecturers on online learning platforms. Lecturers’ use of learning and teaching platforms deteriorated due to numerous unknown challenges, but also the tightening of COVID-19 restrictions. Furthermore, the results showed that science and mathematics lecturers believe that contact learning remains irreplaceable across generations and eras as some are not technology enthusiasts. This paper recommends that the lack of technological systems as well as technological resistance and reluctance to adopt transformative pedagogy and innovative practices, should not be viewed as a thorny issue to end the dominance of online education in STEM courses. Keywords: connectivism, Learning Management Systems, affordances, technological resistance, Moodle, transformative pedagogy

A 2-month incubation study was carried out using two soil types to determine nitrogen mineralization of different inorganic-organic amendments. The following seven treatments (T) were established; T1 = control, T2 = 5 g of dry algae per kg of soil (100%DA), T3 = 136g of agri-mat per kg of soil (100%GA), T4 = 61 g of ground grass per kg of soil (100%GG), T5 = 2.5 g of dry algae + 2.5 g of nitrogen fertilizer (NF) per kg of soil (50%DA50NF), T6 = 50%GA50NF, T7 = 50%GG50NF. Three samples per treatment were drawn at 0, 3, 7, 15, 30, 45, and 60 days for mineral-N determination. A 2-month glasshouse experiment was established afterwards with the following five treatments: T1 = Control, T2 = 50%DA, T3 = 50%GA, T4 = 50%GG, and T5 = 100NF. The results indicated that nitrogen mineralization was significantly higher in organic-inorganic amendments compared to sole organic amendments. The percentage differences ranged from 157% to 195%. The 50%DA treatment increased spinach yield by 20.6% in sandy loam and 36.5% in loam soil. It is difficult to fully recommend the 50%DA treatment without field-scale evaluation, but it is a promising option to be considered.

This qualitative research explores the dynamics of collaborative marketing and supply chain strategies for enhanced product lifecycle management. Through in-depth interviews with industry stakeholders, key themes, challenges, and implications of collaboration emerge. Trust, communication, technology, strategic alignment, and sustainability are identified as critical factors driving successful collaboration. The study highlights the transformative potential of collaboration in driving innovation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Despite challenges such as aligning objectives and ensuring data security, collaborative strategies offer significant opportunities for value creation and differentiation. The findings underscore the importance of building trust, leveraging technology, and integrating sustainability considerations in collaborative efforts. Strategic alignment and cultural fit among partners are essential for overcoming differences and achieving common goals. The implications of the research extend to practitioners seeking to enhance collaboration in their organizations and researchers exploring collaborative practices in different industries and contexts. Future research could further explore the impact of collaboration on stakeholder perspectives and outcomes. By addressing challenges and leveraging opportunities, organizations can maximize the benefits of collaborative marketing and supply chain strategies to drive sustainable growth and competitive advantage in today's dynamic business landscape.

The period of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a rapid development of innovative education methods, in particular using e-learning and remote work tools. The effects of this development are also post-pandemic changes in formal teaching regulations, in particular in higher education, allowing classes and lectures to be carried out with Blended Learning or Flipped Classroom methods. This paper provides information about a case study of implementing ICT technologies with elements of the mentioned methods in one of the subjects at a technical university. The implemented tools and solutions in the field of e-learning and interactivity are presented, along with information regarding their perception by students during two academic years in the post-COVID-19 period. The analysis of results of these information and student evaluations indicates their generally positive approach to such innovations in the educational path, and at the same time shows significant challenges for teachers to increase the attractiveness and effectiveness of the teaching process and the development of practical, technical skills of students.

The study addresses improving disaster management performance using artificial intelligence to achieve sustainable development and support the global economy and proposes implementable strategies to achieve resilience and growth. Through a literature review, it examines the impact of natural disasters on international trade and focuses on the challenges faced by developing economies in developing countries. The study emphasizes the interconnectedness of global trade networks and the need for proactive risk management. Existing qualitative literature from previous studies was compiled and analyzed for the study. The results indicate potential disruptions in commercial activities and economic growth in Middle Eastern countries due to natural or human-caused disasters such as wars and terrorism. Here we find the importance of measures to build resilience and diversify trading partners and markets. Recommendations include investing in resilient infrastructure, promoting digital trade, strengthening institutional capacities, and enhancing regional and international cooperation. By providing insights to policy makers, businesses and stakeholders, this study contributes to understanding the resilience of developing economies to natural disasters and provides practical guidance for them to overcome the challenges posed by such disasters and achieve sustainable growth.

This article critically examines existing wastewater management legislation, highlighting its detrimental impact on environmental and public health. It emphasizes the urgent need for a mentality shift among water managers, advocating responsible stewardship of water resources. By promoting collaboration between regulatory bodies and scientific communities, the article seeks tailored solutions for complex challenges. It underscores the necessity of integrating technological innovation, rigorous monitoring, and public engagement for sustainable management. Additionally, it calls for the implementation of easy-to-adopt technological solutions, alongside rigorous monitoring and financial support. Ultimately, the article advocates for a paradigm shift in wastewater management policies towards accountability, innovation, and environmental sustainability. Directives governing wastewater management in Europe, particularly in Spain, have faced scrutiny due to significant shortcomings. Legislation has inadvertently facilitated untreated or poorly treated wastewater discharge, resulting in widespread pollution. Despite EU efforts, punitive measures have proven ineffective, with fines often borne by the public sector, although private sector responsibility. The lack of robust monitoring mechanisms and technical support exacerbates the situation, perpetuating a regressive mindset among water managers. Urgent reforms are needed to enforce strict discharge prohibitions, promote reuse, and provide financial and technical assistance. However, systemic barriers and entrenched mentalities pose formidable challenges to meaningful change.

Involving local people in natural area management is very important to address the complexity of environmental management issues for sustainable use of local resources. Participatory methods require the contribution of local stakeholders in decision making. Mapping the environmental views of local communities allows for detecting aspects that could facilitate management efforts. This research – in the frame of the Skyros LIFE project and the PAMNATURA project - measures local acceptability of the conservation actions proposed by the LIFE project in Skyros Island (Greece) in relation with recording local people’s environmental orientation using the 15-item revised New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale. The research was carried out by means of questionnaires. The LIFE project proposed actions were grouped into three categories according to their theme, i.e. promoting (a) Nature protection, (b) Agro-pastoralism and (c) Ecotourism. The sample seems to largely agree with the LIFE project proposals, while the results showed high scores for most of the NEP scale items, implying pro-environmental beliefs, though there appears disagreement or neutrality regarding a few items. Local acceptability of the proposed actions was found to correlate to local people’s environmental concern measured through the NEP scale. Drawing on the results, implementation of actions related directly or indirectly to economic activities, preservation of traditional activities, as well as environmental education, interactive informing and consultation could enhance local participation. Skyros island seems to offer an appropriate social background for applying participatory and adaptive management and implementing conservation programs.

Medical waste management is crucial issues for keeping our life safe and safety. Without effective measures for waste management, we cannot keep ourselves safe from different types of contagious diseases; viruses, bacteria. Knowledge sharing assists healthcare staff in identifying and mitigating hazards on appropriate handling, segregation and disposal medical waste. The aim of the study is to identify a multifaceted analysis of knowledge sharing, training, communication and attitudes for effective medical waste management. This study selected 153 medical workers randomly, including nurses, lab technologists, and cleaners, from hospitals, diagnostic centers, and clinics in the northern part of Bangladesh. The study design of this research is mixed-methods. This research adopts a survey and interview as a research strategy. The samples are collected randomly. SPSS software packages, MS Excel Office, and PLS-SEM are used to analyze data. Most of the respondents always share their knowledge face-to-face according to the findings. The result also shows that there are positive relationship between sources of knowledge (p: 0.046), awareness and knowledge (p: 0.049), attitudes of waste management (p: 0.025) and effective medical waste management. However, there are no relationships between communication and collaboration (p: 0.943), the practice of waste management (p: 0.155), supervision and staff monitoring (p: 0.527), training and education (p: 0.656) and effective medical waste management. Its focus on the northern part of Bangladesh introduces regional specificity, potentially limiting the applicability of results to other regions. The knowledge-sharing practices for waste management among medical staff are examined within this research, along with the relationship between attitude, awareness, and knowledge, staff supervision and monitoring, practice, training, and education and effective medical waste management that have not been studied before home and abroad. This analysis highlights the critical need for an integrated approach to medical waste management, emphasizing the importance of continuous education, open communication, and cultivating a culture that prioritizes environmental sustainability. The insights from this study offer practical recommendations for healthcare institutions to improve their medical waste management practices, ultimately leading to enhanced health outcomes and better environmental protection.

The sustainability of agricultural commodities produced in the Southern U.S. under irrigation is increasingly at risk due to erratic rainfall patterns, inadequate water supplies and compromised water quality. This study assessed the needs of crop growers in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Southern Region. The purpose was to identify growers’ critical water resource management concerns to identify research priorities from the perspective of growers in this region. To obtain this information, a questionnaire was developed and distributed to growers throughout the Southern Region in 2020. The final sample included 112 crop (row and specialty) production growers from the Southern Region. Overall, respondents named the water available to irrigate as the greatest water resource management priority. Within all the water availability priorities asked, respondents’ first choice was declining water supply in the future. Declining water supply and the cost of irrigating presently were the next most frequently named water availability priorities. Growers named both increasing the efficiency of irrigation and development of farming practices to improve soil moisture retention as the first and second focus of future irrigation research, respectively. These results will aid in strengthening existing and developing new initiatives for water research and Extension in this region.

Air pollution knows no boundaries, which means for a city or a region to attain clean air standards, must not only look at the emission sources within its own administrative boundary, but also at sources in the immediate vicinity and those originating from long-range transport. And there is a limit to how much area can be explored to evaluate, govern, and manage as designated airsheds for cities and larger regions. This paper discusses the need from an official airshed framework for India’s air quality management, urban airsheds designated for India’s 131 non-attainment cities under the national clean air programme, and proposes climatically and geographically appropriate regional airsheds to support long-term planning. Between 28 states, eight union territories, 36 meteorological sub-regional divisions, and six regional meteorological departments, establishing the proposed 15 regional airsheds for integrated and collaborative air quality management across India is a unique opportunity.

Conventional traceability systems in Cambodian agriculture, such as Rubber Supply Chain Management (RSCM), often struggle to provide timely data and fair market prices, leading to mistrust among stakeholders, exploitation by intermediaries, and hindering progress towards ethical sourcing and sustainable practices. This research aims to showcase the potential of integrating blockchain technology, the Internet of Things (IoT), the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), and Differential Privacy (DP) methods to empower Cambodian rubber farmers. By enhancing transparency, facilitating fair pricing, and promoting sustainable methods in the rubber industry, this integrated approach leverages Hyperledger Fabric (HLF) to create a decentralized and secure system for tracking rubber from its source to the end consumer. Integration with IPFS ensures secure and easily accessible data storage, further enhancing the system’s reliability. Additionally, the implementation of differential privacy techniques safeguards confidential data during information sharing among farmers and supply chain stakeholders, minimizing potential privacy concerns. This comprehensive system encourages consumers to make ethical and sustainable alternative options by providing accessible information on harvesting methods, processing procedures, labor conditions, and environmental impacts. The potential benefits extend beyond Cambodia, serving as a model for other developing countries aiming to modernize and enhance the agricultural distribution networks. Our results show that transaction send rates (TPS) and throughput in systems with and without differential privacy grow with increased transaction volumes. However, the system without differential privacy achieves greater scalability and efficiency above a certain threshold. However, it offers a slightly reduced latency, reflecting a trade-off between privacy and performance efficiency in blockchain-based agricultural traceability systems.

Facility Management (FM) has increasingly focused on using Building Information Modeling (BIM) in large-scale development projects. To successfully integrate BIM in the FM sector, cooperation among different participants involved in various project stages must be improved. The objective of this digital revolution in FM is to enhance the efficacy of planning, constructing, and managing assets, benefiting all parties involved. However, the utilization of BIM in FM is limited due to factors such as incomplete owner understanding, insufficient data accessibility, and stakeholders' unfamiliarity with BIM procedures and standardization. Although the FM industry acknowledges BIM's significance, achieving successful implementation remains challenging. Facility managers lack a clear understanding of BIM's benefits in expediting operations and cost efficiency and the necessary skills for efficient utilization. To address this constraint, it is essential to develop an Employee’s Information Requirement (EIR) at the outset of a project, serving as a strategic plan and providing a comprehensive vision for all parties involved, particularly large-scale projects. Two essential technologies that facilitate the transition towards building operations are BIM and the Internet of Things (IoT). Incorporating these technologies is crucial to reducing time, expenses, and operational challenges throughout any project. The aim of this research is to create a Digital-Trio workflow, as a new expression, by providing a methodology for using facility management with BIM through the integration of EIR and IoT, maximizes the benefit of stakeholders strategically and operationally. It also explores how the preparation of the EIR by communicating with all parties will definitely improve the design process, sustainability, efficiency, cost, and time for any project, especially megaprojects.

Droughts have a substantial effect on water resources, agriculture, and ecosystems on a worldwide scale. In the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, droughts exacerbated by climate change are significantly endangering the region's agricultural sustainability and output. Conventional forecasting techniques frequently do not capture the intricate dynamics of meteorological phenomena associated to drought effectively, prompting the exploration of more advanced methodologies. This work utilises artificial intelligence, par-ticularly machine learning methods like Gradient Boosting and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), to enhance drought pre-diction in the Mekong Delta. The study utilises data from 11 meteorological stations spanning from 1990 to 2022 to create and evaluate Machine Learning models based on several climatic factors. We utilise Gradient Boosting and XGBoost algorithms to estimate the Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and evaluate their effectiveness in comparison to con-ventional forecasting techniques. The results show that Machine Learning, particularly XGBoost, surpasses traditional approaches in predicting SPEI accuracy at various time scales. XGBoost demonstrates skill in understanding the complex relationships between climatic factors, with R² values falling between 0.90 and 0.94 for 1-month forecasts. The progress highlights the potential of Machine Learning in improving drought management and adaptation tactics, proposing the incorporation of Machine Learning forecasting models into decision-making processes to enhance drought resistance in susceptible areas.

The increasing prevalence of species that are detrimental to biodiversity is a major concern, particularly for managers of National Parks. To develop effective programs for controlling weeds, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of the extent and severity of infestations, as well as the contributing factors such as temperature, rainfall, and disturbance. Predicting these factors on a regional scale requires models that can incorporate a wide range of variables in a quantifiable manner, while also assisting with on-ground operations. In this study, we present two Bayesian Network models specifically designed for six significant weed species found along the southern coast of Australia. Our models are based on empirical data collected during a coastal weed survey conducted in 2015 and repeated in 2016. We applied these models to the coastal national parks in the isolated and pristine East Gippsland region. Importantly, the prediction models were developed at two different spatial scales that directly corresponded to the scale of the observations. Our findings indicate that coastal habitats, with their vulnerable environments and prevalence of open dune systems, are particularly susceptible to weed infestations. Moreover, adjacent regions also have the potential for colonization if these infestations are not effectively controlled. Climate-related factors play a role in moderating the potential for colonization, which is a significant concern for weed control efforts in the context of global climate change.

The renewable energy sector plays a pivotal role in addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development goals. However, the sector faces challenges related to price inflation and supply chain disruptions, which can impede its growth and resilience. This qualitative research explores supply chain resilience strategies adopted by companies in the renewable energy sector to mitigate the impact of price inflation and disruptions. Through semi-structured interviews with key industry stakeholders, the study identifies several key themes. Supplier diversification emerges as a crucial strategy for mitigating risks associated with geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions. Inventory management plays a pivotal role in ensuring continuity in operations amidst supply chain disruptions, with a focus on optimizing inventory levels of critical components. The adoption of digital technologies offers significant potential for enhancing supply chain visibility, transparency, and responsiveness, although integration challenges remain. Collaboration and partnerships within the industry are essential for sharing resources, knowledge, and best practices, fostering innovation and collective problem-solving. Sustainable practices are integral to supply chain resilience, aligning with broader industry trends towards environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Overall, the findings highlight the multifaceted nature of supply chain resilience in the renewable energy sector and the interconnectedness of various strategies and practices. Moving forward, companies must adopt a proactive and adaptive approach to supply chain management, integrating these strategies and practices into their operations to navigate uncertainties and drive sustainable growth. This study contributes to the understanding of supply chain resilience in the renewable energy sector and provides valuable insights for industry stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers.

Organisational performance is a major concern for any company wishing to remain competitive in today's market. This is why many companies have begun to integrate digital technologies into their management systems. The aim of this article is to determine the contribution of digitisation to organisational performance management, through observations and analysis of a single case study of a company that has adopted a digital transformation project. It emerged that digital transformation makes a significant contribution to organisational performance management. However, this transformation requires significant support and adaptation of skills and organisational structures.

Aflatoxin being a serious threat to public health and international trade, necessi-tates a comprehensive understanding and calculated response with effective inter-vention strategies. This review methodically looks at several aspects of aflatoxin, starting with how it affects international trade laws through feed and feed ingre-dient regulations. Aflatoxin contamination poses serious challenges to world health and the economy, especially in areas that are already at risk. Examining the varia-bles affecting aflatoxin toxicity, the paper clarifies aflatoxin toxicity's complex me-tabolism and the resulting health effects of exposure. The serious repercussions of aflatoxicosis outbreaks and their connections to illnesses like Aspergillosis and cancer are highlighted by a detailed exploration of prospective decontamination techniques as well as strategies for detecting and capturing aflatoxin. A thorough knowledge of the factors that contribute to aflatoxin contamination demonstrates the intricate interactions between environmental variables, farming methods, stor-age circumstances, and different physical, biological, and nutritional components. Strong detection strategies are required due to aflatoxins’ significant effects on an-imal and human health. The paper describes complete preventative tactics that en-compass manipulation in management strategies. global trade and public health from this pervasive threat.

The introduction of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has led to major changes in the industry. Thanks to machine data, business process management methods and techniques could also be applied to them. However, one data source has so far remained untouched: The network data of the machines. In the business environment, process mining, for example, has already been carried out based on network data, but the IIoT, with its particular protocols such as OPC UA, has yet to be investigated. With the help of design science research and on the shoulders of CRISP-DM, we first develop a framework for process mining in the IIoT in this paper. We then apply the framework to real-world IIoT network traffic data and evaluate the outcome and performance of our approach in detail. We find tremendous potential in network traffic data but also limitations. Among other things, due to the dependence on process experts and the existence of case IDs.

The aim of this prospective, randomized, clinical study was to evaluate the use of the pleth variability index (PVi) to guide the rate of intra-operative fluid therapy as compared with a traditional fixed fluid rate approach in ASA 1-2 dogs undergoing surgery. Twenty-seven dogs meet the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to conventional fluid management group (CFM, n = 12) or PVi-guided group (PVi, n = 15). The CFM group received a fixed rate of 5 ml kg-1 h-1 of crystalloid solution, while in the PVi group the rate was continuously adjusted based on PVi: PVi < 14% = 3 ml kg-1 h-1; 14% ≤ PVi ≥ 20% = ml kg-1 h-1; PVi > 20% = 15 ml kg-1 h-1. Hypotension (MAP < 65 mmHg) was managed in CFM with maximum two fluid boluses (5 ml kg-1 in 10 minutes) and in case of no response dobutamine (1-3 mcg kg-1 min-1) was administered. In the PVi group treatment of hypotension was similar except when PVi > 14% when dobutamine was directly initiated. The total fluid amount was significantly lower in PVI group (0.056 ± 0.027 ml kg-1 min-1) vs. CFM group (0.132 ± 0.115 ml kg-1 min-1), and hypotension incidence was lower (p = 0.023) in PVi group (0%) vs. CFM group (41%). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was significantly higher during surgery in the PVi group. Dobutamine was never administered in both groups. Preliminary data suggest that PVi may be considered a potential target to guide fluid therapy in dogs; larger studies are needed, especially in cases of cardiovascular instability.

This study presents an in-depth analysis of land use and land cover change on the Kerch Peninsula over a period spanning three decades. Utilizing convolutional neural networks alongside satellite imagery analysis, we have mapped and quantified the changes in land use and cover, revealing significant trends and transformations within the peninsula's landscape. The research aims to elucidate the interplay between anthropogenic activities, climatic variations, and policy interventions in shaping land cover dynamics, thereby providing insights into the environmental and socio-economic impacts of these changes. Our findings indicate a marked increase in urban expansion at the expense of natural ecosystems, including forests and wetlands, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable land management strategies. The study highlights the role of agricultural intensification and expansion in altering the peninsula's ecological balance and emphasizes the critical importance of integrating change analysis and prediction. By leveraging advanced remote sensing and GIS technologies, our analysis not only enhances the understanding of the complex dynamics driving land use and land cover change but also showcases the potential of predictive modeling in forecasting future land cover scenarios. The implications of this study extend beyond the Kerch Peninsula, offering valuable lessons for managing land use changes and conserving natural landscapes in similar regions globally.

The Galápagos Islands are one of the most emblematic protected areas on the planet, and also one of the most studied. Their main economic activity is tourism, which has grown rapidly in recent years. The increase in tourists is associated with the increase in population and the introduction of invasive species, which puts conservation at risk. This makes adequate management even more necessary and relevant on an international scale, since the economy of Galápagos depends on the good state of conservation of its ecosystems and species. Numerous studies have shown that social factors, rather than physical-natural ones, determine the success or failure of a marine protected area (MPA), so they must be urgently incorporated into all phases of MPA management. In this study we have analyzed the management of the protected areas of Galápagos: the National Park and the Marine Reserve. The methodology used presents five prescribed scenarios in which priority is given to one or other factors, each of which has an impact on biophysical and socio-economic systems that are influenced by the MPA. These scenarios have been called: proactive, interactive, centralized, learning, and formal management. The results show that the archipelago's protected areas follow a proactive management model, with a continuous feedback loop. This feedback is a key element in any adaptive management process, which also allows practitioners to anticipate future problems. Both public participation and strategic planning are essential.

Integrated crop-livestock production (ILP) is an interesting alternative for more sustainable soil use. However, more studies are needed to analyze soil pore properties under ILP at the micrometer scale. Thus, this study proposes a detailed analysis of soil pore architecture at the micrometer scale in three dimensions. For this purpose, samples of an Oxisol under ILP subjected to minimum tillage (MT) and no-tillage (NT) with ryegrass as cover crop (C) and silage (S) were investigated. The soil micromorphological properties of the soil were analyzed using X-ray microtomography. The MT(C) system showed the highest values of porosity (c. 20.4%), connectivity (c. 32.8×103), volume (c. 26%), and number of pores (c. 32%) in a rod-like shape. On the other hand, the MT(S), NT(C), and NT(S) systems showed higher tortuosities (c. 2.2, c. 2.0, and c. 2.1) and lower pore connectivities (c. 8.3×103, c. 6.9×103, and c. 6.2×103), especially in S use. Ellipsoidal and rod-shaped pores predominated over spheroidal and disc-shaped pores in all treatments. The results of this study show that the use of ryegrass as a cover crop improves soil physical properties, especially in MT. For S use, the type of soil management (MT or NT) did not show any differences.

Energy storage systems play a crucial role in the overall performance of hybrid electric vehicles. Therefore, the state of the art in energy storage systems for hybrid electric vehicles has been discussed in this paper along with appropriate background information for facilitating future research in this domain. Specifically, we have compared the key parameters such as cost, power density, energy density, cycle life, and response time for various energy storage systems. For the energy storage systems employing ultra capacitors, we have presented the characteristics such as cell voltage, cycle life, power density and energy density. Furthermore, we have discussed and evaluated the interconnection topologies for the existing energy storage systems. We have also discussed the hybrid battery-flywheel energy storage system as well as the mathematical modeling of the battery-ultracapacitor energy storage system. Toward the end, we have discussed energy efficient powertrain for hybrid electric vehicles.

This study examines the attitudes and practices of dentists and dental students towards envi-ronmental issues within their professional context. Data was selected based on their responses on a Google Forms e-questionnaire, designed specifically for the study. The sample consisted of 78 professional dentists and 75 dental students in Greece and their attitudes towards environmental protection, awareness of the environmental impact of dental practices, and factors influencing the adoption of environmentally friendly practices were assessed. Results reveal generally positive attitudes towards environmental protection, with students demonstrating higher levels of proper waste management practices. Dentists express awareness of their environmental impact but ex-hibit varying levels of engagement in eco-friendly practices. Factors such as moral consciousness and believing in the severity of climate change significantly influence environmental awareness in dental practice. Notably, dental students exhibit greater environmental awareness compared to practicing dentists. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating environmental edu-cation into dental curricula and continuing education programs to foster sustainable practices in dental care. Future research could explore interventions to enhance environmental consciousness among practicing dentists and assess the long-term impact of environmental education initiatives on dental care sustainability.

In air quality management, at urban and regional levels, road transport remains the cornerstone of residential, commercial, and industrial activities, and the vehicle exhaust emissions maintain the position of one of the key contributing sources. In Indian cities, big and small, vehicle exhaust emissions and dust from vehicle movement on the roads, contribute to as much as 50% of particulate matter pollution in a year. So, having access to a vehicle exhaust emissions inventory that is reliable and replicable is critical for air quality management and this exercise starts with access to vehicle stock numbers. These numbers are typically obtained from vehicle registration databases, traffic surveys, and other governmental records, and often require time consuming data cleaning protocols before they can used for emissions and pollution baseline analysis. This paper provides a cleaned and open-access vehicle stock database, as registered and in-use fleet, for the period covering 1993 and 2018, for all India and states, along with an estimate of age-mix of the vehicles using survival functions.

The rise in population density, vehicle ownership, and urban development has significantly influenced travel demand and altered travel patterns, leading to traffic congestion in rapidly growing urban centers like Accra, Ghana. The traditional approach of expanding roadways to accommodate rising traffic is no longer environmentally sustainable. Instead, emphasis has shifted towards travel demand management (TDM) strategies as a more sustainable solution. This study aimed to investigate a range of TDM strategies that can be adopted in Accra to improve traffic flow through the lenses of everyday road users. The study employed a questionnaire survey and a stratified sampling technique to gather data from 615 respondents for relative importance index (RII) ranking, and Chi-square statistical analysis. The findings reveal that the topmost preferred strategies were mass transit improvements, walking and cycling improvements, and alternative work schedules. Notably, mass transit improvements emerged as the most preferred strategy. The study also unveiled a statistically significant correlation between variables such as age, education level, marital status, income level, and mode of transportation with all selected TDM preferences. However, no significant relationship was found between gender and car ownership with all selected TDM preferences. The study provides valuable insights regarding road users’ preferences for TDM strategies that can aid in planning future urban mobility systems to proactively manage travel demand, alleviate congestion, and promote sustainable transportation options for the city’s residents.

Businesses now formally enter the phase of "think power differentiation and gap" in response to the new economic climate. While AI, big data, empowerment via the internet, and other aspects of the digital economy help to improve technical capabilities and save operating costs, they also push businesses to innovate their strategies at a faster rate. Enterprises are strategically choosing to de-enterprise, moving from focusing on a single business functioning benefit to building an ecosystem of platform services that will give them a competitive edge. Additionally, the organization's structure is evolving continually from a vertical model to a curved working style, in order to achieve this, businesses must recognize the importance of data analysis in day-to-day management and operations, encourage the development of an organizational atmosphere that is driven by data, fully utilize digital technology, modularize areas or production links that perform related tasks, and encourage the reform of organizational structures. By streamlining the output of the product or service to the external community while also enhancing the company's financial performance model, switching from process-to result-oriented evaluation, and putting in place a customized authority and accountability framework. Replace outcome-focused evaluation with process-focused evaluation, and create a customized incentive scheme that balances power, accountability, and rewards.

Protected areas serve as an effective mechanism usually supported by a statute to conserve and protect wildlife-rich areas worldwide. Such extensive external management needs elaborate planning, regular monitoring, and periodic assessment of results. Thus, management effective evaluation (MEE) has emerged as one of the major tools for quantifying the performance of any protected area, globally since 2006. India has successfully conducted a complete round of management effectiveness evaluation of all its terrestrial protected areas (except conservation reserves and community reserves), with 25 such areas already undergoing a repeat assessment. Simultaneously, India biennially carries out a country-wide status of forest cover in all its states and union territories. This study has correlated the trend in change of forest cover for the states that contain those 25 repeat evaluated protected areas with their change in MEE scores over the same period. Our study found a positive correlation between the change in forest cover and the change in management effectiveness score from 2005-06 to 2018-19. Owing to increased protection regimes in the PAs including the degraded areas if they make part of such areas, the habitat often shows recovery. Effective habitat conservation is thus intertwined with the monitoring and preserving the wildlife populations in the protected areas, thereby, reduction in forest cover equally impacts the management scores. However, in states where the loss in forest cover has been reported, more protected areas need to be assessed to plan complementary strategies for both habitat and species conservation.

Purpose: This research investigates the influence of supplier relationship management methods on the operational efficiency and customer satisfaction of Italian restaurants.Design/Methodology/Approach: Employing a qualitative research methodology, data was gathered via interviews and questionnaires from a sample of 200 individuals across many Italian restaurants throughout Italy.Findings: The investigation uncovered robust relationships between supplier relationship management approaches and other operational factors, highlighting the interdependence of management tactics. Efficient management of supplier relationships not only improves the efficiency of the supply chain, but also has an impact on the procurement of ingredients, the variety of menu options, and the integration of technology.Research Limitations/Implications: Although technology developments were shown to enhance operational efficiency, their influence on customer satisfaction was minimal. The research highlights the complex nature of factors that influence customer happiness, indicating the need of adopting a well-rounded strategy that combines technology with personalised care. Identified continuous improvement opportunities provide valuable insights for restaurant owners to enhance strategy and better meet consumer expectations.Practical Implications: This research provides useful insights on the management of Italian restaurants, but it has limitations due to its qualitative approach and dependence on self-reported data.Social Implications: However, the results add to the current knowledge and provide practical consequences for restaurant owners who want to improve their operational efficiency and customer pleasure.Originality/Value: Italian restaurants may achieve long-term success in a highly competitive culinary industry by acknowledging the interdependence of management strategies and using customer-focused techniques.

This qualitative research investigates the impact of price inflation on sustainable supply chains within the renewable energy sector. Through in-depth interviews with stakeholders, it explores how price inflation influences sourcing, production, distribution, and stakeholder relationships. Findings reveal that price inflation poses significant challenges to project economics, supply chain dynamics, and stakeholder relationships, necessitating proactive risk management, innovation, and collaboration. Strategies such as hedging, diversification, and scenario analysis mitigate the impact of price inflation on project viability and financial resilience. Government policies and regulatory frameworks play a crucial role in shaping responses to price inflation, with stable regulatory environments and incentives fostering investment and innovation in renewable energy projects. Innovation emerges as a critical strategy for addressing price inflation challenges, with advancements in technology and digitalization enhancing supply chain efficiency and resilience. Stakeholder collaboration and engagement are essential for mitigating the impact of price inflation, promoting transparency, trust, and cooperation among supply chain partners. By understanding the complexities of price inflation and implementing effective strategies, companies can enhance the resilience and sustainability of renewable energy supply chains, contributing to the transition towards a more sustainable energy future.

In the ambitiously evolving construction industry of Kuwait, characterized by its vision 2035 and rapid technological integration, there exists a pressing need for advanced analytical frameworks. This research paper introduces a groundbreaking deep learning approach utilising an autoencoder neural network to analyse the complexities of the Kuwait Construction Market and identify data irregularities. The construction sector’s significant investment influx and project expansion make it an ideal candidate for deploying sophisticated analytical techniques to detect anomalous patterns indicating inefficiencies or unveiling potential opportunities. Our approach leverages the capabilities of autoencoder architectures to delve into and understand the prevalent patterns in market behaviours. This meticulous analysis allows for the detection of deviations that may lead to operational or financial consequences. We elucidate the mathematical foundations of autoencoders, highlighting their proficiency in managing the complex, multidimensional data typical of the construction industry. Through training on an extensive dataset—comprising variables like market sizes, investment distributions, and project completions—our model demonstrates its ability to pinpoint subtle yet significant anomalies. The outcomes of this study enhance our understanding of deep learning’s pivotal role in construction and building management. Additionally, our findings proactively sketch the future market trajectory and facilitate anomaly detection, thereby contributing substantially to the academic discussion on integrating machine learning into construction management. This research offers valuable insights for professionals within Kuwait, aiming to harness deep learning techniques to boost operational efficiency and strategic foresight in the construction sector.

The study assessed the risk perception, attitude, and management tools of 260 randomly selected farmers and processors in the rice value chain using data elicited via a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Equally Likely Certainty Equivalent (ELCE) technique, Binary logistic regression, and a 5-point Likert scale were employed in the data analyses. Descriptive statistics show that the respondents are young, active, and in their productive age with an intermediate education level. Majority of the farmers and processors were risk averse. Risk aversion was common among farmers and processors. Farmers' risk attitudes and perceptions of risk are significantly influenced by a number of factors, including age, access to extension services, farm size, marital status, household size, education, income, training, and experience. Majority of rice farmers consider price risk as the most important risk while majority of processors perceive production risk as the most important risk. Pests and diseases, price fluctuation, drought, and lack of input were the most important source of risk to farmers, while processors perceived price fluctuation, technology adoption, and poor storage facilities as the most important source of risk. Off-farm investment, spraying for pests and diseases, cash contribution, market information, and cooperative were the important risk mitigating management strategies employed by the farmers/processors. The study suggests improvements in the identified risk sources, which could influence the attitude and perception of the farmers and processors.

Leafhopper Yamatotettix flavovittatus Matsumura is a phloem feeder that causes significant damage to sugarcane and also transmits sugarcane white leaf (SCWL) disease. Understanding the settling preference, feeding behavior, honeydew production and biophysical factors affecting Y. flavovittatus leafhopper infestation in sugarcane cultivation is crucial for effective pest management strategies. This study investigated these aspects across nine sugarcane cultivars. Significant variability was observed among cultivars in terms of settling behavior, with KK3 and LK92-11 showing the highest number of settled leafhopper adults. Similarly, honeydew production varied significantly among cultivars, with KK3 and LK92-11 exhibiting the highest production. Employing the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique provided insights into distinct probing behaviors across cultivars, highlighting correlations between settling preference, honeydew production, and specific EPG waveforms. Principal component analysis (PCA) categorized cultivars into four groups based on settling preference, honeydew production, feeding behavior, and biophysical factors. Strong correlations were found between settling preference, honeydew production, and various EPG waveforms, while negative correlations were observed with the number of silica cells and rows per unit area, indicating their potential role in deterring leafhopper settlement. We concluded that TPJ04-768 and K84-200 are promising for resistance to leafhoppers and exploited in sugarcane breeding programs for resistance to insects.

As coastal and marine ecosystems, even the inland waters can be deeply affected by human-driven impacts. Consequently, the internal waters belonging to closed or semi-closed basins due to their hydrographic and morphological conditions can be subject to even more dramatic consequences in terms of conservation and overall ecosystem functioning maintaining. Despite the Albano Lake is listed among the Natura 2000 network sites (IT6030038), several elements of its landscape complexity have already experimented clearly visible alterations: from certain landscape features alterations to the loss of some iconic vegetal and animal species characterizing the lake environment in the past. Therefore, a virtuous commitment awaits us and we have the moral duty of acting in order to restore such degraded habitats. Each environmental restoration intervention and/or clean up session can be considered relevant in order to give back the right dignity to one of the most naturalistically relevant environments of Central Italy. For each field session a plethora of data can be acquired both onshore and underwater by diving operators. Therefore, the data management of a huge temporal and spatial variability can be remarkable. It can be made easier relying on artificial intelligence (AI) supporting geospatial databases for GIS analysis to be run for their role as decision-supporting tools. On this perspective AIs can be used to model environmental systems, greatly helping to reduce use conflicts and human-driven impacts, whilst understanding the ecological characteristics and related ecosystem functioning.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that predominantly affects women in the childbearing age. Pregnancy in SLE patients poses unique challenges due to the po-tential impact on maternal and fetal outcomes. We provide an overview of the management of SLE during pregnancy, including pre-conception risk stratification and counselling, treatment, and disease activity monitoring. These assessments are critical to minimize maternal and fetal adverse events in SLE pregnant patients. Disease flares, preeclampsia, antiphospholipid syn-drome complications, and maternal mortality are the major risks for a woman with SLE during gestation. Timely treatment of SLE relapse, differentiation of preeclampsia from lupus nephritis, and tailored management for antiphospholipid syndrome are essential for a successful pregnan-cy. Fetal outcomes include neonatal lupus (NL), preterm birth, cesarean delivery, fetal growth re-striction (FGR), and small for gestational age (SGA) infants. We focused on NL, linked to mater-nal anti-Ro/SS-A and anti-La/SS-B antibodies, which can lead to various manifestations, partic-ularly cardiac abnormalities in newborns. While there is a common consensus regarding the pre-ventive effect of hydroxychloroquine, the role of echocardiographic monitoring and fluorinated steroid treatment is still debated. Finally, close postpartum monitoring and counseling for sub-sequent pregnancies are crucial aspects of care.

UN Convention on Climate Change 2015 mandates reducing carbon footprint to reduce global warming. Considering environmental concerns, Electric Vehicles (EVs) spearhead the move towards green mobility. Niti Aayog (Indian Government) has envisaged an “EV only” scenario by 2030. Two wheelers dominate the Indian automobile industry with almost 80% market share. With the transportation sector accounting for 70% of world’s fossil fuels use, the need for a sustainable supply chain which addresses environment, economy and societal issues, has, of late, aroused interest in the business academic community and industries. Sustainability in business decision-making promotes efficiency, controls expenditure, enhances customer delight, increases sales and market share, optimises risk management strategy, and promotes profitability. This study intends to develop a conceptual framework after examining research gaps in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) and allied topics like sustainability, green supply chain management, and vendor partnerships through collaborative efforts. Even the UN vide Goal 9 of sustainable goals pertaining to industry, highlights the importance of this framework.

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MEAM1, is a pest known to significantly impact tomato development and yields through direct damage and virus transmission. To manage this pest, the current study compared the effectiveness of various insecticide rotations. Field trials included rotations involving synthetic insecticides, biochemicals, and microbial agents, applied according to their labeled highest concentrations. Results indicated that while standard synthetic insecticides consistently reduced whitefly egg and nymph counts significantly, microbial biopesticide rotations also achieved reductions, although less consistently. This study demonstrated that while traditional chemical treatments remain highly effective, integrating microbial biopesticides containing Beauveria bassiana and Cordyceps javanica present a viable alternative that could mitigate resistance development and reduce environmental impact. The findings suggest the potential for optimizing integrated pest management (IPM) and Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM) strategies by incorporating a variety of modes of action to sustainably manage B. tabaci MEAM1 populations in agricultural settings.

The objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between the advancement of flood research and the utilization of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and multi-criteria evaluation techniques, both from a theoretical and practical standpoint. Additionally, this research seeks to identify potential ways to address the aforementioned relationship. The present study employs a thorough literature review methodology. In accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology, a total of 28 papers were identified and included in the analysis, as they fulfilled the predetermined criteria. The findings of the study indicate that current research pertaining to the utilization of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and multicriteria evaluation in flood control mostly centers around five key areas, namely natural factors, technical considerations, institutional factors, socio-economic factors, and financial factors. However, the aforementioned studies have identified specific areas of focus, including natural factors pertaining to climate, technical factors related to infrastructure, institutional factors concerning flood management strategies, socio-economic factors associated with demographics, and financial factors pertaining to financial obligations. However, there is a limited amount of existing research that specifically addresses flood management in developing nations. Therefore, it is anticipated that this study can serve as a valuable resource for future research endeavors, particularly in informing decision-making processes pertaining to the establishment of priorities in flood control plans. The primary subject of this study pertains to flood management occurrences within developing nations.

With challenged early detection came the collapse of a school roof, initiating a storm of public mistrust and hundreds of schools under investigation in the United Kingdom. The culprit is a poorly understood material heavily used in the 1950s to mid-1990s, reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). As a lightweight material with excellent insulation, RAAC was mainly used in roof and floor panels in many parts of the world. However, RAAC has a comparatively weak compressive strength, poor reinforcement anchorage, and high permeability and susceptibility to creep. The uniqueness of RAAC properties is exacerbated by poor manufacturing, negligent construction and maintenance as well as structural deviations from original design intent. Current guidance lacks in specifying RAAC management strategies beyond recommendations for periodic surveying. This paper delivers a state-of-the-art review of the material properties and structural performance of RAAC to recommend improved measures characterised by non-destructive testing methods and digital asset management. The reviewed literature targets understanding the influence of variable environmental exposure conditions, reinforcement condition, operational loading variations, structural deficiencies, and ageing, to predict their effect on the mechanism of RAAC failure. The established risk factors of RAAC are examined to inform of feasible response strategies against specific issues encountered in affected RAAC structures such as inadequate bearings, compromised transverse reinforcement, and environmental conditions.

(1) Background: Second Victims are health care workers negatively affected by adverse events and are prone to developing dysfunctional coping strategies compromising not only their own, but also patient safety. An effective way to address this issue is the implementation of peer support programs. This paper reports on the effectiveness of a peer support program at the Austrian Hietzing Clinic (KHI). (2) Methods: Telephone interviews were carried out after peer support sessions using a questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was carried out reporting frequencies and proportions for nominal variables, means with standard deviations for ordinal and interval-scaled variables. (3) Results: So far, 45 peer supporters have completed telephone interviews after a peer support session. The main reasons for the session were bad news from the private sphere and death of a patient. The peer supporters rated the helpfulness of the sessions for their colleagues as very high while not feeling very burdened themselves afterwards. (4) Conclusions: Underutilization of the program is probable. However, the high rating of helpfulness of the carried-out sessions by the peer supporters in combination with them not feeling very burdened, shows that the program is safe for the peer supporters and an upscaling is warranted.

In response to the escalating global waste production rate, sustainable waste management be-comes indispensable. In parallel, the transformation of energy system is vital in order to ensure affordable, decentralized, and sustainable energy for the global community, based on economic, environmental, and social criteria. Waste-to-Energy (WtE) is an effective option in order to put a stepping stone to address both issues provided that multiple views and criteria are considered. This paper puts forward a generic methodological framework to holistically assess WtE technologies based on the PROMETHEE approach. In addition to environmental, economic, and social aspects, demonstration of applicability of the proposed methodology is realized at national level the case of Greece. Anaerobic Digestion seems to be the most preferable choice, recognized for its cost-effectiveness and lower environmental burden to other WtE technologies (i.e. gasification, pyrolysis, incineration). Insightful expert opinions and public preference are of paramount importance to the adopted approach, revealing technology-specific concerns and preferences. In addition, the material presented underscores a crucial gap in Life Cycle Assessment studies for large-scale WtE, emphasizing the need for future scientific attention and exploration. Public consensus indicates a positive overall attitude towards waste valorization in the context of energy production.

Larus michahellis increased its population throughout the 20th century in its worldwide distribution area. The increase in the Salinas de San Pedro del Pinatar has produced changes in the habitats due to the contribution of guano, predation on birds, incidents with workers, and the production of salt. The objective is to analyze the impacts of L. michahellis on the landscape, habitats, waterfowl, salt production, and workers, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of control activities. Censuses of wintering L. michahellis have been carried out between 1990-2021, of nesting aquatic birds between 1994-2021, and nests and eggs of L. michahellis have been eliminated between 2000-2021. The result has been a decrease in pairs of L. michahellis, recovery of waterfowl populations, colonization of others, absence of incidents with workers, and reduction of damage to salt production. However, to reach a definitive solution, measures should be adopted to prevent L. michahellis from accessing the main sources of human food: urban solid waste dumps, aquaculture farms, and fish discards.

The Western Balkans region is persistently vulnerable to natural hazards, inadequate infrastructure, and limited institutional capacities, necessitating a collaborative approach to disaster risk management. This paper presents a comprehensive project led by the Scientific-Professional Society for Disaster Risk Management (NSD-URVs) in Belgrade, aiming to establish and strengthen a regional network of experts in disaster risk management. The project focuses on building expertise, facilitating knowledge exchange, promoting expert coordination, and enhancing cross-border collaboration. Key activities include developing a web platform, organising an international conference, and advocating for regional policies that integrate best practices and innovations in disaster risk management. The expected outcomes are the establishment of a cohesive network, enhanced expertise and coordination, and improved preparedness and responsiveness to disasters. By leveraging collective expertise and resources, this initiative aims to fortify the region's resilience against potential disasters. Addressing the identified gaps and implementing the proposed policy recommendations can significantly enhance the region's resilience to natural hazards. Future research should focus on the implementation and impact of these recommendations to ensure continuous improvement in disaster preparedness and response.

There are various approaches to managing polyethylene terephthalate waste, including methods for recycling PET. However, at present, only the cleanest wastes that can already be efficiently recycled using known methods are considered in the scientific literature. The study aims to look at other forms of polyethylene terephthalate waste that pose a challenge: low quality PET flakes, polyester tire cord, PET dust and prepolymer waste. The waste was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, viscosimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, laser diffraction and sieve analysis. The findings describe the composition and properties of various forms of polyethylene terephthalate waste. Low quality PET flake waste and polyethylene terephthalate dust have been shown to be suitable for all chemical recycling methods. When recycling waste polyester tire cord, it is difficult to completely separate the rubber, so its presence in the final product must be taken into account. The most promising way to process a prepolymer is its depolymerization by hydrolysis, alcoholysis or glycolysis to produce monomers for the synthesis of PET, similar in properties to the primary one.

To regulate the growth of battery-based electric vehicles (BEVs) in Indonesia and mitigate their impact on the power grid's supply-demand balance, the government can adjust BEV regulations and offer subsidies. The Jawa-Madura-Bali (Jamali) electrical system, being the largest in Indonesia [1], faces the challenge of accommodating the increasing number of vehicles [2]. Subsequent to analyzing Jamali's electricity supply using data from the National Electricity Company (RUPTL) [3], simulations are constructed to model the grid's demand side. Input variables such as Jamali's population, internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle populations, initial charging time (ICT), slow- and fast-charging ratios, and BEV charge load curves are simulated. Scenario variables like supply capacity growth speed, vehicle population growth speed, subsidy impact on EV attractiveness, ICT, and fast-charging ratio are subsequently simulated for 2024-2029. Four key simulation outcomes are identified: the best-case scenario (Scenario 1776), achieves the highest EV growth with minimal grid disruption, resulting in a 45.38% EV percentage in 2029 and requiring an annual allocation of 492 billion rupiah to match supply with demand. The worst outcome scenario leads to a 23.12% EV percentage, necessitating 47.566 billion rupiah for EV subsidies in 2029. Additionally, the most and least probable scenarios based on literature research are evaluated. This simulation and its results provide insights into EV growth's impact on the grid's balance in one presidential term from 2024 to 2029 [4], aiding the government in planning regulations and subsidies effectively. Improving the simulation's accuracy depends on refining input variables over time.

The movement of liquid droplets on the energy gradient surface has attracted extensive attention. Inspired by biological features in nature, such as the periodic spindle-shaped nodes in spider silks and conical-like barbs of cacti, the structure-property-function relationship of multifunctional gradient surfaces. In this study, a series of specific patterns are fabricated by 3D printing technology, followed by modification via the atmospheric pressure plasma treatment and liquid phase chemical deposition, resulting in enhancing the ability of water droplets of 5μL to travel 18.47mm on a horizontal plane and 22.75mm against gravity up to 20° tilting angle. Additionally, analysis techniques have been employed including contact angle analyzer, ESCA and laser confocal microscope to evaluate the sample performance. This work could further be applied to many applications related to microfluidic devices, drug delivery and water/fog collection.

Water quality assessment stands as a fundamental step in water resource management. In addition to substances and organisms present in the water, land use and land cover are two factors affecting also water quality. This study analyzed the correlation and influence between water quality and land use and land cover in the Miranda River Basin (MRB) and the natural wetlands in the Pantanal Biome. Using a watershed-wide approach, results suggested that water quality management policies can be considered in terms of sub-basins (smaller planning units). The Water Quality Index (WQI) was considered GOOD or EXCELLENT throughout the MRB. It was observed that the natural wetlands have the capacity to contribute to improve WQI, with reductions in thermotolerant coliforms and turbidity; however, high values were found for thermotolerant coliforms, a temporal increasing trend of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and a reduction in dissolved oxygen and total phosphorus. Conversely, it was found in these flooded areas a trend of decrease in dissolved oxygen and an increase in BOD concentrations. Natural wetlands play important hydrological and ecological roles in water quality, storing, removing, and cycling nutrients. They are highly relevant areas for defining watershed management and conservation strategies, environmental protection, and providing ecosystem services.

Providing user confidence in Mobile Government Services (MGS) is essential for the success of mobile government. This study aimed to test the moderating role of techno-skepticism in the impact of crisis management on mobile government. Some scholars have stated that government investment in mobile government services for public administration during the financial crisis is a critical issue for crisis management. In the constantly evolving and changing world, the rapid advancement of technology in modern societies has prompted an acceleration in investments in information and communication technologies. However, due to several inadequacies, citizens seem to respond negatively to the use of certain public technological services, leading them to develop a perspective of techno-skepticism. This issue has been cited in numerous scholarly studies as a critical subject for the effective implementation of technological innovations. The effectiveness of digital technology in the procurement of public services is highly dependent on the perceptions and behaviors of users. In this context, this study measured the attitudes of the participants and the connections between techno-skepticism, mobile government use, and crisis management among Northern Cyprus residents over 18 years old. The study employed a quantitative approach. A 5-point Likert scale was used to collect data by modifying the survey questions to fit the scope of the study. The study participants were selected using the random sampling method to acquire data from a total of 402 citizens. The study findings revealed that techno-skepticism mediates the impact of crisis management on mobile government. As a result, techno-skepticism is a critical and decisive factor in citizens’ mobile government use, affecting its utilization frequency. Techno-skepticism was also found to play a vital role in mobile government use. The current study represents a pioneering effort in testing the moderating role of techno-skepticism in the impact of crisis management on mobile government. It also provides various contributions to theory and practice, particularly in the fields of mobile government and the use of digital technologies.

To assess the usefulness of an attachable video laryngoscope (AVL) by attaching a camera and monitor to a conventional Macintosh laryngoscope (CML). Normal and tongue edema airway scenarios were simulated using a manikin. Twenty physicians performed tracheal intubations using CML, AVL, Pentax AWS® (AWS), and McGrath MAC® (MAC) in each scenario. Ten physicians with more than 10 cases of clinical experience with tracheal intubation using CML were included in the skilled group. Ten physicians with less than 10 cases of clinical experience with tracheal intubation using CML were included in the unskilled groups. The time required to intubate and the success rate were recorded. The degree of difficulty of use and glottic view assessment scored by participants. All 20 participants successfully completed the study. There was no difference in the success rate and time required for tracheal intubation in the normal airway scenarios. For the skilled group, in the tongue edema airway scenario, the AWS had the highest success rate (100%) followed by AVL (60%), MAC (60%), and CML (20%) (p = 0.001). The time required to intubate with the AWS was significantly shorter than with AVL (10.2 vs 22.3 s; p=0.002) or MAC (10.2 vs 23.7 s; p=0.001). There was no significant (p > 0.05) difference between AVL and MAC. The degree of Difficulty of Use for AVL was significantly lower than that for CML (7.8 vs 2.8; p < 0.001). There was no significant (p > 0.05) difference between AVL and other video laryngoscopes. AVL had a higher rate of successful tracheal intubation than CML in the tongue edema scenario. AVL showed a similar success rate and time of tracheal intubation to the MAC. Therefore, AVL may be a possible alternative video laryngoscope device.

Healthcare crises occur occasionally are very disruptive and resource consuming. The Covid-19 pandemic provided an example of inefficient wasteful resource management that would be unsustainable in the long term. This paper presents a framework for sustainable crisis management that will be applicable for future crises. The methodology is also applicable to other pandemics, wars, multi-casualty natural disasters, industrial disasters, etc. Attention focuses on rapid crisis resolution such as lockdowns. Despite unprecedented investments in healthcare, lack of capacity and timeliness are still problems affecting every country, even the wealthier ones. During the Covid19 pandemic, some healthcare systems around the world have collapsed. For example, Brazil, Spain, Italy, and more. This is due to the lack of a clear methodology for handling such crises. This paper presents a resource-based methodology to cope with healthcare crises considering three scenarios: “Peace”, “War” and “Tsunami”. The paper outlines a methodology for identifying the system bottlenecks for coping with the crisis in each scenario by using established simple tools. These tools assure significant resource frugality that will enhance sustainability. The paper also analyses where the system constraint should be and prescribes how to prepare for such scenarios. A large medical center case study demonstrates our approach. During “peace” times, evolutionary strategies should be used exclusively. During “war” times, a hybrid – evolutionary/disruptive (revolutionary) strategy. During the “Tsunami” scenario, one should rely only on the disruptive (revolutionary) strategy. This methodology can be extended to other scenarios and other lines of research.

This study draws on both the theory of resource-based view and the theory of stakeholders to investigate the effects of Green Human Resource Management (Green HRM) practices on Sustainability and Employee Health Orientation (EHO) through the mediating effect of Environmental Performance (EP). Based on a cross-sectional survey questionnaire, the data were collected from 318 service and manufacturing firms across India. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied to determine the link among constructs. The findings of the empirical evidence reveal that Green HRM practices have positive and significant effects on EP, Sustainability and EHO. Also, the findings demonstrate that EP partially mediates the link between Green HRM practices and Sustainability. Similarly, the findings establish that EP partially mediates the link between Green HRM practices and EHO. Finally, the potential implications of this research and future research for practitioners and scholars are addressed.

With the Sendai Framework (2015-2030) and the Paris Agreement (2015), the UN has been promoting at a global level, the priority objectives to protect the life and well-being of people, these documents of global consensus have scheduled in several countries, an extensive list of actions of responsibilities and commitments to the environment, to address natural disasters among those of greatest impact earthquakes and floods and among earthquakes (seismic activity). The materialization of the disaster is a natural or human-induced event, it manifests itself in permanent changes in society and by its origin it is classified as natural, anthropogenic (anthropogenic) and mixed, creating a worldwide problematic situation of immediate reaction. The attention and alert in the scientific community have been adding efforts, but in a disorganized way, with limited human and material resources and with globalized strategies still to be improved. The literature review of disaster risk management due to seismic activity, from 2008 to 2023, allows us to have updated information to identify the factors and deepen them, with the understanding, comprehension, and multidisciplinary knowledge. The selected researches that mention the factors (elements) that influence risk management of natural disasters due to seismic activity (RMNDDSA) allow us to know the advances and spaces to approach them, which constitutes the motivation to study the twenty-four (24) factors present in this type of disasters. The selected research articles indicate important advances that associate disaster risk management (DRM) and communication technology (ICTs). The technological means mentioned are well received and accepted by society, capable of detecting and communicating in real time seismic activity worldwide, with the help of social mobile networks, technological platforms, Twitter, Facebook, and others.

E-waste management (EWM) refers to the operation-management of discarded or unproductive electronic devices and components, a challenge exacerbated due to overindulgent urbanization. This article presents a multidimensional cost-function-based analysis of the EWM framework structured on three modules - environmental, economic, and social uncertainties - which contemplate the 3 pillars of sustainability in an e-waste recycling plant, including the production-delivery-utilization process. The framework incorporates material recovery from a single e-waste facility provisioning for chemical and mechanical recycling. Each module is ranked using independent Machine Learning (ML) protocols: a) Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) and b) combined AHP and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). From a long list of possible contributors, the model identifies and ranks two key sustainability contributors to the EWM supply chain: overall energy consumption and volume of carbon dioxide generated. Another key finding is a precise time window for policy resurrection, which for the data considered, happens to be 400-600 days from the start of operation. Another interesting outcome is the quality of prediction using a combination of AHP and PCA, which consistently produced better results than any of these ML methods individually implemented. Model outcomes have been verified using a case study to outline a future E-waste sustained roadmap.

In recent years, the rapid expansion of urban areas has led to changes in land use, a reduction in pervious surfaces, and a disturbance in the balance between surface waters and groundwater. These urban changes, combined with inadequate drainage systems and misdirection of runoff, have resulted in severe urban floods, causing numerous fatalities and damage to urban areas. As a result, investigating the effects of flood occurrences and determining proper mitigation measures to reduce flood damage is essential. This paper aims to establish a novel economic-hydrologic model to evaluate the efficacy of Low-impact Development (LID) measures in urban Bronx River catchment, NYC. The model examines reduced peak discharge of flood and imposed damage. Initially, the EPA’s SWMM is used to simulate urban flooding based on recent extreme events. LID scenarios are then implemented, including individual and combined scenarios, to mitigate the adverse impacts of flood occurrences of high to low frequency. By means of the HEC-GeoRAS tool, highly detailed flood inundation maps are generated and seamlessly incorporated into the flood damage estimation model, namely HAZUS, to obtain estimates of the potential damage caused by floods. Using the reduced monetary damages and the implementation cost of LID measures, the benefit-to-cost (BC) ratio is then calculated. Findings indicated that the combined LID scenario is the most effective approach in peak flow reduction. Moreover, Permeable pavement outperforms infiltration trench, bio retention cell, and rain barrel in terms of benefit-to-cost ratio, with rain barrel showing the lowest ratio. The proposed evaluation system for LID measures, with a focus on flood damage reduction as a key benefit, provides valuable insights for identifying optimal scenarios and facilitating informed decision-making.

This report describes the experience in implementing the FAIR principles for the GoTriple Discovery Platform for the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). It shows how adherence to FAIR should be considered as a continuous process throughout the entire lifespan of any information management system, including GoTriple, rather than a static goal with decisions only made at design time. The report presents an introduction highlighting the importance of the FAIR principles, indicating how they can be assessed in data management systems. Then the GoTriple case is presented, with a general overview of this discovery platform before describing some of the implemented practices in support of FAIR. The Discussion section shows on the one hand some virtuous reuse of GoTriple data, together with one major pitfall in the platform’s FAIR implementation. In this sense, this report serves as a case study that can offer insights and actionable advice for those implementing information systems aligned, from the very outset, with the FAIR principles.

This study comprehensively explores Serbia's Disaster (Risk) Management System, aiming to critically evaluate its inherent strengths and weaknesses. Using descriptive-analytical methods and qualitative interpretation, SWOT analysis was applied to collect data from scientific papers, books, and institutional reports. This study delves deeply into the nuances of Serbia's Disaster Management Framework, revealing a nuanced landscape of strengths, weaknesses, and strategic improvement opportunities. Identified strengths underscore a robust foundation characterized by proficient professionals, state-of-the-art technology, and cohesive teamwork, all pivotal for effective emergency preparedness and response. Conversely, weaknesses underscore pressing imperatives for enhancements in regulatory enforcement, resource allocation, and infrastructure upgrades, presently hampering the framework's efficacy and response readiness. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on disaster risk management and serves as a catalyst for further scholarly inquiry and policy formulation. By mapping out the structure of Serbia’s Disaster (Risk) Management Framework and integrating diverse data sources, the study enriches theoretical models and lays the groundwork for practical policy interventions. Its findings, including precise recommendations for policy reform and strategic improvements, provide valuable insights for policymakers, emergency management experts, and stakeholders seeking to enhance disaster preparedness and response capabilities on both national and global scales.

Effective management of the medicine supply chain is crucial for ensuring the availability of essential medicines and supplies in public health facilities. This study aimed to determine the utilization of the electronic logistic management information system (e-LMIS) in public health facilities and its implications for the medicine supply chain. A mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods was used. The study was conducted in 106 healthcare providers from 35 public health facilities in Singida District. Six key informants were interviewed in a qualitative method. Of 106 participants, (62.3%) said they were somehow competent in e-LMIS utilization. In in-depth interviews, respondents underscored the system's utility for tracking stock levels, procurements, and managing orders. Staff shortage and lack of customized training were mentioned as major challenges, hindering efficiency in managing drug supplies. This study highlighted the positive impact of e-LMIS on various aspects of the medicine supply chain, including the timely submission of orders and enhanced inventory management. Sustained management support and regular utilization of the e-LMIS system are crucial for building and maintaining competence among healthcare providers, thereby optimizing the medicine supply chain and ultimately improving healthcare delivery.

This paper provides a comprehensive evaluation of the environmental impact of implementing the beverage container DRS on marine and coastal litter along the Latvian coastline. It incorporates data and insights from the assessment of deposit fractions litter in coastal areas during the post-season autumn period in three monitoring sessions from 2021 (before the introduction of the DRS in Latvia) to 2023 (post-introduction). In 2022, a 43% overall decrease in selected public coastal areas was observed, with significant reductions at 11 out of 17 sites. This positive trend continued in 2023, showcasing a further 22% decrease compared to 2022 and a substantial 56% decrease compared to 2021. The study delves into the specific impact on different material types of beverage containers, reporting significant decreases in plastic and aluminum litter fractions. While glass beverage container litter showed a smaller decrease, overall positive trends continued in 2023. However, the situation with aluminum cans remained challenging, especially in border areas with Lithuania and Estonia. The study emphasizes that beverage containers with identifiable deposit system labels constitute a minority of the total litter pressure, underscoring the need for ongoing efforts to address containers without deposit labels, particularly in specific border areas. The findings provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the deposit system in mitigating coastal litter, contributing to sustainable waste management practices in Latvia.

As the telecommunications landscape braces for the post-5G era, this paper embarks on delineating the foundational pillars and pioneering visions that define the trajectory towards 6G wireless communication systems. Recognizing the insatiable demand for higher data rates, enhanced connectivity, and broader network coverage, we unravel the evolution from the existing 5G infrastructure to the nascent 6G framework, setting the stage for transformative advancements anticipated in the 2030s. Our discourse navigates through the intricate architecture of 6G, highlighting the paradigm shifts towards super convergence, non-IP-based networking protocols, and information-centric net-works, all underpinned by a robust 360-degree cybersecurity and privacy-by-engineering design. Delving into the core of 6G, we articulate a systematic exploration of the key technologies earmarked to revolutionize wireless communication including terahertz (THz) waves, optical wireless technology, and dynamic spectrum management,while elucidating the intricate tradeoffs necessitated by the integration of such innovations. This paper not only lays out a comprehensive 6G vision accentuated by high security, affordability, and intelligence but also charts the course for addressing the pivotal challenges of spectrum efficiency, energy consumption, and the seamless integration of emerging technologies. In this study, our goal is to enrich the existing discussions and research efforts by providing comprehen-sive insights into the development of 6G technology, ultimately supporting the creation of a thoroughly connected future world that meets evolving demands.

This concept paper explores possible collective identities for a future wildland fire workforce. Taking inspiration from the work of futurists who foresee an end to the dominant fire exclusion/suppression paradigm, and assuming an emerging fire restoration/resilience paradigm shift replaces it, the paper engages in speculative explorations of the process and product of this paradigm shift on future collective identities for a workforce doing ecological fire management. Social constructionist assumptions from symbolic interactionist sociological theory, Gramscian political theory's concept of hegemony, and New-Social-Movement theory's concept of collective identity all provide the intellectual foundations for the discussion. This concept paper argues that in order to actualize a paradigm shift, more than advances in scientific research or reforms of government policies will be required--the wildland fire community will need to become (or join) a social movement engaged in collective actions. An imaginary social movement, the "Greenfire revolution," is invented to help illustrate how the selected theories and concepts might apply in the social construction of ecological fire management and the collective identities of its future workforce.

Energy management, especially in communities, is attracting growing interest, but is often marred by confusion between the terms "Energy Information System" (EIS) and "Energy Man-agement System" (EMS). This ambiguity hinders understanding of their use and role in improv-ing energy performance. Our objective is to clarify these terms and their contribution to energy management. We used a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach to evaluate and compare the criteria of definition, objective, functionality, role, as well as correlated elements such as or-ganizational structure, responsibilities, planning and policy, according to the requirements of ISO 50001, in addition to criteria specific to the two systems. The study reveals differences in the roles of the EIS and the SME, with a complementarity of 40% between the two systems, depend-ing on the positioning of the EIS in relation to the elements of the SME process. The EIS plays a crucial role in facilitating the implementation of the EMS according to ISO 50001. This clarifica-tion contributes to a better understanding of the respective roles of these systems in energy management, thus helping communities to improve their energy performance in an effective manner.

In the realm of educational technology, Data Analytics (DA) is reshaping teaching and learning. This paper investigates the impact of DA on education, specifically comparing Student Information Systems (SIS) and Learning Management Systems (LMS). Data-driven insights from SIS and LMS platforms enable educators to tailor instructional strategies to individual student needs effectively. While SIS manages student data for administrative tasks, LMS offers tools for content delivery and collaboration. Using the strengths of SIS and LMS, educators can optimise teaching and learning experiences, tracking student progress, and fostering collaboration. The comparison emphasises their distinct roles: SIS manages administrative tasks, while LMS focusses on content delivery and collaboration. Using both systems, educators improve the teaching and learning experience, leveraging DA for continuous improvement. In summary, this paper underscores the transformative role of DA in education, framed within the context of comparing the SIS and LMS functionalities. By examining the intersection of data-driven decision making and educational technology, educators are equipped with the tools and knowledge to harness the power of data for meaningful and impactful teaching and learning.

This article explores the intricate relationship between Human-Data Interaction (HDI) and Data Virtualization (DV), two integral fields that are redefining how we engage with and manage data in the digital age. Positioned at the intersection of technology and user-centric design, this study examines how DV can transcend traditional data management boundaries to significantly enhance data accessibility, legibility, and agency, thus fostering more ethical and meaningful interactions across various sectors. Opening with a detailed exposition on the evolving role of HDI, the paper contextualizes the importance of user-centric data practices within contemporary digital challenges. HDI’s principles are pivotal as they advocate for user empowerment in data interactions, ensuring that data processes are not only transparent but also negotiable and aligned with users’ needs and ethical standards. DV emerges as a transformative solution that inherently supports these principles by integrating diverse data sources into a cohesive and accessible format, thereby eliminating many of the inefficiencies found in conventional data management systems. Through a series of nuanced case studies, the paper provides empirical evidence of DV’s effectiveness across diverse domains. In healthcare, DV facilitates a holistic approach to patient care by providing seamless access to comprehensive medical records, thereby enabling faster, more accurate diagnostic and treatment processes. In the financial sector, DV proves instrumental in enhancing the detection and management of fraud, integrating transactional data across global platforms in real-time to allow for swift, proactive interventions. In education, DV supports personalized learning by synchronizing data from various educational tools, thus allowing for tailored educational experiences that respond dynamically to student performance and engagement metrics. Moreover, the paper critically addresses the ethical considerations and privacy concerns that arise with the integration of HDI and DV, particularly as data interactions become more pervasive and complex. By proposing forward-thinking research directions, it seeks to refine these technologies to better serve societal needs while addressing potential risks and governance issues. In conclusion, this study significantly contributes to the discourse on HDI by advocating for DV as an essential, innovative tool that enhances the clarity, fairness, and efficacy of data interactions. By demonstrating how DV can transform large-scale data sets into user-friendly formats that support decision-making and improve operational efficiencies, the paper underscores DV’s potential to advance a range of industries and enhance the daily lives of individuals interacting with digital systems.

Investments in small and medium-sized anaerobic digestion facilities have the potential to boost biogas production in Greece and other EU countries. This study aimed to evaluate the economic feasibility of anaerobic digestion facilities equipped with combined heat and power (CHP) units ranging from 50 to 400 kW, while treating livestock waste. For this purpose, data were gathered from various livestock operations (dairy cattle, poultry, swine, dairy sheep and goat) regarding their annual production, revenues, electricity and fuel usage, and waste generation. Waste samples were then collected and analyzed to assess their biochemical methane production potential. The capital and operational costs of anaerobic digestion facilities, from 50 and 400 kW, were calculated using the equations developed within the “eMT cluster” project. Findings indicate that current feed-in tariffs (FIT) of 0.21 € kWh-1 are insufficient to incentivize investment in anaerobic digestion facilities with capacities below 250 kW, highlighting the need for increased FIT rates or capital expenditure subsidies. Recommendations include shifting towards simplified technology and business models with reduced farmer involvement, coupled with supportive legislative framework and long-term electricity price guarantees. These measures are expected to foster the implementation of anaerobic digestion projects in the animal husbandry sector.

This study explores the current landscape of social value (SV) research in the construction industry, analyzing global trends and identifying future research directions. Using bibliometric analysis, research published in Elsevier Scopus database from 2013 to 2023 was extracted using the keywords "social value" AND "construction industry." Results indicate a focus on social value indicators, socioeconomic impacts, project management, innovative practices, and cross-sector collaborations. The study also reveals a lack of attention to SV in African countries' construction sectors. By highlighting research areas and identifying gaps, this study contributes to academic literature, suggesting the need for guidelines, particularly in developing countries, and advocating for further research on SV in the built environment and strategies for global social value creation.

Frass generated during the production of black soldier fly larvae is taking the interest of scientists and horticultural producers because it is a material from the biotransformation of organic waste, it has several nutrients that can be used by plants, and its recent focus on its biostimulant capacity. The thermal-composting process is a stabilization that improves physical and chemical properties of treated wastes, allowing better performance in plants compared to its fresh state. In this research, thermocomposted frass was evaluated as a germination substrate for kale seeds (Brassica olerasea). To achieve this, it was evaluated the phytotoxicity in different concentrations on the seeds, and seedlings were grown in a germination substrates mixed with 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of frass. The treatment with 20% frass showed the highest values of seedling height, stem diameter, number of leaves, length, and width of first true leaf and length and width of cotyledons, reduced the content of phenols and tannins antioxidants but the content of flavonoids increased compared to the control and the rest of mixtures.

This scientific paper explores the increasingly widespread use of collaborative robots in the industrial environment, highlighting them as a solution to challenges related to the high costs of human labour and the associated management difficulties. The authors focus on the process of defining requirements for the implementation of collaborative robots, providing strategies based on mathematical management models. This approach translates into significant benefits for companies, such as cost reduction, quality improvement, and increased operational efficiency. Additionally, the paper proposes an innovative mathematical model for assessing total costs, budgeting, profitability, and electric power consumption associated with the operation of collaborative robots. This model allows for a comparison between the costs involved in using human labour and those associated with collaborative robots, providing critical information for technological investment decisions. The efficiency of this mathematical model is demonstrated through a practical application, where collaborative robots were integrated into a production environment, and costs and efficiency were evaluated compared to the use of human labour. This scientific paper provides a systematic and efficient approach to implementing collaborative robots in industrial processes, benefiting from strategies based on mathematical management models and an original mathematical model for evaluating performance and associated costs.

To support the integration of renewable energy sources and preserve grid stability, this study examines several approaches for controlling the temperature of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in modern energy settings. Specifically, the usage of BESS in Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) is the focus of this study. The effectiveness, safety features, dependability, affordability, and suitability for VPP applications of these systems are examined. Among the various hybrid cooling alternatives, two particularly promising combinations emerge. Firstly, the integration of heat pipes and phase change materials leverages their ability to conduct heat efficiently away from heat sources with minimal temperature differences, making them excellent for rapid heat transfer. Secondly, an approach employing heat pipes and liquid passive cooling a combination that capitalizes on the efficient heat transfer capabilities of heat pipes and the consistent cooling offered by liquid passive systems. The study underscores the importance of improving BESS performance and sustainability within VPPs by providing useful recommendations for choosing the best thermal management system depending on climate conditions and geographic location.

The dynamic evolution and variation of electrical loads is now a priority for optimum management and, above all, forecasting. Indeed, these dynamic load variations require computer tools able to implement optimal load forecasting models. Scientific research into automated models for forecasting electrical loads therefore represents a challenge for scientific researchers. Several research studies have therefore been carried out. These include machine learning approaches such as: LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and others. This article proposes a comparison study between a hybrid model based on the wavelet transform coupled with the adaboost method, and LSTM, for forecasting electricity consumption loads. Python 3.10 was used for the studies. The first results obtained consisted in the study of electricity load forecasts over four (04) data sets of the year (January, April, August and December). These results are very satisfactory, showing a good correlation between the real results of the electrical load consumption data, and the results of the implemented model. The electrical load consumption data are collected from a renewable energy production source: photovoltaic solar energy. The model test results (R2) obtained range from 0.919 to 0.958. These results are representative of real data and reflect the model's performance. The second set of results concerns a comparative study between the methods used by Y. Xie et al (CNN, MLP, LSTM-AM and LSTM-AM-MLP), and our approach. The prediction results obtained between the approaches show a prediction gap ranging from 0.15 to 0.78 for RMSE and 0.83 for MAPE. These results show significant differences between the methods. The minimization of errors by our model, therefore, reflects the model's performance in terms of accuracy, which is necessary for the optimal management of consumer electricity load forecasts in order to ensure balance between supply and demand.

Soil management in orchards can have several economic and environmental implications. In this study, three different soil management systems were compared in a dry-farmed olive grove: conventional tillage (Tillage), glyphosate-based herbicide (Herbicide) and Sheep Walking. The experiment lasted eleven years (2011-2022) and was carried out after a previous trial conducted on the same plot with the same treatments and duration (2001-2011). However, in the earlier trial, the Herbicide and Sheep Walking treatments switched positions in the plot, while the tillage treatment remained in its original place. The average total accumulated olive yields between 2011 and 2022 were 225.1, 230.9, and 245.0 kg tree–1 for the Sheep Walking, Tillage, and Herbicide treatments, respectively. However, no significant differences were observed between the treatments. The levels of total organic carbon in the soil, measured in samples collected in the last year of the study, were 41.3, 33.7, and 37.3 g kg–1, respectively for the same treatments. These findings indicated that the Tillage treatment exhibited lower soil organic matter content and reduced bioavailability of some nutrients, which raises concerns about its sustainability. On the contrary, employing Sheep Walking with an appropriate stocking rate, effectively controlling vegetation in the spring, ensured favourable soil properties and olive yields comparable to the other treatments. Moreover, the Sheep Walking approach provides supplementary advantages to the farmer, including revenue from the sale of animal products and the opportunity to transition to organic farming systems, which better align with the preferences of contemporary societies.

Household waste is the primary source of environmental pollution due to global population growth compared to other sources of waste. This research aims to develop a smart and integrated household waste management system framework. The resulting framework not only focuses on dimensions of information technology but also links it with other integrated dimensions. This research attempts to conduct a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) protocol to produce a smart and integrated household waste management framework. The framework's design is carried out by identifying the type of household waste management process based on the Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM) framework, dimensions that support smart household waste management, and stakeholders involved. The SLR results, namely dimensions and subdimensions that support the framework of a smart and integrated household waste management system, were validated by a resource person from the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The smart and integrated household waste management framework that has been developed in this research contains five main dimensions: Information Technology, Operational Infrastructure, Governance, Economy, and Social-culture. This framework also addresses stakeholder engagement to support smart household waste management systems and identifies waste management processes based on the ISWM framework. This research uses the PRISMA technique to provide a framework for smart and integrated household waste management systems in the initial stage. The proposed framework has been validated and can be further developed as a smart and integrated household waste management system. This research also contributes to the involvement of various dimensions identified to deal with waste problems.

The Asian clam Corbicula fluminea is a native aquatic species in Eastern Asia and Africa but has become one of the most ecologically and economically harmful invasive species in aquatic ecosystems in Europe, North America, South America. Due to their natural characteristics as a hermaphroditic species with high fecundity and dispersal capacity, Asian clams are extremely difficult to eradicate once they have infiltrated a waterbody. This is an emerging issue for states in the Northeastern United States as Asian clams expand their range farther North due to climate change. There has been extensive research conducted to develop chemical treatments to reactively control invasive mollusc populations and proactively prevent their further spread. However, treatments are mostly targeted toward biofouling bivalves in industrial settings. A comprehensive review of Asian clam chemical treatments used in open water systems was performed to evaluate molluscicides and identify toxicity ranges of emerging treatments that maximize Asian clam mortality and minimize negative impact to water quality and non-target species. The potential chemical applications in Asian clam control and management are summarized in this report to assist resource managers and practitioners on invasive Asian clam management.

Abstract: Falls are among the top 10 causes of years lived with disability in people aged 75 and over. Preventive programs like case management (CM) are crucial. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of a multifactorial fall prevention program, based on CM, on physical performance, presence of pain and risk of falls and fractures in elderly people who have suffered falls. Methods: This is a randomized, single-blind clinical trial with parallel groups: intervention group (IG) and control group (CG) composed of 55 older people with a history of falls living in the community. All participants underwent an initial assessment via video call (containing anamnesis, Timed Up and Go test, Falls Risk Score, Short Physical Performance Battery and Clinical Frax). The IG underwent CM, the physical exercise protocol and the cognitive stimulation protocol. The CG was monitored through telephone calls and received general health and falls guidance. Results: No significant results were found in physical capacity, presence of pain, risk of falls and fractures between the intervention and control groups and between assessments. Conclusion: This program was not effective in improving functional performance, but it was important for characterizing pain and the probability of fracture in the next 10 years in this population.

Keywords: environmental impacts of hotels; environmental management in lodging facilities; corporate sustainability.

Pinus occidentalis, Swartz is the primary timber species in the Dominican Republic (DR). Despite its economic importance, studies conducted on this species are very scarce, making it difficult to estimate current inventory levels. This study aims to enhance the accuracy of estimating total bole volume of P. occidentalis in different ecological zones (EZs) within La Sierra, evaluating and comparing two established volume equations—combined variable and Schumacher-Hall—across nine modeling variants (MVs). An indicator variables analysis determined the necessity of distinct equations for two EZs. Fitting included both linear and nonlinear models. Our comprehensive statistical analysis included goodness-of-fit metrics to evaluate each model variant's performance rigorously. Modeling variant SH02 was most effective in the Dry Ecological Zone, showing superior performance in both fitting and validation phases. Similarly, SH03 emerged as the best fit for the Combined Intermediate and Humid Ecological Zones, achieving the lowest overall ranking sum among tested variants. The SH equation variants SH02 and SH03, provide reliable and precise volume estimations, allowing optimization of forestry management practices for P. occidentalis trees. The SH models outperformed the CV model variants' consistency in parameter estimation. This tailored approach employed ensures more accurate volume predictions, which is crucial for sustainable management and conservation efforts.

The major issue of raw materials depletion and more specifically of phosphorous (an important fertilizer) has currently become an emergent aspect, due to expected depletion problems, needing immediate handling. This was the reason for the implementation of PhoReSe project that aimed to remove and recover phosphorus from the secondary (biologically treated) effluent of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP “AINEIA”, located near Thessaloniki, N. Greece), treating the wastewaters of the nearby touristic area. Regarding the phosphorous supplementary removal and recovery treatment options, two methods mainly examined, initially in laboratory scale (batch experiments), i.e. (1) the adsorption of phosphorous, and (2) the chemical precipitation of phosphorus. Both methods further applied in pilot-scale, by performing initially the adsorption of phosphorous onto the AquAsZero commercial sorbent, which is a mixed manganese iron oxy-hydroxide, followed by the chemical precipitation of phosphorous, implemented after the de-sorption process of previously saturated adsorbent. The final precipitate of this procedure examined as an alternative/supplementary fertilizer, returning with this way phosphorus into the natural cycle. These experiments, as applied successfully in pilot-scale, set the basis for the larger-scale relevant application for similar WWTP facilities.

: This study examines the prospects of residential water demand management policy regulations in Ethiopia and their implications for sustainable water resource management. This study aims to evaluate the existing policy regulations and analyze their effectiveness in promoting efficient water use and conservation practices in residential areas. By considering the potential challenges and opportunities associated with these regulations, the research provides insights into the future of residential water demand management in Ethiopia and suggests strategies for enhancing sustainable water resource management. Integrated literature and policy document review, alongside observation and interviews, was used to assess the viability of residential water demand management policies. The assessment of current policy regulations for residential water demand management in Ethiopian urban towns has revealed significant shortcomings in promoting water conservation activities. Hence, there is a need for significant improvements in the current water resource policy guidelines, which lack specificity, particularly in residential water demand management conservation strategies. The lack of awareness among residents regarding the importance of conserving their limited water resources is evident. To address these challenges and ensure the sustainability of the water supply, the government and policy developers must engage with various stakeholders, including the community, in the process of revising current policy documents. A more precise and tailored approach is necessary for its effective implementation.

Emergence of COVID-19 had profound impact on global stock markets, including Indian mar-ket. Key indices like NIFTY50 and Sensex dropped by approximately 40% within two months in 2020, which also affected major mutual funds, leading to significant depreciation of their Net Asset Value. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) allows mutual funds to use deriva-tives for hedging purposes, capped at 100% of the scheme's net assets covering debt, equity, and derivatives. However, circular amendment by SEBI in January-2019 permitted covered call strat-egies on constituent stocks of Sensex and NIFTY50 for mutual fund schemes, excluding ETFs and Index Funds. This study investigated whether mutual funds increased their derivative us-age as risk mitigation strategy during COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing derivative holdings from 2019-2023. Surprisingly, findings indicated a decline in derivative holdings in 2020 compared to pre-pandemic levels. Statistical tests and performance evaluation metrics such as T-test, F-test, Treynor Ratio, Sharpe Ratio, and Jensen's calculations were employed to assess mutual fund performance. Although derivative-holding mutual funds didn't outperform benchmarks in aver-age returns, it showcased significantly reduced volatility, offering investors favorable risk-return trade-offs. research sheds light on derivative utilization in Mutual Fund industry, potentially in-forming regulators, fund managers, and investors in their decision-making

In the rapidly evolving FinTech sector, risk management is paramount for dealers and brokers. This paper underscores the significance and progression of risk management within this realm. Initially, it reviews the traditional risk management technologies and their inherent limitations. The discourse then shifts to contemporary solutions, specifically emphasizing the role of artificial intelligence, machine learning algorithms, and big data analytics in forecasting and mitigating potential risks. The paper also presents case studies of companies effectively utilizing these advanced techniques, highlighting their benefits in real-world scenarios. Additionally, it addresses forthcoming challenges, including regulatory compliance, data privacy issues, and the imperative for strengthened cybersecurity measures. The conclusion acknowledges that the adoption of these innovative technologies not only boosts operational efficiency but also markedly diminishes financial risks, thereby contributing to a more stable and reliable financial market

The formation of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in petroleum reservoirs by anaerobic microbial activity is called biogenic souring of reservoirs and is a risk in the oil and gas industry as the compound is extremely toxic, flammable and corrosive. In this paper, we present a workflow and the tools to assess biogenic souring from a pragmatic engineering perspective. The retention of H₂S in the reservoir due to the reactions with iron-bearing rock minerals (e.g. siderite) is shown in a theoretical approach here and supported with literature data. Cases are given for two fields under secondary (waterflooding) and tertiary flooding with microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). The use of the Monte Carlo method as a numerical modelling tool to incorporate uncertainties in the measured physical/chemical/ biochemical data is demonstrated as well. A list of studies conducted with different chemicals alone or in combination with various biocides to mitigate biogenic souring provides an overview of potential inhibitors as well as possible applications. Furthermore, the results of static and dynamic inhibition tests using molybdate are presented in more detail due to its promising mitigation ability. Finally, a three-step workflow for the risk assessment of biogenic souring and its possible mitigation is presented and discussed.

Healthcare personnel must face two problems of growing importance: violence in the workplace and the loss of work ability due to ageing of the workforce. Studying the relationship between these two phenomena can help to prepare effective prevention measures. In a public health company, we asked nurses to self-assess their work ability using the Work Ability Index (WAI) and we analysed the relationship between this indicator and the violence experienced in the previous and following years. 321 out of 344 nurses (99.3%) participated. In a logistic regression model, the WAI score was a significant protective factor for violence experienced in the previous year (OR=0.94 CI95%=0.90; 0.98 p<0.01) and in the following year (OR=0.88 CI95%=0.84; 0.92 p<0.01). In a hierarchical logistic regression model, social support acted as a protective factor (OR = 0.87 CI95% = 0.79; 0.95 for violence experienced in the previous year), while occupational stress was a significant determinant of the risk of aggression (OR=3.65 CI95%=1.90; 7.03 in the previous year, OR=3.54 CI95%=1.801; 6.947 in the following year). The difficulties that nurses encounter in carrying out their growing work demands in an environment that is not promptly adapted to their changing physical and mental conditions can lead to an increased risk of violence. Prevention of workplace violence should include organizational and ergonomic measures that reduce stress and increase staff support and work ability.

Academics in healthcare grapple with the challenge of efficiently managing time while addressing diverse roles and responsibilities, leading to heightened levels of anxiety and stress within the academic community. The primary objective of this study is to offer a sustainable and systemic solution to the prevalent time-management challenges in healthcare academia, through the development of a predictive model. Employing systemic analysis software and adopting a systemic management approach, we crafted a model to address academic time-management concerns. The dynamics of time allocation for academicians are governed by three fundamental pillars: teaching, research, and administrative tasks. Significantly prioritizing administrative tasks depletes valuable academic time, making time management within academia excessively costly. This occurs as highly skilled individuals find themselves diverted towards administrative duties at the expense of their academic roles diminishing resilience levels. The proposed Timebooster Academic Systemic Model (TASM) advocates for the cultivation of soft skills in academia, en-compassing prioritization, seeking assistance, and addressing tendencies of perfectionism and procrastination. Additionally, TASM recommends the implementation of full automation, delegation of administrative responsibilities, and the mitigation of both overt and covert time-consuming elements. Furthermore, TASM reports on the pivotal role of the academic resilient manager-leaders, who actively contribute to their own satisfaction and academic growth by enhancing collaboration and teamwork. Time-management challenges emerge as a critical determinant of academic well-being and resilience. Systemic models, exemplified by TASM, offer a valuable framework for investigating prioritization concerns, identifying administrative impediments in academic processes, and managing low-value time-consuming elements. The TASM model, along with the systemic philosophy underpinning its design, presents an avenue for advancing the exploration of time-management phenomena within the context of healthcare academia.

In the realm of construction industry, the management of claims constitutes a pervasive and multifaceted issue, with potential repercussions extending to project delays, cost overruns, work suspensions, and, in extreme cases, project termination. This challenge is a significant and unavoidable hurdle due to the unique features of construction projects, which are complex, involve many stakeholders and come with inherent risks. To address this complex issue, it becomes imperative to undertake a comprehensive appraisal of the claims management procedures employed within the industry, culminating in the presentation of findings within a risk-based framework. The overarching objective of this endeavour is threefold: firstly, to discern the pivotal attributes that affect each category of construction claims; secondly, to establish a coherent decision-making paradigm for the effective administration of such claims; and finally, to provide data that can be harnessed to either address concerns related to claims or enhance the effectiveness of the claims administration process. Keeping this in mind, this study serves to evaluate the factors associated with claim management gathered from a wide overview of literature, encompassing a range of construction projects, varying in terms of types, sizes/capacities and contractual arrangements. Hence, it advanced a refined method within the domain of fuzzy group decision-making, denoted as the Modified Fuzzy Group Decision-Making Approach (FGDMA) in addition to extensive statistical analysis using SPSS.V.25 software. They were applied to assess, analyze and prioritize claim about 108 claim management factors based on the responses obtained from the comprehensive questionnaire survey involving 104 industry professionals. This multi-faceted approach, which combines the insights from previous publications, along with the collective experience of the surveyed professionals with the analytical capabilities of the FGDMA- Statically Factor Analysis, reinforces the robustness and practical applicability of proposed methodology within the context of construction claims management.

This paper explores the application of machine learning (ML) algorithms in predicting trends in the fixed bond market, where traditional analytical methods have proven inadequate. Focusing on various ML techniques such as supervised and unsupervised learning, neural networks, and deep learning, the study evaluates their effectiveness in forecasting market movements. It details a series of experiments in which different ML models are rigorously trained and tested against historical bond market data. The findings reveal that models employing time series analysis and advanced deep learning show marked potential in accurately predicting bond market trends. Additionally, the paper delves into the challenges and limitations inherent in these ML approaches, including data requirements and the risk of model overfitting. Finally, it proposes directions for future research, emphasizing the integration of ML into broader financial market analysis.

Background and Objectives: ACTION-France (Awareness, Care and Treatment In Obesity MaNagement in France) aims to identify the perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and potential barriers to effective obesity management in France and guide collaborative actions. Methods: ACTION-France is a cross-sectional survey of people with obesity (PwO) and healthcare professionals (HCPs), in France. The PwO and HCP questionnaires ran from 27/09/2022 to 01/02/2023 and from 19/12/2022 to 31/03/2023, respectively. Results: The study, encompassing 1226 PwO and 166 HCPs, reveals a shared recognition of obesity as a chronic condition. However, despite being requested by most PwO, weight-related discussions are surprisingly infrequent, leading to delayed diagnosis and care. PwO and HCPs held different views as to why: HCPs often attributed it to PwO’s lack of motivation or disinterest, whereas PwO avoided them because they felt weight managing was their own responsibility and were uncomfortable discussing it. When weight was discussed, primarily with general practitioners (GPs), discussions mostly focused on physical activity and dietary. However, results identified a strong psychosocial impact of obesity: 42% of respondents reported anxiety-depressive symptoms, and many more hesitated to engage in certain social activities because of their weight. Psychotherapy was only discussed by 55% of HCPs. Pharmaceutical options were also rarely discussed (19.5% of HCPs), though 56.1% of PwO reported they would want to. Conclusions: HCPs’ and PwO’s perceptions differed significantly and need to converge through enhanced communication. A holistic approach, integrating comprehensive training for GPs and psychological comorbidities, would help to bridge perceptual gaps effectively and foster more empathetic and effective patient care.

Snow crab replaced groundfish fisheries as the primary focus of the Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) fishing industry in the mid-1990s. Over the past three decades, management philosophies in this male-only fishery have shifted from promoting industry expansion to promoting industry rationalization to implementing Precautionary Approach (PA) management. Until the mid-2010s, there were regionalized management strategies characterized by higher exploitation rates in northern than southern sub-stock units along the NL marine shelves. However, in the late 2010s, exploitation rates were permitted to elevate to high levels across the entire stock range in association with a large resource decline and evidence of biological harm through fishing emerged in chronically depleted areas. In 2019, when stock and fishery productivity were near historic lows, a multi-indicator PA system was informally introduced into management of the resource. This event coincided with anticipated improvements in stock and fishery performance. This paper examines the extent to which the multi-indicator PA management system, focused on promotion of both biological protection and maximization of fishing efficiency, may have contributed to recent improvements in stock and fishery status. A suite of indicators from areas implementing PA guidance into management in 2019 prior to formal adoption of the PA system in 2023 suggest the system has been highly beneficial in promoting rapid recovery, improving stock and fishery performance metrics to levels matching or exceeding historic levels under similar conditions. We discuss capacity of the system to better safeguard biological aspects of resource and fisheries productivity moving forward under a scenario of an expectant resource decline.

The silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is among the most valuable conifers in Europe for ecological and economic reasons. In the course of history, primarily in the 20th century, its share in stands has been declining due to ill-suited management practices, especially clear-cut management, air pollution, and wildlife-induced damage. Based on recent knowledge of fir ecology and population dynamics, small-scale shelterwood and selection management have been introduced in fir stands, which have also stabilized them. Fir is an essential species for maintaining high stability and biodiversity, especially on planosols and in waterlogged habitats. Due to its shade tolerance and environmental flexibility, particularly at higher altitudes, it can coexist very well with many tree species in mixtures, which can increase the productive potential of stands. It can form stands of heterogeneous structure, ranging from single to multi-layer to selection. For its successful natural regeneration, it is essential to reduce cloven-hoofed game and thus prevent bud browsing damage. On the other hand, fir is a species relatively resistant to bark stripping and the spread of secondary rot compared to Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). During global climate change, fir is expected to shift to higher elevations with sufficient precipitation, while in the southern part of its natural range or at lower elevations, outside water-influenced habitats, it is likely to decline. This paper essentially reviews the description and distribution of the species, its ecological requirements, threats and diseases, habitat and stand conditions, and close-to-nature forest management practices with emphasis on ongoing climate change.

In the past few years, cloud-based additive manufacturing has shown its application and potential in industries. For this reason, when the demand for cloud-based additive products increases, efficient scheduling of related tasks becomes more important to achieve optimized duration. This research proposes a Heuristic Scheduling Algorithm (HSA) for use in Cloud-Based Additive Manufacturing (CBAM) with an approach to Critical Chain Buffer Management (CC/BM). This research aims to schedule and optimize the time in cloud-based additive manufacturing, in addition to the parts production process, it also includes the steps of receiving online orders and informing the manufacturing unit and sending them to the customer. The HSA proposed in this research consists of three phases 1- Buffer sizing, 2- Additive manufacturing and logistics scheduling, and 3- Buffer controlling. To evaluate, the performance of the algorithm is simulated. The finding shows that the proposed HAS can effectively solve the CBAM scheduling problem.

This article presents a low-cost insurance system developed for small-hold farms in disaster-prone regions, primarily using free Earth Observation (EO) data and Free Open Source Software (FOSS) – collectively termed sustainable geoinformatics - with a proprietary mobile phone app that enables verification. The study examined 30 farms in Risaralda department, Colombia. A Digital Elevation Model (12.5m pixels) from the ALOS PALSAR satellite sensor was used with a Geographical Information System (GIS) to map the terrain, drainage and geohazards of each farming district. Google Earth Engine (GEE) was used to carry out Time Series Analysis of 15 EO and weather datasets for 1998 to 2020. This analysis enabled the levels of risk from hydrometeorological hazards to be determined for each farm of the study, providing key data for the setting of insurance premiums. A parametric insurance product was piloted using GPS-tagged, time-stamped mobile phone photos to verify crop health. Key features of this insurance system are its low operational cost and rapid damage verification, relative to conventional approaches to farm insurance. It is an affordable form of insurance for small-scale farmers, with the rapid verification and payment of claims. This relatively fast, low-cost and affordable approach to insurance for small-scale farming enhances sustainable development by enabling policy-holder farmers to recover more quickly from disasters.

Background: Hurricanes and other wind events are significant disturbances that affect coastal urban forests around the world. Past research has led to the creation of wind resistance ratings for different tree species which can be used in urban forest management efforts to mitigate the effects of these storms. While useful, these ratings have been limited to species common to one global region (Florida, USA).Methods: Drawing on past ratings and data from a global literature review on tropical storm research, we created a machine learning model to broaden both the geographic coverage and the variety of species currently assessed for their resistance to wind.Results: We were able to assign wind resistance ratings to 281 new species based on the available data and our modelling efforts. The model accuracy and agreement with the original ratings when applied to the testing data set was high with 91% accuracy.Conclusions: The resulting list of wind resistance ratings has been adapted into a spreadsheet-based decision aid for managers, allowing them to assess the overall susceptibility of their urban forest to wind events like hurricanes.

The Cauto River Basin (CRB), the heartland of Cuban agriculture, has been hit hard by drought and water shortage. In response to this pressing issue, this study provides a comprehensive as-sessment of water supply, demand and balance within the Cauto River Basin, considering the baseline and projected socio-economic and climatic conditions by coupling of SWAT and WEAP models. The obtained results reveal that the annual flow in the CRB is projected to slightly de-crease (2.5%) in which the reduction in the rainy season (3.1%) is higher than that in the dry sea-son (1.3%). Total water demand in the baseline scenario is around 1.194 billion m3, dominated by agriculture (96%), with rice crop requiring nearly half. For the future scenario of 2050, the study shows a 16.6% surge in demand to 1.394 billion m3, driven by climate change and agricultural expansion. However, domestic use decreases by 10% due to population reduction. Water deficit in the future is projected to increase by 52% from 172.4 to 262.7 million m3 due to rising water demand and declining water supply. This study shows that integrating a hydrological model into a water allocation model is a promising approach to estimate the water supply, demand and balance, which is a crucial component of water resources management.

Turbidity stands as a crucial indicator for assessing water quality, and while turbidity sensors exist their high cost prohibit their extensive use. In this paper, we introduce an innovative turbidity sensor, and it is the first low-cost turbidity sensor which is designed specifically for long-term stormwater in-field monitoring. Its low cost ($23.50 USD), enables the implementation of high spatial resolution monitoring schemes. The sensor design is available under open hardware and open-source licences, and the 3D-printed sensor housing is free to modify based on different monitoring purposes and ambient conditions. The sensor was tested both in the laboratory and in the field. The laboratory results show a strong linear relationship (R2 > 0.99) between the sensor readings and the commercial hand-held turbidimeter (Thermo Scientific AQ4500) results of the solution. In the field, the low-cost sensor measurements were statistically significantly correlated (p < 0.01) to a standard high-cost commercial turbidity sensor (GreenSpan TS-1000). Biofouling and drifting issues were also analysed after the sensors were deployed in the field for more than 6 months, showing both biofouling and drift occur during monitoring. Nonetheless, in terms of maintenance requirements, the low-cost sensor exhibited similar needs compared to the Green-Span sensor.

The impact of the agriculture net carbon effect is crucial for climate change mitigation, yet research on this topic in China is currently insufficient. In this study, the carbon balance ratio (CBR) is used to characterise the net carbon effect of agriculture, and the spatial Durbin model and threshold regression model were used to empirically analyse the CBR with a sample of 30 provincial-level regions in China from 2004 to 2019. The aim was to investigate the mechanism of the influence of the land management scale (SCALE) of farming on the CBR. The results of the study indicate that national farming generally has a net sink effect, with large changes in interannual fluctuations; the expansion of SCALE has an obvious role in increasing sinks and reducing emissions, and has a positive spatial spillover effect on CBR, with significant spatial heterogeneity. Furthermore, as the SCALE expands, the direction of the influence of rural residents’ income and education level on CBR changes in the opposite direction, showing a significant non-linear relationship characteristic. However, in most areas, the SCALE threshold has not yet been reached, suggesting that the improvement in education levels can still offset the negative impact of economic income growth in the short term. The study recommends paying attention to the role of farmers’ human capital, changing production methods, and implementing carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals to enhance the net sink effect of the farming industry, which would be achieved by increasing land management scale.

1) Background: Capturing patients’ medical histories significantly influences clinical decisions. Errors in this process lead to clinical errors, increase costs and dissatisfaction among physicians and patients. Physicians in developing countries are overloaded with patients and cannot always follow the proper history-taking procedure. The challenges are acknowledged; however, a comprehensive understanding of the status and the remedies remained unexplored. 2) Objective: This paper aims to investigate the workload, history-taking challenges, and the willingness of the physicians to accept digital solutions. 3) Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted on 104 physicians across Bangladesh, featuring 22 questions regarding their professional environment, workload, digitization status of health records, challenges in history-taking, and attitudes toward adopting digital solutions for managing patient histories; 4) Results: 92.67% of the physicians face workloads, 88.46% struggle in medical history-taking, and only 4.81% use digital medical records. About 70% struggle to complete the necessary history-taking steps, emphasizing the urgent need for solutions. An AI-based Smart Health Gantt Chart (SHGC) system has been introduced for their instant feedback. 93.27% of physicians expressed their willingness to use such a system. 5) Conclusions: The proposed SHGC has the potential to enhance healthcare efficiency in developing nations, benefit physicians, and improve patient-centered care.

This study presents a critical literature review on the models of users' adoption of blockchain applications in supply chains. This review pertaining to blockchain technology adoption by supply chain stakeholders is significant as it is a pre-requisite for the technical sustainability of blockchain technology in supply chains. Through a critical literature review, the previous studies related to technology adoption models were analyzed to explore practices brought about by blockchain applications for supply chain management. This study examined the suitability of the existing models (e.g., the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework, task technology fit (TTF), unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT)) of technology adoption for blockchain applications in supply chains and came up with a new unified model, namely, TOE-TTF-UTAUT. This review provides implications for a more appropriate research design using mixed methods. When adopting the TOE-TTF-UTAUT model in a study, two phases of research using mixed methods can be performed. The first phase is an exploratory sequential design in which a qualitative approach to explore the TOE and supply chain task constructs is followed by a quantitative approach using a survey and quantitative analyses to investigate the factors affecting blockchain adoption in supply chains. The second phase adopts explanatory sequential design in which the quantitative findings from the first phase are reviewed for follow-up by qualitative interviews to obtain explanations.

Abstract Objective: This study aims to examine CA-125 and miRNAs as biomarkers in endometriosis pathophysiology and their potential roles in clinical diagnostics and prognostics. Methods:We reviewed a variety of studies, including cross-sectional, case-control, and prospective designs, examining a broad spectrum of patient demographics, clinical features, and biomarker (CA-125 and miRNA) expression levels. Results: CA-125 has been reaffirmed as a valuable biomarker in diagnosing and monitoring endometriosis, with its utility enhanced when used alongside other markers. MiRNAs have emerged as promising molecular regulators, offering new avenues for non-invasive diagnostics and a deeper understanding of the disease's pathophysiology. The integration of these biomarkers presents a potential shift towards more personalized and effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Conclusion: Endometriosis presents a significant challenge in women's health, requiring innovative approaches for its management. The convergence of CA-125 and miRNA research represents a promising advance, potentially leading to more accurate diagnostics and personalized treatment. Future research should focus on standardizing methodologies, expanding study cohorts, and integrating findings into clinical practice to fully harness the potential of these biomarkers.

The article studies and analyzes a hybrid power source system, lithium battery, and fuel cell assisted by flexible photovoltaic panels for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). The new configuration operates based on optimizing the performance of the dual power source to maximize the available energy and operating time. The operational mode simulates specific driving conditions in urban, peripheral, and intercity routes under variable driving patterns and traffic conditions. The simulation results show that the new configuration increases the hybrid electric vehicle performance, providing higher reliability despite the more complex design. The proposed system reduces the external power supply dependence and avoids unexpected sudden stops due to energy exhaustion. The new configuration also extends the vehicle driving range depending on driving mode and route conditions. The vehicle driving range extension may reach up to 276.3 km. The hybridization of fuel cells with lithium battery and PV panel assistance enhances battery management, reducing battery servicing and increasing lifespan. The proposed topology is cheaper than a single fuel cell power system by 17.2%, reducing the total cost related to the single battery power system if we consider the battery recharge for its entire lifespan. The cost saving is 2.6% for the American market and 14.8% for the European one.

Purpose: Post-pandemic management of COVID-19 infections and any emergent outbreaks is as an endemic disease remains a public health concern. Vaccine hesitancy may continue to hamper efforts to respond any new disease outbreaks and future epidemics. This qualitative study aimed to explore factors influencing covid-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in Kenya too gain deeper insights on this issue. Methods: The study was implemented in Western Kenya using key informant interviews. Fourteen (14) key informants were purposively selected for the study. All interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Interpretation of findings was done within the framework of the Health Belief Model. Key findings: Knowledge was a critical factor in combatting misinformation and fostering vaccine acceptance among participants in this study. Misinformation included rumors that the vaccine lowers immunity and was intended for population control. Cues to action included influence from political and opinion leaders and observing the loss of life among unvaccinated individuals. Perceived barriers to vaccine uptake included fear of vaccine safety, side effects, long waiting times at that time of our study, fear of contracting the COVID-19 at vaccination sites, family/spousal influence on vaccine uptake and fear of the unknown with the vaccine. Conclusion: Findings from this study provides insight into areas for targeted strategies for managing Covid-19 vaccinations and future pandemics. Within the framework of the Health Belief Model, this study identified salient barriers and facilitators of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy that may be helpful to inform future pandemic response.

The enterprise software sector is experiencing a significant transformation driven by rapid technological progress and evolving business needs. An effective release management process is crucial for the solution providers and customers, as they incorporate the principles of Industry 4.0 and 5.0. With the growing dependence on software solutions and services, ensuring their quality, reliability, and security is highly necessary. The release management process incorporates strategic planning, regression testing, accurate deployment, and continuous monitoring of software updates. However, the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) create a unique challenge to the release management process. The existing research needs to address the necessary adaptations for Industry 5.0, mainly in product-based software organizations, to the release management process without a change management system. After working with several software solution stakeholders, based on the responses from SaaS project stakeholders, we have presented a revised software release readiness workflow by incorporating a change management module. The preliminary result based on data over a limited period of time indicates that the revised workflow has the potential to improve the management of slippage, particularly by more effectively addressing NFR-related issues, thereby resulting in more predictable and reliable release cycles.

Exploring the determinants of biological community structure is important not only for understanding the formation of the community, but also for promoting its biodiversity conservation. We monitored butterfly communities in a grassland and woodland area of Mount Fuji, Japan, and explored the environmental factors that influenced them. Multivariate regression tree (MRT) analysis generated a 3-leaved MRT (G1, G2, and G3) and showed the total explained variation of 64.4% in the species composition. The explanatory variables discriminating between the two branches in the first node and in the second node of the MRT were neighbouring plant community and management status, respectively. The neighbouring plant community was related to the distribution of butterfly dietary resources and contributed much in determining the species composition of the community. While the management status was largely related to the amount of their dietary resources, affecting the species richness and diversity. The PCA results revealed that the three key groups (G1, G2, and G3) were formed along the gradients of these two factors. Consequently, to maintain mowing management and the diversity of neighbouring vegetation is very important for the continuance of butterfly community diversity and composition and the conservation of Red Listed species in the area.