Current Challenges Research Articles

Examining Low-Carbon Material Initiatives: Existing Policies, Impacts on the Procurement of Projects, Current Challenges, and Potential Solutions to Reduce Embodied Carbon in the Construction Industry

Examining Low-Carbon Material Initiatives: Existing Policies, Impacts on the Procurement of Projects, Current Challenges, and Potential Solutions to Reduce Embodied Carbon in the Construction Industry

Blockchain en salud: transformando la seguridad y la gestión de datos clínicos

IntroductionTechnological advances continue to transform society, including the health sector. The decentralized and verifiable nature of blockchain technology presents great potential for addressing current challenges in healthcare data management. DiscussionThis article reports on how the generalized adoption of blockchain faces important challenges and barriers that must be addressed, such as the lack of regulation, technical complexity, safeguarding privacy, and economic and technological costs. Collaboration between medical professionals, technologists and legislators is essential to establish a solid regulatory framework and adequate training. ConclusionBlockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize data management in the healthcare sector, improving the quality of medical care, empowering users, and promoting the secure sharing of data, but an important cultural change is needed, along with more evidence, to reveal its advantages in front of the existing technological alternative.

Lora Based Advanced Multipurpose Security System

Abstract: As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to evolve, the demand for advanced multipurpose security systems has become increasingly pronounced. This review paper explores the integration of Long Range (LoRa) technology into the realm of security, presenting a comprehensive analysis of its applications and benefits. LoRa's exceptional characteristics, including extended range, low power consumption, and scalability, position it as a promising solution to the limitations of traditional security systems. The paper begins with an introduction to the current challenges in security systems and the need for innovative approaches. It then delves into a detailed exploration of LoRa technology, elucidating its technical aspects and showcasing its advantages over conventional communication protocols. A critical component of the paper lies in dissecting the elements of an advanced multipurpose security system. The integration of LoRa into intrusion detection sensors, video analytics through surveillance cameras, access control systems, and seamless connectivity with smart home devices is thoroughly examined. This comprehensive approach aims to highlight the versatility and efficacy of LoRa in addressing diverse security requirements. The communication architecture section elucidates the role of LoRa as the primary communication protocol. Emphasis is placed on the implementation of mesh networking to enhance reliability and coverage, accompanied by robust data encryption protocols to secure sensitive information. Realworld implementations and case studies form a pivotal part of this review, providing tangible examples of successful LoRa-based security systems. Performance metrics and comparisons with traditional security setups serve to underscore the practical advantages of adopting LoRa in security applications. In conclusion, this paper synthesizes key findings, emphasizing the transformative impact of LoRa on advanced multipurpose security systems. The integration of LoRa technology offers a scalable, efficient, and secure solution to the evolving landscape of security challenges. The abstract serves as a precursor to a comprehensive exploration of LoRa's role in shaping the future of security systems.

Deciphering adolescent emptiness: A novel interpretation of other-contribution theory and intervention strategies

Deciphering adolescent emptiness: A novel interpretation of other-contribution theory and intervention strategies

Corporate governance and CSR for sustainability in Oil and Gas: Trends, challenges, and best practices: A review

Corporate governance and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) are integral components of sustainability in the oil and gas industry, shaping the sector's environmental and social impact. This review explores current trends, challenges, and best practices in corporate governance and CSR for sustainability within the oil and gas sector. The review examines how corporate governance frameworks influence CSR strategies, highlighting the importance of board oversight and stakeholder engagement in driving sustainable practices. It also delves into the evolving role of oil and gas companies in addressing environmental concerns, such as climate change and resource depletion, through CSR initiatives and transparent reporting. Challenges faced by the industry, such as regulatory complexity, stakeholder expectations, and balancing short-term profitability with long-term sustainability, are analyzed. The review underscores the need for robust governance structures and effective CSR programs to navigate these challenges and maintain social license to operate. Best practices in corporate governance and CSR are explored, emphasizing the importance of integrating sustainability into core business strategies. Case studies illustrate successful approaches to CSR implementation, showcasing how companies can create shared value for stakeholders while driving positive environmental and social outcomes. In conclusion, the review calls for a proactive and holistic approach to corporate governance and CSR in the oil and gas industry. It advocates for increased transparency, stakeholder engagement, and alignment of CSR efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to enhance sustainability and mitigate risks in the sector.

Recent Advances in 4D Printing of Advanced Materials and Structures for Functional Applications.

4D printing has attracted tremendous worldwide attention during the past decade. This technology enables the shape, property, or functionality of printed structures to change with time in response to diverse external stimuli, making the original static structures alive. The revolutionary 4D-printing technology offers remarkable benefits in controlling geometric and functional reconfiguration, thereby showcasing immense potential across diverse fields, including biomedical engineering, electronics, robotics, and photonics. Here, a comprehensive review of the latest achievements in 4D printing using various types of materials and different additive manufacturing techniques is presented. The state-of-the-art strategies implemented in harnessing various 4D-printed structures are highlighted, which involve materials design, stimuli, functionalities, and applications. The machine learning approach explored for 4D printing is also discussed. Finally, the perspectives on the current challenges and future trends toward further development in 4D printing are summarized.

Sulfur in Waste-Free Sustainable Synthesis: Advancing Carbon-Carbon Coupling Techniques.

This review explores the pivotal role of sulfur in advancing sustainable carbon-carbon (C-C) coupling reactions. The unique electronic properties of sulfur, as a soft Lewis base with significant mesomeric effect make it an excellent candidate for initiating radical transformations, directing C-H-activation, and facilitating cycloaddition and C-S bond dissociation reactions. These attributes are crucial for developing waste-free methodologies in green chemistry. Our mini-review is focused on existing sulfur-directed C-C coupling techniques, emphasizing their sustainability and comparing state-of-the-art methods with traditional approaches. The review highlights the importance of this research in addressing current challenges in organic synthesis and catalysis. The innovative use of sulfur in photocatalytic, electrochemical and metal-catalyzed processes not only exemplifies significant advancements in the field but also opens new avenues for environmentally friendly chemical processes. By focusing on atom economy and waste minimization, the analysis provides broad appeal and potential for future developments in sustainable organic chemistry.

Organic Thermoelectric Devices for Energy Harvesting and Sensing Applications

AbstractThe rise of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things have spurred an increasing demand for wearable, sustainable, and maintenance‐free power sources. Organic thermoelectric (OTE) devices are emerged as promising candidates because they are capable of converting heat energy into electricity directly without the need of moving parts, capable of flexible and seamless integration with multifunctional miniaturized electronics. In addition, OTE devices can perform straightforward as various self‐powered sensors, boosting their applications in the field of intelligent interactions. This review focuses on recent advances in OTE materials and devices for applications in energy harvesting and sensing. The basic knowledge and key parameters of OTE materials and devices are presented, followed by detailed introduction of recent progress of OTE generators, sensors, and other OTE‐integrated devices. Next, several aspects of optimizing OTE devices toward multifunctional applications are highlighted. Finally, an overview of the current challenges and future research directions of OTE‐based devices is addressed. It is hoped that this review can pave the way for speeding up a bright future for the development and practical applications of OTE devices.

Electrochemical microfluidic sensing platforms for biosecurity analysis.

Biosecurity encompasses the health and safety of humans, animals, plants, and the environment. In this article, "biosecurity" is defined as encompassing the comprehensive aspects of human, animal, plant, and environmental safety. Reliable biosecurity testing technology is the key point for effectively assessing biosecurity risks and ensuring biosecurity. Therefore, it is crucial to develop excellent detection technologies to detect risk factors that can affect biosecurity. An electrochemical microfluidic biosensing platform integrates fluid control, target recognition, signal transduction, and output and incorporates the advantages of electrochemical analysis technology and microfluidic technology. Thus, anelectrochemical microfluidic biosensing platform, characterized by exceptional analytical sensitivity, portability, rapid analysis speed, low reagent consumption, and low risk of contamination, shows considerable promise for biosecurity detection compared to traditional, more complex, and time-consuming detection technologies. This review provides a concise introduction to electrochemical microfluidic biosensors and biosecurity. It highlights recent research advances in utilizing electrochemical microfluidic biosensing platforms to assess biosecurity risk factors. It includes the use of electrochemical microfluidic biosensors for the detection of risk factors directly endangering biosecurity (direct application: namely, risk factors directly endangering the health of human, animals, and plants) and for the detection of risk factors indirectly endangering biosecurity (indirect application: namely, risk factors endangering the safety of food and the environment). Finally, we outline the current challenges and future perspectives of electrochemical microfluidic biosensing platforms.

CARBON CAPTURE AND UTILIZATION (CCU): A REVIEW OF EMERGING APPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES

As the global community grapples with the urgent need to mitigate the impacts of climate change, Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) has emerged as a promising and multifaceted strategy to address carbon emissions. This review paper provides a comprehensive examination of the current state of CCU technologies, focusing on both the emerging applications and the challenges inherent in their implementation. The first section offers an overview of diverse carbon capture methods, ranging from pre-combustion to direct air capture, highlighting key advancements in technologies such as chemical absorption, membrane separation, and adsorption. Subsequently, the paper delves into the various pathways of carbon utilization, exploring applications in the production of fuels, carbon-based materials, and chemical synthesis. Notable breakthroughs in power-to-gas technologies, utilization in construction materials, and industrial applications are discussed in detail. The core of the review is dedicated to unveiling the emerging applications of CCU, with a specific emphasis on its role in agriculture and soil enhancement, integration with renewable energy systems, and collaboration with other industries. The potential economic and environmental benefits of these applications are explored to underscore the transformative impact of CCU on sustainable development. However, the journey towards widespread CCU adoption is not without challenges. This paper identifies and analyzes technical hurdles related to efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, it examines the regulatory, policy, and societal challenges that may hinder the seamless integration of CCU technologies. Case studies of successful CCU projects provide practical insights, emphasizing lessons learned and best practices. The paper concludes by outlining future prospects and opportunities in the field of CCU, emphasizing the need for continued research, development, and international collaboration. It calls for a concerted effort to overcome challenges and harness the full potential of CCU in contributing to global carbon reduction goals. This comprehensive review aims to serve as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals involved in climate change mitigation, providing a nuanced understanding of the current landscape, opportunities, and challenges associated with Carbon Capture and Utilization.
 Keywords: Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU), Applications, Challenges.

Unsupervised twitter social bot detection using deep contrastive graph clustering

The emergence of malicious Twitter social bots poses a considerable threat to the security of social networks, and the detection of evolving social bots has become challenging. State-of-the-art detection methods are usually supervised, but the label acquisition process suffers from time-consuming and inaccurate problems in addition to its inability to cope with the challenge of the continuous evolution of social bots. Moreover, structural relationships within social networks are under-explored using current unsupervised methods. To address current challenges, we propose an unsupervised social bot detection method based on deep contrastive graph clustering (BotDCGC). This approach utilises a graph attentional encoder and an inner product decoder to acquire user node embeddings. By incorporating information from both user account features and topological structure, the model employs a contrastive learning technique based on structure to discern node embeddings of distinct classes within the feature space. Subsequently, confident cluster assignments are used as soft labels to guide the embedding process by calculating the similarity between each node and the clustering centre, enabling the joint optimisation of user node embeddings and clustering results. Experiments show that BotDCGC is more effective than the state-of-the-art baselines with an accuracy of 0.8095 in the Twibot-20 dataset and 0.9334 in the Cresci-2015 dataset, and the experimental results indicate the effectiveness of the graph autoencoder module, contrastive learning and deep clustering module.

SOWING THE SEEDS OF TRANSFORMATION IN THE COLOMBIAN ANDES: THE ROLE OF THE HUERTA (HOME GARDEN) IN FOSTERING AND SUSTAINING AGROECOLOGICAL PRODUCTION

ABSTRACT The adoption of agroecological and related alternative farming practices is frequently cited as a viable strategy for fostering transformative change within agricultural and food systems. This study investigates the role of agroecology as a pathway of transformation of small-scale agriculture in the Colombian Andes. Drawing upon the “three spheres” model of transformation, which encompasses interactions between the personal, practical, and political spheres, the study explores motivations, actions, and political implications associated with the adoption of agroecology in three sites within the Bogotá region. The study employs a qualitative methodology, including in-depth farmer interviews and participant observation. Study findings highlight a range of economic, cultural, and ecological motivations within the personal sphere, all of which are driving farmers toward adoption of agroecology. These motivations, many of which are rooted in an ethics of care and connection, manifest in the practical sphere through actions including soil care, plant care, and care of seeds. Within the political sphere, these actions are contributing to micropolitical changes that are fostering broader shifts toward sustainable local food systems. Taken together, these findings suggest that agroecological practices can offer a viable pathway for addressing the current challenges in agriculture, promising a more sustainable and socially just future for small-scale farming.

Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Overall and Hybrid Water Splitting.

Electrocatalytic water splitting driven by renewable electricity has been recognized as a promising approach for green hydrogen production. Different from conventional strategies in developing electrocatalysts for the two half-reactions of water splitting (e.g., the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions, HER and OER) separately, there has been a growing interest in designing and developing bifunctional electrocatalysts, which are able to catalyze both the HER and OER. In addition, considering the high overpotentials required for OER while limited value of the produced oxygen, there is another rapidly growing interest in exploring alternative oxidation reactions to replace OER for hybrid water splitting toward energy-efficient hydrogen generation. This Review begins with an introduction on the fundamental aspects of water splitting, followed by a thorough discussion on various physicochemical characterization techniques that are frequently employed in probing the active sites, with an emphasis on the reconstruction of bifunctional electrocatalysts during redox electrolysis. The design, synthesis, and performance of diverse bifunctional electrocatalysts based on noble metals, nonprecious metals, and metal-free nanocarbons, for overall water splitting in acidic and alkaline electrolytes, are thoroughly summarized and compared. Next, their application toward hybrid water splitting is also presented, wherein the alternative anodic reactions include sacrificing agents oxidation, pollutants oxidative degradation, and organics oxidative upgrading. Finally, a concise statement on the current challenges and future opportunities of bifunctional electrocatalysts for both overall and hybrid water splitting is presented in the hope of guiding future endeavors in the quest for energy-efficient and sustainable green hydrogen production.

Current Challenges and Opportunities for Advanced Nursing Education in The United Arab Emirates

Abstract: The impact of the pandemic has shed light on the roles of nursing worldwide, as nurses who served in the frontline were affected severely and significantly at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most nurses bravely and courageously faced dangers, even death, to help patients confined in various healthcare facilities. Eventually, the nursing profession emerged victorious after the healthcare system worldwide was brought to its knees, almost collapsing the entire healthcare system in some countries, especially in Europe. As a part of countermeasures, all schools were forced to close and reinvent themselves in educating students using the available technologies, internet, occasional volunteer exposure, and work in government hospitals. The RAK College of Nursing (RAKCON) followed its actual schedule using all the university's resources, including online examinations, Zoom, and Google Meet. At first, it looked like the quality of education, especially at the graduate level, was compromised. Still, the students eventually became creative as they would do online research, meetings, and advising. The thesis defense was conducted online for at least two consecutive years, i.e., 2020 and 2021. Yet, it does not show that the quality of the thesis output by the students is inferior. They improved as students were obliged to keep track of the subject matter they chose to work on. As technology advances, the college is adjusting and looking for opportunities everywhere, like expanding markets outside the UAE, improving alumni involvement and support, and its plan to initiate and open doctoral nursing programs. RAKCON continuously believes that it can help develop innovation in the nursing and midwifery practice in the country as it hopes to produce one nurse in every Emirati family.

Infrared Small Target Detection Based on Tensor Tree Decomposition and Self-Adaptive Local Prior

Infrared small target detection plays a crucial role in both military and civilian systems. However, current detection methods face significant challenges in complex scenes, such as inaccurate background estimation, inability to distinguish targets from similar non-target points, and poor robustness across various scenes. To address these issues, this study presents a novel spatial–temporal tensor model for infrared small target detection. In our method, we introduce the tensor tree rank to capture global structure in a more balanced strategy, which helps achieve more accurate background estimation. Meanwhile, we design a novel self-adaptive local prior weight by evaluating the level of clutter and noise content in the image. It mitigates the imbalance between target enhancement and background suppression. Then, the spatial–temporal total variation (STTV) is used as a joint regularization term to help better remove noise and obtain better detection performance. Finally, the proposed model is efficiently solved by the alternating direction multiplier method (ADMM). Extensive experiments demonstrate that our method achieves superior detection performance when compared with other state-of-the-art methods in terms of target enhancement, background suppression, and robustness across various complex scenes. Furthermore, we conduct an ablation study to validate the effectiveness of each module in the proposed model.

AI-powered biometrics for Internet of Things security: A review and future vision

Biometrics is a set of advanced technologies that use the physical or behavioral characteristics of individuals to provide reliable access control. With the rapid development in information and communication technology, biometrics has become an increasingly important field, especially with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). Fingerprint- and facial-recognition technologies have been significantly improved by the use of AI. The widespread use of the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to security challenges and created new opportunities for biometrics to be used in various applications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of intelligent or AI-powered biometrics, focusing on the integration of AI and biometrics for building security measures to improve IoT security. Due to their enhanced security and usability, biometric-based authentication methods are becoming increasingly popular in IoT environments. AI algorithms are essential for improving biometric systems in IoT applications by enabling advanced pattern recognition and adaptive decision-making. Furthermore, the integration of biometrics with AI and the IoT can help mitigate security risks, ensuring the protection of data and user privacy. This review makes three main contributions: it provides a comprehensive analysis of the interdependencies between the AI, biometrics, and IoT domains; it covers the applications of AI and biometrics in the context of the IoT; and it highlights the current challenges and future research directions for the deployment of intelligent biometrics in various IoT application domains. Furthermore, this review facilitates further research in the area of the application of intelligent biometrics in IoT applications.

Research on the Reform of the Course “Fundamental Principles of Engineering Structures” in the Context of School-Enterprise Cooperation and Integration of Production and Education

The course “Fundamental Principles of Engineering Structures” is one of the compulsory courses for undergraduate students majoring in civil engineering, structural engineering, and bridge engineering. It mainly introduces the basic concepts, principles, and design methods of engineering structures. The course’s emphasis lies in the integration of theory and practice, aiming to enable students to acquire fundamental theoretical knowledge of engineering structures in the classroom and to consolidate this knowledge through practical activities such as experiments and design, thereby enhancing their comprehensive abilities. Therefore, the teaching reform of the course on fundamental principles of engineering structures should start with improving students’ practical abilities and strive to achieve organic integration of theory and practice. This paper explores how the teaching reform of the course should be conducted against the backdrop of course ideological and political education, mainly focusing on the integration of school-enterprise cooperation and production-education integration. Firstly, the author analyzes the current issues and challenges from the perspectives of school-enterprise cooperation and production-education integration, and then proposes corresponding measures for the reform of course teaching, including establishing a curriculum system in line with modern engineering practices, fully leveraging the role of teaching design, and stimulating students’ interest in learning, among others. It is hoped that this research can provide some reference and inspiration for developing relevant teaching reforms in the course of fundamental principles of engineering structures.

O3‐Type Cathodes for Sodium‐Ion Batteries: Recent Advancements and Future Perspectives

AbstractOver recent decades, rapid advancements in energy technology have transformed human life. Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) have played a pivotal role nevertheless concerns about limited lithium resources and price fluctuations underscore the need for sustainability. Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs), operating on principles akin to LIBs, have emerged as promising candidates for rechargeable batteries in the next generation of energy storage systems, primarily due to their cost‐effectiveness and sustainable attributes. Analogous to LIBs, the cathode in SIBs assumes a critical role in dictating the electrochemical performance of the battery. Therefore, the research and development of cathode materials for SIBs take on paramount significance. O3‐type SIB cathodes, inspired by the successful O3‐type LIB cathodes (e. g., LiCoO2 and NMC variants), hold promise for commercial applications. This comprehensive overview offers an in‐depth exploration of various unary‐metal oxide cathode materials characterized by an O3‐layered structure. Subsequently, nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), and Ni/Mn‐based O3 cathode materials are conducted a comprehensive study, assessing the effects of element substitution and doping on capacity, phase transitions, and cycle life. In light of the current challenges, advancing SIB cathode materials of future directions will propose, addressing key considerations in the pursuit of enhanced performance and sustainable energy storage solutions.

3D printing of personalised stents using new advanced photopolymerizable resins and Ti-6Al-4V alloy

Purpose The development of new advanced materials, such as photopolymerizable resins for use in stereolithography (SLA) and Ti6Al4V manufacture via selective laser melting (SLM) processes, have gained significant attention in recent years. Their accuracy, multi-material capability and application in novel fields, such as implantology, biomedical, aviation and energy industries, underscore the growing importance of these materials. The purpose of this study is oriented toward the application of new advanced materials in stent manufacturing realized by 3D printing technologies. Design/methodology/approach The methodology for designing personalized medical devices, implies computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) techniques. By realizing segmentation, reverse engineering and deriving a 3D model of a blood vessel, a subsequent stent design is achieved. The tessellation process and 3D printing methods can then be used to produce these parts. In this context, the SLA technology, in close correlation with the new types of developed resins, has brought significant evolution, as demonstrated through the analyses that are realized in the research presented in this study. This study undertakes a comprehensive approach, establishing experimentally the characteristics of two new types of photopolymerizable resins (both undoped and doped with micro-ceramic powders), remarking their great accuracy for 3D modeling in die-casting techniques, especially in the production process of customized stents. Findings A series of analyses were conducted, including scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, mapping and roughness tests. Additionally, the structural integrity and molecular bonding of these resins were assessed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy–attenuated total reflectance analysis. The research also explored the possibilities of using metallic alloys for producing the stents, comparing the direct manufacturing methods of stents’ struts by SLM technology using Ti6Al4V with stent models made from photopolymerizable resins using SLA. Furthermore, computer-aided engineering (CAE) simulations for two different stent struts were carried out, providing insights into the potential of using these materials and methods for realizing the production of stents. Originality/value This study covers advancements in materials and additive manufacturing methods but also approaches the use of CAE analysis, introducing in this way novel elements to the domain of customized stent manufacturing. The emerging applications of these resins, along with metallic alloys and 3D printing technologies, have brought significant contributions to the biomedical domain, as emphasized in this study. This study concludes by highlighting the current challenges and future research directions in the use of photopolymerizable resins and biocompatible metallic alloys, while also emphasizing the integration of artificial intelligence in the design process of customized stents by taking into consideration the 3D printing technologies that are used for producing these stents.

External Stimuli-Responsive Strategies for Surface Modification of Orthopedic Implants: Killing Bacteria and Enhancing Osteogenesis.

Bacterial infection and insufficient osteogenic activity are the main causes of orthopedic implant failure. Conventional surface modification methods are difficult to meet the requirements for long-term implant placement. In order to better regulate the function of implant surfaces, especially to improve both the antibacterial and osteogenic activity, external stimuli-responsive (ESR) strategies have been employed for the surface modification of orthopedic implants. External stimuli act as "smart switches" to regulate the surface interactions with bacteria and cells. The balance between antibacterial and osteogenic capabilities of implant surfaces can be achieved through these specific ESR manifestations, including temperature changes, reactive oxygen species production, controlled release of bioactive molecules, controlled release of functional ions, etc. This Review summarizes the recent progress on different ESR strategies (based on light, ultrasound, electric, and magnetic fields) that can effectively balance antibacterial performance and osteogenic capability of orthopedic implants. Furthermore, the current limitations and challenges of ESR strategies for surface modification of orthopedic implants as well as future development direction are also discussed.