Future Expansion Research Articles

Design and Development Considerations of a Cyber Physical Testbed for Operational Technology Research and Education.

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) are vital in automating complex tasks across various sectors, yet they face significant vulnerabilities due to the rising threats of cybersecurity attacks. The recent surge in cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure (CI) and industrial control systems (ICSs), with a 150% increase in 2022 affecting over 150 industrial operations, underscores the urgent need for advanced cybersecurity strategies and education. To meet this requirement, we develop a specialised cyber-physical testbed (CPT) tailored for transportation CI, featuring a simplified yet effective automated level-crossing system. This hybrid CPT serves as a cost-effective, high-fidelity, and safe platform to facilitate cybersecurity education and research. High-fidelity networking and low-cost development are achieved by emulating the essential ICS components using single-board computers (SBC) and open-source solutions. The physical implementation of an automated level-crossing visualised the tangible consequences on real-world systems while emphasising their potential impact. The meticulous selection of sensors enhances the CPT, allowing for the demonstration of analogue transduction attacks on this physical implementation. Incorporating wireless access points into the CPT facilitates multi-user engagement and an infrared remote control streamlines the reinitialization effort and time after an attack. The SBCs overwhelm as traffic surges to 12 Mbps, demonstrating the consequences of denial-of-service attacks. Overall, the design offers a cost-effective, open-source, and modular solution that is simple to maintain, provides ample challenges for users, and supports future expansion.

Industrialization Mitigates Greenhouse Gas Intensity in China's Dairy Sector yet May Prove Insufficient to Offset Emissions from Future Production Expansion.

China's dairy farming is undergoing a critical transition from extensive to industrial systems. To achieve sustainable milk production within China's dual-carbon goals, understanding the multidimensional impacts of industrialization on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is imperative. This study comprehensively analyzed the implications of China's dairy industrialization on GHG emissions and explored future mitigation potential. Results indicated that industrial systems exhibited lower methane but higher carbon dioxide intensities, with net GHG intensity lower than other systems. During 2002-2020, China's milk production increased by 165%, while GHG emissions increased by 105% to 50.27 Tg CO2eq, accompanying an industrialization rate increased from 16% to 75%. The industrialization progress played a mitigating effect on GHG primarily through intensification within individual production systems before 2008 and transformation between systems post-2008. However, the industrialization's effect was relatively modest compared to other socio-economic factors. By 2030, 11.8 Tg CO2eq will be triggered by predicted milk production growth, but only 0.6 Tg can be offset by system transformation. Integrating measures to improve feed, herd, and manure management on industrial farms could decouple GHG emissions from milk production and achieve a carbon peak before 2030. We suggest transforming to improved industrial systems as a necessary step toward sustainable livestock production.

An analysis of urban sprawl growth and prediction using remote sensing and machine learning techniques

This study examines urban growth to support sustainability by investigating urban sprawl in the Vila Velha Urban Agglomeration (UA). If the spatial area of Vila Velha UA increases by 24.36%, from 22.98 km2 in 1994 to 51.64 km2 in 2024, urban sprawl may affect surrounding areas. Landsat satellite images from 1994, 2004, 2014, and 2024 were analyzed to study the spatiotemporal pattern of urban growth. Shannon's entropy index identified urban sprawl in Vila Velha UA. The QGIS software's MOLUSCE (Modules for Land Use Change Simulations) plug-in, utilizing Cellular Automata (CA) and Artificial Neural Network-Multi Layer Perceptron (ANN-MLP) models, forecasted urban expansion for 2034. The built-up area is projected to increase from 51.64 km2 in 2024 to 62.31 km2 in 2034. Shannon's entropy index indicated a high rate of urban sprawl. Remote sensing and machine learning techniques are crucial for understanding spatial trends, forecasting future expansion, and informing sustainable urban planning. These methods facilitate an accurate assessment of urbanization dynamics, aiding in developing strategies to manage and mitigate sprawl's adverse impacts. This study offers a unique approach to defining urban growth, emphasizing the need for zoning regulations, green space conservation, and infrastructure development to curb urban sprawl and promote sustainable growth in Vila Velha.

Expanding and Enriching the LncRNA Gene-Disease Landscape Using the GeneCaRNA Database.

The GeneCaRNA human gene database is a member of the GeneCards Suite. It presents ~280,000 human non-coding RNA genes, identified algorithmically from ~690,000 RNAcentral transcripts. This expands by ~tenfold the ncRNA gene count relative to other sources. GeneCaRNA thus contains ~120,000 long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs, >200 bases long), including ~100,000 novel genes. The latter have sparse functional information, a vast terra incognita for future research. LncRNA genes are uniformly represented on all nuclear chromosomes, with 10 genes on mitochondrial DNA. Data obtained from MalaCards, another GeneCards Suite member, finds 1547 genes associated with 1 to 50 diseases. About 15% of the associations portray experimental evidence, with cancers tending to be multigenic. Preliminary text mining within GeneCaRNA discovers interactions of lncRNA transcripts with target gene products, with 25% being ncRNAs and 75% proteins. GeneCaRNA has a biological pathways section, which at present shows 131 pathways for 38 lncRNA genes, a basis for future expansion. Finally, our GeneHancer database provides regulatory elements for ~110,000 lncRNA genes, offering pointers for co-regulated genes and genetic linkages from enhancers to diseases. We anticipate that the broad vista provided by GeneCaRNA will serve as an essential guide for further lncRNA research in disease decipherment.

Care Integration for Hepatitis C Virus Treatment Through Facilitated Telemedicine Within Opioid Treatment Programs: Qualitative Study.

Telemedicine has the potential to remove geographic and temporal obstacles to health care access. Whether and how telemedicine can increase health care access for underserved populations remains an open question. To address this issue, we integrated facilitated telemedicine encounters for the management of hepatitis C virus (HCV), a highly prevalent condition among people with opioid use disorder (OUD), into opioid treatment programs (OTPs). In New York State, OTPs are methadone-dispensing centers that provide patient-centered, evidence-based treatment for OUD. We investigated the integration and impact of facilitated telemedicine into OTP workflows in these settings. This study aims to understand OTP staff experiences with integrating facilitated telemedicine for HCV treatment into OTPs, including best practices and lessons learned. We conducted semistructured interviews with 45 OTP staff members (13 clinical, 12 administrative, 6 physicians, and 14 support staff members) at least one year after the implementation of facilitated telemedicine for HCV management. We used hermeneutic phenomenological analysis to understand OTP staff experiences. We identified 4 overarching themes illustrating the successful integration of facilitated telemedicine for HCV care into OTPs. First, integration requires an understanding of the challenges, goals, and values of the OTP. As OTP staff learned about new, highly effective HCV therapies, they valued an HCV cure as a "win" for their patients and were excited about the potential to eliminate a highly prevalent infectious disease. Second, the integration of facilitated telemedicine into OTPs fosters social support and reinforces relationships between patients and OTP staff. OTP staff appreciated the ability to have "eyes on" patients during telemedicine encounters to assess body language, a necessary component of OUD management. Third, participants described high levels of interprofessional collaboration as a care team that included the blurring of lines between disciplines working toward a common goal of improving patient care. Study case managers were integrated into OTP workflows and established communication channels to improve patient outcomes. Fourth, administrators endorsed the sustained and future expansion of facilitated telemedicine to address comorbidities. OTP staff were highly enthusiastic about facilitated telemedicine for an underserved population. They described high levels of collaboration and integration comparable to relevant integrative frameworks. When situated within OTPs, facilitated telemedicine is a high-value application of telemedicine that provides support for underserved populations necessary for high-quality health care. These experiences support sustaining and scaling facilitated telemedicine in comparable settings and evaluating its ability to address other comorbidities. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02933970; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02933970.

Responses of the Urban Atmospheric Thermal Environment to Two Distinct Heat Waves and Their Changes With Future Urban Expansion in a Chinese Megacity

AbstractThis study investigates the responses of the urban atmospheric thermal environment to two distinct heat waves in Hefei, China, and explores potential changes associated with future urban expansion. During the Event 1, characterized by clear and dry conditions, the western Pacific subtropical high limits water vapor influx, resulting in a significant cooling effect in rural area due to higher surface latent heat flux. The urban heat island (UHI) intensity, calculated using surface temperature and 2‐m temperature, reaches 5.2°C and 1.7°C during the Event 1, respectively. Although Event 2, characterized by cloudy and humid conditions, exhibits weaker UHI and urban dry island effects, it remains highly unfavorable for human comfort. During distinct heat waves, the vertical extent of the warming effect induced by future urban expansion varies, which can be attributed to environmental factors, such as atmospheric stability and near‐surface wind speed.

Nano lubricants in machining and tribology applications: A state of the art review on challenges and future trend

Nanofluids are a unique class of fluids generally prepared by adding nanosized particles to different types of base fluids, such as water, oil, etc. When nanoparticles are added to the base fluids, their thermophysical parameters like viscosity, heat transfer characteristics, and thermal conductivity are improved and provide good results. For this reason, the demand for fluids enriched with nanoparticles has considerably increased in the manufacturing sector. This comprehensive state-of-the-art review covers nanolubricants' role in friction reduction, wear resistance, and machining efficiency applications. Initially, the lubricants and their properties are revealed in the introduction section. Then, the different types of nanoparticles, their basic structure, and their different applications in machining and tribology are portrayed in different sections. In addition, it provides a comprehensive analysis of the difficulties related to nanofluids and their utilization in machining and tribology. Ultimately, this evaluation provides final comments on the latest advancements in both the academic and industrial sectors, as well as a strategy for future expansion. The results indicated that the fluids loaded with nanoparticles had a beneficial effect in lowering friction and temperature at the primary contact zone.

Enhancing Medical Education Through Online Technologies: Investigating Adoption, Impact, and Optimization Strategies

Online technology' inclusion into medical education has transformed teaching strategies in recent years and offers fresh chances to improve learning environments and meet the changing needs of students and teachers. This study uses a thorough evaluation of the literature and empirical data to investigate, via online medical education, adoption, impact, and optimization tactics. The aim is to find important elements influencing their adoption, study the efficacy of online technologies in teaching medical topics, and suggest ways of best using them. Data was gathered from 120 people—including lecturers and students—across several departments of Rao University using a mixed-methods methodology. The results show notable good opinions on the usage of online learning technology; among medical teachers, Google Classroom is becoming the favored platform. Still, two main shortcomings were found to be technological problems and a lack of practical expertise. The findings lead to suggestions on how to make online medical education more effective: better access to materials, interactive learning settings, and addressing of communication restrictions among other things. All things considered, this study adds to the body of knowledge already in use by shedding light on the state of online medical education presently and by making doable suggestions for future expansion and application.

Among-population variation in drought responses is consistent across life stages but not between native and non-native ranges.

Understanding how widespread species adapt to variation in abiotic conditions across their ranges is fundamental to ecology. Insight may come from studying how among-population variation (APV) in the common garden corresponds with the environmental conditions of source populations. However, there are no such studies comparing native vs non-native populations across multiple life stages. We examined APV in the performance and functional traits of 59 Conyza canadensis populations, in response to drought, across large aridity gradients in the native (North America) and non-native (Eurasia) ranges in three experiments. Our treatment (dry vs wet) was applied at the recruitment, juvenile, and adult life stages. We found contrasting patterns of APV in drought responses between the two ranges. In the native range, plant performance was less reduced by drought in populations from xeric than mesic habitats, but such relationship was not apparent for non-native populations. These range-specific patterns were consistent across the life stages. The weak adaptive responses of non-native populations indicate that they can become highly abundant even without complete local adaptation to abiotic environments and suggest that long-established invaders may still be evolving to the abiotic environment. These findings may explain lag times in invasions and raise concern about future expansions.

Pengaruh Citra Merek Dan Lokasi Outlet Terhadap Minat Beli Konsumen Di Warung Makan Ayam Geprek Preksu Cabang Warungboto Yogyakarta

This research aims to analyze the influence of brand image and outlet location on consumer buying interest at Warung Makan Ayam Geprek Preksu, Warungboto Branch, Yogyakarta. Brand image is an important factor that can influence consumer perceptions of the quality of the products and services offered, while outlet location plays a significant role in determining accessibility and convenience for consumers. The research method used was a survey with a questionnaire distributed to 150 respondents who were customers of the Ayam Geprek Preksu Food Stall. Data analysis was carried out using multiple linear regression to determine the relationship and influence between the variables studied. The research results show that brand image and outlet location significantly influence consumer buying interest, with brand image having a more dominant influence. These findings provide practical implications for the management of Warung Makan Ayam Geprek Preksu to continue to improve its brand image through effective marketing strategies and considering location factors in future business expansion.

Deep-Reinforcement-Learning-Based Motion Planning for a Wide Range of Robotic Structures

The use of robot manipulators in engineering applications and scientific research has significantly increased in recent years. This can be attributed to the rise of technologies such as autonomous robotics and physics-based simulation, along with the utilization of artificial intelligence techniques. The use of these technologies may be limited due to a focus on a specific type of robotic manipulator and a particular solved task, which can hinder modularity and reproducibility in future expansions. This paper presents a method for planning motion across a wide range of robotic structures using deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithms to solve the problem of reaching a static or random target within a pre-defined configuration space. The paper addresses the challenge of motion planning in environments under a variety of conditions, including environments with and without the presence of collision objects. It highlights the versatility and potential for future expansion through the integration of OpenAI Gym and the PyBullet physics-based simulator.

Supply chain management (SCM) framework for small and medium manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana

Efficient supply chain management is essential for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana to guarantee a dependable flow of products and services, sustain competitiveness, and promote growth and job creation. The objective of this study is to analyse the current supply chain models utilised by manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana. Additionally, it intends to propose a prototype model that will aid manufacturing SMEs in achieving sustainability, growth, and future expansion in Ghana and other regions. The Conceptual framework was developed by examining variables identified in the existing literature on supplier management practices in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as inventory management approaches that are relevant to SMEs. A structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from the main source. This study employs a mixed method approach, which includes the participation of 363 respondents. Interviews and surveys were carried out with small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners and managers. The data was analysed using the SPSS (v 27.0) computer application, which involved both inferential and descriptive statistical analysis. The findings revealed essential components of the prototype, such as the implementation of supply management (SM), proficient information management (IM), streamlined distribution strategies, and strong marketing and sales strategies, in addition to customer relationship management (CRM) and effective post-sales services. Implementing these supply chain management (SCM) principles effectively can guarantee the sustainability, growth, employment generation, and overall performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana.

Mental COP: Mental Health Cohort Of Police officers in Korea

PurposeThis cohort study addresses the need for comprehensive and longitudinal research on police officers’ mental health, focusing on the relationship between occupational factors, individual characteristics and mental health status or...

Characterizing low‐lying coastal upland forests to predict future landward marsh expansion

AbstractSea level rise (SLR) is causing vegetation regime shifts on both the seaward and landward sides of many coastal ecosystems, with the eastern coast of North America experiencing accelerated impacts due to land subsidence and the weakening of the Gulf Stream. Tidal wetland ecosystems, known for their significant carbon storage capacity, are crucial but vulnerable blue carbon habitats. Recent observations suggest that SLR rates may exceed the threshold for elevation gain primarily through vertical accretion in many coastal regions. Therefore, research has focused on mapping the upslope migration of marshes into suitable adjacent lands, as this landward gain may be the most salient process for estimating future wetland resiliency to accelerated rates of SLR. However, our understanding of coastal vegetation characteristics and dynamics in response to SLR is limited due to a lack of in situ data and effective mapping strategies for delineating the boundaries, or ecotones, of these complex coastal ecosystems. In order to effectively study these transitioning ecosystems, it is necessary to employ reliable and scalable landscape metrics that can differentiate between marsh and coastal forests. As such, integrating vegetation structure metrics from light detection and ranging (lidar) could enhance traditional mapping strategies compared to using optical data alone. Here, we used terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) to measure changes in forest structure along elevation gradients that may be indicative of degradation associated with increased inundation in the Delaware Bay estuary. We analyzed a set of TLS‐derived forest structure metrics to investigate their relationships with elevation, specifically seeking those that showed consistent change from the forest edge to the interior. Our findings revealed a consistent pattern between elevation and the plant area index (PAI), a metric that holds potential for enhancing the delineation of complex coastal ecosystem boundaries, particularly in relation to landward marsh migration. This work provides support for utilizing lidar‐derived forest structural metrics to enable a more accurate assessment of future marsh landscapes and the overall coastal carbon sink under accelerated SLR conditions.

The Growth and Carbon Sink of Tundra Peat Patches in Arctic Alaska

AbstractRecent amplified climate warming in the Arctic has caused profound changes in terrestrial ecosystems, with the potential for strong feedback on climate change. Arctic tundra landscapes have developed patchy and thin organic soil (peat) layers at the surface that may continue to grow into mature peatlands and become a larger carbon sink under future warming. Here we use paleoecological analyses of multiple soil and peat cores collected from the North Slope of Alaska to document and understand the formation and development histories of tundra peat patches and permafrost peatlands. We find a consistent peat development sequence for peat patches, first from mineral soils to sedge peat during the Little Ice Age, and then to Sphagnum peat during the recent warming with high carbon accumulation rates. These findings suggest that climate cooling is likely critical for the initial peat buildup on tundra soils due to reduced decomposition, whereas climate warming triggers the regime shift into an increased abundance of Sphagnum mosses that are likely central to enhancing their carbon sink capacity. Additionally, peat patches become similar to permafrost peatlands in the vicinity in terms of ecosystem processes and carbon dynamics, and therefore may have developed the same ecohydrological feedback system to maintain their long‐term stability. This study implies that the potential future expansion of peat patches into peatlands may strongly alter the carbon balance of Arctic tundra, supporting the new United Nations Environment Programme's report that calls for incorporating widespread shallow peat into understanding the peatland–carbon–climate nexus.

Regulating Rh-based rare earth nanoalloy electrocatalysts by scandium, yttrium for accelerated hydrogen evolution kinetics

The construction of rare earth (RE) alloy catalysts offers a route to harness the unique electronic structure of RE. Within the alloy, RE can fine-tune the electronic configuration of the active element, such as rhodium (Rh), via the ligand effect, optimizing the electrochemical reaction pathway. However, the challenging negative reduction potential of RE has impeded the progress in developing RE alloys, particularly nanoalloy catalysts. In this study, Rh3Sc/C and Rh3Y/C nanoalloys were synthesized using a sodium vapor reduction strategy for application as hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts. Electrochemical tests reveal that Rh-RE alloy catalysts exhibit significantly improved electrocatalytic activity in 1 mol/L KOH. Notably, Rh3Y/C demonstrates exceptional HER performance, achieving a low overpotential of only 31 mV at 10 mA/cm2, surpassing the 50 mV observed for Rh/C. Furthermore, the current density of Rh3Y/C at an 80 mV overpotential is 3.9 times that of Rh/C. This study sheds light on the remarkable catalytic potential of Rh-RE alloys, paving the way for the future expansion of RE nanoalloy systems.

Promoting sustainable development by mitigation of natural habitat quality decline through multifunctional urban land use: Insights from a multi-scenario simulation

Urban expansion threatens natural habitat quality (NHQ) and hinders the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. Whether and how multifunctional urban land use (MFULU) can mitigate NHQ decline under future urban expansion remains unclear. This study developed a theoretical framework for mitigating NHQ decline via MFULU, and examined the mitigation based on a multi-scenario simulation using the Patch-generating Land use Simulation model and the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs model. Three future scenarios, each including MFULU and non-MFULU modes, were considered in the simulation: Business as Usual, Economic Development, and Ecological Priority. Urban expansion led to less encroachment into natural habitats in MFULU modes than in non-MFULU modes. Additionally, natural habitats were less aggregated, and more irregular than in non-MFULU modes under all scenarios, especially those with moderate and higher NHQ levels. Natural habitats were more aggregated and regular in MFULU modes than in non-MFULU modes under all scenarios. These results verified MFULU’s positive contributions in preserving natural habitats under the conservation effect of MFULU and improving the landscape patterns of natural habitats under the agglomeration effect of MFULU. The findings have implications for formulating land-sharing policies that realize win−win situations between sustainable urban development and a resilient ecological environment.

Urban colonization of invasive species on islands: Mus musculus and Rattus rattus genetics of establishment on Cozumel Island

Humans and wildlife experience complex interactions in urban ecosystems, favoring the presence of commensal species, among which invasive species are particularly successful. Rodents are the main vertebrate group introduced to oceanic islands, where the invasion process and dispersal patterns strongly influence their evolutionary and genetic patterns. We evaluated the house mouse Mus musculus and the black rat Rattus rattus on Cozumel Island, Mexico. We assessed genetic diversity and structure, connectivity, gene flow, relatedness and bottleneck signals based on microsatellite loci. Our genetic findings suggest that introduction of individuals of different geographic sources to the island promotes high allelic diversity and the effective establishment of migrants. We identified a clear genetic structure and low connectivity for the two species, tightly linked with anthropogenic and urban features. Notably, we found that the genetic structure of the house mouse sampled within the city of San Miguel Cozumel is associated with the historical human population growth pulses accompanying the urbanization of the city. At the fine-scale genetic level, the main urban drivers of connectivity of the house mouse were both the impervious land surfaces, i.e. the urban landscape, and the informal commerce across the city (a proxy of resources availability). Chances of a secondary invasion to natural environments have been relatively low, which is crucial for the endemic taxa of the island. Nonetheless, improving urban planning to regulate future expansions of San Miguel Cozumel is of the outmost importance to prevent these invasive species to disperse further.

Application of Kaizen Principles to a Small Scale Industry in India

This case-study presents the application of Kaizen concept to Chempromech Engineers Pvt. Ltd. in Butribori, Maharashtra, India. The work carried out focuses on Kaizen approach to the Plant Layout of the industry to make it more efficient and desirable to work in as well as gives a formula to the industry to calculate its production in kg/hr theoretically. Chempromech Engineers Pvt. Ltd. Is a small scale industry present in the Butibori MIDC area in Nagpur, Maharashtra which specializes in manufacturing of circlip washer wires and washers. Being a small-scale industry, it is faced with problems pertaining to limited workspace, so a new layout is designed which helps groups machines based in their product type and thus freeing out space for future expansion. Product Based Plant Layout is preferred for this industry as its products vary in size and weight. Key words:- Kaizen, Plant Layout, Product Based Plant Layout, Washers and Washer wire.

Exploring the effect of ELM and code-coupling frequencies on plasma and material modeling of dynamic recycling in divertors

Integrated modeling of plasma-surface interactions provides a comprehensive and self-consistent description of the system, moving the field closer to developing predictive and design capabilities for plasma facing components. One such workflow, including descriptions for the scrape-off-layer plasma, ion-surface interactions and the sub-surface evolution, was previously used to address steady-state scenarios and has recently been extended to incorporate time-dependence and two-way information flow. The new model can address dynamic recycling in transient scenarios, such as the application presented in this paper: the evolution of W samples pre-damaged by helium and exposed to ELMy H-mode plasmas in the DIII-D DiMES. A first set of simulations explored the effect of ELM frequency. This study was discussed in detail in this conference’s proceedings and is summarized here. The 2nd set of simulations, which is the focus of this paper, explores the effect of code-coupling frequency. These simulations include initial SOLPS solutions converged to the inter-ELM state, ion impact energy (E in) and angles (A in) calculated by hPIC2, and an improved heat transfer description in Xolotl. The model predicts increases in particle fluxes and decreases in heat fluxes by 10%–20% with the coupling time-step. Compared with the first set of simulations, the less shallow impact angle leads to smaller reflection rates and significant D implantation. The higher fraction of implanted flux (and deeper), in particular during ELMs, increases the accumulated D content in the W near-surface region. Future expansion of the workflow includes coupling to hPIC2 and GITR to ensure accurate descriptions of E in and A in, and W impurity transport.