Research Issues Research Articles

Interfacial Solar Evaporation: From Fundamental Research to Applications.

In the last decade, interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG), powered by natural sunlight garnered significant attention due to its great potential for low-cost and environmentally friendly clean water production in alignment with the global decarbonization efforts. This review aims to share the knowledge and engage with a broader readership about the current progress of ISSG technology and the facing challenges to promote further advancements toward practical applications. The first part of this review assesses the current strategies for enhancing the energy efficiency of ISSG systems, including optimizing light absorption, reducing energy losses, harvesting additional energy, and lowering evaporation enthalpy. Subsequently, the current challenges faced by ISSG technologies, notably salt accumulation and bio-fouling issues in practical applications, are elucidated and contemporary methods are discussed to overcome these challenges. In the end, potential applications of ISSG, ranging from initial seawater desalination and industrial wastewater purification to power generation, sterilization, soil remediation, and innovative concept of solar sea farm, are introduced, highlighting the promising potential of ISSG technology in contributing to sustainable and environmentally conscious practices. Based on the review and in-depth understanding of these aspects, the future research focuses are proposed to address potential issues in both fundamental research and practical applications.

Average trapping time on horizontally divided 3-dimensional 3-level Sierpinski gasket network

An important characteristic of random wandering is the average trapping time, which is a hot issue in current research. The average trapping time is an important measure of the transmission efficiency of random wandering in a network. In this paper, we construct a 3-dimensional 3-level Sierpinski gasket network divided horizontally by the horizontal division plane P s , that is, the division coefficients s. We study the capture problem on the network and obtain an analytical expression for the average trapping time (ATT). Then, by adjusting the number of iterations and the values of the division coefficients, we obtained the relationship between ATT and them. As can be seen from our numerical simulation plots, ATT is affected by s. The larger s is, the more the self-similar structure of the three-dimensional residual network gradually transforms towards the structure of the two-dimensional complete Sierpinski gasket network. Meanwhile, the shorter ATT is, that is, the more efficient the transmission on the network.

Model-Based Analysis of the Accuracy of Tracking Control and Energy Efficiency of a Six-Wheeled Skid-Steered Robot

This article concerns the modeling and motion control of a mobile robot with six independently driven and non-steered wheels. The main research issue is analyzing the influence of the structure of the control system and wheel track on the control accuracy and energy efficiency during robot motion on horizontal paved ground. For this purpose, the kinematic relationships for the robot are discussed and a simplified dynamics model for control applications is developed. The robot’s dynamics model takes into account the most important phenomena of the wheel interaction with the paved ground, including slip. In addition, it is supplemented with a model of the robot’s drive units. Two versions of the control system were adopted for analysis, i.e., with the wheels’ controller only and additionally equipped with a pose controller. Simulation studies were carried out for the developed robot dynamics model and the analyzed versions of the control system in order to investigate the influence of the track width of the wheels and the structure of the control system on motion accuracy and energy efficiency. In order to quantitatively compare the results for the analyzed solutions, quality indices were introduced. The results of the simulation research indicate the influence of the track width of the wheels on the accuracy of motion when using the wheels’ controller, as well as its impact on energy efficiency. Moreover, they show that it is possible to significantly improve the accuracy of motion by using an additional pose controller, which allows limiting the impact of the non-optimal geometric parameters of the robot and the slip of the wheels on trajectory tracking errors. However, the addition of the pose controller does not significantly affect the energy efficiency during the robot’s motion, which may be even worse in this case.

Cloud media video encoding: review and challenges

AbstractIn recent years, Internet traffic patterns have been changing. Most of the traffic demand by end users is multimedia, in particular, video streaming accounts for over 53%. This demand has led to improved network infrastructures and computing architectures to meet the challenges of delivering these multimedia services while maintaining an adequate quality of experience. Focusing on the preparation and adequacy of multimedia content for broadcasting, Cloud and Edge Computing infrastructures have been and will be crucial to offer high and ultra-high definition multimedia content in live, real-time, or video-on-demand scenarios. For these reasons, this review paper presents a detailed study of research papers related to encoding and transcoding techniques in cloud computing environments. It begins by discussing the evolution of streaming and the importance of the encoding process, with a focus on the latest streaming methods and codecs. Then, it examines the role of cloud systems in multimedia environments and provides details on the cloud infrastructure for media scenarios. After doing a systematic literature review, we have been able to find 49 valid papers that meet the requirements specified in the research questions. Each paper has been analyzed and classified according to several criteria, besides to inspect their relevance. To conclude this review, we have identified and elaborated on several challenges and open research issues associated with the development of video codecs optimized for diverse factors within both cloud and edge architectures. Additionally, we have discussed emerging challenges in designing new cloud/edge architectures aimed at more efficient delivery of media traffic. This involves investigating ways to improve the overall performance, reliability, and resource utilization of architectures that support the transmission of multimedia content over both cloud and edge computing environments ensuring a good quality of experience for the final user.

BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE GREATEST NUCLEAR DISASTERS: WHAT IS KNOWN SO FAR AND WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS?

Abstract. The high potential of nuclear power to combat climate change and support sustainable development plays a critical role in achieving the goal of the Paris Agreement. Moreover, with the ever-increasing demand for electricity, it is essential to consider nuclear power as a reliable source of energy. However, it should be noted that although the risk of a radiological accident is small, it always exists, and therefore it is crucial to have a complete understanding of the management of nuclear power. Herein, we present a statistical review of nuclear accident research at Chernobyl and Fukushima Nuclear Power Plants using bibliometric analysis to identify key patterns in scientific results and current issues in accident research. More than 10,000 articles have been collected from the SCOPUS database covering the periods 1986–2022 and 2011–2022 on Chernobyl and Fukushima, respectively. The results were obtained from two perspectives: first, we identified stages through which pre- and post-accident researches have evolved, and then we analysed the spatial correlation between energy-economic performance and scientific literature for the leading productive countries. From the analysis of research trends, it was found that the number of articles increased sharply immediately after the accident and slightly decreased over time. Among the most attractive subject categories in terms of the largest number of publications and received citations were environmental sciences, medicine and energy policy. The productive country ranking was mostly topped by the country in which the accident occurred. Spatial statistical analysis revealed a strong correlation between the scientific productivity and energy-economic performance of the leading countries.

Medical research without patents: It’s preferable, it’s profitable, and it’s practicable

ABSTRACT This article addresses the question of the possibility of medical research without patents, a major issue in healthcare research and policy. We discuss and evaluate the relevant scientific, economic, societal, and moral aspects of our system of funding and organizing the research, development, manufacture and sale of prescription drugs. The focus is on the patent practices of big pharmaceutical companies. We analyze and critically assess the main features and impacts of these practices. In a positive sense, we propose an approach to organizing and funding drug research that prioritizes its public interest rather than its privatization through patenting. For these purposes, we first demonstrate that producing prescription drugs through patenting has serious drawbacks. Second, we develop a concrete alternative (medical research without patents) that is shown to be scientifically, socially and morally preferable, economically and financially profitable, and socio-politically and organizationally practicable.

Technology, relationships, and well-being: An overview of critical research issues and an introduction to the special issue

Technology, relationships, and well-being represent three influential parts of our daily lives. They also represent a common area of research for scholars in a variety of disciplines. Here, we offer guidance for researchers interested in studying the connections among these issues and introduce the special issue in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships focused on the confluence of these topics. We take each issue in turn, along with their interconnections, and describe some common pitfalls along with ideas to advance research in these areas. After analyzing the body of research on technology, relationships, and well-being, we present the special issue. We explain how our analysis of this body of research along with obstacles we encountered conducting research in this area shaped our approach to the issue. For the edification of future editors, we briefly reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of our atypical editorial process before presenting the articles that compose this issue.

Cold-tolerance mechanisms in foodborne pathogens: Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes as examples.

The cold chain is an integral part of the modern food industry. Low temperatures can effectively alleviate food loss and the transmission of foodborne diseases caused by microbial reproduction. However, recent reports have highlighted shortcomings in the current cold chain technology's ability to prevent and control cold-tolerant foodborne pathogens. Furthermore, it has been observed that certain cold-chain foods have emerged as new sources of infection for foodborne disease outbreaks. Consequently, there is a pressing need to enhance control measures targeting cold-tolerant pathogens within the existing cold chain system. This paper aims to review the recent advancements in understanding the cold tolerance mechanisms of key model organisms, identify key issues in current research, and explore the potential of utilizing big data and omics technology in future studies.

Transforming data‐intensive workflows: A cutting‐edge multi‐layer security and quality aware security framework

SummaryThe data‐intensive workflow application executes tasks on edge servers and cloud platforms in a heterogeneous big‐data computing environment. Cloud and edge servers are vulnerable to node attacks and malicious links due to their wireless connections. Thus, detecting and mitigating rogue nodes in edge server communication environments during workflow execution is crucial. In today's workflow execution landscape, there is a rising emphasis on resolving Quality of Service (QoS) and security concerns within homogeneous execution settings. Workflow execution on diverse computing platforms has received limited research. We are developing an edge‐cloud‐specific Multi‐Layer Security and Quality‐Aware (MLSQA) framework to solve research issues in this area. Node attacks are detected via reputation‐based security features in the MLSQA framework, whereas link attacks are detected using machine learning. A unique trade‐off metrics technique optimizes workflow security and QoS parameters, reducing energy usage and makespan. In addition, a fault‐tolerant, energy‐efficient job offloading technique is described in detail to improve the system's resilience to errors. The experiment is conducted using complex (i.e., memory and CPU intensive) scientific procedures with intermediate job dependencies, namely Inspiral workflow. The MLSQA framework excels in threat detection, demonstrating lower false alarms, reduced energy consumption, and quicker implementation than the recent secure workflow execution architecture.

LSCO: Light spectrum chimp optimization based spinalnet for live face detection and recognition

Face detection (FD) is considered to be of utmost significance in monitoring and safety systems. Finding concealed faces is a crucial research issue, particularly in populated or high-security settings like events and retail stores, where they may pose a security danger. To bridge this gap, a Light Spectrum Chimp Optimization (LSCO) enabled SpinalNet is introduced for live face detection and recognition. At first, an input image is fed up into the pre-processing phase to enhance the contrast image and remove the unwanted noises utilizing the Type 2 Fuzzy and Cuckoo Search (T2FCS) filter. Thereafter, the face is detected utilizing Viola-Jones which classifies the images based on the simple feature values to accurately identify and analyze human faces. Moreover, the detected image is passed to the feature extraction to acquire the face component features like eyes, nose, mouth, etc from the human face image. Here, the features employed are Local Directional Pattern Variance (LDPv), Local Directional Number Pattern (LDNP), Local Gabor Binary Pattern (LGBP) and statistical features like, mean, variance, kurtosis, skewness, and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) features. At last, face recognition is accomplished by the proposed LSCO which is tuned by SpinalNet. Here, LSCO is the integration of Light Spectrum Optimizer (LSO) and Chimp optimization (ChOA). The suggested technique has produced accuracy, True positive rate (TPR), True Negative rate (TNR) and execution time obtained 93.5%, 90.7%, 87.5% and 0.236 sec respectively.

Measurement matters: A commentary on the state of the science on patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) in autism research.

High quality science relies upon psychometrically valid and reliable measurement, yet very few Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) have been developed or thoroughly validated for use with autistic individuals. The present commentary summarizes the current state of autism PROM science, based on discussion at the Special Interest Group (SIG) at the 2022 International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Annual Meeting and collective expertise of the authors. First, we identify current issues in autism PROM research including content and construct operationalization, informant-structure, measure accessibility, and measure validation and generalization. We then enumerate barriers to conducting and disseminating this research, such as a lack of guidance, concerns regarding funding and time, lack of accessible training and professionals with psychometric skills, difficulties collecting large representative samples, and challenges with dissemination. Lastly, we offer future priorities and resources to improve PROMs in autism research including a need to continue to evaluate and develop PROMs for autistic people using robust methods, to prioritize diverse and representative samples, to expand the breadth of psychometric properties and techniques, and to consider developing field specific guidelines. We remain extremely optimistic about the future directions of this area of autism research. This work is well positioned to have an immense, positive impact on our scientific understanding of autism and the everyday lives of autistic people and their families.

Modeling, Optimization, and Simulation of Nanomaterials-Based Organic Thin Film Transistor for Future Use in pH Sensing.

Applications of Organic Thin Film Transistor (OTFT) range from flexible screens to disposable sensors, making them a prominent research issue in recent decades. A very accurate and exact pH sensing determination, including biosensors, is essential for these sensors. In this present research work, authors have proposed a nanomaterial-based OTFT for future pH monitoring and other biosensing applications. This work presents a numerical model of a pH sensor based on Carbon Nano Tubes (CNTs). Sensing in harsh conditions may be possible with the CNTs due to their strong chemical and thermal resilience. This research work describes the numerical modeling of Bottom-Gate Bottom-Contact (BGBC) OTFTs with a Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube (s-SWCNT) and C60 fullerene blended active layer. The design methodology of organic nanomaterial-based OTFTs has been presented with various parameter extraction precisely its electrical characteristics, modeled by adjusting the parameters of the basic semiconductor technology. For an active layer thickness of 200 nm, the drain current of the highest-performing s-SWCNT:C60 -based OTFT structure was around 4.25 A. This allows for an accurate representation of the device's electrical characteristics. Using Gold (Ag) Source/Drain (S/D) and back-gate electrodes as the medium for sensing, it has been realized how the thickness of the active layer impacts the performance of an OTFT for pH sensor applications.

Open Research Issues and Tools for Visualization and Big Data Analytics

Open Research Issues and Tools for Visualization and Big Data Analytics

Environmental dynamics: unraveling the nexus of air pollution, population agglomeration, and sustainable economic development in China: a provincial-level empirical analysis

Sustainable economic development is a hot issue in current research, and it is of great significance to analyze the effects of air pollution and population agglomeration on sustainable economic development. This study collects the relevant data released by the Chinese government from 2011–2021, and empirically analyzes the method of constructing an individual one-factor fixed-effects model in order to explore the impacts of SO2 emissions and population agglomeration on sustainable economic development. Through the analysis, it is found that SO2 emissions are negatively correlated with sustainable economic development, and the direction and intensity of its influence are affected by urbanization level, industrial structure, and living standards of residents. The influence of population agglomeration on economic sustainable development is positively correlated. Meanwhile, through the sub-regional study, we further confirmed that the impact of the above influencing factors on the sustainable economic development of different regions is different. Therefore, in order to promote sustainable economic development, it is necessary to further identify the stage of sustainable economic development according to the actual situation of different regions, and to effectively integrate factors including the environment, population, urbanization, industrial structure, etc.

Enhancement of Mass Transfer Process for Photocatalytic Reduction in Cr(VI) by Electric Field Assistance.

The removal of Cr(VI), a highly-toxic heavy metal, from industrial wastewater is a critical issue in water treatment research. Photocatalysis, a promising technology to solve the Cr(VI) pollution problem, requires urgent and continuous improvement to enhance its performance. To address this need, an electric field-assisted photocatalytic system (PCS) was proposed to meet the growing demand for industrial wastewater treatment. Firstly, we selected PAF-54, a nitrogen-rich porous organic polymer, as the PCS's catalytic material. PAF-54 exhibits a large adsorption capacity (189 mg/g) for Cr(VI) oxyanions through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction. It was then coated on carbon paper (CP) and used as the photocatalytic electrode. The synergy between capacitive deionization (CDI) and photocatalysis significantly promotes the photoreduction of Cr(VI). The photocatalytic performance was enhanced due to the electric field's influence on the mass transfer process, which could strengthen the enrichment of Cr(VI) oxyanions and the repulsion of Cr(III) cations on the surface of PAF-54/CP electrode. In addition, the PCS system demonstrates excellent recyclability and stability, making it a promising candidate for chromium wastewater treatment.

A review of two decades of research on sustainable regional and trans-border infrastructure

In spite of the budding interest of researchers, policymakers and practitioners, there are still differing and disjointed conceptualizations of sustainable regional and trans-border infrastructure (SRTBI) as its meadow is still emerging. In an effort to fill this research gap, the resolution of this study was to review and synthesize SRTBI research and to provide directions for future research. The author reviewed peer-reviewed theoretical and empirical journal articles published during the last two decades – from 2003 to 2023. Scopus database was the source of the journal articles collected to conduct this study. Selected keywords from a rigorous review of literature were pooled with Boolean operators and searched. Subsequently, a scrupulous screening procedure with an inclusion and exclusion criteria was adopted to select the relevant articles for the study. The selected journal articles on SRTBI were subsequently synthesized for further acumens. The field of SRTBI is bitty and has advanced in the passage of the last two decades in diverse ways. This study identified core publication vents and papers, key theoretical and methodological approaches and key variables of interest that exist in the SRTBI literature. The findings also suggested a few research themes for future studies. The study can significantly impact academia and organisational research literature, and it can extend conceptual perspectives of implications of resolutions made to adopt a SRTBI. Adding to its theoretical value, the study has significant implications for policy and practise, as it would expand viewpoints on decisions to adopt SRTBI. The study was based on documents retrieved from Scopus and any limitations of the database may have implications for the findings. This inquiry filled a need to review the current state of the SRTBI literature and spelt out research issues that may be addressed by researchers in future.

EXPLORING THE DETERMINANTS EFFECTING PROMOTION OF RESEARCH CULTURE AT UNIVERSITY LEVEL

The study in hand was undertaken to explore the determinants which are effecting promotion of research culture at university level. Although many factors are effecting but the most relevant determinants affect was checked which are environmental and institutional determinants. The population was comprised of 1477 the faculty members of BZ University, Multan & Islamia University Bahawalpur as well as Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan and University of Science and technology, Bannu. The selected sample from the population was comprised of 253 faculty members hailing from the above-mentioned higher education institutions out of 1477 was selected for study. The research design was quantitative in which survey questionnaires were distributed for data collection. T-test and ANOVA were used for analysis of data. The results offered significant information for reaching the conclusion, and making the desired decisions. Also, some recommendations have been extracted from results offered to the policy-makers and future researchers about research issues.

Engaging African American Faith Leaders as Partners in Ethical Research

This paper outlines an initiative to adapt the Community Partnered Research Ethics Training (CPRET) for the cultural context of the CHURCH (Congregation as Healers Uniting to Restore Community Health) project. The CHURCH project is a community-partnered participatory research project that seeks to promote the mental well-being of African American populations by developing, implementing, and evaluating a mental health training curriculum for faith leaders in Black churches. Participatory research, in which community stakeholders collaborate with researchers as equal partners to address problems impacting marginalized communities, has recently become more popular in academia. Training is necessary to equip community partners with the skills and knowledge required for full research participation. Community partners frequently encounter ethical issues in participatory research, but limited training resources are available to proactively prevent and address such issues. The CPRET was developed through a collaboration between the Clinical and Translational Science Institute and the Human Research Protection Office and Community Research Advisory Board at the University of Pittsburgh. It surveys research processes and core research ethics principles, and it stimulates discussion regarding best practices by engaging participants in scenario-based exercises in which they identify ethical and unethical research. By describing how we utilized the CPRET in the CHURCH project and presenting a summary of participant feedback, we aim to build resources for community-engaged scholars seeking to engage community members in ethical research.

Waste cooking oil as a sustainable solution for UV-aged asphalt binder: Rheological, chemical and molecular structure

Recycling of UV-aged asphalt has been a hot research issue. In this paper, waste cooking oil, plasticizer, toughener, and petroleum resin were used as raw materials for asphalt rejuvenator. This paper explores the effect of regeneration conditions on the regeneration effect of UV-aged asphalt binders through high-temperature rheology and chemical compositions. The paper also attempts to reveal the regeneration mechanism of asphalt binder regeneration using waste cooking oil. Dynamic shear rheology (DSR) and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy assess high-temperature rheological properties and chemical compositions. The Pearson correlation coefficient relates the rheological parameters to the chemical microstructure. And the functional relationship between carbonyl-corrected peak area and aging factor Ai of recycled asphalt and high temperature rheological parameters were established. Molecular simulation investigates WCO-recycled asphalt binder micro-morphology and adsorption mechanisms. The results showed that significant changes in the carbonyl and sulfoxide peak areas affected the high-temperature rheological properties. Regeneration conditions significantly affect asphalt regeneration effectiveness. WCO reduces CO and SO groups, crucial in asphalt viscoelastic behavior. Molecular interaction analysis reveals WCO's regenerative mechanism. This work emphasizes integrating molecular structure, chemical composition, and macroscopic properties in asphalt binder research, providing insights for sustainable pavement practices.

Overview Study on Language Development for Preschool Children on Scopus Database

This study aims to conduct an overview study of language development for preschool children based on the Scopus database. We apply the PRISMA model to select academic journals. The authors analyzed information such as the number of research papers, countries, authors, citations, keywords, and issues of interest to researchers regarding language development for preschool children. The findings revealed a significant increase in the number of articles on language development for preschool children in the Scopus database between 2021 and 2022, with a substantial proportion originating from American research papers. Researchers have been interested in many issues in the field of language development for preschool children, including updated issues such as the problem of delayed language development and the impact of information and communication technology on children..... With the findings from this article, researchers, preschool teachers, parents and people interested in education can grasp important information about language development for preschool children, thereby orienting research or implementing educational goals for language development for preschool children in the future.