Search Results (1,205)

The IoE forms the foundation of the modern digital ecosystem by enabling seamless connectivity and data exchange among smart devices, sensors, and systems. However, the inherent nature of this structure, characterized by high heterogeneity, distribution, and resource constraints, renders traditional security approaches insufficient in areas such as data privacy, authentication, access control, and scalable protection. Moreover, centralized security systems face increasing fragility due to single points of failure, various AI-based attacks, including adversarial learning, model poisoning, and deepfakes, and the rising threat of quantum computers to encryption protocols. This study systematically examines the individual and integrated solution potentials of technologies such as Blockchain, Edge Computing, Artificial Intelligence, and Quantum-Resilient Cryptography within the scope of IoE security. Comparative analyses are provided based on metrics such as energy consumption, latency, computational load, and security level, while centralized and decentralized models are evaluated through a multi-layered security lens. In addition to the proposed multi-layered architecture, the study also structures solution methods and technology integrations specific to IoE environments. Classifications, architectural proposals, and the balance between performance and security are addressed from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Furthermore, a future vision is presented regarding federated learning-based privacy-preserving AI solutions, post-quantum digital signatures, and lightweight consensus algorithms. In this context, the study reveals existing vulnerabilities through an interdisciplinary approach and proposes a holistic framework for sustainable, scalable, and quantum-compatible IoE security. Full article

The rapid rise of short-form video platforms such as TikTok and Instagram Reels has transformed digital engagement by promoting fragmented, high-tempo swiping behaviors and intense sensory stimulation. While these platforms dominate daily use, their impact on higher-order cognition remains underexplored. This study provides preliminary behavioral experimental evidence that even brief exposure to short-form video environments may be associated with reduced cue-based task preparation, a specific subcomponent of proactive cognitive flexibility. In a randomized between-subjects design, participants (N = 72) viewed either 30 min of TikTok-style content, a neutral documentary, or no video (passive control), followed by a task-switching paradigm with manipulated cue–target intervals (CTIs). As expected, the documentary and control group exhibited significant preparation benefits at longer CTIs, reflected in reduced switching costs—consistent with effective anticipatory task-set updating. In contrast, the short video group failed to leverage extended preparation time, indicating a selective disruption of goal-driven processing. Notably, performance at short CTIs did not differ across groups, reinforcing the interpretation that reactive control remained intact, while proactive preparation was selectively impaired. These findings link habitual “swiping” to disrupted task-switching efficiency—a phenomenon summarized as swiping disrupts switching. These findings suggest that short-form video exposure may temporarily bias attentional regulation toward stimulus-driven reactivity, thereby undermining anticipatory cognitive control. Given the widespread use of short-form video platforms—especially among young adults—these results underscore the need to better understand how media design features interact with cognitive control systems. Full article

Nano- and microplastic pollution, together with the ongoing rise in global temperatures driven by climate change, represent increasingly critical environmental challenges. Although these stressors often co-occur in the environment, their combined effects on plant systems remain largely unexplored. To test the hypothesis that their interaction may exacerbate the effects observed under each stressor individually, we investigated the response of seedlings of Triticum turgidum to treatments with fluorescent polystyrene nanoplastics under optimal (25 °C) and elevated (35 °C) temperature conditions. We evaluated seedling growth, photosynthetic pigment content, and oxidative stress markers using both biochemical and histochemical techniques. In addition, we assessed enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant responses. The use of fluorescently labeled nanoplastics enabled the visualization of their uptake and translocation within plant tissues. Elevated temperatures negatively affect plant growth, increasing the production of proline, a key protective molecule, and weakly activating secondary defense mechanisms. Nanoplastics disturbed wheat seedling physiology, with these effects being amplified under high temperature conditions. Combined stress enhances nanoplastic uptake in roots, increases oxidative damage, and alters antioxidant responses, reducing defense capacity in leaves while triggering compensatory mechanisms in roots. These findings underscore a concerning interaction between plastic pollution and climate warming in crop plants. Full article

Studying the impact of digital economy development on marine environmental quality has important theoretical and practical significance for achieving a win–win situation between high-quality economic development and high-level ecological environment protection. This article selects the marine environment of coastal provinces and cities in China from 2011 to 2022 as the research object and uses the entropy method to comprehensively evaluate the quality of marine environment and the level of digital economy. Also, we construct intermediary and threshold effect models to deeply explore the impact mechanism of digital economy development on marine environmental quality. We find that digital economy and marine environmental quality both show a wave-like rising trend, but the comprehensive level is relatively low. The development of the digital economy can effectively improve the level of marine environmental quality, and the digital economy promotes the improvement of marine environmental quality by improving the level of marine economy. The level of economic development and industrial scale has created a threshold effect in the process of promoting the development of marine environmental quality through the digital economy. Therefore, strengthening the digital governance of the marine environment and promoting the industrialization of marine ecology and the ecologicalization of marine industries will help promote the integrated development of the digital economy and marine environment. Full article

Oil spill simulation models are essential for predicting the oil spill behavior and movement in marine environments. In this study, we comprehensively reviewed a large and diverse body of peer-reviewed literature obtained from Scopus and Web of Science. Our initial analysis phase focused on examining trends in scientific publications, utilizing the complete dataset derived after systematic screening and database integration. In the second phase, we applied elements of a systematic review to identify and evaluate the most influential contributions in the scientific field of oil spill simulations. Our analysis revealed a steady and accelerating growth of research activity over the past five decades, with a particularly notable expansion in the last two. The field has also experienced a marked increase in collaborative practices, including a rise in international co-authorship and multi-authored contributions, reflecting a more global and interdisciplinary research landscape. We cataloged the key modeling frameworks that have shaped the field from established systems such as OSCAR, OIL-MAP/SIMAP, and GNOME to emerging hybrid and Lagrangian approaches. Hydrodynamic models were consistently central, often integrated with biogeochemical, wave, atmospheric, and oil-spill-specific modules. Environmental variables such as wind, ocean currents, and temperature were frequently used to drive model behavior. Geographically, research has concentrated on ecologically and economically sensitive coastal and marine regions. We conclude that future progress will rely on the real-time integration of high-resolution environmental data streams, the development of machine-learning-based surrogate models to accelerate computations, and the incorporation of advanced biodegradation and weathering mechanisms supported by experimental data. These advancements are expected to enhance the accuracy, responsiveness, and operational value of oil spill modeling tools, supporting environmental monitoring and emergency response. Full article

There has been growing interest in constructing mid- and high-rise wooden buildings in recent years. To ensure the feasibility of these structures, it is necessary to provide evidence that their long-term reliability can be guaranteed. While long-term testing is typically necessary, a continuous monitoring system for the moisture content of wood materials used in buildings has been proposed as an alternative. The proposed method measures the change in the local moisture content using the equilibrium moisture content calculated from the temperature and humidity measured using temperature and humidity sensors. The study used Japanese cypress specimens with dimensions of 50 mm, 75 mm, and 100 mm cubes and Douglas fir specimens of 50 mm cubes. The moisture content was measured under various external environments. Results showed that this system effectively captured changes in local moisture content, reflecting fluctuations in temperature and humidity in a controlled thermo-hygrostat over a three-day moisture absorption environment (20 °C, 95% humidity). Additionally, it was observed that higher moisture content levels yielded correspondingly higher local moisture content measurements compared to those obtained using the oven-drying method. Full article

Korea has a high population density, considering the size of its territory. Therefore, the importance of convenient and comfortable apartment buildings and high-rise residential–commercial complex buildings has been rising. In addition, because of the improvement in the standard of living along with continuous national economic growth, the interest in well-being and the expectation of a quiet life with a comfortable and pleasant residential environment have also been increasing. However, Koreans have a lifestyle involving sitting on the floor, so floor impact noise has been occurring more and more frequently. Because of this, neighborly disputes have been a serious social problem. And lately, damage and disputes from noise between floors have been increasing much more. The present work, therefore, used waste tire chips as a resilient material for reducing floor impact noise in order to recycle waste tires effectively. Also, a compounded resilient material, which combines EPS (expanded polystyrene), a flat resilient material on the upper part, with waste tire chips for the lower part, was developed. After constructing waste tire chips at a standardized test building, experiments with both light-weight and heavy-weight floor impact noise were performed. The tests confirmed that waste tire chips, when used as a resilient material, can effectively reduce both light-weight and heavy-weight floor impact noise. Full article

High-rise construction presents heightened safety risks due to vertical complexity, spatial constraints, and workforce variability. Conventional safety management often proves insufficient, especially in rapidly urbanizing or resource-limited settings. This study proposes a hybrid methodological framework to systematically identify and prioritize the critical factors influencing occupational safety in Vietnamese high-rise construction projects. Based on 181 valid survey responses from construction professionals, 23 observed variables were developed through extensive literature review and expert consultation. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was employed to empirically group 23 validated indicators into five key latent dimensions: (1) Safety Training and Inspection, (2) Employer’s Knowledge and Responsibility, (3) Worker’s Competence and Compliance, (4) Working Conditions and Environment, and (5) Safety Equipment and Signage. These dimensions were then structured into an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model, with pairwise comparisons conducted by industry experts to calculate consistency ratios and derive factor weights across three high-rise project case studies. The findings provide actionable insights for construction managers, safety professionals, and policymakers in developing and underdeveloped countries, supporting data-driven decision-making for safer and more sustainable urban development. Full article

The ecological environment is crucial for human survival and development. As ecological issues become more pressing, studying the spatiotemporal evolution of ecological quality (EQ) and its driving mechanisms is vital for sustainable development. This study, based on MODIS data from 2000 to 2022 and the Google Earth Engine platform, constructs a remote sensing ecological index for the Beibu Gulf Urban Agglomeration and analyzes its spatiotemporal evolution using Theil–Sen trend analysis, Hurst index (HI), and geographic detector. The results show the following: (1) From 2000 to 2010, EQ improved, particularly from 2005 to 2010, with a significant increase in areas of excellent and good quality due to national policies and climate improvements. From 2010 to 2015, EQ degraded, with a sharp reduction in areas of excellent quality, likely due to urban expansion and industrial pressures. After 2015, EQ rebounded with successful governance measures. (2) The HI analysis indicates that future changes will continue the past trend, especially in areas like southeastern Chongzuo and northwestern Fangchenggang, where governance efforts were effective. (3) EQ shows a positive spatial correlation, with high-quality areas in central Nanning and Fangchenggang, and low-quality areas in Nanning and Beihai. After 2015, both high–high and low–low clusters showed changes, likely due to ecological governance measures. (4) NDBSI (dryness) is the main driver of EQ changes (q = 0.806), with significant impacts from NDVI (vegetation coverage), LST (heat), and WET (humidity). Urban expansion’s increase in impervious surfaces (NDBSI rise) and vegetation loss (NDVI decline) have a synergistic effect (q = 0.856), significantly affecting EQ. Based on these findings, it is recommended to control construction land expansion, optimize land use structure, protect ecologically sensitive areas, and enhance climate adaptation strategies to ensure continuous improvement in EQ. Full article

This study explores the magmatic and hydrothermal evolution of porphyry–skarn–transitional Cu-Mo-W-Au systems within the Nilüfer Mineralization Complex (NMC), located in the westernmost segment of the Eocene Tavşanlı Metallogenic Belt, NW Türkiye. Through integration of field data, whole-rock geochemistry, Re–Os molybdenite dating, and amphibole–biotite mineral chemistry, the petrogenetic controls on mineralization across four spatially associated mineralized regions (Kirazgedik, Güneybudaklar, Kozbudaklar, and Delice) were examined. The earliest and thermally most distinct phase is represented by the Kirazgedik porphyry system, characterized by high temperature (~930 °C), oxidized quartz monzodioritic intrusions emplaced at ~2.7 kbar. Rising fO₂ and volatile enrichment during magma ascent facilitated structurally focused Cu-Mo mineralization. At Güneybudaklar, Re–Os geochronology yields an age of ~49.9 Ma, linking Mo- and W-rich mineralization to a transitional porphyry–skarn environment developed under moderately oxidized (ΔFMQ + 1.8 to +0.5) and hydrous (up to 7 wt.% H₂O) magmatic conditions. Kozbudaklar represents a more reduced, volatile-poor skarn system, leading to Mo-enriched scheelite mineralization typical of late-stage W-skarns. The Delice system, developed at the contact of felsic cupolas and carbonates, records the broadest range of redox and fluid compositions. Mixed oxidized–reduced fluid signatures and intense fluid–rock interaction reflect complex, multistage fluid evolution involving both magmatic and external inputs. Geochemical and mineralogical trends—from increasing silica and Rb to decreasing Sr and V—trace a systematic evolution from mantle-derived to felsic, volatile-rich magmas. Structurally, mineralization is controlled by oblique fault zones that localize magma emplacement and hydrothermal flow. These findings support a unified genetic model in which porphyry and skarn mineralization styles evolved continuously from multiphase magmatic systems during syn-to-post-subduction processes, offering implications for exploration models in the Western Tethyan domain. Full article

This study investigates the implications of sewage contamination in the coastal and riverine environments of Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa. Chemical analyses were applied to quantify the presence of pollutants such as pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in sentinel marine organisms such as mussels, as well as microbial indicators of faecal contamination in river water and seawater, for estimating the extent of impact zones in the coastal environment of Hout Bay. This research investigated the persistent pharmaceuticals found in marine outfall wastewater effluent samples in Hout Bay, examining whether these substances were also detectable in marine biota, specifically focusing on Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels. The findings reveal significant levels of sewage-related pollutants in the sampled environments, with concentrations ranging from 32.74 to 43.02 ng/g dry weight (dw) for acetaminophen, up to 384.96 ng/g for bezafibrate, and as high as 338.56 ng/g for triclosan. These results highlight persistent PPCP contamination in marine organisms, with increasing concentrations observed over time, suggesting a rise in population and pharmaceutical use. Additionally, microbial analysis revealed high levels of E. coli in the Hout Bay River, particularly near stormwater from the Imizamo Yethu settlement, with counts exceeding 8.3 million cfu/100 mL. These findings underscore the significant impact of untreated sewage on the environment. This study concludes that current sewage treatment is insufficient to mitigate pollution, urging the implementation of more effective wastewater management practices and long-term monitoring of pharmaceutical levels in marine biota to protect both the environment and public health. Full article

Weed infestation contributes significantly to global agricultural yield loss and increases the reliance on herbicides, raising both economic and environmental concerns. Effective weed detection in agriculture requires high accuracy and architectural efficiency. This is particularly important under challenging field conditions, including densely clustered targets, small weed instances, and low visual contrast between vegetation and soil. In this study, we propose GTDR-YOLOv12, an improved object detection framework based on YOLOv12, tailored for real-time weed identification in complex agricultural environments. The model is evaluated on the publicly available Weeds Detection dataset, which contains a wide range of weed species and challenging visual scenarios. To achieve better accuracy and efficiency, GTDR-YOLOv12 introduces several targeted structural enhancements. The backbone incorporates GDR-Conv, which integrates Ghost convolution and Dynamic ReLU (DyReLU) to improve early-stage feature representation while reducing redundancy. The GTDR-C3 module combines GDR-Conv with Task-Dependent Attention Mechanisms (TDAMs), allowing the network to adaptively refine spatial features critical for accurate weed identification and localization. In addition, the Lookahead optimizer is employed during training to improve convergence efficiency and reduce computational overhead, thereby contributing to the model’s lightweight design. GTDR-YOLOv12 outperforms several representative detectors, including YOLOv7, YOLOv9, YOLOv10, YOLOv11, YOLOv12, ATSS, RTMDet and Double-Head. Compared with YOLOv12, GTDR-YOLOv12 achieves notable improvements across multiple evaluation metrics. Precision increases from 85.0% to 88.0%, recall from 79.7% to 83.9%, and F1-score from 82.3% to 85.9%. In terms of detection accuracy, mAP:0.5 improves from 87.0% to 90.0%, while mAP:0.5:0.95 rises from 58.0% to 63.8%. Furthermore, the model reduces computational complexity. GFLOPs drop from 5.8 to 4.8, and the number of parameters is reduced from 2.51 M to 2.23 M. These reductions reflect a more efficient network design that not only lowers model complexity but also enhances detection performance. With a throughput of 58 FPS on the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Xavier, GTDR-YOLOv12 proves both resource-efficient and deployable for practical, real-time weeding tasks in agricultural settings. Full article

We developed a microscale airflow modeling system with detailed building and terrain data to better understand the urban microclimate. Building shapes and heights, and terrain elevation data were integrated to construct a high-resolution urban surface geometry. The system, based on computational fluid dynamics using OpenFOAM, can resolve complex flow structures around built environments. Inflow boundary conditions were generated using logarithmic wind profiles derived from Automatic Weather System (AWS) observations under neutral stability. After validation with wind-tunnel data for a single block, the system was applied to airflow modeling around a university campus in Seoul using AWS data from four nearby stations. The results demonstrated that the system captured key flow characteristics such as channeling, wake, and recirculation induced by complex terrain and building configurations. In particular, easterly inflow cases with high-rise buildings on the leeward side of a mountain exhibited intensified wakes and internal recirculations, with elevated centers influenced by tall structures. This modeling framework, with further development, could support diverse urban applications for microclimate and air quality, facilitating urban resilience. Full article

The present study was motivated by the need to enhance indoor air quality and reduce airborne disease transmission in dense urban environments where high-rise residential buildings face challenges in achieving effective natural ventilation. The problem lies in the lack of scalable and convenient tools to optimize natural ventilation rate, particularly in urban settings with varying building heights. To address this, the scientific technique developed with an innovative metric, the urbanized natural ventilation effectiveness factor (uNVeF), integrates regression analysis of wind direction, velocity, air change rate per hour (ACH), window configurations, and building height to quantify ventilation efficiency. By employing a field measurement methodology, the measurements were conducted across 25 window-opening scenarios in a 13.9 m² residential unit on the 35/F of a Hong Kong public housing building, supplemented by the Hellman Exponential Law with a site-specific friction coefficient (0.2907, R² = 0.9232) to estimate the lower floor natural ventilation rate. The results confirm compliance with Hong Kong’s statutory 1.5 ACH requirement (Practice Note for Authorized Persons, Registered Structural Engineers, and Registered Geotechnical Engineers) and achieving a peak ACH at a uNVeF of 0.953 with 75% window opening. The results also revealed that lower floors can maintain 1.5 ACH with adjusted window configurations. Using the Wells–Riley model, the estimation results indicated significant airborne disease infection risk reductions of 96.1% at 35/F and 93.4% at 1/F compared to the 1.5 ACH baseline which demonstrates a strong correlation between ACH, uNVeF and infection risks. The uNVeF framework offers a practical approach to optimize natural ventilation and provides actionable guidelines, together with future research on the scope of validity to refine this technique for residents and developers. The implications in the building industry include setting up sustainable design standards, enhancing public health resilience, supporting policy frameworks for energy-efficient urban planning, and potentially driving innovation in high-rise residential construction and retrofitting globally. Full article

Lightning strikes pose a significant risk during outdoor activities. The connection between conventionally used rescue blankets in alpine emergencies and the risk of lightning injury is unclear. This experimental study investigated whether rescue blankets made of aluminum-coated polyethylene terephthalate increase the likelihood of lightning injuries. High-voltage experiments of up to 2.5 MV were conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, exposing manikins to realistic lightning discharges. In a balanced test environment, two conventionally used brands were investigated. Upward leaders frequently formed on the edges along the fold lines of the foils and were significantly longer in crumpled rescue blankets (p = 0.004). When a lightning strike occurred, the thin metallic layer evaporated at the contact point without igniting the blanket or damaging the underlying plastic film. The blankets diverted surface currents and prevented current flow to the manikins, indicating potentially protective effects. The findings of this experimental study suggest that upward leaders rise from the edge areas of rescue blankets, although there is no increased risk for a direct strike. Rescue blankets may even provide partial protection against exposure to electrical charges. Full article