Search Results (43)

Waterborne transportation serves as a critical pillar of trunk-line freight systems, offering unparalleled advantages in transport capacity, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. As cargo throughput demands escalate, optimizing lock capacity becomes imperative. This study investigates ship sinkage dynamics through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for a representative inland cargo vessel navigating the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River. We develop a predictive sinkage model that integrates four key hydrodynamic parameters: ship velocity, draft, water depth, and bank clearance, applicable to both open shallow water and lockage conditions. The model enables determination of maximum safe drafts for lock transit by analyzing upstream/downstream water levels and corresponding chamber depths. Our results demonstrate the technical feasibility of enhancing single-lock cargo capacity while maintaining safety margins. These findings provide (1) a scientifically grounded framework for draft control optimization, and (2) actionable insights for lock operation management. The study establishes a methodological foundation for balancing navigational safety with growing throughput requirements in constrained waterways. Full article

Incoming feeder calf production potential can be predicted based on phenotypic appearance, and nutrient supply can be optimized to match each animal’s specific production profile. Tailoring the supply, quality, and quantity of nutrients to the requirements for maximum profit could further support the economic pillar of sustainable livestock farming. Feeder calves (n = 104) were categorized into the production profiles (PP 1; PP 2; PP 3). Within each PP category, the allocated pens were subsequently randomized into three diets (high-, medium-, and low-production diets). Economic important traits were measured, and a deterministic model was created to evaluate economic implications. There was a significant interaction between the incoming feeder calf production profile and diet on the profit margin, with the PP 2 calves being most profitable when fed on the medium-production diet (profit margin = 4.81%). This was in stark contrast of the profit made by PP 2 calves fed on the low- or high-production diets (profit margin = 0.21% and −2.97%, respectively). PP 3 calves made a loss on all diets; however, this loss was reduced by 14% when fed on the low- compared to the medium-production diet (profit margin = −1.45% and −1.68%, respectively). PP 1 calves were profitable on all three diets although the margin was highest on the medium-production diet. In conclusion, the medium-production diet, representing the current industry norm in South Africa, is financially suitable for feeding calves with average production potential (PP 2), whereas the loss made by calves with low production potential (PP 3) can be reduced by adjusting the feed formulation for low production. More work is required to formulate diets that will maximize the profit made by calves with above average production potential (PP 1). Full article

Honey is a sugar-rich product produced by Apis mellifera bees, with significant variability in properties due to the influence of geographic and climatic conditions and the predominant flora in the production region. Economically, beekeeping is an activity that generates profit and fulfills environmental and social functions, reinforcing the pillars of sustainability. This study aimed to characterize samples of honey sold in southern Brazil, including physicochemical analyses, the detection of microbiological contaminants with potential impact on human health, and the detailed identification of bacterial composition through the Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). The present study was divided into five main stages: (1) sample collection; (2) sample fractionation; (3) physicochemical analysis; (4) microbiological analysis; (5) 16S metataxonomy analysis. The physicochemical analyses agreed with the regulated values, indicating the good quality of the honey and the absence of adulteration. The microbiological analyses indicated the absence of Salmonella spp., in addition to a low count of total coliforms. The limits for molds and yeasts were exceeded in three samples, indicating non-compliance with current MERCOSUR legislation. Metabarcoding analysis identified a total of 15,736 OTUs divided into three different genera: Bacillus (41.54%), Lysinnibacillus, and Rossellomorea, all belonging to the Bacillaceae family. Some pathogenic species were identified, namely the Bacillus cereus group and Bacillus pumilus. Our results point to an increased need for surveillance, as honey contamination can lead to public health problems, requiring improvements in legislation and control parameters. Full article

Two key pillars of human-centered AI (HCAI) approaches are “control” and “autonomy”. To date, little is known about professional translators’ attitudes towards these concepts in the AI era. This paper explores this issue through a survey study of US-based professional translators in mid-2024. Methodologically, this paper presents a qualitative analysis of open-ended questions through thematic coding to identify themes related to (1) present conceptualizations of control and autonomy over translation technologies, (2) future attitudes towards control and autonomy in the AI era, (3) main threats and challenges, and (4) recommendations to developers to enhance perceptions of control and autonomy. The results show that professionals perceive control and autonomy differently in both the present and the future. The main themes are usability, the ability to turn on and off technologies or reject jobs that require specific technologies, collaboration with developers, and differences in working with LSPs versus private clients. In terms of future attitudes, the most frequent ones are post-editing, quality, communicating or informing clients, LSPs or society at large, and creativity or rates. Overall, the study helps identify how professionals conceptualize control and autonomy and what specific issues could help foster the development of truly human-centered AI in the translation profession. Full article

To meet the mining requirements of the ’excavation–backfill–retention’ tunneling method for inter-panel coal pillars, this paper proposes an integrated ‘excavation–backfill–retention’ equipment system centered on a cutting robot. An interactive design method was employed to analyze the interaction between mining conditions and the cutting robot, constructing a ’requirements–functions–structure’ model. The robot integrates a horizontal drum cutting mechanism with a slider shoe walking mechanism, offering enhanced adaptability to various mining conditions. A parameter model was constructed to explore the relationship between the cutting arm length and the robot’s structural parameters under varying mining heights. Using a hierarchical solution method that combines local search and multi−objective genetic algorithms, the robot’s fundamental parameters were determined, enabling the development of a detailed 3D model. A kinematic model based on the modified D–H method was developed to analyze the cutting arm’s swing angle, cylinder extension, propulsion velocity, and cutting velocity in practical mining scenarios. The working range of the height adjustment and feed cylinders at different mining heights was determined through simulation. A dynamics model of the cutting drum was developed, and a coupled simulation using the discrete element method (DEM) was conducted to analyze the relationship between coal/rock hardness, drum load, and cutting depth. The simulation results indicate that as the cutting depth raises the number of cutting teeth in contact with surrounding rock, the cutting depth grows, resulting in a larger reaction force from the coal seam and greater fluctuations in drum load torque. Once the maximum cutting depth is reached, load torque stabilizes within a specific range. Considering cutting efficiency, the robot achieves a maximum cutting velocity of 1 m/min with a cutting depth of 250 mm for rock strength greater than f3. For rock strength f3, the maximum cutting velocity is 1 m/min with a 400 mm depth, and for f2, it is 2 m/min with a 400 mm depth. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for the development of adaptive cutting strategies in mining operations, contributing to improved performance and efficiency in complex mining conditions. Full article

Implementation science (IS) models play a crucial role in translating evidence-based practice (EBP) into sustainable policy reforms. However, the competencies required for nurses to lead these transformations remain poorly defined. Objective: This study develops a framework for implementation lead (IL) nurses, identifying the core competencies needed to drive evidence-based policy transformation within healthcare systems. Method: A secondary data analysis (SDA) was conducted using qualitative data from focus group interviews originally collected, recorded, and transcribed as part of the EQUIP (Evidence-based Quality Improvement Project). The dataset includes insights from 12 IL nurses who participated in PEACE-based training, addressing real-world clinical challenges. Their perspectives were thematically analyzed to generate a competency framework for policy leadership. Findings: The study developed the Implementation Science Competencies for Policy Transformation (ISCPT) framework, which highlights three pillars: (1) evidence appraisal and guideline development, (2) collaborative leadership for policy advocacy, and (3) continuous improvement through data-driven decision-making. Conclusions: Grounded in IL nurses’ perspectives, the ISCPT framework provides a nurse-centric roadmap for policy transformation, integrating interdisciplinary collaboration, adaptive leadership, and evidence-based decision-making into nursing education and practice. While the findings reflect a single healthcare context, the framework offers actionable guidance for preparing nurses to lead policy-driven healthcare improvements. Full article

Filling with phosphogypsum is one of the important ways to realize the sustainability development of phosphate mines. This study is based on the extensive on-site experiments conducted at the Dayukou phosphate mine. Over a period of 60 days, different proportions of phosphogypsum, cement, and mineral powder were used to fill the voids in the No. 1 and No. 2 test ore pillars. The results of strength testing during the experimental process indicate that the strength development of the filling material at various stages is normal, meeting all the requirements for mining production. The environmental protection monitoring station in the city conducted water quality analysis during the filling process, indicating that the concentrations of major elements such as Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd, and Hg in the water samples meet the industrial wastewater discharge standards. The fluoride content ranges from 3.28 to 6.90 mg/L, which is below the first-level standard of 10 mg/L specified in the “Comprehensive Wastewater Discharge Standards” (GB8978-1996). This suggests that the filling process has a minimal impact on the groundwater environment. After the completion of the filling, the pre-embedded pressure boxes function normally, and the data are generally stable, experiencing pressures ranging from 0.11 to 2.53 MPa. This on-site expanded trial indicates the feasibility of using cement, mineral powder, and phosphogypsum for underground filling. It demonstrates the potential for reutilizing the solid waste phosphogypsum as filling aggregate. Full article

The digital maturity of Human Resource Management (HRM) is a critical determinant of organisational success in today’s digital age. This paper aims to contribute to the limited literature on the “digital maturity” of HRM by identifying emerging themes and success factors of HRM in the digital age. Drawing on data from 190 journal articles for 2017–2024, this paper identifies three motor themes shaping contemporary HRM: (1) Digital Transformation and Competition, (2) Innovation and Performance Management, and (3) COVID-19 Adaptive Human Resource Management. These findings indicate the multidimensionality of HR digital maturity—from focusing on technology and people to fostering innovation and crisis management. Several factors require attention to improve the digital maturity of HR, including HR strategy and governance; talent management, diversity, and safety; employee adoption and competencies; conflict resolution and stakeholder engagement; and HR practitioners’ competencies. Strategic investment in these pillars is necessary not only to facilitate organisational adaptation to digital transformation but also for harnessing the benefits of emerging technologies to drive innovation and long-term success in the post-COVID era. Full article

The definition of sustainable characteristics of traditional villages can assist in determining the direction of development and evaluating the development results. Nevertheless, a clearly defined concept of the sustainable performance of traditional villages is required. (1) This paper addresses the phenomenon of traditional villages and their decline due to urbanization, industrialization, and the movement of people from rural settlements. The development of traditional villages causes several concerns. This study aims to present a more precise definition of the sustainability of traditional villages. (2) the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Evaluation and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines conducted a systematic literature review. The data were searched using the Web of Science database, with consideration given to the values of relevance, authority, and impact. (3) The sustainability of traditional villages is explained based on the four-pillar theory of sustainable development, focusing on the economic, environmental, social, and cultural dimensions. (4) The findings provide a scientific framework for understanding the sustainability of traditional villages. These results will provide insights to the future preservation and development of traditional villages. Full article

(1) Background: General nutrition knowledge is a fundamental pillar of well-being and healthy lifestyles. This study aimed to measure the general nutrition knowledge questionnaire (GNKQ) scores of overweight and obese participants who joined a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) and the association between changes in GNKQ scores and changes in anthropometric measures. (2) Methods: A total of 30 and 25 participants had completed the trial at the 3- and 6-month visits, respectively. All participants enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and received a hypocaloric-tailored diet and three online nutrition education sessions over 6 months. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: an intervention group supported with weekly telemonitoring and monthly telehealth coaching vs. a control group. The Arabic-validated GNKQ was used, covering four sections: dietary recommendations; food groups and nutrient sources; healthy food choices; and associations between the diet–disease relationship and weight. (3) Results: The findings show that both the intervention and control groups showed improvements in GNKQ scores over time, with the intervention group demonstrating significant increases in overall nutrition knowledge and specific areas, such as the diet–disease relationship and weight management, at 3 months. In addition, changes in GNKQ scores had a significant negative association with BMI and visceral fat percentage. The findings underline the benefits of supporting dietary weight loss interventions with telemonitoring and telehealth coaching, suggesting that an increase in nutrition knowledge may relate to lower body fat metrics. Nevertheless, the small sample size and high attrition rate of participants were the main limitations of this study, such that large populations are required to confirm the reliability of the obtained findings. Full article

Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome that requires tailored and patient-centered treatment. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) constitute one of the four pillars of the medical treatment of HF. However, the 2023 ESC guidelines treat HF as a single entity without making clear distinctions in phenotypes according to etiology. This creates a “gap in knowledge”, causing much debate about the applicability of these drugs in peculiar clinical settings that are etiological and/or predisposing clinical conditions for HF. Furthermore, considering the variety of etiologies and different pathophysiological backgrounds of HF, one might question whether the use of SGLT2is is equally beneficial in all types of HF and whether certain drug-related properties may be exploited in different contexts. For example, SGLT2is can improve the metabolic and inflammatory state, which is fundamental in ischemic heart disease. Anti-inflammatory power can also play a paramount role in myocarditis or cardiotoxicity, while improving the congestive state and reducing filling pressure may be even more fundamental in restrictive heart disease or advanced heart disease. This review aims to gather the evidence currently present in the literature concerning the advantages or the disadvantages of using these drugs in these particular clinical settings, with the goal being an optimized and highly personalized treatment for HF. Full article

The impact of corporate governance mechanisms has been examined directly and independently, considering that such characteristics compete to explain environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. However, the nexus may be more complex than that suggested by most scholars, and more research is needed. This study applied a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to a sample of Spanish-listed companies in 2018–2020 to explore how good governance practices interact with CEO profiles to promote corporate sustainability practices. Our analysis discovered the importance of establishing sustainability committees and identified five pathways shaping governance practice bundles. Specifically, listed companies with a high code of good governance (GGC) compliance and a sustainability committee improve high ESG performance globally and for each ESG dimension. Furthermore, the effect is more relevant than the effect of the CEO profile, requiring either CEO duality (pathway 1) or extended CEO tenure (pathway 2). Concurrently, findings indicate three CEO profile configurations for GGC-neutral firms, providing companies with more flexibility in CEO selection. Two suggest that younger CEOs with longer tenure tend to be more motivated to engage in the G and S pillars (pathways 3 and 5). The third indicates that CEOs of older age and early tenure improve the E pillar (pathway 4). Full article

Blood tests are widely used in modern medicine to diagnose certain illnesses and evaluate the overall health of a patient. To enable testing in resource-limited areas, there has been increasing interest in point-of-care (PoC) testing devices. To process blood samples, liquid mixing with active pumps is usually required, making PoC blood testing expensive and bulky. We explored the possibility of processing approximately 2 μL of whole blood for image flow cytometry using capillary structures that allowed test times of a few minutes without active pumps. Capillary pump structures with five different pillar shapes were simulated using Ansys Fluent to determine which resulted in the fastest whole blood uptake. The simulation results showed a strong influence of the capillary pump pillar shape on the chip filling time. Long and thin structures with a high aspect ratio exhibited faster filling times. Microfluidic chips using the simulated pump design with the most efficient blood uptake were fabricated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyethylene oxide (PEO). The chip filling times were tested with 2 μL of both water and whole blood, resulting in uptake times of 24 s for water and 111 s for blood. The simulated blood plasma results deviated from the experimental filling times by about 35% without accounting for any cell-induced effects. By comparing the flow speed induced by different pump pillar geometries, this study offers insights for the design and optimization of passive microfluidic devices for inhomogenous liquids such as whole blood in sensing applications. Full article

Since 2023, a new format of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has been implemented in Europe. Market forces alone cannot guarantee land services, which can be described as flows of goods and services from ecosystems to human systems as functions of nature. Market forces also cannot ensure food security everywhere and at all times, so deliberate measures should incentivize farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and maintain necessary skills and resources. This study identifies, quantifies, and interprets four narratives that are typical in the approach to food security and the public debate about the land services in the CAP Strategic Plans: (A) provision of land services within the Pillar 1 economics; (B) small vs. large farms; (C) direct payments in comparison with rural development; and (D) choices by the old and new member states. Participatory processes, descriptive statistics, and partial component analysis were used in terms of the methodology. The key finding is that the importance attached to eco-schemes varies among member states, although a majority dedicate approximately 25% of the Pillar 1 budget to them. We showed that small-scale farming countries move resources from Pillar 2 to strengthen direct payments. In contrast, affluent countries with robust agricultural structures can afford to reinforce Pillar 2 rural development through transfers from direct payments. To support small-scale and medium farms, appropriate support requires a combination of several measures, including the sizable hectare payment in Pillar 1 and farmer-oriented agri-environmental measures. Full article

The research on the quality of employment in China holds immense significance for attaining high-quality employment development. Firstly, enhancing the quality of employment facilitates the optimization of labor resource allocation and enhances economic efficiency. Secondly, high-quality employment serves as a fundamental pillar for social equity and stability. Lastly, continual enhancement of employment quality caters to the requirements of social development and plays a crucial role in promoting economic transformation and achieving sustainable development. However, what is the current situation of employment quality in China? How can we scientifically measure employment quality? What are the key factors for the development of employment quality? This study aimed to use spatiotemporal tensor data to measure the level of employment quality in China’s provinces and analyzed the magnitude and direction of its influencing factors in the spatiotemporal dimension. Taking thirty provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government in China from 2011 to 2020 as the research objects, the employment quality evaluation system was constructed from six dimensions: employment environment, employment status, employability, labor remuneration, social security, and labor relations. The employment quality index data were expressed in the form of three-order, high-dimensional tensor spatiotemporal data, and the employment quality of China’s provinces was measured from the spatiotemporal perspective by using principal tensor analysis. Then, the visual analysis of the development and change process of employment quality was carried out. The spatial autocorrelation analysis of employment quality was carried out, and the time–space dual-fixed-effect model of the spatial Durbin model was selected to analyze the direction and magnitude of the influence factors of employment quality on the selected and neighboring provinces. The research showed that: (1) The overall level of employment quality in China was not high, the employment quality varied greatly among provinces, and the employment quality development gap among provinces showed a trend of widening. (2) The development of employment quality in western China was relatively fast, while the development of employment quality in central China showed insufficient stamina. (3) Sichuan Province had a strong radiation effect on the development of employment quality in neighboring provinces, and Beijing and Tianjin had a strong siphon effect on the development of employment quality in neighboring provinces. (4) The level of industrialization and informatization promoted the development of employment quality in China’s provinces, while the industrial structure had a significant negative effect on the development of employment quality. According to the research findings, the following policy recommendations are proposed: (1) strengthen inter-provincial cooperation and exchange, (2) emphasize support for the central and western regions, (3) fully leverage the radiation effect of Sichuan while optimizing the siphon effect of Beijing and Tianjin, and (4) enhance industrialization and information technology levels, as well as adjust the industrial structure. Full article