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The novel π‐electron donor‐based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been shown to be a promising type of absorbent with excellent performance on toluene absorption. However, their greenness or sustainability is still unclear. Thus, to bridge the gap and give a comprehensive evaluation for their industrialization potential, the life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to evaluate the potential environmental impacts incurred from their production and usage for absorbing toluene. The environmental profiles are also compared with that of popular choline chloride (ChCl) based DES, common organic solvent triethylene glycol (TEG) and ionic liquid ([EMIM][Tf2N]). The results indicate that among the involved hydrogen bond acceptors (HBAs), TEBAC generally imparts lower environmental impacts than other HBAs but has higher impacts than ChCl. Although TEBAC‐PhOH is not the most environmentally friendly absorbent during the production stage, its outstanding absorption performance minimizes the environmental impact when absorbing the same mass of toluene. Furthermore, the environmental impacts of the toluene absorption process using TEBAC‐PhOH is significantly lower than that of [EMIM][Tf2N], slightly lower than TEG. Therefore, considering both absorption performance and environmental impacts, TEBAC‐PhOH can be used as a promising "green and sustainable" toluene absorbent to traditional absorbents and ionic liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A standoff methane (CH4) sensor with actual hard topographic targets (usually called non-cooperative targets) is essential for natural gas pipeline leakage inspection and many other practical applications. To address this requirement, a miniaturized and low-power-consumption gas sensor was developed based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy for standoff CH4 detection with a non-cooperative target. Wavelength modulation spectroscopy with a 1 f normalized 2 f detection method was employed for calibration-free CH4 measurement. A Kalman filter algorithm was used to improve the precision of the detection. The performance of the standoff CH4 sensor was evaluated comprehensively under various conditions, including different incident angles, different hard topographic targets, and different standoff distances. The results show that the measurement precision is 0.107% and the sensitivity is 4.08 parts per million per meter (ppm·m) with a time resolution of 1 s and a standoff distance of 40 m. The detection limit can achieve 1.24 ppm·m at an optimal integration time of 70 s. This sensor can be easily integrated into mobile platforms, which lays the foundation for intelligent leak inspection. Graphical abstract This is a visual representation of the abstract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of livelihood resilience theory to villages that have been resettled due to coal mining provides insights into the levels and impediments of livelihood resilience under different resettlement models. Such an exploration holds critical significance for enhancing the livelihood resilience of the resettled households and promoting sustainable development in coal mining areas. Grounded in the theoretical framework of livelihood resilience and considering the realities of mining areas, by referring to existing studies, this study devises an evaluative index system. Utilizing the TOPSIS model to calculate the level of livelihood resilience, and we delve into the impediments to livelihood resilience of households that resettled under different models using the obstacle model. The results indicate the following: (1) Overall, the level of livelihood resilience in areas resettled due to coal mining of Huaibei City is low. Significant disparities exist among the households resettled under different models in terms of buffering capacity, self-organizing ability, and learning ability. (2) Factors such as the quantity of labor, policy awareness, and participation in village collective meetings significantly influence households' livelihood resilience, albeit to varying degrees across different resettlement models. (3) Future interventions should address the challenges faced by the four types of resettled households by increasing employment opportunities, intensifying policy advocacy, and augmenting investments in education resources to elevate the livelihood standards of various households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online learning is rapidly becoming one of the most prevalent delivery methods of learning in institutions of higher education. It provides college students, especially adult students, an alternative, convenient, and cost-efficient method to earn their credentials, upgrade their skills and knowledge, and keep or upgrade their employment. But at the same time it brings about new issues and challenges different from traditional instruction, including student verification, prevention of academic dishonesty, and use of new technology. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of student authentication and authenticity in online learning at community colleges through faculty's perceptions of the three key institutional factors: (a) institutional policies and procedures; (b) professional development and training; and (c) technology support services. The results of this study show that there are significant gaps between what are considered by faculty as important in the three areas and what are in place in reality. Evidence of this study also indicates that professional development and training and institutional policies and procedures have a positive effect on the increase of faculty's awareness of the importance of student authentication and authenticity. Additionally, implications for further research, as well as for policy and practice, are discussed.

The survey on hot topics was added in 2007 to the annual survey of state directors of community colleges conducted by the University of Alabama Education Policy Center. The survey data provided an opportunity for examining the personal attitudes toward the hot topics and the associations between these attitudes and state contexts. This study finds five clear interpretable factors of personal attitudes, and it provides support for the sound psychometric properties of the survey questionnaire. As a group, state directors had an optimistic view toward the increased attention to student success, the development of new data systems to track student success, and the enrollment capacity of community colleges. On the other hand, state directors were less optimistic toward state funding policies and the growth of four-year degree programs at community colleges. They recognized that funding for facilities was a priority, and federal support was needed. The findings indicate that the availability of local tax support influenced state directors' attitude toward state funding policies. Implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed. (Contains 2 tables.)

This quantitative study investigated the extent to which doctoral leadership programs are practically relevant. Results revealed that community college leaders and leadership program faculty did not differ significantly on the importance ratings on the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) competencies. The subsequent analysis, however, showed a significant gap between what were rated by faculty as important and what were emphasized in the leadership programs. The findings suggest possible reasons for the gap and raise important questions for future research. (Contains 3 tables.)