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Abstract The exponential rise of electric vehicles (EVs) is transforming the global automobile industry, driving a shift towards greater cleanliness and environmental sustainability. EV charging stations (EVCSs) play a pivotal role in this massive transition towards EVs, where accurate forecasting of EVCS demand is crucial for seamlessly integrating EVs into existing power grids. Most of the existing research mainly concentrates on univariate forecasting, neglecting the multiple factors influencing EVCS demand. Hence, this study offers a comparative analysis of different algorithms for univariate forecasting and multivariate forecasting, where the multivariate scheme incorporates metadata such as charging time, greenhouse gas savings, and gasoline savings. The experimental results indicate the superiority of the multivariate scheme over the univariate forecasting. For multivariate forecasting, the gated recurrent unit (GRU) has outperformed other models such as categorical boosting (Catboost), recurrent neural network (RNN), long short‐term memory (LSTM), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), random forest, convolutional neural network (CNN), CNN + LSTM, and LSTM + LSTM. The results of this study emphasize the significance of using the GRU model for multivariate forecasting with metadata during normal and noisy scenarios to yield more reliable and accurate predictions. This approach enhances decision‐making, policy development, and efficient grid integration in the growing EV sector.

Abstract Transmission lines, the core part of the transmission and distribution system in the smart grid, require effective, efficient, and reliable protective measures against faults to avoid severe damage to physical infrastructure and financial losses. Due to their growing popularity, machine learning models are used in fault detection and classification, whose performances can be severely affected by cyber‐attacks due to their data dependency, posing a critical concern. Hence, this paper introduces false data injection attacks to address the vulnerability of machine learning‐based fault detectors and classifiers. A comparative study of 9 detection models and 6 classification models under normal conditions and during a combination of two models of false data injection attacks is presented to evaluate the severity of cyber‐attacks. Experimental results show that highly accurate models in normal conditions are more susceptible to cyber‐attacks, with up to 69% and 28% degradations in accuracy for fault detectors and classifiers, respectively. Furthermore, the detection models are found to be more vulnerable to cyber‐attacks than the classification models. With no robust detectors and classifiers being found, this work addresses the importance of developing attack‐resilient fault detection and classification schemes considering their academic and industrial significance.

Abstract Polyolefins are a widely accepted commodity polymer made from olefinic monomer consisting of carbon and hydrogen. This thermoplastic polymeric material is formed through reactive double bonds of olefins by the addition polymerization technique and it possesses a diverse range of unique features for a large variety of applications. Among the various types, polyethylene and polypropylene are the prominent classes of polyolefins that can be crafted and manipulated into diversified products for numerous applications. Research on polyolefins has boomed tremendously in recent times owing to the abundance of raw materials, low cost, lightweight, high chemical resistance, diverse functionalities, and outstanding physical characteristics. Polyolefins have also evidenced their potentiality as a fiber in micro to nanoscale and emerged as a fascinating material for widespread high-performance use. This review aims to provide an elucidation of the breakthroughs in polyolefins, namely as fibers, filaments, and yarns, and their applications in many domains such as medicine, body armor, and load-bearing industries. Moreover, the development of electrospun polyolefin nanofibers employing cutting-edge techniques and their prospective utilization in filtration, biomedical engineering, protective textiles, and lithium-ion batteries has been illustrated meticulously. Besides, this review delineates the challenges associated with the formation of polyolefin nanofiber using different techniques and critically analyzes overcoming the difficulties in forming functional nanofibers for the innovative field of applications. Graphical abstract

Two-photon polymerisation lithography enables the three-dimensional (3D)-printing of high-resolution micron- and nano-scale structures. Structures that are 3D-printed using proprietary resins are transparent and are suitable as optical components. However, achieving a mix of opaque and transparent structures in a single optical component is challenging and requires multiple material systems or the manual introduction of ink after fabrication. In this study, we investigated an overexposure printing process for laser decomposition, which typically produces uncontrollable and random ‘burnt’ structures. Specifically, we present a printing strategy to control this decomposition process, realising the on-demand printing of opaque or transparent structures in a single lithographic step using a single resin. Using this method, opaque structures can be printed with a minimum feature size of approximately 10 µm, which exhibit

Abstract Two-photon polymerization lithography is promising for producing three-dimensional structures with user-defined micro- and nanoscale features. Additionally, shrinkage by thermolysis can readily shorten the lattice constant of three-dimensional photonic crystals and enhance their resolution and mechanical properties; however, this technique suffers from non-uniform shrinkage owing to substrate pinning during heating. Here, we develop a simple method using poly(vinyl alcohol)-assisted uniform shrinking of three-dimensional printed structures. Microscopic three-dimensional printed objects are picked and placed onto a receiving substrate, followed by heating to induce shrinkage. We show the successful uniform heat-shrinking of three-dimensional prints with various shapes and sizes, without sacrificial support structures, and observe that the surface properties of the receiving substrate are important factors for uniform shrinking. Moreover, we print a three-dimensional mascot model that is then uniformly shrunk, producing vivid colors from colorless woodpile photonic crystals. The proposed method has significant potential for application in mechanics, optics, and photonics.

Abstract Recycling and converting textile waste into value-added products with enhanced functional properties pave the way toward a circular economy for sustainability. This research investigates the utilization of recycled cotton fiber from apparel cutting waste for fabricating high-performance thermal barrier fabrics. The physical characterization of the developed fabrics revealed a regular arrangement of fibers, consequently the uniform thickness of the fabric with no distortion on fiber surfaces due to the recycling operation of cotton waste. The developed fabrics also demonstrated a high softness index and low compression and bending average rigidity compared to the commercial fabric with similar thickness. The heat protection performance revealed an increase in fabric conductive and radiative heat resistance with increasing the amount of recycled cotton fiber in the fabrics. The inherent thermal resistance of cotton fiber and the low inter-fiber spacing because of their uniform orientation in the fabric lead to the high thermal resistance of developed fabrics. In the case of fabric air permeability concerning the clothing thermal comfort, no significant difference in breathability was observed among the test specimens. Besides, the moisture management profile of developed fabrics indicated the capability to create favorable thermal comfort within the clothing-skin microenvironment because of improved liquid transportation and diffusion of perspiration vapor through the fabric.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the region most vulnerable to climate change and related hydro-meteorological risks. These risks are exacerbated in rapidly expanding urban areas due to the loss and degradation of green and blue spaces with their regulating ecosystem services. The potential of nature-based solutions (NBSs) to mitigate hydro-meteorological risks such as floods is increasingly recognised in Europe. However, its application in urban areas of SSA still needs to be systematically explored to inform and promote its uptake in this region. We conducted a multidisciplinary systematic review following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) protocol to establish the general patterns in the literature on NBSs and hydro-meteorological risk mitigation in SSA. We searched scientific journal databases, websites of 12 key institutions and 11 NBS databases and identified 45 papers for analysis. We found at least 1 reported NBS in 71 % of urban areas of SSA across 83 locations. Of the papers, 62 % were clustered in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria only, while the most studied cities were Dar es Salaam and Kampala. Moreover, 66 NBS practices were identified, most of which (n=44) were for flood mitigation. With only Mozambique (n=2) among the most at-risk countries reporting NBSs, we found that NBSs are implemented where risks occur but not where they are most severe. Mangrove restoration (n=10) and wetland restoration (n=7), reforestation (n=10) and urban forests (n=8), and agroforestry (n=3) and conservation agriculture (n=2) were the most common NBS practices identified for floods, extreme-heat and drought mitigation, respectively. Traditional practices that fit the definition of NBSs, such as grass strips and stone bunds, and practices that are more popular in the Global North, such as green roofs and green façades, were also identified. These NBSs also provided ecosystem services, including 15 regulatory, 5 provisioning and 4 cultural ecosystem services, while 4 out of every 5 NBSs created livelihood opportunities. We conclude that the reported uptake of NBSs for hydro-meteorological risks in SSA is low. However, there could be more NBSs, especially at the local level, that are unreported. NBSs can help SSA address major development challenges such as water and food insecurity and unemployment and help the sub-region progress towards climate-resilient development. Therefore, we recommend that NBSs be mainstreamed into urban planning and knowledge exchange opportunities between SSA and Europe and that other regions be explored to promote uptake.

Energy independence is one of the national priorities facing Ukraine today. Plant-based feedstocks have the potential to diversify Ukraine’s energy independence by decreasing dependence on petroleum-based energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding renewable fuel industries and creating job opportunities. However, biofeedstock needs to be competitive on availability, performance, and price to produce, market, and produce fuels. We hypothesize that domestically produced feedstocks from sweet sorghum, using proactive recycling of nutrient-rich biosolids on vast areas of degraded and marginal lands, could be a win-win energy independence strategy in Ukraine. Our goal is to create for generating a steady-state source of biofeedstock and disseminate science-based knowledge and training to the clientele. Specific objectives are to: (1) establish research studies to evaluate growth and feedstock productivity, nutrient removal, and feedstock characteristics of sweet sorghum fertilized with biosolids on degraded and marginal lands in Rivne, Kherson, Dnipro, and Kyiv regions of Ukraine; and (2) determine the impact of biosolids and sweet sorghum on soil quality. Data collected on growth, feedstock production, feedstock characteristics, fuel potential, and high-value co-products (biochar) of sweet sorghum and soil quality will be evaluated by multivariate statistics. Input, output, and outreach data will be subject to techno-economic analyses to evaluate the economically viability, environmentally compatibility, and social acceptability of the project. Traditional and electronic outlet activities will be utilized to disseminate outcomes and outputs and to evaluate project impacts.

Abstract The aim of this study was to estimate the size at first sexual maturity (Lm) for 36 species belonging to 24 families from the marine habitat of Balochistan and Sindh in Arabian Sea, Pakistan through maximum length based an empirical and logistic model using commercial catch during June 2020 to May 2021. Individual total length (TL) was noted up to 0.1 cm using measuring broad. The Lm was calculated using two formulae; (i) log (Lm) = - 0.1246 + 0.9924 * log (Lmax) for Elasmobranchs and (ii) log (Lm) = -0.1189 + 0.9157* log (Lmax) for ray-finned fishes. The minimum Lm was recorded as 10.27 cm TL for Caranx malabaricus and 108.38 cm TL for Isurus oxyrinchus, respectively. Around Lm with 58.33% species were ranges from 19.00 cm to 25.00 cm TL. This study was estimated 16 newly Lm which is globally absent and rest 20 Lm are absent in the Arabian Sea (Pakistan coastal habitats). Therefore, the results will be helpful for the sustainable management and conservation of these marine fishes through the establishment of mesh size of trawl nets based on the size at sexual maturity (Lm).

This study was aimed to find out the suitable dose of fresh plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) supplementation for optimum growth, serum antioxidants status, liver health, and meat quality in broilers. A total of 1152-days-old Cobb-500 broilers (average weight: 45 ± 0.7 g) were randomly assigned into four dietary treatments, including (i) control (CON): corn-soya based basal diet, and plantain (PL) supplemented groups (ii) PL40: CON + 40 g fresh PL/kg diet; (iii) PL80: CON + 80 g fresh PL/kg diet; and (iv) PL120: CON + 120 g fresh PL/kg diet. Improved growth efficiency (p

English is widely used in the working environment globally. In Malaysia, many employers have English courses which relate to their job requirements. This is to help employees to become more competent, fluent, and confident in communicating in English while working. Besides academic qualifications, employers pay great attention to employees' English communication skills. This paper explores to what extent the Oral Communication Skill (OCS) Module for a training program can help improve Malaysian working adults' confidence levels in terms of fluency. It proposes that the activities in the OCS module are needed so that employees can speak fluently and, as a result, build their level of confidence. Three working adults were selected to use the module for 12 weeks. Their performances, interview responses, and reflective journal entries were recorded and analysed. The findings reported a growth in the participants' confidence as a result of increased fluency, the awareness of the need to reflect on their speaking performances and to have appropriate English preparation as a key element before delivering oral presentations.

Tunable structural colors have a multitude of applications in the beautification of mobile devices, in the decoration of artwork, and in the creation of color filters. In this paper, we describe a Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) design that can be used to systematically tune structural colors by altering the thickness of the top metal and intermediate insulator. Cu and Si3N4 were selected as the top metal and intermediate insulator layers, respectively, and various reflection colors were printed on Al. To protect the Cu surface from scratchiness and oxidation, a number of capping layers, including SiO2, LPSQ, PMMA, and the commercially available clear coat ProtectaClear, were applied. In addition to their ability to protect Cu from a humid environment without deteriorating color quality, ProtectaClear and LPSQ coatings have minimal angle dependency. Furthermore, a bilayer of PMMA/SiO2 can protect the Cu surface from the effects of humidity. In addition, the PMMA/SiO2 and ProtectaClear/SiO2 bilayers can also protect against corrosion on the Cu surface. The colors can be tuned by controlling the thickness of either the metal layer or intermediate insulator layer, and vivid structural colors including brown, dark orange, blue, violet, magenta, cyan, green-yellow, and yellow colors can be printed. The measured dielectric functions of Cu thin films do not provide any evidence of the plasmonic effect, and therefore, it is expected that the obtained colors are attributed to thin-film interference.

Facility Management (FM) has becoming a crucial aspect in providing better service to the client/tenant or public as well as to minimize the maintenance cost. Group of buildings bounded by a defined boundary/spatial space such as a college, university, city or even a country have to manage their assets and space systematically with maximum potential/usage and minimum maintenance cost. Incorporating GIS plays innovative and effective role in asset and space FM especially. There are a lot of research and suggestions for it, but implementation is still average and quite new in Malaysia. University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM Bangi) has taken initiative to perform such idea with a full scale implementation. Currently, UKM utilizes GIS in nine modules, where one of the main module called SEPADU, an internal use module system for asset and space information system. This paper describes the implementation of integrated GIS solution in information system. Spatial data acquisition, database development and system for FM will be discussed in this paper.

Abstract The demand of natural colorants for the dyeing of textile fibers has been increasing gradually in recent years due to a growing global ecological awareness as well as a greater emphasis on a cleaner and greener production process. The eco-friendly dyeing of polyester fiber with natural dye henna is a novel approach that has extensively been studied in this article. To this end, the dyeing of polyester fiber with henna dye was conducted at different temperatures without using hazardous metallic mordants. Then the dyeing performance was investigated in terms of depth of shade measurement, analysis of colorimetric properties of color and assessment of color fastness properties of henna dyed polyester fabric samples. The amount of dye absorption by fiber and the resulting depth of shade were found to increase with increasing dyeing temperature. In case of colorfastness properties, all dyed substrates demonstrated excellent fastness ratings against washing, rubbing and perspiration with little to no deterioration of color. Moreover, the detailed morphological study revealed that surface structure of fiber remained unchanged after dyeing at an elevated temperature and pressure. So, the findings suggest that dyeing of polyester fiber with henna dye without any metallic mordants is a promising approach to get the desired dyeing performance alongside opening up an avenue for eco-friendly dyeing.

Abstract Pesticides used to protect the crops from pest attack in the agricultural fields pose harmful effect to the non-target organisms such as human and many other aquatic and terrestrial organisms either directly or indirectly through food chain. The present study was conducted to monitor a total of seven pesticide residues under organochlorine, organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides in three different sources of pond water, paddy field water and tube-well water from Nagarpur Upazila and paddy field water in the company of Dhaleshwari and Gazikhali river water from Saturia Upazila, Bangladesh. A total of 40 water samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with ultraviolet detector. Among the organophosphorus pesticides, diazinon was detected in eight water samples at a concentration ranging from 4.11 to 257.91 μg/l whereas, malathion was detected only in one water sample at a concentration of 84.64 μg/l and chlorpyrifos pesticide was also detected only in one water sample and the concentration was 37.3 μg/l. Trace amount of carbaryl was identified but it was below the detection limit. None of the tested water samples was found to be contaminated with DDT or its metabolites (DDE and DDD). The water samples contaminated with the suspected pesticides were above the acceptable limit except for the fish pond samples of Sahabatpur and Dubaria union. To control the misuse of pesticides and to reduce the possible health risk, appropriate control systems of pests such as integrated pest management system should be implemented immediately by the authorities of the country.

The paper presents findings from a research study of 318 mathematics teachers' experiences of access to, and use of, digital technology in their professional development in marginalised communities in ten districts across Bangladesh. The innovative two-cycle qualitative study design involved early career researchers collaborating with peer-researcher teachers who interviewed their peers about local teachers' experiences. The interview data was analysed through the lens of Van Dijk's model of digital access and use, addressing motivation, physical access, skills, and usage. The findings reveal that most rural teachers were able to overcome barriers to access and complete the online course using their mobile phones, but the aim of making mathematics learning more active and joyful was only realised among the minority of teachers who had a supportive school environment. Promoting and supporting opportunities for praxis in schools is essential if technology enhanced professional development is to lead to improvements in teaching and learning. The findings have important implications for practice and at policy level to rethink access to professional development through 'mobile first' technologies and support for praxis in schools, in marginalised communities in Bangladesh and elsewhere.