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Open Access

Article

08 April 2025

Research on the Logic of Mobile Governance from the Perspective of Path Dependency: A Case Study of the Implementation of the “Coal-to-Gas” Policy in Rural Areas of Handan

Mobile governance, a commonly used governance approach in China, has always been controversial. Behind the persistence of mobile governance lies the underlying governance logic. This paper takes the implementation of the “coal-to-gas” policy in rural areas of Handan as a case study to analyze the path-dependent logic inherent in mobile governance. The paper argues that mobile governance’s selection path embodies path dependency characteristics, including three paths: conformist path dependency, policy-based path dependency, and demand-based path dependency. Mobile governance can be regulated through three paths: formulating a comprehensive list of rights and responsibilities for grassroots governance, the provincial government enacting relevant regulations to standardize the grassroots governance process, and vigorously developing e-government and digital government technologies to enhance the rule of law and standardization in grassroots governance.

Keywords: Path dependence; Mobile governance; Credit-seeking goals; Blame-avoidance goals
Ecol. Civiliz.
2025,
2
(3), 10006; 
Open Access

Article

07 April 2025

Evaluating a Motion-Based Region Proposal Approach with Background Subtraction Methods for Small Drone Detection

The detection of drones in complex and dynamic environments poses significant challenges due to their small size and background clutter. This study aims to address these challenges by developing a motion-based pipeline that integrates background subtraction and deep learning-based classification to detect drones in video sequences. Two background subtraction methods, Mixture of Gaussians 2 (MOG2) and Visual Background Extractor (ViBe), are assessed to isolate potential drone regions in highly complex and dynamic backgrounds. These regions are then classified using the ResNet18 architecture. The Drone-vs-Bird dataset is utilized to test the algorithm, focusing on distinguishing drones from other dynamic objects such as birds, trees, and clouds. By leveraging motion-based information, the method enhances the drone detection process by reducing computational demands. Results show that ViBe achieves a recall of 0.956 and a precision of 0.078, while MOG2 achieves a recall of 0.857 and a precision of 0.034, highlighting the comparative advantages of ViBe in detecting small drones in challenging scenarios. These findings demonstrate the robustness of the proposed pipeline and its potential contribution to enhancing surveillance and security measures.

Keywords: Drone detection; Background subtraction; Small object detection; ResNet18; Motion region proposals
Drones Veh. Auton.
2025,
2
(2), 10007; 
Open Access

Letter

07 April 2025
Open Access

Article

03 April 2025

Design, Building and Performance of a New Photocatalytic Reactor Using TiO2-Coated Rings Synthesized by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation

An annular UV photocatalytic reactor with recirculation in batch was designed and built. The design considered low construction, simple operation and maintenance costs, availability and durability of the materials used, easy cleaning, and high standards of hygiene and safety. The TiO2 photocatalysts were synthesized by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) on commercial Ti rings were compared with coatings obtained on Ti plates as a reference, and no influence of the substrate geometry on the morphology, crystallinity, or bandgap of the coatings was observed. The efficiency of the photocatalytic reactor using 10 TiO2-coated rings was tested by Cr(VI) transformation in the presence of EDTA. The Cr(VI) transformation after 5 h irradiation attained 95%; a rather high photocatalytic activity (62%) was maintained after the third use of the rings without reactivation of the photocatalyst. These coatings synthesized by PEO have not been applied in modular photocatalytic reactors until now.

Keywords: Annular photoreactor; Titanium dioxide; Plasma electrolytic oxidation; Heterogeneous photocatalysis; Hexavalent chromium; Anodic oxidation; Advanced oxidation processes
Open Access

Editorial

03 April 2025

Sustainable Machining for Difficult-to-Cutting Materials

Intell. Sustain. Manuf.
2025,
2
(1), 10012; 
Open Access

Review

02 April 2025

Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors: A Critical Analysis of GaN, SiC, AlGaN, Diamond, and Ga2O3 Synthesis Methods, Challenges, and Prospective Technological Innovations

The increasing demand for high-performance Wide-Bandgap (WBG) semiconductors, including GaN, SiC, and emerging Ultrawide-Bandgap (UWBG) materials such as Ga2O3 and diamond, has driven significant advancements in epitaxial growth techniques. However, achieving scalability, defect-free growth, and sustainability remains a major challenge. This review systematically evaluates Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE), Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD), Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy (HVPE), and other novel growth and hybrid growth techniques, emphasizing energy efficiency, defect control, and environmental impact. Industry 4.0-driven AI-based process optimization and closed-loop recycling have emerged as transformative strategies, reducing waste and improving manufacturing efficiency. Key findings reveal that HVPE enables rapid defect-free GaN fabrication, Hot-Filament CVD enhances SiC growth with superior thermal properties, and Atomic Layer Epitaxy (ALE) achieves sub-nanometer precision crucial for next-generation quantum and RF applications. Despite these advancements, p-type doping in UWBG materials, substrate compatibility, and thermal management remain unresolved challenges. Future research must focus on scalable eco-friendly epitaxy, novel doping mechanisms, and policy-driven sustainability efforts. This review provides a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable WBG semiconductor manufacturing, bridging materials innovation, energy efficiency, and industrial adoption to support the next generation of power electronics and optoelectronics.

Keywords: Wide-bandgap semiconductors; Epitaxial growth; Ultrawide-bandgap semiconductors; Molecular beam epitaxy; Sustainability; Manufacturing
Open Access

Article

02 April 2025

On Hidden Mathematics in the Artwork of the Indigenous People of Brazil

Using examples from indigenous art in Brazil, this paper demonstrates that these works contain “hidden mathematics” (such as symmetry, striped ornaments, rows, etc.), which challenges the traditional notion of “primitive art”.

Keywords: Art; Ethnomathematics; Indigenous art; Geometric patterns; Mathematical aesthetics
Nat. Anthropol.
2025,
3
(2), 10004; 
Open Access

Article

01 April 2025

B, Gd Co-Doped TiO2 Nanotube Arrays for Efficient Degradation of Gaseous Toluene under Visible Light Irradiation

Although photocatalytic degradation of VOCs has attracted widespread attention, the efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation performance remains a challenge. This work presents the visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of gaseous toluene over B, Gd co-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays prepared via a controllable electrochemistry method. It was found that B and Gd co-doping strategy not only enhances the visible light responsiveness of TiO2 nanotube arrays but also introduces moderate oxygen vacancies on the surface of TiO2, which is beneficial to the formation of free hydroxyl radicals and their attack on toluene molecules. The doping order also affects the photocatalytic performance. The optimized sample achieves an enhanced degradation efficiency for toluene under visible light irradiation and exhibits considerable stability. This work may provide an efficient TiO2-based photocatalyst for the removal of volatile organic compounds for air purification and give an understanding of the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of toluene over co-doping TiO2.

Keywords: TiO2 nanotube array; Photocatalysis; VOCs degradation; Oxygen vacancies; In-suit DRIFTS
Photocatal. Res. Potential
2025,
2
(2), 10010; 
Open Access

Review

01 April 2025

Sustainable Manufacturing and Applications of Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors—A Review

Wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) are revolutionizing high-power electronics due to their superior thermal conductivity, breakdown voltage, and energy efficiency. These materials are critical in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and high-frequency applications like 5G infrastructure. However, their production processes are resource-intensive and present significant environmental challenges. This review evaluates recent advancements in sustainable WBG semiconductor manufacturing, focusing on low-energy epitaxial growth, closed-loop recycling, and the mitigation of toxic by-products. Additionally, it highlights the role of Industry 4.0 innovations, such as AI-driven process optimization and IoT-based resource management, in enhancing sustainability. The review identifies research gaps in cost reduction, alternative WBG materials like Gallium Oxide (Ga2O3) and Diamond, and scalable green manufacturing solutions. It underscores the necessity for industry-wide collaboration and regulatory frameworks to drive the adoption of eco-friendly semiconductor fabrication. The findings of this study provide a roadmap for advancing sustainability in WBG semiconductor production, ensuring their long-term viability in the transition toward energy-efficient technologies.

Keywords: Sustainability; Wide-bandgap semiconductors; Epitaxial growth techniques; Manufacturing
Open Access

Case Report

01 April 2025

Behcet’s Disease: An Uncommon Cause of Severe Tricuspid Stenosis

Behçet’s disease is a vasculitic condition of unknown etiology that is characterized by oral and genital ulcers as well as various skin and ocular lesions. Cardiovascular manifestations of Behçet’s disease are rare, with very few cases having been reported previously in literature. We report a case of severe tricuspid stenosis and pulmonary artery aneurysm in a 29-year-old man with Behçet’s disease, who demonstrated characteristic vascular findings on computed tomography angiography and diagnostic valvular findings on transthoracic echocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The patient’s Behçet’s disease was treated initially with cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, and prednisone, which subsequently led to complete resolution of the pulmonary artery aneurysm. As for the tricuspid stenosis, though symptoms were managed with diuretic therapy, the severity of valvular dysfunction required consideration and an attempt at tricuspid valve replacement surgery, which unfortunately was met with complications and led to an unfavorable outcome of refractory cardiogenic shock and death. Given the rarity of cardiovascular involvement in patients with Behçet’s disease, along with the lack of clear treatment guidelines, management of findings of tricuspid stenosis and pulmonary artery aneurysm in these patients can be challenging.

Keywords: Tricuspid stenosis; Behçet disease; Cardiac surgery
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