bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Notes from the Field of the Scholar–Practitioner: Inhabiting the Liminal Space between Research and Practice—A Reflective Account of Holding Dual Identities
Authors: Stevens-Wood Kirsten , Attfield Kate
Published: January 2024

Kirsten and Kate are scholar–practitioners studying the people with whom they interact and operate. In this empirical paper, based on their auto/ethnographic reflections, they study some often-neglected circumstances and by-products of scholar–practitioner research. They review aspects of entering research situations with which they are connected, participating in them, leaving them behind, and revisiting them. Kirsten is an ethnographer, both working with and studying intentional communities. Kate is a qualitative researcher who operates auto/ethnographically in studying Triple X unintentional communities. This article arises from discussions of Kirsten’s and Kate’s field notes, which have led them to compare and relate their convergent experiences with one another. Kirsten and Kate focus on the physical culture of the environments in which they study. Some traditional boundaries like the isolation of researchers and communities are eroding. Kirsten and Kate care about those they study and continue to hold some responsibility for the lives of people they have entered. They attempt to narrow the space between theory and practice in recognising their interconnected nature. Civic mission is gaining increased currency for researchers and may form a signpost towards the future of research.
Wind Resistance Performance Assessment of Long-Span Cable-Supported Bridges Based on Time-Varying Reliability Theory
Authors: Fu Yixiao , Dong Fenghui , Wang Jiaqing
Published: January 2024

Long-span cable-supported bridges constitute the most common type of bridge with a span of more than 400 m. They are generally designed as a double-tower long-span structure with good spanning capacity and economic performance. Wind resistance safety performance is the main index used to control the long-span cable-supported bridge structure. During the life of a long-span cable-supported bridge structure, because the service life of the cables is far shorter than the design life of the structure, the wind resistance performance of the structure will inevitably deteriorate significantly, which will seriously affect the structural service performance of symmetric cable-supported bridges. Under strong wind loads, the static wind stability and flutter stability of cable-stayed bridge structures are components of the limit state of bearing capacity, which directly affects the safety performance of the structure. We take the flutter and static wind stability of a long-span cable-supported bridge structure as the main design control index, use inverse reliability theory to calculate the reliability index of a symmetric cable-supported bridge structure, use inverse reliability theory to calculate the safety factor of a symmetric cable-supported bridge structure, and evaluate the time-varying wind resistance performance of a long-span cable-supported bridge structure by comprehensively considering the reliability index and safety factor. Taking a practical project concerning a long-span cable-supported bridge as a specific case, the time-varying wind resistance reliability of the bridge throughout its operation for more than 30 years is analyzed along with the parameter sensitivity. The results show that the wind resistance performance of the cable-supported bridge structure is obviously affected by its cables, and the degradation of cable performance will have a significant impact on the time-varying wind resistance performance of the structure, especially the critical wind speed of the structure, which has obvious time-varying characteristics. The safety factor and reliability index can be used to objectively evaluate the time-varying wind resistance performance of long-span cable-supported bridge structures.
A Machine Learning Approach to Estimating Solar Radiation Shading Rates in Mountainous Areas
Authors: Xu Luting , Li Yanru , Wang Xiao , Liu Lei , Ma Ming , Yang Junhui
Published: January 2024

Quantification of shading effects from complex terrain on solar radiation is essential to obtain precise data on incident solar radiation in mountainous areas. In this study, a machine learning (ML) approach is proposed to rapidly estimate the shading effects of complex terrain on solar radiation. Based on two different ML algorithms, namely, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT), this approach uses terrain-related factors as input variables to model and analyze direct and diffuse solar radiation shading rates. In a case study of western Sichuan, the annual direct and diffuse radiation shading rates were most correlated with the average terrain shading angle within the solar azimuth range, with Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.901 and 0.97. The GBDT-based models achieved higher accuracy in predicting direct and diffuse radiation shading rates, with R2 values of 0.982 and 0.989, respectively, surpassing the OLS-based models by 0.081 and 0.023. In comparisons between ML models and classic curve-fitting models, the GBDT-based models consistently performed better in predicting both the direct radiation shading rate and the diffuse radiation shading rate, with a standard deviation of residuals of 0.330% and 0.336%. The OLS-based models also showed better performance compared to the curve-fitting models.
Examining the Social Costs of Carbon Emissions and the Ecosystem Service Value in Island Ecosystems: An Analysis of the Zhoushan Archipelago
Authors: Zhou Qian , Gui Feng , Zhao Benxuan , Liu Jingyi , Cai Huiwen , Xu Kaida , Zhao Sheng
Published: January 2024

Assessments of the ecosystem service value (ESV) and the social cost of carbon (SCC) inform national and government management decisions in the areas of human well-being and climate change mitigation and adaptation, respectively. Studying the correlation between the two provides a theoretical basis for low-carbon and high-quality regional development, achieving economic decarbonization, and improving human well-being. In this study, we take Zhoushan Archipelago as a case study, consider the ESV and SCC in Zhoushan Archipelago during the period 2010–2020, analyze their spatial development characteristics, and analyze the correlation between the two in time and space. The findings indicate that, with only a 1.5% change, the overall ESV in the Zhoushan Archipelago fell between 2010 and 2020. Conversely, there was a 1604.01 × 104 t increase in net carbon emissions and a quick 2452% increase in SCC. During the study period, a substantial positive association was found between ESV and SCC in the Zhoushan Archipelago, according to the global spatial correlation analysis of the two variables. It passed the test for p-value. This study presents a new potential way to solve the environmental and economic difficulties caused by climate change by providing a mechanism for quantitatively assessing the environment from the perspective of monetary worth. In order to improve the ecological security pattern and ease the burden of regional carbon emissions, it is vital to make use of regional advantages, maintain forests, and develop blue-carbon resources such as mudflats. It is a good idea to cooperate regionally with nearby metropolitan agglomerations. The study’s findings are crucial for advancing sustainable development planning in the Zhoushan Archipelago, both theoretically and practically.
Can the Digital Economy Reduce the Rural-Urban Income Gap?
Authors: Tu Zhengge , Kong Jiayang , Sun Liping , Liu Botao
Published: January 2024

Currently, the Chinese government is considering two major strategies, namely, developing the digital economy and achieving common prosperity, to address regional development imbalances. Using panel data from 276 Chinese cities spanning from 2011 to 2019, the article first employs the entropy method to measure China’s digital economy development, digital fusion application, and Internet accessibility. Subsequently, the paper evaluates the influence of the digital economy on regional development imbalances, focusing on the rural-urban income gap. The results show a significant reduction in the rural-urban income gap due to digital economy development. Notably, digital fusion applications have a greater impact on reducing the rural-urban income gap than Internet accessibility. In addition, a heterogeneity analysis reveals that the influence of the digital economy on the rural-urban income gap is only reflected in the eastern and western regions, with a more substantial effect observed in the western region. This study, to some extent, helps Chinese government officials distinguish the diverse impacts of different dimensions and regional variations in digital economies on the rural-urban income gap. Such insights can guide the government in strategically advancing digital economy development to accelerate the mitigation of regional disparities and achieve sustainable economic development.
Evaluation of Quality and Equality in Education Using the European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence Model—A Literature Review
Authors: Taraza Effrosyni , Anastasiadou Sofia , Papademetriou Christos , Masouras Andreas
Published: January 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model on education and its contribution to ensuring high-quality education equality. Design/Methodology/Approach: A systematic literature review was conducted based on data from three academic publishers (Taylor & Francis, Emerald, and Elsevier Science Direct). Of the 69 journal articles, 61 were published between 2003 and 2023 and documented the results of the EFQM quality tool, and 8 articles were removed. Findings: The study highlights the results of applying the EFQM Excellence Model in the educational sector. Based on the bibliographic review, the feasibility of using the model in primary, secondary, and tertiary education is identified. We examine the findings related to using the model to ensure equality in high-quality education and the challenges faced by educational systems, with the ultimate goal of meeting student expectations. Research limitations/Implications: An important limitation is that the data were only drawn from three major publishers and the authors did not have access to all the relevant databases, since the search for articles was carried out in English only. The search for articles was limited by the keywords, as the EFQM Excellence Model was originally designed for the private sector. Practical implications: The results and limitations recorded in the study and the presentation of the 88 articles motivate academic researchers to conduct further study and fill the gap left by the limited number of publications on the application of the EFQM Excellence Model in the educational sector. Originality/Value: The EFQM Excellence Model has not been widely implemented in the high-quality educational sector and the existing literature reviews are limited. More research in the field of education is needed to determine the contribution of the excellence model to the evaluation of high-quality education.
Surveys and Diaries and Scales, Oh My! A Critical Analysis of Household Food Waste Measurement
Authors: Aitken John A. , Sprenger Amber , Alaybek Balca , Mika Grace , Hartman Halene , Leets Laura , Maese Ellyn , Davoodi Telli
Published: January 2024

Household food waste is a significant problem in America that can only be addressed through accurate measurement. However, there are many different measurement methods that each have advantages and disadvantages: subjective measures (i.e., recall, visual estimation) are easier to implement via surveys but can be biased, and objective measures (i.e., scales) can be precise but logistically burdensome. In this study, we collected survey and daily diary data on household food waste from 257 individuals to evaluate the extent to which a survey-based subjective recall measure, a diary-based objective scale measure, and a diary-based subjective estimation measure demonstrate convergent validity or concordance. We found evidence of substantial overlap across measures (r = 0.41 to 0.70), suggesting that there is convergent validity across these household food waste measures. Furthermore, we found that a substantial portion of variance in household food waste is attributable to within-household sources over time, demonstrating the as-of-yet overlooked need to examine predictors of food waste at between- (stable) and within-household (dynamic) levels. We discuss the further implications of these results and future research directions.
Interaction between a Human and an AGV System in a Shared Workspace—A Literature Review Identifying Research Areas
Authors: Tubis Agnieszka A. , Poturaj Honorata , Smok Anna
Published: January 2024

Background: This article presents the results of a literature review from 2018 to 2023, which focused on research related to human and AGV system cooperation in a shared workspace. This study defines AGV systems as systems using Automated Guided Vehicles or Autonomous Guided Vehicles. An Automated Guided Vehicle is a cart that follows a guided path, while an Autonomous Guided Vehicle is an Automated Guided Vehicle that is autonomously controlled. The analyses conducted answered two research questions: (RQ1) In what aspects are the human factor examined in publications on the implementation and operation of AGV systems? (RQ2) Has the human-AGV collaboration aspect been analyzed in the context of a sustainable work environment? Methods: The literature review was conducted following the systematic literature review method, using the PRISMA approach. Results: Based on the search of two journal databases, according to the indicated keywords, 1219 documents pertaining to the analyzed issues were identified. The selection and elimination of documents that did not meet the defined criteria made it possible to limit the number of publications to 117 articles and proceedings papers. On this basis, the authors defined a classification framework comprising five basic research categories and nine subcategories. The analyzed documents were classified, and each distinguished group was characterized by describing the results. Conclusions: The development of a two-level classification framework for research from the analyzed area according to the assumptions of the concept map and the identification of research gaps in the area of human-AGV interaction.
Geotourism, a New Perspective of Post-COVID-19-Pandemic Relaunch through Travel Agencies—Case Study: Bucegi Natural Park, Romania
Authors: Desculțu Grigore Mihaela-Iuliana , Niță Amalia , Drăguleasa Ionuț-Adrian , Mazilu Mirela
Published: January 2024

The proposed approach—geotourism, a new medium- and long-term post-pandemic recovery perspective—provides a theoretical foundation for future research regarding the interactions between tourism agencies and tourists, visitors and landforms, as well as cooperation and support between local residents and tourists, for Bucegi Natural Park. In the current context, the nature monuments and nature reserves within the park are located in rural and urban areas. These can be capitalized and included directly in the tourism agencies’ supply, and they can be used for zonal and regional development without degrading the surrounding environment. The “Babele and the Sphinx” landmarks with interesting shapes offer benefits for the development of geotourism in the Romanian landscape. In addition to those listed previously, this study proposes and analyses the image of the geotourism destination and a slogan for the international promotion of the park. Thus, the research presents two sources of data collection: (1) primary data, i.e., those obtained following a questionnaire and analysed with the help of the SPSS Statistics software, version 15.0, and (2) secondary statistical data from the database of the National Institute of Statistics (NIS) that are available and constantly updated. Another method used with a significant impact on tourism analysis was represented using the Geographic Information System (GIS). With its help, we mapped the tourist routes and the two elements, nature reserves and nature monuments within the park, that constitute the basis of the geotourism relaunch after COVID-19. The final objective of the paper is to strengthen the role of travel agencies in promoting geotourism by offering visits to tourist attractions in the park.
The Application of a Smart Nexus for Agriculture in Korea for Assessing the Holistic Impacts of Climate Change
Authors: Na Ra , Yoo Seung-Hwan , Lee Sang-Hyun , Choi Jin-Yong , Hur Seung-Oh , Yoon Pu Reun , Kim Kwang-Soo
Published: January 2024

Sustainable development involves maximizing the benefits of development while minimizing its consequent effects on the environment. This study uses a water–energy–food nexus framework, the Smart Nexus for Agriculture in Korea (SNAK), to assess the impact of climate change on sustainable resource management in agriculture. The nexus database applied in this study comprises three individual databases related to resources, interlinkages, and resource management scenarios, which include all variables and scenarios of the framework. Different resource management scenarios were evaluated via investigating the interlinkages between resources and quantifying resource consumption and sustainability. The variable selection and application module uses the interlinkage database to quantitatively model how the production and supply of one resource affects the consumption of other resources. The scenario analysis module involves the identification and application of resource management scenarios based on policies for individual resources and climate change. The sustainability evaluation module links the previous two modules to quantify food production, the consumption of food and energy resources, carbon (CO2) emissions, and land use in each scenario. Finally, resource security and economic benefits were considered when estimating the sustainability index of each scenario. The SNAK platform is anticipated to possess the ability to analyze environmental, social, and economic systems grounded in water, energy, and food. It is believed that the platform can optimize the timing and allocation of agricultural resources, leading to the derivation of optimal management scenarios. Furthermore, the platform will utilize water–energy–food linkage assessments to formulate scenario-based policies addressing food demand, water resource utilization, and energy consumption.
The Development Status of the Manufacturing Industry and the Impact of Digital Characteristics from the Perspective of Innovation
Authors: Wang Heyong , Gu Long , Hong Ming
Published: January 2024

From the perspective of innovation of manufacturing links, this paper conducted research on the current situation of manufacturing development and the relationship between regional economy development and digital transformation, aiming to offer suggestions and reference for relevant policy making. Firstly, taking the INCOPAT patent database as the data source, a quantitative analysis was conducted on the patent data of five key links in the manufacturing industry, which obtained the current situation and digital characteristics of the manufacturing industry development from the perspective of link innovation. Then, based on the relevant economic panel data of regions in China, coupling coordination analysis was conducted to investigate the current characteristics of digital transformation of the five links and the coordinated development of the regional economy from 2017 to 2021. The development level and characteristic relations of 31 provinces or cities in these two systems were analyzed. On the whole, the coordinated development level of the two systems in China is steadily rising but varies among different regions, that is, economically developed regions tend to have better digital transformation development. In general, manufacturing digital transformation in China highly relates to regional economy development. Moreover, the development speed of the two systems tends to be stable from 2017 to 2021. The regions with different coordinated development types should formulate corresponding policies to accelerate manufacturing digital transformation and regional economy development.
Fault Detection and Diagnosis of a Photovoltaic System Based on Deep Learning Using the Combination of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (Bi-GRU)
Authors: Amiri Ahmed Faris , Kichou Sofiane , Oudira Houcine , Chouder Aissa , Silvestre Santiago
Published: January 2024

The meticulous monitoring and diagnosis of faults in photovoltaic (PV) systems enhances their reliability and facilitates a smooth transition to sustainable energy. This paper introduces a novel application of deep learning for fault detection and diagnosis in PV systems, employing a three-step approach. Firstly, a robust PV model is developed and fine-tuned using a heuristic optimization approach. Secondly, a comprehensive database is constructed, incorporating PV model data alongside monitored module temperature and solar irradiance for both healthy and faulty operation conditions. Lastly, fault classification utilizes features extracted from a combination consisting of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (Bi-GRU). The amalgamation of parallel and sequential processing enables the neural network to leverage the strengths of both convolutional and recurrent layers concurrently, facilitating effective fault detection and diagnosis. The results affirm the proposed technique’s efficacy in detecting and classifying various PV fault types, such as open circuits, short circuits, and partial shading. Furthermore, this work underscores the significance of dividing fault detection and diagnosis into two distinct steps rather than employing deep learning neural networks to determine fault types directly.
Regular Tessellations of Maximally Symmetric Hyperbolic Manifolds
Authors: Brandts Jan , Křížek Michal , Somer Lawrence
Published: January 2024

We first briefly summarize several well-known properties of regular tessellations of the three two-dimensional maximally symmetric manifolds, E2, S2, and H2, by bounded regular tiles. For instance, there exist infinitely many regular tessellations of the hyperbolic plane H2 by curved hyperbolic equilateral triangles whose vertex angles are 2π/d for d=7,8,9,… On the other hand, we prove that there is no curved hyperbolic regular tetrahedron which tessellates the three-dimensional hyperbolic space H3. We also show that a regular tessellation of H3 can only consist of the hyperbolic cubes, hyperbolic regular icosahedra, or two types of hyperbolic regular dodecahedra. There exist only two regular hyperbolic space-fillers of H4. If n>4, then there exists no regular tessellation of Hn.
Comprehensive Study of Compression and Texture Integration for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine Data Analysis
Authors: Shakya Amit Kumar , Vidyarthi Anurag
Published: January 2024

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its strain on healthcare resources, this study presents a comprehensive review of various techniques that can be used to integrate image compression techniques and statistical texture analysis to optimize the storage of Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) files. In evaluating four predominant image compression algorithms, i.e., discrete cosine transform (DCT), discrete wavelet transform (DWT), the fractal compression algorithm (FCA), and the vector quantization algorithm (VQA), this study focuses on their ability to compress data while preserving essential texture features such as contrast, correlation, angular second moment (ASM), and inverse difference moment (IDM). A pivotal observation concerns the direction-independent Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) in DICOM analysis, which reveals intriguing variations between two intermediate scans measured with texture characteristics. Performance-wise, the DCT, DWT, FCA, and VQA algorithms achieved minimum compression ratios (CRs) of 27.87, 37.91, 33.26, and 27.39, respectively, with maximum CRs at 34.48, 68.96, 60.60, and 38.74. This study also undertook a statistical analysis of distinct CT chest scans from COVID-19 patients, highlighting evolving texture patterns. Finally, this work underscores the potential of coupling image compression and texture feature quantification for monitoring changes related to human chest conditions, offering a promising avenue for efficient storage and diagnostic assessment of critical medical imaging.
Building the Virtual Dancefloor: Delivering and Experiencing House Music Events in the Time of COVID-19
Authors: Grebenar Alex W.
Published: January 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent social lockdowns necessitated an immediate cessation of events, replaced entirely by virtual events—a concept present in the existing events literature, but one not fully conceptualised. This article explores the virtual event experience during the pandemic through the lens of a case study, Love to Be events, a long-established house music brand which produced a series of successful virtual events during the lockdowns and beyond. This research also offers discussion on the potential for virtual events—in contrast to what this research terms ‘venued events’—to become a notable and profitable element of the events industry in the longer term. This article presents a substantial literature review considering multiple relevant areas, centring on the event experience and virtual event potential. This article also presents primary qualitative data in the form of a semi-structured interview with Marc Dennis and Tony Walker, DJs and founders of Love to Be, conducted in Autumn 2020 via Zoom, and analysed using a thematic analysis as well as a comparison with other pandemic virtual events. The original contribution to the events studies literature is two-fold; firstly, a novel conceptualisation of event experience during this historic moment, documenting the practical and philosophical nature of events at that time. Secondly, by synthesising primary and secondary data, it offers theoretical principles on how virtual events may develop to become a notable and profitable element of the industry. This article concludes with suggestions for future research, in the hope that this exploratory research will stimulate further studies.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Blast Exposure in Active-Duty Military Service Members
Authors: Sekely Angela , Malik Hinza B. , Miller Kayla B. , Wang Yishi , Puente Antonio E.
Published: January 2024

Objective: Active-duty military personnel in the current wars have experienced unique stressors that deviate from standard PTSD assessment and diagnosis. This situation calls for a refinement of military-related PTSD assessment. To this end, this study assessed the utility of the Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI) in diagnosing PTSD among active-duty military personnel. The past literature has validated the TSI using populations with a small sample size. Hence, this study aimed to fill the gap by using a large sample size of 670 military members to examine whether the TSI is useful for military populations. Setting: Participants were referred to Carolina Psychological Health Services, in Jacksonville, North Carolina by military neurologists and other qualified medical officers from the Naval Hospital in Camp Lejeune, a military base located in Jacksonville, NC, for neuropsychological evaluation due to reported cognitive deficits related to military deployment (i.e., head injury due to exposure to blast injuries). Participants: Based on clinical diagnosis, comprehensive neuropsychological testing, and self-reported data, personnel were classified into four groups: blast exposure (n = 157), PTSD diagnosis (n = 90), both blast exposure and PTSD (n = 283), and neither blast exposure nor PTSD (n = 140), which helps provide a comprehensive picture of the utility of the TSI. Results: The TSI’s 10 clinical scales could distinguish between all groups. Discriminant function analysis showed that an optimally weighted combination of scales correctly predicted 66.67% of PTSD-positive cases and 35.11% of PTSD-negative cases. Conclusion: These findings provide support for the use of the TSI in the assessment of PTSD in active-duty military personnel. Due to the release of TSI-2, there is a need to replicate this data. However, the validity data has indicated a high concordance between the TSI and TSI-2, bolstering confidence in the current findings of the study.
Isolation of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype 10 from Culicoides tainanus and Associated Infections in Livestock in Yunnan, China
Authors: He Yuwen , Meng Jinxin , Li Nan , Li Zhao , Wang Dongmei , Kou Meiling , Yang Zhenxing , Li Yunhui , Zhang Laxi , Wang Jinglin
Published: January 2024

Two strains of viruses, JC13C644 and JC13C673, were isolated from Culicoides tainanus collected in Jiangcheng County, Yunnan Province, situated along the border area shared by China, Laos, and Vietnam. JC13C644 and JC13C673 viruses can cause cytopathic effect (CPE) in mammalian cells BHK21 and Vero cells, and cause morbidity and mortality in suckling mice 48 h after intracerebral inoculation. Whole-genome sequencing was performed, yielding complete sequences for all 10 segments from Seg-1 (3942nt) to Seg-10 (810nt). Phylogenetic analysis of the sub-core-shell (T2) showed that the JC13C644 and JC13C673 viruses clustered with the Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (EHDV) isolated from Japan and Australia, with nucleotide and amino acid homology of 93.1% to 98.3% and 99.2% to 99.6%, respectively, suggesting that they were Eastern group EHDV. The phylogenetic analysis of outer capsid protein (OC1) and outer capsid protein (OC2) showed that the JC13C644 and JC13C673 viruses were clustered with the EHDV-10 isolated from Japan in 1998, with the nucleotide homology of 98.3% and 98.5%, and the amino acid homology of 99.6% and 99.6–99.8%, respectively, indicating that they belong to the EHDV-10. Seroepidemiological survey results demonstrated that JC13C644 virus-neutralizing antibodies were present in 29.02% (177/610) of locally collected cattle serum and 11.32% (89/786) of goat serum, implying the virus’s presence in Jiangcheng, Yunnan Province. This finding suggests that EHDV-10 circulates not only among blood-sucking insects in nature but also infects local domestic animals in China. Notably, this marks the first-ever isolation of the virus in China and its discovery outside of Japan since its initial isolation from Japanese cattle. In light of these results, it is evident that EHDV Serotype 10 exists beyond Japan, notably in the natural vectors of southern Eurasia, with the capacity to infect local cattle and goats. Therefore, it is imperative to intensify the surveillance of EHDV infection in domestic animals, particularly focusing on the detection and monitoring of new virus serotypes that may emerge in the region and pose risks to animal health.
Transparency and Digitalization in Water Services: Reality or Still a Dream?
Authors: Zafra-Gómez Elisabeth , Garrido-Montañés Marta , López-Pérez Germán , Navarro-Ruiz María-Angustias
Published: January 2024

The provision of public services, mostly by local governments, has been widely analyzed in the scientific literature. The relevance of these services has generated an incipient demand for information on the part of citizens, which makes it necessary for the bodies responsible for their provision to present adequate levels of transparency. In this context, digitalization is a crucial tool for providing information to citizens and, therefore, contributing to improving the levels of transparency of those organizations that provide public services. Among these, the drinking water supply service stands out, which is crucial for well-being and sustainable progress, and whose analysis is of vital importance, especially in countries such as Spain affected by factors such as climate change and urbanization. In this way, the aim of this paper is to analyze the degree of transparency of the companies providing water supply services in Spain, as well as their degree of digitalization. To this end, a relationship will be established between the Transparency Index of Public Enterprises (INDEP) and the Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE), which measure the degree of transparency and digitalization, respectively. This relationship will be established for a sample of 59 companies responsible for water supply. The main results derived from this study show a wide margin for improvement on the part of the companies analyzed, both in terms of transparency and digitalization, as the vast majority of these companies show a medium–low degree of compliance in both aspects.
Halophytes/Saline Water/Deserts/Wastelands Nexus as a Scalable Climate Mitigation including Freshwater Impacts
Authors: Bushnell Dennis M.
Published: January 2024

Climate change is rapidly exacerbating and adding to major-to-existential issues associated with freshwater availability and utilization. The massive, thus far untapped saline/salt water/ocean—wastelands/deserts—Halophytes resources nexus can, at scale and profitably, provide major climate change mitigation and greatly alleviate most extant freshwater issues. Approaches include ocean fertilization and saline/seawater agriculture on deserts and wastelands to sequester massive amounts of CO2 and methane and for food, freeing up some 70% of the freshwater now utilized by current agriculture for direct human use. This also enables the production of huge amounts of biofuels and biomass-based chemical feedstock employing the massive capacity of cheap saline/seawater and cheap deserts and wastelands. Overall, saline/seawater can, uniquely, at the scale of the climate and freshwater issues, without desalinization, profitably, utilizing extant technologies, some 40% of the land that is deserts/wastelands, and the 97% of the water that is saline/seawater rapidly, seriously, address land, freshwater, food, energy, and climate.
Assessment of Water Resource Utilization and Analysis of Driving Factors in Zhoushan City Based on Water Footprint Theory and LMDI Model
Authors: Feng Jirong , Gu Chaona , Li Sizheng , Wang Liuzhu , Gui Feng , Zhao Sheng , Zhang Bin
Published: January 2024

Accurately analyzing the water system’s status in a region is crucial for mitigating water resource constraints on the development of island areas. This study centers on Zhoushan, an archipelago city, and employs the water footprint theory (WFT) and the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) model to scrutinize the evolution of water footprints from 2010 to 2020. It also dissects the impacts of economic, technological, and population factors on these changes. The findings are as follows: From 2010 to 2020, Zhoushan’s total water footprint has remained relatively stable, but its structure is imbalanced, indicating an unhealthy development. The agricultural water footprint dominates, though its proportion has steadily declined from 64% to 28%, while the imported water footprint has significantly increased from 2% to 29%. The skewed distribution of internal and external water consumption contributes to this imbalance, with internal water use accounting for a staggering 86.43%. The ecological security of water resources appears bleak, with average water scarcity and pressure indices reaching 0.42 and 0.41, respectively, indicating an overloaded state of water resources. Despite a 144.50% growth in water footprint efficiency from 2010 to 2020, the average water resource sustainability index merely stands at 0.531, and its sustainability remains precarious. The LMDI model results unveil that technological factors are the primary negative driving factors, contributing to 47.06% of the changes in Zhoushan’s water resource utilization. Conversely, economic and population factors play positive roles, contributing 42.29% and 10.65%, respectively. Therefore, in the course of development, there should be a focus on promoting water-saving tec-nologies, and continuously enhancing the efficiency of water resource utilization. Simultaneously, attention should be given to the development of the tertiary sector and the water resource pressure resulting from the mobile population, aiming to achieve sustainable water resource utilization and further ensure the ecological security of Zhoushan City.
Foam Segmentation in Wastewater Treatment Plants
Authors: Carballo Mato Joaquín , González Vázquez Sonia , Fernández Águila Jesús , Delgado Rodríguez Ángel , Lin Xin , Garabato Gándara Lucía , Sobreira Seoane Juan , Silva Castro Jose
Published: January 2024

The excessive accumulation of foam in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) tanks can impede proper aeration, hindering the effective removal of organic matter from the water. This study proposes a novel technique to monitor in real time the presence of foams in WWTP tanks by using texture segmentation models trained with centralized and federated approaches. These models are designed to segment the foam and quantify the percentage of foam coverage across the entire tank surface. This data provides plant operators with crucial information for identifying the optimal time for foam removal. The proposed methodology is integrated into an image processing pipeline that involves acquiring images using a PTZ camera, ensuring the absence of anomalies in the captured images, and implementing a real-time communication method for event notifications to plant operators. The models exhibit noteworthy performance, achieving an 86% Dice score in foam segmentation, with comparable results obtained through both centralized and federated training. Implemented in a wastewater treatment plant, this integrated pipeline enhances operational efficiency while concurrently reducing costs.
Determinants of Irrigation Technology Adoption and Acreage Allocation in Crop Production in Louisiana, USA
Authors: Gautam Tej K. , Paudel Krishna P. , Guidry Kurt M.
Published: January 2024

This study identifies the determinants of furrow irrigation technology adoption in soybean production. Further, it estimates and evaluates the determinants of acreage allocation under different irrigation technologies in Louisiana crop production. Through a comprehensive mail survey, we acquired the necessary data, employing them to conduct IV-probit estimations specifically focused on irrigation technology adoption. Simultaneously, we utilized the same dataset to deploy multivariate fractional regression models, facilitating a robust exploration and evaluation of the acreage allocation of crop production in the state. The estimated results indicate that education has a significant negative effect on furrow irrigation adoption, while laser leveling has a significant positive effect on it. In particular, the expected probability of furrow irrigation adoption by farmers with a college degree or higher is 45% lower than farmers with education below the college degree. Education, risk attitude, and landholding have a negative effect, and rent status and have a positive effect on acreage allocation under the furrow irrigation system. Our study implies that appropriate policy tools may motivate farmers to adopt cost-effective as well as water-conserving irrigation technology.
Where Is the Path to Sustainable Marine Development? Evaluation and Empirical Analysis of the Synergy between Marine Carrying Capacity and Marine Economy High-Quality Development
Authors: Chen Xiaolong , Yu Zhe , Liang Chenlu , Di Qianbin
Published: January 2024

Enhancing the marine carrying capacity (MCC) is of important value in hastening the transformation of the marine economy and realising the marine economy high-quality development (MEHD). We explore the synergistic mechanism between the MCC and MEHD and its comprehensive indicator system, measure the synergistic relationship between China’s MCC and MEHD from 2006 to 2020 using the improved TOPSIS model and the composite system synergism model, and explore the influencing factors and their interactions using geographic probes. The research findings are (1) that China’s MCC and MEHD show a growing trend during the study period, in which marine green development is at a higher level and the cultivation of marine knowledge improves most significantly, but the general value of the MEHD is relatively low. (2) In terms of the synergistic relationship, the degree of ordering of the two shows a sustained rising trend, and the degree of ordering of the marine economy development as a whole is higher than the MCC; the degree of synergy is increasing, but the general value of synergistic development is low. (3) The main factors driving the MCC and MEHD are the marine consumption capacity, the marine opening, and the marine industrial structure; the explanatory power of most factor interactions tends to decrease, and the explanatory power of the interactions among the development of land-based economy, the marine industry structure, and the marine economy increase, and the impacts of the different factor interactions on the synergistic development are all greater than the factors. The influence of different factors on synergistic development is greater than the influence of each factor alone.
Optimizing Hydro-Pneumatic Inerter Suspension for Improved Ride Comfort and Handling Stability in Engineering Vehicles Using Simulated Annealing Algorithm
Authors: Huang Rongnan , Yin Ao , Shen Yujie , Du Fu , Yang Xiaofeng
Published: January 2024

This study introduces a novel hydro-pneumatic inerter suspension (HPIS) system for engineering vehicles, aiming at enhancing ride comfort and handling stability. The research focuses on addressing the limitations of conventional suspension systems by incorporating an inerter element into the vehicle suspension. The unique aspects of HPIS, such as nonlinear stiffness and nonlinear damping characteristics of the hydro-pneumatic spring, are explored. Firstly, a half-car dynamic model of the HPIS suspension is established, and an improved simulated annealing algorithm is applied to optimize the suspension parameters. Then, we compare the dynamic performance of different HPIS structures, specifically parallel and series layouts. For practical analysis, a simplified three-element HPIS suspension model is used, and the suspension parameters are optimized by a simulated annealing algorithm at speeds of 10 m/s, 15 m/s, and 20 m/s. Key findings reveal that compared to the traditional suspension system of S0, the front and rear suspension working space of S1 decreased by 40%, 40.1%, 40.2% and 30.7%, 30.8%, 30.9%, while with the body acceleration and pitch acceleration deteriorated by 3.1%, 3.2%, 3.3% and 63.4%, 63.8%, 64.0%. However, the S2 can improve all the dynamic performance and offer better ride comfort and handling stability.
Problems and prospects for scientific and technical cooperation between Russia and China in 2023
Authors:   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Zaharov S. P.
Published: January 2024

A characteristic feature of the modern stage of human development is the transition of society from industrial to post-industrial and the increasing influence of science and technology on all spheres of social life. Global discoveries in science lead to large-scale socio-economic and historical changes. Currently, the problem of Russia's strategic development is becoming urgent. In this regard, the importance of studying not only economic, but also scientifi c and technical cooperation between the Russian Federation and partner countries has increased. It is useful to pay attention to interaction with the People's Republic of China. The presented study attempts to carry out an in-depth analysis of the current situation and prospects for the development of interstate relations in the fi eld of science and technology between Russia and China. The emphasis is on the achievements of the two states in the fi eld of aerospace technologies, fundamental science, business projects in the Arctic region to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) and describes the fundamental trends and results of partnership interactions. A thorough analysis of the current state and potential directions for the development of bilateral and multilateral relations in the scientific and technical sphere is carried out. At the same time, existing problems are also considered, such as the low efficiency of tools for implementing joint projects, expressed in limited cooperation between scientific institutions and industrial enterprises of the two countries. This causes disagreements between the parties on individual projects. Despite all the diffi culties and opposition from Western countries, Russian-Chinese scientific cooperation demonstrates a high degree of sustainability and has enormous potential for further development. A comprehensive analysis of the current situation will allow us to develop an effective strategy to realize this potential.
Peran Orang Tua dalam Memotivasi Remaja Untuk Aktif Beribadah
Authors: Saingo Yakobus Adi
Published: January 2024

Orang tua Kristen bukan hanya mendidik anak remajanya dalam hal nilai-nilai moral dan karakter, namun juga harus membina anak remajanya secara spiritual, yaitu dengan pembinaan yang mampu menyadarkan anak remajanya untuk semakin aktif beribadah ke gereja. Tanpa pembinaan yang benar dari orang tua, maka anak remaja akan bertumbuh sebagai pribadi yang tidak terlalu mementingkan hal spiritual, termasul ketaatan dalam beribadah. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk membahas mengenai peran orang tua dalam memotivasi remaja untuk aktif beribadah di GMII Smirna Otan, di Kecamatan Semau, Kabupaten Kupang. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah kualitatif dengan mewawancarai 10 orang tua. Data yang terkumpul dianalisis secara reduktif dengan pemaparan hasil bahwa: Orang tua Kristen di GMII Smirna Otan, di Kecamatan Semau, Kabupaten Kupang telah menjalankan perannya sebagai pendidik, pelindung, motivator, pelayan, dan tempat curahan hati yang senantiasa memberikan pembimbingan dan pembinaan bagi anak-anak remajanya untuk menghidupi nilai-nilai Kristiani secara utuh dan menyeluruh, termasuk menjadi pribadi yang sungguh-sungguh taat mengikuti aktifitas ibadah di gereja. Meskipun terdapat tantangan dari luar keluarga yang seringkali berusaha mempengaruhi anak remaja untuk tidak bergereja, namun orang tua juga berperan dalam mengantisipasinya dengan senantiasa memberikan arahan dan pembimbingan rohani dari rumah secara rutin.
Properties and applications of natural zeolites
Authors: Franco Ana Marisela Maubert , García Elizabeth Rojas , Medina Ricardo López , Ramírez Aldo Arturo Castañeda
Published: January 2024

Natural Zeolites are crystalline aluminosilicates with very particular properties, both physical and chemical, such as reversible water adsorption, ion exchange without modifications in their structure, and the adsorption of molecules, acting as a molecular sieve. In the present work, a review of the main applications of Natural Zeolites (ZNs) has been carried out. Essential topics have previously been introduced to understand the nature of ZNs, from their discovery, origin, and main properties; the primary deposits worldwide are also mentioned. The importance of these materials has been increasing over time due to the wide variety of applications implemented, thanks to the creativity and ingenuity of researchers. From ion exchange (II) and adsorption applied to the removal from water of heavy metals, ammonium ion, arsenic, fluorine, etc., to applications in Agriculture (fertilizers, animal nutrition, soil amendment), (the development of agribusiness generates substantial amounts of wastewater). In Medicine (disinfection for Escherichia coli, mycotoxins, bacteria, and antiviral, among others), in Catalysis, Space Project, etc. The above justifies the name that Mumpton gave to the ZNs: “The magic rock.” This review shows some summarized examples and provides other references on each topic. Innovative applications continue to be obtained in the literature, and this “mini-review” is hoped to be helpful.