bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Imaging System for Online Detection of Chicken Meat with Wooden Breast Condition
Authors: Yoon Seung-Chul , Bowker Brian C. , Zhuang Hong , Lawrence Kurt C.
Published: January 2022

In recent years, the wooden breast condition has emerged as a major meat quality defect in the poultry industry worldwide. Broiler pectoralis major muscle with the wooden breast condition is characterized by hardness upon human palpation, which can lead to decrease in meat value or even reduced consumer acceptance. The current method of wooden breast detection involves a visual and/or tactile evaluation. In this paper, we present a sideview imaging system for online detection of chicken breast fillets affected by the wooden breast condition. The system can measure a physical deformation (bending) of an individual chicken-breast fillet through high-speed imaging at about 200 frames per second and custom image processing techniques. The developed image processing algorithm shows the over 95% classification performance in detecting wooden breast fillets.
Multi-Physics Mesoscale Substructure Analysis on Stress Wave Measurement within CFST-PZT Coupling Models for Interface Debonding Detection
Authors: Wang Jiang , Xu Bin , Chen Hongbing , Ge Hanbin , Zhou Tianmin
Published: January 2022

In recent years, the development of interface debonding defect detection methods for concrete-filled steel tubes (CFSTs) using stress wave measurement with piezoelectric-lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) actuator and sensor has received significant attention. Because the concrete core in CFSTs is a heterogeneous material with randomness at the mesoscale, the size, position and distribution of aggregates unavoidably affect the stress wave propagation and the PZT sensor response. In this study, to efficiently investigate the influence of the mesoscale structure of the concrete core of CFSTs on the response of embedded PZT sensors, a multi-physics substructure model of CFST members coupled with a PZT actuator and a PZT sensor, where a single circular aggregate with different size and position and randomly distributed circular aggregates are considered, are established first. Then, multi-physics simulations on the effect of the local mesoscale structure of the concrete core on the response of the embedded PZT sensor excited by both a sinusoidal signal and sweep frequency signal are carried out. Moreover, corresponding multi-physics and mesoscale simulations on the embedded PZT sensor response of substructures with different interface debonding defects are also carried out for comparison. The amplitude and the wavelet packet energy of the embedded PZT sensor response of each mesoscale substructure are employed to distinguish the influence of the concrete core mesoscale structure and interface debonding defect on sensor measurement. The findings from the results with the multi-physics coupling substructure models are compared with those of the full CFST-PZT coupling models and the tested members of the previous studies to verify the rationality of the embedded PZT sensors measurement of the established substructure models. Results from this study show that the effect of interface debonding defect on the amplitude and the wavelet packet energy of the embedded PZT sensor measurement of the CFST members is dominant compared with the mesoscale heterogeneity and randomness of the concrete core.
Study on the Control Method of Knee Joint Human–Exoskeleton Interactive System
Authors: Wang Zhipeng , Yang Chifu , Ding Zhen , Yang Tao , Guo Hao , Jiang Feng , Tian Bowen
Published: January 2022

The advantages of exoskeletons based on the Bowden cable include being lightweight and flexible, thus being convenient in assisting humans. However, the performance of an exoskeleton is limited by the structure and human–exoskeleton interaction, which is analyzed from the established mathematical model of the human–exoskeleton system. In order to improve the auxiliary accuracy, corresponding control methods are proposed. The disturbance observer is designed to compensate for disturbances and parameter perturbations in the inner loop. The human–exoskeleton interaction feedforward model is integrated into the admittance control, which overcomes the limitation of the force loading caused by the friction of the Bowden cable and the change in stiffness of the human–exoskeleton interaction. Furthermore, an angle prediction method using the encoder as the signal source is designed to reduce the disturbance of the force loading caused by human motion. Finally, the effectiveness of the design method proposed in this paper is verified through experiments.
Deep Modular Bilinear Attention Network for Visual Question Answering
Authors: Yan Feng , Silamu Wushouer , Li Yanbing
Published: January 2022

VQA (Visual Question Answering) is a multi-model task. Given a picture and a question related to the image, it will determine the correct answer. The attention mechanism has become a de facto component of almost all VQA models. Most recent VQA approaches use dot-product to calculate the intra-modality and inter-modality attention between visual and language features. In this paper, the BAN (Bilinear Attention Network) method was used to calculate attention. We propose a deep multimodality bilinear attention network (DMBA-NET) framework with two basic attention units (BAN-GA and BAN-SA) to construct inter-modality and intra-modality relations. The two basic attention units are the core of the whole network framework and can be cascaded in depth. In addition, we encode the question based on the dynamic word vector of BERT(Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers), then use self-attention to process the question features further. Then we sum them with the features obtained by BAN-GA and BAN-SA before the final classification. Without using the Visual Genome datasets for augmentation, the accuracy of our model reaches 70.85% on the test-std dataset of VQA 2.0.
Fractional Derivatives Application to Image Fusion Problems
Authors: Motłoch Szymon , Sarwas Grzegorz , Dzieliński Andrzej
Published: January 2022

In this paper, an analysis of the method that uses a fractional order calculus to multispectral images fusion is presented. We analyze some correct basic definitions of the fractional order derivatives that are used in the image processing context. Several methods of determining fractional derivatives of digital images are tested, and the influence of fractional order change on the quality of fusion is presented. Results achieved are compared with the results obtained for methods where the integer order derivatives were used.
Quantification of Movement in Stroke Patients under Free Living Conditions Using Wearable Sensors: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bernaldo de Quirós Mariano , Douma E.H. , van den Akker-Scheek Inge , Lamoth Claudine J. C. , Maurits Natasha M.
Published: January 2022

Stroke is a main cause of long-term disability worldwide, placing a large burden on individuals and health care systems. Wearable technology can potentially objectively assess and monitor patients outside clinical environments, enabling a more detailed evaluation of their impairment and allowing individualization of rehabilitation therapies. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of setups used in literature to measure movement of stroke patients under free living conditions using wearable sensors, and to evaluate the relation between such sensor-based outcomes and the level of functioning as assessed by existing clinical evaluation methods. After a systematic search we included 32 articles, totaling 1076 stroke patients from acute to chronic phases and 236 healthy controls. We summarized the results by type and location of sensors, and by sensor-based outcome measures and their relation with existing clinical evaluation tools. We conclude that sensor-based measures of movement provide additional information in relation to clinical evaluation tools assessing motor functioning and both are needed to gain better insight in patient behavior and recovery. However, there is a strong need for standardization and consensus, regarding clinical assessments, but also regarding the use of specific algorithms and metrics for unsupervised measurements during daily life.
Tuning of Magnetoimpedance Effect and Magnetic Properties of Fe-Rich Glass-Coated Microwires by Joule Heating
Authors: Gonzalez Alvaro , Zhukova Valentina , Corte-Leon Paula , Chizhik Alexandr , Ipatov Mihail , Blanco Juan Maria , Zhukov Arcady
Published: January 2022

The influence of Joule heating on magnetic properties, giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) effect and domain wall (DW) dynamics of Fe75B9Si12C4 glass-coated microwires was studied. A remarkable (up to an order of magnitude) increase in GMI ratio is observed in Joule heated samples in the frequency range from 10 MHz to 1 GHz. In particular, an increase in GMI ratio, from 10% up to 140% at 200 MHz is observed in Joule heated samples. Hysteresis loops of annealed samples maintain a rectangular shape, while a slight decrease in coercivity from 93 A/m to 77 A/m, after treatment, is observed. On the other hand, a modification of MOKE hysteresis loops is observed upon Joule heating. Additionally, an improvement in DW dynamics after Joule heating is documented, achieving DW propagation velocities of up to 700 m/s. GMI ratio improvement along with the change in MOKE loops and DW dynamics improvement have been discussed considering magnetic anisotropy induced by Oersted magnetic fields in the surface layer during Joule heating and internal stress relaxation. A substantial GMI ratio improvement observed in Fe-rich Joule-heated microwires with a rectangular hysteresis loop and fast DW propagation, together with the fact that Fe is a more common and less expensive metal than Co, make them suitable for use in magnetic sensors.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Sexes in 2021
Authors:   Sexes Editorial Office
Published: January 2022

Rigorous peer-reviews are the basis of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Reproductive Justice, Public Black Feminism in Practice: A Reflection on Community-Based Participatory Research in Cincinnati
Authors: Norwood Carolette , Jacquez Farrah , Carr Thembi , Murawsky Stef , Beck Key , Tuttle Amy
Published: January 2022

Research on reproductive justice has mainly, but not exclusively, appeared in academic literature in the context of grassroots social justice movements and as a theoretical framework for understanding the limitations of “reproductive choice” in the absence of social justice. But how can scholars design research to explore and understand reproductive (in)justice in the real lives of women of color? How can research partnerships between university scholars and community stewards be formed and sustained? What tensions and challenges are inherent in these efforts? And how can we find more equitable ways of sharing research findings and creating change with and not on behalf of our community? This paper reflects on the use of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) in a reproductive justice research project focused on Black women residing in Cincinnati.
Role and Significance of the United Arab Emirates Foreign Aid for Its Soft Power Strategy and Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Krzymowski Adam
Published: January 2022

The main issue in the presented research is the United Arab Emirates’ foreign aid commitment, the development of its brand, and its position in international relations. The study’s purpose is to find an answer to a research question, specifically, what is the UAE foreign aid role and significance for the Soft Power Strategy implementation and the Sustainable Development Goals? The author adopted appropriate theories and research methods. Role theory has been applied, allowing for the combination of different tools. Moreover, there is a close connection between the state adapting to changes in its political environment and its position and role in international relations. Therefore, the theory of adaptation has also been included. To verify the theoretical assumptions, the author implemented a comparative analysis using empirical research and case studies. In addition, the author’s ten-year participation in many UAE international policy processes was useful. The paper shows United Arab Emirates foreign aid as a fundamental element of supporting branding, filling the Sustainable Development Goals, and influencing international relations. In the twenty-first century, UAE foreign aid became a pillar of state foreign policy, making it possible to shape the international environment.
Lingering Male Breadwinner Norms as Predictors of Family Satisfaction and Marital Instability
Authors: Lee Yean-Ju
Published: January 2022

Scholars have assumed that as gender revolutions are completed and societies achieve advanced levels of gender egalitarianism, married persons become happier, and marriages become stable. This study investigates how the norms about gender roles are associated with marital instability. The analysis is based on two propositions: (1) marital dissolution is an outcome of two rather distinct processes, deterioration of marital quality and formation of a decision to leave a marriage, and (2) the antithesis of advanced gender egalitarianism is a set of lingering male breadwinner norms, not gender inequality often manifested by working women performing second shifts. The data are from 68 national surveys conducted in 2002 and 2012 through ISSP coordination, and the sample of person-level analysis is restricted to ages 30–49, supposedly in the life cycle stages of family formation and expansion. The norms of gender roles are classified into four types: traditional norm, prescribing gendered division of labor; lingering male breadwinner norm, emphasizing men as the primary breadwinners while allowing flexibility of women’s roles; super woman norm, prescribing women to perform double roles; and egalitarian norm, emphasizing equal sharing of roles. At the country level, aggregate variables were constructed by calculating the percentage of adults who held each type of norm. The results strongly support the prediction that the male breadwinner norm at the societal level is detrimental to marital quality, while persons holding the egalitarian norm are most satisfied with their family lives.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Soil Systems in 2021
Authors:   Soil Systems Editorial Office
Published: January 2022

Rigorous peer-reviews are the basis of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Calculation of the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonances of Au Nanoparticles Embedded in NiO
Authors: Tsarmpopoulou Maria , Chronis Alexandros G. , Sigalas Mihail , Stamatelatos Alkeos , Poulopoulos Panagiotis , Grammatikopoulos Spyridon
Published: January 2022

The present article examined the influence of size and periodicity of simulated gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in Nickel Oxide (NiO) matrix on localized plasmonic resonances (LSPRs). The scope of this work is to comparatively study the theoretical outcomes exhibited against the experimental results delivered from previous works, including a significant number of simulations and testing of numerous NPs diameter values. A comparison between Au and NiO NPs over silver (Ag) and NiO NPs is also reported to investigate whether the nature of noble metal affects its behavior in terms of LSPRs. The computational results strongly support that the appearance and intensity of LSPRs is straightforward to the increase in the diameter of NPs. The simulation results are in a good agreement with the literature of small NPs, offering the opportunity to further understand the LSPR phenomenon and its more effective implementation to opto-electronic applications. Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis (RCWA) is performed to stimulate the justification and knowledge of the theoretical conclusions.
Degradation of Azo Dyes: Bacterial Potential for Bioremediation
Authors: Pinheiro Lucas Rafael Santana , Gradíssimo Diana Gomes , Xavier Luciana Pereira , Santos Agenor Valadares
Published: January 2022

The use of dyes dates to ancient times and has increased due to population and industrial growth, leading to the rise of synthetic dyes. These pollutants are of great environmental impact and azo dyes deserve special attention due their widespread use and challenging degradation. Among the biological solutions developed to mitigate this issue, bacteria are highlighted for being versatile organisms, which can be applied as single organism cultures, microbial consortia, in bioreactors, acting in the detoxification of azo dyes breakage by-products and have the potential to combine biodegradation with the production of products of economic interest. These characteristics go hand in hand with the ability of various strains to act under various chemical and physical parameters, such as a wide range of pH, salinity, and temperature, with good performance under industry, and environmental, relevant conditions. This review encompasses studies with promising results related to the use of bacteria in the bioremediation of environments contaminated with azo dyes in the most diverse techniques and parameters, both in environmental and laboratory samples, also addressing their mechanisms and the legislation involving these dyes around the world, showcasing the importance of bacterial bioremediation, specialty in a scenario in an ever-increasing pursuit for sustainable production.
Organizational (Non-) Adoption of Legally Obliged Energy-Saving Technologies: Why (Not) Comply?
Authors: van Helmond Carlijn G. C. , Kok Robert A. W.
Published: January 2022

Although there are organizations that have adopted legally imposed measures regarding energy-saving technologies, up until now, there has been a lot of unused energy-saving potential. Based on existing theories, such as the adoption theory and the institutional theory, this exploratory research investigates the reasons for firms to (or not to) adopt energy-saving technologies, even though they are legally obligated, and it has a positive impact on economic organizational performance. A “multiple mini-case” study, with six cases in the Dutch metalworking/electrical engineering sector and in the synthetic material/rubber sector, were conducted. Results show that, nowadays, organizations do not feel any regulatory pressures as they are not aware of the existence of the concerned legal obligations, e.g., where an organization’s self-awareness (of the relative advantages of the technologies) begins to play the most important role. To adopt the technologies, decision-makers must be convinced that adopting energy-saving technologies involves advantages for the organization and that the payback time is sufficient. Financial dilemmas negatively influence these adoption processes. Lastly, the continuous intentions of organizations to adopt energy-saving technologies appear to be positively related to the number of adopted technologies.
Adapting Grounded Theory to Investigate Sustainability Heritage in Informal Settlements: Case Studies from Islamabad, Pakistan
Authors: Shafqat Ramisa , Marinova Dora , Khan Shahed
Published: January 2022

The paper investigates the sustainability potential of the intangible cultural heritage preserved in informal settlements seen as an extension of rurality in urban settings. It delves into this underexplored dimension of sustainability in the context of the Global South by analysing two informal settlements in Islamabad, Pakistan, namely, France Colony and Mehr Abadi. The grounded theory is adapted by using semistructured interviews during transect walks through the informal settlements followed by a thematic analysis conducted of the experiences, memories, values, religious beliefs, and norms of the dwellers in the two case studies. Four themes are deduced that identify sustainability heritage: (a) values and social practices; (b) communal networks and relationships; (c) built environment and ecology; and (d) remnants of rurality. The study contends that informal settlements are reservoirs of vernacular sustainability elements, and their cultural heritage should be supported instead of imposing planning policies influenced by the North. Culturally specific solutions acceptable to the informal communities are needed to improve the liveability within the city and inform the policy-making process. This requires finding a mechanism for preserving the indigenous regional culture in the informal settlements, their rich heritage, and sustainability-oriented knowledge and practices.
Assessing Groundwater Level Declination in Dhaka City and Identifying Adaptation Options for Sustainable Water Supply
Authors: Moshfika Mehanaz , Biswas Subir , Mondal M. Shahjahan
Published: January 2022

Dhaka city, having a population of about 18 million, depends heavily on groundwater as a source of quality water. However, the city is encountering a rapid depletion of groundwater, and its groundwater-based water supply is at risk of failure. This study was carried out to analyze the groundwater depletion scenarios occurring from 1970 to 2019 in the city and to find suitable options to sustain its water supply. The trends in groundwater levels (GWLs) were quantified by the non-parametric Sen’s slope and their significances were assessed by the modified Mann-Kendall test. Contour maps of GWL were generated to develop the contemporary GWL scenario in the city. Key informant interviews (KIIs) with the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) officials, groundwater experts and researchers, in addition to semi-structured interviews with the DWASA consumers were conducted to assess current adaptation practices and to develop potential adaptation options. The effectiveness of the options was assessed by strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis and the options were ranked through a normalization process of the weights given by the KIIs for future adaptabilities. The GWLs were found to be decreasing all over the city, varying from 0.6–2.4 m/year. The contour maps demonstrated that the groundwater of the central area had depleted more than the peripheral areas. The locations vulnerable to severe groundwater depletion were identified to be the Khilgaon, Sobujbagh, Motijheel, Dhanmondi, and Sutrapur areas and some parts of the Cantonment and Mirpur areas. Potential options identified were adopting more surface water treatment plants, rainwater harvesting, implementing a block tariff system, reducing non-revenue water, metering water consumption, and promoting public awareness. Spatially-varying adaptation strategies were also suggested for different zones. Some measures adopted by DWASA were not supported by the respondents.
The ResourcePlan—An Instrument for Resource-Efficient Development of Urban Neighborhoods
Authors: Hörnschemeyer Birgitta , Söfker-Rieniets Anne , Niesten Jan , Arendt Rosalie , Kleckers Jonas , Klemm Christian , Stretz Celestin Julian , Reicher Christa , Grimsehl-Schmitz Winona , Wirbals Daniel , Bach Vanessa , Finkbeiner Matthias , Haberkamp Jens , Budde Janik , Vennemann Peter , Walter Gotthard , Flamme Sabine , Uhl Mathias
Published: January 2022

In Germany, the current sectoral urban planning often leads to inefficient use of resources, partly because municipalities lack integrated planning instruments and argumentation strength toward politics, investors, or citizens. The paper develops the ResourcePlan as (i) legal and (ii) a planning instrument to support the efficient use of resources in urban neighborhoods. The integrative, multi-methodological approach addresses the use of natural resources in the building and infrastructural sectors of (i) water (storm- and wastewater) management, (ii) construction and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure, (iii) urban energy system planning, and (iv) land-use planning. First, the development as legal instrument is carried out, providing (i) premises for integrating resource protection at all legal levels and (ii) options for implementing the ResourcePlan within German municipal structures. Second, the evaluation framework for resource efficiency of the urban neighborhoods is set up for usage as a planning instrument. The framework provides a two-stage process that runs through the phases of setting up and implementing the ResourcePlan. (Eco)system services are evaluated as well as life cycle assessment and economic aspects. As a legal instrument, the ResourcePlan integrates resource protection into municipal planning and decision-making processes. The multi-methodological evaluation framework helps to assess inter-disciplinary resource efficiency, supports the spatial identification of synergies and conflicting goals, and contributes to transparent, resource-optimized planning decisions.
Accelerating Cultural Dimensions at International Companies in the Evidence of Internationalisation
Authors: Leonavičienė Edita , Burinskienė Aurelija
Published: January 2022

The research goal is to investigate whether several cross-cultural dimensions proposed in the Hofstede cultural model link international companies and their affiliations operating in Scandinavia and Baltic countries. Although cultural aspects have got much more attention in internationalisation studies over the last decade, there is still room for research focusing on such study areas. The authors start with the analysis of the literature review. Presenting the holistic approach affecting internationalisation and a list of factors necessary for internationalisation, later on, the authors present the cultural dimension of Hofstede, and then give various qualitative methods applied for studies on internationalisation. Design/Methodology/Approach: To complete the research, the authors selected the database from Nasdaq (2021), listed MNE companies from six countries: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The mother company is located in Scandinavia, and the daughter company is in the Baltics based on FDI flows. The author’s research included 56 MNE companies from Nasdaq Baltic stock exchange. We used the correlation matrix to support the research and present the direction of identified connections to proceed with it. Findings: Obtained results revealed that there are strong links among several cultural dimensions. The results show seven positives and four negative links when discussing cross-cultural links. This finding shows that talking about intercultural relations, only four out of six Hofstede cultural dimensions have at least one strong connection operating business internationally. Originality/Value/Practical implications: The authors identified that some cross-cultural dimensions could not be analysed further because they do not have significant links. The limitations of the study and further research directions are also provided.
Ecological-Health Risks of Potentially Toxic Metals in Mangrove Sediments near Estuaries after Years of Piggery Farming Bans in Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Yap Chee Kong , Al-Mutairi Khalid Awadh
Published: January 2022

The Sepang Besar River (SBR) was reported to be highly contaminated with Cu and Zn due to piggery farming wastes before 1998. Following the piggery farming ban (PFB) in 1998 in Bukit Pelanduk, the present study aimed to assess the ecological-health risks of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) (Cu, Pb, and Zn) in the mangrove surface sediments from SBR. Two adjacent rivers, namely the Sepang Kecil River and Lukut River, were also included for comparison purposes. The PTMs of present sediment samples collected in 2007 and 2010 were compared with those reported before and after PFB. The PTMs levels were lower than those of established sediment quality guidelines. Results of bioavailable fractions, individual contamination factor, risk assessment code, potentially ecological risk index (PERI), and non-carcinogenic risk (with HI < 1.0 based on the pathways of Cu, Pb, and Zn and the order: ingestion > dermal contact > inhalation), the present findings indicated that the three rivers had caused no ecological-health risks of Cu, Pb, and Zn. In particular, SBR estuary had drastic lower levels of Zn (7.48–9.40 times lower between 1998 and 2010) and Cu (8.30–36.9 times lower between 1998 and 2010), after 12 years of PFB. Based on the exponential decay model, the PERI values showed that the estuary of SBR has been improved from a “considerable ecological risk” to a “minimal ecological risk” after 12 years of PFB. This is the first paper on the ecological-health risks of Cu, Pb, and Zn in the estuary of SBR. Future monitoring is still necessary for effective risk management of the mangrove ecosystem at SBR.
Radon in Indoor Air: Towards Continuous Monitoring
Authors: Sá Juliana P. , Branco Pedro T. B. S. , Alvim-Ferraz Maria C. M. , Martins Fernando G. , Sousa Sofia I. V.
Published: January 2022

Radon poses significant health risks. Thus, the continuous monitoring of radon concentrations in buildings’ indoor air is relevant, particularly in schools. Low-cost sensors devices are emerging as promising technologies, although their reliability is still unknown. Therefore, this is the first study aiming to evaluate the performance of low-cost sensors devices for short-term continuous radon monitoring in the indoor air of nursery and primary school buildings. Five classrooms of different age groups (infants, pre-schoolers and primary school children) were selected from one nursery and one primary school in Porto (Portugal). Radon indoor concentrations were continuously monitored using one reference instrument (Radim 5B) and three commercially available low-cost sensors devices (Airthings Wave and RandonEye: RD200 and RD200P2) for short-term sampling (2–4 consecutive days) in each studied classroom. Radon concentrations were in accordance with the typical profiles found in other studies (higher on weekends and non-occupancy periods than on occupancy). Both RadonEye low-cost sensors devices presented similar profiles with Radim 5B and good performance indices (R2 reaching 0.961), while the Airthings Wave behavior was quite different. These results seem to indicate that the RadonEye low-cost sensors devices studied can be used in short-term radon monitoring, being promising tools for actively reducing indoor radon concentrations.
A Multimodal Transport Model to Evaluate Transport Policies in the North of France
Authors: Kilani Moez , Diop Ngagne , De Wolf Daniel
Published: January 2022

We developed a passenger transport model for the North of France and used it to discuss the impacts of some policies focusing on the limitations of polluting gas emissions and congestion. The model is calibrated for the North of France and includes both urban and intercity trips. Four transport modes are considered: walking, biking, public transport and private cars. To some extent, the combination of these modes is possible. The model is calibrated to match mode shares and the dynamic of congestion along a full day. The simulations are conducted within the MATSim framework. We evaluate the impacts, on traffic flows and polluting gas emissions, of two pricing reforms: free public transport and road pricing in city center of Lille (the main metropolitan area in the study region). Free public transport yields a significant modal shift towards public transport, resulting in a reduction in the usage of private cars. The road pricing scheme we have considered results in similar impacts but with limited magnitude. Overall, a significant reduction in congestion and emissions of pollutant gases can be obtained by applying convenient pricing reforms. Since we use an agent-based model, we are able to identify the specific location of the main impacts on the network.
The Collaborative Approach to Sustainability: A Model of Commissioning System Intervention in Supporting Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships from National to Global Levels
Authors: Dragomir Camelia-Cristina , Foris Tiberiu
Published: January 2022

The paper addresses the role of intermediaries in optimizing collaborative practices for sustainability and provides new perspectives on how the commissioning system intervenes in supporting multi-stakeholder partnerships that operate on different geographical scales. We present in this study a unitary model for the development of the commissioning system with geographically hierarchical structures, from local and national to regional and global levels, capable of creating a network of interdependent connections with international potential between a wide range of parties engaged in collaboration for sustainable territorial development. The paper highlights the potential of the commissioning system to provide better support for sustainability partnerships and identifies the roles that commissioning structures can play for the benefit of the parties interested in mobilizing and accessing capabilities and resources for development. Through its intervention, the collaborative actions between the parties are streamlined and the management of demands and offers of development resources is optimized. Our findings show that such an intervention adds value to partnerships for sustainability at regional and global levels by dynamizing the collaboration, exchange and transfer of resources between the states, using functional collaboration networks created among multiple interacting stakeholders to support the sustainable development goals implementation.
Strategic Assessment of Neighbourhood Environmental Impacts on Mental Health in the Lisbon Region (Portugal): A Strategic Focus and Assessment Framework at the Local Level
Authors: Loureiro Adriana , Partidário Maria do Rosário , Santana Paula
Published: January 2022

Scientific evidence shows that each place/environment generates specific conditions with associated impacts on the mental health and well-being of the population. A holistic, multilevel and integrated environmental approach to mental health enhances the understanding of this phenomena, supporting the local decision-making processes to improve spatial planning of neighbourhood environments. The aim of this study is to develop a strategic assessment framework, based on four municipalities in the Lisbon Region (Portugal), that explores policy and planning initiatives capable of generating favourable neighbourhood environmental conditions for mental health while also detecting risks. Using baseline results of significant statistical associations between individuals’ perceptions of their neighbourhood environment and their mental health in the Lisbon Region, a Strategic Focus on Environmental and Mental Health Assessment framework (SEmHA) was built, by applying the methodology “Strategic Thinking for Sustainability” in Strategic Environmental Assessment, developed by Partidário in 2012. Taking into account the promotion of the population’s mental health, four critical decision factors of neighbourhood environments were identified: (1) public space quality (e.g., improving sense of place), (2) physical environment quality (e.g., low levels of noise exposure), (3) professional qualification and creation of economic activities (e.g., attracting new economic activities), and (4) services and facilities (e.g., improving access to health and education services). The proposed strategic focus and assessment framework contributes to ensuring that interventions in neighbourhood environments truly achieve community mental health benefits and reduce inequalities, thus helping policy makers to assess impacts at the local level.
Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) Concentration of Subway Transfer Stations in Beijing, China
Authors: Wang Xinru , Xia Liang , Pei Fei , Chang Li , Chong Wen Tong , Wang Zu , Pan Song
Published: January 2022

Although much research is being conducted on the characteristics of PM2.5 and PM10 at subway stations, there is no research focusing on a complex subway transfer station. In this paper, the characteristics of PM2.5 and PM10 at transfer stations are studied. For comparison, monitoring is performed under different outside conditions at four different transfer stations in the non-peak period during March 2018. The concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 on the platform in the transfer stations is approximately 10 μg/m3 lower than in the non-transfer station, when outside PM2.5 is lower than 150 μg/m3. However, the ratio of PM2.5 to PM10 at the transfer stations (lowest: 78.1%) is higher than at the non-transfer station (lowest: 61.2%), indicating that the PM10 content differs from the non-transfer station. In a transfer station with the same depth, the PM concentration is the same or similar. In addition, the concentration of PM2.5 at subway stations has a strong correlation with the outside environment (R2 = 0.897), which indicates that an outside condition is important for the subway environment.
Looking for the Sustainability Messages of European Universities’ Social Media Communication during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Bularca Maria Cristina , Nechita Florin , Sargu Lilia , Motoi Gabriela , Otovescu Adrian , Coman Claudiu
Published: January 2022

Organizations in general, and higher education institutions in particular, had to face many challenges during the pandemic in order to carry out their usual activities. Since communications and interactions between universities and students were required to take place online, the messages sent by universities on their social media platforms held greater importance. In this regard, the purpose of the paper was to identify the promotion strategies used by European universities on Facebook and Instagram in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, we were interested in identifying differences and similarities in the types of messages European universities sent on the two social networks, regarding the way they communicated about sustainability. The method used in order to conduct the research was content analysis, while having as an instrument a content analysis grid. We analyzed the activity of 20 European universities included in the World University Rankings 2021. The results of the research revealed that universities communicated more on Facebook than on Instagram, that the most frequent messages regarding sustainability were the ones about the actions carried out by universities in order to protect the environment, and that they registered a higher engagement rate on Instagram than on Facebook.
Multimedia Pollution Prevention of Mercury-Containing Waste and Articles: Case Study in Taiwan
Authors: Tsai Wen-Tien
Published: January 2022

In response to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, effective 16 August 2017, the Taiwan government in recent years started to implement the sustainable material management of mercury-containing waste and articles. This was completed by a cross-ministerial collaboration for preventing the adverse effects of mercury on human health and the environment, based on the multimedia approach. The legislative or regulatory frameworks on the control and prevention of mercury emissions and releases have been established in environmental distributions, including air, water, soil, waste, food, and article (or commodity). Therefore, the central authorities included the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), Council of Agriculture (COA), Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), and Ministry of Labor (MOL). Furthermore, the implementation plans covered the reduction in mercury-containing products by restricted use and bans on its use, remediation of soil and groundwater for mercury-pollution sites, control of stationary source emissions, environmental monitoring, and compulsory recovery of mercury from electronic waste such as waste lightings. A successful case study on the recovery of mercury from electronic waste using a thermal treatment, and its capture control by activated carbon, was also addressed in this work. Due to the effectiveness of source control in Taiwan, the annual reported amount of mercury emissions from the stationary air pollution sources indicated a decreasing trend from 1.989 metric tons in 2016 to 1.760 metric tons in 2019. More significantly, the ministerial collaboration in implementing the Convention in Taiwan also echoed the United Nations (UN) Agenda 2030 for sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The Role of the Archeological Heritage Sites in the Process of Urban Regeneration of UNESCO’s Cities—Boka Bay Case Study
Authors: Lazarević Slađana , Arbutina Dražen , Popović Svetislav G.
Published: January 2022

The role of the archeological and cultural heritage sites in the process of urban regeneration in UNESCO’s protected areas becomes more and more important for the natural and cultural heritage protection in the touristic cities with urban expansion. However, there is no clear methodological approach for the inclusion of these important natural and cultural heritage sites in the process of urban regeneration of the cities. The purpose of this study is to analyze how two contemporary urban planning tools, sustainable urban mobility plans and heritage impact assessments, contribute to the protection and sustainable use of archeological sites. The methodology that is used in this study is dual, theoretical, through literature review, and empirical, through the appliance of the case study method and expert observation and mapping of the most valuable archeological sites in Boka Bay. The results of this study show that practical usage of the two proposed tools in the process of urban regeneration could help in cultural and natural heritage protection and their inclusion as drivers of sustainable urban planning and cultural heritage management. The results of the study confirm the authors’ hypothesis that the role of the archeological sites in the process of urban regeneration is evident in the touristic cities in the coastal area of Montenegro, concluding that urban mobility principles and heritage impact assessment studies must be considered in the process of urban regeneration while at the same time cultural (archeological) heritage management is an integral part of this process.
How the Carbonization Time of Sugarcane Biomass Affects the Microstructure of Biochar and the Adsorption Process?
Authors: Fonseca Gabriel Cabral da , Oliveira Marilene Silva , Martins Carlos Vinicius Costa , de Souza João Carlos Perbone
Published: January 2022

Biochars (BCs) are very versatile adsorbents, mainly, in the effectiveness of adsorption of organic and inorganic compounds in aqueous solutions. Here, the sugarcane biomass (SCB) was used to produce biochar at different carbonization times: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h, denominated as BC1, BC2, BC3, BC4, and BC5, respectively. The superficial reactivity was studied with adsorption equilibrium experiments and kinetics models; Methylene Blue (MB) was used as adsorbate at different pH values, concentrations, and temperatures. In summary, the carbonization time provides the increase of superficial area, with exception of BC4, which decreased. Equilibrium studies showed inflection points and fluctuations with different initial dye concentration and temperature; SCB showed the best adsorption capacity compared to the BCs at the three temperatures tested, varying with the increase of MB concentration, suggesting the dependence of these two main factors on the adsorption process. The proposed adsorption mechanism suggests the major influence of Coulomb interactions, H-bonding, and π-interactions on the adsorption of MB onto adsorbents, evidencing that the adsorption is led by physical adsorption. Therefore, the results led to the use of the SCB without carbonization at 200 °C, saving energy and more adsorbent mass, considering that the carbonization influences weight loss. This study has provided insights of the use of SCB in MB dye adsorption as a low-cost and eco-friendly adsorbent.
Developing a New Bursting Liability Index Based on Energy Evolution for Coal under Different Loading Rates
Authors: Khan Naseer Muhammad , Ahmad Maqsood , Cao Kewang , Ali Imtiaz , Liu Wei , Rehman Hafeezur , Hussain Sajjad , Rehman Faheem Ur , Ahmed Tufail
Published: January 2022

The risk of a coal burst rises with the excavation depth and other mining-related activities. These devastating coal burst activities are a major concern during deep coal mining. During such activities, the loading rate is a major cause of damage. Different indexes, including the elastic strain modulus index (Wet), bursting energy index (Ke), dynamic failure time index (DT), and compressive strength index (Rc), are used for coal bursting intensity; however, the loading rate and damage factors are not included in these indexes. In this study, a new coal bursting liability index called the elastic modulus damage index (EMDI) was developed using rock damage variables and the elastic strain modulus index, and is based on energy evolution characteristics under different loading rates. The results of this new index were compared with the existing indexes, and their range was proposed to evaluate coal bursting liability. The EDMI shows a positive polynomial second order degree relationship with Wet and Ke, having a determination factor of 0.99, while DT shows a negative polynomial second order degree relationship with a determination factor of 0.94. The EDMI and Rc show a positive power relationship having a determination factor of 0.99. The relationships with other indexes revealed that the EDMI can be effectively used in evaluating the coal bursting liabilities in different stress environments.
Proposal of an Initial Environmental Management and Land Use for Critical Cemeteries in Central Ecuador
Authors: Flores Gómez Geomara , Crisanto-Perrazo Tania , Toulkeridis Theofilos , Fierro-Naranjo Greta , Guevara-García Paulina , Mayorga-Llerena Eduardo , Vizuete-Freire Diego , Salazar Esthela , Sinde-Gonzalez Izar
Published: January 2022

Cemeteries are sites for the final disposal of human bodies that constitute a source of contamination of soil and water as a result of the cadaveric decomposition generated. The current research performed an initial study on the contamination of soil and water due to the influence of cemeteries and verified compliance with the legislation regulating land use and occupation of Central Ecuador (PUGS) with the aim of proposing an environmental and territorial solution to the problems generated by the mismanagement of cemeteries, through the physicochemical analysis of soil and water and studies of land use compatibility. The results indicate the tendency of contamination caused by the studied cemeteries, since the samples taken in both the rainy and dry season for the measurement of parameters BOD5, COD, DO, pH and electrical conductivity fail to meet the established requirements of the Ecuadorian and international environmental regulations. In addition, land use conflicts were encountered in the cemetery grounds. It is concluded that the existing cemeteries should be subjected to more detailed environmental analysis and subsequently should be treated as security landfills in the closure and post-closure stage. Also, it has been concluded that the cemeteries should not be located in urban or peri-urban areas.
Effects of Surgical Treatment for Allergic Rhinitis on Sleep and Mental Health in Adolescents
Authors: Nakagawa Takayuki , Ogino-Nishimura Eriko , Hiroshiba Shinya
Published: January 2022

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common chronic condition that is usually treated medically. Adolescents form a unique population in which AR-associated symptoms are greater than those in adults or children, and are closely related to sleep and mental disorders. In the current study, a retrospective analysis was performed to illustrate the surgical effects of AR symptoms on sleep and mental disorders in adolescents. In 81 adolescents with AR symptoms refractory to medical management, the severity of the AR symptoms was correlated with that of sleep or mental disorders. As a standard surgical procedure, submucosal bony resection of inferior turbinates with posterior nasal neurectomy was performed and half of the subjects underwent septoplasty due to severe deviation of the nasal septum. The degree of improvement in AR-associated symptoms by surgical treatment was correlated with that of mental disorders in adolescent patients who had sleep and mental disorders preoperatively. Considering the impact of AR symptoms on the quality of life of adolescents, surgical treatment can be a potent option for the treatment of AR refractory to medical management in this population.