bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multithreading Based Parallel Processing for Image Geometric Coregistration in SAR Interferometry
Authors: Imperatore Pasquale , Sansosti Eugenio
Published: May 2021

Within the framework of multi-temporal Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometric processing, image coregistration is a fundamental operation that might be extremely time-consuming. This paper explores the possibility of addressing fast and accurate SAR image geometric coregistration, with sub-pixel accuracy and in the presence of a complex 3-D object scene, by exploiting the parallelism offered by shared-memory architectures. An efficient and scalable processor is proposed by designing a parallel algorithm incorporating thread-level parallelism for solving the inherent computationally intensive problem. The adopted functional scheme is first mathematically framed and then investigated in detail in terms of its computational structures. Subsequently, a parallel version of the algorithm is designed, according to a fork-join model, by suitably taking into account the granularity of the decomposition, load-balancing, and different scheduling strategies. The developed parallel algorithm implements parallelism at the thread-level by using OpenMP (Open Multi-Processing) and it is specifically targeted at shared-memory multiprocessors. The parallel performance of the implemented multithreading-based SAR image coregistration prototype processor is experimentally investigated and quantitatively assessed by processing high-resolution X-band COSMO-SkyMed SAR data and using two different multicore architectures. The effectiveness of the developed multithreaded prototype solution in fully benefitting from the computing power offered by multicore processors has successfully been demonstrated via a suitable experimental performance analysis conducted in terms of parallel speedup and efficiency. The demonstrated scalable performance and portability of the developed parallel processor confirm its potential for operational use in the interferometric SAR data processing at large scales.
Assessing Wildfire Burn Severity and Its Relationship with Environmental Factors: A Case Study in Interior Alaska Boreal Forest
Authors: Smith Christopher W , Panda Santosh K , Bhatt Uma S , Meyer Franz J , Badola Anushree , Hrobak Jennifer L
Published: May 2021

In recent years, there have been rapid improvements in both remote sensing methods and satellite image availability that have the potential to massively improve burn severity assessments of the Alaskan boreal forest. In this study, we utilized recent pre- and post-fire Sentinel-2 satellite imagery of the 2019 Nugget Creek and Shovel Creek burn scars located in Interior Alaska to both assess burn severity across the burn scars and test the effectiveness of several remote sensing methods for generating accurate map products: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR), and Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) supervised classification. We used 52 Composite Burn Index (CBI) plots from the Shovel Creek burn scar and 28 from the Nugget Creek burn scar for training classifiers and product validation. For the Shovel Creek burn scar, the RF and SVM machine learning (ML) classification methods outperformed the traditional spectral indices that use linear regression to separate burn severity classes (RF and SVM accuracy, 83.33%, versus NBR accuracy, 73.08%). However, for the Nugget Creek burn scar, the NDVI product (accuracy: 96%) outperformed the other indices and ML classifiers. In this study, we demonstrated that when sufficient ground truth data is available, the ML classifiers can be very effective for reliable mapping of burn severity in the Alaskan boreal forest. Since the performance of ML classifiers are dependent on the quantity of ground truth data, when sufficient ground truth data is available, the ML classification methods would be better at assessing burn severity, whereas with limited ground truth data the traditional spectral indices would be better suited. We also looked at the relationship between burn severity, fuel type, and topography (aspect and slope) and found that the relationship is site-dependent.
Classification of Diffuse Glioma Subtype from Clinical-Grade Pathological Images Using Deep Transfer Learning
Authors: Im Sanghyuk , Hyeon Jonghwan , Rha Eunyoung , Lee Janghyeon , Choi Ho-Jin , Jung Yuchae , Kim Tae-Jung
Published: May 2021

Diffuse gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors and they vary considerably in their morphology, location, genetic alterations, and response to therapy. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) provided new guidelines for making an integrated diagnosis that incorporates both morphologic and molecular features to diffuse gliomas. In this study, we demonstrate how deep learning approaches can be used for an automatic classification of glioma subtypes and grading using whole-slide images that were obtained from routine clinical practice. A deep transfer learning method using the ResNet50V2 model was trained to classify subtypes and grades of diffuse gliomas according to the WHO’s new 2016 classification. The balanced accuracy of the diffuse glioma subtype classification model with majority voting was 0.8727. These results highlight an emerging role of deep learning in the future practice of pathologic diagnosis.
Development of a 2-D Array Ultrasonic Transducer for 3-D Imaging of Objects Immersed in Water
Authors: Patricio Rodrigues Estevão , Francisco de Oliveira Timoteo , Yassunori Matuda Marcelo , Buiochi Flávio
Published: May 2021

Most works that address 2-D array ultrasonic transducers for underwater applications are about the geometry aspects of the array and beamforming techniques to make 3-D images. They look for techniques to reduce the number of elements from wide apertures, maintaining the side lobes and the grating lobes at acceptable levels, but not many details about the materials and fabrication processes are described. To overcome these gaps, this paper presents in detail the development of a 2-D array ultrasonic transducer prototype that can individually emit and receive ultrasonic pulses to make 3-D images of immersed reflectors within a volume of interest (VOI). It consists of a 4 × 4 matrix ultrasonic transducer with a central frequency of 480 kHz. Each element is a 5 mm sided square cut into a 1–3 piezocomposite. The center-to-center distance of two contiguous elements (pitch) was chosen to be greater than half wavelength, to increase the amplitude of emission and reception of signals with larger elements. Artifacts generated by grating lobes were avoided by restricting the field of view in the azimuth and elevation directions within 40° × 40° and applying the sign coherence factor (SCF) filter. Two types of backing layer materials were tested, one with air and another made of epoxy resin, on the transducers called T1 and T2, respectively. The pulse echoes measured with T1 had 2.6 dB higher amplitude than those measured with T2, and the bandwidths were 54% and 50% @ −6 dB, respectively, exciting the element with a single rectangular negative pulse. The 3-D images obtained with full matrix capture (FMC) data sets acquired of objects from 0.2 to 1.15 m motivate the development of a 2-D array transducer with more elements, to increase the angular resolution and the range.
Can Local Geographically Restricted Measurements Be Used to Recover Missing Geo-Spatial Data?
Authors: Kalinić Hrvoje , Bilokapić Zvonimir , Matić Frano
Published: May 2021

The experiments conducted on the wind data provided by the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts show that 1% of the data is sufficient to reconstruct the other 99% with an average amplitude error of less than 0.5 m/s and an average angular error of less than 5 degrees. In a nutshell, our method provides an approach where a portion of the data is used as a proxy to estimate the measurements over the entire domain based only on a few measurements. In our study, we compare several machine learning techniques, namely: linear regression, K-nearest neighbours, decision trees and a neural network, and investigate the impact of sensor placement on the quality of the reconstruction. While methods provide comparable results the results show that sensor placement plays an important role. Thus, we propose that intelligent location selection for sensor placement can be done using k-means, and show that this indeed leads to increase in accuracy as compared to random sensor placement.
Metallisation of Textiles and Protection of Conductive Layers: An Overview of Application Techniques
Authors: Ojstršek Alenka , Plohl Olivija , Gorgieva Selestina , Kurečič Manja , Jančič Urška , Hribernik Silvo , Fakin Darinka
Published: May 2021

The rapid growth in wearable technology has recently stimulated the development of conductive textiles for broad application purposes, i.e., wearable electronics, heat generators, sensors, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, optoelectronic and photonics. Textile material, which was always considered just as the interface between the wearer and the environment, now plays a more active role in different sectors, such as sport, healthcare, security, entertainment, military, and technical sectors, etc. This expansion in applied development of e-textiles is governed by a vast amount of research work conducted by increasingly interdisciplinary teams and presented systematic review highlights and assesses, in a comprehensive manner, recent research in the field of conductive textiles and their potential application for wearable electronics (so called e-textiles), as well as development of advanced application techniques to obtain conductivity, with emphasis on metal-containing coatings. Furthermore, an overview of protective compounds was provided, which are suitable for the protection of metallized textile surfaces against corrosion, mechanical forces, abrasion, and other external factors, influencing negatively on the adhesion and durability of the conductive layers during textiles’ lifetime (wear and care). The challenges, drawbacks and further opportunities in these fields are also discussed critically.
From Conventional to Alternative Tourism: Rebalancing Tourism towards a Community-Based Tourism Approach in Hanoi, Vietnam
Authors: Giampiccoli Andrea , Mtapuri Oliver
Published: May 2021

This article proposes an alternative tourism development approach that we have termed ‘rebalancing’, which is based on tourism development adopting Community-based Tourism (CBT) principles and characteristics whose hallmark is to give local control of the tourism sector to disadvantaged members of society. The article is based on extant literature and uses Hanoi as a case study to articulate the role of CBT against a backdrop of the growth and presence of large international hotel chains in Hanoi following the adoption of the Doi Moi policy. The increase in international hotel chains poses a high risk of an increase in leakages. The accommodation sub-sector and food sector are essential in tourism in Hanoi, as they are elsewhere. These provide small businesses the opportunity to participate in the name of inclusivity, empowerment, and poverty alleviation. For the authenticity of Hanoi and respecting its traditions and values, we propose a model of growth for Hanoi that includes food street vendors alongside large international hotel chains, large national (privately owned) hotels (nationally/locally owned), small independent national hotels (locally owned), bed and breakfast/guesthouse (locally owned), backpackers (locally owned), homestay (locally owned), ‘Albergo Diffuso’ (locally owned), LCBT accommodation (locally owned), CBT (Independently owned structures under an umbrella organization), and CBT (community-owned structures). It also suggests the retention of traditional architecture for the diversity and uniqueness of Hanoi. It recommends that the government should not promulgate legislation and policies that attempt to limit the scope of food street vending but rather empower food street vendors to grow and prosper. This should be done alongside specific legislation that sets minimum standards related to hygiene on the streets for inclusive growth and poverty alleviation.
Do Data from Large Personal Networks Support Cultural Evolutionary Ideas about Kin and Fertility?
Authors: Stulp Gert , Barrett Louise
Published: May 2021

The fertility decline associated with economic development has been attributed to a host of interrelated causes including the rising costs of children with industrialization, and shifts in family structure. One hypothesis is that kin may impart more pro-natal information within their networks than non-kin, and that this effect may be exacerbated in networks with high kin-density where greater social conformity would be expected. In this study, we tested these ideas using large personal networks (25 associates of the respondent) collected from a sample of Dutch women (N = 706). Kin (parents) were perceived to exert slightly more social pressure to have children than non-kin, although dense networks were not associated with greater pressure. In contrast, women reported talking to friends about having children to a greater extent than kin, although greater kin-density in the network increased the likelihood of women reporting that they could talk to kin about having children. Both consanguineal and affinal kin could be asked to help with child-care to a greater extent than friends and other non-kin. Overall, there was mixed evidence that kin were more likely to offer pro-natal information than non-kin, and better evidence to suggest that kin were considered to be a better source of child-care support.
Protective Factors against Emergency Stress and Burnout in Healthcare and Emergency Workers during Second Wave of COVID-19
Authors: Vagni Monia , Maiorano Tiziana , Giostra Valeria , Pajardi Daniela
Published: May 2021

Working as healthcare workers (HCWs) and emergency workers (EWs) during the first wave of COVID-19 has been associated with high levels of stress and burnout, while hardiness, coping strategies and resilience have emerged as protective factors. No studies have so far investigated these psychological factors during the second wave. We aimed to verify the trend of stress levels, burnout, coping strategies and resilience during the pandemic in Italian healthcare and emergency workers by comparing a first sample recruited from the first COVID-19 wave (N = 240) with a second sample relating to the second wave (N = 260). Through an online platform we administered questionnaires to measure stress, burnout, resilience, hardiness and coping strategies. The results showed that in the two waves the total stress levels of HCWs and EWs did not differ, while the physical stress and hardiness scores in the second wave were greater. No differences were found in the coping strategies used. An analysis of burnout levels in the second wave sample found that stress showed a high predictive power in the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scales. Hardiness and resilience emerged as protective factors in reducing stress. The implications for the need to provide support and to improve hardiness for HCWs and EWs are discussed.
Good Pastures, Good Meadows: Mountain Farmers’ Assessment, Perceptions on Ecosystem Services, and Proposals for Biodiversity Management
Authors: Wezel Alexander , Stöckli Sibylle , Tasser Erich , Nitsch Heike , Vincent Audrey
Published: May 2021

An ongoing decrease in habitat and species diversity is occurring in many areas across Europe, including in grasslands in mountain areas, calling for adapted biodiversity management and measures. In this context, we carried out 79 interviews with grassland farmers in five alpine mountain regions in Germany, France, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. We analyzed farmers’ perceptions about the functions and services of their grasslands, how they qualify “good” grasslands, which grassland management practices have changed over the last 10 years, and proposals to increase species diversity on the farm. They related them primarily to cultural ecosystem services, secondly to provisioning services, and thirdly to regulating and supporting services. Good pastures or meadows were mostly related to composition, quality of forage and productivity, structural criteria, and certain characteristics of soils and topography. The measures for increasing biodiversity that were most frequently proposed were upgrading of forest edges, planting hedges or fruit trees, less or late grassland cutting, reduction or omission of fertilization, and more general extensification of farm productions. Factors hindering the implementation of these measures were mainly increased workload, insufficient time, and a lack of financial means or support to cover additional costs for biodiversity management. These factors have to be taken specifically into account for future policies for enhanced biodiversity management of grasslands, also beyond mountainous areas. Overall, we found that farmers have good but varying knowledge about biodiversity management of their grasslands, but also different perspectives on how to improve it. Here, local initiatives that bring together farmers and flora or fauna specialists to exchange knowledge could be designed and used in participatory pilot schemes to enhance the implementation of improved biodiversity management.
Achieving Organizational Social Sustainability through Electronic Performance Appraisal Systems: The Moderating Influence of Transformational Leadership
Authors: Ullah Zia , Álvarez-Otero Susana , Sulaiman Mohammed Ali Bait Ali , Sial Muhammad Safdar , Ahmad Naveed , Scholz Miklas , Omhand Khaoula
Published: May 2021

Organizational sustainability is the reality which is considered essential for the success of all kind of organizations. Researchers and academicians struggle to conceptualize this phenomenon while practitioners endeavor to achieve it on the ground. Much has been done in resource-affluent countries of the world, whereas in the least developed countries, social sustainability is now becoming a new normal. The purpose of this research was to understand the social perspective of organizational sustainability and the roles of electronic performance appraisal and transformational leadership in shaping it. Data were collected from the healthcare sector through the administration of close-ended questionnaires to a randomly selected sample; 320 out of 400 questionnaires with an acceptable degree of accuracy were selected for statistical treatment. Inferential statistics were applied using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results confirmed the existence of definite contributions of the electronic performance appraisal system and transformational leadership towards organizational sustainability. However, our findings surprisingly ruled out the moderating role of transformational leadership on the cause and effect relationship between electronic performance appraisal and organizational social sustainability. In the face of a scarcity of related literature in the given context and due to the partial novelty of the model, the findings of this study add significantly to the existing bank of literature in the field. It will also be handy for the guidance of practitioners who are engaged in sustainability management.
Rooftop PV and the Renewable Energy Transition; a Review of Driving Forces and Analytical Frameworks
Authors: Wilkinson Sam , John Michele , Morrison Gregory M.
Published: May 2021

Rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV) are accelerating the transition towards low carbon electricity systems in many countries, particularly in Australia. This review paper provides an overview of the (1) technical, (2) economic, (3) socio-political, and (4) regulatory and institutional aspects that should be considered concurrently when navigating the transition towards a rooftop PV-dominated electricity system. We consider the suitability of two prominent long-range transitions theories for understanding the importance and interaction of elements within these four aspects during the transition. The multi-level perspective (MLP) of transitions theory is considered best suited for this task as it addresses fundamental shifts in the socio-technical systems, rather than being weighted towards technological and/or economic solutions. We find that relatively little research has been undertaken where the renewable energy transition is being driven by the uptake of rooftop PV within the distribution network of established islanded electricity systems. These islanded electricity systems will be the first to experience system impacts from high levels of rooftop PV. This review provides further analysis of important gaps in understanding the rooftop-PV-led energy transition and the implications for policy makers in maintaining stable electricity supplies during the transition.
Budget Participation Capacity Configuration (BPCC), Budgeting Participation Requirement and Product Innovation Performance
Authors: Huang Mu-Jung , Cheng Kuo-Chih , Chung Shao-Hsi , Wang Huo-Ming , Wang Kuo-Hua
Published: May 2021

As the relationship between the execution of budget participation and innovation performance is still full of controversy, and the innovation capability formed by the important control elements of the organization is the key to bring about product innovation performance, this study aims to explore the impact of the formation of product innovation capabilities on product innovation performance under the demand for budget participation. This study proposes the concept of budget participation capacity configuration (BPCC), which is the integration of procedural justice, self-efficacy, and trust in superiors. This study adopted a questionnaire survey to collect sample data from production managers of the electronics-related companies listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange and employed structural equation modeling to verify measurement model fit and research hypotheses. The study results present that budgeting participation requirement does not directly affect product innovation performance and confirms that the three organizational control elements together constitute BPCC, which plays a fully intermediary role between budget participation requirement and product innovation performance. The contribution of this research for academic theory is to put forward an explanation of the budget participation-innovation performance dispute, and propose an integrated viewpoint for organizational control elements instead of fragmental studies in the past. For practice, this research provides new evidence for budget participation requirements and sources of innovation capabilities.
Bibliometric Analysis of Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) in Machining Operations: A Sustainable Response
Authors: Kumar Raman , Singh Sehijpal , Sidhu Ardamanbir Singh , Pruncu Catalin I.
Published: May 2021

This paper’s persistence is to make an inclusive analysis of 268 documents about specific energy consumption (SEC) in machining operations from 2001 to 2020 in the Scopus database. A systematic approach collects information on SEC documents’ primary data; their types, publications, citations, and predictions are presented. The VOSviewer 1.1.16 and Biblioshiny 2.0 software are used for visualization analysis to show the progress standing of SEC publications. The selection criteria of documents are set for citation analysis. The ranks are assigned to the most prolific and dominant authors, sources, articles, countries, and organizations based on the total citations, number of documents, average total citation, and total link strength. The author-keywords, index-keywords, and text data content analysis has been conducted to find the hotspots and progress trend in SEC in machining operations. The most prolific and dominant article, source, author, organization, and country are Anderson et al. “Laser-assisted machining of Inconel 718 with an economic analysis”, the Int J Mach Tools Manuf, Shin Y.C., form Purdue University Singapore, and United States, respectively, based on total citations as per defined criteria. The author keywords “specific cutting energy” and “surface roughness” dominate the machining operations SEC. SEC’s implication in machining operations review and bibliometric analysis is to deliver an inclusive perception for the scholars working in this field. It is the primary paper that utilizes bibliometric research to analyze the SEC in machining operations publications expansively. It is valuable for scholars to grasp the hotspots in this field in time and help the researchers in the SEC exploration arena rapidly comprehend the expansion status and trend.
An Approach to Thresholds for Evaluating Post-Mining Site Reclamation
Authors: Adesipo Adegbite Adeleke , Freese Dirk , Zerbe Stefan , Wiegleb Gerhard
Published: May 2021

Here, a time-scale conceptual threshold model for assessing, evaluating, documenting, and monitoring post-mining sites reclamation progress was developed. It begins from initial state I0 down to degraded state D0 (which depends on the mining). Reclamation starts with soil reconstruction R−2 up to revegetation R−1 (red zones) to reach minimum threshold R0 (amber zone). Beyond R0 are green zones R1, R2, and R3 representing soil/abiotic conditions, biological, and improved threshold, respectively. The model also identifies potential drivers, land-use options, targets, and endpoints along the threshold reclamation ladder. It is applicable to all degraded ecosystems and adoptable in national and international laws. In this approach study, we identified threshold biotic/abiotic indicators for ascertaining success from R0, future work focuses on measurement and ascribing of threshold values to each of the threshold stage.
Local Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of Indonesia
Authors: Sevindik Irem , Tosun Mehmet Serkan , Yilmaz Serdar
Published: May 2021

Local governments play an important role in the COVID-19 pandemic response. They can identify the local vulnerabilities and respond accordingly. In this commentary, we are examining the relationship between COVID-19 case and fatality numbers and provincial governments in Indonesia using correlations and data visualization. We use the public health development index, regional sustainable development index, competitiveness index, and their components as proxies for provincial government capacity and strength. We have found some evidence of a negative relationship between COVID-19 case fatality and death rates and various indices of provincial strength. The correlations are higher when we examine provinces in island regions, such as Java and Sumatra, separately. Some of our findings suggest that stronger provincial governments are a good defense against the pandemic. At the same time there are differences between regions, which is a concern in terms of all-of-government response to the pandemic.
Environmental Design Guidelines for Circular Building Components: The Case of the Circular Building Structure
Authors: Malabi Eberhardt Leonora Charlotte , van Stijn Anne , Kristensen Stranddorf Liv , Birkved Morten , Birgisdottir Harpa
Published: May 2021

Transitioning to a circular built environment can reduce the environmental impacts, resource consumption and waste generation emanating from buildings. However, there are many options to design circular building components, and limited knowledge on which options lead to the best environmental performance. Few guidelines exist and they build on conventional environmental performance assessments that focus on single life cycles, whereas the circular economy (CE) focuses on a sequence of multiple use- and life cycles. In this article, environmental design guidelines for circular building components were developed in five steps. First, examples of circular variants of a building structure were synthesized. Second, the environmental performance of these variants was compared with a business-as-usual variant through Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Material Flow Analysis (MFA) respectively. Circular parameters of these variants were tested using a scenario-specific approach. Third, from 24 LCAs and MFAs, a scorecard, rules-of-thumb and nine environmental design guidelines for designing circular building components were developed that provide guidance on which circular pathways and variants lead to the best environmental performance. For components with a long functional–technical lifespan, the following are promoted: resource efficiency, longer use through adaptable design, low-impact biomaterials and facilitating multiple cycles after and of use. Fourth, the design guidelines were evaluated by 49 experts from academia, industry and government in seven expert sessions. Further research is needed to validate the generalizability of the design guidelines. However, this research makes an important step in supporting the development of circular building components and, subsequently, the transition to a circular built environment.
Simulating the Shallow Groundwater Level Response to Artificial Recharge and Storage in the Plain Area of the Daqing River Basin, China
Authors: Chi Guangyao , Su Xiaosi , Lyu Hang , Xu Guigui , Zhang Yiwu , Li Ningfei
Published: May 2021

Water shortage and overexploitation of groundwater (GW) have become the key factors restricting the development of the Xiongan New Area (XNA), the environmental management of Baiyangdian Lake, and the social and economic development of surrounding areas. This study used a numerical GW flow model to quantitatively analyze the changes to the shallow GW level and GW reserves of the plain area of the Daqing River Basin over the next 15 years (2021–2035) under different artificial recharge schemes with the south to north water diversion project (SNWDP) acting as the GW recharge source. The results showed increasing GW storage and GW levels and that the regional GW resources are in a positive equilibrium state. The rates of change of the well irrigation supply scheme and the joint river-well irrigation supply scheme in the XNA will increase by 14.56% and 11.04% by 2035 as compared with the current situation. The well irrigation recharge scheme for the XNA was determined to be the most effective when comparing with the effects of the different artificial recharge schemes on the GW levels and recharge. This study provides a reference for the management and protection of aquifers in other areas suffering serious GW overexploitation.
COVID-19 Pandemic Analysis for a Country’s Ability to Control the Outbreak Using Little’s Law: Infodemiology Approach
Authors: Ho Yao-Hua , Tai Yun-Juo , Chen Ling-Jyh
Published: May 2021

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), all countries across the globe have been trying to control its spread. A country’s ability to control the epidemic depends on how well its health system accommodates COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to assess the ability of different countries to contain the COVID-19 epidemic in real-time with the number of confirmed cases, deaths and recovered cases. Using the dataset provided by the Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX), we analyzed the spread of the virus from 22 January 2020 to 15 September 2020 and used Little’s Law to predict a country’s ability to control the epidemic. According to the average recovery time curve changes, 16 countries are divided into different categories—Outbreak, Under Control, Second Wave of Outbreak, and Premature Lockdown Lift. The curves of outbreak countries (i.e., U.S., Spain, Netherlands, Serbia, France, Sweden, and Belgium) showed an upward trend representing that their medical systems have been overloaded and are unable to provide effective medical services to patients. On the other hand, after the pandemic-prevention policy was applied, the average recovery time dropped in under control countries (i.e., Iceland, New Zealand, Taiwan, Thailand, and Singapore). Finally, we study the impact of interventions on the average recovery time in some of the countries. The interventions, e.g., lockdown and gathering restrictions, show the effect after 14 days, which is the same as the incubation period of COVID-19. The results show that the average recovery time (T) can be used as an indicator of the ability to control the pandemic.
Study of the Presence of Sustainability Competencies in Teacher Training in Mathematics Education
Authors: Moreno-Pino Francisco M. , Jiménez-Fontana Rocío , Cardeñoso Domingo José María , Azcárate Goded Pilar
Published: May 2021

This article presents the results of the analysis of the presence of the sustainability competencies proposed by the Sectoral Commission of the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities in three degrees in the area of Didactics of Mathematics of the Faculty of Education Sciences at the Universidad de Cádiz (Spain): the degree in Early Childhood Education, the degree in Primary Education, and the Master’s degree in Teacher Training for Compulsory Secondary and Upper Secondary School Education (specialisation in mathematics). The research method used is content analysis, reflected in the syllabi of the subjects of the degrees analysed. To carry out the analysis, two instruments were used: an adaptation of the model of the Green Curriculum in Higher Education and the map of generic competencies in sustainability of the EDINSOST project. The global results show a very low relative presence of sustainability competences in the area of Didactics of Mathematics (25%), the competency related to ethical aspects having the lowest relative presence (10%). For the most part, the competencies related to sustainability are established for the lowest level of mastery, “know”. When comparing the degree programmes, the Master’s degree in Teacher Training for Compulsory Secondary and Upper Secondary School Education (specialisation in mathematics) is the degree that contributes the most to the development of the sustainability competency (32%), followed by the degree in Early Childhood Education (25%), and the degree in Primary Education (18%). Including sustainability in the curriculum of mathematics education in higher education can improve the training of professionals who engage in reflective and critical thinking. However, these results show there is still a long way to go.
Efficiency Assessment of an Amended Oscillating Water Column Using OpenFOAM
Authors: Masoomi Mobin , Yousefifard Mahdi , Mosavi Amir
Published: May 2021

Oscillating water column (OWC) is an advanced form of wave energy converter (WEC). This study aims at improving the efficiency of an amended OWC through a novel methodology for simulating several vertical plates within the chamber. This paper provides a numerical investigation considering one, two, three, and four vertical plates. The open field operation and manipulation (OpenFOAM) solver is verified based on the Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equation. Results show the number and the position of plates where the convertor’s efficiency improves. The work undertaken here also revealed a reduction in the net force imposed on the convertor’s structure, especially the front wall. Consequently, adding plates acquires more efficiency with lower force on the system.
English-Medium Instruction as a Pedagogical Strategy for the Sustainable Development of EFL Learners in the Chinese Context: A Meta-Analysis of Its Effectiveness
Authors: Peng Jian-E , Xie Xiaowen (Serina)
Published: May 2021

With English-medium instruction (EMI) as a pedagogical strategy being practiced worldwide in higher education (HE), extensive research has explored stakeholders’ attitudes toward, and perceived benefits and challenges of EMI based on self-report data. However, the actual effectiveness of EMI on students’ subject content and English language learning achievements tested with objective measures has accrued little evidence. This meta-analysis synthesized 44 independent samples (32 in medical disciplines) from 36 studies. The results show that EMI students performed significantly better in both subject content and English learning than students in Chinese-medium courses, but it should be noted that the difference in content learning was found only with students from medical disciplines. Discipline was the only significant factor moderating content learning, while disciplines, research design, and instruction time in English significantly moderated English learning. The findings provide implications for implementing EMI in similar contexts and highlight the importance of rigorous future research to examine the benefits of EMI.
A Conceptual Model Based on the Activity System and Transportation System for Sustainable Urban Freight Transport
Authors: Cassiano Demostenis Ramos , Bertoncini Bruno Vieira , de Oliveira Leise Kelli
Published: May 2021

Urban freight transport (UFT) is simultaneously responsible for maintaining the urban lifestyle and the negative externalities impacting urban areas, necessitating strategies that promote sustainable urban freight transport (SUFT). In addition, the stakeholders and geographic factors involved in UFT impose specific concerns in the planning and operation stages of SUFT. Therefore, this paper proposes a model addressing sustainable last-mile delivery considering the relationship between the activity system, transportation system, and stakeholders involved in UFT. Based on the literature review, we identified UFT planning procedures to achieve SUFT. In a cyclical process, these procedures were considered on the proposed model, integrating freight transport planning with urban planning to develop SUFT and, consequently, sustainable cities.
Sustainable Automobilities in the Mobile Risk Society
Authors: Kesselring Sven , Canzler Weert , Kaufmann Vincent
Published: May 2021

Sustainable automobilities is one of the key topics of the mobile risk society and the future of modern societies in general [...]
Genetic Technologies for Sustainable Management of Insect Pests and Disease Vectors
Authors: Grilli Silvia , Galizi Roberto , Taxiarchi Chrysanthi
Published: May 2021

Recent advancements in genetic and genome editing research, augmented by the discovery of new molecular tools such as CRISPR, have revolutionised the field of genetic engineering by enabling precise site-specific genome modifications with unprecedented ease. These technologies have found a vast range of applications, including the development of novel methods for the control of vector and pest insects. According to their genetic makeup and engineering, these tools can be tuned to impose different grades of impact on the targeted populations. Here, we review some of the most recent genetic control innovations under development, describing their molecular mechanisms and performance, highlighting the sustainability potentials of such interventions.
The Role of Fast Frequency Response of Energy Storage Systems and Renewables for Ensuring Frequency Stability in Future Low-Inertia Power Systems
Authors: González-Inostroza Pablo , Rahmann Claudia , Álvarez Ricardo , Haas Jannik , Nowak Wolfgang , Rehtanz Christian
Published: May 2021

Renewable generation technologies are rapidly penetrating electrical power systems, which challenge frequency stability, especially in power systems with low inertia. To prevent future instabilities, this issue should already be addressed in the planning stage of the power systems. With this purpose, this paper presents a generation expansion planning tool that incorporates a set of frequency stability constraints along with the capability of renewable technologies and batteries to support system frequency stability during major power imbalances. We study how the investment decisions change depending on (i) which technology—batteries, renewable or conventional generation—support system frequency stability, (ii) the available levels of system inertia, and (iii) the modeling detail of reserve allocation (system-wide versus zone-specific). Our results for a case study of Chile’s system in the year 2050 show that including fast frequency response from converter-based technologies will be mandatory to achieve a secure operation in power systems dominated by renewable generation. When batteries offer the service, the total investment sizes are only slightly impacted. More precise spatial modeling of the reserves primarily affects the location of the investments as well as the reserve provider. These findings are relevant to energy policy makers, energy planners, and energy companies.
A Conceptual Framework for Large-Scale Event Perception Evaluation with Spatial-Temporal Scales in Sustainable Smart Cities
Authors: Pilipczuk Olga
Published: May 2021

The harmony relationship between people and places is crucial for sustainable development. The smart sustainable city concept is widely based on making efforts to understand this relationship and create sustainable communities. The placemaking process is highly dependent on people’s perception of places, events and situations in which they find themselves. Moreover, the greater the event scale, the more essential the research concentrated on them. A certain number of scientific papers have focused on the event management and event perception; however, there is still a research gap in works regarding sustainable development concepts. Thus, to fill this gap, the framework for large-scale event perception evaluation was created. Moreover, the cognitive map of large-scale event perception based on the Szczecin city citizens’ opinions was created. In order to acquire the opinions, a questionnaire with spatial–temporal measurement scales was applied. The representativeness estimation method, natural event ontology and framework for image interpretation were used for event segmentation. The storm phenomenon scenes were selected for picture measurement scale creation. The most significant factors of large-scale event perception were identified based on the questionnaire results. Finally, the cognitive map of global event perception factors is presented. By applying the analysis presented in this paper in various industries, relevant policies related to different dimensions of the citizens’ well-being could be created by governments.
Thermodynamic and Energy Efficiency Analysis of a Domestic Refrigerator Using Al2O3 Nano-Refrigerant
Authors: Sarrafzadeh Javadi Farhood , Saidur Rahman
Published: May 2021

Refrigeration systems have experienced massive technological changes in the past 50 years. Nanotechnology can lead to a promising technological leap in the refrigeration industry. Nano-refrigerant still remains unknown because of the complexity of the phase change process of the mixture including refrigerant, lubricant, and nanoparticle. In this study, the stability of Al2O3 nanofluid and the performance of a nano-refrigerant-based domestic refrigerator have been experimentally investigated, with the focus on the thermodynamic and energy approaches. It was found that by increasing the nanoparticle concentration, the stability of nano-lubricant was decreased and evaporator temperature gradient was increased. The average of the temperature gradient increment in the evaporator was 20.2% in case of using 0.1%-Al2O3. The results showed that the energy consumption of the refrigerator reduced around 2.69% when 0.1%-Al2O3 nanoparticle was added to the system.
COVID-19 as an Opportunity for a Healthy-Sustainable Food Transition. An Analysis of Dietary Transformations during the First Italian Lockdown
Authors: Matacena Raffaele , Zenga Mariangela , D’Addario Marco , Mari Silvia , Labra Massimo
Published: May 2021

The COVID-19 emergency and the consequent social distancing requirements have caused major disruptions in daily food-related practices at the household level. In this paper, we evaluate the transformations that occurred in the daily nutritional choices and behaviors of a convenience sample (n = 2288) of Italian residents during the first nation-wide lockdown (March–May 2020) to assess the impact on the health and socio-environmental sustainability of their diets. Results portray a scenario of wide-spread change, especially in relation to the quantity of daily food consumed, the composition of diets and the time and commitment devoted to home-cooking, with young individuals emerging as the most impacted generational cohort. Through the construction of an indicator for healthy–sustainable transition (HST index), we demonstrate that such changes unfold on a gradient, revealing that while for many respondents lockdown nutrition implied overeating and weight gain, a substantial segment of the population conversely improved the healthiness and sustainability of their daily nutritional patterns. In this sense, improvements are associated with young age, socio-economic status, frequency and enjoyment of cooking-from-scratch and, more generally, an attentive attitude towards the quality, provenance and materiality of food that, in turn, the COVID-19 crisis appears to have re-kindled. We conclude by highlighting five areas of institutional intervention (i.e., young people, time, tools, food supply at work, and local food chains) on which to focus in order to ensure the current crisis does not represent a missed opportunity for creating the necessary conditions for sustainable food production and consumption to take hold as the ‘new’ normal in the post-pandemic era.
Assessing the Contributions of Urban Light Rail Transit to the Sustainable Development of Addis Ababa
Authors: Sekasi Jackson , Martens Mauro Luiz
Published: May 2021

Many of the existing urban transport infrastructures in developing African cities are challenged by the mobility demands of their ever-increasing population and increased vehicle capacity. To address these transportation challenges, the Federal government of Ethiopia through the Ethiopian Railway Corporation (ERC) constructed and operates the Addis Ababa light rail transit (AA-LRT). Currently, many other African cities are following in action. This study aims to assess the contributions to sustainable development derived from the services of urban light rail in Addis Ababa. Cross-sectional quantitative research by means of a structured questionnaire survey considering key variables of social, economic, and environmental transport sustainability dimensions was conducted in Addis Ababa. Dimension-wise, the collected data was then analysed in order to measure the contributions made by AA-LRT and to identify the relations amongst each considered variable and each sustainability dimension. The findings of the study indicate a high level of perceived contributions of the economic sustainability dimension as compared to social and environmental sustainability. The study suggests an improved consideration of the environmental and social dimension for a holistic approach to transport sustainability of the city.
A Control Based Mathematical Model for the Evaluation of Intervention Lines in COVID-19 Epidemic Spread: The Italian Case Study
Authors: Di Giamberardino Paolo , Caldarella Rita , Iacoviello Daniela
Published: May 2021

This paper addresses the problem of describing the spread of COVID-19 by a mathematical model introducing all the possible control actions as prevention (informative campaign, use of masks, social distancing, vaccination) and medication. The model adopted is similar to SEIQR, with the infected patients split into groups of asymptomatic subjects and isolated ones. This distinction is particularly important in the current pandemic, due to the fundamental the role of asymptomatic subjects in the virus diffusion. The influence of the control actions is considered in analysing the model, from the calculus of the equilibrium points to the determination of the reproduction number. This choice is motivated by the fact that the available organised data have been collected since from the end of February 2020, and almost simultaneously containment measures, increasing in typology and effectiveness, have been applied. The characteristics of COVID-19, not fully understood yet, suggest an asymmetric diffusion among countries and among categories of subjects. Referring to the Italian situation, the containment measures, as applied by the population, have been identified, showing their relation with the government’s decisions; this allows the study of possible scenarios, comparing the impact of different possible choices.