bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Moving Away from Religion: Age, Cohort, or Period Effect? Evidence from a Longitudinal Survey in Switzerland
Authors: Monnot Christophe , Wernli Boris
Published: April 2023

Since Voas and Crockett (2005), a consensus has emerged in the sociology of religions on the fact that secularization is largely due to a cohort effect. That is, each birth cohort is less religious than the previous one. We use data from the Swiss Household Panel (SHP), a multi-thematic survey based on a random sample representative of the general population since 1999, to understand what is the cohort effect in Switzerland on three indicators of religiosity: religious affiliation, frequency of religious service attendance, and personal prayer, taking into account the socio-demographic characteristics of individuals, which could interfere with cohort, period, or age effects. A first general observation can be drawn from the SHP: for the three religious indicators, a cohort effect is a key factor in explaining the decline of religiosity. Each birth cohort is less religious on all three indicators, that is, younger individuals are less affiliated, practice less often, and pray less than the older cohort. More subtly, we also observe an effect of age or life cycle, especially on the practice, and a period effect on the religious disaffiliation of individuals. Each birth cohort shows a more religious profile of individuals at the start of the cohort than at the end. There is, therefore, an initial movement of distancing from religion by birth cohorts, but this is further accentuated by a period effect for disaffiliation and sometimes accelerated and, at other times, slightly contained by a life-cycle effect.
The Medieval Apparition of the Virgin of the Girdle and the Marian Appendix of Liturgical Sequences in E-TO 135
Authors: Peláez Bilbao Patricia , Tello Ruiz-Pérez Arturo
Published: April 2023

Based on the fervor and devotion of the Virgin of the Girdle of Tortosa—which gained a strong establishment from the 17th century onwards—this article explores the possibility of a cause-effect relationship between the apparition of the Virgin in the cathedral in 1178 and the Marian appendix contained in the troper-proser E-TO 135 (c. 1228–1264). By comparing the narration of the miracle and the sequences in this appendix, we can verify the existence of an early and incipient veneration—both inside and outside the walls of the cathedral—that would predate what was previously believed.
Yizhi Weishi: The Zhuangzi’s View of Time for the Genuine Human and Its Modern Value
Authors: Zhou Shandong
Published: April 2023

In modern society, Time is developing into a dominant force, with time anxiety, time poverty, and time tyranny becoming increasingly prevalent. The Genuine Human’s “yizhi weishi” (以知为时, to take Understanding as composed of time), the concept of time found in the Zhuangzi, emphasizes the overall perception and active construction of characteristics of time, and offers the possibility of enhancing a proactive understanding of time. In the Zhuangzi’s perspective, time is not only continuous, infinite, and one-dimensionally linear, but also intermittent, finite, and cyclical. “Yizhi weishi” is intended to grasp these characteristics of time, to actively use and participate in the construction of time, which is the method of the “Genuine Human” for mastering time. For modern society, the “yizhi weishi” perspective of time enlightens people to harmonize their socially ordered time with the rhythms of nature, to reconstruct the vast connection between human beings and cosmic space with a contextualized concept of time, and to manage time from the perspective of “internal dynamics” rather than “external limitations”. Such a perspective has important inspirational value for enhancing the quality of human life and improving the order of human production and existence.
Oneself as Another: Yantraputraka Metaphors in Buddhist Literature
Authors: Zhao You
Published: April 2023

While Buddhist teachings deny the presence of a stable, unchanging self, they must still make sense of human agency. In this article, I look through metaphors of mechanical men in Buddhist literature, which inform us of attempts to tackle the problem by resorting to figurative speech. With a selection of examples, we shall see not only a basic rationale of these metaphors, as well as the dynamics of their usage in Buddhist texts against different doctrinal backgrounds, but also their meta-philosophical role in penetrating through the agent-oriented “universe of discourse”.
Inversion of Wind and Temperature from Low SNR FPI Interferograms
Authors: Wei Yafei , Gu Sheng-Yang , Yang Zhenlin , Huang Cong , Li Na , Hu Guoyuan , Dou Xiankang
Published: April 2023

The temperature and wind in the middle and upper atmosphere can be obtained by recording the Doppler shift and broadening of the airglow emission, which is reflected by the interference ring from a ground-based Fabry–Perot interferometer (FPI) system. FPI observations are highly susceptible to weather and the external environment, which seriously affect the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of FPI interferograms. An SNR can significantly increase errors in determining the center of the interferogram, leading to inaccurate wind and temperature inversions. The calculation shows that the wind inversion from the interferogram decreases and the temperature increases for larger central errors. In this paper, we propose the maximum standard deviation method (MSDM) with high accuracy and robustness to determine the interference ring center. The performance of the MSDM is better achieved by using more than 100 1D interferogram bins to determine the center of interferograms. The robustness of the MSDM is investigated by computing numerous simulated interferograms with white Gaussian noise and Poisson noise, and compared with the two algorithms of binarization and peak fitting, which are usually used to invert wind and temperature from the interference ring of FPI. The results show that MSDM has higher accuracy and robustness than the other two algorithms. We also simulate the distortion interferogram when the FPI may be illuminated by inhomogeneous background light, which can introduce additional errors in wind and temperature, and the MSDM still performs better. Finally, we invert the wind and temperature from the real airglow interferogram by the Kelan (38.7°N, 111.6°E) FPI, which shows that both the wind and temperature inverted by MSDM better agree well with the FPI product than the other two algorithms. Therefore, the MSDM helps to improve the accuracy and stability to invert the wind and temperature.
Space Target Material Identification Based on Graph Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Li Na , Gong Chengeng , Zhao Huijie , Ma Yun
Published: April 2023

Under complex illumination conditions, the spectral data distributions of a given material appear inconsistent in the hyperspectral images of the space target, making it difficult to achieve accurate material identification using only spectral features and local spatial features. Aiming at this problem, a material identification method based on an improved graph convolutional neural network is proposed. Superpixel segmentation is conducted on the hyperspectral images to build the multiscale joint topological graph of the space target global structure. Based on this, topological graphs containing the global spatial features and spectral features of each pixel are generated, and the pixel neighborhoods containing the local spatial features and spectral features are collected to form material identification datasets that include both of these. Then, the graph convolutional neural network (GCN) and the three-dimensional convolutional neural network (3-D CNN) are combined into one model using strategies of addition, element-wise multiplication, or concatenation, and the model is trained by the datasets to fuse and learn the three features. For the simulated data and the measured data, the overall accuracy of the proposed method can be kept at 85–90%, and their kappa coefficients remain around 0.8. This proves that the proposed method can improve the material identification performance under complex illumination conditions with high accuracy and strong robustness.
Two-Step Matching Approach to Obtain More Control Points for SIFT-like Very-High-Resolution SAR Image Registration
Authors: Deng Yang , Deng Yunkai
Published: April 2023

Airborne VHR SAR image registration is a challenging task. The number of CPs is a key factor for complex CP-based image registration. This paper presents a two-step matching approach to obtain more CPs for VHR SAR image registration. In the past decade, SIFT and other modifications have been widely used for remote sensing image registration. By incorporating feature point location affine transformation, a two-step matching scheme, which includes global and local matching, is proposed to allow for the determination of a much larger number of CPs. The proposed approach was validated by 0.5 m resolution C-band airborne SAR data acquired in Sichuan after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake via a SAR system designed by the IECAS. With the proposed matching scheme, even the original SIFT, which is widely known to be unsuitable for SAR images, can achieve a much larger number of high-quality CPs than the one-step SIFT–OCT, which is tailored for SAR images. Compared with the classic one-step matching approach using both the SIFT and SITF–OCT algorithms, the proposed approach can obtain a larger number of CPs with improved precision.
A Scoping Literature Review of Natural Language Processing Application to Safety Occurrence Reports
Authors: Ricketts Jon , Barry David , Guo Weisi , Pelham Jonathan
Published: April 2023

Safety occurrence reports can contain valuable information on how incidents occur, revealing knowledge that can assist safety practitioners. This paper presents and discusses a literature review exploring how Natural Language Processing (NLP) has been applied to occurrence reports within safety-critical industries, informing further research on the topic and highlighting common challenges. Some of the uses of NLP include the ability for occurrence reports to be automatically classified against categories, and entities such as causes and consequences to be extracted from the text as well as the semantic searching of occurrence databases. The review revealed that machine learning models form the dominant method when applying NLP, although rule-based algorithms still provide a viable option for some entity extraction tasks. Recent advances in deep learning models such as Bidirectional Transformers for Language Understanding are now achieving a high accuracy while eliminating the need to substantially pre-process text. The construction of safety-themed datasets would be of benefit for the application of NLP to occurrence reporting, as this would allow the fine-tuning of current language models to safety tasks. An interesting approach is the use of topic modelling, which represents a shift away from the prescriptive classification taxonomies, splitting data into “topics”. Where many papers focus on the computational accuracy of models, they would also benefit from real-world trials to further inform usefulness. It is anticipated that NLP will soon become a mainstream tool used by safety practitioners to efficiently process and gain knowledge from safety-related text.
Composing Worlds: A Portuguese Transdisciplinary Network in Humanities, Health and Well-Being
Authors: Lencastre Marina Prieto Afonso , Saraiva Rodrigo Sá-Nogueira , Calheiros José , Vidal Diogo Guedes , Barroso Eduardo Paz , Campelo Álvaro , Cunha Pedro , Pinto Ricardo Jorge , Magalhães Susana , Toldy Teresa , Estrada Rui
Published: April 2023

The project “Composing worlds: humanities, health and well-being in the 21st century” aims to build a network of experts in the humanities, social and health sciences, who think about health and well-being in contemporary technological societies. The relevance of this project is based on the growing evidence that most of the problems that the 21st century will face, particularly in the area of health and well-being, relate to the way in which humans connect to the environment, to non-human beings, to different cultures and to technologies. Its main goal is to bring out personal and well-founded ideas on these issues and to reflect on how the humanities may help with difficult environmental, social and technological issues. The methodology used in the first phase of the project consists of an open answer interview, built in a participatory way by the network of experts, and of a thematic analysis of the answers. It is an exploratory research project, which uses thematic analysis to identify the key ideas of each author, and to induce the corresponding main themes. The themes are then organized by semantic correspondence into thematic clusters. The thematic axes are abstracted from these clusters, and they constitute the vectors to be developed in the second phase of the project, by proposing their integration into university curricula, research and intervention of social, cultural and community outreach. Some of these developments are already in place.
Cost Efficiency in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): Different Alternatives in Service Delivery for Small and Medium Sized Spanish Local Governments
Authors: Zafra-Gómez Jose-Luis , López-Pérez Germán , Garrido-Montañés Marta , Zafra-Gómez Elisabeth
Published: April 2023

The provision of local public services has become one of the main concerns of local governments. Therefore, the selection of the most appropriate form of management to maximize efficiency levels in the provision of local public services has been widely analyzed throughout the academic literature. In this context, the aim of this paper is to add new knowledge to the literature on efficiency in the provision of local public services. To this end, we propose the study of four forms of management (interested indirect management; indirect management by concession; intermunicipal co-operation; public service provision) through a free disposal hull data panel (FDHDP) methodology for the 2014–2016 period. We find that public-private partnership contracting is less efficient on waste removal services when accounting for quality. However, the promised benefits of contracting out are realized when contractors are made responsive to service quality through concessions.
An Improved Unascertained Measure-Set Pair Analysis Model Based on Fuzzy AHP and Entropy for Landslide Susceptibility Zonation Mapping
Authors: Yang Xiaojie , Hao Zhenli , Liu Keyuan , Tao Zhigang , Shi Guangcheng
Published: April 2023

Landslides are one of the most destructive and common geological disasters in the Tonglvshan mining area, which seriously threatens the safety of surrounding residents and the Tonglvshan ancient copper mine site. Therefore, to effectively reduce the landslide risk and protect the safety of the Tonglvshan ancient copper mine site, it is necessary to carry out a systematic assessment of the landslide susceptibility in the study area. Combining the unascertained measure (UM) theory, the dynamic comprehensive weighting (DCW) method based on the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-entropy weight method and the set pair analysis (SPA) theory, an improved UM-SPA coupling model for landslide susceptibility assessment is proposed in this study. First, a hierarchical evaluation index system including 10 landslide conditioning factors is constructed. Then, the dynamic comprehensive weighting method based on the fuzzy AHP-entropy weight method is used to assign independent comprehensive weights to each evaluation unit. Finally, we optimize the credible degree recognition criteria of UM theory by introducing SPA theory to quantitatively determine the landslide susceptibility level. The results show that the improved UM-SPA model can produce landslide susceptibility zoning maps with high reliability. The whole study area is divided into five susceptibility levels. 5.8% and 10.16% of the Tonglvshan mining area are divided into extremely high susceptibility areas and high susceptibility areas, respectively. The low and extremely low susceptibility areas account for 30.87% and 34.14% of the total area of the study area, respectively. Comparison with the AHP and Entropy-FAHP models indicates that the improved UM-SPA model (AUC = 0.777) shows a better performance than the Entropy-FAHP models (AUC = 0.764) and the conventional AHP (AUC = 0.698). Therefore, these results can provide reference for emergency planning, disaster reduction and prevention decision-making in the Tonglvshan mining area.
Influence of Moisture Content and Dry Density on the Compressibility of Disturbed Loess: A Case Study in Yan’an City, China
Authors: Wu Jianhua , Yang Ningning , Li Peiyue , Yang Chunliu
Published: April 2023

Loess is a kind of soil that experiences a long period of deposition, and it is relatively stable under natural conditions. However, in the process of engineering construction in loess areas, the original soil structures of the loess are destroyed, inducing changes in the composition and water content in the loess. These changes may cause different environmental and engineering geologic problems. To reveal the engineering properties of disturbed losses in the Chinese Loess Plateau, the physical properties of 135 groups of disturbed loess samples in Yan’an City were analyzed statistically, and the compression properties of loess with different moisture contents and dry densities were studied by high-pressure consolidation experiments. We elucidate the compressive deformation law for perturbed solids at different moisture contents and dry densities. The experimental results show that the water content rate for the best compaction performance of the disturbed loess is 16%. The compressive deformation coefficient generally decreases with increasing dry density and water content. However, when the soil moisture is low, a small amount of water and salt is concentrated in the contact position of the powder, and the soluble salt is condensed into cement. The molecular forces between particles and the bonding forces of bound water and capillary water are larger. The soil forms a porous structure with coarse grains as the main skeleton, and the cement bonding strength is strong at the contact points of the coarse grains. As a result, the loess shows high intensity at low-water content. This results in a compression-deformation coefficient that increases with dryness density in the small load range.
Effects of Targeted Poverty Alleviation on the Sustainable Livelihood of Poor Farmers
Authors: Li Xuechao , Luo Yaxuan , Wang Huijuan
Published: April 2023

It is crucial to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of targeted poverty alleviation (TPA) policies in promoting sustainable livelihoods among impoverished populations, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The existing literature, however, predominantly focuses on assessing the policies’ effectiveness in terms of income, while neglecting other critical dimensions of sustainable livelihoods. In line with sustainable livelihood theory, we utilized data from the Chinese Household Financial Survey Database from 2017 and 2019 and employed a fuzzy regression discontinuity (FRD) method to systematically examine the implementation outcomes of TPA policies through the lens of “capability-strategy-results”. Our analysis revealed that the implementation of TPA policies had a positive impact on the ability of poor households to cope with unexpected shocks, as evidenced by an increase in the accumulation rates of material, social, and financial capital. Furthermore, we observed an optimization of livelihood strategies among poor households, with a significant increase in the proportion of wage income. These policies also had a positive impact on their livelihood outcomes, such as a reduced likelihood of falling back into poverty and an increased possibility of escaping from marginal poverty without relying on government subsidies; however, some limitations require attention. Notably, our analysis revealed that the policies did not effectively improve the human capital of poor households. To further explore the heterogeneity of policy effects, we categorized poor households into three groups based on their farmer’s market participation ability and willingness. Our findings indicate that TPA policies effectively reduced poverty among households lacking labor force through government subsidies and saw an increase in the proportion of medical insurance reimbursement; however, households lacking motivation or capability did not experience positive outcomes in the short term. Therefore, future support policies should prioritize these vulnerable groups and monitor their progress closely. Moreover, our analysis revealed that migrant work is the primary livelihood strategy among the poor, and stabilizing their employment faces significant challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, additional policies and interventions are needed to address the adverse impact of the pandemic on the employment and livelihoods of low-income households.
How Does Firm-Level Economic Policy Uncertainty Affect Corporate Innovation? Evidence from China
Authors: Zheng Suyi , Wen Jiandong
Published: April 2023

Innovation is the main driving force of the sustainable development of enterprises. Economic policy uncertainty has increased dramatically in recent years due to events such as COVID-19, which will alter the business environment of enterprises and ultimately affect their innovation behavior. How economic policy uncertainty will affect corporate innovation has become a crucial topic, but empirical studies have not reached consistent conclusions, and few have noted the heterogeneity of different firms’ perceptions of uncertainty. This study used a textual analysis approach to create firm-level economic policy uncertainty indicators from the texts of annual reports of Chinese A-share listed firms. Based on the effectiveness of our measure of economic policy uncertainty, we further examined its impact on firm innovation. We find that our uncertainty measure has negative effects on enterprise innovation activity, and this negative impact is more significant among non-state-owned enterprises, and firms with higher financial constraints and lower government subsidies. We extend the measurement of economic policy uncertainty from the micro level and provide some suggestions for policymakers at the macro level. In the period of increasing uncertainty in the external environment, the government should try to maintain the stability and transparency of economic policies, and provide more targeted policy support to enterprises, such as by broadening their financing channels and providing innovation subsidies.
Pandemic Fatigue in Japan: Factors Affecting the Declining COVID-19 Preventive Measures
Authors: Sulemana Abdul-Salam , Lal Sumeet , Nguyen Trinh Xuan Thi , Khan Mostafa Saidur Rahim , Kadoya Yoshihiko
Published: April 2023

Pandemic fatigue has threatened the efforts to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide; thus, government-mandated preventive measures have declined. The Japanese government has implemented several methods to address COVID-19′s spread, including hand hygiene, mask requirements, and social distancing. This study is the first to examine the socioeconomic factors affecting Japan’s decline in COVID-19 prevention measures. It utilized the Preference Parameters Study of the Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research data of the 2021 and 2022 waves. With approximately 1580 observations, we detected a 10%, 4%, and 13% decline in hand hygiene practice, mask-wearing, and social distancing, respectively, between January 2021 and January 2022. Men were more likely to dislike the hand hygiene practice and mask-wearing and were also more reluctant to maintain social distancing. Moreover, financially satisfied individuals were positively associated with a decrease in the hand hygiene practice, while those with greater assets were more likely to dislike maintaining social distancing. People who exercised regularly were less likely to abandon the hand hygiene practices. Our results highlighted the significance of selective prevention programs targeting specific groups to promote compliance and lead to more effective pandemic management and less fatigue or discontentment.
How Digital Transformation Affects Urban Resilience: Empirical Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta Region
Authors: Zhu Huayou , Qin Manman
Published: April 2023

The current regional development crisis and opportunities coexist. On the one hand, the economic environment is complex and volatile, with more and more crisis shocks testing the resilience of urban development, while on the other hand, the rapid development of science and technology such as the digital economy has affected all areas of the economy, life, and governance of cities, bringing opportunities for urban development. The use of digital transformation to enhance urban resilience is therefore an obvious and important topic. Based on panel data of 27 cities in the Yangtze River Delta from 2011 to 2020, this study empirically analyses the impact of digital transformation on urban resilience by constructing a fixed effects model, a mediated effects model and a spatial Du bin model. The study finds that: (1) In terms of time, the urban resilience and digital transformation capacity of the Yangtze River Delta region are both on the rise; From a spatial point of view, the urban resilience of the Yangtze River Delta region basically shows a spatial distribution pattern of “high in the central cities, and low in the peripheral cities”, while the digital transformation capacity basically shows a pattern of “high in the east-central region, and low in the west”. (2) Digital transformation has a significant positive impact on improving urban resilience; (3) Digital transformation enhances urban resilience through three main paths: technological innovation capacity, new economic sector development momentum, and innovation and entrepreneurship development vitality; (4) Digital transformation has a spatial spillover effect on the urban resilience of neighboring regions.
Assessing Rural-Urban Linkages and Their Contribution to Territorial Development: Insights from Zimbabwe’s Small and Medium-Sized Cities
Authors: Mercandalli Sara , Girard Pierre , Dione Bécaye , Michel Sandrine
Published: April 2023

In Sub-Saharan Africa, unprecedented population growth, concomitant with limited industrialisation and job creation, have changed the configurations of rural-urban linkages in recent decades. Indeed, as primate cities do not act as strong engines of growth, territorial dynamics are rapidly being reshaped by renewed flows of people, goods, services and information within and between economic sectors, and between rural and urban areas. Rural densification and the fast expansion of small and medium-sized cities is one manifestation of these changes. As a result of silo thinking about rural and urban in most national strategies, plus the widespread informal economy and limited available statistics in the region, these new rural-urban linkages and their contribution to socioeconomic dynamics remain underexplored. Contributing to fill this gap, the aim of this paper is to present and test a method to assess rural-urban linkages and their possible role in territorial development in southern countries. We use a holistic approach and adopt an original posture, taking rural areas as the point of reference. Our method sets proxy indicators for specific information that is missing on rural-urban linkages. These indicators are then used to build a typology of territories according to potential rural-urban linkages, using a multivariate analysis and clustering. When applied to the case of Zimbabwe, the results reveal three types of districts, which differ in terms of the nature, intensity, direction and potential of rural-urban linkages for territorial development. We discuss the method’s suitability in a diagnostic phase and how it could feed strategic thinking to mainstream rural-urban linkages in territorial development actions.
The Impact of External Shocks on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Linking the COVID-19 Pandemic to SDG Implementation at the Local Government Level
Authors: Mestdagh Björn , Sempiga Olivier , Van Liedekerke Luc
Published: April 2023

Using data from a survey we conducted in collaboration with the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG), this article sought to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the implementation of SDGs by Flemish local governments (cities and municipalities). Identifying such effects has usually been conducted on individuals and at a macro level and not at the organization and local government level. By using a counterfactual approach, we were able to disentangle various COVID-19 effects over time and learn how systems at the local level react to external shocks. The approach allowed us to single out the effects of the pandemic at the organizational level while looking into three distinct periods: before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and in its aftermath. Results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the Flemish public sector’s implementation of SDGs at the local level. At the same time, COVID-19 allowed local public institutions to accelerate the implementation of a few SDGs (e.g., SDG1, SDG3) and to postpone a few SDG-related activities which would be resumed once the pandemic is ‘over’. COVID-19 is not only a challenge; it acts as a wake-up call and an opportunity to commit more towards the implementation of (certain) SDGs.
Framework and Perception Survey of Tourism Accessibility Concerning Regional Airports Based on Nexus Thinking: An Empirical Study in Ganzi Prefecture, China
Authors: Zhou Jin , Li Lihua , Lei Ruoran
Published: April 2023

Blocking regional communication is the beginning of the deterioration and even destruction of civilization. Accessibility is the principal condition for the development of mountain areas and the first barrier to the breakthrough of tourism. In this context, the lack of unified transportation planning and analysis of tourists’ perceptions leads to poor accessibility and consequently the sustainable development of tourist destinations. This paper considers Yading Airport, the highest civil airport in the world, located in the mountainous area of southwest China, as an example. Based on the computed results of traffic accessibility, this research elucidates tourists’ perception with Nexus Thinking of sustainability. Furthermore, in light of deconstructing the connotation of accessibility by questionnaire, subdivision dimensions together with certain factors are paraphrased. The paper ultimately puts forward the following concepts: (1) The perception of accessibility represents invariant material form in the subjectivity space and attributes of the flow space; (2) Taking perception as the variable, evaluation of accessibility is considered affected by residents’ attitudes; (3) Tourism accessibility represents the duality between tourist flow and airport security management. These conclusions demonstrate that, in certain regions, tourism has an effect on integrating elements and constructing identity. Relevant suggestions are presented in this paper for sustainable development that relate to tourism in mountainous areas.
Utilizing Full Degrees of Freedom of Control in Voltage Source Inverters to Support Micro-Grid with Symmetric and Asymmetric Voltage Requirements
Authors: Rasool Akhtar , Ahmad Fiaz , Fakhar Muhammad Salman , Kashif Syed Abdul Rahman , Matlotse Edwin
Published: April 2023

This article proposes a novel equivalent control method for voltage source inverters (VSI) with disturbance observers (DOB) to support the symmetric and asymmetric voltage requirements of a micro-grid (MG) while also matching the MG output power requirements. The method leverages the degrees of freedom (DOF) of the VSI under symmetric and asymmetric MG voltage conditions by utilizing the mean-point voltage of the MG, which is often overlooked in literature studies due to this being grounded. The method enables the three-phase inverter to generate voltages as needed by the MG inconsistently due to changing loads in the MG circuits or phases. The method is also insensitive to disturbances because of the DOB, being part of the controller. The proposed method is validated under both the balance and imbalance voltage demands of the MG. The mean voltage of the MG is used as a set-point to be corroborated as a mean voltage at the inverter’s output, in addition to active-reactive power references. The novel model is developed by augmenting the new, mean-point voltage as part of the system dynamics. The proposed method is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink® and is verified for its hardiness and effectiveness.
The Effect of the Isolator Design on the Efficiency of Rotary Piston Compressors
Authors: Savvakis Savvas , Dimopoulou Georgia , Zoumpourlos Konstantinos
Published: April 2023

The current work investigates the relationship between the shape of an isolator of a concentric rotary piston compressor and the secondary peak pressure developed during each operating cycle. This peak pressure is developed when the piston passes through the isolator cavity, and it is negative for compressor efficiency. The aim of this paper is to identify the isolator cavity shape that minimizes this secondary peak to improve compressor efficiency. This study covers five different cavities that may be used in such compressors. Contrary to our expectations, the conclusion is that the best geometry is the one that can be manufactured with CNC machining. The geometry that can be manufactured with 3D printing also produces a significantly lower secondary peak pressure, but it is not cost-efficient. Another limitation of the 3D printing design is the thin walls that this cavity creates. Very thin walls may cause significant deformation during the compression cycle. The conclusion is that there is a CNC machining design that is cost-efficient and allows for higher compressor performance.
Distribution of Natural Radionuclides and 137Cs in Urban Soil Samples from the City of Novi Sad, Serbia-Radiological Risk Assessment
Authors: Janković Marija , Jelić Ivana , Rajačić Milica , Krneta Nikolić Jelena , Vukanac Ivana , Dimović Slavko , Sarap Nataša , Šljivić-Ivanović Marija
Published: April 2023

This work presents the natural radioactivity distribution of 21 surface soil samples taken in the city of Novi Sad, Serbia. The analysis for radioactivity was performed using a gas low-level proportional counter for gross alpha and gross beta activity, while the specific activities of radionuclides were determined using HPGe detectors. The gross alpha activity of 20 samples was below the minimum detectable concentration (MDC), while in 1 sample it was 243 Bq kg−1; the gross beta activity ranged from the MDC (11 samples) to 566 Bq kg−1. The gamma spectrometry measurements showed naturally occurring radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 238U in all investigated samples, with average values (Bq kg−1) of 33.9, 36.7, 513.8, and 34.7, respectively. Natural radionuclide 235U was detected in 18 samples with activity concentrations in the range of 1.3–4.1 Bq kg−1, while in the other 3 samples, the values were below the MDC. The artificial 137Cs radionuclide was detected in 90 percent of the samples, with a maximum value of 21 Bq kg−1, while the other artificial radionuclides were not detected. Based on the obtained concentrations of natural radionuclides, hazard indexes were estimated, and radiological health risk was assessed. The results present the absorbed gamma dose rate in the air, annual effective dose, radium equivalent activity, external hazard index, and lifetime cancer risk.
Perceived Norms and Vaccination against COVID-19 among the General Adult Population in Germany: Results of a Nationally Representative Survey
Authors: Hajek André , Kretzler Benedikt , Orth Boris , Von Rüden Ursula , König Hans-Helmut
Published: April 2023

Objective: to examine whether perceived norms are associated with vaccination against COVID-19 (also stratified by age group). Study design: nationally representative survey. Methods: Data were taken from a sample of the general adult population (n = 3829, 16 to 94 years). Data collection took place from early July to early August 2021, and 3 different groups (1: not yet vaccinated and no intention to vaccinate against COVID-19; 2: not yet, but intended to vaccinate against COVID-19; 3: yes, at least one vaccination against COVID-19) were distinguished in the analyses. Data were adjusted for several sociodemographic and health-related factors. Perceived norms served as key independent variables (1: number of important friends and relatives who would like me to get vaccinated; 2: number of important friends and relatives who already have been vaccinated or still want to do so; 3: how your general practitioner (GP) thinks about Corona vaccination). Results: Multiple logistic regression showed that, in particular, the number of important friends/relatives who would like an individual to get vaccinated is associated with the actual COVID-19 vaccination status among individuals aged 16 to 59 years. Interestingly, all 3 indicators for perceived norms are associated with the likelihood of COVID-19 vaccination status among individuals aged 60 years and over. Conclusions: Our study adds to the understanding of the association between perceived norms and COVID-19 vaccination status. This highlights potential pathways to increase vaccination rates to further combat the later stages of the pandemic.
Multi-Perspective Views and Hesitancy toward COVID-19 Vaccines: A Mixed Method Study
Authors: Sahakyan Serine , Gharibyan Natella , Aslanyan Lusine , Hayrumyan Varduhi , Harutyunyan Arusyak , Libaridian Lorky , Grigoryan Zaruhi
Published: April 2023

The worldwide uptake of COVID-19 vaccines was suboptimal throughout the pandemic; vaccine hesitancy played a principle role in low vaccine acceptance both globally and in Armenia. In order to understand the factors behind the slow vaccine uptake in Armenia, we aimed to explore the prevailing perceptions and experiences of healthcare providers and the general public related to COVID-19 vaccines. The study applied a convergent parallel mixed-methods study design (QUAL-quant) through in-depth interviews (IDI) and a telephone survey. We completed 34 IDIs with different physician and beneficiary groups and a telephone survey with 355 primary healthcare (PHC) providers. The IDIs found that physicians held variable views on the need for COVID-19 vaccination which, combined with mixed messaging in the media landscape, fueled the public’s vaccine hesitancy. The survey results were mostly consistent with the qualitative findings as 54% of physicians hypothesized that COVID-19 vaccines were rushed without appropriate testing and 42% were concerned about the safety of those vaccines. Strategies to improve vaccination rates must target the main drivers of hesitancy, such as physicians’ poor knowledge of specific vaccines and spiraling misconceptions about them. Meanwhile, timely educational campaigns with targeted messaging for the general public should address misinformation, promote vaccine acceptance, and empower their capacity to make decisions about their health.
Evaluation of Different Methods on the Estimation of the Daily Crop Coefficient of Winter Wheat
Authors: Fang Jingjing , Wang Yining , Jiang Peng , Ju Qin , Zhou Chao , Lu Yiran , Gao Pei , Sun Bo
Published: April 2023

Various methods have been developed to estimate daily crop coefficients, but their performance varies. In this paper, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted to estimate the crop coefficient of winter wheat in four growth stages based on the observed data of weighing-type lysimeters and the high-precision automatic weather station in the Wudaogou Hydrological Experimental Station from 2018 to 2019. The three methods include the temperature effect method, the cumulative crop coefficient method, and the radiative soil temperature method. Our results suggest that the performance of these methods was different in each individual growth stage. The temperature effect method was better in the emergence-branching (RMSE = 0.06, r = 0.80) and heading-maturity stages (RMSE = 0.16, r = 0.94) because the temperature is suitable for crop growth during most of these two periods. The cumulative crop coefficient method was better in the greening-jointing (RMSE = 0.16, r = 0.88) and heading-maturity stages (RMSE = 0.20, r = 0.91) because this method is closely related to crop growth, which is vigorous during these two stages. The radiative soil temperature method was better in the emergence-branching (RMSE = 0.20, r = 0.35) and branch-overwintering stages (RMSE = 0.25, r = 0.52) as the energy balance can be ensured by the relatively high level of the effective energy during these periods. By comparing the estimation accuracy indices of the three methods, we found that the temperature effect method performed the best during the emergence-branching stage (RMSE = 0.06, MAE = 0.06, r = 0.80, dIA = 0.88), branch-overwintering stage (RMSE = 0.13, MAE = 0.11, r = 0.44, dIA = 0.55), and heading-maturity stage (RMSE = 0.16, MAE = 0.13, r = 0.94, dIA = 0.97), while the cumulative crop coefficient method performed best during the greening-jointing stage (RMSE = 0.16, MAE = 0.13, r = 0.88, dIA = 0.89). Based on this result, an integrated modelling procedure was proposed by applying the best method in each growth stage, which provides higher simulation precision than any single method. When the best method was adopted in each growth stage, the estimated accuracy of the whole growth process was RMSE = 0.13, MAE = 0.09, r = 0.98, dIA = 0.99.
New Optimized Equal-Area Mesh Used in Axisymmetric Models for Laminar Transient Flows
Authors: Ferreira Pedro Leite , Covas Dídia Isabel Cameira
Published: April 2023

The current paper aims at assessing the effect of the radial mesh on the description of the axial velocity in steady-state and transient conditions and at presenting the results of a new optimized equal-area mesh. For this purpose, a quasi-2D model is implemented and tested for different mesh configurations and sizes. A new two-region mesh geometry with 40 cylinders is proposed to optimize the description of the wall shear stress immediately after each pressure variation. This mesh is composed of two regions: one with a high-resolution near the pipe wall and the second with a coarser grid in the pipe core. Different configurations of this mesh are analysed for both steady and unsteady conditions. Results are compared with those obtained by a 1D model and with experimental data for laminar flows, discussed in terms of the computation effort and accuracy. The proposed two-region mesh has demonstrated: (i) a reduction in the simulation error by five times when compared with standard meshes for the same computational effort and for the instantaneous valve closure; (ii) an important improvement in accuracy for an experimental S-shape valve maneuver, particularly for meshes with few cylinders; and (iii) a correct description of the transient pressures collected in the experimental tests.
Experimental Investigation of Fluid Flow through Zinc Open-Cell Foams Produced by the Excess Salt Replication Process and Suitable as a Catalyst in Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Hassein-Bey Amel Hind , Belhadj Abd-Elmouneïm , Tahraoui Hichem , Toumi Selma , Sid Asma Nour El Houda , Kebir Mohammed , Chebli Derradji , Amrane Abdeltif , Zhang Jie , Mouni Lotfi
Published: April 2023

The “excess salt replication process” is a new simple method of fabrication of open-cell metal foam based on the commonly known salt replication method. Porous materials with porosity between 46% and 66% result when the employed alloy is 25% antimonial lead alloy and when it is 58% to 65% zamak 5. These foams are proposed as structured catalysts instead of packed beds in the treatment of wastewater. The local regimes influencing macroscopic air flow behaviour through these foams are delimited and boundaries are analysed in terms of sample length. Most of the experimental tests in this work exhibited a general trend of air flow in ESR foams dominated by the “strong inertia regime”. It was established that the law governing the unidirectional air flow through these foams was the full cubic law. The permeability and inertia coefficient of five samples with a cell diameter between 2.5 and 4.5 mm were calculated, and an empirical correlation was fitted. The irregular cuboid shape of salt grains used in the ESR foam was the origin of the special cell form of ESR foams leading to an anisotropic ordered porous media. This can explain the macroscopic turbulence of air flow because there were many dead zones present in the corner of each cubic cell, thus causing kinetic energy loss starting at earlier regimes.
Improvement in Operation Efficiency of Shallow Geothermal Energy System—A Case Study in Shandong Province, China
Authors: Wu Qinghua , Fan Yue , Wang Xiao
Published: April 2023

Shallow geothermal energy (SGE) is a renewable energy source that has the advantage of being low-cost, clean, and locally sourced compared to fossil fuels, and is thus significant for China to achieve its future goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. However, determining how to improve the operational efficiency of SGE systems is a key factor in the sustainable development and utilization of geothermal energy. This study examined the long-term operational efficiency of SGE systems and applied numerical simulation methods of hydro-thermal coupling to a SGE utilization project in Shandong Province, China. The effect of the distribution of pumping and injection wells on the operation efficiency of the SGE system was analyzed, and the parameter of operation efficiency, defined by the ratio of the practical minable shallow geothermal energy to the theoretical shallow geothermal energy, was applied to quantify the operation efficiency of the SGE system. The simulated results show that the phenomenon of heat transfixion is significant in the current operation scheme, where one of three pumping wells is located downstream of the study area, which indicates that the local groundwater flow field mainly controls the operation efficiency of the SGE system. In the optimized operation scheme, the distribution of pumping and injection wells can be adjusted according to the feature of groundwater flow and temperature fields. The degree of heat transfixion significantly declines and the operation efficiency increases by 71.5%. In addition, further improvements in the operational efficiency of the SGE system can be considered through the running time. The findings of this paper will be useful for the construction and management of SGE systems.