bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RadarTCN: Lightweight Online Classification Network for Automotive Radar Targets Based on TCN
Authors: Li Yuan , Zhang Mengmeng , Jing Hongyuan , Liu Zhi
Published: April 2024

Automotive radar is one of the key sensors for intelligent driving. Radar image sequences contain abundant spatial and temporal information, enabling target classification. For existing radar spatiotemporal classifiers, multi-view radar images are usually employed to enhance the information of the target and 3D convolution is employed for spatiotemporal feature extraction. These models consume significant hardware resources and are not applicable to real-time applications. In this paper, RadarTCN, a novel lightweight network, is proposed that achieves high-accuracy online target classification using single-view radar image sequences only. In RadarTCN, 2D convolution and 3D-TCN are employed to extract spatiotemporal features sequentially. To reduce data dimensionality and computational complexity, a multi-layer max pooling down-sampling method is designed in a 2D convolution module. Meanwhile, the 3D-TCN module is improved through residual pruning and causal convolution is introduced for leveraging the performance of online target classification. The experimental results demonstrate that RadarTCN can achieve high-precision online target recognition for both range-angle and range-Doppler map sequences. Compared to the reference models on the CARRADA dataset, RadarTCN exhibits better classification performance, with fewer parameters and lower computational complexity.
Electro-Mechanical Characterization and Modeling of a Broadband Piezoelectric Microgenerator Based on Lithium Niobate
Authors: Panayanthatta Namanu , Clementi Giacomo , Ouhabaz Merieme , Margueron Samuel , Bartasyte Ausrine , Lallart Mickael , Basrour Skandar , La Rosa Roberto , Bano Edwige , Montes Laurent
Published: April 2024

Vibration energy harvesting based on piezoelectric transducers is an attractive choice to replace single-use batteries in powering Wireless Sensor Nodes (WSNs). As of today, their widespread application is hindered due to low operational bandwidth and the conventional use of lead-based materials. The Restriction of Hazardous Substances legislation (RoHS) implemented in the European Union restricts the use of lead-based piezoelectric materials in future electronic devices. This paper investigates lithium niobate (LiNbO3) as a lead-free material for a high-performance broadband Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (PEH). A single-clamped, cantilever beam-based piezoelectric microgenerator with a mechanical footprint of 1 cm2, working at a low resonant frequency of 200 Hz, with a high piezoelectric coupling coefficient and broad bandwidth, was designed and microfabricated, and its performance was evaluated. The PEH device, with an acceleration of 1 g delivers a maximum output RMS power of nearly 35 μW/cm2 and a peak voltage of 6 V for an optimal load resistance at resonance. Thanks to a high squared piezoelectric electro-mechanical coupling coefficient (k2), the device offers a broadband operating frequency range above 10% of the central frequency. The Mason electro-mechanical equivalent circuit was derived, and a SPICE model of the device was compared with experimental results. Finally, the output voltage of the harvester was rectified to provide a DC output stored on a capacitor, and it was regulated and used to power an IoT node at an acceleration of as low as 0.5 g.
Vision-Based On-Site Construction Waste Localization Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Authors: Wang Zeli , Yang Xincong , Zheng Xianghan , Li Heng
Published: April 2024

In the context of construction and demolition waste exacerbating environmental pollution, the lack of recycling technology has hindered the green development of the industry. Previous studies have explored robot-based automated recycling methods, but their efficiency is limited by movement speed and detection range, so there is an urgent need to integrate drones into the recycling field to improve construction waste management efficiency. Preliminary investigations have shown that previous construction waste recognition techniques are ineffective when applied to UAVs and also lack a method to accurately convert waste locations in images to actual coordinates. Therefore, this study proposes a new method for autonomously labeling the location of construction waste using UAVs. Using images captured by UAVs, we compiled an image dataset and proposed a high-precision, long-range construction waste recognition algorithm. In addition, we proposed a method to convert the pixel positions of targets to actual positions. Finally, the study verified the effectiveness of the proposed method through experiments. Experimental results demonstrated that the approach proposed in this study enhanced the discernibility of computer vision algorithms towards small targets and high-frequency details within images. In a construction waste localization task using drones, involving high-resolution image recognition, the accuracy and recall were significantly improved by about 2% at speeds of up to 28 fps. The results of this study can guarantee the efficient application of drones to construction sites.
Flexible Force Sensor Based on a PVA/AgNWs Nanocomposite and Cellulose Acetate
Authors: Castillo-López Dulce Natalia , Gómez-Pavón Luz del Carmen , Gutíerrez-Nava Alfredo , Zaca-Morán Placido , Arriaga-Arriaga Cesar Augusto , Muñoz-Pacheco Jesús Manuel , Luis-Ramos Arnulfo
Published: April 2024

Nanocomposites are materials of special interest for the development of flexible electronic, optical, and mechanical devices in applications such as transparent conductive electrodes and flexible electronic sensors. These materials take advantage of the electrical, chemical, and mechanical properties of a polymeric matrix, especially in force sensors, as well as the properties of a conductive filler such as silver nanowires (AgNWs). In this work, the fabrication of a force sensor using AgNWs synthesized via the polyol chemical technique is presented. The nanowires were deposited via drop-casting in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to form the active (electrode) and resistive (nanocomposite) sensor films, with both films separated by a cellulose acetate substrate. The dimensions of the resulting sensor are 35 mm × 40 mm × 0.1 mm. The sensor shows an applied force ranging from 0 to 3.92 N, with a sensitivity of 0.039 N. The sensor stand-off resistance, exceeding 50 MΩ, indicates a good ability to detect changes in applied force without an external force. Additionally, studies revealed a response time of 10 ms, stabilization of 9 s, and a degree of hysteresis of 1.9%. The voltage response of the sensor under flexion at an angle of 85° was measured, demonstrating its functionality over a prolonged period. The fabricated sensor can be used in applications that require measuring pressure on irregular surfaces or systems with limited space, such as for estimating movement in robot joints.
Strain and Temperature Sensing Based on Different Temperature Coefficients fs-FBG Arrays for Intelligent Buoyancy Materials
Authors: Tian Meng , Lou Minggan , Zhang Wei , Huang Wenzhu , Yan Kaiqi , Liao Bin , Zhang Wentao
Published: April 2024

The temperature and strain fields monitoring during the preparation process of buoyancy materials, as well as the health status after molding, are important for mastering the mechanical properties of buoyancy materials and ensuring the safety of operators and equipment. This paper proposes a short and high-density femtosecond fiber Bragg grating (fs-FBG) array based on different temperature coefficients fibers. By optimizing the parameters of femtosecond laser point-by-point writing technology, high-performance fs-FBG arrays with millimeter level gating length and millimeter level spatial resolution were prepared on two types of fibers. These were successfully embedded in buoyancy materials to achieve in-situ online monitoring of the curing process and after molding. The experimental results show that the fs-FBG array sensor has good anti-chirp performance and achieves online monitoring of millimeter-level spatial resolution. Intelligent buoyancy materials can provide real-time feedback on the health status of equipment in harsh underwater environments. The system can achieve temperature monitoring with an accuracy of 0.56 °C and deformation monitoring with sub-millimeter accuracy; the error is in the order of micrometers, which is of great significance in the field of deep-sea exploration.
Mapping Method of Human Arm Motion Based on Surface Electromyography Signals
Authors: Zheng Yuanyuan , Zheng Gang , Zhang Hanqi , Zhao Bochen , Sun Peng
Published: April 2024

This paper investigates a method for precise mapping of human arm movements using sEMG signals. A multi-channel approach captures the sEMG signals, which, combined with the accurately calculated joint angles from an Inertial Measurement Unit, allows for action recognition and mapping through deep learning algorithms. Firstly, signal acquisition and processing were carried out, which involved acquiring data from various movements (hand gestures, single-degree-of-freedom joint movements, and continuous joint actions) and sensor placement. Then, interference signals were filtered out through filters, and the signals were preprocessed using normalization and moving averages to obtain sEMG signals with obvious features. Additionally, this paper constructs a hybrid network model, combining Convolutional Neural Networks and Artificial Neural Networks, and employs a multi-feature fusion algorithm to enhance the accuracy of gesture recognition. Furthermore, a nonlinear fitting between sEMG signals and joint angles was established based on a backpropagation neural network, incorporating momentum term and adaptive learning rate adjustments. Finally, based on the gesture recognition and joint angle prediction model, prosthetic arm control experiments were conducted, achieving highly accurate arm movement prediction and execution. This paper not only validates the potential application of sEMG signals in the precise control of robotic arms but also lays a solid foundation for the development of more intuitive and responsive prostheses and assistive devices.
Experimental Study of Electroosmosis in Rock Cores Based on the Dual Pressure Sensor Method
Authors: Yin Chenggang , Guan Wei , Hu Hengshan
Published: April 2024

Electroosmotic experiments obtain the electroosmotic pressure coefficient of a rock sample by measuring the excitation voltage at both ends of the sample and the pressure difference caused by the excitation voltage. The electroosmotic pressure is very weak and buried in the background noise, which is the most difficult signal to measure in the dynamic-electric coupling experiment, so it is necessary to improve its signal-to-noise ratio. In this paper, for the low signal-to-noise ratio of electroosmotic pressure, the dual pressure sensor method is proposed, i.e., two pressure sensors of the same type are used to measure electroosmotic pressure. Two different data extraction methods, Fast Fourier Transform and Locked Amplification, are utilized to compare the dual pressure sensor method of this paper with the existing single pressure sensor method. The relationship between the electroosmotic pressure coefficient and the excitation frequency, mineralization, permeability, and porosity is analyzed and discussed.
Accuracy Assessment of Geometric-Distortion Identification Methods for Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery in Highland Mountainous Regions
Authors: Shi Chao , Zuo Xiaoqing , Zhang Jianming , Zhu Daming , Li Yongfa , Bu Jinwei
Published: April 2024

SAR imagery plays a crucial role in geological and environmental monitoring, particularly in highland mountainous regions. However, inherent geometric distortions in SAR images often undermine the precision of remote sensing analyses. Accurately identifying and classifying these distortions is key to analyzing their origins and enhancing the quality and accuracy of monitoring efforts. While the layover and shadow map (LSM) approach is commonly utilized to identify distortions, it falls short in classifying subtle ones. This study introduces a novel LSM ground-range slope (LG) method, tailored for the refined identification of minor distortions to augment the LSM approach. We implemented the LG method on Sentinel-1 SAR imagery from the tri-junction area where the Xiaojiang, Pudu, and Jinsha rivers converge at the Yunnan-Sichuan border. By comparing effective monitoring-point densities, we evaluated and validated traditional methods—LSM, R-Index, and P-NG—against the LG method. The LG method demonstrates superior performance in discriminating subtle distortions within complex terrains through its secondary classification process, which allows for precise and comprehensive recognition of geometric distortions. Furthermore, our research examines the impact of varying slope parameters during the classification process on the accuracy of distortion identification. This study addresses significant gaps in recognizing geometric distortions and lays a foundation for more precise SAR imagery analysis in complex geographic settings.
The Impact of Various Cockpit Display Interfaces on Novice Pilots’ Mental Workload and Situational Awareness: A Comparative Study
Authors: Tang Huimin , Lee Boon Giin , Towey Dave , Pike Matthew
Published: April 2024

Future airspace is expected to become more congested with additional in-service cargo and commercial flights. Pilots will face additional burdens in such an environment, given the increasing number of factors that they must simultaneously consider while completing their work activities. Therefore, care and attention must be paid to the mental workload (MWL) experienced by operating pilots. If left unaddressed, a state of mental overload could affect the pilot’s ability to complete his or her work activities in a safe and correct manner. This study examines the impact of two different cockpit display interfaces (CDIs), the Steam Gauge panel and the G1000 Glass panel, on novice pilots’ MWL and situational awareness (SA) in a flight simulator-based setting. A combination of objective (EEG and HRV) and subjective (NASA-TLX) assessments is used to assess novice pilots’ cognitive states during this study. Our results indicate that the gauge design of the CDI affects novice pilots’ SA and MWL, with the G1000 Glass panel being more effective in reducing the MWL and improving SA compared with the Steam Gauge panel. The results of this study have implications for the design of future flight deck interfaces and the training of future pilots.
Impact of Residual Compositional Inhomogeneities on the MCT Material Properties for IR Detectors
Authors: Sobieski Jan , Kopytko Małgorzata , Matuszelański Kacper , Gawron Waldemar , Piotrowski Józef , Martyniuk Piotr
Published: April 2024

HgCdTe is a well-known material for state-of-the-art infrared photodetectors. The interd-iffused multilayer process (IMP) is used for Metal–Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) of HgCdTe heterostructures, enabling precise control of composition. In this method, alternating HgTe and CdTe layers are deposited, and they homogenize during growth due to interdiffusion, resulting in a near-uniform material. However, the relatively low (350 °C) IMP MOCVD growth temperature may result in significant residual compositional inhomogeneities. In this work, we have investigated the residual inhomogeneities in the IMP-grown HgCdTe layers and their influence on material properties. Significant IMP growth-related oscillations of composition have been revealed in as-grown epilayers with the use of a high-resolution Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS). The oscillations can be minimized with post-growth annealing of the layers at a temperature exceeding that of growth. The electric and photoelectric characterizations showed a significant reduction in the background doping and an increase in the recombination time, which resulted in dramatic improvement of the spectral responsivity of photoconductors.
Compared Block Periodized and Non-Periodized Physical Activity Programs in Older Adults
Authors: Moreno-Mateos Alejandro , Barbero Iglesias Fausto José , Sánchez Muñoz Antonio , Gutiérrez Díaz Yurena , Moreno Pascual Carlos
Published: April 2024

Background: The periodization of physical exercise to optimize objectives is common in competitive sports. However, physical exercise programs for older adults only sometimes present periodization in their programming. Therefore, this article aims to research the results of applying the sports periodized method to older adults. Methods: A total of 137 participants over 60 years old performed a physical exercise program; 71 participated in a multi-component non-periodized program as the Control Group (CG), and 66 participated in a program periodized in blocks as the Experimental Group (EG). The block periodization program was oriented to the development of strength and was carried out in 86 sessions thrice weekly for eight months. Anthropometric assessments were made using weight, height, Body Mass Index, and electrical bioimpedance; and functional evaluations were made through standardized tests: Short Performance Physical Battery (SPPB), Timed Up & Go (TUG), handgrip, and a two-minute stair test. Results: After the intervention, the EG significantly improved TUG, weight, and BMI. On the other hand, the CG showed significant improvements in fat weight, BMI, and the 2 min stair test. The SPPB did not show changes after the intervention. Conclusion: The periodization of physical exercise for older adults does not significantly impact functional capacity in this population group.
Effect of Mat Pilates Training on Blood Pressure, Inflammatory, and Oxidative Profiles in Hypertensive Elderly
Authors: Woramontri Chutima , Chaunchaiyakul Rungchai , Yang Ai-Lun , Lin Yi-Yuan , Masodsai Kunanya
Published: April 2024

To determine the effects of mat Pilates training on blood pressure, inflammatory, and antioxidative markers in hypertensive elderly people, 34 hypertensive subjects aged 60–75 years were randomly divided into a control group (CON; n = 17) and a mat Pilates training group (MP; n = 17). The CON participants conducted normal daily activities and participated in neither organized exercises nor sports training, while those in the MP group received mat Pilates training for 60 min three times/week for 12 weeks. Parameters including blood pressure, cardiovascular function, nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrotic factor-alpha (TNF-α), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malonaldehyde (MDA) were collected at baseline and the end of 12 weeks. The MP group had significantly decreased blood pressure, improved cardiovascular variables, decreased MDA and TNF-α, and increased NO and SOD compared with the CON group and the pre-training period (p < 0.05). In conclusion, these findings demonstrate the positive effects of 12 weeks of mat Pilates training in terms of reducing blood pressure and increasing blood flow related to improvements in anti-inflammatory and antioxidative markers in hypertensive elderly people. Mat Pilates training might be integrated as an alternative therapeutic exercise modality in clinical practice for hypertensive elderly individuals.
Lead Levels in the Most Consumed Mexican Foods: First Monitoring Effort
Authors: Cantoral Alejandra , Betanzos-Robledo Larissa , Collado-López Sonia , García-Martínez Betzabeth A. , Lamadrid-Figueroa Héctor , Mariscal-Moreno Rosa M. , Díaz-Ruiz Araceli , Ríos Camilo , Téllez-Rojo Martha María
Published: April 2024

Globally, there is growing concern over the presence of lead (Pb) in foods because it is a heavy metal with several toxic effects on human health. However, monitoring studies have not been conducted in Mexico. In this study, we estimated the concentrations of Pb in the most consumed foods and identified those that exceeded the maximum limits (MLs) for Pb in foods established by the International Standards. Based on the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey, 103 foods and beverages were selected and purchased in Mexico City retail stores and markets. Samples were analyzed twice using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Values above the limit of quantification (0.0025 mg/kg) were considered to be detected. The percentage of detected values was 18%. The highest concentration was found in infant rice cereal (1.005 mg/kg), whole wheat bread (0.447 mg/kg), pre-cooked rice (0.276 mg/kg), black pepper (0.239 mg/kg), and turmeric (0.176 mg/kg). Among the foods with detected Pb, the levels in infant rice cereal, whole wheat bread, pre-cooked rice, and soy infant formula exceeded the MLs. The food groups with the highest percentages of exceeded MLs were baby foods (18%) and cereals (11%). Monitoring the concentration of contaminants in foods is essential for implementing food safety policies and protecting consumer health.
Assessing Metal Exposure and Leaching from Discarded Cigarette Butts: Environmental Analysis and Integrated Waste Management Approaches
Authors: Faisal Muhammad , You Zai-Jin , Buttar Noman Ali , Idrees Muhammad Bilal , Naeem Muhammad , Ali Shoaib , Ali Basharat , Hashem Abeer , Abd_Allah Elsayed Fathi
Published: April 2024

Cigarette butts, often discarded as litter, are considered a common form of waste, containing a variety of pollutants within this hazardous residue. This study, which was designed to assess the environmental release of certain metals from cigarette butts, investigates a variety of scenarios under varying climatic conditions. Thus, in order to assess the level of metal contamination, samples of cigarette butts were collected in urban areas from seven popular brands in China, smoked artificially, and examined through graphite furnace atomic absorption (GF-AAS). The findings indicated mean concentrations of 1.77 for Cr, 2.88 for Ni, 12.93 for Cu, 24.25 for Zn, and 1.77 µg/g for Pb in the case of newly smoked butts. The emission of each of the metals increases to 8–10% when cigarette butts remain in the environment for an extended period of time. Furthermore, rainfall can accelerate metal leaching, reaching values of 18–20% compared to the controlled scenario. The worst-case scenario releases 2129.31 kg/year of metals into the environment, while the best-case scenario sees a lower release of 844.97 kg/year. The data reflect variations in metal emissions across different scenarios. There was also a strong correlation between cigarette butts in public spaces and cities. This research highlights the need to educate smokers and increase urban maintenance efficiency to reduce this litter and the metals it leaches into the environment.
Dynamics of Cosmological Scalar Fields Revisited
Authors: van Holten Jan-Willem
Published: April 2024

This paper reviews the dynamics of a single isotropic and homogeneous scalar field φ(t) in the context of cosmological models. A non-standard approach to the solution of the Einstein–Klein–Gordon equations is described which uses the scalar field as the evolution parameter for cosmic dynamics. General conclusions about the qualitative behaviour of the solutions can be drawn, and examples of how to obtain explicit solutions for some cosmological models of interest are given. For arbitrary potentials, analytical results can be obtained from the slow-roll approximation by using a series expansion for the Hubble parameter H[φ], from which a quantitative estimate for the number of e-folds of expansion is obtained. This approach is illustrated with the examples of quadratic potentials and hilltop models, with special consideration of Higgs-type potentials. The GUT-scale is shown to come out of such a model quite naturally. Finally, it is discussed how to find scalar potentials giving rise to a predetermined scalar-field behaviour and the associated evolution of the scale factor.
Variation in XCO Factor in N55 Region
Authors: Li Qiang , Li Mingyue , Zhang Li , Pei Songpeng
Published: April 2024

The XCO factor is defined as XCO=N(H2)/W12CO. It is useful for estimating cloud mass. However, there is only limited research on how the XCO factor varies within a single cloud. Employing 12CO(J=1-0) and 13CO(J=1-0) spectral data, we computed an XCO factor of 3.6 ×1020cm−2 (K km s−1)−1 for luminous gas of the N55 region. Our analysis revealed a V-shaped correlation between the XCO factor and H2 column densities, while the relationship with excitation temperature exhibited obscurity. This suggests that the CO-to-H2 conversion is not consistent on small scale (∼1 pc). Additionally, we found that star formation activity has little influence on the variability in the XCO factor.
Clinical Findings and Outcome in 30 Dogs with Presumptive or Confirmed Nerve Sheath Tumors
Authors: Cooper-Khan Rachel S. , Frankovich Alexandra N. , Thompson Craig A. , Thomovsky Stephanie A. , Lewis Melissa J.
Published: April 2024

Nerve sheath tumors (NSTs) are well-recognized primary nervous system tumors, but there is relatively limited information in dogs including comparison of NSTs in different anatomical locations. This retrospective study describes the clinical features and outcomes in a group of dogs with NSTs affecting the cranial nerves or spinal nerves. Thirty dogs were included, 25 with a presumptive diagnosis and five confirmed by histopathologic analysis. Seven dogs also had cytology of tumor samples, which were supportive of the NST diagnosis in four. Eight dogs had cranial nerve-associated NSTs, with six involving the trigeminal nerve. Twenty-two dogs had spinal nerve-associated NSTs including 13 invading the spinal canal and nine peripheral to the spinal canal, with the majority affecting nerves or nerve roots of the brachial plexus. The prognosis was poor, with dogs being euthanized eventually because of disease progression. Among dogs alive 1 week after diagnosis, the median survival time was 4 months but ranged from 2 weeks to >2 years. While there was a broad overlap between NST locations, survival was generally longer for dogs without spinal canal or intracranial involvement. The results expand available information on NSTs in dogs but should be interpreted with caution given the small number of dogs with a definitive diagnosis. Further investigation is warranted to determine how tumor location, invasiveness, and treatments pursued impact outcome.
La gestión de calidad como factor determinante de competitividad de las PYMES gastronómicas de Manta
Authors: Barcia Salazar Genesis Andrea , Loor Moreira Jacqueline Alexandra , Arias Arias Ana Elena
Published: April 2024

El objetivo de esta investigación es establecer que la gestión de la calidad es un factor determinante de competitividad en las Pymes gastronómicas, a través de un estudio realizado a los restaurantes de tercera y cuarta categoría de la cuidad de Manta.  La investigación fue de tipo bibliográfico, mediante un estudio cuantitativo, con diseño descriptivo, correlacional, a través de una encuesta de elaboración propia estructurada con una escala comparativa de Likert,   dirigida a los   clientes, validada con el coeficiente de Cronbach, mediante el proceso de datos en el programa SPSS 25, el análisis de estas encuestas permitieron concluir que la percepción de la calidad es un factor importante para la competitividad del sector, se obtuvo una correlación moderada de las variables estudiadas con el coeficiente de Spearman , como son la satisfacción de necesidades a los cliente, los procesos internos, la capacidad de respuesta y los protocolos de bioseguridad
Efecto de la calidad institucional sobre la inversión extranjera directa: evidencia de las economías andinas
Authors: Cacay Cacay Julio César , Vega Quezada Cristhian Antonio , Nuñez Sarango Elizabeth Ninoska , Reyes Mesones Katherine Cristina
Published: April 2024

El presente estudio tiene como objetivo examinar el efecto de la calidad institucional sobre la Inversión Extranjera Directa (IED) en las economías de la región andina de América Latina, mediante la utilización de datos de panel y la aplicación de estimaciones de Mínimos Cuadrados Ordinarios (MCO) agrupados, modelo de efectos fijos, modelo de efectos aleatorios, estimadores de Mínimos Cuadrados Generalizados Factibles (FGLS) y Errores Estándar Corregidos por Panel (PCSE), para contribuir mediante hallazgos significativos con la toma de decisiones encaminadas a favorecer las entradas de IED. La calidad institucional está representada por la corrupción y el Estado de Derecho. Metodológicamente, la investigación es de tipo explicativa y emplea un enfoque cuantitativo-deductivo. Se utilizó datos de panel de cuatro países andinos, Ecuador, Perú, Colombia y Bolivia, desde 2000 a 2021 de forma anual. Los resultados de todos los modelos evaluados mediante las estimaciones demuestran que los indicadores de gobernanza utilizados para medir la calidad institucional influyen positiva y significativamente en la IED de las economías de la región andina de América Latina. A partir de estos hallazgos se deduce que la calidad institucional constituye un eje clave para atraer flujos de IED.
Rentabilidad de modelos de negocios de las empresas públicas en Manabí. Caso Manabí Vial E.P
Authors: Navarrete García Sócrates Lizardo , Gonzales Valdiviezo Iván Fabricio , Zambrano Zambrano María Inés
Published: April 2024

El objetivo del presente artículo se enmarca en analizar la rentabilidad de los modelos de negocios de la Em- presa Pública MANABÍ VIAL E.P (Empresa Pública), durante los períodos fiscales 2019 y 2022, así como los factores más importantes a nivel financiero que influyeron en la utilidad o pérdida alcanzada tales como el comportamiento de los ingresos, costos operacionales, activo corriente, pasivo corriente y flujo de fondos. La metodología de la investigación tuvo enfoque cuantitativo y de tipo documental para analizar la información financiera de la empresa contenida en los balances generales y estado de resultados para luego calcular la rent- abilidad generada en los años 2019, 2020, 2021 y 2022 mediante la aplicación de índices financieros, así como el comportamiento de las variables que intervinieron en el nivel de rentabilidad alcanzado. En los resultados obtenidos se muestra que la empresa registra valores negativos en todos los indicadores de rentabilidad en los años 2020, 2021 y 2022, concluyéndose que dichos resultados negativos están relacionados con el cambio del modelo de negocios que la empresa experimentó a partir del año 2020, donde incrementó 3 líneas de negocios como consecuencia de nuevas competencias que le fueron otorgadas por el Gobierno Provincial de Manabí.
Liderazgo transformacional: Estrategia de crecimiento empresarial en compañías de obras civiles de Ecuador
Authors: Dueñas Rivadeneira Lilia Nadia , Moreira Sornoza Wilson Gabriel
Published: April 2024

Las empresas de obras civiles en el Ecuador son empresas con un gran dinamismo económico y generadoras de fuentes de empleos. Para poder ser protagonista en el mercado donde compiten requieren de un liderazgo transformacional que involucre a todos a la consecución de los objetivos estratégicos. Esta investigación tiene el objetivo de analizar la práctica del liderazgo transformacional y las estrategias de crecimiento empresariales en empresas de obras civiles. Desde el punto de vista metodológico es una investigación cuantitativa, tipo de diseño descriptivo explicativo, en donde se aplicaron las técnicas de encuestas y entrevistas a 50 empleados y
2 directivos de la empresa Marpensa S.A. Los resultados demuestran que el 40% consideran al líder como una fuente inspiradora, el 36% opinaron que se practica la motivación dentro de la entidad. Para que la empresa alcance sus objetivos estratégicos es necesario contar con un liderazgo transformacional que motive, inspire a los demás, capaces de comunicar, incentivar a los miembros del equipo que se lidera.
Cultura organizacional y desempeño: Evidencia empírica de las PyMES en México
Authors: Hernández Chávez Gerardo , Hernández Chávez Yazmin , Sánchez Martínez Jorge Alberto
Published: April 2024

El objetivo de la presente investigación es identificar la relación que existe entre la cultura organizacional y el desempeño organizacional en las PyMES del sector manufacturero del estado de Tlaxcala, México. La investigación se lleva a cabo bajo un enfoque cuantitativo de tipo correlacional, no experimental y de corte transversal, donde se analizan tres pequeñas y dos medianas empresas que pertenecen a los subsectores de autopartes, alimentos y metalmecánica con 52 encuestas. La información se recopilo a través de un cuestionario utilizando el marco de valores de competencia para la cultura organizacional y el cuadro de mando integral para el desempeño organizacional, aplicando correlación de Pearson y regresión lineal simple. Los autores hallaron una correlación positiva considerable entre la cultura organizacional y el desarrollo organizacional, y una correlación positiva media entre la cultura clan, adhocrática y jerárquica con respecto al desempeño organizacional, además, este estudio se basó únicamente en la opinión de los empleados.
Investigation of Pre-service Teachers' Environmental Ethics Awareness and Attitudes towards Sustainable Environment
Authors: Akaydın Birsen Berfu , Eşme Aslı
Published: April 2024

The aim of this study was to determine the environmental ethics awareness and sustainable environmental attitudes of pre-service teachers to reveal the teachers’ access to the content specified in undergraduate education. In the study, the correlational research design was used to determine the extent to which pre-service teachers’ environmental ethics awareness predicts their sustainable environmental attitudes. The sample of the study was comprised of 312 pre-service teachers attending a Faculty of Education in the Marmara Region in the spring term of the 2021-2022 academic year. In the study, a personal information form, the “Environmental Ethics Awareness Scale” consisting of 23 items, and the “Sustainable Environmental Attitude Scale” consisting of 27 items were used as data collection tools. In the analysis of the collected data, difference, correlation, and regression analyses were used together with descriptive analyses in line with the purpose and sub-purposes of the study. As a result of the study, it was revealed that the pre-service teachers’ environmental ethics awareness was very high, and sustainable environmental attitudes were high. The environmental ethics awareness of the pre-service teachers was found to vary significantly depending on gender in favor of the female pre-service teachers, while their sustainable environmental attitudes were found to not vary significantly depending on gender. In addition, the pre-service teachers’ environmental ethics awareness and sustainable environmental attitudes did not differ significantly depending on the department attended, grade level, taking/having taken environment and ethics courses, and relationship with environmental organizations. It was determined that there is a weak, positive, and significant correlation between the pre-service teachers’ environmental ethics awareness and sustainable environmental attitudes and that their environmental ethics awareness predicts their sustainable environmental attitudes at a weak level.
Covid-19 Pandemisi Sonrası Okullarda Yaşanan Öğrenci Sorunlarının İncelenmesi
Authors: Çelik Nurşah , Kılıçoğlu Derya
Published: April 2024

Bu çalışmada, pandemi sonrası okullarda yaşanan öğrenci sorunları incelenerek bu sorunların nedenlerini belirlemek amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında pandemi öncesinde ve sonrasında ortaokul ve liselerde yaşanan istenmeyen öğrenci davranışları ve disipline konu olan davranışlar incelenmiştir. Pandemi öncesi ve sonrası okullarda yaşanılan disiplin olaylarını karşılaştırmak, pandemi sonrası yaşanan disiplin olaylarının nedenlerini ortaya koymak ve öğretmenler ve yöneticilerce geliştirilen önerileri belirlemek amacıyla araştırma kapsamında nitel araştırma yaklaşımlarından olgubilim (fenomenoloji) deseni kullanılmıştır. Çalışma grubu, amaçlı örnekleme yöntemlerinden ölçüt örnekleme yöntemi kullanılarak belirlenmiştir. Çalışma grubunda yer alan öğretmen ve idarecilerin ölçüt olarak en az üç yıllık deneyim süresine sahip olması istenmiştir. Çalışma grubunu 2022-2023 eğitim öğretim yılında Kars’ın Selim ilçesinde bulunan ortaokul ve liselerde görev yapan 23 öğretmen ve 12 okul yöneticisi oluşturmaktadır. Veriler, yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu hazırlanarak yüz yüze görüşmeler yoluyla toplanmıştır. Elde edilen veriler içerik analizi yöntemine göre analiz edilmiştir. Katılımcıların verdiği cevaplar üzerinden kodlar, alt temalar ve temalara ulaşılmıştır. Verilerin analizi sonucunda pandemi sonrası yaşanan sorunlar arasında en çok okul kavgalarında artış, kavgalarda kesici delici alet kullanımı, kılık kıyafet kurallarına uymama olarak belirlenmiştir. Sorunların nedenleri ailevi etmenler, öğrenci kaynaklı etmenler, psikolojik etmenler, toplumsal etmenler, eğitim sistemi ile ilgili etmenler olarak ortaya çıkmıştır. Araştırmanın bulgularına göre karantina sürecinde, öğrencilerin sosyal ve akademik hayattan uzak kalmaları sonucunda öfke patlamaları, şiddete yönelim, ölçüsüz tepki ve davranışlarda artış görülmüştür. Yaşanan öğrenci sorunlarının çözülmesinde katılımcıların verdiği öneriler arasında disiplin yönetmeliğinin güncellenmesi, öğretim programının güncellenmesi, sınıf geçme sisteminin değişmesi, ders saatlerinin azaltılması, öğretmen özerkliğinin ve okul kaynaklarının arttırılması gibi öneriler yer almaktadır.
Liturgijska slavlja za nositelje građanske vlasti
Authors: Pažin Zvonko
Published: April 2024

Kada u starim liturgijskim knjigama naiđemo na bogoslužje krunidbe kralja ili cara, ili pak obred svečanog dočeka kralja ili nekog velikodostojnika, pa kada još k tomu čitamo odredbu iz 19. st. da se u austrijskoj carevini u svakoj misi u Rimskom kanonu ima spominjati i austrijski car, onda bismo danas mogli lako zaključiti da je sprega države i Crkve u ono vrijeme bila i prejaka i neprilična. U ovom se radu bogoslužja vezana uz nositelje građanske vlasti stavljaju u povijesni kontekst. U uvodnom se dijelu kratko govori razumijevanju kraljevske vlasti u Svetom pismu i u prvoj Crkvi. Prikazuju se najstarije molitve za kraljeve, poglavito one u bogoslužju Velikoga petka. Središnji dio prikazuje obred krunidbe kralja prema rimskim pontifikalima. Na koncu se daje pregled molitava za nositelje vlasti i za domovinu u važećem bogoslužju. Iako kršćani nisu od svijeta, ipak su u svijetu, pa je svakako i danas primjereno slaviti bogoslužja i za domovinu i za nositelje građanske vlasti.
500 godina od smrti Marka Marulića
Authors: Parlov Mladen
Published: April 2024

Duhova baština u najširem smislu riječi sve je ono što je ostalo iza jednog čovjeka, naraštaja ili naroda, bez obzira na vrijednosni sud o toj baštini. Duhovnom baštinom u tom smislu možemo nazvati i materijalna ostvarenja jer su plod ljudskog uma, odnosno ljudskog duha. U užem smislu riječi duhovnom baštinom jednog čovjeka nazivamo ostavštinu koja je nadahnuta kulturom u kojoj je osoba živjela i koja je utjecala na kulturu budućih naraštaja. U ovom užem smislu i sam primjer života predstavlja se kao baština jer netko može primjerom svoga života biti izazov te izvor nadahnuća za nove naraštaje. Životi istaknutih osoba koje, primjerice, kršćani nazivaju svetcima primjer su takve vrste baštine. Na Marka Marulića (1450. – 1524.) možemo primijeniti sva tri navedena vida duhovne baštine. Naime, iza sebe je ostavio brojna djela, od kojih neka ne bismo mogli ubrojiti u duhovnu baštinu, barem kršćanskog tipa, u užem smislu riječi (primjerice, dio tzv. Glasgowskih stihova). Istodobno Marulić je iza sebe ostavio djela koja su već njegovim suvremenicima služila kao izvor nadahnuća za bolji život. Tu posebno mislimo na ‘Evanđelistar’ i ‘Instituciju’, ali i na druga djela kršćanskog nadahnuća koja su objavljivana i prevođena na više europskih jezika. Njegova su djela čitali i na njima se nadahnjivali kraljevi i biskupi, svetci i grješnici, učeni i manje učeni. Kroz gotovo dva stoljeća Marul je svojim djelima nadahnjivao, izazivao i poticao cijele naraštaje vjernika laika, redovnika i svećenika. Na kraju Marulić je, kako nam prenose svjedoci njegovi suvremenici, živio uistinu svetačkim životom tako da je ne samo umro na glasu svetosti, ‘in fama sanctitatis’, nego je svojim suvremenicima i sljedećim naraštajima postao izazov i nadahnuće za humaniji i bolji život. Marulićeva duhovna baština osobita je odjeka imala u narodu kojem je pripadao i kojim se ponosio. U devetnaestom je stoljeću prozvan ‘ocem hrvatske književnosti’ (Ivan Kukuljević Sakcinski), a u dvadesetom, pod tuđinskom čizmom, Marul je polako tonuo u zaborav. Bilo je nadati se kako će uspostavom hrvatske države Marulić za Hrvate postati ono što je Dante za Talijane ili Goethe za Nijemce. No, mi kao da ne znamo što bismo s Marulićem pa se pitamo: Treba li ga izbaciti iz školske lektire ili ga ostaviti? Pitamo se: Što od Marulića ponuditi novim naraštajima?, ne shvaćajući da Hrvati u svojoj povijesti, s vrijednosne točke gledišta, nikada nisu imali tako plodna i dobra autora koji je svojim djelima odgajao naraštaje Europljana te koji i danas ima što ponuditi novim naraštajima, ako ne Europljana, ono barem svojih Hrvata.
Single-Electrode Electrostatic Repulsion Phenomenon for Remote Actuation and Manipulation
Authors: Tang Wei , Yan Dong , Qin Kecheng , Guo Xinyu , Zhong Yiding , Xu Huxiu , Yang Huayong , Zou Jun
Published: April 2024

One of the fundamental principles of electrostatics is that an uncharged object will be attracted to a charged object through electrostatic induction as the two approaches one another. We refer to the charged object as a single electrode and examine the scenario where a positive voltage is applied. Because of electrostatic induction phenomenon, single-electrode electrostatics only generates electrostatic attraction forces. Here, we discover that single-electrode electrostatics can generate electrostatic repulsion forces and define this new phenomenon as single-electrode electrostatic repulsion phenomenon. We investigate the fundamental electrostatic phenomena, giving a curve of electrostatic force versus voltage and then defining 3 regions. Remote actuation and manipulation are essential technologies that are of enormous concern, with tweezers playing an important role. Various tweezers designed on the basis of external fields of optics, acoustics, and magnetism can be used for remote actuation and manipulation, but some inherent drawbacks still exist. Tweezers would benefit greatly from our discovery in electrostatics. On the basis of this discovery, we propose the concept of electrostatic tweezers, which can achieve noncontact and remote actuation and manipulation. Experimental characterizations and successful applications in metamaterials, robots, and manipulating objects demonstrated that electrostatic tweezers can produce large deformation rates (>6,000%), fast actuation (>100 Hz), and remote manipulating distance (~15 cm) and have the advantages of simple device structure, easy control, lightweight, no dielectric breakdown, and low cost. Our work may deepen people’s understanding of single-electrode electrostatics and opens new opportunities for remote actuation and manipulation.
Leveraging Foundation Models for Scientific Research Productivity
Authors: Gruetzemacher Ross
Published: April 2024

The objective of this work was to elucidate paths for expediting and enhancing scientific research productivity from theemerging AI paradigm of foundation models (e.g., ChatGPT). Faster scientific progress can benefit mankind by speeding up progress toward solutions to shared human problems like cancer, aging, climate change, or water scarcity. Challenges to foundation model adoption in science threaten to slow progress in such research areas. This study attempted to survey decision support systems and expert system literature to provide insights regarding these challenges. We first reviewed extant literature on these topics to try to identify adoption patterns that would be useful for this purpose. However, this attempt, using a bibliometric approach and a very high level traditional literature review, was unsuccessful due to the overly broad scope of the study. We then surveyed the existing scientific software domain, finding there to be a huge breadth in what constitutes scientific software.However, we do glean some lessons from previous patterns of adoption of scientific software by simply looking at historical examples (e.g., the electronic spreadsheet)
A Case Study on Economic Analysis of Sea Cage Farms in the Black Sea, Türkiye
Authors: Dağtekin Büket Buşra
Published: April 2024

The main aim of this research is to understand the value chains of enterprises engaged
in aquaculture in sea cages in the Black Sea region of Türkiye, to determine production costs and
to make a general analysis of the aquaculture sector. Random sampling method was used to ensure
that farmers were equally represented in the survey. Data for the survey were randomly selected
from 16 separate farms spread throughout 4 different marine cage locations. Furthermore, fish
traders and sector stakeholders were interviewed. The businesses examined within the scope of
the study are divided into 3 groups: small (250 -500 tons/year), medium (501-999 tons/year) and
large (>1000 tons/year), according to their capacities. The most important expense items of
enterprises consist of variable costs. Among the variable costs, the purchase of fry fish, feed
purchase, and labor costs constitute the most important expenditure items. Among the fixed costs,
the most important expense is depreciation costs. The unit cost of one kg of fish varies between
2.7 and 3.0 euros. Considering that the trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and seabass (Dicentrarchus
labrax) in the Black Sea are at the level of 3.5 Euro, the profit rate of the enterprises is between
these levels. Recently, since trout from the Black Sea has been exported to the Far East Country
(particularly Japan), its price has also increased. In 2018, the average retail price (including VAT)
and medium selling price of seabass and trout were at a level of 5.24 and 5.34 Euros respectively.
Despite all these positive developments, climate change continues to pose a threat in terms of
disease outbreak and marketing problems.
40 tahun Kitab Hukum Kanonik Gereja Katolik Latin (1983-2023). Historisitas – Amandemen – Analisis
Authors: Galed Daniel Ortega
Published: April 2024

The actual CIC of the Latin Catholic Church is 40 years old this year since it was first promulgated by Pope John Paul II on January 25, 1983. In its journey as universal law of the Latin Catholic Church, during three pontificates, all Popes have made amendments to it. This study intends to canonically analyze any juridical modifications or amendments sought by the Church Legislator regarding certain themes in the Codex. To get a more holistic context, as in the sub-title, the historical panorama of the birth of the ecclesiastical juridical system will first be synthesized. Then, all the modifications to universal law over the past 40 years, whether promulgated through Apostolic Letters in the form of motu proprio or in Apostolic Constitutions, will be presented. The purpose of this paper is to find the spirit and orientation behind the “revitalization” of the canonical norms in question, which must be in line with the ultimate goal of Church Law, namely the realization of the “salvation of the souls”.
Asia As Locus of Theology Religious Pluralism
Authors: Bharathi Paul A.
Published: April 2024

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