bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Alumina Nanowires on the Thermal Conductivity and Electrical Performance of Epoxy Composites
Authors: Huang Liangsong , Lv Xitao , Tang Yongzhe , Ge Guanghui , Zhang Peng , Li Yuxia
Published: September 2020

Alumina nanowires (Al2O3-NWs)/epoxy resin composites have been thoroughly studied due to their excellent insulating and dielectric performance. In particular, understanding the effect of nano-alumina with different morphologies on the dielectric performance of composites is of great significance. In this study, Al2O3-NWs with lengths of approximately 100 nm and diameters of approximately 5 nm were prepared and blended with anepoxy resin to form composites, and the effect of the mass fraction of fillers on the thermal conductivity of the composites was investigated. Specifically, the effect of alumina fillers with ananowire structure on the insulating and dielectric performance and breakdown strength of the epoxy composites were analyzed. The influence principle of the interfacial effect and heat accumulation on the dielectric and insulating properties of the composites were described. The results demonstrated that the thermal conductivity of Al2O3-NWs/epoxy resin composites was higher than that of the bare epoxy resin. The thermal conductivity of Al2O3-NWs/epoxy resin composites increased with increasing mass fraction of fillers. When the mass fraction of fillers was 10%, the thermal conductivity of the composite was 134% higher than that of the epoxy resin matrix. The volume resistivity of the composites first increased and then decreased as the mass fraction of fillers increased, while the dielectric constant of the composites increased with increasing mass fraction of fillers and decreasing frequency. The dielectric loss of the composites decreased and then increased as the mass fraction of fillers increased, and it increased with increasing frequency. Additionally, the alternating current breakdown strength of the composites first increased and then decreased withincreasingmass fraction of fillers.
Synthesis and Solution Properties of a Novel Hyperbranched Polymer Based on Chitosan for Enhanced Oil Recovery
Authors: Chen Qingyuan , Ye Zhongbin , Tang Lei , Wu Tao , Jiang Qian , Lai Nanjun
Published: September 2020

A new type of chitosan-modified hyperbranched polymer (named HPDACS) was synthesized through the free-radical polymerization of surface-modified chitosan with acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AM) to achieve an enhanced oil recovery. The optimal polymerization conditions of HPDACS were explored and its structure was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance, and environmental scanning electron microscopy. The solution properties of HPDACS in ultrapure water and simulated brine were deeply studied and then compared with those of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) and a dendritic polymer named HPDA. The experimental results showed that HPDACS has a good thickening ability, temperature resistance, and salt resistance. Its viscosity retention rate exceeded 79.49% after 90 days of aging, thus meeting the performance requirements of polymer flooding. After mechanical shearing, the viscosity retention rates of HPDACS in ultrapure water and simulated brine were higher than those of HPAM and HPDA, indicating its excellent shear resistance and good viscoelasticity. Following a 95% water cut after preliminary water flooding, 0.3 pore volume (PV) and 1500 mg/L HPDACS solution flooding and extended water flooding could further increase the oil recovery by 19.20%, which was higher than that by HPAM at 10.65% and HPDA at 13.72%. This finding indicates that HPDACS has great potential for oil displacement.
Design of Experiment Approach to Optimize Hydrophobic Fabric Treatments
Authors: Rezić Iva , Kiš Ana
Published: September 2020

Polymer materials can be functionalized with different surface treatments. By applying nanoparticles in coating, excellent antimicrobial properties are achieved. In addition, antimicrobial properties are enhanced by hydrophobic surface modification. Therefore, the goal of this work was to modify the process parameters to achieve excellent hydrophobicity of polymer surfaces. For this purpose, a Design of Experiment (DoE) statistical methodology was used to model and optimize the process through six processing parameters. In order to obtain the optimum and to study the interaction between parameters, response surface methodology coupled with a center composite design was applied. The ANNOVA test was significant for all variables. The results of the influence of process parameters showed that, by increasing the pressure, concentration of hydrophobic compounds and dye concentration, water vapor permeability was enhanced, while by decreasing weight, its efficiency was enhanced. Moreover, the increase in the temperature enhanced water vapor permeability but decreased the resistance to water wetting. An optimal process with ecologically favorable 6C fluorocarbon (68.802 g/L) surpassed all preliminary test results for 21.15%. The optimal process contained the following parameters: 154.3 °C, 1.05 bar, 56.07 g/L dye, 220 g/m2 fabric. Therefore, it is shown that DoE is an excellent tool for optimization of the parameters used in polymer surface functionalization.
Three-Dimensional Porous Graphene Supported MoS2 Nanoflower Prepared by a Facile Solvothermal Method with Excellent Rate Performance and Sodium-Ion Storage
Authors: Zeng Li , Zhang Liping , Liu Xingang , Zhang Chuhong
Published: September 2020

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), as a supplement of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), are attracting intensive research interest due to their low cost and abundance. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is regarded as a suitable candidates for SIBs electrode materials, which suffer from prominent volume expansion and poor conductivity. In this study, three-dimensional porous graphene composites loaded with MoS2 were prepared via a facile two-step method. The MoS2 nanoflower particles were uniformly dispersed within the layered graphene matrix, and a three-dimensional porous graphene supported MoS2 nanoflower battery (MoS2/3DG) was demonstrated to have superior performance to that of the pristine pure MoS2 nanoflower battery. At a current density of 100 mA/g, the MoS2/3DG delivered a reversible capacity of 420 mAh/g. What is more, it yielded a reversible specific capacity of 310 mAh/g at 2 A/g, showing an excellent rate of 73.8%. The excellent performance of the novel MoS2/3DG composite are attributed to the promoted infiltration of electrolytes and the hindered volume expansion for the porous structure, good conductivity, and robust mechanical properties of graphene.
3D Printed Silicone Meniscus Implants: Influence of the 3D Printing Process on Properties of Silicone Implants
Authors: Luis Eric , Pan Houwen Matthew , Bastola Anil Kumar , Bajpai Ram , Sing Swee Leong , Song Juha , Yeong Wai Yee
Published: September 2020

Osteoarthritis of the knee with meniscal pathologies is a severe meniscal pathology suffered by the aging population worldwide. However, conventional meniscal substitutes are not 3D-printable and lack the customizability of 3D printed implants and are not mechanically robust enough for human implantation. Similarly, 3D printed hydrogel scaffolds suffer from drawbacks of being mechanically weak and as a result patients are unable to execute immediate post-surgical weight-bearing ambulation and rehabilitation. To solve this problem, we have developed a 3D silicone meniscus implant which is (1) cytocompatible, (2) resistant to cyclic loading and mechanically similar to native meniscus, and (3) directly 3D printable. The main focus of this study is to determine whether the purity, composition, structure, dimensions and mechanical properties of silicone implants are affected by the use of a custom-made in-house 3D-printer. We have used the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) absorption test, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, surface profilometry, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to effectively assess and compare material properties between molded and 3D printed silicone samples.
Electrorheological Properties of Polydimethylsiloxane/TiO2-Based Composite Elastomers
Authors: Agafonov Alexander V. , Kraev Anton S. , Baranchikov Alexander E. , Ivanov Vladimir K.
Published: September 2020

Electrorheological elastomers based on polydimethylsiloxane filled with hydrated titanium dioxide with a particle size of 100–200 nm were obtained by polymerization of the elastomeric matrix, either in the presence, or in the absence, of an external electric field. The viscoelastic and dielectric properties of the obtained elastomers were compared. Analysis of the storage modulus and loss modulus of the filled elastomers made it possible to reveal the influence of the electric field on the Payne effect in electrorheological elastomers. The elastomer vulcanized in the electric field showed high values of electrorheological sensitivity, 250% for storage modulus and 1100% for loss modulus. It was shown, for the first time, that vulcanization of filled elastomers in the electric field leads to a significant decrease in the degree of crosslinking in the elastomer. This effect should be taken into account in the design of electroactive elastomeric materials.
Olive Tree Leaves—A Source of Valuable Active Compounds
Authors: Markhali Fereshteh Safarzadeh , Teixeira José A. , Rocha Cristina M. R.
Published: September 2020

The agricultural and processing activities of olive crops generate a substantial amount of food by-products, particularly olive leaves, which are mostly underexploited, representing a significant threat to the environment. Olive leaves are endowed with endogenous bioactive compounds. Their beneficial/health-promoting potential, together with environmental protection and circular economy, merit their exploitation to recover and reuse natural components that are potentially safer alternatives to synthetic counterparts. These biomass residues have great potential for extended industrial applications in food/dietary systems but have had limited commercial uses so far. In this regard, many researchers have endeavoured to determine a green/sustainable means to replace the conventional/inefficient methods currently used. This is not an easy task as a sustainable bio-processing approach entails careful designing to maximise the liberation of compounds with minimum use of (i) processing time, (ii) toxic solvent (iii) fossil fuel energy, and (iv) overall cost. Thus, it is necessary to device viable strategies to (i) optimise the extraction of valuable biomolecules from olive leaves and enable their conversion into high added-value products, and (ii) minimise generation of agro-industrial waste streams. This review provides an insight to the principal bioactive components naturally present in olive leaves, and an overview of the existing/proposed methods associated with their analysis, extraction, applications, and stability.
High-Throughput Raman Spectroscopy Combined with Innovate Data Analysis Workflow to Enhance Biopharmaceutical Process Development
Authors: Goldrick Stephen , Umprecht Alexandra , Tang Alison , Zakrzewski Roman , Cheeks Matthew , Turner Richard , Charles Aled , Les Karolina , Hulley Martyn , Spencer Chris , Farid Suzanne S.
Published: September 2020

Raman spectroscopy has the potential to revolutionise many aspects of biopharmaceutical process development. The widespread adoption of this promising technology has been hindered by the high cost associated with individual probes and the challenge of measuring low sample volumes. To address these issues, this paper investigates the potential of an emerging new high-throughput (HT) Raman spectroscopy microscope combined with a novel data analysis workflow to replace off-line analytics for upstream and downstream operations. On the upstream front, the case study involved the at-line monitoring of an HT micro-bioreactor system cultivating two mammalian cell cultures expressing two different therapeutic proteins. The spectra generated were analysed using a partial least squares (PLS) model. This enabled the successful prediction of the glucose, lactate, antibody, and viable cell density concentrations directly from the Raman spectra without reliance on multiple off-line analytical devices and using only a single low-volume sample (50–300 μL). However, upon the subsequent investigation of these models, only the glucose and lactate models appeared to be robust based upon their model coefficients containing the expected Raman vibrational signatures. On the downstream front, the HT Raman device was incorporated into the development of a cation exchange chromatography step for an Fc-fusion protein to compare different elution conditions. PLS models were derived from the spectra and were found to predict accurately monomer purity and concentration. The low molecular weight (LMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) species concentrations were found to be too low to be predicted accurately by the Raman device. However, the method enabled the classification of samples based on protein concentration and monomer purity, allowing a prioritisation and reduction in samples analysed using A280 UV absorbance and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The flexibility and highly configurable nature of this HT Raman spectroscopy microscope makes it an ideal tool for bioprocess research and development, and is a cost-effective solution based on its ability to support a large range of unit operations in both upstream and downstream process operations.
Degradation of Direct Blue 1 through Heterogeneous Photocatalysis with TiO2 Irradiated with E-Beam
Authors: Gallegos Elvia , Muñoz Bisesti Florinella , Vaca-Escobar Katherine , Santacruz Cristian , Fernández Lenys , Debut Alexis , Espinoza-Montero Patricio J.
Published: September 2020

Most dyes used in the textile industry are chemically stable and poorly biodegradable, therefore, they are persistent in the environment and difficult to degrade by conventional methods. An alternative treatment for this kind of substance is heterogeneous photocatalysis using TiO2, so, in this work, it is proposed to degrade Direct Blue 1 (DB1) using microparticulate TiO2 irradiated with e-beam at three different doses: 5, 10 and 20 kGy (J/kg). The DB1 degradation was implemented in a batch reactor (DB1 initial concentration = 50 mg L−1, pH 2.5, TiO2 concentration = 200 mg L−1). We have demonstrated that the photocatalytic power of TiO2, when irradiated with e-beam (5, 10, 20 kGy), varies slightly, with minor effects on photodegradation performance. However, the dose of 10 kGy showed a slightly better result, according to the DB1 photodegradation rate constant. Adsorption process was not affected by irradiation; its isotherm was fitted to Freundlich’s mathematical model. The DB1 photodegradation rate constants, after one hour of treatment, were: 0.0661 and 0.0742 min−1 for irradiated (10 kGy) and nonirradiated TiO2, respectively. The degradation rate constant has an increase of 12.3% for irradiated TiO2. Finally, there was no evidence of mineralization in the degradation process after 60 min of treatment. According to the results, the irradiation of microparticulate TiO2 with e-beam (10 kGy) slightly improves the photodegradation rate constant of DB1.
Methodology to Solve the Multi-Objective Optimization of Acrylic Acid Production Using Neural Networks as Meta-Models
Authors: Sepulveda Geraldine Cáceres , Ochoa Silvia , Thibault Jules
Published: September 2020

It is paramount to optimize the performance of a chemical process in order to maximize its yield and productivity and to minimize the production cost and the environmental impact. The various objectives in optimization are often in conflict, and one must determine the best compromise solution usually using a representative model of the process. However, solving first-principle models can be a computationally intensive problem, thus making model-based multi-objective optimization (MOO) a time-consuming task. In this work, a methodology to perform the multi-objective optimization for a two-reactor system for the production of acrylic acid, using artificial neural networks (ANNs) as meta-models, is proposed in an effort to reduce the computational time required to circumscribe the Pareto domain. The performance of the meta-model confirmed good agreement between the experimental data and the model-predicted values of the existent relationships between the eight decision variables and the nine performance criteria of the process. Once the meta-model was built, the Pareto domain was circumscribed based on a genetic algorithm (GA) and ranked with the net flow method (NFM). Using the ANN surrogate model, the optimization time decreased by a factor of 15.5.
Finite Element Study of Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and Activation Energy in Darcy–Forchheimer Rotating Flow of Casson Carreau Nanofluid
Authors: Ali Bagh , Rasool Ghulam , Hussain Sajjad , Baleanu Dumitru , Bano Sehrish
Published: September 2020

Here, a study for MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) impacts on the rotating flow of Casson Carreau nanofluids is considered. The temperature distribution is associated with thermophoresis, Brownian motion, and heat source. The diffusion of chemically reactive specie is investigated with Arrhenius activation energy. The governing equations in the 3D form are changed into dimensionless two-dimensional form with the implementation of suitable scaling transformations. The Variational finite element procedure is harnessed and coded in Matlab script to obtain the numerical solution of the coupled non-linear partial differential problem. The variation patterns of Sherwood number, Nusselt number, skin friction coefficients, velocities, concentration, and temperature functions are computed to reveal the physical nature of this examination. It is seen that higher contributions of the magnetic force, Casson fluid, and rotational fluid parameters cause a raise in the temperature like thermophoresis and Brownian motion does but also causes a slowing down in the primary as well as secondary velocities. The FEM solutions show an excellent correlation with published results. The current study has significant applications in the biomedical, modern technologies of aerospace systems, and relevance to energy systems.
Potential Dynamics of CO2 Stream Composition and Mass Flow Rates in CCS Clusters
Authors: Kahlke Sven-Lasse , Pumpa Martin , Schütz Stefan , Kather Alfons , Rütters Heike
Published: September 2020

Temporal variations in CO2 stream composition and mass flow rates may occur in a CO2 transport network, as well as further downstream when CO2 streams of different compositions and temporally variable mass flow rates are fed in. To assess the potential impacts of such variations on CO2 transport, injection, and storage, their characteristics must be known. We investigated variation characteristics in a scenario of a regional CO2 emitter cluster of seven fossil-fired power plants and four industrial plants that feed captured CO2 streams into a pipeline network. Variations of CO2 stream composition and mass flow rates in the pipelines were simulated using a network analysis tool. In addition, the potential effects of changes in the energy mix on resulting mass flow rates and CO2 stream compositions were investigated for two energy mix scenarios that consider higher shares of renewable energy sources or a replacement of lignite by hard coal and natural gas. While resulting maximum mass flow rates in the trunk line were similar in all considered scenarios, minimum flow rates and pipeline capacity utilisation differed substantially between them. Variations in CO2 stream composition followed the power plants’ operational load patterns resulting e.g., in stronger composition variations in case of higher renewable energy production.
The Muslim Council of Britain: Progressive Interlocutor or Redundant Gatekeeper?
Authors: Khan Harun , Joudi Hassan , Ahmed Zahraa
Published: September 2020

Since its inception in 1997, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has evolved to become one of the most enduring British Muslim organisations. It is a representative body for over 500 member bodies (‘affiliates’) including mosques, schools and charities. During the course of the last two decades, it has been subject to external comment and sometimes critique by academics, media commentators, policy-makers, and others. This special issue of the journal Religions has provided a welcome opportunity for the current leadership of the MCB to write about the organisation from ‘within’, based on their long-standing time volunteering with it. This paper is based on an oral history methodology involving extended interviews with the oversight of a research director, supplemented by reference to existing academic and other sources. Therefore this paper is essentially a type of ‘edited transcript’ aggregated wholly from a series of first person interviews undertaken with the current senior elected leaders of MCB; reorganised for clarity and drafted out with added ‘prose’ allowing for it to be presented in essay form. The result is the first documented ‘insider’ perspective on the ways in which the MCB has tackled issues such as internal governance, the challenge of ‘representation’ in view of the diversity of British Muslim communities, changing relationships with government, and policy work. It becomes apparent through the paper that the MCB has matured into a constructively self-critical, pro-active, and more strategically professional body, that contributes to the flourishing of Muslim communities and the place of Islam in British society. The production of the paper is itself an indicator of the growing confidence and capacity of the MCB, and its ability to contribute positively to academic discourse and debate about Muslims in Britain.
A Feature Space Constraint-Based Method for Change Detection in Heterogeneous Images
Authors: Shi Nian , Chen Keming , Zhou Guangyao , Sun Xian
Published: September 2020

With the development of remote sensing technologies, change detection in heterogeneous images becomes much more necessary and significant. The main difficulty lies in how to make input heterogeneous images comparable so that the changes can be detected. In this paper, we propose an end-to-end heterogeneous change detection method based on the feature space constraint. First, considering that the input heterogeneous images are in two distinct feature spaces, two encoders with the same structure are used to extract features, respectively. A decoder is used to obtain the change map from the extracted features. Then, the Gram matrices, which include the correlations between features, are calculated to represent different feature spaces, respectively. The squared Euclidean distance between Gram matrices, termed as feature space loss, is used to constrain the extracted features. After that, a combined loss function consisting of the binary cross entropy loss and feature space loss is designed for training the model. Finally, the change detection results between heterogeneous images can be obtained when the model is trained well. The proposed method can constrain the features of two heterogeneous images to the same feature space while keeping their unique features so that the comparability between features can be enhanced and better detection results can be achieved. Experiments on two heterogeneous image datasets consisting of optical and SAR images demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.
Continuous Forest Monitoring Using Cumulative Sums of Sentinel-1 Timeseries
Authors: Ruiz-Ramos Javier , Marino Armando , Boardman Carl , Suarez Juan
Published: September 2020

Forest degradation is recognized as a major environmental threat on a global scale. The recent rise in natural and anthropogenic destruction of forested ecosystems highlights the need for developing new, rapid, and accurate remote sensing monitoring systems, which capture forested land transformations. In spite of the great technological advances made in airborne and spaceborne sensors over the past decades, current Earth observation (EO) change detection methods still need to overcome numerous limitations. Optical sensors have been commonly used for detecting land use and land cover changes (LULCC), however, the requirement of certain technical and environmental conditions (e.g., sunlight, not cloud-coverage) restrict their use. More recently, synthetic aperture radar (SAR)-based change detection approaches have been used to overcome these technical limitations, but they commonly rely on static detection approaches (e.g., pre and post disturbance scenario comparison) that are slow to monitor change. In this context, this paper presents a novel approach for mapping forest structural changes in a continuous and near-real-time manner using dense Sentinel-1 image time-series. Our cumulative sum–spatial mean corrected (CUSU-SMC) algorithm approach is based on cumulative sum statistical analysis, which allows the continuous monitoring of radar signal variations, derived from forest structural change. Taking advantage of the high data availability offered by the Sentinel-1 (S-1) C-band constellation, we used an S-1 ground range detected (GRD) dual (VV, VH) polarization timeseries, formed by a total of 84 images, to monitor clear-cutting operations carried out in a Scottish forest during 2019. The analysis showed a user’s accuracy of 82% for the (conservative) detection approach. The use of a post-processing neighbor filter increased the detection performance to a user’s accuracy of 86% with an overall accuracy of 77% for areas of a minimum extent of 0.4 ha. To further validate the detection performance of the method, the CUSU-SMC change detector was tested against commonly-used pairwise change detection approaches for the same period. These results emphasize the capabilities of dense SAR time-series for environmental monitoring and provide a useful tool for optimizing national forest inventories.
Segmentation Effect on the Transferability of International Safety Performance Functions for Rural Roads in Egypt
Authors: Elagamy Sania Reyad , El-Badawy Sherif M. , Shwaly Sayed A. , Zidan Zaki M. , Shahdah Usama Elrawy
Published: September 2020

This paper examines the transferability of the Safety Performance Function (SPF) of the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) and other 10 international SPFs for total crashes on rural multi-lane divided roads in Egypt. Four segmentation approaches are assessed in the transferability of the international SPFs, namely: (1) one-kilometer segments (S1); (2) homogenous sections (S2); (3) variable segments with respect to the presence of curvatures (S3); and (4) variable segments with respect to the presence of both curvatures and U-turns (S4). The Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD), Mean Prediction Bias (MPB), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Pearson χ2 statistic, and Z-score parameters are used to evaluate the performance of the transferred models. The overdispersion parameter (k) for each transferred model and each segmentation approach is recalibrated using the local data by the maximum likelihood method. Before estimating the transferability calibration factor (Cr), three methods were used to adjust the local crash prediction of the transferred models, namely: (1) the HSM default crash modification factors (CMFs); (2) local CMFs; and (3) recalibrating the constant term of the transferred model. The latter method is found to outperform the first two methods. Besides, the results show that the segmentation method would affect the performance of the transferability process. Moreover, the Italian SPFs based on the S1 segmentation method outperforms the HSM and all of the investigated international SPFs for transferring their models to the Egyptian rural roads.
Drivers and Barriers for Efficient Energy Management Practices in Energy-Intensive Industries: A Case-Study of Iron and Steel Sector
Authors: Ahmad Iftikhar , Arif Muhammad Salman , Cheema Izzat Iqbal , Thollander Patrik , Khan Masroor Ahmed
Published: September 2020

The two major reasons behind the world’s energy crisis are losses in energy transmission and less efficient energy use at sinks. The former flaw can be catered by changing the entire energy transmission system which requires investment and planning on a large scale, whereas the later deficiency can be overcome through proper management of energy utilizing systems. Energy-intensive industries have a substantial share in energy consumption and equally high energy saving potentials if they adopt some integrated and improved energy efficiency. This study investigates the energy management systems in the iron and steel sector of Pakistan, and compare it with findings of similar work in Sweden, Bangladesh, and Ghana. A systematic questionnaire was circulated in the iron and steel sector across the country and afterward the collected data was analyzed to find major barriers and drivers for efficient energy management practices. In addition, questions on non-energy benefits and information sources relevant to the energy efficiency were also part of the questionnaire. Cost reduction resulting from lowered energy use was rated as the most important driver for applying energy-efficient operation. On the other hand, the cost of production disruption was considered among high-level barriers to the implementation of improved energy efficiency. An increase in the life-time of equipment was labeled as the top non-energy benefits. Company peers and seminars/conferences were referred as the best information sources related to energy efficiency. The outcome of the study will be helpful to the decision-maker in the industry, as well as the government levels.
Mechanism of Carbon Finance’s Influence on Radical Low-Carbon Innovation with Evidence from China
Authors: Sun Limei , Wang Jinyu , Wang Zhicheng , Marquez Leorey
Published: September 2020

Radical low-carbon innovations have considerable technological and revolutionary influences. These key technologies considerably reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This study examines the role of carbon finance development in China’s radical low-carbon innovations. The paper identifies the key entities involved, constructs a network model of the interaction between carbon finance and radical low-carbon innovation, and uses multi-agent simulation modeling to analyze the associated influence mechanism. The results demonstrate that the carbon market can promote radical low-carbon innovation by (1) regulating the number of enterprises participating subject to carbon emission regulations, (2) regulating the number of market intermediaries, (3) establishing the market regulation level, and (4) setting the carbon intensity reduction level. The paper concludes that the Chinese government can formulate novel carbon market-related policies and regulations that, in a timely manner, influence the relationship between the carbon market and participating entities to promote the development of radical low-carbon technologies.
Optimizing Management Options through Empirical Modeling to Improve Pearl Millet Production for Semi-Arid and Arid Regions of Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Ullah Asmat , Ahmad Ishfaq , ur Rahman Muhammad Habib , Waseem Muhammad , Waqas Muhammad Mohsin , Bhatti Muhammad Ashraf , Ahmad Ashfaq
Published: September 2020

Low planting density and deficient nitrogen application are factors that significantly decrease the yield of pearl millet in Pakistan. Optimizing their management is imperative in increasing millet production efficiency, especially with N fertilization, which can strongly affect hybrid millet response. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (semi-arid) and the Agronomic Research Station, Karor Lal Eason, District Layyah (arid) over two summer seasons (2015 and 2016). The experiment consisted of three intra-row spacings (10, 15, and 20 cm) as main plots, while four nitrogen rates (0, 150, 200, and 250 kg ha−1) were randomized in subplots. The treatments were triplicated each year at both locations. The results depicted a significant change in millet crop development with a change in planting density and nitrogen rate in semi-arid and arid environments. The decrease in planting density resulted 1–2 day(s) delay in 50% flowering, milking, and maturity in semi-arid and arid region during both years of study. Higher dry matter accumulation was observed at medium planting density (15 cm intra-row spacing) and higher levels of nitrogen (250 kg ha−1) at both locations and growing seasons. The yield and attributed yield performed well with 15-cm plant spacing coupled with N application from 150–200 kg ha−1, and resulted in high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The results of the quadratic relationship and economic analysis linked with yield and nitrogen levels at 15-cm spacing showed 176 and 181 kg N ha−1 optimum levels (mean of years) against the economic N levels of 138 and 137 kg N ha−1 for Faisalabad and Layyah, respectively. The benefit–cost ratio (BCR) showed 31% and 45% mean excessive N at 200 and 250 kg N ha−1, in Faisalabad and Layyah, respectively. So, it is concluded that the optimum economic level of N should be sought out according to the soil and climate of an area for the production of hybrid pearl millet on a sustainable basis.
Population Density and Spatial Patterns of Informal Settlements in Nairobi, Kenya
Authors: Ren Hang , Guo Wei , Zhang Zhenke , Kisovi Leonard Musyoka , Das Priyanko
Published: September 2020

The widespread informal settlements in Nairobi have interested many researchers and urban policymakers. Reasonable planning of urban density is the key to sustainable development. By using the spatial population data of 2000, 2010, and 2020, this study aims to explore the changes in population density and spatial patterns of informal settlements in Nairobi. The result of spatial correlation analysis shows that the informal settlements are the centers of population growth and agglomeration and are mostly distributed in the belts of 4 and 8 km from Nairobi’s central business district (CBD). A series of population density models in Nairobi were examined; it showed that the correlation between population density and distance to CBD was positive within a 4 km area, while for areas outside 8 km, they were negatively related. The factors determining population density distribution are also discussed. We argue that where people choose to settle is a decision process between the expected benefits and the cost of living; the informal settlements around the 4-km belt in Nairobi has become the choice for most poor people. This paper ends with suggestions for urban planning and upgrading informal settlements. The findings will increase our understanding of urban population distribution in underdeveloped countries.
Artisan Brick Kilns: State-of-the-Art and Future Trends
Authors: Valdes Hugo , Vilches Juan , Felmer Gabriel , Hurtado Mariela , Figueroa Juan
Published: September 2020

A large part of the global brick manufacturing industry has evolved based on knowledge transmitted from generation to generation without developing a consistent scientific approach. The purpose of this article is to contribute to this approach by discussing the state-of-the-art and future trends of the design and construction of artisan brick kilns (ABK). The methodology proposed for this study is based on a systematic literature review whereby main question is: What research exists on brick kilns? Based on the results of this review, it is recommended that appropriate emerging technologies that should be incorporated to ABKs for either medium or small enterprises should be: mechanical fans, envelope thermal insulation, organic waste of uniform size as fuel, automatic control of process variables and computer simulations of phenomenological processes. This should be accompanied by technical training for the brick-makers and greater access to financing funds. The technologies reviewed throughout the paper will allow for a more thermally efficient design of kilns, which will emit less hazardous greenhouse gases and atmospheric pollutants.
German Consumers’ Perceptions of Organic Wine—A Qualitative Approach
Authors: Hauck Katharina , Szolnoki Gergely
Published: September 2020

This study aims to examine what German wine consumers know and think about organic wine. It also investigates the effects that knowledge and attitudes have on wine purchasing decisions. Data for this survey were collected using a qualitative approach, with 12 focus group discussions at three different locations in Germany, observations of wine choices and an acceptance test to assess consumers’ knowledge of and reactions to organic wine. Most wine consumers are unaware if a wine is organic when they purchase it. A general skepticism and lack of knowledge about organic wines undermine any active demand for these products. Information and comparisons between the production of organic and conventional wines can improve awareness and consideration of the organic variety and increase consumers’ willingness to buy organic wine. To increase the active demand for organic wine, its attributes need to be communicated to consumers. This can be achieved by improving the visibility of organic certification, conducting information campaigns to inform consumers about wine and organic wine production and collaborating with organic wine associations to advance the public image of organic wines.
Multi-Objective Optimization of Service Selection and Scheduling in Cloud Manufacturing Considering Environmental Sustainability
Authors: Yang Dong , Liu Qidong , Li Jia , Jia Yongji
Published: September 2020

Cloud manufacturing is an emerging service-oriented paradigm that works by taking advantage of distributed manufacturing resources and capabilities to collaboratively perform a manufacturing task, with the consideration of QoS (Quality of Service) requirements such as cost, time and quality. Incorporating environmental concerns and sustainability into cloud manufacturing to produce a much greener product has become an urgent issue since there is fierce market competition and an increasing environment consciousness from customers. In this paper, we present a multi-objective optimization approach to selecting and scheduling cloud manufacturing services from the viewpoints of the economy and environment including carbon emissions and water resource. Subject to the carbon cap regulation, a multi-objective model for a cloud manufacturing task is built with the aim of minimizing total costs, carbon emissions, and water resource use. Transportation mode selections and carbon emissions from both cloud manufacturing services and transportation activities are taken into account in this model. The ε-constraint method is employed to obtain the exact Pareto front of optimal solutions. A case study from automobile cloud manufacturing is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the presented approach. Numerical experiments are conducted to compare the presented approach and the simple additive weighting method. The results show that the presented ε-constraint method can obtain a better and more diverse Pareto set of solutions and that it can solve the models in a reasonable time.
Conditions for Co-Creation in Infrastructure Projects: Experiences from the Overdiepse Polder Project (The Netherlands)
Authors: Rădulescu Maria Alina , Leendertse Wim , Arts Jos
Published: September 2020

In recent decades, stakeholder engagement had been gaining momentum in planning practice. More recently, at the heart of the discussions about collaborative endeavours stands the concept of co-creation, an umbrella term for multiple forms of collaboration between stakeholders, which is seen as an approach for fostering new and innovative solutions for highly complex challenges. Despite this idyllic representation, co-creation does not always lead to positive outcomes. One reason is that co-creation poses major operationalization challenges, which make it a significant subject for research. In this article, we explore the conditions that allow co-creation practices aimed at fostering innovation and creativity in infrastructure projects to take place and flourish. Based on the review of literature on co-creation, on the analysis of project-related documents, and on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with the stakeholders, this article follows the co-creation process of the Overdiepse polder project, part of the innovative Dutch water management programme ‘Room for the River’. The results show that co-creation is an iterative process that depends on conditions related to the context, the characteristics of the stakeholders and their relationships, but also on the design and dynamics of the process. The results of this study can be of help to researchers, academics, and professionals interested in studying or applying co-creative approaches.
Sustainable Tax Behavior of MNEs: Effect of International Tax Law Reform
Authors: Cho Hyejin
Published: September 2020

As tax is related to the sustainable growth of societies around the world, international tax avoidance by multinational enterprises (MNEs) has gained public attention. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) introduced the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action Plan to promote sustainable tax behavior of MNEs. To guide policymakers and regulators in curving MNEs’ tax schemes utilizing market imperfection, this paper empirically assesses whether the international law reform regarding information disclosures on global operation achieves the intended result of lowering MNEs’ tax avoidance. In addition, the conditional effect of family ownership and intangible asset intensity is addressed to find the factors that strengthen the tax avoidance level of MNEs. This study employs propensity score matching and difference-in-differences method to analyze the changes in international tax liabilities of Korean MNEs in response to BEPS Action Plan 13. The empirical results show that the sustainable tax behavior of MNEs increased when international tax law demanded that they reveal critical information on global allocation of income, economic activity, and taxes paid among countries. Furthermore, the results show that there was a higher increase in the international tax liabilities of MNEs with higher intangible asset intensity. The results suggest to policymakers that the private information disclosure of MNEs’ global operation and sharing such information is essential in tackling MNEs’ BEPS activities, and intangible assets are indeed an important source of tax avoidance.
Digital Competences of Polish and Slovak Students—Comparative Analysis in the Light of Empirical Research
Authors: Hajduová Zuzana , Smoląg Klaudia , Szajt Marek , Bednárová Lucia
Published: September 2020

Skills in using information and communication technology solutions in the modern world determine the quality of professional and social life for everyone. The last decade has shown that digital competences are an important group of key competences for every employee and every organization. The purpose of this study is to present results of surveys on digital competences of Polish and Slovak students. Generally, results show that assessment of the level of digital competence of Polish students is not only higher but also less diverse. The rationale for addressing the subject of digital competences is its significance, constant changes resulting from development of ICT and the need to improve quality of life of individuals and organizations in the modern digital world. In this questionnaire, the students were asked to evaluate their level of understanding both existing and non-existing terms from the ICT area. The results have shown that there are significant differences between the questioned groups of students especially in case of IT competences.
Learning Science during Teatime: Using a Citizen Science Approach to Collect Data on Litter Decomposition in Sweden and Austria
Authors: Sandén Taru , Spiegel Heide , Wenng Hannah , Schwarz Michael , Sarneel Judith M.
Published: September 2020

The decay of organic material—litter decomposition—is a critical process for life on Earth and an essential part of the global carbon cycle. Yet, this basic process remains unknown to many citizens. The Tea Bag Index (TBI) measures decomposition in a standardized, measurable, achievable, climate-relevant, and time-relevant way by burying commercial tea bags in soil for three months and calculating proxies to characterize the decomposition process (expressed as decomposition rate (k) and stabilization factor (S)). We measured TBI at 8 cm soil depth with the help of school and farm citizen scientists in 2015 in Sweden and in 2016 in Austria. Questionnaires to the participating schools and farms enabled us to capture lessons learned from this participatory data collection. In total >5500 citizen scientists participated in the mass experiments, and approximately 50% of the tea bags sent out yielded successful results that fell well within previously reported ranges. The average decomposition rates (k) ranged from 0.008 to 0.012 g d−1 in Sweden and from 0.012 to 0.015 g d−1 in Austria. Stabilization factors (S) were up to four times higher in Sweden than Austria. Taking part in a global experiment was a great incentive for participants, and in future experiments the citizen scientists and TBI would benefit from having enhanced communication between the researchers and participants about the results gained.
Dark Matter as Variations in the Electromagnetic Zero-Point Field Induced by Baryonic Matter
Authors: Knoll Yehonatan
Published: September 2020

Cold dark-matter, as a solution to the so-called dark-matter problem, suffers from a major internal conflict: In order to dodge direct detection for so long, it must have an unobservably small (non gravitational) interaction with mundane matter, and yet it manages to ‘conspire’ with it such that, in single galaxies, its distribution can be inferred from that of mundane matter via the MOND phenomenology. This conflict is avoided if the missing, transparent component of the energy-momentum tensor is due to variations in some electromagnetic ‘zero point field’ (ZPF) which is sourced by mundane matter and contains both its advanced and retarded fields. The existence of a ZPF thus modulated by mundane matter, follows from a proper solution to the self-force problem of classical electrodynamics (CED), recently proposed by the author, which renders CED compatible with the statistical predictions of QM. The possibility that ‘dark matter’ is yet another, hitherto ignored facet of good-old classical electrodynamics, therefore seems no less plausible than it being a highly exotic and conspirative new form of matter. Tests for deciding between the two are proposed.
The Number of Subgroup Chains of Finite Nilpotent Groups
Authors: Han Lingling , Guo Xiuyun
Published: September 2020

In this paper, we mainly count the number of subgroup chains of a finite nilpotent group. We derive a recursive formula that reduces the counting problem to that of finite p-groups. As applications of our main result, the classification problem of distinct fuzzy subgroups of finite abelian groups is reduced to that of finite abelian p-groups. In particular, an explicit recursive formula for the number of distinct fuzzy subgroups of a finite abelian group whose Sylow subgroups are cyclic groups or elementary abelian groups is given.