bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Interactive Analysis of Influencing Factors on the Separation Performance of the Screw Press
Authors: Fu Shuangcheng , Dou Bin , Zhang Xiang , Li Kewei
Published: April 2023

In order to optimize the separation performance of the screw press and enable its water removal rate and production to meet the production requirements, the influencing rule of the interactive effect of multi-factor parameters on its separation performance was studied by numerical simulation and experimental means. The internal flow field of the screw press was simulated by Fluent software. The rotation speed of the screw axis, back pressure of the slag outlet, and initial water content were taken as influencing factors, and the water removal rate and production were taken as objective functions. The Box–Behnken method was used to analyze the influencing rules of the interactive factors on the water removal rate and production. The results show that the significant factors affecting the water removal rate of the screw press are in the following order: initial water content > back pressure > rotation speed. The significant factors affecting screw press production are in the following order: rotation speed > back pressure > initial water content. The optimal combination of process parameters for the screw press is an initial water content of 55%, a screw axis rotation speed of 30 r/min, and a 5 kPa back pressure at the slag outlet. The water removal rate of 48.9% and production of 234.2 kg/d were obtained.
A Rapid and Sensitive UPLC-MS/MS Method for Quantifying Capmatinib in Human Liver Microsomes: Evaluation of Metabolic Stability by In Silico and In Vitro Analysis
Authors: Attwa Mohamed W. , Abdelhameed Ali S. , Alsibaee Aishah M. , Kadi Adnan A.
Published: April 2023

Capmatinib (CMB) is an orally bioavailable mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET) inhibitor approved by the US-FDA to treat metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, with MET exon 14 skipping mutation. The current study aimed to establish a specific, rapid, and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) analytical method for quantifying CMB in human liver microsomes (HLMs), with therapeutic implications for assessing metabolic stability. Validation of the UPLC-MS/MS analytical method in the HLMs was performed using selectivity, sensitivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, extraction recovery, stability, and matrix effects according to the guidelines for bio-analytical method validation of the US-FDA. CMB was ionized by positive electrospray ionization (ESI) as the ionization source and analysed using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) as the mass analyser mode. CMB and pemigatinib (PMT) were resolved on the C18 column, with an isocratic mobile phase. The CMB calibration curve showed linearity in the concentration range of 1–3000 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision were −7.67–4.48% and 0.46–6.99%, respectively. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 0.94 ng/mL confirmed the sensitivity of the UPLC-MS/MS analytical method. The intrinsic clearance (Clint) and in vitro half-life (t1/2) of CMB were 61.85 mL/min/kg and 13.11 min, respectively. CMB showed a high extraction ratio. The present study is the first to develop, establish, and standardize UPLC-MS/MS for the purpose of quantifying and evaluating the metabolic stability of CMB.
Smart City Transformation: An Analysis of Dhaka and Its Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Karmaker Ashish Kumar , Islam S M Rezwanul , Kamruzzaman Md , Rashid Md Mamun Ur , Faruque Md Omer , Hossain Md Alamgir
Published: April 2023

Cities worldwide are experiencing rapid urbanization and an increasing population, creating a pressing need for smart infrastructure to enhance citizen services. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, faces similar technological and socio-economic challenges, making it crucial to transform it into a sustainable smart city. This research analyzes the opportunities and challenges of smart cities and Dhaka through SWOT and PESTEL analyses. The study employs a fuzzy rule-based inference system in a MATLAB simulation to calculate the smart city index based on parameters such as governance, transportation, waste management, utility management, healthcare, and industrial automation. The findings reveal that good governance has the highest impact on the smart city index, followed by transportation. The paper proposes a sustainable smart city transportation framework and management technique, outlining future research directions. The proposed framework is expected to impact socio-economic, technological, and environmental aspects positively.
Examining the Association between Recent Maternal Incarceration and Adolescents’ Sleep Patterns, Dietary Behaviors, and Physical Activity Involvement
Authors: Zhao Qianwei , He Ning , Avellaneda Flor , Parrish Danielle E.
Published: April 2023

Maternal incarceration has become an increasingly common life event among adolescents in the U.S., especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Evidence suggests that maternal incarceration is a risk factor for adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing problems. However, its collateral consequences on adolescents’ sleep patterns, dietary behaviors and physical activity involvement remain unclear. This study uses the Fragile Family and Child Wellbeing Study dataset (N = 3262) to examine the prevalence of risk behaviors related to sleep, diet, and physical exercise among adolescents with maternal incarceration histories and assess the relationship between maternal incarceration and these behavioral health risks. Findings suggested that a significantly lower proportion of adolescents with maternal incarceration experiences consumed breakfast for at least four days a week than those without maternal incarceration experiences (41.78% vs. 52.76%, p = 0.009), a higher proportion of them consumed fast food for at least two days a week (57.35% vs. 48.61%, p = 0.035), had at least two sweetened drinks per day (71.92% vs. 62.21%, p = 0.018), and reported more days having problems staying asleep per week (1.70 vs. 1.26, p = 0.008). Regression analyses suggested that adolescents with maternal incarceration experiences were more likely to have problems staying asleep (B = 0.44, p = 0.012) than those without maternal incarceration experiences.
Stronger Together? Determinants of Cooperation Patterns of Migrant Organizations in Germany
Authors: Friedrichs Nils , Mualem Marie
Published: April 2023

Based on a cross-regional survey of 764 migrant organizations (MOs) in Germany, this study examines the relationship between the content-related orientation (activity areas) of a migrant organization, its human and financial resources, and its cooperation patterns, e.g., the tendency to become a member of umbrella associations and to cooperate with various actors in society. Resources as well as activity areas of an MO have effects on such collaborations, but they differ depending on the cooperation partner. MOs with a focus on social work are more likely to cooperate with public institutions and civil society organizations and have a larger network overall than MOs active in other areas. In addition, human resources are more important for cooperation than funding. While paid employees increase the probability of cooperation with public institutions as well as the membership in an umbrella association, the number of volunteers correlates positively with the tendency to cooperate with other organizations of civil society and religious communities. In particular, a broad base of paid and volunteer staff increases the chances of cooperation.
Temperature Distribution Regularity and Dynamic Evolution of Spontaneous Combustion Coal Gangue Dump: Case Study of Yinying Coal Mine in Shanxi, China
Authors: Zhao Na , Zhang Yongbo , Zhao Xuehua , Yang Na , Wang Zhigang , Guo Zhongtie , Tong Jiamin , Zhang Yuehui , Liu Zhiming
Published: April 2023

The serious environmental pollution caused by the spontaneous combustion of coal gangue has become a problem which cannot be ignored in the world mining industry. It is urgently necessary to clarify the law of the temperature distribution of spontaneous combustion in gangue dumps and to grasp its future dynamic evolution of spontaneous combustion. In this study, the internal temperature of the second platform of the Yinying coal mine gangue dump was monitored on the basis of the self-developed wireless temperature monitoring system. Its temperature distribution was analysed, and areas of low (<80 °C), medium (80~280 °C), and high temperature (>280 °C) were delimited. The finite element method was also used to simulate its internal temperature development of 1–5 years. The results show that: (1) The high temperature area is mainly distributed on the side close to the slope. In the area 3 m deep, the high temperature started to propagate quickly. At a depth of 4 m, medium and high temperature represented 90% of the platform’s total surface area. At 6 m deep, temperature peaked at 667 °C. (2) The conduction of the internal temperature of the spontaneous combustion of gangue discharge is a non-linear conduction, and the conduction of heat in the horizontal direction is lower than the vertical direction. (3) During the spontaneous combustion of gangue discharge over the next five years, the overall temperature increase is faster at first, then it decreases and eventually stabilises. The high-temperature zones extend 10 m from the slope to the interior in five years, and the high-temperature zones are oval-shaped. This study provides a theoretical reference for the prevention and control of spontaneous combustion of coal gangue dumps.
Social Media and Influencer Marketing for Promoting Sustainable Tourism Destinations: The Instagram Case
Authors: Kilipiri Eleni , Papaioannou Eugenia , Kotzaivazoglou Iordanis
Published: April 2023

Instagram is a critical tool for the selection of tourism destinations. Instagram travel influencers seem to play a significant role in this process, often using geo-location data to make their posts even more impactful. However, there is no evidence of them performing such a role in sustainable destinations, although these destinations are increasing and to a large extent are the future in tourism. This paper aspires to shed light in this area focusing on sustainable destinations. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to examine (a) the role of Instagram travel influencers in shaping users’ opinions of a sustainable destination and (b) the importance of geo-location data used by influencers to the users’ selection of such a destination. Thirty sustainable tourism destinations, as posted between 2017 and 2019, were selected for examination by using 10 Instagram travel macro-influencers’ power derived from their followers’ interactions on posts. The study used a mixed method approach combining cross-sectional and quantitative data analysis. Panel data and a multiple hierarchical analysis using SPSS Statistics were implemented to test the hypotheses. Finally, a regression model was used to try to identify the relationship between geo-location data and the selection of sustainable tourism destinations. The findings show that Instagram travel influencers, as social media communicators, are positively related to the selection of a sustainable destination. However, the use of geo-location data by Instagram travel influencers does not enhance travelers’ intention for such a choice.
Numerical Analysis of the Racking Behaviour of Multi-Storey Timber-Framed Buildings Considering Load-Bearing Function of Double-Skin Façade Elements
Authors: Premrov Miroslav , Kozem Šilih Erika
Published: April 2023

The paper presents an innovative approach in the modelling of multi-storey timber-framed buildings, where double-skin façade elements (DSF) are additionally considered as load-bearing wall elements against a horizontal load impact. The mathematical model with a fictive diagonal element developed for timber-framed wall elements with classical oriented strand boards (OSB) or fibre–plaster sheathing boards (FPB) is upgraded for DSF elements. The diameter of the fictive diagonal is determined with either experimental results or numerically obtained results using the time-consuming FEM model with elastic spring elements, which simulates the bonding line between the timber frame and both glazing panes. In the second part of the study, the numerical analysis of a specially selected three-storey timber-framed building was performed using the developed mathematical model with fictive diagonal elements. Two alternative calculations were performed with the DSF elements as non-resisting and racking-resisting wall elements. It was demonstrated on the selected case that the racking resistance (R) of a building can essentially increase up to 35% if DSF elements are considered as resisting wall elements. As a secondary goal of the study, it is also important to point out that by using DSF elements as racking-resisting elements, the distortion in the first floor essentially decreased. It is demonstrated on the selected numerical example that this torsional influence decreased notably (by almost 18%) when the load-bearing DSF elements were used for seismic excitation in the X direction. Therefore, such an approach can open new perspectives in designing multi-storey timber-framed buildings with a more attractive and dynamic floor plan and structure.
How Mentoring Cultivates the Craftsman Spirit of Protégés—A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Wei Xiangyu , Yu Guangtao , Li Ying
Published: April 2023

The craftsman spirit of employees has a direct impact on the core competitiveness of enterprises. As a popular talent development program, can mentorship help cultivate the craftsman spirit of employees? The purpose of this paper is to reveal the positive effect of mentoring on protégé craftsman spirit, as well as its mechanism. Based on mentoring theory, we explored the intermediary role of protégé deliberate practice and investigated the relevant boundary condition. Using a three-stage questionnaire survey, we collected data from employees in Chinese enterprises. Finally, 370 questionnaires were effectively obtained. We utilized data analysis software such as Mplus and SPSS to test the hypotheses. The empirical results showed that mentoring has a significant positive effect on protégé craftsman spirit. Deliberate practice of protégés mediates the relationship between mentoring and protégé craftsman spirit. Mentor advice-seeking behavior can reinforce the positive effect of mentoring on protégé deliberate practice and strengthen the mediating effect of deliberate practice between mentoring and craftsman spirit. In conclusion, we provide a theoretical explanation for mentoring to cultivate the craftsman spirit of employees, as well as relevant management insights for talent management practices within enterprises.
The Evolution of University Students’ Financial Attitudes and Their Role in the Sustainability of Personal Finances
Authors: Zéman Zoltán , Kálmán Botond Géza , Bárczi Judit , Pataki László
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this study is to examine the question of how crises influence the decision-making of Hungarian university students. Crises increase the risk of sustainability, so it is crucial to make appropriate financial decisions in such a situation. For this purpose, the authors conducted a two-stage questionnaire survey among students of economics and other majors. The inquiries took place in 2019 (n = 1558) and 2020 (n = 1712). A regression study was used to analyse the evolution of financial attitudes and investment knowledge, as well as how they are affected by a potential crisis modelled with the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been shown that interest in financial matters increases as a result of the crisis and the level of financial knowledge also increases. However, the most important conclusion of the study is that, in the event of a high threat, knowledge and practice can only be combined with calm thinking to help make appropriate financial decisions. All of this together ensures that investment decisions are the basis for the sustainability of personal finances.
Multidimensional Evaluation of Urban Land-Use Efficiency and Innovation Capability Analysis: A Case Study in the Pearl River Delta Region, China
Authors: Lei Yanxi , Dong Zuoji , Dong Jichang , Dong Zhi
Published: April 2023

With China’s rapid industrialization and urbanization, sustainable urban development is one of the most significant challenges that the country will face in the future, and the rational evaluation and improvement of urban land-use efficiency (ULUE) are becoming crucial for land and urban development. Existing studies rarely examine ULUE, and there is a dearth of urban land use analysis in terms of different functions, regional differences in levels of development, and innovation capacity. Therefore, we take the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China’s economic and innovation center, as our research target and propose a new framework to analyze its comprehensive ULUE. First, we summarized the patterns of land-use change in the PRD region as a whole along with nine major cities from 2000 to 2020 on the basis of data from the China Land Survey. Then, we constructed a multidimensional evaluation model for ULUE and analyzed the spatial differences and causes of multidimensional performance in nine major cities. Finally, we calculated the innovation capability index of the PRD region and established a coupling coordination–evaluation model to analyze the coordination relationship between innovation capability and urban land use. The three main findings of this study are as follows. (1) The growth rate of urban land in the PRD region as a whole exhibited stage differences. (2) The comprehensive ULUE in the PRD urban agglomeration was high, and the spatial variability of functional performance in each dimension was obvious. (3) The level of coordination between innovation capability and urban land use in the PRD region was high, and the coupled coordinated development exhibited a decreasing spatial distribution pattern. Thus, the PRD region mainly relies on the cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou to drive innovation development of the region.
Influence of Electrodes Configuration on Hydraulic Characteristics of Constructed Wetland–Microbial Fuel Cell Systems Using Graphite Rods and Plates as Electrodes
Authors: Wang Xiaoou , Zhang Yu , Zhang Changping , Li Jiayin , Xue Ming , Xia Weiyi
Published: April 2023

Constructed wetland–microbial fuel cell coupling systems (CW–MFCs) have received significant academic interest in the last decade mainly due to the promotion of MFCs in relation to pollutants’ degradation in CWs. Firstly, we investigated the effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and electrode configuration on the flow field characteristics of CW–MFCs using graphite rods and plates as electrodes, as well as the optimization of electrode configuration using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulation. The results showed that: (1) the apparent HRT was the most influential and decisive factor, with a contribution of over 90% for the average HRT of CW–MFCs; (2) anode spacing was the most influential factor for the hydraulic performance of CW–MFCs, with contributions of over 50% for water flow divergence and hydraulic efficiency (λ) and over 45% for effective volume ratio (e); (3) anode size was significant for e and λ, with a contribution of over 20%; (4) cathode position and cathode size had no statistically significant effect on the hydraulic performance of CW–MFCs. It was mainly through the blocking of water flows, flows around, compressing water flow channels and boundary layer separation that the MFC electrodes influenced the hydraulic characteristics of the flow field in CW–MFCs. Optimizing the flow field by optimizing the electrode configuration helped to facilitate electricity generation and pollutants’ removal in CW–MFCs. This study offers a scientific reference for improving the hydraulic performance of CW–MFCs, and it also provides a new research perspective for improving the wastewater treatment and electricity production performance of CW–MFCs.
Social Vulnerability Evaluation of Natural Disasters and Its Spatiotemporal Evolution in Zhejiang Province, China
Authors: Cao Feifeng , Wang Huangyuan , Zhang Conglin , Kong Weibo
Published: April 2023

Natural disasters present a significant challenge to the productivity of Zhejiang Province. This paper is the first to evaluate social vulnerability to natural disasters in Zhejiang Province and provides a scientific foundation for disaster prevention, mitigation, and risk management. In this paper, we construct an indicator system for evaluating social vulnerability of natural disasters in Zhejiang Province through demand analysis, frequency analysis, and applicability analysis. The methodology employed in this paper reduces errors arising from subjective indicator selection and provides a reference for future international research on evaluating social vulnerability to natural disasters. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution of social vulnerability to natural disasters in 11 cities from 2011 to 2020. The results indicate an overall downward trend of social vulnerability to natural disasters in Zhejiang. Social vulnerability to natural disasters exhibits significant spatial variability. The evaluation can help to bridge the knowledge gap regarding the social vulnerability of Zhejiang Province to natural disasters. The analysis of the spatiotemporal evolution of social vulnerability provides insights into the contributing factors to vulnerability and the effectiveness of past disaster management strategies. The findings of this study can serve as a valuable reference for future research in Zhejiang Province and other regions facing similar challenges. The results can contribute to the advancement of comprehensive knowledge of social vulnerability to natural disasters, which can inform the development of policies and strategies aimed at mitigating disaster risk and promoting effective disaster management globally.
Regulatory Mechanisms for the Conservation of Endangered Plant Species, Chlorophytum tuberosum—Potential Medicinal Plant Species
Authors: Zehra Andleeb , Meena Mukesh , Jadhav Dhanaji M. , Swapnil Prashant , Harish
Published: April 2023

The present review paper is an attempt to examine and provide an overview of the various conservation strategies and regulatory framework to protect endangered plants, including Chlorophytum tuberosum, popularly known as Safed Musli in the local language. C. tuberosum belongs to the family Liliaceae and is being used in the indigenous systems of medicine as a galactagogue, aphrodisiac, antitumor, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, anti-ageing, antimicrobial, etc. This plant has great medicinal and commercial value and is part of the Biological Diversity Act, but due to a lack of effective conservation, it is on the verge of extinction because of natural and manmade reasons, such as loss of habitat, climate change, pollution, excessive harvesting, etc. The most valuable medicinal plants have great importance; hence, many conservation techniques are being employed to protect them. In furtherance to the conservation of such plant species, strategic efforts, in the form of laws and policies, are laid; however, existing legislative mechanisms and policy parameters are not sufficient to overcome the challenges of conservation of such plant species, including Safed Musli, hence, this plant has been considered as a critically endangered plant in India. It is pertinent to note that we do not have specific legislation enacted for the protection of plant species; however, efforts are being made to conserve it under various laws, such as the Forest Conservation Act, Biological Diversity Act 2002, and many other allied legislations. This basic legislation of the Biological Diversity Act also lacks focal attention on the conservation of endangered plant species. Moreover, decentralization of power and actual community participation in conservation practices are also missing. A cumulative effect of both scientific measures and legal mechanisms supported by community participation may produce better results in the conservation of plant species, including Safed Musli. The protection of rich sources and biological diversity is not being taken as seriously as it ought to be, hence, it is necessary to improve awareness and public participation in conservation techniques with effective legislation for the conservation of highly endangered plant species.
Prediction of the Form of a Hardened Metal Workpiece during the Straightening Process
Authors: Peršak Tadej , Hernavs Jernej , Vuherer Tomaž , Belšak Aleš , Klančnik Simon
Published: April 2023

In industry, metal workpieces are often heat-treated to improve their mechanical properties, which leads to unwanted deformations and changes in their geometry. Due to their high hardness (60 HRC or more), conventional bending and rolling straightening approaches are not effective, as a failure of the material occurs. The aim of the research was to develop a predictive model that predicts the change in the form of a hardened workpiece as a function of the arbitrary set of strikes that deform the surface plastically. A large-scale laboratory experiment was carried out in which a database of 3063 samples was prepared, based on the controlled application of plastic deformations on the surface of the workpiece and high-resolution capture of the workpiece geometry. The different types of input data, describing, on the one hand, the performed plastic surface deformations on the workpieces, and on the other hand the point cloud of the workpiece geometry, were combined appropriately into a form that is a suitable input for a U-Net convolutional neural network. The U-Net model’s performance was investigated using three statistical indicators. These indicators were: relative absolute error (RAE), root mean squared error (RMSE), and relative squared error (RSE). The results showed that the model had excellent prediction performance, with the mean values of RMSE less than 0.013, RAE less than 0.05, and RSE less than 0.004 on test data. Based on the results, we concluded that the proposed model could be a useful tool for designing an optimal straightening strategy for high-hardness metal workpieces. Our results will open the doors to implementing digital sustainability techniques, since more efficient handling will result in fewer subsequent heat treatments and shorter handling times. An important goal of digital sustainability is to reduce electricity consumption in production, which this approach will certainly do.
A New Hybrid Decision-Making Model for Promoting Sustainable Social Rental Housing
Authors: Jiang Wei , Lu Qiu Wentao , Lin Sheng-Hau , Lv Huiming , Zhao Xiaofeng , Cong Hao
Published: April 2023

The realization of sustainable social rental housing is regarded as an important policy to solve the housing burden, but social rental housing is often unsustainable. This study assesses the sustainability of social rental housing. However, the decision-making models, such as the classical decision-making hierarchy (AHP) used in the current study, conflict with the resolution of the complex influence of the relationship between evaluation dimensions/criteria. Based on this, we construct a new hybrid multi-attribute decision-making model (MADM) combining the Fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), Fuzzy DEMATEL-based analytic network process (DANP) and the modified VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method for the sustainability assessment of government-led social rental housing (SRH) using Taiwanese experts as the subject of the investigation. The Fuzzy DEMATEL found that economic sustainability (D1), as the core dimension, affects environmental (D3) and social sustainability (D2). Furthermore, criteria with the “cause” position, including the reasonable development model (C2), the provision of living facilities and services needed (C5), the adoption of environmentally friendly technology and equipment (C10), guaranteed rent and lease (C1), the acquisition of working skill and employment opportunities (C6) and space planning and design (C3), should receive more attention from decision makers because improving these can further enhance the sustainability of the overall scheme. Combined with the DANP weight and modified VIKOR, we also indicate that these criteria should be optimized to make the evaluation more sustainable for a selected social housing case in Taiwan. The research also further proposes management strategy implications.
Intergrading Water Quality Parameters, Benthic Fauna and Acute Toxicity Test for Risk Assessment on an Urban-Rural River
Authors: Shao Wenhua , Chen Zhongli , Shao Ying
Published: April 2023

Climate change, river pollution and loss of biodiversity are increasing and becoming global environmental concerns. The Yellow River is China’s mother river, providing water for about 114 million residents in towns and cities along its route. Yet in 2012, the Yellow River received 4.474 × 109 tons of sewage containing a large number of exogenous pollutants, posing a huge ecological and public health threat. Water quality safety is not only a matter of ecosystem health but also of human survival and social development. Therefore, the effects of pollutants on water quality safety should be carefully studied, which is important to ensure the sustainability of the Yellow River and the surrounding cities and towns. In this study, water and sediment samples from the Jishan River of the Juancheng, a typical city in the lower reaches of the Yellow River, were collected and evaluated by integrating the traditional physicochemical water indicators, benthic Index of Biological Integrity (B-IBI) and zebrafish embryotoxicity test. The results showed that water dissolved oxygen, pH, total nitrogen and total phosphorus were strongly correlated with zebrafish embryonic teratogenicity, lethality, abundance index and Shannon Winner index. A total of 21 benthic species were collected, including mollusks, arthropods and annelids, with the upper reaches having the largest biomass and B-IBI values indicating the urban reaches have better biological integrity than rural reaches. The teratogenic rate of zebrafish embryos in raw water was greatest in rural rivers and was significantly different from the negative control (p < 0.05). When exposed to 100 mg/mL sediment samples, embryo hatching rates were inversely correlated with teratogenic rates, with lethal rates reaching over 96% in all rural reaches. The results showed that the water quality safety at the rural farms in the Yellow River transfer-type towns is poor, and they especially recommended that the river near the farms in rural areas should be monitored with emphasis.
The Effects of Social Media Communication and e-WOM on Brand Equity: The Moderating Roles of Product Involvement
Authors: Lin Kejun , Du Wenbin , Yang Shixin , Liu Chang , Na Sanggyun
Published: April 2023

As brand equity (BE) is a valuable, but intangible, asset of any firm, understanding BE represents a primary task for many organizations. Factors that influence the development of BE are of inordinate academic and practical significance and a source of continuous investigation. While the current literature on social media communication (SMC) and BE provides a wealth of information, our study pioneers the most recent processes of mediation and moderation of electronic word-of-mouth and product involvement (PI) in BE research. Accordingly, the results of this work will likely become one of the key sources of information in sustainable marketing planning and in the development of strategies. To accomplish this goal, we assessed the structural relationships among SMC, electronic word of mouth (e-WOM), PI, and BE. A questionnaire survey was administered concerning consumer brands in China. In this survey, due to the need for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the questionnaire was distributed and collected via the internet. A total of 369 data sets were analyzed by partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results of our investigation reveal that: (a) social media firm- and user-generated content have a positive impact on e-WOM, (b) social media firm- and user-generated content have a positive impact on BE, (c) e-WOM has a positive impact on BE and serves as an intermediary role between SMC and BE, and (d) PI exerts specific moderating effects between SMC and BE.
Analysis of the Effect of Exhaust Configuration and Shape Parameters of Ventilation Windows on Microclimate in Round Arch Solar Greenhouse
Authors: Fan Zilong , Li Yiming , Jiang Lingling , Wang Lu , Li Tianlai , Liu Xingan
Published: April 2023

The round-arch solar greenhouse (RASG) is widely used in the alpine and high latitude areas of China for its excellent performance. Common high temperature and high humidity environments have adverse effects on plants. It is extremely important to explore a reasonable and efficient ventilation system. A three-dimensional numerical simulation model of greenhouse ventilation considering crop canopy airflow disturbance was established. A robust statistical analysis to determine the validity of the model was calculated to thoroughly validate its overall performance. Microclimate distribution characteristics of nine kinds of exhaust configuration in greenhouse in summer were analyzed comparatively. It was determined that the highest ventilation efficiency could be achieved by adopting the combined configuration of rolling film at the south corner of the greenhouse and pivoting the window at the north side of the roof. In winter, the opening angle of ventilation window at the north side of the roof was less than 40° to ensure the rapid cooling of the interior of the greenhouse without the crops being affected by the cold environment. Through optimization analysis, the ventilation configuration with a deviation angle of 25° and a width of 900 mm is more reasonable (10 m span). The research results provide theoretical guidance for the design of the ventilation structure in RASG and further improve the sustainable development of the facility’s plant production.
A Study on Identification of Urban Waterlogging Risk Factors Based on Satellite Image Semantic Segmentation and XGBoost
Authors: Tong Jinping , Gao Fei , Liu Hui , Huang Jing , Liu Gaofeng , Zhang Hanyue , Duan Qiong
Published: April 2023

As global warming exacerbates and urbanization accelerates, extreme climatic events occur frequently. Urban waterlogging is seriously spreading in China, resulting in a high level of vulnerability in urban societies and economies. It has been urgent for regional sustainable development to effectively identify and analyze the risk factors behind urban waterlogging. A novel model incorporating satellite image semantic segmentation into extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) is employed for identifying and forecasting the urban waterlogging risk factors. Ground object features of waterlogging points are extracted by the satellite image semantic segmentation, and XGBoost is employed to predict waterlogging points and identify the primary factors affecting urban waterlogging. This paper selects the coastal cities of Haikou, Xiamen, Shanghai, and Qingdao as research areas, and obtains data from social media. According to the comprehensive performance evaluation of the semantic segmentation and XGBoost models, the semantic segmentation model could effectively identify and extract water bodies, roads, and green spaces in satellite images, and the XGBoost model is more accurate and reliable than other common machine learning methods in prediction performance and precision. Among all waterlogging risk factors, elevation is the main factor affecting waterlogging in the research areas. For Shanghai and Qingdao, the secondary factor affecting waterlogging is roads. Water bodies are the secondary factor affecting urban waterlogging in Haikou. For Xiamen, the four indicators other than the elevation are equally significant, which could all be regarded as secondary factors affecting urban waterlogging.
Digital Financial Inclusion, Land Transfer, and Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity
Authors: Shen Yang , Guo Xiaoyang , Zhang Xiuwu
Published: April 2023

Improving agricultural green total factor productivity is important for achieving high-quality economic development and the SDGs. Digital inclusive finance, which combines the advantages of digital technology and inclusive finance, represents a new scheme that can ease credit constraints and information ambiguity in agricultural production. First, this study focused on agro-ecological functions; we incorporated total agricultural carbon sequestration and emissions extraction into the evaluation system and used the mixed-direction-distance function to calculate agricultural green total factor productivity. Then, based on panel data from 31 provinces in China collected from 2011 to 2021, we used the two-way fixed effect model, the interactive fixed effect, and the plausibly exogenous variable method to test the impact of digital financial inclusion on agricultural green total factor productivity, and its mechanism of action. The panel-corrected standard error and fixed effect Driscoll–Kraay methods were used to account for the unobserved heterogeneity and cross-section dependence in the panel data. The results showed that digital financial inclusion can significantly improve agricultural green total factor productivity. This conclusion remained valid following robustness tests using the spatial econometric model and the method of changing explanatory variables. Digital financial inclusion can improve agricultural green total factor productivity by facilitating the transfer of agricultural land. Sound digital infrastructure and strict green credit policies enhance the role of digital inclusive finance in promoting the green development of agriculture. These conclusions could help the financial sector to formulate flexible, accurate, reasonable, and appropriate financial policies and products that would support agriculture, and enhance the role of digital inclusive finance in promoting sustainable agricultural development.
Pavement Distress Identification Based on Computer Vision and Controller Area Network (CAN) Sensor Models
Authors: Ruseruka Cuthbert , Mwakalonge Judith , Comert Gurcan , Siuhi Saidi , Ngeni Frank , Major Kristin
Published: April 2023

Recent technological developments have attracted the use of machine learning technologies and sensors in various pavement maintenance and rehabilitation studies. To avoid excessive road damages, which cause high road maintenance costs, reduced mobility, vehicle damages, and safety concerns, the periodic maintenance of roads is necessary. As part of maintenance works, road pavement conditions should be monitored continuously. This monitoring is possible using modern distress detection methods that are simple to use, comparatively cheap, less labor-intensive, faster, safer, and able to provide data on a real-time basis. This paper proposed and developed two models: computer vision and sensor-based. The computer vision model was developed using the You Only Look Once (YOLOv5) algorithm for detecting and classifying pavement distresses into nine classes. The sensor-based model combined eight Controller Area Network (CAN) bus sensors available in most new vehicles to predict pavement distress. This research employed an extreme gradient boosting model (XGBoost) to train the sensor-based model. The results showed that the model achieved 98.42% and 97.99% area under the curve (AUC) metrics for training and validation datasets, respectively. The computer vision model attained an accuracy of 81.28% and an F1-score of 76.40%, which agree with past studies. The results indicated that both computer vision and sensor-based models proved highly efficient in predicting pavement distress and can be used to complement each other. Overall, computer vision and sensor-based tools provide cheap and practical road condition monitoring compared to traditional manual instruments.
Electrostatic Assembly of Anti-Listeria Bacteriophages on a Self-Assembled Monolayer of Aminoundecanethiol: Film Morphology, Charge Transfer Studies, and Infectivity Assays
Authors: Fernandes Paula M. V. , Maciel Cláudia , Teixeira Paula , Pereira Carlos M. , Campiña José M.
Published: April 2023

The integration of bacteriophages, a particular class of viruses that specifically infect bacteria and archaea, in biosensors for the monitoring of pathogens in foods and beverages is highly desirable. To this end, an increasing focus has been set on the exploration of covalent and physical methods for the immobilization of phages on solid surfaces. This work investigates the electrostatic assembly of tailed phages, specifically anti-Listeria monocytogenes P100 phages, on an ultrathin self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 11-amino-1-undecanethiol (AUT). The cationic properties of AUT may allow for the electrostatic capture of P100 in a capsid-down fashion, thereby exposing the specific receptor-binding proteins on their tails to the corresponding pathogens in the analytical samples. The morphology and charge transfer behavior of the assembled films were studied with atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical techniques. These methods provided valuable insights into the orientation of the phages and the relevant role of the pH. Biological plaque assays revealed that the immobilized phages remain active towards the target bacterium. Overall, this research portrays SAMs of amino-akylthiols as a valid platform for the oriented immobilization of bacteriophages on surfaces for electroanalytical purposes.
A Novel Safe Life Extension Method for Aircraft Main Landing Gear Based on Statistical Inference of Test Life Data and Outfield Life Data
Authors: Fu Yueshuai , Fu Huimin , Zhang Sheng
Published: April 2023

Safe life extension work is demanded on an aircraft’s main landing gear (MLG) when the outfield MLG reaches the predetermined safe life. Traditional methods generally require costly and time-consuming fatigue tests, whereas they ignore the outfield data containing abundant life information. Thus, this paper proposes a novel life extension method based on statistical inference of test and outfield life data. In this method, the MLG’s fatigue life is assumed to follow a right-skewed lognormal distribution with an asymmetric probability density function. In addition, the MLG’s new safe life can be inferred through the Bayesian approach in which the test life data and outfield life data are used for prior information acquisition and Bayesian update, respectively. The results indicated that the MLG’s safe life was significantly extended, illustrating the effectiveness of the proposed method. Numerous simulations also demonstrated that the extended safe life can meet the requirements of reliability and confidence and thus is applicable in engineering practice.
Investigating the Impact of Fractional Non-Linearity in the Klein–Fock–Gordon Equation on Quantum Dynamics
Authors: Noor Saima , Alshehry Azzh Saad , Aljahdaly Noufe H. , Dutt Hina M. , Khan Imran , Shah Rasool
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we investigate the fractional-order Klein–Fock–Gordon equations on quantum dynamics using a new iterative method and residual power series method based on the Caputo operator. The fractional-order Klein–Fock–Gordon equation is a generalization of the traditional Klein–Fock–Gordon equation that allows for non-integer orders of differentiation. This equation has been used in the study of quantum dynamics to model the behavior of particles with fractional spin. The Laplace transform is employed to transform the equations into a simpler form, and the resulting equations are then solved using the proposed methods. The accuracy and efficiency of the method are demonstrated through numerical simulations, which show that the method is superior to existing numerical methods in terms of accuracy and computational time. The proposed method is applicable to a wide range of fractional-order differential equations, and it is expected to find applications in various areas of science and engineering.
A Low SNR Signal-Sensing Method Based on a Multiple-Antenna Covariance Matrix
Authors: Zhong Yumin , Li Yanhua
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we propose a promising signal-sensing method based on both single- and multiple-antenna covariance matrices of the received signal. In comparison with microwave diagnostics or energy detection, the proposed method does not need prior information of signal and noise. Therefore, it can be widely used in noise power uncertainty scenarios, such as signal transmission in hypersonic plasma sheath, with symmetry to the signal-sensing method in cognitive radio. Designing an efficient signal-sensing method that supports both the application for the field of hypersonic plasma sheath communication or cognitive radio is still an attractive subject deserving of study in symmetry journals. Theoretical analysis and the implementation algorithm of a single-antenna covariance matrix are carried out for the proposed method, with a possible extension to multiple-antenna situations. Simulations show the proposed method has excellent performance, even for very low signal-noise-ratio (SNR) signals, and is competitive with state-of-the-art algorithms.
Numerical Approximation of a Time-Fractional Modified Equal-Width Wave Model by Using the B-Spline Weighted Residual Method
Authors: AL-saedi Akeel A. , Rashidinia Jalil
Published: April 2023

Fractional calculus (FC) is an important mathematical tool in modeling many dynamical processes. Therefore, some analytical and numerical methods have been proposed, namely, those based on symmetry and spline schemes. This paper proposed a numerical approach for finding the solution to the time-fractional modified equal-width wave (TFMEW) equation. The fractional derivative is described in the Caputo sense. Indeed, the B-spline Galerkin scheme combined with functions with different weights was employed to discretize TFMEW. The L2 and L∞ error norm values and the three invariants I1, I2, and I3 of the numerical example were calculated and tabulated. A comparison of these errors and invariants was provided to confirm the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method.
Correction: Lin et al. A Perception Study for Unit Charts in the Context of Large-Magnitude Data Representation. Symmetry 2023, 15, 219
Authors: Lin Yun , Tang Yi , Zhu Yanfei , Song Fangbin , Tang Wenzhe
Published: April 2023

There were two errors in the original publication [...]