bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intelligent Process Automation: An Application in Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Lievano-Martínez Federico A. , Fernández-Ledesma Javier D. , Burgos Daniel , Branch-Bedoya John W. , Jimenez-Builes Jovani A.
Published: July 2022

Background: The intelligent processes automation has been cataloged as one of the most potential and strategic technology solutions to develop a corporate digital transformation. Method: This paper introduces essential concepts to create Intelligent Process Automation (IPA) in industries and proposes a framework to implement IPA technologies successfully. The approach involves: firstly, assembling a good implementation setup and deeply researching the process using process mining techniques. Secondly, choosing and locating the best AI technology inside the IPA. Finally, defining an appropriate architecture of the IPA. Results: The paper illustrates an IPA use case in the manufacturing industry, where it is possible to automate the process of sending production orders to a manufacturing plant and optimize waste and plant capacity significantly. Conclusions: The research depicts the potential of intelligent process automation and its quantifiable benefits in the manufacturing process, and the contribution can be applied to different enterprises with a global context.
Employee Involvement and Socialization as an Example of Sustainable Marketing Strategy and Organization’s Citizenship Behavior: Empirical Evidence from Beirut Hotel Sector
Authors: Khawand Sonia , Ghasemi Matina , Sahranavard Seyed Arash
Published: July 2022

In recent years, environmental consideration and notion of sustainability has gained extensive attention on global scale from political aspect to businesses and social means. It has been the core concept of development for organizations in different industries in an increasing manner. As tourists tend to be more aware regarding environment and impact of human activity on nature, it becomes more important to include sustainable measures so that firms can remain competitive in the market and attract new customers. The current research examines the relationship between sustainable marketing orientation deployed by organizations operating in tourism sector (i.e., hotels) and employees’ extra-role behavior in form of organizational citizenship behavior. Furthermore, indirect effects of employees’ socialization and involvement are examined to provide a better understanding on related factors. Gathering data from hotels of Beirut, 218 employees participated in the research and PLS-SEM yielded significant results, stating that the variables are vital for positive behavioral outcomes within the hotel industry. The results can be beneficial for scholars and practitioners in tourism sector alike.
Assessing Spatial Variations of Traffic Congestion Using Traffic Index Data in a Developing City: Lessons from Johannesburg, South Africa
Authors: Moyo Thembani , Mbatha Siphiwe , Aderibigbe Oluwayemi-Oniya , Gumbo Trynos , Musonda Innocent
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unforeseen effects in public transport and the mobility of people in cities globally. Johannesburg, being a developing city in one of the most affected countries in Africa during the pandemic, has experienced severe changes in traffic management and travel patterns as a result of the restrictions imposed on movement. Hence, this study examined the spatial variations in traffic during the pandemic. The study utilized data obtained from the TomTom Traffic Index for the city of Johannesburg from 2019 to 2021, with 2019 representing the period pre-COVID-19 with no lockdown restrictions, 2020 representing the period with restricted movement to limit spread of COVID-19, and 2021 representing a period of relaxed and minimized restrictions on movement. Our findings revealed that there was a variation in congestion levels between 2019–2021 with year 2020 having the least congestion from the beginning of the COVID-19 restrictions due to regulations enforced in movement and reduced travel. Our findings further revealed that traffic congestion was higher during weekdays than weekends during the three periods, with mini-bus taxis as the major contributors to congestion. Consequently, there is a need to discourage the use of single occupancy vehicles and invest in more sustainable means of transportation to ease the mobility of people and reduce traffic on major roads.
Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Trends on Higher Education Internationalization Using Scopus Database: Towards Sustainability of Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Ghani Nazifa Abd , Teo Poh-Chuin , Ho Theresa C.F. , Choo Ling Suan , Kelana Beni Widarman Yus , Adam Sabrinah , Ramliy Mohd Khairuddin
Published: July 2022

Sustainability in education has continued to evolve, which in turn creates a research niche that is able to provide greater opportunities for interaction between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and their surroundings. Internationalization of higher education is one of the new forms of engagements in higher education for ensuring sustainability. This study seeks to understand the research in higher education internationalization on publication outcomes, co-authorships between authors and similar countries, and co-occurrences of author keywords. This can provide valuable opportunities in expanding collaborative networks to impart global perspectives into teaching, learning, and research development. For this purpose, a bibliometric analysis was carried out to identify a total of 1412 journal articles from between 1974 to 2020 using information taken from the Scopus database. The research wraps up similarities on the growth of research, with the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, China and Canada emerging as among the countries that publish the most. There is a growing popularity of the term ‘higher education internationalization’ as part of the global new trends of cross-cultural study in transnational education. Finally, this study calls for future research programs with a concern in developing the intercultural communication of graduate students for global competence skills towards sustainability of HEIs.
First Report on Reproductive Features of Shadow Driftfish Cubiceps whiteleggii (Perciformes: Nomeidae): An Effort toward Sustainable Management
Authors: Ohtomi Jun , Hirowatari Kaito , Rahman Md Mosaddequr , Havimana Lindon , Masuda Yasuji
Published: July 2022

Fish of the Nomeidae family are a significant part of marine food webs and are an emerging fisheries resource. The formulation of sustainable management and conservation strategies is constrained by the lack of comprehensive research on the population biology of any of these species. We, therefore, studied reproductive aspects of Cubiceps whiteleggii as a representative of Nomeidae. We used a biological index (gonadosomatic index), as well as macroscopic (visual observations of the surface and transverse ovary sections) and microscopic analyses, in search of proxies for estimating the ovarian maturity status. Samples were collected from April 2014 to December 2017 in Kagoshima Bay, Japan. Asynchronous ovary development in C. whiteleggii indicated multiple spawning during a single reproductive season. Ovarian maturity stages were divided into six groups based on the appearance of the most advanced oocytes, post-ovulatory follicles, and atretic oocytes: immature, maturing, mature, spawned, spent, and resting. Females with ovaries at mature or spawned stages were defined as sexually mature individuals. The size at 50% sexual maturity was estimated to be 126 mm standard length. The spawning season was estimated to last from July to November. Both biological and macroscopic indices were found unsuitable to be used as independent indices in estimating reproductive aspects requiring scientists and managers to search for better alternatives. The conceptualization of appropriate management protocols for the fishery should be aided by these findings, which are the sole knowledge available on the reproductive features of this species. This will ensure its sustainable harvest and make it easier to conduct future research on fish reproduction.
The Application of In Situ Methods to Monitor VOC Concentrations in Urban Areas—A Bibliometric Analysis and Measuring Solution Review
Authors: Wiśniewska Marta , Szyłak-Szydłowski Mirosław
Published: July 2022

Urbanisation development affects urban vegetation both directly and indirectly. Since this process usually involves a dramatic change in land use, it is seen as likely to cause ecological pressure on local ecosystems. All forms of human activity, including urbanisation of areas close to residential buildings, significantly impact air quality. This study aims to identify and characterise different measurement solutions of VOCs, allowing the quantification of total and selective compounds in a direct at source (in situ) manner. Portable devices for direct testing can generally be divided into detectors, chromatographs, and electronic noses. They differ in parameters such as operating principle, sensitivity, measurement range, response time, and selectivity. Direct research allows us to obtain measurement results in a short time, which is essential from the point of view of immediate reaction in the case of high concentrations of tested compounds and the possibility of ensuring the well-being of people. The paper also attempts to compare solutions and devices available on the market and assess their application.
Hydrothermal Carbonization of Spent Coffee Grounds for Producing Solid Fuel
Authors: Hu Yulin , Gallant Rhea , Salaudeen Shakirudeen , Farooque Aitazaz A. , He Sophia
Published: July 2022

Spent coffee grounds (SCG) are industrial biowaste resulting from the coffee-brewing process, and they are often underutilized and end up in landfills, thereby leading to the emission of toxic gases and environmental damage. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is an attractive approach to valorize wet biomass such as SCG to valuable bioproducts (i.e., hydrochar). Thus, in this work, the HTC of SCG was carried out in a 500 L stainless steel vessel at 150, 170, 190, 210, and 230 °C for 30 min, 60 min, 90 min, and 120 min and a feedstock to water weight ratio of 1:5, 1:10, and 1:15, and the use of the resulting hydrochar as a solid fuel was evaluated. The results showed that a high energy recovery (83.93%) and HHV (23.54 MJ/kg) of hydrochar was obtained at moderate conditions (150 °C, 30 min, and feedstock to water weight ratio of 1:5) when compared with conventional approaches such as torrefaction. Following this, the surface morphology, functionality, and combustion behavior of this hydrochar were characterized by SEM, FTIR, and TGA, respectively. In short, it can be concluded that HTC is an effective approach for producing solid fuel from SCG and the resulting hydrochar has the potential to be applied either in domestic heating or large-scale co-firing plants.
Pathways of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Utilization and Removal from Cyanobacteria Wastewater by Combining Constructed Wetlands with Aerobic Reactors
Authors: Gong Liying , Zhao Xuanxuan , Zhu Guangcan
Published: July 2022

Due to its low C/N ratio and high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, the effluent of anaerobic cyanobacteria fermentation cannot be directly discharged without further treatment. To effectively reduce nutrient loads and utilize the nutrient resources of biogas slurry generated from the anaerobic digestion of stored algae, two different aerobic treatment units (AUs) were combined with an ecological treatment unit (EU) to create two different treatment systems. The two AUEU systems paired a constructed wetland (CW) with either a cascade biological contact reactor (CBCR) or a carrousel oxidation ditch reactor (CODR). In this paper, the water quality characteristics of biogas slurry were measured, and comprehensive experiments on the two trial-treatment systems were carried out to validate their performance in removing pollutants and utilizing resources. Furthermore, the pollutant removal efficiencies of the combined systems, along with the removal mechanisms and utilization of the nitrogen and phosphorus in the CWs, were also investigated. The results showed that the CWs, with aquatic vegetation, took up the majority of removed nitrogen and phosphorus by absorption, which effectively reduced the concentration of pollutants in the effluent and enabled the nitrogen and phosphorus to be reused in plants. Biomass assimilation by the absorption by vegetation took up 75.8%, 66.1%, 70.3%, and 86% of the removed NH4+-N, NOx−-N, TN, and TP, respectively.
Managing Consumers and Employees through Digital Services
Authors: Zelenović Jelena , Zelenović Vera
Published: July 2022

Creating sustainable and effective management strategies is one of the main goals for companies in today’s digitalized world. To achieve that, companies need to understand the social capital for which the strategies will be generated, especially regarding work output, which will in this case refer to digital services. Consequently, the goal of this paper was to point out the connection between social capital and digital services. Satisfaction, self-assessment, and self-esteem of online consumers and employees in digital sales were investigated, with regard to digital services. The survey involved 113 employees in digital sales and 275 online consumers. Results obtained through factor and regression analysis indicated the importance of managing consumers and employees (i.e., social capital) while they formed relationships with digital services. Online consumer satisfaction and self-esteem need to be taken into account when formulating strategies. For employees, self-esteem is the key component. Self-assessment from both sides proved to have no connection with digital services.
Fractional View Analysis of Kuramoto–Sivashinsky Equations with Non-Singular Kernel Operators
Authors: Saad Alshehry Azzh , Imran Muhammad , Khan Adnan , Shah Rasool , Weera Wajaree
Published: July 2022

In this article, we investigate the nonlinear model describing the various physical and chemical phenomena named the Kuramoto–Sivashinsky equation. We implemented the natural decomposition method, a novel technique, mixed with the Caputo–Fabrizio (CF) and Atangana–Baleanu deriavatives in Caputo manner (ABC) fractional derivatives for obtaining the approximate analytical solution of the fractional Kuramoto–Sivashinsky equation (FKS). The proposed method gives a series form solution which converges quickly towards the exact solution. To show the accuracy of the proposed method, we examine three different cases. We presented proposed method results by means of graphs and tables to ensure proposed method validity. Further, the behavior of the achieved results for the fractional order is also presented. The results we obtain by implementing the proposed method shows that our technique is extremely efficient and simple to investigate the behaviour of nonlinear models found in science and technology.
Deep-Learning-Based Surface Texture Feature Simulation for Surface Defect Inspection
Authors: Ho Chao-Ching , Tai Li-Lun , Su Eugene
Published: July 2022

In this research, a simulation system based on a physical model and its lighting feature is developed to perform three-dimensional model creation, and graphics software is used to randomly generate a simulated surface with defects, which also cooperates with the virtual environment to reproduce the original environment. Furthermore, the use of a generative adversarial network to optimize the virtual dataset created symmetrically by the system is studied in order to reduce the effect of the difference between the real and virtual images. This system compensates for the condition of data imbalance occurring between qualified products and defective products in the production line, and a large amount of random data with and without defects can be created. In addition, the process of the database creation is classified and marked, such that complicated and time-consuming preliminary steps can be reduced; therefore, the data collection cost can be significantly reduced and the uncertainly associated with manual operation is also reduced. When a simulated textured surface generated from this system is used to perform training, the inspection background accuracy reaches 98%, and the accuracy also reaches 78% in real defect inspection process; therefore, the location of the defect can be determined completely.
Symmetric Mass Generation
Authors: Wang Juven , You Yi-Zhuang
Published: July 2022

The most well-known mechanism for fermions to acquire a mass is the Nambu–Goldstone–Anderson–Higgs mechanism, i.e., after a spontaneous symmetry breaking, a bosonic field that couples to the fermion mass term condenses, which grants a mass gap for the fermionic excitation. In the last few years, it was gradually understood that there is a new mechanism of mass generation for fermions without involving any symmetry breaking within an anomaly-free symmetry group, also applicable to chiral fermions with anomaly-free chiral symmetries. This new mechanism is generally referred to as the symmetric mass generation (SMG). It is realized that the SMG has deep connections with interacting topological insulator/superconductors, symmetry-protected topological states, perturbative local and non-perturbative global anomaly cancellations, and deconfined quantum criticality. It has strong implications for the lattice regularization of chiral gauge theories. This article defines the SMG, summarizes the current numerical results, introduces an unifying theoretical framework (including the parton-Higgs and the s-confinement mechanisms, as well as the symmetry-extension construction), and presents an overview of various features and applications of SMG.
A Symmetrical Terahertz Triple-Band Metamaterial Absorber Using a Four-Capacitance Loaded Complementary Circular Split Ring Resonator and an Ultra-Thin ZnSe Substrate
Authors: Abdulkarim Yadgar I. , Özkan Alkurt Fatih , Awl Halgurd N. , Altıntaş Olcay , Muhammadsharif Fahmi F. , Appasani Bhargav , Bakır Mehmet , Karaaslan Muharrem , Taouzari Mohamed , Dong Jian
Published: July 2022

In this research work, a symmetrical four-capacitance loaded complementary circular split ring resonator is proposed, which uses an ultra-thin Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) substrate to realize a low-profile triple-band metamaterial (MTM) perfect absorber for application in the terahertz (THz) frequency range. The electromagnetic properties of the proposed structure were calculated and investigated using the Finite Integration Technique (FIT). The proposed structure exhibited three highly absorptive (nearly perfect) peaks at the resonance frequencies of 15.68 THz, 37.48 THz, and 39.55 THz. Furthermore, the absorber was found to be insensitive to the polarization and incident wave angles, due to its symmetrical design. The effects of the conductor type, substrate thickness, unit cell dimension, resonator gap, and substrate type on the reflection and absorption spectra were investigated. To validate the numerical results, the proposed design was analyzed using High-Frequency Simulation Software (HFSS) and Advanced Design System (ADS). The surface current, electric field, and magnetic field distributions at the three-resonance frequency were analyzed. It was concluded that the overall performance of the proposed MTM structure was superior compared to those reported in the literature. The proposed design could be a good candidate for application in stealth technology, imaging, and thermal energy harvesting.
Euphorbia marciae: A New Species from the Balsas Depression of Mexico
Authors: Steinmann Victor W.
Published: July 2022

Euphorbia marciae, a new species from the lowlands of the Balsas Depression in southwestern Mexico, is described and illustrated. The species was first collected by the renowned botanist George B. Hinton during his explorations of the area in the 1930s. It is known from only five collections made in northwestern Guerrero and the extreme southwestern portion of the state of México, at elevations from 250 to 610 m. Vegetation of the area is tropical deciduous forest. Euphorbia marciae belongs to Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce sect. Anisophyllum and resembles E. apatzingana, E. hyssopifolia, and E. nutans. However, it differs from these species in having smooth seeds. The seeds are nearly identical to those of E. pionosperma, an endemic species occurring in the Sierra Madre Occidental of eastern Sonora and western Chihuahua. However, the leaves of E. pionosperma are more conspicuously serrate and have larger stipules. In addition, Euphorbia pionosperma has smaller involucres and involucral appendages. Following IUCN Redlist criteria, E. marciae should be treated as Data Deficient (DD) until the species can be relocated and its populations field evaluated.
Novel Bat Lyssaviruses Identified by Nationwide Passive Surveillance in Taiwan, 2018–2021
Authors: Hu Shu-Chia , Hsu Chao-Lung , Lee Fan , Tu Yang-Chang , Chen Yen-Wen , Chang Jen-Chieh , Hsu Wei-Cheng
Published: July 2022

Bat lyssaviruses were identified in Taiwan’s bat population during 2016–2017. The lyssavirus surveillance system was continuously conducted to understand the epidemiology. Through this system, the found dead bats were collected for lyssavirus detection by direct fluorescent antibody test and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Three bats were identified as positive during 2018–2021. A novel lyssavirus, designated as Taiwan bat lyssavirus 2, was detected in a Nyctalus plancyi velutinus. This lyssavirus had less than 80% nucleotide identity in the nucleoprotein (N) gene with other lyssavirus species, forming a separate branch in the phylogenetic analysis. The other two cases were identified in Pipistrellus abramus (Japanese pipistrelles); they were identified to be similar to the former lyssavirus identified in 2016–2017, which was renominated as Taiwan bat lyssavirus 1 (TWBLV-1) in this study. Even though one of the TWBLV-1 isolates showed high genetic diversity in the N gene compared with other TWBLV-1 isolates, it may be a TWBLV-1 variant but not a new species based on its high amino acid identities in the nucleoprotein, same host species, and same geographic location as the other TWBLV-1.
Generation of Reporter-Expressing New World Arenaviruses: A Systematic Comparison
Authors: Fénéant Lucie , Leske Anne , Günther Karla , Groseth Allison
Published: July 2022

Replication-competent reporter-expressing viruses are crucial tools in molecular virology with applications that range from antiviral screening to live-cell imaging of protein spatiotemporal dynamics. However, there is currently little information available regarding viable strategies to develop reporter-expressing arenaviruses. To address this, we used Tacaribe virus (TCRV), an apathogenic BSL2 arenavirus, to assess the feasibility of different reporter expression approaches. We first generated trisegmented TCRV viruses with either the glycoprotein (GP) or nucleoprotein (NP) replaced by a reporter (GFP, mCherry, or nanoluciferase). These viruses were all viable, but showed marked differences in brightness and attenuation. Next, we generated terminal fusions with each of the TCRV proteins (i.e., NP, GP, polymerase (L), matrix protein (Z)) either with or without a T2A self-cleavage site. We tested both the function of the reporter-fused proteins alone, and the viability of corresponding recombinant TCRVs. We successfully rescued viruses with both direct and cleavable reporter fusions at the C-terminus of Z, as well as cleavable N-terminal fusions with NP. These viruses all displayed detectable reporter activity, but were also moderately attenuated. Finally, reporter proteins were inserted into a flexible hinge region within L. These viruses were also viable and showed moderate attenuation; however, reporter expression was only detectable for the luminescent virus. These strategies provide an exciting range of new tools for research into the molecular biology of TCRV that can likely also be adapted to other arenaviruses.
Hemagglutinin Subtype Specificity and Mechanisms of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Genesis
Authors: de Bruin Anja C. M. , Funk Mathis , Spronken Monique I. , Gultyaev Alexander P. , Fouchier Ron A. M. , Richard Mathilde
Published: July 2022

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses (HPAIVs) arise from low pathogenic precursors following spillover from wild waterfowl into poultry populations. The main virulence determinant of HPAIVs is the presence of a multi-basic cleavage site (MBCS) in the hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein. The MBCS allows for HA cleavage and, consequently, activation by ubiquitous proteases, which results in systemic dissemination in terrestrial poultry. Since 1959, 51 independent MBCS acquisition events have been documented, virtually all in HA from the H5 and H7 subtypes. In the present article, data from natural LPAIV to HPAIV conversions and experimental in vitro and in vivo studies were reviewed in order to compile recent advances in understanding HA cleavage efficiency, protease usage, and MBCS acquisition mechanisms. Finally, recent hypotheses that might explain the unique predisposition of the H5 and H7 HA sequences to obtain an MBCS in nature are discussed.
A Novel Framework for Modeling Person-to-Person Transmission of Respiratory Diseases
Authors: Rodriguez Jason , Price Owen , Jennings Rachel , Creel Amy , Eaton Sarah , Chesnutt Jennifer , McClellan Gene , Batni Sweta R.
Published: July 2022

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers assessed the impact of the disease in terms of loss of life, medical load, economic damage, and other key metrics of resiliency and consequence mitigation; these studies sought to parametrize the critical components of a disease transmission model and the resulting analyses were informative but often lacked critical parameters or a discussion of parameter sensitivities. Using SARS-CoV-2 as a case study, we present a robust modeling framework that considers disease transmissibility from the source through transport and dispersion and infectivity. The framework is designed to work across a range of particle sizes and estimate the generation rate, environmental fate, deposited dose, and infection, allowing for end-to-end analysis that can be transitioned to individual and population health models. In this paper, we perform sensitivity analysis on the model framework to demonstrate how it can be used to advance and prioritize research efforts by highlighting critical parameters for further analyses.
Immune Correlates of Disseminated BCG Infection in IL12RB1-Deficient Mice
Authors: Wang Xuyang , Jia Liqiu , Liu Yang , Wang Jing , Qiu Chao , Li Tao , Zhang Wenhong , Zhu Zhaoqin , Wu Jing , Wan Yanmin
Published: July 2022

Interleukin-12 receptor β1 (IL12RB1)-deficient individuals show increased susceptibilities to local or disseminated BCG infection and environmental mycobacteria infection. However, the low clinical penetrance of IL12RB1 deficiency and low recurrence rate of mycobacteria infection suggest that protective immunity still exists in this population. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of tuberculosis suppression using the IL12RB1-deficient mouse model. Our results manifested that Il12rb1−/− mice had significantly increased CFU counts in spleens and lungs, especially when BCG (Danish strain) was inoculated subcutaneously. The innate TNF-a and IFN-γ responses decreased, while the IL-17 responses increased significantly in the lungs of Il12rb1−/− mice. We also found that PPD-specific IFN-γ release was impaired in Il12rb1−/− mice, but the specific TNF-a release was not compromised, and the antibody responses were significantly enhanced. Moreover, correlation analyses revealed that both the innate and PPD-specific IFN-γ responses positively correlated with CFU counts, whereas the innate IL-12a levels negatively correlated with CFU counts in Il12rb1−/− mice lungs. Collectively, these findings proved that the adaptive immunities against mycobacteria are not completely nullified in Il12rb1−/− mice. Additionally, our results imply that IFN-γ responses alone might not be able to contain BCGitis in the setting of IL12RB1 deficiency.
The Implementation and Impact of a Revised National Childhood Immunization Schedule in an Urban Asian Community
Authors: Tan Ngiap Chuan , Tan Qifan , Aau Wai Keong , Ng Chung Wai Mark
Published: July 2022

Changes to the national childhood immunization schedule (NCIS) can have a potential impact on vaccine uptake in the community. The NCIS in Singapore has undergone several revisions over the years, with the most recent modification on 1 November 2020. The new NCIS includes, as routine, the influenza and the varicella vaccine, as well as two combination vaccines, the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine (MMRV), and the hexavalent diphtheria, acellular pertussis, tetanus, haemophilus influenza b, injectable polio, and hepatitis B vaccine (6-in-1). This retrospective database study aims to assess the effect of the new NCIS on (a) the vaccination uptake of children at 6 and 12 months and (b) the cost difference to the healthcare system and to parents. One-year vaccination data from two cohorts of children immunized according to the old (n = 10,916) and new NCIS (n = 10,299) were extracted, respectively, from their electronic medical records. The vaccine uptake at 6 and 12 months increased by 10.8 and 2.1%, respectively, with the new NCIS as compared to the old NCIS. The mean number of required visits to the primary care clinic for each child was reduced from six to four. There is an estimated 6.41% cost reduction with the new NCIS.
The Effects of Adding Pictorial Depth Cues to the Poggendorff Illusion
Authors: Yildiz Gizem Y. , Evans Bailey G. , Chouinard Philippe A.
Published: July 2022

We tested if the misapplication of perceptual constancy mechanisms might explain the perceived misalignment of the oblique lines in the Poggendorff illusion. Specifically, whether these mechanisms might treat the rectangle in the middle portion of the Poggendorff stimulus as an occluder in front of one long line appearing on either side, causing an apparent decrease in the rectangle’s width and an apparent increase in the misalignment of the oblique lines. The study aimed to examine these possibilities by examining the effects of adding pictorial depth cues. In experiments 1 and 2, we presented a central rectangle composed of either large or small bricks to determine if this manipulation would change the perceived alignment of the oblique lines and the perceived width of the central rectangle, respectively. The experiments demonstrated no changes that would support a misapplication of perceptual constancy in driving the illusion, despite some evidence of perceptual size rescaling of the central rectangle. In experiment 3, we presented Poggendorff stimuli in front and at the back of a corridor background rich in texture and linear perspective depth cues to determine if adding these cues would affect the Poggendorff illusion. The central rectangle was physically large and small when presented in front and at the back of the corridor, respectively. The strength of the Poggendorff illusion varied as a function of the physical size of the central rectangle, and, contrary to our predictions, the addition of pictorial depth cues in both the central rectangle and the background decreased rather than increased the strength of the illusion. The implications of these results with regards to different theories are discussed. It could be the case that the illusion depends on both low-level and cognitive mechanisms and that deleterious effects occur on the former when the latter ascribes more certainty to the oblique lines being the same line receding into the distance.
Influence of Solar Photovoltaic System on the Concentration and Environmental Risks of Heavy Metals in Subsidence Pond Water from Coal Mining Area: A Case Study from Huainan Subsidence Pond
Authors: Wang Xingming , Zhao Yingying , Chu Zhaoxia , Yu Xiaokun , Fan Tingyu , Li Gang , Zhang Jiamei , Xu Xiaoping , Zhen Quan , Cheng Xiaojing , Dong Zhongbing
Published: July 2022

The subsidence pond is an important water resource for coal mining areas in China. In order to take full advantage of the subsidence pond, a floating photovoltaic cover or a pillaring photovoltaic cover were installed on the surface water of the subsidence pond in the Huainan coal field. Different photovoltaic systems (floating/pilling cover) equipped in the subsidence pond may affect the water quality; thus, assessing the metals in the subsidence pond with the solar photovoltaic system is of great importance for environment control. In this research, surface water samples were collected from three different subsidence ponds, with or without the solar photovoltaic system. The concentrations of Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Mn, and Zn in the water of the subsidence pond were determined using ICP-MS and AFS. Then, the health risk posed by the heavy metal in different subsidence pond waters via the ingestion pathway was evaluated and analyzed using the assessment model recommended by USEPA. The results indicated that the mean concentrations of Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Mn, and Zn in the water of different subsidence ponds were less than the environmental quality standards for surface water (China, Grade II). Cr showed a higher non-carcinogenic risk than the other metals, and the photovoltaic cover actually decreased the total non-carcinogenic risk in the photovoltaic subsidence pond compared with the natural subsidence pond. Non-carcinogenic risks of single and total heavy metals in the subsidence ponds with or without solar photovoltaic systems were below 1; thus, these risks in different subsidence ponds were considered to be at an acceptable level. However, the potential single carcinogenic risks of Cr, Ni, and As; and the multielement carcinogenic risks of Pb, Cr, Ni, and As exceeded the limits of 1 × 10−6 and 1 × 10−4, respectively, suggesting that these metals showed single and total potential health risks in the subsidence pond, with or without the solar photovoltaic system. Further, the subsidence pond with the photovoltaic cover showed higher total carcinogenic risks in comparison with the natural subsidence pond. Therefore, a subsidence pond with a solar photovoltaic system should be monitored periodically to ensure the water safety.
Experimental investigations on the acoustical performance of open-celled metal foams under grazing flow
Authors: Drouin Mary , Sharma Bhisham
Published: July 2022

Open-celled metal foams offer a possible solution for implementing acoustic liners in non-traditional nacelle locations, such as directly over the turbofan rotor. Previously, we have shown that the normal incidence absorption performance of metal foams can be further improved by compressing
them to reduce their effective pore size. In this paper, we focus on the acoustical performance of compressed metal foams under grazing flow conditions. Experimental tests were conducted using a grazing flow impedance tube set up within Spirit AeroSystems' acoustics lab. Metal foams with four
different compression ratios were tested under various flow rates and incident sound pressure levels. The sound pressure measurements were then utilized to educe their effective impedance under grazing flow conditions. Our results show that a uniform through-thickness compression can improve
the acoustic performance of open-celled metal foams under grazing flow conditions and can aid the further development of acoustic liners for over the rotor applications.
Outdoor unit split fan noise prediction using a hybrid lighthill analogy method
Authors: Nikparto Ali , Talbot Alexis , Sardar Asad , Roy Clement
Published: July 2022

Requirements of outdoor units and split HVAC systems have been increasing with system performance over the years. Since fans are the primary source of noise in these systems, selecting a fan that can meet the thermal requirements and at the same time produce lower level of noise is
the most effective way of designing a quieter system. Fan suppliers normally provide fan sound characteristics at a certain distance from the fan at a rated RPM. This information is not sufficient to paint a holistic picture of the aero-acoustic phenomena that can produce unwanted tones during
operation. Thus, a Model-Based Design (MBD) approach is applied in the design process during which different concepts are tried in modeling before being tested. This paper discusses a new approach in implementing Lighthill analogy method to capture the tonal and broadband noise characteristics
of an outdoor split unit. This method allows for more accurate results compared to FW-H and faster results compared to a direct aero-acoustic CFD simulation. This paper shows a novel signal processing method for fan noise. Tonal and broadband results are separated and processed separately.
This allows to capture accurately the tones while smoothing out unrealistic fluctuations in Sound Pressure Level (SPL) at high frequencies occurring because of the limited sampling time.
Constructing a physics-guided machine learning neural network to predict tonal noise emitted by a propeller
Authors: Wiedemann Arthur , Fuller Christopher , Pascioni Kyle
Published: July 2022

Artificial neural networks offer a highly nonlinear and adaptive model for predicting complex interactions between input-output parameters. However, these networks require large datasets which often exceed practical considerations in modeling experimental results. To alleviate the dataset
size requirement, a method known as physics-guided machine learning has been applied to construct several neural networks for predicting propeller tonal noise in the time domain over a broad range of flight conditions. Three space-filling designs, namely, Latin-Hypercube, Sphere-Packing, and
Grid-Space, were used to distribute points throughout the input parameter space encompassing nondimensional flight conditions and observer geometry. Each neural network's performance was validated by conditions outside of the training set and compared to the Propeller Analysis System tool
from the NASA Aircraft Noise Prediction Program. The Latin-Hypercube and the Sphere-Packing designs provided a uniform representation of the domain, which improved the tonal noise prediction in comparison to the Grid design. The black-box nature of these neural networks was explored, and post-network
functions were developed to remove discontinuities in the acoustic signal. Overall, the methods herein show a notable improvement in prediction performance in comparison to a multilayer perceptron. Additional loss functions are necessary for ensuring reasonable accuracy of predictive networks
on small datasets and will be investigated for the final paper.
Validation of acoustic directivity patterns from static and dynamic flight measurements
Authors: Mobley Frank , Campbell Steven
Published: July 2022

Two methods have been proposed to measure the acoustic emissions for small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS): 1) dynamic flight through an outdoor microphone array, and 2) static test cell measurements. Both methods produce source directivity patterns for predicting levels where recordings
had been made during dynamic flights. In autonomous flight the engine rotations-per-minute (RPM) are constantly adjusting to maintain the commanded aircraft airspeed and altitude. This violates the assumptions of stationality in acoustic emissions over a single pass that are inherent in the
dynamic flight method, which results in greater uncertainty in the predictions of levels on the ground. The static method can capture the acoustic emissions as a function of the engine RPM, which can then be used to more accurately predict the levels on the ground for a single pass given actual
engine telemetry data. These results suggest that the prediction of levels on the ground for a future flight will require characterization of the variability of engine RPM with the corresponding acoustic emission patterns. The static method can quickly capture the required data, while the
dynamic method may require an increased number of flight passes than are typically required for characterizing a manned aircraft.
Validation studies of a homogenized ribbed-panel model in an SEA context
Authors: Mejdi Abderrazak , Alimonti Luca , Musser Chad
Published: July 2022

Recently a homogenized ribbed-panel model was proposed to predict the vibro-acoustic behavior of a rib-stiffened panel. This model homogenizes the structure of the ribbed panel so that a periodic unit cell made of FE elements can be used to compute SEA parameters for inclusion in an
SEA analysis. In this paper, the ribbed-panel model will be demonstrated and validated against detailed FE representations of the ribbed panel. The ribbed-panel construction chosen for analysis is typical of an aircraft sidewall and is an appropriate and industrial case study. The model will
be subjected to structural point loads and acoustic pressure excitations. Both structural and acoustic transmission are studied.
Case study: power facility noise measurement surveys before and after new equipment installation
Authors: Greene Mike , Burke Connor
Published: July 2022

A Southern California power provider needed documentation of outdoor ambient noise levels prior to and following installation of new high-voltage equipment at a large converter station near residential properties with equestrian trails. In order to meet client objectives, extensive
coordination was necessary to ensure successful data collection and potential identification of anomalies. Noise measurements were conducted at twenty-six (26) locations around the facility's perimeter, in 2017 and again four years later in 2021. A broad overview of the project and purpose,
details on the mobilization and measurement efforts, and a comparison of noise level data before and after equipment installation, with thoughts on changes to the measurable ambient sound environment, will be provided.
Case study- modeling restaurant noise in a 4-story atrium with adjacent offices
Authors: Parlock Rachel
Published: July 2022

This paper presents a case study on the modeling techniques and unique challenges of predicting the noise impact of a new ground level restaurant in an existing office building with a 4-story central atrium. The study included computer modeling to predict the baseline sound transmission
to the offices and to assess the benefit of enhancing the existing office windows. After the glazing was enhanced and before the restaurant construction was complete, a mock-up of restaurant noise was created using an array of loudspeakers with calibrated playback of audio recordings gathered
from other restaurants. From this mock-up, it was determined that additional transmission loss was preferred, and a glass cover was constructed over the restaurant. Additional construction details were coordinated. After the glass cover was added, another mock-up was conducted, and the result
was satisfactory. The sound system in the completed restaurant was limited to the levels used in the mock-ups.
Modeling the acoustic behavior of stepwise gradient porous structures
Authors: Lomte Amulya , Sharma Bhisham
Published: July 2022

Spatial property gradients can significantly enhance the noise reduction potential of porous structures. However, predicting the acoustic behavior of structures with gradient microstructures continues to remain a challenge. For porous structures with controlled periodic microstructures,
researchers have recently demonstrated the use of a multiscale asymptotic method to extract the acoustic transport properties necessary for use in semi-empirical predictive models. Here, we propose the adaptation of this method to enable the modeling of porous absorbers with stepwise property
gradients. The unit cell of the chosen microstructure is modeled in COMSOL Multiphysics and the acoustic transport properties are extracted using the multiscale method. The extracted properties are then used to formulate the transfer matrix of each unit cell. The global sound absorption and
transmission loss behavior of the stepwise gradient structures are further predicted by combining the appropriate local transfer matrices. Our results show that the integration of the unit cell and transfer matrix methods provides a robust way of predicting the acoustic behavior of stepwise
gradient porous structures with various combinations of layer thicknesses and geometries. The method provides a computationally efficient method to model such structures and can further the development of porous structures with application-specific acoustical properties.
Challenges testing high transmission-loss walls in a laboratory
Authors: Dick Elliott , Shafer Benjamin , Berg David
Published: July 2022

High transmission-loss walls present challenges for laboratory testing. One challenge is the limitation of the test chambers, commonly referred to as the "flanking limit", where the sound that is transmitted through the test specimen begins to compete with interference from
other sound transmission paths which flank around the test specimen. Another challenge is where there isn't enough noise in the source chamber for sufficient signal-to-noise in the receiving chamber. Both situations are "flagged" when reporting results according to ASTM E90, which
merely means that the specimen offers greater isolation than the laboratory is capable of measuring. To further complicate matters, some wall assemblies seem to exhibit different "flanking limits" which are context-specific to a framing assembly, that is one wall will start to exhibit
diminishing returns to transmission loss when adding mass, and another framing assembly will exhibit similar diminishing returns at a different level, as if it's reaching a different flanking limit. This paper explores some of these issues but does not offer specific solutions; these issues
require further study.
Sound level measurement accessories
Authors: Fuzak Corey
Published: July 2022

Measurement standards provide sound level measurement methods and the information to be recorded. There are also many documents about the best practices utilized for completing the measurements. The current paper provides examples of some useful sound level measurement accessories.
Luggage, safety equipment, hand tools, and tripods are some of the accessories covered. The accessories help accomplish the measurements.
Surrogate modeling of open-celled metal foam sound absorbers with stepwise property gradients
Authors: Mahajan Manish , Lomte Amulya , Johnston William , Sharma Bhisham
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we develop a Kriging-based surrogate model to predict the sound absorption performance of open-celled metal foams with user-defined stepwise relative density gradients. An experimentally validated transfer matrix model is used to generate training data capturing the absorption
profiles of metal foams with various geometrical parameters. We deploy a spatial analysis method to create influence surfaces around each sample data point and depict its effect on the observed output by using Kriging's basis functions. The surrogate model has an in-built machine learning
framework that uses a genetic algorithm and a maximum likelihood function to tune the weights that define these influence surfaces. Using this approach, we successfully developed a data-fed, supervised prediction model that estimates absorption coefficient of a virtual metal foam sample. Post-validation
predicted values for unknown sample configurations show satisfactory agreement with their actual absorption coefficients. Finally, we implement the developed metamodel as an iOS application as a potential low-cost tool to reduce testing costs and enable rapid design iterations for acoustic
design problems.