bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semantic Segmentation of Surface Cracks in Urban Comprehensive Pipe Galleries Based on Global Attention
Authors: Zhou Yuan , Yang Zhiyu , Bai Xiaofeng , Li Chengwei , Wang Shoubin , Peng Guili , Li Guodong , Wang Qinghua , Chang Huailei
Published: February 2024

Cracks inside urban underground comprehensive pipe galleries are small and their characteristics are not obvious. Due to low lighting and large shadow areas, the differentiation between the cracks and background in an image is low. Most current semantic segmentation methods focus on overall segmentation and have a large perceptual range. However, for urban underground comprehensive pipe gallery crack segmentation tasks, it is difficult to pay attention to the detailed features of local edges to obtain accurate segmentation results. A Global Attention Segmentation Network (GA-SegNet) is proposed in this paper. The GA-SegNet is designed to perform semantic segmentation by incorporating global attention mechanisms. In order to perform precise pixel classification in the image, a residual separable convolution attention model is employed in an encoder to extract features at multiple scales. A global attention upsample model (GAM) is utilized in a decoder to enhance the connection between shallow-level features and deep abstract features, which could increase the attention of the network towards small cracks. By employing a balanced loss function, the contribution of crack pixels is increased while reducing the focus on background pixels in the overall loss. This approach aims to improve the segmentation accuracy of cracks. The comparative experimental results with other classic models show that the GA SegNet model proposed in this study has better segmentation performance and multiple evaluation indicators, and has advantages in segmentation accuracy and efficiency.
High-Precision Inertial Sensor Charge Ground Measurement Method Based on Phase-Sensitive Demodulation
Authors: Liu Yang , Yu Tao , Wang Yuhua , Zhao Zihan , Wang Zhi
Published: February 2024

Inertial sensors are the key payloads in space gravitational wave detection missions, and they need to ensure that the test mass (TM), which serves as the inertial reference, freely floats in the spacecraft without contact, so that the TM is not disturbed by the satellite platform and the cosmic environment. Space gravitational wave detection missions require that the residual acceleration of the TM should be less than 3×10−15ms−2Hz−1/2. However, the TM with charges will interact with surrounding conductors and magnetic fields, introducing acceleration noise such as electrostatic force and Lorentz force. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out charge management on the TM, in which the high-precision measurement of charge is crucial. Space gravitational wave detection missions require a residual charge measurement accuracy of 3×10−13C for the TM. In this paper, we design a high-precision inertial sensor charge measurement method based on phase-sensitive demodulation (PSD). By establishing a torsion pendulum rotation model based on the force modulation method, the characteristics of the TM torsion angle signal are analyzed. The PSD is used to extract the amplitude of the specific frequency signal component containing the charge information, and then to calculate the value of the accumulated charges. The method is compared with the Butterworth band-pass filtering method, and the simulation results show that the method has a higher measurement accuracy, shorter settling time, and stronger anti-interference ability, meeting the TM residual charge measurement accuracy index requirement.
Angular Position Sensor Based on Anisotropic Magnetoresistive and Anomalous Nernst Effect
Authors: Wang Jiaqi , Xie Hang , Wu Yihong
Published: February 2024

Magnetic position sensors have extensive applications in various industrial sectors and consumer products. However, measuring angles in the full range of 0–360° in a wide field range using a single magnetic sensor remains a challenge. Here, we propose a magnetic position sensor based on a single Wheatstone bridge structure made from a single ferromagnetic layer. By measuring the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) signals from the bridge and two sets of anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) signals from the transverse ports on two perpendicular Wheatstone bridge arms concurrently, we show that it is possible to achieve 0–360° angle detection using a single bridge sensor. The combined use of AMR and ANE signals allows a mean angle error in the range of 0.51–1.05° within a field range of 100 Oe–10,000 Oe to be achieved.
Optical Encryption Using Attention-Inserted Physics-Driven Single-Pixel Imaging
Authors: Yu Wen-Kai , Wang Shuo-Fei , Shang Ke-Qian
Published: February 2024

Optical encryption based on single-pixel imaging (SPI) has made great advances with the introduction of deep learning. However, the use of deep neural networks usually requires a long training time, and the networks need to be retrained once the target scene changes. With this in mind, we propose an SPI encryption scheme based on an attention-inserted physics-driven neural network. Here, an attention module is used to encrypt the single-pixel measurement value sequences of two images, together with a sequence of cryptographic keys, into a one-dimensional ciphertext signal to complete image encryption. Then, the encrypted signal is fed into a physics-driven neural network for high-fidelity decoding (i.e., decryption). This scheme eliminates the need for pre-training the network and gives more freedom to spatial modulation. Both simulation and experimental results have demonstrated the feasibility and eavesdropping resistance of this scheme. Thus, it will lead SPI-based optical encryption closer to intelligent deep encryption.
Respecting Partial Privacy of Unstructured Data via Spectrum-Based Encoder
Authors: Luo Qingcai , Li Hui
Published: February 2024

Since the popularity of Machine Learning as a Service (MLaaS) has been increasing significantly, users are facing the risk of exposing sensitive information that is not task-related. The reason is that the data uploaded by users may include some information that is not useful for inference but can lead to privacy leakage. One straightforward approach to mitigate this issue is to filter out task-independent information to protect user privacy. However, this method is feasible for structured data with naturally independent entries, but it is challenging for unstructured data. Therefore, we propose a novel framework, which employs a spectrum-based encoder to transform unstructured data into the latent space and a task-specific model to identify the essential information for the target task. Our system has been comprehensively evaluated on three benchmark visual datasets and compared to previous works. The results demonstrate that our framework offers superior protection for task-independent information and maintains the usefulness of task-related information.
A Metamaterial Surface Avoiding Loss from the Radome for a Millimeter-Wave Signal-Sensing Array Antenna
Authors: Moon Inyeol , Kim Woogon , Seo Yejune , Kahng Sungtek
Published: February 2024

Radar systems are a type of sensor that detects radio signals reflected from objects located a long distance from transmitters. For covering a longer range and a higher resolution in the operation of a radar, a high-frequency band and an array antenna are measures to take. Given a limited size to the antenna aperture in the front end of the radar, the choice of a millimeter-wave band leads to a denser layout for the array antenna and a higher antenna gain. Millimeter-wave signals tend to become attenuated faster by a larger loss of the covering material like the radome, implying this disadvantage offsets the advantage of high antenna directivity, compared to the C-band and X-band ones. As the radome is essential to the radar system to protect the array antenna from rain and dust, a metamaterial surface in the layer is suggested to meet multiple objectives. Firstly, the proposed electromagnetic structure is the protection layer for the source of radiation. Secondly, the metasurface does not disturb the millimeter-wave signal and makes its way through the cover layer to the air. This electromagnetically transparent surface transforms the phase distribution of the incident wave into the equal phase in the transmitted wave, resulting in an increased antenna gain. This is fabricated and assembled with the array antenna held in a 3D-printed jig with harnessing accessories. It is examined in view of S21 as the transfer coefficient between two ports of the VNA, having the antenna alone and with the metasurface. Additionally, the far-field test comes next to check the validity of the suggested structure and design. The bench test shows around a 7 dB increase in the transfer coefficient, and the anechoic chamber field test gives about a 5 dB improvement in antenna gain for a 24-band GHz array antenna.
The Potential of Incorporating a Pharmacist-Only Medicine Category in Poland
Authors: Zaprutko Tomasz , Sprawka Józefina , Maciuszek-Bartkowska Barbara , Ratajczak Piotr , Kopciuch Dorota , Paczkowska Anna , Kus Krzysztof
Published: February 2024

Pharmacists play an important role, being increasingly focused on patient care and pharmaceutical services. This trend is also noticeable in Poland. Thus, we aimed to study the opinions of Polish pharmacists to determine the potential for introducing a new category of pharmacist-only medicines (POMs). This study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, the survey (anonymous questionnaire consisting of 10 questions addressed to pharmacists) was only available in electronic form. A total of 500 correctly completed surveys were collected and subjected to further analysis. The vast majority of pharmacists (91.8%) revealed a willingness to expand their professional rights and 88% stated that the POMs implementation would be important. As a substance that should function as a POM instead of an OTC medicine, respondents most often indicated ketoprofen, sildenafil, and mometasone, accounting for 26.2%, 24.8%, and 24.4% of responses, respectively. In terms of funding pharmaceutical services, 54.2% of respondents indicated that costs should be covered partially by the patient and the payer. There is a clear need for the incorporation of the POM category in Poland. Polish pharmacists are anticipating the development of pharmaceutical services which should be partly covered by patients and payers.
Study on Mechanical Properties and Microscopic Mechanism of PVA-Modified Recycled Brick Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Qiu Jisheng , Zhang Yuqing , Qin Qing , Xiao Zhijie , Lei Tiantian , Li Le
Published: February 2024

This paper addresses a range of environmental issues stemming from the improper disposal of construction waste and its low recycling rate by examining the effects and mechanisms of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution in modifying recycled aggregates. Basic physical properties, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to study these effects and mechanisms. Tests on basic mechanical properties were performed to assess the impact of aggregate modification and the brick-concrete ratio on recycled brick-aggregate concrete’s mechanical characteristics. Nuclear magnetic resonance and microhardness tests were performed to analyze the influence exerted by PVA modification on the interfacial transition zone (ITZ), microstructure, and pore structure, thus exploring the connection between modified recycled-brick-aggregate concrete’s microstructure and its icromechanical properties. The findings show that the water absorption and crushing index of recycled aggregates (RA) immersed in a 10% PVA solution for 24 h decrease significantly, while the apparent density increases most notably. This phenomenon can be ascribed to the development of a PVA coating on the exterior of the reused aggregates. The optimal mechanical properties for recycled brick aggregate concrete (RAC) occur when the replacement rate is 30% and the brick-concrete ratio is 1:1. The compressive strength is 44.2 MPa, the bending strength is 15.6 MPa, and the splitting tensile strength is 3.85 MPa. Additionally, the modification with PVA results in a higher percentage of transition pores, while simultaneously reducing the percentage of macropores. There is an uptick in the frequency of harmless and less harmful pores, and a declining proportion of harmful and more harmful pores. The ITZ’s structural morphology in the RAC is effectively improved by the coating structure formed through the bonding of the polymer with cement hydration products, and PVA modification reduces the thickness of this zone.
Challenging 21st-Century Competencies for STEM Students: Companies’ Vision in Slovenia and Norway in the Light of Global Initiatives for Competencies Development
Authors: Abina Andreja , Temeljotov Salaj Alenka , Cestnik Bojan , Karalič Aram , Ogrinc Matevž , Kovačič Lukman Rebeka , Zidanšek Aleksander
Published: February 2024

Rapid technological innovations are changing the jobs that Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students are employed in after completing their education. Therefore, employers are looking for applicants with skills beyond the specialised professional competencies that can be acquired in the chosen subjects during formal education. Higher education institutions (HEIs) have an important role to play in this process, as they endeavour to equip graduates with the skills and knowledge for future jobs. Our study aims to identify the key competencies that Slovenian and Norwegian companies expect from graduates of selected STEM degree programmes in both countries. Based on these findings, the participating HEIs can tailor their degree programmes to the employability requirements of companies. This study first analysed European and international recommendations and initiatives relevant to skills development in STEM employment and education. We selected 30 key competencies and included them in the questionnaires in which companies’ human resources managers (HRMs) defined their attitudes towards employability skills in the future. We focused on companies employing graduates of the Ecotechnologies and Civil and Environmental Engineering programmes of the participating HEIs. The analysis of the results showed that companies in the two countries have different attitudes towards skills. Four competencies were identified as more important in both countries: (i) management and design of processes, technologies, and people’s work, (ii) adaptation to changes, (iii) ability to manage uncertainty, and (iv) innovation. Based on the analysis, we have developed a framework of ten employability skills for STEM students. In addition, this study provides the basis for operating a decision support system (DSS) to monitor the development of students’ competencies. The DSS is being developed as part of the RESPO-VI project supported by the Norway Grants to better match the skills of STEM students as future job seekers with the needs of potential employers. The study’s results will also help other formal and non-formal education adapt their curricula and thus reduce the employability skill gaps between current STEM education and future labour market needs.
Design-Driven Innovation in Urban Context—Exploring the Sustainable Development of City Design Weeks
Authors: Han Han , Wu You , Su Zhan , Zurlo Francesco
Published: February 2024

As the imperative of sustainable development of cities has gained heightened attention within the global creative and cultural industries in the last decade, among all the relevant trials and practices, city design weeks are becoming a notable method offering diverse possibilities for the innovative approaches the cities could apply to their development. Therefore, the objective of the research is to understand how city design weeks facilitate urban sustainable development and how design-driven innovation is implemented in such a context. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study conducts a case study across 30 global design weeks, selected through a cross-validated process with the World Design Weeks global network and UNESCO City of Design network. Grounded in the design-driven innovation perspective, valid data from 2017 to 2022 is gathered in response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) primarily through extensive interviews, official project reports, and media communication materials. The data are further cross-analysed by adapting the Creative Cities Index into 10 indicators suitable for the context of design weeks. Among the research findings, three types of design-driven models emerge for the innovation practice of city design weeks: metropolitan integrative transformation and innovation, inclusive cultural diversity communion and innovation, and cluster incorporation and collaborative innovation. In this way, the study provides both the practical significance in terms of supporting the design week organisation by implementing suitable approaches to drive the city’s sustainable development and the theoretical significance in extending the possible adaptation of a design-driven innovation model for the urban development context. Furthermore, the limitation of this qualitative study opens avenues for future quantitative impact analyses on individual design weeks, providing applicable evaluation methods to iteratively inspect and refine the models over time, which complement the limitations of the current qualitative research.
The Role of Low-Cost Digital Solutions in Supporting Industrial Sustainability
Authors: Abdel-Aty Tasnim A. , McFarlane Duncan , Brooks Sam , Salter Liz , Abubakar Awwal Sanusi , Evans Steve , Hawkridge Greg , Price Thomas Kate , Negri Elisa , Mukherjee Anandarup , Yilmaz Gokcen , Macchi Marco
Published: February 2024

Small and medium enterprise (SME) manufacturers are impeded from participating in sustainability initiatives using new technologies due to the high cost and the lack of clarity on where to start. The integration of low-cost digital solutions has enabled SME manufacturers to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies to support operations. However, using low-cost technologies to address sustainability challenges is underexplored. This article addresses three key research questions: What digital solutions do SMEs need to address industrial sustainability challenges? To what extent can existing low-cost digital solutions be used to address industrial sustainability challenges? How should new digital solutions for developing greater sustainability be prioritised? Three main tasks were conducted. Initially, a new sustainability-focused sub-catalogue was created using an existing catalogue of low-cost solution areas for manufacturing. Secondly, a workshop with 17 participants was used to identify the top ten priority solution areas, with process monitoring, energy monitoring, and quality inspection at the top. Lastly, existing low-cost digital solutions within the top ten priority areas were evaluated to identify how they could contribute to lean manufacturing. Predominantly existing solutions could contribute to waste or use reduction in lean manufacturing. This study provides a foundation for the future development of low-cost solutions for sustainability by indicating manufacturers’ key priority areas and outlining how existing solutions could be adapted to support waste reduction.
Comparative Analysis of Gas Emissions from Ecokiln and Artisanal Brick Kiln during the Artisanal Firing of Bricks
Authors: Figueroa Juan , Valdes Hugo , Vilches Juan , Schmidt Walter , Valencia Felipe , Torres Viviana , Diaz-Robles Luis , Muñoz Pedro , Letelier Viviana , Morales Valentina , Bustamante Marion
Published: February 2024

This article focuses on the research of gas emissions in two types of brick kilns located in the Maule Region, Chile. One of them is an artisanal brick kiln known as a “chonchón” (AKC), while the other is a semi-artisanal brick kiln with an improved design. The latter is referred to as the Ecokiln. This study focuses on the assessment of the emission profiles of key pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), CO, CO2, SO2, and NOx. The emission measurements of gasses, temperature, and flow were conducted during the operation of the kilns. These measurements were carried out following the protocol established by Chilean standards. The Ecokiln’s design facilitates optimal fluid dynamics. In direct comparison to the AKC, it exhibits reduced fuel consumption, shorter operation periods, an increased brick processing capacity, decreased burnt brick losses, and notably lower emissions, with a concentration of SO2 that is 83% less than that of the AKC, NOx emissions, 58% lower than the AKC, and a remarkable 74.3% reduction in PM10 emissions. Moreover, the Ecokiln reduces pollutant emissions, improving the well-being of brickmakers and their communities. These results offer insights into the environmental impact of local brick production and support sustainable manufacturing practices.
Towards a Sustainable Transport System: Exploring Capacity Building for Active Travel in Africa
Authors: Lartey Desmond , Glaser Meredith A.
Published: February 2024

The promotion of active travel is deemed a crucial component of the transition to sustainable urban mobility. Several barriers hinder its policy implementation and uptake. Some evidence suggests that capacity building could be a useful tool for deepening sustainability efforts. This concept involves the development and deployment of skills and resources. However, a clear framework for understanding the dimensions of capacity building for active travel is lacking. Furthermore, most research and findings use cases within a Global North context, constricting implications and transferability to the Global South, especially to African cities. This study responds to the dearth of scholarly work exploring Global South cases and fills a knowledge gap regarding capacity building in the case of active travel. Through a literature review, we examined the dimensions of capacity building that are necessary to improve active travel in selected African countries. We focus on multilevel transportation governance with highlights from five African cities. Our findings suggest that the literature and policies on transport in Africa have key dimensions for capacity building for active travel but lack the introduction of key instruments and strategic pathways to meet these requirements for improved sustainable mobility. We propose a thematic guiding framework that delineates the strategic application of capacity building at three levels of governance. This framework helps integrate capacity building for active travel policies and implementation at the institutional, individual, and environmental levels.
Development of Resilience Framework and Respective Tool for Urban Stormwater Services
Authors: Barreiro João , Ferreira Filipa , Brito Rita Salgado , Matos José Saldanha
Published: February 2024

Resilience theory has gained significant traction in various urban fields, including natural disasters and risk management or climate change adaptation, and at different organizational levels, including academics, practitioners, and policymakers. It should be considered a complementary approach to sustainable development that enhances cities’ capacity to endure future uncertainties and promote rational urban development. However, the lack of a generally accepted definition of resilience hampers understanding and practical implementation in urban services like stormwater management. Conventionally, stormwater services aimed to minimize the impact of rainfall through fail-safe approaches. The resilience approach, on the other hand, embraces a holistic “safe-to-fail” perspective. The existing literature offers diverse approaches to measure flood and stormwater resilience. Still, there is room for the development and improvement of standardized but flexible frameworks for operationalizing resilience in urban drainage and flood management. To address this, a comprehensive resilience framework for urban stormwater services is proposed, entitled RESILISTORM. This framework incorporates a Strategic Dimension and a Performance Dimension, providing segmented and overall resilience ratings that enable utilities to address critical aspects undermining the service’s resilience. An open-source digital tool (RESILISTORM-tool) is also introduced to expedite answering, data integration, and visualization analysis of results.
Does Providing Information about Cleaning Increase People’s Willingness to (Re)Use Bowls That Show Signs of Previous Use?
Authors: Pott Sophie L. , Baird Harriet M. , Eman Saima , Ciocirlan Anda-Bianca , Foster Katie , Green Georgia , Grobien Magdalena , Webb Thomas L.
Published: February 2024

Systems for reusing containers (e.g., for takeaway food) represent one way to reduce waste. However, evidence suggests that people are relatively unwilling to reuse containers, especially if they show signs of previous use. The present research investigated the hypothesis that providing information about cleaning would increase willingness to reuse containers for takeaway food and reduce concerns about contamination. Study 1 found that information about cleaning decreased, rather than increased, participants’ willingness to reuse visibly stained bowls. Study 2 found no effects from the information about cleaning on willingness to reuse bowls or the accessibility of contamination concerns, although information about cleaning reduced self-reported concerns about hygienic contamination. Taken together, the findings suggest that exposure to information designed to reassure users that containers are properly cleaned is not an effective way to increase engagement with reuse systems for takeaway food. Further studies are therefore needed to test alternative ways to increase people’s willingness to reuse containers that show signs of prior use.
Using Immersive Virtual Reality to Study Road-Crossing Sustainability in Fleeting Moments of Space and Time
Authors: Torrens Paul M. , Kim Ryan
Published: February 2024

Despite a history of year-by-year reduction in road-crossing harm and fatality in the United States, the trend reversed course in 2009 and road-crossing has grown more hazardous since. Within this tendency, there has been a marked uptick in risk to urban crossers who are neither children nor elderly. The age group in between these extremes represents a bulk of urban crossers, for whom theoretical explanations for crossing behavior that are focused on youth and senior crossing factors often do not apply. New insight is likely required to explain why the rate of crossing harm is growing for the 20–44 age group, but declining among the young and elderly. However, it is difficult to experiment with crossing scenarios in a real-world context, where significant dangers are present and for which the uniqueness of crossers and crossing sites is abundant. In this paper, we introduce an end-to-end system for examining crossing behavior using a unique combination of real human crossing behavior, made safe through the combination of agent-based models, motion capture, virtual geographic environments, and immersive technologies from virtual reality. We demonstrate that this combination of methods can be deployed to examine very high resolution and very high specificities of crossing scenarios and behaviors, with reach to individual crossers and their judgment over tiny windows of space and time. We demonstrate that the system can reproduce known effects from the theoretical literature and from existing case studies, while also generating huge swaths of empirical and diagnostically useful data on crossing actions, interactions, and reactions relative to fleeting events and phenomena of urban geography, traffic dynamics, and ambient pedestrian crowds. To prove the concept, we deploy the system to investigate crossing judgment behavior among the 20–44 age group.
Sustainability of Income Convergence in the European Union: Two Downturns—Two Different Stories
Authors: Batóg Barbara , Batóg Jacek
Published: February 2024

The aim of this paper is to apply the concept of marginal vertical income convergence to analyze the influence of the two last economic downturns (2007 and 2020) on the sustainability of the equalization of income levels within the European Union. The methodology used enables us to avoid some restrictions of the classical analysis of income convergence. Income convergence models were estimated using data from the period 1993–2022, excluding the impact of outliers. The results confirm that we can observe the progressive process of the absolute income convergence for EU members, but there are significant differences between countries’ contributions to the process. These differences are caused by different paths of economic growth, and different mean resilience to economic crises, as well as different patterns of income inequalities. Their proper recognition allows us to develop efficient policies aimed at social cohesion, reducing income inequalities (the 10th Sustainable Development Goal), and sustainable economic development. Additionally, the estimated models indicated a definite different impact of the last two economic shocks on the European process of income convergence. The first shock significantly slowed down the income convergence process, while the second one was practically neutral in this context.
Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Manufacturing Industry Global Value Chain Position
Authors: Liu Jun , Jiang Xin , Shi Mengxue , Yang Yuning
Published: February 2024

Using transnational panel data from 61 nations and regions from 2000 to 2019, this article empirically examines both the influence of artificial intelligence on the Global Value Chain as it pertains to the manufacturing industry and its mechanism of action. According to the report, AI significantly improves the industrial sector’s GVC position; this finding still holds after multiple robustness and endogeneity tests of the model. The findings of the heterogeneity test at the national level demonstrate that, in developing nations as opposed to developed countries, AI has a stronger impact on advancing the GVC position of the manufacturing industry. Heterogeneity tests at the industry level show that AI has a significant role in promoting the GVC of high, medium and low technology manufacturing industries. The mechanism test demonstrates three primary ways by which AI contributes to improving the GVC position of the manufacturing industry: by improving both production efficiency and technological innovation capacity, and by reducing trade costs. This study provides policy implications for the promotion of AI with respect to China’s manufacturing industry GVC position.
Exploring the Relationships among Internal Branding, Work Engagement, and Turnover Intention in Public Sports Organizations after the Pandemic
Authors: Park Jongchul , Kim Jooyoung
Published: February 2024

Internal branding has been regarded as important for internalizing an organization’s values and visions to its employees and managing human resources since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite changes in the working environment after the pandemic, internal branding is still ignored within public sports organizations in South Korea. Therefore, this study aims at investigating the relationship between internal branding of public sports organizations, work engagement and turnover intention of employees, and to examine the mediating effect of work engagement. This study collected data from 248 employees working for public sports organizations by using the convenience sampling method. The data was analyzed with SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 26.0. The results showed the following: (1) Organizational management culture had a significant positive effect on work engagement, but there was no significant relationship between internal communication and work engagement. (2) Organizational management culture had a negative effect on turnover intention, while internal communication had a positive effect on turnover intention. (3) Work engagement had a significant negative effect on turnover intention, and has been shown to partially mediate the relationship between organizational management culture and turnover intention. This study suggests that employees can differently perceive the effectiveness of organizational management culture and internal communication within internal branding. Therefore, public sports organizations should create an organizational culture in which employees can properly reflect and practice the values and visions of the organization in their work.
The Biodiversity Impact of Health Care: Quantifying the Extinction-Risk Footprint of Health Care in The Netherlands and Other European Countries
Authors: Irwin Amanda , Geschke Arne , Mackenbach Johan P.
Published: February 2024

The health care sector exists to support and promote human wellbeing; however, its operations contribute to environmental degradation undermining nature’s capacity to support the same wellbeing. Biodiversity loss, in particular, creates threats to wellbeing through a reduction in ecosystem service provisioning and increases in disease. This study aims to estimate the extinction-risk footprint associated with the health care sector, focusing on Europe. We created an environmentally-extended multi-region input–output model using data on the extinction risk of species available from the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Using input–output analysis, we then quantified the extinction-risk footprint of the Dutch health care sector and, for comparison, that of the 30 European nations which use similar sector classifications in their National Accounts reporting. We found that the Netherlands has the highest health care extinction-risk footprint on a per-capita basis and that health care contributes 4.4% of the Dutch consumption extinction-risk footprint compared with an average of 2.6% across the comparator set. Food and beverage supply chains make a disproportionate contribution to health care’s extinction-risk footprint, while supply chains implicated in the sector’s carbon footprint make a limited contribution. These results suggest that reducing the environmental impact of the health care sector may require a differentiated approach when multiple environmental indicators are considered.
Dynamical Systems Research (DSR) in Psychotherapy: A Comprehensive Review of Empirical Results and Their Clinical Implications
Authors: Felice Giulio de
Published: February 2024

In psychotherapy research, the first applications of dynamical systems research (DSR) date back to the 1990s. Over time, DSR has developed three main lines of research: the study of oscillations in synchronization; the study of oscillations between stability and flexibility of process variables (S–F oscillations); the mathematical modeling to analyze the evolution of psychotherapy process. However, the connections among the empirical results and their implications for psychotherapy practice are unclear. For this reason, for the first time in the literature, this work carries out a comprehensive review of all three lines of research, including the main scientific contributions from the 1990s to the present day. For each line of research, the work critically analyzes the results, proposes future developments, and underlines the connections between empirical results and implications for psychotherapy practice. Furthermore, the work highlights the model of change that emerges from the empirical results, and its clinical correlates. In the conclusions, the author summarizes the results and the evolution of psychotherapy process in accordance with the DSR.
Energy Efficiency in Additive Manufacturing: Condensed Review
Authors: Fidan Ismail , Naikwadi Vivekanand , Alkunte Suhas , Mishra Roshan , Tantawi Khalid
Published: February 2024

Today, it is significant that the use of additive manufacturing (AM) has growing in almost every aspect of the daily life. A high number of sectors are adapting and implementing this revolutionary production technology in their domain to increase production volumes, reduce the cost of production, fabricate light weight and complex parts in a short period of time, and respond to the manufacturing needs of customers. It is clear that the AM technologies consume energy to complete the production tasks of each part. Therefore, it is imperative to know the impact of energy efficiency in order to economically and properly use these advancing technologies. This paper provides a holistic review of this important concept from the perspectives of process, materials science, industry, and initiatives. The goal of this research study is to collect and present the latest knowledge blocks related to the energy consumption of AM technologies from a number of recent technical resources. Overall, they are the collection of surveys, observations, experimentations, case studies, content analyses, and archival research studies. The study highlights the current trends and technologies associated with energy efficiency and their influence on the AM community.
Prior Influenza Infection Mitigates SARS-CoV-2 Disease in Syrian Hamsters
Authors: Di Pietro Caterina , Haberman Ann M. , Lindenbach Brett D. , Smith Peter C. , Bruscia Emanuela M. , Allore Heather G. , Vander Wyk Brent , Tyagi Antariksh , Zeiss Caroline J.
Published: February 2024

Seasonal infection rates of individual viruses are influenced by synergistic or inhibitory interactions between coincident viruses. Endemic patterns of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza infection overlap seasonally in the Northern hemisphere and may be similarly influenced. We explored the immunopathologic basis of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A (H1N1pdm09) interactions in Syrian hamsters. H1N1 given 48 h prior to SARS-CoV-2 profoundly mitigated weight loss and lung pathology compared to SARS-CoV-2 infection alone. This was accompanied by the normalization of granulocyte dynamics and accelerated antigen-presenting populations in bronchoalveolar lavage and blood. Using nasal transcriptomics, we identified a rapid upregulation of innate and antiviral pathways induced by H1N1 by the time of SARS-CoV-2 inoculation in 48 h dual-infected animals. The animals that were infected with both viruses also showed a notable and temporary downregulation of mitochondrial and viral replication pathways. Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed a decrease in the SARS-CoV-2 viral load and lower cytokine levels in the lungs of animals infected with both viruses throughout the course of the disease. Our data confirm that H1N1 infection induces rapid and transient gene expression that is associated with the mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 pulmonary disease. These protective responses are likely to begin in the upper respiratory tract shortly after infection. On a population level, interaction between these two viruses may influence their relative seasonal infection rates.
Active Surveillance of Powassan Virus in Massachusetts Ixodes scapularis Ticks, Comparing Detection Using a New Triplex Real-Time PCR Assay with a Luminex Vector-Borne Panel
Authors: Xu Guang , Siegel Eric , Fernandez Nolan , Bechtold Emily , Daly Timothy , Dupuis Alan P. , Ciota Alexander , Rich Stephen M.
Published: February 2024

Powassan virus is an emerging tick-borne pathogen capable of causing severe neuroinvasive disease. As the incidence of human Powassan virus grows both in magnitude and geographical range, the development of sensitive detection methods for diagnostics and surveillance is critical. In this study, a Taqman-based triplex real-time PCR assay was developed for the simultaneous and quantitative detection of Powassan virus and Powassan virus lineage II (deer tick virus) in Ixodes scapularis ticks. An exon–exon junction internal control was built-in to allow for accurate detection of RNA quality and the failure of RNA extraction. The newly developed assay was also applied to survey deer tick virus in tick populations at 13 sites on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard Island in Massachusetts. The assay’s performance was compared with the Luminex xMAP MultiFLEX Vector-borne Panel 2. The results suggested that the real-time PCR method was more sensitive. Powassan virus infection rates among ticks collected from these highly endemic tick areas ranged from 0.0 to 10.4%, highlighting the fine-scale geographic variations in deer tick virus presence in this region. Looking forward, our PCR assay could be adopted in other Powassan virus surveillance systems.
Application of SWAT Model for Assessment of Surface Runoff in Flash Flood Areas
Authors: Suwannachai Lakkana , Sriworamas Krit , Sivanpheng Ounla , Kangrang Anongrit
Published: February 2024

In addition to changes in the amount of rain, changes in land use upstream are considered a factor that directly affects the maximum runoff flow in a basin, especially in areas that have experienced floods and flash floods. This research article presents the application of the SWAT model to assess runoff in areas that have experienced flash floods, in order to analyze the proportion of land use change to the maximum runoff. Study areas that experienced flash floods were in three basins in Thailand (Lam Saphung Basin, Phrom River Basin, and Chern River Basin Part 1, which is a sub-basin of the Nam Chi River Basin). This study analyzed two main factors that influenced runoff in the river basin by considering two simulation situations: (1) changes in land use affecting runoff assessed by considering land use maps in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021 when using rainfall data only in the year 2021 for all cases and (2) changes in the amount of rainfall influencing runoff by considering the rainfall records in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021 when using the land use data only in the year 2021 for all cases. The results of the study found that the SWAT model can be effectively applied to estimate annual runoff in areas that have experienced flash floods under eight parameters with R2 values of 0.74, 0.82, and 0.74 for the Lam Saphung River Basin, Phrom River Basin, and Chern River Basin Part 1, respectively. In addition, it was found that the proportion of land use changes that involved changes from forested areas to residential areas was the greatest from 2008 to 2010 in the Phrom River Basin and Chern River Basin Part 1. This resulted in an increase in the maximum runoff amounts of 77.78% and 46.87%, respectively. When land use was constant, it was found that the rainfall in 2010, which was the highest, also had the greatest impact on the runoff in all three areas.
Understanding the Propagation of Meteorological Drought to Groundwater Drought: A Case Study of the North China Plain
Authors: Chen Yuyin , Zhang Yongqiang , Tian Jing , Tang Zixuan , Wang Longhao , Yang Xuening
Published: February 2024

As extreme climate events become more common with global warming, groundwater is increasingly vital for combating long-term drought and ensuring socio-economic and ecological stability. Currently, the mechanism of meteorological drought propagation to groundwater drought is still not fully understood. This study focuses on the North China Plain (NCP), utilizing statistical theories, spatiotemporal kriging interpolation, and the Mann–Kendall trend test to examine the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of groundwater from 2005 to 2021. Based on drought theory, the characteristics and propagation process of drought are further quantified. Key findings reveal the following: (1) Shallow groundwater depths in the NCP follow a zonal pattern from the western mountains to the eastern plains and coastal areas. Over two-thirds of this region showed an increase in groundwater depth at a rate of 0–0.05 m/a; (2) Groundwater drought frequency typically ranges from 3 to 6 times, with an average duration of 10 to 30 months and average severity between 10 and 35; (3) Delayed effects last between 0 to 60 months, with attenuation effects varying from 0 to 3 and prolonged effects extending from 0 to 16. Additionally, delayed effects intensify with increasing time scales, while prolonged effects weaken. Notably, both delayed and prolonged effects in the north of the NCP are more pronounced than in the south of the region. This study quantifies the process by which meteorological drought propagates to groundwater drought, offering a new perspective for understanding the interaction between groundwater and meteorological drought. It holds significant scientific importance for monitoring drought and managing water resources in the context of global climate change.
Entre Política y Justicia: Lawfare y la Preservación del Principio de Presunción de Inocencia en el Perú
Authors: Gonzales Ticona Robin Dalton
Published: February 2024

Es notable los obstáculos que se presentan para la preservación de los derechos fundamentales cuando se utiliza el sistema de justicia como arma no convencional, esta investigación se propuso analizar las ramificaciones de la judicialización de la política en la presunción de inocencia, específicamente en el contexto del lawfare en el Perú. Utilizando un enfoque cualitativo de tipo básico con un diseño de teoría fundamentada, se realizaron entrevistas a tres abogados litigantes especializados en derecho penal y a un abogado constitucional. Los resultados revelaron la presencia del fenómeno del lawfare en el Perú, no solo durante el periodo 2022, sino incluso antes, evidenciando su impacto en el principio de presunción de inocencia. Este fenómeno afecta a individuos que son objeto de persecución política mediante la instrumentalización de la justicia. En resumen, se concluye que el lawfare puede socavar la presunción de inocencia al crear un entorno en el que los acusados enfrentan presiones sociales, mediáticas y políticas abrumadoras. Este ambiente compromete la imparcialidad del sistema judicial y aumenta el riesgo de violación de los derechos fundamentales de los individuos afectados. La investigación destaca la necesidad de abordar estos desafíos para salvar la integridad del sistema legal y garantizar el respeto a los principios fundamentales en el Perú.
Improving the competences of public servants regarding the management of local development on the basis of process management
Authors: Atanasov Mykola
Published: February 2024

The article substantiates directions for improving the competencies of public officials in managing local development on the basis of process management. It is noted that improving the competences of public officials in managing local development on the basis of process management is an urgent need today. The need to systematize public officials ideas about the essential features and features of process management is proven, namely: basic types of activities in process management; models and measurements of process maturity; process efficiency index calculations; process management success factors; optimization of processes (rules and principles of reengineering).

For effective management of local development on the basis of process management, the development of professional competencies of public servants should be carried out through the formation of a holistic vision of the desired state of the municipal entity as a system with detailed outcomes. This will require skills and abilities to align strategic processes with a holistic vision, digitize processes, and further optimize them. Key in this context are the marketing competence of public officials and their mastery of techniques for activating behavioral insights, including community members.