bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasmonic Surface Lattice Resonances in Suspended Symmetric Double-Layer Gratings
Authors: Cen Mengjia , Wang Jiawei , Liu Jianxun , Li Ye , Cai Wenfeng , Kong Delai , Luo Dan , Cao Tun , Liu Yan Jun
Published: November 2022

Surface lattice resonances (SLRs) with high-quality factors supported by metal nanoparticle arrays are useful for plasmonic nanolasers, biochemical sensors, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Most nanoparticle arrays are fabricated on a substrate, and the refractive index mismatch between the substrate and superstrate suppresses the performance of SLRs. In this work, we propose unique SLRs excited in suspended, self-aligned symmetric double-layer gratings with index-matched environment. The self-aligned double-layer gratings are fabricated using a single-step electron beam lithography and exhibit a Fano-like spectra resulting from interference between out-of-plane plasmonic resonances and diffraction modes. By changing the incident angle and refractive index of the surrounding medium, the SLRs can be tuned from visible to near-infrared regions with a high-quality factor of 120.
Fabrication of Electrospun Cellulose Acetate/Nanoclay Composites for Pollutant Removal
Authors: Tsekova Petya , Stoilova Olya
Published: November 2022

The creation of eco-friendly clay-based composites for pollutant removal by adsorption still remains a challenge. This problem might be successfully solved by the development of electrospun polymer–clay composites. For the first time in this study, a one-step fabrication of cellulose acetate (CA) fibers filled with commercially available nanoclays (NCs) was described. The optimal ratio at which CA/NCs dispersions remained stable was accomplished by varying the nanoclay concentration with respect to CA. Furthermore, the selected solvent system and the electrospinning conditions allowed for the successful fabrication of electrospun CA/NC composites. It was found that the composites’ surface morphology was not affected by the incorporated nanoclays and was the same as that of the electrospun CA fibers. The performed analyses clearly showed that CA and nanoclays did not react during the electrospinning process. It was found that the distribution of nanoclay layers probably was a mixture of intercalated and exfoliated structures. Notably, the type of the nanoclay strongly influenced the adsorption ability of CA/NC composites toward Cr(VI) ions and MB dye. These results suggested that the fabricated CA/NC composites are suitable for pollutant removal due to their specific structure.
Preparation and Macro-Micro Properties of SBS/REOB Modified-Rejuvenated Asphalt
Authors: Li Jin , Zhu Li , Yan Xiaozhou , Xin Chongsheng , Yu Miaozhang , Cheng Degang
Published: November 2022

To solve the problem that waste oil residues cannot be utilized and to reuse the aged asphalt, suitable modifiers were selected to compound the aged asphalt with waste oil residues to study its performance. SBS/REOB modified-rejuvenated asphalt was prepared by a high-speed shearing mechanism with aged asphalt, Recycled Engine Oil Bottom (REOB), Styrenic Block Copolymers (SBS) modifier, and stabilizer. The effects of SBS content, REOB content, shear time, and shear rate on the conventional physical properties of asphalt were studied by orthogonal grey correlation analysis, and the optimum preparation scheme of SBS/REOB modified-rejuvenated asphalt was determined. The high and low temperature rheological properties of SBS/REOB modified-rejuvenated asphalt were studied using the Multiple Stress Creep Recover (MSCR) test and bending beam rheological (BBR) test. The mechanism of SBS/REOB on the modification and regeneration of aged asphalt was explored through four component tests and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy. The results show that the optimum preparation scheme is 4.5% SBS dosage, 9% REOB dosage, 50~60 min shear time, and 4500 r/min shear rate. The addition of SBS improves the elastic recovery performance and high temperature deformation resistance of REOB rejuvenated asphalt. At the same time, the S-value decreases and the m-value increases, which significantly improves the low temperature cracking resistance of REOB rejuvenated asphalt. The addition of REOB achieves component blending and regeneration of aged asphalt by supplementing the light components. After the addition of SBS absorbs the light component and swelling reaction occurs, the whole modification-regeneration process is mainly physical co-mixing and co-compatibility.
Magnetic Hydrogel Composite for Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Salahuddin Bidita , Aziz Shazed , Gao Shuai , Hossain Md. Shahriar A. , Billah Motasim , Zhu Zhonghua , Amiralian Nasim
Published: November 2022

Nanocomposite hydrogels are highly porous colloidal structures with a high adsorption capacity, making them promising materials for wastewater treatment. In particular, magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) incorporated hydrogels are an excellent adsorbent for aquatic pollutants. An added advantage is that, with the application of an external magnetic field, magnetic hydrogels can be collected back from the wastewater system. However, magnetic hydrogels are quite brittle and structurally unstable under compact conditions such as in fixed-bed adsorption columns. To address this issue, this study demonstrates a unique hydrogel composite bead structure, providing a good adsorption capacity and superior compressive stress tolerance due to the presence of hollow cores within the beads. The gel beads contain alginate polymer as the matrix and MNP-decorated cellulose nanofibres (CNF) as the reinforcing agent. The MNPs within the gel provide active adsorption functionality, while CNF provide a good stress transfer phenomenon when the beads are under compressive stress. Their adsorption performance is evaluated in a red mud solution for pollutant adsorption. Composite gel beads have shown high performance in adsorbing metal (aluminium, potassium, selenium, sodium, and vanadium) and non-metal (sulphur) contaminations. This novel hybrid hydrogel could be a promising alternative to the conventionally used toxic adsorbent, providing environmentally friendly operational benefits.
Integrating Spirituality in Group Psychotherapy with First Responders: Addressing Trauma and Substance Misuse
Authors: Kaufman Caroline Cecil , Rosmarin David Hillel , Connery Hilary
Published: November 2022

First responders (e.g., fire fighters, law enforcement, paramedics, corrections officers) are at disproportionately high risk of experiencing posttraumatic stress and engaging in substance misuse. Spirituality is a potential source of resilience and recovery in the context of trauma and substance misuse; however, evidence-based clinical protocols integrating spirituality into group psychotherapy with first responders are rare. This article describes the adaptation of an existing and previously examined spiritually integrated group psychotherapy clinical protocol to address substance misuse among first responders with posttraumatic stress. This brief (90-min) and stand-alone group psychotherapy intervention includes (a) psychoeducation about the co-occurrence of trauma syndromes and substance misuse among first responders, (b) discussion of the relevance of spirituality to both posttraumatic stress and substance misuse, and (c) the integration of spiritual beliefs and behaviors to cope with symptoms related to trauma exposures and substance misuse. We discuss relevant clinical theory behind the development of this intervention as well as the potential clinical application of this protocol.
Co-Preaching: The Effects of Religious Digital Creatives’ Engagement in the Preaching Event
Authors: Mannerfelt Frida
Published: November 2022

The preaching event is a complex process of communication and interpretation. The aim of this study is to describe and discuss how the preaching event is affected when it is digitally mediated and involves so-called “religious digital creatives” (RDCs). This is achieved through a case study of the preaching event at two Church of Sweden (CoS) congregations that offered pre-recorded, digitally mediated worship services. The research questions guiding the study were: “When and how do the RDCs engage in the preaching event?” and “How can the effects of this engagement be understood in the light of homiletical theory drawing on the works of Mikhail Bakhtin?” The study found that RDCs engaged in the verbalization phase of the preaching event in several ways—including visualization, direction, editing, enhancement, and contextualization of the sermon—and thus contributed significantly to the preaching event. Furthermore, the RDCs exhibited notable relational authority—an authority based on negotiation, interdependence, and interaction. Employing homiletical theory that draws on Mikhail Bakhtin’s work, I argue that the RDCs in this case study are best understood as co-preachers who contribute to expanding the polyphony of the preaching event.
Maillard de Tournon: The First Papal Legate to China (1702–1710) and His Unknown Manuscripts
Authors: Zhang Rui
Published: November 2022

The Istoria della spedizione del Cardinale Carlo Tommaso Maillard de’ Tournon is a collection of manuscripts produced for and circulated within the Roman Curia in the early 18th century. It contains letters and reports from Maillard de Tournon, the first papal legate to China, and records his mission and the early efforts of the Holy See to establish direct contact with the Qing court, bypassing the patronage system and locally entrenched religious orders (the Jesuits in particular). For various reasons, these manuscripts were never fully published and, in spite of their interest, remain relatively unknown to scholars. This article introduces these manuscripts, edited by Giovanni Giacomo Fatinelli, procurator of Maillard de Tournon in Rome, and demonstrates their value in allowing a greater understanding of the relationship between the Holy See and China, as well as the general relationship between the Holy See and Catholic missionaries throughout the world.
Frequency-Wavenumber Domain Elastic Full Waveform Inversion with a Multistage Phase Correction
Authors: Hu Yong , Fu Li-Yun , Li Qingqing , Deng Wubing , Han Liguo
Published: November 2022

Elastic full waveform inversion (EFWI) is essential for obtaining high-resolution multi-parameter models. However, the conventional EFWI may suffer from severe cycle skipping without the low-frequency components in elastic seismic data. To solve this problem, we propose a multistage phase correction-based elastic full waveform inversion method in the frequency-wavenumber domain, which we call PC-EFWI for short. Specifically, the seismic data are first split using 2-D sliding windows; for each window, the seismic data are then transformed into the frequency-wavenumber domain for PC-EFWI misfit. In addition, we introduced a phase correction factor in the PC-EFWI misfit. In this way, it is possible to reduce phase differences between measured and synthetic data to mitigate cycle skipping by adjusting the phase correction factor in different scales. Numerical examples with the 2-D Marmousi model demonstrate that the frequency-wavenumber domain PC-EFWI with multistage strategy is an excellent way to reduce the risk of EFWI cycle skipping and build satisfactory start models for the conventional EFWI.
Development of Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer System for Coin Classification
Authors: Dao Duy-Vinh , Jeng Jen-Tzong , Doan Van-Dong , Nguyen Huu-Thang , Liang Bo-Yao
Published: November 2022

In this work, a method for identifying counterfeit coins based on an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) to detect the difference in the coin’s natural acoustic frequency response is presented. In the experimental system, the acoustic oscillation induced by a pulsed magnetic field is received by a microphone and recorded by an oscilloscope. The natural acoustic frequency of the coin is resolved by the fast Fourier transform (FFT) method on the computer. It is found that the natural frequencies of the possible counterfeit coins deviate significantly from the standard ranges of 16.9 to 17.4 kHz for the authentic 50 New Taiwan Dollar (NTD) coins. The observed natural frequencies of the coin are consistent with the values predicted by analytical estimation. We also built a prototype EMAT coin classification system to detect the natural acoustic frequency by direct frequency counting using a microcontroller. The prototype system demonstrates that a counterfeit coin can be identified by its natural frequency in less than 30 ms using the EMAT method. The proposed technique can be applied to the vending machine to improve the accuracy in discriminating between authentic and counterfeit coins.
Developing Novel Gas Discharge Emitters of Acoustic Waves in Air for Nondestructive Testing of Materials
Authors: Derusova Daria A. , Nekhoroshev Vitaly O. , Shpil’noi Victor Y. , Vavilov Vladimir P.
Published: November 2022

This study was devoted to the development of novel devices and a methodology intended for generating ultrasonic waves in an air medium by using atmospheric pressure gas discharge. In the proposed electrode system, the discharge process was accompanied by the generation of acoustic waves on the emitter surface and, consequently, in the ambient air. The gas discharge emitter vibrations were analyzed by applying the technique of Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometry (SLDV). It was shown that the magnitude of displacements matched the corresponding characteristics of classical piezoelectric and magnetostrictive transducers. The use of the Fast Fourier transform procedure supplied amplitude–frequency spectra of vibrations generated by the gas discharge emitter. The amplitude–frequency spectrum analysis showed that the proposed emitter was able to generate acoustic waves in the air with frequencies from 50 Hz to 100 kHz, and such a device can be used for the nondestructive testing (NDT) of materials. The results of the statistical analysis of vibration displacements in the repetitive pulsed mode were discussed. A non-stable characteristic of the vibration displacement of the emitter membrane was demonstrated. The parameters of such instability were associated with the features of gas discharge processes. In the experiments, the proposed gas discharge emitter was used in combination with SLDV for inspecting carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer composites. The experiments demonstrated the possibility of using an air-coupled gas discharge transmitter to generate acoustic waves in NDT applications.
SimBlock Simulator Enhancement with Difficulty Level Algorithm Based on Proof-of-Work Consensus for Lightweight Blockchain
Authors: Mardiansyah Viddi , Sari Riri Fitri
Published: November 2022

Proof-of-Work (PoW) was the first blockchain consensus protocol discovered, followed by Proof-of-Stake and others. The disadvantage of the PoW is that it requires high energy consumption compared to other consensus protocols. Based on this weakness, some researchers proposed a lightweight blockchain technology, a modified blockchain that has a simplified algorithm but does not reduce the security factor. This lightweight blockchain is suitable for applications requiring data reliability but with limited computing resources, such as Internet of Things devices. This paper discussed and modified the SimBlock simulator as one of the existing blockchain simulators. It has a visualization tool to look further into the propagation transition of the block. Unfortunately, the existing PoW consensus on the SimBlock simulator is unable to pinpoint the actual hash computation method. Therefore, the hashing process in the SimBlock simulator was modified by including the difficulty level for finding the hash target. The purpose of including the difficulty level was to determine how long it takes to create a block. By knowing the time needed, a recommendation could be obtained for the most suitable difficulty level for a lightweight blockchain and its implementation with IoT devices. There are two options of approaches to the difficulty level referred to in this paper; finding the number of zeros that appear sequentially and are in front of a hash value (leading zero) and finding the number of zeros that appear arbitrarily (count zero). For example, the first difficulty level on a leading-zero quest has the same meaning as searching for a leading zero, the second level of difficulty is the search for the two leading zeros, etc. The block generation time on a blockchain network using the PoW consensus highly depends on the difficulty level. Block generation time and resource utility have been analyzed and compared with other blockchain simulators and existing networks, such as Ethereum and Bitcoin. The modified SimBlock simulator was tested in this experiment using 100–600 nodes, with the expected result of creating 100–1000 blocks. Based on the experiments, creating a block using leading zeros as the hash target for the first to fourth difficulty levels took less than 1 s, whereas when using count zeros (zero-count) as the target hash, it took less than 1 s for the first to fifteenth difficulty levels. Using leading zeros took approximately 237.4 s at difficulty level 7, while count-zero took approximately 633.8 s at difficulty level 19. The experiment was not continued at the next difficulty level because it required a longer compilation time. With the modifications made, the creation of a block on a blockchain network using the PoW consensus can be clearly seen. The difficulty level added to the simulator can also provide information for determining the difficulty level to be implemented on the lightweight blockchain.
In-Home Older Adults’ Activity Pattern Monitoring Using Depth Sensors: A Review
Authors: Momin Md Sarfaraz , Sufian Abu , Barman Debaditya , Dutta Paramartha , Dong Mianxiong , Leo Marco
Published: November 2022

The global population is aging due to many factors, including longer life expectancy through better healthcare, changing diet, physical activity, etc. We are also witnessing various frequent epidemics as well as pandemics. The existing healthcare system has failed to deliver the care and support needed to our older adults (seniors) during these frequent outbreaks. Sophisticated sensor-based in-home care systems may offer an effective solution to this global crisis. The monitoring system is the key component of any in-home care system. The evidence indicates that they are more useful when implemented in a non-intrusive manner through different visual and audio sensors. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computer Vision (CV) techniques may be ideal for this purpose. Since the RGB imagery-based CV technique may compromise privacy, people often hesitate to utilize in-home care systems which use this technology. Depth, thermal, and audio-based CV techniques could be meaningful substitutes here. Due to the need to monitor larger areas, this review article presents a systematic discussion on the state-of-the-art using depth sensors as primary data-capturing techniques. We mainly focused on fall detection and other health-related physical patterns. As gait parameters may help to detect these activities, we also considered depth sensor-based gait parameters separately. The article provides discussions on the topic in relation to the terminology, reviews, a survey of popular datasets, and future scopes.
Rapid Determination of Metribuzin and Three Major Transformation Products in Soil and Plant by Gas Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Albero Beatriz , Fernández María Dolores , García-Gómez Concepción , Pérez Rosa Ana
Published: November 2022

Metribuzin is a pre- and post-emergence triazinone herbicide used in a variety of crops. This herbicide is degraded in the environment into three major metabolites that have high water solubility, high to very high soil mobility, and low to moderate persistence in soil. This paper describes the development of an analytical method based on ultrasound-assisted extraction and GC-MS/MS determination for the determination metribuzin and its main metabolites in soil and plants. The developed method provided good recoveries for all compounds in soil and plants (from 73 to 121%). The quantitation limits obtained from plants (2.6 to 18 µg/kg) allow determining the presence of these compounds at trace levels. To evaluate the applicability of the developed methods, bean plants were grown in plastic pots with soil treated with metribuzin and collected after 23 days. At the end of the assay, only 11% of the initial concentration of metribuzin remained in soil. Metribuzin and its three metabolites were detected in plants, desamino-diketo-metribuzin is the most abundant metabolite. It is expected that the application of these methods can provide more data to monitor metribuzin residues due to herbicide treatments.
Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Comparing the Determinants of Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy and Social Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy
Authors: Broccia Sarah , Dias Álvaro , Pereira Leandro
Published: November 2022

Sustainable entrepreneurship creates value beyond profit. Its role is increasingly important in addressing issues related to environmental challenges. Sustainable entrepreneurs represent a tool to attain the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations that address climate change, social inequality, human rights, and economic development. To solve these challenges, there is a need for high-performing sustainable entrepreneurs. The roles of innovativeness, organizational capabilities, and philanthropic corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the performance of sustainable entrepreneurs are still underexplored. Hence, this study proposes an analysis of the indirect and direct effects of innovativeness on entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy (SESE) and of the mediating role of organizational capabilities and philanthropic CSR. Based on structural equation modeling and importance-performance matrix analysis, the findings from a survey of 116 sustainable entrepreneurs identified a positive relationship between innovativeness and ESE, organizational capabilities, and philanthropic CSR. The indirect relationship mediated by organizational capabilities was found to be positive, while for philanthropic CSR, it was positive for SESE but negative for ESE. Interestingly, it was found that SESE is only positively influenced in indirect relations. This study contributes to the literature on how innovativeness can promote ESE and SESE and the role of organizational capabilities and philanthropic CSR in enhancing performance among sustainable entrepreneurs.
Women’s Working Conditions during COVID-19: A Review of the Literature and a Research Agenda
Authors: Mazzucchelli Omar , Manzi Claudia , Rossi Lamastra Cristina
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered new working modalities, typically aimed at flexibility. However, the COVID-related restrictions caused adverse effects such as unemployment, precariousness, and social anxiety. Effects on working conditions differ depending on the socio-demographic features of those affected (e.g., gender, social status, economic situation, ethnicity). Scholars agree that people who were disadvantaged before the pandemic—the so-called minority power groups, e.g., women, young people, and immigrants—suffered the most from its effects. This literature review systematizes the main findings of studies on one of these minority power groups, namely women.
Health-Related Physical Fitness in Adolescents from Spain, Estonia and Iceland: A Cross-Sectional, Quantitative Study
Authors: Galan-Lopez Pablo , Gísladóttir Thordis , Pihu Maret , Sánchez-Oliver Antonio J. , Ries Francis , Domínguez Raúl
Published: November 2022

The benefits of physical fitness (PF) for health are well-known. Low PF significantly contributes to the prevalence of obesity in adolescents, with an increased risk of developing chronic diseases. The objectives of the present study were to explore the health-related PF components and body composition levels in adolescents in three European cities, and their differences. The present study is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and quantitative research effort with 1717 participants aged between 13–16 years (48% girls), enrolled in public and private secondary schools in Seville (Spain), Reykjavik (Iceland) and Tartu (Estonia). The ALPHA fitness battery test was used with the following tests: handgrip strength, standing broad jump, 4 × 10 m speed-agility, 20 m shuttle run, and anthropometric variables. Regarding body composition, differences were detected for city and gender in height (p < 0.001), weight (p < 0.001), body fat percentage (p < 0.001), and waist circumference (p < 0.001); but no differences were reported for BMI for both city (p = 0.150) and gender (p = 0.738). Similarly, concerning PF, it was detected statistically significant differences between cities and gender in handgrip strength (p < 0.001), jump test (p < 0.001), speed-agility test (p < 0.001), and cardiovascular endurance in both variables (p < 0.001). In total, 26.8% of the boys and 27.3% of the girls were categorized as overweight; 18.1% of the boys and 31.2% of the girls had an excessive percentage of fat mass; and 22.7% of the boys and 22.2% of the girls showed an excessive waist circumference. The participants from Seville presented the lowest results in PF tests. In contrast, Reykjavik, with the highest results in the endurance and speed-agility tests, and Tartu, with higher results in the manual grip strength and long jump tests, shared the highest results.
A Road Map to Detect the Foremost 3E Potential Areas for Installation of PV Façade Technology Using Multi-Criteria Decision Making
Authors: Shahverdian Mohammad Hassan , Sedayevatan Saba , Latif Damavandi Sajjad , Sohani Ali , Sayyaadi Hoseyn
Published: November 2022

A procedure to prioritize the cities to utilize a building integrated photovoltaic thermal (BIPV/T) system is proposed in which the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) is employed as a systematic decision-making method. Electricity generation and heat recovery in a year from the energy side, levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), and payback period (PBP) from the economic viewpoint, as well as the carbon dioxide savings from the environmental perspective, are taken into account as the decision criteria. They are the key economic, environmental, and energy (3E) performance indicators of the system. The novelty of the proposed research approach is two items. The first item is systematic and could be employed for each and every case. Moreover, another item is that selection is made based on energy, economic, and environmental (3E) criteria all together, as the important aspects of an energy system. Having introduced the procedure, it is utilized to rank five cities in Iran for the installation of BIPV/T technologies. The cities are Tehran, Tabriz, Yazd, Rasht, and Bandar Abbas, where each one is a populated city from one of the climatic conditions of the country. According to the results, a high priority is seen for two cities: the first city is Yazd with the highest ambient temperature and relative humidity among the alternatives, and the other city is Tehran, with the highest natural gas and electricity tariffs, as well as the greatest price for operating and maintenance. The values of heat recovery, electricity generation, carbon dioxide savings, PBP, and LCOE for Yazd are 42.3 MWh, 23.4 MWh, 16.8 tons, 5.48 years, and 9.45 cents per kWh. The corresponding values for Tehran are 35.6 MWh, 21.6 MWh, 15.0 tons, 2.79 years, and 8.71 cents per kWh, respectively.
Study on the Optimal Volume Fracturing Design for Horizontal Wells in Tight Oil Reservoirs
Authors: Jie Yenan , Yang Jing , Zhou Desheng , Wang Haiyang , Zou Yi , Liu Yafei , Zhang Yanjun
Published: November 2022

The application of horizontal well volume fracturing technology is an important method for enhancing oil recovery in tight oil reservoirs. However, the influence mechanism of the fracture placement scheme (FPC) on postfracturing productivity is still unclear. Based on the theory of the black oil model, combined with the reservoir stimulation characteristics of horizontal well volume fracturing in tight oil reservoirs, this paper established a postfracturing reservoir production simulation model. History fitting was used to verify the accuracy of the production model simulations. A series of numerical simulations was carried out to study the influence mechanisms of the fracture parameters and FPC on productivity. The simulation results show that compared with the fracture conductivity, the fracture length and number are the main parameters affecting tight oil reservoir productivity. Selecting a reasonable fracture length and number can realize the economical and efficient production of tight oil reservoir volume fracturing. Compared with the traditional fracture equal-length scheme, an FPC with an uneven fracture length can increase the cumulative oil production of oil wells. Under the condition of the same total fracture length, the scheme with a staggered distribution of long fractures and short fractures has the largest cumulative oil production over five years. A reasonable well spacing can greatly reduce the impact of interwell interference on postfracturing dual branch horizontal well productivity. When dual branch horizontal well fractures are alternately distributed, the postfracturing productivity is higher. The production simulation model established in this paper provides a method to accurately evaluate the productivity of horizontal wells after volume fracturing, which can provide guidance for the optimization of hydraulic fracturing operation parameters.
Application of Extended Set Pair Analysis on Wear Risk Evaluation of Backfill Pipeline
Authors: Wu Zaihai , Qi Zhaojun , Kou Yunpeng , Li Zheng , Zhao Guoyan , Liang Weizhang
Published: November 2022

Filling slurry can inevitably cause irreversible wear to the pipeline, which represents great costs to mines. This study aims to propose an extended set pair analysis (SPA) for the wear risk evaluation of backfill pipeline. First, to fully describe the wear risk of backfill pipeline, an evaluation index system was established from the aspects of slurry characteristics, pipeline properties, and slurry flow state. Then, the experts grading method was modified with probabilistic linguistic term sets (PLTSs) to obtain subjective weights. Meanwhile, the criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC) approach was used to calculate objective weights. By introducing a preference coefficient, they were integrated to determine the comprehensive weights. After that, the classical SPA was extended with membership functions and fuzzy entropy theory, so that the wear risk of backfill pipeline can be evaluated from the perspectives of both the risk level and complexity. Finally, the proposed methodology was applied to assess the wear risk in the Jinchuan nickel mine, Dahongshan copper mine, Hedong gold mine, and Xincheng gold mine. The reliability of evaluation results was further verified through sensitivity and comparative analyses. Results indicate that the proposed methodology is feasible for the wear risk evaluation of backfill pipeline, and can provide guidance on the wear risk management.
Conceptual Approaches of Health and Wellbeing at the Apartment Building Scale: A Review of Australian Studies
Authors: Al-Obaidi Tamara , Prior Jason , McIntyre Erica
Published: November 2022

The complexity of environmental challenges facing populations are pushing researchers to go beyond traditional study designs alone to investigate health within the urban environment using integrated coupled human-environment systems thinking. As high-density apartment living is increasing in Australia, it is important to understand the conceptual frameworks guiding research at this scale in Australia; therefore, this article provides a systematic search and review of residents-based studies exploring whether they conceptualised their approach to health using ecological systems thinking at the building scale. Residents-based research published in English between January 2011 and June 2021 was searched across six databases, with 1265 articles identified and six articles included for review. Findings demonstrate a lack of study designs that use systemic and integrated thinking. More specifically, complex systems thinking of health and the urban environment with coupled human-environment views are not fully grasped or reflected in current study designs. This gap is further complicated by a lack of explicit definition and conceptualisation of health and wellbeing and a diverse approach to their use. Future research should consider adopting relational and integrated thinking of health drivers along with an ecological perspective to address residents’ multiple challenges and implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Joint Estimation Method with Multi-Innovation Unscented Kalman Filter Based on Fractional-Order Model for State of Charge and State of Health Estimation
Authors: Xu Yonghong , Li Cheng , Wang Xu , Zhang Hongguang , Yang Fubin , Ma Lili , Wang Yan
Published: November 2022

This study simulates the polarization effect during the process of battery charging and discharging, and investigates the characteristics of the process. A fractional-order model (FOM) is established and the parameters of the FOM are identified with the adaptive genetic algorithm. As Kalman filter estimation causes error accumulation over time, using the fractional-order multi-innovation unscented Kalman filter (FOMIUKF) is a better choice for state of charge (SOC) estimation. A comparative study shows that the FOMIUKF has higher accuracy. A multiple timescales-based joint estimation algorithm of SOC and state of health is established to improve SOC estimation precision and reduce the amount of computation. The FOMIUKF algorithm is used for SOC estimation, while the UKF algorithm is used for SOH estimation. The joint estimation algorithm is then compared and analyzed alongside other Kalman filter algorithms under different dynamic operating conditions. Experimental results show that the joint estimation algorithm possesses high estimation accuracy with a mean absolute error of under 1% and a root mean square error of 1.35%.
Mapping Agricultural Soil in Greenhouse Using an Autonomous Low-Cost Robot and Precise Monitoring
Authors: Saddik Amine , Latif Rachid , Taher Fatma , El Ouardi Abdelhafid , Elhoseny Mohamed
Published: November 2022

Our work is focused on developing an autonomous robot to monitor greenhouses and large fields. This system is designed to operate autonomously to extract useful information from the plants based on precise GPS localization. The proposed robot is based on an RGB camera for plant detection and a multispectral camera for extracting the different special bands for processing, and an embedded architecture integrating a Nvidia Jetson Nano, which allows us to perform the required processing. Our system uses a multi-sensor fusion to manage two parts of the algorithm. Therefore, the proposed algorithm was partitioned on the CPU-GPU embedded architecture. This allows us to process each image in 1.94 s in a sequential implementation on the embedded architecture. The approach followed in our implementation is based on a Hardware/Software Co-Design study to propose an optimal implementation. The experiments were conducted on a tomato farm, and the system showed that we can process different images in real time. The parallel implementation allows to process each image in 36 ms allowing us to satisfy the real-time constraints based on 5 images/s. On a laptop, we have a total processing time of 604 ms for the sequential implementation and 9 ms for the parallel processing. In this context, we obtained an acceleration factor of 66 for the laptop and 54 for the embedded architecture. The energy consumption evaluation showed that the prototyped system consumes a power between 4 W and 8 W. For this raison, in our case, we opted a low-cost embedded architecture based on Nvidia Jetson Nano.
Knowledge Graph-Based Assembly Resource Knowledge Reuse towards Complex Product Assembly Process
Authors: Shi Xiaolin , Tian Xitian , Gu Jianguo , Yang Fan , Ma Liping , Chen Yun , Su Tianyi
Published: November 2022

Assembly process designers typically confront the challenge of seeking information out of large volumes of non-structured files with a view to supporting the decision-making to be made. It is a leading concern that embedding data in text documents can hardly be retrieved semantically in order to facilitate decision-making with timely support. For tackling this gap, we propose in this paper a knowledge graph-based approach used to merge and retrieve information decided to be relevant within an engineering context. The proposed approach is to establish a multidimensional integrated assembly resource knowledge graph (ARKG) based on the structure of function-structure-assembly procedure-assembly resource, and this multidimensional integrated structure can well accomplish the retrieval of related knowledge. The upper semantic framework of ARKG is established by the assembly resource ontology model, which is a semantic-type framework involving multiple domains of knowledge to create instantiated data reflecting the full profile of the assembly resource for obtaining structured data of ARKG while avoiding the data redundancy problem. The ARKG method is validated through assembly scenario of the aircraft, and the results show the effectiveness and accuracy of the ARKG used by the assembly process designer in the assembly process design phase for retrieving the target knowledge of the assembly resources.
Exploring Key Components of Municipal Solid Waste in Prediction of Moisture Content in Different Functional Areas Using Artificial Neural Network
Authors: He Tuo , Niu Dongjie , Chen Gan , Wu Fan , Chen Yu
Published: November 2022

Moisture content is a very important parameter for municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment technology selection and design. However, the moisture content of MSW collected from different urban areas is influenced by its physical composition in these areas. The aim of this study was to analyze the key components of MSW for predicting moisture content in different functional areas via the development of an artificial neural network (ANN) model. The dataset used in this study was collected in Shanghai from 2007 to 2019. Considering the influence of functional areas, the model obtained the performance with MAE of 2.67, RMSE of 3.29, and R2 of 0.83, and an eight-fold cross validation showed acceptable results. The inter-quartile range (IQR) and isolation forest were compared to detect and remove outliers. In descending order, the moisture content was ranked as commercial/residential > office > cleaning areas. Based on a parameter exclusion method, kitchen, rubber, and plastic wastes show the greatest influence on moisture content in residential and commercial areas. In cleaning and office areas, paper, wood and bamboo waste products were the most important components. The determination of key components in different functional areas is of benefit for reducing the workload of moisture content estimation.
Learning and Teaching Styles in a Public School with a Focus on Renewable Energies
Authors: Colmenares-Quintero Ramón Fernando , Barbosa-Granados Sergio , Rojas Natalia , Stansfield Kim E. , Colmenares-Quintero Juan Carlos , Ruiz-Candamil Manuela , Cano-Perdomo Pedro
Published: November 2022

The purpose of this study is to identify teaching styles (TS) and learning styles (LS) in teachers and students in public schools with a focus on renewable energies, with the aim of designing and applying curricular strategies based on active learning in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the same way, it seeks to determine the differences related between TS and LS. The research was developed with a quantitative methodology and a correlational descriptive approach. In addition, a non-experimental, cross-sectional design was used and an intentional non-probabilistic sampling of 125 students and 20 professors from the Maria Inmaculada School of the municipality of Puerto Carreño, Colombia. The results indicate that there is no significant difference between TS and LS. However, it was identified that students prefer a reflective teaching methodology (M = 15.5, SD = 0.75) followed by the active style (M = 14.2, SD = 1.10) and, to a lesser extent, the pragmatic style (M = 11.4, SD = 1.19). In the case of teachers, the most used teaching style is also reflective (M = 25.7, SD = 1.02), followed by individualized (M = 20.1, SD = 0.56) and, to a lesser extent, inquiry (M = 5.3, SD = 1.10). This research allows the generating of new knowledge that contributes to improving educational processes in the school population with a focus on renewable energies, enabling the promotion of strategies towards a sustainable society.
Variations in the Value and Trade-Offs/Synergies of Ecosystem Services on Topographic Gradients in Qinghai Province, China
Authors: Ma Xiaofan , Zhang Haifeng
Published: November 2022

Qinghai Province is an important part of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. It is the birthplace of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang (Mekong) Rivers, the recharge area for China’s freshwater resources. With different terrains, the temperature, daylight, and precipitation of Qinghai Province are widely variable. Consequently, the topography largely determines the spatial distribution of ecosystem services (ESs) and affects their interaction. Studying the impact of topography on the spatial-temporal evolution of ESs and their interaction is of great significance for land-use planning and the ecological civilization in Qinghai Province. To explore the spatial distribution and evolution characteristics of ESV and trade-offs/synergies among ESs in Qinghai Province, we considered topography (elevation, slope, RDLS, and terrain niche index) in 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 using the ArcGIS software and the equivalent factor method. The results were then corrected using various parameters. The results showed that the ESV of Qinghai Province decreased from 129,573.99 million USD in 1980 to 129,155.85 million USD in 2000, and then increased rapidly to 142,682.97 million USD in 2020. The spatial distribution of ESV is characterized by high in the south and east and low in the northwest. The geographical distribution and temporal variation of ESV and trade-offs/synergies of ES pairs show distinct vertical zonality, and the relationship between ESs showed different patterns on different topographic gradients. Hence, priority should be given to the ecological protection of high-altitude areas, and the implementation of ecological migration continued. The implementation of protection measures considering the ecological conditions under different topographic gradients can ensure more appropriate ecosystem management and more sensible decision-making.
Social Inclusion Concerning Migrants in Guangzhou City and the Spatial Differentiation
Authors: Zhou Changchang , Zhan Meixu , An Xun , Huang Xu
Published: November 2022

This study investigates the social inclusion perceived by Guangzhou residents and the underlying factors based on the 2019 social survey with nearly 10,000 respondents. Surveys were conducted via quota sampling targeted at government officials and enterprise employers, referring to the Industrial Classification for National Economic Activities and the employment statistics of Guangzhou. In addition, online questionnaires were distributed to the general public. Responses were collected and analyzed through a multiple-regression model. Critical findings are as follows: (1) Residents’ attitude toward foreign immigrants is generally lower than that toward domestic migrants. Migrants who obtained Guangzhou hukou rated a higher social inclusion score than natives. (2) Residents without Guangzhou household registration expected that Guangzhou residents have better social inclusion scores for foreign immigrants. (3) People working in high-tech industries have lower social inclusion toward foreign migrants than those working in low-end industries, as there are no conflicts of interest between low-end workers and foreign migrants. Moreover, these two groups of people have more frequent interactions, given their living proximity. (4) Social inclusion held by residents in the inner-city region of Guangzhou is significantly higher than that of residents in the outer sphere, indicating a positive relationship between living environment and social inclusion perceptions. This paper lays the groundwork for identifying the relationship between social inclusion perceptions and differences in household registration statuses, working industries, and residence locations. It further facilitates the development of a more inclusive city.
A Machine Learning-Based Energy Management Agent for Fine Dust Concentration Control in Railway Stations
Authors: Kwon Kyung-Bin , Hong Su-Min , Heo Jae-Haeng , Jung Hosung , Park Jong-young
Published: November 2022

This study developed a reinforcement learning-based energy management agent that controls the fine dust concentration by controlling facilities such as blowers and air conditioners to efficiently manage the fine dust concentration in the station. To this end, we formulated an optimization problem based on the Markov decision-making process and developed a model for predicting the concentration of fine dust in the station by training an artificial neural network (ANN) based on supervised learning to develop the transfer function. In addition to the prediction model, the optimal policy for controlling the blower and air conditioner according to the current state was obtained based on the ANN to which the Deep Q-Network (DQN) algorithm was applied. In the case study, it is confirmed that the ANN and DQN of the predictive model were trained based on the actual data of Nam-Gwangju Station to converge to the optimal policy. The comparison between the proposed method and conventional method shows that the proposed method can use less power consumption but achieved better performance on reducing fine dust concentration than the conventional method. In addition, by increasing the value of the ratio that represents the compensation due to the fine dust reduction, the learned agent achieved more reduction on the fine dust concentration by increasing the power consumption of the blower and air conditioner.
What Do They Feel, Do, and Expect? The Young Generation’s Perception of Environmental Problems and Sustainable Development Goals in the Context of Quality of Life
Authors: Adamczyk Jadwiga , Adamczyk-Kowalczuk Magdalena
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the need to rethink, revision, and modify the sustainable development goals since changes have never been so unpredictable in terms of future events. While material welfare has long been identified and given attention, the pandemic has demonstrated the importance of health security and socio-psychological well-being. The aim of this article is to identify the young generation’s perception of environmental problems and sustainable development goals in the context of quality of life. In January 2022, we conducted an online survey (CAWI) among 120 young adults aged 21–28, who were asked, i.a., to assess current ecological threats, economic security, and social problems and to reevaluate the goals of sustainable development. One of the general conclusions is that global threats are more important for young people than local ones, and future threats are more important than the present ones. The results indicate a high awareness and sensitivity among the young generation to the important elements of the sustainable development goals, particularly regarding the elimination of hunger, the access to potable water, and providing education in the global dimension. The research results reflect the expectations of the young generation regarding the implementation of sustainable development goals, especially concerning environmental and social aspects.