bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Farmers’ Livelihood Adaptability in Rural Tourism Destinations: An Evaluation Study of Rural Revitalization in China
Authors: Li Huiqin , Guo Tinghong , Nijkamp Peter , Xie Xuelian , Liu Jingjing
Published: November 2020

Rural tourism is one of the important ways to achieve rural revitalization and one of the choices for farmers to improve their viability. Therefore, the socio-ecological systems (SES) analysis framework and obstacle factor analysis can provide a new perspective for the evaluation of farmers’ behavior adaptation processes. In order to test the adaptation mechanisms of farmers’ lives in rural tourism destinations, we applied this analysis framework to Ying-Tao-Gou Village in China. The study found that the livelihood adaptation strategies of local farmers can be divided into the categories of “tourism livelihood”, “part-time livelihood”, “worker livelihood”, and “farming livelihood”. The livelihood adaptation of local farmers presented a relatively balanced picture. There were significant differences in the livelihood adaptability of different types of farmers, but tourism farmers had the strongest livelihood adaptability. There were various barriers to the livelihood adaptation of different types of farmers, such as household savings and education level. Finally, to improve the adaptability of farmers’ livelihoods, amendments can be made in policy formulation, tourism development, and by the farmers themselves. This study is of great significance for the government in formulating policies to improve people’s livelihoods, to stimulate the vitality of rural development, and to accelerate the development of rural revitalization.
Organisational Strategies for Implementing Education for Sustainable Development in the UK Primary Schools: A Service Innovation Perspective
Authors: Kuzmina Ksenija , Trimingham Rhoda , Bhamra Tracy
Published: November 2020

Education for sustainable development (ESD) in schools requires a whole-school approach to ensure that all stakeholders, including students, value sustainability and express this value in an active engagement in the ongoing development process. Such inclusivity however is rarely achieved, with benefits of ESD in schools usually recognised only by a select few. School strategies that continue to dominate research focus on management of the finite resources or give emphasis to a particular pedagogical agenda, whereas approaches that emphasise whole-school ESD engagement are scarce. This paper aims to address this gap. To do so, we propose to frame schools as service organisations and use service logic approach and service innovation theory to review how five primary schools in England define and implement ESD. The findings from our comparative case study discuss three strategies that schools as service organisations need to consider: defining sustainable student experience as a core service concept, developing an organisational culture of sustainability-driven innovation, and engaging in a value co-creation process with external stakeholders in order to facilitate the concept. Our results suggest that by placing “sustainable student experience” as the core service concept, schools can align their external and internal organisational activities to enable sustainable education for all stakeholders.
A Positive Impact Rating for Business Schools: Case Study
Authors: Dyllick Thomas , Muff Katrin
Published: November 2020

Business school rankings have been criticized, to blindly “follow the money” with their strong focus on salaries and economic performance, thereby reflecting the values and expectations of the times the rankings were created. Rankings are increasingly seen as out of touch with changing demands on business and business schools to address issues of social impact and sustainability. The newly created Positive Impact Rating for Business Schools (PIR) provides an answer to these demands. This paper presents a case study on the new PIR. It first provides an overview of the critique of current business school rankings. It highlights emerging trends towards including social impact and sustainability in the business school landscape, with a focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, research initiatives, accreditations, and rankings. It then presents and discusses in detail the new PIR launched in January 2020 at the WEF in Davos and its initial reception. This new “by students and for students” rating reaches out to students to assess their own business schools on how they perceive them in creating a positive impact on and for the world.
From the Total-Factor Framework to Food Cost Performance Disaggregation—Developing an Innovative Model to Enhance Menu Performance
Authors: Fang Chin-Yi
Published: November 2020

The menu serves as a form of advertisement and has also been recognized as an important marketing communication tool between restaurant and consumer. Extant literature have assessed the menu item performance by using the multi-factor efficiency index. However, there is a paucity of literature focusing on the efficiency disaggregation in order to improve the performance of individual food, labor, and other resources. The aim of this study was to determine the input targets for each menu item by comparing the efficiency frontier established by all menu items in two types of restaurant chains. In order to achieve this goal, the study sought to establish the food and labor cost performance assessment model utilizing the total-factor framework combined with a slack-based measure (SBM) of efficiency in data envelopment analysis (DEA) (SBM-DEA). Resource-saving target ratios (RSTR) for panel data with 35 menu items in these two different cultural type of restaurant chains including Chinese-style and Japanese-style restaurants for twelve months were assessed in a total-factor framework. The four-quadrant analysis based on efficiency and unit profit offered different strategies to the restaurateur being studied. The empirical findings indicated that the average total-factor food cost efficiency (TFFCE) was better than the total-factor labor cost efficiency (TFLCE) in these two types of restaurants. The TFFCE (80%) and TFLCE (61%) of the Chinese-style restaurant were better than those (TFFCE (76%) and TFLCE (50%)) of the Japanese-style restaurant in the observant periods. Even though the Chinese-style restaurant had a better resource efficiency, the restaurateur was still able to improve at least 20% in terms of food cost efficiency and 39% of labor cost efficiency, respectively. Managerial discussion and future study are also discussed.
Multinomial Logistic Regression to Estimate and Predict the Perceptions of Individuals and Companies in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Ñuble Region, Chile
Authors: Umaña-Hermosilla Benito , de la Fuente-Mella Hanns , Elórtegui-Gómez Claudio , Fonseca-Fuentes Marisela
Published: November 2020

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is transforming the world we live in, revealing our health, economic, and social weaknesses. In the local economy, the loss of job opportunities, the uncertainty about the future of small and medium-sized companies and the difficulties of families to face the effects of this crisis, invite us to investigate the perception of the local community. Based on a questionnaire applied to 313 citizens and 51 companies, this study explored the perception of these actors on the effects of the pandemic at the local level and determined the main factors that influenced their assessment using a multinomial logistic regression model. The results indicated a systematic concern for issues of employment, job security, and household debt. The variables of age and sex were significant when analyzing the vulnerability of certain groups, especially women and the elderly, to face the effects of the crisis and their role as citizens. At the business level, the focus was on economic policies that support its operational continuity and management capacity to face a changing scenario.
A Sustainable Management Model for Cultural Creative Tourism Ecosystems
Authors: Henche Blanca García , Salvaj Erica , Cuesta-Valiño Pedro
Published: November 2020

This article proposes a novel management model for cultural, creative, and historic tourism cities. The creation of the model is based on previous literature and in the study of Barrio de las Letras, in Madrid, to identify the key components to successfully develop creative tourism ecosystems. The model integrates the literature on city center management and, unlike previous studies, incorporates missing elements, such as the role of small businesses associations and collaboration networks among diverse stakeholders to develop a cultural–historic tourism ecosystem. This model represents a proposal that supports the coexistence of the private and public sector and sustainable governance models that integrate the inhabitants of city centers with the economic activity generated by urban tourism. The model was developed by an analysis of secondary sources, interviews with key informants, and questionnaires of entrepreneurs located in a recently invigorated cultural and historic neighborhood. The contribution of knowledge offered by this paper is the proposition of a management model that can aid town centers to create competitive cultural/creative/historic tourism ecosystems while still preserving the sustainability of their social/commercial fabric. Therefore, the collaboration of cultural organizations, hospitality industry and retail can promote cultural, creative, and sustainable management model of historic urban centers.
A Schema for Systematic Service Imagining: Context-Based Activity Modeling
Authors: Kim Yong Se , Jeong Jiyun , Hong YeonKoo , Hong Seok Jin
Published: November 2020

Design thinking as a mindset and as a process for design and business innovation receives a lot of attention. Thus, concrete and structured methods for design thinking need to be devised, and design thinking competencies should be fostered proactively. Design thinking is underpinned by visual thinking composed of interactive iterations of Seeing—Imagining—Drawing. The visual reasoning model developed to understand and support visual thinking describes the process with cognitive activities as well as knowledge and schema. The visual reasoning model could serve as a framework to devise structured methods and tools for design thinking and to foster design thinking competencies. It would be desirable if schema to serve as underlying models in imagining service activities are to be identified so that cognitive activities in seeing—imagining—drawing can be systematically structured in service design, where the objects of designing are human activities and experiences. In this paper, three structured design methods developed for service design have been described and characterized in the framework of the visual reasoning model. Particularly the context-based activity modeling has been demonstrated as schema in structured imagining of service activities for product-service systems, as it serves the underlying role in organizing information on human activities consistently and yet with different interactions with other constituents of these three imagining methods.
How Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise Innovation Affects Credit Accessibility: The Case of Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Phuong Anh , Uong Thuy Anh Tram , Nguyen Quang Dung
Published: November 2020

Nowadays, small- and medium-sized enterprises play crucial roles in both developed and developing countries. They create new employment, fulfill the market gap, contribute to Gross Domestic Product and boost the whole economy. However, small- and medium-sized enterprises face more financial constraints than large enterprises, which prevent them from growing and expanding their activities. This paper aims to investigate how the innovation of small- and medium-sized enterprises impacts on credit accessibility in Vietnam from 2005 to 2015, through five aspects of innovation: new products, new technology, improved existing products, research and development investment, and machine innovation. The data set consists of more than 4500 observations of small- and medium-sized enterprises in Vietnam. This data set is taken from a survey conducted within the framework of cooperation among UNU-WIDER, the University of Copenhagen and Vietnamese government agencies. Using panel regression model, we found out that three out of five innovation factors significantly impact on credit accessibility. More specifically, research and development investment and new product have negative impact on credit accessibility; whereas new technology has positive impact on credit accessibility. These findings are useful for firm managers, banks and policy makers to help small- and medium-sized enterprises overcome financial constraints through innovation aspects.
Assessment of the Impact of Atmospheric Corrosivity on the Cement Concrete Airfield Pavement’s Operation Process
Authors: Wesolowski Mariusz , Rumak Aleksandra , Iwanowski Pawel , Poswiata Adam
Published: November 2020

The aim of this research is to assess corrosion in natural atmospheric conditions, based on exposure of material samples and periodic monitoring, and to determine the size of corrosion losses, their form and appearance, as well as changes in physical properties at regular time intervals. Atmospheric corrosion tests were ultimately carried out in order to determine the corrosion resistance of a cement concrete airfield pavement, as well as to assess the type of corrosion and research data in order to determine and estimate the corrosivity of the atmosphere. Atmospheric corrosivity is one of the parameters characterizing the technical condition of airfield pavement functional elements; it makes it possible to estimate a suitable frequency of airfield periodic inspections. Assessments of concrete corrosion and atmospheric corrosivity enable appropriate countermeasures to be taken in order to maintain the airport functional elements in a constant state of technical readiness. In the following study, the prepared samples were exposed to atmospheric conditions in designated places located at selected military airport facilities. Corrosion samples in the form of 50 mm × 100 mm standard samples, 1 mm to 3 mm in thickness, were placed on special frames located within fenced corrosion stations. The corrosion rate rcorr of a specific metal, expressed as a corrosion loss, depends on the environmental conditions. This article presents an atmosphere corrosivity category assessment for low-carbon steel, zinc, copper and aluminum reference samples, taking into account weight or thickness loss after one year of exposure.
Evaluation of Factors Influencing the Inclusion of Indigenous Plants for Food Security among Rural Households in the North West Province of South Africa
Authors: Omotayo Abiodun Olusola , Aremu Adeyemi Oladapo
Published: November 2020

Underutilised indigenous plants can support and strengthen the existing food system, as they are considered as socio-economically and environmentally appropriate. These plants generally adapt to marginal conditions, which is essential for a resilient agriculture and sustainable food systems. The current study relied on food security and indigenous plants data collected from some selected rural households from the North West Province of South Africa. The utilised data were collected through a multi-stage sampling technique with the aid of a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire, while descriptive methods Foster–Greer–Thorbecke (FGT) and binary logistic regression were used for data analysis. The models produced a good fit for the data, and the computed F-value was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The study examined socio-economic and food security status based on the knowledge and the perception of indigenous plants by the households. The incidence of food insecurity (θ0) was 0.4060, indicating that 40.6% of the participants were food insecure while 59.4% were food secured. Binary logistic regression results indicate that factors such as age, gender, educational attainment, inclusion of indigenous plants in diet, food expenditure, and access in the study area impacted results. It was also evident that the participants had considerable knowledge of indigenous plants. However, these indigenous plants were not cultivated or included in the diet by the majority of the participants. The formulation of appropriate holistic policies that support the incorporation of the indigenous plants into the food system is recommended.
Is It Time for a Revolution in Work‒Life Balance? Reflections from Spain
Authors: Rodríguez-Rivero Rocío , Yáñez Susana , Fernández-Aller Celia , Carrasco-Gallego Ruth
Published: November 2020

The COVID-19 crisis has taken the world by surprise, and its effects are widening pre-existing inequalities such as socioeconomical, educational, and digital divides. The gender gap is no exception, and research shows that lockdowns are strongly impacting women, who, on the whole, are more vulnerable to the effects of a crisis. This study analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain on families, from a gender perspective. To this end, 663 participants related to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields were recruited to participate in the research through their connection with the Equality Office of the major technical university of Spain, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, which offers most engineering and architecture degrees. The results indicate that the great myths of gender inequality are still alive in Spain, and that a crisis of this nature can perpetuate them. However, the crisis also presents an opportunity for change. Will the STEM careers be prepared to take advantage of this opportunity, or will this crisis end up perpetuating their markedly masculine character? Are we ready for a revolution? The COVID-19 crisis and its learnings about the importance of care can open the path to change.
Kindergarten Children’s Perception about the Ecological Roles of Living Organisms
Authors: Melis Claudia , Wold Per-Arvid , Billing Anna Maria , Bjørgen Kathrine , Moe Børge
Published: November 2020

Young children will inherit the biosphere; therefore, it is crucial that they recognize the importance of all living organisms based on their intrinsic value and ecosystem function, not only on their “cuteness”. However, children’s knowledge about the interdependence among organisms has been little investigated. We interviewed 56 kindergarten children (5–6 years old) in Norway. The aim of the study was to investigate their perception of the importance for nature of six organisms, representing different trophic levels of food webs (producers, consumers, decomposers) and providing different ecosystem services (production, decomposition, and pollination). There was no difference in ranking between sexes or between ordinary and farm-based kindergartens. Bumblebees and earthworms were perceived as the most important organisms, followed by squirrel, trees, and wolf. None of the children recognized the ecological role of mushrooms. Our results show that, although upon completing kindergarten many children had gained an early understanding of the role of different organisms in nature, they missed the importance of plants and fungi. Kindergarten children’s “fungi blindness” might reflect a neglect of the public for this extremely important, diverse, and dominating taxon. We should therefore put more emphasis in raising awareness about the interdependence among trophic levels in food webs.
Indigenous Science, Climate Change, and Indigenous Community Building: A Framework of Foundational Perspectives for Indigenous Community Resilience and Revitalization
Authors: Cajete Gregory A.
Published: November 2020

This essay presents an overview of foundational considerations and perceptions which collectively form a framework for thinking about Indigenous community building in relationship to the tasks of addressing the real challenges, social issues, and consequences of climate change. The ideas shared are based on a keynote address given by the author at the International Conference on Climate Change, Indigenous Resilience and Local Knowledge Systems: Cross-time and Cross-boundary Perspectives held at the National Taiwan University on 13–14 December 2019. The primary audience for this essay is Indigenous Peoples and allies of Indigenous Peoples who are actively involved in climate change studies, sustainable community building, and education. As such, it presents the author’s personal view of key orientations for shifting current paradigms by introducing an Indigenized conceptual framework of community building which can move Indigenous communities toward revitalization and renewal through strategically implementing culturally responsive Indigenous science education, engaging sustainable economics and sustainability studies. As an Indigenous scholar who has maintained an insider perspective and has worked extensively with community members around issues of culturally responsive science education, the author challenges all concerned to take Indigenous science seriously as an ancient body of applied knowledge for sustaining communities and ensuring survival over time and through generations. The author also challenges readers to initiate new thinking about how to use Indigenous science, community building, and education as a tool and a body of knowledge which may be integrated with appropriate forms of Western science in new and creative ways that serve to sustain and ensure survival rather than perpetuate unexamined Western business paradigms of community development.
Reinforcing Effect of Polypropylene Waste Strips on Compacted Lateritic Soils
Authors: Marçal Régis , Lodi Paulo César , Correia Natália de Souza , Giacheti Heraldo Luiz , Rodrigues Roger Augusto , McCartney John S.
Published: November 2020

This study evaluated the strength properties of compacted lateritic soils reinforced with polypropylene (PP) waste strips cut from recycled plastic packing with the goal of promoting sustainability through using local materials for engineering work and reusing waste materials as low-cost reinforcements. Waste PP strips with widths of 15 mm and different lengths were uniformly mixed with clayey sand (SC) and clay (CL) soils with the goal of using these materials as low-cost fiber reinforcements. The impact of different PP strip contents (0.25% to 2.0%) and lengths (10, 15, 20, and 30 mm) on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the soils revealed an optimum combination of PP strip content and length. Statistical analysis showed that PP strip content has a greater effect than the PP strip length on the UCS for both soils. Results led to the definition of an empirical equation to estimate the UCS of strip-reinforced soils. The results from direct shear tests indicate that the SC soil showed an increase in both apparent cohesion and friction angle after reinforcement, while the CL soil only showed an increase in friction angle after reinforcement. California bearing ratio (CBR) tests indicate that the SC soil experienced a 70% increase in CBR after reinforcement, while the CBR of the CL soil was not affected by strip inclusion.
Assessing the Environmental and Economic Footprint of Electronic Toll Collection Lanes: A Simulation Study
Authors: Ramandanis Ioannis-Dimosthenis , Politis Ioannis , Basbas Socrates
Published: November 2020

Electronic toll collection (ETC) plays, as part of transport demand management (TDM) measures, an important role in preventing traffic congestion and improving the environmental conditions in urban and rural areas. An attempt is made in the framework of this paper to evaluate the overall performance of a toll station when a lane is dedicated to ETC. The case study refers to a toll station in the Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area, Greece. Scenarios considered specific traffic characteristics, variable toll booth setups, and different penetration rates of the ETC tag users for car and heavy vehicles. The tool used in the evaluation process was the PTV Vissim traffic simulation software. The operation of the toll station during a specific peak-hour period was simulated with the aid of the specific software. In total, 39 alternative scenarios were developed and compared to determine the level of penetration rate for which the ETC lane would be effective for different toll booth setups. Results showed that when the right lane of the toll station is converted to ETC lane, the penetration rate of this lane must be greater the 15% for the private vehicles and 20% for the heavy goods vehicles (HGV) to reduce traffic congestion and to improve environmental conditions. It was also found that when an additional ETC lane was introduced to the existing toll station set up, traffic congestion and the associated environmental conditions were much improved even for low penetration rates. It must be noticed that the results from the use of discounted cash flow methods like internal rate of return (IRR), net present value (NPV) and benefit–cost ratio (BCR) showed that all economic indicators converge as penetration rate increases in all toll booth setups. Therefore, there is a specific penetration rate threshold above which the economic viability of the investment is secured. These findings can assist the design of an effective policy in terms of the optimized operation of a toll station and sustainable mobility planning.
Assessment of Wood-Based Fly Ash as Alternative Cement Replacement
Authors: Fořt Jan , Šál Jiří , Žák Jaroslav , Černý Robert
Published: November 2020

The abandonment of coal energy plants in the near future will result in a substantially reduced availability of the coal fly ash broadly used as an efficient supplementary material. In line with the growth of alternative and renewable energy resources, the amount of biomass-based ash rises substantially. Nevertheless, a diverse chemical composition prevents a broader utilization of biomass-based fly ash compared to coal ash on an industrial scale. On this account, the present work is aimed at investigating the basic physical and mechanical properties of concrete mortars modified by a high volume of biomass fly ash (BFA) from wood combustion. Delivered results confirm a significant potential of BFA in the building industry. Experimental analysis of concrete mortars with BFA reveals preservation or even improvement of compressive and bending strength up to 30 wt.% cement replacement. On the contrary, higher dosages induce a gradual decrease in mechanical performance. The performed Life Cycle Assessment analysis reveals the perspective of BFA incorporation taking into account environmental issues considering the ratio between preservation of mechanical performance per normalized endpoint environmental score that allows a direct comparison with other alternatives.
Sustainable Commuting: Results from a Social Approach and International Evidence on Carpooling
Authors: Molina José Alberto , Giménez-Nadal J. Ignacio , Velilla Jorge
Published: November 2020

Sustainable commuting (SC) usually refers to environmentally friendly travel modes, such as public transport (bus, tram, subway, light rail), walking, cycling, and carpooling. The double aim of the paper is to summarize relevant prior results in commuting from a social approach, and to provide new, international empirical evidence on carpooling as a specific mode of sustainable commuting. The literature shows that certain socio-demographic characteristics clearly affect the use of non-motorized alternatives, and compared to driving, well-being is greater for those using active travel or public transport. Additionally, this paper analyzes the behavior of carpooling for commuting, using ordinary least squares (OLS) models, which have been estimated from the Multinational Time Use Study (MTUS) for the following countries: Bulgaria, Canada, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Results indicate that carpooling for commuting is not habitual for workers, as less than 25% of the total time from/to work by car is done with others on board. With respect to the role of the socio-demographic characteristics of individuals, our evidence indicates that age, gender, education, being native, and household composition may have a cross-country, consistent relationship with carpooling participation. Given that socializing is the main reason for carpooling, in the current COVID-19 pandemic, carpooling may be decreasing and, consequently, initiatives have been launched to show that carpooling is a necessary way to avoid crowded modes of transport. Thus, the development of high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes by local authorities can increase carpooling, and draw attention to the economic and environmental benefits of carpooling for potential users.
Food Provision, Social Interaction or Relaxation: Which Drivers Are Vital to Being a Member of Community Gardens in Czech Cities?
Authors: Dubová Lenka , Macháč Jan , Vacková Alena
Published: November 2020

Urban gardening provides city dwellers with a wide range of benefits. Research dealing with the benefits of community gardens (CG) is often qualitative, focused on their founders’ motivations. The objective of our contemporary quantitative study is to understand why the inhabitants of Czech cities join CGs. The paper answers the research question: “What drivers exist for members’ participation in CGs?” It also deals with how the drivers of CG members differ across CGs’ locations in different urban structures. The data were obtained through an online survey from 28 CGs across Czechia, in both the capital and smaller cities. The importance of the different drivers was examined using statistical analysis and logit models. The research shows that the main motivation for the members is not crop production itself but, rather, the spending of leisure time, social contact and relaxation. Other key drivers include the passing on of experience and knowledge about nature to children, which is found mostly among the members with previous cultivation experience. Based on our results, CGs may contribute to the development of public life and to the improvement of public space; hence, the greater support by local decision makers or spatial planners can be justified.
Corporate Environmental Responsibility through the Prism of Strategic Management
Authors: Kasych Alla , Suler Petr , Rowland Zuzana
Published: November 2020

This contribution considers the theoretical, methodological, and analytical aspects of implementing a strategic approach to the management of corporate environmental responsibility in practice. The economic and normative approach to understanding the essence of corporate environmental responsibility is revealed; the key factors are systematized. Based on the generalization of theoretical and methodological provisions for corporate environmental responsibility, the authors formulated a concept for the strategic management thereof. An approach to understanding the content and forms of environmental responsibility at different stages of a company’s lifecycle is formulated. The main indicators that enable the analysis of corporate environmental responsibility from the point of view of the chain “inputs-processes-outputs” are systematized. Analytical studies of corporate environmental responsibility are conducted on the basis of information concerning automotive companies, in particular in terms of the following main areas: the study of global trends, monitoring of environmental goals and their reflection in development strategy, comprehensive analysis of environmental responsibility, the study of the balance of environmental and economic indicators. To achieve the aforementioned, the following were used: quantitative and qualitative methods, analytical and comparative methods of processing, analysis and synthesis of statistical information, economic and mathematical modelling, etc. The mechanism of transforming global environmental challenges into environmental responsibility management in practice is substantiated. An organizational mechanism is put forward for developing an environmental responsibility management system based on a strategic approach focused on implementation in practice. The key tools for implementing theoretical and methodological provisions in management practice are also identified.
Exact Solutions of the (2+1)-Dimensional Stochastic Chiral Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation
Authors: Albosaily Sahar , Mohammed Wael W. , Aiyashi Mohammed A. , Abdelrahman Mahmoud A. E.
Published: November 2020

In this article, we take into account the (2+1)-dimensional stochastic Chiral nonlinear Schrödinger equation (2D-SCNLSE) in the Itô sense by multiplicative noise. We acquired trigonometric, rational and hyperbolic stochastic exact solutions, using three vital methods, namely Riccati–Bernoulli sub-ODE, He’s variational and sine–cosine methods. These solutions may be applicable in various applications in applied science. The proposed methods are direct, efficient and powerful. Moreover, we investigate the effect of multiplicative noise on the solution for 2D-SCNLSE by introducing some graphs to illustrate the behavior of the obtained solutions.
Application of a Model that Combines the YOLOv3 Object Detection Algorithm and Canny Edge Detection Algorithm to Detect Highway Accidents
Authors: Chung Yao-Liang , Lin Chuan-Kai
Published: November 2020

This study proposed a model for highway accident detection that combines the You Only Look Once v3 (YOLOv3) object detection algorithm and Canny edge detection algorithm. It not only detects whether an accident has occurred in front of a vehicle, but further performs a preliminary classification of the accident to determine its severity. First, this study established a dataset consisting of around 4500 images mainly taken from the angle of view of dashcams from an open-source online platform. The dataset was named the Highway Dashcam Car Accident for Classification System (HDCA-CS) and was developed with the aim of conforming to the setting of this study. The HDCA-CS not only considers weather conditions (rainy days, foggy days, nighttime settings, and other low-visibility conditions), but also various types of accidents, thus increasing the diversity of the dataset. In addition, we proposed two types of accidents—accidents involving damaged cars and accidents involving overturned cars—and developed three different design methods for comparing vehicles involved in accidents involving damaged cars. Canny edge detection algorithm processed single high-resolution images of accidents were also added to compensate for the low volume of accident data, thereby addressing the problem of data imbalance for training purposes. Lastly, the results showed that the proposed model achieved a mean average precision (mAP) of 62.60% when applied to the HDCA-CS testing dataset. When comparing the proposed model with a benchmark model, two abovementioned accident types were combined to allow the proposed model to produce binary classification outputs (i.e., non-occurrence and occurrence of an accident). The HDCA-CS was then applied to the two models, and testing was conducted using single high-resolution images. At 76.42%, the mAP of the proposed model outperformed the benchmark model’s 75.18%; and if we were to apply the proposed model to only test scenarios in which an accident has occurred, its performance would be even better relative to the benchmark. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that our proposed model is superior to other existing models.
Modeling of Extreme Values via Exponential Normalization Compared with Linear and Power Normalization
Authors: Barakat Haroon Mohamed , Khaled Osama Mohareb , Rakha Nourhan Khalil
Published: November 2020

Several new asymmetric distributions have arisen naturally in the modeling extreme values are uncovered and elucidated. The present paper deals with the extreme value theorem (EVT) under exponential normalization. An estimate of the shape parameter of the asymmetric generalized value distributions that related to this new extension of the EVT is obtained. Moreover, we develop the mathematical modeling of the extreme values by using this new extension of the EVT. We analyze the extreme values by modeling the occurrence of the exceedances over high thresholds. The natural distributions of such exceedances, new four generalized Pareto families of asymmetric distributions under exponential normalization (GPDEs), are described and their properties revealed. There is an evident symmetry between the new obtained GPDEs and those generalized Pareto distributions arisen from EVT under linear and power normalization. Estimates for the extreme value index of the four GPDEs are obtained. In addition, simulation studies are conducted in order to illustrate and validate the theoretical results. Finally, a comparison study between the different extreme models is done throughout real data sets.
Approximation Formula for Option Prices under Rough Heston Model and Short-Time Implied Volatility Behavior
Authors: Jeng Siow Woon , Kilicman Adem
Published: November 2020

Rough Heston model possesses some stylized facts that can be used to describe the stock market, i.e., markets are highly endogenous, no statistical arbitrage mechanism, liquidity asymmetry for buy and sell order, and the presence of metaorders. This paper presents an efficient alternative to compute option prices under the rough Heston model. Through the decomposition formula of the option price under the rough Heston model, we manage to obtain an approximation formula for option prices that is simpler to compute and requires less computational effort than the Fourier inversion method. In addition, we establish finite error bounds of approximation formula of option prices under the rough Heston model for 0.1≤H<0.5 under a simple assumption. Then, the second part of the work focuses on the short-time implied volatility behavior where we use a second-order approximation on the implied volatility to match the terms of Taylor expansion of call option prices. One of the key results that we manage to obtain is that the second-order approximation for implied volatility (derived by matching coefficients of the Taylor expansion) possesses explosive behavior for the short-time term structure of at-the-money implied volatility skew, which is also present in the short-time option prices under rough Heston dynamics. Numerical experiments were conducted to verify the effectiveness of the approximation formula of option prices and the formulas for the short-time term structure of at-the-money implied volatility skew.
An LMI Approach to Nonlinear State-Feedback Stability of Uncertain Time-Delay Systems in the Presence of Lipschitzian Nonlinearities
Authors: Golestani Mehdi , Mobayen Saleh , HosseinNia S. Hassan , Shamaghdari Saeed
Published: November 2020

This article proposes a new nonlinear state-feedback stability controller utilizing linear matrix inequality (LMI) for time-delay nonlinear systems in the presence of Lipschitz nonlinearities and subject to parametric uncertainties. Following the Lyapunov–Krasovskii stabilization scheme, the asymptotic stability criterion resulted in the LMI form and the nonlinear state-feedback control technique was determined. Due to their significant contributions to the system stability, time delays and system uncertainties were taken into account while the suggested scheme was designed so that the system’s stabilization was satisfied in spite of time delays and system uncertainties. The benefit of the proposed method is that not only is the control scheme independent of the system order, but it is also fairly simple. Hence, there is no complexity in using the proposed technique. Finally, to justify the proficiency and performance of the suggested technique, a numerical system and a rotational inverted pendulum were studied. Numerical simulations and experimental achievements prove the efficiency of the suggested control technique.
Event Coverage Hole Repair Algorithm Based on Multi-AUVs in Multi-Constrained Three-Dimensional Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Zhuang Yaoming , Wu Chengdong , Wu Hao , Zhang Zuyuan , Xu Hongli , Jia Qingyong , Li Li
Published: November 2020

It is important for underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs) to satisfy the diverse monitoring demands in harsh and perilous three-dimensional underwater environments. After the monitoring missions and demands transform, a large number of underwater event coverage holes will appear. Traditional network repair strategies cannot be applied to the ever-changing underwater monitoring missions and the harsh multi-constrained three-dimensional underwater environments. Multiple autonomous underwater vehicles (multi-AUVs) have strong adaptability and flexibility in perilous and harsh three-dimensional underwater environments. First, an underwater event coverage hole (UECH) repair model under various constraints is proposed. Next, a multi-agent event coverage hole repair algorithm (MECHR), which combines multi-agent strategy with diversity archive strategy, is proposed to repair UECHs in UWSNs. The presented algorithm symmetrically completes subtasks through information exchange and interactive operations with other agents. Unlike existing repair strategies, the MECHR algorithm can effectively repair a large number of UECHs resulted by the transformations in underwater monitoring scenes and demands. The MECHR algorithm can adapt to a wide range of harsh scenes and multi-constrained three-dimensional underwater environments. Eventually, the effect of the MECHR algorithm is verified through underwater repair simulation experiments, which can adapt to the constantly changing three-dimensional underwater monitoring environments.
QCD Theory of the Hadrons and Filling the Yang–Mills Mass Gap
Authors: Yablon Jay R.
Published: November 2020

The rank-3 antisymmetric tensors which are the magnetic monopoles of SU(N) Yang–Mills gauge theory dynamics, unlike their counterparts in Maxwell’s U(1) electrodynamics, are non-vanishing, and do permit a net flux of Yang–Mills analogs to the magnetic field through closed spatial surfaces. When electric source currents of the same Yang–Mills dynamics are inverted and their fermions inserted into these Yang–Mills monopoles to create a system, this system in its unperturbed state contains exactly three fermions due to the monopole rank-3 and its three additive field strength gradient terms in covariant form. So to ensure that every fermion in this system occupies an exclusive quantum state, the Exclusion Principle is used to place each of the three fermions into the fundamental representation of the simple gauge group with an SU(3) symmetry. After the symmetry of the monopole is broken to make this system indivisible, the gauge bosons inside the monopole become massless, the SU(3) color symmetry of the fermions becomes exact, and a propagator is established for each fermion. The monopoles then have the same antisymmetric color singlet wavefunction as a baryon, and the field quanta of the magnetic fields fluxing through the monopole surface have the same symmetric color singlet wavefunction as a meson. Consequently, we are able to identify these fermions with colored quarks, the gauge bosons with gluons, the magnetic monopoles with baryons, and the fluxing entities with mesons, while establishing that the quarks and gluons remain confined and identifying the symmetry breaking with hadronization. Analytic tools developed along the way are then used to fill the Yang–Mills mass gap.
Fluctuating Asymmetry as a Method of Assessing Environmental Stress in Two Predatory Carabid Species within Mediterranean Agroecosystems
Authors: Ivanković Tatalović Lara , Anđelić Barbara , Jelić Mišel , Kos Tomislav , A. Benítez Hugo , Šerić Jelaska Lucija
Published: November 2020

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is used in assessing the effect of environmental stress on the development stability of individuals by measuring small random deviations from perfect bilateral symmetry. Here, we checked for FA on two predatory carabid beetles, Pterostichus melas and Poecilus koyi, in order to evaluate species response to agricultural practices within Mediterranean agroecosystems, as well as FA as a method. The samples were collected in vineyards and olive groves, both under integrated pest management (IPM) and ecological pest management (EPM), and in pristine habitats in the Mediterranean region of Croatia. Geometric morphometrics (GMMs) were used to analyze the pronotum and abdomen shape variations and left–right asymmetries of each population. In respect to the FA measurements, analyzed species responded differently, with P. koyi displaying a lower intensity of FA than P. melas. On the other hand, P. melas beetles from vineyards showed a higher intensity of FA compared with populations from pristine habitats and olive groves. Accordingly, FA pointed out olive groves as potentially less adverse habitats to predatory carabids, keeping in mind the different levels of asymmetry between the two species. Our study singled out P.melas as a more suitable species for further research, in the effect that different agricultural practices can have their impact on non-target invertebrates analyzed by measuring the FA.
Marek’s Disease Virus Cluster 3 miRNAs Restrict Virus’ Early Cytolytic Replication and Pathogenesis
Authors: Liao Yifei , Zhuang Guoqing , Sun Aijun , Khan Owais A. , Lupiani Blanca , Reddy Sanjay M.
Published: November 2020

Herpesvirus-encoded microRNAs (miRNAs) have been discovered in infected cells; however, lack of a suitable animal model has hampered functional analyses of viral miRNAs in vivo. Marek’s disease virus (MDV) (Gallid alphaherpesvirus 2, GaHV-2) genome contains 14 miRNA precursors, which encode 26 mature miRNAs, grouped into three clusters. In this study, the role of MDV-encoded cluster 3 miRNAs, also known as mdv1-miR-M8-M10, in pathogenesis was evaluated in chickens, the natural host of MDV. Our results show that deletion of cluster 3 miRNAs did not affect virus replication and plaque size in cell culture, but increased early cytolytic replication of MDV in chickens. We also observed that deletion of cluster 3 miRNAs resulted in significantly higher virus reactivation from peripheral blood lymphocytes. In addition, pathogenesis studies showed that deletion of cluster 3 miRNAs resulted in more severe atrophy of lymphoid organs and reduced mean death time, but did not affect the incidence of MDV-associated visceral tumors. We confirmed these results by generating a cluster 3 miRNA revertant virus in which the parental MDV phenotype was restored. To the best of our knowledge, our study provides the first evidence that MDV cluster 3 miRNAs play an important role in modulating MDV pathogenesis.
Identifying Contaminant Intrusion in Water Distribution Networks under Water Flow and Sensor Report Time Uncertainties
Authors: Marlim Malvin S. , Kang Doosun
Published: November 2020

Contamination events in water distribution networks (WDNs) could have severe health and economic consequences. Contaminants can be deliberately or accidentally introduced into the WDN. Quick identification of the injection location and time is important in devising a mitigation plan to prevent further spread of the contaminant in the network. A method of identifying the possible intrusion point in a given network and reporting data is to use an inverse calculation by backtracking the potential path of the contaminant in the network. However, there is an element of uncertainty in the data used for calculation, particularly in water flow and sensor report time. Given the uncertainties, a method was developed in this study for fast and accurate contaminant source identification. This paper proposes a comparison filter of results by first identifying potential contaminant locations through backtracking, followed by a forward calculation to determine the injection time range, thereby reducing the potential suspects and providing likeliness comparison among the suspects. The effectiveness of the proposed method was examined by applying it to a benchmark WDN. By simulating uncertainties and filtering through the results, several possible contaminant intrusion locations and times were identified.