bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On-Line Multi-Frequency Electrical Resistance Tomography (mfERT) Device for Crystalline Phase Imaging in High-Temperature Molten Oxide
Authors: Sejati Prima Asmara , Saito Noritaka , Prayitno Yosephus Ardean Kurnianto , Tanaka Koji , Darma Panji Nursetia , Arisato Miku , Nakashima Kunihiko , Takei Masahiro
Published: January 2022

An on-line multi-frequency electrical resistance tomography (mfERT) device with a melt-resistive sensor and noise reduction hardware has been proposed for crystalline phase imaging in high-temperature molten oxide. The melt-resistive sensor consists of eight electrodes made of platinum-rhodium (Pt-20mass%Rh) alloy covered by non-conductive aluminum oxide (Al2O3) to prevent an electrical short. The noise reduction hardware has been designed by two approaches: (1) total harmonic distortion (THD) for the robust multiplexer, and (2) a current injection frequency pair: low fL and high fH, for thermal noise compensation. THD is determined by a percentage evaluation of k-th harmonic distortions of ZnO at f=0.1~10,000 Hz. The fL and fH are determined by the thermal noise behavior estimation at different temperatures. At  f <100 Hz, the THD percentage is relatively high and fluctuates; otherwise, THD dramatically declines, nearly reaching zero. At the determined fL≥ 10,000 Hz and fH≈ 1,000,000 Hz, thermal noise is significantly compensated. The on-line mfERT was tested in the experiments of a non-conductive Al2O3 rod dipped into conductive molten zinc-borate (60ZnO-40B2O3) at 1000~1200 °C. As a result, the on-line mfERT is able to reconstruct the Al2O3 rod inclusion images in the high-temperature fields with low error, ςfL, T = 5.99%, at 1000 °C, and an average error ⟨ςfL⟩ = 9.2%.
Building Low-Cost Sensing Infrastructure for Air Quality Monitoring in Urban Areas Based on Fog Computing
Authors: Popović Ivan , Radovanovic Ilija , Vajs Ivan , Drajic Dejan , Gligorić Nenad
Published: January 2022

Because the number of air quality measurement stations governed by a public authority is limited, many methodologies have been developed in order to integrate low-cost sensors and to improve the spatial density of air quality measurements. However, at the large-scale level, the integration of a huge number of sensors brings many challenges. The volume, velocity and processing requirements regarding the management of the sensor life cycle and the operation of system services overcome the capabilities of the centralized cloud model. In this paper, we present the methodology and the architectural framework for building large-scale sensing infrastructure for air quality monitoring applicable in urban scenarios. The proposed tiered architectural solution based on the adopted fog computing model is capable of handling the processing requirements of a large-scale application, while at the same time sustaining real-time performance. Furthermore, the proposed methodology introduces the collection of methods for the management of edge-tier node operation through different phases of the node life cycle, including the methods for node commission, provision, fault detection and recovery. The related sensor-side processing is encapsulated in the form of microservices that reside on the different tiers of system architecture. The operation of system microservices and their collaboration was verified through the presented experimental case study.
Metrological Characterization of a High-Temperature Hybrid Sensor Using Thermal Radiation and Calibrated Sapphire Fiber Bragg Grating for Process Monitoring in Harsh Environments
Authors: Eisermann René , Krenek Stephan , Habisreuther Tobias , Ederer Petra , Simonsen Sigurd , Mathisen Helge , Elsmann Tino , Edler Frank , Schmid Daniel , Lorenz Adrian , Olsen Åge
Published: January 2022

Fiber Bragg gratings inscribed in single crystalline multimode sapphire fibers (S-FBG) are suitable for monitoring applications in harsh environments up to 1900 °C. Despite many approaches to optimize the S-FBG sensor, a metrological investigation of the achievable temperature uncertainties is still missing. In this paper, we developed a hybrid optical temperature sensor using S-FBG and thermal radiation signals. In addition, the sensor also includes a thermocouple for reference and process control during a field test. We analyzed the influence of the thermal gradient and hotspot position along the sensor for all three detection methods using an industrial draw tower and fixed point cells. Moreover, the signal processing of the reflected S-FBG spectrum was investigated and enhanced to determine the reachable measurement repeatability and uncertainty. For that purpose, we developed an analytical expression for the long-wavelength edge of the peak. Our findings show a higher stability against mechanical-caused mode variations for this method to measure the wavelength shift compared to established methods. Additionally, our approach offers a high robustness against aging effects caused by high-temperature processes (above 1700 °C) or harsh environments. Using temperature-fixed points, directly traceable to the International System of Units, we calibrated the S-FBG and thermocouple of the hybrid sensor, including the corresponding uncertainty budgets. Within the scope of an over 3-weeks-long field trial, 25 production cycles of an industrial silicon manufacturing process with temperatures up to 1600 °C were monitored with over 100,000 single measurements. The absolute calibrated thermocouple (Uk=2≈1K…4K) and S-FBG (Uk=2≈10K…14K) measurements agreed within their combined uncertainty. We also discuss possible strategies to significantly reduce the uncertainty of the S-FBG calibration. A follow-up measurement of the sensor after the long-term operation at high temperatures and the transport of the measuring system together with the sensor resulted in a change of less than 0.5 K. Thus, both the presented hybrid sensor and the measuring principle are very robust for applications in harsh environments.
Use of Robotic Platforms as a Tool to Support STEM and Physical Education in Developed Countries: A Descriptive Analysis
Authors: Ponce Pedro , López-Orozco Christian Fernando , Reyes Germán E. Baltazar , Lopez-Caudana Edgar , Parra Nancy Mazon , Molina Arturo
Published: January 2022

The lack of interest of children at school is one of the biggest problems that Mexican education faces. Two important factors causing this lack of interest are the predominant methodology used in Mexican schools and the technology as a barrier for attention. The methodology that institutions have followed has become an issue because of its very traditional approach, with the professor giving all the theoretical material to the students while they listen and memorize the contents, and, if we add the issue of the growing access to technological devices for students, children carrying a phone are more likely to be distracted. This study aims to integrate technology through assistive robots as a beneficial tool for educators, in order to improve the attention span of students by making the learning process in multiple areas of the Mexican curriculum more dynamic, therefore obtaining better results. To prove this, four different approaches were implemented; three in elementary schools and one in higher education: the LEGO® robotic kit and the NAO robot for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) teaching, the NAO robot for physical education (PE), and the PhantomX Hexapod, respectively. Each of these technological approaches was applied by considering both control and experimental groups, in order to compare the data and provide conclusions. Finally, this study proves that the attention span is indeed improved as a result of implementing robotic platforms during the teaching process, allowing the children to become more motivated during their PE class and become more proactive and retain more information during their STEM classes.
Effects of Social Implementation Education for Assistive Device Engineers at NIT (KOSEN) through the Development of a Digital Reading Device for the Visually Impaired
Authors: Kiyota Kimiyasu , Ishibashi Takaaki , Shimakawa Manabu , Ito Kazuyuki
Published: January 2022

Assistive technology (AT) is any item, device, software, or product system used to enhance, maintain, or improve the functional abilities of people with disabilities. There are many people with disabilities in the world, including the visually impaired, the hearing impaired, and the physically impaired. We established the National KOSEN Support Equipment Development Network (KOSEN-AT) with technical college faculty members 10 years ago to assist these disabled and elderly people. However, Japan is facing the challenge of a rapidly aging society, and the digital transformation of assistive device development for people with disabilities has not been adequately addressed. A major reason for this is the lack of engineers in Japan who can develop products with an understanding of the needs of people with disabilities and the elderly. In this paper, we describe a new initiative of the GEAR 5.0 program, a practical engineer education program that will enable the development of assistive devices for the physically challenged and the elderly, which started in 2020 at the National Institute of Technology in Japan. We believe that it is necessary to educate technicians not only with conventional specialized skills, but also with a full understanding of the concept of disability and basic skills in assistive technology. Next, we developed “Touch Talker”, a digital text reading system for the visually impaired. As a part of the GEAR 5.0 program, we conducted an evaluation experiment in which students from a technical college experienced visual impairment in the same blindfolded environment as visually impaired people to evaluate the developed assistive device. To verify its importance, we developed a digital text-to-speech system for the visually impaired, “Touch Talker”, as part of the GEAR 5.0 program. We thought that by conducting evaluation experiments in the same blindfolded environment as visually impaired people, we could make technical college students aware of the difficulties of operating digital devices due to visual impairment. The results of the experiment showed that the developed “Touch Talker” was effective for both the visually impaired group and the blindfolded technical college student group. The evaluation results also showed a similar trend, confirming that the evaluation by blindfolded technical college students is effective for the development of assistive devices for the visually impaired. In addition, the technical college students who participated in the evaluation experiment were able to understand the difficulty of operating digital devices by experiencing visual impairment. It was suggested that the perspective of the people involved is important in the development of assistive devices.
Redesigning the Production Process Using Simulation for Sustainable Development of the Enterprise
Authors: Ondov Marek , Rosova Andrea , Sofranko Marian , Feher Jan , Cambal Jozef , Feckova Skrabulakova Erika
Published: January 2022

In this case study, the medium-sized enterprise is looking for ways to achieve sustainable development. Following the Industry 4.0 trend could get the enterprise closer. The rate of information technology usage is very low in the enterprise. The enterprise’s problem is the long production of orders. The orders had to be rejected many times because the customer’s time limit could not be met. The major cause seems to be two environmentally insufficient and obsolete machines in the blast cleaning operation. These machines are replaced in the production by one new wheel blast machine. However, the production process must be redesigned and the layout changed to use this machine effectively. This redesign is difficult to verify and evaluate in the pilot plant experiment. Simulation is the most suitable tool to do it quickly and relatively easily. The ExtendSim simulation program creates a real production process model and then applies the redesign of this process in the model. The model must be thoroughly verified concerning the real production process to not distort the results. The result of the redesign of the production process is the reduction of the production duration by almost 50% and elimination of two environmentally insufficient and obsolete machines. Improved machine blast cleaning has also significantly reduced the utilization of blast cleaning. Spared capacities can be used for pre-production or otherwise for the profit-making of the enterprise. However, a new bottleneck appeared elsewhere in the production process by removing the previous one. The innovation passed through barriers, and Slovak small and medium enterprises started building sustainable development. The enterprise still must focus on further innovation, and more investment will be needed to achieve the final sustainable development goal.
Chatbot, as Educational and Inclusive Tool for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Mateos-Sanchez Montserrat , Melo Amparo Casado , Blanco Laura Sánchez , García Ana M. Fermoso
Published: January 2022

In the current health crisis due to COVID-19, people with intellectual disabilities have especially suffered. The development of their social abilities has been restricted, first with the lockdown and then with the current limitation of social life. They have lost some of these abilities or are having difficulty practicing them. CapacitaBOT, our use case, is a mobile application based on a chatbot, which allows people with intellectual disabilities to work and train their social skills. A chatbot is a software tool that allows to maintain a conversation in automatic way between the user and the machine, the mobile application. CapacitaBOT can be considered by its features, an educational ICT tool that introduces innovation, inclusion and quality in order to be integrated into education for people with intellectual disabilities. The tool trains these people for real-life situations and can also be considered a resource that allows the application of active methodologies since it makes easy the learning of social skills. In addition, all the contributions of the tool are aligned with the objectives of sustainable development because it is a tool that facilities the accessibility of people with disabilities, who more than ever have been affected by social isolation caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
Analysis of Sustainable Development Questions of College Entrance Examination Geography Papers in China: 2010–2020
Authors: Guo Fengtao , Duan Yushan , He Shanbo , Gong Qian , Yao Zeyang
Published: January 2022

International consensus has been reached for the 2030 Agenda, and governments have adopted measures for the gradual implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this implementation, education plays a crucial role. Recently, the extent to which Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has become the norm in national curricula, teacher education, and student assessment has been a focus of extensive research. The present study introduces the geography curriculum and the reform of the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) in China in the 2000s. A global indicator framework for SDGs is used to analyze sustainable development (SD) content and characteristics in NCEE geography papers. Findings reveal that SD accounts for an average of 71% of score points among the 24 sets of papers. Sustainable agriculture, terrestrial ecosystems, settlements, and water are well reflected in questions, especially water-related ecosystems, resilient agricultural practices, transportation system, tourism, desertification, and degraded land and soil. Sustainable development questions have the characteristics of setting open questions, paying attention to question situation, being close to real life, being moderately difficult, paying attention to regional SD and human-nature relationship, and diversifying question-setting patterns. According to the analysis of papers, SD plays an important role in geography education.
Digitalization Platform for Mechanistic Modeling of Battery Cell Production
Authors: Thomitzek Matthias , Schmidt Oke , Ventura Silva Gabriela , Karaki Hassan , Lippke Mark , Krewer Ulrike , Schröder Daniel , Kwade Arno , Herrmann Christoph
Published: January 2022

The application of batteries in electric vehicles and stationary energy-storage systems is widely seen as a promising enabler for a sustainable mobility and for the energy sector. Although significant improvements have been achieved in the last decade in terms of higher battery performance and lower production costs, there remains high potential to be tapped, especially along the battery production chain. However, the battery production process is highly complex due to numerous process–structure and structure–performance relationships along the process chain, many of which are not yet fully understood. In order to move away from expensive trial-and-error operations of production lines, a methodology is needed to provide knowledge-based decision support to improve the quality and throughput of battery production. In the present work, a framework is presented that combines a process chain model and a battery cell model to quantitatively predict the impact of processes on the final battery cell performance. The framework enables coupling of diverse mechanistic models for the individual processes and the battery cell in a generic container platform, ultimately providing a digital representation of a battery electrode and cell production line that allows optimal production settings to be identified in silico. The framework can be implemented as part of a cyber-physical production system to provide decision support and ultimately control of the production line, thus increasing the efficiency of the entire battery cell production process.
Dynamic Capabilities to Achieve Corporate Sustainability: A Roadmap to Sustained Competitive Advantage
Authors: Bari Nadeem , Chimhundu Ranga , Chan Ka-Ching
Published: January 2022

Dynamic capabilities and sustainability practices have become the center of attention for companies globally, but there is still a debate on how organizations can successfully develop dynamic capabilities and achieve sustainability for competitive advantage. This paper discusses the outcomes of a comprehensive systematic literature review (SLR) following the PRISMA guidelines and employs dynamic capabilities theory to suggest that strategic routines and competencies, integrated value chains, sustainability-oriented transformations, and strategic organizational developments are the drivers to effectively develop dynamic capabilities. Similarly, environmental-oriented sustainability, sustainable strategic management, sustainable dynamic capabilities, stakeholder-centric approach, sustainable supply chain management, operational excellence, sustainable research and development (R&D), and sustainability-oriented global business strategy are found to be the drivers to achieve overall corporate sustainability. Based on the findings, a conceptual model is proposed to obtain sustained competitive advantage by developing sustainable dynamic capabilities and achieving corporate sustainability.
From Learning Plot to Main Field: Scaling-Out Soil Health Innovations in Malawi
Authors: Tchuwa Frank , Wellard Kate , Morton John , Kambewa Daimon , Mkweu Daniso , Mhango Wezi
Published: January 2022

Farmer-centred approaches are applied to engage smallholder farmers in agricultural research and development with the purpose of identifying and scaling out context specific innovations. Understanding the underlying processes that influence the decision of smallholder farmers to scale-out innovations is, therefore, paramount to effective farmer-led research and development programmes. This study analysed how smallholder farmers in rural Malawi were involved in evaluating soil health management options as well as how they scaled-out the lessons from the learning plots to their main farms. Data were collected through observations and face-to-face interviews in 109 learning plots and 197 main fields managed by farmers who participated in interventions that applied farmer-centred approaches. The findings reveal that farmers’ capacity to engage in systematic experimentation depended on their knowledge of basic research principles and their social capital (bridging and bonding). Farmers observing and interacting in the learning plots formed different perceptions about the performance of the tested options. The variations in the perceptions were associated with biophysical (plot characteristics) and socioeconomic factors (time of planting). Likewise, variations were observed in the way farmers scaled-out the tested options. Whilst some farmers integrated many different options (>3), others applied few options in their main fields (<3). The majority of farmers adapted the options to suit their contexts. Farmers’ decision to scale-out options was associated with their perceived benefits of the options, gender, and wealth status. The study findings have implications for research and development programmes that use farmer-centred approaches to push for adoption of blanket recommendations.
Dietary Orange Pulp and Organic Selenium Effects on Growth Performance, Meat Quality, Fatty Acid Profile, and Oxidative Stability Parameters of Broiler Chickens
Authors: Zoidis Evangelos , Simitzis Panagiotis , Kampantais Dimitrios , Katsoulas Petros , Pappas Athanasios C. , Papadomichelakis George , Goliomytis Michael
Published: January 2022

In this study, orange pulp (OP) and/or organic Se were fed to broilers in order to investigate their effects on the performance, behavior, breast meat quality, and oxidative stability. A total of 240 chicks were allocated to four groups: a control group; an OP group, fed with OP at 50 g/kg of diet; a Se group, fed with organic Se at 0.15 ppm; and an OP + Se group, fed with OP and organic Se at 50 g/kg and 0.15 ppm, respectively. The selenium and OP + Se groups showed improved meat oxidative stability during frozen storage from 90 to 210 days (p < 0.05), whereas the performance and meat quality were unaffected by the dietary treatments (p > 0.05), apart from a reduction in the meat pH and the dressing percentage in the OP-supplemented groups (p < 0.05). A synergistic action between OP and Se was observed for the meat oxidative stability. The polyunsaturated fatty acid (FA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) contents in the breast meat lipid fractions were increased in the OP groups (p < 0.05). Dietary intervention did not affect the feeding or drinking behaviors of the broilers (p > 0.05). The dietary supplementation of broiler chickens with the citrus industry byproduct orange pulp at 50 g/kg, along with organic Se at 0.15 ppm, beneficially improves the meat oxidative stability and the meat nutritional value, with no negative side effects on the performance or the meat quality.
Determinants of Food Consumption Water Footprint in the MENA Region: The Case of Tunisia
Authors: Souissi Asma , Mtimet Nadhem , McCann Laura , Chebil Ali , Thabet Chokri
Published: January 2022

Tunisia, like most countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, has limited renewable water resources and is classified as a water stress country. The effects of climate change are exacerbating the situation. The agricultural sector is the main consumer (80%) of blue water reserves. In this study, to better understand the factors that influence the food water footprint of Tunisian consumers, we used a multiple linear regression model (MLR) to analyze data from 4853 households. The innovation in this paper consists of integrating effects of socio-economic, demographic, and geographic trends on the food consumption water footprint into the assessment of water and food security. The model results showed that regional variations in food choices meant large differences in water footprints, as hypothesized. Residents of big cities are more likely to have a large water footprint. Significant variability in water footprints, due to different food consumption patterns and socio-demographic characteristics, was also noted. Food waste is also one of the determining factors of households with a high water footprint. This study provides a new perspective on the water footprint of food consumption using “household” level data. These dietary water footprint estimates can be used to assess potential water demand scenarios as food consumption patterns change. Analysis at the geographic and socio-demographic levels helps to inform policy makers by identifying realistic dietary changes.
Societal Technological Megatrends: A Bibliometric Analysis from 1982 to 2021
Authors: Jeflea Florin Victor , Danciulescu Daniela , Sitnikov Catalina Soriana , Filipeanu Dumitru , Park Jeong O , Tugui Alexandru
Published: January 2022

This article presents a bibliometric analysis of scientific publications investigating technological megatrends at the societal level, through the parallel analysis of 549 documents from Scopus and 291 documents in Web of Science (WoS) using the VOSviewer software and the Excel component of the MS Office 365 package. The main purpose of this study was to obtain an overview of the evolution of the research on the subject of technological megatrends from the perspective of interest, domains, geographical areas, sources, authors and cocitation networks, research clusters of countries, and cluster-related concepts. The results showed that publications on technological megatrends started in 1982, but from a scientific point of view they started in 1983 (Scopus) and 1984 (WoS), and that they display an increasing trend after 2010. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Nature, SAE Technical Papers, VDI Berichte, Harvard Business Review, Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, and Sustainability represent the most important sources, and Gibbs, Kraemer, Dedrick, Kim, Chmiela, Sauceda, Müller, Tkatchenko, Pratt, Sarmiento, Montes, Ogilvie, Marcus, Perez, Brownson, D. Mourtzis, M. Doukas, and Bernidaki are the most notorious researchers in the field. At the societal level, technological megatrends are closely related to foresight, globalization, industry 4.0, the internet of things, digitalization, technology, artificial intelligence, innovation, the future, and sustainability. This study is original and useful for researchers in the context of the lack of similar studies on this subject.
In Pursuit of New Spaces for Threatened Mammals: Assessing Habitat Suitability for Kashmir Markhor (Capra falconeri cashmeriensis) in the Hindukush Range
Authors: Khattak Romaan Hayat , Teng Liwei , Ahmad Shakeel , Bari Fathul , Rehman Ejaz Ur , Shah Altaf Ali , Liu Zhensheng
Published: January 2022

Natural wild habitats are either destroyed or shrunk due to human interventions. Therefore, habitat evaluation is crucial for managing wildlife populations and designing robust conservation strategies. Species presence data and geographic information system (GIS) coupled with ground-breaking powerful statistical techniques have made such assessments possible. We used maximum entropy modeling (MaxEnt) to identify suitable habitats for Kashmir markhor (Capra falconeri cashmeriensis) in Malakand Division, Pakistan. MaxEnt was applied to 169 markhor sighting points and topographical and current bioclimatic variables. Results showed that the accuracy of the MaxEnt model was good (AUC = 0.889). Of the total area studied (8407.09 km2), 22.35% (1878.75 km2) was highly suitable and 32.63% (2743.53 km2) was moderately suitable for markhor. Protected areas including Chitral Gol National Park (CGNP), Tooshi-Sasha Conservancy (TSC), and Gehrait-Golain Conservancy (GGC) and their buffers were included in highly suitable habitats. MaxEnt also predicted highly suitable habitats in Kumrat and Kalam valleys. We believe that moderately suitable habitats identified in Jinjeret, Ursoon, Birir valley, and Bumborait valley have the potential to host markhor populations. Based on the results obtained in the current study, we strongly recommend expanding the current protected areas (PAs) network in the study area and strengthening it by inclusive conservation management with local communities.
Optical Performance Comparison of Different Shapes of Cavity Receiver in the Fixed Line-Focus Solar Concentrating System
Authors: Wang Hai , Song Mengjie , Li Haoteng
Published: January 2022

To optimize the fixed-focus solar concentrating system (FLSCS) and linear cavity receiver of better optical performance, the effects of receiver parameters (geometric shape, receiver position f, receiver internal surface absorptivity αab, and end reflection plane reflectivity ρr) on the relative optical efficiency loss ηre-opt,loss, the maximum value of the local concentration ratio Xmax, and the non-uniformity factor σnon were studied in the present study. The results showed that the increases of sun declination angle δ in the range of 0–8° have a weak effect on the ηre-opt,loss. The ηre-opt,loss are 2.25%, 2.72%, 12.69% and 2.62%, 3.26%, 12.85%, respectively, when the solar hour angle ω is 0°, 30°, 60° as δ = 0° and 8° for linear rectangular cavity receiver. The Xmax mainly depends on the energy flux distribution of first intercepted sunlight on the cavity absorber inner wall. Increasing the distance between the cavity absorber inner wall and the focal line Δf can affect the Xmax. The smaller the Δf, the greater the Xmax, and vice versa. The changing trend of σnon is basically consistent with that of the Xmax. When the f is 600, 625, 650, 675, 700 mm and the ω = 0°, the σnon are 0.832, 0.828, 0.801, 0.747, and 0.671, respectively, for linear rectangular cavity receiver. This work could establish the foundation for further research on the optical to thermal energy conversion in the FLSCS.
Approaches and Methods of Science Teaching and Sustainable Development
Authors: González-Gómez David , Jeong Jin Su
Published: January 2022

Unfortunately, science teaching at the university level has largely consisted of lectures in which the students’ position is usually to gather information by listening and taking notes from the instructors [...]
Critical Success Factors for Safety Program Implementation of Regeneration of Abandoned Industrial Building Projects in China: A Fuzzy DEMATEL Approach
Authors: Chai Qing , Li Huimin , Tian Wei , Zhang Yang
Published: January 2022

The regeneration of abandoned industrial buildings (RAIBs) has received extensive attention in urban renewal efforts to achieve urban sustainable development goals. Meanwhile, the construction safety performance of RAIBs is a major challenge with increasing RAIB projects in China. Safety programs have been considered as one of the proactive methods to effectively reduce accidents and injuries in the construction industry. Various studies have conducted critical success factors (CSFs) that influence the effective implementation of safety programs in new buildings. However, the CSFs affecting the construction safety program implementation of RAIBs were ignored. The aim of this study is to determine CSFs that affect the safety program implementation of RAIB projects. First, sixteen factors were identified combining characteristics of RAIBs with literature reviews and experts’ opinion. Second, the fuzzy set theory and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) approach are proposed to identify the influencing degree of the factors and categorize these factors into cause-and-effect groups. Then, according to the causal diagram, management support (C1), allocation of authority and responsibility (C3), control of subcontractor (C5), personal attitude (C9), and safety inspections and hazard assessment (C14) are identified as the CSFs for the safety program implementation of RAIBs’ construction. This study guides the managers and stakeholders to especially concentrate on these CSFs in order to improve the efficiency of the safety program implementation of RAIB projects with limited resources. This study also will contribute to the improvement of safety performance and to the sustainable development goal of RAIB projects.
Investigation and Optimization of the Performance of Energy Systems in the Textile Industry by Using CHP Systems
Authors: Victorovna Morozova Tatiana , Alayi Reza , Grimaldo Guerrero John William , Sharifpur Mohsen , Ebazadeh Yaser
Published: January 2022

With the general progression of small communities toward greater industrialization, energy consumption in this sector has increased. The continued growth of energy consumption seen in Iran, along with the low efficiency of production, transmission, and the distribution of energy, has led to the projection of an unfavorable future for this sector. The purpose of this study is to reduce fuel consumption and increase system efficiency by considering the optimal position of the turbine. In this regard, turbine modeling has been performed by considering different positioning scenarios. Afterward, the result from applying each scenario was compared with another scenario in terms of the parameters of electrical energy production, gas consumption, the final energy produced by the system, and the ratio of energy produced to overall gas consumption. After comparing different scenarios, considering all 4 parameters, Scenario 7 was selected as the most suitable positioning for gas turbine placement. Scenario 7 showed the highest gas consumption; of course, high power generation is the most desirable, the most reliable and, ultimately, the most profitable outcome of energy production. According to our results, the amount of electrical energy produced in the selected scenario is 4,991,160.3 kWh; the gas consumption in this case is 0.22972 kg/s.
DC Energy Hubs for Integration of Community DERs, EVs, and Subway Systems
Authors: Ahmad Rohama , Mohamed Ahmed Ali A. , Rezk Hegazy , Al-Dhaifallah Mujahed
Published: January 2022

In this paper, a DC microgrid solution is proposed to mitigate the high penetration levels of distributed energy resources (DERs) and electric vehicles (EVs). The microgrid is designed to integrate the regenerative energy available as a result of trains braking at adjacent subway lines. Therefore, the proposed configuration not only helps the distribution network accommodate more renewable energy, but also reduces the energy consumption and peak demand associated with the nearby electrified transportation system. A framework for DC microgrid control has been developed and evaluated using a case study. The results prove the validity and effectiveness of the proposed control framework.
Habitat Suitability for Small Mammals in Mediterranean Landscapes: How and Why Shrubs Matter
Authors: Torre Ignasi , Jaime-González Carlos , Díaz Mario
Published: January 2022

Fires are usually seen as a threat for biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean, but natural afforestation after abandonment of traditional land uses is leading to the disappearance of open spaces that benefit many species of conservation interest. Fires create open habitats in which small mammals can live under more favourable conditions, such as lower predation, interspecific competition, and higher food availability. We analysed the role of changes in shrub cover and shrub preference by small mammals along the Mediterranean post-fire succession. We used data (period 2008–2018) from 17 plots woodlands and post-fire shrublands present in the study area (Barcelona’s Natural Parks, Catalonia, NE Spain), and vegetation structure was assessed by LiDAR technology for modelling ground-dwelling small mammal preferences. The diversity, abundance, and stability of Mediterranean small mammal communities negatively responded to vegetation structural complexity, which resulted from the combined effects of land abandonment and recovery after wildfires. We suggest that biotic factors such as vegetation profiles (providing food and shelter) and their interaction with predators and competitors could be responsible for the observed patterns. Considering the keystone role of small mammals in the sustainability of Mediterranean forest, our results could be useful for management under the current global change conditions.
An Analysis and Evaluation Methodology as a Basis for the Sustainable Development Strategy of Small Historic Towns: The Cultural Landscape of the Settlement of Lubenice on the Island of Cres in Croatia
Authors: Krajnik Damir , Petrović Krajnik Lea , Dumbović Bilušić Biserka
Published: January 2022

Lubenice on the island of Cres in Croatia is one of the most valuable examples of a small historic Mediterranean town. Although the settlement is protected as an immovable cultural property and is also on the list of cultural assets of the Republic of Croatia for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List, developmental stagnation, continuous demographic decline, decay of part of the valuable building stock, inappropriate interventions on individual houses and the emergence of radical intervention initiatives in a time of change demand a systematic and comprehensive evaluation of the town’s cultural heritage. This article presents a methodology for the analysis of a cultural landscape using the example of Lubenice. The methodological approach is based on the analysis of the historical development and of natural, urban and architectural features of the cultural landscape. The components of the cultural landscape were evaluated using general and specific criteria. Conducting an evaluation according to this methodology provides guidelines for future interventions in order to improve the preservation of historic heritage and prevent damage by future interventions, while ensuring sustainable development.
Long-Term Durability of Bio-Polymer Modified Concrete in Tidal Flooding Prone Area: A Challenge of Sustainable Concrete Materials
Authors: Susilorini Rr. M. I. Retno , Iskandar Iskhaq , Santosa Budi
Published: January 2022

The need for durable concrete in marine environments such as areas prone to tidal flooding is important due to its ability to deteriorate the structures. This led to the design of a durable and strong Polymer-Modified Concrete (PMC) using natural or bio-polymer modified concrete. However, the use of biopolymer-modified concrete is very limited. Therefore, this research developed a bio-polymer modified concrete using Gracilaria sp., Moringa oleifera, and honey (GMH) for column retrofitting. The research aimed to retrofit and improve the compressive strength and durability of broken columns submerged by tidal flooding by applying bio-polymer modified concrete with GMH. A field application of column retrofitting was conducted in areas prone to tidal flooding. The retrofitted columns performance was observed for 14 months and validated by non-destructive and destructive tests. The result showed that the compressive strength of the retrofitted column achieved 32.37 MPa, which is a 92.34% increase compared to the baseline. This research provides answers to the challenge of concrete materials sustainability by promoting bio-polymer modified concrete that significantly increased its performance and long-term durability using GMH.
Sustainable Consumption in the Baltic States: The Carbon Footprint in the Household Sector
Authors: Liobikienė Genovaitė , Brizga Jānis
Published: January 2022

Sustainable consumption is one of the main aspects while implementing sustainable development goals. The main feature of sustainable consumption is the reduction of environmental impact. Thus, it is vital to understand and evaluate the environmental impact caused by consumption. In this paper, carbon footprint analyses of the Baltic States for the period of 2000–2019 were used to study sustainable consumption and pro-environmental behavior development. The results show not only how carbon footprint changes in different consumption categories (e.g., mobility, housing, food, and services), but whether it is related to changes in pro-environmental behavior as the promotion of sustainable consumption is crucial to reduce the consumption-based carbon footprint. The results from multi-regional input-output analyses show that in the Baltic States 62–71% of all the household carbon footprint is attributed to the three main consumption categories—transport, food, and housing. These categories are also responsible for 53–56% of the household expenditure. Consequently, changes in our mobility, food consumption, and housing management practices can significantly reduce the household environmental impacts. However, to minimize carbon footprints, behavioral changes are not enough; structural changes in the agro-food, housing, energy, and transport systems are also needed.
Autonomous Mobility: A Potential Opportunity to Reclaim Public Spaces for People
Authors: Fayyaz Maryam , González-González Esther , Nogués Soledad
Published: January 2022

The advent of autonomous vehicles (AVs) has the potential to drastically change society and the way we understand, plan and design cities and regions, just as automobiles did a century ago. In the current context of climate change, sustainable urban environments based on active mobility (walking and cycling), urban proximity and green spaces, are increasingly in demand, leading to the emergence of new interventions and urban models. Although these trends may be affected by the arrival of AVs, most decision-makers and planners still do not address these issues in their current planning. This is because of the confusion associated with the diversity of impacts of AVs, but also by the lack of design recommendations and planning tools. To shed light on these aspects, this paper reviews the relationship between mobility and urban public space, the impacts of AVs on urban space and design proposals and strategies aimed at configuring driverless cities, with special focus on street design. The results of the review show that the implementation of AVs can be a great opportunity to liberate urban space and reclaim it for people, in line with new urban models such as the superblocks (Barcelona), the 15-minute city (Paris), or tactical urbanism interventions against COVID-19. However, it may also entail risks such as a reduction in active mobility or public transport use. The magnitude and direction of these impacts will depend on crucial decisions that need to be taken now, such as encouraging shared used over ownership, and establishing citizen-centred urban planning and design objectives and strategies to make AV deployment the most beneficial for all.
Stakeholder Analysis and Their Attitude towards PPP Success
Authors: Węgrzyn Joanna , Wojewnik-Filipkowska Anna
Published: January 2022

The development of a wide range of infrastructure projects based on the idea of cooperation between the public and private sector, known as PPPs, contributes to fulfilling social and economic needs, rises the quality of life, and supports sustainable development. The expected results of these undertakings cannot be comparable; however, some PPPs are perceived as a success and some are not. The research is based on the stakeholder concept and the idea that different stakeholder groups present different attitudes to the success of PPPs and are motivated by different issues including economic, social, and environmental factors. Based on this assumption, a conceptual model of PPP stakeholders’ identification and classification according to the attributes of preferred benefits, related to dimensions of sustainable development and engagement, including time and scope perspective, has been derived and tested. This exploratory analysis improves and tests the benefit–engagement conceptual model of PPP stakeholders’ identification. This contributes to the theory and concepts of sustainable infrastructure investment and public–private partnership practice.
A Systematic Review of Sustainable Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Supply Chains
Authors: Tort Ömer Özgür , Vayvay Özalp , Çobanoğlu Emine
Published: January 2022

Fresh fruit and vegetables are crucial for human health. Their fibrous structure and high nutritional value are essential for people’s well-being. This study aims to provide a review of the current state of knowledge and practices regarding fresh fruit and vegetable supply chains (FFVSC). The reviewed papers are divided into categories according to their findings, research purposes, tools and messages used. Our objective is to guide both academics and practitioners by pointing out significant streams of research with respect to these categories. For a better understanding, these subgroups are essentially based on their common research purpose, and the tools and methods they adopted are explained. Therefore, this study sheds light on research related to FFVSCs for those who are new to this area or planning to conduct in-depth research on directions suggested by studies in this area. The related literature was classified into eight categories: namely, (1) value chain indicators of FFVSCs, (2) food-related problems/postharvest losses along FFVSCs, (3) roles of parties involved in the FFV value chain, (4) review papers, (5) technological trends in FFVSCs, (6) packaging issues of FFVSCs, (7) logistics solutions of FFVSCs, and (8) sustainable FFVSCs. Details on the tools and methods employed in these studies are summarized in Appendix B. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the related literature lacks a comprehensive review that investigates different aspects of FFVVCs in detail. Thus, this study contributes towards a better understanding of the related literature and can be used as a guide for future studies.
Manufacturing and Management Paradigms, Methods and Tools for Sustainable Industry 4.0-Oriented Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Varela Leonilde , Ávila Paulo , Castro Hélio , Putnik Goran D. , Fonseca Luís Miguel Ciravegna , Ferreira Luís
Published: January 2022

In the current Industry 4 [...]
Fertilizer Efficiency and Risk Assessment of the Utilization of AOD Slag as a Mineral Fertilizer for Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) Planting
Authors: Cai Shuang , Liu Bao , Li Junguo , Zhang Yuzhu , Zeng Yanan , Wang Yajun , Liu Tianji
Published: January 2022

Argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) slag is the by-product of the stainless steel refining process, which has caused considerable environmental stress. In this work, the utilization of AOD slag as mineral fertilizer for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) planting were investigated by pot experiments. The morpho-physiological parameters of biomass, plant height, root morphology and the biochemical parameters of malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, peroxidase (POD) activity, and chlorophyll were measured. The accumulation of chromium in plants was also determined for an environmental safety perspective. It was found that low rates (≤0.5 wt.% for alfalfa and ≤2 wt.% for perennial ryegrass) of AOD slag fertilization are beneficial to the growth of these two plants. However, the soil enrichment with higher AOD slag amounts resulted in the reduction of biomass, plant height, and root growth. Compared with the alfalfa, the perennial ryegrass showed higher tolerance for AOD slag fertilization. The toxicity of the utilization of AOD slag as mineral fertilizer for perennial ryegrass planting is slight. Health risks induced by the consumption of the alfalfa grown on the soil with high AOD slag rates (≥8 wt.%) were detected.