bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Initial Performance Analysis of the At-Altitude Radiance Ratio Method for Reflectance Conversion of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Data
Authors: DeCoffe Luke J. R. , Conran David N. , Bauch Timothy D. , Ross Micah G. , Kaputa Daniel S. , Salvaggio Carl
Published: December 2022

In remote sensing, the conversion of at-sensor radiance to surface reflectance for each pixel in a scene is an essential component of many analysis tasks. The empirical line method (ELM) is the most used technique among remote sensing practitioners due to its reliability and production of accurate reflectance measurements. However, the at-altitude radiance ratio (AARR), a more recently proposed methodology, is attractive as it allows reflectance conversion to be carried out in real time throughout data collection, does not require calibrated samples of pre-measured reflectance to be placed in scene, and can account for changes in illumination conditions. The benefits of AARR can substantially reduce the level of effort required for collection setup and subsequent data analysis, and provide a means for large-scale automation of remote sensing data collection, even in atypical flight conditions. In this study, an onboard, downwelling irradiance spectrometer integrated onto a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) is utilized to characterize the performance of AARR-generated reflectance from hyperspectral radiance data under a variety of challenging illumination conditions. The observed error introduced by AARR is often on par with ELM and acceptable depending on the application requirements and natural variation in the reflectance of the targets of interest. Additionally, a number of radiometric and atmospheric corrections are proposed that could increase the accuracy of the method in future trials, warranting further research.
Customised Intrusion Detection for an Industrial IoT Heterogeneous Network Based on Machine Learning Algorithms Called FTL-CID
Authors: Abosata Nasr , Al-Rubaye Saba , Inalhan Gokhan
Published: December 2022

Technological breakthroughs in the Internet of Things (IoT) easily promote smart lives for humans by connecting everything through the Internet. The de facto standardised IoT routing strategy is the routing protocol for low-power and lossy networks (RPL), which is applied in various heterogeneous IoT applications. Hence, the increase in reliance on the IoT requires focus on the security of the RPL protocol. The top defence layer is an intrusion detection system (IDS), and the heterogeneous characteristics of the IoT and variety of novel intrusions make the design of the RPL IDS significantly complex. Most existing IDS solutions are unified models and cannot detect novel RPL intrusions. Therefore, the RPL requires a customised global attack knowledge-based IDS model to identify both existing and novel intrusions in order to enhance its security. Federated transfer learning (FTL) is a trending topic that paves the way to designing a customised RPL-IoT IDS security model in a heterogeneous IoT environment. In this paper, we propose a federated-transfer-learning-assisted customised distributed IDS (FT-CID) model to detect RPL intrusion in a heterogeneous IoT. The design process of FT-CID includes three steps: dataset collection, FTL-assisted edge IDS learning, and intrusion detection. Initially, the central server initialises the FT-CID with a predefined learning model and observes the unique features of different RPL-IoTs to construct a local model. The experimental model generates an RPL-IIoT dataset with normal and abnormal traffic through simulation on the Contiki-NG OS. Secondly, the edge IDSs are trained using the local parameters and the globally shared parameters generated by the central server through federation and aggregation of different local parameters of various edges. Hence, transfer learning is exploited to update the server’s and edges’ local and global parameters based on relational knowledge. It also builds and customised IDS model with partial retraining through local learning based on globally shared server knowledge. Finally, the customised IDS in the FT-CID model enforces the detection of intrusions in heterogeneous IoT networks. Moreover, the FT-CID model accomplishes high RPL security by implicitly utilising the local and global parameters of different IoTs with the assistance of FTL. The FT-CID detects RPL intrusions with an accuracy of 85.52% in tests on a heterogeneous IoT network.
Reception Operators’ Perception of the Labor Market Integration of Refugees in Light of the Social Cognitive Career Theory
Authors: Boerchi Diego
Published: December 2022

The millions of refugees living abroad are supported by reception operators in integrating into the hosting country’s labor market. Because the operators are usually not experts in career counseling, it is essential to investigate how they act and consequently interpret their role in supporting the labor integration process, which could, at least in part, explain the weaknesses in the migrants’ labor situation. The study is based on fourteen narrations from reception operators on migrants whom they have followed for a career-counseling intervention. The Social Cognitive Career Theory has been the theoretical reference both to define the hypotheses to be tested and the coding of the narratives. The main result is that operators tend to contribute in the final part of the process, i.e., when the migrants have to identify their professional goals and choose which actions to take to achieve them. Furthermore, they view their role as prescriptive and substitutive, not as supporting self-awareness, contextual knowledge, and the choice process. This can produce immediate actions of finding employment, often of low quality, rather than developing interests and projections towards a career that creates satisfaction, and adverse reactions in qualified migrants.
Spectroscopy Journal—Open Access Journal on Spectroscopy
Authors: Burda Clemens
Published: December 2022

It is my great pleasure to inaugurate the new MDPI journal, [...]
Comparison of the PUSH Band 2.0 and Vicon Motion Capture to Measure Concentric Movement Velocity during the Barbell Back Squat and Bench Press
Authors: Pelka Edward Z. , Gadola Carter , McLaughlin Daniel , Slattery Eric , Claytor Randal P.
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this investigation was to compare concentric movement velocity (CMV) measured with the PUSH Band (v2.0) and a Vicon motion capture system (MC) during the back squat (SQ) and the bench press (BP) resistance exercises (RE). Twelve resistance-trained males (26.0 ± 5.5 years; 175.6 ± 4.9 cm; 96.3 ± 15.8 kg) completed ten repetitions at 50% of one-repetition maximum (1RM), and six repetitions at 75% 1RM for both BP and SQ. Four PUSH devices were utilized and attached to the subject’s right forearm, the center barbell, left and right sides of the barbell. MC markers were placed on top of each PUSH device. An overall analysis using a series of least-squares means contrasts suggested CMV did not differ (p > 0.05) between measurement technologies when position, RE, intensity and repetitions were combined. PUSH exhibited the highest Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC = 0.835–0.961) and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficients (r = 0.742–0.949) at the arm and center barbell locations when compared with MC. The measurement of CMV between MC and PUSH compares favorably during moderate (i.e., 50%) and high (75%) intensity SQ and BP RE. These data indicate individuals can use the PUSH band v2.0 to accurately monitor CMV within a RE set for SQ and BP RE.
Slow Fashion as a Communication Strategy of Fashion Brands on Instagram
Authors: Velasco-Molpeceres Ana , Zarauza-Castro Jorge , Pérez-Curiel Concha , Mateos-González Sophia
Published: December 2022

The objective of this research is to study the reasons for the growing impact of sustainable slow fashion brands in the fashion industry and, in particular, how they manage their communication and which digital strategies they employ. We applied a mixed research methodology: a comparative content analysis of qualitative and quantitative indicators, as well as in-depth interviews with 10 professionals and experts in fashion and digital communication, with the aim of contrasting their opinions with the results of the study. The five sustainable fashion brands (YosoLOVEamor, LIFEGIST, ECOALF, Alohas, and ECOOLOGY) chosen are distinguished by the fact that they base their business projects on social and environmental responsibility, and their Instagram accounts were studied over a period. This paper demonstrates the social interest in and concern for sustainability, ethics, and corporate social responsibility in the fashion industry. Additionally, it is evident that slow fashion brands need to have a good online strategy, as it is the future of fashion. No greenwashing was found, but sustainable fashion is a controversial issue with no regulation and a short history, so it has to develop.
Sustainable Career Development for College Students: An Inquiry into SCCT-Based Career Decision-Making
Authors: Wang Xin-Hai , Wang Hsuan-Po , Lai Wen-Ya
Published: December 2022

As an important factor in predicting the future sustainable development of college students, career decision-making (CDM) has attracted widespread attention in the field of vocational education. Based on Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), this study proposed a moderated mediation model to investigate the relationship between work values and CDM, the mediating role of career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE), and the moderating effect of career goals. A total of 1300 questionnaires were collected using the snowball sampling method, and 1203 valid questionnaires were collected. The differences in background variables were examined by the independent sample t-test, and the validity of the research hypotheses was tested by SEM and multigroup analysis. The results of the study showed the following: (1) There were significant differences in CDM performance among college students of different genders and different grades. (2) CDMSE plays a partial mediating role between work values and career decision-making. (3) Career goals play a moderating role between CDMSE and CDM, and compared with low-level career goals, high-level career goals can promote the impact of CDMSE on CDM. In the future, colleges and universities can promote college students’ CDM by shaping work values, improving CDMSE, and guiding the establishment of career goals.
Influence of Financial Shared Services on the Corporate Debt Cost under Digitalization
Authors: Jiang Dongshu , Ni ZhiXing , Chen Yuxiu , Chen Xue , Na Chaohong
Published: December 2022

Information technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence promote the development of the digital economy, accelerate the digital transformation of enterprises, and continuously facilitate the reform of enterprise production, organization, and management. This study takes Chinese A-share listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges as a sample to examine the influence of financial shared services on the corporate debt cost under the digitalization background based on the perspectives of stakeholders such as creditors, shareholders, and society. This study found that financial sharing can reduce the corporate debt cost. The path mechanism test finds that financial sharing reduces the corporate debt cost mainly by improving the quality of corporate accounting information and decreasing financial risk. The result shows that the effect of financial sharing on reducing the corporate debt cost is positively moderated by enterprise digitalization. Further analysis based on the stakeholder perspective shows that the effect of financial shared services on reducing the corporate debt cost is enhanced by the equity balance and social responsibility fulfillment. The findings provide insights and evidence on how to use financial shared services to improve debt management and enhance creditor protection in the digital context.
Optimal Vertiport Airspace and Approach Control Strategy for Urban Air Mobility (UAM)
Authors: Song Kyowon
Published: December 2022

Recently, urban air mobility (UAM), a new transportation system that can expand urban mobility from 2D to 3D, has been in the spotlight all over the world. For successful implementation of UAM, not only eVTOL aircraft development but also various systems such as UAM traffic management are required; however, research on these areas is still insufficient. Based on the BQA model, in this study, we introduce the balanced branch queuing approach (BBQA) model as a new approach control model that can improve operational efficiency by enabling the landing order to be changed more easily. Through simulation, its effectiveness was verified. The proposed BBQA achieved the identical airspace safety as the BQA model, in addition to showing a superior result to the SBA model in on-time performance (OTP). The vertiport airspace blueprint concept and approach control model proposed in this study are expected to play an important role in future studies in the area of air traffic management in UAM.
Analysis of Dynamic Deformation Response of Closely Spaced Square Footings on Geogrid-Reinforced Sand under Cyclic Loading
Authors: Wang Jiaquan , Qi Hangxiang , Lin Zhinan , Tang Yi
Published: December 2022

In order to obtain the optimal spacing of closely spaced footings under cyclic dynamic loading, dynamic model tests of closely spaced footings were carried out on unreinforced and reinforced sand foundations. The influence of the center point spacing (S) of closely spaced footings on the bearing capacity of the foundation under cyclic dynamic load is discussed. The test results show the following: (1) The dynamic load peak of the unreinforced and reinforced sand foundation is the largest when S/B = 2.0 (B is the width of footing), and the ultimate bearing capacity of the reinforced sand foundation is 20% higher than that of unreinforced sand foundation. (2) The vertical soil pressure at different positions of closely spaced footings with different spacing ratios (S/B) on the reinforced sand foundation is lower than that of unreinforced sand foundation, and the vertical soil pressure at different buried depths (‘1-3’, ‘2-3’, ‘3-3’ positions) at the center of closely spaced footings are smaller than that below the footings (‘1-2’, ‘2-2’, ‘3-2’ positions). (3) When S/B = 2.0, the strain of geogrid and the peak acceleration at the center of the closely spaced footings are the smallest, indicating that the sand foundation has little transient change under this spacing. From the aspects of ultimate bearing capacity design and engineering economic benefits, it is suggested that the spacing between closely spaced footings should be arranged according to two times the width of the footing (S/B = 2.0).
Application of DNA Metabarcoding for Identifying the Diet of Asian Clam (Corbicula fluminea, Müller, 1774)
Authors: Heo Yu-Ji , Jo Hyunbin , Kim Ji Yoon , Kim Gu-Yeon , Joo Gea-Jae , Kim Hyun-Woo
Published: December 2022

Corbicula has often been reported as one of the most invasive freshwater species in the world. It plays an important role in the food chains of brackish water zones in Korea, where it is predominant. However, detailed information on the Corbicula diet is still lacking. The purpose of this study was to identify the potential prey of Corbicula fluminea in the Seomjin River using a DNA metabarcoding approach, as very little is known about its feeding selectivity in natural conditions. A survey was conducted at two study sites (1 and 2) in the Seomjin River in November 2021. The two sites were selected based on increasing salinity gradient. The dominant operational taxonomic unit in the pseudofeces and gut content of C. fluminea was Microcyclops varicans (Copepoda) and Oncorhynchus mykiss (Fish), respectively. The alpha diversity at site 1 was higher than that at site 2. More diverse potential prey species were identified at the site with low salinity (i.e., site 1). The utilization of this method is strongly recommended for determining specific predator–prey relationships in complex estuarine ecosystem.
Sponge City and Water Environment Planning and Construction in Jibu District in Changde City
Authors: Deng Yumei , Deng Jie , Zhang Chun
Published: December 2022

Urban waterlogging and urban water environment problems in Changde city caused by extreme weather have seriously hindered the sustainable development of cities. A sponge city not only involves the inheritance and development of foreign technology but also a new method for its use. The background of sponge city construction based on green infrastructures in China was introduced in this study. As one of the first pilot construction cities based on the sponge concept, Changde city possesses natural geographical advantages. The current urban situation, rainfall type and water environment in the sponge construction area were analyzed and the causes of urban waterlogging and deterioration of urban inland river water quality are presented. Based on the urban water environment and ecological status, the specific strategic objectives of the sponge city transformation are given. Meanwhile, the overall technical route and the concrete realization path of each index, such as the water environmental system, water ecological system and security system, are also presented. The annual net flow total control rate and the runoff pollution reduction reached 77.56% and 45.18%, respectively. The total runoff and peak flow were also reduced by 35.08% and 26.82%, respectively. Meanwhile, the peak flow of runoff pollution concentration was reduced by 31.99%. The pollutant load reduction rate of non-point source pollution in the area reached more than 45%. The project not only alleviated the problems of urban waterlogging and black and odorous water bodies but also ensured the sustainable development of the urban water environment.
Studying Driver’s Perception Arousal and Takeover Performance in Autonomous Driving
Authors: Wang Qiuhong , Chen Haolin , Gong Jianguo , Zhao Xiaohua , Li Zhenlong
Published: December 2022

The driver’s perception level and takeover performance are two major factors that result in accidents in autonomous vehicles. This study’s goal is to analyze the change in drivers’ perception level and its influence on takeover performance during autonomous driving. A takeover behavior test platform is implemented based on a high-fidelity driving simulator. The fog zone is selected as the takeover scenario. Thus, a 2 (takeover request time: 5 s, 10 s) by 2 (non-driving-related task: work task, entertainment task) takeover experiment was conducted. A generalized linear mixed model is developed to explore the influence of the perception level on takeover performance. The study finds out that, after the takeover request is triggered, the driver’s gaze duration is shortened and the pupil area is enlarged, which is helpful for the driver to extract and understand the road information faster. Male drivers have greater perception levels than female drivers, and they prioritize leisure tasks more than professional ones. The drivers’ perception level decreases when age increases. The shorter the gaze duration is, and the larger the pupil area is, the shorter the takeover response time will be. In addition, drivers’ perception level has a positive effect on takeover performance. Finally, this study provides a reference for revealing the changing rules of drivers’ perception level in autonomous driving, and the study can provide support for the diagnosis of takeover risks of autonomous vehicles from the perspective of human factors.
A Scientometric Review of Residential Segregation Research: A CiteSpace-Based Visualization
Authors: Liao Kaihuai , Lv Peiyi , Wei Shixiang , Fu Tianlan
Published: December 2022

Residential segregation (RS) is a global phenomenon that has become an enduring and important topic in international academic research. In this review, using RS as the search term, 2520 articles from the period 1928–2022 were retrieved from the Scopus database and were visually analyzed using CiteSpace software. The results revealed the following: (1) The United States and its institutions have made outstanding contributions to RS research, while various scholars (e.g., Johnston, Massey, Forrest, Poulsen, and Iceland) have laid the foundation for RS research. (2) Mainstream RS research originates from three fields—psychology, education, and social sciences—while the trend of multidisciplinary integration is constantly increasing. (3) The research hotspots of RS include racial difference, sociospatial behavior, income inequality, mixed income communities, guest worker minorities, typical district segregation, occupational segregation, health inequalities, metropolitan ghetto, and migrant–native differential mobility. Furthermore, (4) gentrification, spatial analysis, school segregation, health disparity, immigrant, and COVID-19 have become new themes and directions of RS research. Future research should pay more attention to the impact of multi-spatial scale changes on RS as well as propose theoretical explanations rooted in local contexts by integrating multidisciplinary theoretical knowledge.
Carbon Stock Assessment in Silvopastoral Systems along an Elevational Gradient: A Study from Cattle Producers in the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve, Ecuadorian Amazon
Authors: Torres Bolier , Bravo Carlos , Torres Alexandra , Tipán-Torres Cristhian , Vargas Julio C. , Herrera-Feijoo Robinson J. , Heredia-R Marco , Barba Cecilio , García Antón
Published: December 2022

Silvopastoral system (SPS) has been considered as a sustainable management system contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, among other benefits compared with open pasture. However, little research has been conducted on the soil and tree biomass carbon stored in traditional pasture with dispersed trees (PWT) compared with pasture in monoculture (PM). The present study was conducted in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR), along an elevational gradient from 400 to 2000 masl., within the buffer and transition zone of the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve (SBR), using 71 temporary circular plots of 2826 m2, where 26 plots were stablished in PWT and 45 plots in PM. The main results in PWT show significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) between aboveground carbon biomass (AGCtrees) from 41.1 (lowlands), 26.5 (Middle hills) and 16.7 (high mountains) Mg ha−1 respectively, with an average of 31.0 Mg ha−1 in the whole study area. The total carbon pool along the altitudinal gradient in five components: (AGCtrees), belowground carbon (BGCtrees), pasture carbon (AGClitter+pasture) and carbon in soil components (0–10 and 10–30 cm) for PWT ranged from 112.80 (lowlands) to 91.34 (high mountains) Mg ha−1; while for the PM systems assessing three components (AGClitter+pasture) and carbon in soil components (0–10 and 10–30 cm) ranged from 52.5 (lowlands) to 77.8 (middle zone) Mg ha−1. Finally, the paper shows the main dominant tree species in pasture systems that contribute to carbon storage along elevational gradient and concludes with recommendations for decision-making aimed at improving cattle ranching systems through a silvopastoral approach to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Calculation Method for Uplift Capacity of Suction Caisson in Sand Considering Different Drainage Conditions
Authors: Xu Chenggen , Jiang Haitao , Xu Mengtao , Sun Decheng , Rui Shengjie
Published: December 2022

Uplift capacity of suction caissons is one of the main concerns in the design of jackets with multi-caissons supported offshore wind turbine. The uplift movement of suction caissons leads to soil stress variation and increases the difficulty to predict the uplift capacity. In this paper, a calculation method considering soil stress release and differential pressure contribution is proposed to predict the uplift capacity of caisson. Firstly, a series of numerical simulations based on the SANISAND model are conducted to study the uplift responses of suction caisson in sand, and it is verified with centrifuge test results. Considering the soil drainage condition during caisson being pulled out, the fully drained, partially drained and undrained are divided, and an equation is provided to assess differential pressure beneath the caisson lid incorporating the effects of main factors. Based on the above simulation results, a calculation method is proposed to calculate the uplift capacity of caissons. The prediction results are compared with the centrifuge model tests and previous studies, which indicate that the prediction accuracy is much improved. This proposed method contributes to the more accurate assessment of uplift capacity of suction caisson in sand.
An Intelligent Recommendation for Intelligently Accessible Charging Stations: Electronic Vehicle Charging to Support a Sustainable Smart Tourism City
Authors: Suanpang Pannee , Jamjuntr Pitchaya , Kaewyong Phuripoj , Niamsorn Chawalin , Jermsittiparsert Kittisak
Published: December 2022

The world is entering an era of awareness of the preservation of natural energy sustainability. Therefore, electric vehicles (EVs) have become a popular alternative in today’s transportation system as they have zero emissions, save energy, and reduce pollution. One of the most significant problems with EVs is an inadequate charging infrastructure and spatially and temporally uneven charging demands. As such, EV drivers in many large cities frequently struggle to find suitable charging locations. Furthermore, the recent emergence of deep reinforcement learning has shown great promise for improving the charging experience in a variety of ways over the long term. In this paper, a Spatio-Temporal Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (STMARL) (Master) framework is proposed for intelligently public-accessible charging stations, taking into account several long-term spatio-temporal parameters. When compared to a random selection recommendation system, the experimental results demonstrate that an STMARL (master) framework has a long-term goal of lowering the overall charging wait time (CWT), average charging price (CP), and charging failure rate (CFR) of EVs.
A Comparative Study of High-Quality Broiler Purchase Behavior between Chinese and Sierra Leonean Consumers: The Moderating Role of Uncertainty Avoidance
Authors: Jiang Baichen , Kassoh Fallah
Published: December 2022

This research aims to analyze the effects of perceived environmental responsibility (PER), environmental knowledge (EK), new ecological paradigm (NEP), and environmental collective efficacy (ECE) on the high-quality broiler purchase intention of China and Sierra Leone. Despite prior studies that have investigated the relationship between Hofstede’s cultural dimensions’ impacts on high-quality food (e.g., organic and green) purchase behavior, research on the moderating effect of uncertainty avoidance (UA) on the formulation of high-quality food purchase intention is rarely found. Based on this, a study was conducted via administrating an online structured questionnaire to 588 Chinese consumers and 410 Sierra Leoneans. The validity and reliability of the new conceptual model were examined through a confirmatory factor analysis, while structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed for the data analysis, and to test the hypothesized relationships among the variables. The results revealed that PER, EK, NEP, and ECE directly influence consumers’ purchase intention (PI) and actual purchase behavior (APB) for high-quality broilers in China and Sierra Leone. However, the results from Chinese consumers show that UA has a direct impact on high-quality purchase intention and actual purchase behavior, but was not found to have a moderate impact between the antecedents and purchase intention as well as actual purchase behavior, while UA positively moderates the relationship between PER, EK, ECE, and GPI, as well as between PI and APB in Sierra Leone markets. Therefore, the study concluded that enterprises in African markets, particularly Sierra Leone, can segment their customers and target them with persuasive positioning approaches by taking the cultural element (uncertainty avoidance) into account. This study enhances the methodology for learning about the preferences and behavioral patterns of cross-cultural consumers.
An Analytical Framework for Innovation Determinants and Their Impact on Business Performance
Authors: Aslam Mahrukh , Shafi Imran , Ahmad Jamil , Alvarez Roberto Marcelo , Miró Yini , Flores Emmanuel Soriano , Ashraf Imran
Published: December 2022

Innovation plays a pivotal role in the progress and goodwill of an organization, and its ability to thrive. Consequently, the impact analysis of innovation on the performance of an organization holds great importance. This paper presents a two-stage analytical framework to examine the impact of business innovation on a firm’s performance, especially firms from the manufacturing sector. The prime objective is to identify the factors that have an impact on firm-level innovation, and to examine the impact of firm-level innovation on business performance. The framework and its analysis are based on the latest World Bank enterprise survey, with a sample size of 696 manufacturing firms. The first stage of the proposed framework establishes the analytical results through Bivariate Probit, which indicates that research and development (R&D) has a significantly positive impact on the product, process, marketing, and organizational innovations. It thus highlights the important role of the allocation of lump-sum amounts for R&D activities. The statistical analysis shows that innovation does not depend on the size of the firms. Moreover, the older firms are found to be wiser at conducting R&D than newer firms that are reluctant to take risks. The second stage of the proposed framework separately analyzes the impacts of the product and organizational innovation, and the process and marketing innovation on the firm performance, and finds them to be statistically significant and insignificant, respectively.
Mechanical Properties and Energy Characteristics of Flawed Samples with Two Non-Parallel Flaws under Uniaxial Compression
Authors: Li Qun , Huang Changfu , Zhang Yanbo , Liang Peng , Yao Xulong , Yu Guangyuan
Published: December 2022

Unequal flaws are widespread in rock engineering, in which the extensions induced by excavation and unloading are the main factors leading to engineering instability. Rock deformation and failure are essentially the results of energy transmission. In order to study the influence of flaw type and angle on the mechanical properties and energy characteristics of the flawed rock mass, uniaxial compression tests were conducted using particle flow numerical analysis software. The results show that the crack initiation strength and peak strength of the sample increase with the increase in the flaw angle. For smaller flaw angles, the sample shows obvious plastic deformation during uniaxial compression. For larger flaw angles, the sample shows elastic–brittle properties, whose storage energy is larger. The peak strength of samples with flaws of unequal length presents an obvious decrease compared with that of flawed samples with flaws of equal length, and the extent of the reduction is 6.15% on average. Unequal flaws decrease the ability of the flawed sample to absorb strain energy. Compared with flawed samples with equal flaws, flawed samples with unequal flaws decrease the boundary energy and elastic strain energy by 9.29% and 9.95% on average, respectively. Flaws of unequal length in this sample can weaken the performance of the flawed sample.
Do Chinese Photovoltaic Products Have Trade Potential in RCEP Countries? A BP Neural-Network-Improved Trade Gravity Model Analysis
Authors: Guo Qing , Mai Zishan
Published: December 2022

China plays an important role in the global trade of photovoltaic products, and the RCEP agreement provides more opportunities and possibilities for China. This paper develops an improved trade gravity model with BP neural networks to estimate trade potentials, and the following conclusions are obtained: (1) The BP neural network is a more effective estimation method than traditional pooled regression, fixed effects, and random effects, and the combination of multiple neural networks for prediction can lead to higher robustness and accuracy. (2) The potential of China’s trade in PV products to RCEP countries is relatively mature, but the scale of trade in PV products between China and Japan and other countries may still be further expanded. (3) China’s trade potential for different regions in the RCEP agreement changed historically in different processes, with China’s trade potential for the Oceania region declining, while its trade potential for the East and Southeast Asia region increased in recent years.
Approaches of Egg Decontamination for Sustainable Food Safety
Authors: Mahmoud Bothaina Y. , Semida Doaa A. , Elnesr Shaaban S. , Elwan Hamada , El-Full Ensaf A.
Published: December 2022

Eggs are a rich source of protein, minerals, lipids, and vitamins. Eggs are an essential source of bacterial microflora. Controlling antimicrobial resistance and reducing food loss and waste are essential for a sustainable future. To prevent spoilage and to preserve eggs, a variety of techniques, including thermal and non-thermal, are often used. This paper explores the decontamination methods for egg preservation that have been applied. In previous studies, the initial contamination of the eggs varied from 2 to 9 log CFU per egg. Either thermal or non-thermal techniques resulted in reduced concentrations of Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium, and Escherichia coli, respectively, on the surface of the egg that ranged 0.62–5.9 log, 1.27–4.9 log, and 0.06–6.39 log, respectively, for the former, and being 1.2–7.8 log, 5.0–7.8 log, and 6.5–6.6 log, respectively, for the latter. Thermal approaches were more effective than the non-thermal approaches. Some of these methods had negative consequences on the egg’s functionality, while combination methods, such as thermoultrasonifcation (ozone-UV radiation or heat‐ozone), mitigated these effects. Other decontamination methods require further investigation, particularly the potential for scaling up for commercial usage and the associated costs. In conclusion, decontamination methods are required to extend shelf life of eggs, and to decrease consumer risks associated with foodborne pathogens.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Capital: Journey of Community Engagement toward Community Empowerment Program in Developing Country
Authors: Rudito Bambang , Famiola Melia , Anggahegari Prameshwara
Published: December 2022

The importance of social capital in analyzing economic progress and development has long been acknowledged. However, little research has actually looked into how social capital functions and what role it plays in community development initiatives. This case study explores communities’ experiences of receiving CSR funds informing a community development program. The informants of this study were the participants of the CSR program from three communities forested by three companies’ CSR, which received reward funding from the Indonesian government. By using qualitative data collection, this study interviewed five to seven people who participated in the CSR programs or approximately 16 people. This study found five ways that social capital contributes to the success of a CSR program. They are (1) increasing the likelihood that people will participate in the program; (2) lessening individual ambiguity caused by certain program implementation uncertainties; (3) fostering morale and motivation among participants; (4) promoting knowledge sharing; and (5) strengthening the sense of togetherness. In the future, additional case studies from various regions of Indonesia and other nations may examine local conditions and diversity when implementing CSR programs.
Gender Complexity and Experience of Women Undergraduate Students within the Engineering Domain
Authors: Hardtke Mellissa , Khanjaninejad Leila , Lang Candace , Nasiri Noushin
Published: December 2022

Despite continuous efforts for reducing gender inequality in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), engineering still steadfastly remains one of the least equitable fields in Australian universities. There has been an increasing growth of international scholarship on women’s underrepresentation in engineering; nevertheless, research on understanding contributing factors to the Australian women students’ participation in engineering is relatively underdeveloped. To address this knowledge gap, we examine the experience of women undergraduate students and explore influential factors that contribute to the complexity of pursuing engineering. Applying a qualitative approach, we conducted 16 interviews with women undergraduate students enrolled across five engineering courses at Macquarie University, Australia. The results of the thematic analysis indicate that women students often have a supporting network of relationships and view themselves as intellectually fit to study engineering. However, they have been facing several interrelated obstacles that negatively impact their experiences and persistence in engineering. Findings show that gendered perceptions around femininity and masculinity appear to be the origin of gender stereotypes surrounding engineering identity. These not only negatively impact women students’ experiences within the bound of university but also create systemic barriers in the future workplace environment and opportunities. These (mis)perceptions have actively and passively made women students feel out of place, doubt their abilities and feel alienated. We offer suggestions to shift engineering identity outside the dominant masculine construct towards ‘co-construct’ and ‘co-enact’. This will create windows of opportunities to move towards gender equality in engineering.
Exploring the 4IR Drivers for Sustainable Residential Building Delivery from Social Work Residential Perspective—A Structural Equation Modelling Approach
Authors: Oke Ayodeji Emmanuel , Kineber Ahmed Farouk , Olanrewaju Oludolapo Ibrahim , Omole Olayinka , Jamir Singh Paramjit Singh , Samsurijan Mohamad Shaharudin , Ramli Rosfaraliza Azura
Published: December 2022

The advent of digitalization has brought many benefits to all sectors of the economy, including construction. When fully implemented, various Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) tools have the potential not only to improve project planning and execution, but also to enhance project performance. This study therefore investigated the critical factors for the adoption of 4IR technologies in the construction industry, with the aim of promoting sustainable construction project delivery. The study was conducted using a questionnaire sent to experts in the construction industry. The data collected were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and categorized into operational, management, and demographic variables. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for model development using the four groups of data. In this way, variables that were not significant to the model were identified. Judging from the analysis, there is a need for proper user training in engineering tools in the construction industry. This is one of the drivers of the adoption of 4IR in the construction industry. In addition, the professionals, contractors, authorities, and other stakeholders responsible for managing projects in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) industry should ensure effective coordination and collaboration between participants in the construction industry.
Remote Sensing Prediction Model of Cultivated Land Soil Organic Matter Considering the Best Time Window
Authors: Wang Yiang , Luo Chong , Zhang Wenqi , Meng Xiangtian , Liu Qiong , Zhang Xinle , Liu Huanjun
Published: December 2022

Soil organic matter (SOM) is very important to the quality evaluation of cultivated land, especially in fertile black soil areas. Many studies use remote sensing images combined with different machine learning algorithms to predict the regional SOM content. However, the information provided by remote sensing images in different time windows is very different. Taking Youyi Farm, a typical black soil area in Northeast China, as the research area, this study obtains all available Sentinel-2 images covering the research area from 2019 to 2021, calculates the spectral index of single-phase and multi-temporal synthesis images, takes the spectral index and band of each image as the input, and employs the random forest regression algorithm to evaluate the performance of SOM prediction using remote sensing images with different time windows. The results show that: (1) the accuracy of SOM prediction using image band and spectral index is generally improved compared to using only the band; (2) when using single-phase images, the R2 range of SOM prediction using image band and spectral index is from 0.16 to 0.59 and the RMSE ranges from 0.82% to 1.23%; When using multi-temporal synthesis images, the R2 range of SOM prediction using image band and spectral index is from 0.18 to 0.56 and the RMSE ranges from 0.85% to 1.19%; (3) the highest accuracy of SOM prediction using synthetic images is lower than that of single-phase images; (4) the best time window of the bare soil period in the study area is May. This study emphasizes the importance of the time window to SOM prediction. In subsequent SOM prediction research, remote sensing images with appropriate time windows should be selected first, and then the model should be optimized.
Study on the Construction of the Ecological Security Pattern of the Lancang River Basin (Yunnan Section) Based on InVEST-MSPA-Circuit Theory
Authors: Wang Yi , Zhang Long , Song Yuhong
Published: December 2022

Optimizing the pattern of land space development and protection as well as improving regional ecological security are significant tasks in the construction of an ecological civilization. The Lancang River Basin is a significant ecological barrier in Southwest China, and its ecological security is critical to the Natural World Heritage Site of “Three Parallel Rivers” and even to Southeast Asia. In this study, the InVEST model and MSPA method were used for the identification of the ecological sources; the resistance surface was corrected by the night light coefficient; and the ecological linkages, pinch points, obstacles, and ecological breakpoints were extracted using the circuit theory to construct the ecological security pattern of the Lancang River Basin. The major study results indicated that: (1) A total of 23 ecological sources were identified in the watershed, covering an area of 9019.56 km2, mostly large-scale irregular patches. (2) A total of 39 ecological corridors were identified in the study area; 15 key corridors, 17 important corridors, and 7 general corridors were extracted based on the gravity model, which together formed a ecological security network for the watershed. (3) Sixteen ecological pinch points, one primary ecological improvement area, twelve secondary improvement areas, and twenty-nine ecological breakpoints were identified in this study. The ecological protection and restoration of different important ecological areas are conducive to the protection of biodiversity and the construction of the ecological security pattern in the Lancang River Basin.
New Digital Field of Drawing and Survey for the Automatic Identification of Debris Accumulation in Flooded Areas
Authors: Gambardella Carmine , Parente Rosaria , Scotto di Santolo Anna , Ciaburro Giuseppe
Published: December 2022

Floods are among the most devastating natural hazards in the world, causing the largest percentage of deaths and property damage. The impact of floods can be mitigated with an adequate knowledge of the territory, which makes it possible to better organize prevention plans with an appropriate analysis of the risk areas, which allows the management of relief efforts quickly and adequately. This work presents a methodology for mapping and monitoring the areas affected by floods and landslides by remote sensing: the correct representation and full interpretation of the territory matrix are essential for quality and sustainability design. In this paper, we used tools and technology that allow us to analyze and visualize the landscape evolution. The calibration of the method was performed on the events that took place in Calabria, in Southern Italy, on 12 August 2015. The proposed methodology concerned the planning of acquisition flights, the selection and setting of the sensors used, and the processing and post-processing of the data collected through the application of algorithms used for data manipulation and interpretation. The process of recognizing the areas with deposits of debris through the spectral signature was carried out using similarity criteria relating to hyperspectral data. The results obtained recommend the adoption of this methodology to deal with emergencies due to flood events.
Does Cross-Border Logistics Performance Contribute to Export Competitiveness? Evidence from China Based on the Iceberg Transport Cost Model
Authors: Ding Ting , Zhu Wenzhong , Zhao Ming
Published: December 2022

This paper investigates the economic relationship between logistics performance and export competitiveness based on the iceberg transport cost model and conducts further empirical analysis according to China’s LPI. It finds that the higher the efficiency of logistics and transport, the lower the transportation costs coefficient per unit distance; when logistics and transportation costs decrease, foreign demand for domestic goods increases, as does the export value expressed in domestic prices. Additionally, Spearman’s rank correlation method is used to analyze the relationship between logistics performance index and export level, indicating that logistics performance index has a positive rank correlation with the export level at a significant level of 1%. Moreover, a case study on China’ LPI supports the conclusion derived from the theoretical analysis, and conducive countermeasures are put forward. This research confirms the positive correlation between logistics performance and export competitiveness and proposes specific solutions to enhancing the logistics capabilities of other developing countries.
Risk Assessment of Insider Threats Based on IHFACS-BN
Authors: Zeng Min , Dian Chuanzhou , Wei Yaoyao
Published: December 2022

Insider threats, as one of the pressing challenges that threaten an organization’s information assets, usually result in considerable losses to the business. It is necessary to explore the key human factors that enterprise information security management should focus on preventing to reduce the probability of insider threats effectively. This paper first puts forward the improved Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (IHFACS) based on actual enterprise management. Then, the enterprise internal threat risk assessment model is constructed using the Bayesian network, expert evaluation, and fuzzy set theory. Forty-three classic insider threat cases from China, the United States, and Israel during 2009–2021 are selected as samples. Then, reasoning and sensitivity analysis recognizes the top 10 most critical human factors of the accident and the most likely causal chain of unsafe acts. The result shows that the most unsafe behavior was not assessing employees’ familiarity with the company’s internal security policies. In addition, improving the organizational impact of information security can effectively reduce internal threats and promote the sustainable development of enterprises.