bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on External Insulation Characteristics of Composite Cross-Arm of 10 kV Distribution Network Based on Multi-Factor Aging
Authors: Zhang Zhongyuan , Qi Junwei , Liu Hechen , Wang Wanxian , Zhang Mingjia , Wu Xuan
Published: March 2022

With the application of the composite cross-arm in power systems, comprehensive anti-aging performance is a key factor to determine whether it can operate safely. In order to study the influence of the operating environment on the external insulation characteristics of composite cross-arms of distribution networks, various aging conditions such as voltage, rain, temperature, humidity, salt fog and ultraviolet light were simulated in a climate chamber based on the real operation conditions of the 10-kV composite cross-arm. A multi-factor aging test of composite cross-arms with two kinds of cross-section shapes (T-shaped and square) was carried out for 5000 h. The change trends of leakage current and flashover voltage of the composite cross-arms before and after aging were analyzed. Finally, the aging mechanism of the silicone rubber sheaths was analyzed to further explain the reasons for the change of external insulation performance of composite cross-arms. The results show that the leakage current rising rate of T-shaped and square composite cross-arms after aging increases significantly, and the minimum flashover voltage decreases to 58.3 kV and 49.502 kV, respectively. The results of FTIR, SEM and hydrophobic angle tests show that, after aging, the performance of the silicone rubber outer sheath material decreases in varying degrees. In general, UV aging has the greatest influence on the external insulation characteristics of composite cross arms. Generally speaking, after 5000 h of multi factor aging, although the external insulation characteristics of the 10-kV composite cross-arm decreases to a certain extent, there is still enough margin to meet the normal operation.
A Magic Filter Filled with Waste Plastic Shavings, Loofah, and Iron Shavings for Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Pan Zengrui , Sheng Jianlong , Qiu Chong , Wei Hongtang , Yang Qianjin , Pan Jinbo , Li Jun
Published: March 2022

Integrated sewage treatment equipment has been widely used, but the commonly used fillers for wastewater treatment are not suitable in rural areas due to their price and performance issues. In this study, an integrated magic filter filled with waste fillers was proposed and established for wastewater treatment. The filter was composed of functional modules and an equipment room, and the fillers in each module can be taken out separately and changed arbitrarily according to the needs of specific treatment conditions. The fillers used include waste plastic shavings, loofah, and waste iron shavings, generated during the processing of plastic, crop, and steel. At the same time, a 91 d experiment was performed for real wastewater treatment, and a satisfactory removal performance was obtained, with average removal rates of COD, TP, NH4+-N, TN, and SS being 83.3%, 89.6%, 93.8%, 74.7%, and 94.0%, respectively. Through microscope observation, a large number of microorganisms were attached to the surface of the fillers, which was conducive to the simultaneous removal of nitrogen and phosphorus. The micro-electrolysis of waste iron shavings can produce Fe2+ and Fe3+, which would combine with PO43− to form Fe3(PO4)2 and FePO4 precipitates, enhancing the removal of phosphorus. In addition, the filled fillers have an excellent physical filtering effect, which can reduce the effluent SS. The magic filter achieves both the recycling of wastes and the treatment of wastewater.
Multilateral Assessment of Anchorage Bond Characteristics in Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete
Authors: Spyridis Panagiotis , Dreier Julia , Mellios Nikolaos , Walter Lars , Biermann Dirk
Published: March 2022

Anchorage to concrete is a recurring application in construction. For such applications, bonded anchors, formed by means of a polymer adhesive injection into a borehole, are a widely used product due to their flexibility in regards to the construction logistics and positioning of the attached element as well as high load capacities. At the same time, fibre-reinforced concrete is the material of choice for many engineering applications where anchors have to be installed. Moreover, the use of steel fibre-reinforced concrete is likely to increase, since it now falls in the scope of the second-generation Eurocode 2 (exp. 2023). Therefore, the condition of the anchor installation borehole—mainly the roughness and grip of its internal surface—is known to play a critical role in the stress transfer from the attached component, through the fastening and into the concrete, and, hence, to the load-bearing performance. At the same time, drilling through the steel fibre reinforcement, along with the accelerated wear of the drilling tools, can in turn influence the borehole’s roughness and the overall installation quality. Furthermore, steel fibre may lead to an additional local stiffening of the concrete where the anchor is installed. These complex elements are discussed herein on the basis of multiple tests on anchors in plain and steel fibre concrete, as well as numerical analyses. The results indicate particular aspects of bonded anchor design and product certification for different polymer-based construction adhesives.
Evaluation of the Anticorrosion Performance of CeO2-Modified Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Epoxy Coating Subjected to Simulated Saline-Alkali Solution
Authors: Lyu Kai , Liu Xiaoyan , Liu Ruidan , Yang Heng , Qiao Yang , Shah Surendra P.
Published: March 2022

In the marine service environment, metal materials have a serious risk of corrosion. The corrosion rate of metal materials will be accelerated by the dual action of temperature change and alkali salt in saline-alkali environment. In order to delay the metal materials’ corrosion rate and prolong their service life, this paper used a CeO2–GO (4:1) nanocomposite prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis method to make an anticorrosion coating. The anticorrosion performance was evaluated by stereo microscope and 3D images of the corrosion site were fitted for calculation. The state evolution of the CeO2–GO (4:1)/EP coating immerged in a simulated saline-alkali solution was studied by open circuit potential (OCP), electrochemical alternating current impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Mott–Schottky curve and Tafel curve. The results indicated that CeO2–GO (4:1) nanocomposites exhibited good resistance compared with graphene oxide and nano cerium oxide in a simulated saline-alkali environment. The research in this paper lays a firm theoretical foundation for the application of nano cerium-oxide-modified graphene oxide anticorrosive coating in saline-alkali environment engineering.
Effect of KI Concentration in Correcting Tank on Optical Properties of PVA Polarizing Film
Authors: Yang Yang , Zheng Ziyuan , Lin Jun , Zhou Lintao , Chen Guohua
Published: March 2022

Polarizer is a key component of the liquid crystal display panel, and the optical properties mainly include transmittance, degree of polarization and chromaticity. Polarizer is made of a multilayer optical film, in which the PVA polarizing film is the core structure for realizing the polarization of the whole polarizer. PVA polarizing film is commonly manufactured through a multi-step craft, including rinsing, dyeing, stretching and correcting. The correction process has a significant impact on the final apparent color and optical properties of the polarizer. In this study, the KI concentration in the correcting tank, ranging from 1% to 3%, was systematically investigated. With the increase in KI concentration, the Raman vibration peak at 160 cm−1 representing I5− ions gradually weakened, while the Raman vibration peak at 110 cm−1 representing I3− ions gradually increased, indicating that the KI in the correcting tank changed the chemical equilibrium of polyiodide ions in PVA. Then abundant chromophore I5− ions were consumed and I3− ions generated, so that the apparent color of PVA polarizing film gradually changed from dark blue to dark gray, and the chromaticity a-value and b-value gradually increased. The change in the concentration of dichroic species (I5− and I3−) in PVA polarizing film had directly affected its transmittance in the visible range. From the UV-Vis transmittance spectrum of PVA polarizing film, when the I5− ions were consumed and I3− ions generated, the transmittance of PVA polarizing film in the region of 675–525 nm wavelength increased gradually while the polarization degree also increased.
Review on the Relationship between Nano Modifications of Geopolymer Concrete and Their Structural Characteristics
Authors: Shilar Fatheali A. , Ganachari Sharanabasava V. , Patil Veerabhadragouda B. , Khan T. M. Yunus , Almakayeel Naif Mana , Alghamdi Saleh
Published: March 2022

The main objective of this review is to study some important nanomaterials and their impact on the performance of geopolymer concrete. This paper is an investigation into trends and technology in the development of different nanomaterials to develop higher structural performance geopolymer concrete. The effect of the alkaline to binder and sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratio on the performances of geopolymer performances is studied. The relationship between setting time and slump is evaluated through the ternary plot, the variation in compressive strength values is evaluated using the kernel density plot, and the relationship between split tensile and flexural strength is investigated using the scattering interval plot. Regression analysis is carried out among water absorption and bulk-density result values obtained from previous literature. As the molarity and alkaline to binder (A/B) ratios increase, the strength development of geopolymer concrete increases up to a specific limit. The addition of a small quantity of nanomaterials, namely, nano silica, nano alumina, carbon nano tubes, and nano clay, led to the maximum strength development of geopolymer concrete. Incorporating these nanomaterials into the geopolymer significantly refines the structural stability, improving its durability. The various products in GP composites emerging from the incorporation of highly reactive SEM, XRD, and FTIR analysis of nanomaterials reveal that the presence of nanomaterials, which enhances the rate of polymerization, leads to better performance of the geopolymer.
Special Issue on “Application of Big Data Analysis and Advanced Analytics in Sustainable Production Process”
Authors: Hur Sun , Jung Jae-Yoon , Obregon Josue
Published: March 2022

We live in the big data era, in which a large amount of information is continuously created, registering all kinds of events, such as those generated in the design, planning, control, and execution of manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain processes [...]
Characterization of Refining the Morphology of Al–Fe–Si in A380 Aluminum Alloy due to Ca Addition
Authors: Wang Meng , Guo Yu , Wang Hongying , Zhao Shengsheng
Published: March 2022

Aluminum–silicon (Al–Si) alloys are the most commonly cast aluminum alloys. Fe is the most deleterious element for Al–Si die casting alloys, as its existence causes the precipitation of substantial intermetallics that result in the unsatisfactory mechanical performance of the alloy, such as its ductility. Hence, controlling the morphology and formation of the AlFeSi phase, particularly the β-AlFeSi phase, is vital for improving the ductility of Al–Si die casting alloys. Herein, Ca was added to the A380 alloy, and the morphological changes resulting from the influence of Ca on the AlFeSi phase were characterized. The outcomes revealed that according to different cooling rates, specific amounts of Ca addition (0.01–0.1 wt.%) were capable of refining α-AlFeSi and β-AlFeSi morphology and transforming the β-AlFeSi phase into α-AlFeSi. Moreover, Ca addition could also modify eutectic silicon. The transformation mechanism and refining role of Ca in AlFeSi and the different morphologies of Al2CaSi2 were analyzed.
ECG Identity Recognition Based on Feature Reuse Residual Network
Authors: Yang Zhengqiang , Liu Linyue , Li Ning , Tian Junwei
Published: March 2022

With the increasing demand for security and privacy, identity recognition based on the unique biometric features of ECG signals is gaining more and more attention. This paper proposes a feature reuse residual network (FRRNet) model to address the problem that the recognition accuracy of conventional ECG identification methods decreases with the increase in the number of testing samples at different moments or in different heartbeat cycles. The residual module of the proposed FRRNet model uses the adding layers of max pooling (MP) and average pooling (AP), and the proposed model splices the deep network with the shallow network to reduce noise extraction and enhance feature reuse. The FRRNet model is tested on 20 and 47 subjects under the MIT-BIH dataset, and its recognition accuracy is 99.32% and 100%, respectively. Additionally, the FRRNet model is tested on 50 and 87 subjects under the PhysioNet/Computing in Cardiology Challenge 2017 (CinC_2017) dataset, and its recognition accuracy is 94.52% and 93.51%, respectively. A total of 20 subjects are taken from the MIT-BIH and the CinC_2017 datasets for testing, and the recognition accuracy is 98.97%. The experimental results show that the FRRNet model proposed in this paper has high recognition accuracy, and the recognition accuracy is not greatly affected when the number of individuals increases.
The Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)-Preventing Mechanism of Natural Products
Authors: Cho Yeon-Kyoung , Lee Seung-Min , Kang Yeong-Ji , Kang Yeong-Mo , Jeon In-Chul , Park Dae-Hun
Published: March 2022

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is related to central visual loss in elderly people and, based on the increment in the percentage of the aging population, the number of people suffering from AMD could increase. AMD is initiated by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell death, finally leading to neovascularization in the macula lutea. AMD is an uncurable disease, but the symptom can be suppressed. The current therapy of AMD can be classified into four types: device-based treatment, anti-inflammatory drug treatment, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment, and natural product treatment. All these therapies have adverse effects, however early AMD therapy used with products has several advantages, as it can prevent RPE cell apoptosis in safe doses. Cell death (apoptosis) is caused by various factors, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, carbonyl stress, and a deficiency in essential components for cells, and RPE cell death is related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and carbonyl stress. Some natural products have anti-oxidative effects, anti-inflammation effects, and/or anti-carbonylation effects. The AMD preventive mechanism of natural products varies, with some natural products activating one or more anti-apoptotic pathways, such as the Nrf2/HO-1 anti-oxidative pathway, the anti-inflammasome pathway, and the anti-carbonyl pathway. As AMD drug candidates from natural products effectively inhibit RPE cell death, they have the potential to be developed as drugs for preventing early (dry) AMD.
Emerging Religious Consciousness—A Cosmotheandric Understanding of Reality in the Light of Sophiology of Some Russian Theologians towards an Eco-Theology
Authors: Buitendag Johan , Simuț Corneliu C.
Published: March 2022

Intercultural theology is increasingly a major subject matter of 21st-century scholarly inquiry. This results in an interreligious discourse and encounter at different levels. However, gone are the days when the aim is to identify or even to fuse certain overlapping magisteria. A linguistic-cultural approach takes us beyond mergers or grand unified theories. To speak of reality as a whole is not to talk about the whole of reality. Creatio continua, the radical newness of each moment and phase unfolds in unpredictable ways. The ecological crisis of planet earth has forced all responsible researchers to engage with the Anthropocene by establishing space for a common earth religion. Through ressourcement, it appears that the sophiology of theologians of the Russian Silver Age (e.g., Solovyov, Bulgakov, and Florensky) can open up a vista in the spirit of aggiornamento to a meta-religious approach recognising the infinite capacity of humanity to transcend particularised religious identities and so belong in different ways too, with, and in God. In the end, sophiology is a form of progressive Christianity that puts together philosophy and faith by promoting an ecological public theology that is concerned about raising society’s awareness about creation as material nature.
Commemorating a Providential Conquest in Valencia: The 9 October Feast
Authors: Granell Sales Francesc
Published: March 2022

From 1338 onwards, the inhabitants of late-medieval Valencia celebrated a feast every 9 October commemorating the entrance into the city of King James I’s forces on that day in 1238. It has been argued that this was essentially a spiritual display from its establishment in 1338 until the beginning of the fifteenth century. The present study delves deeper into the religious and political aims of the feast from its origins, framing the celebration within a broader Mediterranean context. The first part analyses the 9 October feast in relation to two medieval liturgies that also commemorated crusading victories against Islam: the “Feast of the Liberation of Jerusalem” and the “Feast of the Banner of Majorca”. The second part focuses on the combination of performance and images during the ceremony, leading to the conclusion that the 9 October procession had similar goals to those in Jerusalem and Majorca. Indeed, the ceremony intended to convey an interpretation of the conquest as the continuation of Biblical history because it visibly and orally aligned the capture of Valencia with divine will and the sacred Scriptures.
Detection of Grassland Mowing Events for Germany by Combining Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Time Series
Authors: Reinermann Sophie , Gessner Ursula , Asam Sarah , Ullmann Tobias , Schucknecht Anne , Kuenzer Claudia
Published: March 2022

Grasslands cover one-third of the agricultural area in Germany and play an important economic role by providing fodder for livestock. In addition, they fulfill important ecosystem services, such as carbon storage, water purification, and the provision of habitats. These ecosystem services usually depend on the grassland management. In central Europe, grasslands are grazed and/or mown, whereby the management type and intensity vary in space and time. Spatial information on the mowing timing and frequency on larger scales are usually not available but would be required in order to assess the ecosystem services, species composition, and grassland yields. Time series of high-resolution satellite remote sensing data can be used to analyze the temporal and spatial dynamics of grasslands. Within this study, we aim to overcome the drawbacks identified by previous studies, such as optical data availability and the lack of comprehensive reference data, by testing the time series of various Sentinel-2 (S2) and Sentinal-1 (S1) parameters and combinations of them in order to detect mowing events in Germany in 2019. We developed a threshold-based algorithm by using information from a comprehensive reference dataset of heterogeneously managed grassland parcels in Germany, obtained by RGB cameras. The developed approach using the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) derived from S2 led to a successful mowing event detection in Germany (60.3% of mowing events detected, F1-Score = 0.64). However, events shortly before, during, or shortly after cloud gaps were missed and in regions with lower S2 orbit coverage fewer mowing events were detected. Therefore, S1-based backscatter, InSAR, and PolSAR features were investigated during S2 data gaps. From these, the PolSAR entropy detected mowing events most reliably. For a focus region, we tested an integrated approach by combining S2 and S1 parameters. This approach detected additional mowing events, but also led to many false positive events, resulting in a reduction in the F1-Score (from 0.65 of S2 to 0.61 of S2 + S1 for the focus region). According to our analysis, a majority of grasslands in Germany are only mown zero to two times (around 84%) and are probably additionally used for grazing. A small proportion is mown more often than four times (3%). Regions with a generally higher grassland mowing frequency are located in southern, south-eastern, and northern Germany.
An Accuracy Assessment of Snow Depth Measurements in Agro-Forested Environments by UAV Lidar
Authors: Dharmadasa Vasana , Kinnard Christophe , Baraër Michel
Published: March 2022

This study assesses the performance of UAV lidar system in measuring high-resolution snow depths in agro-forested landscapes in southern Québec, Canada. We used manmade, mobile ground control points in summer and winter surveys to assess the absolute vertical accuracy of the point cloud. Relative accuracy was determined by a repeat flight over one survey block. Estimated absolute and relative errors were within the expected accuracy of the lidar (~5 and ~7 cm, respectively). The validation of lidar-derived snow depths with ground-based measurements showed a good agreement, however with higher uncertainties observed in forested areas compared with open areas. A strip alignment procedure was used to attempt the correction of misalignment between overlapping flight strips. However, the significant improvement of inter-strip relative accuracy brought by this technique was at the cost of the absolute accuracy of the entire point cloud. This phenomenon was further confirmed by the degraded performance of the strip-aligned snow depths compared with ground-based measurements. This study shows that boresight calibrated point clouds without strip alignment are deemed to be adequate to provide centimeter-level accurate snow depth maps with UAV lidar. Moreover, this study provides some of the earliest snow depth mapping results in agro-forested landscapes based on UAV lidar.
Soil Moisture Retrieval Using Multistatic L-Band SAR and Effective Roughness Modeling
Authors: Tronquo Emma , Lievens Hans , Bouchat Jean , Defourny Pierre , Baghdadi Nicolas , Verhoest Niko E. C.
Published: March 2022

The interest in bistatic SAR systems for soil moisture monitoring has grown over recent years, since theoretical studies suggest that the impact of surface roughness on the retrieval of soil moisture decreases when multistatic, i.e., simultaneous mono- and bistatic, radar measurements are used. This paper presents a semi-empirical method to retrieve soil moisture over bare agricultural fields, based on effective roughness modeling, and applies it to a series of L-band fully-polarized SAR backscatter and bistatic scattering observations. The main advantage of using effective roughness parameters is that surface roughness no longer needs to be measured in the field, what is known to be the main source of error in soil moisture retrieval applications. By means of cross-validation, it is shown that the proposed method results in accurate soil moisture retrieval with an RMSE well below 0.05 m3/m3, with the best performance observed for the cross-polarized backscatter signal. In addition, different experimental SAR monostatic and bistatic configurations are evaluated in this study using the proposed retrieval technique. Results illustrate that the soil moisture retrieval performance increases by using backscatter data in multiple polarizations simultaneously, compared to the case where backscatter observations in only one polarization mode are used. Furthermore, the retrieval performance of a multistatic system has been evaluated and compared to that of a traditional monostatic system. The recent BELSAR campaign (in 2018) provides time-series of experimental airborne SAR measurements in two bistatic geometries, i.e., the across-track (XTI) and along-track (ATI) flight configuration. For both configurations, bistatic observations are available in the backward region. The results show that the simultaneous use of backscatter and bistatic scattering data does not result in a profound increase in retrieval performance for the bistatic configuration flown during BELSAR 2018. As theoretical studies demonstrate a strong improvement in retrieval performance when using backscatter and bistatic scattering coefficients in the forward region simultaneously, the introduction of additional bistatic airborne campaigns with more promising multistatic SAR configurations is highly recommended.
Precipitation Microphysics during the Extreme Meiyu Period in 2020
Authors: Zhang Aoqi , Chen Yilun , Zhou Shengnan , Chen Shumin , Li Weibiao
Published: March 2022

Previous studies have reported the large-scale meteorological conditions and dynamic causes of the extreme period of meiyu rainfall in 2020. However, the microphysical properties of meiyu precipitation during this period remain unclear. We used the Global Precipitation Measurement 2ADPR orbital precipitation dataset, the IMERG gridded precipitation dataset and the ERA5 reanalysis dataset to study the characteristics of meiyu precipitation over the Yangtze Plain during the extreme meiyu period in 2020 and historical meiyu periods from 2014 to 2019. The results showed that the average daily rainfall during the 2020 meiyu period was 1.5 times higher than the historical average as a result of the super-strong water vapor flux in the low- to mid-level layers of the atmosphere. The amplitude of nocturnal low-level water vapor transport during the 2020 meiyu period was twice the historical average and, therefore, the diurnal peak of meiyu rainfall at 0630 LST in 2020 was significantly earlier than the historical average. The moisture transport was the dominant moisture supply for precipitation during the 2020 meiyu period, whereas the moisture convection contributed less than in the meiyu periods of 2014–2019. This led to the precipitation in the 2020 meiyu period having a higher concentration of smaller droplets than the historical average. There were lower proportions of size-sorting evaporation and break-up processes in the liquid-phase precipitation processes in the 2020 meiyu than the historical average, but a higher proportion of coalescence processes. These results provide a factual basis for the simulation and forecast of precipitation during extreme meiyu periods.
Multiscale Feature Aggregation Capsule Neural Network for Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Image Classification
Authors: Lei Runmin , Zhang Chunju , Zhang Xueying , Huang Jianwei , Li Zhenxuan , Liu Wencong , Cui Hao
Published: March 2022

Models based on capsule neural network (CapsNet), a novel deep learning method, have recently made great achievements in hyperspectral remote sensing image (HSI) classification due to their excellent ability to implicitly model the spatial relationship knowledge embedded in HSIs. However, the number of labeled samples is a common bottleneck in HSI classification, limiting the performance of these deep learning models. To alleviate the problem of limited labeled samples and further explore the potential of CapsNet in the HSI classification field, this study proposes a multiscale feature aggregation capsule neural network (MS-CapsNet) based on CapsNet via the implementation of two branches that simultaneously extract spectral, local spatial, and global spatial features to integrate multiscale features and improve model robustness. Furthermore, because deep features are generally more discriminative than shallow features, two kinds of capsule residual (CapsRES) blocks based on 3D convolutional capsule (3D-ConvCaps) layers and residual connections are proposed to increase the depth of the network and solve the limited labeled sample problem in HSI classification. Moreover, a squeeze-and-excitation (SE) block is introduced in the shallow layers of MS-CapsNet to enhance its feature extraction ability. In addition, a reasonable initialization strategy that transfers parameters from two well-designed, pretrained deep convolutional capsule networks is introduced to help the model find a good set of initializing weight parameters and further improve the HSI classification accuracy of MS-CapsNet. Experimental results on four widely used HSI datasets demonstrate that the proposed method can provide results comparable to those of state-of-the-art methods.
Analyses of DSD Vertical Evolution and Rain Variation Mechanism in Stratiform Cloud Cases Using Micro Rain Radar
Authors: Ma Ningkun , Chen Yichen , Jia Zuo , Liu Liping , Ma Xincheng , Huang Yu
Published: March 2022

(1) Raindrop size distribution (DSD) is a vital microphysical characteristic of clouds and precipitations. The vertical evolution of DSD also provides a reference for the microphysical mechanisms and dynamic processes involved in clouds and precipitations. (2) Here we analyzed the characteristics and vertical evolution of DSDs, which were obtained from Micro Rain Radar (MRR) data of two typical stratiform rain cases. (3) First, we compared MRR-observed reflectivity (Z) and DSD at 400 m with data from a distrometer on the ground. This ensured the reliability of the MRR data of the two cases. Then it was found that the DSD was wider just below the 0 °C level than at lower levels. The larger DSDs width formed a bulge shape in the vertical direction, and large particles in the ‘bulge’ then constantly collided as they were falling down. The DSD was broadened and the echo of the warm layer was strengthened. We referred to this as the bulge phenomenon (BP), which appeared occasionally, and broader DSD propagated from high to low intermittently during the stratiform rain. Next, by combining the detailed cloud structures detected by cloud radar with BP, we found that a BP was always accompanied by higher developing cloud tops, stronger Z and larger falling velocity. It was inferred that ice particles formed near cloud top intermittently and fell through the underlying cloud, causing the gustiness and instability of particle aggregation, which was reflected by the BP below the 0 °C layer. BP triggered quick collision and falling down along the warm layer, enhancing the Z and falling velocity transiently. Thus, BP was considered as one of the mechanisms of rain variation in stratocumulus and stratiform rain in North China. Finally, we defined the cycle time of a BP (BPT), which was composed of broadening stage (BS) and stable stage (SS). We found that changes of DSD parameters for both MRR and distrometer responded to each BP occurring, showing the same intermittency. From each BP occurring time to the corresponding BS ending time, Dm basically grew from small to large. After this, Dm decreased immediately or maintained for a while and then decreased. Nw had the opposite trend to Dm. Also, it was found that larger R accelerated the fluency of BP occurring (BPT).
Accessing the Impact of Meteorological Variables on Machine Learning Flood Susceptibility Mapping
Authors: McGrath Heather , Gohl Piper Nora
Published: March 2022

Machine learning (ML) algorithms have emerged as competent tools for identifying areas that are susceptible to flooding. The primary variables considered in most of these works include terrain models, lithology, river networks and land use. While several recent studies include average annual rainfall and/or temperature, other meteorological information such as snow accumulation and short-term intense rain events that may influence the hydrology of the area under investigation have not been considered. Notably, in Canada, most inland flooding occurs during the freshet, due to the melting of an accumulated snowpack coupled with heavy rainfall. Therefore, in this study the impact of several climate variables along with various hydro-geomorphological (HG) variables were tested to determine the impact of their inclusion. Three tests were run: only HG variables, the addition of annual average temperature and precipitation (HG-PT), and the inclusion of six other meteorological datasets (HG-8M) on five study areas across Canada. In HG-PT, both precipitation and temperature were selected as important in every study area, while in HG-8M a minimum of three meteorological datasets were considered important in each study area. Notably, as the meteorological variables were added, many of the initial HG variables were dropped from the selection set. The accuracy, F1, true skill and Area Under the Curve (AUC) were marginally improved when the meteorological data was added to the a parallel random forest algorithm (parRF). When the model is applied to new data, the estimated accuracy of the prediction is higher in HG-8M, indicating that inclusion of relevant, local meteorological datasets improves the result.
Automated BIM Reconstruction of Full-Scale Complex Tubular Engineering Structures Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning
Authors: Liu Jiepeng , Fu Lihua , Cheng Guozhong , Li Dongsheng , Zhou Jing , Cui Na , Chen Y. Frank
Published: March 2022

Due to the accumulation of manufacturing errors of components and construction errors, there are always deviations between an as-built complex tubular engineering structure (CTES) and its as-designed model. As terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) provides accurate point cloud data (PCD) for scanned objects, it can be used in the building information modeling (BIM) reconstruction of as-built CTESs for life cycle management. However, few studies have focused on the BIM reconstruction of a full-scale CTES from missing and noisy PCD. To this end, this study proposes an automated BIM reconstruction method based on the TLS for a full-scale CTES. In particular, a novel algorithm is proposed to extract the central axis of a tubular structure. An extended axis searching algorithm is applied to segment each component PCD. A slice-based method is used to estimate the geometric parameters of curved tubes. The proposed method is validated through a full-scale CTES, where the maximum error is 0.92 mm.
Measurement of Longitudinal Chromatic Aberration in the Last Crystalline Lens Surface Using Hartmann Test and Purkinje Images
Authors: Calderon-Uribe Uriel , Hernandez-Gomez Geovanni , Gomez-Vieyra Armando
Published: March 2022

Research has shown that longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA) of the human eye is generated across all of the eye’s optical surfaces. However, it may not be necessary to measure the LCA from the first surface of the cornea to the retina, as it is known that most of the changes that can modify the path of light occur from the first surface of the cornea to the last surface of the crystalline lens. This investigation presents the study of an objective technique that allows the measurement of longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA) on the last crystalline lens surface by developing a pulse width wavefront system using a Hartmann test, Purkinje image, and Zernike polynomial. A blue pulse (440–480 nm) and a red pulse (580–640 nm) were used to generate a pattern of spots in the human eye. This pattern generated on the posterior surface of the crystalline lens of the human eye allows the reconstruction of the wavefront via a modal method with Zernike polynomials. Once the wavefront is reconstructed, Zernike coefficients can be used to quantify the LCA. The methodology and objective measurements of the magnitude of the longitudinal chromatic aberration of five test subjects are explained in this article.
Urban Image at the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Case Study Novi Sad (Serbia)
Authors: Lukić Tamara , Blešić Ivana , Pivac Tatjana , Živković Milka Bubalo , Đerčan Bojan , Kovačić Sanja , Cimbaljević Marija , Bjelajac Dajana
Published: March 2022

The main aim of this paper is to examine how negative phenomena, such as a pandemic, can result in positive cultural shifts and an upgrade of the urban image. The research was conducted employing an in-depth interview approach at the end of 2021, based on a semi-structured protocol with 15 participants. The answers of the respondents are conditioned by the socio-demographic differences. They show the urban image and cultural opportunities of the city. The image of the city is changing under different cultural influences, which are caused by events in the region or globalization. The self-awareness of the history, tradition and heritage that the people of Novi Sad have should be nurtured in order to preserve the image of the city with the strength of the majority of the immigrant population. The title ‘European Capital of Culture’ has been well received, but its impact will be best seen at the end of the year. COVID-19The COVID-19 pandemic favored and popularized cycling, awakened environmental self-awareness and solidarity, brought culture to the streets and beautified the city’s image. Everything that could not be placed on the street, it was entered and placed in the virtual world.
Ideating A Sustainable Swine Feed Prototype: A Qualitative Approach in Farmers’ Pain Point Identification and Product Development
Authors: Wongsaichia Sasichakorn , Naruetharadhol Phaninee , Wongthahan Peerapong , Ketkaew Chavis
Published: March 2022

There is a growing interest and trend in new product development (NPD) from food waste. However, most qualitative approaches rarely use the lean entrepreneur concept in the context of new product development (NPD), which allows for understanding customer insight rather than the traditional qualitative approach. Therefore, this study aims to (1) explore the swine farmer behaviors, desired outcomes, and pain points in using swine feedstuffs, (2) select three representative segments and identify high-value customers of swine feeds, and (3) develop a sustainable swine feed prototype from the fermented fish industrial residues. The target users, 24 pig farmers from 11 provinces across the Northeastern Region of Thailand, were recruited to participate in this research. Qualitative in-depth semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis were conducted to analyze their behaviors, desired outcomes, and pain points towards pig feed usages. The framework was combined with in-depth qualitative interviews and the customer, problem, and solution zoom tools. The results revealed that household farmers were the target customer segment of swine feed made from fermented fish industrial wastes. In addition, the findings showed that the household farmers typically fed their pigs with instant feeds and alternative feeds. Moreover, their desired outcomes were the pellet feed with nutrients. Furthermore, the pain points of the household farmers were the expensive cost of feeds and mold in feeds. Therefore, this segment needs to minimize the cost of feeds by using other sustainable alternatives.
Decarbonising Universities: Case Study of the University of Exeter’s Green Strategy Plans Based on Analysing Its Energy Demand in 2012–2020
Authors: Chaplin George , Dibaj Mahdieh , Akrami Mohammad
Published: March 2022

This study investigates the carbon footprint of the University of Exeter by analysing its energy consumption between 2012 and 2020 to assess its current standing in the process of achieving carbon neutrality. The study then explores the possible methods of reaching this target in line with the University of Exeter’s Environment & Climate Emergency Policy Statement. The leading part of the statement is as follows: “All Campus activities/operations shall have a carbon net zero impact and or result in environmental gain by 2030 and aims to be carbon net zero by 2050 (accounting for all associated activities and Scope 3 footprint)”. Using methods of energy consumption reduction, a new carbon footprint for Scope 1 and 2 emissions was calculated for the year 2030, which included phasing out oil and gas and swapping out inefficient systems, such as old heating or lighting. This reduced the emissions from 17.24 ktCO2e to 3.34 ktCO2e also greatly helped by the reduction in electricity grid conversion factors. The remaining emissions would be reduced further to net zero by on site solar and offsite wind investment.
Proposed Framework for the Flood Disaster Management Cycle in Malaysia
Authors: Muzamil Syed Ahmad Hakim Bin Syed , Zainun Noor Yasmin , Ajman Nadiatul Nazleen , Sulaiman Noralfishah , Khahro Shabir Hussain , Rohani Munzilah Md. , Mohd Saifullizan Mohd Bukari , Ahmad Hilton
Published: March 2022

Floods have been reported to be an important disaster in any country and Malaysia has faced similar disasters in the past, resulting in disturbance in daily community routine issues, financial losses, infrastructure damage including railway tracks, bridges, roads, vehicles, properties, and the worst is the loss of lives. The Sarawak region of Malaysia also witnesses yearly disasters in rainy seasons. The purpose of this paper is to explore the possible challenges to manage the flood disaster in Sarawak and to identify the possible solutions to manage floods. In this research, secondary data was used for qualitative assessment. The newspaper articles were collected from the year 2015 until 2019. Targeted interviews were conducted with experts working in flood management disaster schemes to rank and validate the most important factors after content analysis from the past news reports. It is concluded that poor drainage systems, rapid development, heavy rainfall, lack of public awareness, and lack of coordination in executing the disaster management cycle among agencies are the key challenges. Thus, it is recommended that the drainage systems should be upgraded in the case study area. Proper flood management schemes should be planned and flood forecasting should be strengthened. An effective early flood warning system should be designed to activate the plans and a proper public awareness campaign should be initiated to educate and train the local community to deal with such disasters. It is also suggested to assure and maintain proper collaboration among different agencies during such disasters. In the last phase, this paper also proposes a framework for future flood disaster management. The framework will assist the stakeholders to make informed decisions to save human lives and substantial financial losses. The framework can also be used in similar terrain countries.
Application of Neural Networks and Regression Modelling to Enable Environmental Regulatory Compliance and Energy Optimisation in a Sequencing Batch Reactor
Authors: Fox Shane , McDermott James , Doherty Edelle , Cooney Ronan , Clifford Eoghan
Published: March 2022

Real-time control of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can have significant environmental and cost advantages. However, its application to small and decentralised WWTPs, which typically have highly varying influent characteristics, remains limited to date due to cost, reliability and technical restrictions. In this study, a methodology was developed using numerical models that can improve sustainability, in real time, by enhancing wastewater treatment whilst also optimising operational and energy efficiency. The methodology leverages neural network and regression modelling to determine a suitable soft sensor for the prediction of ammonium-nitrogen trends. This study is based on a case-study decentralised WWTP employing sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treatment and uses pH and oxidation-reduction potential sensors as proxies for ammonium-nitrogen sensors. In the proposed method, data were pre-processed into 15 input variables and analysed using multi-layer neural network (MLNN) and regression models, creating 176 soft sensors. Each soft sensor was then analysed and ranked to determine the most suitable soft sensor for the WWTP. It was determined that the most suitable soft sensor for this WWTP would achieve a 67% cycle-time saving and 51% electricity saving for each treatment cycle while meeting the criteria set for ammonium discharges. This proposed soft sensor selection methodology can be applied, in full or in part, to existing or new WWTPs, potentially increasing the adoption of real-time control technologies, thus enhancing their overall effluent quality and energy performance.
Toward an Audience-Centric Framework of Corporate Social Advocacy Strategy: An Exploratory Study of Young Consumers from Generation Z
Authors: Coman Ioana A. , Yuan Shupei , Tsai Jiun-Yi
Published: March 2022

Increasingly, business-to-consumer companies engage in corporate social advocacy (CSA) to respond to growing pressures from stakeholders. CSA studies are quickly accumulating, yet in-depth explanations of when and why the public expect companies to take a stance (sometimes even action) on controversial issues remain scarce. To fill these gaps, we unpack how Generation Z audiences expect companies to act on public agendas and their reasoning process through a mixed-method analysis of an exploratory survey (N = 388) conducted at a public university. The results show major changes in CSA expectations and illuminate the reasoning behind them. The results highlight a critical need to further understand CSA from audience perceptions and inform message design and testing guided by audience-centric models.
Modular Regulators of Water Level in Ditches of Subirrigation Systems
Authors: Bajkowski Sławomir , Urbański Janusz , Oleszczuk Ryszard , Siwicki Piotr , Brandyk Andrzej , Popek Zbigniew
Published: March 2022

Economical management of water resources involves water management on a national scale, including river basins and catchment areas, as well as on the scale of drainage systems. One of the devices for controlling the outflow of groundwater from a network of ditches is a flow regulator. In this work, three flow regulators were studied for their water damming capacity in the drainage network and the adjacent ground with the aim of determining their hydraulic characteristics and operating conditions. The adjustment consisted of changing the closing height in order to obtain the required damming level in a ditch. All three tested regulators were characterized by the presence of effective flow Qe, the value of which was determined for different damming levels. Water leaks occurred mainly in places where the damming elements were embedded in vertical guides and, to a lesser extent, at the horizontal joints of successively placed beams. The impact of the overflow shape and the development of the crest line on the obtained flow rate increase was different for the tested S, U, and Z models. The expansion coefficient of the overflow crest equaled kr = 1.0 for the rectilinear S regulator, kr = 1.58 for the labyrinth U regulator, and kr = 1.74 for the compound Z regulator. For the S4 variant, the modular total flow factor reached kQ = 1.19 for the elevation of the upper water above the overflow H = 14.9 cm. The U2 variant was characterized by a modular flow coefficient of kQ = 1.48 for H = 10.7 cm. For the Z1 variant with a cylindrical corner shape, the modular flow coefficient value was kQ = 1.60 for H = 8.2 cm in elevation. For the Z2 variant with an angular corner shape, kQ = 1.63 for H = 8.4 cm.
A Bibliometric Analysis of the Application of Remote Sensing in Crop Spatial Patterns: Current Status, Progress and Future Directions
Authors: Xiao Pengnan , Qian Peng , Xu Jie , Lu Mengyao
Published: March 2022

The crop spatial pattern (CSP) is the spatial expression of the planting structure, maturity and planting pattern of crops in a region or production unit. It reflects the situation of human agricultural production using agricultural production resources, and is very important for human survival and development. Based on 5356 publications collected from the Web of Science Core CollectionTM (WoS), this paper’s aim is to illustrate a comprehensive run-through and visualization of the subject of CSP. A time series evolution diagram of hot topics and the evolution of research hotspots are discussed in detail. Then, remote sensing monitoring methods of the crop planting area, multiple cropping, crop planting patterns and the mechanisms of crop spatial patterns are summarized, respectively. In the discussion, we focus on three important issues, namely, the remote sensing cloud platform, the changes in characteristics of the crop spatial pattern and the simulation of the crop spatial pattern. The main objective of the paper is to assist research workers interested in the area of CSP in determining potential research gaps and hotspots.