bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Investigations of Tribological Characteristics of Biomimetic-Textured Surfaces
Authors: Wang Cheng , Cai Jianlin , Cheng Gong , Wang Jiaxu , Tang Dongxing
Published: August 2023

Rail transportation has dramatically improved travel convenience, but it has also led to environmental pollution and energy consumption issues. These challenges can be partially addressed by reducing friction loss in the mechanical transmission of rail systems. This paper examines the tribological properties of bionic-textured surfaces inspired by snake- and sharkskin. This study focuses on generating bionic textured surfaces with randomly distributed peaks through numerical simulation and connecting them to a transient Reynolds equation and friction fatigue model. The bionic surface wear lubrication model considers the lubricating film’s thickness and contact pressure obtained from the GT model. The results reveal that the existence of a bionic texture can reduce the friction coefficient and wear amount on the contact surface. The findings of this study not only offer a potential solution for reducing energy consumption and emissions in intelligent rail transit systems but also hold promise for providing further insights into the numerical simulation of bionic weaving and the investigation of tribological characteristics.
Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances by Adsorption on Innovative Adsorbent Materials
Authors: Collivignarelli Maria Cristina , Bellazzi Stefano , Caccamo Francesca Maria , Calatroni Silvia , Milanese Chiara , Baldi Marco , Abbà Alessandro , Sorlini Sabrina , Bertanza Giorgio
Published: August 2023

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a group of organofluorine chemical synthetic compounds widely used in industries and manufacturing due to their hydrophobic properties. However, PFAS have been found to cause negative human health outcomes. Therefore, a strong interest in the possible removal of these compounds from wastewater (WW) has been shown. This work aims to present a systematic analysis of the scientific literature related to the innovative and alternative adsorbent materials that can be used for treating PFAS-contaminated WW. Moreover, the adsorption processes are considered, focusing the attention on virgin adsorbent materials and biochar as adsorbents. Virgin adsorbent materials comprise conventional adsorbent materials, functional clays, metal–organic frameworks, and functionalized organic polymers. Biochar includes materials obtained from agricultural or food residues and from sewage sludge. The review shows that conventional treatment units using virgin adsorbent materials are characterized by high adsorption capacity, but also high costs. In addition, the refunctionalization of adsorbent materials is difficult to obtain. On the contrary, biochar, which is a residual product of other production processes, appears to be a cost-effective solution.
Citrus Orchards in Agroforestry, Organic, and Conventional Systems: Soil Quality and Functioning
Authors: Pilon Lucas Contarato , Ambus Jordano Vaz , Blume Elena , Jacques Rodrigo Josemar Seminoti , Reichert José Miguel
Published: August 2023

Citrus crop management has evolved to improve the quality of orchards and production, encompassing agroforestry and agroecological management practices. We sought to analyze different management systems in different seasons of the year, evaluating the quality of the soil physical, chemicals and biological properties, and the herbaceous vegetation occurring in citrus orchards. Five sites were studied: citrus in agroforestry and biodynamic systems (Cs), citrus in biodynamic systems (Co), citrus in conventional systems (Cc), and two forest sites, one with 40 (F40) and another with 200 years of regeneration (F200). Soil properties were evaluated in three layers (0–5, 5–20, and 20–40 cm) in four seasons, while the herbaceous survey was carried out in two of these seasons. The results showed that the Co and Cs orchards had better indicators in terms of chemical (pH, phosphorus, cation exchange capacity, and soil organic carbon (SOC)), physical (soil density, total porosity, and macro- and microporosity), and biological properties (global enzymatic activity) than the Cc management. The agroforestry management was even superior in soil quality, with improved pH levels, microporosity, and feeding behavior of the soil fauna. The most evident temporal variations were for pH, SOC, global enzymatic activity, and feeding activity of the soil fauna. The Cs and Co orchards showed greater richness and abundance of herbaceous species. Organic management favors a timely coverage of multiple benefits, with the presence of the Commoliaceae and Fabaceae families, and offering an ecological effect and green manure of high ecosystem value. In conclusion, agroforestry and biodynamic management systems are the best options to maintain soil quality and functioning for citrus production.
Research on Technology System Adaptability of Nearly Zero-Energy Office Buildings in the Hot Summer and Cold Winter Zone of China
Authors: Jia Xueying , Zhang Hui , Yao Xin , Yang Lei , Ke Zikang , Yan Junle , Huang Xiaoxi , Jin Shiyu
Published: August 2023

In the current context of huge global energy consumption and harsh climatic conditions, the energy efficiency and sustainability of buildings have received much attention. The nearly zero-energy building (nZEB) is a feasible solution for solving the energy crisis in the building sector in recent years, and it is important to study the adaptability of its technology system. However, existing studies have not addressed well the issue of the impact of complex and diverse climates on the technology systems of nZEBs. Secondly, in contrast to residential buildings, nearly zero-energy technology systems for office buildings need to be further developed. This study takes the hot summer and cold winter (HSCW) zone of China as an example and uses numerical simulations and orthogonal experiments to investigate the adaptability of nearly zero-energy office building technology systems under complex and diverse climate conditions. The results show the following: (1) Passive technologies are greatly affected by the complexity and diversity of climates. Optimal envelope thermal parameters tailored to specific zones are identified. Specifically, the optimal level of KWALL in the CT and HSCWC zones is 0.2 W/(m2·K), and the optimal level of KWALL in the HSWWT zone is 0.3 W/(m2·K); the optimal level of KROOF in the CT zone is 0.15 W/(m2·K), and the optimal level of KROOF in the HSCWC and HSWWT zones is 0.25 W/(m2·K); (2) Active technologies do not mainly receive the influence of the complexity and diversity of climates, and ED, HR, and TS measures should be adopted for office buildings; (3) The rational utilization of renewable energy is influenced by local resource conditions. This study evaluates the adaptability of GSHP, ASHP, and BIPV technologies. To better meet the requirements of nearly zero-energy office buildings, it is recommended to adopt GSHP for the CT zone and ASHP for the HCWWT zone. This study will be helpful for the development of nearly zero-energy office building technology systems in other complex and diverse climatic zones.
Development and Performance Evaluation of a Pressure-Adjustable Waterjet Stubble-Cutting Device with Thickness Detection for No-Till Sowing
Authors: Qu Minghao , Wang Gang , Zhou Zihao , Gao Xiaomei , Li Hailan , Tan Hewen , Xiang Meiqi , Jia Honglei
Published: August 2023

No-till maize (Zea mays L.) sowing is often affected by stubble. The high-pressure waterjet at a constant rate is powerless to precision applications of stubble cutting and causes water waste. In this study, a pressure-adjustable stubble-cutting device with a stubble-thickness detection device was designed. Through experiments, the quantitative analysis of the moisture content and electrical conductivity (EC) of the field soil and stubble during the spring sowing period was conducted, and the effect of soil moisture content (SMC), soil compaction (SC) and machine forward speed (V) on the stubble-thickness detection error (STDE) was explored. On this basis, the optimal parameters of the device were analyzed and evaluated, and a verification experiment was applied. The results showed that STDE decreased with the increase of SMC and SC and increased with the increase of V. The response time of the pressure adjustment system is 0.12 s. The stubble-cutting device with thickness detection for two-level pressure regulation reduced the water consumption (WC) by 13.22% under the condition that the stubble-cutting rate (SCR) remained unchanged. The WC increased with the increase of waterjet pressure (P) and decreased with the increase of V. The SCR increased first and then decreased with the increase of cutting angle (α). The response surface optimization analysis showed that when P was 26 MPa, α 90.45° and V was 3.36 km/h, the performance was optimal with a 3.03% STDE, a 95.49% stubble SCR and a 49.98 L/ha WC. The measured value of the field verification experiment had a 4.11% relative error existing in STDE, a 4.06% relative error existing in the SCR and a 1.81% relative error existing in WC compared with the predicted value of the regression model. In contrast to the constant rate waterjet cutting device, the application of this device can save WC by 13.22%. This study can provide a reference for the application of waterjet technology and conductivity detection technology in the agricultural field.
Super-Resolution Reconstruction of Remote Sensing Images of the China–Myanmar Pipeline Based on Generative Adversarial Network
Authors: Jiang Yuanliang , Ren Qingying , Ren Yuan , Liu Haipeng , Dong Shaohua , Ma Yundong
Published: August 2023

The safety monitoring and early warning of overseas oil and gas pipelines are essential for China, as these pipelines serve as significant energy channels. The route of the China–Myanmar pipeline in Myanmar is mountainous and covered with vegetation, changeable climate, and abundant rain, and is prone to disasters. Therefore, artificial route inspection is dangerous and inefficient. Satellite remote sensing technology has an advantage over a traditional ground survey due to its large range and long-distance capabilities, thus can aid in monitoring the safety of oil and gas transportation. To improve the resolution of remote sensing data, in this paper, we propose a Nonlocal dense receptive field generative adversarial network, using remote sensing images of the Muse section of the China–Myanmar pipeline as data. Based on super-resolution generative adversarial network (SRGAN), we use a dense residual structure to improve the network depth and introduce the Softsign activation function to optimize the problem of easy saturation and gradient disappearance. To extract deep features of the image, we proposed a residual-in-residual nonlocal (RRNL) dense block, followed by the addition of the receptive field block (RFB) mechanism at the end to extract global features. Four loss functions are combined to improve the stability of model training and the quality of reconstructed image. The experimental results show that the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity index measure (SSIM) of the reconstructed remote sensing image of Muse section reach 30.20 dB and 0.84. Compared to conventional methods and generic deep neural networks, the proposed approach achieved an improvement of 8.33 dB and 1.41 dB in terms of PSNR and an improvement of 21.7% and 5.9% in terms of SSIM. The reconstructed images exhibit improved texture clarity and are more visible to the human eye. This method successfully achieves super-resolution reconstruction of remote sensing images for the Muse section of the China–Myanmar pipeline, enhances the details of the image, and significantly improves the efficiency of satellite remote sensing monitoring.
Calculation Method of Deceleration Lane Length and Slope Based on Reliability Theory
Authors: Tian Xin , Shi Mengmeng , Shao Mengyu , Pan Binghong
Published: August 2023

The deceleration lane is an important part of the freeway, and the rationality of its design parameters affects the exit accident rate. The traditional calculation method is based on the design of speed and vehicle parameters using deterministic methods, ignoring the randomness of the driver’s deceleration behavior. It is necessary to calculate the length and slope of the deceleration lane in detail according to the deceleration characteristics of the driver in the deceleration section by using the uncertainty method. This paper describes a study on the maximum longitudinal slope of the downhill section of the deceleration lane, where the safety of diverging vehicles is unfavorable. By collecting deceleration lane data from interchanges around Xi’an (Shaanxi Province, China, Coordinates: 108.95, 34.27) and analyzing the deceleration characteristics of vehicles, we propose a new deceleration model. In addition, the limit-state functions of the length and slope of the deceleration lane have been established based on the reliability theory. Finally, according to the deceleration characteristics, we determined the probability distribution of key parameters in the vehicle deceleration process. We used the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) and the Improved First-Order Second Moments (IFOSM) calculation model to calculate the length and slope of the deceleration lane, respectively. Finally, we propose the recommended values for the length and slope of the deceleration lane. The results of the study showed that: (1) The movement process of the vehicle on the deceleration section adopts a uniform deceleration, and the truck and the car start to decelerate from the starting of the taper section and diverging point, respectively. (2) The control vehicle in the deceleration lane calculation model is the compact car. (3) The reliability theory has good applicability in calculating freeway alignment indexes. It fully considers the probability of driver deceleration behavior in the calculation model, which provides a more suitable method for the calculation of deceleration lane indexes.
A Novel Decision-Making Framework to Evaluate Rail Transport Development Projects Considering Sustainability under Uncertainty
Authors: Noruzi Morteza , Naderan Ali , Zakeri Jabbar Ali , Rahimov Kamran
Published: August 2023

One of the constant concerns in public and private organizations is choosing a project from among the multitude of potential projects to be implemented. Due to the limited resources in different sectors, projects should be prioritized in order to obtain the maximum benefit. In national and government projects, it is not necessarily important to pay attention to financial components, and more dimensions should be considered. Sustainability is a component that considers various economic, environmental, and social aspects in the evaluation of projects. In this regard, in this study, the main goal is to evaluate and select rail transportation projects according to sustainability criteria. In general, 15 indicators were identified in three economic, environmental, and social sectors, which were weighted using the best–worst fuzzy method (FBWM). The most important indicators in the evaluation of projects are the investment cost, the rate of internal return from a national perspective, and the lesser impact of the plan on environmental destruction. According to the weighted indicators, the stochastic VIKOR approach is developed for the first time in this article, which was evaluated according to two scenarios of demand changes and cost changes of candidate projects. In the stochastic VIKOR approach, to deal with uncertainty, different scenarios are defined, through which it is possible to respond to different conditions and evaluate projects more realistically. Validation of this method is compared to other multi-criteria decision-making methods. The main contribution of this study is presenting the stochastic VIKOR approach for the first time and considering the uncertainty in project evaluation. The findings show that the projects that have the most economic gains from the national and environmental aspects are selected as the best projects.
Selection of a Sustainable Structural Floor System for an Office Building Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process and the Multi-Attribute Utility Theory
Authors: AlFaraidy Faris A. , Teegala Kishore Srinivasa , Dwivedi Gaurav
Published: August 2023

The integration of green building technology is currently regarded as a critical step towards a sustainable future because it is a means of attaining sustainable development. It takes skill to combine a sustainable ecosystem with comfortable living areas to create eco-friendly building designs. The use of modern technologies can also enhance traditional methods for developing greener structures and thereby help maintain sustainable built environments. This research paper is intended to develop a selection framework to evaluate three different structural floor systems for a high-rise office building in Alhasa, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The three structural floor systems are as follows: a two-way ribbed slab system, a post-tension slab system, and a hollow core slab system. The main selection criteria used for the investigation in this paper are as follows: initial cost, running costs (operating and maintenance costs), salvage value, self-structural weight, and the possibility of utilities passage. A questionnaire survey was designed to collect the opinions of experts (project managers) regarding the relative importance of the different selection criteria, and these were used to determine the most suitable structural system for the office building. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was the tool used to determine the weights of the different criteria, and it was applied in combination with an Eigenvector analysis. Another objective of the investigation was to determine the utility preference values of the selection criteria by employing the multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT) technique. The results showed that the most important criterion is utilities passage, which is followed by structural weight and then initial cost, salvage value, and running costs. From the results of this research, we conclude that the system with the highest total value is the post-tension slab system. The limitations of the study include the fact that it only investigated three concrete floor systems commonly used in office buildings in Saudi Arabia, and that it included only five selection criteria that were identified and evaluated by the experts.
Three-Dimensional Porous ZnO-Supported Carbon Fiber Aerogel with Synergistic Effects of Adsorption and Photocatalysis for Organics Removal
Authors: Wan Wubo , Li Yu , Bai Shiwei , Yang Xiaoyan , Chi Mingming , Shi Yaqin , Liu Changhua , Zhang Peng
Published: August 2023

A three-dimensional (3D) ZnO-supported carbon fiber aerogel (ZnO/CFA) was successfully prepared by using natural cotton with hydrophilicity as the precursor. The facile synthetic strategy includes two steps: Zn2+ exchange on the surface of cotton and thermal treatment at high temperatures. Particularly, the calcination temperature was found to greatly affect the content, dispersity, and size of supported ZnO nanoparticles, and the product obtained at 600 °C (ZnO/CFA-600) exhibited both high ZnO loading and well-dispersed ZnO nanoparticles. Therefore, ZnO/CFA-600 has superior photocatalytic activity for tetracycline (TC) degradation under UV light irradiation compared with others. Additionally, the unique 3D crosslinking network inside the ZnO/CFA generates an open channel for the rapid migration and diffusion of reactants and products. In a dynamical water-treated system, the 3D porous ZnO/CFA-600 continuously works for TC removal without any separation operation and maintains high synergistic performance of adsorption and photocatalysis for at least 8 h. Consequently, the 3D porous ZnO/CFA product, with its large adsorbability and high photoactivity, shows a lot of industrial potential in wastewater treatments.
Urban Environment Quality and Migrant Settlement Intentions: Evidence from China’s Hygienic Cities Initiative
Authors: Sun Dan , Zhao Guochang
Published: August 2023

The number of internal migrants in China reached 376 million in 2020, accounting for about one-fourth of the total population. Therefore, promoting their settlement in cities and integration into urban life is crucial for both sustainability and for their well-being. Drawing on data from the 2014–2018 China Migrants Dynamic Survey and taking the “Hygienic Cities Initiative” as a quasi-experiment, this research study analyzes the influence of improving the urban environment quality on migrants’ settlement intentions within a difference-in-difference (DID) framework. The study findings indicate that the creation of “Hygienic Cities” demonstrates a significant positive effect on migrants’ settlement intentions, thereby leading to a 4.57% increase. Further analysis highlights that the creation of “Hygienic Cities” primarily affects migrants’ settlement intentions by (1) improving local air quality and (2) increasing the sanitation of the urban environment. In addition to this, the effect of “Hygienic Cities” on migrants’ settlement intentions is stronger for migrants with higher education and income levels, shorter migration experience, unmarried males, and employers or self-employed individuals. This research article confirms that the urban residential environment has become a critical factor influencing Chinese migrants’ settlement intentions. As a result, further attention to environmental protection and improvements in urban environmental sanitation is crucial in city management for attracting talent and investments to cities, but such initiatives may also lead to potential gender imbalance in cities.
Research on Damage Mechanism and Mechanical Characteristics of Coal Rock under Water Immersion
Authors: Xia Haojun , Zhang Huimei , Zhang Jiafan
Published: August 2023

This study aims to reveal the impact of immersion duration on the internal structural damage and mechanical property degradation of coal rocks. Coal rocks from the post-mining area of Liangshuijing Coal Mine were selected as the research subject. Physical and mechanical tests were carried out on these with different immersion durations (0 d, 15 d, 30 d, 60 d, 120 d, and 240 d) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), acoustic emission (AE), digital image correlation (DIC), and compression testing, further elucidating the damage degradation mechanisms of water-immersed coal rocks. The research demonstrates that changes in the pore structure of coal rocks can be divided into two stages as the soaking time varies: the stage of water swelling (saturation process) and the stage of soaking damage (long-term immersion process). The water swelling stage of coal rock extends from surface drying and contraction to water swelling, and the soaking damage stage of coal rock extends from expansion to soaking damage. During the stage of soaking damage, the water showed dynamic changes from macropores to mesopores to micropores, with a gradual increase in the number of micropores. The AE count and cumulative count of coal rock decrease first and then increase, and the four stages’ acoustic characteristics and macroscopic characterization phenomena appear. The mechanical properties declined. After 240 d of immersion, the uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus decreased by 48.93% and 29.53%, respectively, and the plastic characteristics were enhanced. These research results provide a beneficial reference for understanding and predicting the instability and destruction of water-immersed coal rocks.
A Current Selective Tripping Protection Scheme for the Distribution Network with PV
Authors: Liang Yabo , Li Lei , He Jianan , Niu Jian , Liu Haitao , Li Chao , Li Borui
Published: August 2023

At present, the global energy demand keeps rising due to population growth. Therefore, large numbers of photovoltaics (PV) are being integrated with power systems. Solar PV’s installed power capacity is poised to surpass that of coal by 2027, becoming the largest in the world. The integration of PV has changed the direction of the power flow. Under these circumstances, the changed magnitudes and directions of fault current may result in maloperations and non-operations of conventional relays. In this work, a simple and reliable current selective tripping protection scheme is proposed, which is based on the direct communication between overcurrent protective devices on both sides of the line. Through logical programming of the operation information of each protection, the fault location is detected, and the instantaneous trip is realized. The simulation analysis of PSCAD/EMTDC shows that the protection scheme can reliably detect and isolate faults happening at the feeder and bus under different fault conditions; besides, it has good performance in detecting certain resistance grounding faults. The proposed protection scheme can effectively solve the problems caused by PV systems penetration and improve system safety.
Sustainable Strategies for Teaching and Learning Online
Authors: Forbes Dianne , Gedera Dilani , Hartnett Maggie , Datt Ashwini , Brown Cheryl
Published: August 2023

Investigating students’ lived experiences of online learning can inform us on how best to teach them. In this paper, we harness the insights gained from pandemic teaching and learning to inform sustainable approaches. Theorized in relation to Ben-Eliyahu’s sustainable learning in education (SLE), this article offers insight into what tertiary teachers can do to support students with sustainable strategies, as well as how students can develop long-term learning strategies. We draw upon the research on the perspectives and experiences of New Zealand university students studying online in 2020 to inform SLE in online teaching and learning in the long term. The researchers collaborated with student associations to undertake a survey exploring the students’ experiences of online learning. There were 952 valid survey responses from all 8 New Zealand universities, complemented by 20 individual interviews and 9 focus groups involving 43 student participants, both on and offshore. Our findings indicate that students regard support, communication, and engagement as key areas where they experienced challenges or helpful practices, and where there are sustainable directions for future teaching and learning. We propose support that institutions can provide to both students and staff for sustainable strategies.
Linking Satellite, Land Capability, and Socio-Economic Data for Local-Level Climate-Change-Adaptive Capacity Assessments and Decision Support
Authors: Chari Martin Munashe , Zhou Leocadia , Hamandawana Hamisai
Published: August 2023

Climate change is now one of the most formidable threats to the livelihoods of resource-poor communities in low-income developing countries world-wide. Addressing this challenge continues to be undermined by the conspicuous absence of actionable adaptation strategies that are potentially capable of enhancing our capacities to realize the Millennial Sustainable Development Goals that seek to securitize access to adequate food supplies for everybody. This paper attempts to address this limitation by providing an improvised geostatistical methodology that integrates multi-source data to map the adaptive capacities of vulnerable communities in a selected South African local municipality, whose livelihoods are largely dependent on rain-fed agriculture. The development of this methodology was based on the use scripts that were compiled in Python and used to test-try its usefulness through a case-study-based assessment of the climate-change-adaptive capacities of local communities in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality (RMLM), Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A Bayesian maximum entropy framework-based technique was used to overcome the lack of missing soil moisture data, which we included because of its reliable usefulness as a surrogate indicator of climate-change-driven variations in this variable on the sustainability of rain-fed agriculture. Analysis of the results from a sampling universe of 124 communities revealed that 65 and 56 of them had high and medium adaptive capacities, respectively, with the remaining 3 having low adaptive capacities. This finding indicates that more than half of the communities in the municipality’s communities have limited capabilities to cope with climate change’s impacts on their livelihoods. Although our proposed methodology is premised on findings from a case-study-based investigation, it is still extremely useful because it demonstratively shows that there is tremendous scope for the scientific community to provide objectively informed insights that can be used to enhance the adaptive capacities of those in need of the badly needed but difficult-to-access information. Added to this is the fact that our proposed methodology is not only applicable for use under different environmental settings but also capable of allowing us to cost-effectively tap into the rich, wide-ranging, freely accessible datasets at our disposal. The aim of this submission is to show that although we have the information, we need to address these persevering challenges by exploring innovative approaches to translate the knowledge we have into actionable climate-change-adaptation strategies.
Cultural Space as Sustainability Indicator for Development Planning (Case Study in Jakarta Coastal Area)
Authors: Habib Muhammad Hasnan , Hasibuan Hayati Sari , Kurniawan Kemas Ridwan
Published: August 2023

Few assessments through cultural sustainability indicators have been applied to national and local development policies in Indonesia. Said policies have had the notion of space solely defined through its physical aspect. This study aims to establish the cultural aspect of space as a workable indicator for sustainability in development planning. The study grounds itself in the coastal area of Kalibaru Subdistrict, North Jakarta, a region characterized by dense and culturally diverse residential areas located in between heavy industrial development. Primary data were gathered from 10 informants of varying occupations with residence in the area for more than 20 years. In-depth interviews and spatial mental mapping were conducted to articulate the cultural spaces of their everyday activities. Prevalent themes of spatial practice were identified and described in 3 categories of 1. core cultural spaces, 2. tactical cultural spaces, and 3. spaces of cultural conflict. The participatory procedures to identify cultural spaces as described in the study were concluded to be operable within existing indicator or index frameworks for sustainability policy. The availability of cultural spaces and their enumeration may be incorporated into national surveys for effective data collection and use.
A Drone Scheduling Method for Emergency Power Material Transportation Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning Optimized PSO Algorithm
Authors: Zai Wenjiao , Wang Junjie , Li Guohui
Published: August 2023

Stable material transportation is essential for quickly restoring the power system following a disaster. Drone-based material transportation can bypass ground transportation’s limitations and reduce transit times. However, the current drone flight trajectory distribution optimization model cannot meet the need for mountainous emergency relief material distribution following a disaster. A power emergency material distribution model with priority conditions is proposed in this paper, along with a two-layer dynamic task-solving framework that takes task dynamics into account. This research proposes an algorithm (TD3PSO) that combines the particle swarm algorithm (PSO) updating technique with the double-delay depth deterministic policy gradient algorithm (TD3) algorithm’s capacity to dynamically parameterize. The final task allocation experiment demonstrates that the modified TD3PSO significantly outperforms the conventional algorithm on the Solomon data set, with an improvement of 26.3% on average over the RLPSO algorithm and a 11.0% reduction in the volatility of the solving impact. When solving under realistic circumstances, the solution effect increases by 1.6% to 13.4%, and the redistribution experiment confirms the framework’s efficacy. As a result, the algorithm and architecture suggested in this paper may successfully address the issue of scheduling drones for power emergencies while enhancing transportation efficiency.
Digital Leadership in an Ever-Changing World: A Bibliometric Analysis of Trends and Challenges
Authors: Espina-Romero Lorena , Noroño Sánchez José Gregorio , Rojas-Cangahuala Gloria , Palacios Garay Jessica , Parra Doile Ríos , Rio Corredoira Jose
Published: August 2023

Digital leadership is vital for companies in a constantly evolving technological environment, where the adaptability of leaders is essential to face changes. To better understand this topic, a bibliometric study was conducted that examined publications on digital leadership from 2018 to July 2023. Scopus was used, complemented by tools such as RStudio, VOSviewer, and Microsoft Excel. The findings show that the field has undergone changes lately due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A movement toward digital transformation and technology leadership was observed. The most influential journals, prominent authors and geographical distribution of publications were identified. The United States, Germany and China all stood out in terms of the number of publications and citations. In addition, nine groups of industry sectors related to digital leadership were identified. The pandemic has led to increased interest in online learning and decision making in crisis situations. The results offer an updated view on digital leadership and highlight its relevance in organizations. In addition, qualitative studies are suggested in areas such as blockchain technology, climate change, digital skills, industry 4.0, municipal administration, and virtual skills. In summary, this study contributes to the advancement and understanding of digital leadership in various contexts.
Exact Boundary Correction Methods for Multivariate Kernel Density Estimation
Authors: Yang Ji-Yeon
Published: August 2023

This paper develops a method to obtain multivariate kernel functions for density estimation problems in which the density function is defined on compact support. If domain-specific knowledge requires certain conditions to be satisfied at the boundary of the support of an unknown density, the proposed method incorporates the information contained in the boundary conditions into the kernel density estimators. The proposed method provides an exact kernel function that satisfies the boundary conditions, even for small samples. Existing methods primarily deal with a one-sided boundary in a one-dimensional problem. We consider density in a two-sided interval and extend it to a multi-dimensional problem.
Quaternion Quantum Mechanics II: Resolving the Problems of Gravity and Imaginary Numbers
Authors: Danielewski Marek , Sapa Lucjan , Roth Chantal
Published: August 2023

We present a quaternion representation of quantum mechanics that allows its ontological interpretation. The correspondence between classical and quaternion quantum equations permits one to consider the universe (vacuum) as an ideal elastic solid. Elementary particles would have to be standing or soliton-like waves. Tension induced by the compression and twisting of the elastic medium would increase energy density, and as a result, generate gravity forcing and affect the wave speed. Consequently, gravity could be described by an index of refraction.
Total Perfect Roman Domination
Authors: Almulhim Ahlam
Published: August 2023

A total perfect Roman dominating function (TPRDF) on a graph G=(V,E) is a function f from V to {0,1,2} satisfying (i) every vertex v with f(v)=0 is a neighbor of exactly one vertex u with f(u)=2; in addition, (ii) the subgraph of G that is induced by the vertices with nonzero weight has no isolated vertex. The weight of a TPRDF f is ∑v∈Vf(v). The total perfect Roman domination number of G, denoted by γtRp(G), is the minimum weight of a TPRDF on G. In this paper, we initiated the study of total perfect Roman domination. We characterized graphs with the largest-possible γtRp(G). We proved that total perfect Roman domination is NP-complete for chordal graphs, bipartite graphs, and for planar bipartite graphs. Finally, we related γtRp(G) to perfect domination γp(G) by proving γtRp(G)≤3γp(G) for every graph G, and we characterized trees T of order n≥3 for which γtRp(T)=3γp(T). This notion can be utilized to develop a defensive strategy with some properties.
RETRACTED: Xu, X.; Yang, Y. Can Digital Financial Inclusion Help Reduce Urban Crime? Evidence from Chinese Criminal Judgment on Theft Cases. Systems 2023, 11, 203
Authors: Xu Xianpu , Yang Yuxi
Published: August 2023

The journal retracts the article entitled “Can Digital Financial Inclusion Help Reduce Urban Crime [...]
Seven Hints That Early-Time New Physics Alone Is Not Sufficient to Solve the Hubble Tension
Authors: Vagnozzi Sunny
Published: August 2023

The Hubble tension has now grown to a level of significance which can no longer be ignored and calls for a solution which, despite a huge number of attempts, has so far eluded us. Significant efforts in the literature have focused on early-time modifications of ΛCDM, introducing new physics operating prior to recombination and reducing the sound horizon. In this opinion paper I argue that early-time new physics alone will always fall short of fully solving the Hubble tension. I base my arguments on seven independent hints, related to (1) the ages of the oldest astrophysical objects, (2) considerations on the sound horizon-Hubble constant degeneracy directions in cosmological data, (3) the important role of cosmic chronometers, (4) a number of “descending trends” observed in a wide variety of low-redshift datasets, (5) the early integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect as an early-time consistency test of ΛCDM, (6) early-Universe physics insensitive and uncalibrated cosmic standard constraints on the matter density, and finally (7) equality wavenumber-based constraints on the Hubble constant from galaxy power spectrum measurements. I argue that a promising way forward should ultimately involve a combination of early- and late-time (but non-local—in a cosmological sense, i.e., at high redshift) new physics, as well as local (i.e., at z∼0) new physics, and I conclude by providing reflections with regards to potentially interesting models which may also help with the S8 tension.
Longitudinal Study of Viral Diversity Associated with Mosquito Species Circulating in Cambodia
Authors: Mohamed Ali Souand , Rakotonirina Antsa , Heng Kimly , Jacquemet Elise , Volant Stevenn , Temmam Sarah , Boyer Sebastien , Eloit Marc
Published: August 2023

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) pose a significant global health threat and are primarily transmitted by mosquitoes. In Cambodia, there are currently 290 recorded mosquito species, with at least 17 of them considered potential vectors of arboviruses to humans. Effective surveillance of virome profiles in mosquitoes from Cambodia is vital, as it could help prevent and control arbovirus diseases in a country where epidemics occur frequently. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize the viral diversity in mosquitoes collected during a one-year longitudinal study conducted in various habitats across Cambodia. For this purpose, we used a metatranscriptomics approach and detected the presence of chikungunya virus in the collected mosquitoes. Additionally, we identified viruses categorized into 26 taxa, including those known to harbor arboviruses such as Flaviviridae and Orthomyxoviridae, along with a group of viruses not yet taxonomically identified and provisionally named “unclassified viruses”. Interestingly, the taxa detected varied in abundance and composition depending on the mosquito genus, with no significant influence of the collection season. Furthermore, most of the identified viruses were either closely related to viruses found exclusively in insects or represented new viruses belonging to the Rhabdoviridae and Birnaviridae families. The transmission capabilities of these novel viruses to vertebrates remain unknown.
Recurring Trans-Atlantic Incursion of Clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 Viruses by Long Distance Migratory Birds from Northern Europe to Canada in 2022/2023
Authors: Alkie Tamiru N. , Byrne Alexander M. P. , Jones Megan E. B. , Mollett Benjamin C. , Bourque Laura , Lung Oliver , James Joe , Yason Carmencita , Banyard Ashley C. , Sullivan Daniel , Signore Anthony V. , Lang Andrew S. , Baker Meghan , Dawe Beverly , Brown Ian H. , Berhane Yohannes
Published: August 2023

In December 2022 and January 2023, we isolated clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 high-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) viruses from six American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) from Prince Edward Island and a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) from Newfoundland, Canada. Using full-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, these viruses were found to fall into two distinct phylogenetic clusters: one group containing H5N1 viruses that had been circulating in North and South America since late 2021, and the other one containing European H5N1 viruses reported in late 2022. The transatlantic re-introduction for the second time by pelagic/Icelandic bird migration via the same route used during the 2021 incursion of Eurasian origin H5N1 viruses into North America demonstrates that migratory birds continue to be the driving force for transcontinental dissemination of the virus. This new detection further demonstrates the continual long-term threat of H5N1 viruses for poultry and mammals and the subsequent impact on various wild bird populations wherever these viruses emerge. The continual emergence of clade 2.3.4.4b H5Nx viruses requires vigilant surveillance in wild birds, particularly in areas of the Americas, which lie within the migratory corridors for long-distance migratory birds originating from Europe and Asia. Although H5Nx viruses have been detected at higher rates in North America since 2021, a bidirectional flow of H5Nx genes of American origin viruses to Europe has never been reported. In the future, coordinated and systematic surveillance programs for HPAI viruses need to be launched between European and North American agencies.
Effects of Mixed Baculovirus Infections in Biological Control: A Comprehensive Historical and Technical Analysis
Authors: Ferrelli María Leticia , Salvador Ricardo
Published: August 2023

Baculoviruses are insect-specific DNA viruses that have been exploited as bioinsecticides for the control of agricultural and forest pests around the world. Mixed infections with two different baculoviruses have been found in nature, infecting the same host. They have been studied to understand the biology of virus interactions, their effects on susceptible insects, and their insecticidal implications. In this work, we summarize and analyze the in vivo baculovirus co-infections reported in the literature, mainly focusing on pest biocontrol applications. We discuss the most common terms used to describe the effects of mixed infections, such as synergism, neutralism, and antagonism, and how to determine them based on host mortality. Frequently, baculovirus co-infections found in nature are caused by a combination of a nucleopolyhedrovirus and a granulovirus. Studies performed with mixed infections indicated that viral dose, larval stage, or the presence of synergistic factors in baculovirus occlusion bodies are important for the type of virus interaction. We also enumerate and discuss technical aspects to take into account in studies on mixed infections, such as statistical procedures, quantification of viral inocula, the selection of instars, and molecular methodologies for an appropriate analysis of baculovirus interaction. Several experimental infections using two different baculoviruses demonstrated increased viral mortality or a synergistic effect on the target larvae compared to single infections. This can be exploited to improve the baculovirus-killing properties of commercial formulations. In this work, we offer a current overview of baculovirus interactions in vivo and discuss their potential applications in pest control strategies.
Seven Epidemic Waves of COVID-19 in a Hospital in Madrid: Analysis of Severity and Associated Factors
Authors: San Martín-López Juan Víctor , Mesa Nieves , Bernal-Bello David , Morales-Ortega Alejandro , Rivilla Marta , Guerrero Marta , Calderón Ruth , Farfán Ana I. , Rivas Luis , Soria Guillermo , Izquierdo Aída , Madroñal Elena , Duarte Miguel , Piedrabuena Sara , Toledano-Macías María , Marrero Jorge , de Ancos Cristina , Frutos Begoña , Cristóbal Rafael , Velázquez Laura , Mora Belén , Cuenca Paula , Satué José Á. , Ayala-Larrañaga Ibone , Carpintero Lorena , Lara Celia , Llerena Álvaro R. , García Virginia , García de Viedma Vanessa , Prieto Santiago , González-Pereira Natalia , Bravo Cristina , Mariño Carolina , Lechuga Luis Antonio , Tarancón Jorge , Gonzalo Sonia , Moreno Santiago , Ruiz-Giardin José M.
Published: August 2023

(1) Background: COVID-19 has evolved during seven epidemic waves in Spain. Our objective was to describe changes in mortality and severity in our hospitalized patients. (2) Method: This study employed a descriptive, retrospective approach for COVID-19 patients admitted to the Hospital de Fuenlabrada (Madrid, Spain) until 31 December 2022. (3) Results: A total of 5510 admissions for COVID-19 were recorded. The first wave accounted for 1823 (33%) admissions and exhibited the highest proportion of severe patients: 65% with bilateral pneumonia and 83% with oxygen saturation under 94% during admission and elevated levels of CRP, IL-6, and D-dimer. In contrast, the seventh wave had the highest median age (79 years) and comorbidity (Charlson: 2.7), while only 3% of patients had bilateral pneumonia and 3% required intubation. The overall mortality rate was 10.3%. The first wave represented 39% of the total. The variables related to mortality were age (OR: 1.08, 1.07–1.09), cancer (OR: 1.99, 1.53–2.60), dementia (OR: 1.82, 1.20–2.75), the Charlson index (1.38, 1.31–1.47), the need for high-flow oxygen (OR: 6.10, 4.94–7.52), mechanical ventilation (OR: 11.554, 6.996–19.080), and CRP (OR: 1.04, 1.03–1.06). (4) Conclusions: The variables associated with mortality included age, comorbidity, respiratory failure, and inflammation. Differences in the baseline characteristics of admitted patients explained the differences in mortality in each wave. Differences observed between patients admitted in the latest wave and the earlier ones suggest that COVID-19 has evolved into a distinct disease, requiring a distinct approach.