bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Designing an Accurate Temperature Control System for Infrared Earth Simulators Using Semiconductor and Air Cooling Integration
Authors: Li Jiachong , Wang Lingyun , Li Guangxi , Mu Sida
Published: August 2023

In a laboratory environment, in order to test the attitude recognition capability and accuracy of the satellite attitude sensor—the infrared Earth sensor—the infrared Earth simulator is fixed on a five-axis turntable to enable multi-angle testing. In the past, the temperature control system of the Earth simulator was water cooled, which not only affected the working accuracy of the Earth simulator but also affected its size and portability and made it more difficult to use on the turntable. Therefore, we designed a cooling method for the cold plate based on semiconductor cooling technology combined with air cooling, and we designed a fuzzy PID control algorithm to accurately control the temperature according to this cooling method. In this article, we use SOLIWORKS to build the system model for the system and use the ANAYS Workbench to perform temperature analysis of the Earth simulator. The results show that the cold plate temperature can be maintained at 20.089 °C when the hot plate temperature is 85 °C. The overall temperature uniformity of the hot plate is better than ±0.3 °C, which meets the index requirements of the Earth simulator. We found that this cooling method can replace water cooling, giving the simulator the advantage of being miniaturized, and it can be adaptable to the turntable, which can be widely used in various sizes of Earth simulators and in various complex environments and operating conditions.
Deep Reinforcement Learning for Workload Prediction in Federated Cloud Environments
Authors: Ahamed Zaakki , Khemakhem Maher , Eassa Fathy , Alsolami Fawaz , Basuhail Abdullah , Jambi Kamal
Published: August 2023

The Federated Cloud Computing (FCC) paradigm provides scalability advantages to Cloud Service Providers (CSP) in preserving their Service Level Agreement (SLA) as opposed to single Data Centers (DC). However, existing research has primarily focused on Virtual Machine (VM) placement, with less emphasis on energy efficiency and SLA adherence. In this paper, we propose a novel solution, Federated Cloud Workload Prediction with Deep Q-Learning (FEDQWP). Our solution addresses the complex VM placement problem, energy efficiency, and SLA preservation, making it comprehensive and beneficial for CSPs. By leveraging the capabilities of deep learning, our FEDQWP model extracts underlying patterns and optimizes resource allocation. Real-world workloads are extensively evaluated to demonstrate the efficacy of our approach compared to existing solutions. The results show that our DQL model outperforms other algorithms in terms of CPU utilization, migration time, finished tasks, energy consumption, and SLA violations. Specifically, our QLearning model achieves efficient CPU utilization with a median value of 29.02, completes migrations in an average of 0.31 units, finishes an average of 699 tasks, consumes the least energy with an average of 1.85 kWh, and exhibits the lowest number of SLA violations with an average of 0.03 violations proportionally. These quantitative results highlight the superiority of our proposed method in optimizing performance in FCC environments.
Constrained Dynamic Matrix Control under International Electrotechnical Commission Standard 61499 and the Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture
Authors: Bustos-Pulluquitin Sergio , Caiza Gustavo , Llumitasig-Galarza Mayra , Castro-Mayorga Maritza , Sánchez-Benítez Clara , Garcia Marcelo V.
Published: August 2023

This paper focuses on the implementation of a constrained Dynamic Matrix Control (DMC) approach within the level processes of the FESTO™ MPS-PA Compact Workstation plant in the context of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) paradigm. The goal is to develop an industrial control application with decentralized logic that optimizes the operation of the plant while adhering to specific constraints. The implementation is carried out using the IEC-61499 standard and the OPC-UA protocol, enabling seamless communication between devices and systems. The authors utilize the 4diac-IDE and 4diac-FORTE as the development and runtime environments, respectively, to enable the execution of the control application on low-cost devices. The Beagle Bone Black (BBB) card is used for data acquisition and actuator control. Three types of constraints are considered: control increment (Δu(k)), output (ym(k)), and control (u(k)) constraints, to prevent unnecessary stress on the actuator and avoid damage to the plant. The QP algorithm is employed to optimize the objective function and address these constraints effectively. By integrating advanced control strategies into industrial processes in the IIoT paradigm and implementing them on low-cost devices, this paper demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of improving system performance, resource utilization, and overall productivity while considering system limitations and constraints.
Rule-Based Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring Using Steady-State Current Waveform Features
Authors: Shareef Hussain , Asna Madathodika , Errouissi Rachid , Prasanthi Achikkulath
Published: August 2023

Monitoring electricity energy usage can help to reduce power consumption considerably. Among load monitoring techniques, non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) provides a cost-efficient solution to identify individual load consumption details from the aggregate voltage and current measurements. Existing load monitoring techniques often require large datasets or use complex algorithms to obtain acceptable performance. In this paper, a NILM technique using six non-redundant current waveform features with rule-based set theory (CRuST) is proposed. The architecture consists of an event detection stage followed by preprocessing and framing of the current signal, feature extraction, and finally, the load identification stage. During the event detection stage, a change in connected loads is ascertained using current waveform features. Once an event is detected, the aggregate current is processed and framed to obtain the event-causing load current. From the obtained load current, the six features are extracted. Furthermore, the load identification stage determines the event-causing load, utilizing the features extracted and the appliance model. The results of the CRuST NILM are evaluated using performance metrics for different scenarios, and it is observed to provide more than 96% accuracy for all test cases. The CRuST NILM is also observed to have superior performance compared to the feed-forward back-propagation network model and a few other existing NILM techniques.
Mechanomyography Signal Pattern Recognition of Knee and Ankle Movements Using Swarm Intelligence Algorithm-Based Feature Selection Methods
Authors: Zhang Yue , Sun Maoxun , Xia Chunming , Zhou Jie , Cao Gangsheng , Wu Qing
Published: August 2023

Pattern recognition of lower-limb movements based on mechanomyography (MMG) signals has a certain application value in the study of wearable rehabilitation-training devices. In this paper, MMG feature selection methods based on a chameleon swarm algorithm (CSA) and a grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA) are proposed for the pattern recognition of knee and ankle movements in the sitting and standing positions. Wireless multichannel MMG acquisition systems were designed and used to collect MMG movements from four sites on the subjects thighs. The relationship between the threshold values and classification accuracy was analyzed, and comparatively high recognition rates were obtained after redundant information was eliminated. When the threshold value rose, the recognition rates from the CSA fluctuated within a small range: up to 88.17% (sitting position) and 90.07% (standing position). However, the recognition rates from the GOA drop dramatically when increasing the threshold value. The comparison results demonstrated that using a GOA consumes less time and selects fewer features, while a CSA gives higher recognition rates of knee and ankle movements.
Monitoring Scapular Kinematics through Wearable Magneto-Inertial Measurement Units: State of the Art and New Frontiers
Authors: Antonacci Carla , Longo Umile Giuseppe , Nazarian Ara , Schena Emiliano , Carnevale Arianna
Published: August 2023

Monitoring shoulder kinematics, including the scapular segment, is of great relevance in the orthopaedic field. Among wearable systems, magneto-inertial measurement units (M-IMUs) represent a valid alternative for applications in unstructured environments. The aim of this systematic literature review is to report and describe the existing methods to estimate 3D scapular movements through wearable systems integrating M-IMUs. A comprehensive search of PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science was performed, and results were included up to May 2023. A total of 14 articles was included. The results showed high heterogeneity among studies regarding calibration procedures, tasks executed, and the population. Two different techniques were described, i.e., with the x-axis aligned with the cranial edge of the scapular spine or positioned on the flat surface of the acromion with the x-axis perpendicular to the scapular spine. Sensor placement affected the scapular motion and, also, the kinematic output. Further studies should be conducted to establish a universal protocol that reduces the variability among studies. Establishing a protocol that can be carried out without difficulty or pain by patients with shoulder musculoskeletal disorders could be of great clinical relevance for patients and clinicians to monitor 3D scapular kinematics in unstructured settings or during common clinical practice.
A Visual Positioning Method of UAV in a Large-Scale Outdoor Environment
Authors: Zhao Chenhao , Wu Dewei , He Jing , Dai Chuanjin
Published: August 2023

Visual positioning is a basic component for UAV operation. The structure-based methods are, widely applied in most literature, based on local feature matching between a query image that needs to be localized and a reference image with a known pose and feature points. However, the existing methods still struggle with the different illumination and seasonal changes. In outdoor regions, the feature points and descriptors are similar, and the number of mismatches will increase rapidly, leading to the visual positioning becoming unreliable. Moreover, with the database growing, the image retrieval and feature matching are time-consuming. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a novel hierarchical visual positioning method, which includes map construction, landmark matching and pose calculation. First, we combine brain-inspired mechanisms and landmarks to construct a cognitive map, which can make image retrieval efficient. Second, the graph neural network is utilized to learn the inner relations of the feature points. To improve matching accuracy, the network uses the semantic confidence in matching score calculations. Besides, the system can eliminate the mismatches by analyzing all the matching results in the same landmark. Finally, we calculate the pose by using a PnP solver. Furthermore, we evaluate both the matching algorithm and the visual positioning method experimentally in the simulation datasets, where the matching algorithm performs better in some scenes. The results demonstrate that the retrieval time can be shortened by three-thirds with an average positioning error of 10.8 m.
Mega Sporting Event Scenario Analysis and Drone Camera Surveillance Impacts on Command-and-Control Centre Situational Awareness for Dynamic Decision-Making
Authors: Al-Dosari Khalifa , Hunaiti Ziad , Balachandran Wamadeva
Published: August 2023

Mega sports events may encounter safety and security challenges related to risk management issues such as overcrowding, disorderly behavior, assaults, and security breaches. An incident during the Champions League Final in France in 2022 serves as an example of such challenges. Therefore, this study focuses specifically on the Champions League Final in France, 2022, and presents a situational scenario analysis for safety and security professionals. The objective is to enhance situational awareness and improve risk management strategies for similar events. The study commences by investigating the awareness among security and safety professionals regarding the potential consequences of mega sporting events, utilizing a post-hoc damage evaluation of France ’22. It then compares the effectiveness of fixed and drone cameras in surveillance imaging, aiming to identify ways to enhance situational analysis for improved risk management. The findings indicate that safety and security professionals acknowledged the negative outcomes of adverse events and demonstrated higher situational awareness when using drone surveillance as opposed to relying solely on fixed cameras. They also expressed positive attitudes towards the adoption of surveillance for mega sporting events. Moreover, the study introduces a model for drone surveillance scenario analysis, designed for dynamic decision-making. This model has been developed and aligned to effectively integrate drone surveillance and enhance situational awareness, not only for mega sports events but also for similar applications in various contexts. This research contributes to the understanding of risk management and situational awareness in the realm of mega sports events. It underscores the significance of drone surveillance and proposes strategies to enhance security professionals’ ability to respond effectively to potential threats, ensuring the safety of participants and spectators.
Dielectric Stability of Triton X-100-Based Tissue-Mimicking Materials for Microwave Imaging
Authors: Relva Mariana , Devesa Susana
Published: August 2023

Microwave imaging is an emerging technology, and has been proposed for various applications, namely as an alternative diagnostic technology. Microwave imaging explores the dielectric contrast of target tissues, enabling diagnosis based on the differences in dielectric properties between healthy and diseased tissues, with low cost, portability and non-ionizing radiation as its main advantages, constituting an alternative to various imaging technologies for diagnosing and monitoring. Before clinical trials of microwave imaging devices for the study of dielectric properties, phantoms are used, mimicking the materials of tissues and simulating the electric properties of human tissues, for device validation. The purpose of this work was to prepare and perform dielectric characterization of mimicking materials for the development of an anthropomorphic phantom of the human ankle with realistic dielectric and anatomic properties. The biological tissues targeted in this investigation were the skin, muscle, cortical bone, trabecular bone and fat, with the mimicking materials prepared using Triton X-100, sodium chloride and distilled water. The dielectric characterization was performed using a coaxial probe, operating at frequencies between 0.5 and 4.0 GHz. Since the stability of the dielectric properties of mimicking materials is one of their main properties, the dielectric characterization was repeated after 15 and 35 days.
Prefabricated Construction Risks: A Holistic Exploration through Advanced Bibliometric Tool and Content Analysis
Authors: Anaç Merve , Gumusburun Ayalp Gulden , Erdayandi Kamil
Published: August 2023

Prefabricated construction (PC) offers advantages to the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry such as quality production, fast project completion, low waste output, high environmental sensitivity, and high security. Although PC has several advantages, knowledge gaps persist, necessitating a comprehensive bibliometric study. This research adopts a holistic bibliometric approach, combining qualitative (systematic literature review) and quantitative (bibliometric analysis) methods to assess the current state of prefabricated construction risks (PCRs) research and identify the literature trends. Unlike previous PCRs studies, our research capitalizes on the quantitative analysis capabilities of the Bibliometrix R-tool. We introduce innovative measures, such as the h-index, thematic mapping, and trend topic analysis, to deepen the understanding of the PCRs research landscape. Moreover, this study explores the intellectual structure of PCR research through keyword analysis, cluster analysis, and thematic evaluation, providing valuable insights into scientific studies, collaborations, and knowledge dissemination. In our study, following a systematic literature review to understand the existing knowledge, the R-studio Bibliometrix package is used to map the field, identify gaps in the field, and analyze the trends. This study involves a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 150 articles in the field of PCRs, with data obtained from the Web of Science spanning from 2000 to 2023. The findings from the analyses reveal that the studies were divided into four different clusters: management, programming, logistics, and supply chain. Additionally, themes such as the integration of PC with Building Information Management (BIM), barriers, and stakeholders were also explored. The analyses indicate a growing awareness of PCRs, particularly in specific areas such as management, performance, and supply chain. This study stands out for its unique methods, analytical approach, and the use of specialized software. It provides valuable insights and suggestions for future studies.
Evaluation of Green Agricultural Development and Its Influencing Factors under the Framework of Sustainable Development Goals: Case Study of Lincang City, an Underdeveloped Mountainous Region of China
Authors: Zou Yongna , Cheng Qingping , Jin Hanyu , Pu Xuefu
Published: August 2023

This study aims to assess the current status of green agricultural development and its influencing factors in Lincang City, a national innovation demonstration zone for sustainable development; it also seeks to enhance the potential and competitiveness of green agricultural development in underdeveloped border areas. To achieve this, an evaluation index system is constructed encompassing six dimensions. Using a coupled coordination and obstacle degree approach, this study explores the spatiotemporal differences in the level of green agricultural and sustainable development, as well as the power, coupled coordination degree, and factors that negatively impact green agricultural development in Lincang City from 2010 to 2019. The Liang-Kleeman information flow method is applied to uncover the key information flow factors that influence the coupled coordination degree in each county and district of Lincang City. The results reveal several insights: First, the comprehensive score of sustainable green agricultural development increased from 0.4405 to 0.5975 during the study period. Second, the coupling coordination degree of green agricultural development was relatively low, fluctuating between 0.1821 and 0.2816. Overall, the development has shifted from severe imbalance to mild imbalance. Third, the obstacle degree increased by 3.75%. From a systemic perspective, the “resource conservation” layer had the highest barrier level, with the maximum value being observed in Yun County at 25.5%. Further analysis of the indicators reveals that the use of outdated water-saving irrigation techniques has resulted in low irrigation efficiency and excessive water resource waste. This is the main cause of the high barrier levels in terms of water-saving irrigation intensity and effective irrigation area. Moreover, the excessive use of chemical pesticides to enhance vegetable production has contributed to high barrier levels for achieving yields of pollution-free vegetable production per unit area. Finally, the information flow values of the factors influencing the coordinated and harmonious development of green agriculture exhibit significant regional heterogeneity among counties and districts. The highest information flow value for the area of drought- and flood-resistant crop cultivation is in Zhengkang County at 1.86. Based on these results, local government departments and decision-makers should focus on promoting comprehensive improvements in the level of green agricultural development. It is crucial to tailor measures to the specific needs of each county to address the shortcomings in green agricultural development. Additionally, efforts should be made to strengthen the innovation-driven chain of green agricultural development, including production, processing and sales. Enhancing the green agricultural development system is essential for long-term progress.
How Online Communities Affect Online Community Engagement and Word-of-Mouth Intention
Authors: Al-Khasawneh Mohammad , Al-Haddad Shafig , Sharabati Abdel-Aziz Ahmad , Al Khalili Hebatallah Hisham , Azar Lana Laith , Ghabayen Farah Waleed , Jaber Leen Mazen , Ali Mariam Husam , Masa’deh Ra’ed
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of online communities on online community engagement and word-of-mouth intention. The current research model was extended and developed into a theoretical model that conceptualizes the relationship between the main concepts to study the influence of utilitarian value, hedonic value, entitativity value, social presence, social support, and community identification on online community engagement, which will therefore affect word-of-mouth intention. Therefore, based on the collected survey questionnaire of 338 responses in Jordan, the results were analyzed using Amos 22. EFA is used to test reliability and validity, analyze the validation of the convergent model and the discriminant validity and analyze the data description. Moreover, this study applied Path Analysis, which was used to check the hypotheses of the studies that were previously developed by researchers. The findings of the seven hypotheses that were conducted to test the research hypotheses indicate that entitativity value, social support, social presence, community identification, and word-of-mouth intention significantly influence online community engagement. However, the utilitarian value and the hedonic value did not influence online community engagement significantly. In addition, the results represent various findings that hold essential implications and accordingly, recommendations are suggested for future marketing research and practices.
Corporate Social Responsibility Information Disclosure and Financial Performance: Is Green Technology Innovation a Missing Link?
Authors: Li Liang , Wang Yanghong , Sun Huaping , Shen Huihui , Lin Yuen
Published: August 2023

Corporate social responsibility information disclosure integrates environmental and social practices to achieve sustainable development. Some studies have pointed out that promoting green technology innovation is essential for energy-intensive firms. Therefore, exploring the relationship between energy-intensive environmental information disclosure and green technology innovation and financial performance is essential. According to the generalized least squares with fixed model analysis results based on energy-intensive industry firms, the research findings are as follows: firstly, the disclosure information of corporate social responsibility has a significant effect on enterprises’ ROA. Secondly, there is a positive relationship between the shareholder responsibility score and employee responsibility score of information disclosure with financial performance. Thirdly, there is a significant positive correlation between the environmental responsibility score of CSR information disclosure with green technology innovation. Fourthly, green innovation is mediating in energy-intensive enterprises’ CSR information disclosure and financial performance. Lastly, combined with the theoretical and findings, we put forward the management implications and policy suggestions.
Probing Fault Features of Lithium-Ion Battery Modules under Mechanical Deformation Loading
Authors: Zhang Anwei , Zhou You , Wang Chengyun , Liu Shoutong , Huang Peifeng , Yan Hao , Bai Zhonghao
Published: August 2023

Electric vehicle battery systems are easily deformed following bottom or side pillar collisions. There is a knowledge gap regarding the fault features of minor mechanical deformation without ISC, which can be used for early warning of mechanical deformation. In this study, the fault features of a lithium-ion battery module under different degrees of mechanical deformation were studied from the perspective of voltage consistency. The results show that the capacity of the battery module declines with an increase in indentation depth, consistent with the capacity degradation of the indented cell. During the charging and discharging processes, the voltage of the indented cell deviates to a lower value compared to the other normal cells. At the end of the discharging process, the voltage sharply declines and exhibits a significant deviation from the other normal cells. The Mean Normalization (MN) method is employed to quantitatively describe the voltage consistency. The results indicate that the MN value of the indented cell’s voltage is distributed at the lowest during the charging period and sharply declines below −0.06 at the end of discharging. In the future, a fault detection method for mechanical abuse will be established based on these features.
Role of Online Time-Spatial Job Crafting and Leisure Crafting on Remote Work Performance through Tele-Pressure and Techno-Self-Efficacy
Authors: Wang Jiatong , Xiong Yong , Murad Majid , Chaudhary Naveed Iqbal , Waqar Hira
Published: August 2023

Remote work is becoming an inevitable practice in today’s business world which has transformed all business operations in times of COVID-19. This study aims to explore the roles of online time-spatial job crafting and leisure crafting for dealing with tele-pressure and techno-self-efficacy for improving remote work performance. Data are gathered through an online survey of 486 employees working in the IT sector of Pakistan and the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique is used to analyze the hypothesis relationships. The results show that online job crafting and leisure crafting positively and significantly influence remote work performance. Moreover, findings indicate that tele-pressure partially mediates the relationship between online time job crafting and leisure crafting on remote work performance. Results also show that techno-self-efficacy positively moderates the relationship between online time job crafting and leisure crafting on tele-pressure. The findings provide insightful suggestions for building a collaborative remote workplace at the individual and collective level to implement job crafting interventions and enrich workers’ personal and organizational resources, which is helpful to cope with current challenges.
Green Distribution Route Optimization of Medical Relief Supplies Based on Improved NSGA-II Algorithm under Dual-Uncertainty
Authors: Peng Shuyue , Liu Qinming , Hu Jiarui
Published: August 2023

With growing concerns about environmental issues, sustainable transport schemes are receiving more attention than ever before. Reducing pollutant emissions during vehicle driving is an essential way of achieving sustainable transport plans. To achieve sustainable transport and reduce carbon emissions, on the premise of ensuring rescue timeliness, this research proposes a multi-objective distribution route optimization model considering the minimization of transportation cost and transportation risk under dual-uncertainty constraints, providing a practical framework for determining the optimal location of rescue centers and distribution routes in emergencies using fuzzy theory. First, this paper proposes objective functions that innovatively take into account the congestion risk and accident risk during the distribution of medical supplies while introducing the carbon emission cost into the transportation cost and using the fuzzy demand for supplies and the fuzzy traffic flow on the roads as uncertainty constraints. Then, this paper designs a multi-strategy hybrid nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (MHNSGA-II) based on the original form to solve the model. MHNSGA-II adapts a two-stage real number coding method for chromosomes and optimizes the population initialization, crowding distances selection, and crossover and mutation probability calculation methods. The relevant case analysis demonstrates that, compared with the original NSGA-II, MHNSGA-II can decrease the transportation cost and transportation risk by 42.55% and 5.73%, respectively. The sensitivity analysis verifies the validity and rationality of the proposed model. The proposed framework can assist decision makers in emergency logistics rescue.
Differential Stomatal Responses to Surface Permeability by Sympatric Urban Tree Species Advance Novel Mitigation Strategy for Urban Heat Islands
Authors: Shekanino Anette , Agustin Avaleen , Aladefa Annette , Amezquita Jason , Gonzalez Demetri , Heldenbrand Emily , Hernandez Alyssa , May Maximus , Nuno Anthony , Ojeda Joshua , Ortiz Ashley , Puno Taylor , Quinones Jennifer , Remillard Jade , Reola Jasmine , Rojo Janisa , Solis Isaiah , Wang Justin , Yepez Adrian , Zaragoza Crystal , Carmona-Galindo Víctor D.
Published: August 2023

As urbanization draws more people to metropolitan areas, a steadfast increase in impervious surfaces ultimately contributes to a pronounced urban heat island effect. While city greening strategies to mitigate urban thermal effects often tout street-tree cover expansion, many plant species are susceptible to heat stress, limiting survivorship, primary productivity, and ecosystem services. Our research objective was to characterize how urban imperviousness impacted the photosynthetic traits of four sympatric tree species in Old Town La Verne, California. We found that while Camphor trees (Camphora officinarum) and Carrotwood trees (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) did not differ significantly in photosynthetic traits at sites with impervious and pervious surfaces, both Coast Live Oak trees (Quercus agrifolia) and Olive trees (Olea europaea) showed significant differences in leaf stomatal length and density. Our findings suggest that the photosynthetic traits of some exotic tree species may be less susceptible to surface permeability than either native or floristically indigenous tree species. We propose that urban greening initiatives adopt a temporal strategy for mitigating urban heat island effects, starting with an urban canopy composed of exotic trees more resilient to impervious surfaces and later transitioning to a recombinant canopy ecology of floristically relevant tree species suited for the soil permeability native to southern California.
Cultural Capital of Sea Salt Farming in Ban Laem District of Phetchaburi Province as per the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)
Authors: Plaiphum Sittichok , Tansuchat Roengchai
Published: August 2023

This study delved into the cultural capital, value systems, and social organizations in sea salt farming in Ban Laem District of Phetchaburi Province, considered within the framework of GIAHS. The research methodology involved qualitative tools such as in-depth interviews, SWOT analysis, and TOWS matrix, and focus group discussions with key stakeholders such as salt farmers, community leaders, local government officials, and scholars. The study underlines that the sea salt production in Ban Laem District is deeply rooted in both tangible and intangible cultural traits, contributing to the area’s distinct cultural identity. The traditional ceremonies, foods, crafts, and tools associated with salt production form the tangible cultural aspects unique to the area. Sea salt farming’s historical, aesthetic, scientific, economic, and social values accentuate its community-wide importance. However, challenges such as traditional knowledge and practice erosion, skilled labor scarcity, limited comprehension of Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), environmental degradation, and globalization’s impact threaten the cultural authenticity of the salt farming community. To counter these challenges, this study recommends preservation of traditional knowledge, cultural value awareness, reinforced environmental conservation, and fostering collaborations among salt farmers, governmental bodies, and the private sector. Collectively, these efforts will contribute to the sustainability and resilience of Ban Laem’s sea salt cultural heritage.
Challenges in Achieving 1.5-Degree Lifestyle Mitigation Options—Insights from a Citizen-Participatory Household Experiment in Japan
Authors: Liu Chen , Yamabe-Ledoux Alice Marie
Published: August 2023

Recent studies have highlighted the significant role of lifestyle changes in achieving climate change targets. However, implementing substantial changes in people’s lifestyles is challenging due to the varying availability of goods and services and the influence of the surrounding environment. To address this challenge and promote low-carbon and decarbonised lifestyles on a societal scale, a two-week household experiment was conducted in four representative Japanese cities (Kyoto, Yokohama, Kitakyushu, and Kagoshima). The experiment was based on 65 carbon reduction/mitigation options proposed in previous studies. A total of 84 participants participated in the household experiments: 29 in Kyoto, 22 in Yokohama, 12 in Kitakyushu, and 21 in Kagoshima. Due to constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, implementation was monitored through a ‘household experiment diary’. The household experiments examined the status of implementation of each option and assessed the potential for improvement over a short period. Furthermore, the study identified barriers, enabling contexts and proposed support measures for implementing household mitigation actions. This study also provided policy implications for co-creating decarbonised lifestyles.
International Engineering Education Accreditation for Sustainable Career Development: A Comparative Study of Ship Engineering Curricula between China and UK
Authors: Zhang Ji , Yuan Han , Zhang Da , Li Yan , Mei Ning
Published: August 2023

Higher education accreditation within the Washington Accord has played a crucial role in advancing the global recognition of engineering training, greatly benefiting the professional sustainability of graduates. However, the existence of substantial disparities in higher engineering education systems among countries poses challenges for international engineering education accreditation, primarily due to information asymmetry. To address this issue, this study focuses on a comparative analysis of representative undergraduate programs in the field of ship engineering from the Ocean University of China in China and the University of Southampton in the UK. By examining the curriculum systems in the field of ship engineering in both countries, this study aims to shed light on the variations and similarities between the two. Moreover, the study delves into the specific example of the “Marine Engineering English” module to illustrate how an independent module can effectively fulfill the requirements for international recognition in higher engineering education accreditation while also serving the curriculum system. Serving as a significant practical case within the framework of the Washington Accord, this research provides valuable insights for the establishment of engineering education curriculum systems that are aligned with international standards. Ultimately, its findings hold considerable significance for promoting the international recognition of engineering education and fostering sustainable professional development for graduates.
Gridded Precipitation Datasets and Gauge Precipitation Products for Driving Hydrological Models in the Dead Sea Region, Jordan
Authors: Kassem Youssef , Gökçekuş Hüseyin , Alijl Nour
Published: August 2023

The consistency of hydrological process modeling depends on reliable parameters and available long-term gauge data, which are frequently restricted within the Dead Sea/Jordan regions. This paper proposes a novel method of utilizing six satellite-based and reanalysis precipitation datasets, which are assessed, evaluated, and corrected, particularly for the cases of ungauged basins and poorly monitored regions, for the first time. Due to natural processes, catchments fluctuate dramatically annually and seasonally, making this a challenge. This variability, which is significantly impacted by topo-geomorphological and climatic variables within the basins themselves, leads to increased uncertainty in models and significant restrictions in terms of runoff forecasting. However, quality evaluations and bias corrections should be conducted before the application of satellite data. Moreover, the hydrological HEC-HMS model was utilized to predict the runoff under different loss methods. Furthermore, this loss method was used with an integrated model that might be efficiently employed when designing hydraulic structures requiring high reliability in predicting peak flows. The models’ performance was evaluated using R-squared (R2), the root mean square error (RMSE), the mean absolute error (MAE), and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE). In addition, these statistical metrics were implemented to quantitatively evaluate the data quality based on the observed data collected between 2015 and 2020. The results show that AgERA5 exhibited better agreement with the gauge precipitation data than other reanalysis precipitation and satellite-based datasets. The results demonstrate that the data quality of these products could be affected by observational bias, the spatial scale, and the retrieval method. Moreover, the SC loss method demonstrated satisfactory values for the R2, RMSE, NSE, and bias compared to the IC and GA loss, indicating its effectiveness in predicting peak flows and designing hydraulic structures that require high reliability. Overall, the study suggests that AgERA5 can provide better precipitation estimates for hydrological modeling in the Dead Sea region in Jordan. Moreover, integrating the SC, IC, and GA loss methods in hydraulic structure design can enhance prediction accuracy and reliability.
Pipe Curtain Deformation and Surface Subsidence Caused via Excavation of Transverse Pilot Tunnel under Pipe Curtain Support
Authors: Bai Qian , Zhao Wen , Sun Yuan , Wang Xin
Published: August 2023

Relying on the Shenyang Metro Line 4 Shifu Road station, the impact of the construction parameters of the transverse pilot tunnel on the surface subsidence and the pipe curtain deformation was first studied through numerical simulation, followed by the analysis of the impact of the excavation of the transverse pilot tunnel on the deformation characteristics of the pipe curtain through on-site monitoring. The results show the following: the excavation of the middle pilot tunnel is the key stage of the construction. The excavation sequence of H2 and H4 and H6 → H1 and H3 → H5 and H7 caused the least surface subsidence. Increasing the grouting width and improving the strength of the initial support can control the pipe curtain deformation very well, and it is reasonable to choose 1.5 m as the grouting width.
Numerical Simulation Analysis and Full-Scale Experimental Validation of a Lower Wall-Mounted Solar Chimney with Different Radiation Models
Authors: Yuan Ping , Fang Zhicheng , Wang Wanjiang , Chen Yanhui , Li Ke
Published: August 2023

As a type of passive architectural structure, wall-mounted solar chimneys enhance the natural ventilation volume of a building’s interior, and maximize reductions in the building’s operational energy consumption. They are indispensable in the building’s energy conservation and emission reduction. Therefore, measuring the wall-mounted solar chimney’s flow characteristics and relevant index parameters is particularly important. This paper uses a combination of full-scale experiments and numerical simulation to conduct a detailed analysis of the wall-mounted solar chimney. Four different radiation models, namely DO (discrete ordinates), S2S (surface-to-surface), MC (Monte Carlo), and Rosseland are used for comparison, and the results of the numerical simulation are compared with the experimental data. The results show that the maximum turbulent viscosity of the fluid predicted by the S2S radiation model is higher than that of the MC and DO models by 16.87% and 8.44%, respectively. The errors of the DO radiation model in the midline and glass cover plate direction concerning the experimental results are only 0.33% and 0.15%, respectively. The mistakes of the MC radiation model in these two directions are 0.51% and 0.47%, respectively. The DO radiation model is more suitable in numerical simulation predictions related to the wall-mounted solar chimney.
Co-Evolutionary Mechanism of Stakeholders’ Strategies in Comprehensive Agricultural Water Price Reform: The View of Evolutionary Game Based on Prospect Theory
Authors: Li Feng , Du Xuewan , Zhang Pengchao , Li Huimin , Fei Xiaoxia
Published: August 2023

In today’s world, the contradiction between water supply and demand is becoming increasingly pronounced, with a particular emphasis on the severe shortage of water for agricultural purposes. As a result, it has become imperative to promote the comprehensive reform of agricultural water pricing and increase water conservation awareness among water users. However, during the actual promotion process, the conflicting interests among stakeholders often create a behavioral game that seriously hinders the effective implementation of the agricultural water price reform. Therefore, it is crucial to address this conflict of interest and find ways to overcome it in order to ensure the successful implementation of the agricultural water pricing reform. In order to explore the dynamic evolution process of the behavior and decision making of the stakeholders in the comprehensive agricultural water price reform and the influencing factors and to propose relevant strategies to effectively promote the reform. This article constructs a three-party game model based on MA-PT theory with the government, farmers, and water supply units as the main subjects, solves the equation with the perceived benefit matrix instead of the traditional benefit matrix, and calculates the objective conditions for reaching the steady state. The simulation results show that the behavioral decision of the game subject to participate in the reform will be influenced by their perception of gains and losses, and there is a mutual influence between the three strategic choices. Therefore, the reform of agricultural water prices should consider the affordability of farmers and water supply units. The government appropriately adopts a reward system to encourage farmers and water supply units to actively participate in the reform to play a positive role and appropriate penalties for promoting the reform, the early realization of the reform goals, and the development of water-saving agriculture.
Transient Stability Analysis for Grid-Forming VSCs Based on Nonlinear Decoupling Method
Authors: Li Yue , Xia Yanghong , Ni Yini , Peng Yonggang , Feng Qifan
Published: August 2023

With the increasing integration of renewable energy into the power grid, there is a growing demand for converters that not only provide stable power, but also support auxiliary functions such as grid-voltage regulation. Consequently, grid-forming strategies have attracted significant attention. However, due to the complexities of analyzing nonlinear coupling systems, a comprehensive transient stability analysis of grid-forming converters is still being explored. Conventional analysis methods rely on a simplified quasi-steady-state model for grid-forming voltage source converters (VSCs) and focus on analyzing the transient instability phenomenon caused by the outer power loop. However, this oversimplified model may yield incorrect conclusions. To address this limitation, this paper develops a full-order model that includes quadratic nonlinear terms to accurately represent the system’s nonlinear characteristics. The developed model is then decoupled into multiple low-order modes using a nonlinear decoupling method. These low-order modes can be analyzed using the mature inversing trajectory method, indirectly reflecting the transient stability of grid-forming VSCs under large disturbances. Through varying the inner and outer parameters, the transient stability of grid-forming VSCs is analyzed in detail. Furthermore, the analysis results are verified through hardware-in-loop (HIL) experiments.
Simulation and Prediction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Beef Cattle
Authors: Chen Xiao , Tao Tao , Zhou Jiaxin , Yu Helong , Guo Hongliang , Chen Hongbing
Published: August 2023

Greenhouse gas emission is a key issue in the sustainable development of agriculture. To effectively predict the greenhouse gas emissions of beef cattle, a model is proposed based on system dynamics and greenhouse gas emission calculation methods, and a scenario is set as a ‘Straw to Beef’ project in Jilin Province. The model was built on a baseline emission scenario (feed precision: 60%, breeding environment: dry fattening farm, corn straw utilization: burning straw), with single- and comprehensive emission reduction scenarios considered, predicting trends and reduction potentials in greenhouse gas emissions from cattle breeding and straw burning in Jilin Province from 2013 to 2028, measured in CO2-eq (CO2 equivalent). The model also explored the impact of 11 controllable variables on greenhouse gas emissions. Results showed that (1) From 2013 to 2022, greenhouse gas emissions from straw burning and cattle breeding in Jilin Province increased significantly and had an annual growth rate of 6.51% in 2020. (2) Single emission reduction scenarios showed an increasing trend in greenhouse gas emissions, while comprehensive emission reduction scenarios showed a decreasing trend. Among them, the S2.2.1 scenario (feed precision: 80%, breeding environment: livestock barn manure pit, corn straw utilization: burning straw) had the strongest emission reduction ability in the single reduction scenario, the S3.2.2 scenario (feed precision: 80%, breeding environment: livestock barn manure pit, corn straw utilization: Feed-processing straw) had the strongest emission reduction ability in the comprehensive reduction scenario, reducing emissions by 5.10% and 69.24%, respectively, compared to the baseline scenario. This suggests that the comprehensive emission reduction scenarios which utilized straw resources reasonably can greatly reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. (3) The optimal emission reduction scenario indicated that the higher the proportion of digestible energy in beef cattle’s total energy intake, the more perfect the fecal treatment process, and the higher the utilization rate of straw feed, the lower the greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cattle breeding and straw burning in Jilin Province, it is important to implement comprehensive emission reduction scenarios prioritizing the efficient utilization of straw resources and improving beef cattle management practices.