bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real-Time Pedestrian Tracking Terminal Based on Adaptive Zero Velocity Update
Authors: Wei Ran , Xu Hongda , Yang Mingkun , Yu Xinguo , Xiao Zhuoling , Yan Bo
Published: June 2021

In the field of pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR), the zero velocity update (ZUPT) method with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) is a mature technology to calibrate dead reckoning. However, due to the complex walking modes of different individuals, it is essential and challenging to determine the ZUPT conditions, which has a direct and significant influence on the tracking accuracy. In this research, we adopted an adaptive zero velocity update (AZUPT) method based on convolution neural networks to classify the ZUPT conditions. The AZUPT model was robust regardless of the different motion types of various individuals. AZUPT was then implemented on the Zynq-7000 SoC platform to work in real time to validate its computational efficiency and performance superiority. Extensive real-world experiments were conducted by 60 different individuals in three different scenarios. It was demonstrated that the proposed system could work equally well in different environments, making it portable for PDR to be widely performed in various real-world situations.
Design and Implementation of the E-Switch for a Smart Home
Authors: García-Vázquez Fabian , Guerrero-Osuna Héctor A. , Ornelas-Vargas Gerardo , Carrasco-Navarro Rocío , Luque-Vega Luis F. , Lopez-Neri Emmanuel
Published: June 2021

As the development of systems in smart homes is increasing, it is of ever-increasing importance to have data, which artificial intelligence methods and techniques can apply to recognize activities and patterns or to detect anomalies, with the aim of reducing energy consumption in the main home domestic services, and to offer users an alternative in the management of these resources. This paper describes the design and implementation of a platform based on the internet of things and a cloud environment that allows the user to remotely control and monitor Wi-Fi wireless e-switch in a home through a mobile application. This platform is intended to represent the first step in transforming a home into a smart home, and it allows the collection and storage of the e-switch information, which can be used for further processing and analysis.
Optimizing the Bluetooth Low Energy Service Discovery Process
Authors: T’Jonck Kristof , Pang Bozheng , Hallez Hans , Boydens Jeroen
Published: June 2021

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), a short-range and low-power communication protocol, has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. A part of BLE is the Generic Attribute Profile (GATT) which defines the data communication between two devices. During the initial connection between two BLE devices a discovery of services, characteristics and descriptors is required for the GATT to operate. During this discovery phase, the device is unusable as it builds the foundation for further data transactions. When unoptimized, this discovery step can take up to a few seconds, leading to frustrations for the end user or delays in some applications. In this paper, we aim to find guidelines on how to optimize this discovery process. A simulation framework was developed, able to simulate and analyze the packet exchange of the service discovery, while taking link layer parameters into account. The results show that minimizing the connection interval and maximizing the data length leads to the lowest discovery times. Practical experiments in real environment, however, show that the theoretically calculated times are not reachable due to processing overhead and retransmissions. Theoretical results also show that the current BLE discovery process, even after optimizations, has a lot of overhead. To fix the problems with the current protocol, this paper proposes a new Rapid Service Discovery Protocol, which enables a fast and efficient service discovery.
Design and Development of a Hemorrhagic Trauma Simulator for Lower Limbs: A Pilot Study
Authors: Larraga-García Blanca , Pérez-Jiménez Aurora , Ros-Dopico Santiago , Rubio-Bolívar Javier , Quintana-Diaz Manuel , Gutiérrez Álvaro
Published: June 2021

One of the main preventable leading causes of death after a trauma injury is the hemorrhagic shock. Therefore, it is extremely important to learn how to control hemorrhages. In this paper, a hemorrhagic trauma simulator for lower limb has been developed and a pilot study has been accomplished to trail the simulator. Four different bleeding scenarios have been tested per participant, gathering information about the manual pressure exerted to control the bleeding. Data, altogether, from 54 hemorrhagic scenarios managed by final year medical students and doctors were gathered. Additionally, a post-simulation questionnaire, related to the usability of the simulator, was completed. All the participants managed to control the simulated bleeding scenarios, but the pressure exerted to control the four different scenarios is different depending if the trainee is a student or a doctor, especially in deep venous hemorrhages. This research has highlighted the different approach to bleeding control treatment between medical students and doctors. Moreover, this pilot study demonstrated the need to deliver a more effective trauma treatment teaching for hemorrhagic lesions and that hemorrhagic trauma simulators can be used to train and evaluate different scenarios.
Monitoring System for Railway Infrastructure Elements Based on Thermal Imaging Analysis
Authors: Stypułkowski Krzysztof , Gołda Paweł , Lewczuk Konrad , Tomaszewska Justyna
Published: June 2021

The safety and reliability of railway transport requires new solutions for monitoring and quick identification of faults in the railway infrastructure. Electric heating devices (EORs) are the crucial element of turnouts. EORs ensure heating during low temperature periods when ice or snow can lock the turnout device. Thermal imaging is a response to the need for an EOR inspection tool. After processing, a thermogram is a great support for the manual inspection of an EOR, or the thermogram can be the input for a machine learning algorithm. In this article, the authors review the literature in terms of thermographic analysis and its applications for detecting railroad damage, analysing images through machine learning, and improving railway traffic safety. The EOR device, its components, and technical parameters are discussed, as well as inspection and maintenance requirements. On this base, the authors present the concept of using thermographic imaging to detect EOR failures and malfunctions using a practical example, as well as the concept of using machine learning mechanisms to automatically analyse thermograms. The authors show that the proposed method of analysis can be an effective tool for examining EOR status and that it can be included in the official EOR inspection calendar.
Collective Motion and Self-Organization of a Swarm of UAVs: A Cluster-Based Architecture
Authors: Ali Zain Anwar , Han Zhangang , Masood Rana Javed
Published: June 2021

This study proposes a collective motion and self-organization control of a swarm of 10 UAVs, which are divided into two clusters of five agents each. A cluster is a group of UAVs in a dedicated area and multiple clusters make a swarm. This paper designs the 3D model of the whole environment by applying graph theory. To address the aforesaid issues, this paper designs a hybrid meta-heuristic algorithm by merging the particle swarm optimization (PSO) with the multi-agent system (MAS). First, PSO only provides the best agents of a cluster. Afterward, MAS helps to assign the best agent as the leader of the nth cluster. Moreover, the leader can find the optimal path for each cluster. Initially, each cluster contains agents at random positions. Later, the clusters form a formation by implementing PSO with the MAS model. This helps in coordinating the agents inside the nth cluster. However, when two clusters combine and make a swarm in a dynamic environment, MAS alone is not able to fill the communication gap of n clusters. This study does it by applying the Vicsek-based MAS connectivity and synchronization model along with dynamic leader selection ability. Moreover, this research uses a B-spline curve based on simple waypoint defined graph theory to create the flying formations of each cluster and the swarm. Lastly, this article compares the designed algorithm with the NSGA-II model to show that the proposed model has better convergence and durability, both in the individual clusters and inside the greater swarm.
Sensor Network for Analyzing Upper Body Strategies in Parkinson’s Disease versus Normative Kinematic Patterns
Authors: Romano Paola , Pournajaf Sanaz , Ottaviani Marco , Gison Annalisa , Infarinato Francesco , Mantoni Claudia , De Pandis Maria Francesca , Franceschini Marco , Goffredo Michela
Published: June 2021

In rehabilitation, the upper limb function is generally assessed using clinical scales and functional motor tests. Although the Box and Block Test (BBT) is commonly used for its simplicity and ease of execution, it does not provide a quantitative measure of movement quality. This study proposes the integration of an ecological Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) system for analysis of the upper body kinematics during the execution of a targeted version of BBT, by able-bodied persons with subjects with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Joint angle parameters (mean angle and range of execution) and hand trajectory kinematic indices (mean velocity, mean acceleration, and dimensionless jerk) were calculated from the data acquired by a network of seven IMUs. The sensors were applied on the trunk, head, and upper limb in order to characterize the motor strategy used during the execution of BBT. Statistics revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the two groups, showing compensatory strategies in subjects with PD. The proposed IMU-based targeted BBT protocol allows to assess the upper limb function during manual dexterity tasks and could be used in the future for assessing the efficacy of rehabilitative treatments.
Random Lasing Detection of Mutant Huntingtin Expression in Cells
Authors: de Armas-Rillo Sergio , Fumagallo-Reading Felipe , Luis-Ravelo Diego , Abdul-Jalbar Beatriz , González-Hernández Tomás , Lahoz Fernando
Published: June 2021

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant, incurable neurodegenerative disease caused by mutation in the huntingtin gene (HTT). HTT mutation leads to protein misfolding and aggregation, which affect cells’ functions and structural features. Because these changes might modify the scattering strength of affected cells, we propose that random lasing (RL) is an appropriate technique for detecting cells that express mutated HTT. To explore this hypothesis, we used a cell model of HD based on the expression of two different forms—pathogenic and non-pathogenic—of HTT. The RL signals from both cell profiles were compared. A multivariate statistical analysis of the RL signals based on the principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) techniques revealed substantial differences between cells that expressed the pathogenic and the non-pathogenic forms of HTT.
Guilty When Innocent. Australian Government’s Resistance to Bringing Home Wives and Children of Islamic State Fighters
Authors: El-Matrah Joumanah , Dabboussy Kamalle
Published: June 2021

Currently there are 20 Australian women and 47 children being held in the Al-Roj camp in Northern Syria, who are the family members of Islamic State fighters. The Australian government argues that it is both unsafe for government officials to rescue those held in the camp and unsafe for Australia to repatriate these women and children. This security rhetoric is commonly understood as Australia’s abandonment of its citizens and their entitlements to protection and repatriation. This paper argues that the Australian government is condemning its citizens to a condition of statelessness and displacement, simulating the following conditions under which refugees and asylum seekers are forced to live: murder, violence, deprivation of adequate food and shelter, disease, and the potential hazards of the COVID-19 infection. Rendering its citizens to a condition of statelessness and displacement constitutes both punishment meted out on those deemed guilty by their presence in Syria, and provides the Australian government the opportunity to revoke the citizenship of women and children. Three Australian women who travelled to Syria have already been stripped of their Australian citizenship. This paper explores the conditions and methods by which the Australian government has erased the entitlements, protections and certainty of citizenship for Australian Muslim women and children.
Moving Ad Hoc Networks—A Comparative Study
Authors: Al-Absi Mohammed Abdulhakim , Al-Absi Ahmed Abdulhakim , Sain Mangal , Lee Hoonjae
Published: June 2021

An ad hoc network is a wireless mobile communication network composed of a group of mobile nodes with wireless transceivers. It does not rely on preset infrastructure and is established temporarily. The mobile nodes of the network use their own wireless transceivers to exchange information; when the information is not within the communication range, other intermediate nodes can be used to relay to achieve communication. They can be widely used in environments that cannot be supported by wired networks or which require communication temporarily, such as military applications, sensor networks, rescue and disaster relief, and emergency response. In MANET, each node acts as a host and as a router, and the nodes are linked through wireless channels in the network. One of the scenarios of MANET is VANET; VANET is supported by several types of fixed infrastructure. Due to its limitations, this infrastructure can support some VANET services and provide fixed network access. FANET is a subset of VANET. SANET is one of the common types of ad hoc networks. This paper could serve as a guide and reference so that readers have a comprehensive and general understanding of wireless ad hoc networks and their routing protocols at a macro level with a lot of good, related papers for reference. However, this is the first paper that discusses the popular types of ad hoc networks along with comparisons and simulation tools for Ad Hoc Networks.
Corporate Well-Being Programme in COVID-19 Times. The Mahou San Miguel Case Study
Authors: Núñez-Sánchez José M. , Gómez-Chacón Ramón , Jambrino-Maldonado Carmen , García-Fernández Jerónimo
Published: June 2021

Employees’ health is being affected not only by the possibility of contracting COVID-19, but by all the negative consequences that this pandemic has brought, such as confinement, social distancing, and self-isolation. In recent decades, more companies have opted for corporate well-being programmes in their workplaces, improving the health and quality of life of their employees. The effects generated by the current COVID-19 pandemic require these programmes to adapt to this new situation. The objective of this case study is to analyse the corporate well-being programme, in times of COVID-19, of Mahou San Miguel, a benchmark company in corporate well-being in Spain. A mixed method approach to data collection was used. The findings show the benefits achieved in its adaptation to this new physical-virtual environment. This paper could help other companies around the world to adapt their corporate well-being programmes to the new reality brought about by COVID-19.
Social Media as a Destination Marketing Tool for a Sustainable Heritage Festival in Nigeria: A Moderated Mediation Study
Authors: Arasli Huseyin , Abdullahi Maryam , Gunay Tugrul
Published: June 2021

This study explored how social media is used as a destination marketing tool for the sustainability of heritage festival quality in Nigeria, drawing on the theory of planned behavior. The festival, which is an exploration of heritage, was specifically premeditated to celebrate the slave trade period by highlighting the unique connection of African American history to the diaspora ancestors who were literally taken away as slaves through “the point of no return” in Badagry, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was utilized as a research instrument to gather information aimed at examining the influence of social media (SM), website quality (WQ), and online word of mouth (eWOM) on tourists’ festival satisfaction (FS) and festival revisiting intention (FRI). Data were gathered from samples of 473 diaspora tourists at Badagry Diaspora Festival in Nigeria and analyzed using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with the aid of WarpPLS (7.0). The findings of the study revealed that social media (SM), festival quality (FQ), website quality (WQ), and electronic word of mouth (eWOM) had a positive and significant relationship with tourists’ festival satisfaction. Additionally, this study found that festival quality had a positive impact on the intention of the tourists to revisit the Badagry Diaspora Festival because tourist attitude is influenced by the socio-cultural background of tourists. Moreover, the result revealed the partial mediating effect of festival satisfaction in the relationship between (a) SM, (b) FQ, (c) WQ, and (d) eWOM and tourists’ festival satisfaction. Similarly, cultural motivation was also found to mediate the relationship between tourists’ festival satisfaction and festival revisiting intension (RI). Based on the findings, the implications of the festival sustainability and future research directions were discussed.
A Decomposition Analysis of the Korean Manufacturing Sector: Monetary vs. Physical Outputs
Authors: Lee Junghwan , Kim Jinsoo
Published: June 2021

This study analyzes the changes in energy consumption of the Korean manufacturing sector using the index decomposition analysis (IDA) method. To capture the production effect based on actual physical activities, we applied the activity revaluation (AR) approach in the analysis. We also developed energy consumption data in terms of primary energy supply to consider conversion loss in the energy sector to avoid any distortions in the intensity effect. The analysis covers every manufacturing subsector in Korea over the period between 2006 and 2018. Combining two distinctive approaches from the previous literature, the AR approach and primary energy-based analysis gives us helpful findings for a climate policy. First, the overall activity effect estimated from the physical output indicator is lower than that from the monetary output indicator. The monetary indicator shows that the share of energy-intensive industries decreases, whereas the physical indicator shows the opposite. Second, in terms of energy efficiency, the intensity effect is estimated as an increasing factor of energy use, whereas inversed results are shown when we use the monetary indicator. Lastly, unlike the previous studies, the AR approach results indicate that Korean manufacturing sectors have been shifting toward an energy-intensive, so it is hard to anticipate positive intensity effects, which means decreasing energy consumption factor, for a while. These results support why analyzing the driving forces of energy consumption through the AR approach and primary energy base is highly recommended.
An Efficient Neural Network-Based Method for Diagnosing Faults of PV Array
Authors: Tchoketch Kebir Selma , Cheggaga Nawal , Ilinca Adrian , Boulouma Sabri
Published: June 2021

This paper presents an efficient neural network-based method for fault diagnosis in photovoltaic arrays. The proposed method was elaborated on three main steps: the data-feeding step, the fault-modeling step, and the decision step. The first step consists of feeding the real meteorological and electrical data to the neural networks, namely solar irradiance, panel temperature, photovoltaic-current, and photovoltaic-voltage. The second step consists of modeling a healthy mode of operation and five additional faulty operational modes; the modeling process is carried out using two networks of artificial neural networks. From this step, six classes are obtained, where each class corresponds to a predefined model, namely, the faultless scenario and five faulty scenarios. The third step involves the diagnosis decision about the system’s state. Based on the results from the above step, two probabilistic neural networks will classify each generated data according to the six classes. The obtained results show that the developed method can effectively detect different types of faults and classify them. Besides, this method still achieves high performances even in the presence of noises. It provides a diagnosis even in the presence of data injected at reduced real-time, which proves its robustness.
The Governance Conundrum of Powered Micromobility Devices: An In-Depth Case Study from Singapore
Authors: Pande Devyani , Taeihagh Araz
Published: June 2021

With the widespread adoption of powered micromobility devices like e-scooters for transportation in recent times, there have been many associated and potentially unknown risks. While these devices have been beneficial for commuters, managing these technological risks has been a key challenge for governments. This article presents an in-depth case study of Singapore, where these devices were adopted but were eventually banned from footpaths and public paths. We focus on identifying the technological risks and the governing strategies adopted and find that the Singaporean government followed a combination of governing strategies to address the risks of safety, liability, and switching to another transportation mode. The strategy of banning the devices was undertaken after active regulation and prudent monitoring. Based on the Singapore case, we offer policy recommendations for robust infrastructure and policy capacity, government stewardship and inclusive participatory policymaking for safe deployment, and simultaneous adoption of governing strategies to adopt these devices. The regulatory lessons from the case of Singapore can be insightful for policy discussions in other countries that have already adopted or are considering the introduction of powered micromobility devices.
The Potential Re-Use of Saudi Mine Tailings in Mine Backfill: A Path towards Sustainable Mining in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Hefni Mohammed , Ahmed Hussin A. M. , Omar Ebaa Shaikh , Ali Maaz A.
Published: June 2021

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia covers an area of approximately 2 million km2 and is rich in natural resources that are necessary for industrial development. The estimated mineral wealth beneath the Kingdom’s soil is approximately USD 1.33 trillion, as reported by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources. The Kingdom’s vision for 2030 is to develop the mining sector to become the third pillar of the domestic economy. Therefore, exploration and mining activities are expected to accelerate over the next decade, which will lead to increased waste production. New executive regulations issued in January 2021 contain several sustainable elements related to the environment, social responsibility, and occupational health and safety. Therefore, this study aims to promote an example of sustainable mining activities in the Kingdom that could be adapted to meet the regulatory requirements. Cemented paste backfill samples of varying composition were made with waste materials from a Saudi copper mine for re-injection into underground mining cavities to minimize waste exposure to the environment. The samples were tested for unconfined compressive strength (UCS) after 7, 14, 28, 56, and 90 days of curing. Results from a statistically designed experiment technique show that the samples developed sufficient strength to be used in mine backfilling applications. Strong negative relationships were detected between the UCS and the water-to-binder ratio. There is strong potential for mine backfill technology to be applied to a wide range of Saudi Arabian mines to enhance the sustainability of the mining sector.
Facilitating Urban Sustainability through Transdisciplinary (TD) Research: Lessons from Ghana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe
Authors: Thondhlana Gladman , Mubaya Chipo Plaxedes , McClure Alice , Amaka-Otchere Akosua Baah Kwarteng , Ruwanza Sheunesu
Published: June 2021

The notion of sustainability has been integrated into many aspects of development to emphasise human needs now and in the future. Sustainable urbanization objectives are pertinent in the context of rapidly expanding African cities, in which urban inhabitants experience challenges associated with poor sanitation, climate hazards, and energy and food insecurity. There are increasing calls for embracing transdisciplinary (TD) research for mapping pathways towards sustainability in these ever-growing cities, particularly by integrating academic, practitioner, and societal knowledge to design effective and contextually relevant responses to existing and emerging challenges. Though transdisciplinary processes are growing in developing countries, dispersed literature on and a growing number of projects applying TD research in different contexts make it difficult to learn from and develop useful frameworks for implementation. To make lessons more accessible to a growing audience, this paper provides a reflective account of two urban sustainability TD projects that were designed and implemented in Ghana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The contexts within which these TD research projects took place are described, as are ways in which relevant stakeholders were involved in and benefitted from the codesign and realisation of the respective projects. Based on experiences, the paper reflects on the challenges of and opportunities for TD research in Africa for urban sustainability, which provides insights for enhancing this practice in Africa. The paper ends with considerations for TD practice and theory.
Transformation of Glass Fiber Waste into Mesoporous Zeolite-Like Nanomaterials with Efficient Adsorption of Methylene Blue
Authors: Tsai Cheng-Kuo , Horng Jao-Jia
Published: June 2021

Recycling and reusing glass fiber waste (GFW) has become an environmental concern, as the means of disposal are becoming limited as GFW production increases. Therefore, this study developed a novel, cost-effective method to turn GFW into a mesoporous zeolite-like nanomaterial (MZN) that could serve as an environmentally benign adsorbent and efficient remover of methylene blue (MB) from solutions. Using the Taguchi optimizing approach to hydrothermal alkaline activation, we produced analcime with interconnected nanopores of about 11.7 nm. This MZN had a surface area of 166 m2 g−1 and was negatively charged with functional groups that could adsorb MB ranging from pH 2 to 10 and all with excellent capacity at pH 6.0 of the maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity of 132 mg g−1. Moreover, the MZN adsorbed MB exothermically, and the reaction is reversible according to its thermodynamic parameters. In sum, this study indicated that MZN recycled from glass fiber waste is a novel, environmentally friendly means to adsorb cation methylene blue (MB), thus opening a gateway to the design and fabrication of ceramic-zeolite and tourmaline-ceramic balls and ceramic ring-filter media products. In addition, it has environmental applications such as removing cation dyes and trace metal ions from aqueous solutions and recycling water.
Gender Equality in Business Action: A Multi-Agent Change Management Approach
Authors: Gartzia Leire
Published: June 2021

Critical to social sustainability and organizations’ growth, at present, is gender equality. Yet, egalitarian principles are difficult to apply in the practice, particularly in private firms. Acknowledging previous calls that research should respond to these concerns and support practitioners, we provide a theory-grounded conceptual framework to address change management in this field, aimed at providing applicable guidelines in the organizational practice. Integrating utilitarian and social justice perspectives about gender action, we call for multi-agent collaboration involving coordinated action from policymakers, private firms and gender experts. We provide an overview of how public policies and legislation guide organizational action by providing key statutory norms and procedures. We then address the relevance of organizational commitment and the alignment of gender goals with the organizational strategy and decision-making, involving managers. Finally, we underscore the benefits of implementing evidence-based action based on academic and consultancy collaboration. The implementation of these principles is illustrated with a multi-agent practice developed in the Basque Country (Spain) between gender equality change agents, suited to apply academic principles to real-world organizational practices. Recommendations for gender equality and corporate social action are provided.
Perceptual-Motor Skills Reconstruction Program Improves Executive Functions in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Soltani Kouhbanani Sakineh , Rothenberger Aribert
Published: June 2021

Objective: Many children suffering from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show problems in executive functions (EF), which reflect neuronal pathways from perception to controlled action. Treatment approaches that improve executive functions may prevent a negative cycle of failures in students. Hence, this research aims to study the efficacy of the perceptual-motor skills reconstruction program on EF in children with ADHD while considering cognitive flexibility, abstract verbal skills, response inhibition, and working memory. Also, its effect on clinical ADHD symptoms should be considered. Method: The research design included pretest, posttest, and a follow-up after six months. The sample included third-grade school children with ADHD (50 students, aged 8–10 years, boys and girls) who were referred to the Child Psychology Clinic, Iran, Mashhad 2018–2019. After clinical assessment for ADHD, children were randomly assigned to an experimental (n = 25) and a waiting control (n = 25) group. The experimental group received the perceptual-motor skills reconstruction program for 16 sessions (three times per week, i.e., five weeks and one session in the sixth week). Delis–Kaplan executive function system (D-KEFS) was applied at three measurement points (M1–3) in order to test for changes over time. Results: Data analysis (analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with post-hoc-testing) showed that there was a significantly better performance of experimental versus waiting control group at posttest (M2) and follow-up (M3) for cognitive flexibility (t(24) = 4.9, df = 14, p < 0.0001), abstract verbal skills (t(24) = 3.5, df = 14, p < 0.004), response inhibition (t(24) = 7.54, df = 14, p < 0.0001) and working memory (t(24) = 12.69, df = 14, p < 0.004). Further, Conners-Scales-Score improved for the experimental group. Conclusions: Training with perceptual-motor skills reconstruction program clearly improved the trained variables (i.e., cognitive flexibility, abstract verbal skills, response inhibition, and working memory) and clinical symptoms of the children with ADHD. The obtained training may lead in practice to better preconditions for successfully handling daily tasks at school and in society.
Changes of Spatial Characteristics: Socio-Cultural Sustainability in Historical Neighborhood in Beijing, China
Authors: Liu Huiming , Li Bin
Published: June 2021

This paper uses a typological approach as a tool to establish an analytical framework from a physical perspective to understand ‘place‘ and to identify key spatial characteristics that could adapt to local needs to deliver socio-cultural sustainability. Six representative housing types with their spaces and uses that were introduced in a historic neighborhood in Beijing, China are selected as case studies. Their morphological characteristics at the building, open space and neighborhood scales are examined, and typological transformations among the cases in terms of the degree of spatial continuity are identified. The paper proposes an analytical framework consisting of fifteen indicators to assess socio-cultural sustainability at the different morphological scales (building, open space and block/neighborhood) of the residents of the six cases. The score of changes from its original design is brought into calculations of continuities of spatial characteristics, which present the transitions and transformations of morphological characteristics in relation to adaptation of local needs and uses. The analysis results show that the spatial characteristics were changed when political-socioeconomic ideologies changed, and local needs and uses were transformed to follow these mutations, and finally, the methods of use in different morphological scales mostly differed from historical norms. Although the continuities of spatial characteristics were significantly changed, they are positively and continually accommodating the transformations and transitions of local needs and uses. On the other hand, the invariant spatial characteristics are important, which last despite transformation of the city development and changing of political-social-economic ideologies, and could be maintained for future development to enhance sociocultural sustainability.
Identifying Temporal Aggregation Effect on Crash-Frequency Modeling
Authors: Bae Bumjoon , Lee Changju , Pak Tae-Young , Lee Sunghoon
Published: June 2021

Aggregation of spatiotemporal data can encounter potential information loss or distort attributes via individual observation, which would influence modeling results and lead to an erroneous inference, named the ecological fallacy. Therefore, deciding spatial and temporal resolution is a fundamental consideration in a spatiotemporal analysis. The modifiable temporal unit problem (MTUP) occurs when using data that is temporally aggregated. While consideration of the spatial dimension has been increasingly studied, the counterpart, a temporal unit, is rarely considered, particularly in the traffic safety modeling field. The purpose of this research is to identify the MTUP effect in crash-frequency modeling using data with various temporal scales. A sensitivity analysis framework is adopted with four negative binomial regression models and four random effect negative binomial models having yearly, quarterly, monthly, and weekly temporal units. As the different temporal unit was applied, the result of the model estimation also changed in terms of the mean and significance of the parameter estimates. Increasing temporal correlation due to using the small temporal unit can be handled with the random effect models.
Choice between Acquisition and Joint Venture Based on Financial Statement Comparability
Authors: Yi Heein , Kim Sangsoo , Han Seunghun
Published: June 2021

This study examined the relationship between target firms’ financial statement comparability and bidder firms’ boundary decisions. The study used initial public offering (IPO) firms as target firms to test the impact of asymmetric information and signaling on investing bidder firms’ boundary decisions, such as joint ventures or acquisitions. In the IPO market, as an experimental setting, bidder firms are unfamiliar with issuing firms because they have little information about them prior to the IPO. This study argues that IPO firms with higher accounting comparability show lower information asymmetry. Consistent with this argument, we found that IPO firms’ accounting comparability has a positive probability of becoming a target for either a joint venture or acquisition, or an acquisition instead of a joint venture. This study contributes to the literature, financial statement comparability, and joint venture and acquisition decisions to measure the degree to which information asymmetry affects corporate investment strategy using a unique experimental setting of IPO firms.
Determinants That Influence Green Product Purchase Intention and Behavior: A Literature Review and Guiding Framework
Authors: Wijekoon Rusitha , Sabri Mohamad Fazli
Published: June 2021

Environmental deterioration brought about by consumers’ non-feasible utilization pattern is putting a pressure on the environment and is obstructing sustainable development. To hinder this impact and stimulate a more sustainable economic growth, one solution is to lessen or move utilization patterns from conventional products to eco-friendly products. The authors conducted a review study of green purchase behavioral research across the 6-year period from 2015 to 2021, identifying 108 studies that met our inclusion criteria. The current review distinguishes different pervasive facilitators, motives, and obstacles influencing consumers’ decision-making process towards environmentally friendly products, and it gives potential clarifications for contradictions found in green purchase behavior (GPB). The paper reveals the main determinants of consumer’s GPB, and as a result of the review, 212 variables that affect green purchase intention (GPI) were identified. Moreover, 135 determinants that influence GPB were recorded. In this way, besides contributing to the literature, it will assist policymakers in formulating and employing strategies to persuade eco-friendly purchasing, and it will give an opportunity for marketers to generate proper marketing strategies for drawing in clients and guaranteeing ideal sales.
Sustainable Production Management Model for Small and Medium Enterprises in Some South-Central EU Countries
Authors: Jelačić Denis , Pirc Barčić Andreja , Oblak Leon , Motik Darko , Grošelj Petra , Jošt Matej
Published: June 2021

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are main generators of employment and economic development in European Union. In Croatia and Slovenia, SMEs in wood processing (C16) and furniture manufacturing (C31) also play an important role in social cohesion and development of rural areas. The aim of this research was to investigate the current situation in SMEs in wood processing and furniture manufacturing regarding driving parameters of business and production management system in the time of a disturbed market situation caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Two different questionnaires in an e-mail survey were used to collect data for this research from companies and from experts in the field of management, production and marketing. Various statistical tests were used using seven driving parameters on data collected from 212 SMEs. Also, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used on the data collected from 20 experts. Results showed that companies in the time of pandemic crisis and during the time of major disturbances in supply chain pay the most attention to their production program and quality of their products, and then to marketing activities and situation on the market. According to the results presented in this research, the management model can help SMEs managers, micro and small enterprises in particular, to improve their decision-making process, make the necessary innovations easier and faster, and maintain the sustainable business and production management system of their companies.
The Transition to a Low-Carbon Smart Mobility in a Sociotechnical Context
Authors: Kehagia Fotini
Published: June 2021

Mobility is the lifeblood of society, critical to economic and human development [...]
A Modified CRITIC Method to Estimate the Objective Weights of Decision Criteria
Authors: Krishnan Anath Rau , Kasim Maznah Mat , Hamid Rizal , Ghazali Mohd Fahmi
Published: June 2021

In this study, we developed a modified version of the CRiteria Importance Through Inter-criteria Correlation (CRITIC) method, namely the Distance Correlation-based CRITIC (D-CRITIC) method. The usage of the method was illustrated by evaluating the weights of five smartphone criteria. The same evaluation was repeated using four other objective weighting methods, including the original CRITIC method. The results from all the methods were further analyzed based on three different tests (i.e., the distance correlation test, the Spearman rank-order correlation test, and the symmetric mean absolute percentage error test) to validate D-CRITIC. The tests revealed that D-CRITIC could produce more valid criteria weights and ranks than the original CRITIC method since D-CRITIC yielded a higher average distance correlation, a higher average Spearman rank-order correlation, and a lower symmetric mean absolute percentage error. Besides, additional sensitivity analysis indicated that D-CRITIC has the tendency to deliver more stable criteria weights and ranks with a larger decision matrix. The research has contributed an alternative objective weighting method to the area of multi-criteria decision-making through a unique extension of distance correlation. This study is also the first to propose the idea of a distance correlation test to compare the performance of different criteria weighting methods.
Toward Three-Loop Feynman Massive Diagram Calculations
Authors: Dubovyk Ievgen , Usovitsch Johann , Grzanka Krzysztof
Published: June 2021

There are many methods of searching for traces of the so-called new physics in particle physics. One of them, and the main focus of this paper, is athe study of the Z-boson decay in e+e− collisions. An improvement in the precision of calculations of the Standard Model (SM) electroweak pseudo-observables, such as scattering asymmetries, effective weak mixing angles, and decay widths, related to the Z-boson will meet severe experimental requirements at the planned e+e− colliders and will increase the chance to detect non-standard effects in experimental analysis. To reach this goal, one has to calculate the next order of perturbative SM theory, namely three-loop Feynman integrals. We discuss the complexity of the problem, as well as the methods crucial for completing three-loop calculations. We show several numerical solutions for some three-loop Feynman integrals using sector decomposition, Mellin–Barnes (MB), and differential equation methods.
Shearing Deformations of β-Cristobalite-Like Boron Arsenate
Authors: Grima-Cornish James N. , Vella-Żarb Liana , Wojciechowski Krzysztof W. , Grima Joseph N.
Published: June 2021

Boron arsenate, BAsO4, is crystalline material (I4¯ group) that was recently shown to be auxetic in its (001) plane for loading in any direction in this plane, and, which exhibits negative linear compressibility at elevated pressured in its [001] direction. This work presents and discusses the results of extensive density functional theory (DFT) based simulations aimed at studying deformations that such crystals undergo when subjected to shear loading in an attempt to obtain a better insight into the manner in which this material responds to mechanical loads. The deformations for shearing in the (001) plane are described in terms of the ‘rotating squares’ model, which was used to explain the auxeticity in the same plane where it was shown that shear loading results primarily in deformations which make the ‘squares’ become ‘parallelogram-like’ rather than rotate. This lack of rigidity in projected ‘squares’ was discussed by looking at changes in bond lengths and bond angles.
Quantum Heat Engines with Singular Interactions
Authors: Myers Nathan M. , McCready Jacob , Deffner Sebastian
Published: June 2021

By harnessing quantum phenomena, quantum devices have the potential to outperform their classical counterparts. Here, we examine using wave function symmetry as a resource to enhance the performance of a quantum Otto engine. Previous work has shown that a bosonic working medium can yield better performance than a fermionic medium. We expand upon this work by incorporating a singular interaction that allows the effective symmetry to be tuned between the bosonic and fermionic limits. In this framework, the particles can be treated as anyons subject to Haldane’s generalized exclusion statistics. Solving the dynamics analytically using the framework of “statistical anyons”, we explore the interplay between interparticle interactions and wave function symmetry on engine performance.
On Symmetry Properties of Frobenius Manifolds and Related Lie-Algebraic Structures
Authors: Prykarpatski Anatolij K. , Balinsky Alexander A.
Published: June 2021

The aim of this paper is to develop an algebraically feasible approach to solutions of the oriented associativity equations. Our approach was based on a modification of the Adler–Kostant–Symes integrability scheme and applied to the co-adjoint orbits of the diffeomorphism loop group of the circle. A new two-parametric hierarchy of commuting to each other Monge type Hamiltonian vector fields is constructed. This hierarchy, jointly with a specially constructed reciprocal transformation, produces a Frobenius manifold potential function in terms of solutions of these Monge type Hamiltonian systems.
A Parametric Generalization of the Baskakov-Schurer-Szász-Stancu Approximation Operators
Authors: Braha Naim Latif , Mansour Toufik , Srivastava Hari Mohan
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we introduce and investigate a new class of the parametric generalization of the Baskakov-Schurer-Szász-Stancu operators, which considerably extends the well-known class of the classical Baskakov-Schurer-Szász-Stancu approximation operators. For this new class of approximation operators, we present a Korovkin type theorem and a Grüss-Voronovskaya type theorem, and also study the rate of its convergence. Moreover, we derive several results which are related to the parametric generalization of the Baskakov-Schurer-Szász-Stancu operators in the weighted spaces. Finally, we prove some shape-preserving properties for the parametric generalization of the Baskakov-Schurer-Szász-Stancu operators and, as a special case, we deduce the corresponding shape-preserving properties for the classical Baskakov-Schurer-Szász-Stancu approximation operators.
Discriminating between JCPyV and BKPyV in Urinary Virome Data Sets
Authors: Mormando Rita , Wolfe Alan J. , Putonti Catherine
Published: June 2021

Polyomaviruses are abundant in the human body. The polyomaviruses JC virus (JCPyV) and BK virus (BKPyV) are common viruses in the human urinary tract. Prior studies have estimated that JCPyV infects between 20 and 80% of adults and that BKPyV infects between 65 and 90% of individuals by age 10. However, these two viruses encode for the same six genes and share 75% nucleotide sequence identity across their genomes. While prior urinary virome studies have repeatedly reported the presence of JCPyV, we were interested in seeing how JCPyV prevalence compares to BKPyV. We retrieved all publicly available shotgun metagenomic sequencing reads from urinary microbiome and virome studies (n = 165). While one third of the data sets produced hits to JCPyV, upon further investigation were we able to determine that the majority of these were in fact BKPyV. This distinction was made by specifically mining for JCPyV and BKPyV and considering uniform coverage across the genome. This approach provides confidence in taxon calls, even between closely related viruses with significant sequence similarity.