bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Simulation Research on Partial Discharge of Particle Defects at Epoxy Interface Excited by High-Frequency Sinusoidal Voltage
Authors: Chen Chen , Wang Jian , Wang Jingrui , Li Zhihui , Guo Rui , Jin Hu , Li Botao
Published: May 2023

In order to improve the effectiveness of partial discharge detection in attached metal particle insulators, this paper proposes a partial discharge detection method for particle defects in insulators under high-frequency sinusoidal voltage excitation. In order to study the development process of partial discharge under high-frequency electrical stress, a two-dimensional plasma simulation model of partial discharge with particle defects at the epoxy interface is established under plate–plate electrode structure, which realizes the dynamic simulation of particulate defect partial discharge. By studying the microscopic mechanism of partial discharge, the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of microscopic parameters such as electron density, electron temperature, and surface charge density are obtained. Based on this simulation model, this paper further studies the partial discharge characteristics of epoxy interface particle defects at different frequencies, and verifies the accuracy of the model from two aspects of discharge intensity and surface damages through experimental means. The results show that with the increase in the frequency of applied voltage, the amplitude of electron temperature shows an increasing trend. However, the surface charge density gradually decreases with the increase in frequency. These two factors make partial discharge severest when the frequency of the applied voltage is 15 kHz.
Influences of TPU Content on the Weld Line Characteristics of PP and ABS Blends
Authors: Do Thanh Trung , Nguyen Van-Thuc , Song Toan Huynh Do , Minh Pham Son , Uyen Tran Minh The , Huynh Trung H. , Nguyen Vinh Tien , Nguyen Van Thanh Tien
Published: May 2023

This study aims to explore the effects of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) content on the weld line properties of Polypropylene (PP) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) blends. In PP/TPU blends, increasing the TPU content results in a significant decrease in the PP/TPU composite’s ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation values. Blends with 10 wt%, 15 wt%, and 20 wt% TPU and pure PP outperform blends with 10 wt%, 15 wt%, and 20 wt% TPU and recycled PP in terms of UTS value. The blend with 10 wt% TPU and pure PP achieves the highest UTS value of 21.85 MPa. However, the blend’s elongation decreases due to the poor bonding in the weld line area. According to Taguchi’s analysis, the TPU factor has a more significant overall influence on the mechanical properties of PP/TPU blends than the recycled PP factor. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results show that the TPU area has a dimple shape on the fracture surface due to its significantly higher elongation value. The 15 wt% TPU sample achieves the highest UTS value of 35.7 MPa in ABS/TPU blends, which is considerably higher than other cases, indicating good compatibility between ABS and TPU. The sample containing 20 wt% TPU has the lowest UTS value of 21.2 MPa. Furthermore, the elongation-changing pattern corresponds to the UTS value. Interestingly, SEM results present that the fracture surface of this blend is flatter than the PP/TPU blend due to a higher compatibility rate. The 30 wt% TPU sample has a higher rate of dimple area than the 10 wt% TPU sample. Moreover, ABS/TPU blends gain a higher UTS value than PP/TPU blends. Increasing the TPU ratio mainly reduces the elastic modulus of both ABS/TPU blends and PP/TPU blends. This study reveals the advantages and disadvantages of mixing TPU with PP or ABS to ensure that it meets the requirements of the intended applications.
Effect of Recycling PET Fabric and Bottle Grade on r-PET Fiber Structure
Authors: Roungpaisan Nanjaporn , Srisawat Natee , Rungruangkitkrai Nattadon , Chartvivatpornchai Nawarat , Boonyarit Jirachaya , Kittikorn Thorsak , Chollakup Rungsima
Published: May 2023

PET knitted fabric was melted and cooled by hot pressing at 250 °C to obtain a compacted sheet. Only white PET fabric (WF_PET) was used to study the recycling process by compression and grinding to powder and then melt spinning at different take-up speeds compared to PET bottle grade (BO_PET). PET knitted fabric had good fiber formability and was better suited for melt spinning of recycled PET (r-PET) fibers than the bottle grade. Thermal and mechanical properties of r-PET fibers improved in terms of crystallinity and tensile strength with increasing take-up speed (500 to 1500 m/min). Fading and color changes from the original fabric were relatively small compared with PET bottle grade. Results indicated that fiber structure and properties can be used as a guideline for improving and developing r-PET fibers from textile waste.
Using the Whale Optimization Algorithm to Solve the Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch Problem
Authors: Zhang Jinzhong , Zhang Tan , Zhang Gang , Wang Duansong , Kong Min
Published: May 2023

The optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) is a complex, optimal non-meritorious control issue with continuous and discontinuous control variables. This article exhibits a whale optimization algorithm (WOA) motivated by the whale’s bubble-net hunting tactic to resolve ORPD. The intention is to comply with certain constraints to promote the voltage transmission quality by adequately altering the parameters. The WOA not only equalizes exploitation and exploration to maximize the overall performance and eliminate search stagnation but also has remarkable sustainability and robustness to accomplish superior convergence speed and computation accuracy. The WOA is contrasted with MFO, BA, GOA, GWO, MDWA, SMA, SPBO and SSA by diminishing the fitness value to highlight the superiority and stability. The experimental results reveal that WOA exhibits a superior convergence level and computation precision to accomplish the minimum active power loss and superior control variables.
Development and Trial of a Multipurpose Customized Orthosis for Activities of Daily Living in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Chhikara Komal , Gupta Shubham , Bose Dhruv , Kataria Chitra , Chanda Arnab
Published: May 2023

People with mid-cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) often have difficulty in performing activities of daily living due to weakness or paralysis in the flexor muscles. The inability to perform activities requiring fine motor control, such as eating, brushing, writing, unlocking doors, etc., affects overall quality of life negatively. To perform such tasks, appropriate movement of the hands, specifically at the wrist, is essential. For SCI patients, wrist orthotics are considered a viable option with which to perform general tasks. Wrist orthotics, used for rehabilitating people with SCI, help to maintain proper wrist and hand positioning; however, patients must frequently change these orthotic devices as per separate activity requirements. This becomes difficult and cumbersome for such patients. In this work, a passive 3D-printed upper-extremity dynamic orthosis was developed to assist SCI patients in their activities of daily living. The orthosis works on the principle of a worm-gear-based mechanism to produce pronation/supination motions at the wrist. To test the developed multipurpose customized orthosis, ten patients with cervical SCI were recruited and prescribed the 3D-printed splint for a period of four weeks. It was assessed through the QUEST questionnaire and a task completion assessment for its performance. The developed multipurpose customized orthotic device was found to provide an appropriate range of motion, ease in performing tasks, and took less time to complete tasks compared to previous works. The results indicated satisfactory performance, thereby improving quality of life. The multipurpose customized orthotic device successfully assisted the subjects with their daily activities, thus making them more independent in their rehabilitative period.
Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Critically Located Pancreatic and Biliary Targets: A Review on Simultaneous Integrated Protection and Other Dose-Painting Strategies to Minimize Dose to Critical Organs at Risk
Authors: Bonù Marco Lorenzo , Pedersoli Gloria , Balduzzi Jacopo , Cefaratti Mariateresa , Mataj Eneida , Cossali Gianluca , Granello Lorenzo , Singh Navdeep , Morelli Vittorio , Tomasini Davide , Frassine Francesco , Vitali Paola , Terraneo Fabrizia , Triggiani Luca , Buglione Michela , Magrini Stefano Maria
Published: May 2023

Background: Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT) in pancreatic and biliary tract cancer (PBC) suffers from proximity to any organ(s) at risk (OARs). Some strategies to manage this issue have previously been proposed, such as Simultaneous Integrated Protection (SIP), with the aim of maintaining a biological effective dose prescription while reducing toxicities. We performed a systematic review of the literature about SRT techniques applied in patients with tumor in proximity to OARs, with the aim of testing safety and efficacy. Methods: using PRISMA guidelines, we selected studies from a pool of more than 25,000 articles published from 2010 to 30 January 2023 that explored the use of SRT to deliver targeted treatment for PBC. We then selected the ones referring to decreases in prescription doses (for SRT only) in the area of overlap between planning target volume (PTV) and OARs. Local control (LC) and toxicities being detailed were exclusion criteria for articles. Results: 9 studies were included in our review, considering 368 patients. One-year LC probability ranges between 67% and 98.3% were reported. Late G3 toxicities ranged between 0% and 5.3%, while G4-G5 late toxicities were both reported as 0.3%. Conclusion: prioritizing critical OAR constraints limits severe toxicities while preserving LC in PBC SRT. Improving in-study reporting is essential to confirm these promising results.
The Burden of History: Kirkjubæjarklaustur and the Biography of Landscape
Authors: Hannesdóttir Sigrún
Published: May 2023

The importance of landscape has long been recognized within monastic studies, both as an economic and spiritual resource. This paper focuses on the surrounding landscape of a single monastic site, that is Kirkjubæjarklaustur on Síða (south Iceland), one of the two female monasteries established in Medieval Iceland. Through written sources, legends, and placenames, the aim of this paper is to reconstruct the biography of the landscape from before the founding of the monastery to after the Reformation. In particular, the paper considers how the perceived sacredness of the site of Kirkjubæjarklaustur may have been shaped by stories of Christian settlers prior to the monastic foundation and how the monastic memory informed the way in which the landscape was experienced after the Reformation and beyond.
Regional Characteristics of Cloud Properties over the Loess Plateau
Authors: Zhang Shuhua , Jin Cunyin , Tian Qianqian , Ding Xueqian , Ming Guanghui
Published: May 2023

As an important meteorological element, clouds play an important role in the radiative transfer process and atmospheric and water circulation. The Loess Plateau is the largest arid and semi-arid area in China, with a fragile ecological environment. However, few scholars have studied the spatial and temporal variations in cloud properties in the Loess Plateau. Therefore, in this study, cloud properties in the Loess Plateau were analyzed at the annual, seasonal, and diurnal scales based on Himawari-8 cloud products. The results show that cloud frequency (CF), cloud optical thickness (COT) and cloud effective radius (CER) show obvious spatial discrepancies in the Loess Plateau. Regions with high CF and COT values are mainly concentrated in the southern part of the Loess Plateau. In general, areas with high CER values also have low COT values. The highest CF values are observed in summer, and the highest COT values mainly appear in autumn. However, the highest CER values mainly appear in spring and winter. In terms of the diurnal variation, the CF is high at midday and low in the morning and afternoon, while the diurnal variation in COT values is the opposite: there are high COT values in the morning and afternoon and low values at midday. The CER values show an increasing trend from morning to afternoon and reach a maximum at 17:00 BJT. High CF values in the southern Loess Plateau and in summer relate to surface water and heat conditions; the vegetation cover, total column water vapor and temperature values are relatively high in this area. High COT values in the southern Loess Plateau are associated with sufficient water vapor levels and high levels of aerosol optical thickness. However, high CER levels in the northern Loess Plateau and in spring and winter may be caused by a higher nucleation rate related to the colder temperature. Moreover, more factors could influence CER, i.e., water vapor and aerosols, but they show complex relationships with the CER which need further explored.
Towards Smaller and Stronger: An Edge-Aware Lightweight Segmentation Approach for Unmanned Surface Vehicles in Water Scenarios
Authors: Han Wei , Zhao Binyu , Luo Jun
Published: May 2023

The accurate detection and segmentation of accessible surface regions in water scenarios is one of the indispensable capabilities of surface unmanned vehicle systems. ‘Most existing methods focus on accuracy and ignore the lightweight and real-time demands. Therefore, they are not suitable for embedded devices, which have been wildly applied in practical applications.‘ An edge-aware lightweight water scenario segmentation method (ELNet), which establishes a lighter yet better network with lower computation, is proposed. ELNet utilizes two-stream learning and edge-prior information. Except for the context stream, a spatial stream is expanded to learn spatial details in low-level layers with no extra computation cost in the inference stage. Meanwhile, edge-prior information is introduced to the two streams, which expands the perspectives of pixel-level visual modeling. The experimental results are 45.21% in FPS, 98.5% in detection robustness, 75.1% in F-score on MODS benchmark, 97.82% in precision, and 93.96% in F-score on USV Inland dataset. It demonstrates that ELNet uses fewer parameters to achieve comparable accuracy and better real-time performance.
Image Generation and Recognition for Railway Surface Defect Detection
Authors: Xia Yuwei , Han Sang Wook , Kwon Hyock Ju
Published: May 2023

Railway defects can result in substantial economic and human losses. Among all defects, surface defects are the most common and prominent type, and various optical-based non-destructive testing (NDT) methods have been employed to detect them. In NDT, reliable and accurate interpretation of test data is vital for effective defect detection. Among the many sources of errors, human errors are the most unpredictable and frequent. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to address this challenge; however, the lack of sufficient railway images with diverse types of defects is the major obstacle to training the AI models through supervised learning. To overcome this obstacle, this research proposes the RailGAN model, which enhances the basic CycleGAN model by introducing a pre-sampling stage for railway tracks. Two pre-sampling techniques are tested for the RailGAN model: image-filtration, and U-Net. By applying both techniques to 20 real-time railway images, it is demonstrated that U-Net produces more consistent results in image segmentation across all images and is less affected by the pixel intensity values of the railway track. Comparison of the RailGAN model with U-Net and the original CycleGAN model on real-time railway images reveals that the original CycleGAN model generates defects in the irrelevant background, while the RailGAN model produces synthetic defect patterns exclusively on the railway surface. The artificial images generated by the RailGAN model closely resemble real cracks on railway tracks and are suitable for training neural-network-based defect identification algorithms. The effectiveness of the RailGAN model can be evaluated by training a defect identification algorithm with the generated dataset and applying it to real defect images. The proposed RailGAN model has the potential to improve the accuracy of NDT for railway defects, which can ultimately lead to increased safety and reduced economic losses. The method is currently performed offline, but further study is planned to achieve real-time defect detection in the future.
Temporal, Kinematic and Kinetic Variables Derived from a Wearable 3D Inertial Sensor to Estimate Muscle Power during the 5 Sit to Stand Test in Older Individuals: A Validation Study
Authors: Bochicchio Gianluca , Ferrari Luca , Bottari Alberto , Lucertini Francesco , Scarton Alessandra , Pogliaghi Silvia
Published: May 2023

The 5-Sit-to-stand test (5STS) is widely used to estimate lower limb muscle power (MP). An Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) could be used to obtain objective, accurate and automatic measures of lower limb MP. In 62 older adults (30 F, 66 ± 6 years) we compared (paired t-test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman analysis) IMU-based estimates of total trial time (totT), mean concentric time (McT), velocity (McV), force (McF), and MP against laboratory equipment (Lab). While significantly different, Lab vs. IMU measures of totT (8.97 ± 2.44 vs. 8.86 ± 2.45 s, p = 0.003), McV (0.35 ± 0.09 vs. 0.27 ± 0.10 m∙s−1, p < 0.001), McF (673.13 ± 146.43 vs. 653.41 ± 144.58 N, p < 0.001) and MP (233.00 ± 70.83 vs. 174.84 ± 71.16 W, p < 0.001) had a very large to extremely large correlation (r = 0.99, r = 0.93, and r = 0.97 r = 0.76 and r = 0.79, respectively, for totT, McT, McF, McV and MP). Bland–Altman analysis showed a small, significant bias and good precision for all the variables, but McT. A sensor-based 5STS evaluation appears to be a promising objective and digitalized measure of MP. This approach could offer a practical alternative to the gold standard methods used to measure MP.
Exploring Transformer and Graph Convolutional Networks for Human Mobility Modeling
Authors: Corrias Riccardo , Gjoreski Martin , Langheinrich Marc
Published: May 2023

The estimation of human mobility patterns is essential for many components of developed societies, including the planning and management of urbanization, pollution, and disease spread. One important type of mobility estimator is the next-place predictors, which use previous mobility observations to anticipate an individual’s subsequent location. So far, such predictors have not yet made use of the latest advancements in artificial intelligence methods, such as General Purpose Transformers (GPT) and Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs), which have already achieved outstanding results in image analysis and natural language processing. This study explores the use of GPT- and GCN-based models for next-place prediction. We developed the models based on more general time series forecasting architectures and evaluated them using two sparse datasets (based on check-ins) and one dense dataset (based on continuous GPS data). The experiments showed that GPT-based models slightly outperformed the GCN-based models with a difference in accuracy of 1.0 to 3.2 percentage points (p.p.). Furthermore, Flashback-LSTM—a state-of-the-art model specifically designed for next-place prediction on sparse datasets—slightly outperformed the GPT-based and GCN-based models on the sparse datasets (1.0 to 3.5 p.p. difference in accuracy). However, all three approaches performed similarly on the dense dataset. Given that future use cases will likely involve dense datasets provided by GPS-enabled, always-connected devices (e.g., smartphones), the slight advantage of Flashback on the sparse datasets may become increasingly irrelevant. Given that the performance of the relatively unexplored GPT- and GCN-based solutions was on par with state-of-the-art mobility prediction models, we see a significant potential for them to soon surpass today’s state-of-the-art approaches.
Contract-Optimization Approach (COA): A New Approach for Optimizing Service Caching, Computation Offloading, and Resource Allocation in Mobile Edge Computing Network
Authors: Sun Zhiyao , Chen Guifen
Published: May 2023

An optimal method for resource allocation based on contract theory is proposed to improve energy utilization. In heterogeneous networks (HetNets), distributed heterogeneous network architectures are designed to balance different computing capacities, and MEC server gains are designed based on the amount of allocated computing tasks. An optimal function based on contract theory is developed to optimize the revenue gain of MEC servers while considering constraints such as service caching, computation offloading, and the number of resources allocated. As the objective function is a complex problem, it is solved utilizing equivalent transformations and variations of the reduced constraints. A greedy algorithm is applied to solve the optimal function. A comparative experiment on resource allocation is conducted, and energy utilization parameters are calculated to compare the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and the main algorithm. The results show that the proposed incentive mechanism has a significant advantage in improving the utility of the MEC server.
Navigation of an Autonomous Spraying Robot for Orchard Operations Using LiDAR for Tree Trunk Detection
Authors: Jiang Ailian , Ahamed Tofael
Published: May 2023

Traditional Japanese orchards control the growth height of fruit trees for the convenience of farmers, which is unfavorable to the operation of medium- and large-sized machinery. A compact, safe, and stable spraying system could offer a solution for orchard automation. Due to the complex orchard environment, the dense tree canopy not only obstructs the GNSS signal but also has effects due to low light, which may impact the recognition of objects by ordinary RGB cameras. To overcome these disadvantages, this study selected LiDAR as a single sensor to achieve a prototype robot navigation system. In this study, density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) and K-means and random sample consensus (RANSAC) machine learning algorithms were used to plan the robot navigation path in a facilitated artificial-tree-based orchard system. Pure pursuit tracking and an incremental proportional–integral–derivative (PID) strategy were used to calculate the vehicle steering angle. In field tests on a concrete road, grass field, and a facilitated artificial-tree-based orchard, as indicated by the test data results for several formations of left turns and right turns separately, the position root mean square error (RMSE) of this vehicle was as follows: on the concrete road, the right turn was 12.0 cm and the left turn was 11.6 cm, on grass, the right turn was 12.6 cm and the left turn was 15.5 cm, and in the facilitated artificial-tree-based orchard, the right turn was 13.8 cm and the left turn was 11.4 cm. The vehicle was able to calculate the path in real time based on the position of the objects, operate safely, and complete the task of pesticide spraying.
A Model-Assisted Probability of Detection Framework for Optical Fiber Sensors
Authors: Falcetelli Francesco , Yue Nan , Rossi Leonardo , Bolognini Gabriele , Bastianini Filippo , Zarouchas Dimitrios , Di Sante Raffaella Di
Published: May 2023

Optical fiber sensors (OFSs) represent an efficient sensing solution in various structural health monitoring (SHM) applications. However, a well-defined methodology is still missing to quantify their damage detection performance, preventing their certification and full deployment in SHM. In a recent study, the authors proposed an experimental methodology to qualify distributed OFSs using the concept of probability of detection (POD). Nevertheless, POD curves require considerable testing, which is often not feasible. This study takes a step forward, presenting a model-assisted POD (MAPOD) approach for the first time applied to distributed OFSs (DOFSs). The new MAPOD framework applied to DOFSs is validated through previous experimental results, considering the mode I delamination monitoring of a double-cantilever beam (DCB) specimen under quasi-static loading conditions. The results show how strain transfer, loading conditions, human factors, interrogator resolution, and noise can alter the damage detection capabilities of DOFSs. This MAPOD approach represents a tool to study the effects of varying environmental and operational conditions on SHM systems based on DOFSs and for the design optimization of the monitoring system.
Efficient Intelligence with Applications in Embedded Sensing
Authors: Zuo Xingxing , Liu Yong
Published: May 2023

Despite the fact that computational technology continues to rapidly develop, edge devices and embedded systems are still limited in terms of their computation resources due to such factors as power consumption, physical size constraints, and manufacturing cost [...]
The Validity of Hawkin Dynamics Wireless Dual Force Plates for Measuring Countermovement Jump and Drop Jump Variables
Authors: Badby Andrew J. , Mundy Peter D. , Comfort Paul , Lake Jason P. , McMahon John J.
Published: May 2023

Force plate testing is becoming more commonplace in sport due to the advent of commercially available, portable, and affordable force plate systems (i.e., hardware and software). Following the validation of the Hawkin Dynamics Inc. (HD) proprietary software in recent literature, the aim of this study was to determine the concurrent validity of the HD wireless dual force plate hardware for assessing vertical jumps. During a single testing session, the HD force plates were placed directly atop two adjacent Advanced Mechanical Technology Inc. in-ground force plates (the “gold standard”) to simultaneously collect vertical ground reaction forces produced by 20 participants (27 ± 6 years, 85 ± 14 kg, 176.5 ± 9.23 cm) during the countermovement jump (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ) tests (1000 Hz). Agreement between force plate systems was determined via ordinary least products regression using bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals. No bias was present between the two force plate systems for any of the CMJ and DJ variables, except DJ peak braking force (proportional bias) and DJ peak braking power (fixed and proportional bias). The HD system may be considered a valid alternative to the industry gold standard for assessing vertical jumps because fixed or proportional bias was identified for none of the CMJ variables (n = 17) and only 2 out of 18 DJ variables.
A Comparative Investigation of the Adsorption Characteristics of CO2, O2 and N2 in Different Ranks of Coal
Authors: Li Haijian , Zeng Qiang , Kang Jianhong , Cheng Gang , Cheng Jianwei , Wang Shengcheng
Published: May 2023

The adsorption mechanism of carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen in coal is important for preventing and controlling coal spontaneous combustion and for understanding the technology of CO2 storage in goaf. Adsorption amount and adsorption heat are key adsorption parameters that are required to understand the material and energy conversions during adsorption in coal. In this study, we studied the factors that influence the adsorption amounts and adsorption heat values of carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen in coal by testing four different coal samples using conventional coal quality analysis, low-pressure nitrogen and carbon dioxide adsorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and three gas adsorption experiments at different temperatures. Then, we analyzed the relationships between the structural parameters of the coal samples and the adsorption amounts and the adsorption heat values of carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen. The results show that the adsorption isotherms of carbon dioxide conform to the Langmuir equation, and the adsorption isotherms of oxygen and nitrogen conform to Henry’s law between 0 and 110 kPa. The adsorption amounts of carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen decreased with an increase in temperature, and the change in the rate of the adsorption amount with temperature was determined by the adsorption heat. The results of the pore structure show that the pores of the coal samples are composed of mesopores and micropores; the micropores contribute to the main specific surface area. The micropore and mesopore structures are the main determinants of the adsorption amounts of carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen in coal. The gas adsorption heat is affected by the pore structure and the chemical composition of coal. The adsorption heat of nitrogen correlates positively with the pore structure of the coal. The adsorption heat of oxygen correlates positively with the ash, elemental nitrogen, elemental sulfur and mineral contents of the coal. The adsorption heat of carbon dioxide correlates positively with the elemental sulfur content of the coal.
Sustainable Development: A Comparison between the Finnish and the Italian Education Systems
Authors: Messina Nunziata
Published: May 2023

The quality of education is a political priority. The European Union contributes through the principle of subsidiarity. In the Finnish and Italian education systems, assessment becomes fundamental and is closely connected to qualitative organization and to the objective of providing reliable information to plan effective policies with an increase in learning outcomes at various levels (i.e., local, regional, and national). This research explores the Italian and Finnish education systems to outline how they facilitate creating schooling systems that follow the objectives set by Agenda 2030 and are increasingly aimed at sustainability, an essential element in the relationship between humans and the environment. This study was enriched by new ideas and further research perspectives through field experience from a methodological point of view, starting from the international debate linked to the issue of sustainability and examining the OECD survey (PISA, in which European countries took part, specifically the experience of job shadowing in the city of Oulu). This investigation has highlighted the actions carried out in the Finnish educational path with the aim of tracing a “sustainable path” as an international model to follow.
Smart City Results and Sustainability: Current Progress and Emergent Opportunities for Future Research
Authors: Gil-Garcia J. Ramon , Chen Tzuhao , Gasco-Hernandez Mila
Published: May 2023

The notion of sustainability has gained increasing popularity in smart city research. While numerous studies have focused on how smart city initiatives either undermine or contribute to sustainability, a few essential questions remain unanswered. First, a vast body of knowledge has been accumulated on the results of smart cities, particularly their short-term outputs. However, it is not clear how those results can be sustained over time. Second, most of the existing literature touches on environmental and economic sustainability, whereas other perspectives, such as social and cultural sustainability, are still underexplored. Given these gaps, this study seeks to contribute to the sustainability and smart city literature by answering the following research questions: (1) To what extent have the results of smart city initiatives been addressed in previous studies? and (2) To what extent have smart city scholars addressed the different dimensions of sustainability? A narrative literature review was conducted. Our findings indicate that the sustainability of smart cities can be understood in two ways—the duration of results and the multi-dimensional long-term sustainability goals. Based on the findings, this study proposes a few intersections of the two concepts and an agenda to guide future research on sustainability in smart cities.
Cenozoic Sedimentary Characteristics of the East China Sea Shelf Basin and an Evaluation of the Suitability of Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide in the Saline Water Layer
Authors: Sun Jing , Chen Jianwen , Yang Changqing , Wang Jianqiang , Yuan Yong , Cao Ke , Zhao Yuting
Published: May 2023

Carbon sequestration in the sea area, with the advantages of high storage potential, high safety, low environmental impact, and a long storage period, serves as an important way to achieve the goals of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality”. The East China Sea Shelf Basin has a large area, and the target layer of carbon storage has a large thickness and wide distribution. Due to the high tectonic stability of the basin and the absence of earthquakes of magnitude 7 or higher, the basin is a subcooled–subthermal basin in terms of geothermal field characteristics. In addition, the basin has a high degree of oil and gas exploration and development, some of the reservoirs are in production depletion, the oil and gas transmission pipeline network is well developed, and the development engineering data are informative. Therefore, it enjoys the characteristics of shallow seawater depth; being close to the surrounding industrial areas; and having a short transmission distance, large effective space, and mature engineering conditions. Among the oil-and-gas-bearing basins in China’s waters, the suitability of carbon dioxide (CO2) geological storage in the saline water layer of the East China Sea Shelf Basin is highly suitable. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to comprehensively evaluate the suitability of CO2 geological storage in the saline water layer of each tectonic unit in the basin, and it is concluded that Taipei Depression and Zhedong Depression are highly suitable zones, Changjiang Depression and Haijiao Uplift are moderately suitable zones, and Yushan East Uplift, Hupijiao Uplift, and Pengjiayu Depression are generally suitable zones.
Economic Growing Quantity Model with Mortality in Newborn Items and Inhibition Cost of Ammonia Production under All-Units Discount Policy
Authors: Nobil Amir Hossein , Nobil Erfan , Cárdenas-Barrón Leopoldo Eduardo , Garza-Núñez Dagoberto , Treviño-Garza Gerardo , Céspedes-Mota Armando , Loera-Hernández Imelda de Jesús , Smith Neale R.
Published: May 2023

The amount of global ammonia (NH3) emissions is growing continuously, similar to the damage to the environment, particularly humans and animals, caused by those emissions. Various problems derived from pollution by ammonia emissions have attracted increasing attention in recent years. In particular, accumulation of ammonia in poultry farms is a concern for the poultry industry as it can lead to possible damage due to reduced bird performance, damage to the respiratory tract and skin of birds, and thus loss of customers. As birds age, ammonia production increases due to factors such as feeding and mobility, requiring the application of solutions to reduce it such as the use of fans, feed supplements, and temperature adjustments to improve bird health. These solutions impose additional costs on poultry farms to combat ammonia emissions. This study presents a general economic growing quantity (EGQ) model that includes the cost of inhibition of ammonia production during the growing period. In addition, the model is formulated under an all-units discount policy, where the price of newborn items is related to the size of the order purchased from the supplier. Furthermore, the model assumed that some newborn items are dead when the lot is received because of stress experiences and incidents during the catching, loading, transportation, and unloading. Finally, two versions of the proposed general EGQ model are presented: EGQ with no discount and EGQ with known slaughter age.
Numerical Simulation of Ground Subsidence Response Conditional on Geothermal Exploitation in a Karst Reservoir Area of North China
Authors: Yao Yahui , Li Shengtao , Jia Xiaofeng , Song Jian , Yue Dongdong , Zhang Qiuxia , Xiang Hong
Published: May 2023

Carbonate karst geothermal resources are widely distributed and have large reserves in North China. Currently, the scale of exploitation and utilization of the carbonate karst geothermal resources is gradually increasing. In this work, a geothermal exploitation area where the karst geothermal reservoirs are exploited on a large scale is selected as the study area, and methods including experiment and numerical simulation are used to study the exploitation-induced ground subsidence problems based on the long-term water level monitoring data of the geothermal reservoir. Through analyses of ground subsidence caused by water level changes in the geothermal reservoir, the following conclusions were obtained. The water level drawdown of different types of geothermal reservoirs had different effects on ground subsidence. The maximum ground subsidence of the study area caused by the water level decline of the Jxw carbonate geothermal reservoir was only 0.29 mm/a from 1983 to 2019, which is generally insignificant. In contrast, the same water level change of the Nm sandstone geothermal reservoir was predicted to cause 8.9 mm/a ground subsidence. To slow down or even prevent the ground subsidence, balanced production and reinjection are required. From the result of this work, it can be concluded that the decline of the water level of the Jxw carbonate geothermal reservoir caused by current large-scale geothermal exploitation will not cause serious ground subsidence.
Optimization of Engineering and Process Parameters for Vermicomposting
Authors: Katiyar Rajesh Babu , Sundaramurthy Suresh , Sharma Anil Kumar , Arisutha Suresh , Khan Moonis Ali , Sillanpää Mika
Published: May 2023

Urbanization and population rise considerably increase the generation of solid wastes. The recycling of solid wastes through vermicomposting is a sustainable approach. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of earthworm (Eisenia fetida and Eugilius euganiae)-processed/mixed solid waste manure (vermicompost) on the development, productivity, and chemical characteristics of chili and brinjal in different wooden reactors (R). A mixture of palash leaf litter, biogas slurry, food wastes from a hostel kitchen and households, and municipal solid waste (MSW) were used during the study. The effects of different reactors; process parameters; earthworm cultures, such as R1–R9 with different widths and lengths at a constant height (30 cm); pH, salt, and moisture content; temperature; C:N ratios; N, P, K, and pathogen content; and the type of mono/-polyculture on vermicompost were tested with respect to chili and brinjal production. The average net increase in the worms’ zoomass in reactor R1 at different mixed worm densities (E. fetida + E. eugeniae) under optimum conditions was observed. Compared to a monoculture reactor, the yield of both chili and brinjal were significantly greater in the polyculture reactor with vermicompost soil.
Hazards in Products of Plant Origin Reported in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) from 1998 to 2020
Authors: Pigłowski Marcin , Niewczas-Dobrowolska Magdalena
Published: May 2023

The elimination or reduction of hazards in plants is an important part of the “From field to fork” strategy adopted in the European Green Deal, where a sustainable model is pursued in the food system. In the European Union (EU), the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) is in place to provide information on risks in the food chain. The largest number of notifications in this system concerns plants, followed by products of animal origin and other products. The goal of the study was to examine RASFF notifications for products of plant origin with respect to hazard, year, product, notifying country, origin country, notification type, notification basis, distribution status and actions taken in 1998–2020. Data were extracted from the RASFF notifications’ pre-2021 public information database. A cluster analysis using joining and the two-way joining method was applied. The notifications mainly concerned aflatoxins in pistachios from Iran, ochratoxin A in raisins from Turkey, pesticide residues in peppers from Turkey, okra, curry, rice from India, tea from China and India, and pathogenic micro-organisms in sesame from India, and also basil, mint and betel from Thailand, Vietnam and Lao Republic. To ensure the safety of food of plant origin, it is necessary to adhere to good agricultural and manufacturing practices, involve producers in the control of farmers, ensure proper transport conditions (especially from Asian countries), ensure that legislative bodies set and update hazard limits, and ensure their subsequent control by the authorities of EU countries. Due to the broad period and scope of the studies that have been carried out and the significance of the European Union in the food chain, the research results can improve global sustainability efforts.
A Joint Computer-Aided Simulation and Water-Energy-Product (WEP) Approach for Technical Evaluation of PVC Production
Authors: Aguilar-Vásquez Eduardo , Ramos-Olmos Miguel , González-Delgado Ángel Darío
Published: May 2023

Recently, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has emerged as one of the most widely used polymers on the planet due to its versatile mechanical properties and chemical resistance. Suspension polymerization is the most employed method for its production, owing to its ability to control polymer characteristics and cost-effectiveness. However, issues such as water and energy consumption and management in the process have sparked interest in researching the performance and sustainability of the process. In this study, an approach for the technical evaluation of the PVC production process by suspension is proposed, using 11 indicators related to Water, Energy and Product (WEP), based on technical parameters and process simulation for the diagnosis of the process, framed under sustainability criteria. The simulation included the purification and drying stages of the polymer, along with a monomer recirculation stage. The properties of PVC obtained through the process simulation were over 90% accurate when compared to the literature. The technical analysis found that the process has high performance in the handling of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and PVC, with a production yield of 99% and an index of reused unconverted material of 99%. On the other hand, there are opportunities for improvement in the process, related to water usage management, since the indicator of wastewater production was 80% and the fractional water consumption was 1.8 m3/t. Regarding energy use, the process exhibits high consumption and an energy-specific intensity of 4682 MJ/t of PVC, but it has a low overall cost due to the use of natural gas in some stages of the process.
Analysis of Inequality Levels of Industrial Development in Rural Areas through Inequality Indices and Spatial Autocorrelation
Authors: Qu Rui , Lee Sang-Hyun , Rhee Zaewoong , Bae Seung-jong
Published: May 2023

To achieve a balanced and sustainable rural development pattern, this study used the Theil index, Gini coefficient, and Spatial Autocorrelation method to analyze the inequality of industrial economic development between rural areas in South Korea. The results showed that considering the whole of South Korea, the inequality in industrial economic development level among rural areas was reasonably balanced, and the inequality level showed a trend of narrowing. Considering the first-level regions, the levels of inequality varied. The economic development level of the rural areas around the Capital Area and Metropolitan Cities was higher than that of other rural areas, and policies should be established to support the economic development of other rural areas.
Influence of Limit State Function’s Form of Geotechnical Structures on Approximate Analytical Reliability Methods
Authors: Yang Zhiyong , Yin Chengchuan , Li Xueyou , Wang Lin , Zhang Lei
Published: May 2023

Approximate analytical methods have been frequently used in geotechnical engineering to estimate the reliability of geotechnical structures due to their efficiency and simplicity. The main spirit of these methods is using the moments of the limit state function to estimate the reliability index. However, the moments are strongly dependent on the form of the limit state function, resulting in the fact that these methods are sensitive to the form of limit state functions. This study aims to systematically explore how various equivalent forms of limit state functions affect the performance of several commonly used approximate analytical methods, including the first-order second-moment method, the first-order reliability method, and the point estimation method. The applicable conditions of these methods are illustrated through five typical geotechnical examples. The results indicate that the estimated accuracy for the first-order second-moment method and the point estimation method is affected by the form of the limit state functions. Although the form of the limit state function does not affect the accuracy of the first-order reliability method, it affects computational efficiency. The limit state functions with an equivalent logarithmic form are almost always favorable for the investigated examples and are thus recommended in practice.
Automated Processing of Data in the Comparative Estimation of Land Value during Land Consolidation Works
Authors: Leń Przemysław , Maciąg Klaudia , Maciąg Michał , Wójcik-Leń Justyna , Kocur-Bera Katarzyna
Published: May 2023

Estimation of the value of land, underlying the design of constituent plots of the farmstead, is a decisive element of the complex procedure of land consolidation and exchange. Correctly estimated value of agricultural land is a prerequisite for adequate and equitable delimitation of land plots to improve the living conditions of local residents and ensure efficient and profitable agricultural activity. The dynamic development of technology contributes to the development of multiple tools, considerably improving design works and field surveys in the land consolidation process. The world reference literature also gives numerous examples of surveys to optimise the methods for estimating a land value for consolidation projects. However, in our opinion, despite a vast collection of self-designed calculation methods, available sources insufficiently address the optimisation of existing methods based on the current legal framework and implementing practices. This paper presents a self-designed solution for the fully automated performance of complex comparative estimation of land based on the existing cadastral data and a simplified array showing the estimated value. The tool resulted in developing a set of data for directly importing the outcomes of calculations into land surveying software supporting steps of the land consolidation process. Following detailed evaluation, the proposed self-designed solutions were implemented at the Subcarpathian Office of Land Surveying, and Agricultural Areas in Rzeszow for land consolidation works in the Subcarpathian voivodeship in southeastern Poland.
A Method Proposal to Adapt Urban Open-Built and Green Spaces to Climate Change
Authors: Gargiulo Carmela , Zucaro Floriana
Published: May 2023

To rapidly adapt cities to the growing impacts of climate change, the open space system can play important functions as climate regulators and accelerators of sustainable urban development. To this end, this paper aims to provide a methodology that classifies open spaces on the basis of their physical characteristics and their contribution to climate vulnerability and articulates them according to the costs required for adaptation and the benefits brought. The method was applied to the city of Naples, which is an interesting case study due to its heterogeneous territory in terms of geomorphological features, such as hilly conformation and coastal location, and urban assets characterised by densely built urban fabrics with different distributions and kinds of activities. The results showed that (i) the open spaces with both low thermal and hydraulic performance are predominantly located in the peripheral part of the city, and (ii) the central area is strongly characterised by this dual issue. The latter output confirms the need to update the transformation rules of high historical-architectural value areas by introducing new resilience requirements criteria that cities are asked to have.