bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Above-Ground Carbon Storage and Light Saturation Value in Northeastern China’s Natural Forests Using Different Spatial Regression Models
Authors: Wu Simin , Sun Yuman , Jia Weiwei , Wang Fan , Lu Shixin , Zhao Haiping
Published: September 2023

In recent years, accurate estimation and spatial mapping of above-ground carbon (AGC) storage in forests have been crucial for formulating carbon trading policies and promoting sustainable development strategies. Forest structure complexities mean that during their growth, trees may be affected by the surrounding environment, giving rise to spatial autocorrelation and heterogeneity in nearby forest segments. When estimating forest AGC through remote sensing, data saturation can arise in dense forest stands, adding to the uncertainties in AGC estimation. Our study used field-measured stand factors data from 138 forest fire risk plots located in Fenglin County in the Northeastern region, set within a series of temperate forest environments in 2021 and Sentinel-2 remote sensing image data with a spatial resolution of 10 m. Using ordinary least squares (OLS) as a baseline, we constructed and compared it against four spatial regression models, spatial lag model (SLM), spatial error model (SEM), spatial Durbin model (SDM), and geographically weighted regression (GWR), to better understand forest AGC spatial distribution. The results of local spatial analysis reveal significant spatial effects among plot data. The GWR model outperformed others with an R2 value of 0.695 and the lowest rRMSE at 0.273, considering spatial heterogeneity and extending the threshold range for AGC estimation. To address the challenge of light saturation during AGC estimation, we deployed traditional linear functions, the generalized additive model (GAM), and the quantile generalized additive model (QGAM). AGC light saturation values derived from QGAM most accurately reflect the actual conditions, with the forests in Fenglin County exhibiting a light saturation range of 108.832 to 129.894 Mg/ha. The GWR effectively alleviated the impact of data saturation, thereby reducing the uncertainty of AGC spatial distribution in Fenglin County. Overall, accurate predictions of large-scale forest carbon storage provide valuable guidance for forest management, forest conservation, and the promotion of sustainable development strategies.
Effects of Seed Biological Characteristics and Environmental Factors on Seed Germination of the Critically Endangered Species Hopea chinensis (Merr.) Hand.-Mazz. in China
Authors: Liu Xiongsheng , Xiao Yufei , Ling Yaming , Liao Nanyan , Wang Renjie , Wang Yong , Liang Huizi , Li Juan , Chen Fengfan
Published: September 2023

Hopea chinensis (Merr.) Hand.-Mazz. is a Class II national key protected plant and Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations in China. In order to further analyze why H. chinensis is endangered and optimize conservation techniques, we carried out a study on the effects of seed biological characteristics and environmental factors on the seed germination and seedling growth of H. chinensis. The results show that there were no significant differences in seed morphology between four populations in southern China, but there were significant differences in calyx lobe morphology and seed germination. The removal or retention of the calyx lobes or the seed coat had no significant effect on seed germination. The weight of individual H. chinensis seeds was mainly >1.0 g, with small seeds (<0.5 g) not germinating, whereas seeds >2.0 g had the highest germination rate and fastest seedling growth. H. chinensis produces typical recalcitrant seeds, being sensitive to natural dehydration, with dehydration for 8 d reducing seed viability by 50%, whereas dehydration for 16 d resulted in seeds with zero viability. H. chinensis seeds are light-neutral and capable of germination at a temperature of 30 °C and on a substrate with good water retention and aeration. The seeds are not tolerant of drought, salinity, or flooding. In conclusion, the unique biological characteristics of H. chinensis seeds and the specific habitat which they inhabit contribute to a significant loss of viable seeds, which negatively affects the population’s ability to regenerate and achieve maintenance.
Digital Health Interventions to Improve Access to and Quality of Primary Health Care Services: A Scoping Review
Authors: Erku Daniel , Khatri Resham , Endalamaw Aklilu , Wolka Eskinder , Nigatu Frehiwot , Zewdie Anteneh , Assefa Yibeltal
Published: September 2023

Global digital technology advances offer the potential to enhance primary health care (PHC) quality, reach, and efficiency, driving toward universal health coverage (UHC). This scoping review explored how digital health solutions aid PHC delivery and UHC realization by examining the context, mechanisms, and outcomes of eHealth interventions. A comprehensive literature search was conducted, capturing qualitative and quantitative studies, process evaluations, and systematic or scoping reviews. Our analysis of 65 articles revealed that a well-functioning digital ecosystem—featuring adaptable, interoperable digital tools, robust Information and Communications Technology foundations, and enabling environments—is pivotal for eHealth interventions’ success. Facilities with better digital literacy, motivated staff, and adequate funding demonstrated a higher adoption of eHealth technologies, leading to improved, coordinated service delivery and higher patient satisfaction. However, eHealth’s potential is often restricted by existing socio-cultural norms, geographical inequities in technology access, and digital literacy disparities. Our review underscores the importance of considering the digital ecosystem’s readiness, user behavior, broader health system requirements, and PHC capacity for adopting digital solutions while assessing digital health interventions’ impact.
Multi-Fundus Diseases Classification Using Retinal Optical Coherence Tomography Images with Swin Transformer V2
Authors: Li Zhenwei , Han Yanqi , Yang Xiaoli
Published: September 2023

Fundus diseases cause damage to any part of the retina. Untreated fundus diseases can lead to severe vision loss and even blindness. Analyzing optical coherence tomography (OCT) images using deep learning methods can provide early screening and diagnosis of fundus diseases. In this paper, a deep learning model based on Swin Transformer V2 was proposed to diagnose fundus diseases rapidly and accurately. In this method, calculating self-attention within local windows was used to reduce computational complexity and improve its classification efficiency. Meanwhile, the PolyLoss function was introduced to further improve the model’s accuracy, and heat maps were generated to visualize the predictions of the model. Two independent public datasets, OCT 2017 and OCT-C8, were applied to train the model and evaluate its performance, respectively. The results showed that the proposed model achieved an average accuracy of 99.9% on OCT 2017 and 99.5% on OCT-C8, performing well in the automatic classification of multi-fundus diseases using retinal OCT images.
Enhancing Fatigue Life and Strength of Adhesively Bonded Composite Joints: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Malekinejad Hossein , Carbas Ricardo J. C. , Akhavan-Safar Alireza , Marques Eduardo A. S. , Castro Sousa Fernando , da Silva Lucas F. M.
Published: September 2023

Adhesive bonding is widely seen as the most optimal method for joining composite materials, bringing significant benefits over mechanical joining, such as lower weight and reduced stress concentrations. Adhesively bonded composite joints find extensive applications where cyclic fatigue loading takes place, but this might ultimately lead to crack damage and safety issues. Consequently, it has become essential to study how these structures behave under fatigue loads and identify the remaining gaps in knowledge to give insights into new possibilities. The fatigue life of adhesively bonded composite joints is influenced by various parameters, including joint configuration and material properties of adherends and adhesive. Numerous studies with varying outcomes have been documented in the literature. However, due to the multitude of influential factors, deriving conclusive insights from these studies for practical design purposes has proven to be challenging. Hence, this review aims to address this challenge by discussing different methods to enhance the fatigue performance of adhesively bonded composite joints. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive overview of the existing literature on adhesively bonded composite joints under cyclic fatigue loading, focusing on three main aspects: Adherends modification, adhesive modification, and joint configurations. Since the effect of modifying the adhesive, adherends, and joint configurations on fatigue performance has not been comprehensively studied in the literature, this review aims to fill this gap by compiling and comparing the relevant experimental data. Furthermore, this review discusses the challenges and limitations associated with the methods that can be used to monitor the initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks.
A High-Performance and Cost-Effective Field Programmable Gate Array-Based Motor Drive Emulator
Authors: Hernandez Julio , Rangel-Magdaleno Jose de Jesus , Morales-Caporal Roberto
Published: September 2023

This work presents a hardware-based digital emulator capable of digitally driving a permanent magnet synchronous machine electronic setup. The aim of this work is to present a high-performance, cost-effective, and portable complementary solution when new paradigms of electronic drive design are generated, such as machine early failure detection, fault-tolerant drive, and high-performance control strategy implementations. In order to achieve the high performance required by the digital emulator, the electronic drive models (permanent-magnet synchronous machine, voltage-source inverter, motor-control strategy) are digitally described in Verilog hardware description language and implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) digital platform using two approaches: parallel and sequential methods. The results obtained show the effectiveness of the digital emulator design, and the resources used by the solution presented can be implemented on a low-cost digital platform that reveals a cost-effective operation of the solution presented.
Dark Chocolate Intake Positively Modulates Gut Permeability in Elite Football Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Nocella Cristina , Cavarretta Elena , Fossati Chiara , Pigozzi Fabio , Quaranta Federico , Peruzzi Mariangela , De Grandis Fabrizio , Costa Vincenzo , Sharp Carwyn , Manara Massimo , Nigro Antonia , Cammisotto Vittoria , Castellani Valentina , Picchio Vittorio , Sciarretta Sebastiano , Frati Giacomo , Bartimoccia Simona , D’Amico Alessandra , Carnevale Roberto
Published: September 2023

Gut barrier disruption can lead to enhanced intestinal permeability, which allows endotoxins, pathogens, and other proinflammatory substances to move through the intestinal barrier into circulation. Intense exercise over a prolonged period increases intestinal permeability, which can be further worsened by the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was to assess the degree of intestinal permeability in elite football players and to exploit the effect of cocoa polyphenols on intestinal permeability induced by intensive physical exercise. Biomarkers of intestinal permeability, such as circulating levels of zonulin, a modulator of tight junctions, occludin, a tight junction protein, and LPS translocation, were evaluated in 24 elite football players and 23 amateur athletes. Moreover, 24 elite football players were randomly assigned to either a dark chocolate (>85% cocoa) intake (n = 12) or a control group (n = 12) for 30 days in a randomized controlled trial. Biochemical analyses were performed at baseline and after 30 days of chocolate intake. Compared to amateur athletes, elite football players showed increased intestinal permeability as indicated by higher levels of zonulin, occludin, and LPS. After 30 days of dark chocolate intake, decreased intestinal permeability was found in elite athletes consuming dark chocolate. In the control group, no changes were observed. In vitro, polyphenol extracts significantly improved intestinal damage in the human intestinal mucosa cell line Caco-2. These results indicate that chronic supplementation with dark chocolate as a rich source of polyphenols positively modulates exercise-induced intestinal damage in elite football athletes.
The Role of Meeting Exercise and Nutrition Guidelines on Sleep during Pregnancy
Authors: McCarthy Traci A. , Velez Sarah M. , Buckman Jennifer F. , Spaeth Andrea M.
Published: September 2023

Sleep disturbances are common during pregnancy. This study determined whether meeting physical activity or dietary guidelines during pregnancy was associated with improved sleep. Third trimester pregnant women (n = 49, 31.9 ± 4.1 years) completed physical activity and sleep questionnaires and then wore a wrist actigraph 24 h/day and completed three 24 h dietary recalls across two weeks. Participants who reported meeting physical activity guidelines (>150 min moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA]/week, n = 23) or dietary guidelines (≥1.1 g protein/kg body weight/day, n = 26 or ≥25 g fiber/day, n = 16) were compared to those who were physically inactive (<90 min/week) or did not meet dietary guidelines, respectively. Multivariate ANOVAs and Mann–Whitney U tests compared groups and correlations were conducted between physical activity, diet, and sleep variables. Physical activity groups did not differ in objective sleep measures (ps > 0.05); however, the active group reported better sleep quality (p = 0.049). Those who met protein guidelines exhibited longer sleep duration and less wake-after-sleep-onset (ps < 0.05). Across all participants, higher weekly MET mins/week of MVPA associated with better sleep quality (p = 0.02), and a diet higher in fat and lower in carbohydrates associated with longer sleep duration (ps < 0.05). Meeting physical activity and nutrition guidelines positively associates with improved sleep, with protein associated with objective measures and physical activity with subjective measures.
Reassessing the Effects of Dietary Fat on Cardiovascular Disease in China: A Review of the Last Three Decades
Authors: Zeng Wei , Jin Qingzhe , Wang Xingguo
Published: September 2023

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of global mortality, and is considered one of diseases with the most rapid growth rate in China. Numerous studies have indicated a closed relationship between an increased incidence of CVD and dietary factors. Dietary fat is one of the three primary nutrients of consumption; however, high fat dietary in causing CVD has been neglected in some official dietary guidelines. Our present review has analyzed the relationship between dietary fat consumption and CVD in China over the past 30 years (from 1990 to 2019). There is a significant correlation between CVD incidence and mortality for consumption of both vegetable oils and animal fats, per capita consumption, and the relative weight of dietary fat exceeding that of other food ingredients (e.g., salt, fruit, and marine food). For fatty acid species, the proportion of ω6 fatty acid consumption increased, causing a significant increase in the ratios of ω6/ω3 fatty acids, whereas the proportion of monounsaturated fatty acid consumption decreased. Such changes have been considered a characteristic of dietary fat consumption in Chinese residents over the past 30 years, and are closely related to the incidence of CVD. Therefore, we suggest that the government should spread awareness regarding the consumption of dietary fat intake to prevent CVD and related health disorders. The public should be educated to avoid high fat diet and increase the intake of monounsaturated fatty acids and ω3 fatty acids.
Delamination Strength Comparison of Additively Manufactured Composite Curved Beams Using Continuous Fibers
Authors: Süsler Sedat , Kazancı Zafer
Published: September 2023

The objective of this study is to show the applicability of various 3D-printed composite curved beams using continuous fibers and their delamination strength when they are subjected to bending loading. Four-point bending tests are configured for comparative research on evaluating the effect of fiber types on the delamination strength and failure mode. Out-of-plane tensile properties are calculated analytically by using experimental data. The number of curved beams per build during multiple printing is examined to observe the effect of delay time between each deposited layer of parts. Macro-scale finite element simulations including surface-based cohesive concept for the selected 3D-printed composite curved beam design are also presented and compared. The analytical results show that carbon fiber reinforced curved beam design is superior to the other fiber types by at least 18% in the interlaminar tensile strength and is relatively challenging against the conventionally manufactured composite curved beams in the literature despite its low fiber volume ratio. There is no gross effect of delay time between each deposited layer of parts, although printing a single sample is favorable for better strength. There is a presence of compatibility between the analytical and numerical results as the percentage difference for maximum load, radial tensile strength and maximum displacement are found as 1.8%, 2.4% and 1.5%, respectively, in a 3D cohesive model. A 2D cohesive model offers a fast solution and a competitive agreement with test results when the 2D and 3D finite element models are compared.
Studying the Degradation of Three Polymers under Different Chlorine Concentrations and Exposure Times
Authors: Barbosa Marta L. S. , Costa Rúben D. F. S. , Silva Francisco J. G. , Sousa Susana R. , Pinto Arnaldo G. , Ferreira Bruno O.
Published: September 2023

Due to chlorine’s ability to kill bacteria and fungi through a chemical reaction, chlorine solutions are commonly used to clean and disinfect numerous public facilities, although these actions are also dependent to the equipment present in those facilities. Accordingly, the interest in studying its effect when in contact with different materials is obvious. This study was carried out through accelerated degradation tests and various analysis methods (optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, and tensile tests). The objective was to observe the wear presented by three polymeric materials, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polypropylene (PP), when exposed to chlorine’s action in swimming pools and drinking water treatment plants. The resulting effect depends on the chlorine content and the type of contact between the chemical agent and the material. The aim was to select the material less likely to be affected by chlorine through tests and analyses, allowing a longer component life. The use of certain more resistant polymeric materials can drastically reduce maintenance, reducing fundamental factors such as costs, the downtime of municipal facilities, and also the risk to public health. It was concluded that PVC has the most stable behaviour overall when in contact with chlorine solutions.
Polyaryletherketone Based Blends: A Review
Authors: Korycki Adrian , Carassus Fabrice , Tramis Olivier , Garnier Christian , Djilali Toufik , Chabert France
Published: September 2023

This review aims to report the status of the research on polyaryletherketone-based thermoplastic blends (PAEK). PAEK are high-performance copolymers able to replace metals in many applications including those related to the environmental and energy transition. PAEK lead to the extension of high-performance multifunctional materials to target embedded electronics, robotics, aerospace, medical devices and prostheses. Blending PAEK with other thermostable thermoplastic polymers is a viable option to obtain materials with new affordable properties. First, this study investigates the miscibility of each couple. Due to different types of interactions, PAEK-based thermoplastic blends go from fully miscible (with some polyetherimides) to immiscible (with polytetrafluoroethylene). Depending on the ether-to-ketone ratio of PAEK as well as the nature of the second component, a large range of crystalline structures and blend morphologies are reported. The PAEK-based thermoplastic blends are elaborated by melt-mixing or solution blending. Then, the effect of the composition and blending preparation on the mechanical properties are investigated. PAEK-based thermoplastic blends give rise to the possibility of tuning their properties to design novel materials. However, we demonstrate hereby that significant research effort is needed to overcome the lack of knowledge on the structure/morphology/property relationships for those types of high-performance thermoplastic blends.
Assessing the Sustainability Impacts of the Xiaolangdi Dam: Land Use and Socioeconomic Change in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yellow River Basin
Authors: Wang Wei , Xi Jiarui , Sun Liu , Liu Bo , Hu Yawei , Han Zhen , Benson David
Published: September 2023

This paper assesses the sustainability impacts in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River in China after the Xiaolangdi Dam was constructed. Based on land use data interpreted from Landsat remote sensing images, covering the time period from 2000 to 2020 at 5-year intervals, this research uses a land dynamic attitude index and comprehensive index of land use degree to reveal the degree of land use type change in the study area and analyze the relationship between land use and social economy. The results show that urban and rural construction land is the land use type with the largest annual change rate, and the increase is most obvious from 2005 to 2010, growing by nearly 900 km2. The six types of land use in the research area changed sharply from 2000 to 2010, with grassland and unused land showing the most significant change. On the whole, the dynamic attitude of comprehensive land use tends to be stable. The comprehensive index analysis of land use degree indicates that the study area has developed in the direction of urban settlement. Population and GDP are the main driving factors affecting the constant change in land use types in this region, in which population growth and rapid economic development are the main factors leading to the decline of grassland area, and are also the main driving factors for the expansion of construction land. The research results provide a scientific basis for sustainable land use and development in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River Basin.
Low-Carbon Travel Behavior in Daily Residence and Tourism Destination: Based on TPB-ABC Integrated Model
Authors: Wang Liying , Wang Junya , Shen Pengxia , Liu Shangqing , Zhang Shuwei
Published: September 2023

Low-carbon travel is considered as one of the most important strategies to reduce transportation carbon emissions, and its success is decided by the active participation of residents. Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and Attitude-Behavior-Context theory (ABC), this study explores the influencing factors and formation paths of individual low-carbon travel behavior, and analyzes low-carbon travel behavior regarding both daily commuting from residence and tourism destinations. This study collects a sample of 506 respondents and uses Mplus 8.0 to examine the hypotheses. Empirical research results indicate that: (1) A certain gap exists in the individuals’ low-carbon travel behavior between daily residence and tourism destination. Differences exist in direct effects, mediating effects and moderating effects. (2) Low-carbon travel behavioral intention plays a significant mediating role in both daily residence and tourism destination, especially the former. Regarding daily residence, individuals’ attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control have a positive effect on behavior through behavioral intention. Regarding tourism destination, only the attitude-low-carbon travel behavioral intention-behavior path is significant. (3) Situational factors play a significant positive moderating effect on the relationship between low-carbon travel behavioral intention and behavior, especially in tourism destination. This study reveals the internal mechanism of individuals’ low-carbon travel behavior and the differences between travel in daily life and tourism, helping to deepen understanding of individuals’ low-carbon travel behavior and providing guidance for promoting individuals’ low-carbon travel.
The Axial Compression Behavior of Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete-Filled Circular Steel-Tubular Column
Authors: Zhang Xianggang , Luo Chengyi , Wang Junbo , Kuang Xiaomei , Huang Yajun
Published: September 2023

Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) technology has received a lot of attention as a green environmental protection technology. However, the unsatisfactory mechanical behavior of RAC restricts its application in engineering practice. The structure of basalt fiber-recycled aggregate concrete-filled circular steel tubes (C-BFRACFST) can dually improve the mechanical behavior of RAC. To observe the axial compression behavior of the C-BFRACFST column, seven specimens were designed with recycled aggregate replacement ratio (0%, 50%, 100%), basalt fiber (BF) content (0 kg/m3, 2 kg/m3, 4 kg/m3) and length–diameter (L/D, 5, 8, 11) as variable parameters for axial compression tests. The failure mode, load–displacement/strain curve, axial compression deformation, ultimate bearing capacity, energy dissipation, and ductility of specimens have been analyzed. The derived constitutive relation of core basalt fiber-reinforced recycled aggregate concrete (BFRAC) constrained by the circular steel tube and the 3D finite element model of C-BFRACFST column have been established to simulate the whole process of compression. It is observed that instability or shear failure occurs in specimens under axial compression load. When the recycled aggregate replacement ratio was increased from 50% to 100%, the change in the energy-dissipation capacity of the specimens was not significant but the ultimate bearing capacity and displacement ductility coefficient decreased by 3.45% and 8.91%, respectively. When the BF content was increased from 2 kg/m3 to 4kg/m3, the change in the ultimate bearing capacity of specimens was not significant; the energy-dissipation capacity at the later stage of bearing increased, and the displacement ductility coefficient was noted to increase by 13.34%. When the L/D was increased from 8 to 11, the energy-dissipation capacity of specimens was decreased, and the ultimate bearing capacity and displacement ductility coefficient declined by 1.37% and 43.52%, respectively. The finite element simulation results are in agreement with the test results.
Slums Evolution and Sustainable Urban Growth: A Comparative Study of Makoko and Badia-East Areas in Lagos City
Authors: Gilbert Katabarwa Murenzi , Shi Yishao
Published: September 2023

This research addresses the evolution of slums in two specific areas of Lagos City, a consequence of rapid urbanization in developing economies. The study aims to analyze the key characteristics of slums’ evolution while analyzing mathematical spatial changes within the Badia-East and Makoko slum areas in two decades, focusing on promoting sustainable urban growth. The integration of Remote Sensing (RS) technology and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools has dramatically facilitated the monitoring of Land Use Land Cover (LULC) changes over two decades. This research used Landsat imagery acquired in 2000, 2010, and 2020 to meet our research aims. The research applied supervised classification and the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) for image mapping and mathematical-based analysis. Research created a spatial framework using grid-cell maps, performed change detection, and generated detailed maps to support our analysis. A comparative analysis was also performed in the selected areas with a different history in slum management systems. The findings reveal that both Makoko and Badia-East exhibit slum-like characteristics. Makoko witnessed a significant increase in informal built-up expansion of 27.6% and 7.7% between 2000 and 2010 and between 2010 and 2020, respectively. These changes converted 34.65 hectares of non-built-up land in Makoko into built-up areas. Conversely, Badia-East reported an increase in built-up areas only between 2000 and 2010, which amounted to 8.5%. However, the government’s intervention caused a decrease of 12.7% in built-up areas of Badia-East between 2010 and 2020. The study underscores the urgent need for slum clearance and upgrading initiatives in Makoko, like those implemented in Badia-East between 2013 and 2017. The conclusion drawn from the study of Makoko’s informal built-up areas is that it is causing adverse effects on human life and the environment. The expansion has resulted in an increase in air and water pollution, which is having adverse effects. Therefore, the study recommends upgrading and clearing out Makoko and suggests taking lessons from the successful experience in Badia-East. The study also highlights the importance of prioritizing community needs and voices to ensure efficient resource utilization while safeguarding the well-being of future generations.
Heterogeneous Effects of Public Procurement on Environmental Innovation, Evidence from European Companies
Authors: Yu Chunling , Morotomi Toru , Wang Qunwei
Published: September 2023

Although substantial studies have discussed drivers or determinants of eco-innovation including environmental policies, research on relations between public procurement and environmental innovation is rare. This paper applies the propensity score matching (PSM) method to estimate the impact of public procurement on enterprises’ decisions to introduce innovations with environmental benefits, with 2014 Community Innovation Survey (CIS) data collected from firms in 15 European countries. The findings suggest that companies with a public contract are 5.7% more likely to introduce innovations with environmental benefits. Furthermore, this paper estimates the effects perfectly matching the types of eco-innovation, firm size, cooperative partner, nations, and industrial sectors. The firms that provide goods or services to public sectors have a larger possibility to be innovative for recycled waste, water, and material for their own use or sale (by 3.3~4.5%); for reduced energy use and CO2 footprint by end users (3.1~4.2%); for reduced air, water, noise, and soil pollution by end users (5.4~5.7%); for facilitated recycling of the product after use (2.6~3.4%); and for extended life length of the product (2.9~3.4%). The eco-innovation efforts in small (<50 employees) and large (>250 employees) companies are examined to be promoted by public procurement, with the magnitude of 5.0~6.3% and 7.5~10.6%, respectively. This study provides a creative theoretical framework of “dual-impetus” to explain the effect of public procurement on eco-innovation and is one of the first empirical research studies contributing to the discussions of the emerging topic by providing a more nuanced view of the heterogeneous effect of public procurement and companies’ eco-innovation behavior.
Achieving Healthy City Development in Ghana: Referencing Sustainable Development Goal 11
Authors: Botchway Edward Ayebeng , Agyekum Kofi , Kotei-Martin Jenefailus Nikoi , Pittri Hayford , Dompey Annabel Morkporkpor Ami , Afram Samuel Owusu , Asare Nathaniel Elikplim
Published: September 2023

Despite the growing responsiveness in creating eco-friendly cities with reference to SDG 11, little attention has been focused on the role of Ghanaian local authorities (i.e., District Assemblies (DAs)) in achieving this global feat. Therefore, this study seeks to assess the views of personnel working with Ghana’s District Assemblies on the achievement of healthy city development (HCD) through the lens of SDG 11. Data were obtained from 165 key personnel currently working with the District Assemblies in Ghana through structured close-ended questionnaires. The data gathered from the respondents were analyzed via descriptive and inferential statistics. Results from this study revealed that personnel working in the DAs of Ghana possess an average level of awareness of the SDG 11 indicators. Furthermore, the findings revealed a low level of achievement of development toward attaining healthy cities in Ghana. Subsequently, the findings also revealed four (4) critical challenges encountered in achieving HCD with the topmost being the ‘lack of financial resources for implementing healthy city policies’. The findings from this study pioneer knowledge on the scarce literature sources on the topic within the Ghanaian context. It also provides insight into the current level of achievement of SDG 11 targets in Ghana.
Sustainability through Humility: The Impact of Humble Leadership on Work–Family Facilitation in the U.S. and Japan
Authors: Kim Soyeon , Gopalan Neena , Beutell Nicholas
Published: September 2023

This study examines the influence of leader humility on work–family facilitation (WFF) in the U.S. and Japan by exploring the mediating roles of the four dimensions of psychological empowerment (meaningful work, autonomy, competency, and impact) on this relationship. Drawing from a sample of 392 Japanese employees and 132 U.S. employees, our findings suggest that leader humility is positively related to WFF in both cultural contexts. Meaningful work and departmental impact emerge as significant mediators in both cultures, while the mediation effects of autonomy and competency are valid in Japan only. An additional test reveals that meaningful work is the most significant mediator in both countries, underscoring the pivotal role of leader humility and meaningful work in enhancing WFF. The study adds to the growing literature on the beneficial effects of leader humility on sustainable organizations, while offering insights into improving employee wellbeing and work–life interactions across diverse cultural contexts.
A Review on Life Cycle Assessment of Pavements in Brazil: Evaluating Environmental Impacts and Pavement Performance Integrating the International Roughness Index
Authors: Wintruff Natalia Cavero , Fernandes José Leomar
Published: September 2023

This article addresses the limited understanding of the landscape regarding Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in Brazilian pavement infrastructure. It provides an overview of LCA’s application in assessing the environmental effects of pavements while exploring the use of the International Roughness Index (IRI) as a performance criterion to assess environmental consequences and pavement performance. A comprehensive search for relevant quantitative LCA studies, published from 2013 to 2023, was conducted across several bibliographic databases, following ISO 14040 standards. A total of fourteen case studies were analyzed, providing insight into frequently used software, databases, Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methods, and functional units. Furthermore, global warming or greenhouse gases (GHG) were the most frequently used environmental indicators, while materials, transportation, and construction were the most inventoried life cycle phases. However, the search also highlighted limitations, including the availability of Brazilian data and scope definition. Nevertheless, a quantitative comparison between conventional pavements showed a low standard deviation. The scenarios studied demonstrated that using recycled materials in pavement construction and employing high-strength materials in layers and subgrade can reduce environmental impacts. In conclusion, these findings contribute to the development of sustainable pavement practices in Brazil and highlight the need for further research to validate current findings and address existing gaps.
Managing Fraud in Food Supply Chains: The Case of Honey Laundering
Authors: Hall David C.
Published: September 2023

Recent food fraud incidents have highlighted the need to manage fraud risks in food supply chains. However, there is little research on how to manage these risks. Our study helps to alleviate this issue by examining food fraud risk management in the Asia–Pacific honey supply chain. We conducted interviews about existing food fraud risk management practices. We then used the Gioia method to generate a framework of these management practices, which expanded the “Six Ts” framework by adding a seventh dimension of Tolerance to this extant framework. Next, we empirically examined this novel Seven Ts framework. We found that managers treat many of these risk management practice dimensions as substitutes rather than complements. Our findings and managerial guidance are practically relevant for food companies. Lastly, we believe that, by implementing some of these suggestions theoretically generated and empirically validated by our framework, food supply chains may become more sustainable.
Gen Z and HIV—Strategies for Optimizing the Care of the Next Generation of Adolescents Living with HIV
Authors: Dufour Inès , Fougère Yves , Goetghebuer Tessa , Hainaut Marc , Mbiya Benoît , Kakkar Fatima , Yombi Jean Cyr , Van der Linden Dimitri
Published: September 2023

The management of adolescents living with HIV represents a particular challenge in the global response to HIV. The challenges specific to this age group include difficulties engaging and maintaining them in care, challenges with transition to adult care, and limited therapeutic options for treatment-experienced patients, all of which have been jeopardized by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper summarizes some of the challenges in managing adolescents living with HIV, as well as some of the most recent and innovative therapeutic approaches in this population.
Dam System and Reservoir Operational Safety: A Meta-Research
Authors: Badr Ahmed , Li Zoe , El-Dakhakhni Wael
Published: September 2023

Dams are critical infrastructure necessary for water security, agriculture, flood risk management, river navigation, and clean energy generation. However, these multiple, and often conflicting, objectives introduce complexity in managing dam operations. In addition, dam infrastructure has been evolving as complex systems-of-systems with multiple interacting components and subsystems, all susceptible to a wide range of uncertainties. Such complexities and uncertainties have triggered extensive research initiatives focused on dam systems and reservoir operational safety. Focusing on the latter, this paper meta-researches (conducts research-on-research) previously published studies to identify the critical research gaps and propose future research directions. In this respect, this paper first performs a quantitative analysis of the pertinent literature, using text mining and subsequent topic modeling, to identify and classify major and uncover latent topics in the field. Subsequently, qualitative analysis is conducted to critically review the identified topics, exploring the concepts, definitions, modeling tools, and major research trends. Specifically, the study identified seven topics: optimization models; climate change; flood risk; inflow forecasting; hydropower generation; water supply management; and risk-based assessment and management. The study also presents three main research gaps associated with the limitations in modeling concepts, modeling tools capabilities, and the lack of resilience-guided management of dam operational safety. Overall, this study presents a road map of the currently available dam and reservoir operational safety research and associated knowledge gaps, as well as potential future research directions to ensure the resilience of such critically important infrastructure, especially in the age of climate change.
An Evaluation System for Assessing the Operational Efficiency of Urban Combined Sewer Systems Using AHP—Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation: A Case Study in Shanghai, China
Authors: Wang Hongwu , Yan Ming , Gao Yuan , Wang Yanqiong , Dai Xiaohu
Published: September 2023

In recent years, China’s urban smart water management has focused on enhancing the quality, efficiency, energy conservation, flood prevention, and control of combined sewer overflow (CSO) and urban waterlogging. To evaluate the combined sewer system’s operation efficiency effectively, a comprehensive evaluation system was established. This system incorporated expert scoring and the coefficient of variation method, considering 31 specific indexes to assess six key aspects: CSO control, waterlogging control, stable wastewater transportation, pipeline management and maintenance, energy conservation, and smart water affairs. The AHP—Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation was employed for evaluation, combining AHP for index weighting and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation for quantitative scoring. The system was applied to assess the operation efficiency of a specific area in Shanghai from 2020 to 2022. Results showed progress in CSO control and energy conservation, with operation efficiency improving from low in 2020 to moderate in 2021 and good in 2022. However, waterlogging control and pipeline management still require improvement in the combined sewer area. Overall, the evaluation system provides valuable insights into the system’s performance, identifying areas for targeted enhancement and emphasizing the need for further improvements to achieve optimal operation efficiency.
3 Boyutlu Görüntüleme Kullanılarak Bir Ağaç Gövde Çap Ölçüm Uygulamasının Geliştirilmesi
Authors: KARADÖL Hayrettin , GÖK Mehmet , TEKEREK Mehmet
Published: September 2023

Orman işletmelerinde sürekli ve rasyonel bir çalışma gerçekleştirebilmek için ağaçların odun hacim ve artım miktarının periyodik olarak belirlenmesi önemlidir. Ağaçlardan elde edilecek materyallerin farklı kullanım amaçları için ağaçların odun hacimlerini belirlemede ağaç gövde çapının hassas bir şekilde ölçülmesi gerekmektedir. Ağaç gövde çapları çoğunlukla manuel olarak kumpaslarla ölçülmektedir. Bu işlem sürecinde bir orman işçisi kumpasla ağacın gövde çapını ölçmekte ve başka bir işçi ise bu ölçüm bilgisini dikili ağaç ölçüm tutanağına kaydetmekte ve daha sonra analiz için bu veriler bilgisayar ortamına aktarılmaktadır. Tüm bu süreçler zaman, iş gücü ve ölçüm hataları gibi sorunları da beraberinde getirmektedir. Bu çalışmada, ağaç gövde çaplarını ölçebilmek amacıyla derinlik bilgisi içeren bir kamera, tek kart bilgisayar ve diğer çevre birimlerden oluşan düşük maliyetli taşınabilir bir ölçüm sisteminin tasarımı ortaya konmuş ve ön testleri gerçekleştirmek amacıyla deneysel bir sistem oluşturulmuştur. Hedef plan doğrultusunda oluşturulan görüntüleme sistemi ile bazı ön testler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Derinlik bilgisi içeren görüntülerde, hedeflenen bir ağaç gövdesinin dış aydınlatma ortamından etkilenmeksizin ön plana çıkarabiliyor olması, ağaç gövde çapının hassas bir şekilde belirlenmesini sağlamaktadır. Kamera sensörü-ağaç gövdesi arası mesafe belirli bir sınır değer içerisinde (20-100cm) olması koşuluyla 15 farklı ölçüm gerçekleştirilmiş ve manuel kumpas ölçümüne göre ağaç gövde çapları maksimum 1.975 cm hata değeri ile belirlenmiştir.
Analysing and Evaluating the Performance of Multi-Layer Perceptrons and Consequently Intelligent Algorithms in Highly Chaotic and Highly Dimensional Environments Through Fantasy Football
Authors: Shah Arnav
Published: September 2023

With the passage of time, the ability of intelligent software in making predictions of seemingly random, chaotic events increases. Most real-world uses of multi-layer perceptrons are in highly chaotic environments. Such environments include the prediction of economic trends and weather phenomena to the modelling of human behaviour. This study aims to analyse the power of Multi-Layer Perceptrons (MLPs) in predicting the outcome of sporting events, in particular, a football (soccer) game. Any sporting event is dominated by chaos, where small changes in the environment can drastically affect the outcome. This study does the same by predicting, based on multi-dimensional data, the point return of English Premier League (EPL) players in the official Fantasy Premier League forum (FPL). The study uses MLPs as a means to optimise FPL team selection and thus predicts an average point return for the team through the summation of point average predictions for each player individually. This is then compared with the actual FPL gameweek return of the selected team and evaluated. The study found that an MLP can predict the return of each player with an RMSE of approximately 2 points. The study shows the extent of the capability of MLPs in finding ordered patterns in chaotic events.
Step length and gait speed estimation using a hearing aid integrated accelerometer: A comparison of different algorithms
Authors: Seifer Ann-Kristin , Küderle Arne , Dorschky Eva , Moradi Hamid , Hannemann Ronny , Eskofier Bjoern
Published: September 2023

Abstract: Gait is an indicator of a person’s health status and abnormal gait patterns are associated with a higher risk of falls, dementia, and mental health disorders. Wearable sensors facilitate long-term assessment of walking in the user’s home environment. Earables, wearable sensors that are worn at the ear, are gaining popularity for digital health assessments because they are unobtrusive and can easily be integrated into the user’s daily routine, for example, in hearing aids. A comprehensive gait analysis pipeline for an ear-worn accelerometer that includes spatial-temporal parameters is currently not existing. Therefore, we propose and compare three algorithmic approaches to estimate step length and gait speed based on ear-worn accelerometer data: a biomechanical model, feature-based machine learn- ing (ML) models, and a convolutional neural network. We evaluated their performance on a step and walking bout level and compared it with an optical motion capture system. The feature-based ML model achieved the best performance with a precision of 4.8 cm on a walking bout level. For gait speed, the machine learning approach achieved an absolute percentage error of 5.3% (± 3.9%). We find that the ML model is able to estimate step length and gait speed with clinically relevant precision. Furthermore, the model is insensitive to different age groups and sampling rates but sensitive to walking speed. To our knowledge, this work is the first contribution to estimating step length and gait speed using ear-worn accelerometers. Moreover, it lays the foundation for a comprehensive gait analysis framework for ear-worn sensors enabling continuous and long-term monitoring at home.
The Performance of Coded Caching with Random Number of Users and Nonuniform Demands
Authors: Jahanbazi Shahab , Mirmohseni Mahtab
Published: September 2023

We consider one essential performance metric of caching schemes based on two different coding techniques. A heterogeneous cache network is assumed, in which a server is connected through a shared link to two relays while there are not connection between the server and users. The number of users connected to each relay has a Poisson distribution. The memories in the ﬁrst scheme are ﬁlled with encoded data while they are ﬁlled with uncoded data in the second scheme, and encoding of the content is utilized during the delivery phase. Knowing the popularity distribution of the ﬁles and the number of users, the goal is to calculate the average transmission rate of the shared link. However, we show here that this metric can be calculated in the general case of having a random number of users. In particular, a fundamentally different approach is needed, in which we employ the results of balls and bins (BAB) as a tool to solve these problems. We present ﬁrstly that this mapping has the advantage of an easy computation for an uncoded caching. We compare the schemes by characterizing the average transmission rate when the demands of users have the uniform and nonuniform distribution.