bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Survey of Collision Avoidance Systems for Underground Mines: Sensing Protocols
Authors: Qian Meilin , Zhao Kai , Li Binghao , Gong Henry , Seneviratne Aruna
Published: September 2022

With the growing number of unintentional interactions occurring in underground mines, Collision Avoidance System (CAS) establishment and maintenance has become an urgent need for mining industries to enhance their risk profile and improve construction safety. Usually, most collision accidents can be divided into three different categories in line with the involved participants and infrastructure condition. The accidents pose a great risk of financial cost to mining companies and even cause casualties. In detail, this paper presents an intensive study survey of positioning techniques, including ranging algorithms, to accommodate the demands of various proximity sensors and improve the capability of situational awareness. Then, we exploit the importance of the communication system, prevalent low-power wide-area technologies and related communication protocols. The effectiveness of communication systems decides and facilitates the success of the final integrated system that can be used to fundamentally address the problem of collision avoidance. For the purpose of collaboration between communication systems and other executive departments, a series of systematic comparisons of pertinent technologies and algorithms is given near the end, followed by a brief discussion on the best choice among these options. In the proposed solution, the overall end-to-end delay can be minimised to a few nanoseconds and the localisation accuracy can achieve centimetre level when operating in the range of 100 m.
Deep Learning-Based Remaining Useful Life Estimation of Bearings with Time-Frequency Information
Authors: Liu Bingguo , Gao Zhuo , Lu Binghui , Dong Hangcheng , An Zeru
Published: September 2022

In modern industrial production, the prediction ability of remaining useful life of bearings directly affects the safety and stability of the system. Traditional methods require rigorous physical modeling and perform poorly for complex systems. In this paper, an end-to-end remaining useful life prediction method is proposed, which uses short-time Fourier transform (STFT) as preprocessing. Considering the time correlation of signal sequences, a long and short-term memory network is designed in CNN, incorporating the convolutional block attention module, and understanding the decision-making process of the network from the interpretability level. Experiments were carried out on the 2012PHM dataset and compared with other methods, and the results proved the effectiveness of the method.
An Exploratory Study of Digital Inequities and Work in the Redevelopment of a Southeastern American City
Authors: Crocker Tianca , Whitlow Clysha , Cooper Haley , Patrick Claire , Padilla Avangelyne , Jammal Mia , Ince Rebecca
Published: September 2022

Nearly 6 million workers support the multi-billion-dollar digital economy as one of the fastest-growing sectors in the U.S. labor market. Middle-skill jobs in the digital economy sector that pay higher wages and do not require a bachelor’s degree are underrepresented people of intersectional marginalized identities. This exploratory study builds upon previous research on digital inequities by examining the digital economy values, behavior, and interests of a small sample of residents in an area of Charlotte, North Carolina with known digital, social, and economic inequities. Analyses included descriptive and bivariate statistics. Given the exploratory nature of the study, no causal inferences are made, however, preliminary findings suggest a need for further research on digital skills training that addresses the intersectional barriers experienced in marginalized communities, and the need for place-based interventions that leverage localized policies in the areas of affordable housing, workforce development, and economic development. Implications and limitations are discussed.
Investigation of the Thermal Stability of a Solar Absorber Processed through a Hydrothermal Technique
Authors: Abdullahi S. A. , Akoba R. , Sackey J. , Khamlich S. , Halindintwali S. , Nuru Z. Y. , Maaza M.
Published: September 2022

In this work, we study the thermal stability of a hydrothermally treated stainless steel (SS) selective solar absorber by annealing in air in a temperature range between 300 °C and 700 °C for a soaking time of 2 h. Thermal stability testing in the presence of air is critical if the vacuum is breached. Therefore, the SS was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), mechanical, and optical techniques. The XRD analysis shows that the grain size of the as-treated absorber is 67 nm, whereas those of the annealed absorbers were found to be in the range between 66 and 38 nm. The phase of the as-treated and annealed SS was further identified by XRD as Fe2O3. The EDS result shows that the elemental components of the SS were C, Cr, Fe, and O. The strain (ε) and stress (σ) calculated for the as-treated absorber are 1.2 × 10−1 and −2.9 GPa, whereas the annealed absorbers are found in the range of 4.4 × 10−1 to 5.2 × 10−1 and −121.6 to −103.2 GPa, respectively, at 300–700 °C. The as-treated SS absorbers exhibit a good spectra selectivity of 0.938/0.431 = 2.176, which compares with 0.941/0.403 = 2.335 after being annealed at 300 °C and 0.884/0.179 = 4.939 after being annealed at 700 °C. These results indicate a small improvement in absorptivity (0.941) and emissivity (0.403) after annealing at 300 °C, followed by a significant decrease after annealing at 700 °C. The obtained analysis confirms that the annealed SS absorber exhibits excellent selectivity and is suitable to withstand any thermal condition (≤700 °C) in air. Thus, using a cost-effective approach as demonstrated in this study, the as-treated and annealed SS absorber could be used for photo-thermal conversion applications.
Relationship between Swimming Ability of College Students and Their Regular Exercise Habits
Authors: Tsai Feng-Hua , Hsu Hsiu-Tao
Published: September 2022

Background: This study examined the relationship between the five-level swimming ability of college students and their regular exercise habits. Methods: This study applied to Academia Sinica for permission to use the raw data from the Survey on the Sports Participation Situations of Students in All Levels of Education, which was conducted by the Sports Administration, Ministry of Education, Taiwan; a secondary data analysis of the obtained data was then conducted. Results: Overall, 18,515 pieces of data were selected for analysis, and the results revealed that 85.9% of the surveyed students had learned to swim; those who had regular exercise habits exhibited a higher level of swimming ability than those without such habits. A logistic regression analysis showed that progressing to a higher level of swimming ability increased the likelihood of having regular exercise habits by 20%. Conclusions: The present study showed that level of swimming ability was significantly correlated with regular exercise habits. In the future, exercise self-efficacy theories can be applied to explore the relationship between exercise skill proficiency and regular exercise habits.
Cystine/Glutamine Mixture Supplementation Attenuated Fatigue during Endurance Exercise in Healthy Young Men by Enhancing Fatty Acid Utilization
Authors: Ma Sihui , Ono Miho , Mizugaki Ami , Kato Hiroyuki , Miyashita Masashi , Suzuki Katsuhiko
Published: September 2022

Exercise-induced fatigue is a multi-origin physical and mental phenomenon. Efforts to diminish the above predisposition may contribute to endurance, along with athletic well-being, while development of nutritional strategies to optimize condition and exercise performance are essential issues for athletes and trainers. Dietary amino acids are being discussed for their specific health-promoting properties beyond their role as building blocks of proteins. Glutamine, along with cysteine, are two kinds of amino acids that are reported extensively for their anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and immune-regulation properties, and are promising in sport applications. In the present study, we designed a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial to examine effects of 7-day supplementation of cystine/glutamine mixture (Cys2/Gln) on self-reporting fatigue index (ratings of perceived exertion, RPE), energy metabolism, and inflammation. We also employed a C2C12 myotube model to examine the capacity of cystine for fatty acid utilization. Cys2/Gln supplementation alleviated fatigue by decreasing RPE and enhanced fatty acid oxidation during a 60 min endurance exercise in human trials, while cystine increased fatty acid utilization in C2C12 myotubes by enhancing mitochondrial respiration. In summary, Cys2/Gln supplementation exerts positive effects on ameliorating exercise-induced fatigue, mechanisms of which can be attributed to enhancement of fatty acid utilization.
The Effects of Different Relative Loads in Weight Training on Acceleration and Acceleration from Flying Starts
Authors: Fossmo Jøran Ersdal , van den Tillaar Roland
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this review was to examine how different relative loads in weight training can improve acceleration over 10 m from a standing or flying start. A systematic review of the literature was undertaken using the following databases: PubMed, MedLine, Google Scholar, and SPORTDiscus. Studies were eligible if they met the following criteria: (1) participants were at least 15 years or older and healthy and injury free, (2) the study included at least one exercise for the lower body with a strength training frequency of at least once a week and included a training period of at least four weeks, and (3) interventions with clear pre- and post-test results on 10 m sprint or 10 m flying start are stated. Non-English-language articles were excluded. Percent change and between-group effect size (ES) were calculated to compare the effects of different training interventions. Forty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The results were categorized into four groups: (1) explosive weight training with light loads at 30–60% of 1-RM, (2) explosive weight training with moderate loads at 60–85% of 1-RM, (3) maximal weight training at 85–100% of 1-RM, and (4) hypertrophy training at 60–85% of 1-RM. At 10 m, all methods of weight training demonstrated improvements, and maximal weight training demonstrated the highest results with a large ES, while other approaches varied from very small to moderate ES. Weight training showed little progression with a significantly lower effect on flying start across all training methods, except for one group that trained power cleans (hypertrophy) where progress was large. To improve acceleration over the first 10 m, this review demonstrated maximal weight training as the preferred training method. For athletes with a pre-existing high level of strength, it could be more appropriate to use explosive training with light loads or a combination of the two. To a lesser extent, acceleration from a flying start could be improved using both training methods as well.
How to Promote Logistics Enterprises to Participate in Reverse Emergency Logistics: A Tripartite Evolutionary Game Analysis
Authors: Luo Yumei , Zhang Yuke , Yang Lei
Published: September 2022

Considering the emergency risks and uncertainties of emergency recycling processes, this research builds a tripartite evolutionary game model of government, logistics enterprises, and environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to study the interaction mechanism. Based on the analysis of evolutionary stable strategy (ESS), this research uses MATLAB R2018b to mainly show the strategy choice trends of logistics enterprises in various scenarios including “Government Failure”, as well as the mutual impacts of government and environmental NGOs’ strategy selection. The research found that (1) the government has an important role in efficiently promoting logistics enterprises’ participation; (2) the net benefits of logistics enterprises and environmental NGOs, as key factors that directly affect the game results, are influenced by emergency risks and uncertainty, respectively; (3) environmental NGOs not only play an effective complementary role to government functions, including in the “Government Failure” context, but can also urge the government to perform regulatory functions. This research enriches the study in the field of the combination of evolutionary game theory and reverse emergency logistics as well as providing a reference for the government in developing economic and administrative policies to optimize the recycling and disposal of emergency relief.
Steady-State Data Baseline Model for Nonstationary Monitoring Data of Urban Girder Bridges
Authors: Zhang Shaoyi , Wang Yongliang , Yu Kaiping
Published: September 2022

In bridge structural health monitoring systems, an accurate baseline model is particularly important for identifying subsequent structural damage. Environmental and operational loads cause nonstationarity in the strain monitoring data of urban girder bridges. Such nonstationary monitoring data can mask damage and reduce the accuracy of the established baseline model. To address this problem, a steady-state data baseline model for bridges is proposed. First, for observable effects such as ambient temperature, a directional projection decoupling method for strain monitoring data is proposed, which can reduce the nonstationary effect of ambient temperature, and the effectiveness of this method is proven using equations. Second, for unobservable effects such as traffic load, a k-means clustering method for steady state of traffic loads is proposed; using this method, which can divide the steady and nonsteady states of traffic loads and reduce the nonstationary effect of traffic loads on strain monitoring data, a steady-state baseline model is established. Finally, the effectiveness of the steady-state baseline model is verified using an actual bridge. The results show that the proposed baseline model can reduce the error caused by nonstationary effects, improve the modelling accuracy, and provide useful information for subsequent damage identification.
A Study on the Pore Structure and Fractal Characteristics of Briquettes with Different Compression Loads
Authors: Qi Lingling , Zhou Xiaoqing , Peng Xinshan , Chen Xiangjun , Wang Zhaofeng , Dai Juhua
Published: September 2022

In order to study the effects of different compression loads on the pore characteristics of coal, taking remolded coal as the research object, the mercury intrusion method was used to determine the pore structures of the briquettes under the compression loads of 50, 70, 90 and 110 MPa, and the Menger sponge model was used to conduct fractal research on the measured parameters. The results show that the compression load has a significant effect on the pore structure parameters of the briquettes. The hysteresis loop generated by the mercury-intrusion and mercury-extrusion curves of raw coal is small, and the pore connectivity is better. After different loads are applied for briquettes, the hysteresis loop becomes larger, and the pore connectivity becomes worse. From the process of the raw coal to the briquettes loaded at 50 and 70 MPa, the pore-specific surface area reduced from 5.069 m2/g to 1.259 m2/g, the total pore volume increased from 0.0553 cm3/g to 0.1877 cm3/g, and the average pore size increased from 43.6 nm to 596.3 nm. When the compression load reached 70 MPa, the specific surface area, total pore volume, and average pore diameter of briquettes remained basically stable with the change in the compression load. The minipores and visible pores and fissures of raw coal contribute 78% of the pore volume, and the micropores and minipores contribute 99% of the specific surface area. After being pressed into briquettes, the volume of mesopores and macropores increases, the volume of visible pores and fractures decreases and the volume of minipores changes little; additionally, the pore surface area contributed by mesopores and macropores increases, and the pore surface area contributed by micropores decreases, indicating that the effect of compression load on pores of 10–100 nm is not obvious, mainly concentrated in the 100–10,000 nm region. The fractal curve of briquettes is fitted into three sections, which are defined as low-pressure sections 1 and 2 and high-pressure section 3, and the fractal dimensions are D1, D2 and D3 respectively. The fractal dimension D1 of briquettes with different compression loads is close to 2, D2 is close to 3 and D3 is greater than 3. The pore structures of briquettes have obvious fractal characteristics in the low-pressure sections 1 and 2 but do not conform to the fractal law in the high-pressure section. Furthermore, in the micropore stage of briquettes, the measured surface area and volume are both negative, indicating that the mercury intrusion method used to test the pore structure of the loaded briquette is more likely to cause the collapse of and damage to the pores in the micropore (<10 nm) stage.
Recent Developments and Advancements in Solar Air Heaters: A Detailed Review
Authors: Singh Varun Pratap , Jain Siddharth , Karn Ashish , Kumar Ashwani , Dwivedi Gaurav , Meena Chandan Swaroop , Dutt Nitesh , Ghosh Aritra
Published: September 2022

The scientific literature extensively mentions the use of a solar air heater (SAH) by utilizing solar energy for heating purposes. The poor heat-transfer rate of an SAH with a flat plate is caused by developing a laminar sub-layer near the heated base plate. The plate temperatures improve significantly, resulting in losses and a decrease in performance. The passive approach entails the placement of fins/turbulators/pouring material/ribs to the surface where the boundary layer forms to disrupt it. Artificially roughened SAH for gathering and efficiently using solar radiations for thermal purposes is extensively described in the literature. This paper includes a thorough literature overview of the history, basics, roughness evolution, forms of SAH, and recent breakthroughs in thermal performance improvement techniques for SAH compiled by several researchers. This paper uses a comparative evaluation of several roughness geometries and kinds of SAH to uncover thermohydraulic performance factors that may be considered in future research to pick the optimal configuration.
An Economic Feasibility Model for Sustainable 5G Networks in Rural Dwellings of South Africa
Authors: Maluleke Hloniphani , Bagula Antoine , Ajayi Olasupo , Chiaraviglio Luca
Published: September 2022

Numerous factors have shown Internet-based technology to be a key enabler in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDG), as well as narrowing the divide between the global north and south. For instance, smart farming, remote/online learning, and smart grids can be used to, respectively, address SDGs 1 and 2 (ending poverty and hunger), 3 (quality education), and 7 and 9 (energy and infrastructure development). Though such Internet-based solutions are commonplace in the global north, they are missing or sparsely available in global south countries. This is due to several factors including underdevelopment, which dissuades service providers from investing heavily in infrastructure for providing capable Internet solutions such as 5G networks in these regions. This paper presents a study conducted to evaluate the feasibility of deploying 5G networks in the rural dwellings of South Africa at affordable rates, which would then serve as a pre-cursor for deploying solutions to improve lives and achieve the SDGs. The study evaluates the economic viability of a hybrid network model which combines terrestrial and aerial networks to provide 5G coverage in rural areas. The feasibility study reveals that such a network can be engineered at low monthly subscription fees to the end users and yield good returns to the service providers in rural areas; however, for large but sparsely populated suburban locations, the traditional terrestrial network with base stations is more suitable.
Development and Assessment of Augmented Reality Technology for Using in an Equipment Maintenance and Diagnostic System
Authors: Shyr Wen-Jye , Tsai Chi-Jui , Lin Chia-Ming , Liau Hung-Ming
Published: September 2022

This study presented work considering the development and initial assessment of an augmented reality approach to provide a user interface for operators that could be a part of an equipment maintenance and diagnostics system. Its purpose was to provide an equipment system for graduate students of engineering and technology to experiment with the design of augmented reality technology. The proposed system took place three hours per week over a period of four weeks of corrective actions that were triggered in the Department of Industrial Education and Technology at the National Changhua University of Education, Taiwan. The students adopted augmented reality technology to achieve big data acquisition and analysis for pre-diagnostic and maintenance applications. Preliminary assessment of the proposed system was encouraging and showed that it achieved success in helping students understand concepts and using augmented reality technology for equipment maintenance and diagnostics. The study provided important initial insights into its impact on student learning.
Marketing Strategy and Willingness to Pay for Sport Tourism in the Kinmen Marathon Event
Authors: Lin Yi-Hsing , Lee Chun-Hung , Hong Chun-Fu , Tung Yen-Ting
Published: September 2022

In this study, we applied an evaluation model of multiple attributes of sport-based tourism to the marketing strategy for a marathon event in Kinmen (Taiwan) based on a choice experiment methodology. We found that the participants appreciated the experience of authentic cuisine and the availability of marathon souvenirs. They also preferred engaging in ecotourism activities and supporting the establishment of a sport development fund. We applied market segmentation by dividing the participants into two groups. Those in the first group were primarily younger, had higher incomes, and had participated previously in the Kinmen Marathon. Those in the second group primarily had lower incomes, were over 40 years old, and were participating in the Kinmen Marathon for the first time. Both groups preferred entertainment, educational, and esthetic experiences, but only the first group desired an escapist experience. We propose three marketing strategies for sport tourism experiences as a reference for future practice in Kinmen sport tourism.
Assessment of the Pollution of Soil Heavy Metal(loid)s and Its Relation with Soil Microorganisms in Wetland Soils
Authors: Wang Chunyong , Zhu Bo , Guo Yitong , Tian Shasha , Zhang Zhenbin , Hou Xintong
Published: September 2022

This study was performed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the pollution of soil heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) and the relationships between HMs (including As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Se, Pb, Hg, and Mn) and soil microorganisms in the different utilized types of wetland soils (agricultural soils (AS), natural wetland soils (NWS), and restored wetland soils (RWS)). Our results indicated that As and Cd in the studied region accumulated to different degrees in AS, NWS, and RWS. The microbial community compositions and heatmaps showed that the compositions of bacterial, fungal, and archaeal communities had differences in various degrees. A comprehensive assessment was performed including the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), the pollution load index (PLI), and the potential ecological risk index (ERI) to evaluate the pollution of HMs. Based on the results, Cd and As were identified as the major pollutants that contributed to the potential ecological risk in AS, NWS, and RWS. The co-occurrence network analysis indicated that the bacterial genera Bryobacter and Acidothermus, the fungal genera Fusarium and Anguillospor, and the archaeal unclassified genus Nitrososphaeraceae were the key taxa in the microbial networks. Based on the interactive forward selection method in redundancy analysis (RDA), it could be concluded that microbial community compositions were mainly controlled by As.
A Simulation-Based Study of the Influence of Low-Speed Vehicles on Expressway Traffic Safety
Authors: Xu Chubo , Ma Jianxiao , Tang Xiang
Published: September 2022

To reveal the impact mechanism of low-speed vehicles (LSVs) on expressway traffic safety, this paper uses the polynomial fitting method to establish evolution models of traffic density and average speed at different LSV speeds in order to explore the queuing and dissipation characteristics of vehicles affected by LSVs and investigate the impact range of LSVs on expressways. Based on the findings above, this paper builds a Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM)-based model to quantify driving safety and further explore the differences in vehicle conflicts when an LSV moves in different lanes at the same speed. The simulation experiment is conducted based on the field data from the Inner Ring North Road located along the Nanjing Inner Ring High Speed Road. The results show that the evolutionary features of lane traffic density and average speed under different LSV speeds satisfy the octuple polynomial law, reflecting the spatial heterogeneity of vehicle distribution at different LSV driving speeds. Meanwhile, LSVs with different speeds produced the most significant negative impact on the roadway within 400 m of the expressway entrance. The lower the speed of the LSV, the more significant the adverse effect. In addition, this paper finds that when an LSV travels in different lanes at the same speed, the inner, middle, and outer lanes have the highest number of total conflicts, rear-end conflicts, and lane-change conflicts, respectively. Meanwhile, vehicles in the outer lane are the most significantly affected by LSVs, while vehicles in the middle lane are the least affected with the highest traffic efficiency. Additionally, the Maximum Speed (MaxS) and Difference in Vehicle Speed (DeltaS) for the middle lane are 47.9% and 60.5% higher than the outer lane, respectively. Nevertheless, based on the Probability of Unsuccessful Evasive Actions, i.e., P(UEA), vehicles in the middle lane have the highest probability of potential traffic conflicts. The methods used in this paper will have positive implications for establishing autonomous vehicle risk avoidance systems which can improve the safety levels of expressways.
A Multiscale Cost–Benefit Analysis of Digital Soil Mapping Methods for Sustainable Land Management
Authors: Radočaj Dorijan , Jurišić Mladen , Antonić Oleg , Šiljeg Ante , Cukrov Neven , Rapčan Irena , Plaščak Ivan , Gašparović Mateo
Published: September 2022

With the emergence of machine learning methods during the past decade, alternatives to conventional geostatistical methods for soil mapping are becoming increasingly more sophisticated. To provide a complete overview of their performance, this study performed cost–benefit analysis of four soil mapping methods based on five criteria: accuracy, processing time, robustness, scalability and applicability. The evaluated methods were ordinary kriging (OK), regression kriging (RK), random forest (RF) and ensemble machine learning (EML) for the prediction of total soil carbon and nitrogen. The results of these mechanisms were objectively standardized using the linear scaling method, and their relative importance was quantified using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). EML resulted in the highest cost–benefit score of the tested methods, with maximum values of accuracy, robustness and scalability, achieving a 55.6% higher score than the second-ranked RF method. The two geostatistical methods ranked last in the cost–benefit analysis. Despite that, OK could retain its place as the most frequent method for soil mapping in recent studies due to its widespread, user-friendly implementation in GIS software and its univariate character. Further improvement of machine learning methods with regards to computational efficiency could additionally improve their cost–benefit advantage and establish them as the universal standard for soil mapping.
Tourists’ Perception of Ecosystem Services Provided by Mountain Agriculture
Authors: Mazzocchi Chiara , Sali Guido
Published: September 2022

Ecosystem services (ESs) can be defined as the values and benefits provided by ecosystems for human well-being. The main characteristic of ESs is that they benefit people. Agriculture is an important provider of ESs for society, culture, the environment and the economy. In mountain areas, agriculture embodies different functions. This work assesses the value of ESs provided by mountain farms according to mountain tourists’ opinions, using a Choice Experiments (CEs) approach and quantitative surveys. CEs allow multiple scenarios with different attributes associated with monetary values that respondents had to choose. The sample comprised 840 mountain tourists, interviewed through an online survey in April 2020. The main results show that the ESs provided by agriculture and preferred by tourists are the maintenance of pastures and grazing, which are considered to shape the mountain landscape and provide for cultural and environmental ESs. Moreover, biodiversity conservation is another one of the most appreciated attributes, being fundamental for protecting the environment. A noticeable result is the importance associated with the ES provided by agriculture related to the regulation of hydrogeological assets, meaning that the awareness of the hydrogeological instability of mountain slopes is widespread and that tourists are sensitive to this topic.
Chemical Characterization, Source Identification, and Health Risk Assessment of Atmospheric Fine Particulate Matter in Winter in Hangzhou Bay
Authors: Zhang Fei , Wan Mei , Pang Xinglong , Yao Lan , Fu Yao , Jiang Wenjing , Zhu Jingna , Zhang Ciwen
Published: September 2022

PM2.5 is an important pollutant which affects air quality and human health. In this study, chemical components (water-soluble inorganic ions, organic carbons (OC), elemental carbons (EC), and elemental metals) and health effects were analyzed in wintertime in a suburban area in Hangzhou Bay. OC and SNA (sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium) contributed 76.2% to local PM2.5. NH4+ existed mainly in the form of (NH4)2SO4 and NH4NO3. Seven sources were resolved from PMF analysis, namely secondary inorganic aerosol (31.8%), vehicle exhaust (19.5%), industry mixed with coal combustion (16.3%), crustal dust (9.5%), biomass burning (9.4%), sea salt (8.7%), and the leather industry (4.8%). Potential source contribution function (PSCF) and concentration weighted trajectory (CWT) analysis were applied to study regional transport in this region. Secondary inorganic formation was enhanced from the air plume from the northwest, especially from north Jiangsu Province. The results of the health risk assessment of associated metals indicated the higher potential of Cr and Mn to cause noncarcinogenic effects in children. A significant carcinogenic risk was observed for all people of Cr emitted from the leather industry. Our results showed the chemical characterization and sources of PM2.5 in a suburban region, the health effects of which should be addressed in future policies to safeguard public health, especially in the leather industry.
Anthropic Changes in Land Use and Land Cover and Their Impacts on the Hydrological Variables of the São Francisco River Basin, Brazil
Authors: Lima Carlos Eduardo Sousa , da Silva Marx Vinicius Maciel , Rocha Sofia Midauar Godim , Silveira Cleiton da Silva
Published: September 2022

The growing impact of human activities on the environment has increased their influence on the planet’s natural cycles, especially in relation to the hydrological cycle of watersheds. The fundamental processes for its water and energy balance have been affected, which influences water availability and surface streamflow. This study sought to evaluate the anthropogenic impacts on the hydrological cycle of the São Francisco River Basin (SFRB), Brazil, between 1985 and 2015. The study area comprised SFRB and 10 sub-basins for general and specific analyses, respectively. Analyzed data consisted of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC), precipitation, streamflow, and temperature. The methodology incorporated: (i) assessment of LULC dynamics; (ii) trend analysis with the Mann–Kendall method and Sen’s Slope; and (iii) decomposition of total streamflow variation via Budyko’s hypothesis and climate elasticity of streamflow. As a result, it was possible to detect an anthropic modification of SFRB, which is the main component of its streamflow variation, in addition to increased streamflow sensitivity to climate variations. In addition, the divergent behavior in the trends of hydrological variables suggests a change in the streamflow response to precipitation. Therefore, the results allowed us to identify and quantify the impacts of anthropic modifications on the hydrological cycle of the SFRB.
Assessment of the Satisfaction Level of Users of Brazilian Cabotage—Containerized Cargo Segment
Authors: Silveira Junior Aldery , Nunes Rafael Rabelo
Published: September 2022

Due to its vast maritime coast, connected to the riverbeds that flow into the sea, Brazil holds favorable conditions for cargo transportation by cabotage—a type of navigation performed between points on the coast or between these and river points. The purpose of this study was to develop and apply a model to evaluate the degree of satisfaction of users of Brazilian cabotage, specifically the containerized cargo segment, with the services offered to them. The assessment model was developed based on the multicriteria decision aid (MCDA) methodology, which was designed under the aegis of the constructivist paradigm and with the collaboration of a team of cabotage specialists. A framework was built for assessment consisting of seven axes: service level, cargo safety, cabotage routes, transportation cost, general aspects of transportation, quality of information provided by EBNs and intermediary agents, and other aspects related to transportation. The global assessment obtained a score of 7.0, on a scale of zero to ten, which is considered good. The study’s contribution to the transportation sector consists of the construction of a multi-criteria assessment model, which can be replicated for other types of transportation with the necessary adjustments.
Extraction of Rural Residential Land from Very-High Resolution UAV Images Using a Novel Semantic Segmentation Framework
Authors: Sha Chenggao , Liu Jian , Wang Lan , Shan Bowen , Hou Yaxian , Wang Ailing
Published: September 2022

Accurate recognition and extraction of rural residential land (RRL) is significant for scientific planning, utilization, and management of rural land. Very-High Resolution (VHR) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) images and deep learning techniques can provide data and methodological support for the target. However, RRL, as a complex land use assemblage, exhibits features of different scales under VHR images, as well as the presence of complex impervious layers and backgrounds such as natural surfaces and tree shadows in rural areas. It still needs further research to determine how to deal with multi-scale features and accurate edge features in such scenarios. In response to the above problems, a novel framework named cascaded dense dilated network (CDD-Net), which combines DenseNet, ASPP, and PointRend, is proposed for RRL extraction from VHR images. The advantages of the proposed framework are as follows: Firstly, DenseNet is used as a feature extraction network, allowing feature reuse and better network design with fewer parameters. Secondly, the ASPP module can better handle multi-scale features. Thirdly, PointRend is added to the model to improve the segmentation accuracy of the edges. The research takes a plain village in China as the research area. Experimental results show that the Precision, Recall, F1 score, and Dice coefficients of our approach are 91.41%, 93.86%, 92.62%, and 0.8359, respectively, higher than other advanced models used for comparison. It is feasible in the task of high-precision extraction of RRL using VHR UAV images. This research could provide technical support for rural land planning, analysis, and formulation of land management policies.
Effect of Laser Biostimulation on Germination of Sub-Optimally Stored Flaxseeds (Linum usitatissimum)
Authors: Nadimi Mohammad , Loewen Georgia , Bhowmik Pankaj , Paliwal Jitendra
Published: September 2022

Sub-optimal storage of grains could deteriorate seed germination and plant viability. Recent research studies have established that laser biostimulation of seeds could be used as a safe and sustainable alternative to chemical treatment for improving crop germination and growth. Herein, the efficacy of this novel technique is evaluated to see if poor germinability caused by sub-optimal storage of flaxseeds (Linum usitatissimum) could be reversed using laser biostimulation. Healthy flaxseeds were first subjected to sub-optimal storage conditions (30 °C for ten weeks) to degrade their germinability. Two low-cost lasers, including a single-wavelength red laser (659 nm) and a dual-wavelength green/infrared laser (531 and 810 nm (ratio ~10:1)) were then used on two groups viz. healthy (properly stored) and sub-optimally stored (artificially degraded (AD)) seeds and irradiated for 0 (control), 5, 10, and 15 min using total power densities of 7.8 and 6.2 mW/cm2, respectively. In the case of AD seeds, 5-min dual-wavelength laser treatment was found to be the most efficient setting as it improved the mean germination percentage, mean germination time, germination speed, germination rate index, wet weight, and dry weight by 29.3, 16.8, 24.2, 24.2, 15.7, and 20.6%, respectively, with respect to control samples. In the case of healthy seeds, dual-wavelength laser treatment could induce significant enhancement in seeds’ root length, wet weight, and dry weight (improved by 26, 23, and 8%, respectively) under 10 min of irradiation. On the other hand, the effect of applied red laser treatment was not very promising as it could only induce significant enhancement in the mean germination time of AD seeds (improved by 17%). Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of laser biostimulation in reversing the adverse effect of poor crop storage. We believe these findings could spur the development of a physical tool for manipulating seed germination and plant growth.
Growing Stock Volume Estimation for Daiyun Mountain Reserve Based on Multiple Linear Regression and Machine Learning
Authors: Wei Jinhuang , Fan Zhongmou
Published: September 2022

Remote sensing provides an easy, inexpensive, and rapid method for detecting forest stocks. However, the saturation of data from different satellite sensors leads to low accuracy in estimations of the growing stock volume in natural forests with high densities. Thus, this study added actual data to improve the accuracy. The Daiyun Mountain Reserve was the study area. Landsat 8 operational land imager data were combined with remote sensing data and actual measurements. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and machine learning methods were used to construct a model for estimating the growing stock volume. The decision tree model showed the best fit. By adding the measured data to the model, the saturation could effectively be overcome to a certain extent, and the fitting effect of all the models can be improved. Among the estimation models using only remote sensing data, the normalized difference vegetation index showed the strongest correlation with the model, followed by the annual rainfall and slope. The decision tree model was inverted to produce a map of the accumulation distribution. From the map, the storage volume in the west was lower than that in the east and was primarily confined to the middle-altitude area, consistent with field survey results.
Spatiotemporal Surveillance of COVID-19 Based on Epidemiological Features: Evidence from Northeast Iran
Authors: Tabasi Mohammad , Alesheikh Ali Asghar , Babaie Elnaz , Hatamiafkoueieh Javad
Published: September 2022

Spatiotemporal analysis of COVID-19 cases based on epidemiological characteristics leads to more refined findings about health inequalities and better allocation of medical resources in a spatially and timely fashion. While existing literature has explored the spatiotemporal clusters of COVID-19 worldwide, little attention has been paid to investigate the space-time clusters based on epidemiological features. This study aims to identify COVID-19 clusters by epidemiological factors in Golestan province, one of the highly affected areas in Iran. This cross-sectional study used GIS techniques, including local spatial autocorrelations, directional distribution statistics, and retrospective space-time Poisson scan statistics. The results demonstrated that Golestan has been facing an upward trend of epidemic waves, so the case fatality rate (CFR) of the province was roughly 2.5 times the CFR in Iran. Areas with a more proportion of young adults were more likely to generate space-time clusters. Most high-risk clusters have emerged since early June 2020. The infection first appeared in the west and southwest of the province and gradually spread to the center, east, and northeast regions. The results also indicated that the detected clusters based on epidemiological features varied across the province. This study provides an opportunity for health decision-makers to prioritize disease-prone areas and more vulnerable populations when allocating medical resources.
Autonomous Innovations in Rural Communities in Developing Countries III-Leverage Points of Innovations and Enablers of Social-Ecological Transformation
Authors: Tajima Hidetomo , Takemura Shion , Hori Juri , Makino Mitsutaku , Sato Tetsu
Published: September 2022

To address the complex and difficult challenges that are occurring in complex social-ecological systems, a transformation toward sustainable futures is required. Understanding the characteristics and functions of leverage points (LPs), which bring about significant changes in complex systems, will greatly contribute to the various practices toward achieving sustainable futures. We conducted a detailed analysis of 15 cases of autonomous innovations emerging among vulnerable sectors in six countries to contribute to understanding the mechanisms of transformation of social-ecological systems by identifying the characteristics and functions of LPs. We found that three types of LPs with different characteristics play their roles in a multi-layered and interrelated manner in the emergence processes of autonomous innovations. These LPs contributed to the improvement of various aspects of well-being and facilitated the transformation of the social-ecological systems by enhancing the five previously proposed enabler categories. The multi-layered and interrelated functioning of LPs promotes the enhancement of various aspects of human well-being and strengthens the enabler categories. These were found to be important mechanisms for the transformation of social-ecological systems. Based on these results, we derive nine guiding principles for the conditions and mechanisms of transformation. These results indicate that a deeper study of autonomous innovation through an LP lens could make a significant contribution to solving or mitigating the wicked problems faced by humanity.
Mechanical Properties and Binary-Medium-Based Constitutive Model for Coral-Reef Limestone Samples Subjected to Uniaxial Loading
Authors: Zhang Yongtao , Luo Huiwu , Chen Peishuai , Liu Enlong , Chen Yanbin
Published: September 2022

The mechanical and deformation mechanism of coral-reef limestone is vital for the stability and safety of infrastructures built on the ground composed of those materials. Upon loading, strain softening behavior of the coral-reef limestone occurs, usually due to the nonuniform cementation distribution, and the cementation within the samples may break up gradually and reduce the bearing capacity. In order to study their mechanical features, uniaxial compression tests were carried out in this study, and, based on the test results, a binary-medium-based constitutive model was formulated, in which, the sample was idealized, respectively, as the bonded and frictional elements. The bonded elements are composed of strong cementation and may gradually break up to transform into the frictional elements, both of which bear the external loading conjointly. In the new model, the parameters determination method was adopted based on uniaxial compression testing, and comparisons were made between the tested and computed results, which demonstrate that the model can reflect the salient features of coral-reef limestone samples, such as the strain softening and bonding breakage during the loading process. The study can provide a basis for the basic design of coral-reef limestone.
Employable until Retirement: How Inclusive Leadership and HR Practices Can Foster Sustainable Employability through Strengths Use
Authors: Gürbüz Sait , van Woerkom Marianne , Kooij Dorien T. A. M. , Demerouti Evangelia , van der Klink Jac J. L. , Brouwers Evelien P. M.
Published: September 2022

Background: Although the new model of sustainable employability (SE), which builds on the capability approach, has received growing attention, research on how to enhance workers’ SE is scarce. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether (1) inclusive leadership and high-involvement HR practices are positively associated with SE and whether (2) strengths use mediates these associations. To test our research hypotheses, we surveyed Dutch employees (N = 364), selected with random sampling. The results of structural equation modeling showed that inclusive leadership and high-involvement HR practices were positively associated with workers’ SE. Moreover, we discovered that strengths use mediated these relationships. These results contribute to the SE literature by providing initial evidence that inclusive leadership and high-involvement HR practices are directly and indirectly (through strengths use) related to workers’ SE.
Effects of Agronomic Measures on Decomposition Characteristics of Wheat and Maize Straw in China
Authors: Min Xinyue , Song Degang , Ma Maoting , Li Hongwei , Li Shunjiang , Zou Guoyuan , Du Lianfeng , Liu Jing
Published: September 2022

The utilization of crop straw resources has been highly emphasized by governments and academia in recent decades. The growing importance of straw decomposition in the wheat-maize rotation system and the remarkable diversity of accumulated information on this topic inspired us to quantitatively explore variations in the outcomes of individual studies. We conducted a data analysis of 46 experimental studies reporting the effects of agronomic measures on the straw decomposition rates of wheat (14 studies) and maize (38 studies). Statistical results showed that maize straw crushed and buried in soil with turn-over or rotary tillage can significantly increase straw decomposition rates. Further, with the increase in nitrogen input and straw burial depth in the soil, the maize straw decomposition rate increased significantly, while the amount of straw return showed the opposite trend. Among all agronomic measures in this research, burial depth has demonstrated a significant positive effect on the wheat straw decomposition rate. The random forest analysis identified decomposition time as the most important predictor of straw decomposition rates for wheat and maize. In addition, some agronomic measures and straw decomposition time jointly affect the decomposition rate of straw. In general, agronomic measures are effective factors in controlling straw decomposition in a wheat-maize rotation system.