bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved Multichannel Electromyograph Using Off-the-Shelf Components for Education and Research
Authors: Staderini Enrico M. , Mugnaini Stefano , Kambampati Harish , Magrini Andrea , Gentili Sandro
Published: May 2022

Most students and researchers with limited funding are often looking for simple and low-cost devices for the acquisition of the electromyogram signal (EMG) in an educational or research setting. Thus, off-the-shelf devices are used and they have already been described in the literature, but they are used without considering their real performances, which are, in general, quite poor from the electronic and signal processing points of view. It is the purpose of this communication to present the evidence of these issues, and to describe an improved version of the “classical” duo, composed of the common ECG/EMG Olimex board and the Arduino microprocessor board. In this case, the Arduino-DUE is used. Three main points are highlighted in this paper: (a) the bandpass characteristics of the ECG/EMG Olimex board and how they can be improved to cope with EMG bandwidth requirements; (b) the increase in sampling frequency of the signal; and, finally, (c) the possibility of automatic detection of more ECG/EMG Olimex boards installed at the same time as the shields on the Arduino-DUE board. Very simple and low-cost modifications on the ECG/EMG Olimex board could deliver a much better performing multichannel EMG acquisition system, suitable for educational classroom experiments and early proof-of-concept research.
Stabilization and Tracking of a Quadrotor Using Modified Sigmoid Sliding Mode Control
Authors: Hu Mingyuan , Lee Kyunghyun , Ahn Hyeongki , Choi Ahyeong , Kim Hyunchang , You Kwanho
Published: May 2022

A modified sigmoid sliding mode control (MS-SMC) approach is proposed for stabilizing and tracking a quadrotor system with a nonlinear sliding surface, where the dynamics model is underactuated, highly coupled, and nonlinear. The constructed nonlinear sliding surface is based on the traditional sliding mode surface with a modified sigmoid function, allowing the initial value to quickly reach equilibrium. A new type of nonlinear SMC is applied for performance improvement of the quadrotor using the proposed modified sigmoid sliding surface. To control the quadrotor effectively, a double-loop control method is used to design the control rate, in which the position subsystem is the outer loop, and the attitude subsystem is the inner loop.With the Lyapunov function, the stability of the overall closed-loop system is ensured by stabilizing each subsystem step by step. Moreover, from a practical point of view, the system performance under the model uncertainties and external disturbances are also considered. The simulation results show that the proposed MS-SMC performs better than the conventional sliding mode control (CSMC) and the back-stepping sliding mode control (BS-SMC) in terms of stabilization and tracking against external disturbances.
Analysis of and Experimental Research on a Hydraulic Traction System Based on a Digital Hydraulic Transformer
Authors: Li Weijian , Zhang Zhuxin , Liu Tao , Cao Hengyi , Ni Tao , Wang Yafei
Published: May 2022

In this study, we designed a new type of digital hydraulic transformer using four gear–pump/motor units with a displacement ratio of 20:21:22:23 and two control valve groups that consist of four solenoid directional valves. The driving gear shafts of the four gear–pump/motor units are fixedly connected to achieve synchronous rotation. The two control valve groups are respectively installed through an integrated valve block on the inlet and outlet of each gear–pump/motor unit. With the objective of reducing the installed power and energy consumption of hydraulic traction systems, we propose a new energy-saving hydraulic system based on a digital hydraulic transformer. This hydraulic system uses a digital hydraulic transformer as a pressure/flow control element. By controlling the power on/off states of eight solenoid directional valves, the digital hydraulic transformer can realize a change in output flow and then a change in speed of the hydraulic cylinder piston rod. Through the theoretical derivation and simulation analysis of the hydraulic system pressure/flow change process, and the experimental verification of the built hydraulic traction system based on the experimental platform, a conclusion is drawn that the proposed digital hydraulic transformer can change the output pressure/flow of a hydraulic system through a binary digital control, verifying the feasibility of the pressure change principle of the designed digital hydraulic transformer and the rationality of the hydraulic traction system circuit.
A 78.8–84 GHz Phase Locked Loop Synthesizer for a W-Band Frequency-Hopping FMCW Radar Transceiver in 65 nm CMOS
Authors: Trinh Van-Son , Nam Hyohyun , Song Jeong-Moon , Park Jung-Dong
Published: May 2022

A W-band integer-N phase-locked loop (PLL) for a frequency hopping frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) radar is implemented in 65-nm CMOS technology. The cross-coupled voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) was designed based on a systematic analysis of the VCO combined with its push-pull buffer to achieve high efficiency and high output power. To provide a frequency hopping functionality without any overhead in the implementation, the center frequency of the VCO is steeply controlled by the gate voltage of the buffer, which effectively modifies the susceptance of the VCO load. A stand-alone VCO with the proposed architecture is fabricated, and it achieves an output power of 13.5 dBm, a peak power efficiency of 9.6%, and a tuning range of 3.5%. The phase noise performance of the VCO is −92.6 dBc/Hz at 1-MHz and −106.1 dBc/Hz at 10 MHz offset. Consisting of a third-order loop filter and a divider chain with a total modulus of 48, the locking range of the implemented PLL with the cross-coupled VCO is recorded from 78.84 GHz to 84 GHz, and its phase noise is −85.2 dBc/Hz at 1-MHz offset.
Influence of Oil Status on Membrane-Based Gas–Oil Separation in DGA
Authors: Chen Tunan , Li Kang , Liao Zhenghai , Xie Xiongjie , Zhang Guoqiang
Published: May 2022

Gas–oil separation by membrane stands for a promising technique in dissolved gas analysis (DGA). Since the accuracy of DGA relies on the results of gas–oil separation to a great extent, it is necessary to study the influence factor of membrane for better performance. Although plentiful studies have been conducted aiming at membrane modification to obtain better separation performance, it cannot be ignored that the conditions of oil also affect the performance of membrane much. In this work, a photoacoustic spectroscopy-based sensor for DGA, which employed membrane for gas–oil separation, was established first. By detecting the photoacoustic signal, the performance of membrane could be evaluated. Furthermore, the influences of feed velocity and pressure have on the performance of membrane were analyzed. Both simulation and experiment were employed in this work to evaluate the influences by collecting the equilibrium time of membrane under different conditions. As a result, the simulation and experiment agreed with each other well. Moreover, it was reasonable to draw the conclusion that the equilibrium time was evidently reduced with the raise of feed velocity but remained with a minimum change when pressure changed. The conclusion may serve as a reference for the application of membrane in optical sensor and DGA.
3DupIC: An Underwater Scan Matching Method for Three-Dimensional Sonar Registration
Authors: Ferreira António , Almeida José , Martins Alfredo , Matos Aníbal , Silva Eduardo
Published: May 2022

This work presents a six degrees of freedom probabilistic scan matching method for registration of 3D underwater sonar scans. Unlike previous works, where local submaps are built to overcome measurement sparsity, our solution develops scan matching directly from the raw sonar data. Our method, based on the probabilistic Iterative Correspondence (pIC), takes measurement uncertainty into consideration while developing the registration procedure. A new probabilistic sensor model was developed to compute the uncertainty of each scan measurement individually. Initial displacement guesses are obtained from a probabilistic dead reckoning approach, also detailed in this document. Experiments, based on real data, demonstrate superior robustness and accuracy of our method with respect to the popular ICP algorithm. An improved trajectory is obtained by integration of scan matching updates in the localization data fusion algorithm, resulting in a substantial reduction of the original dead reckoning drift.
Design of a Deployable Helix Antenna at L-Band for a 1-Unit CubeSat: From Theoretical Analysis to Flight Model Results
Authors: Fernandez Lara , Sobrino Marco , Ruiz-de-Azua Joan Adria , Calveras Anna , Camps Adriano
Published: May 2022

The 3Cat-4 mission aims at demonstrating the capabilities of a CubeSat to perform Earth Observation (EO) by integrating a combined GNSS-R and Microwave Radiometer payload into a 1-Unit CubeSat. One of the greatest challenges is the design of an antenna that respects the 1-Unit CubeSat envelope while operating at the different frequency bands: Global Positioning System (GPS) L1 and Galileo E1 band (1575 MHz), GPS L2 band (1227 MHz), and the microwave radiometry band (1400–1427 MHz). Moreover, it requires between 8 and 12 dB of directivity depending on the band whilst providing at least 10 dB of front-to-back lobe ratio in L1 and L2 GPS bands. After a trade-off analysis on the type of antenna that could be used, a helix antenna was found to be the most suitable option to comply with the requirements, since it can be stowed during launch and deployed once in orbit. This article presents the antenna design from a radiation performance point of view starting with a theoretical analysis, then presenting the numerical simulations, the measurements in an Engineering Model (EM), and finally the final design and performance of the Flight Model (FM).
Using an ATR-FTIR Technique to Detect Pathogens in Patients with Urinary Tract Infections: A Pilot Study
Authors: Pan Sheng-Wei , Lu Hsiao-Chi , Lo Jen-Iu , Ho Li-Ing , Tseng Ton-Rong , Ho Mei-Lin , Cheng Bing-Ming
Published: May 2022

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a leading hospital-acquired infection. Although timely detection of causative pathogens of UTIs is important, rapid and accurate measures assisting UTI diagnosis and bacterial determination are poorly developed. By reading infrared spectra of urine samples, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) may help detect urine compounds, but its role in UTI diagnosis remains uncertain. In this pilot study, we proposed a characterization method in attenuated total reflection (ATR)-FTIR spectra to evaluate urine samples and assessed the correlation between ATR-FTIR patterns, UTI diagnosis, and causative pathogens. We enrolled patients with a catheter-associated UTI in a subacute-care unit and non-UTI controls (total n = 18), and used urine culture to confirm the causative pathogens of the UTIs. In the ATR-FTIR analysis, the spectral variation between the UTI group and non-UTI, as well as that between various pathogens, was found in a range of 1800–900 cm−1, referring to the presence of specific constituents of the bacterial cell wall. The results indicated that the relative ratios between different area zones of vibration, as well as multivariate analysis, can be used as a clue to discriminate between UTI and non-UTI, as well as different causative pathogens of UTIs. This warrants a further large-scale study to validate the findings of this pilot research.
The Influence of Air Humidity on the Output Signal from an Ionization Smoke Detector in the Presence of Soot Nanoparticles
Authors: Jankowski Tomasz , Sobiech Piotr , Jakubiak Szymon
Published: May 2022

In 2019, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) initiated work on the preparation of a strategy for air quality monitoring at workplaces. The aim was to determine the concentrations of nano-objects and their aggregates and agglomerates (NOAA) by means of direct measurements using low-cost sensors. There is a growing need for low-cost devices that can continuously monitor the concentrations of nanoparticles, and that can be installed where nanoparticles are used or created spontaneously. In search of such a device, in this study, a smoke detector with an ionization sensor was tested. The aim of the research was to investigate the response of the analog output signal with respect to changes in environmental parameters such as the relative humidity of air. The research was conducted in controlled laboratory conditions, and the results confirmed that an ionization detector could be used to measure the concentrations of nanoaerosols. The modified smoke detector detected soot particles smaller than 100 nm. The linear regression line was calculated for the relative humidity dataset and had a slope coefficient of −1.214 × 10−4; thus, the value of the output signal was constant during the experiment. The dependence on air temperature was approximated by a second-degree curve, with a slope coefficient of −8.113 × 10−2. Air humidity affected aerosol concentrations, which may be related to surface modification of nanoparticles.
An Adaptive Alternating Magnetic Interference Suppression (AAIS) Algorithm for Geomagnetic Vector Measurement
Authors: Wang Weilin , Li Keyan , Yang Zhihao , Chen Jun , Miao Linliang , Ouyang Jun , Yang Xiaofei
Published: May 2022

To achieve high-precision vector measurement values in a geomagnetic field, it is necessary to develop methods for overcoming alternating magnetic interference (AMI), which is generated by electrical equipment. This paper proposes the adaptive alternating magnetic interference suppression (AAIS) algorithm. In this algorithm, first, only a triaxial fluxgate sensor measures the magnetic field data. The time–frequency diagram of the total magnetic field is obtained quickly through short-time Fourier transform and wavelet transform. Additionally, the time and frequency of AMI appearance are analyzed. Then, the triaxial adaptive notch filter suppresses the three-component related magnetic interference. Herein, simulation and actual experiments are performed to verify the effectiveness of AAIS. The results indicate that the algorithm can quickly detect the frequencies of AMI from the total magnetic field and adaptively fit their amplitude and phase on the vector magnetic field. Finally, AAIS can suppress the interference effectively. The AAIS algorithm realizes error compensation for the vector measurement values by the total magnetic field, which effectively improves the vector measurement accuracy of the geomagnetic field. We highlight that the AAIS algorithm is effective for AMIs of different frequencies, numbers, and intensities without reference sensors. Our work has practical implications in airborne, vehicle-mounted, and shipborne geomagnetic vector detection.
Automatic Detection and Segmentation of Thrombi in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Using a Mask Region-Based Convolutional Neural Network with Optimized Loss Functions
Authors: Hwang Byunghoon , Kim Jihu , Lee Sungmin , Kim Eunyoung , Kim Jeongho , Jung Younhyun , Hwang Hyoseok
Published: May 2022

The detection and segmentation of thrombi are essential for monitoring the disease progression of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and for patient care and management. As they have inherent capabilities to learn complex features, deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been recently introduced to improve thrombus detection and segmentation. However, investigations into the use of CNN methods is in the early stages and most of the existing methods are heavily concerned with the segmentation of thrombi, which only works after they have been detected. In this work, we propose a fully automated method for the whole process of the detection and segmentation of thrombi, which is based on a well-established mask region-based convolutional neural network (Mask R-CNN) framework that we improve with optimized loss functions. The combined use of complete intersection over union (CIoU) and smooth L1 loss was designed for accurate thrombus detection and then thrombus segmentation was improved with a modified focal loss. We evaluated our method against 60 clinically approved patient studies (i.e., computed tomography angiography (CTA) image volume data) by conducting 4-fold cross-validation. The results of comparisons to multiple other state-of-the-art methods suggested the superior performance of our method, which achieved the highest F1 score for thrombus detection (0.9197) and outperformed most metrics for thrombus segmentation.
Safety Risk Analysis of a New Design of Basalt Fiber Gabion Slope Based on Improved 3D Discrete Element Method and Monitoring Data
Authors: Dai Jianjian , Xu Xiangyang , Yang Hao , Su Chao , Ye Nan
Published: May 2022

Gabion has been extensively used in retaining walls and slope protection. This study carries out a safety risk analysis of a new structure combining basalt fiber reinforcement (BFR) and the traditional gabion structure. The micro-parameters of BFR and soil were calibrated by using the 3D discrete element method after the tensile test of BFR was completed. The mechanical property of the gabion unit was investigated by using a refined model and a numerical test of uniaxial compression. This work developed a simplified method to simulate the seepage effect. The stress condition and sliding displacement between gabions were also investigated. Deformation, stress, and porosity were all used to evaluate the stability of the new type of gabion slope. According to this study, BFR has a tensile strength of 68.22 MPa, and the safety factor increased by 25.68% after using these BFR gabions. The damage is mainly manifested by bending the BFRs and the dislocation of the gabion units, as the slope does not slip. It is indicated this novel gabion structure has a lower safety risk compared to traditional ones, and thus can be popularized and used in retaining walls and slope protection.
Multi-Sensor Fusion by CWT-PARAFAC-IPSO-SVM for Intelligent Mechanical Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Chen Hanxin , Li Shaoyi
Published: May 2022

A new method of multi-sensor signal analysis for fault diagnosis of centrifugal pump based on parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and support vector machine (SVM) is proposed. The single-channel vibration signal is analyzed by Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) to construct the time–frequency representation. The multiple time–frequency data are used to construct the three-dimension data matrix. The 3-level PARAFAC method is proposed to decompose the data matrix to obtain the six features, which are the time domain signal (mode 3) and frequency domain signal (mode 2) of each level within the three-level PARAFAC. The eighteen features from three direction vibration signals are used to test the data processing capability of the algorithm models by the comparison among the CWT-PARAFAC-IPSO-SVM, WPA-PSO-SVM, WPA-IPSO-SVM, and CWT-PARAFAC-PSO-SVM. The results show that the multi-channel three-level data decomposition with PARAFAC has better performance than WPT. The improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) has a great improvement in the complexity of the optimization structure and running time compared to the conventional particle swarm optimization (PSO.) It verifies that the proposed CWT-PARAFAC-IPSO-SVM is the most optimal hybrid algorithm. Further, it is characteristic of its robust and reliable superiority to process the multiple sources of big data in continuous condition monitoring in the large-scale mechanical system.
A Novel Security Architecture for WSN-Based Applications in Smart Grid
Authors: Aljadani Nouf , Gazdar Tahani
Published: May 2022

The Smart Grid (SG) aims to cope with the problems of the traditional grid, using renewable power generators. Similarly, SG benefits from the deployment of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) to enhance its aspects by monitoring the physical behavior of the power generators. However, new threats and attacks may arise due to the open nature and large scale of SG where WSNs are deployed. In this paper, we propose a new security architecture for WSNs in SG based on public key infrastructure (PKI). The key idea of the proposed architecture is to distribute the role of the certification authority (CA) among a set of sensor nodes to ensure the availability and scalability of the CA services. To elect this set of sensor nodes, we propose a novel lightweight clustering algorithm for WSNs that relies on the trust metrics of the nodes and their energy levels. The proposed architecture provides many security services such as authentication and confidentiality and mitigates many types of attacks such as Sybil and eavesdropping. Extensive simulations have been conducted using network simulator OMNET++ and Castalia framework to investigate the performance of the clustering algorithm. The results show that almost 100% of the sensors are members of clusters, and even in the presence of malicious nodes, the number of cluster heads remains static which reflects the robustness of the proposed architecture.
A Study of a Composite Biofilm Reactor for the Treatment of Mariculture Wastewater: Performance and Microbial Communities
Authors: Li Kai , Xu Pan , Chen Xiaoxiao , Li Peijun , Pu Yuewu
Published: May 2022

Mariculture wastewater is one of the main sources of saline wastewater. This study used a waterfall aeration biofilm reactor combined with a sequencing batch reactor (WABR-SBR) to treat simulated mariculture sewage. Despite the high inhibition by salinity, the reactor maintained a high removal efficiency for organic matter and ammonium nitrogen. The ammonia nitrogen removal rate was greater than 99%, while that for nitrite, which is extremely toxic to farmed animals, was greater than 80%. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that salinity affected the surface structure and composition of biofilms, which became compact and secreted more solute to resist the impact of salinity. High throughput 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the main phyla in the biofilms were Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. Metagenomic annotation of genes further indicated nitrogen metabolism pathways under high salinity. The conclusions of this study can provide a theoretical foundation for the biological treatment of high-salt wastewater and provide a technical reference for further application of the WABR-SBR composite system.
Thermoeconomic Analysis of Biomethane Production Plants: A Dynamic Approach
Authors: Cappiello Francesco Liberato , Cimmino Luca , Napolitano Marialuisa , Vicidomini Maria
Published: May 2022

This work analyses the two most diffused technologies for biogas upgrading, namely water scrubbing and membrane separation. In order to carry out such analysis, these two technologies are coupled with photovoltaic panels and an electric energy storage system. The optimal water scrubbing renewable plant achieves a primary energy saving of 5.22 GWh/year and an operating cost saving of 488 k€/year, resulting in the best plant. It was compared to a reference system based on a cogenerator unit, directly supplied by biogas, producing thermal and electric energy, and delivered to the district heating network and to the electric grid. The profitability of both plants depends on the electric energy and biomethane exporting price. The proposed bigas upgrading plant achieves a payback period lower than 10 years with a biomethane selling price greater than 0.55 €/Sm3 and a primary energy saving index around 25–30% with a null share of thermal energy exported by the cogeneration plant.
Hotel Service Innovation with Smart Technologies: Exploring Consumers’ Readiness and Behaviors
Authors: Kim Jinkyung Jenny , Han Heesup
Published: May 2022

This research investigated consumer behaviors for a smart hotel, which is driven by innovative technologies along with the fourth industrial revolution. Considering its enormous potential to become the hotel of the future, we aimed to offer a better understanding of consumers’ intricate decision-making process and behaviors for a smart hotel choice. A robust model was developed by incorporating technology readiness into the merged framework encompassing technology acceptance model and planned behavior theory. The results of data analysis discovered the significant role of each variable, such as technology readiness, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control, and confirmed all hypotheses within the combined model. The proposed theoretical framework sufficiently accounted for consumers’ behavioral intentions and the discussions involved managerial implications of this research.
Ameliorating Effects of Soil Aggregate Promoter on the Physicochemical Properties of Solonetzes in the Songnen Plain of Northeast China
Authors: Fu Qiyang , Meng Fanxiang , Zhang Yuan , Wang Zongliang , Li Tianxiao , Hou Renjie
Published: May 2022

Freeze–thaw cycles cause serious soil erosion, which makes the prevention, control and management of solonetzic lands in the Songnen Plain challenging. The use of soil-aggregate-promoter (SAP) is highly favoured because of its energy-saving and efficient characteristics; however, SAP is rarely used in the improvement of solonetzic soil in cold regions. To fill this gap, we studied the effects of different experimental conditions on the physicochemical properties of solonetzes; the investigated conditions included the number of laboratory-based freeze–thaw cycles (with 0, 1, 3, and 5 cycles), initial moisture content (0%, 18%, 24%, and 30%) and SAP application amount (0 g/m2, 0.75 g/m2, 1.125 g/m2, and 1.5 g/m2). The results showed the following: (1) The soil pH value decreased significantly as the SAP application rate increased, and the effect of the initial moisture content and number of freeze–thaw cycles on soil pH was not significant. (2) SAP effectively reduced the soil electrical conductivity (EC), but a certain threshold was apparent, and the factors studied had significant effects on EC. (3) SAP effectively optimised the soil macroaggregates content and inhibited the damage posed by freeze–thaw cycles to the soil structure. These results provide an important theoretical basis for the effective prevention and control of solonetzes in the Songnen Plain of Northeast China.
Sustainable Innovations: A Qualitative Study on Farmers’ Perceptions Driving the Diffusion of Beneficial Soil Microbes in Germany and the UK
Authors: Ploll Ursula , Arato Miguel , Börner Jan , Hartmann Monika
Published: May 2022

Legislation and consumer preference for more sustainability in the food system require farmers to adopt more stringent sustainably measures without sacrificing business profitability. Scientific and technological innovations, such as beneficial soil microbes for in-field application, may help to achieve this goal, but adoption rates have remained slow thus far. The adopter’s perspective is essential to understanding why. This research investigates factors that drive the perceptions of soil microbe solutions across three groups of (potential) adopters as an input to the design of effective communication strategies to accelerate technology diffusion. Factors included in the analyses are relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, observability and image of applying soil microbes at the farm level. The analysis is based on 28 in-depth qualitative interviews in Germany and the UK, and a focus group discussion in the UK. Data were analysed via content analysis using deductive and inductive processes. Deductive codes were derived from the diffusion of innovations theory. Our results show that soil microbes are still perceived as a challenging product in all three adopter groups, despite the acknowledgement of several advantages and benefits. Predominantly, farmers evaluate the innovation as complex. Furthermore, the observability of the soil microbes was perceived as challenging, which also transfers to the trialability of the innovation. Despite this, in all adopter groups the need for the innovation was recognized.
Underwater Camera Calibration Method Based on Improved Slime Mold Algorithm
Authors: Du Shuai , Zhu Yun , Wang Jianyu , Yu Jieping , Guo Jia
Published: May 2022

The maritime transportation line is the lifeblood of the national economy. Transportation facilities and their construction equipment need to obtain the environmental parameters of relevant sea areas, and underwater robots are the first type of auxiliary equipment for underwater road construction. Considering that the construction of underwater transportation facilities puts forward higher requirements for the observation accuracy of underwater robots, the reliability of internal and external parameter calibration of underwater cameras directly affects the accuracy of underwater positioning and measurement. In order to improve the calibration accuracy of underwater cameras, this paper establishes a real underwater camera calibration image data set, integrates the optimal neighborhood disturbance and reverse learning strategy on the basis of the slime mold optimization algorithm, optimizes the calibration results of Zhang’s traditional calibration method, and compares the optimization results and reprojection error of the ORSMA algorithm with Zhang’s calibration method the SMA algorithm, SOA algorithm and PSO algorithm to verify the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Optimization of On-Grid Hybrid Renewable Energy System: A Case Study on Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Authors: Shahzad Mohsin , Qadir Arsalan , Ullah Noman , Mahmood Zahid , Saad Naufal Mohamad , Ali Syed Saad Azhar
Published: May 2022

Expansion of modern power systems due to increasing energy demands face the challenges of grid reinforcement cost, size and complexity, transmission losses, and environmental factors. Placement of renewable energy sources (RES) based generation systems addresses these challenges. However, the size and placement location of RES-based system require optimization of installation and operational cost with better return on investment and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This paper presents an optimized solution for RES-based generation system to be installed with the existing power system of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) region that is facing power shortfall and load shedding. The weather and climate data from NASA and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have been used and various models of on-grid hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) are compared to highlight their techno-economic benefits. An optimal hybrid photovoltaic, wind, and hydroelectric energy-based generation system is proposed with a significant reduction in cost of energy, net present cost, initial costs, and GHG emissions. Installation of the proposed hybrid RES-based generation system guarantees reduction in system power losses and line flows with an improved voltage profile of the system.
Transition from Office to Home Office: Lessons from Romania during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Săvescu Roxana , Kifor Ștefania , Dănuț Raluca , Rusu Raluca
Published: May 2022

The paper investigates experiences of employees and middle managers in relation to the transition from working from office to working from home in the context of COVID-19 pandemic in Romania. Three online focus groups were conducted to explore working experience in the new mode of work. The conclusions are multifaceted, covering four dimensions: time, spatial, social and technical, and point out how employees and middle managers understand the transition and what impact telework had on their job satisfaction and work productivity.
Sustainable Leadership Practices and Competencies of SMEs for Sustainability and Resilience: A Community-Based Social Enterprise Study
Authors: Suriyankietkaew Suparak , Krittayaruangroj Krittawit , Iamsawan Nacharee
Published: May 2022

Current studies on how a sustainability leadership theory can influence the practice of SMEs, such as a context of community-based social enterprises, is still lacking, with scanty research to date. These small enterprises in the bottom of the pyramid settings are indeed the important socio-economic backbone of many nations around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has significantly hit all sectors and has adversely impacted them. Our study aims to broaden the limited scholarly knowledge and advance the developing SL theory in this realm. Hence, our critical research inquiries address: (1) What are the essential sustainable leadership practices and sustainability competencies for sustainability and resilience in a CBSE context? (2) How can a CBSE business apply the theoretical frameworks in practice to survive and thrive for sustainable futures, especially during the COVID-19 era? This study employs an integrative theoretical examination of sustainable leadership frameworks and sustainability leadership competencies to investigate the sustainable business practices in the SME sector, particularly in a community-based social enterprise context. Our business case centers on a green, social enterprise, which is an award-winner of Best Responsible Tourism and is located in a small coastal fishing village of Thailand. Using a case study research method, the multi-data collection methods include in-depth interviews and focus groups with multiple stakeholders. Evidence was found to comply with six-category sustainable leadership practices and five essential sustainability leadership competencies to varying degrees. The findings suggest that sustainable leaders and entrepreneurs should develop and integrate the value-based practices and competencies (i.e., strategic, systems thinking, interpersonal, anticipatory, ethical competencies) in business. The critical sustainable practices include enabling human capital with care for stakeholders, fostering ethical values and norms via altruism, cultivating social capital through social innovation, and supporting pro-environmental behavior and social responsibility to achieve inclusive growth, sustainability and resilience. The research results advance the theoretical development of the interconnected fields of sustainability leadership and sustainable entrepreneurship. An alternative sustainable business model for sustainability and resilience is also proposed. Overall, the insightful findings can provide practical advice and beneficial policy implications for sustainable futures.
Local Spatial Plans in Supporting Sustainable Water Resources Management: Case Study from Warsaw Agglomeration—Kampinos National Park Vicinity
Authors: Solarek Krystyna , Kubasińska Marta
Published: May 2022

The crisis resulting from progressive climate change is reflected in increasingly violent problems with periodic excesses and shortages of water. Integrated water management has thus become a necessity and it depends, inter alia, on the effectiveness of the adopted strategies, policies and individual investments. In many countries, including Poland, the implementation of this postulate is slow. The importance of local spatial plans, which are a tool that directly translates adopted policies into spatial development, is underestimated. The article presents studies of the provisions of planning documents with particular emphasis on the local spatial plans regulations in terms of considering the issue of water management. Some municipalities in the Warsaw agglomeration were selected for the detailed research, as the areas characterized by various water conditions. Local spatial plans adopted for this territory were compared to model planning acts from other regions of Europe. The conclusions include recommendations for local spatial plans and a method for assessing planning documents regarding the scope of the sustainable water management arrangements. The study results indicate that the principles of integrated water management have not been fully incorporated into the existing plans in Poland and that national and regional policies are poorly translated into real management planning.
Factors Influencing Adoption Intention for Electric Vehicles under a Subsidy Deduction: From Different City-Level Perspectives
Authors: Zhang Jingnan , Xu Shichun , He Zhengxia , Li Chengze , Meng Xiaona
Published: May 2022

The popularization of electric vehicles (EVs) is beneficial to the sustainable development of energy and the environment. China’s promotion and development strategy for EVs will serve as a model for other countries. EV ownership has a significant difference between first/second-tier (FST) cities and third/fourth-tier (TFT) cities and there is a huge growth potential for the EV market in those TFT cities. This paper aims to explore the factors influencing the adoption intentions for EVs in FST and TFT cities under a subsidy deduction and to make a comparative analysis of their regional heterogeneity. Based on the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) model, the structural equation model is used to compare the factors affecting the adoption intention for EVs of 858 respondents in China. The results show that attitude, subjective norms, novelty seeking, non-financial incentive, product cognition, and environmental concerns are positively related to intention in FST and TFT cities; however, infrastructure development only has a positive significant impact in the TFT cities. Additionally, the subsidy deduction has a more negative impact on the adoption intentions in FST cities. Our findings provide vital insights for formulating government regulations and marketing strategies depending on the diverse sizes and attributes of Chinese cities.
Telework in Baltic Countries during the Pandemic: Effects on Wellbeing, Job Satisfaction, and Work-Life Balance
Authors: Erro-Garcés Amaya , Urien Begoña , Čyras Giedrius , Janušauskienė Vita Marytė
Published: May 2022

As a result of the rapid and unplanned adoption of telework by European companies during the pandemic, specific telework characteristics have arisen. Thus, employees’ experience of telework requires further analysis. Based on the “Living, Working, and COVID-19” results for Baltic countries, this paper studies the effect of telework experience on wellbeing, both directly and mediated by Work-Life balance and job satisfaction, through structural equation modelling. After verifying the significant differences in telework preferences, the model is also tested in high versus low telework preference groups. The main findings corroborate the effect of a positive telework experience on perceived wellbeing, but only indirectly via Work-Life balance. Additionally, data from the group with a high telework preference best fits the proposed model, revealing not only the mentioned indirect effect, but also the direct positive effect of telework experience on wellbeing. Thus, employees with a negative experience of telework during the pandemic will be more reluctant to accept telework over more traditional work arrangements. The implications as well as some limitations to be examined in further studies are also presented.
Analysis of EU-DEMO WCLL Power Conversion System in Two Relevant Balance of Plant Configurations: Direct Coupling with Auxiliary Boiler and Indirect Coupling
Authors: Narcisi Vincenzo , Ciurluini Cristiano , Padula Giovanni , Giannetti Fabio
Published: May 2022

Among the Key Design Integration Issues (KDIIs) recently selected for the DEMOnstration Fusion Power Plant (DEMO), the operation of the Balance of Plant (BoP) Power Conversion System (PCS) has been recognized as a crucial aspect, due to the typical pulsed regime characterizing the fusion power plant. In the framework of the DEMO Water-Cooled Lead-Lithium Breeding Blanket (WCLL BB) concept, three BoP solutions have been recognized to be able to overcome this issue. They rely on different coupling options between the Primary Heat Transfer Systems (PHTSs) and the PCS: an Indirect Coupling Design (ICD) with Intermediate Heat Transport System (IHTS) and Energy Storage System (ESS), a Direct Coupling Design (DCD) with AUXiliary Boiler (AUXB), and a DCD with small ESS. The present paper deals with a preliminary feasibility assessment of the first two solutions. The analysis, carried out with the GateCycleTM code, referred to a preliminary design phase, devoted to the sizing of the main components, and to a second phase focused on the cycle optimization. The study demonstrated the feasibility of the two BoP concepts. They are able to produce a satisfactory average electric power (>700 MW) with an acceptable average net electric efficiency (33.6% for both concepts). For each solution, the main strengths and weaknesses are compared and discussed.
Analysis of the Spatial Effect of Capital Misallocation on Agricultural Output—Taking the Main Grain Producing Areas in Northeast China as an Example
Authors: Qin Shuai , Chen Hong , Tran Tuyen Thi , Wang Haokun
Published: May 2022

Increasing agricultural output by reducing capital misallocation is a capital-saving strategy, as it does not require the usage of additional inputs. Based on the panel data of 36 prefecture-level cities in Northeast China from 2011 to 2020, this paper uses the spatial Durbin model to test the impact of capital mismatch on agricultural output and its mechanisms. We found that capital misallocation is prevalent in prefecture-level cities, showing a spatial distribution characteristic of “north-south confrontation and central collapse”, with a significant spatial spillover effect. A one-unit increase in capital misallocation leads to a 16.00% decrease in local agricultural output and a 1.80% decrease in adjacent areas. However, with the optimization and upgrading of the agricultural industry and agricultural technology progress, the inhibitory effect of capital misallocation on the growth of agricultural output is constantly weakening. The above conclusion still holds after a series of robustness tests. The conclusion of this paper provides policy inspiration for promoting the rational allocation of factors between cities and regions, coordinating regional coordinated development, and then promoting the sustainable growth of agricultural output.
Nurses’ Work Environment during the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Person-Centred Practice—A Systematic Review
Authors: Nagel Cicilia , Westergren Albert , Persson Sophie Schön , Lindström Petra Nilsson , Bringsén Åsa , Nilsson Kerstin
Published: May 2022

The work environment and especially the psychosocial work environment influence the mental and physical well-being of employees. The aim of this study was to identify and analyse the state of knowledge regarding nurses’ work situation, health, and person-centred work during the COVID-19 pandemic through a systematic review. Methods: Systematic Review, nine included articles. The theoretical swAge model was used as the framework in a deductive content analysis. Results: The result was presented in the nine determinate areas from the swAge model and showed that all nine determinate areas of the swAge model were of importance to both the nurses’ sustainable work situation during the COVID-19 pandemic and to person-centred care. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on nurses’ health, both physically but especially psychologically, with high levels of depression, anxiety, and burnout. Nurses experienced a lack of control and support from organizations. They had to work with limited resources and sometimes care for patients beyond their expertise. Conclusion: There is a further need for more studies that address person-centredness from an organisational perspective with the intention to develop strategies and measure activities on how to make the nurses’ work situation more sustainable, and to increase their ability to give more person-centred care.
Public Awareness of Nanotechnology and Its Implications for Health in Jordan
Authors: Arabeyyat Zeinab H. , Jamaliah Malek M. , Khalaf Maroof A.
Published: May 2022

Nanotechnology is often described as an emerging technology, holding promise for a diverse range of fields. Public awareness may have a strong impact on public acceptance of nano-technology and its various implications. In Jordan, nano-education has only been introduced recently into universities and it is offered to students of pharmacy, engineering, biomedical sciences, and agriculture. However, there is no data available on nanotechnology awareness among the public in Jordan. Therefore, we conducted this study to evaluate Jordanian public awareness and concern about nanotechnology, nanomaterials, and nanoproducts and its implications for health related applications of nanotechnology. An online survey was developed consisting of 15 questions and separated into three domains. The study findings show that more than half of the respondents have a very low awareness with regards to nanotechnology and its various implications. Additionally, respondents show interest to learn more about nanotechnology and its implications, preferring several sources of information such as media, universities and research institutions.
Understanding Green Innovation: A Conceptual Framework
Authors: Guinot Jacob , Barghouti Zina , Chiva Ricardo
Published: May 2022

In recent years, the growing emergence of environmental problems has meant that sustainability and related concepts such as green innovation have acquired special importance. This has resulted in a significant body of literature addressing these concepts. To help to integrate this extensive literature and establish a theoretical framework, this study summarizes the main principles and roots of green innovation. To this end, this study first makes a generic theoretical approach to the concept of innovation. Then, due to its direct link with green innovation, emphasis is placed on the importance of the value of sustainability in companies. After that, the meaning and current relevance of green innovation in today’s business environment is addressed. Finally, the main precepts and fundamentals of green innovation are established, and a series of academic proposals are made to further advance the study of this concept. This theoretical review may serve as encouragement to further research the concept of green innovation and contribute to providing a clarifying and comprehensive view of this topic.
A Comparison of Chinese and European–American University Students’ Virtue and Mind Learning Beliefs and Academic Achievement in Global Cultural Exchange
Authors: Liu Yanchi , Gao Ruixiang , Lan Xixin , Zhou Xinyu , Huang Shiqi , Wu Danying , Li Qiqi , Zhou Yujun , Luo Ning , Zuo Huang , Mo Lei
Published: May 2022

The world’s two largest economies, the United States and China, have fundamentally different cultural beliefs about learning. Thus, when examining Chinese learners, Western researchers were confused by the contrasting phenomenon between seemingly poor learning approaches and high academic achievement, i.e., the Paradox of Chinese Learners. In addressing this paradox, Jin Li offered a theoretical framework of the Chinese virtue model versus the European–American mind model to comprehensively understand the differences in students’ learning beliefs and academic achievement between the two cultures. However, Li does not pay attention to global cultural exchange or directly link learning beliefs to academic achievement. Therefore, this paper presents two empirical studies addressing these research gaps. Study 1 adopted both qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate the learning beliefs of Chinese and European–American university students, and revealed that deepening cultural exchange narrowed the gap between the two models (Study 1a), but the impact of the virtue model on European–American students was weaker than that of the mind model on Chinese students (Study 1b). Study 2 further revealed that both models were beneficial for Chinese students’ academic achievement, whereas only the virtue model benefited European–American students. These findings have important implications for addressing the Paradox of Chinese Learners.