bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermography-Based Deterioration Detection in Concrete Bridge Girders Strengthened with Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer
Authors: Mac Van Ha , Huh Jungwon , Doan Nhu Son , Shin Geunock , Lee Bang Yeon
Published: June 2020

In bridge structures worldwide, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets are applied to strengthen weak components, especially concrete girders that are at a high risk of rapid degradation during the bridge’s operation owing to impacts from the superstructure’s weight and traffic loads. Regarding the thermography-based method (TM), although deteriorations in the concrete core are some of the main defects in concrete structures strengthened with CFRP, these do not receive as much attention as damage in the CFRP. Therefore, the interpretation of the structural health in terms of these defects using TM is still unclear. The problem presented in this work addresses the quantification of delamination inside the concrete part of a specimen with a CFRP sheet installed on the surface (assumed to be the girder surface strengthened with CFRP) via step heating thermography. Additionally, the empirical thermal diffusivity of concrete girders strengthened with a CFRP sheet (CSC girder), has not been provided previously, is proposed in the present study to predict delamination depths used for field investigations. Moreover, the effect of the CFRP sheet installed on the structure’s surface on the absolute contrast of delamination is clarified. Finally, advanced post-processing algorithms, i.e., thermal signal reconstruction and pulsed phase thermography, are applied to images obtained with step heating thermography to enhance the visibility of delamination in CSC girders.
Multiple-Target Homotopic Quasi-Complete Path Planning Method for Mobile Robot Using a Piecewise Linear Approach
Authors: Diaz-Arango Gerardo , Vazquez-Leal Hector , Hernandez-Martinez Luis , Jimenez-Fernandez Victor Manuel , Heredia-Jimenez Aurelio , Ambrosio Roberto C. , Huerta-Chua Jesus , De Cos-Cholula Hector , Hernandez-Mendez Sergio
Published: June 2020

The ability to plan a multiple-target path that goes through places considered important is desirable for autonomous mobile robots that perform tasks in industrial environments. This characteristic is necessary for inspection robots that monitor the critical conditions of sectors in thermal, nuclear, and hydropower plants. This ability is also useful for applications such as service at home, victim rescue, museum guidance, land mine detection, and so forth. Multiple-target collision-free path planning is a topic that has not been very studied because of the complexity that it implies. Usually, this issue is left in second place because, commonly, it is solved by segmentation using the point-to-point strategy. Nevertheless, this approach exhibits a poor performance, in terms of path length, due to unnecessary turnings and redundant segments present in the found path. In this paper, a multiple-target method based on homotopy continuation capable to calculate a collision-free path in a single execution for complex environments is presented. This method exhibits a better performance, both in speed and efficiency, and robustness compared to the original Homotopic Path Planning Method (HPPM). Among the new schemes that improve their performance are the Double Spherical Tracking (DST), the dummy obstacle scheme, and a systematic criterion to a selection of repulsion parameter. The case studies show its effectiveness to find a solution path for office-like environments in just a few milliseconds, even if they have narrow corridors and hundreds of obstacles. Additionally, a comparison between the proposed method and sampling-based planning algorithms (SBP) with the best performance is presented. Furthermore, the results of case studies show that the proposed method exhibits a better performance than SBP algorithms for execution time, memory, and in some cases path length metrics. Finally, to validate the feasibility of the paths calculated by the proposed planner; two simulations using the pure-pursuit controlled and differential drive robot model contained in the Robotics System Toolbox of MATLAB are presented.
Hybrid Plasmonic Fiber-Optic Sensors
Authors: Qi Miao , Zhang Nancy Meng Ying , Li Kaiwei , Tjin Swee Chuan , Wei Lei
Published: June 2020

With the increasing demand of achieving comprehensive perception in every aspect of life, optical fibers have shown great potential in various applications due to their highly-sensitive, highly-integrated, flexible and real-time sensing capabilities. Among various sensing mechanisms, plasmonics based fiber-optic sensors provide remarkable sensitivity benefiting from their outstanding plasmon–matter interaction. Therefore, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and localized SPR (LSPR)-based hybrid fiber-optic sensors have captured intensive research attention. Conventionally, SPR- or LSPR-based hybrid fiber-optic sensors rely on the resonant electron oscillations of thin metallic films or metallic nanoparticles functionalized on fiber surfaces. Coupled with the new advances in functional nanomaterials as well as fiber structure design and fabrication in recent years, new solutions continue to emerge to further improve the fiber-optic plasmonic sensors’ performances in terms of sensitivity, specificity and biocompatibility. For instance, 2D materials like graphene can enhance the surface plasmon intensity at the metallic film surface due to the plasmon–matter interaction. Two-dimensional (2D) morphology of transition metal oxides can be doped with abundant free electrons to facilitate intrinsic plasmonics in visible or near-infrared frequencies, realizing exceptional field confinement and high sensitivity detection of analyte molecules. Gold nanoparticles capped with macrocyclic supramolecules show excellent selectivity to target biomolecules and ultralow limits of detection. Moreover, specially designed microstructured optical fibers are able to achieve high birefringence that can suppress the output inaccuracy induced by polarization crosstalk and meanwhile deliver promising sensitivity. This review aims to reveal and explore the frontiers of such hybrid plasmonic fiber-optic platforms in various sensing applications.
Detecting Coal Pulverizing System Anomaly Using a Gated Recurrent Unit and Clustering
Authors: Chen Zian , Yan Zhiyu , Jiang Haojun , Que Zijun , Gao Guozhen , Xu Zhengguo
Published: June 2020

The coal pulverizing system is an important auxiliary system in thermal power generation systems. The working condition of a coal pulverizing system may directly affect the safety and economy of power generation. Prognostics and health management is an effective approach to ensure the reliability of coal pulverizing systems. As the coal pulverizing system is a typical dynamic and nonlinear high-dimensional system, it is difficult to construct accurate mathematical models used for anomaly detection. In this paper, a novel data-driven integrated framework for anomaly detection of the coal pulverizing system is proposed. A neural network model based on gated recurrent unit (GRU) networks, a type of recurrent neural network (RNN), is constructed to describe the temporal characteristics of high-dimensional data and predict the system condition value. Then, aiming at the prediction error, a novel unsupervised clustering algorithm for anomaly detection is proposed. The proposed framework is validated by a real case study from an industrial coal pulverizing system. The results show that the proposed framework can detect the anomaly successfully.
Adaptive and Efficient Mixture-Based Representation for Range Data
Authors: Cao Minghe , Wang Jianzhong , Ming Li
Published: June 2020

Modern range sensors generate millions of data points per second, making it difficult to utilize all incoming data effectively in real time for devices with limited computational resources. The Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is a convenient and essential tool commonly used in many research domains. In this paper, an environment representation approach based on the hierarchical GMM structure is proposed, which can be utilized to model environments with weighted Gaussians. The hierarchical structure accelerates training by recursively segmenting local environments into smaller clusters. By adopting the information-theoretic distance and shape of probabilistic distributions, weighted Gaussians can be dynamically allocated to local environments in an arbitrary scale, leading to a full adaptivity in the number of Gaussians. Evaluations are carried out in terms of time efficiency, reconstruction, and fidelity using datasets collected from different sensors. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach is superior with respect to time efficiency while maintaining the high fidelity as compared to other state-of-the-art approaches.
Cluster-Fault Tolerant Routing in a Torus
Authors: Bossard Antoine , Kaneko Keiichi
Published: June 2020

The number of Internet-connected devices grows very rapidly, with even fears of running out of available IP addresses. It is clear that the number of sensors follows this trend, thus inducing large sensor networks. It is insightful to make the comparison with the huge number of processors of modern supercomputers. In such large networks, the problem of node faults necessarily arises, with faults often happening in clusters. The tolerance to faults, and especially cluster faults, is thus critical. Furthermore, thanks to its advantageous topological properties, the torus interconnection network has been adopted by the major supercomputer manufacturers of the recent years, thus proving its applicability. Acknowledging and embracing these two technological and industrial aspects, we propose in this paper a node-to-node routing algorithm in an n -dimensional k -ary torus that is tolerant to faults. Not only is this algorithm tolerant to faulty nodes, it also tolerates faulty node clusters. The described algorithm selects a fault-free path of length at most n ( 2 k + ⌊ k / 2 ⌋ − 2 ) with an O ( n 2 k 2 | F | ) worst-case time complexity with F the set of faulty nodes induced by the faulty clusters.
Digital Transformation in Higher Education Institutions: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Benavides Lina , Tamayo Arias Johnny , Arango Serna Martín , Branch Bedoya John , Burgos Daniel
Published: June 2020

Higher education institutions (HEIs) have been permeated by the technological advancement that the Industrial Revolution 4.0 brings with it, and forces institutions to deal with a digital transformation in all dimensions. Applying the approaches of digital transformation to the HEI domain is an emerging field that has aroused interest during the recent past, as they allow us to describe the complex relationships between actors in a technologically supported education domain. The objective of this paper is to summarize the distinctive characteristics of the digital transformation (DT) implementation process that have taken place in HEIs. The Kitchenham protocol was conducted by authors to answer the research questions and selection criteria to retrieve the eligible papers. Nineteen papers (1980–2019) were identified in the literature as relevant and consequently analyzed in detail. The main findings show that it is indeed an emerging field, none of the found DT in HEI proposals have been developed in a holistic dimension. This situation calls for further research efforts on how HEIs can understand DT and face the current requirements that the fourth industrial revolution forced.
Coronavirus Disease (COVID 19): Handling Challenges in Kuwait
Authors: Gasana Janvier , Shehab Maryam
Published: June 2020

The world is currently facing a serious pandemic of Coronavirus (COVID 19) which started in Wuhan, China, and was then transmitted rapidly to other countries. These countries applied different methods and procedures in an attempt to prevent or reduce and/or control the incident cases and manage prevalent cases. This paper discusses the methods and procedures applied in the State of Kuwait to control this epidemic, and how effective they have been. The State of Kuwait followed the WHO, European CDC, US CDC, and/or other countries’ institutional guidelines, and is still working on containing the disease, given the rising number of cases among Kuwaitis returning from affected areas such as the UK and USA, and migrant workers who bear the highest burden, given their cramped living conditions.
Using Smart City Tools to Evaluate the Effectiveness of a Low Emissions Zone in Spain: Madrid Central
Authors: Lebrusán Irene , Toutouh Jamal
Published: June 2020

Population concentration in cities brings new risks as an increase in pollution, which causes urban health problems. In order to address this problem, traffic reduction measures are being implemented as pedestrianization areas; they are the definition of Low Emissions Zones (LEZs). When the effectiveness of these types of measures is in doubt, smart city tools provide data that can be used to scientifically asses their impact. This article analyzes the situation of Madrid Central (Spain), a LEZ subject to controversy. We apply statistical and regression analyses to evaluate the effectiveness of this measure to reduce air pollution and outdoor noise. According to the results, this LEZ was able to significantly reduce NO 2 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10 concentration locally, having the same positive impact in the rest of the city. In terms of noise, this measure was able to mitigate background noise levels generated by road traffic.
The Treatment of Socioeconomic Inequalities in the Spanish Curriculum of the Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO): An Opportunity for Interdisciplinary Teaching
Authors: Abril-López Daniel , Morón-Monge María del Carmen , Morón-Monge Hortensia , Cuenca-López José María
Published: June 2020

Socioeconomic inequality is a burning issue in today’s world. It has been a characteristic feature of human societies since prehistoric times, but it has taken on a special meaning in the West as a result of the economic crises of the 21st century. We analyze the six elements of the Spanish national curriculum to learn how these dissymmetries are treated in seven Social Sciences and Humanities subjects in Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO). For this qualitative study with quantitative contributions, thirty-five keywords were selected; a detailed system of categories was configured for the treatment and analysis of the curriculum; and three levels of progression and complexity were introduced with respect to this problem in order to classify four educational curricula. The outcomes for the State legislation and for the three Autonomous Communities examined (Andalusia, the Chartered Community of Navarre, and Galicia) did not reach a level suitable for training a critical citizenship that seeks greater social balances. An interdisciplinary teaching–learning process must be carried out in Social Science Didactics, which makes connections between and reflects on the origin of socioeconomic inequality and its serious consequences for Humanity.
Fostering the Social Development of Children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) through Dialogue and Interaction: A Literature Review
Authors: Fernandez-Villardon Aitana , Alvarez Pilar , Ugalde Leire , Tellado Itxaso
Published: June 2020

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 stresses the importance of offering all students an inclusive, quality education, so that they can develop necessary life skills, including academic and social skills. Students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) not only have greater difficulties in their academic development, but they also have some social development limitations. It is therefore necessary to identify which strategies are effective in helping these students develop social skills. Previous research has noted that dialogical learning environments can contribute to promoting inclusion. This paper provides a literature review of interventions, based on social interaction and their impact on the social skills of students with disabilities. A literature search was performed of scientific databases (Web of Science, SCOPUS, PsycINFO and ERIC) to identify research that used dialogue and interaction to promote the development of the social skills of these students. Twenty-nine studies were selected that yielded improved results in the increase and quality of interactions and the promotion of social behaviours, such as initiations, participation, collaboration, social connection, self-regulation and self-image. Based on these results, it can be concluded that interaction-based interventions with an inclusive approach nurture the social skills of students with disabilities, in line with previous research.
Safeguarding Children in the Developing World—Beyond Intra-Organisational Policy and Self-Regulation
Authors: Kaviani Johnson Afrooz , Sloth-Nielsen Julia
Published: June 2020

Safeguarding in the context of development and humanitarian assistance has received heightened international attention since 2018. Emerging literature has not yet investigated the extent to which responses are evolving in the best interests of the child, in line with the treaty-based rights of children. This article makes a unique contribution to scholarship by applying a child rights lens to safeguarding efforts in the aid sector with a focus on the least developed countries in Africa. The article first reviews the safeguarding landscape—providing a snapshot of self-regulatory and standard setting initiatives by non-government organisations (NGOs) and bilateral government donors. Next, the article examines the relevant standards in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and respective Committee observations to enrich the safeguarding discussion. Finally, the article discusses key dilemmas and remaining challenges for safeguarding children in the developing world. The article suggests that a rights-based approach provides for a more nuanced and contextualised response, avoiding the temptation of ‘tick-box’ exercises driven by reputational management and ‘programming siloes’ imposed by humanitarian and development actors. To support sustained and consistent progress, efforts should go beyond intra-organisational policy and sectoral self-regulation. Child rights law monitoring mechanisms can be leveraged to encourage effective government oversight of NGOs in contact with children, as part of national frameworks for child protection. Donor governments should also consider and increase investment in national and local child protection systems to address risk factors to child abuse and ensure appropriate responses for any child that experiences harm.
Volunteering Attitude, Mental Well-Being, and Loyalty for the Non-Profit Religious Organization of Volunteer Tourism
Authors: Han Heesup , Ariza-Montes Antonio , Tirado-Valencia Pilar , Lee Soyeun
Published: June 2020

The present research aimed to explore volunteer travelers’ loyalty formation for the non-profit religious organization of volunteer tourism by considering the gender influence. A quantitative process along with a survey method was utilized to attain the research purpose. Our empirical results showed that awareness of the need, performance of the organization, attitude, and the mental well-being were critical contributors to increasing loyalty. Attitude and mental well-being were vital mediators. The performance of the non-profit religious organization included a comparative importance in building loyalty. In addition, gender moderated the effect of awareness of the need and performance of the organization on the travelers’ attitudes toward it. As very little is known about volunteer tourists’ behaviors, the current study satisfactorily provides an apparent comprehension regarding how their loyalty for the non-profit religious organization is generated and what factors drive this loyalty.
Examining the Associations between Oases Soundscape Components and Walking Speed: Correlation or Causation?
Authors: Berkouk Djihed , Bouzir Tallal Abdel Karim , Maffei Luigi , Masullo Massimiliano
Published: June 2020

The feeling of calm and tranquillity provided by the oases of Algeria can disappear because of the outdated urbanization strategy which is based on the vehicle as a mode of transport. Walkability is one of the most adoptable sustainable strategies to reduce the negative mechanical transportation effects on the quality of life. This paper aimed to examine the correlation and the causation between oases soundscape components and walking speed. The methodology of this field study was based on an empirical approach at the urban settlements in three oases in Algeria. The correlation between walking speed and soundscape components was obtained through the use of the Spearman correlation test. A one-way ANOVA analysis was conducted to assess the effect of the soundscape components on walking speed. A post hoc Tukey test was adopted to explore the sound component that causes increased walking speed. In this study, no significant correlation was explored between the walking speed and the anthrophonical sounds. In contrast, the statistical analysis of the sound walks experience suggests a moderate and significant negative correlation between geophonical and biophonical sounds, with mean walking speed. The results showed that, the cause of the increase in the mean walking speed of the pedestrians is human sound. The findings suggest that further research is needed to focus on the long-term subjective investigation to explore the correlations and the effects between soundscape, walkability and walking speed.
Historic Building Energy Audit and Retrofit Simulation with Hemp-Lime Plaster—A Case Study
Authors: Agliata Rosa , Marino Alfonso , Mollo Luigi , Pariso Paolo
Published: June 2020

Hemp-lime composite is a natural material, which is being increasingly used and studied in the construction sector, thanks to its recyclability, hygrothermal comfort and healthiness features. The aim of this paper is to test the benefits in terms of energy efficiency achieved through the use of hemp-lime composite as insulation in a possible refurbishment intervention. With the aim of extending the knowledge about the benefits achieved through from the integration of this natural material into construction production process, a real building in south of Italy was selected and a substitution of the standard gypsum-lime plaster with a hemp-lime one was simulated by means of a specific software (Termus® by Acca Sotware, Bagnoli Irpino, Italy), serving for the assessment of the energy performance. Case study analysis highlighted the good thermal insulation properties of hemp-based plaster, allowing thermal dispersion to decrease in the winter season and improve the summer performance of the walls by approximately 20% compared to traditional plaster. This results in a one-level improvement of the building in energy classification according to Italian regulation.
Subjective Happiness Is Associated with Objectively Evaluated Sleep Efficiency and Heart Rate during Sleep: An Exploratory Study Using Non-Contact Sheet Sensors
Authors: Okamura Hisayoshi , Mihara Kengo , Tsuda Akira , Morisaki Toshihiro , Tanaka Yoshiyuki , Shoji Yoshihisa
Published: June 2020

The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between subjective happiness and subjective and objective sleep. The participants were 24 healthy university students (11 males, 13 females; mean age 22.4 ± 2.1). Their subjective happiness was measured by the Japanese Subjective Happiness Scale (JSHS). Furthermore, their subjective and objective sleep evaluation was measured by Ogri-Shirakawa-Azumi sleep inventory MA version (OSA-MA) and a non-contact sheet sensor (SS). The results indicated that participants with higher subjective happiness had objectively shorter sleep onset latency, higher sleep efficiency, and lower heart rate during sleep. On the other hand, no such correlations were found between subjective sleep evaluation with OSA and subjective happiness. These results suggest that subjective happiness is related with the ability to more easily fall asleep and better sleep efficiency.
Triple-Binder-Stabilized Marine Deposit Clay for Better Sustainability
Authors: Hanafi Mohamad , Ekinci Abdullah , Aydin Ertug
Published: June 2020

Marine clay deposits are commonly found worldwide. Considering the cost of dumping and related environmental concerns, an alternative solution involving the reuse of soils that have poor conditions is crucial. In this research, the authors examined the strength, microstructure, and wet–dry resistance of triple-binder composites of marine-deposited clays and compiled a corresponding database. In order to evaluate the wetting–drying resistance of the laboratory-produced samples, the accumulated mass loss (ALM) was calculated. The use of slag alone as a binder, at any percentage, increased the ALM up to 2%. However, the use of lime as the third binder seemed to accelerate the chemical reactions associated with the hydration of clay and cementitious material and to enhance the chemical stability, i.e., specimens that included both lime and slag experienced the same ALM as specimens treated with cement only. Scanning electron microscopy analysis confirmed the durability improvements of these clays. The proposed unconfined compressive strength–porosity and accumulated mass loss relationship yielded practical approximation for the fine- and coarse-grained soils blended with up to three binders until 60 days of curing. The laboratory-produced mixes showed reduction of embodied energy and embodied carbon dioxide (eCO2) emissions for the proposed models.
Exploring the Changing Gap of Residential Energy Consumption per Capita in China and the Netherlands: A Comparative Analysis of Driving Forces
Authors: Nie Hongguang , Kemp René , Vasseur Véronique
Published: June 2020

This paper brings out some remarkable differences between China as a developing country experiencing high economic growth and the Netherlands as a developed country by examining the driving forces behind the evolution of residential energy consumption per capita (RECpc) in the two countries in the period from 2001 to 2015. The components we analysed are income, energy-intensity, weather and energy-mix effects. The most remarkable result is the changing effect of energy intensity in China: during 2001–2007 energy intensity increased, and decreased afterward. The changes reflected changes in material circumstances: the shift to relative energy intensive goods and of saturation of energy demand for heating and cooling. In the Netherlands, the declining energy intensity, warmer winters and the more diversified energy mix decreased RECpc by 511.39, 58.81 and 1.08 kgce, respectively. Although the income growth both increased RECpc in the two countries, the relatively high-speed increasing income in China narrowed the RECpc gap between the two countries. This study implies that the opposite changes in RECpc in developing and developed countries are due to the different development stages reached by the countries. Policy suggestions are being offered to deal with the different circumstances, as revealed through this study.
Urban Features in Rural Landscape: A Case Study of the Municipality of Skawina
Authors: Wilkosz-Mamcarczyk Magdalena , Olczak Barbara , Prus Barbara
Published: June 2020

Events associated with growing suburbanisation and transport infrastructure lead to changes in the use of rural land reaching further and further from the central city. The present research focuses on the impact of the location of the municipality of Skawina and the functioning of its rural areas in the impact zone of Kraków. The first step to determine the transformations in the municipality of Skawina caused by the growth of Kraków and its suburban zone was to investigate the internal conditions in the municipality, such as its spatial development or functional structure, and external conditions such as its demographic transformations. Next, the development of the settlement structure in recent years and land management changes were investigated. The paper focuses on the introduction of typical urban features and functions into rural areas to identify the transformations and their dynamics. The status of the space was diagnosed by interpreting the map documentation for the administrative boundaries of the municipality of Skawina, regarding the presentation of the spatial development in 2006 and in 2014 to 2016, by verifying the existing planning documentation, and by visiting the site. The conclusions can be the basis for guidelines to protect the traditional rural and cultural landscape near Kraków.
Dimensions of Customer Value for the Development of Digital Customization in the Clothing Industry
Authors: Yan Wen-Jie , Chiou Shang-Chia
Published: June 2020

Triggered by the rapid development of digital technology, Chinese clothing manufacturers have begun to provide digital customization for clothing. The digital transformation of clothing customization provides new opportunities to meet customers’ personalized needs and optimize production resources, and facilitates the sustainable development of the clothing customization industry. This study constructed dimensions of customer value in clothing customization, based on the development of the industry under digital technology. The research was divided into two phases: the first phase involved establishing customer value indicators through expert interviews, questionnaire design, and statistical analyses in SPSS; and the second stage involved the expert group conducting a consumer experience evaluation of a digital customization platform. Thirty customer value indicators were extracted and four dimensions were established: authenticity value, social value, aesthetic value, and utility value. The results of the study show that the value demands of Chinese consumers for apparel customization have shifted to perceptible authenticity values (service, experience, content). The four customer value dimensions proposed by this research can be used to evaluate customer value in digital customization consumption models.
An Operation Benefit Analysis and Decision Model of Thermal Power Enterprises in China against the Background of Large-Scale New Energy Consumption
Authors: Yang Xiaolong , Niu Dongxiao , Chen Meng , Wang Keke , Wang Qian , Xu Xiaomin
Published: June 2020

With the continuous increase in new energy installed capacity, the slowdown in the growth of social power consumption, the pressure created by high coal prices, and the reduction in on-grid electricity tariffs, the challenges facing the survival and development of thermal power generation enterprises are becoming more severe. Hence, based on the cost–benefit analysis method, this paper proposes a diversified operating benefit analysis and decision model for thermal power generation enterprises that includes four profit models: power sales, peak load regulation (without oil), peak load regulation (with oil), and generation right trading. The opportunity cost of peak load regulation and generation rights trading was considered, and six scenarios were designed. An empirical analysis was conducted by selecting a thermal power enterprise in Ningxia, Northwest China, as an example, using scenario and sensitivity analyses. The results show that under the diversified business model, thermal power generation enterprises can more effectively avoid the risks when the external environment changes and significantly improve its economic benefits. The consumption of new energy can be promoted, and positive social effects will be achieved. Therefore, the findings will help the thermal power generation enterprises to face these challenges.
Modeling Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Prosocial Behavior in School-Aged Children: A Gender Perspective
Authors: Iglesias Gallego Damián , León-del-Barco Benito , Mendo-Lázaro Santiago , Leyton-Román Marta , González-Bernal Jerónimo J.
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this study was to examine the link between physical activity (PA) and mental health (MH) in children in terms of gender. A total of 750 subjects (52.9% boys, Mage  =  10.88; SD  =  0.75) reported the level of PA they were performing by means of a self-report questionnaire, and they also completed the Spanish version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results revealed statistically significant differences in regard to gender in the physical activity index (PAI), the externalizing of problems, and prosocial behavior. Boys presented high scores on the PAI and externalizing problems. Girls obtained higher values on the prosocial scale. In the prediction analysis, the PAI revealed a statistically significant relationship in linear models for externalizing and internalizing problems, as well as in both the linear and quadratic models in the prosocial scale for the case of male gender. For girls, the PAI revealed a statistically significant relationship in the quadratic model for internalizing problems and in both the linear and quadratic models for the prosocial scale. These findings are discussed in terms of previous research literature on PA and MH in children. Some important educational implications for teaching and learning physical education are suggested.
Aging Society and the Selected Aspects of Environmental Threats: Evidence from Poland
Authors: Sobczak Elżbieta , Bartniczak Bartosz , Raszkowski Andrzej
Published: June 2020

The article addresses problems of population aging in Poland and the selected environmental hazards exerting a negative impact on seniors’ health. The introduction presents the reasons underlying the above-mentioned aging process and provides the characteristics of the primary environmental threats. The next part covers the most important trends and indicators related to the demographic situation in the country. The core of the study is focused on presenting and interpreting the results of empirical research on the periodization of the population aging process in Poland, in the years 2004–2019, using the multidimensional statistical analysis method including, in particular, the data classification method. The key demographic factors differentiating the development phases of the population aging process include, in order of their significance: longer life expectancy of the population, narrowed gross reproduction rate, declining birth rate, and total migration balance. In addition, the article provides the analysis of the selected environmental threats’ impact on population aging in Poland, among which the following were indicated: high temperatures, solar conditions, heavy rainfall, strong winds, droughts, and fires. Moreover, the process of longer life expectancy in fine health is essentially related to two issues: the level of medical care, with particular attention paid to check-ups and preventive measures, and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. In summary, it should be highlighted that the elimination of all pollutants or the reasons of environmental hazards is not possible; however, the actions primarily focused on reducing the emission of harmful gases into the atmosphere and other forms of environmental pollution should definitely be taken.
Cooling Water: A Source of Conflict in Spain, 1970–1980
Authors: Sesma-Martín Diego
Published: June 2020

Water resources are limited and uneven in space and time. Competition for the use of the resource can lead to conflicts between water users. Besides its use for irrigation and agriculture, water is an essential input in the thermoelectric power generation process. Massive Spanish nuclear program projects have conditioned water management in the country, as significant freshwater volumes need to be constantly available for the proper operation of these facilities. Water for cooling has conflicted with other water-using activities, resulting in regional imbalances. The present study shows that cooling water represented a source of conflict between irrigators and electricity companies in Spain in the 1970s and 1980s. A historical analysis of documentary sources reveals that the drawing off of fresh water for cooling by the nuclear industry was one of the many causes of frequent disputes and the rise of social movements against the installation of nuclear power plants in Spain during that period.
Do Women Affect the Final Decision on the Housing Market? A Case Study
Authors: Źróbek Sabina , Zysk Elżbieta , Bełej Mirosław , Lepkova Natalija
Published: June 2020

This article presents the results of research on the effect of the customer’s gender on the tenure choice (ownership or tenancy) on the housing market. In the study, an attempt has been made to investigate whether there is a significant role of women in making decisions in this market. The survey was conducted among residents of two cities—Olsztyn (Poland) and Vilnius (Lithuania). The obtained answers were subjected to a multi-dimensional categorical and quantitative analysis. The results showed, among others, that women generally have greater decision-making autonomy in residential issues than men, with Lithuanian women doing this much more often than Polish women. However, it should be noted that the dominant decision-making model in the housing market is the model of joint decisions taken by men and women. The results of the conducted analysis broaden the existing knowledge of the functioning of the housing market and may support the implementation of the pro-social and pro-sustainable spatial development policy of the given territorial unit. The results may also contribute to more sustainable development of enterprises in the housing construction sector. This is an important issue in a climate of intense competition between “providers” of flats and the gradual introduction of the idea of competition between them and the social environment.
The Participatory Budgeting and Its contribution to Local Management and Governance: Review of Experience of Rural Communities from the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest
Authors: Buele Irene , Vidueira Pablo , Yagüe José Luis , Cuesta Fabián
Published: June 2020

In Ecuador, the participatory political design of the political party forming the government from 2007 to 2017, along with the constitution of 2018, created opportunities for citizen participation. Participatory budgeting (PB) is the most commonly used citizen participation mechanism. The direct participation of citizens is reflected in improving the governance by democratizing decision processes. The contribution of PB to the local management and governance of seven rural communities of the Ecuadorian Amazon was analyzed using a case study. Based on (1) the level of compliance with municipal planning through management indicators and, the amounts allocated to PB, (2) along with the level of citizen satisfaction, complementary perspectives (acquired through a survey) on the implementation of PB are provided. These sources of evidence allowed us to critically assess the effects of PB in the improvement of local management and governance. We found low levels of municipal planning compliance, i.e., a 20% (2017) and 43% (2018), high levels of citizen dissatisfaction (around 91%) and also a “disagreement” with the PB implementation process. Finally, it is observed that the implementation of the participatory budget in rural communities presents deficiencies that limit the obtaining of representative benefits and that imply an improvement in the governance and quality of life of the citizenry. This is mainly caused by the low interest of citizens to participate in the phases of execution and monitoring of projects, due to a low culture and participatory education.
A Survey of Road Traffic Congestion Measures towards a Sustainable and Resilient Transportation System
Authors: Afrin Tanzina , Yodo Nita
Published: June 2020

Traffic congestion is a perpetual problem for the sustainability of transportation development. Traffic congestion causes delays, inconvenience, and economic losses to drivers, as well as air pollution. Identification and quantification of traffic congestion are crucial for decision-makers to initiate mitigation strategies to improve the overall transportation system’s sustainability. In this paper, the currently available measures are detailed and compared by implementing them on a daily and weekly traffic historical dataset. The results showed each measure showed significant variations in congestion states while indicating a similar congestion trend. The advantages and disadvantages of each measure are identified from the data analysis. This study summarizes the current road traffic congestion measures and provides a constructive insight into the development of a sustainable and resilient traffic management system.
The Analysis of Urban Fluvial Landscapes in the Centre of Spain, Their Characterization, Values and Interventions
Authors: Holgado Pedro Molina , Jendrzyczkowski Rieth Lara , Berrocal Menárguez Ana-Belén , Allende Álvarez Fernando
Published: June 2020

River areas are undoubtedly among the most valuable territorial areas in Europe, not only in terms of their eco-landscape and use but also, culturally. However, there is currently a sharp reduction in the extension and increase of deterioration of riverbanks around the world. A substantial part of losses and deterioration are associated with the artificialization of the territories, derived mainly from a less than respectful urbanization around these landscapes. Urban and peri-urban riverbanks are landscapes in expansion due to the continuous growth of built-up spaces. Therefore, they should be areas of preferential consideration, especially in territories with a marked tendency to dryness, like the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. This article aims to contribute to our understanding of these spaces through the study of four distinct cases in the centre of the peninsula, in particular: the river Manzanares running through the city of Madrid, the river Tagus in Toledo and running through Talavera de la Reina, and the river Henares in Guadalajara. Three of the four urban water courses analyzed are zones of special interest for waterfowl: they sustain a winter population that varies between 745 and 1529 birds and they provide a home to some globally threatened species. The density of the riparian birds is also very high during winter, these values oscillating between a mean of 141.16 and 240.12 birds/10 ha. It should be noted that the diversity of this group of birds in the four regions studies is also high (H > 2.4 nats). The article also examines the interventions and the urban planning criteria applied to these urban and peri-urban river spaces, inferring the need to reassess urban planning in river areas to ensure it is compatible with their operation, values and possible uses.
Separation of Cerium Oxide Abrasive and Glass Powder in an Abrasive-Glass Polishing Waste by Means of Liquid–Liquid–Powder Extraction Method for Recovery: A Comparison of Using a Cationic and an Anionic Surfactant Collector
Authors: Wang Li-Pang , Chen Yan-Jhang , Tso Yun-Chen , Sheng Chia-Feng , Ponou Josiane , Kou Mingyin , Zhou Heng , Chen Wei-Sheng
Published: June 2020

Applying a cerium oxide abrasive to polish glass components generates a polishing waste containing the cerium oxide abrasive and the glass powder produced during polishing. This research applied the liquid–liquid–powder extraction method to separate the cerium oxide abrasive and the polished glass powder in an abrasive-glass polishing waste for recovering the cerium oxide abrasive. Two liquids of isooctane and water were utilized. The effectiveness of using a cationic and an anionic surfactant collector, i.e., dodecylamine acetate (DAA) and sodium oleate (NaOL), respectively, in improving their extraction and separation was investigated and compared. The results indicated that NaOL addition could improve the mutual separation of cerium oxide abrasive and glass powder but DAA could not, because the former could selectively improve the extraction of cerium oxide abrasive from the water phase to isooctane phase whereas the latter could improve that of both powders. Optimal separation for the cerium oxide abrasive and the polished glass powder in an abrasive-glass polishing waste were achieved by adding NaOL of 7.5 kg/ton at pH 7; the content of cerium oxide abrasive in the solid recovered from the isooctane phase was 96.4% with a recovery of 88.1%.
Architectural Heritage Value Dispersed on Sensuous Thresholds in Kim Swoo Geun’s Arario Museum in Space, Seoul
Authors: Han Jiae
Published: June 2020

As a representation of Korea’s modern architecture, Kim Swoo Geun described the Space Group of Korea Building as an “enclosed but endless space”. The Space Group Building is currently Korea’s Registered Cultural Heritage No. 586. Its name was changed to Arario Museum in Space; since 2013, it has been used as a museum. This study aims to reveal what spatial features of the Arario Museum have value as cultural heritage to make its sustainable architectural message. This research will analyze spatial traits within thresholds, beyond the general spatial traits of the architecture itself. The threshold gives Arario Museum meaning as a registered cultural property of Korea. The fundamental methodology to analyze the issue of threshold is to document the architectural experience based on the architect’s interviews, sketches and diagrams for design intention and strategy. Kim’s space displays the unification of physical structure and invisible phenomenon and cognition. The definition of threshold and the elements that constitute it discussed in this research were those that cover such multileveled concepts as materials that constitute the threshold. In addition, the phenomenon and status of these elements extracted in such manner being actually dispersed was verified, and the obtained characteristics of the threshold can result in the following: the concealment, juxtaposition, and flexibility are ultimately expanded to the ambiguity which is unique to Arario Museum in Space. Concealment started from observing the surface of threshold itself, and juxtaposition is the relational interpretation among the various elements. After the analysis on the dispersion and contacts, the status and phenomena of the building’s thresholds were concluded as a flexibility connection to its heritage value.
The Quest for an Adequate Test: Justifying the Sustainable City as an Order of Worth
Authors: Holden Meg
Published: June 2020

The sustainable city represents an ideal of good and just living that has inspired urban development work for at least 25 years. While criticized by many for its scientific, social and political vagueness, the concept of the sustainable city has nonetheless continued to frame material and political efforts in urban redevelopment. From a perspective grounded in the pragmatic sociology of critique, this article takes this phenomenon as evidence of an international movement to generate not just political pronouncements or technical fixes, but a new order of worth, from the concept of the sustainable city. After presenting the pragmatic sociology of critique and the application of this body of social research as it pertains to better understanding sustainable urban development, we reflect on the factors that challenge the acceptance of the sustainable city as an order of worth, or as a mode and manner of justifying significant decisions in the public domain, recognizable and understandable to a majority. For efforts to create the sustainable city to justify themselves, socioculturally, in this way, the work demands a clear test of worthiness. This article illustrates the search for an adequate test through a review of two distinct efforts to generate new systems of assessment for sustainable building projects, and points out the contrasting nature of these two tests: one which aims to be accessible to thoroughgoing public debate fit to transform a context toward a political discourse of urban sustainability as well-being; the other that interprets the need for a test as affirmation of expertise related to the unfolding climate emergency.