bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Artificial Intelligence in PV Fault Detection
Authors: Al-Katheri Ahmed A. , Al-Ammar Essam A. , Alotaibi Majed A. , Ko Wonsuk , Park Sisam , Choi Hyeong-Jin
Published: October 2022

The rapid revolution in the solar industry over the last several years has increased the significance of photovoltaic (PV) systems. Power photovoltaic generation systems work in various outdoor climate conditions; therefore, faults may occur within the PV arrays in the power system. Fault detection is a fundamental task needed to improve the reliability, efficiency, and safety of PV systems, and, if not detected, the cost associated with the loss of power generated from PV modules will be quite high. Moreover, maintenance staff will take more time and effort to fix undetermined faults. Due to the current-limiting nature and nonlinear output characteristics of PV arrays, fault detection is not that easy and the application of artificial intelligence is proposed for the sake of fault detection in PV systems. The idea behind this approach is to compare the faulty PV module with its accurate model (factory fingerprint) by checking every PV array’s I–V and P–V curves using the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) logarithm as a subsection of the Artificial Intelligence’s (AI) techniques. This proposed approach achieves a high performance of fault detection and gives the advantage of determining what type of fault has occurred. The results confirm that the proposed logarithm performance becomes better as the number of distinguishing points extend, providing great value to the Solar PV industry.
Contextual Factors of Resilient Tourism Destinations in a Pandemic Situation: Selected Cases from North and South Tyrol during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic
Authors: Nöhammer Elisabeth , Haid Marco , Corradini Philipp , Attenbrunner Susanne , Heimerl Peter , Schorn Robert
Published: October 2022

This study examines critical factors for tourism destination resilience in the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in North Tyrol (AT) and South Tyrol (IT). Based on a mixed-method approach, the summer seasons of 2019 and 2020 are compared regarding change in overnight stays in 26 municipalities. The results highlight the importance of the classical 4Ps of marketing and specific contextual factors. These and their implications for research and practice are discussed. Marketing mix aspects most relevant for resilience in a highly tourism-dependent region are outlined.
A Random Parameters Approach to Investigate Injury Severity of Two-Vehicle Crashes at Intersections
Authors: Sharafeldin Mostafa , Farid Ahmed , Ksaibati Khaled
Published: October 2022

Roadway intersections are crash-prone locations and, hence, ensuring the safety of road users at intersections has been a major concern for transportation professionals. It is critical to identify the risk factors that contribute to severe crashes at intersections to implement the appropriate countermeasures. Greater emphasis is needed on two-vehicle crashes since they represent the majority of intersection crashes. In this study, a random parameter ordinal probit model was developed to estimate the contributing factors of injury severity of two-vehicle crashes at intersections. Nine years of intersection crash data in Wyoming were analyzed in this model. The study involved the investigation of the influence of a set of intersection, drivers, environmental, and crash characteristics on crash injury severity. The results demonstrated urban and signalized intersections were related to lower severity levels. In addition, higher pavement friction is more likely to be associated with less severe crashes. Crashes that involved drivers who are females or impaired and crashes on weekends were associated with higher severity levels. Intersection crashes that occurred on non-dry road surfaces, in adverse weather conditions, or that involved large vehicles, or out-of-state drivers were less likely to be severe.
Understanding the Gap between University Ambitions to Teach and Deliver Climate Change Education
Authors: Hindley Ann
Published: October 2022

This paper aims to determine why there is a gap between university ambitions to teach climate change education, even where formal commitments and institutional incentives exist to encourage action. To explore this, acknowledgement of prior conceptual work is considered. A new matrix emerges, which conceptualizes the influences of organizational values, organisational culture, personal values and positionality-identity on the integration of climate change education into the curriculum. The role and influence of the researcher is addressed using an auto-ethnographic approach. A thematic analysis is applied to data collected from program leaders for an undergraduate curriculum review at a medium-sized university Business School, in north-west England. Five clusters are used to structure the results and explore the narrative, before applying these to the new matrix for illustrative purposes. The discussion suggests a lack of knowledge by staff or confusion over the communicated organizational values; an organizational culture that perceives sustainability and climate change are not priorities for the institution; and an attitude-behavior gap that can be attributed to personal values. In conclusion, organizational culture can be changed to increase the priority of sustainability and climate change through an objective in staff annual Personal Development Reviews, for example. Recommendations are made for further research.
State of Play for 100% Renewable Energy Futures for Cuba: Recent Changes and Challenges
Authors: Korkeakoski Mika
Published: October 2022

Over the last decades Cuba has been remarkably successful at revitalizing its energy sector by significantly increasing efficiency and reducing energy intensity and emissions. These achievements, made through a comprehensive approach targeting infrastructure, consumption habits and people’s understanding of energy issues, can provide Cuba with fertile ground on which to tackle the policy challenges ahead in order to achieve its 2030 energy policy goals. This review carries out a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis of the late 2010s until 2022 on the variety of changes that have taken place and the challenges still ahead. Overcoming critical challenges under the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Cultural (PESTEC) conditions is crucially important; how will Cuba be able to tackle the challenge of implementing the transition to renewable energy and find the resources to actualize the 2030 vision?
The Risk Map of Cross-Regional Cultural Heritage: From a Perspective of Slow Degradation
Authors: Li Qi , Liu Mei , Song Jusheng , Du Yu , Gao Fei
Published: October 2022

The Cross-Regional Cultural Heritage (CRCH) is a continuous, large-spanned, and comprehensive system with a large number and diversity of components. To support the integrated conservation of CRCH, an analytical approach with simple structure and easy operation is needed. Therefore, this paper aims to conduct risk maps to interpret, understand, and manage the slow degradation of built heritage in the daily environment. The hazard factors of slow degradation in the environment are extracted and translated into meteorological data for mapping with the Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A risk map to evaluate the risk level of the heritage is obtained by overlapping the vulnerability and hazard factors. With the case study of the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER), the risk maps revealed the risk condition and spatial distribution pattern of CRCH, based on which a network-connected working platform is developed, and suggestions for solutions are proposed. In terms of the operational plan for conservation works, the graded architectural risk sections are delineated. The priority and extent of intervention are proposed according to the degree of urgency and preventive conservation measures can be implemented in advance by using weather forecast data. In terms of social management strategy, through a level-by-level penetration education model, the social awareness of heritage conservation can be cultivated, the technical methods for restoration and maintenance will be trained, and the operating system for monitoring and inspection can be established. Relevant stakeholders, such as government officials, experts, users, and visitors can participate together in the preventive conservation process of the heritage.
Buffer-Aided Relaying Strategies for Two-Way Wireless Networks
Authors: Adanvo Vignon Fidele , Mafra Samuel , Montejo-Sánchez Samuel , Fernández Evelio M. García , Souza Richard Demo
Published: October 2022

The energy and time efficiency of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is frequently affected by the low reliability of their links. To mitigate the outage probability, cooperation topologies are used. However, these topologies have particular challenges since the relay consumes energy in assisting a foreign communication, and the successful transmission in each direction is conditioned to the availability of the two segments involved in the communication. To overcome the temporary unavailability of a link, the use of buffers in the relay has been proposed, but energy and time efficiency remain a challenge for basic configurations. We propose two-way buffer-aided relaying strategies that exploit the presence of buffers in the different nodes that participate in the communication, as well as the efficient use of buffer capacity. The proposed strategies make the decision to forward the messages in one of the communication directions or broadcast coded messages based on buffer and channel state information. Firstly, we evaluate the impact of considering the use of buffers in the transmitter nodes. Then, we propose and evaluate the impact of the full and joint use of the entire buffer capacity to assist communication in both directions. Finally, we evaluate the performance of a system that exploits both the use of full and joint buffering and the presence of buffering in the transmitter. The results show that better performance, in terms of outage probability, is obtained by the third strategy; since it allows the buffer capacity to be exploited to a greater extent in the most urgent direction at each moment, as well as to select the start of each transmission to a viable communication opportunity. This represents a notable benefit in terms of energy and time efficiency for WSNs since unnecessary transmission of information is avoided, the number of idle slots decreases, and the amount of information per unit of time and energy increases.
Factors Impacting the Sustainable Development of Professional Learning Communities in Interdisciplinary Subjects in Chinese K-12 Schools: A Case Study
Authors: Hu Yiyun , Jing Xiaoli , Yang Yaqing
Published: October 2022

Professional learning communities are recognized as one of the most effective approaches for promoting the professional development of teachers. In the current complex and rapidly changing era, to facilitate the implementation of interdisciplinary curricula, Chinese schools have made tremendous efforts to enhance teacher professional development, particularly by establishing professional learning communities. Aiming to understand the operation of professional learning communities in interdisciplinary subjects in Chinese K-12 schools and to examine factors impacting the sustainable development of these professional learning communities, we conducted a case study on professional learning communities in the interdisciplinary subject of Education for International Understanding in Chengdu Horsens Primary School. As part of this study, we interviewed the principal, course director, seed teachers and teachers participating in the selected case. The research results demonstrated that the major factors impacting the sustainable development of professional learning communities in interdisciplinary subjects in Chinese K-12 schools include school structures and policies, school leadership, teachers’ professionalism and learning capacity and their sense of community. In addition, compared to traditional subject-based professional learning communities in China, professional learning communities in interdisciplinary subjects highlight a sense of community, which presents three distinctive features: a conflict-inclusive atmosphere, the coexistence of individual and shared visions and an emotional bonding identity. These three features also have a considerable impact on the sustainable development of professional learning communities in interdisciplinary subjects in Chinese K-12 schools.
Digital Health in Schools: A Systematic Review
Authors: França Cíntia , Santos Francisco , Martins Francisco , Lopes Helder , Gouveia Bruna , Gonçalves Frederica , Campos Pedro , Marques Adilson , Ihle Andreas , Gonçalves Tatiana , Gouveia Élvio Rúbio
Published: October 2022

Worldwide, the growing digitalization process and increase in smartphone usage have contributed to promoting mobile health (mHealth) services. This study provides an overview of the research targeting the effectiveness of mHealth interventions among children and adolescents in the school environment. A systematic literature review was performed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The results show that physical activity and nutrition are the main intervention topics. Health literacy, mental health, productive health, vaccination rates, and social interaction were also considered in mHealth interventions. Of the 13 studies that remained for analysis, 12 described positive outcomes in at least one health variable after using an mHealth tool. Overall, interventions ranged between four and 24 weeks. Only seven studies managed to have at least 80% of the participants from the baseline until completion. Adding personal information, user interaction, and self-reference comparisons of performance seems crucial for designing successful health digital tools for school-aged children and adolescents.
A Low-Carbon Land Use Management Framework Based on Urban Carbon Metabolism: A Case of a Typical Coal Resource-Based City in China
Authors: Li Lingwei , Bai Yongping , Yang Xuedi , Gao Zuqiao , Qiao Fuwei , Liang Jianshe , Zhang Chunyue
Published: October 2022

It is of great significance to study urban carbon metabolism and explore the low-carbon land use management framework from the perspective of “ecological-production-living” space, an important means for the government to strengthen spatial regulation. In the study, first of all, a carbon metabolism network model was established based on the evolution of the “ecological-production-living” space. Secondly, an ecological network analysis (ENA) method was used to identify the ecological relationships between land use types under the effect of carbon metabolism. In addition, ArcGIS software was used to visualize the spatial distribution of carbon flow and ecological relationships. Finally, a low-carbon oriented land use management framework was proposed based on the above research. Yulin, a typical coal resource-based city in China, was taken as a case study for verification. The results showed that Yulin had net carbon emissions from 2010 to 2020, indicating that the evolution of “ecological-production-living” space had a negative impact on the carbon metabolism. Industrial, mining and transportation land dominated carbon emissions, while forestland played an important role in carbon sequestration. Under the effect of carbon metabolism, a controlling and exploitative relationship was the main ecological relationship, and a mutualism relationship accounted for the smallest proportion, indicating that the urban ecological conflict was obvious in the evolution of the “ecological-production-living” space. Based on the above research, a land use management framework was proposed, which divided urban space into six types of control units. In conclusion, the results provided experience for other coal resource-based cities to promote low-carbon and sustainable land use.
Effects of Social Capital on Pro-Environmental Behaviors in Chinese Residents
Authors: Shi Jing , Lu Chuntian , Wei Zihao
Published: October 2022

With regard to the factors influencing pro-environmental behavior, environmental sociology has long been mired in the theoretical debate between the affluence hypothesis and global environmentalism in the West. This study explores the mechanisms influencing pro-environmental behaviors by applying social capital theory. Drawing upon the data from the Chinese General Social Survey in 2013 (CGSS2013), this study distinguishes social capital in two dimensions—individual social capital (ISC) and collective social capital (CSC)—and classifies pro-environmental behaviors into two categories: private and public. With a multiple linear regression model, the report reveals that ISC, based on network learning, social support, and social identity, and CSC, based on social norms and social trust, have significant positive effects on both private and public pro-environmental behaviors. The effect of CSC on pro-environmental behavior is much lower than that of ISC. In addition, females are more likely to perform private pro-environmental behaviors than males. This paper argues that social capital should be actively used to promote civic engagement in China’s environmental protection process.
A Structure Economic Loss Optimization Method with the Uncertainty of Ground Motion Amplitude for Chinese Masonry Building
Authors: Zhao Jinpeng , Li Xiaojun , Liu Chen
Published: October 2022

In the catastrophe insurance industry, it is impractical for a catastrophe model to simulate millions of sites’ environments in a short time. Hence, the attenuation relation is often adopted to simulate the ground motion on account of calculation speed, and both ground motion expectations and uncertainties must be calculated. Due to the vulnerability curves of our model being based on simulations with a large number of deterministic ground motions, it is necessary but not efficient for loss assessment to analyze all possible ground motion amplitudes and their corresponding loss rates. This paper develops a simplified method to rapidly simulate loss expectations and uncertainties. In this research, Chinese masonry buildings are the focus. The result shows that the modified method gives accurate loss results quickly.
Development of a Mexican Version of the Cycle-Tourist Motivation Instrument (CtMI)
Authors: Aragón Mladosich Ramón Antonio , Muñoz-Marquez Trujillo Rafael Arturo , Hidalgo Contreras Juan Valente , Becerra-Roman Imelda
Published: October 2022

With the growing interest in cycle tourism in Mexico, it is necessary to understand the motives for traveling and cycling. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the bicycle tourism motivation instrument (Cycle-tourist Motivation Instrument (CtMI)) for Mexico. The instrument was applied to 322 cycle tourists who participated, directly or indirectly, in the 2021 Chichimeca route, a cycle tourism event. Atypical data were removed, Cronbach’s alpha of the CtMi was 0.920, the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) test gave 0.911 as a result, and Barlett’s sphericity test was equal to 0.000; in addition, factor analysis with varimax rotation was performed with factor loadings greater than 0.40, resulting in an instrument with validity and explanatory capacity for the phenomenon of cyclist motivation with 32 items divided into 7 dimensions: health, social, competence domain, exploration, stimulus-seeking, self-presentation and escape, with values equal to and/or higher than those reported in the literature. The CtMI can contribute to future research related to this topic, which will allow us to understand and determine the motivations of the cycle tourist in Mexico. Likewise, this study demonstrates the need for further research to validate the CtMI in other contexts, within Mexico and abroad.
Informal Competition Effect on SMEs’ Innovation: Do Credit Constraints Matter? Evidence from Eastern European Countries
Authors: Hlioui Zaineb , Gabsi Mohamed , Omri Abdelwahed
Published: October 2022

This paper examines the influence of informal competition on SME innovation in the Eastern European transition economies. Using the BEEPS VI, which covers the period from 2018–2020, we investigated the conditional mediation of credit constraints moderated by business plan elaboration. Looking at SMEs’ product innovation, process innovation, radical innovation, and green innovation, we find that informal competition’s direct effect enhances all the innovation proxies. Besides, the informal sector increases SMEs’ credit constraints, which indirectly leads to less corporate innovation. The negative indirect effect is alleviated by the business strategy development. Finally, using bootstrap resampling, we confirm the significant conditional mediation effect of credit constraints on the informal competition and the innovation proxies.
Efficiency Evaluation of a Forestry Green Economy under a Multi-Dimensional Output Benefit in China—Based on Evidential Reasoning and the Cross Efficiency Model
Authors: Huang Yan , He Xiao , He Shizhen , Dai Yongwu
Published: October 2022

The efficiency evaluation of forestry green economy development is related to the direction of forestry development and plays an important role in balancing the economic and environmental issues within that forestry development. The existing research faces three challenges: first, the output indicator is singular; second, the perspective of a self-assessment is extremely limited; and third, the multi perspective fusion method is not in line with the mechanism of the cross efficiency evaluation model. To address these challenges and the characteristics of forestry development output, we constructed multi-level output indicators from four aspects: ecology, economy, society, and sustainability and used evidence reasoning to combine the output indicators. Based on the perspective of a cross evaluation among peers, four different cross efficiency values are defined from the evaluation relationship between the different decision-making units to obtain economic–aggressive, social–neutral, ecological–benevolent, sustainable–neutral, and comprehensive–neutral cross efficiencies. According to the relationship between self- and cross evaluation, an order conditional entropy cross efficiency aggregation model has been proposed and used to analyze the development efficiency of the forestry green economy in 31 Chinese provinces in 2019. Considering the uneven distribution of the forestry resources in China, the development in the 31 provinces and cities is divided into four types by discussing the relationship between the output indicators and efficiency, while the reasons for the unbalanced development and the poor comprehensive development are discussed according to five cross efficiencies.
A Dynamic Dispatching Method for Large-Scale Interbay Material Handling Systems of Semiconductor FAB
Authors: Xia Beixin , Tian Tong , Gao Yan , Zhang Mingyue , Peng Yunfang
Published: October 2022

Interbay Automated Material Handling Systems (AMHS) are widely adopted especially in Semiconductor Wafer Fabrication Systems (SWFS). The dispatching method plays a major role in the control of AMHS. This paper proposes an efficient multi-objective dynamic dispatching method which will dynamically adjust vehicle-load assignments according to the real-time situation of the system. A multi-objective cost function with variable weights is established, taking into account various performance indices (i.e., transport time, throughput, cycle time, vehicle utilization, movement, and waiting time), and the corresponding mathematical model is formulated. Then, in order to obtain the suitable weights according to the real-time condition, an advanced method is developed based on fuzzy theory. After that, a Hungarian algorithm is adopted to solve the model. Finally, simulations are conducted to validate the proposed method. The results demonstrate that it has better comprehensive performance compared to the previous dispatching methods.
Cooling Degree Days for Quick Energy Consumption Estimation in the GCC Countries
Authors: Salem Hayder , Khanafer Khalil , Alshammari Mohammad , Sedaghat Ahmad , Mahdi Salah
Published: October 2022

One of the most useful and simplified approaches in assessing building energy estimates is the degree days method. The heating and cooling requirements can be easily compared for different locations as well as system trends. In this paper, the cooling degree day values for the capitals of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are presented. Degree day values at different base temperatures are also produced for these locations. These values are useful for engineers and policy makers for evaluating energy demands and their cost for these countries. A typical two-story residential building is considered here and its yearly cooling load is evaluated. The total cooling energy is compared based on the energy cost of the respective GCC countries. The results presented in this investigation illustrated that the cooling load, based on the cooling degree days (CDDs) at a 23 °C base temperature, agrees well with the detailed hourly cooling load simulated by eQuest software. Additionally, the highest CDDs value of 2589 was observed in the city of Doha and the lowest value of 2037 was seen in Riyadh city. The lowest cooling cost of USD 492 corresponds to Muscat, while the highest value of USD 1672 belong to Abu Dubai, partially due to a higher tariff of 0.081 USD/kWh.
An Optimal Layout Model of Curved Panels for Using 3D Printing
Authors: Cha Minsu , Kim Chang-Won , Lee Taehee , Kim Baek-Joong , Cho Hunhee , Kim Taehoon , Lim Hyunsu
Published: October 2022

Recently, the application of 3D printing in the production of curved panels has increased due to the irregular shape of free-form buildings. In general, 3D printing based on additive manufacturing (AM) methods requires various supports that cause a waste of printing materials and an increase in production time. In this study, we proposed a method for printing a pair of panels that can hold each other through the minimal support connected between each panel. However, this printing method causes an additional non-productivity factor called the non-printing path for the nozzle to move between the pair of panels. Therefore, we also developed an optimal layout model that can minimize non-printing paths and used the genetic algorithm (GA) for its calculation. As a result of applying the optimization model proposed in this study through the case study, the non-printing path was reduced by 18.54% compared with that from the existing method, and the non-printing time was reduced by 34.41 h. The total production time, including non-printing time and printing time, was reduced by 3.89%, and the productivity was improved by 4.04%. The model proposed in this study is expected to minimize unproductive factors that occur in the process of manufacturing curved panels and reduce the energy consumption.
Impact of Luxury Hotel Customer Experience on Brand Love and Customer Citizenship Behavior
Authors: Lin Yangpeng , Choe Yeongbae
Published: October 2022

The luxury hotel market has been developing rapidly recently in the Asian Market. To provide useful outcomes to hotels competing in fierce market conditions, the current study investigated the relationship between customer experience values, customer post-experience consequences, and citizenship behaviors. Our findings confirmed the valuable contribution of customer experience values (ROI and service excellence) to the development of brand satisfaction, which in turn positively influences brand commitment and love. Meanwhile, brand commitment and love were found to have a direct positive impact on customer citizenship behaviors (CCBs). Overall, the findings bridge the gap in the relationship between brand love and CCBs in the hospitality industry and provide broad insights into brand management and marketing theories for tourism and hospitality.
Evaluation of In-Service Vocational Teacher Training Program: A Blend of Face-to-Face, Online and Offline Learning Approaches
Authors: Asghar Muhammad Zaheer , Afzaal Muhammad Naeem , Iqbal Javed , Waqar Yasira , Seitamaa-Hakkarainen Pirita
Published: October 2022

Teacher education has a large and favorable impact on a teacher’s performance. Effective training brings improvement in the productivity and performance of employees due to the acquisition of new knowledge and skills. The National Vocational and Technical Training Commission organized an in-service vocational teachers’ training program through blended learning approaches in Pakistan. This study aimed at finding out the effectiveness of that in-service vocational teachers’ training program. The four levels of the Kirkpatrick model were used as the theoretical framework. A survey approach was used to collect data from 629 in-service vocational teachers who took part in the training program through blended learning approaches. Partial least square structural equation modeling was applied to find the hierarchal relationship among the four levels of the Kirkpatrick model. The results of the current research revealed that trainees were satisfied at all four levels of the Kirkpatrick model, including the reaction, learning, behavior and results. A hierarchal relationship between the four levels of the Kirkpatrick model was also found for the evaluation of the training program. The direct effect of the reaction had a positive and significant relationship with learning, learning with behavior and behavior with the results. The results of the specific indirect relationship among the four levels clearly depicted that behavior was mediated through learning and the results, learning was mediated through the reaction and behavior and behavior was mediated through the reaction and results. This study is useful for vocational education institutions and skill development policymakers to design in-service training programs for in-service teachers. Future studies can be conducted about the adaptation of instructions for the in-service vocational teachers’ training program through blended learning approaches.
Removal of Diclofenac Sodium from Wastewater in Microbial Fuel Cell by Anode Modified with MnCo2O4
Authors: Morovati Roya , Hoseini Mohammad , Azhdarpoor Abooalfazl , Dehghani Mansooreh , Baghapour Mohammad Ali , Yousefinejad Saeed
Published: October 2022

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) with a modified anode is one of the new methods to increase MFC efficiency. This study synthesized an anode modified with cobalt manganese oxide (MnCo2O4@CF) on carbon felt (CF) by easy hydrothermal method and binder-free. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) was measured with and without diclofenac (DCF). According to SEM results, MnCo2O4 was uniformly dispersed on the anode electrode surface. Moreover, the maximum power density in COD (1000 mg/L), 48 h. condition without DCF (726 mA/m2) was 165 ± 0.012 mW/m2 and with DCF concentration of 20 mg/L, it was 308 ± 0.013 mW/m2 (992 mA/m2). In addition, in the presence of 10 mg/L DCF concentration, the maximum COD removal efficiency was 82% ± 1.93 at 48 h. COD removal efficiency without DCF was 94.67% ± 0.02 at 72 h. After 72 h, the maximum removal efficiency of COD and DCF in the carbon anode was 41% ± 1.15 and 9.5% ± 0.23, respectively. Moreover, the maximum DCF removal efficiency using a MnCo2O4 anode was 56% ± 0.55, at 48 h; the initial COD concentration was 500 mg/L, and the DCF concentration was 20 mg/L. This research showed that coating the anode with MnCo2O4 could lead to the increased growth of microorganisms on the surface of the anode, decreased load transfer resistance, increased power density, and more removal of COD and DCF. As a result, the performance of fuel cells with modified anode and removal of DCF increased compared to anode with CF-MFC. Thus, the performance of fuel cells with modified anode and removal of DCF increased compared to anode with CF-MFC.
Former Foodstuff Products (FFPs) as Circular Feed: Types of Packaging Remnants and Methods for Their Detection
Authors: Luciano Alice , Mazzoleni Sharon , Ottoboni Matteo , Tretola Marco , Calvini Rosalba , Ulrici Alessandro , Manoni Michele , Bernardi Cristian E. M. , Pinotti Luciano
Published: October 2022

Alternative feed ingredients in farm animal diets are a sustainable option from several perspectives. Former food products (FFPs) provide an interesting case study, as they represent a way of converting food industry losses into ingredients for the feed industry. A key concern regarding FFPs is the possible packaging residues that can become part of the product, leading to potential contamination of the feed. Although the level of contamination has been reported as negligible, to ensure a good risk evaluation and assessment of the presence of packaging remnants in FFPs, several techniques have been proposed or are currently being studied, of which the main ones are summarized in this review. Accordingly visual inspections, computer vision (CV), multivariate image analysis (MIA), and electric nose (e-nose) are discussed. All the proposed methods work mainly by providing qualitative results, while further research is needed to quantify FFP-derived packaging remnants in feed and to evaluate feed safety as required by the food industries.
The Effect of Omnichannel Integration on Fresh Food Customer Engagement from the Viewpoint of Flow Experience
Authors: Chen Xiaoxia , Su Xiaofeng , Lin Wenhe , Xu Anxin , Chen Jianhong , Zheng Qiujin
Published: October 2022

Customer engagement is a new value index affecting the omnichannel benefits of enterprises. It is beginning to attract the attention of both scholars and managers. However, there is still a lack of research on the mechanism influencing customer engagement in the fresh food omnichannel retail context. Drawing from the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) framework, this paper builds a relationship model between omnichannel integration and fresh food customer engagement. In addition, the paper empirically analyzes the mechanism of omnichannel integration’s impact on fresh food customer engagement. The findings show that omnichannel integration promotes flow experiences through three modes: information integration, business integration, and service and distribution integration. Flow experience is mediating the relationship between omnichannel integration and customer engagement. Strengthening the customer engagement knowledge system can help fresh food omnichannel retailers to create and manage the long-term cooperative relationship between customers and the company’s value creation. The higher the degree of omnichannel integration of fresh food retail firms, the more conducive it is to enhancing the customer flow experience, which will positively impact customers’ attitudinal and behavioral engagement.
The Impact of New Energy Enterprises’ Digital Transformation on Their Total Factor Productivity: Empirical Evidence from China
Authors: Ren Yangjun , Zhang Xin , Chen Hui
Published: October 2022

As digital technologies disrupt one sector after another, an increasing number of new energy enterprises are positively embracing digital transformation. However, it remains unclear whether digital transformation drives enterprise total factor productivity. To fill this gap, using a dataset of Chinese A-share listed new energy enterprises from 2009 to 2021, we investigate theimpact of digital transformation on a firm’s total factor productivity. The results show that there is a promoting effect of digital transformation on new energy enterprises’ total factor productivity. The promoting effect is significant only in the state-owned firms and the eastern region. Further, we demonstrate that when a firm has digital transformation, it has a higher operating efficiency, lower cost, and greater innovation power leading to higher total factor productivity. This research elucidates the role of digital transformation in fostering the new energy industry’s growth and provides meaningful suggestions for improving the effectiveness of digital transformation in new energy enterprises.
Modelling Neglected and Underutilised Crops: A Systematic Review of Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities
Authors: Chimonyo Vimbayi , Chibarabada Tendai , Choruma Dennis , Kunz Richard , Walker Sue , Massawe Festo , Modi Albert , Mabhaudhi Tafadzwanashe
Published: October 2022

Developing and promoting neglected and underutilised crops (NUS) is essential to building resilience and strengthening food systems. However, a lack of robust, reliable, and scalable evidence impedes the mainstreaming of NUS into policies and strategies to improve food and nutrition security. Well-calibrated and validated crop models can be useful in closing the gap by generating evidence at several spatiotemporal scales needed to inform policy and practice. We, therefore, assessed progress, opportunities, and challenges for modelling NUS using a systematic review. While several models have been calibrated for a range of NUS, few models have been applied to evaluate the growth, yield, and resource use efficiencies of NUS. The low progress in modelling NUS is due, in part, to the vast diversity found within NUS that available models cannot adequately capture. A general lack of research compounds this focus on modelling NUS, which is made even more difficult by a deficiency of robust and accurate ecophysiological data needed to parameterise crop models. Furthermore, opportunities exist for advancing crop model databases and knowledge by tapping into big data and machine learning.
Structural Determinants of Mobile Learning Acceptance among Undergraduates in Higher Educational Institutions
Authors: Kaisara Godwin , Atiku Sulaiman Olusegun , Bwalya Kelvin Joseph
Published: October 2022

Mobile learning has become a critical aspect of online learning in the post-pandemic era. As a result, practitioners and policymakers have paid increasing attention to mobile learning acceptance among various stakeholders. However, there is a vacuity of literature on mobile learning acceptance in developing countries, particularly in the African context. This study sought to examine the determinants of mobile learning acceptance among undergraduates in higher educational institutions using a structural equation modelling approach. Data were collected through a web survey distributed to 415 undergraduate students in Namibia. The majority of the UTAUT relationships were confirmed, although some were not supported. The results revealed a strong positive relationship between performance expectancy and hedonic motivation. Hence, hedonic motivation mediates the relationship between performance expectancy and behavioural intention to use mobile learning in Namibia. The results of this study may help to inform mobile learning implementation efforts, particularly in the post-pandemic period.
Role of Metropolis in Regional and Global Dimension of Value-Added Chain: Examples from Warsaw and Its Region
Authors: Radło Mariusz-Jan , Szczech-Pietkiewicz Ewelina
Published: October 2022

The paper aims to present the role of cities and their surroundings (metropolis) in the creation and flow of value, in order to shift the focus of analysis towards the geography of value chains. The analysis combines notions of a network of cities with value-added chains, usually examined separately, to identify the synergies between them and progress in the methodology of the combination. The aim of the paper is to identify the role of the metropolis in connecting the national and regional economy with the world economy within value chains. We present the metropolis not only as a node in global value chains, but also as an intermediary between global, national, and regional economies. We show that the Warsaw metropolis is strongly linked with itself and the rest of the national economy. In the case of the Mazovia region, the strongest links are with the national economy followed by backward links with the metropolis.
Reciprocity and Representations for Wave Fields in 3D Inhomogeneous Parity-Time Symmetric Materials
Authors: Wapenaar Kees , Slob Evert
Published: October 2022

Inspired by recent developments in wave propagation and scattering experiments with parity-time (PT) symmetric materials, we discuss reciprocity and representation theorems for 3D inhomogeneous PT-symmetric materials and indicate some applications. We start with a unified matrix-vector wave equation which accounts for acoustic, quantum-mechanical, electromagnetic, elastodynamic, poroelastodynamic, piezoelectric and seismoelectric waves. Based on the symmetry properties of the operator matrix in this equation, we derive unified reciprocity theorems for wave fields in 3D arbitrary inhomogeneous media and 3D inhomogeneous media with PT-symmetry. These theorems form the basis for deriving unified wave field representations and relations between reflection and transmission responses in such media. Among the potential applications are interferometric Green’s matrix retrieval and Marchenko-type Green’s matrix retrieval in PT-symmetric materials.
Singularities of Osculating Developable Surfaces of Timelike Surfaces along Curves
Authors: Wang Yongqiao , Yang Lin , Li Pengcheng , Chang Yuan
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we focus on a developable surface tangent to a timelike surface along a curve in Minkowski 3-space, which is called the osculating developable surface of the timelike surface along the curve. The ruling of the osculating developable surface is parallel to the osculating Darboux vector field. The main goal of this paper is to classify the singularities of the osculating developable surface. To this end, two new invariants of curves are defined to characterize these singularities. Meanwhile, we also research the singular properties of osculating developable surfaces near their lightlike points. Moreover, we give a relation between osculating Darboux vector fields and normal vector fields of timelike surfaces along curves from the viewpoint of Legendrian dualities. Finally, some examples with symmetrical structures are presented to illustrate the main results.
The Value of the Early-Time Lieb-Robinson Correlation Function for Qubit Arrays
Authors: Mahoney Brendan J. , Lent Craig S.
Published: October 2022

The Lieb-Robinson correlation function is one way to capture the propagation of quantum entanglement and correlations in many-body systems. We consider arrays of qubits described by the tranverse-field Ising model and examine correlations as the expanding front of entanglement first reaches a particular qubit. Rather than a new bound for the correlation function, we calculate its value, both numerically and analytically. A general analytical result is obtained that enables us to analyze very large arrays of qubits. The velocity of the entanglement front saturates to a constant value, for which an analytic expression is derived. At the leading edge of entanglement, the correlation function is well-described by an exponential reduced by the square root of the distance. This analysis is extended to arbitrary arrays with general coupling and topologies. For regular two and three dimensional qubit arrays with near-neighbor coupling we find the saturation values for the direction-dependent Lieb-Robinson velocity. The symmetry of the underlying 2D or 3D lattice is evident in the shape of surfaces of constant entanglement, even as the correlations front expands over hundreds of qubits.
Child Tobacco Smoke Exposure, Indoor Home Characteristics, and Housing Stability among a National Sample of U.S. Children
Authors: Mahabee-Gittens E. Melinda , Han Gang , Merianos Ashley L.
Published: October 2022

(1) Objectives: To examine the associations of child tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) with home quality and housing instability. (2) Methods. A secondary analysis of 32,066 U.S. 0–11-year-old children from the 2018–2019 National Survey of Children’s Health was conducted. Child home TSE status was defined as: no TSE: child lived with no smokers; thirdhand smoke (THS) exposure only: child lived with a smoker(s) who did not smoke indoors; and secondhand smoke (SHS) and THS exposure: child lived with a smoker(s) who smoked indoors. Home quality was assessed by the presence of mold or pesticide use and housing instability was assessed by home ownership, frequency of moves, and number of household members. We conducted weighted multivariable logistic regression and linear regression models while adjusting for important child covariates. (3) Results: In total, 12.3% had home THS exposure only and 1.6% had home SHS and THS exposure. Compared to children with no home TSE, children with home SHS and THS exposure were 2.60 times more likely (95%CI = 1.73, 3.92) to have mold inside their homes; 1.57 times more likely (95%CI = 1.09, 2.26) to live in homes where pesticides were used ≥1 time during the past 12-months; and more likely to have more frequent moves (β = 1.06, 95%CI = 0.62, 1.50). (4) Conclusions: Children with home TSE have higher rates of mold, pesticide use, frequent moves, and household members compared to children with no home TSE. Children with TSE should also be screened for home quality and housing instability and provided with appropriate interventions and resources.
Industrial-Scale Cleaning Solutions for the Reduction of Fusarium Toxins in Maize
Authors: Pascale Michelangelo , Logrieco Antonio F. , Lippolis Vincenzo , De Girolamo Annalisa , Cervellieri Salvatore , Lattanzio Veronica M. T. , Ciasca Biancamaria , Vega Anna , Reichel Mareike , Graeber Matthias , Slettengren Katarina
Published: October 2022

Grain cleaning is the most effective non-destructive post-harvest mitigation strategy to reduce high levels of mycotoxins on account of the removal of mold-infected grains and grain fractions with high mycotoxin content. In this study, the reduction in the concentration of some co-occurring Fusarium toxins in maize, namely deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA) and fumonisins B1 and B2 (FBs), was evaluated at an industrial-scale level by mechanical removal (sieving and density separation) of dust, coarse, small, broken, shriveled and low-density kernels and/or optical sorting of defected kernels. Samples were dynamically collected according to the Commission Regulation No. 401/2006 along the entire process line. Mycotoxin analyses of water–slurry aggregate samples were performed by validated LC methods. Depending on the contamination levels in raw incoming maize, the overall reduction rates ranged from 36 to 67% for DON, from 67 to 87% for ZEA and from 27 to 67% for FBs. High levels of DON, ZEA and FBs were found in all rejected fractions with values, respectively, up to 3030%, 1510% and 2680%, compared to their content in uncleaned maize. Results showed that grain cleaning equipment based on mechanical and or optical sorting technologies can provide a significant reduction in Fusarium toxin contamination in maize.