bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lessons Learned While Implementing a Time-Series Approach to Forest Canopy Disturbance Detection in Nepal
Authors: Aryal Raja Ram , Wespestad Crystal , Kennedy Robert , Dilger John , Dyson Karen , Bullock Eric , Khanal Nishanta , Kono Marija , Poortinga Ate , Saah David , Tenneson Karis
Published: July 2021

While deforestation has traditionally been the focus for forest canopy disturbance detection, forest degradation must not be overlooked. Both deforestation and forest degradation influence carbon loss and greenhouse gas emissions and thus must be included in activity data reporting estimates, such as for the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) program. Here, we report on efforts to develop forest degradation mapping capacity in Nepal based on a pilot project in the country’s Terai region, an ecologically complex physiographic area. To strengthen Nepal’s estimates of deforestation and forest degradation, we applied the Continuous Degradation Detection (CODED) algorithm, which uses a time series of the Normalized Degradation Fraction Index (NDFI) to monitor forest canopy disturbances. CODED can detect low-grade degradation events and provides an easy-to-use graphical user interface in Google Earth Engine (GEE). Using an iterative process, we were able to create a model that provided acceptable accuracy and area estimates of forest degradation and deforestation in Terai that can be applied to the whole country. We found that between 2010 and 2020, the area affected by disturbance was substantially larger than the deforested area, over 105,650 hectares compared to 2753 hectares, respectively. Iterating across multiple parameters using the CODED algorithm in the Terai region has provided a wealth of insights not only for detecting forest degradation and deforestation in Nepal in support of activity data estimation but also for the process of using tools like CODED in applied settings. We found that model performance, measured using producer’s and user’s accuracy, varied dramatically based on the model parameters specified. We determined which parameters most altered the results through an iterative process; those parameters are described here in depth. Once CODED is combined with the description of each parameter and how it affects disturbance monitoring in a complex environment, this degradation-sensitive detection process has the potential to be highly attractive to other developing countries in the REDD+ program seeking to accurately monitor their forests.
Deep Learning for Automated Detection and Identification of Migrating American Eel Anguilla rostrata from Imaging Sonar Data
Authors: Zang Xiaoqin , Yin Tianzhixi , Hou Zhangshuan , Mueller Robert P. , Deng Zhiqun Daniel , Jacobson Paul T.
Published: July 2021

Adult American eels (Anguilla rostrata) are vulnerable to hydropower turbine mortality during outmigration from growth habitat in inland waters to the ocean where they spawn. Imaging sonar is a reliable and proven technology for monitoring of fish passage and migration; however, there is no efficient automated method for eel detection. We designed a deep learning model for automated detection of adult American eels from sonar data. The method employs convolution neural network (CNN) to distinguish between 14 images of eels and non-eel objects. Prior to image classification with CNN, background subtraction and wavelet denoising were applied to enhance sonar images. The CNN model was first trained and tested on data obtained from a laboratory experiment, which yielded overall accuracies of >98% for image-based classification. Then, the model was trained and tested on field data that were obtained near the Iroquois Dam located on the St. Lawrence River; the accuracy achieved was commensurate with that of human experts.
Spatio-Temporal Variability of Aerosol Components, Their Optical and Microphysical Properties over North China during Winter Haze in 2012, as Derived from POLDER/PARASOL Satellite Observations
Authors: Ou Yang , Li Lei , Li Zhengqiang , Zhang Ying , Dubovik Oleg , Derimian Yevgeny , Chen Cheng , Fuertes David , Xie Yisong , Lopatin Anton , Ducos Fabrice , Peng Zongren
Published: July 2021

Pollution haze is a frequent phenomenon in the North China Plain (NCP) appearing during winter when the aerosol is affected by various pollutant sources and has complex distribution of the aerosol properties, while different aerosol components may have various critical effects on air quality, human health and radiative balance. Therefore, large-scale and accurate aerosol components characterization is urgently and highly desirable but hardly achievable at the regional scale. In this respect, directional and polarimetric remote sensing observations have great potential for providing information about the aerosol components. In this study, a state-of-the-art GRASP/Component approach was employed for attempting to characterize aerosol components in the NCP using POLDER/PARASOL satellite observations. The analysis was done for January 2012 in Beijing (BJ) and Shanxi (SX). The results indicate a peak of the BC mass concentration in an atmospheric column of 82.8 mg/m2 in the SX region, with a mean of 29.2 mg/m2 that is about four times higher than one in BJ (8.9 mg/m2). The mean BrC mass concentrations are, however, higher in BJ (up to ca. 271 mg/m2) than that in SX, which can be attributed to a higher anthropogenic emission. The mean amount of fine ammonium sulfate-like particles observed in the BJ region was three times lower than in SX (131 mg/m2). The study also analyzes meteorological and air quality data for characterizing the pollution event in BJ. During the haze episode, the results suggest a rapid increase in the fine mode aerosol volume concentration associated with a decrease of a scale height of aerosol down to 1500 m. As expected, the values of aerosol optical depth (AOD), absorbing aerosol optical depth (AAOD) and fine mode aerosol optical depth (AODf) are much higher on hazy days. The mass fraction of ammonium sulfate-like aerosol increases from about 13% to 29% and mass concentration increases from 300 mg/m2 to 500 mg/m2. The daily mean PM2.5 concentration and RH independently measured during these reported pollution episodes reach up to 425 g/m3 and 80% correspondingly. The monthly mean mass concentrations of other aerosol components in the BJ are found to be in agreement with the results of previous research works. Finally, a preliminary comparison of these remote sensing derived results with literature and in situ PM2.5 measurements is also presented.
Fast SAR Autofocus Based on Ensemble Convolutional Extreme Learning Machine
Authors: Liu Zhi , Yang Shuyuan , Feng Zhixi , Gao Quanwei , Wang Min
Published: July 2021

Inaccurate Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) navigation information will lead to unknown phase errors in SAR data. Uncompensated phase errors can blur the SAR images. Autofocus is a technique that can automatically estimate phase errors from data. However, existing autofocus algorithms either have poor focusing quality or a slow focusing speed. In this paper, an ensemble learning-based autofocus method is proposed. Convolutional Extreme Learning Machine (CELM) is constructed and utilized to estimate the phase error. However, the performance of a single CELM is poor. To overcome this, a novel, metric-based combination strategy is proposed, combining multiple CELMs to further improve the estimation accuracy. The proposed model is trained with the classical bagging-based ensemble learning method. The training and testing process is non-iterative and fast. Experimental results conducted on real SAR data show that the proposed method has a good trade-off between focusing quality and speed.
On the Impact of the Data Acquisition Protocol on ECG Biometric Identification
Authors: Ramos Mariana S. , Carvalho João M. , Pinho Armando J. , Brás Susana
Published: July 2021

Electrocardiographic (ECG) signals have been used for clinical purposes for a long time. Notwithstanding, they may also be used as the input for a biometric identification system. Several studies, as well as some prototypes, are already based on this principle. One of the methods already used for biometric identification relies on a measure of similarity based on the Kolmogorov Complexity, called the Normalized Relative Compression (NRC)—this approach evaluates the similarity between two ECG segments without the need to delineate the signal wave. This methodology is the basis of the present work. We have collected a dataset of ECG signals from twenty participants on two different sessions, making use of three different kits simultaneously—one of them using dry electrodes, placed on their fingers; the other two using wet sensors placed on their wrists and chests. The aim of this work was to study the influence of the ECG protocol collection, regarding the biometric identification system’s performance. Several variables in the data acquisition are not controllable, so some of them will be inspected to understand their influence in the system. Movement, data collection point, time interval between train and test datasets and ECG segment duration are examples of variables that may affect the system, and they are studied in this paper. Through this study, it was concluded that this biometric identification system needs at least 10 s of data to guarantee that the system learns the essential information. It was also observed that “off-the-person” data acquisition led to a better performance over time, when compared to “on-the-person” places.
Development of a Low-Power Underwater NFC-Enabled Sensor Device for Seaweed Monitoring
Authors: Peres Caroline , Emam Masoud , Jafarzadeh Hamed , Belcastro Marco , O’Flynn Brendan
Published: July 2021

Aquaculture farming faces challenges to increase production while maintaining welfare of livestock, efficiently use of resources, and being environmentally sustainable. To help overcome these challenges, remote and real-time monitoring of the environmental and biological conditions of the aquaculture site is highly important. Multiple remote monitoring solutions for investigating the growth of seaweed are available, but no integrated solution that monitors different biotic and abiotic factors exists. A new integrated multi-sensing system would reduce the cost and time required to deploy the system and provide useful information on the dynamic forces affecting the plants and the associated biomass of the harvest. In this work, we present the development of a novel miniature low-power NFC-enabled data acquisition system to monitor seaweed growth parameters in an aquaculture context. It logs temperature, light intensity, depth, and motion, and these data can be transmitted or downloaded to enable informed decision making for the seaweed farmers. The device is fully customisable and designed to be attached to seaweed or associated mooring lines. The developed system was characterised in laboratory settings to validate and calibrate the embedded sensors. It performs comparably to commercial environmental sensors, enabling the use of the device to be deployed in commercial and research settings.
Spectral Relative Attenuation of Solar Radiation through a Skylight Focused on Preventive Conservation: Museo De L’almoina in Valencia (Spain) Case Study
Authors: Serrano María-Antonia , Baró Zarzo José-Luis , Moreno Esteve Juan-Carlos , García-Diego Fernando-Juan
Published: July 2021

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relative attenuation of VIS, UV and NIR solar radiation through a large pond skylight into the interior of the l’Almoina Archaeological Museum (Valencia, Spain), and to determine how relative attenuation varied throughout the year and time of day. Measurements were taken at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. during July 2019 and January 2020. Relative attenuation values were obtained from the measurement of spectral irradiance in the exterior and at different points in the interior by means of two Ocean Optics spectrometers: HR4000CG-UV-NIR for VIS (400–700 nm) and NIR (700–1000 nm) bands, and FLAME-S-UV-VIS for UV-A (280–315 nm) and UV-A (315–400 nm) bands. The central points of the skylight had relative attenuation at 520 nm, reaching a value of 50% in summer at noon and 38% in the afternoon. At noon in winter, there were two relative attenuation peaks above 33% at 520 nm and at 900 nm. For mean relative attenuation, in the UVB range, the highest relative attenuation (20%) was inside the ruins in the morning in both summer and winter, and the UVA band relative attenuation was quite constant throughout the museum, but lower than that of the UVB band, in the range 0–3%.
Gamification and Hazard Communication in Virtual Reality: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Cavalcanti Janaina , Valls Victor , Contero Manuel , Fonseca David
Published: July 2021

An effective warning attracts attention, elicits knowledge, and enables compliance behavior. Game mechanics, which are directly linked to human desires, stand out as training, evaluation, and improvement tools. Immersive virtual reality (VR) facilitates training without risk to participants, evaluates the impact of an incorrect action/decision, and creates a smart training environment. The present study analyzes the user experience in a gamified virtual environment of risks using the HTC Vive head-mounted display. The game was developed in the Unreal game engine and consisted of a walk-through maze composed of evident dangers and different signaling variables while user action data were recorded. To demonstrate which aspects provide better interaction, experience, perception and memory, three different warning configurations (dynamic, static and smart) and two different levels of danger (low and high) were presented. To properly assess the impact of the experience, we conducted a survey about personality and knowledge before and after using the game. We proceeded with the qualitative approach by using questions in a bipolar laddering assessment that was compared with the recorded data during the game. The findings indicate that when users are engaged in VR, they tend to test the consequences of their actions rather than maintaining safety. The results also reveal that textual signal variables are not accessed when users are faced with the stress factor of time. Progress is needed in implementing new technologies for warnings and advance notifications to improve the evaluation of human behavior in virtual environments of high-risk surroundings.
The Relationship between the Elapsed Time from the Onset of Red Signal until Its Violation and Traffic Accident Occurrence in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Authors: Alghafli Abdulla , Mohamad Effendi , Zaidy Ahmed Al
Published: July 2021

Few studies have been carried out in UAE relating red light violations to a number of factors, such as speed limit violations, geometric design of the intersection, and the elapsed time from the onset of red signal until the time of the violation to the occurrence of the accident. This study bridges this gap by attempting to investigate the relationship between the elapsed time from the onset of red signal and the occurrence of the accident. To achieve this objective, Poisson’s regression, between occurrence of accident and elapsed time from the onset of red signal and the occurrence of the accident at various geometric designs of intersections (3-leg and 4-leg), was carried out. The research found that at 4-leg intersections, almost all red light violation related accidents occur between 1 to 2 s from onset of red light until its violation time. The research also showed that at 3-leg intersections, most of red light violation related accidents occur in less than 1 s from the onset of red light until violation time. It was also found that at lead lag signalized intersections, regardless of the type of the intersection, most accidents tend to occur between 2 to 3 s from the onset of red light.
Technological Developments of Mobility in Smart Cities. An Economic Approach
Authors: Parra-Domínguez Javier , Herrera Santos Jorge , Márquez-Sánchez Sergio , González-Briones Alfonso , De la Prieta Fernando
Published: July 2021

This article introduces the concern that exists in the wider economic world concerning the developments carried out in Smart Cities. The various studies that have been developed capture the economic approach by focusing on specific economic development theories. This article initially provides a theoretical response to the need for a joint approach to the different economic theories relating to Smart Cities, placing the bases of their development in the circular economy. Subsequently, the paper presents a device-based proposal to validate the sustainability principles indicated in the Smart Economy, focusing exclusively on the areas of health and mobility. As a whole, the work concludes with the need to incorporate sustainability criteria into economic ambition so that technological developments have a place in future Smart Cities.
Parameter Choice, Stability and Validity for Robust Cluster Weighted Modeling
Authors: Cappozzo Andrea , García Escudero Luis Angel , Greselin Francesca , Mayo-Iscar Agustín
Published: July 2021

Statistical inference based on the cluster weighted model often requires some subjective judgment from the modeler. Many features influence the final solution, such as the number of mixture components, the shape of the clusters in the explanatory variables, and the degree of heteroscedasticity of the errors around the regression lines. Moreover, to deal with outliers and contamination that may appear in the data, hyper-parameter values ensuring robust estimation are also needed. In principle, this freedom gives rise to a variety of “legitimate” solutions, each derived by a specific set of choices and their implications in modeling. Here we introduce a method for identifying a “set of good models” to cluster a dataset, considering the whole panorama of choices. In this way, we enable the practitioner, or the scientist who needs to cluster the data, to make an educated choice. They will be able to identify the most appropriate solutions for the purposes of their own analysis, in light of their stability and validity.
An Analysis of Preferences in Housing Demand by Means of a Multicriteria Methodology (AHP). A More Sustainable Approach
Authors: Cervelló-Royo Roberto , Segura Marina , García-Pérez Regina , Segura-García del Río Baldomero
Published: July 2021

This paper examines key aspects of the behavior of housing demand from a sustainable standpoint. Most studies have mainly focused on housing supply, looking at quantitative predictions without considering the qualitative relationship found between housing values and housing demand on a sustainable and microeconomic scale. We used a multicriteria decision methodology (analytic hierarchy process—AHP) for the analysis of preferences in demand, based on the theory of multi-attribute utility of housing, to determine the relative importance of each characteristic of housing and its influence on the decision-making process. For this purpose, we carried out the study over three main groups of stakeholders in the housing market: real estate surveyors, real estate agents, and housing buyers (the latter representing the housing demand). Results show that although there might be some slight discrepancies among the three groups in the decision-making process and the weighting of housing attributes, the three groups agree in most of the process, especially when defining the criteria and the importance that each criterion has on the process of valuation. This study provides important managerial and sustainable implications for the real estate market related to urban public policy, as we highlight which criteria are most preferred.
A Monitoring and Evaluation Sustainability Framework for Road Freight Transporters in South Africa
Authors: Lalendle Chumasande , Goedhals-Gerber Leila , van Eeden Joubert
Published: July 2021

Growing freight volumes contribute to negative impacts on the environment and social aspects. In South Africa, an overreliance on road freight transportation systems (RFTS) over alternative modes of transport puts a further strain on the RFTS. Hence, there was a need to develop a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) sustainability assessment framework. The framework development was guided by a multistage process: Firstly, Identifying Constructs and Variables relevant to the study. Secondly, Developing the M&E Framework included defining sustainability in the transport sector, using themes emerging from an operational definition and South Africa’s vision for transport sustainability. Thirdly, Soliciting inputs and measures were utilized in developing the framework. Finally, the Validity and Reliability of the framework was tested. This study developed an M&E framework, which affords organizations a balanced mechanism for tracking inputs towards transport system sustainability, facilitating infrastructure decision-making and driving RFTS sustainability. As road freight transport contributes the most towards environmental unsustainability of the sector, this mode also holds the greatest opportunity to reduce its impact. The M&E framework will enable role-players to plan, execute, and monitor their RFTS interventions in a balanced way.
Application of Satellite-Based and Observed Precipitation Datasets for Hydrological Simulation in the Upper Mahi River Basin of Rajasthan, India
Authors: Bhati Dinesh Singh , Dubey Swatantra Kumar , Sharma Devesh
Published: July 2021

Hydrological modeling is an important tool used for basin management and studying the impacts of extreme events in a river basin. In streamflow simulations, precipitation plays an essential role in hydrological models. Meteorological satellite precipitation measurement techniques provide highly accurate rainfall information with high spatial and temporal resolution. In this analysis, the tropical rainfall monitoring mission (TRMM) 3B42 V7 precipitation products were employed for simulating streamflow by using the soil water assessment tool (SWAT) model. With India Metrological Department and TRMM data, the SWAT model can be used to predict streamflow discharge and identify sensitive parameters for the Mahi basin. The SWAT model was calibrated for 2 years and then independently validated for 2 years by comparing observed and simulated streamflow. A strong correlation was observed between the calibration and validation results for the Paderdibadi station, with a Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency of >0.34 and coefficient of determination (R2) of >0.77. The SWAT model was used to adequately simulate the streamflow for the Upper Mahi basin with a satisfactory R2 value. The analysis indicated that TRMM 3B42 V7 is useful in SWAT applications for predicting streamflow and performance and for sensitivity analysis. In addition, satellite data may require correction before its utilization in hydrological modeling. This study is helpful for stakeholders in monitoring and managing agricultural, climatic, and environmental changes.
The Relationship between Organizational Learning at the Individual Level and Perceived Employability: A Model-Based Approach
Authors: Wiśniewska Sylwia , Wiśniewski Kamil , Szydło Robert
Published: July 2021

The challenges of the modern labor market determine increased job insecurity and the growing importance of sustainable employability. Today, in an era of the growth of the world’s knowledge resources, permanent learning is indispensable in order to maintain or strengthen one’s employability. Therefore, this article aims to determine the relationship between organizational learning solutions at the individual level and perceived employability in the modern labor market according to the workers’ opinions. Studies conducted on the subject literature confirm the lack of research in this field. A survey was conducted among 351 employees from a number of organizations based in Poland and was performed using a computer-assisted web interview (CAWI). The study’s results indicate that out of eleven analyzed solutions, people value those connected with sustainable actions the most, such as learning from one’s own mistakes (own mistakes), observing other employees’ work (observing others), self-education, incentive systems (contributing to an increase in the commitment to competency development), and providing employees with feedback on the results of their work (feedback). Moreover, it is important to state that EFA first revealed, and CFA subsequently confirmed, two factors: Factor 1, Practical Aspects, which includes organizational learning that covered such activities as incentive systems, feedback, self-education, modern technologies, and the use of case studies, and Factor 2, Active Learning, which consists of two activities—one’s own mistakes and observing others. The research results lead to the conclusion that Factor 1, Practical Aspects, had a significant impact on perceived employability, while Factor 2, Active Learning, did not have an impact on the general assessment of organizational learning in the context of perceived employability. The authors also present the diamond attempt toward actions that might be taken by organizations in order to enhance the employability of workers in general. The conducted research is considered to be idiographic and exploratory.
Feasibility Evaluation of Replacing River Sand with Copper Tailings
Authors: Cui Liyun , Wang Liang , Xu Ying , Lou Xing , Wang Hao
Published: July 2021

This study aims to realize the resource regeneration application of copper tailing (as fine aggregates for partial replacement of natural fine aggregates), which avoid environmental pollution due to many landfills of copper tailings. The compressive strength and durability (dry shrinkage and sulfate attack) tests were carried out to evaluate the effect of copper tailings replacement on the performance of mortar. The results show that the mortar with copper tailings has higher compressive strength than the one with natural sand. More than 14% improvement in compressive strength can be achieved by adding copper tailings with no more than 40% replacement level. The dry shrinkage of mortar was increased with the copper tailings due to the increase of micro pores in mortar by using copper tailings. Compared with the mortar with natural sand, the dry shrinkage can be reduced by adding copper tailings with no more than 20% replacement level. The sulfate attack resistance is improved by using copper tailings, when the replacement rate is more than 20%. In fact, the micro-aggregate filler effect of copper tailings effectively refines the pore structure and forms more stable, uniform and fine interface micro pores, which is of vital significance for mortar to resist external forces and sulfate ion erosion. However, copper tailings, as a porous material, have water release characteristics in cement mortar. This characteristic is not conducive to the filler effect, which decreases the filling rate in later hydration, leading to higher porosity of copper tailings mortar. More importantly, mortar can solidify heavy metals in copper tailings, which prevents loss of heavy metal such as Cu, Zn, Sr, Zr, As, Ga due to environmental problems.
A Platform Based on Personalized Exergames and Natural User Interfaces to Promote Remote Physical Activity and Improve Healthy Aging in Elderly People
Authors: Gómez-Portes Cristian , Vallejo David , Corregidor-Sánchez Ana-Isabel , Rodríguez-Hernández Marta , Martín-Conty José , Schez-Sobrino Santiago , Polonio-López Begoña
Published: July 2021

In recent years, there has been a significant growth in the number of research works focused on improving the lifestyle and health of elderly people by means of technology. Telerehabilitation and the promotion of physical activity at home have been two of the fields that have attracted more attention, especially currently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, elderly people are sometimes reluctant to use technology at home, mainly due to fear of technology and lack of familiarity. In this context, this article presents a low-cost platform that relies on exergames and natural user interfaces to promote physical activity at home and improve the quality of life in elderly people. The underlying system is easy to use and accessible, offering a number of interaction mechanisms that guide users through the execution of routines and exercises. A relevant feature of the proposal is the ability to customize the exergames, making it possible for the therapist to adapt them according to the user’s needs. Motivation is also addressed within the developed platform to maintain the user’s engagement level as time passes by. An empirical experiment is conducted to measure the usability and motivational aspects of the proposal, which was evaluated by 17 users between 62 and 89 years of age. The obtained results showed that the proposal was well received, considering that most of the users were not experienced at all with exergame-based systems.
Decay Process Characteristics and Fungal Community Composition of Salix psammophila Sand Barriers in an Arid Area, Northern China
Authors: Yang Xia , Liang Yumei , Gao Yong , Wang Ruidong
Published: July 2021

With the increase in setting years in deserts, Salix psammophila sand barriers with different degrees of lodging damage caused by decay are losing wind-prevention and sand-fixation properties. In this study, we focus on the change in chemical properties of soils, and physical and mechanical properties of plants along different setting years; meanwhile, the change in fungal communities has been analyzed using high-throughput sequencing technology. The results show that a change in physical and mechanical properties and the loss of primary chemical components led to the degradation of the protective properties of the barrier to different degrees. After five years of setting, the physical parameters of basic density and shrinkage rate decreased by 44.04% and 28.68%, respectively, and the loss of the modulus of rupture mechanical index declined by 62.72%. After seven years of setting, the mechanical indexes of the modulus of rupture decreased by 76.95%. Five and seven years represented important inflection points in the decay process. Sordariomycetes (53.75%) and Eurotiomycetes (19.78%) were the main fungal groups present during the decay of the sand barrier. The basic density, moisture content, cellulose, and lignin of the sand barrier were the main driving factors affecting the distribution of fungal communities. The mechanism on fungal community to the decay of sand barriers still needs further studies to keep the function of sand barriers in fragile desert ecosystems.
Why Is the Construction Industry Killing More Workers Than the Offshore Petroleum Industry in Occupational Accidents?
Authors: Edwin Kinga Wasilkiewicz , Nilsen Marie , Albrechtsen Eirik
Published: July 2021

In Norway, the fatal accident frequency per year is discernibly higher in the construction industry than in the petroleum industry. To probe the difference between the occupational safety levels in the two industries in Norway, semi-structured interviews with regulators, employer and employee organisations, company management, and safety personnel were conducted. This qualitative approach, together with factual industry information, offer invaluable insight on various elements influencing occupational safety. Rasmussen’s socio-technical model is used to sort the information and compare framework conditions, characteristics and aspects of the two industries influencing safety. Though the construction industry’s safety level has improved over the years, the results indicate that the petroleum industry’s safety level is still considered superior to its counterpart. The interviews point to major accidents and regulations as important for safety development in the petroleum industry. Thorough planning of operations, stricter rules, more standardised procedures and requirements, and fewer actors in the petroleum industry are also highlighted. The results of this study further reveal that safety in the construction industry has benefitted from safety developments in the petroleum industry. There is potential for more learning across the industries, in particular from petroleum to construction with regard to standardisation, barrier-thinking, and knowledge-sharing.
INSIDE-T: A Groundwater Contamination Transport Model for Sustainability Assessment in Remediation Practice
Authors: Naseri-Rad Mehran , Berndtsson Ronny , McKnight Ursula S. , Persson Magnus , Persson Kenneth M.
Published: July 2021

Current sustainability assessment (SA) tools to help deal with contaminated groundwater sites are inherently subjective and hardly applied. One reason may be lack of proper tools for addressing contaminant spread which are basically objective. To fill this gap, there is a need for contaminant transport models that provide site managers with needed room for applying their judgments and considerations about the efficiency of each remediation method based on their experiences in similar cases. INSIDE-T uses trend analysis and inverse modeling to estimate transport parameters. It then simulates contaminant transport both with and without the inclusion of remedial actions in a transparent way. The sustainability of each remedy measure can then be quantified based on the underlying SA tool (INSIDE). INSIDE-T was applied to a site in south Sweden, contaminated with pentachlorophenol. Simulation scenarios were developed to enable comparison between various remediation strategies and combinations of these. The application indicated that natural attenuation was not a viable option within the timeframe of interest. Although pump-and-treat combined with a permeable reactive barrier was found to be just as effective as bioremediation after five years, it received a much lower sustainability score overall. INSIDE-T outcomes enable site managers to test and evaluate different scenarios, a necessity in participatory decision-making practices such as remediation projects.
Digital Innovation for the Sustainability of Reshoring Strategies: A Literature Review
Authors: Cosimato Silvia , Vona Roberto
Published: July 2021

Recently, some critical events (e.g., the economic decline, the growing socio-ecologic burden, even more demanding customers, etc.) have led several companies to re-think their “shoring” decisions. Therefore, many of them decided to reshore manufacturing or to bring back home production activities previously offshored. This phenomenon represents one of the current imperatives for research. In fact, the location where manufacturing takes place has a massive influence on the sustainability of firms on a local and global level. Therefore, to better understand what makes reshoring strategies sustainable as well as to identify the drivers that can boost it, further research is still needed. The explorative nature of this paper recognizes some motivations or drivers for making reshoring strategies sustainable. To this end, a structured and narrative literature review has been conducted to grasp and describe the main motivations and implementation characteristics that can make reshoring decisions sustainable. The achieved results better define reshoring and the influence that some drivers, especially digital innovation, can play on the related strategies and on their sustainability. In doing so, this work is one of the first contributions that jointly approaches reshoring, sustainability, and digital innovation.
Sustainable Corporate Governance: The Impact Factors for Top Consulting Engineering Companies in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Jieh-Haur , Chou Tien-Sheng , Wang Jui-Pin , Wei Hsi-Hsien , Yang Tzu-Han
Published: July 2021

The objective of this research was to explore the impact factors of sustainable corporate governance for top consulting engineering companies in Taiwan, to facilitate managers in meeting stakeholders’ needs and adapting to the challenges of the global markets. Nine hypotheses derived from a literature review were proposed and used to develop a survey. Based on the concept of structural equation modeling (SEM) and these hypotheses, a questionnaire containing six aspects and comprising 46 stems was developed using the Likert 5-scale format. The survey took around four months to administer with 324 effective returns, with only five hypotheses confirmed. This was followed by factor analysis to determine the weight sequence for the 28 impact factors and four aspects. The contributions of the findings are as follows: (1) the weighted factors provide practitioners with guidelines for the proper order for the implementation of measures to improve corporate governance, and (2) they answer questions about the degree of influence and the relationship among all aspects and factors for sustainable corporate governance.
Understanding the Collaborative Process and Its Effects on Perceived Outcomes during Emergency Response in China: From Perspectives of Local Government Sectors
Authors: Tang Pan , Shao Shiqi , Zhou Dapeng , Hu Huihua
Published: July 2021

In contemporary China, the rapidly urbanized cities are exposed to a broad range of natural and human-made emergencies, such as COVID-19. Responding to emergencies successfully requires widespread participation of local government sectors that engages in diversified collaboration behaviors across organizational boundaries for achieving sustainability. However, the multi-organizational collaborative process is highly dynamic and complex, as well as its outcomes are uncertain underlying the emergency response network. Examining characteristics of the collaborative process and exploring how collaborative behaviors local governmental sectors engaging in the impact their perceived outcomes is essential to understand how disastrous situations are addressed by collaborative efforts in emergency management. This research investigates diversified collaborative behaviors in emergency response and then examines this using a multi-dimensional model consisting of joint decision making, joint implementation, compromised autonomy, resource sharing, and trust building. We surveyed 148 local governments and their affiliated sectors in China in-depth understanding how collaborative processes contribute to perceived outcomes from perspectives of participating sectors in the context of a centralized political-administrative system. A structural equation model (SEM) is employed to encode multiple dimensions of the collaborative process, perceived outcomes, as well as their relationships. The empirical finding indicates that joint decision making and implementation positively affect the perceived outcomes significantly. The empirical results indicate that joint decision making and joint implementation affect perceived outcomes significantly. Instead, resource sharing and trust building do not affect the outcomes positively as expected. Additionally, compromised autonomy negatively affects the collaborative outcomes. We also discuss the institutional advantages for achieving successful outcomes in emergency management in China by reducing the degree of compromised autonomy. Our findings provide insight that can improve efforts to build and maintain a collaborative process to respond to emergencies.
Microbiota Management for Effective Disease Suppression: A Systematic Comparison between Soil and Mammals Gut
Authors: Bonanomi Giuliano , Idbella Mohamed , Abd-ElGawad Ahmed M.
Published: July 2021

Both soil and the human gut support vast microbial biodiversity, in which the microbiota plays critical roles in regulating harmful organisms. However, the functional link between microbiota taxonomic compositions and disease suppression has not been explained yet. Here, we provide an overview of pathogen regulation in soil and mammals gut, highlighting the differences and the similarities between the two systems. First, we provide a review of the ecological mechanisms underlying the regulation of soil and pathogens, as well as the link between disease suppression and soil health. Particular emphasis is thus given to clarifying how soil and the gut microbiota are associated with organic amendment and the human diet, respectively. Moreover, we provide several insights into the importance of organic amendment and diet composition in shaping beneficial microbiota as an efficient way to support crop productivity and human health. This review also discusses novel ways to functionally characterize organic amendments and the proper operational combining of such materials with beneficial microbes for stirring suppressive microbiota against pathogens. Furthermore, specific examples are given to describe how agricultural management practices, including the use of antibiotics and fumigants, hinder disease suppression by disrupting microbiota structure, and the potentiality of entire microbiome transplant. We conclude by discussing general strategies to promote soil microbiota biodiversity, the connection with plant yield and health, and their possible integration through a “One Health” framework.
Decomposition Characteristics, Nutrient Release, and Structural Changes of Maize Straw in Dryland Farming under Combined Application of Animal Manure
Authors: Sun Ling , Sun Zhixu , Hu Juan , Yaa Opoku-Kwanowaa , Wu Jinggui
Published: July 2021

Straw and animal manure are major organic waste materials from agricultural ecosystems. Different kinds of animal manure combined with straw (AM-S) may have varying effects on the decomposition, nutrient release, and structural changes of maize straw. Using the Humic Cambisols soil as the experimental area, the straw decomposition characteristics under the co-application of animal manure were studied following the nylon net bag landfill method. The experiment involved four treatments: maize straw only (S), maize straw plus ox manure (SO), maize straw plus chicken manure (SC), and maize straw plus pig manure (SP). The treatments with AM-S accelerated the decomposition of straw and increased the release rate of nutrients and organic components (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin). During the 240 days of the study, straw decomposition showed a trend of increasing rapidly in the first stages and then increasing slowly in the latter stages in all the treatments. At 240 d, the straw decomposition rates and carbon release rates of the AM-S treatments were 65.25–71.87% and 64.04–69.35%, respectively. At the end of the experiment, the order for the final release rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) was K (93.25–96.56%) > P (42.25–55.08%) > N (40.01–52.23%). Moreover, scanning electron microscopy showed that SP treatment had the highest degree of structural changes of the maize straw compared with the other treatments. The purpose of this study was to screen the effective animal manure that can promote straw decomposition and provide a reference for the rational use of straw and animal manure management. In conclusion, the study suggested that the co-application of animal manure and straw should be adopted in agricultural systems, especially SP treatment, as it was more conducive to promoting the decomposition of maize straw and the release of nutrients.
The Convergence between Sustainability and Conventional Stock Indices. Are We on the Right Track?
Authors: Vilas Pablo , Andreu Laura , Sarto José Luis
Published: July 2021

The growth of passive and socially responsible (SR) investment makes that sustainability indices play an important role in defining what constitutes a sustainable investment. In order to know the suitability of sustainability indices as benchmarks for SR investors, we used different linear regressions to compare the compositions of sustainability indices and their conventional counterparts and to compare the levels of corporate social responsibility (CSR) of both types of indices. We showed that the composition of sustainability indices gradually converged towards their conventional peers. Moreover, the difference between the CSR levels of both type of indices remained the same or even decreased over time. We concluded that a change in the weighting method of sustainability indices such as the equally weighted criterion would significantly increase the difference from their conventional counterparts. However, due to the relationship between CSR and size, this change would penalize the CSR level of the index. These results raise the question of whether SR passive investors will be able to meet their non-financial expectations as a consequence of the convergence.
Honey Bee Health
Authors: Cilia Giovanni , Nanetti Antonio
Published: July 2021

Honey bee health is a crucial issue that has recently received increased interest from researchers, stakeholders, and citizens [...]
Управленческий анализ социально-культурной деятельности с использованием диаграммы Л. Эйлера
Authors:   Московский государственный университет управления Правительства Москвы им. Ю.М. Лужкова, Солохина Юлия Алексеевна , Филатов Владимир Владимирович ,   Московский государственный университет пищевых производст, Положенцева Ирина Вениаминовна ,   Московский государственный университет технологий и управления им. К.Г. Разумовского, Горина Татьяна Владимировна ,   МИРЭА - Российский технологический университет
Published: July 2021

В данной статье проведен управленческий анализ социально-культурной деятельности с использованием диаграммы Л. Эйлера. При разделении понятий «культура» и «качество», «качество» и «ценности», «ценности» и «культура», формируются такие понятия как «культура качества», «культурные ценности» и «качество культуры». Это подтверждает актуальность применения диаграммы Л. Эйлера, которая была использована для анализа составляющих в сфере культуры. Данный инструмент помог авторам проиллюстрировать отношения между различными понятиями и сформулировать новые определения, которые исходят из анализируемых понятий.
Методические подходы к оценке состояния и уровня загрязнения компонентов окружающей среды в регионах
Authors:   Северо-Западный институт управления - филиал Российской Академии народного хозяйства и государственной службы при Президенте РФ, Бабкина Людмила Николаевна , Скотаренко Оксана Вячеславовна ,   Мурманский Арктический государственный университет,   Военная академия материально-технического обеспечения имени генерала армии А.В. Хрулева, Никитин Юрий Александрович ,   Военная академия материально-технического обеспечения имени генерала армии А.В. Хрулева
Published: July 2021

В статье рассматриваются международные и российские документы, определяющие стратегические направления, цели и планы природоохранной деятельности. Выяснено, что в основном все международные соглашения регулируют мероприятия по охране воздушного бассейна и сохранению лесных массивов планеты, сокращению выбросов вредных и загрязняющих веществ в атмосферу. В РФ эти мероприятия регламентируются национальными проектами, например, проектом «Экология». Авторами предложены методики, позволяющие проводить анализ состояния компонентов окружающей среды, уровня их загрязнения и затрат на охрану окружающей среды на основе имеющихся данных ежегодной статистической отчетности Российской Федерации.
Modern cyberterrorism as a threat to the world community
Authors: Kotelnikov Vladimir Anatolievich , Stepanenkov Dmitriy Valerievich
Published: July 2021

On the basis of the system approach, the specifics of various concepts to the definition of the phenomenon of cyberterrorism are revealed. The conclusion that modern cyberterrorism aimed at threatening international and state security is one of the effective levers for achieving political goals on the world stage is argued. Modern cyberterrorism in its scale, technical capabilities and consequences can be put in line with traditional terrorism and organized crime with full confidence. Through comprehensive analysis, topical problems of countering computer terrorism in modern society have been identified. Priority forms of inter-State cooperation have been justified, as well as the necessary measures aimed at improving the effectiveness of the fight against cyberterrorism have been identified.
Theoretical aspects of the development of international trade in services in the conditions of digital transformations
Authors: Ustinovich Elena Stepanovna
Published: July 2021

This article presents the theoretical aspects of the development of international trade in services in the context of digital transformations. Shown the role of e-commerce at the present time and the main problems of its development in Russia.