bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnosing Subsidence Geohazard at Beijing Capital International Airport, from High-Resolution SAR Interferometry
Authors: Dai Keren , Shi Xianlin , Gou Jisong , Hu Leyin , Chen Mi , Zhao Liang , Dong Xiujun , Li Zhenhong
Published: March 2020

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) has suffered from uneven land subsidence since 1935, which affects the smoothness of airport runways and seriously threatens the safety of aircrafts. In this paper, a spaceborne interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) with high-resolution Cosmo-SkyMed SAR data was utilized at BCIA for the first time to diagnose the subsidence hazard. The results show that subsidence is progressing at BCIA at a maximum rate of 50 mm/year, which is mainly distributed in the northwest side of the airport. It was found that the Shunyi-Liangxiang fault directly traverses Runway2 and Runway3 and causes uneven subsidence, controlling the spatial subsidence pattern to some degree. Four driving factors of subsidence were investigated, namely: the over-exploitation of groundwater, active faults, compressible soil thickness, and aquifer types. For the future sustainable development of BCIA, the influence of Beijing new airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport (BDIA), was analyzed and predicted. It is necessary to take relevant measures to control the uneven subsidence during the initial operation of BDIA and conduct long-term monitoring to ensure the regular safe operation of BCIA. This case demonstrates a remote sensing method of diagnosing the subsidence hazard with high accuracy and non-contact, providing a reliable alternative for the geohazard diagnosis of key infrastructures in the future.
Industry 4.0-Based Real-Time Scheduling and Dispatching in Lean Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Ramadan Muawia , Salah Bashir , Othman Mohammed , Ayubali Arsath Abbasali
Published: March 2020

Lean manufacturing is one of the most popular improvement agents in the pursuit of perfection. However, in today’s complex and dynamic manufacturing environments, lean tools are facing an inevitable death. Industry 4.0 can be integrated with lean tools to avoid their end. Therefore, the primary purpose of this paper is to introduce an Industry 4.0-based lean framework called dynamic value stream mapping (DVSM) to digitalize lean manufacturing through the integration of lean tools and Industry 4.0 technologies. DVSM with its powerful features is proposed to be the smart IT platform that can sustain lean tools and keep them alive and effective. This paper specifically tackles the scheduling and dispatching in today’s lean manufacturing environments, where the aim of this research is developing a smart lean-based production scheduling and dispatching model to achieve the lean target through optimizing the flow along the VSM and minimizing the manufacturing lead time. The developed model, called the real-time scheduling and dispatching module (RT-SDM), runs on DVSM. The RT-SDM is represented through a mathematical model using mixed integer programming. Part of the testing and verification process, a simplified IT-based software, has been developed and applied on a smart factory lab.
Optimization of Green Building Design Processes: Case Studies within the European Union
Authors: Orsi Alessandro , Guillén-Guillamón Ignacio , Pellicer Eugenio
Published: March 2020

Green buildings have recently become a key aspect of the construction field and bring along a renovation of the whole industry chain. Such changes introduce new challenges for all subjects involved, and designers are also affected by such issues, especially for the development of projects based on international green building standards. Within this scope, project management plays a key role in the optimization of the design phase. This research analyzes the design process of international projects from the project management perspective through a multiple case study approach, considering the sustainability-related tasks that negatively affect the project design development under two types of contractual approaches: Design-Build and Design-Bid-Build. It aims to identify whether the Design-Build or Design-Bid-Build process is the best solution for developing green building projects. Two case studies in Italy and two case studies in Spain are analyzed, and the effects of the project management issues are evaluated under three different points of view: Time, cost, and level of sustainability of the building. A poorly planned process for the achievement of the various green building features of the project can impact the project schedule and the budget, whereas, a poorly managed project could also negatively impact its green building features. Finally, this research also highlights the positive relationship between process integration and green building design development.
Sustainable and Smart Manufacturing: An Integrated Approach
Authors: Abubakr Mohamed , Abbas Adel T. , Tomaz Italo , Soliman Mahmoud S. , Luqman Monis , Hegab Hussien
Published: March 2020

The necessity for decreasing the negative impact of the manufacturing industry has recently increased. This is getting recognized as a global challenge due to the rapid increase in life quality standards, demand, and the decrease in available resources. Thus, manufacturing, as a core of the product provision system and a fundamental pillar of civilized existence, is significantly influenced by sustainability issues. Furthermore, current manufacturing modeling and assessment criteria require intensive revisions and upgrades to keep up with these new challenges. Nearly all current manufacturing models are based on the old paradigm, which was proven to be inadequate. Therefore, manufacturing technology, along with culture and economy, are held responsible for providing new tools and opportunities for building novel resolutions towards a sustainable manufacturing concept. One of such tools is sustainability assessment measures. Revising and updating such tools is a core responsibility of the manufacturing sector to efficiently evaluate and enhance sustainable manufacturing performance. These measures should be adequate to respond to the growing sustainability concerns in pursuit of an integrated sustainability concept. The triple bottom line (TBL) that includes environment, economic, and social dimensions has usually been used to evaluate sustainability. However, there is a lack of standard sets of sustainable manufacturing performance measures. In addition to the sustainability concept, a new concept of smart manufacturing is emerging. The smart manufacturing concept takes advantage of the recent technological leap in Artificial Intelligent (AI), Cloud Computing (CC), and the Internet of Things (IoT). Although this concept offers an important step to boost the current production capabilities to meet the growing need, it is still not clear whether the two concepts of smart manufacturing and sustainability will constructively or destructively interact. Therefore, the current study aims to integrate the sustainable smart manufacturing performance by incorporating sustainable manufacturing measures and discussing current and future challenges that are faced by the manufacturing sector. In addition, the opportunities for future research incorporating sustainable smart manufacturing are also presented.
Integrating Virtual Reality and Digital Twin in Circular Economy Practices: A Laboratory Application Case
Authors: Rocca Roberto , Rosa Paolo , Sassanelli Claudio , Fumagalli Luca , Terzi Sergio
Published: March 2020

The increasing awareness of customers toward climate change effects, the high demand instability affecting several industrial sectors, and the fast automation and digitalization of production systems are forcing companies to re-think their business strategies and models in view of both the Circular Economy (CE) and Industry 4.0 (I4.0) paradigms. Some studies have already assessed the relations between CE and I4.0, their benefits, and barriers. However, a practical demonstration of their potential impact in real contexts is still lacking. The aim of this paper is to present a laboratory application case showing how I4.0-based technologies can support CE practices by virtually testing a waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) disassembly plant configuration through a set of dedicated simulation tools. Our results highlight that service-oriented, event-driven processing and information models can support the integration of smart and digital solutions in current CE practices at the factory level.
Distribution Dynamics, Regional Differences, and Convergence of Elderly Health Levels in China
Authors: Cui Xiaodong , Chang Ching-Ter
Published: March 2020

Despite efforts to improve national health levels, inequalities in health have endured in China. Most prior studies have been conducted from the perspective of influencing factors with respect to regional differences or focus on comparative analyses of health development levels. This paper reviews regional characteristics to examine dynamic changes in health levels within regions, measures and distinguishes inter-regional differences, and explores the evolution of these differences. Results show that elderly health levels in the overall system are polarized to varying degrees, but within regions, agglomeration continues. There were decreasing fluctuations in overall differences during the sample period: Regional differences influenced fluctuations the most, and inner-regional differences the least. In the short term, inequalities in health will continue to exist, but the gap has been closing in the long-term in China. The health development of neighborhoods has a significant driving effect in narrowing the differences in the eastern and northeast regions, while economic and health security levels in the central and western regions should be strengthened. These findings can help decision-makers to create appropriate health policies that are more targeted to actual needs, and provide policy implications for promoting the development of better life quality in China by considering regional differences.
Evaluation of a 3.5-MW Floating Photovoltaic Power Generation System on a Thermal Power Plant Ash Pond
Authors: Choi Jung-Youl , Hwang Seong-Tae , Kim Sun-Hee
Published: March 2020

This study evaluated the design and performance of an improved 3.5 MW floating photovoltaic (PV) power generation system consisting of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) members and its installation in the ash pond of a thermal power plant. The FRP design code of the American Society of Civil Engineers was used to design the structure. The safety of the structure was then confirmed using a finite element analysis indicating that the induced stresses were less than the allowable stresses dictated by the Korean Highway Bridge Design Code. An examination of the energy performance of the floating PV energy generation system after installation determined that the measured electricity production was as high as approximately 94% of the installed 3.5-MW capacity. The energy production of the floating PV structure with the improved design and module angles was found to increase by 7.65 times.
Coastal Erosion Affecting Cultural Heritage in Svalbard. A Case Study in Hiorthhamn (Adventfjorden)—An Abandoned Mining Settlement
Authors: Nicu Ionut Cristi , Stalsberg Knut , Rubensdotter Lena , Martens Vibeke Vandrup , Flyen Anne-Cathrine
Published: March 2020

Hiorthhamn is an abandoned Norwegian coal mining settlement with a loading dock and a lot of industrial infrastructure left in the coastal zone. In this study, changes in the position of 1.3 km of the Hiorthhamn shoreline, which affect cultural heritage, is described for a time-period spanning 92 years (1927–2019). The shoreline positions were established based on a map (1927), orthophotos (2009) and a topographic survey with differential Global Positioning System (GPS) (summer 2019). Detailed geomorphological and surface sediment mapping was conducted to form a framework for understanding shoreline-landscape interaction. The shoreline was divided into three sectors to calculate the erosion/stability/accretion rates by using the DSAS (Digital Shoreline Analysis System) extension of ArcGIS. The DSAS analysis showed very high erosion in Sector 1, while Sectors 2 and 3 showed moderate accretion and moderate erosion, respectively. Sector 1 is geologically composed of easily erodible sorted beach sediments and protected remains from the mining industry such as wrecks of heavy machines, loading carts, wagons and rusty tracks that are directly exposed to coastal erosion. The all-sector average shoreline erosion rate (EPR parameter) for the 92 years period was −0.21 m/year. The high shoreline erosion rates in Sector 1, together with the high potential damage to cultural heritage, supports the urgent need of continued coastal monitoring and sustainable management of cultural heritage in Hiorthhamn.
The Sharing Economy and Sustainability of Urban Destinations in the (Over)tourism Context: The Social Capital Theory Perspective
Authors: Zmyślony Piotr , Leszczyński Grzegorz , Waligóra Anna , Alejziak Wiesław
Published: March 2020

This article contributes to the discussion on the sustainability of the sharing economy by adopting the Social Capital Theory to expand explanations of the sharing economy’s role and scope of relations with local communities in the context of overtourism. As mutual relationships have not been fully recognized through a theoretical perspective, the article aims to examine the sustainability of the process of the sharing economy impacting urban tourism communities in light of Robert Putnam’s approach to Social Capital Theory. On the basis of a selective systematic review, the article discusses the sustainability of the sharing economy through the lens of bridging and bonding social capital. We argue that a new configuration of social capital, i.e., a sharing platform-modified social capital, arises from the unsustainable and disruptive power of the sharing economy implemented by virtual platforms, thereby contributing to an overtourism syndrome. However, from a medium- and long-term perspective, the sharing economy also impacts the bridging nature of social capital, which should lead to a more sustainable balance in its structure. This initial framework for understanding the impact of the sharing economy on sustainability of local communities provides an alternative approach to studying residents’ perceptions and attitudes towards tourism in the areas affected by overtourism.
Time-Dependent Integration of Solar Thermal Technology in Industrial Processes
Authors: Sing Calvin Kong Leng , Lim Jeng Shiun , Walmsley Timothy Gordon , Liew Peng Yen , Goto Masafumi , Bin Shaikh Salim Sheikh Ahmad Zaki
Published: March 2020

Solar energy is currently an underutilized renewable energy source that could fulfill low-temperature industrial heat demands with significant potential in high solar irradiance counties such as Malaysia. This study proposes a new systematic method for optimization of solar heat integration for different process options to minimize the levelized cost of heat by combining different methods from the literature. A case study from the literature is presented to demonstrate the proposed method combined with meteorological data in Malaysia. The method estimates capital cost and levelized cost of solar heating considering important physical constraints (e.g., available space) and recovery of waste heat. The method determines and optimizes important physical dimensions, including collector area, storage size, and control design. As the result of the case study, the solar thermal integration with Clean-In-Place streams (hot water) gives the lowest levelized cost of heat with RM 0.63/kWh (0.13 EUR/kWh) due to its lowest process temperature requirement. The sensitivity analysis indicates that collector price and collector efficiency are the critical parameters of solar thermal integration.
How Past Failure Predicts Subsequent Entrepreneurial Intention: A Comparative Study of Mainland China and Taiwan
Authors: He Hui , Bai Yan , Xiao Xia
Published: March 2020

Entrepreneurship is the center of economic growth process, and it is context-sensitive. We compare Mainland China and Taiwan by investigating the impact of past failure on individual entrepreneurs. Using a large amount of data from GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor), a logistic regression approach was adopted and most of the major variables in models are correlated positively. We demonstrate that past failure does affect entrepreneurs’ perceived capability and next enterprising activity positively in the two regions. Unlike the moderating role of culture, entrepreneurial motivation exerts a quite different impact on the relationship between past failure and entrepreneurs’ future intention in the two regions. Our results provide not only theoretical implications for context-related entrepreneurial motivation, but practical suggestions for entrepreneurs and policy makers.
Extreme Learning Machine Based Prediction of Soil Shear Strength: A Sensitivity Analysis Using Monte Carlo Simulations and Feature Backward Elimination
Authors: Pham Binh Thai , Nguyen-Thoi Trung , Ly Hai-Bang , Nguyen Manh Duc , Al-Ansari Nadhir , Tran Van-Quan , Le Tien-Thinh
Published: March 2020

Machine Learning (ML) has been applied widely in solving a lot of real-world problems. However, this approach is very sensitive to the selection of input variables for modeling and simulation. In this study, the main objective is to analyze the sensitivity of an advanced ML method, namely the Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) algorithm under different feature selection scenarios for prediction of shear strength of soil. Feature backward elimination supported by Monte Carlo simulations was applied to evaluate the importance of factors used for the modeling. A database constructed from 538 samples collected from Long Phu 1 power plant project was used for analysis. Well-known statistical indicators, such as the correlation coefficient (R), root mean squared error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE), were utilized to evaluate the performance of the ELM algorithm. In each elimination step, the majority vote based on six elimination indicators was selected to decide the variable to be excluded. A number of 30,000 simulations were conducted to find out the most relevant variables in predicting the shear strength of soil using ELM. The results show that the performance of ELM is good but very different under different combinations of input factors. The moisture content, liquid limit, and plastic limit were found as the most critical variables for the prediction of shear strength of soil using the ML model.
The Coupling Coordination Relationship between Tourism Competitiveness and Economic Growth of Developing Countries
Authors: Wang Xia , Liu Danli
Published: March 2020

On the basis of the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model and information entropy weight method, this study examined the relationship between tourism competitiveness and economic growth of 56 developing countries from 2008 to 2017. The results show that: (1) the overall status of the CCD between tourism competitiveness and economic growth was in a state of unbalance that was mainly caused by the lag of economic growth, which demonstrates the important contribution of tourism in developing regions. (2) the CCD has been gradually improving since 2008, and the differences amongst the CCDs of developing countries have been shrinking and (3) the spatial distribution of the CCD between tourism competitiveness and economic growth has heterogeneity. Latin America & the Caribbean, and East Asia & the Pacific have the highest CCD, whereas Sub-Saharan Africa witnessed severely unbalanced development between tourism competitiveness and economic growth in 2008–2017.
The Post-Anthropocene Diet: Navigating Future Diets for Sustainable Food Systems
Authors: Mazac Rachel , Tuomisto Hanna L.
Published: March 2020

This article examines how future diets could reduce the environmental impacts of food systems, and thus, enable movement into the post-Anthropocene. Such non-anthropocentric diets are proposed to address global food systems challenges inherent in the current geological epoch known as the Anthropocene—a period when human activity is the dominant cause of environmental change. Using non-anthropocentric indigenous worldviews and object-oriented ecosophy, the article discusses changes in ontologies around diets to consider choices made in the present for sustainable future food systems. This article conceptually addresses, how can pre-Anthropocene ontologies guide an exit of current approaches to diets? Considering temporality, what post-Anthropocene ontologies are possible in future diets for sustainable food systems? Through the ontological positions defining three distinct temporalities, considerations for guiding future diets in(to) the post-Anthropocene are proposed. Indigenous ontologies are presented as pre-Anthropocene examples that depict humans and non-humans in relational diets. Underlying Anthropocene ontologies define current unsustainable diets. These ontologies are described to present the context for the food systems challenges this article aims to address. A post-Anthropocene illustration then employs object-oriented ecosophy along with indigenous ontologies as theoretical foundations for shifting from the dominant neoliberal paradigm in current ontologies. Ontologically-based dietary guidelines for the post-Anthropocene diet present the ontological turns, consideration of temporality, and outline technological orientations proposed for sustainable future food systems. This is a novel attempt to integrate non-anthropocentric theories to suggest possible futures for human diets in order to exit the Anthropocene epoch. These non-anthropocentric ontologies demonstrate how temporal considerations and relational worldviews can be guidelines for transforming diets to address public health concerns, the environmental crisis, and socioeconomic challenges.
Environmental Licensing as an Instrument for the Environmental Management of Brazilian Public Ports
Authors: C. M. S. Braga Rafael , Veloso-Gomes Fernando
Published: March 2020

Port environmental management initiatives have not yet been properly implemented in Brazilian public ports, and when they exist, they are still very fragmented and are not based on techniques of planning or environmental management, but instead are only intended to answer the minimum requirements of the legal licensing process for construction and port operation. The purpose of this article was to analyze if environmental licensing can be considered an environmental management tool for Brazilian public ports. For this, exploratory research with a qualitative focus was carried out in the 37 Brazilian public ports, regarding the current situation of environmental licensing. It was concluded that the environmental licensing of public ports in Brazil is still a long process and associated with a lot of unpredictability, where some ports, after many years, do not even have the proper operating licenses and the environmental management of most public ports is still insufficient or even non-existent. In this context, environmental licensing can be considered a management tool; however, it cannot be replaced by the planning and constant improvement of environmental compliance—both those provided for by law and other environmental regulatory mechanisms—at a national and international level.
Environmental DNA and Specific Primers for Detecting the Invasive Species Ectopleura crocea (Hydrozoa: Anthoathecata) in Seawater Samples
Authors: Kim Philjae , Yoon Tae Joong , Shin Sook
Published: March 2020

In marine environments, environmental DNA (eDNA) can be effectively detected and possibly quantified when combined with molecular techniques, as demonstrated by several recent studies. In this study, we developed a species-specific primer set and a probe to detect the distribution and biomass of an invasive hydrozoan in South Korea, Ectopleura crocea. These molecular markers were designed to amplify a 187 bp region based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of E. crocea and were tested on seawater samples from 35 Korean harbors in 2017. Of the 35 sites we investigated, only nine harbors returned positive detections when using traditional survey methods, while surveys based on the use of eDNA techniques detected E. crocea DNA in all seawater samples. These results suggest that eDNA surveys based on molecular techniques are more effective at identifying species distribution and estimating biomass than traditional surveys based on visual assessment of morphology.
Rank-Ordered Analysis of Consumer Preferences for the Attributes of a Value-Added Biofuel Co-Product
Authors: Choi Yejun , Lambert Dayton M. , Jensen Kimberly L. , Clark Christopher D. , English Burton C. , Thomas McKenzie
Published: March 2020

Biochar is a co-product of the production of advanced biofuels that sequesters carbon when used as a soil amendment. Gardening consumers are a potential market for biochar and their purchase of biochar-amended products could provide biofuel producers with an additional revenue stream. To better understand this opportunity, preferences for the attributes of potting soils amended with biochar were elicited using a best-worst scaling experiment administered in a survey of 880 Tennessee households. The attributes analyzed were whether the biochar was produced in Tennessee, certified as biobased, a coproduct of biofuel production, and produced from food waste, wood waste, agricultural by-product, or a non-food energy crop feedstock. The effects of consumer demographics and attitudes on preferences for the biochar attributes were also estimated. We tested the independence of irrelevant alternative assumption using a structured covariance matrix designed specifically to the survey’s structure. The results suggest that the attributes most likely to influence favorably consumers are production from agricultural by-product or wood waste feedstock. On the other hand, the attributes least likely to entice consumers are biochar produced in Tennessee or produced as a co-product of renewable fuel.
Sustainable Development in Sparsely Populated Territories: Case of the Russian Arctic and Far East
Authors: Stepanova Nadezhda , Gritsenko Daria , Gavrilyeva Tuyara , Belokur Anna
Published: March 2020

Extreme environmental conditions, sparsely distributed human populations, and diverse local economies characterize the Russian Arctic and Far East. There is an urgent need for multidisciplinary research into how the Arctic and Far East can be developed sustainably as global changes in the environment and the economic priorities of nations accelerate and globalized societies emerge. Yet, when it comes to sustainability indicators, little consideration has been given thus far to sparsely populated and remote territories. Rather, the majority of indicators have been developed and tested while using empirical research gathered from cities and densely populated rural localities. As a result, there is no scientific technique that can be used to monitor the development of sparsely populated territories and inform the decisions of policymakers who hope to account for local specificity. This article suggests a conceptual model for linking sustainability to the unique characteristics of the sparsely populated regions of the Arctic and Far East. We provide an empirical illustration that is based on regional-level data from the sparsely populated territories of the Russian Federation. We conclude by suggesting indicators that could be best suited to promoting balanced regional development that accounts for the environment, economy, and social needs of sparsely populated territories.
What Are the Key Factors Affecting Air Pollution? Research on Jiangsu, China from the Perspective of Spatial Differentiation
Authors: Wang Shijin , Hua Guihong , Zhou Huiying
Published: March 2020

Based on the spatial Dubin model, two representative atmospheric pollutants comprising industrial waste gas and NO2 were selected to empirically investigate the effects of eight variables, including the economic growth level, population size, and industrial structure, on atmospheric pollutants and measure the sub-regional effects using data for Jiangsu from 2000 to 2016. The results showed that the population size, economic growth level, rural modernization level, personal income, and introducing high-speed rail were positively correlated with air pollution. By contrast, the industrial structure, foreign direct investment, and urbanization level were negatively correlated with air pollution. In particular, the effects of personal income, foreign direct investment, introducing high-speed rail, and urbanization were significant. The sub-regional analyses detected spatial spillover effects in all regions. The direct effects were greater than the indirect effects, where the level of economic growth, foreign direct investment, and urbanization had significant impacts, and the spatial spillover effects were most obvious in northern Jiangsu and central Jiangsu. Therefore, the following solutions are proposed: adjusting the industrial structure, improving the mode of economic growth, promoting the use of clean energy and rationally introducing foreign direct investment.
The Attractiveness of Adaptive Heritage Reuse: A Theoretical Framework
Authors: Tu Hung-Ming
Published: March 2020

Adaptive heritage reuse is a useful method to bring new meaning into a culture, manage heritage sites, and promote tourism development. However, it is not always successful, and there is no theoretical framework to understand its attractiveness and value. This study aimed at developing such a theoretical framework based on the analysis of nine cases of adaptive heritage reuse in Taiwan. The probe question technique of qualitative interview was used to assess the attraction framework. A total of 90 respondents were interviewed based on constant comparative analysis with the sampling strategy of theoretical saturation. The results illustrate the heritage and activities of the reuse environments, including natural and regional environments. These environments produce recreational values, including self-growth, health benefits, and social benefits. As promoting activities is an important attraction for tourists in the heritage reuse environment, the natural environment can be used to plan and design heritage outdoor activities. Finally, the regional environment can be an important basis for assessing the feasibility of adaptive heritage reuse, including historical streets, surrounding tourist attractions, and high transportation accessibility. This theoretical framework can be used to achieve sustainable management of heritage sites.
Towards Sustainable Mining: Exploiting Raw Materials from Extractive Waste Facilities
Authors: Dino Giovanna Antonella , Cavallo Alessandro , Rossetti Piergiorgio , Garamvölgyi Ernő , Sándor Renáta , Coulon Frederic
Published: March 2020

The focus of the present research is on the exploitation of extractive waste to recover raw materials, considering the technological and economic factors, together with the environmental impacts, associated with extractive waste quarrying and dressing activities. The present study, based on a case history from Northern Italy (Montorfano and Baveno granite quarrying area), was intended to validate the presented interdisciplinary approach for evaluating economic and environmental impacts associated with extractive waste facility exploitation (from granite waste to products for the ceramic industry and by-products for the building industry). A shared methodology was applied to determine extractive waste characteristics (geochemistry, petrography, and mineralogy), waste volume (geophysical, topographic, and morphologic 3D characterization) and potential exploitable products and by-products. Meanwhile, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was applied to determine the environmental impacts associated with the extraction and processing phases.
Sustainable Applications of Remote Sensing and Geospatial Information Systems to Earth Observations
Authors: Jung Hyung-Sup , Lee Saro , Pradhan Biswajeet
Published: March 2020

The Special Issue on “Sustainable Applications of Remote Sensing and Geospatial Information Systems to Earth Observations” is published. A total of 20 qualified papers are published in this Special Issue. The topics of the papers are the application of remote sensing and geospatial information systems to Earth observations in various fields such as (1) object change detection, (2) air pollution, (3) earthquakes, (4) landslides, (5) mining, (6) biomass, (7) groundwater, and (8) urban development using the techniques of remote sensing and geospatial information systems. More than 100 researchers have participated in this Special Issue. We hope that this Special Issue is helpful for sustainable applications.
On LSP Lifecycle Model to Re-design Logistics Service: Case Studies of Thai LSPs
Authors: Tiwong Sunida , Ramingwong Sakgasem , Tippayawong Korrakot Yaibuathet
Published: March 2020

Improving service logistics is crucial in order to reciprocate customer needs. The paper aims to validate the Logistics Service Provider (LSP) Lifecycle Model for re-designing logistics service in three LSP case studies in Thailand. The lifecycle-stage evaluation was adapted to identify the current status in its lifecycle. Afterward, logistics service strategies were implemented according to the voice of the customer by Quality Function Deployment (QFD). The study combined the Logistics Service Provider (LSP) Lifecycle Model with the application of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) to improve service logistics. Case studies showed the implementation of the service logistics strategies with the feasibility solution of Industry 4.0.
Optimal Pricing Strategy and Government Consumption Subsidy Policy in Closed-Loop Supply Chain with Third-Party Remanufacturer
Authors: Meng Lijun , Qiang Qiang , Huang Zuqing , Zhang Baoyou , Yang Yuxiang
Published: March 2020

Due to the increasing awareness of sustainable manufacturing, remanufacturing has been widely accepted by enterprises in many countries. In the process of Closed-Loop Supply Chain (CLSC) development, to stimulate the demand for remanufactured products, the Chinese government’s interventions such as the “Trade old for Remanufactured” program cannot be ignored. However, prior research has not answered the questions of whether governments should offer consumption subsidies and how to determine the optimal subsidy value. This paper investigates the optimal government consumption subsidy policy and its impact on the operation of Closed-Loop Supply Chain (CLSC) where an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) produces new products, while a Third-Party Remanufacturer (TPR) remanufactures the used products collected from consumers. A game model with a leader (government) and two followers (OEM and TPR) is then introduced. The government determines the consumption subsidy to maximize the social welfare, while the TPR and OEM attempt to maximize their own profit functions. Game theoretic models are proposed to explore and compare the scenarios, i.e., CLSC with a consumption subsidy policy and without a consumption subsidy policy. The equilibrium characteristics with respect to the government’s consumption subsidy decisions and the price decisions for chain members are derived. Based on the theoretical and numerical analysis, the results show that: (1) governments should not always offer a consumption subsidy; (2) the consumption subsidy cannibalizes demand for new products while boosting the demand for remanufactured products; (3) the consumption subsidy should be shared between the TPR and consumers when the TPR raises the sales price of remanufactured product; (4) the members of the CLSC do not always benefit from the consumption subsidy policy.
Understanding the Impacts of Transboundary Waste Shipment Policies: The Case of Plastic and Electronic Waste
Authors: Parajuly Keshav , Fitzpatrick Colin
Published: March 2020

Impact assessment is a part of the policy implementation cycle, which can support the design and implementation of effective policies at a minimum cost. It can be instrumental in understanding policy options available to tackle a particular issue before devising a policy and in analyzing the performance of already implemented policy instruments with respect to the desired goals. When it comes to environmental policies, demonstrating the worth and merit of any regulation is even more important. The knowledge gathered from the evaluation of existing policies can help improve the quality of new environmental policies. This paper analyzes policy impacts and their assessments related to the transboundary movement of waste. E-waste and plastic waste fractions are used as cases in order to study three associated policies and their impact assessments. Learnings from the analysis are summarized and measures for strengthening the impact assessment approaches are recommended based on the evidence from recent developments in the transboundary movement of waste fractions. Impact assessments of waste management and shipment policies could benefit from a more comprehensive but issue-oriented approach that looks beyond the short-term economic savings.
Changing Suburban Daily Mobilities in Response to a Mobility Intervention: A Qualitative Investigation of an E-bike Trial
Authors: Dahl Wikstrøm Ragnhild , Böcker Lars
Published: March 2020

This paper explores how local mobility interventions can bring about changes in daily mobilities and presents a qualitative study of an intervention introducing electric bikes (e-bikes) to suburban commuters in Norway. Our research shows promising evidence that e-bikes could play a crucial role in achieving a sustainable transport transition and that interventions are essential to stimulate the upscaling and mainstreaming of this emerging low-energy transport mode. In order to understand the scheme’s capacity to change mobility outcomes, this paper considers (i) how this low-energy mobility intervention was conceived and undertaken by its initiators, as well as how it was experienced by its participants; and (ii) how new e-bike practices are intertwined with existing daily activities and mobility systems. Theoretically, this paper draws on the staging mobilities framework and conceptualizes situational mobilities as involving the dimensions of embodiment, social interaction, and materiality. With this twofold objective, this paper generates crucial knowledge that is required to understand the capacity of mobility interventions to trigger a sustainable transport transition. This study explores the potential of combining mobile methods (GPS-tracking), qualitative GIS, and visual methods (photo- and map-elicitation) in interviews, and participant observations.
Creating a Sustainable Workplace Environment: Influence of Workplace Safety Climate on Chinese Healthcare Employees’ Presenteeism from the Perspective of Affect and Cognition
Authors: Liu Beini , Lu Qiang
Published: March 2020

Based on the stimulus-organism-response theory and cognitive-affective personality system theory, this paper explores how the theoretical model of the workplace safety climate (WSC) influences presenteeism. Affect-based trust and cognition-based trust are assessed, and the situational role of organization formalization is examined. Using a time-lagged research design, data from 396 healthcare employees were gathered and multiple regression and bootstrapping were used to test each hypothesis. The results show that: (1) WSC significantly reduces presenteeism. (2) Both affect-based trust and cognition-based trust mediate the relationship between WSC and presenteeism. Affect-based trust exerts a complete mediating role, while cognition-based trust exerts a partial mediating role. (3) Cognition-based trust completely mediates the relationship between affect-based trust and presenteeism. (4) Organization formalization exerts a positive moderating effect on the relationship between WSC and affect-based trust. However, it exerts no significant moderating effect on the relationship between WSC and cognition-based trust. This study overcame the single research perspective. Combined with organizational, work-related, and person-related factors, the internal logic of the impact of WSC on the decision-making process in presenteeism was identified. The research results provide practical information for enterprises to create a sustainable organizational environment, reduce risks related to human resources, and effectively manage organizational health.
Would You Fix This Code for Me? Effects of Repair Source and Commenting on Trust in Code Repair
Authors: Alarcon Gene M. , Walter Charles , Gibson Anthony M. , Gamble Rose F. , Capiola August , Jessup Sarah A. , Ryan Tyler J.
Published: March 2020

Automation and autonomous systems are quickly becoming a more engrained aspect of modern society. The need for effective, secure computer code in a timely manner has led to the creation of automated code repair techniques to resolve issues quickly. However, the research to date has largely ignored the human factors aspects of automated code repair. The current study explored trust perceptions, reuse intentions, and trust intentions in code repair with human generated patches versus automated code repair patches. In addition, comments in the headers were manipulated to determine the effect of the presence or absence of comments in the header of the code. Participants were 51 programmers with at least 3 years’ experience and knowledge of the C programming language. Results indicated only repair source (human vs. automated code repair) had a significant influence on trust perceptions and trust intentions. Specifically, participants consistently reported higher levels of perceived trustworthiness, intentions to reuse, and trust intentions for human referents compared to automated code repair. No significant effects were found for comments in the headers.
Revisiting the Fraction of Radio-Loud Narrow Line Seyfert 1 Galaxies with LoTSS DR1
Authors: Fan Xu-Liang
Published: March 2020

Radio-Loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s), especially the extremely radio-loud ones, are widely accepted as the jetted versions of NLS1s. We explore the radio-loud fraction for NLS1s with recently released LoTSS DR1 at 150 MHz. The radio detection rate is about 28% for LoTSS DR1. The radio detected NLS1s have lower redshift than the non-detected ones. Moreover, the 150 MHz radio luminosities of NLS1s detected by LoTSS are about two orders of magnitude weaker than those of the previous samples. By defining the radio loudness with the ratio between 150 MHz radio flux and SDSS r band flux, the radio-loud fraction is about 1% with the critical radio loudness equalling 100. Radio loudness shows no dependence on central black hole mass, while weak correlations are found between radio loudness and disk luminosity, as well as Eddington ratio.
The Scale-Invariant Vacuum (SIV) Theory: A Possible Origin of Dark Matter and Dark Energy
Authors: Maeder Andre , Gueorguiev Vesselin G.
Published: March 2020

The Scale Invariant Vacuum (SIV) theory rests on the basic hypothesis that the macroscopic empty space is scale invariant. This hypothesis is applied in the context of the Integrable Weyl Geometry, where it leads to considerable simplifications in the scale covariant cosmological equations. After an initial explosion and a phase of braking, the cosmological models show a continuous acceleration of the expansion. Several observational tests of the SIV cosmology are performed: on the relation between H 0 and the age of the Universe, on the m − z diagram for SNIa data and its extension to z = 7 with quasars and GRBs, and on the H ( z ) vs. z relation. All comparisons show a very good agreement between SIV predictions and observations. Predictions for the future observations of the redshift drifts are also given. In the weak field approximation, the equation of motion contains, in addition to the classical Newtonian term, an acceleration term (usually very small) depending on the velocity. The two-body problem is studied, showing a slow expansion of the classical conics. The new equation has been applied to clusters of galaxies, to rotating galaxies (some proximities with Modifies Newtonian Dynamics, MOND, are noticed), to the velocity dispersion vs. the age of the stars in the Milky Way, and to the growth of the density fluctuations in the Universe. We point out the similarity of the mechanical effects of the SIV hypothesis in cosmology and in the Newtonian approximation. In both cases, it results in an additional acceleration in the direction of motions. In cosmology, these effects are currently interpreted in terms of the dark energy hypothesis, while in the Newtonian approximation they are accounted for in terms of the dark matter (DM) hypothesis. These hypotheses appear no longer necessary in the SIV context.
Pervasive Differential Splicing in Marek’s Disease Virus Can Discriminate CVI-988 Vaccine Strain from RB-1B Very Virulent Strain in Chicken Embryonic Fibroblasts
Authors: Sadigh Yashar , Tahiri-Alaoui Abdessamad , Spatz Stephen , Nair Venugopal , Ribeca Paolo
Published: March 2020

Marek’s disease is a major scourge challenging poultry health worldwide. It is caused by the highly contagious Marek’s disease virus (MDV), an alphaherpesvirus. Here, we showed that, similar to other members of its Herpesviridae family, MDV also presents a complex landscape of splicing events, most of which are uncharacterised and/or not annotated. Quite strikingly, and although the biological relevance of this fact is unknown, we found that a number of viral splicing isoforms are strain-specific, despite the close sequence similarity of the strains considered: very virulent RB-1B and vaccine CVI-988. We validated our findings by devising an assay that discriminated infections caused by the two strains in chicken embryonic fibroblasts on the basis of the presence of some RNA species. To our knowledge, this study is the first to accomplish such a result, emphasizing how relevant a comprehensive picture of the viral transcriptome is to fully understand viral pathogenesis.