bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synergistic Effects of Two-Dimensional MXene and Ammonium Polyphosphate on Enhancing the Fire Safety of Polyvinyl Alcohol Composite Aerogels
Authors: Sheng Xinxin , Li Sihao , Zhao Yanfeng , Zhai Dongsheng , Zhang Li , Lu Xiang
Published: November 2019

Fire and smoke suppressions of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) aerogels are urgently required due to the serious fire hazard they present. MXene, a 2D transition-metal carbide with many excellent properties, is considered a promising synergist for providing excellent flame retardant performance. PVA/ammonium polyphosphate (APP)/transition metal carbide (MXene) composite aerogels were prepared via the freeze-drying method to enhance the flame retardancy. Thermogravimetric analysis, limiting oxygen index, vertical burning, and cone calorimeter tests were executed to investigate the thermal stability and flame retardancy of PVA/APP/MXene (PAM) composite aerogels. The results demonstrated that MXene boosted the flame retardancy of PVA-APP, and that PAM-2 (with 2.0 wt% MXene loading) passed the V-0 rating, and reached a maximum LOI value of 42%; Moreover, MXene endowed the PVA-APP system with excellent fire and smoke suppression performance, as the the peak heat release rate and peak smoke production rate were significantly reduced by 55% and 74% at 1.0 wt% MXene loading. The flame retardant mechanism was systematically studied, MXene facilitated the generation of compact intumescent residues via ita catalyst effects, thus further restraining the release of heat and smoke. This work provides a simple route to improve the flame retardancy of PVA aerogels via the synergistic effect of MXene and APP.
Nitramine-Group-Containing Energetic Prepolymer: Synthesis, and Its Properties as a Binder for Propellant
Authors: Hwang Kiwon , Mun Hyunsung , Jung Jin Young , Cho Hye Lim , Kim Sung June , Min Byoung Sun , Jeon Heung Bae , Kim Wonho
Published: November 2019

A composite solid propellant which generates high propulsive force in a short time is typically composed of an oxidizer, a metal fuel powder and a binder. Among these, the binder is an important component. The binder maintains the mechanical properties of propellant grains and endures several thermal and mechanical stresses in the engine. Several studies have been reported for the development of energetic propellant binders for increasing the propellant′s propulsive force. While several materials have been studied for the synthesis of energetic prepolymers, a nitramine-group-containing prepolymer is a suitable candidate because these types of prepolymers are less toxic and more cost-effective when compared to the traditional glycidyl azide polymers (GAP) and triazole-based prepolymers. Considering the lack of studies for the binder using a nitramine-group-containing prepolymers, we synthesized a nitramine-group-containing monomer and polymerized a nitramine-group-containing prepolymer. The prepolymer was then used for the preparation of the binder and its thermal and mechanical properties, as well as the effect of the plasticizer, were studied. The binder that was prepared using the prepolymer containing a nitramine-group showed very high elongation, tensile strength. Nitrate-ester (NE)-type plasticizer could reduce the glassy transition temperature (Tg)of the binder successfully. Also, high-energy is released due to the decomposition of the nitramine-group at around 245 °C, thus exhibiting the efficiency of the nitramine-group-containing prepolymer as an excellent energetic binder material.
Quaternary DNA: A Multidisciplinary Research Field
Authors: Parducci Laura
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this Milankovitch review is to explain the significance of Quaternary DNA studies and the importance of the recent methodological advances that have enabled the study of late Quaternary remains in more detail, and the testing of new assumptions in evolutionary biology and phylogeography to reconstruct the past. The topic is wide, and this review is not intended to be an exhaustive account of all the aDNA work performed in the last three decades on late-Quaternary remains. Instead, it is a selection of relevant studies aimed at illustrating how aDNA has been used to reconstruct not only environments of the past, but also the history of many species including our own.
A Study of the Intensity of Tropical Cyclone Idai Using Dual-Polarization Sentinel-1 Data
Authors: Yu Peng , Johannessen Johnny A. , Yan Xiao-Hai , Geng Xupu , Zhong Xiaojing , Zhu Lin
Published: November 2019

Monitoring the intensity and size of a tropical cyclone (TC) is a challenging task, and is important for reducing losses of lives and property. In this study, we use Idai, one of the deadliest TCs on record in the Southern Hemisphere, as an example. Dual-polarization synthetic aperture radar (SAR) measurements from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission are used to examine the TC structure and intensity. The wind speed is estimated and compared using well known C-band model functions based on calibrated cross-polarization SAR images. Because of the relatively high noise floor of the Sentinel-1 data, wind speeds under 20 m/s from cross-polarization models are ignored and replaced by low to moderate wind speeds retrieved from co-polarization radar signals. Wind fields retrieved from the co- and cross-polarization model results are then merged together to estimate the TC size and the TC fullness scale, a concept related to the wind structure of a storm. Idai has a very strong wind speed and fullness structure, indicating that it was indeed a very intense storm. The approach demonstrates that open and freely available Sentinel-1 SAR data is a unique dataset to estimate the potential destructiveness of similar natural disasters like Idai.
Quantifying Chlorophyll Fluorescence Parameters from Hyperspectral Reflectance at the Leaf Scale under Various Nitrogen Treatment Regimes in Winter Wheat
Authors: Jia Min , Li Dong , Colombo Roberto , Wang Ying , Wang Xue , Cheng Tao , Zhu Yan , Yao Xia , Xu Changjun , Ouer Geli , Li Hongying , Zhang Chaokun
Published: November 2019

Chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) parameters, especially the quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) in dark- and light-adapted conditions (Fv/Fm and Fv’/Fm’), have been used extensively to indicate photosynthetic activity, physiological function, as well as healthy and early stress conditions. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential of applying hyperspectral data for the detection of ChlF parameters in vegetation. However, the performance of spectral features that have been documented to estimate ChlF is not ideal and is poorly understood. In this study, ChlF parameters and leaf reflectance were collected in two field experiments involving various wheat cultivars, nitrogen (N) applications, and plant densities, during the growing seasons of 2014 to 2015 and 2015 to 2016. Three types of spectral features, including vegetation indices (VIs), red edge position (REP), and wavelet features, were used to quantify ChlF parameters Fv/Fm and Fv’/Fm’. The results indicated that traditional chlorophyll fluorescence vegetation indices (ChlF VIs), such as the curvature index (CUR) and D705/D722 were capable of detecting Fv/Fm and Fv’/Fm’ under various scenarios. However, the wavelet-based REP (WREP-S4) and the wavelet feature (WF) (704 nm, scale 4) yielded higher accuracy than other spectral features in calibration and validation datasets. Moreover, the bands used to calculate WREP-S4 and WF (704 nm, scale 4) were all centered in the red edge region (680 to 760 nm), which highlighted the role of the red edge region in tracking the change of active ChlF signal. Our results are supported by previous studies, which have shown that the red edge region is vital for estimating the chlorophyll content, and also the ChlF parameters. These findings could help to improve our understanding of the relationships among active ChlF signal and reflectance spectra.
Terahertz Displacement and Thickness Sensor with Micrometer Resolution and Centimeter Dynamic Range
Authors: Han Dae-Hyun , Kang Lae-Hyong
Published: November 2019

Measuring distance and thickness simultaneously is important in biological, medical, electronic, and various industries. Herein, we propose a method for simultaneously measuring the displacement and thickness of transparent materials using a pulsed terahertz wave. For this technique, a beam splitter was used to design the optical path such that the terahertz wave would incident the specimen vertically to achieve centimeter measurement range and micrometer resolution. The measured terahertz waveform carries peak time information reflected from the upper and lower surfaces of the sample, and the thickness can be calculated using the time difference between the first and second reflected peaks. The displacement can also be calculated using peak time difference when the sample moves from the initial position to the changed position. For validation, an experimental test was performed using aluminum, acrylic, and glass plates. The results confirmed a measurement range of 1 cm with an error of less than 23 μm, and the thickness error was less than 8 μm.
Thrombin Aptamer-Modified Metal–Organic Framework Nanoparticles: Functional Nanostructures for Sensing Thrombin and the Triggered Controlled Release of Anti-Blood Clotting Drugs
Authors: Chen Wei-Hai , Karmi Ola , Willner Bilha , Nechushtai Rachel , Willner Itamar
Published: November 2019

This paper features the synthesis of thrombin-responsive, nucleic acid-gated, UiO-68 metal–organic framework nanoparticles (NMOFs) loaded with the drug Apixaban or rhodamine 6G as a drug model. Apixaban acts as an inhibitor of blood clots formation. The loads in the NMOFs are locked by duplex nucleic acids that are composed of anchor nucleic acids linked to the NMOFs that are hybridized with the anti-thrombin aptamer. In the presence of thrombin, the duplex gating units are separated through the formation of thrombin–aptamer complexes. The unlocking of the NMOFs releases the drug (or the drug model). The release of the drug is controlled by the concentration of thrombin. The Apixaban-loaded NMOFs revealed improved inhibition, as compared to free Apixaban, toward blood clot formation. This is reflected by their longer time intervals for inducing clot formation and the decreased doses of the drug required to affect clots formation. The beneficial effects of the Apixaban-loaded NMOFs are attributed to the slow-release mechanism induced by the NMOFs carriers, where the inhibition of factor Xa in the blood clotting cycle retards the formation of thrombin, which slows down the release of the drug.
An Imaging Plane Calibration Method for MIMO Radar Imaging
Authors: Guo Yuanyue , Yuan Bo , Wang Zhaohui , Xia Rui
Published: November 2019

In two dimensional cross-range multiple-input multiple-output radar imaging for aerial targets, due to the non-cooperative movement of the targets, the estimated imaging plane parameters, namely the center and the posture angles of the imaging plane, may have deviations from true values, which defocus the final image. This problem is called imaging plane mismatch in this paper. Focusing on this problem, firstly the deviations of spatial spectrum fulfilling region caused by imaging plane mismatch is analyzed, as well as the errors of the corresponding spatial spectral values. Thereupon, the calibration operation is deduced when the imaging plane parameters are accurately obtained. Afterwards, an imaging plane calibration algorithm is proposed to utilize particle swarm optimization to search out the imaging plane parameters. Finally, it is demonstrated through simulations that the proposed algorithm can accurately estimate the imaging plane parameters and achieve good image focusing performance.
Automated Method of Extracting Urban Roads Based on Region Growing from Mobile Laser Scanning Data
Authors: Li Peng , Wang Ruisheng , Wang Yanxia , Gao Ge
Published: November 2019

With the rapid development of three-dimensional point cloud acquisition from mobile laser scanning systems, the extraction of urban roads has become a major research focus. Although it has great potential for digital image processing, the extraction of roads using the region growing approach is still in its infancy. We propose an automated method of urban road extraction based on region growing. First, an initial seed is chosen under constraints relating to the Gaussian curvature, height and number of neighboring points, which ensures that the initial seed is located on a road. Then, the growing condition is determined by the angle threshold of the tangent plane of the seed point. Then, new seeds are selected based on the identified road points and their curvature. The method also includes a strategy for dealing with multiple discontinuous roads in a dataset. The result shows that the method can not only achieve high accuracy in urban road extraction but is also stable and robust.
Size-Dependent Properties of Magnetosensitive Polymersomes: Computer Modelling
Authors: Ryzhkov Aleksandr , Raikher Yuriy
Published: November 2019

Magnetosensitive polymersomes, which are amphiphilic polymer capsules whose membranes are filled with magnetic nanoparticles, are prospective objects for drug delivery and manipulations with single cells. A molecular dynamics simulation model that is able to render a detailed account on the structure and shape response of a polymersome to an external magnetic field is used to study a dimensional effect: the dependence of the field-induced deformation on the size of this nanoscale object. It is shown that in the material parameter range that resembles realistic conditions, the strain response of smaller polymersomes, against a priori expectations, exceeds that of larger ones. A qualitative explanation for this behavior is proposed.
A Survey on LPWAN Technologies in WBAN for Remote Health-Care Monitoring
Authors: Olatinwo Damilola D. , Abu-Mahfouz Adnan , Hancke Gerhard
Published: November 2019

In ubiquitous health-care monitoring (HCM), wireless body area networks (WBANs) are envisioned as appealing solutions that may offer reliable methods for real-time monitoring of patients’ health conditions by employing the emerging communication technologies. This paper therefore focuses more on the state-of-the-art wireless communication systems that can be explored in the next-generation WBAN solutions for HCM. Also, this study addressed the critical issues confronted by the existing WBANs that are employed in HCM. Examples of such issues include wide-range health data communication constraint, health data delivery reliability concern, and energy efficiency, which are attributed to the limitations of the legacy short range, medium range, and the cellular technologies that are typically employed in WBAN systems. Since the WBAN sensor devices are usually configured with a finite battery power, they often get drained during prolonged operations. This phenomenon is technically exacerbated by the fact that the legacy communication systems, such as ZigBee, Bluetooth, 6LoWPAN, and so on, consume more energy during data communications. This unfortunate situation offers a scope for employing suitable communication systems identified in this study to improve the productivity of WBANs in HCM. For this to be achieved, the emerging communication systems such as the low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs) are investigated in this study based on their power transmission, data transmission rate, data reliability in the context of efficient data delivery, communication coverage, and latency, including their advantages, as well as disadvantages. As a consequence, the LPWAN solutions are presented for WBAN systems in remote HCM. Furthermore, this research work also points out future directions for the realization of the next-generation of WBANs, as well as how to improve the identified communication systems, to further enhance their productivity in WBAN solutions for HCM.
Automatic Identification and Intuitive Map Representation of the Epiretinal Membrane Presence in 3D OCT Volumes
Authors: Baamonde Sergio , de Moura Joaquim , Novo Jorge , Charlón Pablo , Ortega Marcos
Published: November 2019

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a medical image modality providing high-resolution cross-sectional visualizations of the retinal tissues without any invasive procedure, commonly used in the analysis of retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy or retinal detachment. Early identification of the epiretinal membrane (ERM) facilitates ERM surgical removal operations. Moreover, presence of the ERM is linked to other retinal pathologies, such as macular edemas, being among the main causes of vision loss. In this work, we propose an automatic method for the characterization and visualization of the ERM’s presence using 3D OCT volumes. A set of 452 features is refined using the Spatial Uniform ReliefF (SURF) selection strategy to identify the most relevant ones. Afterwards, a set of representative classifiers is trained, selecting the most proficient model, generating a 2D reconstruction of the ERM’s presence. Finally, a post-processing stage using a set of morphological operators is performed to improve the quality of the generated maps. To verify the proposed methodology, we used 20 3D OCT volumes, both with and without the ERM’s presence, totalling 2428 OCT images manually labeled by a specialist. The most optimal classifier in the training stage achieved a mean accuracy of 91.9%. Regarding the post-processing stage, mean specificity values of 91.9% and 99.0% were obtained from volumes with and without the ERM’s presence, respectively.
Experimental Evaluation of a UWB-Based Cooperative Positioning System for Pedestrians in GNSS-Denied Environment
Authors: Gabela Jelena , Retscher Guenther , Goel Salil , Perakis Harris , Masiero Andrea , Toth Charles , Gikas Vassilis , Kealy Allison , Koppányi Zoltán , Błaszczak-Bąk Wioleta , Li Yan , Grejner-Brzezinska Dorota
Published: November 2019

Cooperative positioning (CP) utilises information sharing among multiple nodes to enable positioning in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-denied environments. This paper reports the performance of a CP system for pedestrians using Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) technology in GNSS-denied environments. This data set was collected as part of a benchmarking measurement campaign carried out at the Ohio State University in October 2017. Pedestrians were equipped with a variety of sensors, including two different UWB systems, on a specially designed helmet serving as a mobile multi-sensor platform for CP. Different users were walking in stop-and-go mode along trajectories with predefined checkpoints and under various challenging environments. In the developed CP network, both Peer-to-Infrastructure (P2I) and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) measurements are used for positioning of the pedestrians. It is realised that the proposed system can achieve decimetre-level accuracies (on average, around 20 cm) in the complete absence of GNSS signals, provided that the measurements from infrastructure nodes are available and the network geometry is good. In the absence of these good conditions, the results show that the average accuracy degrades to meter level. Further, it is experimentally demonstrated that inclusion of P2P cooperative range observations further enhances the positioning accuracy and, in extreme cases when only one infrastructure measurement is available, P2P CP may reduce positioning errors by up to 95 % . The complete test setup, the methodology for development, and data collection are discussed in this paper. In the next version of this system, additional observations such as the Wi-Fi, camera, and other signals of opportunity will be included.
Learning Deep Hierarchical Spatial–Spectral Features for Hyperspectral Image Classification Based on Residual 3D-2D CNN
Authors: Feng Fan , Wang Shuangting , Wang Chunyang , Zhang Jin
Published: November 2019

Every pixel in a hyperspectral image contains detailed spectral information in hundreds of narrow bands captured by hyperspectral sensors. Pixel-wise classification of a hyperspectral image is the cornerstone of various hyperspectral applications. Nowadays, deep learning models represented by the convolutional neural network (CNN) provides an ideal solution for feature extraction, and has made remarkable achievements in supervised hyperspectral classification. However, hyperspectral image annotation is time-consuming and laborious, and available training data is usually limited. Due to the “small-sample problem”, CNN-based hyperspectral classification is still challenging. Focused on the limited sample-based hyperspectral classification, we designed an 11-layer CNN model called R-HybridSN (Residual-HybridSN) from the perspective of network optimization. With an organic combination of 3D-2D-CNN, residual learning, and depth-separable convolutions, R-HybridSN can better learn deep hierarchical spatial–spectral features with very few training data. The performance of R-HybridSN is evaluated over three public available hyperspectral datasets on different amounts of training samples. Using only 5%, 1%, and 1% labeled data for training in Indian Pines, Salinas, and University of Pavia, respectively, the classification accuracy of R-HybridSN is 96.46%, 98.25%, 96.59%, respectively, which is far better than the contrast models.
Which Natural Areas are Preferred for Recreation? An Investigation of the Most Popular Natural Resting Types for Istanbul
Authors: Hayir-Kanat Meryem , Breuste Jürgen
Published: November 2019

This research focuses on people’s perceptions and expectations from nature and nature experience and their preferences of nature types. One-on-one face-to-face interviews were conducted with 500 respondents using a paper-pencil survey questionnaire. Our results show that the most frequently cited meaning of nature was fresh air and green space. Overall, the majority of the respondents associated the concept of nature with green areas, coasts, and panoramas. The psychological dimension of nature was also mentioned by about one-third of the respondents. The most beloved part of being in nature reported by the respondents was being away from city life and work. The respondents had strong preferences for being near water, primarily by the seaside. It is concluded that, for many people, nature and biological components of nature help with the recovery from work stress and city hassle.
Transformative Social Learning for Agricultural Sustainability and Climate Change Adaptation in the Vietnam Mekong Delta
Authors: Phuong Le Thi Hong , Tuan Tran Duc , Phuc Nguyen Thi Ngoc
Published: November 2019

Climate change has seriously affected agriculture and many aspects of the life of local people in the Vietnam Mekong Delta (VMD). Learning to shift towards sustainable development to successfully adapt to climate change is essential. The VACB (V—garden/orchard; A—fishing farm; C—livestock farm; B—biogas) model is considered one of the best approaches and methods to adapt to climate change in the VMD. This paper aims to explore the transformative social learning and sustainable development associated with this model in terms of agricultural transformation for sustainability to climate change adaptation in the VMD. The mixed methods approach that guided the data collection included focus group discussions, in-depth interviews with key informants and household surveys. Our findings show that there are three learning processes associated with transformative social learning linked to the VACB model: instrumental, communicative and emancipatory learning. Farmers reported increased knowledge and improved relationships and efficiency when applying the VACB model using several learning channels, both formal and informal. Farmers highlighted six factors that influenced transformative social learning during the adoption and development of the VACB model and several barriers to implementing adaptation strategies to climate change in an attempt to upscale the VACB model.
Analysis of the Vibration Mitigation Characteristics of the Ballasted Ladder Track with Elastic Elements
Authors: Qu Xiangyu , Ma Meng , Li Minghang , Cao Yanmei , Liu Weining
Published: November 2019

Despite the fact railways are seen as an environmentally friendly and sustainable form of transport, however, the train-induced vibration has been seen as a negative environmental consequence. The ballasted ladder track is one type of ballasted track with longitudinal sleepers. The elastic elements can not only protect the track structure but also control the vibration. To investigate the vibration mitigation effects of ballasted ladder track with elastic elements, a finite element - infinite element (FE-IFE) model was built considering the elastic elements of under-sleeper pads (USPs) and under-ballast mats (UBMs). This model was validated by a laboratory test. Then, the moving train load was obtained based on the multi-body dynamics (MBD)-finite elements method (FEM) analysis. The vibration mitigation effects of the ballasted ladder track with different types of elastic elements were calculated compared with the ballasted tracks without elastic elements. The results indicate that: (1) the ballasted ladder track has the advantage of vibration reduction at low frequencies, with a maximum vibration attenuation of 25.2 dB and an averaged vibration attenuation of 19.0 dB between 5 and 20 Hz through the ballast. (2) The ballasted ladder track with USPs or UBMs can provide better vibration attenuation between 30 and 100 Hz, but it induces a vibration amplification between 5 and 30 Hz. (3) The ballasted ladder track with elastic elements in different cases can provide different vibration mitigation effects. The ballasted ladder track with both USPs and UBMs can provide the best mitigation effect with an average vibration mitigation of approximately 15 dB and a maximum vibration mitigation of 30 dB between 30 and 100 Hz.
Renewable Energy Prosumers in Mediterranean Viticulture Social–Ecological Systems
Authors: Campos Ines , Marín-González Esther , Luz Guilherme , Barroso João , Oliveira Nuno
Published: November 2019

The significant energy demands of wine production pose both a challenge and an opportunity for adopting a low-carbon, more sustainable and potentially less expensive energy model. Nevertheless, the (dis)incentives for the wider adoption of local production and self-consumption of energy (also known as “prosumerism”) from renewable energy sources (RESs) are still not sufficiently addressed, nor are the broader social–ecological benefits of introducing RES as part of a sustainable viticulture strategy. Drawing on the social–ecological systems (SESs) resilience framework, this article presents the results of a Living Lab (an action-research approach) implemented in Alentejo (South of Portugal), which is an important wine-producing Mediterranean region. The triangulation of results from the application of a multi-method approach, including quantitative and qualitative methods, provided an understanding of the constraining and enabling factors for individual and collective RES prosumer initiatives. Top enablers are related to society’s expectation for a greener wine production, but also the responsibility to contribute to reducing carbon emissions and energy costs; meanwhile, the top constraints are financial, legal and technological. The conclusions offer some policy implications and avenues for future research.
A Data-Driven Scheduling Approach for Hydrogen Penetrated Energy System Using LSTM Network
Authors: Zhou Suyang , He Di , Zhang Zhiyang , Wu Zhi , Gu Wei , Li Junjie , Li Zhe , Wu Gaoxiang
Published: November 2019

Intra-day control and scheduling of energy systems require high-speed computation and strong robustness. Conventional mathematical driven approaches usually require high computation resources and have difficulty handling system uncertainties. This paper proposes two data-driven scheduling approaches for hydrogen penetrated energy system (HPES) operational scheduling. The two data-driven approaches learn the historical optimization results calculated out using the mixed integer linear programing (MILP) and conditional value at risk (CVaR), respectively. The intra-day rolling optimization mechanism is introduced to evaluate the proposed data-driven scheduling approaches, MILP data-driven approach and CVaR data-driven approach, along with the forecasted renewable generation and load demands. Results show that the two data-driven approaches have lower intra-day operational costs compared with the MILP based method by 1.17% and 0.93%. In addition, the combined cooling and heating plant (CCHP) has a lower frequency of changing the operational states and power output when using the MILP data-driven approach compared with the mathematical driven approaches.
Critical Success Factors in Implementing Enterprise Resource Planning Systems for Sustainable Corporations
Authors: Huang Shaio Yan , Chiu An An , Chao Po Chi , Arniati Arniati
Published: November 2019

More and more companies are significantly introducing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to secure enterprise resources for effective distribution and provide accurate data for sustainable development in enterprise. Recently, Type B laboratory has promoted the utilization of the corporation’s own sustainable developments of the business model philosophy to affect the society and to solve social and environmental issues. The form of organizations arising from this certification process is referred to as the B Corporation, and this represents the implementation and commitment to sustainable development. Thus, decision-makers of B Corporation who can utilize ERP system tools well can coordinate sustainable activities better. There is not enough literature at this stage to provide the key success factors of implementing the ERP system for the B Corporation in Taiwan. This study extensively reviews the literature and conducts a modified Delphi expert questionnaire survey to elucidate the critical success factors of B Corporations’ implementation of ERP systems. The research results can assist the sustainable value of B Corporation and contribute to the current literature of improving critical success factors. The limitation of this study is that it only represents the perspective of B Corporation in Taiwan. Second, this study is unable to encompass all key success factors (CSFs) pertaining to ERP systems.
Sustainability of the Belt and Road Initiative: An Integrated, Conceptual Framework for Instructional Communication in China’s Universities
Authors: Akhtar Nadeem , Pratt Cornelius B. , Hu Ying
Published: November 2019

China is fast becoming a coveted destination and a hub for higher education among international students, particularly since the announcement of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in September 2013. Consequently, China’s higher-education institutions are seeking ways to make international students’ educational experience more consistent with their expectations. Nonetheless, instructional communication—that is, communication for the purpose of engaging students academically while reducing problematic misunderstandings in the classroom—is a bane of the educational experience of international students in China. Therefore, this article extends instructional communication and intercultural sensitivity models to pedagogical, learner-centered contexts in an attempt to develop an integrated conceptual framework on sustaining international student–Chinese faculty interactions in the classroom. That framework has three key constructs: (a) the faculty’s classroom behaviors and international students’ characteristics, (b) international students’ instructional beliefs, and (c) learning outcomes. They will serve as the basis for positioning instructional practices in responding more appropriately to enhancing the experience of international students as global learners and toward deepening and sustaining the internationalization of China’s higher-education institutions, specifically within the context of BRI.
Biogas Production from Vegetable and Fruit Markets Waste—Compositional and Batch Characterizations
Authors: Morales-Polo Carlos , Cledera-Castro María del Mar , Moratilla Soria B. Yolanda
Published: November 2019

This study presents a complete characterization of the residual materials found in fruit and vegetable markets and their adaptability to be treated by anaerobic digestion with the aim of generating biogas as a new and renewable energy source. It has been determined that these substrates are perfectly suitable to be treated by anaerobic digestion, being rich in simple carbohydrates, with a high content of moisture and solids (total and volatile), which makes it a substrate of easy solubilization and with a great amount of matter directly accessible to the microorganisms responsible for anaerobic degradation. The process develops smoothly, with a slight release of acidic elements, but without impact by the development of the buffer effect by ammonia. In addition, a phenomenon of digestion is observed in two phases, indicating that despite the particulateing of the substrate, it manages to digest the organic matter directly accessible and the inaccessible. In numerical terms, 100 g of residue V produce 913.282 NmL of biogas, of which 289.333 NmL correspond to methane. The disintegration constant is 0.200 days−1, with 16,045% of the substrate degraded. As an innovation, the hydrogen generated in the process has been used as an indicator of the stability and development of the process. Accompanied by a statistical analysis and mathematical adjustments, it is possible to characterize in depth the process and its evolution, determining that the degradation is fast, with a rapid and stable hydrolysis.
Spatiotemporal Decoupling of Population, Economy and Construction Land Changes in Hebei Province
Authors: Li Mu , Shi Yunyang , Duan Wenkai , Chen Aiqi , Wang Nan , Hao Jinmin
Published: November 2019

Under the context of rapid urbanization, how to use construction land resources under the dual pressure of socioeconomic growth and cultivated land protection is critical to resource utilization and sustainable development. Thus, it is of great theoretical and practical significance to study the relationship between socioeconomic change and construction land expansion. Based on decoupling theory, this study constructed a two-dimensional model to analyze the population-construction land and economy (non-agricultural GDP)-construction land decoupling status and characteristics in Hebei Province at the county level. Then, a decoupling-based construction land-use zoning model was built to explore construction land saving and intensive utilization strategies in different construction land-use zones. The results show that (1) the construction land area, population and non-agricultural GDP in Hebei Province increased in the study period, but there were spatial differences in the hot areas of growth. (2) In the population-construction land dimension, the growth of the population and construction land in Hebei Province was generally in an uncoordinated state. According to the results of the calculation, the samples of counties whose relationships between population and construction land were uncoordinated accounted for 75.76% of all counties, and 68.94% of all counties demonstrated weak decoupling. (3) In the economy-construction land dimension, 89.39% of all counties in Hebei Province had coordinated relationships between economy and construction land change. The expansion negative decoupling was the main decoupling state in Hebei Province in this dimension. (4) On the basis of two-dimensional decoupling type results, the construction land-use in Hebei was divided into four zones: “Population–economy dual coordinated”, “population unilateral coordinated”, “economy unilateral coordinated” and “population–economy dual uncoordinated”. The results showed that the “economy unilateral coordinated” zone included 68.18% of all counties. According to the characteristics of different construction land-use zones, this study provided various regulatory and control countermeasures and suggestions to improve the efficiency of construction land-use and to promote sustainable development in Hebei Province.
Decision Making in Personal Insurance: Impact of Insurance Literacy
Authors: Weedige Sampath Sanjeewa , Ouyang Hongbing , Gao Yao , Liu Yaqing
Published: November 2019

Financial illiteracy and underinsurance have been revealed to be critical issues in the financial sustainability and well-being of families. However, studies show that financial literacy does not necessarily translate to insurance literacy, and more specialized education can improve insurance literacy. Little is known about the impact of insurance illiteracy on the inclination to seek and retain insurance. Considering this gap, our study aimed to investigate the direct and indirect effect of consumers’ insurance literacy on purchasing decisions of personal insurance. The study sample consists of middle-class consumers in Sri Lanka. A total of 300 valid questionnaires were collected and analyzed using a variance-based structural equation modeling. The results revealed that insurance literacy directly, and through its mediators of trust, perceived benefits, and favorable attitudes towards insurance, impacts the behavioral intention, significantly and positively. The cognition-based trust affected the purchase intention only through its mediators. Additionally, there is a significant difference between those who are having and not having insurance in terms of insurance literacy, trustfulness, and perceived value of insurance. This study is relatively a pioneer study, and findings will be of great interest to academicians and policymakers to encourage personal insurance as a tool in achieving financial security and well-being.
Entropy Estimation of Inverse Weibull Distribution under Adaptive Type-II Progressive Hybrid Censoring Schemes
Authors: Xu Rong , Gui Wenhao
Published: November 2019

This paper discusses entropy estimations for two-parameter inverse Weibull distributions under adaptive type-II progressive hybrid censoring schemes. Estimations of entropy derived by maximum likelihood estimation method and Bayes estimation method are both considered. Different Bayes estimators using squared loss function, Linex loss function, general entropy loss function, and balanced loss function are derived. Numerical results are derived by Lindley’s approximation method. Especially, the interval estimation of entropy is derived through maximum likelihood estimation method. To test the effectiveness of the estimations, simulation studies are conducted. These entropy estimation methods are illustrated and applied to analyze a real data set.
Assessing Vaccine Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study at an Italian Paediatric Hospital and the Development of a Healthcare Worker’s Vaccination Compliance Index
Authors: Paoli Sonia , Lorini Chiara , Puggelli Francesco , Sala Antonino , Grazzini Maddalena , Paolini Diana , Bonanni Paolo , Bonaccorsi Guglielmo
Published: November 2019

Healthcare workers (HCWs) in paediatric hospitals are an important source of advice on vaccinations, but vaccine hesitancy can affect even these professionals. The aim of this study is to assess this phenomenon, measuring it by means of a scoring system. A survey was conducted in five departments of an Italian paediatric university hospital of national interest. Vaccination against influenza was considered a behavioral indicator of vaccination uptake. Using the collected data, the healthcare worker’s vaccination compliance index (HVCI) was computed. The results demonstrate statistically significant differences between departments and professional profiles. Nearly 80% of the sample was not immunized against seasonal influenza. According to the HVCI scores, the most hesitant departments are the intensive care unit, emergency room, and oncohematology department, while the most hesitant professional profiles are nurses and auxiliary staff. The score of the unvaccinated is significantly lower than that of the vaccinated, and the same difference was found between those who self-perceive to be skilled versus unskilled. The HVCI score was statistically verified as a predictive parameter to assess vaccination against seasonal influenza. By means of strategic training policies, both HVCI and perceived skills could be improved, suggesting that hospital management should draw a complex intervention program to fight against hesitancy.
A Prediction–Correction Solver for Real-Time Simulation of Free-Surface Flows in River Networks
Authors: Hu Dechao , Lu Chengwei , Yao Shiming , Yuan Shuai , Zhu Yonghui , Duan Chengkun , Liu Yi
Published: November 2019

A prediction–correction solver is presented here for rapid simulation of free-surface flows in dendritic and looped river networks. Rather than solving a large global algebraic system over the entire domain of river networks, the model solves subsystems for subdomains of branches in two steps: prediction and correction. With the help of the prediction–correction method (PCM), the partial linearization technique, the semi-implicit method, and the Eulerian–Lagrangian method (ELM), the model only needs to solve tridiagonal linear systems for branches and is free of any iteration. The new model was tested using a hypothetical looped river network with regular cross sections, the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) dendritic river network, and the Jing-south looped river system (with seasonally flooding branches). In the first test, a time-step sensitivity study was conducted and the model was revealed to produce accurate simulations at large time steps when the condition for application of the PCM to river networks was satisfied. In the TGR test, the PCM model provided almost the same histories of water levels and discharges as those simulated by the HEC-RAS model. In the Jing-south test, the mean absolute error in simulated water levels was 0.07–0.24 m, and the relative error in simulated cross-section water flux was 0.5–4.9% compared with field data; the conservation error was generally 2 × 10−4 to 3 × 10−4. The PCM model was revealed to be 2–4 times as fast as a reported model, which solves local nonlinear subsystems using two-layer iterations, and 1.2–1.4 times as fast as the HEC-RAS. Using a time step of 1200 s, it took the sequential code 26.8 and 23.1 s to complete a simulation of a one-year unsteady flow process, respectively, in the TGR river networks (with 588 cells) and the Jing-south river system (with 662 cells).
Assessing the Impact of Man–Made Ponds on Soil Erosion and Sediment Transport in Limnological Basins
Authors: Al Sayah Mario J. , Nedjai Rachid , Kaffas Konstantinos , Abdallah Chadi , Khouri Michel
Published: November 2019

The impact of ponds on basins has recently started to receive its well-deserved scientific attention. In this study, pond-induced impacts on soil erosion and sediment transport were investigated at the scale of the French Claise basin. In order to determine erosion and sediment transport patterns of the Claise, the Coordination of Information on the Environment (CORINE) erosion and Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) models were used. The impact of ponds on the studied processes was revealed by means of land cover change scenarios, using ponded versus pondless inputs. Results show that under current conditions (pond presence), 12.48% of the basin corresponds to no-erosion risk zones (attributed to the dense pond network), while 65.66% corresponds to low-erosion risk, 21.68% to moderate-erosion risk, and only 0.18% to high-erosion risk zones. The SWAT model revealed that ponded sub-basins correspond to low sediment yields areas, in contrast to the pondless sub-basins, which yield appreciably higher erosion rates. Under the alternative pondless scenario, erosion risks shifted to 1.12%, 0.52%, 76.8%, and 21.56% for no, low, moderate, and high-erosion risks, respectively, while the sediment transport pattern completely shifted to higher sediment yield zones. This approach solidifies ponds as powerful human-induced modifications to hydro/sedimentary processes.
Measuring and Modelling Soil Evaporation in an Irrigated Olive Orchard to Improve Water Management
Authors: Tezza Luca , Häusler Melanie , Conceição Nuno , Ferreira Maria Isabel
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study was to estimate soil evaporation (Es) in an intensive olive orchard. Measurements of Es were performed for 19 days using microlysimeters, during summers 2010, 2011 and 2012 in southeast Portugal. In order to relate each area type to radiation transmissivity, ground cover measurements were performed over the years. These data were used to calibrate and validate an empirical model for Es estimation. Measured daily average Es was 0.55 ± 0.14 mm; the model estimated 0.53 ± 0.18 mm for the same days, with a determination coefficient of 0.94. This corresponds to 9% of the reference evapotranspiration, representing well the overall values estimated for the summer, except for days after rain. Regarding the wet area, measured Es for the validation data set was 2.42 L/(m2 of wet area), the estimated was 2.49 L/(m2 of wet area). Measured average Es in dry area (validation data set) was 0.42 L/(m2 of dry area), estimated Es was 0.43 L/(m2 of dry area). The large exposed dry area had a significant contribution to evaporation. On average, estimated Es during a typical Mediterranean summer was 10% of reference evapotranspiration, representing 30% of transpiration and 23% of evapotranspiration.
Systemic Flood Risk Management: The Challenge of Accounting for Hydraulic Interactions
Authors: Ciullo Alessio , De Bruijn Karin M. , Kwakkel Jan H. , Klijn Frans
Published: November 2019

Rivers typically flow through multiple flood-protected areas which are clearly interconnected, as risk reduction measures taken at one area, e.g., heightening dikes or building flood storage areas, affect risk elsewhere. We call these interconnections ‘hydraulic interactions’. The current approach to flood risk management, however, neglects hydraulic interactions for two reasons: They are uncertain and, furthermore, considering them would require the design of policies not only striving for risk reduction, but also accounting for risk transfers across flood-protected areas. In the present paper, we compare the performance of policies identified according to the current approach with those of two alternative formulations: One acknowledging hydraulic interactions and the other also including an additional decision criterion to account for equity in risk distribution across flood-protected areas. Optimal policies are first identified under deterministic hydraulic interactions, and, next, they are stress-tested under uncertainty. We found that the current approach leads to a false sense of equal risk distribution. It does, however, perform efficiently when a risk-averse approach towards uncertain hydraulic interactions is taken. Accounting for hydraulic interactions in the design of policies, instead, increases efficiency and both efficiency and equity when hydraulic interactions are considered deterministically and as uncertain, respectively.
Early Irish law : The present state of research
Authors: Kelly Fergus
Published: November 2019

Early Irish Law : the present state of research.

The author discusses the developments in the study of Early Irish Law since the publication of D. A. Binchy’s six-volume Corpus Iuris Hibernici in 1978.

He deals in particular with the aims of the Early Irish Law Series, in which three volumes have already been published, and discusses current thinking on the problem of the authorship of the law-texts.