bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pipeline In-Line Inspection Method, Instrumentation and Data Management
Authors: Ma Qiuping , Tian Guiyun , Zeng Yanli , Li Rui , Song Huadong , Wang Zhen , Gao Bin , Zeng Kun
Published: June 2021

Pipelines play an important role in the national/international transportation of natural gas, petroleum products, and other energy resources. Pipelines are set up in different environments and consequently suffer various damage challenges, such as environmental electrochemical reaction, welding defects, and external force damage, etc. Defects like metal loss, pitting, and cracks destroy the pipeline’s integrity and cause serious safety issues. This should be prevented before it occurs to ensure the safe operation of the pipeline. In recent years, different non-destructive testing (NDT) methods have been developed for in-line pipeline inspection. These are magnetic flux leakage (MFL) testing, ultrasonic testing (UT), electromagnetic acoustic technology (EMAT), eddy current testing (EC). Single modality or different kinds of integrated NDT system named Pipeline Inspection Gauge (PIG) or un-piggable robotic inspection systems have been developed. Moreover, data management in conjunction with historic data for condition-based pipeline maintenance becomes important as well. In this study, various inspection methods in association with non-destructive testing are investigated. The state of the art of PIGs, un-piggable robots, as well as instrumental applications, are systematically compared. Furthermore, data models and management are utilized for defect quantification, classification, failure prediction and maintenance. Finally, the challenges, problems, and development trends of pipeline inspection as well as data management are derived and discussed.
Real-Time Safety Optimization of Connected Vehicle Trajectories Using Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Ghoul Tarek , Sayed Tarek
Published: June 2021

Speed advisories are used on highways to inform vehicles of upcoming changes in traffic conditions and apply a variable speed limit to reduce traffic conflicts and delays. This study applies a similar concept to intersections with respect to connected vehicles to provide dynamic speed advisories in real-time that guide vehicles towards an optimum speed. Real-time safety evaluation models for signalized intersections that depend on dynamic traffic parameters such as traffic volume and shock wave characteristics were used for this purpose. The proposed algorithm incorporates a rule-based approach alongside a Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient reinforcement learning technique (DDPG) to assign ideal speeds for connected vehicles at intersections and improve safety. The system was tested on two intersections using real-world data and yielded an average reduction in traffic conflicts ranging from 9% to 23%. Further analysis was performed to show that the algorithm yields tangible results even at lower market penetration rates (MPR). The algorithm was tested on the same intersection with different traffic volume conditions as well as on another intersection with different physical constraints and characteristics. The proposed algorithm provides a low-cost approach that is not computationally intensive and works towards optimizing for safety by reducing rear-end traffic conflicts.
Climate-Aware and IoT-Enabled Selection of the Most Suitable Stone Fruit Tree Variety
Authors: López-Morales Juan A. , Martínez Juan A. , Caro Manuel , Erena Manuel , Skarmeta Antonio F.
Published: June 2021

The application of new technologies such as the Internet of Things offers the opportunity to improve current agricultural development, facilitate daily tasks, and turn farms into efficient and sustainable production systems. The use of these new technologies enables the digital transformation process demanded by the sector and provides agricultural collectives with more optimized analysis and prediction tools. Due to climate change, one of the farm industry’s problems is the advance or decay in the cycle of stone fruit trees. The objective is to recommend whether a specific area meets the minimum climatic requirements for planting certain stone fruit trees based on climatic data and bioclimatic indicators. The methodology used implements a large amount of meteorological data to generate information on specific climatic conditions and interactions on crops. In this work, a pilot study has been carried out in the Region of Murcia using an IoT platform. We simulate scenarios for the development of stone fruit varieties better adapted to the environment. Based on the standard, open interfaces, and protocols, the platform integrates heterogeneous information sources and interoperability with other third-party solutions to exchange and exploit such information.
Investigation on the Sampling Frequency and Channel Number for Force Myography Based Hand Gesture Recognition
Authors: Lei Guangtai , Zhang Shenyilang , Fang Yinfeng , Wang Yuxi , Zhang Xuguang
Published: June 2021

Force myography (FMG) is a method that uses pressure sensors to measure muscle contraction indirectly. Compared with the conventional approach utilizing myoelectric signals in hand gesture recognition, it is a valuable substitute. To achieve the aim of gesture recognition at minimum cost, it is necessary to study the minimum sampling frequency and the minimal number of channels. For purpose of investigating the effect of sampling frequency and the number of channels on the accuracy of gesture recognition, a hardware system that has 16 channels has been designed for capturing forearm FMG signals with a maximum sampling frequency of 1 kHz. Using this acquisition equipment, a force myography database containing 10 subjects’ data has been created. In this paper, gesture accuracies under different sampling frequencies and channel’s number are obtained. Under 1 kHz sampling rate and 16 channels, four of five tested classifiers reach an accuracy up to about 99%. Other experimental results indicate that: (1) the sampling frequency of the FMG signal can be as low as 5 Hz for the recognition of static movements; (2) the reduction of channel number has a large impact on the accuracy, and the suggested channel number for gesture recognition is eight; and (3) the distribution of the sensors on the forearm would affect the recognition accuracy, and it is possible to improve the accuracy via optimizing the sensor position.
Exerting DNA Damaging Effects of the Ilimaquinones through the Active Hydroquinone Species
Authors: Jiso Apisada , Yurasakpong Laphatrada , Janta Sirorat , Chaithirayanon Kulathida , Plubrukarn Anuchit
Published: June 2021

Possessing the quinone moiety, ilimaquinone (1), a sponge–derived sesquiterpene quinone, has been hypothesised to express its cytotoxicity through a redox cycling process, yielding active product(s) that can cause DNA damage. To determine the DNA damaging effects of 1 and examine whether a redox transformation may participate in its functions, the DNA damaging properties of 1, the corresponding hydroquinone (2) and hydroquinone triacetates (3) and their 5-epimeric counterparts (4–6) were tested and compared. When incubated directly with plasmid DNA, the hydroquinones were the only active species capable of cleaving the DNA. In cell-based assays, however, the quinones and hydroquinone triacetates were active in the same range as that of the corresponding hydroquinones, and all damaged the cellular DNA in a similar manner. The in situ reduction of 1 and 4 were supported by the decreases in the cytotoxicity when cells were pre-exposed to dicoumarol, an NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) inhibitor. The results confirmed the DNA damaging activities of the ilimaquinones 1 and 4, and indicated the necessity to undergo an in-situ transformation into the active hydroquinones, thereby exerting the DNA damaging properties as parts of the cytotoxic mechanisms.
Determination of 19 Psychoactive Substances in Premortem and Postmortem Whole Blood Samples Using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Karampela Sevasti , Smith Jessica , Panderi Irene
Published: June 2021

An ever-increasing need exists within the forensic laboratories to develop analytical processes for the qualitative and quantitative determination of a broad spectrum of new psychoactive substances. Phenylethylamine derivatives are among the major classes of psychoactive substances available on the global market and include both amphetamine analogues and synthetic cathinones. In this work, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-positive ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric method (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS) has been developed and fully validated for the determination of 19 psychoactive substances, including nine amphetamine-type stimulants and 10 synthetic cathinone derivatives, in premortem and postmortem whole blood. The assay was based on the use of 1 mL premortem or postmortem whole blood, following solid phase extraction prior to the analysis. The separation was achieved on a Poroshell 120 EC-C18 analytical column with a gradient mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid in water in 9 min. The dynamic multiple reaction monitoring used in this work allowed for limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantitation (LOQ) values of 0.5 and 2 ng mL−1, respectively, for all analytes both in premortem and postmortem whole blood samples. A quadratic calibration model was used for the 12 quantitative analytes over the concentration range of 20–2000 ng mL−1, and the method was shown to be precise and accurate both in premortem and postmortem whole blood. The method was applied to the analysis of real cases and proved to be a valuable tool in forensic and clinical toxicology.
Conceptualizing the Moderating Role of CEO Power and Ownership Concentration in the Relationship between Audit Committee and Firm Performance: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Javeed Sohail Ahmad , Ong Tze San , Latief Rashid , Muhamad Haslinah , Soh Wei Ni
Published: June 2021

Firms in developing economies generally find ways to enhance their reputation and growth in the international market. In this context, an Audit Committee (AC) is composed of multiple skilled members that control and monitor auditing activities and present a transparent image of their firm, which automatically attracts investors and builds investor confidence. Therefore, this study used CEO power and ownership concentration as moderating factors to examine the connection between AC and firm performance. For this purpose, this study used the data of Pakistani manufacturing firms for the period 2008 to 2018 and applied the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method, the Fixed Effect (FE) model, and the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). To check the robustness of the results, this study used a Feasible Generalized Least Square (FGLS) model. The findings of this study contended that AC and firm performance have a positive association with each other. Moreover, the findings revealed that CEO power positively influenced firm performance. Furthermore, lower ownership concentration is a valuable approach to maximize a firm’s performance. Importantly, the outcomes concluded that AC and firm performance have a positive connection with the moderating effects of CEO power. Moreover, AC and firm performance also have a positive association with the moderating effect of ownership concentration.
Enhancing the Sneakers Shopping Experience through Virtual Fitting Using Augmented Reality
Authors: Rhee Ha-Lim , Lee Kyu-Hye
Published: June 2021

The fashion industry is undergoing a digital transformation due to the emergence of new shopping channels and external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the relationship between virtual fitting (VF) experience satisfaction, brand advocacy, mobile purchase intention, and offline purchase intention from an omnichannel perspective to understand how VF based on augmented reality (AR) impacts the customer purchase journey. The study also investigated the moderating effect of a customer’s product involvement, which is a personal characteristic. The results reveal that high satisfaction with the VF experience had a positive effect only on mobile purchase intentions. Brand advocacy formed after the VF experience had a positive effect on both mobile and offline purchase intentions and showed a mediating effect in the relationship between VF experience satisfaction and purchase intention. The moderating effect of product involvement was also confirmed. Moreover, a significantly negative influence of VF experience satisfaction on offline purchase intention was detected for customers who were more involved in sneakers products. These results indicate that VF, which is used as a tool in shopping apps, can achieve customer satisfaction and drive mobile purchases, thus leading to offline purchases based on brand advocacy.
Optimizing NOM Removal: Impact of Calcium Chloride
Authors: Gonzalez-Perez Alfredo , Hägg Kristofer , Duteil Fabrice
Published: June 2021

Understanding the character of natural organic matter (NOM) and assessing its impact on water quality is paramount for managers of catchments and water utilities. For drinking-water producers, NOM affects disinfectant demand and the formation of by-products which can have adverse health effects. NOM content in raw waters also has an impact on water treatment processes by increasing required coagulant dosages, reducing the effectiveness of adsorption processes and fouling membrane systems. This study investigated the effects of calcium chloride (CaCl2) as a co-coagulant in Al3+ and Fe3+ assisted coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation processes for NOM-removal from raw water collected from Lake Bolmen, in southern Sweden. Jar tests were conducted at Ringsjö Water Works (WW), a surface water treatment plant (WTP), to investigate the potential reduction in primary coagulants aluminum sulphate (Al2(SO4)3) and ferric chloride (FeCl3). This work shows that CaCl2 can, in certain situations, reduce the need for primary coagulants, which would reduce the environmental impact and costs associated with primary coagulant consumption.
Aerial Tramway Sustainable Monitoring with an Outdoor Low-Cost Efficient Wireless Intelligent Sensor
Authors: Cardona Huerta Rafael , Moreu Fernando , Lozano Galant Jose Antonio
Published: June 2021

Infrastructures such as aerial tramways carry unique traffic operations and have specific maintenance requirements that demand constant attention. It is common that old structures lack any type of automatization or monitoring systems, relying only on human judgment. Owners are interested in implementing techniques that assist them in making maintenance decisions, but are reluctant to invest in expensive and complex technology. In this study, researchers discussed with the owners different options and proposed a sustainable and cost-efficient solution to monitor the Sandia Peak Tramway operations with just two strategically located acceleration sensors. To maximize the success options researchers worked with the owners and developed a sensor that satisfied their needs. A Low-cost Efficient Wireless Intelligent Sensor 4—Outdoors (LEWIS 4) was developed, tested and validated during the experiment. Two solar-powered units were installed by the tramway staff and recorded data for three days. When retrieved, researchers analyzed the data recorded and concluded that with only two sensors, the acceleration data collected were sufficient to determine the position and location of the tramway cars. It was also found that the sensor on the tower provides data about the cable–tower interaction and the forces caused by the friction on the system, this being a critical maintenance factor. This work summarizes a methodology for infrastructure owners consisting of guidelines to design a sustainable and affordable monitoring approach that is based on the design, development and installation of low-cost sensors.
Digital Product–Service Innovation and Sustainability: A Multiple-Case Study in the Capital Goods Industry
Authors: de la Calle Alberto , Freije Inmaculada , Oyarbide Aitor
Published: June 2021

Digitalisation, servitisation, and sustainability are keywords for the current and future development of the manufacturing industry. However, their interaction in the context of an organisation and its supply chain is unclear. This study examines how digital product–service innovation (PSI) or digital servitisation affects sustainability, considering the triple bottom line perspective, as well as identifies the underlying causes. Moreover, this study analyses the role played by supply-chain strategic collaboration, both internal and external to the company, in digital PSI and sustainability. Using a multiple-case study methodology and B2B market perspective, four companies belonging to the capital goods industry were analysed. Our findings indicate that digitalisation is leveraging both basic and advanced services in their impact on economic and environmental sustainability dimensions, while the results are limited in social sustainability. In addition, supply-chain integration is relevant for digital PSI. Internal integration is required for both basic and advanced services, while external integration is especially important in advanced services. We conclude by emphasising that companies should acquire digital capabilities to develop defensive and offensive business strategies that ultimately affect sustainability.
Linking Public Finances’ Performance to Renewable-Energy Consumption in Emerging Economies of the European Union
Authors: Florea Nicoleta Mihaela , Bădîrcea Roxana Maria , Meghisan-Toma Georgeta-Madalina , Puiu Silvia , Manta Alina Georgiana , Berceanu Dorel
Published: June 2021

Implementing public policies linked to sustainable development is a global challenge for most countries that focused their efforts on identifying and improving the factors that led to environment degradation. The current paper analyzes the influence of primary indicators of public finances (public debt and budget deficit) on renewable-energy consumption (REN), for the emerging economies within the European Union. The main objective of this research is to understand the implications of fiscal measures on the sustainable development of a country and thus provide directions for stimulating renewable-energy consumption. The research starts with cross-sectional dependence analysis by using the Breusch–Pagan Lagrange multiplier (LM) test that is followed by cointegration relationships among variables by applying two appropriate panel-cointegration tests (Pedroni and Johansen). The research methodology is based on the fully modified ordinary-least-squares (FMOLS) method in order to test the long-run relationships, and on the pairwise Granger causality test in order to identify the direction of causality among variables. Results show unilateral influences from public debt and budget deficit on the analyzed variables, especially on renewable-energy consumption, and a bidirectional causality relationship between budget deficit and trade openness.
Timeliness Harvesting Loss of Rice in Cold Region under Different Mechanical Harvesting Methods
Authors: Wang Jinwu , Sun Xiaobo , Xu Yanan , Zhou Wenqi , Tang Han , Wang Qi
Published: June 2021

The yield loss during the process of harvesting is a great challenge in rice production. A suitable harvesting time and harvesting method can help to reduce the yield losses of rice, and decisions about the harvest date have important implications for labor management as well as for agricultural machinery scheduling. Nonetheless, the comprehensive composition of timeliness harvesting loss (THL) and its changing rules for different harvesting methods remain poorly understood. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of harvest date and mechanical harvesting methods on grain dry matter timeliness loss (GDMTL) and mechanical timeliness losses (MTL) of rice in the cold region. To this end, the field experiment was conducted from 45 days after heading (45 DAH) to 59 days after heading (59 DAH), adopting a full-feeding and semi-feeding combine harvester (FCH and SCH) from 2019 to 2020. The results showed that harvest date had a significant effect on GDMTL and four kinds of MTL including header timeliness loss (HTL), cleaning timeliness loss (CTL), un-threshed timeliness loss (UTTL), and entrainment timeliness loss (ETL, only under FCH). With the prolonged harvest date, the HTL and CTL increased and the UTTL and ETL decreased, which ranged from 0.15–0.31%, 0.36–0.67%, 0.72–0.18%, and 0.69–0.31%, respectively for FCH. For SCH, the variation range of HTL, CTL, and UTTL was 0.41–0.59%, 0.66–0.98%, and 0.64–0.21%, respectively. The GDMTL increased first and then decreased, ranging from 2.84–0.87%. The mechanical harvesting methods had no significant effect on the GDMTL of rice, but the MTL could be large between FCH and SCH. In general, optimal harvest period was 52 DAH~53 DAH for both harvesting methods, which exhibited the highest yield and the lowest loss, i.e., 9269.3 kg/hm2 and 1.70%, respectively, and the mechanical operating mode on different harvest dates was recommended to minimize the mechanical loss. The optimal harvest date for rice in a cold region ensured both quality and quantity for mechanized harvesting, and provided a reference for the reasonable allocation of operating harvesters in the harvesting season.
A Systematic Review Comparing Urban Flood Management Practices in India to China’s Sponge City Program
Authors: Kumar Nawnit , Liu Xiaoli , Narayanasamydamodaran Sanjena , Pandey Kamlesh Kumar
Published: June 2021

India and China are among the two most populous countries in the world that concomitantly incur substantial flood-related losses, and both countries are also experiencing rapid urbanization. This study was conducted to trace the major urban flooding cases in these countries between 2014 and 2020 and probe into their existing flood mitigation policies with special focus on China’s Sponge City Program (SCP). A systematic review using preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA) was conducted. Results showed that both these countries experienced comparable challenges in terms of the need for localized low impact development (LID) planning given their extensive geographically induced diversities. Improved inter-governmental and inter-agential coordination, new avenues of funding involving public and private enterprises with accommodations to source local products and services to boost local economies, improved practical and technical understanding for working professionals and improved community acceptance and participation are also recommended. It is concluded that India should try to focus on holistic urban water resilience as China does with its Sponge City Program and that China should take a cue from India’s contractual and tender-based private service sourcing methods to tide over its financial setbacks in order to achieve its ambitious targets for 2030.
Circular Digital Built Environment: An Emerging Framework
Authors: Çetin Sultan , De Wolf Catherine , Bocken Nancy
Published: June 2021

Digital technologies are considered to be an essential enabler of the circular economy in various industries. However, to date, very few studies have investigated which digital technologies could enable the circular economy in the built environment. This study specifically focuses on the built environment as one of the largest, most energy- and material-intensive industries globally, and investigates the following question: which digital technologies potentially enable a circular economy in the built environment, and in what ways? The research uses an iterative stepwise method: (1) framework development based on regenerating, narrowing, slowing and closing resource loop principles; (2) expert workshops to understand the usage of digital technologies in a circular built environment; (3) a literature and practice review to further populate the emerging framework with relevant digital technologies; and (4) the final mapping of digital technologies onto the framework. This study develops a novel Circular Digital Built Environment framework. It identifies and maps ten enabling digital technologies to facilitate a circular economy in the built environment. These include: (1) additive/robotic manufacturing, (2) artificial intelligence, (3) big data and analytics, (4) blockchain technology, (5) building information modelling, (6) digital platforms/marketplaces, (7) digital twins, (8) the geographical information system, (9) material passports/databanks, and (10) the internet of things. The framework provides a fruitful starting point for the novel research avenue at the intersection of circular economy, digital technology and the built environment, and gives practitioners inspiration for sustainable innovation in the sector.
Post-Earthquake Damage Assessment—Case Study of the Educational Building after the Zagreb Earthquake
Authors: Lulić Luka , Ožić Karlo , Kišiček Tomislav , Hafner Ivan , Stepinac Mislav
Published: June 2021

In the wake of recent strong earthquakes in Croatia, there is a need for a detailed and more comprehensive post-earthquake damage assessment. Given that masonry structures are highly vulnerable to horizontal actions caused by earthquakes and a majority of the Croatian building stock is made of masonry, this field is particularly important for Croatia. In this paper, a complete assessment of an educational building in Zagreb Lower Town is reported. An extensive program of visual inspection and geometrical surveys has been planned and performed. Additionally, an in situ shear strength test is presented. After extensive fieldwork, collected data and results were input in 3Muri software for structural modeling. Moreover, a non-linear static (pushover) analysis was performed to individuate the possible failure mechanisms and to compare real-life damage to software results.
Metadata Analysis to Evaluate Environmental Impacts of Wheat Residues Burning on Soil Quality in Developing and Developed Countries
Authors: Jamali Mohsen , Bakhshandeh Esmaeil , Yaghoubi Khanghahi Mohammad , Crecchio Carmine
Published: June 2021

Crop residues are widely considered as a biofuel source and used in livestock feeding, or are burned off to clean the field for tillage and planting. Nonetheless, crop residue burning poses serious threats to the soil stability and sustainability of the food chain. This study aimed to investigate the potential environmental impacts of wheat residues burning on declines in soil quality in developing (Iran) and developed (Italy) countries by analyzing metadata of the last 50 years. All metadata were provided from the ‘Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) including wheat harvested area, annual production, and biomass burning, to assess the potential impact of crop residue burning on soil quality. In detail, the greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission, and energy and nutrient losses by the wheat residues burning were estimated. Our results showed a robust interdependence between wheat residues burning and environmental effects in both developed and developing systems. Accordingly, the global warming potential increased in Iran (4286 to 5604 kg CO2eq) and decreased in Italy (3528 to 1524 kg CO2eq) over the last 50 years. Amongst all nutrient losses, nitrogen represents the higher lost value in both countries, followed by potassium, sulfur, and phosphorus.
The Post-Pandemic Recovery of Transport Activity: Emerging Mobility Patterns and Repercussions on Future Evolution
Authors: Christidis Panayotis , Christodoulou Aris , Navajas-Cawood Elena , Ciuffo Biagio
Published: June 2021

The expectations for post-COVID recovery of transport activity point towards a gradual return to normality, once the pandemic is under control and mobility restrictions end. The shock to society and economy has, however, caused a number of behavioural changes that can influence the evolution of the transport sector. We analyse the main factors that can influence future supply and demand and explore how they may affect trip generation, distribution and modal split in passenger transport. We combine several conventional and innovative data sources with a detailed strategic transport model at the EU level, in order to present quantitative estimates under various scenarios. New remote work patterns or personal risk avoidance attitudes can lead to increased levels of car ownership and use. Public policy priorities in the aftermath of the pandemic would need to address the emerging challenges and adopt measures that can sustain the shift to active travel, support public transport, railways and aviation and stimulate innovation in transport technologies and services.
Relationships and the Determinants of Sustainable Land Management Technologies in North Gojjam Sub-Basin, Upper Blue Nile, Ethiopia
Authors: Ewunetu Alelgn , Simane Belay , Teferi Ermias , F. Zaitchik Benjamin
Published: June 2021

Sustainable land management (SLM) is a leading policy issue in Ethiopia. However, the adoption and continuous use of SLM technologies remain low. This study investigates the interrelationship of adopted SLM technologies and key factors of farmers’ decisions to use SLM technologies in the North Gojjam sub-basin of the Upper Blue Nile. The study was based on the investigation of cross-sectional data obtained from 414 randomly selected rural household heads, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics and Econometric models (i.e., Multivariate Probit and Poisson regression) were used to analyze quantitative data, while a content analysis method was used for qualitative data analysis. Results indicate that at least one type of SLM technology was implemented by 94% of farm households in the North Gojjam sub-basin. The most widely used technologies were chemical fertilizer, soil bund, and animal manure. Most of the adopted SLM technologies complement each other. Farm size, family size, male-headed household, local institutions, perception of soil erosion, livestock size, total income, and extension service increased the adoption probability of most SLM technologies. Plot fragmentation, household age, plot distance, off-farm income, market distance, and perception of good fertile soil discourage the adoption probability of most SLM technologies. To scale up SLM technologies against land degradation, it is important to consider households’ demographic characteristics, the capacity of farm households, and plot-level related factors relevant to the specific SLM technologies being promoted.
Development of Performance Evaluation Indicators for Table Grape Packaging Units. 2. Global Indexes
Authors: Kogachi Edson , Ferreira Adonias , Cavalcante Carlos , Embiruçu Marcelo
Published: June 2021

The adoption of a global index (GI) for performance evaluation has been increasingly recognized as a useful strategy for decision-making as it simplifies the interpretation and monitoring of the results. Because the GI is often built by adopting a combination of different procedures for normalization, weighting, and aggregation of indicators, it is challenging to select the optimal combination of procedures, since the countless combinations lead to different results. This paper proposes a method for the development of a robust and original GI for the evaluation of table grape production units (TGPUs). Various combinations of procedures were used to develop eighteen GIs for each TGPU. These are located in the lower-middle San Francisco valley in the northeast of Brazil, where their robustness was assessed by identifying outlier GIs and via a graphical analysis. Plausible GIs were reliably identified and a cluster analysis was conducted to categorize the TGPUs into groups considering each performance objective. The identification of the outlier GIs and the use of the plausible GIs in cluster formation constitute a new scientific approach to the topic, which can be extended to other applications and contribute to the sustainable development of several industries.
On the Integrable Deformations of the Maximally Superintegrable Systems
Authors: Lăzureanu Cristian
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we present the integrable deformations method for a maximally superintegrable system. We alter the constants of motion, and using these new functions, we construct a new system which is an integrable deformation of the initial system. In this manner, new maximally superintegrable systems are obtained. We also consider the particular case of Hamiltonian mechanical systems. In addition, we use this method to construct some deformations of an arbitrary system of first-order autonomous differential equations.
Geodesic Structure of the Accelerated Stephani Universe
Authors: Bormotova Irina , Kopteva Elena , Stuchlík Zdeněk
Published: June 2021

For the spherically symmetric Stephani cosmological model with an accelerated expansion, we investigate the main scenarios of the test particle and photon motion. We show that a comoving observer sees an appropriate picture. In the case of purely radial motion, the radial velocity decreases slightly with time due to the universe expansion. Both particles and photons spiral out of the center when the radial coordinate is constant. In the case of the motion with arbitrary initial velocity, the observable radial distance to the test particle can increase under negative observable radial velocity.
Aflatoxins: History, Significant Milestones, Recent Data on Their Toxicity and Ways to Mitigation
Authors: Pickova Darina , Ostry Vladimir , Toman Jakub , Malir Frantisek
Published: June 2021

In the early 1960s the discovery of aflatoxins began when a total of 100,000 turkey poults died by hitherto unknown turkey “X” disease in England. The disease was associated with Brazilian groundnut meal affected by Aspergillus flavus. The toxin was named Aspergillus flavus toxin—aflatoxin. From the point of view of agriculture, aflatoxins show the utmost importance. Until now, a total of 20 aflatoxins have been described, with B1, B2, G1, and G2 aflatoxins being the most significant. Contamination by aflatoxins is a global health problem. Aflatoxins pose acutely toxic, teratogenic, immunosuppressive, carcinogenic, and teratogenic effects. Besides food insecurity and human health, aflatoxins affect humanity at different levels, such as social, economical, and political. Great emphasis is placed on aflatoxin mitigation using biocontrol methods. Thus, this review is focused on aflatoxins in terms of historical development, the principal milestones of aflatoxin research, and recent data on their toxicity and different ways of mitigation.
A Putative Novel Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 3 Subtype Identified in Rabbit, Germany 2016
Authors: Cierniak Filip , von Arnim Felicitas , Heckel Gerald , Ulrich Rainer G. , Groschup Martin H. , Eiden Martin
Published: June 2021

Hepatitis E is an emerging viral disease that is the leading cause of viral hepatitis in the world. The vast majority of hepatitis E cases in developed countries are caused by zoonotic genotypes 3 and 4 of hepatitis E virus (HEV) for which pig and wild boar and to lesser extent rabbits are the main reservoir. According to recent reports rabbits are a source of human HEV infection and highlight the risk of zoonotic foodborne transmission. Here we report the molecular analysis of a novel HEV strain identified in a rabbit during a countrywide surveillance of rabbits and hares in Germany, 2016. The analysis of the complete genome reveals characteristics of a putative novel recombinant subtype of the species Orthohepevirus A within the clade of genotype 3 but not closely related to any known subtypes. Importantly, the genome of this strain possesses a nucleotide exchange in the overlapping region of open reading frames ORF2/ORF3 interfering with a broadly applied diagnostic real-time RT-PCR. In conclusion, a new type of HEV strain was identified in a German rabbit with atypical and novel sequence characteristics.
Distribution and Risk Assessment of Toxic Pollutants in Surface Water of the Lower Yellow River, China
Authors: Li Zhi-Hua , Li Ze-Peng , Tang Xue , Hou Wen-Hao , Li Ping
Published: June 2021

The lower reaches of the Yellow River is known for the rapid development of industry and agriculture, which has also led to some pollution. However, information about the level of toxic contaminants in the surface waters is lacking in this area. Therefore, five sampling points were set in the lower Yellow River to investigate the distribution of various pollutants and analyze the potential risks. The presence of heavy metals (Heavy metals tested for in this study were: Mercury (Hg), Arsenic (As), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), and Zinc (Zn)) and antibiotics (Antibiotics tested for in this study were: Enrofloxacin (ENR), Ciprofloxacin (CIP), and Norfloxacin (NOR)) in water samples taken from the lower Yellow River were measured to reveal the spatial distribution and risk potential of the compounds. Various water quality parameters (Water quality parameters used in this study were: chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD5), total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN)) were also tested. Study results showed the main surface water pollution components were COD, BOD5, TN, and TP. The average levels were 37.79 mg/L, 16.64 mg/L, 4.14 mg/L, and 0.42 mg/L, respectively. Among the detected metals from the water samples, Hg (LOD-0.1 μg/L) levels were only in line with the surface water class III or worse. Both fish and water samples contained antibiotics. According to an ecological risk assessment conducted along the river, the distribution of pollutants in the waters exhibited a spatial relationship with the land-use pattern in the study region and the Kenli site was the most polluted. Research shows that up-to-date data on the residual levels and distribution characteristics of pollutants in the lower Yellow River could provide valuable baseline data and technical support for relevant government departments and their management going forward.
Counters-indicators for status and usage monitoring of units and assemblies
Authors: Petrishchev N. A.  , Sayapin A. S. , Molybozhenko K. K. , Makarkin I. M. , Ivleva I. B.
Published: June 2021

The article presents the analysis and prototypes of developments for the operational assessment of state control, the level of use of units and units of the Kirovets tractor transmission. The invention proposes a variant of equipping counters-indicators, which allow the operator and diagnostics to quickly obtain objective data for predicting the life and improving operational reliability.
The role of automated information systems in increasing the effi ciency of agricultural business
Authors: Kovalev I. L. , Takun A. P. , Efremov A. A. , Takun S. P.
Published: June 2021

The article provides definitions of the basic and frequently used concepts in the fi eld of automation of functions and management tasks in the agroindustrial complex. The results of a quantitative analysis of implemented projects for the implementation of IT systems, software products and complex IT services at agricultural enterprises in Russia are presented. The groups(by types of technologies and classes of systems) of the most common IT systems used in the management of agricultural enterprises on the territory of the Russian Federation have been identified. Possible prospects and benefits from the introduction of technologies and specialized information management systems are discussed as modern most important tools for increasing the effi ciency of activities and the existing management system at the enterprises of the agro-industrial complex of the Republic of Belarus.
Where There’s Smoke: Validating a Nonproprietary Single-Item Burnout-Impacting-Safety Scale
Authors: Pearl Amanda , Mrozowski Steve , Shapiro Daniel
Published: June 2021

This study aimed to assess the utility of a single survey item to predict the impact of burnout on safety and quality of healthcare providers as perceived by their colleagues. The primary objective is to determine if the item predicts the frequency of patient safety event reports within certain clinical departments. The secondary objective will be to determine if there is an acceptable cutoff score for the item which predicts low versus high numbers of safety events reported by healthcare providers in each clinical department. Participants were 424 healthcare providers in an academic medical center in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The item was designed to assess for the perception of the impact of burnout on work in terms of quality or safety using a 5-point Likert scale. Data from a patient safety event reporting system was accessed for the year of survey completion (2017). A negative binomial regression was used to assess the ability of the item to predict reported patient safety event reports. The item was found to significantly predict objective safety event data. Sensitivity and specificity, as well as receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, were conducted to determine appropriateness of cutoff scores to identify low- and high-risk clinical departments. The item was found to demonstrate adequate sensitivity (82%) using a cutoff score of 4 on the survey item. However, the area under the curves (AUCs) which assess diagnostic accuracy fell in the poor range. These results suggest that healthcare administrators could deploy this single item as a brief pulse or screener of teams of individuals who are within a work unit and use a cutoff score of 4 as a means to assess for hot spots where healthcare provider burnout may be putting patients at high risk in terms of safety.
Safety Culture: Identifying a Healthcare Organization’s Approach to Safety Event Review and Response Through the Analysis of Event Recommendations
Authors: Franklin Ella , Howe Jessica , Dixit Ram , Kim Tracy , Fong Allan , Adams Katharine , Ratwani Raj , Jones Rebecca , Krevat Seth
Published: June 2021

A nonpunitive approach to safety event reporting and analysis is an important dimension of healthcare organization safety culture. A system-based safety event review process, one focused on understanding and improving the conditions in which individuals do their work, generally leads to more effective and sustainable safety solutions. On the contrary, the more typical person-based approach, that blames individuals for errors, often results in unsustainable and ineffective safety solutions, but these solutions can be faster and less resource intensive to implement. We sought to determine the frequency of system-based and person-based approaches to adverse event reviews through analysis of the recommendation text provided by a healthcare organization in response to an event report. Human factors and clinical safety science experts developed a taxonomy to describe the content of the recommendation text, reviewed 8,546 event report recommendations, and assigned one or more taxonomy category labels to each recommendation. The taxonomy categories aligned with a system-based approach, aligned with a person-based approach, did not provide an indicator of the approach, or indicated the review/analysis was pending. A total of 9,848 category labels were assigned to the 8,546 event report recommendations. The most frequently used category labels did not provide an indicator of the approach to event review (4,145 of 9,848 category labels, 42.1%), followed by a person-based approach (2,327, 23.6%), review/analysis pending (1,862 ,18.9%), and a system-based approach (1,514, 15.4%). Analyzing the data at the level of each recommendation, 23.2% (1,979 of 8,546) had at least one person-based and no system-based category, 13.3% (1,133) had at least one system-based and no person-based category, and 3% (254) had at least one person-based and one system-based category. There was variability in the event review approach based on the general event type assigned to the safety event (e.g., medication, transfusion, etc.) as well as harm severity. Results suggest improvements in applying system-based approaches are needed, especially for certain general event type categories. Recommendations for improving safety event reviews are provided.
Aplikasi Berbasis Web untuk Penyusunan Laporan SHU Bagi Koperasi Simpan Pinjam
Authors: Virgiarini Dinda , Sukawati Renny , Adrian Monterico
Published: June 2021

Koperasi Simpan Pinjam secara umum mengelola transaksi pinjaman, simpanan dan angsuran anggotanya serta  sisa hasil usaha koperasi. Pengelolaan transaksi yang terjadi pada perusaahaan tersebut masih dilakukan secara konvensional. Hal itu menyebabkan lamanya proses pencatatan administrasi, sulitnya melakukan pencarian data karena data yang tidak tersusun rapi, serta memungkinkan adanya kesalahan perhitungan. Aplikasi  ini merupakan solusi untuk mengatasi permasalahan tersebut. Fungsionalitas yang dimiliki oleh aplikasi ini adalah pengelolaan data anggota masuk , simpanan anggota yang dikelola adalah simpanan wajib, simpanan pokok, simpanan sukarela, pinjaman anggota, angsuran atas pinjaman dengan metode flate rate, serta perhitungan hasil usaha koperasi. Selain itu, aplikasi ini juga mampu menyajikan laporan simpanan, laporan pinjaman, jurnal umum, buku besar, laporan perhitungan hasil usaha, dan neraca guna pencatatan akuntansi koperasi yang dibutuhkan. Perancangan aplikasi yang digunakan adalah System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) dan waterfall merupakan sebagai model . Berdasarkan pengujian yang dilakukan, aplikasi ini sudah diimplementasikan, diuji, dan dapat digunakan. Uji aplikasi yang sudah berhasil dimplemantasikan diantaranya adalah menambah pendaftaran anggota, menambah simpanan, menambah pengajuan pinjaman, menonaktifkan anggota, melihat buku besar, melihat laporan perhitungan hasil usaha dan melihat neraca. Pengujian yang telah dilakukan aplikasi ini masih perlu adanya pengembangan yang mungkin dilakukan yaitu aplikasi mampu melihat Riwayat penjaman dan angsuran anggota, aplikasi mampu melakukan perhitungan hasil usaha sesuai dengan pos-pos pembagiannya serta aplikasi mampu menampilan grafik simpanan, pinjaman, serta angsuran atas pinjaman agar memudahkan dalam melihat kenaikan ataupun penurunan atas fungsionalitas tersebut.
Perancangan Sistem Informasi Akuntansi Belanja Pegawai Aparatur Desa Berbasis Web Menggunakan PHP dan MySQL
Authors: Hendarsyah Sasqia Dwicky Ambarputri
Published: June 2021

Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian yang bersifat experimental karena seperti yang diketahui bahwa instansi pemerintah telah serentak menggunakan aplikasi yang diberikan oleh pusat pemerintahan itu sendiri. Namun tidak sedikit pegawai yang merasakan kesulitan dalam pengoperasian aplikasi tersebut. Peneliti melakukan survei dengan keluhan bahwa apliaksi tidak semudah yang dibayangkan maka dari itu peneliti berniat untuk membuat aplikasi yang lebih user friendly. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk merancang sebuah aplikasi sistem informasi akuntansi belanja pegawai aparatur desa berbasis web menggunakan PHP dan MySQL. Metode penelitian yang digunakan dalam merancang sistem informasi akuntansi belanja pegawai aparatur desa berbasis web menggunakan PHP dan MySQL ini yaitu dengan menggunakan metode survei yaitu memperoleh data dari hasil kunjungan. Sistem informasi sudah sangat dibutuhkan dalam era saat ini antara lain adalah untuk membantu proses laporan keuangan secara jujur dan mendapatkan nilai yang akurat sesuai dengan standar akuntansi yang berlaku. Seperti yang sudah di jelaskan supaya lebih mudah dalam proses pengoperasian dibutuhkan sistem informasi akuntansi yang bersifat user friendl dan untuk penggunaan nya itu sendiri sesuai dengan keinginan user supaya berbagai masalah yang dihadapi selama menggunakan sistem informasi yang sebelumnya bisa teratasi sehingga akan lebih mudah dipahami dalam penggunaannya. Maka dari itu sistem informasi akuntansi belanja pegawai aparatur desa berbasis web menggunakan PHP dan MySQL supaya lebih mudah dipahami oleh user tersebut.

 

Kata Kunci: Sistem Informasi Akuntansi, Kelurahan, Belanja Pegawai