bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oxcart Route in the City: Tracking the Urbanization Process of an Agricultural Village in Korea
Authors: Seo Kyung Wook , Lee Sugie
Published: April 2019

In this research, we traced the process of urbanization of a small agricultural village in Korea through the massive construction of housing estates and the modern street network in the late 20th century. Whereas the existing literature tends to adopt a data-driven macroscopic approach to analyze periurban transformation, we concentrated on the morphological transition of old rural roads in a small village to provide a microscopic interpretation of how they are obliterated, fragmented, or preserved in relation to land types and the acquisition process. Through a careful investigation of various maps and archives, we found that the woodland was the main target for development. In contrast, clustered residential plots were the most enduring feature that resisted change, entailing that their internal route remained intact. To determine the potential benefit of an irregular old route within the modern block, network analysis was executed to measure its performance. The route was shown to provide efficient movement in the current system, especially within the scale of the old village. The preservation of old spatial legacy, therefore, helps assign historical, social, and practical meaning to the design a sustainable modern city.
Success or Waste of Taxpayer Money? Impact Assessment of Rural Development Programs in Hungary
Authors: Bakucs Zoltán , Fertő Imre , Benedek Zsófia
Published: April 2019

The effectiveness of support directed to less developed regions is a timely question more than halfway through the 2014–2020 programming period. We present an analysis of the impact of rural development support on the well-being of Hungarian LAU1 regions between 2008 and 2013. The aim was to measure the overall impact of all of the Rural Development Funds, covering all measures within the program. Two indices of local well-being were used: the multi-dimensional, local-variables-based Regional Development Index that measures the overall level of regional development and a simple, migration-based index as a proxy for perceived quality of life. Generalized propensity score matching, and difference-in-differences estimation techniques were employed to evaluate the impact of subsidies. Irrespective of how the amount of support was calculated, the measure of local well-being, or the methodology employed, the impact was not significant, and was sometimes even negative. This casts doubt on the effectiveness of Rural Development Policy in Hungary.
Reply to Flessa, K.W. et al., Comment on Manjarrez-Bringas, N. et al., Lessons for Sustainable Development: Marine mammal Conservation Policies and Its Social and Economic Effects. Sustainability 2018, 10, 2185—Holistic Socio-Ecological Approach to Promote Integral Public Policies to Preserve an Endangered Species: The Vaquita Marina
Authors: Manjarrez-Bringas Nahieli , Aragón-Noriega Eugenio Alberto , Beltrán-Morales Luis Felipe , Cordoba-Matson Michael Victor , Ortega-Rubio Alfredo
Published: April 2019

We really appreciate the valuable comments made by our scientific colleagues Flessa et al [...]
Defying the Footprint Oracle: Implications of Country Resource Trends
Authors: Wackernagel Mathis , Lin David , Evans Mikel , Hanscom Laurel , Raven Peter
Published: April 2019

Mainstream competitiveness and international development analyses pay little attention to the significance of a country’s resource security for its economic performance. This paper challenges this neglect, examining the economic implications of countries resource dynamics, particularly for low-income countries. It explores typologies of resource patterns in the context of those countries’ economic prospects. To begin, the paper explains why it uses Ecological Footprint and biocapacity accounting for its analysis. Data used for the analysis stem from Global Footprint Network’s 2018 edition of its National Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts. Ranging from 1961 to 2014, these accounts are computed from UN data sets. The accounts track, year by year, how much biologically productive space is occupied by people’s consumption and compare this with how much productive space is available. Both demand and availability are expressed in productivity-adjusted hectares, called global hectares. Using this biophysical accounting perspective, the paper predicts countries’ future socio-economic performance. This analysis is then contrasted with a financial assessment of those countries. The juxtaposition reveals a paradox: Financial assessments seem to contradict assessments based on biophysical trends. The paper offers a way to reconcile this paradox, which also elevates the significance of biophysical country assessments for shaping successful economic policies.
The Combined Distribution and Assignment Model: A New Solution Algorithm and Its Applications in Travel Demand Forecasting for Modern Urban Transportation
Authors: Tan Heqing , Du Muqing , Jiang Xiaowei , Chu Zhaoming
Published: April 2019

With the development of the advanced Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) in modern cities, it is of great significance to upgrade the forecasting methods for travel demand with the impact of ITS. The widespread use of ITS clearly changes the urban travelers’ behavior at present, in which case it is difficult for the conventional four-step travel demand forecasting model to have good performance. In this study, we apply the combined distribution and assignment (CDA) model to forecasting travel demand for modern urban transportation, in which travelers may choose the destination and path simultaneously. Furthermore, we present a new solution algorithm for solving the CDA model. With the network representation method that converts the CDA model into a standard traffic assignment problem (TAP), we develop a new path-based algorithm based on the gradient projection (GP) algorithm to solve the converted CDA model. The new solution algorithm is designed to find a more accurate solution compared with the widely used algorithm, the Evans’ two-stage algorithm. Two road networks, Sioux Falls and Chicago Sketch, are used to verify the performance of the new algorithm. Also, we conduct some experiments on the Sioux Falls network to illustrate several applications of the CDA model in consideration of the influences of ITS.
Exogenously Applied Bio-Stimulant and Synthetic Fertilizers to Improve the Growth, Yield and Fiber Quality of Cotton
Authors: Arif Muhammad , Kareem Shadia , Ahmad Nariman , Hussain Nazim , Yasmeen Azra , Anwar Adeel , Naz Safina , Iqbal Javed , Shah Ghulam , Ansar Muhammad
Published: April 2019

The effects of exogenously applied Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MLE), nitrogen and potassium were studied on the productivity and quality of two cotton cultivars (CIM-573) and transgenic Bt cotton (CIM-598). The Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) factorial experiment was conducted at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan (30.2639 °N, 71.5101 °E; 123 m asl), during 2016 and 2017, with three replications. The analysis of variance revealed the significance of cotton cultivars and foliar applications for the majority of traits studied, in both years. The CIM-573 had superiority for most of the traits studied in 2016 and 2017 trials, while the CIM-598 cultivar had significantly higher record for chlorophyll content, seed cotton yield, mean boll weight, and seed index in 2016 and sympodial branches per plant in 2017. Foliar application of Moringa Leaf Extract (MLE) and synthetic fertilizers showed significant differences for the traits studied compared to the distilled water. Exogenous application of MLE has a positive effect on photosynthetic and enzymatic activities that improve the efficiency of nutrients that are utilized, thereby improving the growth, seed cotton yield and quality of cotton cultivars tested. All the interaction effects had a significant influence on the traits studied, except ginning percentage in 2016. The interaction between the conventional cotton cultivar (CIM 573) and exogenous application of MLE + nitrogen + potassium had significantly higher effect on plant height, cotton yield, staple length, fiber maturity, and fiber strength for the 2017 trial and was superior for the quality parameters in 2017. The interaction of the Bt cotton cultivar (CIM 598) and the foliar application of MLE + nitrogen + potassium had superiority in cotton yield, yield components and the quality parameters in the 2017 trial. Both the CIM 573 and CIM 598 cotton cultivars had consistent expressions for all quality traits studied, although they did fluctuate in their expression to these agronomic traits between the field trials of 2016 and 2017. Additive gene effects could be the explanation for the unstable effects of yield and the related traits in the different environmental conditions of the field trials in the two years. Our results suggest that the exogenous application of MLE alone and in combination with nitrogen and potassium could be used to improve the productivity and the quality of these cotton cultivars. The correlation coefficients indicate strong associations between the agronomic and quality traits, indicating that one or more yield parameters could be used as selection criteria to improve the productivity and quality of cotton.
Application of Information Technology in Preschool Aesthetic Teaching from the Perspective of Sustainable Management
Authors: Fan Ruei-Jen Diana , Tan Paul Juinn Bing
Published: April 2019

The present study investigates the current status of aesthetic education as implemented in information technology by preschool teachers in New Taipei City. To that end, stratified random sampling of preschool teachers in New Taipei City was conducted, and the selected teachers, 235 in total, then answered a questionnaire developed specifically for the study. The survey results indicated that “teacher” was the job title/position of most of the respondents, the largest percentage of whom were more than 41 years of age and had an education level consisting of a qualification received from a teacher’s college or university of education. Moreover, the results indicated that the teaching models employed by the majority of respondents focused on “thematic teaching.” In regards to their integration of information technology in their teaching of aesthetic education, the survey results indicated that the teachers obtained the highest average score for the “knowledge of information technology” dimension. Meanwhile, the dimension for which the respondents obtained the highest average score in terms of aesthetic teaching itself was the dimension pertaining to aesthetic cognition. Generally speaking, survey respondents from different backgrounds did not differ significantly in terms of their overall intentions regarding the use of aesthetic teaching, but there was a significant and positive relationship between those overall intentions and the current status of information technology integration into aesthetic education.
An Integrated Indicator System and Evaluation Model for Regional Sustainable Development
Authors: Shi Yifei , Ge Xinghang , Yuan Xueliang , Wang Qingsong , Kellett Jon , Li Fangqiu , Ba Kaiming
Published: April 2019

Regional sustainable development has become a worldwide issue in recent years, but there is no single and universally agreed method of choosing indicators for sustainable development assessment. The subjective selection of indicators will affect the results of assessment. Each evaluation method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the methods used to determine indicator weight also differ. Regional sustainable development is a complex system, which is difficult to evaluate objectively and scientifically using a single method. Therefore, a new integrated indicator system and evaluation model is constructed here to more accurately reflect regional sustainable development level. The indicator system and evaluation model were constructed using a case study of 17 cities in Shandong Province, China. The indicator system includes 4 subsystems, i.e., economy, society, resource, and environment. These indicators were selected through correlation analysis and discrimination analysis. A back propagation neural network was applied to evaluate the respective scores of the 4 subsystems. The comprehensive score for regional sustainable development was evaluated using the analytic hierarchy process with entropy correction. The results show that sustainable development levels in these 17 cities show a gradually decreasing trend from east to west and from coast to inland. Cities with an underdeveloped economy usually display poor levels of social development and serious environmental pollution. Through the improvement of indicator screening, evaluation model, and result correction, the error caused by a single evaluation method can be reduced significantly. This new methodology for indicator selection and comprehensive evaluation provides a new perspective for the assessment of regional sustainable development.
Effects of Environmental Regulations on Technological Innovation Efficiency in China’s Industrial Enterprises: A Spatial Analysis
Authors: Zhu Yongfeng , Wang Zilong , Qiu Shilei , Zhu Lingling
Published: April 2019

China’s traditional industrial model is characterized by high energy consumption and high pollution, which results in many environmental problems that cannot be ignored. To achieve sustainable development, the Chinese government has proposed five development concepts of “innovation, coordination, green, openness, and sharing”. This initiative highlights the urgency of China’s efforts to strengthen environmental regulation. Based on the panel data of industrial enterprises in China from 2006 to 2015, this study not only investigates the spatial features of technological innovation efficiency, but also examines the relationship between technology innovation efficiency and environmental regulations from a spatial perspective. The results indicate that first, China’s provincial-level technological innovation efficiencies are uneven in space. Second, voluntary regulation positively affects the technological innovation efficiency of industrial enterprises at the provincial level, while mandatory regulation has no significant impact. Third, there is a spatial spillover effect in voluntary regulation at the provincial level. One highlight implication is that the government should promulgate environmental regulations based on each province’s technological innovation potential, due to the spatial differences in technological innovation activities.
Toxicity of Exhaust Fumes (CO, NOx) of the Compression-Ignition (Diesel) Engine with the Use of Simulation
Authors: Tucki Karol , Mruk Remigiusz , Orynycz Olga , Botwińska Katarzyna , Gola Arkadiusz , Bączyk Anna
Published: April 2019

Nowadays more and more emphasis is placed on the protection of the natural environment. Scientists notice that global warming is associated with an increase of carbon dioxide emissions, which results inter alia from the combustion of gasoline, oil, and coal. To reduce the problem of pollution from transport, the EU is introducing increasingly stringent emission standards which should correspond to sustainable conditions of the environment during the operation of motor vehicles. The emissivity value of substances, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), as well as solid particles, was determined. The aim of this paper was to examine, by means of simulation in the Scilab program, the exhaust emissions generated by the 1.3 MultiJet Fiat Panda diesel engine, and in particular, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides (verified on the basis of laboratory tests). The Fiat Panda passenger car was selected for the test. The fuels supplied to the tested engine were diesel and FAME (fatty acid methyl esters). The Scilab program, which simulated the diesel engine operation, was the tool for analyzing the exhaust toxicity test. The combustion of biodiesel does not necessarily mean a smaller amount of exhaust emissions, as could be concluded on the basis of information contained in the subject literature. The obtained results were compared with the currently valid EURO-6 standard, for which the limit value for CO is 0.5 g/km, and for NOx − 0.08 g/km, and it can be seen that the emission of carbon monoxide did not exceed the standards in any case examined. Unfortunately, when analyzing the total emissions of nitrogen oxides, the situation was completely the opposite and the emissions were exceeded by 20–30%.
VisualUVAM: A Decision Support System Addressing the Curse of Dimensionality for the Multi-Scale Assessment of Urban Vulnerability in Spain
Authors: Salas Jorge , Yepes Víctor
Published: April 2019

Many-objective optimization methods have proven successful in the integration of research attributes demanded for urban vulnerability assessment models. However, these techniques suffer from the curse of the dimensionality problem, producing an excessive burden in the decision-making process by compelling decision-makers to select alternatives among a large number of candidates. In other fields, this problem has been alleviated through cluster analysis, but there is still a lack in the application of such methods for urban vulnerability assessment purposes. This work addresses this gap by a novel combination of visual analytics and cluster analysis, enabling the decision-maker to select the set of indicators best representing urban vulnerability accordingly to three criteria: expert’s preferences, goodness of fit, and robustness. Based on an assessment framework previously developed, VisualUVAM affords an evaluation of urban vulnerability in Spain at regional, provincial, and municipal scales, whose results demonstrate the effect of the governmental structure of a territory over the vulnerability of the assessed entities.
Sensitivity of Rural Households’ Livelihood Strategies to Livelihood Capital in Poor Mountainous Areas: An Empirical Analysis in the Upper Reaches of the Min River, China
Authors: Wang Xiaolan , Peng Li , Xu Dingde , Wang Xuxi
Published: April 2019

Exploring the sensitivity of rural households’ livelihood strategies to livelihood capital is of great significance for improving rural households’ livelihood levels. This paper selects 23 livelihood capital measurement indicators and conducts an in-depth survey of rural households. In addition, the entropy method and a weighted comprehensive model are used to explore the basic characteristics of rural households’ livelihood capital in the upper reaches of the Min River, China, in 2017. Furthermore, econometric models are used to analyze the sensitivity of rural households’ livelihood strategies to livelihood capital. As indicated from the research, the livelihood capital levels of different types of rural households in the study area are not equivalent. The types of rural households with different livelihood strategies can be ordered in terms of quantity as follows: non-agricultural type > non-agricultural dominant type > agricultural dominant type > pure agricultural type. Livelihood strategies have different sensitivities to different livelihood capital measurement indicators. Among these indicators, cash income, the number of relatives and friends available for financial assistance, and the number of civil servants have positive effects on the livelihood strategy selection of non-agricultural dominant rural households and non-agricultural rural households. However, the average age of laborers, area of cultivated land and gardens, number of livestock and poultry, and present value of production tools have negative effects. These evaluation results can provide a scientific decision-making basis for the formulation of poverty alleviation policies by relevant government departments.
Construction Cost of Green Building Certified Residence: A Case Study in Taiwan
Authors: Sun Chen-Yi , Chen Yin-Guang , Wang Rong-Jing , Lo Shih-Chi , Yau Jyh-Tyng , Wu Ya-Wen
Published: April 2019

The green building certification system of Taiwan, EEWH (Ecology, Energy Saving, Waste Reduction and Health), has been in operation for more than 20 years (since 1999). In order to understand the relationship between green building certification and the construction costs of residential buildings, this study obtained 37 green building-certified residential cases and 36 general residential cases available from public information and conducted a comparative analysis. The results of this study showed that the average construction cost of a green building certification residential building was only 1.58% higher than a general residential building, indicating that green building certification does not require a large increase in costs. However, for residential buildings, achieving a high-grade (gold-grade or diamond-grade) green building certification means an increase of 6.7% to 9.3% in construction costs. This shows that the pursuit of higher levels of green building certification does require higher construction costs. In addition, the results of this study can not only provide important references for the government in making green building policies, but also offer a practical strategy for developers for decision-making.
Influences of Global Warming on the Larval Survival and Transport of Snow Crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in the Sea of Japan
Authors: Mao Xinyan , Guo Xinyu , Wang Yucheng , Takayama Katsumi
Published: April 2019

The snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) sustains an important bottom trawling fishery in the Sea of Japan. Its response to global warming is attracting the attention of the public. Using a transport and survival model for crab larvae in the Sea of Japan, we examined the spatial-temporal variations of crab spawning and larval settlement in the past (mid-20th century), present (early 21st century), and future (mid- and late 21st century) under the low and high radiative forcing scenarios. It was found that the variations in spawning differed between the regions south of and north of 41.5° N, on both seasonal and long-term scales. Larval settlement in the Sea of Japan was projected to increase in the future, which is mainly attributed to a reduction in mortality due to the low water temperature. Moreover, the aggregating location of the settled megalopae will likely shift northward, with increasing settlement off Hokkaido Island. With additional sensitivity experiments, we confirmed that the change in water temperature has a stronger impact on larval settlement than that in the current field. The change in water temperature controlled both the amount and distribution of crab larval settlement, while a change in current field only affected the distribution to some extent.
Diagnosing Phosphorus Limitation in Subtropical Forests in China under Climate Warming
Authors: Wang Na , Huang Mei , Gu Fengxue , Yan Huimin , Wang Shaoqiang , He Honglin , Wang Zhaosheng , Sun Xiangyang , Xu Wenting , Yang Fengting , Chu Guowei
Published: April 2019

Phosphorus (P) is a fundamental component of plant organisms. Most of the Earth System Models (ESMs) project increases in future Net Primary Productivity (NPP) due to climate warming. However, large uncertainty exists in projected NPP due to future P limitation. Subtropical China is a region with high vegetation NPP, but its forests are mostly P limited. In this study, we used the simulations of Atmospheric-Vegetation Interaction Model 2 (AVIM2) to diagnose the P limitation in forests in this region, and found that climate warming in the period of 1951–2010 had enhanced P limitation. The P demand during 1981–2010 for Evergreen Broad-leaved Forest (EBF) and Evergreen Needle-leaved Forest (ENF) are 1.67 and 1.8 times than that during 1951–1980, respectively. The observed current Available Soil P (ASP) density in 4 representative forest sites in subtropical China varied between 940 mg · m − 2 and 2365 mg · m − 2 , and the P demands account for 0.86% to 25.5% of the ASP for the period of 1951–2010. Future P demands are estimated to account for 3.2% to 68.3% of the current ASP at the end of this century for RCP8.5. Therefore, forests, especially plantations, in subtropical China are facing high risks of P limitation.
Digitalization and Business Activity. The Struggle to Catch Up in CEE Countries
Authors: Trașcă Daniela Livia , Ștefan George Marian , Sahlian Daniela Nicoleta , Hoinaru Răzvan , Șerban-Oprescu George-Laurențiu
Published: April 2019

Increases in productivity and competitiveness of an economy are based mostly on the actions of companies in terms of providing technical capital to workers and of operations efficiency (management, financial, recruitment, finding markets and suppliers, internal and external communication, etc.) through digitalization. This paper deals with the way in which the economies and companies in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries manage to adapt to the trend that started, mostly after 2000, in digitalization; also, it analyzes the extent to which an increase in the degree of business upgrading via integrating digital technology into the business model leads to a surge in economic performances (productivity, exports) and, consequently, to a greater attractivity to foreign capital flows.
Citizens’ Satisfaction with Air Quality and Key Factors in China—Using the Anchoring Vignettes Method
Authors: Sun Zongfeng , Li Jintao
Published: April 2019

This study uses the anchoring vignettes method to accurately measure citizens’ perceptions of air quality by correcting for the measurement errors which often exist in subjective satisfaction indexes. Our study shows that there is significant variation in satisfaction with air quality before and after using the anchoring vignettes method, especially when calculating and comparing satisfaction levels with the city-level air quality index. In addition, we found that the actual air pollution does indeed decrease citizens’ satisfaction with it, but that the relationship between the two is non-linear. However, among the relevant pollution indicators, citizens are more easily influenced by PM2.5 rather than by SO2 and dust emission concentrations. Finally, our research also found evidence to support the idea that public expectations of air quality in China affect satisfaction levels. Our findings therefore challenge the idea that the relationship between actual and perceived air quality is straightforward, and also confirm that expectation theory holds true for levels of satisfaction with air quality.
Innovation in Road Freight Transport: Quantifying the Environmental Performance of Operational Cost-Reducing Practices
Authors: Carlan Valentin , Sys Christa , Vanelslander Thierry
Published: April 2019

Road transportation is a key mode of transport when it comes to ensuring the hinterland connection of most European ports. Constrained by low profit margins and having to be active in a highly competitive market, companies active in this sector seek multi-dimensional innovative solutions that lower their operational costs. These innovative initiatives also yield positive environmental effects. The latter however are poorly recognized. This paper investigates the characteristics of different types of chassis used to transport containers from and to the terminals in the port areas and looks into the details of operational planning practices. It analyses the cost-effectiveness of these innovative solutions highlighting both the costs and the environmental emissions they save. Transport data from a road hauler serving the hinterland connection of a port in Western Europe is used to build up a case study. Results show that by using special types of chassis, which enable the combination of transport tasks in round-trips, the operational costs are reduced by 25% to 35%, and equally the CO2 emissions are also decreased by 34% to 38%.
The Utilization of Waste Marble Dust as a Cement Replacement in Air-Cured Mortar
Authors: Toubal Seghir Nadhir , Mellas Mekki , Sadowski Łukasz , Krolicka Aleksandra , Żak Andrzej , Ostrowski Krzysztof
Published: April 2019

The aim of this study is to assess the possibility of utilizing waste marble dust (WMD) as a partial cement substitution in air-cured mortar (ACM). Three different levels of cement replacement were analyzed: 5%, 10% and 15% by cement weight. The specimens were manufactured in a local laboratory at an air temperature of 22 ± 2 °C and a humidity equal to 20 ± 1%. The chemical and physical properties of ordinary Portland cement and WMD has been found to be the most crucial parameters. A variety of macroscopic tests, such as apparent density, porosity and compressive strength, were proposed in order to explain the effect of utilizing the WMD on the ACM. To confirm the results of the macroscopic properties, thorough microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed. The obtained results of this study indicate that replacing cement with WMD affects the physical and mechanical properties of air-cured mortar. The apparent density and compressive strength decrease while the porosity increases.
Potential Uses of Treated Municipal Wastewater in a Semiarid Region of Mexico
Authors: Valdes Ramos Alfredo , Aguilera Gonzalez Elsa N. , Tobón Echeverri Gloria , Samaniego Moreno Luis , Díaz Jiménez Lourdes , Carlos Hernández Salvador
Published: April 2019

This paper presents an assessment of three potential applications of municipal treated wastewater in a semiarid region of northern Mexico. The potential applications considered are agriculture, industry, and watering urban green areas. The results indicate that in the best scenario, the maximal application of treated wastewater is 150 L/s for industrial activities. Besides industrial applications, this scenario would allow farmers and urban green areas to receive 980 L/s and 70 L/s of treated wastewater respectively. Other issues and alternatives are also identified. With the implementation of this scenario, it is possible to improve the environmental, and even the socioeconomic conditions, of the study region.
Smart Integration Based on Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization Technique for Carbon Dioxide Emission Reduction in Eco-Ports
Authors: Balbaa Alsnosy , Swief R. A. , El-Amary Noha H.
Published: April 2019

The increasing daily rate of environmental pollution, due to electrical power generation from fossil fuel sources in different societies, urges the researchers to study alternative solutions. These solutions can be summarized into either finding other clean, renewable sources or managing the available sources optimally. This research represents smart electrical interconnection management between some of the Egyptian seaports for optimal operation, with a clean sustainable environment as the target. The optimum ports’ commitment operation works through certain technical constraints to attain optimal economic and environmental factors. One of the main objectives of this study is the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, which is released from the electrical power generation that covers the seaports demands. It is progressed through the green port smart commitment, by incorporating unpolluted and renewable energy resources. This study depends on the redesign of some Egyptian seaports to be green ports with eco-friendly electrical construction. According to the new electrical design, two out of the six studied seaports can be considered as renewable energy generation units consisting of Photovoltaic (PV) electrical generation resources. The new design of the seaports electrical network can be considered as a hybrid network, collecting both fossil fuel electrical power generation and PV sources. To gain benefits from the diversity in geographical behaviors, ports on the red sea and Mediterranean sea are integrated into the network cloud. Connecting ports on red and Mediterranean seas construct a network cloud, which supports the operation of the whole network under different conditions. Hybrid (weighted-discrete) Particle Swarm Optimization Technique (HPSOT) is an effective optimization technique which is applied to provide the optimum interconnection management between the eco-ports. It is developed based on some technical constraints which are the availability of the network buses interconnection, the voltage and frequency levels, and deviations due to the smart unit interconnection and the re-direction of the power flow. The HPSOT is targeted to minimize the economical cost and the harmful environmental impact of the seaport electrical network, while covering the overall network load. The HPSOT is programmed utilizing the Matlab program. It is tested on the six Egyptian seaports network that consists of El Dekheila, Alexandria, and Damietta on the Mediteranean and Port Said, Suez, and Sokhna port on the Suez canal and Red sea. It verifies its accurateness and efficiency in decreasing the combined cost function involving costs of CO2 emission. CO2 emission is reduced to 6% of its previous value for the same consumed electrical energy, that means it has a positive impact on retarding the greenhouse effect and climate change.
The Impact of VR Application on Student’s Competency Development: A Comparative Study of Regular and VR Engineering Classes with Similar Competency Scopes
Authors: Hee Lee Jang , Shvetsova Olga A.
Published: April 2019

This research focuses on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Korean National Competency Standards. The aim of this research is to perform a comparative study of two university engineering courses to present the difference between the effect of virtual reality (VR)-based teaching and traditional teaching on learning robotics. To achieve this goal, the authors used the expert method, focus group interviews, and a comparative study. There were three hypotheses and four research questions on the relationship between teaching method and competency development. As a case study for this research, the authors chose Korea University of Technology and Education and designed a survey to assess students’ competencies. The participants were second- and third-grade university students. Quantitative data were collected from the interview forms developed by the researcher; qualitative data were analyzed using the expert method and a comparative study. A significant difference was observed between competency development in the VR class and that in a regular class with a similar syllabus. Furthermore, it was noted that different teaching methods affect competency development in different ways; VR tools develop some competencies, but not all of them. Authors found that the VR tool requires an appropriate teaching method and affects the student’s ability to develop competencies.
From Psychological Theoretical Assumptions to New Research Perspectives in Sustainability and Sustainable Development: Motivation in the Workplace
Authors: Tokarz Aleksandra , Malinowska Diana
Published: April 2019

This article proposes a framework that indicates opportunities for integrating psychology into research on sustainability and sustainable development. The central issue proposed is motivation in the workplace with a strong focus on employee health and optimal functioning. The main methodological issues are formulated in four assumptions: (1) Health from the perspective of health per se; (2) an individual seen as an agent; (3) an agent in the situation and context; (4) the life-span development perspective. The article refers in the narrative review to the most influential conceptualizations and research. This proposition shows a way forward and offers new opportunities to formulate challenging and important research questions in the psychology of sustainability and sustainable development.
Developing the Urban Thermal Environment Management and Planning (UTEMP) System to Support Urban Planning and Design
Authors: Lee Dongwoo , Oh Kyushik
Published: April 2019

Mathematical Climate Simulation Modeling (MCSM) has the advantage of not only investigating the urban heat island phenomenon but also of identifying the effects of thermal environment improvement plans in detail. As a result, MCSM has been applied worldwide as a scientific tool to analyze urban thermal environment problems. However, the meteorological models developed thus far have been insufficient in terms of their direct application to the urban planning and design fields due to the preprocessing task for modeling operations and the excessive time required. By combining meteorological modeling and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis methods, this study developed the Urban Thermal Environment Management and Planning (UTEMP) system that is user-friendly and can be applied to urban planning and design. Furthermore, the usefulness of UTEMP was investigated in this study by application to areas where the heat island phenomenon occurs frequently: Seoul, Korea. The accuracy of the UTEMP system was verified by comparing its results to the Automatic Weather Systems (AWSs) data. Urban spatial change scenarios were prepared and air temperature variations according to such changes were compared. Subsequently, the urban spatial change scenarios were distinguished by four cases, including the existing condition (before the development), applications of the thermal environment measures to the existing condition, allowable future urban development (the maximum development density under the urban planning regulations), and application of the thermal environment measures to allowable future development. The UTEMP system demonstrated an accuracy of adj. R2 0.952 and a ±0.91 Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). By applying the UTEMP system to urban spatial change scenarios, the average air temperature of 0.35 °C and maximum air temperature of 1.27 °C were found to rise when the maximum development density was achieved. Meanwhile, the air temperature reduction effect of rooftop greening was identified by an average of 0.12 °C with a maximum of 0.45 °C. Thus, the development of UTEMPS can be utilized as an effective tool to analyze the impacts of urban spatial changes and for planning and design. As a result, the UTEMP system will allow for more efficient and practical establishment of measures to improve the urban thermal environment.
Gender Classification Based on the Non-Lexical Cues of Emergency Calls with Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN)
Authors: Son Guiyoung , Kwon Soonil , Park Neungsoo
Published: April 2019

Automatic gender classification in speech is a challenging research field with a wide range of applications in HCI (human-computer interaction). A couple of decades of research have shown promising results, but there is still a need for improvement. Until now, gender classification has been made using differences in the spectral characteristics of males and females. We assumed that a neutral margin exists between the male and female spectral range. This margin causes misclassification of gender. To address this limitation, we studied three non-lexical speech features (fillers, overlapping, and lengthening). From the statistical analysis, we found that overlapping and lengthening are effective in gender classification. Next, we performed gender classification using overlapping, lengthening, and the baseline acoustic feature, Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficient (MFCC). We have tried to achieve the best results by using various combinations of features at the same time or sequentially. We used two types of machine-learning methods, support vector machine (SVM) and recurrent neural networks (RNN), to classify the gender. We achieved 89.61% with RNN using a feature set including MFCC, overlapping, and lengthening at the same time. Also, we have reclassified using non-lexical features with only data belonging to the neutral margin which was empirically selected based on the result of gender classification with only MFCC. As a result, we determined that the accuracy of classification with RNN using lengthening was 1.83% better than when MFCC alone was used. We concluded that new speech features could be effective in improving gender classification through a behavioral approach, notably including emergency calls.
Sampling Associated with a Unitary Representation of a Semi-Direct Product of Groups: A Filter Bank Approach
Authors: García Antonio G. , Hernández-Medina Miguel Angel , Pérez-Villalón Gerardo
Published: April 2019

An abstract sampling theory associated with a unitary representation of a countable discrete non abelian group G, which is a semi-direct product of groups, on a separable Hilbert space is studied. A suitable expression of the data samples, the use of a filter bank formalism and the corresponding frame analysis allow for fixing the mathematical problem to be solved: the search of appropriate dual frames for ℓ 2 ( G ) . An example involving crystallographic groups illustrates the obtained results by using either average or pointwise samples.
RETRACTED: Intraosteal Behavior of Porous Scaffolds: The mCT Raw-Data Analysis as a Tool for Better Understanding
Authors: Parrilla-Almansa Andrés , González-Bermúdez Carlos , Sánchez-Sánchez Silvia , Meseguer-Olmo Luis , Martínez-Cáceres Carlos , Martínez-Martínez Francisco , Calvo-Guirado José , Piñero de Armas Juan , Aragoneses Juan , García-Carrillo Nuria , De Aza Piedad
Published: April 2019

The aim of the study is to determine the existing correlation between high-resolution 3D imaging technique obtained through Micro Computed Tomography (mCT) and histological-histomorphometric images to determine in vivo bone osteogenic behavior of bioceramic scaffolds. A Ca-Si-P scaffold ceramic doped and non-doped (control) with a natural demineralized bone matrix (DBM) were implanted in rabbit tibias for 1, 3, and 5 months. A progressive disorganization and disintegration of scaffolds and bone neoformation occurs, from the periphery to the center of the implants, without any differences between histomorphometric and radiological analysis. However, significant differences (p < 0.05) between DMB-doped and non-doped materials where only detected through mathematical analysis of mCT. In this way, average attenuation coefficient for DMB-doped decreased from 0.99 ± 0.23 Hounsfield Unit (HU) (3 months) to 0.86 ± 0.32 HU (5 months). Average values for non-doped decreased from 0.86 ± 0.25 HU (3 months) to 0.66 ± 0.33 HU. Combination of radiological analysis and mathematical mCT seems to provide an adequate in vivo analysis of bone-implanted biomaterials after surgery, obtaining similar results to the one provided by histomorphometric analysis. Mathematical analysis of Computed Tomography (CT) would allow the conducting of long-term duration in vivo studies, without the need for animal sacrifice, and the subsequent reduction in variability.
Correction: Takaoka, S., et al. Survey of the Extent of the Persisting Effects of Methylmercury Pollution on the Inhabitants around the Shiranui Sea, Japan. Toxics 2018, 6, 39
Authors: Takaoka Shigeru , Fujino Tadashi , Kawakami Yoshinobu , Shigeoka Shin-ichi , Yorifuji Takashi
Published: April 2019

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
Lipopolysaccharides from Microcystis Cyanobacteria-Dominated Water Bloom and from Laboratory Cultures Trigger Human Immune Innate Response
Authors: Moosová Zdena , Šindlerová Lenka , Ambrůzová Barbora , Ambrožová Gabriela , Vašíček Ondřej , Velki Mirna , Babica Pavel , Kubala Lukáš
Published: April 2019

Massive toxic blooms of cyanobacteria represent a major threat to water supplies worldwide. Here, the biological activities of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from Microcystis aeruginosa, the most prominent cyanobacteria in water bloom, were studied. LPS was isolated from complex environmental water bloom samples dominated by M. aeruginosa, and from laboratory cultures of non-axenic as well as axenic M. aeruginosa strains PCC7806 and HAMBI/UHCC130. Employing human blood-based in vitro tests, the LPS isolated from complex water bloom revealed the priming of both major blood phagocyte population monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes documented by the increased surface expression of CD11b and CD66b. This was accompanied by a water bloom LPS-mediated dose-dependent induction of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 production. In accordance with its priming effects, water bloom LPS induced significant activation of p38 and ERK1/2 kinases, as well as NF-κB phosphorylation, in isolated polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Interestingly, the pro-inflammatory potential of LPS from the axenic strain of M. aeruginosa was not lower compared to that of LPS isolated from non-axenic strains. In contrast to the biological activity, water bloom LPS revealed almost twice higher pyrogenicity levels compared to Escherichia coli LPS, as analyzed by the PyroGene test. Moreover, LPS from the non-axenic culture exhibited higher endotoxin activity in comparison to LPS from axenic strains. Taking the above findings together, M. aeruginosa LPS can contribute to the health risks associated with contamination by complex water bloom mass.
Schistosoma and Other Relevant Helminth Infections in HIV-Positive Individuals—An Overview
Authors: von Braun Amrei , Trawinski Henning , Wendt Sebastian , Lübbert Christoph
Published: April 2019

For many years, researchers have postulated that helminthic infections may increase susceptibility to HIV, and that immune activation may have contributed to the extensive spread of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. In the meantime, immunological studies have provided some evidence in support of this hypothesis, while cross-sectional clinical studies were able to further support the assumed association between HIV infection and selected helminthic co-infections. However, as many of the helminthic infections relevant to HIV-infected patients belong to the group of “neglected tropical diseases”, as defined by the World Health Organization, a certain lack of attention has inhibited progress in fully scaling up treatment and prevention efforts. In addition, despite the fact that the challenges of co-infections have preoccupied clinicians for over two decades, relevant research questions remain unanswered. The following review aims to provide a concise overview of associations between HIV and selected helminthic co-infections concerning aspects of HIV acquisition and transmission, clinical and immunological findings in co-infected individuals, as well as treatment and prevention efforts.
Integrating Data Mining and Microsimulation Modelling to Reduce Traffic Congestion: A Case Study of Signalized Intersections in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Labib S.M. , Mohiuddin Hossain , Hasib Irfan Mohammad Al , Sabuj Shariful Hasnine , Hira Shrabanti
Published: April 2019

A growing body of research has applied intelligent transportation technologies to reduce traffic congestion at signalized intersections. However, most of these studies have not considered the systematic integration of traffic data collection methods when simulating optimum signal timing. The present study developed a three-part system to create optimized variable signal timing profiles for a congested intersection in Dhaka, regulated by fixed-time traffic signals. Video footage of traffic from the studied intersection was analyzed using a computer vision tool that extracted traffic flow data. The data underwent a further data-mining process, resulting in greater than 90% data accuracy. The final data set was then analyzed by a local traffic expert. Two hybrid scenarios based on the data and the expert’s input were created and simulated at the micro level. The resultant, custom, variable timing profiles for the traffic signals yielded a 40% reduction in vehicle queue length, increases in average travel speed, and a significant overall reduction in traffic congestion.