bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Properties of Mortars with Recycled Stone Aggregate for the Reconstruction of Sandstone in Historic Buildings
Authors: Klimek Beata , Grzegorczyk-Frańczak Małgorzata
Published: January 2021

The research concerned the mortars with recycled stone aggregate used for the reconstruction of historic objects. The face of stone walls is exposed to atmospheric, chemical, and biological factors, causing its destruction. The aim of the research was to develop a mortar that would be compatible with the stone both in terms of its external appearance as well as its physical and mechanical properties. For this purpose, three mortars based on recycled sandstone aggregate with three different gradations were prepared. The compatibility of stone and mortar was tested in terms of the physical and mechanical properties as well as the resistance to salt and frost corrosion. The mortars reflect the properties of sandstone and offer great opportunities to adjust them as desired. The frost resistance of the mortars was consistent, with practically no weight loss after 25 test cycles. They achieved lower compression strength than stone, which is an important feature in avoiding destruction by using an excessively strong mortar. Moreover, the absorbability of the mortars turned out to be favorable (max. 25%). Mortars were resistant to the destructive effect of salt and did not show the ability to whitewash and desalinate.
Stakeholder Value Creation: Comparing ESG and Value Added in European Companies
Authors: Signori Silvana , San-Jose Leire , Retolaza Jose Luis , Rusconi Gianfranco
Published: January 2021

In recent years, a renewed interest in value creation for stakeholders has been witnessed in different contexts. Different tools have been proposed to try to grasp and measure such value(s) but, in many cases, the main perspective remains that of the shareholders. To contribute to the field of research that aims to discuss novel ways of thinking about value creation measurement, this paper addresses the relationship between ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ratings and Value Added, as proxies of value creation and distribution for stakeholders. In particular, we consider whether ESG ratings are able to capture companies that are characterized by their capacity for generating higher Value Added for stakeholders. Our analysis uses the frontier methodology combined with means comparison. Data from 2018 were downloaded from EIKON, for all companies within the Euro zone and for all sectors (1932 companies, of which 399 held an ESG rating, compared with 1533 without ESG analysis). Our analysis reveals that, although ESG is theoretically considered a good social responsibility proxy, ESG indices cannot be used as an indicator of value creation for stakeholders but, rather, must be considered as only one of the components. This implies a need to review the limitations of ESG ratings and establish that the relevant indices are not suitable for use in universal or absolute decision-making.
A New Face of Mining Engineer—International Curricula to Sustainable Development and Green Deal (A Case Study of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology)
Authors: Adach-Pawelus Karolina , Gogolewska Anna , Górniak-Zimroz Justyna , Kiełczawa Barbara , Krupa-Kurzynowska Joanna , Paszkowska Gabriela , Szyszka Danuta , Worsa-Kozak Magdalena , Woźniak Justyna
Published: January 2021

The mining industry in the world has undergone a major metamorphosis in recent years. These changes have forced higher education to modify the curricula in a thorough way to meet the mining entrepreneurs’ needs. The paper’s scope is to answer the research question—how to attract students and implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in higher education in mining engineering? Based on the case of international cooperation carried out at the Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology (WUST) within the framework of educational projects co-financed by European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities Raw Materials (EIT RM), the authors prove that the idea of sustainable development can be introduced into the system of teaching mining specialists at every level of their higher education (engineering and master’s studies), through developing their new competencies, introducing new subjects taking into account innovative solutions and technologies, or placing great emphasis on environmental and social aspects. Examples of new curricula show a good way to change into the new face of a mining engineer.
LEED Study of Green Lightweight Aggregates in Construction
Authors: Alqahtani Fahad K. , Abotaleb Ibrahim S. , Harb Sara
Published: January 2021

Decreasing the demand for natural aggregates is doubly justified by the significant contribution of the construction industry to the unsustainable development path of the natural environment, and the projected global increase of the consumption of construction aggregates. Extensive research has been carried out on the physical and mechanical properties of concrete which incorporates plastic as aggregates; yet, no single study has been able to draw on structured research which demonstrates the improved sustainability performance of plastic-based aggregates to support sustainable development in the construction industry for a project seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The goal of this research is to explore the potential benefits that green processed lightweight aggregates (PLA) can provide to a project seeking LEED certification in accordance with the requirements of LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction. The objectives are to: (1) determine which LEED credit requirements can be met through using the studied material; (2) provide a comprehensive analysis of the applicable attainable LEED credits, given the existing technical information of the selected material, and (3) provide guidelines to maximize further credit attainment. To this end, the findings indicated that the use of PLA as a total replacement for coarse aggregates in lightweight concrete applications would contribute to earning directly up to 8 points (out of 110 total points) towards LEED certification. Such significant number allows for the potential increase of the project’s certification by one level. This is the first study of its kind to investigate the improved sustainability performance of recycled plastic aggregates from a LEED point of view. Moreover, the guidelines provided by the research will enable developers to maximize the financial and environmental benefits of their buildings through the reduced lifecycle cost and the enhanced LEED score. This research should encourage project teams to incorporate the knowledge of sustainable practices, and play an active role in sustainable development.
Assessment of Seasonal Variability in Soil Nutrients and Its Impact on Soil Quality under Different Land Use Systems of Lower Shiwalik Foothills of Himalaya, India
Authors: Kaur Tavjot , Sehgal Simerpreet Kaur , Singh Satnam , Sharma Sandeep , Dhaliwal Salwinder Singh , Sharma Vivek
Published: January 2021

The present study was conducted to investigate the seasonal effects of five land use systems (LUSs), i.e., wheat–rice (Triticum aestivum—Oryza sativa) system, sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), orange (Citrus sinensis) orchard, safeda (Eucalyptus globules) forest, and grassland, on soil quality and nutrient status in the lower Satluj basin of the Shiwalik foothills Himalaya, India. Samples were analyzed for assessment of physico-chemical properties at four soil depths, viz., 0–15, 15–30, 30–45, and 45–60 cm. A total of 120 soil samples were collected in both the seasons. Soil texture was found to be sandy loam and slightly alkaline in nature. The relative trend of soil organic carbon (SOC), macro- and micro-nutrient content for the five LUSs was forest > orchard > grassland > wheat–rice > sugarcane, in the pre- and post-monsoon seasons. SOC was highly correlated with macronutrients and micronutrients, whereas SOC was negatively correlated with soil pH (r = −0.818). The surface soil layer (0–15 cm) had a significantly higher content of SOC, and macro- and micro-nutrients compared to the sub-surface soil layers, due to the presence of more organic content in the soil surface layer. Tukey’s multiple comparison test was applied to assess significant difference (p < 0.05) among the five LUSs at four soil depths in both the seasons. Principle component analysis (PCA) identified that SOC and electrical conductivity (EC) were the most contributing soil indicators among the different land use systems, and that the post-monsoon season had better soil quality compared to the pre-monsoon season. These indicators helped in the assessment of soil health and fertility, and to monitor degraded agroecosystems for future soil conservation.
Performance Investigation of 18 Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) Units to Supply Continuous Daily Fresh Water from Malaysia’s Atmosphere
Authors: Riahi Ali , Zakaria Nor Azazi , Noh Nasir Md , Mat Amin Mohd Zaki , Mat Jusoh Azman , Mohamad Ideris Marini , Muhammad Mohd Zharif , Ramli Mohd Asri , Mohd Arif Zainol Mohd Remy Rozainy , Shaharuddin Syafiq , Yusof Mohd Fazly
Published: January 2021

In this work, an atmospheric water generator (AWG) system called the medium-scale AWG (MSAWG) was designed, fabricated, and tested in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) under the outdoor tropical climate conditions of Malaysia to investigate the amount of fresh water production in successive periods of 24 h. The MSAWG consisted of 18 thermoelectric cooler (TEC) units, 18 internal finned heat sinks, 18 external finned heat sinks, 18 direct current (DC) cooling fans, an air-conditioner mesh air filter, and an axial ventilation fan. It was found from the results that the hourly values of water production of MSAWG were proportional to the hourly rates of relative humidity, but they were inversely affected by the corresponding hourly values of the ambient temperature. Night-time and early morning were the most effective times to produce the highest amount of fresh water from Malaysia’s atmosphere using MSAWG, as the increase in the rates of relative humidity and the decrease in the values of ambient temperature occurred over these periods. Based on the varied hourly rates of relative humidity with the ranges between the minimum rate of 55% and maximum rate of 85%, an equation of Y = 0.2285X + 36.675 with R2 of 0.9404 was achieved from the 48 h experimental work to estimate the water production of MSAWG in Malaysia, where Y and X were indicated as the rate of relative humidity and the value of water production, respectively, in this equation. In conclusion, the MSAWG produced a consecutive cumulative water volume of 3.432 and 6.997 L experimentally in the periods of 24 and 48 h, respectively. The estimated cost per liter for MSAWG was USD 0.466. Some water quality parameters of the fresh water produced by MSAWG were analysed in the laboratory, which showed that they met the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards. Therefore, MSAWG can be employed as a sustainable alternative to generate annual daily fresh water from Malaysia’s tropical atmosphere and aid in mitigating the problem of unpredicted water shortage in the country.
Driver Behavior Classification at Stop-Controlled Intersections Using Video-Based Trajectory Data
Authors: Wen Xiamei , Fu Liping , Fu Ting , Keung Jessica , Zhong Ming
Published: January 2021

Understanding how drivers behave at stop-controlled intersection is of critical importance for the control and management of an urban traffic system. It is also a critical element of consideration in the burgeoning field of smart infrastructure and connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV). A number of past efforts have been devoted to investigating the driver behavioral patterns when they pass through stop-controlled intersections. However, the majority of these studies have been limited to qualitative descriptions and analyses of driver behavior due to the unavailability of high-resolution vehicle data and sound methodology for classifying various driver behaviors. In this paper, we introduce a methodology that uses computer-vision vehicle trajectory data and unsupervised clustering techniques to classify different types of driver behaviors, infer the underlying mechanism and compare their impacts on safety. Two major types of behaviors are investigated, including vehicle stopping behavior and vehicle approaching patterns, using two clustering algorithms: a bisecting K-means algorithm for classifying stopping behavior, and the improved density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) algorithm for classifying vehicle approaching patterns. The methodology is demonstrated using a case study involving five stop-controlled intersections in Montreal, Canada. The results from the analysis show that there exist five distinctive classes of driver behaviors representing different levels of risk in both vehicle stopping and approaching processes. This finding suggests that the proposed methodology could be applied to develop new safety surrogate measures and risk analysis methods for network screening and countermeasure analyses of stop-controlled intersections.
Beauty and Celebrity: Korean Entertainment and Its Impacts on Female Indonesian Viewers’ Consumption Intentions
Authors: Halim Thalia Metta , Kiatkawsin Kiattipoom
Published: January 2021

The Korean entertainment industry’s popularity and global reach has prompted private companies and destination management organizations to place Korean products and position Korea as a destination to international viewers. Korean celebrities have also been found to form positively perceived Korean beauty standards, consequently serving as an antecedent of Korean beauty product awareness and perceived beauty product quality among international audiences. Although previous studies have found that audience involvement with entertainment mediums has positively impacted product purchase and visitation, a comprehensive investigation of the audience involvement’s multi-dimensionality has yet to be conducted, specifically, on the distinction between Korean entertainment (movies, TV dramas, TV shows, etc.) involvement and celebrity worship. The present study attempts to fill the research gap by comprehensively examining the role of audience involvement with Korean entertainment, celebrity worship, brand awareness, and perceived Korean beauty product quality on product purchase intentions as well as intentions to visit Korea. A total of 327 female Indonesian Korean entertainment audiences then validated the proposed conceptual framework. The structural equation modeling results found emotional involvement, referential reflection, and entertainment-driven celebrity worshipping tendencies to be significant antecedents of Korean beauty product purchase and Korea visit intentions.
Remote Sensing for Cultural Heritage Assessment and Monitoring: The Case Study of Alba Iulia
Authors: Moise Cristian , Dana Negula Iulia , Mihalache Cristina Elena , Lazar Andi Mihai , Dedulescu Andreea Luminita , Rustoiu Gabriel Tiberiu , Inel Ioan Constantin , Badea Alexandru
Published: January 2021

In recent times, satellite-based remote sensing has a growing role in archaeology and inherently in the cultural heritage management process. This paper demonstrates the potential and usefulness of satellite imagery for the documentation, mapping, monitoring, and in-depth analysis of cultural heritage and the archaeological sites located in urban landscapes. The study focuses on the assessment and monitoring of Alba Iulia, which is one of the Romanian cities with the richest historical past. Multitemporal analysis was performed to identify the land use/land cover changes that might contribute to an increased cultural heritage vulnerability to natural disasters. A special emphasis was dedicated to the assessment of the built-up area growth and consequently of the urbanization trend over a large time interval (30 years). Next, the urbanization and urban area expansion impact was further analyzed by concentrating on the urban heat island within Alba Iulia city and Alba Iulia Fortress (located in the center of the city). As temperature change represents a key element of climate change, the temperature trend within the same temporal framework and its impact on cultural heritage were determined. In the end, with regard to the cultural heritage condition assessment, the research was complemented with an assessment of the urban ground and individual building stability, using persistent scatterer interferometry. The results contribute to the detailed depiction of the cultural heritage site in such a manner that the site is monitored over an extensive timeframe, its current state of conservation is accurately determined, and the future trends can be identified. In conclusion, the present study offers reliable results regarding the main factors that might endanger the cultural heritage site as a basis for future preservation measures.
A Hybrid Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization Algorithm for the Travel Route Optimization Problem alongside the Urban Railway Line
Authors: Liu Fuying , Liu Chen , Zhao Qi , He Chenhao
Published: January 2021

Accurate travel route optimization is essential to promote and grow tourism in modern society. This paper investigates a travel route optimization problem alongside the urban railway line and proposes a hybrid teaching–learning-based optimization (HTLBO) algorithm. First, a mathematical programming model is established to minimize the total traveling time, in which the routes between and in different cities have to be appropriately determined. Then, a hybrid metaheuristic named HTLBO is proposed for solution generation. In HTLBO, depth first search (DFS) is utilized to obtain the optimal routes of any two stations in railway network, and a three-level coding method is designed to accommodate the problem characteristic. Besides, opposition-based learning (OBL) is embedded into teaching-learning-based optimization (TLBO) for enhancing HTLBO’s exploration ability, while variable neighborhood descent (VND) is used to enhance the algorithm’s exploitation ability. Finally, a case study is presented and simulation results verify HTLBO’s feasibility and effectiveness.
Comprehensive Measurement and Regional Imbalance of China’s Green Development Performance
Authors: Wang Shengyun , Zhang Yaxin , Wen Huwei
Published: January 2021

This study adopted the two-stage super-efficiency network slack-based model (SBM) to measure the green development performance index (GDPI) of 30 provinces in China. The Dagum Gini coefficient decomposition was used to analyze the regional differences and their sources in China’s green development performance. The results are as follows: first, the green development performance showed a declining trend from 1997 to 2017. The improvement of environmental governance efficiency was the key to achieving green development progress. The green development levels of coastal areas were significantly higher than those of inland provinces. Second, the regional imbalance in China’s green development performance was gradually worsening. The inter-regional differences were the primary source of the overall differences. The intra-regional difference of green development within the northwest was the largest. Third, among the eight regions, only the southwest region had σ convergence in green development performance; in addition, absolute β convergence and conditional β convergence were divergent, thereby confirming the regional imbalance of the widening regional differences in China’s green development performance. This study aimed to provide a scientific basis and effective reference for further advancing China’s regional coordinated development strategy.
Use of Decision Trees to Evaluate the Impact of a Holistic Music Educational Approach on Children with Special Needs
Authors: Lee Liza , Liu Ying-Sing
Published: January 2021

In this study, decision trees were used to develop a pre-assessment model to help ascertain the impact of music education on children with special needs. The focus of the study was the application of an educational curriculum for 16 weeks, five sessions of 40 min duration per week, using the Holistic Music Educational Approach for Young Children (HMEAYC). The pilot program was implemented with children with special needs to measure its learning effectiveness. The methodology proved a better indicator for improved learning and a better measure of learning effectiveness. Statistical tests confirmed significant improvements in the values of the learning evaluation indices measured by HMEAYC after its implementation in children with special needs, supporting the positive effect of the implementation of HMEAYC for Taiwan’s special needs young children. For children with better learning results, the accuracy of the decision tree model was 84.0% for in-sample and the sensitivity equaled 98.0%. The results support the future development of evaluation models through machine learning languages, pre-assessment of the effectiveness of the implementation of HMEAYC, and the use of continuous investment in educational resources to improve the efficiency of special early childhood education in resource consumption for sustainable development.
The Role of Transformational and Transactional Leadership Approaches on Environmental and Ethical Aspects of CSR
Authors: Changar Mustafa , Atan Tarik
Published: January 2021

Corporations’ accountabilities to implement socially responsible actions towards stakeholders are essential as organizations keep participating in competitive industries. Recently, applying leadership approaches has been the emphasis of both scholars and practitioners, but the concern has not been comprehensively examined. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of transformational and transactional leadership styles on environmental and ethical features of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), in financial services companies located in the United Kingdom (UK). The moderating factor of employees’ years of employment in their respective companies is also examined. Offering contributions through an empirical appraisal of leadership and CSR is aimed. 384 employees working in the financial services companies in the UK were given a structured questionnaire to test our model. The employees offered viewpoints on the leaders, their selves, and the company. Suggested hypotheses were tested through Structured Equation Modelling (SEM). The study concluded that both transformational and transactional leadership approaches had positive impacts on the environmental and ethical aspects of CSR. Additionally, the moderating variable only had an impact on the relationship between transformational leadership and ethical CSR. The study proposes that complementary implementation of transformational and transactional leadership approaches can lead to enhanced socially responsible actions in organizations.
Industrial Symbiosis Implementation Potential—An Applied Assessment Tool for Companies
Authors: Azevedo João , Ferreira Inês , Dias Rui , Ascenço Cristina , Magalhães Bruno , Henriques Juan , Iten Muriel , Cunha Fernando
Published: January 2021

A successful and broad implementation of industrial symbiosis (IS) initiatives is highly related to stakeholder’s involvement and technical considerations on its process’ development. This paper presents a mixed research study (quantitative and qualitative) focusing on the development of a dedicated tool based on sequential modules’ that support companies in the assessment of their potential to develop and implement IS scenarios. The first module considers the identification and characterization of the economic activity of the company to support an IS contextualization analysis. The second module provides the evaluation of the company’s current state, allowing key intervention areas to be defined. The third module focuses on the assessment of the potential scenarios for synergies implementation based on an economic benefit comparison of different valorization scenarios regarding the available surplus or waste. Complementarily, a SWOT analysis for the identification of the internal strengths and weaknesses, the external opportunities and threats associated with the IS process implementation is presented. The final output compiles qualitative and quantitative results regarding each module. The presented tool is currently under validation at industrial case studies. The preliminary results show the high applicability of the proposed tool in order to support decision making processes on surpluses valorization scenarios selection.
Multidimensional Aspects of Sustainable Biofuel Feedstock Production
Authors: Raschke Anna , Hernandez-Suarez J. Sebastian , Nejadhashemi A. Pouyan , Deb Kalyanmoy
Published: January 2021

Bioenergy is becoming increasingly relevant as an alternative to fossil fuels. Various bioenergy feedstocks are suggested as environmentally friendly solutions due to their positive impact on stream health and ability to sequester carbon, but most evaluations for bioenergy feedstocks have not evaluated the implications of bioenergy crop production holistically to date. Through the application of multi-objective optimization on 10 bioenergy feedstock rotations in a Michigan watershed, a Pareto front is searched to identify optimal trade-off solutions for three objective functions representing stream health, environmental emissions/carbon footprint, and economic feasibility. Various multi-criteria decision-making techniques are then applied to the resulting Pareto front to select a set of most-preferred trade-off solutions, which are compared to optimal solutions from each individual objective function. The most-preferred trade-off solutions indicate that a diverse mix of rotations are necessary to optimize all three objectives, whereas the individually optimal solutions do not consider a diverse range of feedstocks, thereby making the proposed multi-objective treatment an important and pragmatic strategy.
Influence of Site Personalization and First Impression on Young Consumers’ Loyalty to Tourism Websites
Authors: Martínez-González José Alberto , Álvarez-Albelo Carmen D.
Published: January 2021

This study analyzes the influence of site personalization, first impression, and design on young consumers’ loyalty to tourism websites. It is a new and necessary study, taking into account the multimedia profile and purchasing potential of the studied segment, the need for increasing online consumer loyalty, and the tourism websites’ relevance. Based on previous findings and using a sample of 609 young consumers, a causal model (PLS) is designed that is practical, novel, and significantly predicts online loyalty. The descriptive analysis results show young consumers’ positive attitudes toward e-commerce and their high online use and potential for making online purchases. The significant influence of site personalization on consumers’ first impression is also confirmed. In addition, first impression influence perceived website quality, and, in turn, this quality affects consumers’ online purchase intention and loyalty to the website. Finally, it is shown that online purchase intention has a direct and positive influence on website loyalty. Thus, this study provides tourism managers with the knowledge to encourage young consumers’ loyalty to their websites in a market orientation context. It can be achieved by acting on the site’s personalisation, the first impression, and the design of the site. The generational approach (Generation Z) also allows the conclusions and implications to be transferred to other regions and sectors.
Experiential Graduate Course Prepares Transdisciplinary Future Leaders to Innovate at the Food-Energy-Water Nexus
Authors: Murray Rianna Teresa , Marbach-Ad Gili , McKee Kelsey , Sapkota Amy Rebecca
Published: January 2021

Food, energy and water (FEW) systems are critically stressed worldwide. These challenges require transformative science, engineering and policy solutions. However, cross-cutting solutions can only arise through transdisciplinary training of our future science and policy leaders. The University of Maryland Global STEWARDS National Science Foundation Research Traineeship seeks to meet these needs. This study assessed a foundational component of the program: a novel, experiential course focused on transdisciplinary training and communication skills. We drew on data from the first two offerings of the course and utilized a mixed-method, multi-informant evaluation that included validated pre–post surveys, individual interviews and focus groups. Paired Mann–Whitney–Wilcoxon tests were used to compare pre- and post-means. After the course, students reported improvements in their ability to identify strengths and weaknesses of multiple FEW nexus disciplines; articulate interplays between FEW systems at multiple scales; explain to peers the most important aspects of their research; and collaborate with scientists outside their field. Students also reported improvements in their oral and written communication skills, along with their ability to critically review others’ work. Our findings demonstrate that this graduate course can serve as an effective model to develop transdisciplinary researchers and communicators through cutting edge, experiential curricular approaches.
Decarbonizing District Heating in EU-27 + UK: How Much Excess Heat Is Available from Industrial Sites?
Authors: Manz Pia , Kermeli Katerina , Persson Urban , Neuwirth Marius , Fleiter Tobias , Crijns-Graus Wina
Published: January 2021

Energy-intensive industries across the EU-28 release unused heat into the environment. This excess heat can be utilized for district heating systems. However, this is the exception today, and the potential contribution to the decarbonization of district heating is not well quantified. An estimation of excess heat, based on industrial processes, and spatial matching to district heating areas is necessary. We present a georeferenced industrial database with annual production and excess heat potentials at different temperature levels matched with current and possible district heating areas. Our results show a total potential of 960 PJ/a (267 TWh/a) of excess heat when the exhaust gases are cooled down to 25 °C, with 47% of the 1.608 studied industrial sites inside or within a 10 km distance of district heating areas. The calculated potentials reveal that currently 230 PJ/a (64 TWh/a) of excess heat is available for district heating areas, about 17% of today’s demand of buildings for district heating. In the future, widespread and low-temperature district heating areas increase the available excess heat to 258 PJ/a (72 TWh/a) at 55 °C or 679 PJ/a (189 TWh/a) at 25 °C. We show that industrial excess heat can substantially contribute to decarbonize district heating, however, the major share of heat will need to be supplied by renewables.
A Study of Prediction Model Improvement for Air-Oxidation Breakaway in a Postulated Spent Nuclear Fuel Pool Complete Loss of Coolant Accident
Authors: Park Sanggil , Lee Jaeyoung , Park Min Bum
Published: January 2021

The temperature of zirconium alloy cladding on the postulated spent nuclear fuel pool complete loss of coolant accident is abruptly increased at a certain time and the cladding is almost fully oxidized to weak ZrO2 in the air. This abrupt temperature escalation phenomenon induced by the air-oxidation breakaway is called a zirconium fire. Although an air-oxidation breakaway kinetic model correlated between time and temperature has been implemented in the MELCOR code, it is likely to bring about unexpected large errors because of many limitations of model derivation. This study suggests an improved time–temperature correlated kinetic model using the Johnson–Mehl equation. It is based on that the air-oxidation breakaway is initiated by the phase transformation from the tetragonal to monoclinic ZrO2 at the oxide–metal interface in the cladding. This new model equation is also evaluated with the Zry-4 air-oxidation literature data. This equation resulted in the almost similar air-oxidation breakaway timing to the actual experimental data at 800 °C. However, at 1000 °C, it showed an error of about 8 min. This could be inferred from the influence of the ZrN phase change due to the nitrogen existing in air.
On Monotonic Pattern in Periodic Boundary Solutions of Cylindrical and Spherical Kortweg–De Vries–Burgers Equations
Authors: Samokhin Alexey
Published: January 2021

We studied, for the Kortweg–de Vries–Burgers equations on cylindrical and spherical waves, the development of a regular profile starting from an equilibrium under a periodic perturbation at the boundary. The regular profile at the vicinity of perturbation looks like a periodical chain of shock fronts with decreasing amplitudes. Further on, shock fronts become decaying smooth quasi-periodic oscillations. After the oscillations cease, the wave develops as a monotonic convex wave, terminated by a head shock of a constant height and equal velocity. This velocity depends on integral characteristics of a boundary condition and on spatial dimensions. In this paper the explicit asymptotic formulas for the monotonic part, the head shock and a median of the oscillating part are found.
Item Response Theory Models for the Fuzzy TOPSIS in the Analysis of Survey Data
Authors: Jefmański Bartłomiej , Sagan Adam
Published: January 2021

The fuzzy TOPSIS (The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) is an attractive tool for measuring complex phenomena based on uncertain data. The original version of the method assumes that the object assessments in terms of the adopted criteria are expressed as triangular fuzzy numbers. One of the crucial stages of the fuzzy TOPSIS is selecting the fuzzy conversion scale, which is used to evaluate objects in terms of the adopted criteria. The choice of a fuzzy conversion scale may influence the results of the fuzzy TOPSIS. There is no uniform approach in constructing and selecting the fuzzy conversion scale for the fuzzy TOPSIS. The choice is subjective and made by researchers. Therefore, the aim of the article is to present a new, objective approach to the construction of fuzzy conversion scales based on Item Response Theory (IRT) models. The following models were used in the construction of fuzzy conversion scales: Polychoric Correlation Model (PM), Polytomous Rasch Model (PRM), Rating Scale Model (RSM), Partial Credit Model (PCM), Generalized Partial Credit Model (GPCM), Graded Response Model (GRM), Nominal Response Model (NRM). The usefulness of the proposed approach is presented on the example of the analysis of a survey’s results on measuring the quality of professional life of inhabitants of selected communes in Poland. The obtained results indicate that the choice of the fuzzy conversion scale has a large impact on the closeness coefficient values. A large difference was also observed in the spreads of triangular fuzzy numbers between scales based on IRT models and those used in the literature on the subject. The use of the fuzzy TOPSIS with fuzzy conversion scales built based on PRM, RSM, PCM, GPCM, and GRM models gives results with a greater range of variability than in the case of fuzzy conversion scales used in empirical research.
Lie Group Method for Solving the Negative-Order Kadomtsev–Petviashvili Equation (nKP)
Authors: Laouini Ghaylen , Amin Amr M. , Moustafa Mohamed
Published: January 2021

A comprehensive study of the negative-order Kadomtsev–Petviashvili (nKP) partial differential equation by Lie group method has been presented. Initially the infinitesimal generators and symmetry reduction, which were obtained by applying the Lie group method on the negative-order Kadomtsev–Petviashvili equation, have been used for constructing the reduced equations. In particular, the traveling wave solutions for the negative-order KP equation have been derived from the reduced equations as an invariant solution. Finally, the extended improved (G′/G) method and the extended tanh method are described and applied in constructing new explicit expressions for the traveling wave solutions. Many new and more general exact solutions are obtained.
Potential Impacts on Treated Water Quality of Recycling Dewatered Sludge Supernatant during Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms
Authors: Pinkanjananavee Kanarat , Teh Swee J. , Kurobe Tomofumi , Lam Chelsea H. , Tran Franklin , Young Thomas M.
Published: January 2021

Cyanobacterial blooms and the associated release of cyanotoxins pose problems for many conventional water treatment plants due to their limited removal by typical unit operations. In this study, a conventional water treatment process consisting of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and sludge dewatering was assessed in lab-scale experiments to measure the removal of microcystin-LR and Microcystis aeruginosa cells using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometer (LC-MS) and a hemacytometer, respectively. The overall goal was to determine the effect of recycling cyanotoxin-laden dewatered sludge supernatant on treated water quality. The lab-scale experimental system was able to maintain the effluent water quality below relevant the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for every parameter analyzed at influent concentrations of M. aeruginosa above 106 cells/mL. However, substantial increases of 0.171 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit), 7 × 104 cells/L, and 0.26 µg/L in turbidity, cyanobacteria cell counts, and microcystin-LR concentration were observed at the time of dewatered supernatant injection. Microcystin-LR concentrations of 1.55 µg/L and 0.25 µg/L were still observed in the dewatering process over 24 and 48 h, respectively, after the initial addition of M.aeruginosa cells, suggesting the possibility that a single cyanobacterial bloom may affect the filtered water quality long after the bloom has dissipated when sludge supernatant recycling is practiced.
A Personal Tribute to a Highly Inspiring Mentor, Professor Sir Peter J. Lachmann, 1931–2020
Authors: Würzner Reinhard
Published: January 2021

With great sadness and sympathy for his family, especially for his wife and companion for many decades, Sylvia, I convey the news of the peaceful passing of Professor Sir Peter Lachmann on 26 December 2020, three days after his 89th birthday and after a Christmas celebration—as far as this was possible these days—in the heart of his family [...]
Male-Dominant Hepatitis A Outbreak Observed among Non-HIV-Infected Persons in the Northern Part of Tokyo, Japan
Authors: Honda Masayuki , Asakura Hiroyuki , Kanda Tatsuo , Somura Yoshiko , Ishii Tomotaka , Yamana Yoichiro , Kaneko Tomohiro , Mizutani Taku , Takahashi Hiroshi , Kumagawa Mariko , Sasaki Reina , Masuzaki Ryota , Kanezawa Shini , Nirei Kazushige , Yamagami Hiroaki , Matsumoto Naoki , Nagashima Mami , Chiba Takashi , Moriyama Mitsuhiko
Published: January 2021

Recently, we experienced an outbreak of acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection between 2018 and 2020. Herein, we describe this male-dominant HAV infection outbreak observed among non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons in the northern part of Tokyo, Japan. Clinical information was collected from patient interviews and from medical record descriptions. In the present study, 21 patients were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 90.4 and 33.3% of patients were males, and men who have sex with men (MSM), respectively. The total bilirubin levels and platelet counts tended to be lower in the MSM group than in the non-MSM group. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels tended to be higher in acute liver failure (ALF) patients than in non-ALF patients. Prolonged cholestasis was observed in one patient (4.8%). We also found that 18 HAV isolates belonged to HAV subgenotype IA/subgroup 13 (S13), which clustered with the HAV isolate (KX151459) that was derived from an outbreak of HAV infection among MSM in Taiwan in 2015. Our results suggest that the application of antivirals against HAV, as well as HAV vaccines, would be useful for the treatment and prevention of severe HAV infection.
Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Obesity and T2D: Literature Review
Authors: Pérez-Galarza Jorge , Prócel César , Cañadas Cristina , Aguirre Diana , Pibaque Ronny , Bedón Ricardo , Sempértegui Fernando , Drexhage Hemmo , Baldeón Lucy
Published: January 2021

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 was first detected in Wuhan, China, causing outbreaks of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 that has now spread globally. For this reason, The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a public health emergency in March 2020. People living with pre-existing conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and chronic kidney and lung diseases, are prone to develop severe forms of disease with fatal outcomes. Metabolic diseases such as obesity and T2D alter the balance of innate and adaptive responses. Both diseases share common features characterized by augmented adiposity associated with a chronic systemic low-grade inflammation, senescence, immunoglobulin glycation, and abnormalities in the number and function of adaptive immune cells. In obese and T2D patients infected by SARS-CoV-2, where immune cells are already hampered, this response appears to be stronger. In this review, we describe the abnormalities of the immune system, and summarize clinical findings of COVID-19 patients with pre-existing conditions such as obesity and T2D as this group is at greater risk of suffering severe and fatal clinical outcomes.
Assessment of Remote Sensing and Re-Analysis Estimates of Regional Precipitation over Mato Grosso, Brazil
Authors: Junior Altemar L. Pedreira , Biudes Marcelo S. , Machado Nadja G. , Vourlitis George L. , Geli Hatim M. E. , Santos Luiz Octávio F. dos , Querino Carlos A. S. , Ivo Israel O. , Neto Névio Lotufo
Published: January 2021

The spatial and temporal distribution of precipitation is of great importance for the rain-fed agricultural production and the socioeconomics of Mato Grosso (MT), Brazil. MT has a sparse network of ground rain gauges that limits the effective use of precipitation information for sustainable agricultural production and water resources in the region. Several gridded precipitation products from remote sensing and reanalysis of land surface models are currently available that can enhance the use of such information. However, these products are available at different spatial and temporal resolutions which add some challenges to stakeholders (users) to identify their appropriateness for specific applications (e.g., irrigation requirements, length of growing season, and drought monitoring). Thus, it is necessary to provide an assessment of the reliability of these precipitation estimates. The objective of this work was to compare regional precipitation estimates over MT as provided by the Global Land Data Assimilation (GLDAS), Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA), Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM), Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM), and the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) with ground-based measurements. The comparison was conducted for the 2000–2018 period at eleven ground-based weather stations that covered different climate zones in MT using daily, monthly, and annual temporal resolutions. The comparison used the Pearson correlation index–r, Willmott index–d, root mean square error—RMSE, and the Wilks methods. The results showed GPM and GLDAS estimates did not differ significantly with the measured daily, monthly, and annual precipitation. TRMM estimates slightly overestimated daily precipitation by about 4.7% but did not show significant difference on the monthly and annual scales when compared with local measurements. The GPCP underestimated annual precipitation by about 7.1%. MERRA underestimated daily, monthly, and annual precipitation by about 22.9% on average. In general, all products satisfactorily estimated monthly precipitation, and most of them satisfactorily estimated annual precipitation; however, they showed low accuracy when estimating daily precipitation. The TRMM, GPM, GPCP, and GLDAS estimates had the highest performance, from high to low, while MERRA showed the lowest performance. The findings of this study can be used to support the decision-making process in the region in application related to water resources management, sustainability of agriculture production, and drought management.
Assessing Diazinon Pollution in the Three Major Rivers Flowing into the Caspian Sea (Iran)
Authors: Dahmardeh Behrooz Reza , Esmaili-sari Abbas , Urbaniak Magdalena , Chakraborty Paromita
Published: January 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonal and spatial variations in the concentrations of a widely used organophosphorous pesticide (OPP), diazinon, and the associated risk posed by this OPP in the surface water from the three largest rivers located in the northern province of Iran: the Haraz, the Talar and the Babolrood rivers. These rivers are located in the agriculture province of Mazandaran, and are exposed to high doses of organophosphorus pesticides, especially diazinon. The concentration of diazinon was determined using gas chromatography, while the potential risk posed by diazinon was elucidated using a Risk Quotient (RQ) calculated for general (RQm) and worst-case (RQex) scenarios. The obtained results demonstrated that the average diazinon concentrations ranged from 41 ± 76 ng/L in the Talar River and 57 ± 116 ng/L in the Haraz River, to 76.5 ± 145 ng/L in the Babolrood River, with a significant difference noted between summer and autumn seasons for all three rivers. For some stations, the concentration of diazinon is higher than the standard guidelines of Australian/New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (FMWQ) and the United States Criteria Maximum Concentration (CMC). The calculated RQs indicated a medium risk of diazinon, RQm = 0.73 and RQex = 2.27, in the Talar River; RQm = 1.02 and RQex = 2.49 in the Haraz River; and RQm = 1.35 and RQex = 4.54 in the Babolrood River. The overall exposure of diazinon was defined to have a high risk (RQm and RQex > 1); however, the summer sampling revealed a high risk (RQm and RQex > 1), while the autumn had a medium risk (RQm and RQex < 1). The obtained results revealed not only elevated concentrations of diazinon in the studied rivers but most importantly the high risk posed by this OPP for the aquatic organisms and the wellbeing of the whole river ecosystem. The current study showed that development and implementation of appropriate standards and regulations toward diazinon in countries such as Iran are required to reduce the pollution levels and risks related to elevated concentrations of the studied pesticide.