bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intention Detection Using Physical Sensors and Electromyogram for a Single Leg Knee Exoskeleton
Authors: Moon Dae-Hoon , Kim Donghan , Hong Young-Dae
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we present a knee exoskeleton. Due to the complicated structure of the knee, an exoskeleton can limit the wearer’s movement (e.g., when completely sitting down). To prevent this, the proposed exoskeleton is designed to move the ankle part prismatically, so the movement of the wearer is not limited. In addition, the developed exoskeleton could be worn on only one leg, but in this case, it is difficult to detect the intention because the relative relationship information of the two legs is unknown. For this purpose, the length between the knee center of rotation and the ankle (LBKA) was measured and used for intention detection. Using a physical sensor—an encoder and an LBKA sensor, the success rate of intention detection was 82.1%. By additionally using an electromyogram (EMG) sensor, the success rate of intention detection was increased to 92%, and the intention detection was also 27.1 ms faster on average.
A Critical Step to Using a Parametric Array Loudspeaker in Mobile Devices
Authors: Ahn Hongmin , Been Kyounghun , Kim In-Dong , Lee Chong Hyun , Moon Wonkyu
Published: October 2019

A parametric array (PA) loudspeaker is a highly directional audio source that might grant one's convenience if it is used with mobile devices. However, conventional PA loudspeakers is almost impossible to apply in mobile devices using a battery because of the large power consumption and large device size. In this study, a PA loudspeaker system (PALS) was fabricated and evaluated to show that those difficulties could be overcome to apply it to mobile devices. In order to construct a PALS for demonstration, a power amplifier and signal-processing unit should also be properly designed and built. The PA source transducer should also be designed and built for a mobile device application. These components were integrated into a single PALS. The PALS generated a 125-dB primary wave and 62 dB of a different frequency wave (DFW) through the PA at 0.45 m in a 3 m × 3 m × 2 m semi-anechoic chamber. We confirmed that the half-power bandwidth (HPBW) formed a 6° beam at 83 kHz of DFW and 90 kHz of the primary wave (PW), and the HPBW formed a 7.3° beam at 5 kHz of DFW and a 7.1° beam at 10 kHz of DFW, respectively. Lastly, the power required was 6.65 W without a matching circuit, and 3.25 W with such a circuit.
3D FEM Analysis of High-Frequency AlN-Based PMUT Arrays on Cavity SOI
Authors: Liu Wenjuan , He Leming , Wang Xubo , Zhou Jia , Xu Weijiang , Smagin Nikolay , Toubal Malika , Yu Hao , Gu Yuandong , Xu Jinghui , Remiens Denis , Ren Junyan
Published: October 2019

This paper presents three-dimensional (3D) models of high-frequency piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (PMUTs) based on the finite element method (FEM). These models are verified with fabricated aluminum nitride (AlN)-based PMUT arrays. The 3D numerical model consists of a sandwiched piezoelectric structure, a silicon passive layer, and a silicon substrate with a cavity. Two types of parameters are simulated with periodic boundary conditions: (1) the resonant frequencies and mode shapes of PMUT, and (2) the electrical impedance and acoustic field of PMUT loaded with air and water. The resonant frequencies and mode shapes of an electrically connected PMUT array are obtained with a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV). The first resonant frequency difference between 3D FEM simulation and the measurement for a 16-MHz PMUT is reasonably within 6%, which is just one-third of that between the analytical method and the measurement. The electrical impedance of the PMUT array measured in air and water is consistent with the simulation results. The 3D model is suitable for predicting electrical and acoustic performance and, thus, optimizing the structure of high-frequency PMUTs. It also has good potential to analyze the transmission and reception performances of a PMUT array for future compact ultrasonic systems.
3D Object Recognition Based on Point Clouds in Underwater Environment with Global Descriptors: A Survey
Authors: Himri Khadidja , Ridao Pere , Gracias Nuno
Published: October 2019

This paper addresses the problem of object recognition from colorless 3D point clouds in underwater environments. It presents a performance comparison of state-of-the-art global descriptors, which are readily available as open source code. The studied methods are intended to assist Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) in performing autonomous interventions in underwater Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR) applications. A set of test objects were chosen as being representative of IMR applications whose shape is typically known a priori. As such, CAD models were used to create virtual views of the objects under realistic conditions of added noise and varying resolution. Extensive experiments were conducted from both virtual scans and from real data collected with an AUV equipped with a fast laser sensor developed in our research centre. The underwater testing was conducted from a moving platform, which can create deformations in the perceived shape of the objects. These effects are considerably more difficult to correct than in above-water counterparts, and therefore may affect the performance of the descriptor. Among other conclusions, the testing we conducted illustrated the importance of matching the resolution of the database scans and test scans, as this significantly impacted the performance of all descriptors except one. This paper contributes to the state-of-the-art as being the first work on the comparison and performance evaluation of methods for underwater object recognition. It is also the first effort using comparison of methods for data acquired with a free floating underwater platform.
Recent Approaches for Solid Dose Vaccine Delivery
Authors: Jahan Nishat , Archie Sabrina Rahman , Shoyaib Abdullah Al , Kabir Nadia , Cheung Karmen
Published: October 2019

Recent studies on vaccine delivery systems are exploring the possibility of replacing liquid vaccines with solid dose vaccines due to the many advantages that solid dose vaccines can offer. These include the prospect of a needle-free vaccine delivery system leading to better patient compliance, cold chain storage, less-trained vaccinators and fewer chances for needle stick injury hazards. Some studies also indicate that vaccines in a solid dosage form can result in a higher level of immunogenicity compared to the liquid form, thus providing a dose-sparing effect. This review outlines the different approaches in solid vaccine delivery using various routes of administration including, oral, pulmonary, intranasal, buccal, sublingual, and transdermal routes. The various techniques and their current advancements will provide a knowledge base for future work to be carried out in this arena.
Perspectives of University-Industry Technology Transfer in African Emerging Economies: Evaluating the Nigerian Scenario via a Data Envelopment Approach
Authors: Fadeyi Oluwaseun , Maresova Petra , Stemberkova Ruzena , Afolayan Micheal , Adeoye Funminiyi
Published: October 2019

All of Africa’s emerging economies are faced with developmental challenges, which can be partly ameliorated using effective University–Industry technology transfer. While technology transfer remains at the infant stage, sparsely documented, and with no complex ongoing processes in many African societies, Universities in Africa are making efforts in University–Industry collaborations aimed at bringing significant improvements to the continent in a bid to drive national innovation and regional economic development. In this paper, we attempt to evaluate the progress made so far by Nigerian Universities in technological innovation transfer, in order to suggest ways for possible future progress. To do this, crucial technology transfer resource factors (inputs), namely, the number of linkage projects funded by the “African Research Council” (ARC), consortium membership of the University’s technology transfer office, and the number of doctoral staff at the University’s technology transfer office, were checked against a set of performance measures (number of executed licenses, amount of licensing royalty income, number of spin-offs created, and the number of spin-offs created with university equity), using data envelopment analysis and multiple regression, respectively. Results suggest that Universities that possess better resource factors reported higher outputs on most of the performance indicators applied. In addition, it was observed that Universities with greater ability to effectively transfer knowledge had higher technology commercialization performance and financial sustainability. The implication of these results is that Universities in Africa need to develop in line with the technology transfer resource (input) factors suggested within this study, as this is the way to go for better performance.
Attitude as a Mediator between Sustainable Behaviour and Sustainable Knowledge: An Approximation through a Case Study in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Domínguez-Valerio Cándida María , Moral-Cuadra Salvador , Medina-Viruel Miguel Jesús , Orgaz-Agüera Francisco
Published: October 2019

The current ongoing globalisation shows an increasing amount of issues regarding sustainability, which is to be addressed from the very first stages. In this sense, different variables have been measured in the form of a survey in order to learn about the behaviour, attitude and knowledge of high school students in the Dominican Republic regarding sustainability, using a methodology based on structural equations through the SmartPls (v. 3.2.8) program. Among the main deductions, a mediation between their knowledge and behaviour towards sustainable development is to be highlighted.
Place-Based Policies for Sustainability and Rural Development: The Case of a Portuguese Village “Spun” in Traditional Linen
Authors: Vasta Alessandro , Figueiredo Elisabete , Valente Sandra , Vihinen Hilkka , Nieto-Romero Marta
Published: October 2019

In recent decades, European rural development policies have transitioned toward a more place-based approach. This claim rests on the assumption that the diversity of resources within rural areas can be a potential source for place-shaping practices and sustainability. Moreover, this shift away from a top-down sectorial toward a more territorial focus has also shed light on the importance of agency, relations, and how people engage. Many rural areas in Europe, and particularly in Portugal, have seen a withdrawal of focus away from agriculture toward more diversified activities, where place-based approaches can untap local potential, stimulate sustainable place-shaping practices, and create significant well-being. However, some rural communities have difficulties in capitalizing on them due to unfavorable demographics such as depopulation and aging, a focus on traditional industries, and a lack of technical knowledge. The aim of the article is to discuss the role of place-based policies for enabling place-shaping practices revolving around traditional resources in rural areas and their contribution to sustainability. The study briefly highlights the recent debate around European rural development policies and illustrates their implementation through place-shaping practices via a case study in a Portuguese rural village—Várzea de Calde. The village revalorized itself and is trying to tackle marginalization processes through its traditional linen, which is a local material and immaterial resource, via collective agency and a strong sense of identity. The case study will provide empirical insights in discussing the effects of sustainable place-shaping practices stimulating by place-based policy instruments. Our conclusions highlight the positive contributions toward sustainability through improvements in social (e.g., identity) and economic well-being.
The Behavior of a Multi-Story Steel Frame Subject to Measured Fire Using Calibrated Simple Approach
Authors: Kim Robin E. , Piao Xingyue , An Jae Hong
Published: October 2019

Structural steels are one of the most popular construction materials with a number of merits, such as cost-effectiveness, durability, lightweight, versatility, etc. However, when exposed to a high temperature, their thermal expansion rate is high and the strength reduces substantially, making the steel structures vulnerable to fire. So far, a number of studies have been performed to understand the behavior of steel in fire. Rigorous tests, from the material to structural level, have led the advancement of modeling techniques. Among various analytical techniques, one of the most widely used approaches is the finite element modeling (FEM). While FEM can demonstrate geometrical and material nonlinearities, due to the complexity, the approach may result in high computational loads to ensure the convergence. Thus, in this paper, a simple calculation method is instead used to understand the steel frame subject to fire, in conjunction with experimentally collected temperature and displacement data. Then, at each temperature (before and after critical temperature and the formation of plastic hinges), the effect of elevated temperature on global behavior is examined using frame analysis. Results of the study have demonstrated that when structural integrity is of concern, the critical temperature of the structure must be examined in terms of fundamental characteristics of the structure.
Managing Diversity: The Challenges of Inter-University Cooperation in Sustainability Education
Authors: Činčera Jan , Mikusiński Grzegorz , Binka Bohuslav , Calafate Luis , Calheiros Cristina , Cardoso Alexandra , Hedblom Marcus , Jones Michael , Koutsouris Alex , Vasconcelos Clara , Iwińska Katarzyna
Published: October 2019

One of the main challenges in sustainability discourse is its multifaceted nature often requiring that many different disciplines must cooperate in order to achieve progress. This issue also concerns sustainability education. In the article, we highlighted the experiences from the international cooperation of university teachers and researchers with highly diverse professional backgrounds who worked together on developing educational materials for university students in sustainability-oriented courses. The study is based on qualitative, participatory evaluation research, applying two rounds of open-ended questionnaires distributed to the same respondents (n = 18). For the analysis, we used the open-coding procedure for identifying the main categories. The results show some of the opportunities and barriers that emerged in the process of this cooperation. In particular, we discuss the issues related to the high heterogeneity of the group, such as the clashes of the different perspectives on the topics covered, group dynamics issues, trust, facilitation challenges, and also opportunities that such heterogeneity offers. We highlight the importance of open reflectivity in sustainability-oriented educational projects as the key to their successful implementation. Finally, we believe that results of this participatory study are useful in designing new projects aiming at further improvement of academic education in sustainability and sustainable development.
Prevention of Barite Sag in Oil-Based Drilling Fluids Using a Mixture of Barite and Ilmenite as Weighting Material
Authors: Mohamed Abdelmjeed , Basfar Salem , Elkatatny Salaheldin , Al-Majed Abdulaziz
Published: October 2019

Drilling high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) wells requires a special fluid formulation that is capable of controlling the high pressure and is stable under the high downhole temperature. Barite-weighted fluids are common for such purpose because of the good properties of barite, its low cost, and its availability. However, solids settlement is a major problem encountered with this type of fluids, especially at elevated downhole temperatures. This phenomenon is known as barite sag, and it is encountered in vertical and directional wells under static or dynamic conditions leading to serious well control issues. This study aims to evaluate the use of barite-ilmenite mixture as a weighting agent to prevent solids sag in oil-based muds at elevated temperatures. Sag test was conducted under static conditions (vertical and inclined) at 350 °F and under dynamic conditions at 120 °F to determine the optimum ilmenite concentration. Afterward, a complete evaluation of the drilling fluid was performed by monitoring density, electrical stability, rheological and viscoelastic properties, and filtration performance to study the impact of adding ilmenite on drilling fluid performance. The results of this study showed that adding ilmenite reduces sag tendency, and only 40 wt.% ilmenite (from the total weighting material) was adequate to eliminate barite sag under both static and dynamic conditions with a sag factor of around 0.51. Adding ilmenite enhanced the rheological and viscoelastic properties and the suspension of solid particles in the drilling fluid, which confirmed sag test results. Adding ilmenite slightly increased the density of the drilling fluid, with a slight decrease in the electrical stability within the acceptable range of field applications. Moreover, a minor improvement in the filtration performance of the drilling fluid and filter cake sealing properties was observed with the combined weighting agent. The findings of this study provide a practical solution to the barite sag issue in oil-based fluids using a combination of barite and ilmenite powder as a weighting agent to drill HPHT oil and gas wells safely and efficiently with such type of fluids.
Effects of Transformational and Instructional Leadership on Organizational Silence and Attractiveness and Their Importance for the Sustainability of Educational Institutions
Authors: Atalay Davut , Akçıl Umut , Özkul Ali Efdal
Published: October 2019

Managers are expected to carry various leadership qualities in order to raise the human profiles (professionals) required by society. Leadership becomes even more important when it comes to education as it shapes our future. In educational institutions, especially transformational leadership (TL) and instructional leadership (IL) have a particular importance and play an active role in conveying a classical managerial approach. This as well influences the sustainability of the educational institutions. The managers with these two leadership qualities will contribute to a reduction in their employees’ perceptions of organizational silence (OS) and an increase in the perception of organizational attractiveness (OA). In this paper, we analyzed the effects of transformational and instructional leadership styles of the managers of high schools, which contain the aviation field of study, and their effects on organizational attractiveness and organizational silence. The universe of this study is 1537 teachers working in 21 public high schools in the 2017–2018 academic year in Turkey, and the sample is 749 teachers who responded to the survey. We used a relational model of quantitative research methods. In this study, the Transformational Leadership Scale and the Instructional Leadership Scale were used to determine the leadership styles of the managers according to the perceptions of the teachers, while the Organizational Attractiveness Scale and the Organizational Silence Scale were used to determine the perceived organizational attractiveness and organizational silence of the teachers. Within the scope of reliability analysis, all dimensions of the scales used were found to be reliable. SPSS 24.0 and LISREL 8.1 package programs were used in the analysis of the research data and the relations between the variables were examined by using the Structural Equation Model. As the main finding is the existence of correlation of the elements, specifically, it was found that transformational and instructional leadership have positive effect with same-direction on organizational attractiveness, positive effect with inverse-direction on organizational silence, as well as positive effect with inverse-direction between organizational silence and organizational attractiveness. These findings provide an additional layer of factors to be analyzed that might affect the sustainability of educational institutions. We propose further studies to be carried out on development of new correlation models between sustainability elements on one side, and organizational silence or organizational attractiveness on the other.
A Proposal for the Development of a Building Management System for Extending the Lifespan of Housing Complexes in Japan
Authors: Kimura Takahiro , Zhang Tao , Fukuda Hiroatsu
Published: October 2019

A modified periodic inspection reporting system based on Article 12 of the Building Standards Act was enforced on 1 April 2008 in Japan. The Periodic Inspection Reporting System based on the article entered its 11th year since its enforcement in 2019. We investigated more than 100 residential building inspection reports based on this article in Kitakyushu of Japan and found what kind of defects can be reported in this investigation system. In this paper, we show the typical defects and related problems of Japanese residential buildings. According to the data, we scrutinized existing building inspection and maintenance procedures defining the problematic areas of older housing complexes and outlined some deterioration trends. We analyzed, in particular, the state of building foundations, exterior and interior walls, roofs, evacuation passages, facilities, and the state of exterior tiles in the function of solar orientation, and quantified the number of problems correlated to the age of the buildings. In parallel, we reviewed the current state of the laws and policies applied to building quality and management in Japan. We analyzed the whole building inspection process, identifying some flaws that limit its effectiveness and reach, due mostly to miscommunications between the property owners, local government, and the contractors. Based on that, we proposed an alternative and improved building management system.
An Assessment of the Environmental Sustainability and Circularity of Future Scenarios of the Copper Life Cycle in the U.S.
Authors: Gorman Miranda R. , Dzombak David A.
Published: October 2019

Assessments of availability and sustainability of metals necessary for economic development into the future are important for planning by producers, consumers, and governments. This work assessed the U.S. copper life cycle and examined six future scenarios by which to assess the circular economy and sustainability of copper to 2030. Regression analysis methodology was used to identify relationships among seven drivers and eight materials flows. These relationships were used to develop six forecasts of future scenarios for U.S. production, consumption, old scrap collection, new scrap recovery, landfilling, and scrap exports of copper. Flow forecasts were used to quantify circularity and environmental footprint metrics to assess sustainability. Results of the scenario analyses provide insights into the types of behaviors and trends that could be incentivized to allow for increased circularity of copper. One such finding was that slow population growth and high urbanization resulted in the most circular scenario. Major limitations to circularity are import reliance and scrap exports. Analysis of the scenarios leads to the conclusions that population dynamics are critical to the circularity of copper, as well as that both environmental footprint metrics and circularity indicators must be considered when assessing environmental sustainability.
Sustainable Influence of Manager’s Pro-Social Rule-Breaking Behaviors on Employees’ Performance
Authors: Li Yi , Li Dacheng , Li Nana
Published: October 2019

As a specific form of constructive deviance, it is difficult to judge how managerial pro-social rule-breaking will affect employees’ performance and when it will have a positive or negative impact on employees’ performance. This paper explores boundary conditions under which managerial pro-social rule-breaking behavior is sustainably beneficial or harmful to employees’ performance, through the meditating mechanism of leadership identification from a social identity perspective. Data were gathered across three phases from 283 pairs of individuals and their managers in three companies. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was adopted in this paper and the Monte Carlo method was used to estimate 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results showed that for employees with high psychological work maturity, managerial pro-social rule-breaking behavior was negatively related to leadership identification, while the relationship was positive when employees have low psychological work maturity. Leadership identification, in turn, was positively related to employees’ performance (in and extra-role).
Valuing Biodiversity in Life Cycle Impact Assessment
Authors: Lindner Jan , Fehrenbach Horst , Winter Lisa , Bloemer Judith , Knuepffer Eva
Published: October 2019

In this article, the authors propose an impact assessment method for life cycle assessment (LCA) that adheres to established LCA principles for land use-related impact assessment, bridges current research gaps and addresses the requirements of different stakeholders for a methodological framework. The conservation of biodiversity is a priority for humanity, as expressed in the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Addressing biodiversity across value chains is a key challenge for enabling sustainable production pathways. Life cycle assessment is a standardised approach to assess and compare environmental impacts of products along their value chains. The impact assessment method presented in this article allows the quantification of the impact of land-using production processes on biodiversity for several broad land use classes. It provides a calculation framework with degrees of customisation (e.g., to take into account regional conservation priorities), but also offers a default valuation of biodiversity based on naturalness. The applicability of the method is demonstrated through an example of a consumer product. The main strength of the approach is that it yields highly aggregated information on the biodiversity impacts of products, enabling biodiversity-conscious decisions about raw materials, production routes and end user products.
Designing a Web Spatial Decision Support System Based on Analytic Network Process to Locate a Freight Lorry Parking
Authors: Crimi Alessandro , Jones Tom , Sgalambro Antonino
Published: October 2019

The relevant role of freight lorry parking facilities as a tool to reduce nuisances and impact of economic activities in densely populated urban areas is widely recognised in the literature. Nevertheless, the literature currently lacks specific contributions addressing the use of a complex Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approach for coping with an optimal location of freight lorry parking facilities in the urban context. This paper contributes to filling this gap by analysing a real-world case study motivated by the problem of intense freight vehicles traffic around the city of Bradford, Yorkshire (UK). Since it is necessary to include diverse analysis perspectives, reflecting the different classes of involved stakeholders, this study proposes adopting the Analytic Network Process (ANP) approach as a tool to support the selection and evaluation of alternatives for a freight lorry parking facility, followed by the design of software based on this approach. The proposed web Spatial Decision Support System provides a valuable tool to foster extended discussions with experts and facilitate the decision process in this class of location problems.
Use of Variable Fuzzy Clustering to Quantify the Vulnerability of a Power Grid to Earthquake Damage
Authors: Li Tianhua , Du Yanchao , Yuan Yongbo
Published: October 2019

The power grid is a critical component of city infrastructure. If it is damaged by an earthquake, there can be a huge impact on the safety and well-being of society and individuals. Identifying nodes in the grid that are highly vulnerable to earthquake damage is significant for effective pre-earthquake damage prevention, emergency response, and post-earthquake relief. Three indicators, the probability of node disconnection, the node hierarchical level, and the node critical threshold, were chosen, and their combined ability to represent node vulnerability to damage from an earthquake event was analyzed. A variable fuzzy clustering model was used to classify and order the nodes in the grid. The 20-node power grid of a city was used as an example to show how highly vulnerable nodes were identified, and how the reasons for the high vulnerability of these nodes were drawn out of the analysis. Countermeasures were given to reduce network vulnerability. The variable fuzzy clustering method used in this paper offers a new perspective on network vulnerability, and it quantifies the vulnerability of grid nodes more comprehensively than existing methods of assessing grid vulnerability. This research is significant as a baseline reference for future studies of grid vulnerability.
Comprehensive Public Transport Service Accessibility Index—A New Approach Based on Degree Centrality and Gravity Model
Authors: Yang Ruqin , Liu Yaolin , Liu Yanfang , Liu Hui , Gan Wenxia
Published: October 2019

Public transport accessibility (PTA) is an essential index for evaluating the efficiency of urban public transport resource and public service. Improving public transport accessibility is considered as the most effective way of alleviating urban congestion and promoting urban sustainability. PTA can be divided into three types, which are access to stations, accessibility of networks and access to activities. This paper focuses on evaluating access to public transport service at stations, considering walking time to stations and waiting time for services at stations. Numerous studies have been carried out on evaluating the accessibility of public transport stations. When building accessibility evaluation model, rare has seen different public transport modes as an integrated system. Hence the topological structure and geometrical layout of the system are not considered. In this paper, factors like the configuration of the public transport system and the surrounding environment of stations are included for the evaluation. The centrality of station index (COS) is presented to describe the importance of stations in the integrated public transport system. The COS index is an improved combination of the gravity model and degree centrality index of the complex network. This index improves the degree centrality index by replacing the number of nodes with weighted connections between stations. By modeling public transport operation, configuration and surroundings of stations, a comprehensive public transport service accessibility index (CPTAI) is formulated to quantify accessibility at the community level. To compute this index, a network analysis model is firstly applied to find the nearest station for each point of interest (POI) by using ArcGIS desktop 10.2, and the transport service frequency at the nearest station is measured. Then Baidu Map API is employed to measure the impedance indexes between stations in the integrated public transport network. Activities covered by stations within a given distance are seen as the generation and attraction of trips in between the stations. Then a weighted gravity model and COS is presented to calculate the integrated service frequency (ISF) for each POI afterward. In the end, the index is converted to the community level, which is CPTAI. The experiment is carried out in Wuhan metropolitan area, Hubei, China. Smart card data (SCD) is utilized to evaluate CPTAI and examine the association between commuting trips by public transport and accessibility level within Wuhan metropolitan area. Experimental results show that CPTAI has a significant statistical association with trips by public transport.
GIS-Based Site Selection for Check Dams in Watersheds: Considering Geomorphometric and Topo-Hydrological Factors
Authors: Rahmati Omid , Kalantari Zahra , Samadi Mahmood , Uuemaa Evelyn , Moghaddam Davoud Davoudi , Nalivan Omid Asadi , Destouni Georgia , Tien Bui Dieu
Published: October 2019

Check dams are widely used watershed management measures for reducing flood peak discharge and sediment transport, and increasing lag time and groundwater recharge throughout the world. However, identifying the best suitable sites for check dams within the stream networks of various watersheds remains challenging. This study aimed to develop an open-source software with user-friendly interface for screening the stream network possibilities and identifying and guiding the selection of suitable sites for check dams within watersheds. In this developed site selection software (SSS), multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was integrated into geographic information systems (GIS), which allowed for numerous spatial data of the multiple criteria to be relatively simply and visually processed. Different geomorphometric and topo-hydrological factors were considered and accounted for to enhance the SSS identification of the best locations for check dams. The factors included topographic wetness index (TWI), terrain ruggedness index (TRI), topographic position index (TPI), sediment transport index (STI), stream power index (SPI), slope, drainage density (DD), and stream order (SO). The site identification performance of the SSS was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve method, with results for the case study example of the Poldokhtar watershed in Iran showing excellent performance and identifying 327 potential sites for efficient check dam construction in this watershed. The SSS tool is not site-specific but is rather general, adaptive, and comprehensive, such that it can and should be further applied and tested across different watersheds and parts of the world.
Quality and Safety of Pork Steak Marinated in Fermented Dairy Products and Sous-Vide Cooked
Authors: Latoch Agnieszka , Libera Justyna
Published: October 2019

Consumers expect the appropriate tenderness, juiciness, and taste, a well as sufficiently long shelf life from meat subjected to thermal processing. One of the methods used to achieve this effect is sous-vide (SV). However, the low temperatures used in this method may not be sufficient to ensure the safety of the meat product. In order to increase safety and reduce adverse sensory changes, we suggest marinating the meat in fermented dairy products (FDP). The aim of the study was to determine the impact of marinating meat in FDP (kefir, yogurt, buttermilk), marinating time (3–12 days), and SV temperature (60 or 80 °C) on the quality and safety of pork steaks. Marinating the meat increases the level of loss during cooking, but at the same time, has no effect on the chemical composition and activity of water. The acidity of steaks decreases with the time of marinating. A few days of meat marinating in buttermilk or yogurt slows down the fat oxidation reactions and reduces the content of oxidizing substances in meat. Meat marinated in FDP and SV cooked contains acceptable microbial values. Marinating in FDP, especially in yogurt or buttermilk, improves the quality and safety of SV-cooked pork steaks.
Analysing Drivers and Barriers of Accommodation Sharing in Dubai Using the Grey-DEMATEL Approach
Authors: Alraeeini Mohammed , Zhong Qiuyan , Antarciuc Elena
Published: October 2019

The continuous growth of the sharing economy has the potential to transform the competition in the accommodation sector. At present, research on accommodation sharing is scarce. This paper identifies drivers and barriers to accommodation sharing in Dubai. Taking into account different viewpoints of accommodation sharing professionals in Dubai and the grey-based Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method, this study singles out the essential drivers and barriers and examines the cause and effect connections between them. The process starts with a review of the existing accommodation sharing literature and the feedback from the industry experts to identify the drivers and barriers. Then, the elaboration of the questionnaire, data collection from five experts, data analysis with grey-based DEMATEL, and the sensitivity analysis follow. The lower costs, higher value, ease of use, wealth of available information, and contributions to the development of the local economy and residents are the most influential drivers of accommodation sharing in Dubai. The difficulties related to learning and using new technology along with insufficient or underdeveloped accommodation sharing legislation are the most critical barriers. The paper ends with implications for the stakeholders, limitations, and future directions for research on accommodation sharing.
A CBR–AHP Hybrid Method to Support the Decision-Making Process in the Selection of Environmental Management Actions
Authors: Ramos-Quintana Fernando , Tovar-Sánchez Efraín , Saldarriaga-Noreña Hugo , Sotelo-Nava Héctor , Sánchez-Hernández Juan Paulo , Castrejón-Godínez María-Luisa
Published: October 2019

This paper proposes a hybrid method integrating case-based reasoning (CBR) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) methods to reinforce the sustainable performance of an environmental management system. The CBR–AHP method aims to support the decision-making process to select environmental management actions (EMAs) aimed at reducing risky trends of the environmental state of a region. The CBR methods takes advantage of a set of situation–solution pairs called cases, which are stored in a memory and then retrieved as candidates to solve new problems. Situations in this work are represented by a set of risky trends of key environmental pathways (KEPs) related to CO2 emissions, air quality, loss of vegetation cover, water availability, and solid waste, the combination of which damage the environmental state quality of a region. Meanwhile, solutions are represented by a set of EMAs. Similar situations to a given current situation are retrieved from the memory of cases, and then their solutions are combined through an adaptation mechanism, until the solution of the current problem is obtained. The AHP method is used to assign weights to environmental variables and to alternative solutions represented by EMAs. We used risky trends derived from real data related to the environmental states of a Mexican region to test the proposed CBR–AHP hybrid method. The results obtained provided insights into the potential of the CBR–AHP hybrid method to support the decision-making process to select EMAs aimed at reducing risky trends of current environmental states.
Organizational Learning and Corporate Social Responsibility Drivers of Performance in SMEs in Northwestern Mexico
Authors: Valdez-Juárez Luis Enrique , Gallardo-Vázquez Dolores , Ramos-Escobar Elva Alicia
Published: October 2019

The main objective of this article is to examine the effects of the organizational learning and corporate social responsibility (social, economic and environmental) practices that exert on the financial performance of SMEs (small and medium enterprises). The research is based on a sample of 343 companies of which 19.8% belong to the primary sector, 26.6% to the secondary sector and 53.6% to the tertiary sector of the northwestern region of Mexico. The data were collected from February to May 2018 with the support of a self-directed structured survey of company managers. For the analysis and validation of the results, the statistical technique of the structural equations model (SEM) based on the variance was used to validate the structured relationships in this investigation through PLS (partial least squares). These analyses were prepared with the support of SmartPLS version 3.2.8 Professional. The results indicate that OLE (organizational learning) is a key element to strengthen CSR (corporate social responsibility) practices and increase financial performance in these types of companies, and that CSR is key to increasing financial performance. In addition, it was found that the OLE is a variable that mediates the relationship between CSR and financial performance. The work contributes to the development of the literature of organizational learning, the theory of resources and capabilities, and stakeholder theory
Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Urban Farming in South African Low-Income Settlements: A Case Study in Durban
Authors: Bisaga Iwona , Parikh Priti , Loggia Claudia
Published: October 2019

Growing urban centres have been attracting ever higher numbers of rural migrants, including small-scale farmers, looking for better opportunities due to the rise of large-scale farming, loss of land and climate change. Consequently, there has been an increase in the number of spontaneous and informal settlements being constructed as cities do not keep up with the planning and infrastructure development for new arrivals. Urban dwellers in informal, unplanned settlements where issues of land tenure and access to services are prevalent have, consequently, been exposed to precarious living conditions with limited access to food and water scarcity. Urban agriculture (UA) strategies have been adopted by those residents to alleviate poverty and food insecurity, and have been seen to perform other functions, such as environmental, social, cultural and developmental. This study explores challenges and opportunities for sustainable urban farming as an integrated environmental management strategy for the upgrading of informal settlements in three case studies in Durban. This paper demonstrates the need for municipalities to support community driven processes to ensure sustainability of UA initiatives and sustained investment for maintenance. Policy makers need to create an enabling environment for academics, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector to co-develop water efficient solutions to manage the food-water nexus and capitalise on localised community structures and groups, such as co-operatives and women groups.
Eliciting Weights of Significance of Criteria for a Monitoring Model of Performance of SMEs for Successful Insolvency Administrator’s Intervention
Authors: Podviezko Askoldas , Kurschus Ralph , Lapinskiene Giedre
Published: October 2019

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are accounted for as a major part of the economy of the EU in terms of part of the population employed, turnover, value-added, etc. Causes of insolvency of SMEs can be different; they are categorized in the paper. A considerable shift from resolving cases of bankruptcy with the sole aim to satisfy creditors’ rights to augmenting and enhancing liquidation and reorganization procedures evolved interest of the authors in creating efficient bankruptcy prediction models and, in particular, methodologies for evaluation and monitoring of the performance of SMEs. In the paper, we reviewed several initiatives and instruments created by the EU for supporting SMEs. The paper laid a foundation for creating a more comprehensive methodology for evaluation of the state of a firm undergoing the process of reorganization. A hierarchy structure of criteria for the evaluation of SMEs was used in the paper; methodologies for eliciting weights of importance of criteria from experts and gauging the level of concordance of opinions of experts were applied. Resulting weights of criteria of performance of an insolvent SME were obtained; the importance of the managerial category of criteria was revealed. Prominent features of hierarchy structures and methodology of using the structure for calculating ultimate weights were described and demonstrated. Gauging concordance of opinions of experts revealed a satisfactory level of concordance of opinions of experts; this allowed to prepare the ultimate weights of criteria for multiple criteria evaluation of SMEs for further research.
Evaluating Potential Areas for Mountain Wellness Tourism: A Case Study of Ili, Xinjiang Province
Authors: Pan Xumei , Yang Zhaoping , Han Fang , Lu Yayan , Liu Qin
Published: October 2019

Evaluation of land-use suitability can prevent problems, such as environmental disruption, wastage of resources, and ecological disruption, when unsuitable tourism-based exploration is undertaken in an area. This study summarizes a novel concept and proposes the idea of wellness tourism, which constitutes health preservation, sports and recovery, medical healing, and aged nursing, integrated with Chinese culture. A spatial suitability evaluation system for wellness tourism was developed in a mountain area via the integration of the analytic network process-Delphi. As wellness tourism activities diversified, land suitability was assigned to four kinds of wellness tourism activities, while considering their unique requirements. Comparative analysis and five-degree suitable maps of four kinds of activities revealed that Yining City and its peripheral localities have the potential of functioning as a comprehensive and national wellness tourist destination. The counties of Horgos, Huocheng, Qapqal, Zhaosu, Tekes, Tokkuztara, and Narat should make full use of their strengths, as they have the advantage of catering to different wellness tourism activities. This paper discusses some conceptual aspects of wellness tourism, provides an example for the selection of potential areas for wellness tourism in the mountainous regions of China, and provides baseline information that can support the development of wellness tourism.
Cooling Effect of Paddy on Land Surface Temperature in Cold China Based on MODIS Data: A Case Study in Northern Sanjiang Plain
Authors: Du Guoming , Liu Wenqi , Pan Tao , Yang Haoxuan , Wang Qi
Published: October 2019

Fast-growing crops have been evolved in North China, accompanied by intense paddy expansion, leading to dramatic impacts on the agricultural environment. Among these environmental issues, the impact of paddy expansion on land surface temperature is still unclear. In the present study, based on Landsat images and MODIS land surface temperature (LST) products, the crop pattern and monthly LST in the northern Sanjiang Plain are obtained. A 1 km scale grid unit is built to investigate the relationship between LST and paddy expansion. The results obtained from the study are as follows. Firstly, for crop patterns, cropland planting is given priority to paddy fields, accompanied by an aggregated pattern, while upland crops present a discrete pattern. Secondly, for LST changes during the growing season, the maximum LST occurs in June, and the lowest values occur in October across the whole region. In addition, the LST of paddy fields is lower compared with that of upland crops for the whole growing season. Thirdly, at the 1 km grid scale, the relationship between monthly LST and paddy field ratio is significantly negative, and better represented by a cubic function rather than a linear fit. Finally, LST decreases with the increased fraction of the rice paddy area more rapidly when rice paddy is aggregated and accounted for by more than 80% of each study grid. The findings of this study are important to guide agricultural production and to better understand the environmental effects of paddy expansion in cold regions.