bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk factor assessment of digital eye strain during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Lotfy Nancy M , Shafik Heba M , Nassief Mona
Published: December 2022

Background: Shifting to online learning during the coronavirus pandemic has increased the number of individuals symptomatic of digital eye strain (DES). This study aimed to determine the frequency and potential risk factors of DES among university staff members and students in this pandemic era.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted during the pandemic, in May and June 2020. The online questionnaire was designed to collect data on DES-related ocular and extraocular manifestations. The survey was sent via social media to the previous year’s students and staff within the Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. The responses were downloaded and analyzed.

Results: Of the 412 participants completing the questionnaire, 34 (8.3%) were university staff members with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 36.7 (6.6) years, and 378 (91.7%) were university students with a mean (SD) age of 20.8 (1.8) years. Participants with DES symptoms numbered 294 (71.4%) before the lockdown, increasing to 366 (88.8%) during the last month, with 84 developing new-onset DES. Most participants reported ocular symptoms associated with DES. After the lockdown, both students and staff had a significant prolongation of nighttime digital screen use and TV watching, an increase in the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) severity scale scores, and anxiety and depression, with a reduced duration of daytime reading (all P < 0.05). Students had a significant prolongation of daytime digital screen use and TV watching and an increase in the frequency of eye lubricant use and mean Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)-4 scores (all P < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that studenthood and increased nighttime screen use were independent risk factors for DES by odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 10.60 (2.12 – 53.00) and 3.99 (1.71 – 9.34), respectively (both P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Lockdown and closure of the university, with a shift to online learning, increased the exposure of staff and students to digital screens and the number of individuals with DES. Studenthood and prolonged nighttime digital screen use were independent risk factors for DES. Further studies investigating the prevalence and risk factors of DES, comparing similar data during and after the pandemic, may reveal other aspects of DES caused by virtual reality-based training.
A DESVALORIZAÇÃO DA LITERATURA BRASILEIRA PELA CRÍTICA DE MÁRIO DE ANDRADE EM SUA OBRA MACUNAÍMA
Authors: Carvalho Giovana Dourado , Santos Cleidison da Silva
Published: December 2022

Este artigo tem o objetivo de entender a desvalorização da literatura nacional, visto que muitos dos jovens de hoje preferem ler livros de autores estrangeiros ao pensar que os autores nacionais não denotam a capacidade de escrever boas histórias. Este artigo foi escrito com base na interpretação da presente crítica de Mário de Andrade em sua obra Macunaíma, de onde foi tirado o tema abordado, seguido de pesquisas em sites e livros online que fornecem material sobre este assunto. O resultado foi ter uma visão de como a literatura nacional foi e vem sendo desvalorizada.
Analysis of new particle nucleation events and comparisons to simulations of particle number concentrations based on GEOS-Chem/APM in Beijing, China
Authors: Wang Kun , Ma Xiaoyan , Tian Rong , Yu Fangqun
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Aerosol particles play important roles in air quality and global climate change. In this study, we analyzed the measurements of particle size distribution from March 12th to April 6th, 2016 in Beijing to characterize new particle formation (NPF) by using the observational data of sulfuric acid, meteorological parameters, solar radiation, and PM2.5 mass concentration. During this 26-day campaign, 11 new particle formation events were identified with obvious bursts of sub-3 nm particle number concentrations and subsequent growth of these nucleated particles. It is found that sulfuric acid concentration in Beijing did not have a significant difference between NPF and non-event days. Although the temperature during NPF days in Beijing was slightly higher than that on non-event days, temperature was not necessarily the key factor to determine NPF because higher solar radiation intensity usually increases the temperature. Low relative humidity (RH) and high daily total solar radiation appeared to be favorable to the occurrence of NPF events, which was more obvious in this campaign. A quantitative analysis indicated that more than 90 % of NPF events occur when the daily total solar radiation was greater than 19 MJ/m2/day and RH was less than 26.5 %. The PM2.5 mass concentration can also be used as a rough and simple criterion to predict the occurrence of NPF events. In addition, the simulations using four nucleation schemes, i.e., H2SO4-H2O binary homogeneous nucleation (BHN), H2SO4-H2O-NH3 ternary homogeneous nucleation (THN), H2SO4-H2O-ion binary ion-mediated nucleation (BIMN), and H2SO4-H2O-NH3-ion ternary ion-mediated nucleation (TIMN), based on a global chemistry transport model (GEOS-Chem) coupled with an advanced particle microphysics (APM) model, were conducted to study the particle number concentrations and new particle formation process. Our comparisons between measurements and simulations indicate that BHN scheme and BIMN scheme significantly underestimated the observed particle number concentrations, and the THN scheme captured well the total particle number concentration on most NPF event days but failed to capture the noticeable increase in particle number concentrations on March 18th and April 1st. TIMN scheme had obvious improvement in terms of total and sub-3 nm particle number concentrations and nucleation rates. This study provides a basis for further understanding of new particle nucleation mechanism in Beijing.
Evaluating the effects of columnar NO2 on the accuracy of aerosol optical properties retrievals
Authors: Drosoglou Theano , Raptis Ioannis-Panagiotis , Valeri Massimo , Casadio Stefano , Barnaba Francesca , Herreras-Giralda Marcos , Lopatin Anton , Dubovik Oleg , Brizzi Gabriele , Niro Fabrizio , Campanelli Monica , Kazadzis Stelios
Published: December 2022

Abstract. We aim to evaluate the NO2 absorption effect in aerosol properties derived from sun-sky radiometers as well as the possible retrieval algorithm improvements by using more accurate characterization of NO2 optical depth. For this purpose, we employ multiannual (2017–2022) records of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Ångström Exponent (AE) and Single Scattering Albedo (SSA) collected by sun photometers at an urban and a suburban site in the Rome area (Italy) in the framework of both the AERONET and SKYNET networks. The uncertainties introduced in the retrievals by the NO2 absorption are investigated using high-frequency observations of total NO2 derived from co-located Pandora spectroradiometer systems as well as space-borne NO2 products from the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI). The correction is useful for lower AODs (< 0.3), where the majority of observations is found, especially under high NO2 pollution events. The analysis does not reveal any significant impact of the NO2 correction on the derived aerosol temporal trends for the very limited data sets used in this study. However, the effect is expected to become more evident for trends derived from larger data sets as well as in the case of an important NO2 trend. In addition, the comparisons of the NO2-modified ground-based AOD data with satellite retrievals from the Deep Blue (DB) algorithm of the NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) resulted in a slight improvement in the agreement of about 0.003 and 0.006 for AERONET and SKYNET, respectively. Finally, the uncertainty in assumptions of NO2 seem to have a non-negligible impact on the retrieved values of SSA at 440 nm leading to an average positive bias of 0.02 (2.5 %) in both locations for high NO2 loadings (> 0.9 DU).
Controls on the relative abundances and rates of nitrifying microorganisms in the ocean
Authors: Zakem Emily J. , Bayer Barbara , Qin Wei , Santoro Alyson E. , Zhang Yao , Levine Naomi M.
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Nitrification controls the oxidation state of bioavailable nitrogen. Distinct clades of chemoautotrophic microorganisms – predominantly ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) – regulate the two steps of nitrification in the ocean, but explanations for their observed relative abundances and nitrification rates remain incomplete and their contributions to the global marine carbon cycle via carbon fixation remain unresolved. Using a mechanistic microbial ecosystem model with nitrifying functional types, we derive simple expressions for the controls on AOA and NOB in the deep, oxygenated open ocean. The relative biomass yields, loss rates, and cell quotas of AOA and NOB control their relative abundances, though we do not need to invoke a difference in loss rates to explain the observed relative abundances. The supply of ammonium, not the traits of AOA or NOB, controls the relatively equal ammonia and nitrite oxidation rates at steady state. The relative yields of AOA and NOB alone set their relative bulk carbon fixation rates in the water column. The quantitative relationships are consistent with multiple in situ datasets. In a complex global ecosystem model, nitrification emerges dynamically across diverse ocean environments, and ammonia and nitrite oxidation and their associated carbon fixation rates are decoupled due to physical transport and complex ecological interactions in some environments. Nevertheless, the simple expressions capture global patterns to first order. The model provides a mechanistic upper estimate on global chemoautotrophic carbon fixation of 0.2–0.5 Pg C yr−1, which is on the low end of the wide range of previous estimates. Modeled carbon fixation by AOA (0.2–0.3 Pg C yr−1) exceeds that of NOB (about 0.1 Pg C yr−1) because of the higher biomass yield of AOA. The simple expressions derived here can be used to quantify the biogeochemical impacts of additional metabolic pathways (i.e., mixotrophy) of nitrifying clades and to identify alternative metabolisms fueling carbon fixation in the deep ocean.
Understanding the impacts of peatland catchment management on DOM concentration and treatability
Authors: Williamson Jennifer , Evans Chris , Spears Bryan , Pickard Amy , Chapman Pippa J. , Feuchtmayr Heidrun , Leith Fraser , Waldron Susan , Monteith Don
Published: December 2022

Abstract. In the UK most large reservoirs constructed for public water supply are in upland areas and situated in catchments that contain at least some organic-rich soils. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) leaching from these soils imparts a brownish colour to water and raises treatment challenges for the water industry since excessive post-treatment concentrations result in the generation of potentially harmful disinfection by-products in drinking water. The primary method for maintaining sufficiently low pre-disinfection DOM concentrations is chemical coagulation, but in the past 15 years water companies have increasingly considered the capacity for catchment interventions to improve raw water quality at source, reducing the need for costly and complex engineering solutions in treatment works. There remains considerable uncertainty around the effectiveness of these catchment engineering-based measures and a comprehensive overview of the research in this area remains lacking. Here we review the peer-reviewed evidence for the effectiveness of four management options for upland organic soil-dominated catchments that are being considered by the water industry as options for controlling DOM releases. These are ditch blocking, revegetation, reducing forest cover, and cessation of managed burning. Results of plot scale investigations into effects of ditch blocking on ditch-blocking are available but largely equivocal, while there is a paucity of information regarding impacts at spatial scales of more direct relevance to water managers. The presence of plantation forestry on peat soils is generally associated with increasing DOM concentrations, although canopy removal has little short-term benefit and can even further increase concentrations. Although not widely studied, the available evidence suggests that Sphagnum mosses produce DOM that is more easily removed via conventional treatment processes compared to vascular plants such as heather and grass species. We found surprisingly little published research around the extent to which manipulation of in-reservoir processes might be used to mitigate or exacerbate changes in inflowing DOM as part of a catchment management approach. This review concluded that catchment management measures have rarely been monitored with downstream water quality as the focus, and that restoration impacts vary across sites. To mitigate the uncertainty surrounding restoration effects on DOM, measures should be undertaken on a site-specific basis, where the scale, effect size and duration of the intervention are considered in relation to subsequent biogeochemical processing that occurs in the reservoir, the treatment capacity of the water treatment works and future projected DOM trends.
Statistical reconstruction of daily temperature and sea level pressure in Europe for the severe winter 1788/89
Authors: Pappert Duncan , Barriendos Mariano , Brugnara Yuri , Imfeld Noemi , Jourdain Sylvie , Przybylak Rajmund , Rohr Christian , Brönnimann Stefan
Published: December 2022

Abstract. The winter 1788/89 was one of the coldest winters Europe had witnessed in the past 300 years. Fortunately, for historical climatologists, this
extreme event occurred at a time when many stations across Europe, both private and as part of coordinated networks, were making quantitative
observations of the weather. This means that several dozen early instrumental series are available to carry out an in-depth study of this severe
cold spell. While there have been attempts to present daily spatial information for this winter, there is more to be done to understand the weather
variability and day-to-day processes that characterised this weather extreme. In this study, we seek to reconstruct daily spatial high-resolution
temperature and sea level pressure fields of the winter 1788/89 in Europe from November through February. The reconstruction is performed with an
analogue resampling method (ARM) that uses both historical instrumental data and a weather type classification. Analogue reconstructions are then
post-processed through an ensemble Kalman fitting (EnKF) technique. Validation experiments show good skill for both reconstructed variables, which
manage to capture the dynamics of the extreme in relation to the large-scale circulation. These results are promising for more such studies to be
undertaken, focusing on different extreme events and other regions in Europe and perhaps even further back in time. The dataset presented in this
study may be of sufficient quality to allow historians to better assess the environmental and social impacts of the harsh weather.
On the climatic influence of CO2 forcing in the Pliocene
Authors: Burton Lauren E. , Haywood Alan M. , Tindall Julia C. , Dolan Aisling M. , Hill Daniel J. , Abe-Ouchi Ayako , Chan Wing-Le , Chandan Deepak , Feng Ran , Hunter Stephen J. , Li Xiangyu , Peltier W. Richard , Tan Ning , Stepanek Christian , Zhang Zhongshi
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Understanding the dominant climate forcings in the Pliocene is crucial to assessing the usefulness of the Pliocene as an analogue for our warmer future. Here we implement a novel, yet simple linear factorisation method to assess the relative influence of CO2 forcing in seven models of the Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project Phase 2 (PlioMIP2) ensemble. Outputs are termed “FCO2” and show the fraction of Pliocene climate change driven by CO2. The accuracy of the FCO2 method is first assessed through comparison to an energy balance analysis previously used to assess drivers of surface air temperature in the PlioMIP1 ensemble. After this assessment, the FCO2 method is applied to achieve an understanding of the drivers of Pliocene sea surface temperature and precipitation for the first time. CO2 is found to be the most important forcing in the ensemble for Pliocene surface air temperature (global mean FCO2 = 0.56), sea surface temperature (global mean FCO2 = 0.56) and precipitation (global mean FCO2 = 0.51). The range between individual models is found to be consistent between these three climate variables, and the models generally show good agreement on the sign of the most important forcing. Our results provide the most spatially complete view of the drivers of Pliocene climate to date, and have implications for both data-model comparison and the use of the Pliocene as an analogue for the future. That CO2 is found to be the most important forcing reinforces that the Pliocene is a good palaeoclimate analogue, but the significant effect of non-CO2 forcing at regional scale reminds us that it is not perfect, and this must not be overlooked. This comparison is further complicated when considering the Pliocene as a state in quasi-equilibrium with CO2 forcing compared to the transient warming being experienced at present.
The future ozone trends in changing climate simulated with SOCOLv4
Authors: Karagodin-Doyennel Arseniy , Rozanov Eugene , Sukhodolov Timofei , Egorova Tatiana , Sedlacek Jan , Peter Thomas
Published: December 2022

Abstract. This study evaluates the future evolution of atmospheric ozone between 2015 and 2099 simulated with the Earth System Model (ESM) SOCOLv4. Simulations have been performed based on two potential Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP): the “middle-of-the-road” (SSP2-4.5) and “fossil-fueled” (SSP5-8.5) scenarios. In both scenarios, the model projects a decline in tropospheric ozone in the future that starts in the 2030s in SSP2-4.5 and after the 2060s in SSP5-8.5 due to a decrease in concentrations of ozone precursors like NOx and CO. The results also suggest a very likely ozone increase in the mesosphere, upper and middle stratosphere, as well as at high latitudes of the lower stratosphere. Under SSP5-8.5, the ozone increase in the stratosphere is higher because of stronger cooling (> 1 °K/decade) induced by the greenhouse gases (GHG), which slows the catalytic ozone destruction cycles. In contrast, in the tropical lower stratosphere ozone concentrations decrease in both experiments and increase over the middle and high latitudes of both hemispheres due to the intensification of meridional transport, which is stronger in SSP5-8.5. No evidence was found of a decline in ozone levels in the lower stratosphere at mid-latitudes. In both future scenarios, the total column ozone is expected to be distinctly higher than present in mid-to-high latitudes and might be lower in the tropics, which causes a decrease/increase in the surface level of UV radiation. The results of SOCOLv4 suggest that the stratospheric ozone evolution throughout the 21st century is strongly governed not only by a decline in halogen concentration, but also by future GHGs forcing. In addition, the tropospheric ozone column changes, mainly due to the changes in anthropogenic emissions of ozone precursors, also have a strong impact on the total column. Therefore, even though the anthropogenic halogen loading problem has been brought under control to date, the sign of future ozone column changes, globally and regionally, is still unclear and largely depends on diverse future human activities. The results of this work are, thus, relevant for developing future strategies for socioeconomic pathways.
Interactions between ocean heat budget terms in HighResMIP climate models measured by the rate of information transfer
Authors: Docquier David , Vannitsem Stéphane , Bellucci Alessio , Frankignoul Claude
Published: December 2022

Abstract. The Liang-Kleeman rate of information transfer is used to quantify interactions between the different terms of the ocean heat budget at monthly time scale over the period 1988–2017 in three coupled global climate models participating in the High Resolution Model Intercomparison Project (HighResMIP), as well as in the Ocean Reanalysis System 5 (ORAS5). In particular, we focus on the influences of ocean heat transport convergence (dynamical influence) and net surface heat flux (thermodynamical influence) on ocean heat content tendency. At least two different configurations are used for each model, allowing to investigate the impact of ocean resolution on these causal relationships. A very small number of regions with a dynamical influence is found at high ocean resolution (≤ 0.25°) and ORAS5 reanalysis when considering the upper 50 m, while a thermodynamical influence is present in a large number of regions. The number of regions with a dynamical influence increases when taking into account the upper 300 m and becomes comparable to the thermodynamical influence. Interestingly, low-resolution model configurations (1° in the ocean) show a much larger number of regions with a significant dynamical influence for both depth integrations (upper 50 m and 300 m) compared to high-resolution model configurations. The reason for the large difference in dynamical influence between low and high resolutions partly comes from the spatial distribution of ocean velocity field, which is highly variable at high resolution, leading to a smaller dynamical influence. High resolution is therefore key in representing realistically the causal interactions between the ocean and atmosphere.
CHELSA-W5E5: Daily 1 km meteorological forcing data for climate impact studies
Authors: Karger Dirk Nikolaus , Lange Stefan , Hari Chantal , Reyer Christopher P. O. , Conrad Olaf , Zimmermann Niklaus E. , Frieler Katja
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Current changes in the world’s climate increasingly impact a wide variety of sectors globally, from agricul-ture, ecosystems, to water and energy supply or human health. Many impacts of climate on these sectors hap-pen at high spatio-temporal resolutions that are not covered by current global climate datasets. Here we pre-sent Climatologies at high resolution for the Earth’s land surface areas - WFDE5 over land merged with ERA5 over the ocean data (CHELSA-W5E5, https://doi.org/10.48364/ISIMIP.836809.3, Karger et al., 2022): a cli-mate forcing dataset at daily temporal resolution and 30 arcsec spatial resolution for air-temperatures, precipi-tation rates, and downwelling shortwave solar radiation. This dataset is a spatially downscaled version of the 0.5° W5E5 dataset using the CHELSA V2 topographic downscaling algorithm. We show that the downscaling generally increases the accuracy of climate data by decreasing the bias, and increasing the correlation with measurements from meteorological stations. Bias reductions are largest in topographically complex terrain. Limitations arise for minimum near surface air temperatures in regions that are prone to cold air pooling, or at the upper extreme end of surface downwelling shortwave radiation. We further show that our topographically downscaled climate data compare well with the results of dynamical downscaling using the regional climate model Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF), as time series from both sources are similarly well correlated to station observations. This is remarkable given the lower computational cost of the CHELSA V2 algorithm compared to WRF and similar models. Overall, we conclude that the downscaling can provide high-er resolution climate data with increased accuracy. Hence, the dataset will be of value for a wide range of climate change impact studies both at global level but also as for applications that cover more than one region and benefit from using a consistent dataset across these regions.
ISMIP-HOM benchmark experiments using Underworld
Authors: Sachau Till , Yang Haibin , Lang Justin , Bons Paul D. , Moresi Louis
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Numerical models have become an indispensable tool for
understanding and predicting the flow of ice sheets and glaciers. Here we
present the full-Stokes software package Underworld to the glaciological
community. The code is already well established in simulating complex
geodynamic systems. Advantages for glaciology are that it provides a
full-Stokes solution for elastic–viscous–plastic materials and includes
mechanical anisotropy. Underworld uses a material point method to track the
full history information of Lagrangian material points, of stratigraphic
layers and of free surfaces. We show that Underworld successfully reproduces
the results of other full-Stokes models for the benchmark experiments of the Ice Sheet Model Intercomparison Project for Higher-Order Models
(ISMIP-HOM). Furthermore, we test finite-element meshes with different
geometries and highlight the need to be able to adapt the finite-element
grid to discontinuous interfaces between materials with strongly different
properties, such as the ice–bedrock boundary.
INSPIRE PROJECT: INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES FOR SMART BUILDINGS AND PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE
Authors: Raco F. , Balzani M. , Planu F. , Cittadino A.
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Applying integrated digital technologies for the management and maintenance of the existing built heritage appears to be one of the main current challenges for the definition and application of digitisation protocols for the construction supply chain. Key enabling technologies, collaborative platforms, Big Data management and information integration in a BIM environment are areas of increasing experimentation. In the field of intervention on the built heritage, it is the boundaries and opportunities offered by the integration of many different information sources that constitutes the main challenge. Furthermore, the study of the accessibility and usability of data and information from sources such as the three-dimensional terrestrial survey, existing databases, sensor networks, and satellite technologies make it possible to investigate both different ways of data modelling, even with a view to the development of predictive algorithms, and of visualisation and information management. The study illustrates part of the results of the InSPiRE project, an industrial research project financed with European structural funds and carried out in a public-private partnership by four universities and public research bodies, an innovation centre and six companies, SMEs, large enterprises, and start-ups. Specifically, the project highlights the growing importance of BIM-based modelling as a tool to lead users, both experts and non-experts, through the multiple information paths resulting from the relation between data and metadata.
RAILWAY TRACK FAULTS DETECTION BASED ON IMAGE PROCESSING USING MOBILENET
Authors: Ragala Z. , Retbi A. , Bennani S.
Published: December 2022

Abstract. The use of rail transport is increasing. Damaged rails interrupt traffic to carry out repairs. In fact, when a conductor or railway operator reports a damaged rail that interrupted the traffic in the affected area. A team of specialized agents dispatch to the site and carries out the repairs. Hence, the importance of automation of railway track faults detection to ensure track safety and reduce maintenance costs. In this work, we propose a method using image processing technologies and deep learning networks. We have studied the correlation effects of MobileNetV2 and optimization algorithms on accuracy and other performance metrics to generate a model that can achieve good performance in classifying railway track faults. The results show that the Rmsprop can improve the effectiveness of feature extraction and classification of MobileNetV2.
AN INTELLIGENT TUTORING SYSTEM TO MAINTAIN THE STUDENTS’ MOTIVATION
Authors: Ramaha N. T. A. , Abdellatef H. , Karas I. R.
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Recently, many educational institutions around the world has transformed to online education specially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This fast and in many cases unplanned transformation leads to the needs for more researches to find solutions for the problems of this rapid transformation. As it's the best economic options during this pandemic, this study focused on creating a web-based (asynchronous system) intelligent tutoring system (ITS) to support the teachers in the C programming language course. Nonetheless, the suggested system takes into consideration one of the biggest challenges for asynchronous system which is how to maintain the students' motivation for the entire learning process. Therefore, the current study suggested the use of an interactive ITS as a solution for this challenge. The created system C-ITS used a set of motivational state rules and tactics to assess and maintain the motivation of the students. Finally, after using the system by the students and the teachers for two weeks, we conducted an evaluation study to evaluate the quality of the system design, the usability, the functionality, the compatibility. The result of the evaluation study showed that C-ITS system acceptable from both the students and the teachers.
INFLUENCE OF URBAN GREEN SPACES ON ROAD TRAFFIC NOISE LEVELS: - A REVIEW
Authors: Wickramathilaka N. , Ujang U. , Azri S. , Choon T. L.
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Ninety per cent of urban areas' total noise pollution is caused by traffic. Green areas are a very important factor for noise reduction. They will absorb noise from 5dB (A) to 10 dB (A). Nonetheless, some major concerns can be addressed, such as: how can green areas be established in the urban city?, how trees absorb noise?, what are the equations to calculate noise absorption by trees?, and what are the best survey methods to measure the trees' properties?, and is it possible to visualize trees in three-dimensional (3D) space?. Thirty-five (35) research papers were selected under the subtopics, green spaces and urban forms, noise absorption by green spaces, and green spaces visualization in 3D to find solutions for the above problems. The review has identified how to increase green spaces in urban forms like core, star, satellite, and linear. Next, the leaves are the main possible part to absorb noise, and depend on the leaves' surface area, tree depth, and noise absorption coefficient. These parameters must be considered to formulate an equation to identify sound absorption by leaves. Furthermore, the Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technique can be used for determining the surface area of leaves and tree depth, due to its high resolution of point clouds. The Digital Surface Model (DSM) is not applicable for visualizing green areas, because it represents the only top view of trees, and tree depth cannot be identified properly. Proper visualization of green spaces in 3D will convey a significant point of view to visualize noise absorption accurately in a 3D urban city.
CLASSIFICATION AND MODELING OF DRIVER BEHAVIOR DURING YELLOW INTERVALS AT INTERSECTIONS
Authors: Bouhsissin S. , Sael N. , Benabbou F.
Published: December 2022

Abstract. The violation of traffic rules is, nowadays, the most important cause of accidents. Passing an intersection or a red light can be fatal for a driver and lead to serious damage. In fact, when the driver encounters a signal change from green to yellow, he or she is required to make a decision to stop or to go based on many factors. Making the wrong decision will result in a red-light violation or an abrupt stop at the intersection. Researchers typically focus on the connection between driving behavior and decision-making because of its importance in controlling aggressive drivers’ behavior. This work aims to compare the potential of machine learning techniques to classify driver behavior at intersections and follows a data preparation process to expect interesting performance results. A comparative study was therefore conducted to explore the various data source and algorithms employed to classify driver behaviors at intersections and to address the most important techniques used. Two experiments were also developed in this paper. The first experience attempts to classify driver behavior in intersections into (1) stopping and (2) going at intersections. The second experience was based on stopping observations when approaching intersections. We classified these drivers into two categories: those who stop beyond the line (1) are considered dangerous or unsafe stops, and those who stop before the line (2) are considered safe stops. As a result, XBboost archive the best performance with 92.19% of accuracy and 94.38% of precision in the first experience and RF gives the best performance in the second experience with an accuracy of 99.38%.
USING RVI AND NDVI TIME SERIES FOR CROPLAND MAPPING WITH TIME-WEIGHTED DYNAMIC TIME WARPING
Authors: Narin O. G. , Bayik C. , Abdikan S. , Balik Sanli F.
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Monitoring and management of agricultural lands are essential due to reasons affecting agriculture, such as increasing population and global climate. With the increase in the temporal resolution of satellite systems, time-series classifications have become popular in cropland mapping. Because annual plants can give similar spectral reflectance values on the same date. In this context, agricultural land (∼500 km2) was selected in the south of South Dakota in the United States. The area includes alfalfa, corn, soybeans, winter wheat plants, developed, grassland/pasture, herbaceous wetlands, and open water areas. The study aims to map croplands with vegetation indices produced by annual Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellites. In this context, Radar Vegetation Index (RVI) produced from 25 Sentinel-1, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) produced from 26 Sentinel-2 satellites were used for 2020. We used the Time-Weighted Dynamic Time Warping (TWDTW) algorithm, which separates and classifies the similarities between two time series with variable speeds with time constraints. For mapping, the indices were classified both individually and combined. The highest overall accuracy (77.2%) was obtained with the combined use of NDVI and RVI. Among the plant classes, the lowest accuracy (83.71%) was found, and it was determined that the plant classes did not mix much. Sentinel-2 satellite is not available before April due to weather conditions in the region. For this reason, since the Sentinel-1 satellite is not affected by weather conditions, it is thought that the use of two satellites together will be beneficial in time series analysis.
Agents of Change: Modeling Two-Year College English Teachers' Change Resilience and Saturation during COVID and (we hope) Beyond
Authors: Suh Emily K. , Griffiths Brett M. , Tinoco Lizbett , Sullivan Patrick , Snyder Sarah
Published: December 2022

In the face of the pandemic, teachers sought to rapidly incorporate new technologies and maintain or expand meaningful relationships with their students. We created a survey to capture the lived experiences of this moment and bear witness to teachers' frustrations and triumphs during this time. In addition to reports of exteme burnout and emotional labor, we discovered possibilities for changes that contributed to teachers' greater resilience. In this article, we share experiences of change saturation and change resilience to illustrate the conditions we hope to foster in order to sustain the radical teaching practices of teaching with compassion.
“What We Want is the Same Thing You Want”: Educator Union Organizing for the ‘Common Good’ during Covid-19
Authors: Maton Rhiannon M.
Published: December 2022

This article examines the “common good” organizing efforts of U.S. educator unions during the 2020-2021 school year of the Covid-19 pandemic. During this timeframe, many districts across the country pushed for school reopening while often appearing to pay insufficient attention to the lived health and safety needs of students, families, and workers in schools and their broader communities. Meanwhile, many U.S. educator unions assertively and visibly organized for a “safe return to school” involving stronger health protections in public school buildings. Embracing social justice unionism as an organizing philosophy, such unions employed a range of tactics in efforts to partner with local communities while advocating for common good issues that would benefit not just their members but also the public more broadly. Drawing upon a range of popular media and artifactual union-published sources combined with educator unionist interviews, this article teases apart what common good issues were taken up by social justice unions in their organizing efforts, discusses why they chose to take up this range of issues, and considers the stakes of this frame for union organizing within and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.
Gobernanza y prácticas de resistencia en la Monarquía Hispánica: las villas fronterizas guipuzcoanas ante la guerra y la peste atlántica
Authors: Truchuelo García Susana
Published: December 2022

La guerra y los bloqueos económicos impuestos por la Monarquía Hispánica a las potencias enemigas alteraron los tránsitos comerciales en la Europa atlántica afectando, de manera directa, a las villas del norte de España, dependientes del abastecimiento exterior. En este artículo se valoran las prácticas de gobernanza y de resistencia que se desarrollaron en las villas de los espacios fronterizos litorales del País Vasco en la década de 1590, atendiendo a la capacidad de acción de las propias comunidades y de los actores locales a través de sus órganos representativos territoriales. Las negociaciones entre los diversos poderes, permitieron, en el caso de la Provincia de Guipúzcoa, consolidar un marco comercial y arancelario privilegiado en el contexto castellano, que favorecía el libre abastecimiento exterior, incluso con el enemigo, apoyado en un discurso de defensa de la frontera.
Reflective practices of teaching at University level: A Gender-wise discrimination
Authors: Khan Muhabat , Kanwal Nosheen , Hussain Muhammad
Published: December 2022

The current study was designed to differentiate gender-wise uses of reflective practices in teaching at the university level in public sector universities of Balochistan. Reflective practices play a significant role in the teaching-learning process in higher education because they contribute to teachers' professional and personal growth. The nature of the study was descriptive. The target population of the current study was the faculty members of 08 public sector universities in Balochistan. Four universities were chosen using a stratified random sampling technique. The total number of respondents was comprised of 83 male and female professors and lecturers. To obtain valid and relevant data, a questionnaire was adapted. The required data was collected online through the google survey method. The collected data was inferred through SPSS, mean score, t-test and ANOVA. The major findings were less awareness about the uses of reflective practices and a lack of professional development. A few recommendations were made based on the findings.
IMPACT OF TECHNOSTRESS ON VOCATIONAL EDUCATION STUDENTS DURING ONLINE LEARNING IN PAKISTAN
Authors:   Lincoln University College, Malaysia, Pirzada Gouhar , Farooq Fareeha ,   Department of Education, University of Management and Technology, Lahore Pakistan, Mahmood Aisha ,   Department of STEM Education University of Education, Lahore Pakistan
Published: December 2022

Technostress has been a matter of interest to academic scholars for the last couple of decades. The phenomenon occurs when a person perceives the increasing use of technology as a threat instead of a positive challenge or a new experience of technostress. Recent research studies report that the presence of technostress among professionals has become a factor responsible for affecting performance, productivity, satisfaction, burnout, work-family conflict, and physical or mental health issues. The recent shift towards technology-based learning during the pandemic in Pakistan increased the proliferation of digital devices in academic processes. Online learning due to Covid-19 has compelled students to use technology to join classes and seminars as well as do assignments and assessments online. This becomes a matter of further concern in vocational education as excessive use of technology may lead to technostress among students if they perceive technology as a threat. This study aims to explore the impact of technostress on students’ productivity, satisfaction, and commitment to vocational education. To serve this purpose, a sample of 300 students from vocational education programs was collected, and different quantitative tests were performed. The results obtained from statistical analysis showed that despite facing technostress, students were satisfied and committed to their program of study. They had no intention of leaving their ongoing learning. As per the results, the productivity of the students of vocational education was not affected by technostress. Keywords: Technostress, Online education, Vocational training, Students’ performance, Students’ productivity
HEARSAY EVIDENCE: MEANING, KINDS, AND EXCEPTIONS IN COMMON LAW AND PAKISTANI LAW OF EVIDENCE
Authors:   School of Law, University of Gujrat, Pakistan., Majeed Nasir , Hilal Amjad ,   Department of Law and Shariah, University of Swat Pakistan
Published: December 2022

Hearsay evidence is an out of court statement which is presented in court to prove that the assertions made in it are true. The hearsay rule means that hearsay evidence will not be used in judicial proceedings except in exceptional cases. The definition, kinds and exceptions to hearsay rule have been explicitly discussed in various statutes and judicial decisions of common law countries. On the other hand, the definition and exceptions to hearsay evidence have not been explicitly discussed in Qanoon e Shahdat, 1984 (Pakistani law of evidence hereinafter QSO) which causes great difficulty in understanding the nature and scope of this concept. The present study, by deploying doctrinal research methods, intends to address these issues by analyzing the hearsay evidence and its exception in QSO. It is hoped that the present study will clarify the meaning and exceptions to hearsay rule in QSO. Keywords: Hearsay Evidence, Exceptions to Hearsay Evidence in Common Law, Direct Evidence, Kinds of Hearsay, Hearsay in Pakistan
IMPACT OF TEST PREPARATION ON CANDIDATES’ IELTS READING TEST SCORES
Authors:   Department of English, National University of Modern Languages, Pakistan, Hassan Saima
Published: December 2022

This study investigates the impact of an hour’s preparation on IELTS (International English Language Testing System) reading test scores. Preparation is sometimes neglected by candidates who consider themselves proficient users of English, despite the high stakes involved in IELTS testing. Participants in the experimental group were provided a one-hour session on reading strategies and test-taking skills, focusing on the IELTS reading test. They were tested before and after this session, alongside a control group who received no training. Statistical analysis revealed that training significantly increased reading scores, suggesting the importance of such training even for proficient users of the target language. Keywords: IELTS, language proficiency tests, high-stakes test, test performance.
EFFECTIVENESS OF LEADERSHIP STYLES AND SCHOOL CULTURE AT THE SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL IN PAKISTAN
Authors:   Department of Education, The University of Lahore, Lahore Pakistan, Hussain Sajida , Hayat Sikandar ,   Department of Education, The University of Lahore, Lahore Pakistan
Published: December 2022

Leadership in schools is a flexible and ever-changing concept. School headteachers' leadership styles are complicated, and they play a significant role in shaping a school's culture. The current study explores the school's effectiveness concerning headteachers' leadership style and school culture. It had three research objectives; 1) to compare headteachers' and secondary school teachers' perceptions regarding the indicators of school cultures, 2) to investigate the difference between secondary school teachers' perceptions regarding the indicators of school effectiveness, and 3) to find the relationship between headteachers' leadership styles and school culture. The nature of the current investigation was quantitative, and the researchers opted descriptive survey research design. The study sample comprised 1014 respondents consisting of headteachers (342) and secondary school teachers (672) from two districts of Punjab. The data were collected by using two different questionnaires, and it was analysed using inferential statistics. The investigation showed that school leaders had a somewhat better understanding of the characteristics of school culture than teachers in secondary schools. Principals gave indicators of school culture greater weight and attention than the relevant teachers. A significant relationship was found between headteachers' leadership styles (democratic and authoritative) and the school culture. The current paper suggests school leaders deploy the democratic and authoritative styles in the students' best interest to develop a student's centerd school culture. Furthermore, secondary school teachers had a less established awareness of school culture and effectiveness than school leaders. Therefore, the research recommends expanding teacher education to raise educators' understanding of school culture and effectivenss issues. Keywords: Leadership styles, school culture, school effectiveness, democratic styles, authoritative style
International Solidarity, Human Rights and Life on the African Continent ‘After’ the Pandemic
Authors: Okafor Obiora Chinedu
Published: December 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has left a massive amount of disease, death, fear and despair in its stride, and will continue to seriously trouble the world even in its wake. To be sure, Africa has not been spared any of these maladies. In the result, the pandemic has posed a formidable threat to the enjoyment of human rights around the world. More specifically, as is widely recognised, the pandemic (and many of the measures taken to end it) have seriously threatened or harmed the enjoyment by billions of people across the world, the continent included, of the human rights to health, life, education, food, shelter, work, freedom of movement, liberty, and freedom of assembly. Less obvious to many is the fact that the pandemic (and the dominant responses to it) can also constitute serious harm to the enjoyment of the rights to development and democracy, and to freedom from discrimination and gender-based violence. Even more troubling is the fact that these dangers and impacts tend to be exacerbated in the Global South to which Africa belongs geo-politically and identity-wise, and in relation to the poor and the racially marginalised everywhere.