bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recyclable Shape-Memory Waterborne Polyurethane Films Based on Perylene Bisimide Modified Polycaprolactone Diol
Authors: Wei Kang , Zhang Haitao , Qu Jianbo , Wang Jianyong , Bai Yang , Sai Futao
Published: May 2021

Currently, much attention is given to the functionality and recyclability of waterborne polyurethane (WPU). Herein, ε-caprolactone was used as a chain extender for grafting onto perylene bisimide (PBI) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO) via ring-opening reactions to obtain PBI-PCL and BDO- PCL. Then, two kinds of WPU, namely PBI-WPU (PWPU) and BDO-WPU (BWPU), were fabricated using PBI-PCL/polytetrahydrofuran ether glycol (PTMG) and BDO-PCL/PTMG, respectively, as mixed soft segments. The properties and appearance of PWPU and BWPU emulsions were analyzed in terms of particle size, zeta potential and TEM images, and the results showed that PWPU emulsions had uniform particle size distribution and decent storage stability. AFM and DMA results revealed that PWPU films possessed a more significant degree of microphase separation and a higher glass transition temperature (Tg) than BWPU films. The PWPU films displayed good shape-memory and mechanical properties, with tensile strength up to 58.25 MPa and elongation at break up to 1241.36%. TGA analysis indicated that PWPU films had better thermal stability than BWPU films. More importantly, the PWPU films could be dissolved in a mixed solvent of acetone/ethanol (v/v = 2:1) at room temperature. The dissolved PWPU could be dispersed in deionized water to prepare waterborne polyurethane again. After the recycling process was repeated three times, the recycled PWPU emulsion still exhibited good storage stability. The recycled PWPU films maintained their original thermal and mechanical properties. Comparing the properties of BWPU and PWPU showed that the soft segment structure had important influence on waterborne polyurethane performance. Therefore, PWPU may have great potential applications in making recycling and shape-memory coating or paint.
Cyclodextrins-Peptides/Proteins Conjugates: Synthesis, Properties and Applications
Authors: Łagiewka Jakub , Girek Tomasz , Ciesielski Wojciech
Published: May 2021

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are a family of macrocyclic oligosaccharides mostly composed of six, seven, or eight α-D-glucopyranose units with α-1,4-glycosidic bonds to form toroidal structures. The CDs possess a hydrophilic exterior and hydrophobic interior with the ability to form an inclusion complex, especially with hydrophobic molecules. However, most existing studies are about conjugation CDs with peptide/protein focusing on the formation of new systems. The CD-peptide/protein can possess new abilities; particularly, the cavity can be applied in modulation properties of more complexed proteins. Most studies are focused on drug delivery, such as targeted delivery in cell-penetrating peptides or co-delivery. The co-delivery is based mostly on polylysine systems; on the other hand, the CD-peptide allows us to understand biomolecular mechanisms such as fibryllation or stem cell behaviour. Moreover, the CD-proteins are more complexed systems with a focus on targeted therapy; these conjugates might be controllable with various properties due to changes in their stability. Finally, the studies of CD-peptide/protein are promising in biomedical application and provide new possibilities for the conjugation of simple molecules to biomolecules.
Writings, Emotions, and Oblations: The Religious-Ritual Origin of the Classical Confucian Conception of Cheng (Sincerity)
Authors: Jia Jinhua
Published: May 2021

Cheng 誠 (sincerity) is one of the primary concepts in the Confucian tradition as well as Chinese intellectual history. Its rich implications involve dimensions of religion, ritual, folk belief, ethics, psychology, cosmology, metaphysics, aesthetics, and literature. In the Confucian classics, cheng is described as the “Dao of heaven”; humans through cultivation can reach the mysterious state of “the utmost sincerity functioning as spirits” and thus can “assist the transforming and generating power of heaven and earth.” Because of cheng’s rich, sacred, and mysterious implications, it has been regarded as the most difficult and perplexing of Chinese concepts. Scholars have long studied cheng mainly from the perspective of philosophy to analyze its ideological conceptions in the Confucian classics, resulting in fruitful and inspiring interpretations. However, because they have not traced the origin of cheng to its rich religious, ritual, and literary sources, their interpretations have been unable to answer the question: why is cheng covered with such a mysterious veil? In recent decades, some scholars have started exploring cheng’s relationship with ancient religious beliefs and rituals, but so far a comprehensive examination of the religious-ritual origin of this significant concept remains lacking. To discover cheng’s mysterious origins, we must apply a synthetic approach of etymological, religious, philosophical, and literary studies. Drawing upon both transmitted and excavated texts, this essay first analyzes the graphic-phonetic structure and semantic implications of the character cheng 成 (completion), which was the character cheng’s 誠 early form. It then examines the rich meanings implied in both characters related to sacrificial-divinatory rituals, including invoking the spirits with sincere writings, emotions, and oblations, in order to seduce them to descend and enjoy the offerings, as well as perfectively completing the human-spirit communication. Finally, the essay discusses how those religious beliefs and ritual ceremonies evolved into Confucian ethical values and aesthetic concepts, thus lifting the mysterious veil from cheng.
Religious Elements in Embrace of the Serpent (2015): Transforming the Dichotomies between an Amazonian payé and Western Expeditioners in the Wake of the Rubber Industry
Authors: Deman Isaak
Published: May 2021

Embrace of the Serpent (2015), directed by Ciro Guerra, narrates the parallel stories of Theo and Evan whose main purpose is to find the yakruna plant in the Amazon rainforest. Both men are guided by the payé Karamakate. The first story depicts Theo’s encounter with Karamakate and their travel through the Amazon for yakruna, which can cure Theo of his disease. Along the way, one comes to witness the parallel often disturbing events in the wake of colonialism, capitalism and the Catholic missionary movement. The second story narrates Evan’s encounter with Karamakate three decennia later, but this time, the viewer is informed about Theo’s preceding story and comes to see the devastating consequences. While Theo ultimately fails to utilize yakruna, Evan manages to find and utilize the plant, which leads him towards a radical self-transformation. In this way, Evan and Karamakate succeed where Theo and Karamakate failed. While Embrace of the Serpent has been hailed for its cinematography, its representation of the ecological decay, and the effects of Western colonialism, further reflection is needed with respect to the religious elements in the film. In doing so, this article proves that the film deals not only with the socio-political and ecological realities on the ground, but also with existential questions.
Evaluating the Performance of Lightning Data Assimilation from BLNET Observations in a 4DVAR-Based Weather Nowcasting Model for a High-Impact Weather over Beijing
Authors: Xiao Xian , Qie Xiushu , Chen Zhixiong , Lu Jingyu , Ji Lei , Wang Dongfang , Zhang Lina , Chen Mingxuan , Chen Min
Published: May 2021

The Beijing Broadband Lightning Network (BLNET) was successfully set up in North China and had yielded a considerable detection capability of total lightning (intracloud and cloud to ground) over the regions with complex underlying (plains, mountains, and oceans). This study set up a basic framework for the operational application of assimilating total lightning activities from BLNET and assesses the potential benefits in cloud-scale, very short-term forecast (nowcasting) by modulating the vertical velocity using the 4DVar technique. Nowcast statistics aggregated over 11 cycles show that the nowcasting performances with the assimilation of BLNET lightning datasets outperform RAD and the assimilation of GLD360 (Global Lightning) datasets. The assimilation of BLNET data improves the model's dynamical states in the analysis by enhancing the convergence and updraft in and near the convective system. To better implement of assimilating real-time lightning data, this study also conducts sensitivity experiments to investigate the impact of the horizontal length scale of a distance-weighted interpolation, binning time intervals, and different vertical profile or distance weights prior to the DA. The results indicate that the best forecast performance for assimilating BLNET lightning datasets is obtained in a 4DVar cycle when the lightning accumulation interval is 3 min, the radius of horizontal interpolation is 5 × 5, and the statistically vertical velocity profile and the distance weights obtained from cumulus cloud.
Rapid Ecosystem Change at the Southern Limit of the Canadian Arctic, Torngat Mountains National Park
Authors: Davis Emma L. , Trant Andrew J. , Way Robert G. , Hermanutz Luise , Whitaker Darroch
Published: May 2021

Northern protected areas guard against habitat and species loss but are themselves highly vulnerable to environmental change due to their fixed spatial boundaries. In the low Arctic, Torngat Mountains National Park (TMNP) of Canada, widespread greening has recently occurred alongside warming temperatures and regional declines in caribou. Little is known, however, about how biophysical controls mediate plant responses to climate warming, and available observational data are limited in temporal and spatial scope. In this study, we investigated the drivers of land cover change for the 9700 km2 extent of the park using satellite remote sensing and geostatistical modelling. Random forest classification was used to hindcast and simulate land cover change for four different land cover types from 1985 to 2019 with topographic and surface reflectance imagery (Landsat archive). The resulting land cover maps, in addition to topographic and biotic variables, were then used to predict where future shrub expansion is likely to occur using a binomial regression framework. Land cover hindcasts showed a 235% increase in shrub and a 105% increase in wet vegetation cover from 1985/89 to 2015/19. Shrub cover was highly persistent and displaced wet vegetation in southern, low-elevation areas, whereas wet vegetation expanded to formerly dry, mid-elevations. The predictive model identified both biotic (initial cover class, number of surrounding shrub neighbors), and topographic variables (elevation, latitude, and distance to the coast) as strong predictors of future shrub expansion. A further 51% increase in shrub cover is expected by 2039/43 relative to 2014 reference data. Establishing long-term monitoring plots within TMNP in areas where rapid vegetation change is predicted to occur will help to validate remote sensing observations and will improve our understanding of the consequences of change for biotic and abiotic components of the tundra ecosystem, including important cultural keystone species.
Remote Sensing and Geoscience Information Systems Applied to Groundwater Research
Authors: Jung Hyung-Sup , Lee Saro
Published: May 2021

As computer and space technologies have developed, geoscience information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) techniques have also been rapidly growing [...]
On the Relationship between Low Latitude Scintillation Onset and Sunset Terminator over Africa
Authors: Mersha Mogese Wassaie , Lewi Elias , Jakowski Norbert , Wilken Volker , Berdermann Jens , Kriegel Martin
Published: May 2021

The solar terminator is a moving boundary between day-side and night-side regions on the Earth, which is a substantial source of perturbations in the ionosphere. In the vicinity of the solar terminator, essential parameters like S4 index measurements are widely analyzed in order to monitor and predict perturbations in the ionosphere. The utilization of the scintillation index S4 is a well-accepted approach to describe the amplitude/intensity fluctuation of a received signal, predominantly caused by small-scale irregularities of the ionospheric plasma. We report on the longitudinal daily and seasonal occurrence of GNSS signal scintillations, using the data derived from the GNSS stations in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, Lomé, Togo and Dakar, Senegal. The observed seasonal climatology of GNSS signal scintillations in equatorial Africa is adequately explained by the alignment of the solar terminator and local geomagnetic declination line. It should be pointed out that the strongest scintillations are most frequently observed during the time when the solar terminator is best aligned with the geomagnetic declination line. At all three stations, the comparison of computational and observational results indicated that the scintillation activity culminated around equinoxes in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016. Comparatively, the western equatorial Africa sector has the most intense, longest-lasting, and highest scintillation occurrence rate in equinoctial seasons in all three years. For the first time, we show that the seasonal variation of the scintillation peaks changes systematically from west to east at equatorial GNSS stations over Africa. A detailed analysis of the solar day–night terminator azimuth at ionospheric heights including the time equation shows that the scintillation intensity has a maximum if the azimuth of the terminator coincides with the declination line of the geomagnetic field. Due to the remarkable change of the declination by about 10° at the considered GNSS stations, the distance between scintillation peaks increases by 46 days when moving westward from the Bahir Dar to the Dakar GNSS station. The observations agree quite well with the computational results, thus confirming Tsunoda’s theory.
Examples of Multi-Sensor Determination of Eruptive Source Parameters of Explosive Events at Mount Etna
Authors: Freret-Lorgeril Valentin , Bonadonna Costanza , Corradini Stefano , Donnadieu Franck , Guerrieri Lorenzo , Lacanna Giorgio , Marzano Frank Silvio , Mereu Luigi , Merucci Luca , Ripepe Maurizio , Scollo Simona , Stelitano Dario
Published: May 2021

Multi-sensor strategies are key to the real-time determination of eruptive source parameters (ESPs) of explosive eruptions necessary to forecast accurately both tephra dispersal and deposition. To explore the capacity of these strategies in various eruptive conditions, we analyze data acquired by two Doppler radars, ground- and satellite-based infrared sensors, one infrasound array, visible video-monitoring cameras as well as data from tephra-fallout deposits associated with a weak and a strong paroxysmal event at Mount Etna (Italy). We find that the different sensors provide complementary observations that should be critically analyzed and combined to provide comprehensive estimates of ESPs. First, all measurements of plume height agree during the strong paroxysmal activity considered, whereas some discrepancies are found for the weak paroxysm due to rapid plume and cloud dilution. Second, the event duration, key to convert the total erupted mass (TEM) in the mass eruption rate (MER) and vice versa, varies depending on the sensor used, providing information on different phases of the paroxysm (i.e., unsteady lava fountaining, lava fountain-fed tephra plume, waning phase associated with plume and cloud expansion in the atmosphere). As a result, TEM and MER derived from different sensors also correspond to the different phases of the paroxysms. Finally, satellite retrievals for grain-size can be combined with radar data to provide a first approximation of total grain-size distribution (TGSD) in near real-time. Such a TGSD shows a promising agreement with the TGSD derived from the combination of satellite data and whole deposit grain-size distribution (WDGSD).
Partition of Marine Environment Dynamics According to Remote Sensing Reflectance and Relations of Dynamics to Physical Factors
Authors: Suominen Tapio , Westerholm Jan , Kalliola Risto , Attila Jenni
Published: May 2021

Seawaters exhibit various types of cyclic and trend-like temporal alterations in their biological, physical, and chemical processes. Surface water dynamics may vary, for instance, when the timings, durations, or amplitudes of seasonal developments of water properties alter between years and locations. We introduce a workflow using remote sensing to identify surface waters undergoing similar dynamics. The method, called ocean surface dynamics partitioning, classifies pixels based on their temporal change patterns instead of their properties at successive time snapshots. We apply an efficient parallel computing method to calculate Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) time series distances of large datasets of Earth Observation MERIS-instrument reflectance data Rrs(510 nm) and Rrs(620 nm), and produce a matrix of time series distances between 12,252 locations/time series in the Baltic Sea, for both wavelengths. We define cluster prototypes by hierarchical clustering of distance matrices and use them as initial prototypes for an iterative process of partitional clustering in order to identify areas that have similar reflectance dynamics. Lastly, we compute distances from the time series of the reflectance data to selected physical factors (wind, precipitation, and changes in sea surface temperature) obtained from Copernicus data archives. The workflow is reproducible and capable of managing large datasets in reasonable computation times and identifying areas of distinctive dynamics. The results show spatially coherent and logical areas without a priori information about the locations of the satellite image time series. The alignments of the reflectance time series vs. the observational time series of the physical environment clarify the causalities behind the cluster formation. We conclude that following the changes in an aquatic realm by biogeochemical observations at certain temporal intervals alone is not sufficient to identify environmental shifts. We foresee that the changes in dynamics are a sensitive measure of environmental threats and therefore they will be important to follow in the future.
Sequential Ambiguity Resolution Method for Poorly-Observed GNSS Data
Authors: Li Haiyang , Nie Guigen , Wu Shuguang , He Yuefan
Published: May 2021

Integer ambiguity resolution is required to obtain precise coordinates for the global navigation satellite system (GNSS). Poorly observed data cause unfixed integer ambiguity and reduce the coordinate accuracy. Previous studies mostly used denoise filters and partial ambiguity resolution algorithms to address this problem. This study proposes a sequential ambiguity resolution method that includes a float solution substitution process and a double-difference (DD) iterative correction equation process. The float solution substitution process updates the initial float solution, while the DD iterative correction equation process is used to eliminate the residual biases. The satellite-selection experiment shows that the float solution substitution process is adequate to obtain a more accurate float solution. The iteration-correction experiment shows that the double-difference iterative correction equation process is feasible with an improvement in the ambiguity success rate from 28.4% to 96.2%. The superiority experiment shows significant improvement in the ambiguity success rate from 36.1% to 83.6% and a better baseline difference from about 0.1 m to 0.04 m. It is proved that the proposed sequential ambiguity resolution method can significantly optimize the results for poorly-observed GNSS data.
An Improved Back-Projection Algorithm for GNSS-R BSAR Imaging Based on CPU and GPU Platform
Authors: Wu Shiyu , Xu Zhichao , Wang Feng , Yang Dongkai , Guo Gongjian
Published: May 2021

Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry Bistatic Synthetic Aperture Radar (GNSS-R BSAR) is becoming more and more important in remote sensing because of its low power, low mass, low cost, and real-time global coverage capability. The Back Projection Algorithm (BPA) was usually selected as the GNSS-R BSAR imaging algorithm because it can process echo signals of complex geometric configurations. However, the huge computational cost is a challenge for its application in GNSS-R BSAR. Graphics Processing Units (GPU) provides an efficient computing platform for GNSS-R BSAR processing. In this paper, a solution accelerating the BPA of GNSS-R BSAR using GPU is proposed to improve imaging efficiency, and a matching pre-processing program was proposed to synchronize direct and echo signals to improve imaging quality. To process hundreds of gigabytes of data collected by a long-time synthetic aperture in fixed station mode, a stream processing structure was used to process such a large amount of data to solve the problem of limited GPU memory. In the improvement of the imaging efficiency, the imaging task is divided into pre-processing and BPA, which are performed in the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and GPU, respectively, and a pixel-oriented parallel processing method in back projection is adopted to avoid memory access conflicts caused by excessive data volume. The improved BPA with the long synthetic aperture time is verified through the simulation of and experimenting on the GPS-L5 signal. The results show that the proposed accelerating solution is capable of taking approximately 128.04 s, which is 156 times lower than pure CPU framework for producing a size of 600 m × 600 m image with 1800 s synthetic aperture time; in addition, the same imaging quality with the existing processing solution can be retained.
Automatic Identification and Geometrical Modeling of Steel Rivets of Historical Structures from Lidar Data
Authors: Pereira Álvaro , Cabaleiro Manuel , Conde Borja , Sánchez-Rodríguez Ana
Published: May 2021

Riveting is a joining technique that was widely used in iron and steel structures from the mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth century. Nowadays, many of these riveted structures are still in service around the world, and in many instances, also constitute an important part of the built cultural heritage. The maintenance and conservation of this type of construction is a crucial task for which the HBIM (Historic Building Information Modeling) methodology has recently gained increased attention, postulating itself as the ideal tool for tracking control and conservation-related actions. In the process of data collection and 3D modeling of the structure, the rivets are an important part to be taken into account in the structural safety assessment and health monitoring over time. Any structure of this typology typically presents thousands of rivets, so its measurement and subsequent 3D geometrical modeling is a laborious task and a source of possible errors. Accordingly, this work presents a novel methodology that allows the automatic identification and 3D modeling of rivets in iron and steel structures from Lidar data. The proposed methodology has been tested with both laboratory specimens and a full-scale real bridge.
A Review of Deep Learning-Based Contactless Heart Rate Measurement Methods
Authors: Ni Aoxin , Azarang Arian , Kehtarnavaz Nasser
Published: May 2021

The interest in contactless or remote heart rate measurement has been steadily growing in healthcare and sports applications. Contactless methods involve the utilization of a video camera and image processing algorithms. Recently, deep learning methods have been used to improve the performance of conventional contactless methods for heart rate measurement. After providing a review of the related literature, a comparison of the deep learning methods whose codes are publicly available is conducted in this paper. The public domain UBFC dataset is used to compare the performance of these deep learning methods for heart rate measurement. The results obtained show that the deep learning method PhysNet generates the best heart rate measurement outcome among these methods, with a mean absolute error value of 2.57 beats per minute and a mean square error value of 7.56 beats per minute.
Modeling Mobile Commerce Applications’ Antecedents of Customer Satisfaction among Millennials: An Extended TAM Perspective
Authors: Ngubelanga Atandile , Duffett Rodney
Published: May 2021

The continued growth for both smartphone usage and mobile applications (apps) innovations has resulted in businesses realizing the potential of this growth in usage. Hence, the study investigates the antecedents of customer satisfaction due the usage of mobile commerce (m-commerce) applications (MCA) by Millennial consumers in South Africa. The conceptual model antecedents were derived from the extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The research made use of self-administered questionnaires to take a cross section of Millennial MCA users in South Africa. The sample comprised of nearly 5500 respondents and the data was analyzed via structural equation and generalized linear modeling. The results revealed that trust, social influence, and innovativeness positively influenced perceived usefulness; perceived enjoyment, mobility, and involvement positively influenced perceived ease of use; and perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use were positive antecedents of customer satisfaction. Several usage and demographic characteristics were also found to have a positive effect on customer satisfaction. It is important for businesses to improve customer experience and satisfaction via MCA to facilitate a positive satisfaction and social influence among young technologically savvy consumers.
Reviewing COVID-19 Literature on Business Management: What It Portends for Future Research?
Authors: Rodrigues Margarida , Franco Mário , Sousa Nuno , Silva Rui
Published: May 2021

Who could have imagined that the COVID-19 crisis would affect the whole world? This means that all aspects of society, in general, have felt the consequences of the measures imposed to reduce contagion. Firms, businesses, and their management had to be and must continue to be resilient, and entrepreneurs creative to overcome the present and future impacts of the pandemic, which will be long-lasting. This study aims to map the existing literature on the topic and identify emerging ones. To provide a robust response to this objective, qualitative methodology was adopted through content analysis of the selected documents and the use of MAXQDA software to analyze qualitative data. In addition, a descriptive analysis of the selected documents is presented. The results obtained show there is still a shortage of studies, principally empirical ones, addressing this subject, to complete existing knowledge and thereby contribute to understanding the effects of the virus on businesses and their management. The main contribution of this article lies in a first systematization and coding of the literature, to identify emerging topics for study by academics, the foremost agents of knowledge.
Height Allometry of Pinus nigra Arn. in Troodos National Forest Park, Cyprus
Authors: Raptis Dimitrios I. , Kazana Vassiliki , Onisiforou Nikolaos , Stamatiou Christos , Kazaklis Angelos
Published: May 2021

Total height is one of the basic morphometric tree variables included in all forest management inventories, because it is connected with several forest processes and functions related to the estimation of the woody tree volume and sustainable forest yield. The current research, based on a total sample of 1059 measured Black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) trees from Cyprus, is an attempt to explore the biological processes related to the tree height allometry of this species and develop a generalized mixed-effects model for tree height prediction. The proposed model, with three additional basic covariates and two random parameters, explained almost 96% of the height variance. The model results showed that although competition and site-connected variables affected the total height, it was the crown base height that explained, to a large degree, the height expression. Through the mixed-effects modeling approach it was possible to explore the complex biological processes related to the tree allometry of Black pine and depict those within a mathematical formulation. The proposed generalized model decreased the error significantly, and therefore it can be used for operational forest management purposes. However, for marginal predictions, use of only the fixed part of the basic model could suffice, since this also provided unbiased parameter estimates.
Silk Road Museums: Design of Inclusive Heritage and Cross-Cultural Education
Authors: Huerta Ricard
Published: May 2021

This work is the result of a study on the characteristics that define some of the museums created on the Silk Road. The approach to these museums has focused especially on the observation of the educational and heritage aspects that define these institutions. Since 1988, numerous actions related to the Silk Road have been promoted by UNESCO. This old trade route has now become a route of dialogue between cultures. Each museum studied is characterized by promoting local and national issues that define it. Educational issues stand out, since the tradition of silk production is very important in each place. Another aspect observed is that heritage issues manage to strengthen the characteristic features of each community. I have interviewed those responsible and personally observed their facilities and collections. Each museum has chosen to highlight local differential factors, enhancing the aesthetic arguments of cultural identity. Finally, I examine the specific case of the Valencia Silk Museum, the most recent creation museum but also the oldest institution. In the conclusions, I highlight the importance of education in most of these institutions.
Smart Parking Applications and Its Efficiency
Authors: Kalašová Alica , Čulík Kristián , Poliak Miloš , Otahálová Zuzana
Published: May 2021

Parking is a problem in many cities. Usually, it is not possible to build new parking lots due to insufficient available areas. This paper focuses on the parking situation in Slovak city Žilina. The authors carried out an extensive traffic survey in private and city-owned parking lots. Not only were occupancy data collected, but also the opinions of the drivers who parked there. The second half of the paper is based on results from the survey. It includes a proposal of the new intelligent parking system which can improve the efficiency of parking. This system is proposed in flowcharts and also described. The intelligent parking system with guidance to a free parking space can improve the traffic situation in cities. Drivers find a free parking space faster, which reduces congestion and various other negative externalities. On the other hand, the system has high acquisition costs and other problems. These issues of smart parking solutions are also discussed in the paper.
Ordering Artificial Intelligence Based Recommendations to Tackle the SDGs with a Decision-Making Model Based on Surveys
Authors: Alonso Sergio , Montes Rosana , Molina Daniel , Palomares Iván , Martínez-Cámara Eugenio , Chiachio Manuel , Chiachio Juan , Melero Francisco J. , García-Moral Pablo , Fernández Bárbara , Moral Cristina , Marchena Rosario , Pérez de Vargas Javier , Herrera Francisco
Published: May 2021

The United Nations Agenda 2030 established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a guideline to guarantee a sustainable worldwide development. Recent advances in artificial intelligence and other digital technologies have already changed several areas of modern society, and they could be very useful to reach these sustainable goals. In this paper we propose a novel decision making model based on surveys that ranks recommendations on the use of different artificial intelligence and related technologies to achieve the SDGs. According to the surveys, our decision making method is able to determine which of these technologies are worth investing in to lead new research to successfully tackle with sustainability challenges.
On Fejér Type Inequalities via (p,q)-Calculus
Authors: Arunrat Nuttapong , Nakprasit Keaitsuda Maneeruk , Nonlaopon Kamsing , Tariboon Jessada , Ntouyas Sotiris K.
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we use (p,q)-integral to establish some Fejér type inequalities. In particular, we generalize and correct existing results of quantum Fejér type inequalities by using new techniques and showing some problematic parts of those results. Most of the inequalities presented in this paper are significant extensions of results which appear in existing literatures.
Deep Learning Based Protective Equipment Detection on Offshore Drilling Platform
Authors: Gong Faming , Ji Xiaofeng , Gong Wenjuan , Yuan Xiangbing , Gong Chenyu
Published: May 2021

There is a symmetrical relationship between safety management and production efficiency of an offshore drilling platform. The development of artificial intelligence makes people pay more attention to intelligent security management. It is extremely important to reinforce workplace safety management by monitoring protective equipment wearing using artificial intelligence, such as safety helmets and workwear uniforms. The working environment of the offshore drilling platforms is particularly complex due to small-scale subjects, flexible human postures, oil and gas pipeline occlusions, etc. To automatically monitor and report misconduct that violates safety measures, this paper proposes a personal protective equipment detection method based on deep learning. On the basis of improving YOLOv3, the proposed method detects on-site workers and obtains the bounding box of personnel. The result of candidate detection is used as the input of gesture recognition to detect human body key points. Based on the detected key points, the area of interest (head area and workwear uniform area) is located based on the spatial relations among the human body key points. The safety helmets are recognized using the deep transfer learning based on improved ResNet50, according to the symmetry between the helmets and the workwear uniforms, the same method is used to recognize the workwear uniforms to realize the identification of protective equipment. Experiments show that the proposed method achieves a higher accuracy in the protective equipment detection on offshore drilling platforms compared with other deep learning models. The detection accuracies of the proposed method for helmets and workwear uniforms are 94.8% and 95.4%, respectively.
Using Fuzzy Cognitive Maps to Assess Liveability in Slum Upgrading Schemes: Case of Pune, India
Authors: Nath Subhashree , Karutz Raphael
Published: May 2021

Liveability assessments of informal urban settlements are scarce. In India, a number of slum upgrading schemes have been implemented over the last decades aiming at better living conditions. However, these schemes rarely consider improvement in liveability as an explicit criterion, assuming that better physical conditions and the provision of basic services inevitably lead to better liveability. We use Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs) to analyse liveability in four different informal settlements in Pune (India). We compare the liveability by conducting semi-structured interviews with residents and by analysing them in individual and aggregated FCMs. Each settlement represents an archetypical form of the upgradation process: non-upgraded (base case), in-situ upgraded, relocated, and temporary resettlement. The FCMs show that the liveability indicators availability of community space, proximity to public transportation, feeling of belonging, and good relationship with neighbours and community are central elements of these neighbourhoods’ liveability. The results suggest that upgradation may lead to an improved overall liveability but can also reduce it if not designed properly. The fostering of community agency, an integration of the neighbourhood into the formal city fabric, and the maintaining of cohesion during the shift from horizontal to vertical living emerged as critical factors. To ensure sustainable integration of liveability considerations in slum upgrading schemes, we suggest using indicators well-adapted to the local context, co-created with local experts and stakeholders, as well as periodic post-occupancy liveability evaluations.
Epidemic Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Lineage B.1.1.7 in Brazil
Authors: Moreira Filipe R. R. , Bonfim Diego M. , Zauli Danielle A. G. , Silva Joice P. , Lima Aline B. , Malta Frederico S. V. , Ferreira Alessandro C. S. , Pardini Victor C. , Magalhães Wagner C. S. , Queiroz Daniel C. , Souza Rafael M. , Geddes Victor E. V. , Costa Walyson C. , Moreira Rennan G. , Faria Nuno R. , Voloch Carolina M. , Souza Renan P. , Aguiar Renato S.
Published: May 2021

The emergence of diverse lineages harboring mutations with functional significance and potentially enhanced transmissibility imposes an increased difficulty on the containment of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic [...]
High Throughput Sequencing-Aided Survey Reveals Widespread Mixed Infections of Whitefly-Transmitted Viruses in Cucurbits in Georgia, USA
Authors: Kavalappara Saritha Raman , Milner Hayley , Konakalla Naga Charan , Morgan Kaelyn , Sparks Alton N. , McGregor Cecilia , Culbreath Albert K. , Wintermantel William M. , Bag Sudeep
Published: May 2021

Viruses transmitted by the sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) have been detrimental to the sustainable production of cucurbits in the southeastern USA. Surveys were conducted in the fall of 2019 and 2020 in Georgia, a major cucurbit-producing state of the USA, to identify the viruses infecting cucurbits and their distribution. Symptomatic samples were collected and small RNA libraries were prepared and sequenced from three cantaloupes, four cucumbers, and two yellow squash samples. An analysis of the sequences revealed the presence of the criniviruses cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV), cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV), and the begomovirus cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV). CuLCrV was detected in 76%, CCYV in 60%, and CYSDV in 43% of the total samples (n = 820) tested. The level of mixed infections was high in all the cucurbits, with most plants tested being infected with at least two of these viruses. Near-complete genome sequences of two criniviruses, CCYV and CYSDV, were assembled from the small RNA sequences. An analysis of the coding regions showed low genetic variability among isolates from different hosts. In phylogenetic analysis, the CCYV isolates from Georgia clustered with Asian isolates, while CYSDV isolates clustered with European and USA isolates. This work enhances our understanding of the distribution of viruses on cucurbits in South Georgia and will be useful to develop strategies for managing the complex of whitefly-transmitted viruses in the region.
Sediment Contamination by Heavy Metals and PAH in the Piombino Channel (Tyrrhenian Sea)
Authors: Valentina Pitacco , Michele Mistri , Tommaso Granata , Letizia Moruzzi , Laura Meloni Maria , Francesca Massara , Adriano Sfriso , Augusto Sfriso Andrea , Cristina Munari
Published: May 2021

Sediment contamination is of major concern in areas affected by heavy maritime traffic. The spatial variation and contamination of 11 trace elements and 17 PAHs in surface sediments were studied along a 31 km transect along the seaway from the port of Piombino (Tuscany) to the port of Portoferraio (Elba Island) in the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea. Heavy metal contamination was detected at sites near Piombino (Ni, Pb, Hg, Cu and Zn) and at sites near Portoferraio (Pb, Zn, Hg, Cr and Cd). Each of the 35 sampled sites showed PAH contamination, with the highest concentrations at sites near Portoferraio. The most abundant isomers detected were 2- and 4-ring PAHs. PAH ratio analysis showed a prevalence of PAHs of pyrolytic origin. High values of PAHs and heavy metals were related to high sediment water content, TOC, silt, and clay content. Arsenic increased with increasing depth. The correlation between concentrations of metals and PAHs suggests common anthropogenic sources and is of concern for possible synergistic adverse effects on the biota.
Spatiotemporal Evolution Trajectory of Channel Morphology and Controlling Factors of Yongding River, Beijing, China
Authors: Li Hao , Xu Xiaoming , Wu Minghao , Liu Zhicheng
Published: May 2021

It is necessary to understand the evolution of a river channel when reconstructing its evolution process and analyzing the controlling factors essential for river management and ecological restoration. In the past 50 years, the ecological environment around the Yongding River has deteriorated considerably, and the downstream has been completely cut off. Despite this, few have studied its morphology. In this study, we analyze the morphology of the Yongding River (Beijing, China) stretching for 92 km in four different periods between 1964 and 2018. A data treatment is carried out based on GIS, and the morphological evolution trajectory of the river channel at the overall and reach scales is reconstructed. The results show that the river morphology has undergone significant changes: the channel width has narrowed by 31%, and the temporal and spatial patterns show significant differences. By analyzing the impacts of human activities and climate change in various periods, we find human intervention to be the most important controlling factor. Based on our results, we proposed a set of river restoration strategies and protection measures for the Yongding River to guide watershed management and land planning.
Diversity and Distribution of Sabellida (Annelida) under Protection Regimes
Authors: Musco Luigi , Licciano Margherita , Giangrande Adriana
Published: May 2021

Sabellida are widespread, diverse and abundant in marine benthic habitats. Their distribution patterns on hard-bottom substrates are poorly studied so far. Little is known about the factors influencing their distribution, including the protection regimes that are known to affect assemblage diversity. We analyzed hard-bottom Sabellida at 1.5 and 5 m depths at the Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area (MPA) (SE Italy) to describe diversity and distribution patterns, and to identify potential factors influencing their distribution. The Sabellida diversity varied significantly among stations and was higher at 5 m depth. No relation with the protection regime was found. Among environmental variables, only sedimentation appeared related, suggesting that local trophic features might have influenced the observed pattern. Among habitat formers, only the macroalga Halimeda tuna significantly explained part of the observed variation, probably due to its role as a basibiont for some Sabellida taxa. Other predictor variables of Sabellida distribution were the abundances of some invertebrate taxa, especially Syllidae and some filter feeders such as Sabellariida and Cirripedia, probably due to shared ecological requirements, rather than a direct effect on Sabellida distribution. The relation with the Syllidae remains obscure so far, albeit some kind of interaction (including predator/prey interactions) between these two taxa cannot be excluded. Sabellida should be taken into account when analyzing patterns of biodiversity of hard-bottom environments.
THE EFFECT OF NUTRITION AND EXERCISE EDUCATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATTITUDE AND BELIEF OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TOWARDS OBESITY: CASE OF ELAZIĞ PROVINCE
Authors: Çelebi Evrim , Ulaş Kadıoğlu Bircan , Uncu Fatoş
Published: May 2021

In order to determine the effect of nutrition and exercise education on the development of students' attitudes and beliefs towards obesity, this study was conducted with a control group quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design. The research was conducted in the fall semester of the 2019-2020 academic year between October November 2019. The study group consisted of 50 female students, 25 experimental (overweight or obese), and 25 control groups (normal weight), studying at Fırat University Faculty of Health Sciences. In order to collect pretest data, a personal information form and Health Belief Model Scale in Obesity (HBMSO) were applied to the students in the experimental and control groups. Later, the students in the experimental group were taken to a 6-week program with 2 hours of healthy nutrition and exercise education per week. HBMSO, which was applied to the students in the experimental and control groups at the beginning of the study, was repeated at the end of the education, thus the posttest data were collected. When the before and after education HBMSO sub-dimension scores of the experimental and control groups were compared; The difference in the attitude to importance of health, perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, perceived usefulness, and perceived disability dimensions in the experimental group was found to be significant (p<0.001). HBMSO subscale scores of the control group did not show any difference (p>0.05). As a result, after nutrition and exercise education given to obese students, a positive change was achieved in students' beliefs about obesity.
El manejo de emociones en niños de educación primaria
Authors: Villarreal-Soto Blanca Margarita , Cepeda-González María Cristina , Sánchez-Rivera Lilia , Espericueta-Medina Marta Nieves
Published: May 2021

The objective of this research is to compare the management of emotions in elementary school children from two schools, one with secular education and the other with training in religious values. We worked from a comparison design where there was a sample of 104 sixth grade students from primary school, 52 from a private school and 52 from a public school. The instrument has 49 variables of which 5 are signal. The information was processed both qualitatively and quantitatively in the Statistica program. Among the main results is that the solidification of society occurs from the responsibility of parents and that working on the socio-emotional development of students. Therefore, one of the main conclusions is that healthy coexistence between parents enhances academic efficiency and the management of emotions in students, as well as the recognition of qualities enhances the self-esteem of students, thus helping to reduce the rates of violence inside classrooms. It is proposed to generate an intervention model in schools for the inclusion of subjects of socio-emotional origin as compulsory.