bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A TIR-Visible Automatic Registration and Geometric Correction Method for SDGSAT-1 Thermal Infrared Image Based on Modified RIFT
Authors: Chen Jinfen , Cheng Bo , Zhang Xiaoping , Long Tengfei , Chen Bo , Wang Guizhou , Zhang Degang
Published: March 2022

High-resolution thermal infrared (TIR) remote sensing images can more accurately retrieve land surface temperature and describe the spatial pattern of urban thermal environment. The Thermal Infrared Spectrometer (TIS), which has high spatial resolution among spaceborne thermal infrared sensors at present, and global data acquisition capability, is one of the sensors equipped in the SDGSAT-1. It is an important complement to the existing international mainstream satellites. In order to produce standard data products, rapidly and accurately, the automatic registration and geometric correction method needs to be developed. Unlike visible–visible image registration, thermal infrared images are blurred in edge details and have obvious non-linear radiometric differences from visible images, which make it challenging for the TIR-visible image registration task. To address these problems, homomorphic filtering is employed to enhance TIR image details and the modified RIFT algorithm is proposed to achieve TIR-visible image registration. Different from using MIM for feature description in RIFT, the proposed modified RIFT uses the novel binary pattern string to descriptor construction. With sufficient and uniformly distributed ground control points, the two-step orthorectification framework, from SDGSAT-1 TIS L1A image to L4 orthoimage, are proposed in this study. The first experiment, with six TIR-visible image pairs, captured in different landforms, is performed to verify the registration performance, and the result indicates that the homomorphic filtering and modified RIFT greatly increase the number of corresponding points. The second experiment, with one scene of an SDGSAT-1 TIS image, is executed to test the proposed orthorectification framework. Subsequently, 52 GCPs are selected manually to evaluate the orthorectification accuracy. The result indicates that the proposed orthorectification framework is helpful to improve the geometric accuracy and guarantee for the subsequent thermal infrared applications.
Assessing Obukhov Length and Friction Velocity from Floating Lidar Observations: A Data Screening and Sensitivity Computation Approach
Authors: Araújo da Silva Marcos , Rocadenbosch Francesc , Farré-Guarné Joan , Salcedo-Bosch Andreu , González-Marco Daniel , Peña Alfredo
Published: March 2022

This work presents a parametric-solver algorithm for estimating atmospheric stability and friction velocity from floating Doppler wind lidar (FDWL) observations close to the mast of IJmuiden in the North Sea. The focus of the study was two-fold: (i) to examine the sensitivity of the computational algorithm to the retrieved variables and derived stability classes (the latter through confusion-matrix theory), and (ii) to present data screening procedures for FDWLs and fixed reference instrumentation. The performance of the stability estimation algorithm was assessed with reference to wind speed and temperature observations from the mast. A fixed-to-mast Doppler wind lidar (DWL) was also available, which provides a reference for wind-speed observations free from sea-motion perturbations. When comparing FDWL- and mast-derived mean wind speeds, the obtained determination coefficient was as high as that of the fixed-to-mast DWL against the mast (ρ2=0.996) with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.25 m/s. From the 82-day measurement campaign at IJmuiden (10,833 10 min records), the parametric algorithm showed that the atmosphere was neutral (31% of the cases), stable (28%), or near-neutral stable (19%) during most of the campaign. These figures satisfactorily agree with values estimated from the mast measurements (31%, 27%, and 19%, respectively).
GNSS-IR Snow Depth Retrieval Based on the Fusion of Multi-Satellite SNR Data by the BP Neural Network
Authors: Zhan Junyu , Zhang Rui , Tu Jinsheng , Lv Jichao , Bao Xin , Xie Lingxiao , Li Song , Zhan Runqing
Published: March 2022

Compared with previous snow depth monitoring methods, global navigation satellite system-interferometric reflectometry (GNSS-IR) technology has the advantage of obtaining continuous daily observation data, and has great application potential. However, since GNSS satellites are in motion, their position in the sky is constantly varying, and the Fresnel reflection areas about the receiver in different periods alter accordingly. As a result, the retrieving results obtained from different GNSS satellites, and data sets collected in different periods, fluctuate considerably, making the traditional single-satellite-based GNSS-IR retrieving method have limitations in accuracy and reliability. Therefore, this paper proposed a novel GNSS-IR signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) retrieving snow depth method for fusing the available GNSS-IR observations to obtain an accurate and reliable result. We established the retrieval model based on the backpropagation algorithm, which makes full use of the back propagation (BP) neural network’s self-learning and self-adaptive capability to exploit the degree of contribution of different satellites to the final results. Then, the SNR observations of the global positioning system (GPS) L1 carrier from the Plate Boundary Observation (PBO) site P351 were collected to experiment for validation purposes. For all available GPS L1 carrier data, the snow depth values retrieved for each satellite were first obtained by the existing single-satellite-based GNSS-IR retrieval method. Then, four groups of comparison results were acquired, based on the multiple linear regression model, random forest model, mean fusion model, and the proposed BP neural network model, respectively. Taking the snow depth in-situ data provided by snow telemetry (SNOTEL) as a reference, the root mean squared error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) of the proposed solution are 0.0297 m and 0.0219 m, respectively. Furthermore, the retrieving results are highly consistent with the measured data, and the correlation coefficient is 0.9407.
Long-Term Vegetation Phenology Changes and Responses to Preseason Temperature and Precipitation in Northern China
Authors: Zhang Rongrong , Qi Junyu , Leng Song , Wang Qianfeng
Published: March 2022

Due to the complex coupling between phenology and climatic factors, the influence mechanism of climate, especially preseason temperature and preseason precipitation, on vegetation phenology is still unclear. In the present study, we explored the long-term trends of phenological parameters of different vegetation types in China north of 30°N from 1982 to 2014 and their comprehensive responses to preseason temperature and precipitation. Simultaneously, annual double-season phenological stages were considered. Results show that the satellite-based phenological data were corresponding with the ground-based phenological data. Our analyses confirmed that the preseason temperature has a strong controlling effect on vegetation phenology. The start date of the growing season (SOS) had a significant advanced trend for 13.5% of the study area, and the end date of the growing season (EOS) showed a significant delayed trend for 23.1% of the study area. The impact of preseason precipitation on EOS was overall stronger than that on SOS, and different vegetation types had different responses. Compared with other vegetation types, SOS and EOS of crops were greatly affected by human activities while the preseason precipitation had less impact. This study will help us to make a scientific decision to tackle global climate change and regulate ecological engineering.
Correction: Zhang et al. CO2 Flux over the Contiguous United States in 2016 Inverted by WRF-Chem/DART from OCO-2 XCO2 Retrievals. RemoteSens. 2021, 13, 2996
Authors: Zhang Qinwei , Li Mingqi , Wang Maohua , Mizzi Arthur Paul , Huang Yongjian , Wei Chong , Jin Jiuping , Gu Qianrong
Published: March 2022

In the published article [...]
UAV Swarm Scheduling Method for Remote Sensing Observations during Emergency Scenarios
Authors: Liu Jianli , Liao Xiaohan , Ye Huping , Yue Huanyin , Wang Yong , Tan Xiang , Wang Dongliang
Published: March 2022

Recently, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing has been widely used in emergency scenarios; the operating mode has transitioned from one UAV to multiple UAVs. However, the current multiple-UAV remote sensing mode is characterized by high labor costs and limited operational capabilities; meanwhile, there is no suitable UAV swarm scheduling method that can be applied to remote sensing in emergency scenarios. To solve these problems, this study proposes a UAV swarm scheduling method. Firstly, the tasks were formulated and decomposed according to the data requirements and the maximum flight range of a UAV; then, the task sets were decomposed according to the maximum flight range of the UAV swarm to form task subsets; finally, aiming at the shortest total flight range of the task subsets and to balance the flight ranges of each UAV, taking the complete execution of the tasks as the constraint, the task allocation model was constructed, and the model was solved via a particle swarm optimization algorithm to obtain the UAV swarm scheduling scheme. Compared with the direct allocation method and the manual scheduling methods, the results show that the proposed method has high usability and efficiency.
Variability of Longshore Surface Current on the Shelf Edge and Continental Slope off the West Coast of Canada
Authors: Han Guoqi , Chen Nancy
Published: March 2022

The shelf-edge and continental slope current off the west coast of Canada has been monitored at a site off West Vancouver Island since 1985. However, observations at this site may not represent the characteristics of the shelf-edge and slope current off the entire west coast of Canada. Here, we use along-track satellite altimetry data over six transects to investigate the characteristics of the surface geostrophic currents over the shelf edge and continental slope off the west coast of Canada from 1992 to 2020. It is shown that along-track satellite altimetry is well suited for monitoring longshore and climatic variations of the near-surface shelf-edge and slope currents off the west coast of Canada. It is found that the surface current over the shelf edge and slope has different features from the south to the north. While the surface current is poleward in winter and equatorward in summer off South Vancouver Island, it is poleward year-round off the rest of the west coast of Canada. The seasonal current anomalies show longshore correlation significant at the 95% confidence level, except at the North Haida Gwaii transect. The first empirical orthogonal function mode of the seasonal current anomalies is correlated with the longshore wind anomalies both off South Vancouver Island and off Oregon. However, this first mode is not correlated with either the Niño 3.4 index or the Pacific Decadal Oscillation index, though they often show large episodic events during strong El Niño and La Niña years. Consistent with previous findings, the present study indicates that the surface currents over the shelf edge and continental slope off the west coast of Canada are related to regional and remote longshore wind forcing.
Automatic Detection of the Cyclic Alternating Pattern of Sleep and Diagnosis of Sleep-Related Pathologies Based on Cardiopulmonary Resonance Indices
Authors: Cui Jiajia , Huang Zhipei , Wu Jiankang
Published: March 2022

The cyclic alternating pattern is the periodic electroencephalogram activity occurring during non-rapid eye movement sleep. It is a marker of sleep instability and is correlated with several sleep-related pathologies. Considering the connection between the human heart and brain, our study explores the feasibility of using cardiopulmonary features to automatically detect the cyclic alternating pattern of sleep and hence diagnose sleep-related pathologies. By statistically analyzing and comparing the cardiopulmonary characteristics of a healthy group and groups with sleep-related diseases, an automatic recognition scheme of the cyclic alternating pattern is proposed based on the cardiopulmonary resonance indices. Using the Hidden Markov and Random Forest, the scheme combines the variation and stability of measurements of the coupling state of the cardiopulmonary system during sleep. In this research, the F1 score of the sleep-wake classification reaches 92.0%. In terms of the cyclic alternating pattern, the average recognition rate of A-phase reaches 84.7% on the CAP Sleep Database of 108 cases of people. The F1 score of disease diagnosis is 87.8% for insomnia and 90.0% for narcolepsy.
Active Control Loop of the BOROWIEC SLR Space Debris Tracking System
Authors: Suchodolski Tomasz
Published: March 2022

The task of tracking cooperative satellites equipped with laser retroreflectors, by means of Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), is an issue well described in the literature. The follow-up movement of the ground-based transceiver telescope behind an orbital object is based on the positional ephemeris data. The problem of controlling the follow-up motion of the telescope’s mount mostly in the Az/El configuration in this case boils down to the interpolation of the positional ephemeris data of the orbital object, which is the information input vector for the motion control system of the orthogonal and non-coupled axes of the propulsion system. In the case of tracking and determining the position of uncooperative objects (not equipped with retroreflectors), for which we can include rocket bodies and fragmentary elements, the task of keeping track of them becomes complex. The positional uncertainty of the ephemeris of uncooperative objects obtained mainly by means of survey radar acquisition requires the use of innovative solutions and complex control systems that enable the effective implementation of the tracking process. This paper presents innovative methods for the active control loop used in the SLR technique, consisting of dynamic motion corrections based on the passive optical acquisition with object recognition and analysis of the photon trace scattered from an orbital object.
Path following Control of an Underactuated Catamaran for Recovery Maneuvers
Authors: Lee Sang-Do , Song Yong-Seung , Kim Dae-Hae , Kang Ma-Ru
Published: March 2022

This paper focuses on the autonomous recovery maneuvers of an unknown underactuated practical catamaran, which returns to its initial position corresponding to the man overboard (MOB) by simply adjusting the rate of turn. This paper investigates the completion of model-based path following control for not only the traditional Williamson turn, but also complex recovery routes under time-varying disturbances. The main difficulty of model-based path following control for predicting the hydrodynamic derivatives of a practical catamaran was solved by the approximated calculation of a diagonal matrix. The second key problem of differential calculation for an underactuated model in the case of complex reference trajectories under severe disturbances was investigated. Even though this paper employs a diagonal matrix with unknown nonlinear terms, the experimental test using a small craft with payloads by remote control demonstrated the sway force per yaw moment in turning cases. Adaptive backstepping mechanisms with unknown parameters were proven by the Lyapunov theory as well as the passive-boundedness of the sway dynamics, guaranteeing the stability of sway motion in the case of unavailable sway control. The effectiveness of the algorithms of the guiding concept and error dynamics is demonstrated by the numerical simulations.
Wearable Sensor for Forearm Motion Detection Using a Carbon-Based Conductive Layer-Polymer Composite Film
Authors: Park Kiwon
Published: March 2022

In this study, we developed a fabrication method for a bracelet-type wearable sensor to detect four motions of the forearm by using a carbon-based conductive layer-polymer composite film. The integral material used for the composite film is a polyethylene terephthalate polymer film with a conductive layer composed of a carbon paste. It is capable of detecting the resistance variations corresponding to the flexion changes of the surface of the body due to muscle contraction and relaxation. To effectively detect the surface resistance variations of the film, a small sensor module composed of mechanical parts mounted on the film was designed and fabricated. A subject wore the bracelet sensor, consisting of three such sensor modules, on their forearm. The surface resistance of the film varied corresponding to the flexion change of the contact area between the forearm and the sensor modules. The surface resistance variations of the film were converted to voltage signals and used for motion detection. The results demonstrate that the thin bracelet-type wearable sensor, which is comfortable to wear and easily applicable, successfully detected each motion with high accuracy.
An Anti-Jamming Method against Interrupted Sampling Repeater Jamming Based on Compressed Sensing
Authors: Liu Yingxi , Zhang Qun , Liu Zhidong , Li Guangming , Xiong Shichao , Luo Ying
Published: March 2022

Interrupted sampling repeater jamming (ISRJ) is an attracted coherent jamming method to inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) in the past decades. By means of different jamming parameters settings, realistic dense false targets can be formed around the true target. This paper proposed an adaptive anti-jamming method against ISRJ by adjusting the number of measurements based on compressed sensing (CS). The jamming signal is energy concentrated and segmented sparse in the frequency domain. The measurements number of the reconstructed target signal and the jamming signal is different. According to the restricted isometry property (RIP) condition of CS theory, signal reconstructing performance depends on the number of measurements that varies with the sparsity of the vector. Thus, the jamming signal is suppressed, and the true target signal is retained by altering the measurements number of echo signals. Besides, the two-dimensional (2D) anti-jamming method is derived in detail. The anti-jamming effect is analyzed with different signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), sampling rates, and jam-to-signal ratios (JSR). Simulations prove the effectiveness of the proposed anti-jamming method.
Effectiveness of Artificial Neural Networks for Solving Inverse Problems in Magnetic Field-Based Localization
Authors: Sasaki Ai-ichiro
Published: March 2022

Recently, indoor localization has become an active area of research. Although there are various approaches to indoor localization, methods that utilize artificially generated magnetic fields from a target device are considered to be the best in terms of localization accuracy under non-line-of-sight conditions. In magnetic field-based localization, the target position must be calculated based on the magnetic field information detected by multiple sensors. The calculation process is equivalent to solving a nonlinear inverse problem. Recently, a machine-learning approach has been proposed to solve the inverse problem. Reportedly, adopting the k-nearest neighbor algorithm (k-NN) enabled the machine-learning approach to achieve fairly good performance in terms of both localization accuracy and computational speed. Moreover, it has been suggested that the localization accuracy can be further improved by adopting artificial neural networks (ANNs) instead of k-NN. However, the effectiveness of ANNs has not yet been demonstrated. In this study, we thoroughly investigated the effectiveness of ANNs for solving the inverse problem of magnetic field-based localization in comparison with k-NN. We demonstrate that despite taking longer to train, ANNs are superior to k-NN in terms of localization accuracy. The k-NN is still valid for predicting fairly accurate target positions within limited training times.
Single-Shunt Measurement of Three-Phase Currents for a Three-Level Inverter under the Low Modulation Index Operation
Authors: Kovačević Haris , Drevenšek Dušan , Ban Željko , Svečko Rajko , Milanovič Miro
Published: March 2022

This paper deals with the three-phase current reconstruction method under the low modulation index operation of three-phase three-level PWM inverters by using the single-shunt current signal measurement. The shunt is placed in a DC-link. The proposed reconstruction method is based on the combination of collinear vector injection and shifting of Space Vector Modulation (SVM) signals. The method offers a good solution for the area where the small modulation index appears. In this case, a lack of measurement time exists due to the narrow triggering pulses. This approach was studied theoretically and verified by laboratory experiments.
A Novel Domain Transfer-Based Approach for Unsupervised Thermal Image Super-Resolution
Authors: Rivadeneira Rafael E. , Sappa Angel D. , Vintimilla Boris X. , Hammoud Riad
Published: March 2022

This paper presents a transfer domain strategy to tackle the limitations of low-resolution thermal sensors and generate higher-resolution images of reasonable quality. The proposed technique employs a CycleGAN architecture and uses a ResNet as an encoder in the generator along with an attention module and a novel loss function. The network is trained on a multi-resolution thermal image dataset acquired with three different thermal sensors. Results report better performance benchmarking results on the 2nd CVPR-PBVS-2021 thermal image super-resolution challenge than state-of-the-art methods. The code of this work is available online.
Toward COVID-19 Contact Tracing though Wi-Fi Probes
Authors: Yang Xu , Shi Chenqi , Li Peihao , Yin Yuqing , Niu Qiang
Published: March 2022

COVID-19 is currently the biggest threat that challenges all of humankind’s health and property. One promising and effective way to control the rapid spreading of this infection is searching for primary close contacts of the confirmed cases. In response, we propose COVID-19 Tracer, a low-cost passive searching system to find COVID-19 patients’ close contacts. The main idea is utilizing ubiquitous WiFi probe requests to describe the location similarity, which is then achieved by two designed range-free judgment indicators: location similarity coefficient and close contact distance. We have carried out extensive experiments in a school office building, and the experimental results show an average accuracy of more than 98%, demonstrating our system’s effectiveness in judging close contacts. Last but not least, we have developed a prototype system for a school building to find potential close contacts.
UPLC MS/MS Profile and Antioxidant Activities from Nonpolar Fraction of Patiwala (Lantana camara) Leaves Extract
Authors: Ruslin  , Yamin  , Rahma Nur Arifka , Irnawati  , Rohman Abdul
Published: March 2022

One of the plants used in Indonesian traditional medicine, namely, Patiwala (Lantana camara), is traditionally used to treat some diseases, including itching, wounds, ulcers, swelling, eczema, tetanus, malaria, tumors, rheumatism, and headaches. This study aimed to characterize the compound nonpolar fraction of Patiwala leaf capable of scavenging free radicals. The characterization of compound was carried out using the Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography–tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) with positive ion method, while the antioxidant testing was carried out using the radical DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhidrazyl) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) methods. The results showed that the nonpolar fraction of the methanol extract of L. camara leaves was very strong toward DPPH radicals (IC50 34.65 ± 1.26 μg/mL and 40.23 ± 0.18 μg/mL), and FRAP radical (IC50 4.93 ± 0.22 μg/mL and 12.79 ± 0.09 μg/mL). Nineteen compounds identified by UPLC-MS/MS method were Resveratrol dimer, iso-humolones, oleuropein glucoside, quercetin-3-O-glycoside, myricetin, oleuropein, 12-deoxy-16-hydroxy-phorbol, aloeresin A, humulones, ursolic acid, viniferin, Epicatechin, oleanolic acid, 5-hydroxy-3′,4′,7-trimerthoxy-flavanone, Apigenin-6,8-di-C-β-D-glucoside, procyanidin A2, caffeoyl-O-hexoside, tansihnone IIA, and phillyrin. The methanolic extract of L. camara leaves can be developed as a source of antioxidants from natural ingredients.
Theorizing People of Mixed Race in the Pacific and the Atlantic
Authors: Takezawa Yasuko , Small Stephen
Published: March 2022

The most extensive theoretic and empirical studies of people of mixed racial descent extant today have addressed nations across the Atlantic. This article reveals how this literature on people of mixed racial descent is limited in its claims to represent a “global model”. In contrast, we argue that by juxtaposing institutional factors in the Atlantic region and Japan we can expand our understanding of people of mixed racial descent across a far wider range of social and political terrains. A consideration of Japan uncovers a fascinating combination of factors impactful in the emergence of populations of mixed origins in the Pacific region more generally. By identifying this range of variables, we believe this analysis can be instructive for scholars of race focusing on the Atlantic and can contribute to a more encompassing approach for theorizing people of mixed racial descent.
Promoting the Sustainable Improvement of Educational Empirical Research Quality: What Kinds of Collaborative Production Relationships Make Sense?
Authors: Ma Yinqi , Xiu Qi , Shao Lingzhi , Yao Hao
Published: March 2022

With the transformation of the knowledge production model, the research system of educational research is becoming more extensive, and academic collaboration has become an important productive method of promoting the sustainable development of educational empirical research. Given this situation, what kinds of relationships will sustainably improve educational empirical research output quality? Taking the influence of educational empirical research article as an example, we selected 4610 empirical research articles in 15 education journals for analysis, published between the years of 2015 and 2020. In the sustainable development progress of educational empirical research, the optimal scale phenomenon has been verified in cooperative research. Identity collaboration, institutional collaboration, international collaboration, and discipline collaboration were all found to have a strongly significant influence on the sustainable improvement of educational empirical research output quality. Meanwhile, the output quality of educational empirical research is affected by the heterogeneity of the number of cooperators and cooperating identities. These findings suggest that the optimal proportion of teacher–student collaboration should be 2–3, and the optimal scale of colleague collaboration should be 3–4. Compared with teacher–student collaboration, colleague collaboration, including cross-organization and interdisciplinary collaboration, was more conductive to enhancing the sustainable improvement of educational empirical research outcome quality. According to these findings, it is reasonable to believe that, in the process of the sustainable development of educational empirical research, fine-guidance-style teacher–student collaboration and small-scale, cross-unit colleague collaboration should be promoted; meanwhile, strengthening the collaboration between normal universities, optimizing the quality of international collaboration, and promoting pedagogy intersection with other disciplines are also critical to promote the sustainable improvement of educational empirical research outcome quality.
Stakeholders’ Perceptions Concerning Greek Protected Areas Governance
Authors: Syrou Dimitra , Botetzagias Iosif
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we are interested in assessing the Greek protected areas’ (PAs) operation, and in particular, to what extent the stakeholders engaged in their management consider that the “good environmental governance” criteria are met. Through the use of Q-methodology, we find that, despite the very different circumstances of each PA, the stakeholders’ views cluster around four distinctive main perspectives (or factors). Furthermore, we find that stakeholders do not consider, overall, that the Greek PAs management strongly meets any of the “good environmental governance” criteria, with particularly poor assessments on crucial governance aspects such as a shared vision guiding the PA management, the rule of law, and the effectiveness/efficiency of the procedures, which suggests that the environmental governance of Greek PAs is suboptimal at least.
Recovery of Lithium Iron Phosphate by Specific Ultrasonic Cavitation Parameters
Authors: Zhou Ming , Liu Kanglin , Wei Mingdeng , Zhang Jingwei , Chen Song , Cheng Wanli
Published: March 2022

With the widespread use of lithium iron phosphate batteries in various industries, the amount of waste lithium iron phosphate batteries is also increasing year by year, and if not disposed of in a timely manner, will pollute the environment and waste a lot of metal resources. In the composition of lithium iron phosphate batteries, the cathode has an abundance of elements. The ultrasonic method is a crucial method to recover waste LiFePO4 batteries. It has the following disadvantages, such as the lack of empirical parameters and suitable research equipment. In order to overcome the inefficiency of the LiFePO4 recycling method, the airborne bubble dynamical mechanism of ultrasound in the removal of lithium phosphate cathode material was studied by a high-speed photographic observation and Fluent simulation and the disengagement process. Mainly aimed at the parameters such as action time, power, frequency, and action position in the detachment process were optimized. The recovery efficiency of lithium iron phosphate reached 77.7%, and the recovered lithium iron phosphate powder has good electrochemical properties, with the first charge–discharge ratio of up to 145 (mAh)/g. It is shown that the new disengagement process established in this study was adopted for the recovery of waste LiFePO4.
What Drives Farmers to Participate in Rural Environmental Governance? Evidence from Villages in Sandu Town, Eastern China
Authors: Meng Fei , Chen Hang , Yu Zhenning , Xiao Wu , Tan Yongzhong
Published: March 2022

Understanding farmers’ participation is crucial for achieving an effective impact on rural living environmental governance and promoting sustainable development. Taking Sandu Town in eastern China as a case study, in-depth semi-structured interviews with farmers, village cadres, and town managers were conducted in this study. Then, a conceptual framework incorporating comprehensive factors is presented to analyze the driving factors and mechanisms of farmer participation in rural domestic waste management. The results show that farmers’ participation in pro-environmental actions is a response to an integrated network of both internal and external factors. Life inertia, loss of personal interests, and objective conditions are the barriers to farmers deciding to participate. Meanwhile, environmental awareness can increase farmers’ internal motivations, and factors such as household benefits, social-cultural influences, and appraisal systems, including household possession protection, very low economic costs, better life experiences, demonstrations from society, “following the crowd”, peer pressure, and reward and criticism measures, are the external forces that mobilize farmers to participate in rural environmental governance. Policy recommendations are proposed based on the findings.
Nonlinear Relationships between Vehicle Ownership and Household Travel Characteristics and Built Environment Attributes in the US Using the XGBT Algorithm
Authors: Ma Te , Aghaabbasi Mahdi , Ali Mujahid , Zainol Rosilawati , Jan Amin , Mohamed Abdeliazim Mustafa , Mohamed Abdullah
Published: March 2022

In the United States, several studies have looked at the association between automobile ownership and sociodemographic factors and built environment qualities, but few have looked at household travel characteristics. Their interactions and nonlinear linkages are frequently overlooked in existing studies. Utilizing the 2017 US National Household Travel Survey, the authors employed an extreme gradient boosting tree model to evaluate the nonlinear and interaction impacts of household travel characteristics and built environment factors on vehicle ownership in three states of the United States (California, Missouri, and Kansas) that are different in population size. To develop these models, three main XGBT parameters, including the number of trees, maximal depth, and minimum rows, were optimized using a grid search technique. In California, the predictability of vehicle ownership was driven by household travel characteristics (cumulative importance: 0.62). Predictions for vehicle ownership in Missouri and Kansas were dominantly influenced by sociodemographic factors (cumulative importance: 0.53 and 0.55, respectively). In all states, the authors found that the number of drivers in a household plays a vital role in the vehicle ownership decisions of households. Regarding the built environment attributes, deficiencies in cycling infrastructure were the most prominent attribute in predicting household vehicle ownership in California. This variable, however, has threshold connections with vehicle ownership, but the magnitude of these relationships is small. The outcomes imply that improving the condition of cycling infrastructure will help reduce the number of vehicles. In addition, incentives that encourage the households’ drivers not to buy new vehicles are helpful. The outcomes of this study might aid policymakers in developing policies that encourage sustainable vehicle ownership in the United States.
Review of Korean Imitation and Innovation in the Last 60 Years
Authors: Al-Shamsi Mohammed Ahmad S.
Published: March 2022

This review is dedicated to analyzing South Korean technological progress, which has shown impressive economic performance, which has earned South Korea a well-deserved place among industrialized countries. Korea’s advances in the electronics, semiconductors, automotive, and shipbuilding industries have demonstrated industrial maturity and high innovative ability. To understand how they reached their position today, we have to understand to the core of the process by researching the roots of these innovations over the past 60 years, identifying specific innovations and tracing their transmission throughout South Korea. The technology transfer and development model of South Korea is unique. After other countries refused to license and transfer modern technologies to this country, Korea resorted to its national research system to add innovative content to its imitative products. This review article summarizes the experience of Korea, from not having access to technology to innovation and economic progress, which led to increases in per capita income, the prosperity of urbanization, and the recovery of markets. The model of technology transfer in Korea is valuable, especially for today’s developing countries. What it offers is not pure theory, but rather a successive series of procedures undertaken by the government of Korea. It has not been a matter of chance, and their economic prosperity was not due to the sudden discovery of natural resources.
Soil Erosion and Deposition in a Taiwanese Watershed Using USPED
Authors: Chen Walter , Wang Wu-Hsun , Nguyen Kieu Anh
Published: March 2022

Soil erosion is a global problem that has been exacerbated in recent decades by global warming and the increased frequency of extreme weather events. It is also a global issue addressed by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #15 that seeks to recover degraded land and create a world free of land degradation by 2030. In this study, we used the Unit Stream Power-based Erosion Deposition (USPED) model to investigate the distribution of soil erosion and deposition in an important reservoir watershed in Taiwan, which is known to have a high risk of sediment hazard. We found the average soil erosion rate to be 136.4 Mg/ha/year using the model’s recommended m = 1.3 and n = 1.2 empirical coefficients for a combined occurrence of sheet and rill erosion. Additionally, we selected the Sule sub-watershed and the Kala area as examples to illustrate the pattern of soil erosion and deposition and their relationship to rivers, roadways, and anthropogenic activity, and 3D terrain was employed to further enhance visualization of the model output. It was estimated that 12.6% of eroded soil was deposited with a 200 m buffer of the rivers in the watershed and might be swept into the river system by the next typhoon, torrential rain, landslide, or earthquake. In comparison to previous USLE- and RUSLE-based soil erosion modeling in the same research area, our USPED modeling is unique in that it included the amount and distribution of soil deposition. This successful implementation of USPED in Taiwan establishes a new modeling alternative in addition to the widely used USLE and RUSLE models. The findings can be used to direct future erosion pin placement in the research area, allowing for improved monitoring of sediment movement and avoiding sediment hazards.
Sustainable Development in Education from Students’ Perspective—Implementation of Sustainable Development in Curricula
Authors: Zwolińska Klaudia , Lorenc Sylwia , Pomykała Radosław
Published: March 2022

Education for sustainable development is a method of teaching aimed at developing awareness, competence, knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the field of environmental protection in such a way that each activity related to its operation supports the satisfaction of the needs of future generations. In the face of environmental and social challenges, these are key competencies that require significant changes in university curricula, supporting a sustainable and innovative economy. This article aims to present the results of a study on young people’s awareness of sustainable development and their opinion on the implementation of SDGs in curricula. The publication responds to the demand of technical students for educational content related to sustainable development and a greater integration of economic, social, and environmental issues. The analysis carried out as part of the EnAct-SDGs project at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow (Poland) shows that students are increasingly aware of the importance of sustainable development in various aspects of their lives, both in their education, in their professional work and in their lives, as part of an awareness-raising society. The conducted analyses allowed us to define the directions of necessary changes in the didactic process as an essential set of skills and knowledge for future graduates of raw materials faculties.
Effects of Grazing Indigenous Laying Hens on Soil Properties: Benefits and Challenges to Achieving Soil Fertility
Authors: Soares Pedro , Pato Rosinda , Dias Susana , Santos Daniela
Published: March 2022

Crop–livestock integration fosters a holistic view of the agricultural system, which is nowadays particularly relevant due to the rising environmental concerns. Laying hens can contribute to improvement of soil chemical properties, but their effects in soil fertility are not fully known. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of grazing laying hens on soil fertility. To meet this goal, we assessed the effects of indigenous laying hens in 22 soil parameters, including chemical, physical, and microbiological parameters, in two farms from the central region of Portugal: an organic horticultural field (A) and a conventional orchard (B). At farm A, the animals grazed during the dry period for 84 continuous days, at a density of 4 m2 per hen. At farm B, the animals grazed during the wet period, at a density of 3.50 m2 per hen, in two periods (34 + 33 days), with a 50 day break period in between grazing. The hens contributed to an increase in the extractable macronutrients phosphorus (P2O5) and potassium (K2O), mineral nitrogen (NH4+-N and NO3−-N), and exchangeable bases calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) in both farms, making these central parameters to consider in their grazing management. At farm A, where soil disturbance is higher, the grazing did not affect soil moisture retention but positively affected soil dry bulk density and contributed to an increase in total aerobic bacteria and nitrogen-fixing bacteria abundances. At farm B, where the hens’ presence led to the understory eradication, soil moisture retention, total aerobic bacteria, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and fungi abundances were negatively affected, while soil dry bulk density was unaffected. These results show that hens can significantly contribute to improve soil fertility, but more research is needed regarding their grazing management.
Beneficial Effects of 3D BIM for Pre-Empting Waste during the Planning and Design Stage of Building and Waste Reduction Strategies
Authors: Mohammed Musa , Shafiq Nasir , Al-Mekhlafi Al-Baraa Abdulrahman , Al-Fakih Amin , Zawawi Noor Amila , Mohamed Abdeliazim Mustafa , Khallaf Rana , Abualrejal Hussein Mohammed , Shehu Abdulkadir Adamu , Al-Nini Ahmed
Published: March 2022

The use of various tools for construction waste management throughout the planning and design (P&D) stage has several advantages. According to some research, building information modelling, or BIM, could be a valuable tool for predicting waste. This paper discusses how BIM could be used for pre-empting waste and reducing the course of the planning and design process of constructing a building. In Malaysia, a questionnaire survey of 340 construction experts was undertaken. Simultaneously, a regression analysis was carried out in order to determine the impact of BIM on the management of construction waste during the planning and design stage. This research could help many stakeholders in the construction industry to recognise various aspects of waste management, beginning with the planning and design stage of a project, which can be represented by designing a model that can be applied to mitigate waste during the construction of a building.
Benefit Segmentation of Tourists to Geosites and Its Implications for Sustainable Development of Geotourism in the Southern Lake Tana Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Tessema Getaneh Addis , van der Borg Jan , Van Rompaey Anton , Van Passel Steven , Adgo Enyew , Minale Amare Sewnet , Asrese Kerebih , Frankl Amaury , Poesen Jean
Published: March 2022

Geotourism is a sustainable type of tourism that focuses on the geological and geomorphological heritages of an area, and the associated cultural and biodiversity features. Though the popularity of geotourism is rapidly growing, research on the demand side, particularly on segmenting tourists to geosites and understanding their profiles, is limited. This obviously makes the designing of effective tourism policies that aim at developing geotourism sustainably very difficult. Hence, the main objectives of this study were to segment and profile tourists to geosites based on the benefits sought, and to show its implications for sustainable development of geotourism. With a survey of 415 tourists, this study clustered tourists to geosites in the southern Lake Tana region in Ethiopia based on the benefits sought. A factor–cluster method was applied to segment the tourists. The study identified four distinct segments: Activity–Nature Lovers, Culture Lovers, Nature–Culture Lovers, and Want-It-Alls. These segments differed in their demographic, trip, and behavioral characteristics. The findings implied that for sustainable development, destination managers and marketers need to customize their geotourism product development and marketing strategies based on the needs and characteristics of each market segment.
Sustainability of Water Resources in Shandong Province Based on a System Dynamics Model of Water–Economy–Society for the Lower Yellow River
Authors: Zhang Xue , Xu Lirong , Li Chunhui
Published: March 2022

The sustainability of water resources is a common issue for all human beings. In order to solve the water resource shortage problem in the lower Yellow River region of China, this paper uses a system dynamics approach from the perspective of a water–society–economy coupled model for the sustainable utilization of water resources in the lower Yellow River region in Shandong province. The model was validated using the water quantity, economic, and demographic statistics of nine prefecture-level cities in Shandong province from 2011 to 2020. Based on this model, three analysis scenarios were set up. The sustainability of water resources in the lower Yellow River region of Shandong province was analyzed by integrating and regulating indicators in the coupled model. The research shows that, with the liberalization of the population policy, water shortages will become critical. However, by appropriately reducing the water consumed for economic needs, water deficiency can be resolved. According to the forecast of scenario analysis, scenario 3 (the Sustainable development scenario) was chosen as the optimum solution. Assuming that the growth rate of agricultural and industrial production is controlled to reduce water consumption, the water deficiency rate of Shandong province will decrease year by year, and eventually the water shortage situation will gradually improve from 2022.
River Chief System, Emission Abatement, and Firms’ Profits: Evidence from China’s Polluting Firms
Authors: Xu Xiaoshu , Cheng Yingying , Meng Xuechen
Published: March 2022

This paper studies the firm-level impact of the river chief system (RCS), which is a decentralized policy in China for water protection, by investigating polluting firms’ emission abatement and the net operating profits. We have four main findings. First, on average, the RCS significantly reduced firm-level COD emissions by 3.7 percent, which was mainly caused by the emission abatement of firms in heavily polluting industries, non-state-owned firms, and firms in the eastern provinces. On the other hand, the RCS also significantly increased polluting firms’ profit by 3.1 percent, which was mainly caused by heavily polluting firms. Second, different regions adopted different strategies for pollution abatement, exhibiting a pattern consistent with the “pollution paradise” assumption in the central and western provinces. Third, polluting firms at provincial boundaries did not reduce their COD emissions, while polluting firms in the interior significantly reduced their emissions by 5.6 percent, indicating the strong free-riding incentive of local governments. Fourth, the increase in the profits of heavily polluting industries was mainly caused by the significant increase in market concentration and a possible transfer of the negative shock from the RCS along the production line. All results were also robust for firm-level NH3-N emissions. This paper provides new and insightful implications for policymaking for environmental protection.