bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemical Profile of Essential Oils of Selected Lamiaceae Plants and In Vitro Activity for Varroosis Control in Honeybees (Apis mellifera)
Authors: Bava Roberto , Castagna Fabio , Lupia Carmine , Ruga Stefano , Musella Vincenzo , Conforti Filomena , Marrelli Mariangela , Argentieri Maria Pia , Britti Domenico , Statti Giancarlo , Palma Ernesto
Published: December 2023

The most significant ectoparasitic mite of honeybees, Varroa destructor, has a detrimental effect on bee health and honey output. The principal strategy used by the control programs is the application of synthetic acaricides. All of this has resulted in drug resistance, which is now a major worry for beekeeping. As a result, research on alternate products and techniques for mite management is now required. The aim of this study was to determine whether essential oils (EOs) extracted from botanical species of Lamiacae, typical of the Calabria region of Southern Italy, could reduce the population of the mite V. destructor. Among the best-known genera of the Lamiaceae family are oregano, rosemary and thyme, whose EOs were employed in this study. By steam distillation, the EOs were extracted from Origanum vulgare subsp. viridulum (Martrin-Donos) Nyman, Thymus capitatus Hoffmanns. and Link, Thymus longicaulis C.Presl and Salvia rosmarinus Schleid. plant species harvested directly on the Calabrian territory in their balsamic time. Each EO went to the test in vitro (contact toxicity) against V. destructor. Fifty adult female mites, five for each EO and the positive and negative control, were used in each experimental replicate. The positive controls comprised five individuals treated to Amitraz dilute in acetone, and the negative controls included five individuals exposed to acetone alone. To create the working solution to be tested (50 μL/tube), the EOs were diluted (0.5 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL, 2 mg/mL and 4 mg/mL) in HPLC-grade acetone. After 1 h of exposure, mite mortality was manually assessed. Origanum vulgare subsp. viridulum, Thymus capitatus and Thymus longicaulis were the EOs with the highest levels of efficiency at 2 mg/mL, neutralizing (dead + inactivated), 94%, 92% and 94% of parasites, respectively. Salvia rosmarinus EO gave a lower efficacy, resulting in a percentage of 38%. Interestingly, no adverse effects were highlighted in toxicity tests on honeybees. These results show that these OEs of the Lamiaceae family have antiparasitic action on V. destructor. Therefore, they could be used, individually or combined, to exploit the synergistic effect for a more sustainable control of this parasite mite in honeybee farms.
Study on Fluid–Structure Interaction of a Camber Morphing Wing
Authors: Wang Yuanjing , Lei Pengxuan , Lv Binbin , Li Yuchen , Guo Hongtao
Published: December 2023

The influence of trailing edge deformation on the aerodynamic characteristics of camber morphing wings is an important topic in the aviation field. In this paper, a new memory alloy actuator is proposed to realize trailing edge deformation, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel experiments are used to study the influence of trailing edge deformation on the aerodynamic characteristics of the camber morphing wings. The experiments was carried out in a transonic wind tunnel with Mach numbers ranging from 0.4 to 0.8 and angles of attack ranging from 0° to 6°. The external flow fields and aerodynamic force coefficients with and without deformation were calculated using the CFD method. A loose coupled method based on data exchange was used to achieve a fluid–structure interaction (FSI) analysis. The research results indicate that when the trailing edge is deflected downwards, the phenomenon of shock wave forward movement reduces the negative pressure area on the upper wing surface, increases the pressure on the lower wing surface, and ultimately increases the total lift. This work provides a new approach for the implementation of trailing edge deformation and a powerful data reference for the design of camber morphing wings.
Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security
Authors: Xu Yejun
Published: December 2023

In recent years, water, energy, food, and their nexus have become an increasingly significant and active area of research in economic and management science, especially in terms of safety, a research area where several important problems are emerging [...]
Nested Patterns of Phytoplankton and Zooplankton and Seasonal Characteristics of Their Mutualistic Networks: A Case Study of the Upstream Section of the Diannong River in Yinchuan City, China
Authors: Meng Junjie , Zhao Ruizhi , Qiu Xiaocong , Liu Shuangyu
Published: December 2023

The Diannong River, a valuable river and lake resource of the northern Ningxia Yellow River Irrigation Area, plays an instrumental role in regional flood control, drought resistance, climate regulation, and biodiversity conservation. Phytoplankton and zooplankton, as crucial elements of the aquatic ecosystem, have their distribution patterns evaluated and potential influencing factors identified, thereby enhancing the understanding of community distribution patterns. Nested structures and interspecies interaction relationships bear significant implications for community distribution patterns, functions, and stability. The upstream section of the Diannong River in Yinchuan City was chosen as the study object. Water samples were collected in January, April, July, and October 2021, and the community composition of phytoplankton and zooplankton was analyzed using relative abundance, density, and biomass. The distribution matrix temperature and bipartite network methodologies were deployed to investigate their nested pattern and interaction network seasonal characteristics. The findings indicate that the water environment of the Diannong River’s upstream section displays pronounced spatiotemporal heterogeneity, characterized by weak alkalinity and high fluoride content. The plankton community composition and relative abundance showed marked differences among the distinct sampling periods. The temperature of the random distribution matrix shows a significant difference compared to the zero-sum model, revealing a notable nested pattern in plankton in the Diannong River’s upstream section. The bipartite network suggests that the plankton composition was the simplest in January and the most complex in July, with the fiercest species competition observed in January and the lowest levels of species specificity, vulnerability, and generality. Water temperature (WT), dissolved oxygen (DO), total phosphorus (TP), available phosphorus (AP), CODCr, F−, and Cl− constitute the environmental parameters influencing the overall structure of the phytoplankton community in the Diannong River’s upstream section, whereas zooplankton did not present a significant correlation with water environmental factors.
The Socio-Economic Effects of Floods and Ways to Prevent Them: A Case Study of the Khazir River Basin, Northern Iraq
Authors: AL-Hussein Asaad A. M. , Hamed Younes , Bouri Salem , Hajji Soumaya , Aljuaid Awad M. , Hachicha Wafik
Published: December 2023

The current study deals with how floods affect the social and economic lives of villagers in the lower basin of the Khazir River (northern Iraq), where the villages Kazkan, Tal al-Laban, and Wardak are located within active floodplains close to the riverbed. The aim of this paper is to perform both spatial and temporal analysis of floods affecting society and economic activities in the river basin and to assess ways of preventing them. In this study, qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze the results, and we relied on hydrological data and field studies that included oral interviews and personal observations on the phenomenon of floods. The first main study findings indicate through a statistical analysis of a sample of 100 people that floods in the study area are an expected and recurring phenomenon; they occur every year, with damage and losses varying from year to year and from one region to another. The second main study findings indicate that frequent flooding in the study area has a negative impact on growth in all economic and social sectors. These floods affect the agricultural sector more than other sectors as a result of agricultural land being located within flat plain areas with little slope. Based on the effects of floods, improved engineering solutions have been suggested to better control floods and handle emergencies. This is done using GIS models (HEC-GeoRAS) and HEC-RAS models to build a number of hydraulic designs on the riverbed according to different scenarios. The findings of this study should serve as an inspiration for water policy makers to make every effort to implement all feasible and effective preventive measures before floods occur as well as to allow rapid reaction, recovery, and reconstruction after a flood.
Potential of Geospatial Technologies in Mechanized Timber Harvesting Planning
Authors: Temba Gilberth , Mauya Ernest
Published: December 2023

Mechanized timber harvesting involves various activities including road planning, and selection of harvesting systems and machineries. The emergence of geospatial technology (GSPT) i.e., geographical information system (GIS) and remote sensing in the recent decades, has been considered as the best tools to facilitate timber harvesting planning in plantation forests. GSPT provide accurate stand information enabling better decision-making and optimizing forest operations. This study was conducted at Sao hill Forest Plantation (SHFP) in Tanzania, with the objective of determining relative efficiency (RE) between geospatial approach (GSPA) and conventional approach (CA) on planning mechanized timber harvesting. 120 grapple skidders (GS) in 30 sample plots within different elevation terrain ranges were studied with time study observations in both approaches. Productivity and costs under the two approaches were estimated and modelled using generalized linear model (GLM) approach. To obtain large scale estimates of productivity and costs, Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation approach was used. The results showed that, GSPA demonstrated higher productivity and lower unit skidding costs (i.e., 71.1 m3/hr and 2.121 USD/m3) compared to CA (i.e., 67.5 m3/hr and 2.914 USD/m3) respectively. Skidding distance and slope (p-value < 0.05) were significant predictors of the GS performance in both approaches. The pseudo R2 ranging from 58.1% to 64.3% under CA, and from 62.9% to 60.8% under GSPA. Likewise, relative root mean square error (RMSEr) for the models under CA ranged from 49.3% to 50.4% and 33.4% to 35.2% under GSPA. Generally, the results showed that, models under GSPA have better fits and accuracy, compared to CA. Furthermore, the GSPA provided a raster representation of productivity and costs over the entire study area. Moreover, computed RE values (i.e., 1.18 and 6.17) indicated that parameter estimates for the GS productivity and costs were more precise in geospatial models (GSPM) compared to conventional models (CM). These findings highlight the potential of GSPT for an efficient large scale timber harvesting planning, by considering terrain constraints.
An Internet of Things Platform for Forest Monitoring
Authors: SANLI Mustafa
Published: December 2023

Forests have a very important function in sustaining the natural life on our planet. However, wildfires, landslides, uncontrolled tree cutting, poaching, arson, and many other dangers threaten the forests and natural resources. Therefore, effective monitoring and observation of forests is crucial. This study explains the development and implementation of an Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled forest monitoring system as an innovative solution that will contribute to the protection of forests. The presented system provides real-time climate data in forestlands by using microcontrollers, low-cost sensors, data communication, and cloud platforms. It collects important information such as temperature, humidity, air quality, and ecological activities. Fire detection is achieved by associating the increase in CO gas concentration with the increase in temperature. Landslides are detected by measuring the acceleration of soil movement in 3 axes. Additionally, the system includes advanced machine learning-based acoustic tracking techniques to detect chainsaws, motor vehicles, screams, shouts, and gunshots. The IoT platform provides a web-based user interface and other tools to system users such as forest managers and researchers. These tools detect early signs of threats such as wildfires, landslides and illegal activities in forests. Our tests demonstrate the system's effectiveness in providing information for protecting and managing forests.
Trust in social commerce: approaches to research and study vectors
Authors:   Department of Economic and Financial Disciplines, Moscow University for the Humanities, Simakina Marina Anatolievna
Published: December 2023

The development of the e-commerce market opens up new opportunities for the formation of a system of relationships between sellers and buyers. Social commerce is considered the fastest growing area of e-commerce in the world today. The article examines the basics of the social commerce functioning and notes the special role of the trust factor in the functioning of social commerce. Differences in approaches to the study of the trust factor by modern scientists have been recorded. The materials in the article may be useful in preparing students in the areas of Economics, Management, and Project Management.
Financial result of an economic entity as an object of assessment and analysis
Authors:   Department of Economic and Financial Disciplines, Moscow University for the Humanities, Uspenskaya Inna Nikolaevna , Korzh Kirill Andreevich ,   Faculty of Economics, Management and International Relations, Moscow University for the Humanities
Published: December 2023

The article presents the theoretical aspect of the concept of “financial result”, reveals the process of forming a positive financial result as the basis for the financial security of an economic entity, and substantiates approaches for its assessment and analysis. It is shown that any activity pursues some result, i.e. “the outcome, a consequence that completes some actions, phenomena, or development of something”. In macro- and microeconomics, the concept of “financial result of activity” is used. Many studies have been devoted to the formation and assessment of the essence of this concept, however, there is no consensus on this issue, despite the fact that much attention is paid to its study and analysis. The article is devoted to the consideration of this issue; the materials can be used as part of preparation in the field of Economics.
Main tasks of training accountants and auditors in the digital economy era
Authors:   Department of Economic and Financial Disciplines, Moscow University for the Humanities, Melekhina Tatyana Ignatievna , Sedova Elena Ivanovna ,   Department of Production and Financial Management, Sergo Ordzhonikidze Russian State University for Geological Prospecting, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: December 2023

The article discusses the issues related to the development of the accounting profession in the digital economy, associated with the emergence of new professional competencies, as well as the transformation of the accounting profession in the new “digital” conditions. The authors examine those functional features of an accountant that are associated with changed work formats and pay attention to the psychological qualities of the individual that need to be formed when training specialists of this professional orientation.
Content of cultural and leisure activities of the elderly
Authors:   FSBEI HE Ufa Universit y of Science and Technology, Bolshakova N. L. , Klochkova M. A. ,   Social Work, FSBEI HE Ufa University of Science and Technology
Published: December 2023

The article reveals the essence, content, and forms of leisure of senior citizens. It is determined that the main needs of elderly people in the field of leisure are recreation, relaxation, communication, creativity, and cognition.
GENDER PROFESSIONAL SEGREGATION AND THE LEVEL OF GENERAL UNEMPLOYMENT OF MEN AND WOMEN
Authors:   Institute of Economics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, Baskakova M.E.
Published: December 2023

The subject of the study is gender professional segregation by type of economic activity. The purpose of the paper is to attempt to assess the contribution of gender segregation of employees by type of economic activity to the formation of differences in the level of general unemployment of women and men. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to improve the quality and efficiency of women’s professional employment. The scientific novelty lies in the disclosure of new factors in the formation of differences in the level of general unemployment of women and men. The research methods are logical analysis, mathematical statistics, and mathematical modeling. The level of gender segregation by type of economic activity was determined using the Duncan index. The main calculations were made based on data from 2017–2019. The following research results were obtained: a large-scale reduction in gender segregation by type of economic activity in order to reduce the gap between the wage levels of women and men, carried out only as a redistribution of women to male professions and activities, without organizing a counter redistribution of male labor forces, may create a threat of increasing the level of general unemployment among women and increasing personnel shortages in highly feminized public sectors. The author concludes that it is necessary to develop alternative ways to reduce the gap between the wage levels of women and men in the economy, for example, increasing the prestige and wages in highly feminized public sectors such as education, healthcare, and science.
FEATURES AND PROSPECTS OF THE LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT IN THE VOLOGDA REGION
Authors:   Federal State Budgetary Institution of Science ", Popov A.V. ,   Vologda Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences",   , Vologda, Russia, Soloveva T.S. ,   Federal State Budgetary Institution of Science "Vologda Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Vologda, Russia
Published: December 2023

The relevance of the study is determined by the imbalances in territorial development, which, in the context of modern challenges, lead to increased central-peripheral differences. This is typical for Russia, where, against the backdrop of a long-term demographic decline, there is a compression of the developed space and a polarization of the settlement system. The purpose of the paper is to identify the features and determine the prospects for the development of labor and employment in the Vologda region at the intraregional level. The subject of the research is social and labor relations that develop in the process of functioning of local labor markets. To achieve this purpose, methods of expert survey and multidimensional frequency distribution of features (data processing and visualization) were used. A distinctive feature of the paper is the use of an agglomeration approach to identifying the features of spatial development. The results of the study showed that as one moves away from regional centers, opportunities for professional fulfillment are noticeably reduced, and the problem of economic stagnation becomes more pronounced. According to the experts surveyed, residents of the periphery not only more often resort to the practice of commuting labor migration and fly-in/fly-out work, but also treat their place of residence worse and trust each other less. The scientific novelty of the research lies in expanding the understanding of the characteristics and prospects for the development of labor and employment in large cities and beyond.
Application of HR Analytics in Business
Authors: Virani Dr. Farida
Published: December 2023

In the ever-evolving landscape of business management, Human Resources (HR) analytics has emerged as a crucial tool for optimizing workforce strategies and enhancing organizational performance. This study delves into the application of HR analytics in the business context, investigating how data-driven insights from various HR processes and employee-related metrics can inform decision-making. By leveraging quantitative analysis and case studies, this research explores how HR analytics offers valuable insights into employee recruitment, retention, training, performance evaluation, and overall workforce management. The abstract underscores the role of HR analytics in identifying trends, predicting future needs, and aligning human capital strategies with business objectives. Moreover, the study highlights challenges such as data privacy, technological integration, and skill gaps that organizations encounter when implementing HR analytics. The findings emphasize the strategic significance of data-driven HR practices in enhancing business competitiveness and sustainability. This study provides actionable insights for HR professionals, managers, and business leaders aiming to harness the potential of HR analytics for informed decision-making and achieving organizational success.
Method and Application of High-Precision Open-Loop Velocity Measurement of Tianwen-1 Probe
Authors: Chen Lue , Li Haitao , Fan Fei , Man Haijun , Kong Jing , Han Qianqian , Han Songtao , Lu Weitao , Wang Mei , Ping Jinsong
Published: December 2023

In view of the requirements of Tianwen-1 missions on precision orbit determination and scientific application, this paper proposes a high-precision open-loop velocity measurement method based on ground-based radio. At first, relying on space–ground TT&C resources of the Tianwen-1 probe, the paper designs an open-loop velocity measurement strategy based on China’s deep-space network. Then, it proposes a core algorithm of open-loop velocity measurement based on local cross-correlation reconstruction to obtain instantaneous Doppler frequency observables. This algorithm is characterized by a high ability to avoid phase lock loss, convenient and efficient implementation, and flexible parameter configuration and is suitable for high-precision velocity measurement in the case of high dynamics and low signal-to-noise ratios. On this basis, the similarity and difference of velocity observables between open-loop and baseband velocity measurements are analyzed comparatively. Finally, on the basis of the open-loop velocity measurement method, the paper carries out tests on high precision orbit determination with independent support of velocity measurement, as well as on Mars radio occultation. According to the research results, the accuracy of open-loop velocity measurement can reach 0.05 mm/s (in 1-s integration time), which is 2 to 3 times better than that of baseband velocity measurement. Open-loop velocity measurement can independently support orbit determination accuracy of 50 m of the Tianwen-1 probe and effectively support autonomous retrieval of Martian ionospheric electron density profiles. Thus, this method can be effectively applied to future missions of deep-space exploration and research of planetary radio science.
Evolution of the Lunar Tectonic Framework and Structures
Authors: Zhu Kai , Liu Jianzhong , Michael Gregory , Liu Jingwen , Wang Juntao , Zhang Jingyi , Wu Congzhe , Zhang Sheng , Zeng Xuejin
Published: December 2023

The evolution of the Moon is driven by both endogenic (e.g., magmatism) and exogenic processes (e.g., impact). The lunar surface can be divided into 3 first-order tectonic units based on differences in geochemistry, crustal thickness, topography, and distribution of structures. However, the interpreted boundaries demarcated by different features varied widely. As research progresses, the understanding of the lunar structure is continuously improving, and new types of structures are constantly being discovered. The previous structural classification system needs to be updated. According to the major geological events and dynamic evolution, the evolutionary history of the Moon can be divided into 3 stages and 1 pivotal event. The first stage (4.52 to 4.3 Ga) is the evolution of the magmatic ocean, and it was dominated by endogenic processes. The formation of South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin (~4.3 Ga) is the pivotal event of crustal evolution and indicates that the lunar crust had cooled and consolidated to sufficient rigidity to preserve structures. Both endogenic and exogenic processes were active in the second stage (4.3 to 3.0 Ga), which results in numerous impact basins, mare basalt flooding, and different types of associated structures. The last stage (3.0 Ga to the present) is late neotectonic activity, which has weak modification of the tectonic framework. Response of tectonic framework and structure to lunar major geological events had been organized and discussed in this paper, and key scientific issues are summarized. This study can provide reference and support for implementation of subsequent lunar exploration projects.
Are we There yet? Thematic Analysis, NLP, and Machine Learning for Research
Authors: Fitkov-Norris Elena , Kocheva Nataliya
Published: December 2023

Thematic analysis is a well-established technique for qualitative analysis which is covered in traditional research methods training. The objective of thematic analysis is to elicit themes and significant topics from discursive data such as free style discussions and semi structured or unstructured interviews or comments. The approach is laborious and time consuming and requires a significant input from researchers for identifying and coding the themes although software tools such as NVivo, T-Lab and IRaMuTeQ can aid with results presentation. Recent developments in Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) have boosted interest in text analytics and its applications to social science research. For example, automatic topic identification using ML NLP offers valuable insights in social media analytics. However, machine learning techniques conventionally rely on large data sets to enable the algorithm to elicit themes. More recent research efforts have turned to the performance of machine learning approaches with smaller data sets. This study aims to compare and contrast the effectiveness of Machine Learning NLP vs human generated themes using the text analytics tools NVivo, T-Lab, IRaMuTeQ, as well as the low-code ML tool KNIME for automatically eliciting themes from academic literature review in the contexts of service operations management research and semi-structured customer interviews. Results indicate that the ML NLP approach has the potential to automatically detect research themes even with small data sets, although the results vary across the different tools and are dependent on the capabilities of the built-in text analytic algorithms. In particular, T-Lab offered the best mapping of machine learning derived topics to researcher themes, and KNIME proved the most robust software, able to derive meaningful topics even with very small sample sizes. The implications for training research students are also significant as they suggest that the inclusion of ML NLP tools and algorithms in the training curriculum of social scientists may be beneficial.
Amplify: Design Agency and the Transportation Megaproject
Authors:   University of Houston, Polkinghorne Katherine , Rogers Susan ,   University of Houston
Published: December 2023

Transportation infrastructure projects are infamously complex and illegible. Freeway expansions in particular have a legacy of disregarding and displacing communities of color without substantial engagement. This legacy continues with the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP), which the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) unapologetically states “would cause disproportionately high and adverse impacts to minority and low-income populations.
Placemaking through Storytelling: Remembering Sacred Spaces
Authors:   Auburn University, SMITH JENNIFER
Published: December 2023

In an Alabama town there is a bottom-up movement to communicate under-represented, African-American history through a series of “sacred sites” in the landscape. This under- represented history includes: former slaves engaged in early city development, Black land owners, redlining practices, and racial injustice. History education presently does not have the capacity to fully discuss these truths, and there is a movement to make them apparent in our cities. Rosenwald Schools, lynching sites, cemeteries, and formerly segregated schools are considered sacred due to their significance in the African- American and simply, American experience. In The Power of Place Dolores Hayden argues that we are fascinated with the past when touring historic sites but miss opportunities to translate this to our neighborhoods imbued with place- making potential. She states, “If Americans were to find their own social history preserved in the public landscapes of their own neighborhoods and cities, then connection to the past might be different” (Hayden, 46). This connection to place and history exists for local African-American families and has potential to engage a collective city. While some histories are painful, all should be evident for united progress. As stated by a Community Remembrance Project member, “There can be no reconciliation and healing without remembering the past” (2021).
Sharing Space for Equitable Design: Engagement Plan to Intentionally Elevate Historically Excluded Perspectives
Authors:   Gould Evans, RALPH MICHAEL C. , ALGARA PATRICIA ,   BASE Landscape Architecture, MILLHOUSE RICARDO J. ,   Arizona State University
Published: December 2023

Community engagement is a common early phase of design projects, and a critical juncture for designers to make space for historically marginalized communities to participate in the creative process. The design team for the Longfellow Middle School renovation project implemented a localistic engagement approach that explicitly sought to remove barriers to participation for members of the community and elevate the Longfellow facilities to a more equitable position to its peer schools in the district. The engagement methods of an interdisciplinary team of design and engagement professional included both local leaders and national collaborating experts to create targeted engagement opportunities for Spanish- speaking families and African American families. Our results demonstrate the power of engagement as an opportunity to build shared understanding around a project, to generate engagement data and artifacts that preserve the plurality of many voices, and importance of architects and designers using their project position to make space in the engagement framework for voices that have historically been ignored.
The Possibility of the Virtual Focus Group: Communicating Agency Toward Equitable Participation Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors:   Carleton University, HAGERMAN SHELBY , COLBERT ZACH ,   Carleton University, DICKSON DANIEL ,   Carleton University
Published: December 2023

The modes of design practice are shifting in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We now learn, research, and teach through virtual platforms more integrally and intensively than ever. This moment begs for introspection and the reconsideration of ‘conventional’ workflows in the discipline of architecture. The authors of this paper are members of an interdisciplinary research team who discuss how they adapted their research methodologies with a virtual toolkit, developing focus group sessions with multi-family building residents and graduate students. The authors reflect on the benefits and limitations presented by digital tools and consider how hybridized opportunities suggest tailored approaches that facilitate the communication of agency to a representative and complex public. Participatory design frameworks ground the conversation, allowing the authors to position their methodology as an essential step to establishing equitable grounds for participation in the future.
Built and Social Environment Impact on Covid-19 Transmission
Authors:   University of Maryland, HU MING
Published: December 2023

The goal of this research was to investigate the multifaceted interrelationships between the built and social environments and the impact of this relationship on population-level health in the context of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). More specific, this study assessed the relationship between several social determinants of health, including housing quality, living condition, travel pattern, race/ethnicity, household income, and COVID-19 outcomes in Washington, D.C (DC). Using built environment and social environment data extracted from DC energy benchmarking database and the American Community Survey database, more than 130,000 housing units were analyzed against COVID-19 case counts, death counts, mortality rate, age adjusted incidence rate and fatality rate data for DC wards. The results demonstrated that housing quality, living condition, race and occupation were strongly correlated with COVID death count.
Post-Pandemic Nomadic Cohousing
Authors:   University of Minnesota, FISHER THOMAS
Published: December 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic showed what post-pandemic life might be like: a digitally enabled existence of working, learning, and shopping from home, with most goods and services delivered to our door. The pandemic also high- lighted the importance of having a “bubble,” a community of people who we can trust and depend on for our health and safety. This paper describes two experiments in extremely affordable, post-pandemic housing. Both projects, one in partnership with the health community and the other with the faith community, represent a “community-first” approach to housing: accommodating a small group of people who care for each other and who occupy small, mobile units clustered around outdoor space and a shared common house. Such nomadic co-housing represents a new way of affordable living in the post-pandemic era and a form of housing old as humanity itself.
Builder’s Paper / Paper Builders: Crafting Cellulose Construction Systems in Circular Economies
Authors:   Texas Tech University, SHEA BRENDAN SULLIVAN , HITCH NEAL LUCAS ,   Texas Tech University
Published: December 2023

Architectural design research on local materials and vernacular building is increasingly moving toward an integrated model of design-build optimizing processes of digital modeling and fabrication. Conversely, this paper details a low-tech—though high-performance—alternative: exploring the construction of architectural structures using mass- produced, recycled paper products to offer a promising avenue toward grassroots sustainability as it intersects with circular economy and sustainable craft. Informed by architectural histories of environmentalism, the paper presents design research, architectural applications, and construction logistics in the form of documentation and discussion of two recently fabricated domestic prototypes and one speculative housing proposal, all tested at sites in the extreme climate of the American Southwest.The first prototype documented investigates the application of paper strips soaked in non-toxic adhesive as casting material for convexo-concave thin-shell structures—show- casing the use of paper as a primary construction material using an inventive process that reduces material waste by half and limits the need for industrial equipment. The second prototype examines the usefulness of paper pulp as a facade solution applied similarly to stucco or plaster—yet offering a more renewable alternative. Lastly, the paper imagines speculative futures in which these technologies can become implemented at large scales to create resilient, Zero-Carbon Communities as safer and healthier alternatives for the environment and users.
The Rise of the Small Box
Authors:   Oklahoma State University, MACKEN JARED , Peiffer Keith ,   Oklahoma State University, Ra Seung ,   Oklahoma State University
Published: December 2023

It’s a cliché hardly worth noting. Big box stores swoop into new territory, push out smaller mom-and-pop stores, creating a homogenous, ubiquitous condition that erases local culture and disrupts economies. While sharing some of these same familiar dynamics, however, the “small box” poses a unique threat to the vibrancy of local communities.Dollar General is a key example of the small box. Its 7,400 square foot stores are instantiations of an interconnected infrastructure of distribution centers and interstate highways. This system’s efficiency allows each Dollar General store to capitalize on its context while thriving with an extreme amount of resiliency in conditions that other businesses and wholesalers find untenable. This allows Dollar General to wield considerable control over the towns and communities it infiltrates, making it a power center packaged in the small box, leveraging a nostalgia for the general store.This paper synthesizes work from an undergraduate design studio with faculty research that investigates a specific Dollar General location in a dying retail center. The specificity of this context reveals DG’s power in overcoming many common limitations of retail development. Utilizing James Corner’s ideas on mapping and Fumihiko Maki’s concepts of collective form, the work investigates the impacts the small box has on local communities, and imagines how architecture and its discourse on the city can develop productive responses. Architecture can make a unique contribution to understanding how and why this condition occurs and arm future practitioners and researchers with the tools they need to be projectively critical of the ever-changing urban context.
Local Timber to Support Community Growth
Authors:   University of Calgary, MONFRIES JONATHAN , VAZQUEZ ALICIA NAHMAD ,   University of Calgary
Published: December 2023

The research presented in this paper focuses on utilizing local resources and innovative construction methodologies to create novel, high-performance buildings through deployable digital design and fabrication techniques. Customized design and fabrication workflows are developed as a robust strategy to support prosperity and community re-settlement on a remote island. The research prototypes a health and education facility as proof of concept of the proposed digital design and localised fabrication workflow. Located off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, Hope Island is explored as a site to prototype the design and fabrication workflow proposal. The Tlatlasikwala people – original inhabitants of the island – have expressed an interest in re-occupying it after being wrongfully driven off the land1. The strategy proposed through this research aims to augment and support them by enabling an economic model that promotes community localism. It integrates cutting-edge technology with local skills and knowledge to ensure efficient materials use through customized robotic fabrication systems. The strategy reduces carbon emissions by engaging with local material properties, minimizing the need to transport a wealth of equipment and materials offshore, and promoting circularity. The design of a health and education facility is used to apply material and fabrication research in a prototypical way. Additionally, it addresses the island requirement for a local clinic and classrooms for children, both essential for the residents to establish a life on the island. The design is developed with programmatic flexibility allowing for expansion and change. However, the focus is on an efficient design to fabrication workflow based on local resources and form-found geometries. This research project directly responds to the principles of the AIA framework for design excellence by engaging with design for equitable communities and design for local resources. The building application fosters human interaction and sociability, while the custom-designed fabrication process ensures that the community is engaged in the construction and takes ownership of the project. Bringing digital fabrication to the remote island up-skills the community in an engaging way that showcases technical innovation augmented with local skills. By deploying a strategy that uses architectural geometry and digital fabrication to capitalize on local natural resources while minimizing materials waste, the island is provided with a process that can efficiently support the growing community socially and materially for years to come.
A Scoping Review on Word-Reading Resilience in Literacy: Evaluating Empirical Evidence for Protective Factors
Authors: Appels Sanne , van Viersen Sietske , van Erp Sara , Hornstra Lisette , de Bree Elise
Published: December 2023

Background: To date little is known about factors that might contribute to positive literacy outcomes in children with (a risk of) reading difficulties (RD). Research into resilience in literacy is needed to understand why some children with (a risk of) RD can overcome their difficulties in the face of adversity. Aim: This scoping review aims to 1) provide a framework and operationalize study designs and statistical approaches for studying academic resilience; and 2) systematically review empirical evidence for promotive, protective, and skill-enhancing factors involved in resilience in atypical literacy development of children with (a risk of) word-level RD. Method: The systematic literature search included empirical studies with a focus on compensation in literacy development, including samples of 6 to 16-year-old children with a detectable (risk of) word-level RD. Outcome measures had to include at least one relevant literacy measure. Results: Analysis of the 22 included studies revealed two main findings: 1) most studies had (very) small sample sizes and thus low statistical power to find relevant effects; 2) study designs and/or statistical analyses used were often insufficient to distinguish between promotive, protective and skill-enhancing factors. Furthermore, findings point towards underrecognition of evidence for promotive and skill-enhancing factors as well as overinterpretation of the same evidence towards protective effects. Conclusion: Overall, empirical evidence for protective factors is sparse and at present based on only a few studies. Based on the current findings, we state implications for the field of educational psychology in planning and conducting research into resilience in literacy.
Neolithic as a Historical Period and its Eurasian Variants / Neolit jako historické období a jeho podoby v Eurasii
Authors: Pavlů Ivan , Čechák Petr
Published: December 2023

It has become evident that the term Neolithic needs to be expanded to encompass the historical period during which human societies began, in various ways, to break away from a dependence on the products of natural evolution. This change was without doubt due to climatic oscillations which, over several centuries, disrupted the steady life of Palaeolithic hunters. New findings have shattered the unified notion of what was previously termed the Neolithic into a series of regionally and chronologically specific complexes. The first step is to redefine the terms ‘western’ and ‘eastern’ Neolithic according to the different developments that led to the emergence of pottery.
Tareas y habilidades para hacer patrones de repetición en libros de texto de educación infantil
Authors: Acosta Yeni , Pincheira Nataly , Alsina Ángel
Published: December 2023

Se estudia la presencia de tareas y habilidades para hacer patrones de repetición en cinco proyectos editoriales españoles de educación infantil. A partir de un estudio cualitativo de carácter exploratorio-descriptivo, se han analizado 850 tareas, de las cuales, 69 corresponden a patrones de repetición. Los resultados muestran: a) una diferencia relevante entre las frecuencias de tareas con patrones de repetición encontradas en los proyectos analizados para cada grupo de edad, hecho que provoca un proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje desequilibrado y condicionado al proyecto que se utilice; y b) respecto a las habilidades para hacer patrones, “extender”, “interpolar” y “reconocer la unidad de repetición”, son las habilidades más frecuentes. Se concluye que es necesario una mejor planificación de las tareas de patrones de repetición en los libros de texto de infantil para promover el desarrollo estructural, la comprensión relacional y la generalización desde edades tempranas.
Serially connected strip-type acoustic wave resonator using X-40°Y LiNbO3 (XSAR)—feasibility study using macro model
Authors: Guo Yong , Kadota Michio , Tanaka Shuji
Published: December 2023

This work presents a new serially connected strip-type acoustic resonator using X40°Y-LiNbO3 (LN) (XSAR). The proposed design is composed of a serial of strip-type bulk acoustic wave resonators connected together. The volume between two strips is penetrated through to eliminate the spurious response and enhance quality (Q) factor. The Euler angle (90°, 90°, 40°) of LN is optimized to obtain the maximal piezoelectric constant e
34, which determines the coupling factor of shear mode of the resonator. Simulation results show that the new design is superior in terms of impedance ratio (Z-ratio) and bandwidth (BW) and exhibits the largest BW of 32% ever reported. The slow shear mode spurious response is successfully removed by the proposed penetrated structure combined with narrow strip. Furthermore, the device was prototyped in macro scale using 350 μm thick LN, by which the ultra-wide BW and potentially good performance in HF were confirmed.
Ultralow thermal conductivity of amorphous silicon–germanium thin films for alloy and disorder scattering determined by 3ω method and nanoindentation
Authors: Tanisawa Daiki , Shionozaki Yoshiyuki , Takizawa Tetsuya , Yamaguchi Asato , Murotani Hiroshi , Takashiri Masayuki
Published: December 2023

The ultralow thermal conductivity (1.3 W/(m∙K)) of amorphous silicon–germanium films for alloy and disorder scattering was investigated using the 3ω method and nanoindentation. The films exhibited the lowest phonon mean free path (MFP) of 0.5 nm compared to that of amorphous silicon (1.1 nm) and germanium (0.9 nm) films, owing to alloy scattering in the silicon–germanium films. Based on Matthiessen’s rule, the phonon MFPs of the amorphous silicon–germanium films contributing to alloy and disorder scattering were calculated to be 1.0 nm for both. Therefore, alloy and disorder scattering contribute equally to the reduction in the phonon MFP.
Phononic band calculations and experimental imaging of topological boundary modes in a hexagonal flexural wave machine
Authors: Takeda Hayato , Minami Ryoya , Matsuda Osamu , Wright Oliver B. , Tomoda Motonobu
Published: December 2023

We construct a two-dimensional mechanical wave machine based on a hexagonal lattice to investigate low-frequency flexural plate waves whose propagation mimicks a topological quantum valley Hall system. We thereby demonstrate “mechanical graphene” by extension of the one-dimensional Shive wave machine to two dimensions. Imaging experiments, backed up by simulations, reveal the presence of boundary modes along a topological interface. This work provides an alternative route for the investigation of topological phononic crystals, and should lead to new insights into the design and observation of artificial phononic structures.