bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Behaviour of an AC Induction Motor as Sensor for Condition Monitoring of Driven Rotary Machines
Authors: Horodinca Mihaita , Bumbu Neculai-Eduard , Chitariu Dragos-Florin , Munteanu Adriana , Dumitras Catalin-Gabriel , Negoescu Florin , Mihai Constantin-Gheorghe
Published: January 2023

This paper presents some advances in condition monitoring for rotary machines (particularly for a lathe headstock gearbox) running idle with a constant speed, based on the behaviour of a driving three-phase AC asynchronous induction motor used as a sensor of the mechanical power via the absorbed electrical power. The majority of the variable phenomena involved in this condition monitoring are periodical (machines having rotary parts) and should be mechanically supplied through a variable electrical power absorbed by a motor with periodical components (having frequencies equal to the rotational frequency of the machine parts). The paper proposes some signal processing and analysis methods for the variable part of the absorbed electrical power (or its constituents: active and instantaneous power, instantaneous current, power factor, etc.) in order to achieve a description of these periodical constituents, each one often described as a sum of sinusoidal components with a fundamental and some harmonics. In testing these methods, the paper confirms the hypothesis that the evolution of the electrical power (instantaneous and active) has a predominantly deterministic character. Two main signal analysis methods were used, with good, comparable results: the fast Fourier transform of short and long signal sequences (for the frequency domain) and the curve fitting estimation (in the time domain). The determination of the amplitude, frequency and phase at origin of time for each of these components helps to describe the condition (normal or abnormal) of the machine parts. Several achievements confirm the viability of this study: a characterization of a flat driving belt condition and a beating power phenomenon generated by two rotary shafts inside the gearbox. For comparison purposes, the same signal analysis methods were applied to describe the evolution of the vibration signal and the instantaneous angular speed signal at the gearbox output spindle. Many similarities in behaviour among certain mechanical parts (including their electrical power, vibration and instantaneous angular speed) were highlighted.
Research on Vibration Amplitude of Ultra-Precision Aerostatic Motorized Spindle under the Combined Action of Rotor Unbalance and Hydrodynamic Effect
Authors: Wang Wenbo , Song Pengyun , Yu Hechun , Zhang Guoqing
Published: January 2023

In the working process of the gas bearings, the unbalanced force of the rotor will increase nonlinearly with the increase in the rotating speed, resulting in an increase in the rotor’s vibration amplitude. On the other hand, with the increase in the rotating speed, the hydrodynamic effect will increase, and the nonlinear increase in the gas film force and stiffness will inhibit the increase in the vibration amplitude. In order to deeply study the influence of the unbalanced force and nonlinear gas film force on the vibration amplitude of the ultra-precision aerostatic motorized spindle, taking the double slit throttling gas bearing as an example, according to the equilibrium equation of the rotor under the combined action of gravity, the gas film force, and the unbalanced force, a calculation program based on the finite difference method for solving the rotor’s equilibrium position is completed. The calculation results show that: the hydrodynamic effect can significantly increase the bearing capacity and cause the change of the static equilibrium position of the rotor, but the offset amplitude of the static equilibrium position of the rotor gradually slows down with the increase in the rotating speed. The hydrodynamic effect improves the stiffness near the static equilibrium position of the rotor, making the rotor vibration track tend to be more “round”. Although the unbalanced force of the rotor increases nonlinearly as the rotating speed increases, the maximum offset between the dynamic equilibrium position and the static equilibrium position of the rotor under the action of the rotating unbalanced force is approximately linear with the rotating speed. Compared with the air supply pressure, the rotor unbalance and rotating speed are the main factors affecting the rotor dynamic equilibrium position offset. This study has a reference role in the in-depth study of the influence of rotating speed and rotor unbalance on the rotor static equilibrium position and dynamic equilibrium position offset, as well as in the design of gas bearings and the prediction of rotor vibration amplitude.
A BERT Framework to Sentiment Analysis of Tweets
Authors: Bello Abayomi , Ng Sin-Chun , Leung Man-Fai
Published: January 2023

Sentiment analysis has been widely used in microblogging sites such as Twitter in recent decades, where millions of users express their opinions and thoughts because of its short and simple manner of expression. Several studies reveal the state of sentiment which does not express sentiment based on the user context because of different lengths and ambiguous emotional information. Hence, this study proposes text classification with the use of bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT) for natural language processing with other variants. The experimental findings demonstrate that the combination of BERT with CNN, BERT with RNN, and BERT with BiLSTM performs well in terms of accuracy rate, precision rate, recall rate, and F1-score compared to when it was used with Word2vec and when it was used with no variant.
Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity and Cytotoxicity Effects of Extracts of Piper nigrum L. and Piperine
Authors: Alves Fabrine Silva , Cruz Jorddy Neves , de Farias Ramos Ingryd Nayara , do Nascimento Brandão Dayse Lucia , Queiroz Rafael Nascimento , da Silva Glauce Vasconcelos , da Silva Gleice Vasconcelos , Dolabela Maria Fani , da Costa Marcondes Lima , Khayat André Salim , de Arimatéia Rodrigues do Rego José , do Socorro Barros Brasil Davi
Published: January 2023

P. nigrum L. extracts and the piperine alkaloid have important antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of P. nigrum L. extracts and piperine, a compound isolated from the extracts of P. nigrum L. Extracts obtained via maceration, soxhlet, and purification steps, in addition to isolated piperine, were used in this study. Spectroscopic methods, such as nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry, were used to characterize piperine. In the microbiological analyses, the extract obtained via maceration-derived sample showed high efficiency in inhibiting Salmonella spp. (MIC < 100 μg/mL). The extract obtained via a soxhlet-derived sample showed promising inhibitory activity against almost all microorganisms, with negligible inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Favorable inhibition coefficients were also observed against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. (MIC < 100 μg/mL) for the extract obtained via purification of the steps-derived sample. Piperine showed an excellent inhibition coefficient against most microorganisms, with inactivity only observed against P. aeruginosa. Cytotoxicity evaluation assays in cancer cell lines revealed that piperine exhibited inhibitory potential on all tested tumor cell lines, causing a decrease in cell viability and achieving an IC50 of less than 30 μg/mL. The analyzed extracts from P. nigrum L. seeds showed cytotoxic activity against tumor and non-tumor cell lines.
The Future Possibilities and Security Challenges of City Digitalization
Authors: Barcik Peter , Coufalikova Aneta , Frantis Petr , Vavra Jiri
Published: January 2023

To adapt to current changes, such as globalization, climate change, and demographic growth, modern cities must embrace the digitalization of city management. In this paper, we examine a concept for digitalizing a city based on Rotterdam’s digital twin showcase. Data-processing frameworks for different sources of data are presented. Security risks and the potential of smart cities for military usage are discussed. Lastly, using an example of available datasets for air quality and public lighting consumption, functions of the Rotterdam digital twin are compared with the Brno city digital platform. It was found that every city has its approach to digitalization, and it is probably impossible to unify every city’s digitalization process. This means that the digitalization of the city is very individual. Both systems in their current form make it possible to visualize the collected data about the city. So far, however, these systems do not use advanced functions such as AI-assisted decision-making and prediction of various events in the city. Even so, they are a source of very interesting data that can be used by third parties.
Children’s Vulnerability to Digital Technology within the Family: A Scoping Review
Authors: Lafton Tove , Holmarsdottir Halla B. , Kapella Olaf , Sisask Merike , Zinoveva Liudmila
Published: January 2023

Children today experience digital engagement from a young age, and information and communication technology (ICT) use impacts how the family, seen as a social–relational structure or network of two or more people, communicates and interacts in daily life. This review broadly encompasses how children and young people are vulnerable regarding digital technology, focusing on diverse aspects of the family. The scoping review includes a final corpus of 100 articles broadly focusing on the term ‘vulnerability’ as it relates to digital technology and the family. The themes identified originate from the articles and describe five domains of vulnerability: (1) extensive Internet use, (2) age and gender, (3) risky online behaviour, (4) social networking as a social lubricant, and (5) parental mediation and care. The studies identified lean heavily on quantitative studies measuring time, whilst depth and context are less visible. Despite a growing body of research, there is a lack of both qualitative studies and research examining the role of technology in the lives of children and young people and how family dynamics are affected in the digital age.
Beyond Ageism: A Qualitative Study of Intersecting Forms of Prejudice towards Retired Older People
Authors: Lau Mandy H. M.
Published: January 2023

Negative stereotypes of older people can have detrimental impacts on their mental health, hence better understanding of ageism is needed to combat ageism more effectively. Nevertheless, existing studies on ageism largely focus on the workplace, while relatively less is known about younger people’s generalizations of older people in everyday neighbourhood contexts. This study investigated young adults’ stereotypes of retired older people in the context of high-density residential neighbourhoods in Hong Kong, through 23 qualitative in-depth interviews. The findings counter the misconception that ageism is less prevalent in Asian societies, while uncovering young adults’ novel interpretations of traditional cultural norms of respect towards older people. The findings also reveal more complex intersections between ageism, classism, and prejudice towards worldview-dissimilar older people. These findings suggest the need to broaden the scope of ageism-reduction interventions, to tackle not only age-related prejudice but other forms of prejudice. Paying closer attention to intersectional forms of prejudice can also facilitate the design of more inclusive intergenerational programs and intergenerational public spaces, both locally and internationally.
Toward a ‘Migrant Trap’? Local Development, Urban Sustainability, Sociodemographic Inequalities, and the Economic Decline in a Mediterranean Metropolis
Authors: Ciommi Mariateresa , Egidi Gianluca , Vardopoulos Ioannis , Chelli Francesco Maria , Salvati Luca
Published: January 2023

After years following the breakdown of the Great Recession in Europe, crisis-driven urban shrinkage can be adequately investigated considering changes over time in selected demographic indicators, with a specific focus on migration. Using official statistics and a literature review, the present study documents the inherent demographic decline in metropolitan Athens (Greece) as a response to economic stagnation after a long-lasting expansion. The empirical results of our study delineate metropolitan shrinkage in Southern Europe as a process associated with complex socioeconomic conditions leading to (possibly counterintuitive) demographic outcomes as far as migration trends are concerned. Recession has determined unsustainable economic conditions especially for non-native population segments, promoting both class and ethnic segregation. The negative migration balance in the 2010s led to an intense population decline hitting settlements made already demographically fragile because of low fertility and aging. Athens became a sort of ‘migrant trap’, being progressively unattractive for incoming migration flows—both internal and international—and losing an increasingly high number of non-native residents settling in the area, especially during the ‘gold’ decade of the 2004 Olympics. A sudden reduction in immigration rates reflected both economic (recession) and non-economic (population aging, fertility reduction, and childbearing postponement) factors, causing an incipient shrinkage after secular urban growth. The empirical results of our study add to the traditional literature on ‘industrial cities shrinkage’ in Europe and contribute to (re)formulate short- and medium-term development scenarios in large agglomerations, shedding further light on the role of migration in crisis-driven processes of urban decline in Mediterranean Europe.
Adults’ Perceptions on Adolescent Attitudes towards Pregnancy and Abortion in Maputo and Quelimane Cities, Mozambique: An Exploratory Qualitative Study
Authors: Frederico Mónica , Arnaldo Carlos , Capurchande Rehana , Decat Peter , Michielsen Kristien
Published: January 2023

Background: In Mozambique, 76% of adolescents have been pregnant before the age of 20 years. Thus, this study explores adults’ perceptions on adolescent attitudes towards pregnancy and abortion in Maputo and Quelimane cities. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in Maputo and Quelimane, with four focus group discussions. A cross-sectional household survey was used to select adult women participants. Data were analysed applying a thematic analysis approach. Results: Intrapersonal, interpersonal, cultural, and environmental factors influence pregnancy and abortion decision making among adolescents. Generational conflicts reduce the importance paid to traditional knowledge transfer, contraceptive beliefs, denial of paternity, lack of parental support, and procreation value were found to influence abortion decision making and early pregnancy among adolescents. Conclusions: There is a need to improve relationships between adults and adolescents to reduce girls’ vulnerability to early pregnancy, as well as empowering adolescents in order to negotiate safe sex, reducing unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion.
Productivity and Nutrient Quality of Lemna minor as Affected by Microbiome, CO2 Level, and Nutrient Supply
Authors: Zenir Madeleine C. , López-Pozo Marina , Polutchko Stephanie K. , Stewart Jared J. , Adams William W. , Escobar Adam , Demmig-Adams Barbara
Published: January 2023

Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels can impact plant photosynthesis and productivity and threaten food security, especially when combined with additional environmental stressors. This study addresses the effects of elevated CO2 in combination with low nutrient supply on Lemna minor (common duckweed). We quantified plant growth rate and nutritional quality (protein content) and evaluated whether any adverse effects of elevated CO2, low nutrients, or the combination of the two could be mitigated by plant-microbe interaction. Plants were grown under controlled conditions and were either uninoculated or inoculated with microorganisms from a local pond that supported L. minor populations. Under low nutrients in combination with high CO2, growth (plant area expansion rate) decreased and biomass accumulation increased, albeit with lower nutritional quality (lower percentage of protein per plant biomass). Inoculation with plant-associated microorganisms restored area expansion rate and further stimulated biomass accumulation while supporting a high protein-to-biomass ratio and, thus, a high nutritional quality. These findings indicate that plant-microbe interaction can support a higher nutritional quality of plant biomass under elevated atmospheric CO2 levels, an important finding for both human and non-human consumers during a time of rapid environmental change.
Ecosystem Services Research in Green Sustainable Science and Technology Field: Trends, Issues, and Future Directions
Authors: Tang Juan , Fang Yudi , Tian Ziyan , Gong Yinghua , Yuan Liang
Published: January 2023

Ecosystem services (ES) has an important place in sustainability science research as a powerful bridge between society and nature. Based on 513 papers correlated with ES in the field of green sustainable science and technology (GSST) indexed in ISI Web of Science database, we employ the bibliometric methods to analyze the disciplinary co-occurrence, keyword co-occurrence, partnerships, publication characteristics, co-citation, research themes, and transformative potential of these papers. The results show that innovation in research themes of the ES research in the GSST field is increasing rapidly in 2015–2018, while innovation in research themes is decreasing in 2018–2021. Moreover, keyword co-occurrence analysis indicates that the hot topics of previous research with respect to “environmental service”, “capacity”, “perception”, “landscape”, “forest management”, “carbon sequestration”, “contingent valuation”, and “sustainable development”. Recent hotspots include “blue carbon”, “environmental impact”, “coastal”, “ecosystem services mapping”, and “use/land cover change”. Finally, the cluster analysis of co-cited references abstract thirteen largest clusters. The top six clusters are “mapping ecosystem service”, “spatial gradient difference”, “ecosystem service value”, “water-related ecosystem service”, “linking forest landscape model”, and “culture ecosystem service”. Moreover, the integration of spatial, value, environmental, and sociocultural dimensions may help to develop supportive policies, which is a future direction of ES research in the GSST field.
Causes and Behavioral Evolution of Negative Electronic Word-of-Mouth Communication: Considering the Mediating Role of User Involvement and the Moderating Role of User Self-Construal
Authors: He Youshi , Wu Jingyan , Wang Min
Published: January 2023

The purpose of this study is to develop a framework to examine the intrinsic driving paths of negative electronic word-of-word. In this paper, the “contextual” factor—user involvement, and the “individual” factor—user self-construal were selected to consider their influence on the model path. Data were collected using online questionnaires; then, the model and hypotheses were tested using structured equation model (SEM) software. The research results showed that, firstly, negative online shopping experiences positively influence eWOM motivations, and user involvement partially mediated the relationship between negative product quality, negative online shopping platform environments and negative eWOM motivations; secondly, there was a significant correlation between negative eWOM motivations and eWOM behavior, and the personality traits of the communicators themselves influenced the path of “negative eWOM motivation-negative eWOM behavior”. In addition, the user’s self-construal has a significant moderating effect on the “eWOM motivation–immediate eWOM behavior” path under immediate eWOM behavior.
Study of Mechanical-Chemical Synergistic Weeding on Characterization of Weed–Soil Complex and Weed Control Efficacy
Authors: Fang Huimin , Xu Gaowei , Xue Xinyu , Niu Mengmeng , Qiao Lu
Published: January 2023

Mechanical-chemical synergy has been proven efficient in weed control. However, characterizing the state of the weed–soil complex after mechanical weeding and revealing its effects on subsequent herbicide application is still challenging, which restricts the implementation of this technology. This paper first presents a method to characterize the state of the weed–soil complex from the perspectives of the fragmentation and composite characteristics. The regrowth of the weed–soil complex and the effects of complemented herbicide-reduced spraying on weed control efficacy and crop yield were then investigated. The results showed that the typical diameters of the weed–soil complexes were 10.67 cm and 2.82 cm after inter-row hoe shovel and intra-row finger weeding, respectively. There were mainly two and four weed–soil complex states after inter-row and intra-row weeding, respectively. The regrowth rate corresponding to the weed–soil complex state with the largest component proportion after inter-row and intra-row weeding was 76.91% and 18.37%, respectively. The additional chemical herbicide sprayed on the weed–soil complex significantly improved the fresh weight control efficacy of 95.12% for the preposed inter-row mechanical weeding and 138.07% for the preposed intra-row mechanical weeding in the maize silking stage. The maize yield of inter-row mechanical–75% chemical application treatment was 9.27% higher than that of chemical treatment. Mechanical weeding creates a suitable weed–soil complex state for subsequent chemical application and improves the synergistic weeding effect.
Assessing the Potential Distribution of a Vulnerable Tree under Climate Change: Perkinsiodendron macgregorii (Chun) P.W.Fritsch (Styracaceae)
Authors: Yan Ming-Hui , Si Jie-Ying , Dong Nian-Ci , Liu Bin-Wen , Tiamiyu Bashir B. , Wang Heng-Chang , Yuan Hong-Yu
Published: January 2023

Species adaptation and their response to the warming climate offer understanding into the present geographical distribution and may assist in improving predictions regarding the expected response to future climate change. As a result, assessing the distribution and potentially suitable habitats is key for conserving important vulnerable species such as Perkinsiodendron macgregorii, a rare tree species of high ornamental value distributed only in the subtropical forests of China. In this study, 101 sampling points distributed in China and 11 climatic variables were selected and imported into the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt). We simulated the spatiotemporal dynamics of potential habitats under past, current, and future (2050s and 2070s) scenarios and found that the total suitable area for P. macgregorii is 1.67 × 106 km2 in recent times. This area is mainly located in seven provinces of southern China (Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Fujian, Hunan, Guangdong, and Guangxi). The habitat centroid of P. macgregorii has been in Jiangxi province from the past to the 2070s. In both the lowest and the highest emission scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5), the potential distribution of P. macgregorii will slightly increase in the 2070s, indicating that climate change may have little effect on its distribution. The precipitation of the warmest quarter (bio_18) is the most important climatic factor, with an optimum range of 487.3–799.8 mm. Our work could help make scientific strategies for in situ and ex situ conservation of P. macgregorii.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Innovation Input: An Empirical Study Based on Propensity Score-Matching and Quantile Models
Authors: Chen Linsheng , Lim Siew Hoon , Xu Shiwei , Liu Ying
Published: January 2023

Social responsibility performance and innovation investment are two important aspects of corporate strategy, and there is no consensus as to whether they are competing or complementary goals in an enterprise. Using propensity score-matching, ordinary least squares, and quantile regression, the study shows that the voluntary disclosure of social responsibility by enterprises will increase innovation investment. In other words, corporate social responsibility has a significant positive impact on innovation and investment; however, with the increase in enterprise innovation investment, this impact gradually weakens.
Millimetre Wave and Sub-6 5G Readiness of Mobile Network Big Data for Public Transport Planning
Authors: Putriani Okkie , Priyanto Sigit , Muthohar Imam , Amrozi Mukhammad Rizka Fahmi
Published: January 2023

The need to solve public transport planning challenges using 5G is demanding. In 2019, the world started using 5G technology. Unfortunately, many countries have no equipment that is compatible with 5G infrastructures. There are two main deployment options for countries willing to accept 5G. They can directly venture to install relatively expensive infrastructure, called 5G SA (standalone access). However, more countries use the 5G NSA (non-standalone access) alternative, a 5G network supported by existing 4G infrastructure. One of the considerations for choosing NSA 5G is that it still performs 4G equalisation in its area. The data throughput is faster but still uses the leading 4G network. Interestingly, there are three types of 5G: low-band (sub-6), middle-band (sub-6), and high-band (millimetre-wave (mmWave)). The problem is determining the kind of 5G needed for public transport planning. Meanwhile, mobile network big data (MNBD) requires robust and stable internet access, with broad coverage in real time. MNBD movement includes the movement of people and vehicles, as well as logistics. GPS and internet connections track the activity of private vehicles and public transportation. The difference between mmWave and sub-6 5G can complement transportation planning needs. The density and height of buildings in urban areas and the affordability of the range of the connections determine 5G. This study examines the literature on 5G and then, using the bibliographic method, matches the network coverage obtained in Indonesia using nPerf data services. According to the data, urban areas are becoming more densely populated. Thus, this could show the differences in the data quality outside of metropolitan areas. This study also discusses the current conditions in terms of market potential and the development of smart cities and provides an overview of how real-time mobile data can support public transport planning. This article provides beneficial insight into the stability and adjustment of 5G, where the connectivity can be adequately maintained so that the MNBD can deliver representative data for analysis.
“The Big One” Earthquake Preparedness Assessment among Younger Filipinos Using a Random Forest Classifier and an Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Ong Ardvin Kester S. , Zulvia Ferani Eva , Prasetyo Yogi Tri
Published: January 2023

Exploring the intention to prepare for mitigation among Filipinos should be considered as the Philippines is a country prone to natural calamities. With frequent earthquakes occurring in the country, “The Big One” has been predicted to damage the livelihood and infrastructure of the capital and surrounding cities. This study aimed to predict the intention to prepare for mitigation (IP) of “The Big One” based on several features using a machine learning algorithm ensemble. This study applied a decision tree, a random forest classifier, and artificial neural network algorithms to classify affecting factors. Data were collected using convenience sampling through a self-administered questionnaire with 683 valid responses. The results of this study and the proposed machine learning-based prediction model could be applied to predict the intention of younger Filipinos to prepare. The experimental results also revealed that the decision tree and the decision tree with random forest classifier showed understanding, perceived vulnerability, and perceived severity as factors highly affecting the IP of “The Big One”. The results of this study could be considered by the government to promote policies and guidelines to enhance the people’s IP for natural disasters. The algorithm could also be utilized and applied to determine factors affecting IP for other natural disasters, even in other countries.
Measuring and Evaluating Organizational Innovation Capacity and Performance from Systemic and Sustainability-Oriented Perspective
Authors: Rocha Wellington L. L. , Almeida Maria Fatima L. , Calili Rodrigo F.
Published: January 2023

In the last decades, several multidimensional models for measuring and evaluating the innovation capacity and performance of organisations have been designed by researchers and consulting firms and adopted by established innovative organisations worldwide. However, the topic of measurement and evaluation models that are designed for sustainability-oriented innovation management has remained underexplored by researchers and practitioners. From this perspective, this work proposes a conceptual model for measuring and evaluating the sustainability-oriented innovation capacity (SOIC) and performance (SOIP) of established organisations, guided by the following principles: a multidimensional structure, stakeholder goal orientation, interdependence and feedback loop analyses, innovation process orientation and ease of implementation and use. In line with these principles, the proposed model combines the balanced scorecard (BSC) framework with a hybrid multicriteria methodological approach. Furthermore, it considers the interdependencies between the key innovation indicators (KIIs), which are classified according to four perspectives of an adapted BSC framework. The proposed conceptual model, and the empirical results that demonstrate its applicability in an organisational context, may contribute to improving the current practices for measuring and evaluating the SOIC and SOIP, which could help organisations to adjust their strategies to create sustainable value for the new era of business.
Organic Carbon Content in Fractions of Soils Managed for Soil Fertility Improvement in Sub-Humid Agroecosystems of Kenya
Authors: Githongo Miriam , Kiboi Milka , Muriuki Anne , Fliessbach Andreas , Musafiri Collins , Ngetich Felix K.
Published: January 2023

Soil health and fertility are indexed by soil organic carbon (SOC) content. Soil management through good agricultural practices that enhance and sustain SOC is vital for soil fertility. We examined the influence of soil fertility management strategies on SOC concentrations in different particle size fractions under a maize cropping system. We laid the experiment in a randomized complete block design, with 14 treatments replicated 4 times, and used the following inputs: inorganic fertilizer (Mf), maize residue +inorganic fertilizer (RMf), maize residue + inorganic fertilizer, and goat manure (RMfM), maize residue + goat manure + Dolichos Lablab L intercrop (RML), maize residue + Tithonia diversifolia + goat manure (RTiM) and maize residue + Tithonia diversifolia + phosphate rock (Minjingu) (RTiP) and a Control (no inputs) under reduced tillage (Mt) or conventional tillage (Ct). Soil samples were collected from two depths, 0–5 cm, and 5–15 cm. We determined the content of organic carbon in three physical fractionation: coarse fractions (1.7 mm, 500 µm sieve), medium fractions (250 µm and 90 µm), and a fine fraction (75 µm). Results showed that treatment with maize residues, goat manure, and legume intercrop (MtRML and CtRML) resulted in higher SOC in most fractions, irrespective of the soil depth. The SOC concentration significantly (p < 0.0001) differed across treatments and depth. It was followed by maize residue, goat manure, and inorganic fertilizer treatments, and the least was inorganic fertilizer treatment. This underpins the importance of manure application and crop residue retention in increasing SOC amounts. Reduced tillage did not influence the SOC amounts during the sampling period in the experimentation site. This study highlights the possibility of improving agricultural productivity by improving soil fertility through a combination of different agricultural soil fertility amendments in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Application of Internet of Things (IoT) in Sustainable Supply Chain Management
Authors: Khan Yasser , Su’ud Mazliham Bin Mohd , Alam Muhammad Mansoor , Ahmad Syed Fayaz , Ahmad (Ayassrah) Ahmad Y. A. Bani , Khan Nasir
Published: January 2023

The traditional supply chain system included smart objects to enhance intelligence, automation capabilities, and intelligent decision-making. Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are providing unprecedented opportunities to enhance efficiency and reduce the cost of the existing system of the supply chain. This article aims to study the prevailing supply chain system and explore the benefits obtained after smart objects and embedded networks of IoT are implanted. Short-range communication technologies, radio frequency identification (RFID), middleware, and cloud computing are extensively comprehended to conceptualize the smart supply chain management system. Moreover, manufacturers are achieving maximum benefits in terms of safety, cost, intelligent management of inventory, and decision-making. This study also offers concepts of smart carriage, loading/unloading, transportation, warehousing, and packaging for the secure distribution of products. Furthermore, the tracking of customers to convince them to make more purchases and the modification of shops with the assistance of the Internet of Things are thoroughly idealized.
Analysis of Civil Environments Cleaning Services—Microbiological and LCA Analysis after Traditional and Sustainable Procedures
Authors: Fontana Riccardo , Marzola Marco , Buratto Mattia , Trioschi Giulia , Caproni Anna , Nordi Chiara , Buffone Cesare , Bandera Beatrice , Vogli Luciano , Marconi Peggy
Published: January 2023

The development of sustainable processes has an important role to play in balancing social productivity requirements, protecting the environment and natural resources. Up to date, efforts to combat microbial contamination have focused on the use of chemical-based sanitation procedures, which may have various limitations, as testified by the persistence of contamination itself, by the growing antimicrobial resistance of microbes and by the chemical related pollution. The purpose of this paper is to present a comparative analysis of the use of conventional and sustainable cleaning products and processes in civilian environments. The sampling campaign is conducted in a sports hall in Turin, Italy. Each sample comes from a specific environment, surface, furniture and sanitary and is taken using RODAC contact plates and swabs with a neutralizing agent in order to standardize the result of the microbiological evaluation. Sampling occurred before and after traditional and sustainable cleaning procedures. The sustainable experimental design using ecological products in the cleaning procedures of the analyzed areas proved to be a relevant technique. From CAM (minimal environmental criteria) requirements, the sustainable protocol must give equal or better results than the traditional protocol from both microbiological and environmental (LCA) point of view. It can be concluded that the ecological experimental system meets this criterion and has demonstrated better performance both in antimicrobial activity and in environmental impact than the conventional system: all findings are in an acceptable state of sanitation, with no evidence of pathogenic micro-organisms specified in the guideline.
Differential Game Analysis of Emission Reduction and Preservation in the Tertiary Food Supply Chain under Different Government Subsidy Models
Authors: He Jing , Yang Ting
Published: January 2023

Climate change has brought about huge environmental problems and economic losses worldwide, and low carbon has become a hot topic of research in the context of the climate crisis. The article outlines a three-tier food supply chain consisting of suppliers, manufacturers and retailers, based on a cooperative model in which manufacturers share the cost of emission reduction and retailers share the cost of freshness. The study finds that when the government grants the maximum amount of subsidies to the manufacturer, the government’s decision to reduce emissions, the government’s regulations to preserve freshness, and the government’s profits are not affected. The study found that when the government awarded the largest subsidy coefficient to manufacturers and the smallest subsidy coefficient to retailers, the non-specific one-off government subsidy model could lead to higher profits for suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers, increasing the amount of emission reduction while improving the preservation quality of food. When the government subsidy factor for manufacturers is minimal, the reduction in emissions is greater under the government’s dedicated abatement subsidy model but does not increase the freshness quality of the food; food supply chain players consistently produce higher levels of preservation effort and preservation quality under the government’s non-dedicated one-off subsidy model.
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Sustainable Use of Steel Slag for Geogrid-Encased Column Involving Its Clogging Effects
Authors: Liu Kaiwen , Qiu Ruizhe , Wang Xiaolong , Yue Fei , Lian Xiangdong
Published: January 2023

This study investigates the sustainable use of steel slag for a geogrid-encased column involving its reinforcement and clogging effects on its consolidation performance in soft foundations through model tests and 3D hydromechanical-coupled finite element analyses. The 3D finite element model is first validated according to test results of an untreated and treated soft soil foundation. Then, a parametric study investigating the effect of clogging on the performance of the geogrid-encased steel slag column (GESSC) is carried out. Steel slags mixed with different percentages of fine (0%, 10%, 20%, and 40%) are used to simulate various clogging conditions. The numerical study shows that the percentage of fines in the GESSC has a notable effect on the dissipation of excess pore water pressure as well as foundation consolidation.
Scientometric Analysis of Brand Personality
Authors: Vicencio-Ríos Gustavo , Rubio Andrés , Araya-Castillo Luis , Moraga-Flores Hugo
Published: January 2023

The main focus of brand personality is the emotional bond that the consumer establishes with the product or service on offer and the strategies that are developed to strengthen such bond. This concept has received increasing attention and both its study and its applications have escaped the field where it initially originated: marketing. Despite the above, no studies have been carried out that analyze the scientific production trends associated with it. This prevents us from knowing what state of scientific development the concept is in and how you project its lines of development, both at the research and applied levels. The aim of this paper is a presentation of the literature on the subject of brand personality using a scientometric analysis based on the Web of Science database. The main results reveal that 531 papers were identified in the period between 1975 and 2019, with an exponential growth in terms of production and a constant growth in terms of number of quotations, with Aaker being the most cited author and Davies the most productive. An analysis was also carried out on the co-authorship clusters for scientific production, the institutions of affiliation, and the countries where the authors come from, as well as the main journals where this scientific production is disseminated. The conclusion is that brand personality has taken off in the past few decades in different areas of knowledge allowing to go beyond the marketing perspective in order to encompass the production of knowledge in different disciplines such as business, psychology, services, communication, education, and social sciences in general.
Contrastive Analysis and Accuracy Assessment of Three Global 30 m Land Cover Maps Circa 2020 in Arid Land
Authors: Bie Qiang , Shi Ying , Li Xinzhang , Wang Yueju
Published: January 2023

Fine-resolution land cover (LC) products are critical for studies of urban planning, global climate change, the Earth’s energy balance, and the geochemical cycle as fundamental geospatial data products. It is important and urgent to evaluate the performance of the updated global land cover maps. In this study, three widely used LC maps with 30 m spatial resolution (FROM-GLC30-2020, GLC_FCS30, and GlobeLand30) published around 2020 were evaluated in terms of their degree of consistency and accuracy metrics. First, we compared their similarities and difference in the area ratio and spatial patterns over different land cover types. Second, the sample and response protocol was proposed and validation samples were collected. Based on this, the overall accuracy, producer’s accuracy, and user’s accuracy were analyzed. The results revealed that: (1) the consistent areas of the three maps accounted for 65.96% of the total area and that two maps exceeded 75% of it. (2) The dominant land cover types, bare land and grassland, were the most consistent land cover types across the three products. In contrast, the spatial inconsistency of the wetland, shrubland, and built-up areas were relatively high, with the disagreement mainly occurring in the heterogeneous regions. (3) The overall accuracy of the GLC_FCS30 map was the highest with a value of 87.07%, which was followed by GlobeLand30 (85.69%) and FROM-GLC30 (83.49%). Overall, all three of the LC maps were found to be consistent and have a good performance in classification in the arid regions, but their ability to accurately classify specific types varied.
Order of Intermittent Rock Fractured Surfaces
Authors: Aligholi Saeed , Khandelwal Manoj
Published: January 2023

According to chaos theory, some underlying patterns can disclose the order of disordered systems. Here, it has been discussed that intermittency of rough rock fractured surfaces is an orderable disorder at intermediate length scales. However, this kind of disorder is more complicated than simple fractal or even multi-scaling behaviours. It is planned to deal with some multifractal spectra that systematically change as a function of the analysed domain. Accordingly, some parameters are introduced that can perfectly take into account such systematic behaviour and quantify the intermittency of the studied surfaces. This framework can be used to quantify and model the roughness of fractured surfaces as a prerequisite factor for the analysis of fluid flow in rock media as well as the shear strength of rock joints. Ultimately, the presented framework can be used for analysing the intermittency of time series and developing new models for predicting, for instance, seismic or flood events in a short time with higher accuracy.
Building Brand Equity: The Impact of Brand Experience, Brand Love, and Brand Engagement—A Case Study of Customers’ Perception of the Apple Brand in China
Authors: Sohaib Muhammad , Mlynarski Jacob , Wu Rui
Published: January 2023

Regardless of a customer’s social status, wealth, or country of origin, Apple products have been notorious for establishing trends in regard to electronic devices. As of 2019, China accounted for 17% percent of all Apple sales. This has been made possible in large part due to Chinese customers’ favorable image of the Apple brand and the positive experience with Apple products. This study aimed to examine the impact of brand experience, brand love, and brand engagement on brand equity. The brand-love mediation role between brand experience and brand engagement/brand equity was also explored. The conceptual framework was supported by social exchange and attribution theories. According to the analysis of 339 respondents from China, brand experience, brand love, and brand engagement significantly positively affects Apple’s brand equity. Additionally, it was discovered that brand love demonstrates a significant mediating role between brand experience and brand engagement/brand equity. These findings can aid other manufacturers offering similar electronic products in China to adapt their marketing and competitive strategies in order to boost their brand equity and as a result sales revenue.
A Deterministic Method for Evaluating Safety Factor of Deep Excavation Stability against Groundwater Inrush Equivalently Considering Soil Uncertainty
Authors: Pei Lihua , Zhang Sheng , Yang Youbin , Lin Dong
Published: January 2023

In current design specifications for deep excavation, the determination of safety factors against groundwater inrush only considers the self-weight effect of soil mass at the bottom. However, the shear strength and its spatial variability in a cement-solidified bottom layer also plays an important role in safety factor estimation. Based on that, in this study, the strength reduction method was introduced into reliability analysis of deep excavation engineering, and the influence of shear strength and its spatial variability of cement-solidified soil on the stability of deep excavation is studied. Furthermore, a deterministic analysis method that can equivalently consider soil uncertainty is proposed and verified.
Influence of Exhaust Temperature and Flow Velocity of Marine Diesel Engines on Exhaust Gas Boiler Heat Transfer Performance
Authors: Jiang Dezhi , Yu Haoxian , Wang Zhihan , Glowacz Adam , Królczyk Grzegorz , Li Zhixiong
Published: January 2023

Due to the relatively cheap price of diesel, most Marine engines use diesel as Marine fuel, but its emissions contain a lot of carbon. To reduce carbon emissions, International Maritime Organization (IMO) has established an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and Energy Efficiency Existing-Ship Index (EEXI). Currently, a popular way is to reduce EEDI by optimizing the heat transfer performance of exhaust gas boilers on new ships, but there is little research on the EEXI index of existing ships. For operating ships, the thermal conductivity of exhaust gas boiler materials and other parameters has been fixed, so the main factors affecting the heat transfer coefficient of the exhaust gas boiler are exhaust gas temperature and flow velocity. Therefore, this paper studies the influence of engine exhaust temperature and flow rate on boiler heat transfer coefficients and optimizes it to achieve the EEXI value required by IMO. Firstly, based on the conservation of mass and energy as the basic equation, a heat exchange model of the exhaust gas boiler is established by using the hybrid modeling method and lumped parameter method. Secondly, for the given boiler, since other parameters are basically unchanged, the input temperature and flow rate of the model are changed by the control variable method, and the temperature of the boiler outlet is simulated by the test algorithm. Through the simulation operation of an Aalborg OC-type boiler, the results show that when the exhaust gas flow velocity is 15 m/s, 17.2 m/s, 22.4 m/s and 25 m/s, respectively, the heat transfer coefficient at each flow velocity increases first and then slowly decreases with the increase of temperature, and there is an optimal temperature at each velocity, which is 230 °C, 227 °C, 225 °C and 224 °C, respectively. The innovation of this study lies in the research on the inlet temperature and flow rate of the exhaust gas boiler of the operating ship based on the EEXI, and the relevant results are obtained, which provides theoretical guidance for the operation management of the exhaust gas boiler of the operating ship.