bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MSSD-Net: Multi-Scale SAR Ship Detection Network
Authors: Wang Xi , Xu Wei , Huang Pingping , Tan Weixian
Published: June 2024

In recent years, the development of neural networks has significantly advanced their application in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) ship target detection for maritime traffic control and ship management. However, traditional neural network architectures are often complex and resource intensive, making them unsuitable for deployment on artificial satellites. To address this issue, this paper proposes a lightweight neural network: the Multi-Scale SAR Ship Detection Network (MSSD-Net). Initially, the MobileOne network module is employed to construct the backbone network for feature extraction from SAR images. Subsequently, a Multi-Scale Coordinate Attention (MSCA) module is designed to enhance the network’s capability to process contextual information. This is followed by the integration of features across different scales using an FPN + PAN structure. Lastly, an Anchor-Free approach is utilized for the rapid detection of ship targets. To evaluate the performance of MSSD-Net, we conducted extensive experiments on the Synthetic Aperture Radar Ship Detection Dataset (SSDD) and SAR-Ship-Dataset. Our experimental results demonstrate that MSSD-Net achieves a mean average precision (mAP) of 98.02% on the SSDD while maintaining a compact model size of only 1.635 million parameters. This indicates that MSSD-Net effectively reduces model complexity without compromising its ability to achieve high accuracy in object detection tasks.
Carbon Dots in Enantioselective Sensing
Authors: Bortolami Martina , Curulli Antonella , Di Matteo Paola , Petrucci Rita , Feroci Marta
Published: June 2024

Chirality has a crucial effect on clinical, chemical and biological research since most bioactive compounds are chiral in the natural world. It is thus important to evaluate the enantiomeric ratio (or the enantiopurity) of the selected chiral analytes. To this purpose, fluorescence and electrochemical sensors, in which a chiral modifier is present, are reported in the literature. In this review, fluorescence and electrochemical sensors for enantiorecognition, in which chiral carbon dots (CDs) are used, are reported. Chiral CDs are a novel zero-dimensional carbon-based nanomaterial with a graphitic or amorphous carbon core and a chiral surface. They are nanoparticles with a high surface-to-volume ratio and good conductivity. Moreover, they have the advantages of good biocompatibility, multi-color emission, good conductivity and easy surface functionalization. Their exploitation in enantioselective sensing is the object of this review, in which several examples of fluorescent and electrochemical sensors, containing chiral CDs, are analyzed and discussed. A brief introduction to the most common synthetic procedures of chiral CDs is also reported, evidencing strengths and weaknesses. Finally, consideration concerning the potential challenges and future opportunities for the application of chiral CDs to the enantioselective sensing world are outlined.
A Modular 512-Channel Neural Signal Acquisition ASIC for High-Density 4096 Channel Electrophysiology
Authors: Papadopoulou Aikaterini , Hermiz John , Grace Carl , Denes Peter
Published: June 2024

The complexity of information processing in the brain requires the development of technologies that can provide spatial and temporal resolution by means of dense electrode arrays paired with high-channel-count signal acquisition electronics. In this work, we present an ultra-low noise modular 512-channel neural recording circuit that is scalable to up to 4096 simultaneously recording channels. The neural readout application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) uses a dense 8.2 mm × 6.8 mm 2D layout to enable high-channel count, creating an ultra-light 350 mg flexible module. The module can be deployed on headstages for small animals like rodents and songbirds, and it can be integrated with a variety of electrode arrays. The chip was fabricated in a TSMC 0.18 µm 1.8 V CMOS technology and dissipates a total of 125 mW. Each DC-coupled channel features a gain and bandwidth programmable analog front-end along with 14 b analog-to-digital conversion at speeds up to 30 kS/s. Additionally, each front-end includes programmable electrode plating and electrode impedance measurement capability. We present both standalone and in vivo measurements results, demonstrating the readout of spikes and field potentials that are modulated by a sensory input.
Contributing to Carbon Neutrality Targets: A Scenario Simulation and Pattern Optimization of Land Use in Shandong Province Based on the PLUS Model
Authors: Ma Xiang-Yi , Xu Yi-Fan , Sun Qian , Liu Wen-Jun , Qi Wei
Published: June 2024

Land use profoundly impacts the sustainable development of the ecological environment. Optimizing land use patterns is a vital approach to mitigate climate change and achieve carbon neutrality. Using Shandong Province as a case study, this research evaluates the impacts of land use and land cover change (LUCC) on regional carbon storage and emissions. Employing a coupled PLUS–InVEST–GM(1,1) model, simulations were conducted for scenarios including the natural scenario (NS), cropland protection scenario (CPS), high-speed development scenario (HDS), and low-carbon scenario (LCS), to assess LUCC and changes in carbon storage and emissions from 2030 to 2060 under these scenarios. The findings indicate that due to the expansion of construction land and significant declines in arable and grassland areas, carbon emissions increased by 40,436.44 × 104 t over a 20-year period, while carbon storage decreased by 4881.13 × 104 t. Notably, forests contributed the most to carbon sequestration, while construction land emerged as the primary source of carbon emissions. Simulating four scenarios demonstrates that measures such as protecting cropland, expanding forest, grassland, and aquatic areas, controlling construction land expansion, and promoting intensive development positively affect emission reductions and carbon sequestration in Shandong. These findings underscore the importance of rational planning of land use patterns, which can enhance contributions to carbon neutrality by harmonizing the relationships among cropland protection, ecological conservation, and economic development.
Exploring Non-Linear and Synergistic Effects of Street Environment on the Spirit of Place in Historic Districts: Using Multi-Source Data and XGBoost
Authors: Ma Shuxiao , Huang Wei , Cui Nana , Cai Zhaoyang , Xu Yan , Qiao Yue
Published: June 2024

The fragmented remodeling of historic districts undermines the spirit of place. Understanding the intricate relationship between the neighborhood environment and the spirit of place is essential for sustainable urban development. Current research predominantly relies on case studies and the concept of place, which are subjective and lack specific analysis of how the neighborhood environment shapes the spirit of place. In this study, we examine Chuancheng Street in Handan City as a case study. Utilizing the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model and multi-source data, combined with SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) and Partial Dependence Plots (PDP), we analyze the non-linear and synergistic effects of the street environment on the spirit of place in historic districts. The findings reveal that (1) the proportion of enduring sociability (PES) on the street significantly shapes the spirit of place, with cultural space elements being less prioritized in perception; (2) PES, green vision index (GVI), Integration_800 m, and mixed land use (MLU) have pronounced non-linear impacts on the spirit of place, with strong threshold effects, and these factors also demonstrate a synergistic effect; (3) There are notable spatial variations in the spirit of place across different blocks, particularly influenced by the authenticity of cultural heritage. This study provides fundamental insights into the spirit of place in historic neighborhoods, enabling a better understanding of complex urban dynamics and informing future street regeneration from a place perspective.
Investigating Students’ Food Packaging-Related Challenges and Preferences in Europe and Asia
Authors: Norton Victoria , Oloyede Omobolanle O. , Alexi Niki , Menil Audrey , Ren Guangling , Jadhav Nirmal , Lignou Stella
Published: June 2024

There is increasing pressure for everyone to adopt sustainable behaviours and typically this starts at-home via appropriate food-based disposal practices; however, this is associated with various barriers impacting compliance. Targeted education in college and/or the university environment could provide a viable approach to overcome such difficulties; yet, limited readily available resources exist to bring this forth. This paper explores students’ food packaging expectations and attitudes as well as information preferences in four countries (UK, France, India, and China). Students (n = 533) completed an online survey capturing food packaging purchase-based decisions, disposal-related challenges, and communication preferences. Students noted that food packaging had a dominant role in product choice. Fresh produce was considered an area for improvement, especially in the UK, India, and France, whereas snacks/baked goods were a priority in China. Disposal-related challenges were mostly associated with mixed materials. Students cited no clear information, limited choices, excessive packaging, and no nearby bins as common food packaging issues. This suggests that improving infrastructure (more bins, clearer signing) could be fundamental to encourage students to implement more sustainable food packaging behaviour. Furthermore, colleges and/or universities should consider students’ preferred information formats (infographics, videos) and develop targeted education (recyclability) which can be easily disseminated to promote engagement and sustainable food packaging knowledge and awareness.
Empirical Study of the Production Process in the Chemical Industry as an Element of Supporting Sustainable Development—Case Study Analysis
Authors: Kamińska Patrycja , Stasiuk-Piekarska Anna , Linart Krzysztof
Published: June 2024

Organizations increasingly recognize the need to act in accordance with the idea of sustainable development. In the context of a production system, this is based not only on minimizing material losses but also on human support in the work process. The activities described in this article verify the operation of the system by collecting data on problems occurring during the production process, and the presented case study shows not only that companies do not always have to base their analyses on expensive solutions constructed on big data but they also misinterpret the causes of disruptions, which leads to further losses. This study presents an innovative system supporting the identification of downtime, and the results obtained allowed the examined organization to introduce changes based on specific premises, which led to reducing the waste of resources. The research carried out showed that it is not the excessive load on machines that is the problem but unnecessary downtime resulting from, for example, poor-quality materials for packaging goods.
Digital Visualization of Environmental Risk Indicators in the Territory of the Urban Industrial Zone
Authors: Safarov Ruslan , Shomanova Zhanat , Nossenko Yuriy , Mussayev Zhandos , Shomanova Ayana
Published: June 2024

This study focused on predicting the spatial distribution of environmental risk indicators using mathematical modeling methods including machine learning. The northern industrial zone of Pavlodar City in Kazakhstan was used as a model territory for the case. Nine models based on the methods kNN, gradient boosting, artificial neural networks, Kriging, and multilevel b-spline interpolation were employed to analyze pollution data and assess their effectiveness in predicting pollution levels. Each model tackled the problem as a regression task, aiming to estimate the pollution load index (PLI) values for specific locations. It was revealed that the maximum PLI values were mainly located to the southwest of the TPPs over some distance from their territories according to the average wind rose for Pavlodar City. Another area of high PLI was located in the northern part of the studied region, near the Hg-accumulating ponds. The high PLI level is generally attributed to the high concentration of Hg. Each studied method of interpolation can be used for spatial distribution analysis; however, a comparison with the scientific literature revealed that Kriging and MLBS interpolation can be used without extra calculations to produce non-linear, empirically consistent, and smooth maps.
Addressing Food Insecurity in South Sudan: Insights and Solutions from Young Entrepreneurs
Authors: Shams Shamsul Hadi , Sokout Sabahuddin , Nakajima Hikari , Kumamoto Mihoko , Khan Ghulam Dastgir
Published: June 2024

This study explores food insecurity in South Sudan through the lens of young entrepreneurs, revealing insights into understanding the causes, coping strategies, and innovative solutions. Analyzing survey responses reveals a complicated problem linked to poverty, conflict, climate change, and economic instability. We surveyed 19 standout candidates selected from 325 South Sudanese participants from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR’s) hybrid training on entrepreneurship and agribusiness, who successfully passed the assessment criteria to attend a workshop in Hiroshima, Japan, in February 2024. These participants clearly depicted the dire circumstances, with widespread food insecurity, heavy reliance on humanitarian aid, and prevalent malnutrition, especially in conflict-affected regions like Yambio. Conflict, climate shocks, economic instability, and inadequate infrastructure emerged as primary drivers of food insecurity. Despite these challenges, young entrepreneurs express a keen desire to contribute to solutions, advocating for sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurship, and education initiatives. During conflict, coping strategies vary from reducing meal frequency to diversifying diets and engaging in subsistence farming. The innovative solutions proposed include sustainable agricultural practices, value chain development, and technology adoption. The study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies addressing the root causes of food insecurity while empowering communities and young entrepreneurs to foster resilience. Sustained support in youth agri-business capacity building and entrepreneurial skills development, increased agricultural investment, infrastructure enhancement, and targeted youth empowerment initiatives are emphasized. Through collaborative efforts, South Sudan can progress towards achieving resilience and improving food security.
A Holistic Sustainability Assessment Framework for Evaluating Strategies to Prevent Nutrient Pollution
Authors: Hua Jiayi , Cooper Rachael Z. , Cornejo Pablo K. , Ergas Sarina J. , Zhang Qiong
Published: June 2024

Excessive nutrients from anthropogenic activities have caused eutrophication worldwide. While available assessment frameworks aid in selecting strategies to control nutrients, they often lack a holistic approach that considers social, ecological, and managerial categories to ensure long-term effectiveness for both point and non-point sources. This study addresses this gap by introducing a holistic sustainability framework with ten indicators derived from a literature review and stakeholder engagement. Quantitative and qualitative indicators were defined using either existing or newly designed methods. A weighted sum multi-criteria method was applied to calculate the total score for each strategy, considering indicator levels and weightings. The framework was applied to a case study in Hendry County, Florida, to demonstrate its applicability by assessing ten strategies. The same top-ranked strategy, alum treatment, was identified through this framework after applying 100 weighting scenarios. This demonstrates the robustness of strategy selection using the developed framework. This framework can be applied with limited data by prioritizing inputs related to five major contributors, effective cost, nutrient loading reduction, technology readiness level, benefit and direct impact, and labor operation and maintenance requirement, to the total score. These major indicators highlight the importance of considering social–ecological and managerial categories in addition to technological, environmental, and economic aspects in sustainability assessment of nutrient management strategies.
Electric Vehicle Usage Patterns in Multi-Vehicle Households in the US: A Machine Learning Study
Authors: Chowdhury Vuban , Mitra Suman Kumar , Hernandez Sarah
Published: June 2024

Electric vehicles (EVs) play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions. In the US, EVs are mostly owned by multi-vehicle households, and their usage is primarily studied in the context of vehicle miles traveled. This study takes a unique approach by analyzing EV usage through the lens of vehicle choice (between EVs and internal combustion engine vehicles) within multi-vehicle households. A two-step machine-learning framework (clustering and decision trees) is proposed. The framework determines the preferred trip category for EV use and captures the effects of household attributes, driver attributes, built-environment factors, and gas prices on EV use in multi-vehicle households. Results indicate that discretionary trips (accumulated local effect = 0.037) are mostly preferred for EV use. EV preference is more pronounced among households with fewer workers (<2) and lower income levels. These findings are valuable for policymakers and auto manufacturers in targeting specific market segments and promoting EV adoption.
Rural Self-Organizing Resilience: Village Collective Strategies and Negotiation Paths in Urbanization Process in the TPSNT Framework: A Case Study of the Hongren Village, China
Authors: Hua Honglian , Sun Jin , Yang Zhumei
Published: June 2024

Studies on rural transformation in the context of urbanization have always analyzed it from a single linear perspective, either top-down or bottom-up. This leads to simplistic generalizations of rural transformation models and the standardization of policy implementation. Based on the TPSN analytical framework, this study adds the temporality dimension to form a more comprehensive TPSNT framework. This paper explores the complex construction of rural space in rural transformation from the five dimensions of “territory, place, scale, network and temporality“ and takes the urban village, Hongren, in Kunming City, China, as a case study to analyze the specific transformation process of a village. The research revealed the following: First, in the face of land loss caused by government land acquisition, traditional rural autonomous organizations that have been hidden under the modern governance system have been revived under the influence of traditional elites and completed bottom-up territorialization by using some “maneuver spaces “to form a spatial base for negotiation with the government. Second, the cohesion of traditional rural autonomous organizations has increased during this process, and with the help of mobile capital such as media and personal connections, they have developed social networks that transcend the spatial boundaries of villages. Third, these newly constructed social networks are used to carry out various political strategies at various scales and finally negotiated with the government to rewrite the planning plan so that the village can continue to develop and integrate into the city. Finally, the analysis of the temporal dimensions of Hongren village revealed that even within the same village, changes in the other four dimensions develop dynamically, and rural transformation is an ongoing process. Therefore, when the government deals with rural issues in the process of urbanization, it should avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Unified policy implementation standards will have an irreversible negative impact on rural autonomous organizations.
Sustaining the Character of Coastal “Sea Change” Destinations in a Post-Pandemic World
Authors: Green Raymond James
Published: June 2024

Many smaller coastal towns that rely on tourism for their economic survival have been badly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have since rebounded, and in some, inbound migration has soared. Unfortunately, this influx of tourists and new residents brings with it increased development and associated environmental and social changes that often negatively impact the distinctive character and sense of place many of these places possess, which makes them attractive destinations in the first place. Protecting features in the landscape that define the character of these settlements and preventing future changes that would be incompatible with it will be crucial for the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of these ‘sea change’ settlements. Once the distinctive character of these places is lost, it is nearly impossible to recapture. This paper reviews the findings of a suite of studies previously undertaken by the author that explored the perceptions of residents in ten ‘sea change’ settlements, nine in Australia and one in Thailand, regarding how they perceived the character of their towns and what features they felt were compatible or incompatible with that character. In comparing the findings from these studies, a clear pattern emerged in that similar types of landscape features were consistently identified as supporting or detracting from the character of these towns. This allowed a typology of features salient to the character of these types of ‘sea change settlements’ to be formulated, providing insights into this intangible yet highly valuable resource of place character within the context of these types of settlements and establishing a basis for further research in other similar tourism-intensive coastal settlements.
Research Hotspots and Future Trends in Canal-Related Industrial Buildings
Authors: Sun Lei , Fan Xiaoli
Published: June 2024

During the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, canals played a crucial role in facilitating the rapid development of factories. Despite economic downturns and the rise of alternative transportation towards the end of the last century, canals have been experiencing a resurgence in recent years, driven by the principles of sustainable development. To gain a deeper understanding of global academic research focus and current trends, this paper systematically reviews publications related to canal-related industrial buildings from 1997 to 22 January 2024. Using the bibliometric software CiteSpace 6.3.1, information such as countries, institutions, authors, keywords, and references from 96 selected articles in the Web of Science (WoS) database was visualized and analyzed. The results reveal that the current research hotspots in this field mainly focus on five clusters: “stakeholders”, “green spaces”, “conservation areas”, “industrial heritage”, and “energy-efficient reconstruction”. The most popular research topics concerning canal-related industrial buildings are “urban renewal”, “industrial heritage”, “climate change”, and “heritage tourism”, with most themes closely linked to sustainable development. However, it is observed that there is still a lack of a systematic research framework in this field. Most studies originate from heritage management and conservation, landscape rejuvenation along canals, and canal water resource management, while systematic research on canal-related industrial buildings remains limited. Based on these findings, this study proposes future trends and potential research directions in this field, aiming to provide researchers with a comprehensive understanding of the status and to support the sustainable preservation and management of industrial buildings and heritage along canals with a more systematic research framework.
Research on Sustainable Land Use in Alpine Meadow Region Based on Coupled Coordination Degree Model—From Production–Living–Ecology Perspective
Authors: Zhang Tianjiao , Zhang Cuifang , Wang Qian , Yang Chuanhao , Zhang Jin , Zhang Chenxuan , Zhang Qipeng
Published: June 2024

Changes in land use types in alpine meadow areas have significant impacts on the ecological environment in alpine areas. Exploring land use change is crucial for land use management and optimization in alpine regions. Thus, it is necessary to analyze land use evolution and its drivers in alpine meadow regions from a production–living–ecology space (PLES) perspective by using remote sensing data. We first constructed the PLES evaluation system for Gannan. Then, we analyzed the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics and coupling degree of PLES in the study area. Finally, the driving factors affecting PLES were explored with geodetector. The conclusions of the study reveal that the distribution of productive and ecological spaces is large and concentrated, while the distribution of living spaces is more decentralized. The PLES was mainly concentrated in the area above 2500 m but below 4000 m and with a slope of 40° or less. During the study period, the area of production space showed a decreasing trend, while the areas of living and ecological space both showed increasing trends, primarily occurring at the expense of production space. DEM and GDP were the main factors affecting the distribution of PLES. The coupling level and the degree of coupling coordination were relatively stable in general, showing a pattern of “high in the east and low in the west”. The study provides technical support and a theoretical basis for the future planning of land space and ecological environment optimization in the alpine meadow regions.
Higher Education Institutions’ Students’ Literacy in Sustainable Use of Potable Water
Authors: Barreiros Ana M. , Durão Anabela , Galvão Ana , Matos Cristina , Mateus Dina , Araújo Ivo , Neves Luís , Mourato Sandra
Published: June 2024

Higher education institutions (HEIs) play a key role in fostering sustainability, since students will be future active society members. By providing them with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to address environmental challenges, they can contribute to increasing sustainability in a long-term approach. With the effects of climate change strongly affecting water availability across the planet, it is increasingly relevant to understand whether higher education students are aware of this situation, in order to develop adequate measures to promote sustainable behaviors regarding water use. This study aimed to assess students’ perceptions regarding water efficiency through a questionnaire submitted in seven HEIs in Portugal. Students acknowledged the importance of water, with older students, women and science students demonstrating a greater awareness. Despite this, 27% of students do not know what the average water consumption in Portugal is, and only 18% accurately reported the consumption range in Portugal. There is also a lack of knowledge (>50% students) regarding whether common water efficiency measures are applied in their HEI. The main information sources identified by the students were “social communication” and “internet/social media”, revealing that water efficiency knowledge transfer in high education can be improved.
Constraints on the Minimally Extended Varying Speed of Light Model Using Pantheon+ Dataset
Authors: Lee Seokcheon
Published: June 2024

In the context of the minimally extended varying speed of light (meVSL) model, both the absolute magnitude and the luminosity distance of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) deviate from those predicted by general relativity (GR). Using data from the Pantheon+ survey, we assess the plausibility of various dark energy models within the framework of meVSL. Both the constant equation of state (EoS) of the dark energy model (ωCDM) and the Chevallier–Polarski–Linder (CPL) parameterization model (ω=ω0+ωa(1−a)) indicate potential variations in the cosmic speed of light at the 1−σ confidence level. For Ωm0=0.30,0.31, and 0.32 with (ω0,ωa)=(−1,0), the 1−σ range of c˙0/c0(10−13yr−1) is (−8.76, −0.89), (−11.8, 3.93), and (−14.8, −6.98), respectively. Meanwhile, the 1−σ range of c˙0/c0(10−12yr−1) for CPL dark energy models with −1.05≤ω0≤−0.95 and 0.28≤Ωm0≤0.32 is (−6.31, −2.98). The value of c at z=3 can exceed that of the present by 0.2∼3% for ωCDM models and 5∼13% for CPL models. Additionally, for viable models except for the CPL model with Ωm0=0.28, we find −25.6≤G˙0/G0(10−12yr−1)≤−0.36. For this particular model, we obtain an increasing rate of the gravitational constant within the range 1.65≤G˙0/G0(10−12yr−1)≤3.79. We obtain some models that do not require dark matter energy density through statistical interpretation. However, this is merely an effect of the degeneracy between model parameters and energy density and does not imply that dark matter is unnecessary.
Unveiling Visual Acuity in 58,712 Four-Year-Olds: Standardized Assessment Defined Normative Visual Acuity Threshold
Authors: Bjeloš Mirjana , Bušić Mladen , Rak Benedict , Ćurić Ana , Kuzmanović Elabjer Biljana
Published: June 2024

The purpose was to define the threshold of normal visual acuity (VA), mean monocular and binocular VA, and interocular difference in the uniform cohort of healthy four-year-old children. All the children were recruited from the Croatian National Registry of Early Amblyopia Detection database. LEA Symbols® inline optotypes were used for VA testing at near and distance, binocularly and monocularly. The pass cut-off level was set to ≤0.1 logMAR. The final sample consisted of 58,712 four-year-old children. In total, 83.78% of the children had unremarkable results, and 16.22% of the children were referred to examination. Of those, 92% of the children were referred due to binocular, and 8% of the children due to monocular causes. The children referred due to binocular causes demonstrated a VA of 0.3 ± 0.24, while the children referred due to monocular causes 0.6 ± 0.21. The ROC curve analysis defined the uniform cut-off value for a normative VA of 0.78. We analyzed the largest uniform cohort of 58,712 children, and have determined normative data for binocular and monocular VA tested with gold standard logMAR chart in four-year-old children. The results presented here established no reasoning to further utilize historical protocols in testing VA in preschool children aged ≥ 4 years.
Spillway Capacity Estimation Using Flood Peak Analysis and Probable Maximum Flood Method
Authors: Thepprasit Chaiyapong , Intavong Apinyaporn , Chompuchan Chuphan , Chulee Napassakorn , Sittichok Ketvara
Published: June 2024

This study aims to assess a spillway’s capacity to manage the highest possible fluctuations in water levels, the probable maximum flood (PMF). The PMF values have experienced alterations throughout the last six decades since the initial design and construction of the Kaeng Krachan Dam, one of Thailand’s major dams. The study also conducted an assessment of the greatest levels of rainfall for different timeframes, known as probable maximum precipitation (PMP). This was achieved by simulating the movement of rainstorms into the reservoir area near the dam. Afterwards, a thorough examination was carried out on several time periods related to anticipated flood volumes, PMF, and the spillway’s capability. The research entailed a comprehensive analysis of rainfall occurrences spanning 65 years, encompassing a total of 190 storm events, to present the top 10 highest recorded levels of rainfall in the southern and western regions of Thailand. This information is of utmost significance in assessing the potential maximum rainfall in the study area. The results reveal that the highest PMP observed over a three-day period was 429.20–726.40 mm, which is slightly different from the results obtained using storm transposition method (513.90–869.76 mm). Results of PMF and base flow were 4677.00 and 86.80 cms, respectively. The results of the examination of the estimated maximum flood volumes and their comparison with previous studies show that the maximum flow rates per unit area are within reasonable and consistent boundaries. The current spillway has the capability to manage flood flows with a frequency of up to 10,000 years. Nevertheless, while examining the potential PMF, it has been concluded that the existing spillway’s capacity is insufficient to adequately handle the highest water level in the reservoir, therefore preventing it from exceeding the designated maximum water level.
Measuring First Nations Engagement in Water Governance in Manitoba
Authors: Baijius Warrick , Patrick Robert J. , Furgal Chris
Published: June 2024

Water governance and ecosystem function in the Canadian prairies are in a state of crisis. Compounding this crisis, and adding complexity, is the relationship between the water governance authority of the state with Canada’s First Peoples. Meaningful engagement of Indigenous peoples in water governance is a necessary requisite to effective water management. This research characterizes the extent and depth of Indigenous engagement in watershed planning in the province of Manitoba, Canada, and examines the degree to which Indigenous rights are incorporated in that engagement. To do so, we analyze evidence of First Nation people’s inclusion in water governance, planning, and management processes. We conducted latent and manifest content analyses of watershed plans to identify the themes and frequency of content related to First Nations and Métis engagement and triangulated results with key informant semi-structured interviews and document reviews of water governance policies and legislation. Overall, we find that Indigenous engagement in Manitoba water governance has increased over time but is still lacking adequate recognition and implementation of Aboriginal and Treaty rights.
Consumers’ Purchase Intention toward Electric Vehicles from the Perspective of Perceived Green Value: An Empirical Survey from China
Authors: Zhao Haipeng , Furuoka Fumitaka , Rasiah Rajah A/L , Shen Erhuan
Published: June 2024

This study aims to expand the current understanding of the antecedents and consequences of green purchase intention within the context of perceived green value (PGV). This study uniquely combines PLS-SEM and NCA to provide a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing green purchase intention, offering a novel methodological contribution to the field. By examining the roles of influence and interaction as key precursors to perceived responsibility and self-efficacy, the research adds new dimensions to understanding how these factors shape green purchase intentions. Additionally, we explore how PER and PSE impact green purchase intention (GPI), primarily through their mediating effects. The survey data collected from consumers reveal that PGV positively influences GPI. Furthermore, both PER and PSE exhibit significant chain mediation effects, with the mediation effect of perceived environmental responsibility being particularly strong. This study provides actionable insights for policymakers and electric vehicle manufacturers, emphasizing the importance of green education, certification systems, and the promotion of environmental and economic attributes to foster green purchasing behavior. The findings suggest that government efforts should focus on intensifying green education and promoting the establishment of certification and evaluation systems for electric vehicle products. Meanwhile, electric vehicle manufacturers should highlight the environmental and economic benefits of their products to stimulate green purchasing behavior.
Internal Temperature Estimation of Lithium Batteries Based on a Three-Directional Anisotropic Thermal Circuit Model
Authors: Meng Xiangyu , Sun Huanli , Jiang Tao , Huang Tengfei , Yu Yuanbin
Published: June 2024

In order to improve the accuracy of internal temperature estimation in batteries, a 10-parameter time-varying multi-surface heat transfer model including internal heat production, heat transfer and external heat transfer is established based on the structure of a lithium iron phosphate pouch battery and its three directional anisotropic heat conduction characteristics. The entropy heat coefficient, internal equivalent heat capacity and internal equivalent thermal resistance related to the SOC and temperature state of the battery were identified using experimental tests and the least square fitting method, and were then used for online calculation of internal heat production and heat transfer in the battery. According to the time-varying and nonlinear characteristics of the heat transfer between the surface and the environment of the battery, an internal temperature estimation algorithm based on the square root cubature Kalman filter was designed and developed. By iteratively calculating the estimated surface temperature and the measured value, dynamic tracking and online correction of the internal temperature of the battery can be achieved. The verification results using FUDS and US06 dynamic working condition data show that the proposed method can quickly eliminate the influence of initial temperature deviations and accumulated process errors and has the characteristics of a high estimation accuracy and good robustness. Compared with the estimation results of the adaptive Kalman filter, the proposed method improves the estimation accuracy of FUDS and US06 working conditions by 67% and 54%, respectively, with a similar computational efficiency.
Eksplorasi kemampuan penalaran visual siswa pada materi perbandingan trigonometri ditintau dari gender
Authors: Prasetyo Muhammad Ponco , Buchori Achmad
Published: June 2024

The aim of this research is to analyze the visual reasoning abilities of high school students based on gender using trigonometry comparison material. The subject consists of two students with the provisions of one male student and one female student. Data was collected by administering a visual reasoning test to 10 10th grade students, then the selected subjects were interviewed. The data validation used is the triangulation method. Data analysis techniques use data reduction, data presentation and conclusion drawing. The results of the research showed that male students in the trigonometry comparison material were able to identify side sides, slanted sides, front sides, and were able to determine the use of the cos and tan formulas to solve problems with correct calculations. Meanwhile, female students in the trigonometry comparison material were able to identify side sides, slanted sides, front sides, were able to determine the use of the cos and tan formulas, but were less precise in determining the value of cos 30°, and less precise in making the final decision because they did not convert it into units. the same thing, namely meters.
Kemampuan berpikir kreatif matematis siswa dalam menyelesaikan soal lingkaran ditinjau dari habits of mind
Authors: Wathoni Muhammad Hizbul , Negara Habibi Ratu Perwira
Published: June 2024

Mathematical creative thinking ability is a student's ability to create or find new ideas in solving a problem. Everyone must have the ability to think creatively, especially students. The ability to think creatively plays an important role in the progress of every student. However, in reality, many students are not able to solve a problem using their creative thinking skills. This is possible because students do not get used to thinking (habits of mind). This research aims to determine students' mathematical creative thinking abilities in solving circle problems in terms of habits of mind. The method used in this research is a qualitative method with a case study type of research. There are three data collection techniques used, namely: tests, questionnaires and interviews. The results showed that 6 subjects who had high habits of mind were able to show all indicators of mathematical creative thinking ability, 12 subjects who had moderate habits of mind were able to show three indicators of mathematical creative thinking ability and 3 subjects who had low habits of mind were only able to show one indicator of mathematical creative thinking ability. So, habits of mind have an impact on students' mathematical creative thinking abilities.
توظيف المثل في الأغنيّة العربيَّة المصوَّرة "الفيديو كليب".
Authors: الخطيب مجدي محمد فلاح
Published: June 2024

تتناول هذه الدِّراسة تقنيةً جديدةً في الأدب الحديث، هي توظيف المثل في الأغنيّة العربيَّة المصوَّرة "الفيديو كليب"، بوصفها شكلاً إبداعياً فنياً جميلاً، من أشكال التَّعبير الإنسانيّ، وصورة عاكسة لتجارب الإنسان في الحياة. وتكمن أهميّة الدِّراسة ومشكلتها من أن الأغنيّة العربيَّة المصوَّرة ذات طابعٍ إبداعيّ فنيّ يحمل رسالةً قيّمةً للمتلقي، ويعكس امتداداً لثقافةٍ عربيَّةٍ أصيلة، تعبِّر عن غنىً وتنوعٍ ثقافيّ إذا ما وُظِّف المثلُ فيها، لقدرته على التّعبير عن هموم الإنسان وقضاياه، وتصوير الواقع المعيش. وتهدف الدِّراسةُ إلى الكشف عن توظيف المثل في الأغنيّة العربيَّة المصوَّرة "الفيديو كليب". وقد اختارت أبرز الأغاني العربيَّة المصوَّرة شيوعاً في توظيف المثل في سياقها الغنائي، للتّحليل والاستشهاد، فجاءت هذه الدِّراسة في مبحثين وخاتمة، أمّا المبحثُ الأول فتناول تعريف المثل لغةً واصطلاحاً، والحديثُ عن وظائف المثل، وخصائصه، وتناول المبحث الثاني مفهوم الأغنيّة المصوَّرة (الفيديو كليب)، وعلاقة المثل بالأغنيّة العربيَّة المصوَّرة، وأخيراً النَّماذج التَّحليليّة. وتقوم الدِّراسة على المنهج الوصفي التَّحليلي الذي يبرز الظّواهر ويحللها، من خلال السَّياق، مع الاستعانة بالأسلوبيّة لتحقيق رؤى هذا المنهج. ومن أهمَّ النّتائج التي توصلت إليها الدِّراسة أن المثل والأغنيّة العربيَّة المصوَّرة فنيان إبداعيان يتداخلان مع بعضهما ويحملان في بنيتهما اللُّغويّة الثَّراء الدَّلالي، من خلال مضامين متنوعة تعكس تجربة الفرد في الحياة. وإن توظيف المثل في الأغنيّة العربيَّة المصوَّرة يكسبها القوة والتَّماسك، ويضفي عليها الطَّابع الحيويّ والإيقاع الموسيقي، ويجعلها أكثر قرباً في التَّعامل مع وجدان المتلقي، مما ييسر من انتشارها وإشهارها. وتوصي الدراسة ضرورة إجراء المزيد من الدراسات التحليلية الأدبية في الأغنيّة العربيَّة المصوَّرة "الفيديو كليب" والكشف عن مكنوناتها وأبعادها وظواهرها الأسلوبية.
Practices and Perception towards Usage of English in Kuwait
Authors: Al-Ajlan Munirah , Al-Qenaie Shamlan
Published: June 2024

The status of English in Kuwait occurs in Kachru's Model third circle (Expanding Circle). In this circle, English is used as a foreign language. However, English in Kuwait is not only a subject taught in schools, but also widely used in business communication, social events, and media. The study tends to achieve a twofold aim: 1) to excavate participants' perceptions of their course and course instructor and 2) to flesh out Kuwaiti linguistic features. The data come from the Appraisal Approach proposed by Lipovsky and Mahboob which enables participants to freely narrate and write what they think. The participants are students from the College of Engineering and Petroleum at Kuwait University. The narratives collected are all evaluations that express the students' perceptions of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) instructor and course. The research provides insights for students into the way English is used in the so-called nonnative contexts. The significance of the use of this approach lies behind the fact that most such studies use purely figures and numbers which only reflect a passive assessment. The appraisal approach provides richer and deeper insights for researchers since it analyses written discourses of the students. The data suggest that Judgement was the most salient attitude projected by the participants. Further, it was found that the use of narratives to elicit practices and features about language usage in nonnative contexts does not seem to be sufficient to carry out such an analysis.
امتلاك العبيد والجواري وأثره في التهجير الفردي والجماعي في العصرين العباسيين الأول والثاني (132-320هـ/750-932م)
Authors: الكندري مريم
Published: June 2024

تعتبر تجارة الرقيق، أو امتلاك العبيد والجواري، من التقاليد والممارسات القديمة قدم المجتمعات البشرية نفسها؛ ومن ثم تناقش هذه الدراسة فرضية اعتبار الرق طريقاً للهجرة الاجتماعية الطبقية، سواء الفردية أو الجماعية في المجتمعات. وباعتبار العصرين العباسيين: الأول والثاني (132-320هـ/750-932م) لا يزالان، بامتداداتهما السياسية والثقافية، قادرين على إثارة اهتمام المؤرخين والباحثين، فإن الدراسة تهدف تسليط الضوء على موضوع التهجير القسري في عصر الدولة العباسية؛ بوصفه مظهراً للحياة الطبقية الاجتماعية التي أنتجتها سياسة أو ممارسة امتلاك العبيد والجواري، والكشف عن نتائج هذه الظاهرة ولا سيما الحملات والهجرات القسرية في العصر العباسي.
تعدّ هذه الدراسة من الدراسات التاريخية - الاجتماعية، وهي تعتمد منهج البحث الوصفي التحليلي التاريخي؛ فتتتبع الهجرة الخارجية القسرية وأنواعها، وتتخذ من المتاجرة بالجواري وامتلاكهن مثالاً للهجرة الفردية والجماعية للعبيد في العصر العباسي. وتعرض لأثر ذلك في ترقي العبيد والجواري في الهرم الاجتماعي في البلاط العباسي. وحتى يكتمل النقاش خصصت الدراسة بعض الأمثلة لحالات معينة من حياة الجواري، شملت – على وجه الخصوص – أمهات الأولاد المنتميات لأصول محددة ومختلفة. ومن خلالها رصدت الدراسة محاولات تلك الفئة المجتمعية تنظيم أوضاعها، وعلاقاتها لإثبات ذاتها وتحسين صورتها؛ سعيًا للانتقال لمكانة اجتماعية أعلى في البلاط العباسي. ركزت هذه الدراسة على الأصل التركي، لما فيه من ارتباط وثيق بينه وبين فرضية الدراسة؛ إذ إن الواقع الاجتماعي للانتماءات العرقية لبعض الجواري – وتحديداً الأصل التركي – كان له دور في الهجرة والتهجير القسري للعبيد من الأصل نفسه؛ وهو ما ترتب عليه - بالفعل - تغير ملحوظ وآثار اجتماعية ملموسة على الصعيدين الفردي والمجتمعي؛ ومن ثم يمكن القول: إنه على الرغم من أن العبودية رمز للخضوع والقهر والتهجير، فإنها – في بعض الحالات – كانت سبباً مهمّاً للتغيير المجتمعي وأنماطه الاجتماعية، وتشكيل حالة اجتماعية جديدة للأفراد والجماعات المشاركة فيه.
اتساق التشكيل اللغوي مع الفاصلة القرآنية في قصة النبي لوط عليه السلام: دراسة سياقية دلالية
Authors: أيوب حامد
Published: June 2024

ينهض هذا البحث بالكشف عن العلاقة بين التشكيل اللغوي والفاصلة القرآنية في قصة لوط عليه السلام، لسببين الأول: أن الفاصلة القرآنية تمثل رافدًا من روافد إعجاز القرآن الكريم، وهي تأتي متسقة لغويًّا مع الدلالة التي عبرت عنها في سياقها، أما الآخر: فهو بيان لغة الخطاب القرآني في قصة لوط عليه السلام؛ وإبراز عاقبة من فعلوا الفاحشة؛ ومن سلك مسلكهم في كل زمان، باتباع المنهج الوصفي الاستقرائي مفيدًا من آليات التحليل الإحصائي، من خلال رصد البناء اللغوي للفواصل، والوقوف على الدلالات الكامنة فيها، وانتهى البحث إلى أن التشكيل اللغوي اتفق مع الفاصلة القرآنية ومقاصدها؛ فصوتيًّا بنيت الفواصل على الصوت المجهور المسبوق بالمد و ذلك أكسب الإيقاع نغمًا قوي الصوت يتسق مع حجم الجرم الذي أقدم عليه قوم لوط، وأن المقاطع الصوتية العائدة عليهم جاءت قليلة بنسبة 6.66%؛ لتوحي بانحصارهم، وديمومة غضب الله، وقهره لأصحاب هذا السلوك غير السوي المخالف للفطرة، وأن التشكيل الصرفي اتسق مع الفاصلة القرآنية والدلالات التي عبرت عنها، فترددت صيغ الجموع وأبنية المشتقات وكثرت الأفعال المضارعة التي توحي بديمومة تكذيب الرسل وتجدده، وبأن القرآن الكريم شاهد على كل العصور، ومخبر بيقين أن مرتكبي الفواحش حالهم  ومآلهم واحد، مهما غيروا الأسماء، وأن التشكيل النحوي وما غلب على بنائه من استخدام التركيب النعتي، وما دخله من تقديم وتأخير وحذف، ارتبط مع الفاصلة وأثرى الدلالة، وتوصي الدراسة بالوقوف أمام النظم القرآني للكشف عن وجوه إعجازه اللغوي المتجدد، ومعالجته قضايا العصر.