bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Security of Web Servers in Critical IoT Systems through Self-Monitoring of Vulnerabilities
Authors: Song Linxuan , García-Valls Marisol
Published: July 2022

IoT (Internet of Things) systems are complex ones that may comprise large numbers of sensing and actuating devices; and servers that store data and further configure the operation of such devices. Usually, these systems involve real-time operation as they are closely bound to particular physical processes. This real-time operation is often threatened by the security solutions that are put in place to alleviate the ever growing attack surface in IoT. This paper focuses on critical IoT domains where less attention has been paid to the web security aspects. The main reason is that, up to quite recently, web technologies have been considered unreliable and had to be avoided by design in critical systems. In this work, we focus on the server side and on how attacks propagate from server to client as vulnerabilities and from client to unprotected servers; we describe the concerns and vulnerabilities introduced by the intensive usage of web interfaces in IoT from the server templating engines perspective. In this context, we propose an approach to perform self monitoring on the server side, propagating the self monitoring to the IoT system devices; the aim is to provide rapid detection of security vulnerabilities with a low overhead that is transparent to the server normal operation. This approach improves the control over the vulnerability detection. We show a set of experiments that validate the feasibility of our approach.
A Novel Method for Improved Network Traffic Prediction Using Enhanced Deep Reinforcement Learning Algorithm
Authors: Balamurugan Nagaiah Mohanan , Adimoolam Malaiyalathan , Alsharif Mohammed H. , Uthansakul Peerapong
Published: July 2022

Network data traffic is increasing with expanded networks for various applications, with text, image, audio, and video for inevitable needs. Network traffic pattern identification and analysis of traffic of data content are essential for different needs and different scenarios. Many approaches have been followed, both before and after the introduction of machine and deep learning algorithms as intelligence computation. The network traffic analysis is the process of incarcerating traffic of a network and observing it deeply to predict what the manifestation in traffic of the network is. To enhance the quality of service (QoS) of a network, it is important to estimate the network traffic and analyze its accuracy and precision, as well as the false positive and negative rates, with suitable algorithms. This proposed work is coining a new method using an enhanced deep reinforcement learning (EDRL) algorithm to improve network traffic analysis and prediction. The importance of this proposed work is to contribute towards intelligence-based network traffic prediction and solve network management issues. An experiment was carried out to check the accuracy and precision, as well as the false positive and negative parameters with EDRL. Also, convolutional neural network (CNN) machines and deep learning algorithms have been used to predict the different types of network traffic, which are labeled text-based, video-based, and unencrypted and encrypted data traffic. The EDRL algorithm has outperformed with mean Accuracy (97.20%), mean Precision (97.343%), mean false positive (2.657%) and mean false negative (2.527%) than the CNN algorithm.
An Adaptive Filtering Method for Cooperative Localization in Leader–Follower AUVs
Authors: Zhao Lin , Dai Hong-Yi , Lang Lin , Zhang Ming
Published: July 2022

In the complex and variable marine environment, the navigation and localization of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are very important and challenging. When the conventional Kalman filter (KF) is applied to the cooperative localization of leader–follower AUVs, the outliers in the sensor observations will have a substantial adverse effect on the localization accuracy of the AUVs. Meanwhile, inaccurate noise covariance matrices may result in significant estimation errors. In this paper, we proposed an improved Sage–Husa adaptive extended Kalman filter (improved SHAEKF) for the cooperative localization of multi-AUVs. Firstly, the measurement anomalies were evaluated by calculating the Chi-square test statistics based on the innovation. The detection threshold was determined according to the confidence level of the Chi-square test, and the Chi-square test statistics exceeding the threshold were regarded as measurement abnormalities. When measurement anomalies occurred, the Sage–Husa adaptive extended Kalman filter algorithm was improved by suboptimal maximum a posterior estimation using weighted exponential fading memory, and the measurement noise covariance matrix was adjusted online. The numerical simulation of leader–follower multi-AUV cooperative localization verified the effectiveness of the improved SHAEKF and demonstrated that the average root mean square and the average standard deviation of the localization errors based on the improved SHAEKF were significantly reduced in the case of the presence of measurement abnormalities.
Cooperative Control of Underwater Vehicle–Manipulator Systems Based on the SDC Method
Authors: Kabanov Aleksey , Kramar Vadim , Lipko Ivan , Dementiev Kirill
Published: July 2022

The paper considers the problem of cooperative control synthesis for a complex of N underwater vehicle–manipulator systems (UVMS) to perform the work of moving a cargo along a given trajectory. Here, we used the approach based on the representation of nonlinear dynamics models in the form of state space with state-dependent coefficients (SDC-form). That allowed us to apply methods of suboptimal control with feedback based on the state-dependent differential Riccati equation (SDDRE) solution at a finite time interval, providing the change in control intensity with the transient effect of the system matrices in SDC form. The paper reveals two approaches to system implementation: a general controller for the whole system and a set of N independent subcontrollers for UVMSs. The results of both approaches are similar; however, for the systems with a small number of manipulators, the common structure is recommended, and for the systems with a large number of manipulators, the approach with independent subcontrollers may be more acceptable. The proposed method of cooperative control was tested on the task of cooperative control for two UVMSs with six-link manipulators Orion 7R. The simulation results are presented in the article and show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Field Measurement of Central CO2 Heat Pump Water Heater for Multifamily Retrofit
Authors: Banks Adria , Grist Colin , Heller Jonathan , Lim Hyunwoo
Published: July 2022

Domestic hot water heating of multifamily buildings accounts for a substantial portion of the energy load of existing buildings. This load is made up of both the energy required to produce hot water and the energy needed to maintain the temperature of the heated water within a building’s distribution piping so that heat can be promptly delivered to building occupants as needed. Properly designed heat pump water heater (HPWH) systems have the ability to improve efficiency in both water heating and temperature control operations. Further, CO2 heat pump technology reflects a shift away from traditional refrigerants and toward refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP). In this paper’s case study, a design consisting of multiple CO2 heat pump water heaters (commonly used in single-family homes) with a novel “swing tank” was proposed to meet the demand for domestic hot water heating and recirculation loop temperature maintenance. The proposed design was applied to the retrofit of a 60-unit, low-rise, multi-family building located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The purpose of this paper is to verify the performance of the system including the proposed “swing tank” in a centralized SHW system using CO2 HPWH. It also provides practical information and lessons learned from the retrofit project. Long-term monitoring data showed that the system had a coefficient of performance (COP) of three or greater and provided an average of 20 gallons of hot water per day per apartment. The results of this work indicate that residential-scale CO2 HPWH equipment and a “swing tank” design can efficiently provide domestic hot water heating and temperature maintenance for mid-sized multifamily buildings.
Performance Degradation Evaluation of Low Bypass Ratio Turbofan Engine Based on Flight Data
Authors: Qin Haiqin , Zhao Jie , Ren Likun , Li Bianjiang , Li Zhengguang
Published: July 2022

A low bypass ratio turbofan engine operates in a hostile environment, resulting in performance degradation. This seriously affects the security and reliability of the engine. Therefore, a performance degradation evaluation method for engines based on flight data is proposed. The method expands the equation system to solve the underdetermined problem caused by the lack of engine sensors based on multiple operating point analysis. The improved evolution algorithm is employed to solve the equation system, which relieves the problem of insufficient precision. The engine performance degradation dataset is established based on the engine performance calculation model to verify the reliability of the degradation evaluation method. The results show that the method is applicable to the dataset. Finally, the method is applied to the actual flight data to study the law of the performance degradation of the researched engine, which indicates that the engine’s fan efficiency and high-pressure compressor flow capacity have an apparent downward trend over time.
The Chemical Training of Agrarian Specialists: From the Chemicalization of Agriculture to Green Technologies
Authors: Grigoryeva Marina , Dmitrevskaya Inna , Belopukhov Sergey , Osipova Alla
Published: July 2022

The impact of agricultural production on the ecological condition of vast territories is of concern to the entire world community. Therefore, the concept of sustainable development should become the basis for the training of agricultural specialists. This article examines the transformation of the system of chemical training of agricultural students in Russia, taking into account the transition to the concept of sustainable development. The study of the history of the development of chemical training of agricultural specialists in Russia helped us to see the causes of the current crisis and highlights what should be preserved. The analysis of the modern needs of the agro-industrial complex made it possible to identify ways to modernize the system of teaching chemical disciplines in agricultural universities. As a result, the main trends of modernization of chemical training of future agricultural specialists in the context of the concept of sustainable development are identified. The chemical competencies of specialists of the agro-industrial sector working in the field of production, processing, and quality control of agricultural products are differentiated. The conditions of their formation are determined, and the effectiveness of the application of the principles of green chemistry for the formation of selected competencies is shown. The theoretical significance of the research is the development of the concept of ecological chemical education (green chemistry) for agricultural education. The practical significance of this work lies in the development of practical examples of the application of the principles of green chemistry in the educational process of an agrarian university. The originality of this research lies in determining the pedagogical conditions for the formation of chemical competencies of agricultural specialists in the context of orientation to the concept of sustainable development.
Fog Computing Capabilities for Big Data Provisioning: Visualization Scenario
Authors: Khujamatov Halimjon , Ahmad Khaleel , Usmanova Nargiza , Khoshimov Jamshid , Alduailij Mai , Alduailij Mona
Published: July 2022

With the development of Internet technologies, huge amounts of data are collected from various sources, and used ‘anytime, anywhere’ to enrich and change the life of the whole of society, attract ways to do business, and better perceive people’s lives. Those datasets, called ‘big data’, need to be processed, stored, or retrieved, and special tools were developed to analyze this big data. At the same time, the ever-increasing development of the Internet of Things (IoT) requires IoT devices to be mobile, with adequate data processing performance. The new fog computing paradigm makes computing resources more accessible, and provides a flexible environment that will be widely used in next-generation networks, vehicles, etc., demonstrating enhanced capabilities and optimizing resources. This paper is devoted to analyzing fog computing capabilities for big data provisioning, while considering this technology’s different architectural and functional aspects. The analysis includes exploring the protocols suitable for fog computing by implementing an experimental fog computing network and assessing its capabilities for providing big data, originating from both a real-time stream and batch data, with appropriate visualization of big data processing.
A Deep Learning Approach toward Energy-Effective Residential Building Floor Plan Generation
Authors: Wan Da , Zhao Xiaoyu , Lu Wanmei , Li Pengbo , Shi Xinyu , Fukuda Hiroatsu
Published: July 2022

The ability of deep learning has been tested to learn graphical features for building-plan generation. However, whether the deeper space allocation strategies can be obtained and thus reduce energy consumption has still not been investigated. In the present study, we aimed to train a neural network by employing a characterized sample set to generate a residential building floor plan (RBFP) for achieving energy reduction effects. The network is based on Pix2Pix, including two sub-models: functional segmentation layout (FSL) generation and building floor plan (BFP) generation. To better characterize the energy efficiency, 98 screened floor plans of Solar Decathlon (SD) entries were labeled as the sample set. The data augmentation method was adopted to improve the performance of the FSL sub-model after the preliminary testing. Three existing residential buildings were used as cases to observe whether the network-generated RBFP gained the effect of decreasing energy consumption with decent space allocation. The results showed that, under the same simulation settings and building exterior profile (BEP) conditions, the function arrangement of the generated scheme was more reasonable compared to the original scheme in each case. The annual total energy consumption was reduced by 13.38%, 12.74%, and 7.47%, respectively. In conclusion, trained by the sample set that characterizes energy efficiency, the RBFP generation network has a positive effect in both optimizing the space allocation and reducing energy consumption. The implemented data augmentation method can significantly improve the network’s training results with a small sample size.
Exploring the Role of Sustainability-Oriented Marketing Education in Promoting Consciousness for Sustainable Consumption
Authors: Agu Agu Godswill , Etuk Samuel G. , Madichie Nnamdi O.
Published: July 2022

Scholars have increasingly examined how education influences consciousness for sustainable behaviour, but studies focusing on developing economies are very few, and the role of sustainability-oriented marketing education is currently underexplored. By applying the theory of planned behaviour, this study explores the influence of sustainability-oriented marketing education on students’ consciousness for sustainable consumption. The study is a quantitative research study based on an online survey of marketing students who participated in a training/seminar programme of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria. The participants were drawn from three universities across the South-East and South-South zones of the country. SmartPLS structural equation modelling was applied to test the generated data. We find that sustainability-oriented marketing education influences students’ consciousness for sustainable consumption, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control. The findings will strengthen marketing education for sustainable development, and they have implications for students’ environmental consciousness in making purchase decisions. The study also brings more insight into marketing education’s role in actualizing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria.
Challenges and Opportunities for Future BEVs Adoption in Croatia
Authors: Emanović Marko , Jakara Martina , Barić Danijela
Published: July 2022

Electric vehicles (EVs) represent a revolution and the beginning of a new era in the development of the automotive industry. This study investigates the advantages and disadvantages of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and the possibilities of their better future adoption in the Republic of Croatia. Based on an in-depth analysis of the current status of BEVs in Croatia, the study shows that the number of passenger BEVs and charging stations are constantly increasing. However, despite the many advantages of BEVs, such as a reduction in urban air pollution, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, noise-free, less dependence on oil as a fuel, etc., there also are certain disadvantages, such as a limited range of vehicles, the correlation with an insufficient number of charging stations on the transport network as a whole, storage of lithium-ion batteries, maintenance of electric vehicles, high prices, and the safety of BEVs in the road traffic system. The practical implications of BEVs’ positive and negative effects and challenges for increasing their implementation in Croatia are discussed. The results and findings from this research could present a base for policymakers and decisionmakers to formulate policies and strategies to improve the opportunities for the adoption of BEVs in Croatia.
The Influence of External Knowledge Searches on Enterprises’ Innovation Performance: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zhang Xuechun , Zhang Hao , A Lusi
Published: July 2022

Innovation is one aspect of the pursuit of the harmonious development of the environment, economy, and society. Although prior research has examined the factors that influence corporate innovation, how external knowledge search affects it remains unclear. We contribute to this literature by examining how knowledge searches influence firms’ innovation performance from a knowledge-based point of view and organizational search theory. We utilized meta-analysis to conduct empirical testing on 15,059 samples from 58 independent studies. The conclusions are as follows: first, the overall test showed a significant positive correlation between external knowledge search and firm innovation performance; second, the group test shows that the positive impact of external knowledge search on the innovation performance of mature enterprises is more obvious; scaled measurement and collectivism have more significant influences on the relationship between external knowledge search and firm innovation performance. Further research concluded that a breadth search could provide higher innovation performance than a depth search. Meanwhile, the same results were obtained in the subgroup tests of start-ups, non-high-tech enterprises, high-tech enterprises, scale measurement, and collectivism. Finally, both balanced knowledge search and joint knowledge searches significantly improved the innovation performance of enterprises, and the innovation effect brought by balanced knowledge search is more prominent than the latter.
Risk Aversion of B2C Cross-Border e-Commerce Supply Chain
Authors: Zhou Li , Wang Jingjing , Li Feng , Xu Yan , Zhao Jie , Su Jiafu
Published: July 2022

In recent years, with the booming development of the B2C cross-border e-commerce industry, the supply chain of B2C cross-border e-commerce faces many potential risk factors, which must be prevented. To solve this problem, this paper studies the supply chain risk factors of B2C cross-border e-commerce and puts forward avoidance strategies. First, the fitness network model of a dual local world is constructed by combining the fitness model with the local world model. Then, the fitness network model of the dual local world is verified by the risk dynamics simulation model to fit the actual network situation. On this basis, the SIRS virus transmission model is constructed to simulate the risk transmission of the B2C cross-border e-commerce supply chain, and the evaluation index system of the supply chain risk immunity ability and external risk intensity are established according to the supply chain risk immunity ability and external risk intensity. AHP is used to calculate the factors that have the greatest influence on supply chain risk immunity and external risk intensity. The results show that: from the point of view of the enterprise’s own risk immunity, it is more necessary to ensure the stability of the company’s capital and to establish a perfect risk monitoring and coping mechanism to avoid risks. From the perspective of enterprise external risk intensity, the risk should be avoided from two aspects of transaction security and logistics.
Spatial Structure and Development Patterns of Urban Traffic Flow Network in Less Developed Areas: A Sustainable Development Perspective
Authors: Su Xiaokun , Zheng Chenrouyu , Yang Yefei , Yang Yafei , Zhao Wen , Yu Yue
Published: July 2022

Sustainable development is a scientific development requirement for economic, social, and ecological development and is particularly important for less developed areas to achieve high quality development. Among them, the traffic flow network is a key contributor to economic activity and an inclusive society, as well as influencing the regional ecology, and is an important way to reflect the connection and structure of cities and towns. Based on the literature related to sustainable development, the article takes the passenger traffic data of highways, railways, and aviation of Inner Mongolia in 2021 as the sample and applies the complex network analysis method to analyze the traffic flow network structure and refine the spatial development patterns. The results show that: (1) The highway network is manifested as the connection between the central urban areas and surrounding banner counties and the connection between the adjacent banner counties. The railroad flow is extended and expanded by the railway line with core cities as the development axis. The internal and external connections of Hohhot are the general form of aviation network. The less developed areas under traffic flow network show obvious pointing of core cities and important node towns. (2) Each traffic flow network has the tendency of scale-free and small-world properties. The influence of key town nodes in the traffic flow network is relatively limited. (3) The town connection patterns under the highway, railway, and air flow networks are “single-core and multi-point”, “axis-spoke”, and “hub-spoke”, respectively. The multiple traffic flows support the development framework of towns in less developed areas. This paper also proposes strategies for the regional transport and urban pattern with complementary advantages and high quality and sustainable development in less developed areas.
The Quality of Life and the Bio-Molecular Profile in Working Environment: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ghelli Federica , Malandrone Francesca , Bellisario Valeria , Squillacioti Giulia , Panizzolo Marco , Colombi Nicoletta , Ostacoli Luca , Bono Roberto
Published: July 2022

Working life is characterised by various requirements and degrees of control in meeting these demands. The imbalance of these elements with workers’ resources can result in work-related stress involving the repeated activation of stress response systems. Modifications in the bio-molecular profile may represent a biological signature of individuals’ life experiences and provide evidence on pathways through which such stressors can result in health outcomes. The aim of our systematic review is to characterize the quality of life (QOL) and the bio-molecular profile in the working population, to highlight if the alteration observed might be related to the working conditions. The article query was performed on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL and results have been presented according to three molecular pathways involved in the stress response: oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuroendocrine activation. The epidemiological sample has been sub-grouped into “clinical” and “non-clinical” populations according to the presence of a diagnosis of psychological disorders. Besides some critical issues, the review highlights the importance of developing a valid array of biological indicators, measurable in non-invasive matrices, sensitive to both derangements from physiological conditions and stress reduction, useful for identifying those groups at higher risk of health outcomes and, eventually, promoting workers’ wellbeing.
The Effect of Market Isolation on Competitive Behavior in Retail Petrol Markets
Authors: Ghazanfari Arezoo , Razmjoo Armin
Published: July 2022

Regarding the importance of energy for societies, this study examines the characteristics of the petrol price cycle in Perth, Australia. Given the micro-and macro-economic changes, the study’s purpose was to determine whether the Edgeworth features of the cycle are robust and resilient to market changes. The contribution is to extend previous studies, evaluate Edgeworth’s consistency, and capture several episodes of economic activity that have been unexplored. The findings showed a frequent and asymmetric weekly cycle that is characterized by decreasing prices over six consecutive days, followed by a large price jump in one day. The average price rise in the relenting phase for major stations was 14.10 cents per liter (CPL) and 13.14 CPL for independents. For the major and independents, the daily average price drops in the undercutting phase were 2.25 and 1.92 CPL, respectively. Despite the market changes, Edgeworth’s cycle characteristics, cycle duration, and the stations’ role have remained stable during the last 15 years, but peak and trough days have changed. The study is crucial as it provides insights into the robustness of price cycles and competition during significant downturns and prolonged periods of growth. This analysis is critical from a regulatory, policy, and consumer welfare perspective. Furthermore, this paper investigates future petrol consumption in light of renewable energy developments.
Visibility Matrix: Efficient User Interface Modelling for Low-Code Development Platforms
Authors: Waszkowski Robert , Bocewicz Grzegorz
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we introduce the idea of the ‘visibility matrix’ for automated data entry form generation in low-code development platforms. We then focus on the problem of software development productivity in the area of automated software generation as the main factor of the Industry 4.0 concept in the area of business information. In our study, two different approaches to user interface development in a business process management low-code platform were evaluated. The first, the multi-form model, assumes that input forms are prepared separately for each user task in the business process being automated. The second approach, the single-form model, assumes that there is one global input form for every task in the business process. Since users have access to different data in different process tasks, it is necessary to prepare the visibility matrix to define which data are relevant to which tasks. The experiments presented in this paper help to answer the following question: which approach yields better results in terms of productivity, which is measured as costs and time required to prepare the application? Several dozen real business processes were analysed to examine the properties of their visibility matrix. Additionally, the real project team members were evaluated to determine their productivity. Then, the productivity parameters were calculated for real business processes and real project teams. The results show which approach is better suited for real-world business process development.
Rehabilitation of Mass Housing as a Contribution to Social Equality: Insights from the East-West European Academic Dialogue
Authors: Milovanović Aleksandra , Dragutinovic Anica , Nikezić Ana , Pottgiesser Uta , Stojanovski Mihajlo , Ivanovska Deskova Ana , Ivanovski Jovan , Damjanovska Tea
Published: July 2022

Mass housing neighbourhoods (MHN) represent the leading pattern of urban transformation and expansion in the second half of the 20th century, and accordingly evaluation, regeneration and redesign of the MHN represent a necessary and challenging task in the contemporary research context. In the practical scope of MHN rehabilitation, various holistic approaches and design strategies are identified that affirm both ecological transition and social transformation of these urban settings. However, the level of application of such approaches across Europe varies greatly, and requires research initiatives of a comparative nature that open a cross-geographical debate at the European level. Although there is a series of evidence-based studies that define the conceptual framework of MHN, i.e., large-scale housing settlements, through historical-interpretative and chronological analyses, the academic debate on practical and feasible MHN rehabilitation and their sustainable integration into the urban development of cities at European level is underdeveloped. The specific objective of this paper is to establish preliminary insights into the current level of MHN rehabilitation and to identify challenges for further actions through (1) a comparative analysis of MHN role models from the second half of 20th century, and through (2) insights from an implemented expert questionnaire. The research engages a comparative case study analysis as the primary method and analyses MHN in Germany (as a representative of Western Europe) and in the two ex-Yugoslav countries, North Macedonia and Serbia (as representatives of Eastern Europe). This research has highlighted the main obstacles and challenges for MHN rehabilitation and demonstrated the importance of a multiscale approach to MHN analysis, having in mind that through the distribution of design values at the analysed spatial levels (neighbourhood level, building level, and apartment level) the application of affirmative indicators within different design values group is recognised.
Tourism and Authenticity: Analyzing Retail Change in Lisbon City Center
Authors: Guimarães Pedro
Published: July 2022

Retail is one of the defining elements of urban spaces. The study of commerce is largely based on its evolution and how it relates with urban environments. Currently, with the advent of mass tourism, there has been an adjustment in the commercial fabric of the area’s most sought after by tourists. Among these latter areas, the historical centers of commerce stand out. The first objective of this research is to analyze the modern evolution of the commercial fabric of Lisbon by comparing the city center with the rest of the city. For this goal, I use a quantitative approach through the quotient location for specific retail typologies. The results show dissimilarities that are associated with the geographical location of retail, which vary according to the different retail typologies being analyzed. The second goal is based on the assumption that the mere analysis of the evolution of the retail typologies is limited in the context of tourist cities. Considering this matter, a qualitative method (photo analysis, conceptually supported by the concept of authenticity) is used. The results show the usefulness of the concept of authenticity to apprehend and discuss how retail is reacting to the tourism industry, thereby contributing to the transformation of the city center into a leisure and entertainment destination.
Geospatial Multi-Criteria Approach for Ranking Suitable Shallow Aquifers for the Implementation of an On-Farm Solar-PV Desalination System for Sustainable Agriculture
Authors: Mehdaoui Rim , Anane Makram , Cañas Kurz Edgardo E. , Hellriegel Ulrich , Hoinkis Jan
Published: July 2022

The main purpose of this study was to assess and rank suitable shallow aquifers for the implementation of a solar-PV desalination system (SmaIrriCube) in small-scale farms in arid and semi-arid Mediterranean regions, such as Tunisia. A GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA-GIS) model was developed. A SMART method was applied to evaluate the relative importance of the criteria and the Weighted Sum Model was used to generate the suitability map, in line with technology efficiency (SmaIrriCubeEff) and farmer acceptability (SmaIrriCubeAcc). The overall results showed that 188 out of the 204 Tunisian shallow aquifers are potentially viable for implementing the SmaIrriCube system. For SmaIrriCubeEff, the central and southern aquifers were found to be the most suitable, with a Suitability index (Si) exceeding 0.5, mostly due to the high solar irradiation and evaporation rate. In terms of acceptability, the southern aquifers are the most preferable, with a Si higher than 0.56, due to high solar irradiation, evaporation rate and groundwater quantity and quality. The results also indicated that the removal of evaporation and solar photovoltaic modules significantly affected the aquifer ranking, with the southern and central aquifers being the most sensitive to these criteria. The GIS-MCDA approach was proven to be a practical, upgradable and time/cost-efficient solution for decision-making, which can be extended to other technologies and/or regions with similar climatic characteristics.
Soil Erosion Process Simulation and Factor Analysis of Jihe Basin
Authors: Yao Zhihong , Zhang Yu , Xiao Peiqing , Zhang Lu , Wang Bo , Yang Jianchen
Published: July 2022

Soil erosion is a notable contributor to carbon emissions. Distributed erosion model can be used to study erosion distribution in different land cover, identify the main influential factors, and hence guide soil and water conservation. In this study, Regional Soil Erosion model (RSEM) was used to simulate the soil erosion processes of Jihe Basin in 2015, and the Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) implementation was applied to compare the erosion regression of Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and MGWR as well as study the impact of influential factors on sediment modulus in hillslopes. The results are as follows: (1) MGWR results indicated slope was the dominant factors affecting soil erosion at the catchment scales, where the average coefficients of slope, forest coverage, and grass coverage descended in the value of 0.90, −0.11, and −0.19, and the influences of factors operate over scales; (2) MGWR with the adoptive bandwidths performed well in the goodness of fit, t-test of variables, scales that variables operate, and interactive interpretation of soil erosion; (3) the coupling effects and scales of vegetation and topography factors are an important approach to study soil erosion at a larger scale.
Evaluating the D&M IS Success Model in the Context of Accounting Information System and Sustainable Decision Making
Authors: Lutfi Abdalwali , Al-Okaily Manaf , Alsyouf Adi , Alrawad Mahmaod
Published: July 2022

The Accounting Information System (AIS) is generally employed for the automation of operational processes and the enhancement of company efficiencies, but more recently, AIS developments have had a great effect on the process of sustainable decision-making among organizations. However, previous research on the AIS and its capabilities attributed its success to critical success factors. Therefore, in the current work, De Lone and Mc Lean’s Information System (D&M IS) Success Model is evaluated in terms of AIS in Jordanian organizations. The current study primarily aimed to determine the influence of system quality, service quality, information quality, system use and user satisfaction on AIS use, which is argued to eventually enhance the quality and sustainability of decision-making. The study employed a quantitative approach using a self-administered questionnaire for data collection involving 101 decision-makers who are familiar with AIS usage. Following the collection of data, it was validated using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)—PLS. Based on the obtained results, system quality and information quality significant affected system use, but service quality did not. In turn, AIS was found to have a significant effect on user satisfaction. Furthermore, system use and user satisfaction had positive effects on AIS, which eventually affected the sustainability of decision-making, representing the net AIS benefits. The study contributes to existing IS literature, particularly in the field of determining the factors that influence the AIS net benefits, with the proposed model validated in Jordanian organizations using AIS. The study can be used as a guide to shed light on the importance of AIS and it also provides implications, limitations and opportunities for future studies.
Environmental Concerns for Sustainable Mariculture in Coastal Waters of South-Central Vietnam
Authors: Phu Le Hung , Kim-Hong Phan Thi , Chung Tran Van , Binh Tran Van , Dung Le Trong , Ngoc Pham Hong , Thu Nguyen Hong , Thu Nguyen Thi Toan , Anh Nguyen Thai Hai , Nguyen Anh Lam , Minh-Thu Phan
Published: July 2022

Mariculture provides an increasing seafood supply to a growing population. It also brings unintended consequences for the environment, resources, and sustainable development. In an attempt to evaluate the impacts of intensive mariculture of lobster in cages, the water quality and sediment quality in three South-Central regions of Vietnam, Xuan Dai Bay, Van Phong Bay, and Cam Ranh Bay, were monitored from April 2019 to May 2020. In each bay, two stations in the farming areas were compared to a non-farming reference station. The result showed no significant differences in the water quality parameters among the stations within each bay and between the bays. However, sediment quality noticeably differed between sites within each bay and between the bays. The accumulation of the observed parameters of sediment in farming areas was higher than in non-farming areas. In the Cam Ranh Bay, the concentration of organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus in the sediment in farming areas was approximately 1.4 times higher compared to non-farming areas. Similar results were found in Van Phong Bay and Xuan Dai Bay with different magnitudes. Additionally, the difference in the sulfide concentration in the sediment of Van Phong Bay was notable for its better environmental quality than the other two. The findings indicated that mariculture wastes would accumulate in the sediment, and decompose over time, causing sediment degradation, which may affect the benthic biota in coastal waters.
Data-Driven Evaluation and Optimisation of Livelihood Improvement Efficiency
Authors: Luo Muchen , Wu Yimin
Published: July 2022

In this study, we developed a data-driven approach for the evaluation and optimisation of livelihood improvement efficiency (LIE) to address slowing global economic growth and the decline in well-being in the broader population, enhance the quality of people’s livelihoods, and promote sustainable social development. We designed a questionnaire survey and constructed an evaluation index system based on a comprehensive consideration of economic resources, social security and employment, education, and health. Using principal component analysis, entropy weighting, and data envelopment analysis, we optimised the evaluation indicators and quantitatively assessed LIE. We used a Tobit regression model to analyse the factors influencing LIE and provide decision-making support for proposing countermeasures to optimise LIE. Based on the research data, we administered the questionnaire survey to 3125 residents in 16 cities in China’s Anhui Province and demonstrated the applicability of the aforementioned method. The results indicate that there is room for optimising LIE in cities in Anhui Province, which needs to be achieved through the following steps: controlling costs and avoiding waste, encouraging entrepreneurship, increasing income, guiding the direction of industrial growth, optimising regional population structure, and promoting public participation to enhance people’s livelihoods.
Study on Water-Heat-Solution Transport Law in Cr(VI)-Contaminated Soil during Electric Remediation
Authors: Lu Xiaohui , Wei Yantong , Ren Jianglin , Zhang Haitao , Yang Yang
Published: July 2022

In order to understand the water-thermal-solute transport pattern during the electrokinetic remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated soil, this study selected 2.46 m3 of Cr(VI)-contaminated soil from a chemical plant plot for an indoor experiment of electrokinetic remediation, which monitored the changes of three indicators of soil volumetric water content, temperature and Cr(VI) content over time under the conditions of a voltage of 90 V and 110 V and an electrode distance of 1.5 m for 7 days. A numerical model was also developed using the finite element software COMSOL, which was evaluated and calibrated to predict the changes in soil volumetric water content and hexavalent chromium concentration within 15 days. The results showed that the soil volumetric water content near the anode showed a decreasing trend at the beginning, and then gradually increased when the external supplemental water arrived. The decrease in soil volume water content became larger when the voltage increased. During the electrokinetic remediation experiment, the maximum temperature could reach 36.9 °C at 5 cm from the anode under the conditions of 90 V and 1.5 m distance between electrodes, while the maximum temperature could reach 52.4 °C at a voltage of 110 V. Moreover, the higher the voltage, the faster the temperature rise of the soil at the same location. A higher voltage increased the removal rate of hexavalent chromium, and the removal rate of hexavalent chromium in shallow soils was higher than that in deep soils. At 90 V and an electrode distance of 1.5 m, the removal rates of hexavalent chromium at sampling points 6 and 7 reached 66.03% and 60.80%, respectively. The removal rates of points 6 and 7 at 110 V were able to reach 75.96% and 70.74%, respectively.
Identifying and Counting Tobacco Plants in Fragmented Terrains Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Images in Beipanjiang, China
Authors: Wang Yu , Zhou Zhongfa , Huang Denghong , Zhang Tian , Zhang Wenhui
Published: July 2022

Refined tobacco plant information extraction is the basis of efficient yield estimation. Tobacco planting in mountainous plateau areas in China is characterized by scattered distribution, uneven growth, and mixed/intercropping crops. Thus, it is difficult to accurately extract information on the tobacco plants. The study area is Beipanjiang topographic fracture area in China, using the smart phantom 4 Pro v2.0 quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle to collect the images of tobacco planting area in the study area. By screening the visible light band, Excess Green Index, Normalized Green Red Difference Vegetation Index, and Excess Green Minus Excess Red Index were used to obtain the best color index calculation method for tobacco plants. Low-pass filtering was used to enhance tobacco plant information and suppress noise from weeds, corn plants, and rocks. Combined with field measurements of tobacco plant data, the computer interactive interpretation method performed gray-level segmentation on the enhanced image and extracted tobacco plant information. This method is suitable for identifying tobacco plants in mountainous plateau areas. The detection rates of the test and verification areas were 96.61% and 97.69%, and the completeness was 95.66% and 96.53%, respectively. This study can provide fine data support for refined tobacco plantation management in the terrain broken area with large exposed rock area and irregular planting land.
Sustainable Circular Economy for the Integration of Disadvantaged People: A Preliminary Study on the Reuse of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Cordisco Adriano , Melloni Riccardo , Botti Lucia
Published: July 2022

The circular economy is attracting the attention of governments and companies who recognize the importance of promoting a sustainable approach toward social and industrial development. The European Union requires EU State members to support a sustainable approach to improving the production and consumption of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). This paper supports the conceptualization of a sustainable circular economy model, proposing the reuse of lithium-ion batteries from WEEE. The aim is to define a circular economy-based production model for the reuse of waste lithium-ion batteries and support the inclusion of disadvantaged people in the recovery process, breaking the barriers of social discrimination. The activities introduced in this paper are part of a circular economy project for the social integration of disadvantaged people. In this paper, the preliminary results of the project are introduced, proposing a methodology for the disassembly of waste lithium-ion batteries. The disassembly line balancing proposed in this paper focuses on the need to include workers with physical, psychological, sensory, or intellectual limitations, as well as people experiencing communication difficulties. Future steps of the project will focus on the design of the assembly line to produce battery packs for pedal-assisted bicycles from the recovered lithium-ion cells.
“Sport and Anatomy”: Teaching, Research, and Assistance at the University of Pisa
Authors: Gesi Marco , Soldani Paola , Ryskalin Larisa , Morucci Gabriele , Natale Gianfranco
Published: July 2022

Introduction: Over the last decades, the university system has experienced huge growth, facing several challenges. Accordingly, the University of Pisa recognizes the value and opportunities deriving from research and fully supports collaboration with the world of entrepreneurship and industry, as well as local communities. Study programs, teaching methods and technologies, learning environments, quality assurance, programmed student numbers, and research results are key features of the prestige of the scientific community. Aim: In this respect, “Sport and Anatomy”, a brand that includes an academic organization at the University of Pisa, holds two main goals: (i) to offer the top level in both educational and professional fields; and (ii) to optimize the fine-tuning among all these sections, thus becoming a reference point for sports management. Methods and results: Indispensable links between basic and specialist sciences through different Masters’ and schools were created. In addition to didactic activity, research activity, medical assistance, and rehabilitation were coordinated. Two main outcomes emerged from this experience: (i) improved stakeholder performances and (ii) optimized cooperation between university and local communities. Conclusions: “Sport and Anatomy” plays a key role in supervising and accomplishing in an innovative way all the three missions of the university (i.e., teaching, research, and dissemination of knowledge), thus strongly fulfilling the aims of modern university targets.