bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrative Sustainability Analysis of European Pig Farms: Development of a Multi-Criteria Assessment Tool
Authors: Ruckli Antonia Katharina , Hörtenhuber Stefan Josef , Ferrari Paolo , Guy Jonathan , Helmerichs Juliane , Hoste Robert , Hubbard Carmen , Kasperczyk Nadja , Leeb Christine , Malak-Rawlikowska Agata , Valros Anna , Dippel Sabine
Published: May 2022

Societal interest in all aspects of sustainability has increased. Therefore, pig farmers need to be aware of their strengths and weaknesses in all dimensions of sustainability: economy, environment, social wellbeing, and animal health and welfare. Our aim was to describe and critically discuss the development of a sustainability assessment tool for pig farms and to evaluate its suitability by applying it to 63 European pig farms (13 breeding, 27 breeding-to-finishing, and 23 finishing farms). The multi-criteria assessment tool was developed in several steps (the selection and scaling of indicators and their aggregation and weighting) in order to summarise the indicators into subtheme and theme scores. The indicators contributing the most to the subtheme/theme scores were identified and discussed in order to evaluate the procedure of the development. For example, some indicators, such as Ecological compensation area, Fairness of prices, and Tail docking, for which farms were scored low, were also identified as “real world problems” in other studies. For other sustainability aspects with low performance, the threshold might have been set too ambitiously, e.g., for Number of sows per annual working unit. Furthermore, to analyse the suitability of the tool, we assessed the best and worst median theme scores (good and poor performances) for each dimension, as well as the variability of the performances of the farms within the themes. Some themes were found to be moderate, such as Pig comfort, Biodiversity, or Resilience, whereas others were found to be good, e.g., Water and the Human–animal relationship, as well as several themes of the social wellbeing dimension. Overall, the sustainability tool provides a comprehensive assessment of the sustainability of pig production. Furthermore, this publication contributes to both the theory (development of a robust sustainability tool) and the practice (provision of a tool to assess and benchmark the sustainability on farms). As a next step, a sensitivity analysis should be performed, and the tool should be applied for further development.
The Sustainability Potential of Upcycling
Authors: Singh Jagdeep
Published: May 2022

The upcycling trend has received renewed attention in the past few years due to growing concerns for the environment related to increased resource consumption and waste volumes. Indeed, cities across the world are supporting resource upcycling initiatives by establishing do-it-yourself (DIY) repair cafes and makerspaces as a means to transform societies towards sustainable development. However, the sustainability potential of such upcycling initiatives is unknown due to the lack of theoretical frameworks. This research aims to explore the direct and indirect social, economic, and environmental implications of upcycling activities at DIY bicycle repair studios. The main objectives of the study were to: (1) examine the upcycling activities in these studios that contribute to slowing and closing the material cycles, (2) explore the behavioral implications of the users of these maker spaces in the context of environmental sustainability, and (3) propose ways to evaluate the broad environmental impacts of the upcycling activities at these studios. The objectives were explored in three case studies—2 in Sweden (Cykelköket in Malmö and Bagarmossens Cykelköket in Stockholm) and 1 in Switzerland (Point Vélo, Lausanne). Semi-structured interviews, user surveys, and participant observation methods are employed to collect qualitative, and quantitative data to formulate a systemic exploration of major activities and socio-economic exchanges at these repair cafes. The study identified multiple social, economic, and environmental impacts of upcycling activities and represented them in causal loop diagrams. Based on this, a framework for evaluating and governing the overall sustainability potential of upcycling activities is proposed.
Improving the Sustainability of Urban Water Management through Innovative Groundwater Recharge System (GRS)
Authors: Mohammad-Hosseinpour Abedin , Molina José-Luis
Published: May 2022

Negative impacts of groundwater overuse have always been one of the problems of modern cities in arid and semi-arid regions; rapid population growth and climate change have also exacerbated these problems in many areas. One of the best approaches to deal with the impacts of these phenomena (soil subsidence, decline in groundwater quality, and seawater intrusion) is to artificially recharge water into aquifers and raise the groundwater level. In this paper, an innovative solution called Groundwater Recharge Systems (GRS) is proposed with high efficiency, low cost, and fast implementation capability to address these problems. The proposed solution also has the capability of being constructed in urban environments without the need to allocate any spacious land or the need to use any sophisticated technologies. The study of implementing the proposed groundwater recharge systems in the study area showed that the performance of this system, even in worst-case scenarios, will be very significant even considering climate change impacts such as seawater level rise and decline in precipitation.
A Numerical Simulation Analysis Framework of Sustainable Regional Economic Cooperation: A Case Study of the New Silk Road Economic Belt
Authors: Wang Jue , Wang Shi , Wang Hua , Song Yan
Published: May 2022

This paper divides the Silk Road Economic Belt into four regions. Based on the economic characteristics of these regions, the authors construct a regional equilibrium gravity model with a multilateral resistance variable. The results of the theoretical analysis show that China’s three measures (trade liberalization, financial assistance, and technological assistance) will lead to different trade effects and welfare effects. This paper conducts numerical simulations to analyze these effects among regions under different circumstances, and the authors confirm that the simulation results are consistent with real trade changes. The main results are: (1) Trade liberalization can greatly increase China’s exports to the four major regions, and the welfare of all regions will also increase (Simulation 1). (2) Technological cooperation and assistance can continuously improve local production technology, which in turn leads to a slight decline in China’s exports to the four major regions, but in the long run, the welfare of all regions has improved (Simulation 2). (3) The financial assistance from international institutions will increase the regional trade and welfare linearly (Simulation 3). Finally, this paper draws some conclusions based on the numerical simulation results.
Consumer Concern and Willingness to Pay for Plastic Alternatives in Food Service
Authors: Fischbach Emily , Sparks Eric , Hudson Kenneth , Lio Shoon , Englebretson Elizabeth
Published: May 2022

Plastic food service packaging represents a large source of plastic waste and marine debris. Currently, most food service business operators are resistant to changing to environmentally friendly alternatives due to perceived cost and loss of business due to passing these costs onto the consumer. To address these issues, we assessed the willingness of consumers to pay for plastic alternatives in both dine-in and takeout scenarios at restaurants in relation to levels of environmental concern, environmental identity, and demographics through a survey. Data were analyzed using a combination of descriptive statistics, regressions, and exploratory factor analyses. Of the 1371 survey responses, nearly 66% of respondents indicated they would be willing to pay 40 cents or more per person per meal at a restaurant for plastic alternatives and that this preference did not vary between dine-in and takeout scenarios. Additionally, education level and level of caring for the environment were the two most significant factors that increased willingness to pay for plastic alternatives.
Assessment of Heavy Metals Accumulation in Soil and Native Plants in an Industrial Environment, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Aloud Saud S. , Alotaibi Khaled D. , Almutairi Khalid F. , Albarakah Fahad N.
Published: May 2022

Industrial activities are associated with various heavy metals (HMs) being emitted into the environment, which may pose a threat to humans and animals. The rapid increase in an industrial activity in major cities in Saudi Arabia (SA) has raised concerns regarding the accumulation of HMs in the environment. The aim of this study is to assess the accumulation of HMs in soil and native plants in an industrial environment. We collected 36 surface soil samples and 12 plant species from 12 sites in an industrial city in central SA. The results showed that the HMs content in the soil followed a descending order of (Fe > Ni > Zn > Pb > Cu> Cr > Cd). The enrichment factor (EF) of HMs in the soil ranged from 0.20 to 7336. Up to 100%, 16.6%, and 6.2% of soil samples were extremely highly enriched with Cd, Ni, and Pb, respectively. Plant species Cyperus laevigatus accumulate Cd, Pb, and Ni. Citrullus colocynthis accumulate Cd and Pb in significantly (p < 0.001) higher amounts than other studied species. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) values for the 12 sites ranged from 0.52–1.33 with S5 and S2 PLI >1.0 indicating progressive deterioration of these sites. The Bioaccumulation Factor (BF) ranged from 0.04–2.76 and revealed that some plant species may be candidates for phytoextraction potential. The most promising plant species for phytoextraction and remediation were annuals or perennials such as Malva parviflora, Sisymbrium irio and Citrullus colocynthis, especially for Cr and Cu. This study suggests that these native plant species may be useful for phytoremediation in the area.
Exploring Consumers’ Attitudes towards Food Products Derived by New Plant Breeding Techniques
Authors: Vindigni Gabriella , Peri Iuri , Consentino Federica , Selvaggi Roberta , Spina Daniela
Published: May 2022

New plant breeding techniques (NPBTs) are seen as promising and innovative tools to achieve food security and food safety. Biotechnological innovations have great potential to address sustainable food development, and they are expected in the near future to play a critical role in feeding a growing population without exerting added pressure on the environment. There is, however, a considerable debate as to how these new techniques should be regulated and whether some or all of them should fall within the scope of EU legislation on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), despite the product obtained being free from genes foreign to the species. In the EU, the adoption of these methods does not rely only on the scientific community but requires social acceptance and a political process that leads to an improved regulatory framework. In this paper, we present the results of an online survey carried out in Italy with 700 randomly selected participants on consumer attitudes towards food obtained by NPBTs. By applying the decision tree machine learning algorithm J48 to our dataset, we identified significant attributes to predict the main drivers of purchasing such products. A classification model accuracy assessment has also been developed to evaluate the overall performance of the classifier. The result of the model highlighted the role of consumers’ self-perceived knowledge and their trust in the European approval process for NPBT, as well as the need for a detailed label. Our findings may support decision makers and underpin the development of NPBT products in the market.
Removal of Malachite Green Dye from Water Using MXene (Ti3C2) Nanosheets
Authors: Albukhari Soha M. , Abdel Salam Mohamed , Aldawsari Ahad M. M.
Published: May 2022

In the present study, new emerging 2D Mxene nanosheets (MXNSs) were synthesized from MAX phase powders of Ti3AlC2 and then characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to explore the chemical and physical properties of the prepared MXNS. The characterization of the synthesized MXNS indicated the formation of exfoliated 2D MXene nanosheets (Ti3C2) as a result of the HF treatment of the MAX phase, which was confirmed by XRD measurements, as the characteristic peaks of 2D MXene nanosheets were only observed. The synthesized MXNS was then used as a solid adsorbent for removing malachite green dye (MG) from water. The effects of different operational factors such as MXNS dose, solution temperature, time, MG concentration, solution pH, and ionic strength have also been evaluated. The adsorption results showed that the temperature of the solution, as well as its pH, significantly influenced MG removal when using MXNS. The optimum removal was obtained within 150 min, with 20 mg of MXNS at ambient temperature and a pH value of 6.0. The maximum removal capacity obtained was 4.6 mg MG per g of MXNS using 5 mg of MXNS with a removal efficacy of 46.0%, and the minimum removal capacity obtained was 2.5 mg MG per g of MXNS using 20 mg of MXNS with a removal efficacy of 99.1%. Finally, the results displayed that the MXNS solid adsorbent was able to absorb a high percentage of MG and maintained reasonable efficiency for four consecutive cycles, indicating that MXNS could be a promising adsorbent in wastewater remediation and environmental sustainability.
Sustainability of Smallholders in the Local Food System: A Study of Chicken Layer Farms in Nakhon Phanom Province, Northeast Thailand
Authors: Suwannasri Mukda , Promphakping Buapun
Published: May 2022

This study examined the viability and sustainable practices of farm management in smallholder chicken layer farms in Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand, and their role in the local food system. The data for analysis were obtained through qualitative research methods, including focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with target groups. This research found that the chicken layer farms of Ban Klang have survived for over four decades. The viability and sustainable practices of the farms included traditional rice farming; production practices, including barn modification and construction using local materials; feed management; manure management; the distribution of farm products; and the support of local consumers. This study suggested that the smallholders of chicken layer farms in Ban Klang should develop their production according to their organic farming focus while co-investing with local governments and businesses. We also recommended the promotion of healthy, local food by linking production to local institutional consumption, such as school lunches, local hospitals, etc.
A Study on the Safety Evaluation of Escape Routes for Vulnerable Populations in Residential Facilities
Authors: Ahn Chansol , Kim Hyeongwoo , Choi Insu , Rie Dongho
Published: May 2022

The continued increase in human lifespans is accelerating the aging of the population in most countries. The increase in elderly care facilities corresponds to a relative increase in the number of people who are vulnerable in the context of evacuation. For example, an elderly care hospital is a representative facility for vulnerable populations as regards evacuation, as residents in such a hospital cannot evacuate themselves in the event of a fire. It is therefore necessary for such buildings to formulate detailed evacuation plans that consider the walking situations of their residents in the event of a disaster. In this study, the fire dynamics simulator (FDS) was used to calculate the available safety escape time (ASET)—which is the point at which evacuation is impossible from the ignition time of the fire—for inpatients in nursing hospitals. The required safety escape time (RSET), which is the time required to move to a safe place, was calculated by reflecting a patient’s evacuation speed using Pathfinder. In addition, the evacuation route was simulated with three variables—stairs, elevators, and ramps—along with the movement pattern. The simulations of evacuation performance evaluation based on time analysis showed that there were differences in the number of fatalities depending on the choice of evacuation routes and movement patterns for each disabled group. Evacuation using ramps was confirmed to reduce fatalities from at least 48 to up to 60 people compared to evacuation using stairs or elevators. The usage of ramp evacuation in elderly care hospitals has proved to be superior to other evacuation routes in ensuring the safety of vulnerable persons during fire evacuation.
A Real-Time Comparison of Four Particulate Matter Size Fractions in the Personal Breathing Zone of Paris Subway Workers: A Six-Week Prospective Study
Authors: Pétremand Rémy , Suárez Guillaume , Besançon Sophie , Dil J. Hugo , Guseva Canu Irina
Published: May 2022

We developed a Bayesian spline model for real-time mass concentrations of particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, PM1, and PM0.3) measured simultaneously in the personal breathing zone of Parisian subway workers. The measurements were performed by GRIMM, a gravimetric method, and DiSCmini during the workers’ work shifts over two consecutive weeks. The measured PM concentrations were analyzed with respect to the working environment, the underground station, and any specific events that occurred during the work shift. Overall, PM0.3 concentrations were more than an order of magnitude lower compared to the other PM concentrations and showed the highest temporal variation. The PM2.5 levels raised the highest exposure concern: 15 stations out of 37 had higher mass concentrations compared to the reference. Station PM levels were not correlated with the annual number of passengers entering the station, the year of station opening or renovation, or the number of platforms and tracks. The correlation with the number of station entrances was consistently negative for all PM sizes, whereas the number of correspondence concourses was negatively correlated with PM0.3 and PM10 levels and positively correlated with PM1 and PM2.5 levels. The highest PM10 exposure was observed for the station platform, followed by the subway cabin and train, while ticket counters had the highest PM0.3, PM1, and PM2.5 mass concentrations. We further found that compared to gravimetric and DiSCmini measurements, GRIMM results showed some discrepancies, with an underestimation of exposure levels. Therefore, we suggest using GRIMM, calibrated by gravimetric methods, for PM sizes above 1μm, and DiSCmini for sizes below 700 nm.
Development of Simplified Building Energy Prediction Model to Support Policymaking in South Korea—Case Study for Office Buildings
Authors: Joe Jaewan , Min Seunghyeon , Oh Seunghwan , Jung Byungwoo , Kim Yu Min , Kim Deuk Woo , Lee Seung Eon , Yi Dong Hyuk
Published: May 2022

This study aims to support building energy policymaking for office buildings in South Korea through regression models by considering the global temperature rise. The key variables representing building energy standards and codes are selected, and their impact on the annual energy consumption is simulated using EnergyPlus reference models. Then, simplified regression models are built on the basis of the annual energy consumption using the selected variables. The prediction performance of the developed model for forecasting the annual energy consumption of each reference building is good, and the prediction error is negligible. An additional global coefficient is estimated to address the impact of increased outdoor air temperature in the future. The final model shows fair prediction performance with global coefficients of 1.27 and 0.9 for cooling and heating, respectively. It is expected that the proposed simplified model can be leveraged by non-expert policymakers to predict building energy consumption and corresponding greenhouse gas emissions for the target year.
Inventory Models in a Sustainable Supply Chain: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Salas-Navarro Katherinne , Serrano-Pájaro Paula , Ospina-Mateus Holman , Zamora-Musa Ronald
Published: May 2022

This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of inventory models in a sustainable supply chain. The methodology contains reviewing previous research with a performance evaluation, network analysis, and science mapping to identify the applications, trends, and future research topics. Scientific mapping examines the periods and volumes of publications, authors, journals, countries, regions, organizations, subject areas, and citation analyses. The dataset was obtained with the Scopus database and analyzed using MS Excel and VOSviewer. The search equation identified 335 research papers, which resulted in 131 significant manuscripts on the subject after being screened and filtered. The most notable countries in developing research were Iran, India, China, the United States, Canada, Taiwan, France, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Denmark. Saha, S., Ajay, S.Y., and Baboli, A. were the most cited authors. The journals that publish the most research were Sustainability, the Journal of Cleaner Production, and the International Journal of Production Economics. Some research focuses on reducing carbon emissions and polluting agents applied in different industries in China, Brazil, India, and others. The main findings were the number of industry sectors researching this topic, increasing the number of publications, and promoting the proper use of resources within a sustainable supply chain. There are many investigations of theoretical models that have applications in real-life cases. There is also evidence of the high importance of promoting sustainable development. The emissions regulations in a green supply chain applied to agricultural products have allowed for more actions to achieve responsible production and consumption, as seen in applied research in the pulp and paper industry.
The Use of Double-Skin Façades to Improve the Energy Consumption of High-Rise Office Buildings in a Mediterranean Climate (Csa)
Authors: Ahriz Atef , Mesloub Abdelhakim , Djeffal Leila , Alsolami Badr M. , Ghosh Aritra , Abdelhafez Mohamed Hssan Hassan
Published: May 2022

Engineers use double-skin façades (DSF) to lower the energy consumption of buildings as they can potentially control incoming wind speeds and the amount of solar heat gain. The purpose of this present study was to (1) evaluate the use of DSFs, (2) its efficacy in improving the energy performance of high-rise office buildings in the hot, dry summer climate of the Mediterranean, and (3) to develop an optimum DSF model for this climate based on industry standards and recommendations for high-performance DSF parameters. In order to determine the efficiency of DSFs, two distinct variables, building orientation and the number of DSFs used, were taken into consideration. This study adopted an experimental (generate and test) research design and used Autodesk® Ecotect® Analysis software to develop computer simulations with which to assess 15 single façades, juxtaposed façades, three façades, and four façades on cardinal orientations. The recorded energy consumption and savings were then compared with that of the reference model. The results indicated that the three DSF model, i.e., the S14 model, reduced energy consumption during heating by 28% and by 53.5% when cooling a high-rise office building located in the hot, dry summer climate of the Mediterranean (Csa).
Specifying Spatial Dependence for Teak Stands Specific to Solomon Island-Derived Clones in Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Kiram Johannah Jamalul , Mohamad Yunus Rossita , Japarudin Yani , Lapammu Mahadir
Published: May 2022

The magnitude of spatial dependence on teak tree growth was examined based on a teak plantation managed by the research and development team at Sabah Softwood Berhad, Brumas camp, Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia. A sample of 432 and 445 georeferenced individual tree points specific to Solomon Island-derived clones that were 6 and 7 years old, respectively, were analyzed, as previous findings showed that this was the genotype that thrived the most. This study aims to show that spatial dependence exists in the 6- and 7-year-old teak tree blocks of the plantation and that there are changes in the magnitude of spatial dependence when it is analyzed as a continuous plot. Moran’s I values and Moran scatterplots as well as semivariograms and thematic maps were used to satisfy the hypothesis regarding the relationship between spatial dependence and the growth of the physical parameters: the diameter at breast height (DBH), height, and the volume of the teak tree. The Moran’s I values that were calculated rejected the null hypothesis, suggesting the existence of strong spatial dependence for all of the physical parameters and for both the 6- and 7-year-old samples. The semivariograms were plotted and showed an increasing trend as the lag distance between trees increased and showed changes as the trees aged. These findings prove significant spatial dependence in the growth of the physical parameters of teak trees. Hence, growth model methodologies based on spatial distribution must be developed to further understand the spatial distribution of teak tree plantations.
Breast Implant Illness: Surgical, Autoimmune, and Breast Reconstruction Associations
Authors: Varela-Chinchilla Carlos Daniel , Salinas-McQuary Gabriel , Segura-Azuara Nancy de los Ángeles , Trinidad-Calderón Plinio A.
Published: May 2022

Breast implant illness refers to a combination of different symptoms related to breast implant surgery, including fatigue, brain fog, and arthralgias. This malaise occurs after cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgeries, although it has not been proven to be a disease. Even recent studies have reported concluding statements of the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment as unclear and widely unknown. Therefore, this review aimed to determine the associations between the manifestations of breast implant illness in surgery and breast reconstruction, as well as the autoimmune responses involved. Complications associated with breast implants include breast pain, capsular contracture, infections, as well as other manifestations specific to breast reconstruction. Moreover, patients with implants may present with new-onset systemic sclerosis, Sjögren’s syndrome, and connective tissue diseases. However, the incidence of capsular contracture has steadily decreased with each generation of implants, particularly since the development of textured implants, as well as with the use of antibiotics and antiseptic pocket irrigation. However, the incidence of anaplastic large cell lymphoma has increased with the use of textured implants. Remarkably, the autoimmune response to these implants remains unclear. Therefore, close follow-up, careful observation of any symptom presentation, and evidence-based treatment decisions are necessary for patients with breast implants.
Parity-Dependent Quantum Phase Transition in the Quantum Ising Chain in a Transverse Field
Authors: Sacco Shaikh Daniel , Sassetti Maura , Traverso Ziani Niccolò
Published: May 2022

Phase transitions—both classical and quantum types—are the perfect playground for appreciating universality at work. Indeed, the fine details become unimportant and a classification in very few universality classes is possible. Very recently, a striking deviation from this picture has been discovered: some antiferromagnetic spin chains with competing interactions show a different set of phase transitions depending on the parity of number of spins in the chain. The aim of this article is to demonstrate that the same behavior also characterizes the most simple quantum spin chain: the Ising model in a transverse field. By means of an exact solution based on a Wigner–Jordan transformation, we show that a first-order quantum phase transition appears at the zero applied field in the odd spin case, while it is not present in the even case. A hint of a possible physical interpretation is given by the combination of two facts: at the point of the phase transition, the degeneracy of the ground state in the even and the odd case substantially differs, being respectively 2 and 2N, with N being the number of spins; the spin of the most favorable kink shows changes at that point.
Performance Analysis of Continuous Variable Quantum Teleportation with Noiseless Linear Amplifier in Seawater Channel
Authors: Wu Hao , Liu Xu , Zhang Hang , Ruan Xinchao , Guo Ying
Published: May 2022

Continuous variable quantum teleportation (CVQT) is one of the technologies currently explored to implement global quantum networks. Entanglement source is an indispensable resource to realize CVQT, and its distribution process has natural symmetry. Though there are many results for CVQT over optical fiber or atmospheric channel, little attention is paid to seawater channel. In this paper, a model based on seawater chlorophyll concentration is used to study the attenuation effect of seawater on light. In our scheme, a noiseless linear amplifier is utilized for enhancing the performance of CVQT under seawater channel. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme has an improvement in terms of fidelity and maximum transmission distance compared with the original scheme.
Combined Pressure-Driven and Electroosmotic Slip Flow through Elliptic Cylindrical Microchannels: The Effect of the Eccentricity of the Channel Cross-Section
Authors: Chuchard Pearanat , Numpanviwat Nattakarn
Published: May 2022

Electroosmotic force has been used extensively to manipulate fluid flow in a microfluidic system with various channel shapes, especially an elliptic cylinder. However, developing a computational domain and simulating fluid flow for a system involving an elliptic channel consumes a large amount of time. Moreover, the mathematical expression for the fluid velocity of electroosmotic flow in an elliptic channel may be given in the form of the Mathieu functions that have difficulty in achieving the numerical result. In addition, there is clear scientific evidence that confirms the slippage of fluid at the solid-fluid interface in a microscale system. In this study, we present the mathematical model of combined pressure-driven and electroosmotic flow through elliptic microchannels under the slip-fluid condition. From the practical point of view in fluidics, the effect of the eccentricity of the channel cross-section is investigated on the volumetric flow rate to overcome the difficulty. The results show that the substitution of the equivalent circular channel for an elliptic channel provides a valid flow rate under the situation that the areas of both channel cross-sections are equal and the eccentricity of the elliptic cross-section is less than 0.5. Additionally, the flow rate obtained from the substitution is more accurate when the slip length increases or the pressure-gradient-to-external-electric-field ratio decreases.
Surface Wave Propagation in a Rotating Doubly Coated Nonhomogeneous Half Space with Application
Authors: Mubaraki Ali M. , Helmi Maha M. , Nuruddeen Rahmatullah Ibrahim
Published: May 2022

The current study examines the propagation of surface waves in an asymmetric rotating doubly coated nonhomogeneous half space. The coating layers are assumed to be made of different homogeneous isotropic materials, while the overlaying nonhomogeneous half space layer is considered to be of exponentially varying material properties. The consequential exact vibrational displacements and dispersion relation are determined analytically, in addition to the approximate validation of the dispersion relation via the application of an asymptotic procedure within the long wave limit. Two cases of unloaded and loaded end surface scenarios are analyzed by examining the posed fundamental modes. More precisely, an elastic Winkler foundation was considered in the case of a mechanically loaded end surface condition and was found to proliferate the transition between having a fundamental mode over the frequency axis to the wave number axis as the angular velocity increased. Moreover, the rotational effect was found to have a direct impact on the surface wave propagation with a long wave and low frequency. Aside from that, an increase in the nonhomogeneity parameter resulted in propagation with a relatively long frequency.
Characterizations of PR-Pseudo-Slant Warped Product Submanifold of Para-Kenmotsu Manifold with Slant Base
Authors: Srivastava Sachin Kumar , Mofarreh Fatemah , Kumar Anuj , Ali Akram
Published: May 2022

In this article, we study the properties of PR-pseudo-slant submanifold of para-Kenmotsu manifold and obtain the integrability conditions for the slant distribution and anti-invariant distribution of such submanifold. We derived the necessary and sufficient conditions for a PR-pseudo-slant submanifold of para-Kenmotsu manifold to be a PR-pseudo-slant warped product which are in terms of warping functions and shape operator. Some examples of PR-pseudo-slant warped products of para-Kenmotsu manifold are also illustrated in the article.
New Optimized Deep Learning Application for COVID-19 Detection in Chest X-ray Images
Authors: Karim Ahmad Mozaffer , Kaya Hilal , Alcan Veysel , Sen Baha , Hadimlioglu Ismail Alihan
Published: May 2022

Due to false negative results of the real-time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test, the complemental practices such as computed tomography (CT) and X-ray in combination with RT-PCR are discussed to achieve a more accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 in clinical practice. Since radiology includes visual understanding as well as decision making under limited conditions such as uncertainty, urgency, patient burden, and hospital facilities, mistakes are inevitable. Therefore, there is an immediate requirement to carry out further investigation and develop new accurate detection and identification methods to provide automatically quantitative evaluation of COVID-19. In this paper, we propose a new computer-aided diagnosis application for COVID-19 detection using deep learning techniques. A new technique, which receives symmetric X-ray data as the input, is presented in this study by combining Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) with Ant Lion Optimization Algorithm (ALO) and Multiclass Naïve Bayes Classifier (NB). Moreover, several other classifiers such as Softmax, Support Vector Machines (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) and Decision Tree (DT) are combined with CNN. The promising results of these classifiers are evaluated and presented for accuracy, precision, and F1-score metrics. NB classifier with Ant Lion Optimization Algorithm and CNN produced the best results with 98.31% accuracy, 100% precision and 98.25% F1-score and with the lowest execution time.
A Novel Sequential Three-Way Decision Model for Medical Diagnosis
Authors: Hu Junhua , Cao Wanying , Liang Pei
Published: May 2022

In the sequential three-way decision model (S3WD), conditional probability and decision threshold pair are two key elements affecting the classification results. The classical model calculates the conditional probability based on the strict equivalence relationship, which limits its application in reality. In addition, little research has studied the relationship between the threshold change and its cause at different granularity levels. To deal with these deficiencies, we propose a novel sequential three-way decision model and apply it to medical diagnosis. Firstly, we propose two methods of calculating conditional probability based on similarity relation, which satisfies the property of symmetry. Then, we construct an S3WD model for a medical information system and use three different kinds of cost functions as the basis for modifying the threshold pair at each level. Subsequently, the rule of the decision threshold pair change is explored. Furthermore, two algorithms used for implementing the proposed S3WD model are introduced. Finally, extensive experiments are carried out to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model, and the results show that the model can achieve better classification performance.
Adaptive Superpixel-Based Disparity Estimation Algorithm Using Plane Information and Disparity Refining Mechanism in Stereo Matching
Authors: Huang Chen-Wei , Ding Jian-Jiun
Published: May 2022

The motivation of this paper is to address the limitations of the conventional keypoint-based disparity estimation methods. Conventionally, disparity estimation is usually based on the local information of keypoints. However, keypoints may distribute sparsely in the smooth region, and keypoints with the same descriptors may appear in a symmetric pattern. Therefore, conventional keypoint-based disparity estimation methods may have limited performance in smooth and symmetric regions. The proposed algorithm is superpixel-based. Instead of performing keypoint matching, both keypoint and semiglobal information are applied to determine the disparity in the proposed algorithm. Since the local information of keypoints and the semi-global information of the superpixel are both applied, the accuracy of disparity estimation can be improved, especially for smooth and symmetric regions. Moreover, to address the non-uniform distribution problem of keypoints, a disparity refining mechanism based on the similarity and the distance of neighboring superpixels is applied to correct the disparity of the superpixel with no or few keypoints. The experiments show that the disparity map generated by the proposed algorithm has a lower matching error rate than that generated by other methods.
Market-Oriented Transformation and Development of Local Government Financing Platforms in China: Exploratory Research Based on Multiple Cases
Authors: Li Xiaoguang , Feng Guoli , Hao Shengyue
Published: May 2022

In recent years, the disorderly development of local government debt financing and local government financing platforms (GFP) in China has brought huge government debt risks. In order to control the debt increment caused by illegal financing of the GFP, the state has issued a series of documents. Under the new economic form, how to determine the position, choose the road, and plan the path of market-oriented development for high-quality economic development is critical to the GFP. This paper is committed to solving the key points and transformation paths of market-oriented transformation of the GFP. (1) On the basis of literature research, it analyzes the necessity, feasibility, and current transformation difficulties of market-oriented transformation of the GFP. (2) It defines the concept of the GFP and the concept of market-oriented transformation of the GFP. (3) It collates and analyzes the real cases of market-oriented transformation of four local government (county-level and above) financing platforms, studies the key points of transformation, and systematically summarizes the path of market-oriented transformation from three aspects: the goal, work plan, and implementation scheme of transformation and development. (4) Based on the idea of finding problems, diagnosing problems, optimizing, and improving, we put forward optimization strategy suggestions.
An Economic Evaluation of Targeted Reserve Requirement Ratio Reduction on Bank Ecosystem Development
Authors: Xiong Lihui , Fang Jiaqi
Published: May 2022

In China’s bank-centered financial and economic environment, bank risk attitudes have an important impact on the effective implementation of structural monetary policy, and monetary policy can have an impact on the corporate ecosystem through risk taking by banks. To make an economic assessment of the evolution of the banking ecosystem and empirically explore the correlation between targeted Reserve Requirement Ratio (RRR) cuts and banks’ risk-taking levels in the context of financial supply-side structural reforms, this paper uses multiple regression analysis and a fixed-effects model to analyze the causal impact of targeted RRR reduction on the risk taking of Chinese commercial banks. In addition, it uses the mediation effect model to analyze the mechanism. Results show that targeted RRR cuts have significantly increased the level of risk taking of commercial banks. The findings are pronounced in urban commercial banks. However, the leverage ratio regulation has a restraining effect on the level of risk taking of banks. This study provides an effective economic evaluation for the benign development of the banking ecosystem under the environment of government policy supervision. Future research needs to expand the bank sample and further examine the changes in bank credit scale and credit investment.
Application of Multi-Channel Convolutional Neural Network to Improve DEM Data in Urban Cities
Authors: Nguyen Ngoc Son , Kim Dong Eon , Jia Yilin , Raghavan Srivatsan V. , Liong Shie Yui
Published: May 2022

A digital elevation model (DEM) represents the topographic surface of the Earth and is an indispensable source of data in many applications, such as flood modeling, infrastructure design and land management. DEM data at high spatial resolution and high accuracy of elevation data are not only costly and time-consuming to acquire but also often confidential. In this paper, we explore a cost-effective approach to derive good quality DEM data by applying a multi-channel convolutional neural network (CNN) to enhance free resources of available DEM data. Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data, multi-spectral imaging Sentinel-2, as well as Google satellite imagery were used as inputs to the CNN model. The CNN model was first trained using high-quality reference DEM data in a dense urban city—Nice, France—then validated on another site in Nice and finally tested in the Orchard Road area (Singapore), which is also an equally dense urban area in Singapore. The CNN model not only shows an impressive reduction in the root mean square error (RMSE) of 50% at validation site in Nice and 30% at the test site in Singapore, but also results in much clearer profiles of the land surface than input SRTM data. A comparison between CNN performance and that of an earlier conducted study using artificial neural networks (ANN) was conducted as well. The comparison within this limited study shows that CNN yields a more accurate DEM.
Monitoring Saffron Crops with UAVs
Authors: Kiropoulos Konstantinos , Tsouros Dimosthenis C. , Dimaraki Foteini , Triantafyllou Anna , Bibi Stamatia , Sarigiannidis Panagiotis , Angelidis Pantelis
Published: May 2022

The use of information technology in agriculture has brought significant benefits to producers, such as increased profits and better product quality. Modern technology applications in agriculture rely on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and wireless ground sensors to provide real-time information about fields and crops. In Europe, these techniques, referred to as Smart Farming (SF), are still in their infancy despite the large agricultural production of a wide range of products. For this reason, in this study, we experimented with the technologies of SF in the cultivation of Greek saffron, a rare spice with many uses. For this reason, and also because its harvest is quite labor intensive, it is one of the most expensive spices. Since the field of SF is relatively new and has not yet been used for this particular crop and area, the equipment and methods of data processing were selected experimentally after a review of the literature. The aim of the study was to remotely acquire image data of the crops and train a machine learning model to detect important objects such as saffron flowers and weeds.
Association between Ambient Air Pollution and Emergency Room Visits for Pediatric Respiratory Diseases: The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Cheng Chi-Yung , Tseng Yu-Lun , Huang Kuo-Chen , Chiu I-Min , Pan Hsiu-Yung , Cheng Fu-Jen
Published: May 2022

The level and composition of air pollution have changed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, the association between air pollution and pediatric respiratory disease emergency department (ED) visits during the COVID-19 pandemic remains unclear. The study was retrospectively conducted between 2017 and 2020 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from 1 January 2020 to 1 May 2020, defined as the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, and 1 January 2017 to 31 May 2019, defined as the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period. We enrolled patients under 17 years old who visited the ED in a medical center and were diagnosed with respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, and acute pharyngitis. Measurements of particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameters of <10 μm (PM10) and < 2.5 μm (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and Ozone (O3) were collected. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in the interquartile range of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 levels was associated with increases of 72.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 50.5–97.7%), 98.0% (95% CI, 70.7–129.6%), and 54.7% (95% CI, 38.7–72.6%), respectively, in the risk of pediatric respiratory disease ED visits on lag 1, which were greater than those in the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period. After adjusting for temperature and humidity, the risk of pediatric respiratory diseases after exposure to PM2.5 (inter p = 0.001) and PM10 (inter p < 0.001) was higher during the COVID-19 pandemic. PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 may play important roles in pediatric respiratory events in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Compared with the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period, the levels of PM2.5 and PM10 were lower; however, the levels were related to a greater increase in ED during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Variation in Rotenone and Deguelin Contents among Strains across Four Tephrosia Species and Their Activities against Aphids and Whiteflies
Authors: Zhang Peiwen , Zhang Mengzi , Mellich Terri A. , Pearson Brian J. , Chen Jianjun , Zhang Zhixiang
Published: May 2022

Botanical pesticides have received increasing attention for sustainable control of insect pests. Plants from the genus Tephrosia are known to produce rotenone and deguelin. Rotenone is known to possess insecticidal activities against a wide range of pests, but deguelin’s activities remain largely inconclusive. On the other hand, the biosynthesis of rotenone and deguelin may vary in Tephrosia species. This study analyzed the rotenone and deguelin contents in 13 strains across 4 Tephrosia species over 4 growing seasons using HPLC. Our study shows that the species and even the strains within a species vary substantially in the biosynthesis of rotenone and deguelin, and their contents can be affected by the growing season. After identification of the LC50 values of chemical rotenone and deguelin against Aphis gossypii (Glover) and Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), leaf extracts derived from the 13 strains were used to test their insecticidal activities against the 2 pests. The results showed that the extracts derived from 2 strains of T. vogelii had the highest insecticidal activity, resulting in 100% mortality of A. gossypii and greater than 90% mortality of B. tabaci. The higher mortalities were closely associated with the higher contents of rotenone and deguelin in the two strains, indicating that deguelin also possesses insecticidal activities. This is the first documentation of leaf extracts derived from 13 Tephrosia strains against 2 important pests of A. gossypii and B. tabaci. The strain variation and seasonal influence on the rotenone and deguelin contents call for careful attention in selecting appropriate strains and seasons to produce leaf extracts for the control of insect pests.