bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Simulator Sickness Provocation in a Driving Simulator Operating in Autonomous Mode
Authors: Hwangbo Seung Woo , Classen Sherrilene , Mason Justin , Yang Wencui , McKinney Brandy , Kwan Joseph , Sisiopiku Virginia
Published: November 2022

Highly autonomous vehicles (HAV) have the potential of improving road safety and providing alternative transportation options. Given the novelty of HAVs, high-fidelity driving simulators operating in an autonomous mode are a great way to expose transportation users to HAV prior to HAV adoption. In order to avoid the undesirable effects of simulator sickness, it is important to examine whether factors such as age, sex, visual processing speed, and exposure to acclimation scenario predict simulator sickness in driving simulator experiments designed to replicate the HAV experience. This study identified predictors of simulator sickness provocation across the lifespan (N = 210). Multiple stepwise backward regressions identified that slower visual processing speed predicts the Nausea and Dizziness domain with age not predicting any domains. Neither sex, nor exposure to an acclimation scenario predicted any of the four domains of simulator sickness provocation, namely Queasiness, Nausea, Dizziness, and Sweatiness. No attrition occurred in the study due to simulator sickness and thus the study suggests that high-fidelity driving simulator may be a viable way to introduce drivers across the lifespan to HAV, a strategy that may enhance future HAV acceptance and adoption.
Enhancement of the Solubility and Dissolution Rate of Telmisartan by Surface Solid Dispersions Employing Superdisintegrants, Hydrophilic Polymers and Combined Carriers
Authors: Aldeeb Reem A. , El-Miligi Mohamed Farid , El-Nabarawi Mohamed , Tag Randa , Amin Hany M. S. , Taha A. A.
Published: November 2022

Telmisartan (Tel) is a potent antihypertensive drug with a very poor aqueous solubility, especially in pH ranging from 3 to 9 (i.e., biological fluids) that results in poor bioavailability. Our aim was to improve Tel solubility and dissolution rates without the need for expensive multistep procedures, and without inclusion of alkalinizers. This study adopted the use of surface solid dispersions (SSDs) employing superdisintegrants, hydrophilic polymers and combined carriers including a superdisintegrant with a hydrophilic polymer. Tel-SSDs were formulated using thesolvent evaporation method. Compatibility between Tel and different carriers was examined via FT-IR. Tel-SSDs were evaluated optically and thermally to reveal a complete loss of the crystalline nature of the drug. Both drug content and percentage yield were calculated to judge the efficiency of the preparation technique used. Saturation, aqueous solubility, and dissolutions rates were determined. Dissolution profiles were studied using model dependent and independent approaches and were subjected to the pair-wise procedure using the DDsolver software program. Effect of aging was studied by comparing the drug content and dissolution profiles of freshly prepared SSDs with aged samples. All Tel-SSDs showed acceptable physical properties. Tel-SSDs showed pertinent enhancement related to the carrier used. Combined surface solid dispersions employing superdisintegrant croscarmellose sodium with either hydrophilic polymer PEG 4000 or Poloxamer 407 gave remarkable enhancement in solubility and dissolution rates of Tel where more than 90% of the drug was released within 20 min. The effect of aging results proved a non-significant difference in the drug content and dissolution profiles between fresh and aged samples. Formulation of Tel SSDs using combined carriers proved to be effective in enhancing the aqueous solubility and dissolution rates of Tel, as well as showing good stability upon aging.
The Current Preventing of Child Sexual Abuse: A Scoping Review
Authors: Solehati Tetti , Fikri Auliya Ramanda , Kosasih Cecep Eli , Hermayanti Yanti , Mediani Henny Suzana
Published: November 2022

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a global social problem that has a negative impact throughout the victim’s life; therefore, it is necessary to prevent CSA as a protection for children. The study aimed to identify the literature on CSA prevention interventions as a method for preventing child sexual abuse, specifically to determine the types of studies that have been conducted, the purposes of the programs, the types of methods used, the duration of intervention, the place of intervention implementation, the effectiveness of the programs, and the study improvement recommendations. This review followed the Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Articles were searched using the PsycINFO database, CINAHL (EBSCO), ScienceDirect, MEDLINE (EBSCO), Scopus, Google Scholar, and manual searching with search engines. The inclusion criteria were focused on CSA prevention intervention programs, published between 2011 and 2021, published in English, using RCT/quasi-experiment/mixed method designs, and involving human subjects (children, parents, teachers, and caregivers). As many as 36 articles were selected for inclusion. Based on the results of the scoping review, it was found that three main thematic categories were identified, namely: (1) implementation of CSA prevention; (2) the effectiveness of CSA prevention; (3) research improvement recommendations. There are three main topics of CSA’s promising prevention strategy focused on the target of strengthening protective factors that can be used by community service organizations providing services to children, policy-makers, and researchers. Preventive action requires strong collaboration between children, parents, teachers, and the surrounding community and must be supported by the use of innovative media that is adapted to the times. More evaluative research is needed to establish which strategies might be effective in CSA prevention practices.
Bias-Corrected Maximum Likelihood Estimation and Bayesian Inference for the Process Performance Index Using Inverse Gaussian Distribution
Authors: Tsai Tzong-Ru , Xin Hua , Fan Ya-Yen , Lio Yuhlong
Published: November 2022

In this study, the estimation methods of bias-corrected maximum likelihood (BCML), bootstrap BCML (B-BCML) and Bayesian using Jeffrey’s prior distribution were proposed for the inverse Gaussian distribution with small sample cases to obtain the ML and Bayes estimators of the model parameters and the process performance index based on the lower specification process performance index. Moreover, an approximate confidence interval and the highest posterior density interval of the process performance index were established via the delta and Bayesian inference methods, respectively. To overcome the computational difficulty of sampling from the posterior distribution in Bayesian inference, the Markov chain Monte Carlo approach was used to implement the proposed Bayesian inference procedures. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed BCML, B-BCML and Bayesian estimation methods. An example of the active repair times for an airborne communication transceiver is used for illustration.
Application of AHP and DEMATEL for Identifying Factors Influencing Coal Mine Practitioners’ Unsafe State
Authors: Chen Lei , Li Hongxia , Tian Shuicheng
Published: November 2022

Background: To effectively avoid accidents caused by practitioners’ unsafe state in the process of coal mine production processes, it is necessary to clarify the factors influencing the practitioners’ unsafe state, and take corresponding control measures accordingly. Methods: With the help of literature research and on-site interviews, grounded theory was used to construct the influencing factor index system of the coal mine practitioners’ unsafe state. The index system primary includes indices of four core categories, physiology, psychology, organization, and technology, and secondary indices of fourteen main categories. An AHP-DEMATEL model was constructed to calculate the comprehensive degree of influence of each influencing factor and rank it. Results: The results show that the main factors affecting the coal mine practitioners’ unsafe state are physical quality, degree of fatigue, safety attitude, safety awareness, safety culture, and vigilance. Physical quality and degree of fatigue are the key factors that affect the coal mine practitioners’ unsafe state, which is more consistent with the actual situation of coal mine practitioners. With the findings of this study, coal mine managers can take relevant countermeasures to intervene in coal mine practitioners’ unsafe state and reduce the occurrence of accidents.
Does Urban Agglomeration Promote the Development of Cities? An Empirical Analysis Based on Spatial Econometrics
Authors: Fu Wenfang , Luo Chuanjian , He Shan
Published: November 2022

Based on the panel data of 278 cities in China from 2010–2019, this paper uses the spatial Durbin model to investigate the effect of urban agglomeration on urban economic development under the distance factor. The results show that the impact of urban agglomeration on urban development is sensitive to geographic distance. A moderate geospatial scale can help cities overcome scale deficiencies and the problem of overcrowding. The spillover effect of urban agglomeration is no longer limited to geographical proximity, showing an inverted U-shaped curve with the expansion of distance. It also exhibits heterogeneity across different regions, and integrated development reinforces the positive impact of agglomeration spillovers. The economic distance moderation effect and the core-periphery structure suggest that the direction of spatial interaction is more reflected between high-ranking cites and low-ranking cities, while cities with similar development levels show competitive effects. Specialized agglomeration and diversified agglomeration have differential influences on urban growth. From the perspective of network externalities, the spillover effect of urban agglomeration increases significantly with the expansion of spatial scale, which is distinct from the results using geographical distance.
Coupling Coordination Research on Disaster-Adapted Resilience of Modern Infrastructure System in the Middle and Lower Section of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area
Authors: Li Guiyuan , Cheng Guo , Wu Zhenying , Liu Xiaoxiao
Published: November 2022

Rapid incremental urbanization in China has resulted in an incomplete modern infrastructure system and multiple point-like flaws. This is due to a lack of funding and poor scientific construction concepts and procedures. This also contributes to the infrastructure system’s low disaster-adapted resilience and insufficient coupling coordination of production-oriented and service-oriented infrastructure subsystems. Based on the “Robustness-Rapidity-Redundancy-Resourcefulness-Durability” (4R-D) frameworks, this study screens 53 indicators across three tiers of “production-oriented, service-oriented, intelligent” infrastructure subsystems to establish a modern infrastructure resilience evaluation system. We examined the overall infrastructure resilience and coupling coordination development among subsystems in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) from 2009 to 2020 using a coupling coordination degree model (CCDM). Grey relational analysis (GRA) was used to analyze the significant control aspects of infrastructure resilience and coupling coordination degree based on grey system theory. The findings show the following: (1) at the macro level the overall resilience, resilience of each subsystem, and coupling coordination among subsystems in the research region show an upward trend from 2009 to 2020, with the rise from 2018 to 2020 being the most significant; (2) at the micro level, from 2010 to 2013, there was no obvious spatial divergence and from 2014 to 2020, driven by the radiation of the two major urban agglomerations, the resilience and coupling coordination of Yiling and Wanzhou both show a trend of more substantial increase, while the rest of the counties have a small increase; and (3) at the meso level, seven factors have a more significant impact on the coupled and coordinated development of urban infrastructure than other indicators, including urbanization rate, average annual rainfall, the number of health technicians per 10,000 people, and the percentage of GDP in the tertiary industrial sector.
Investigation of Radon in Groundwater and the Corresponding Human-Health Risk Assessment in Northeastern Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mamun Al , Alazmi Amira Salman
Published: November 2022

Radon is one of the most common human exposures as a natural radiation source and can cause lung, colon, and stomach cancer. In this study, groundwater from different wells was collected from the northeastern part of Saudi Arabia. The radon concentration was estimated using an electronic portable radon detector RAD7 with a big-bottle system. The annual effective dose of radon exposure by the ingestion and inhalation of water is calculated using the radon concentration for different age groups to assess the health risk of radon exposure. The calculated annual effective doses are then compared with the international risk limit standard as international organizations direct. The estimated radon concentration for groundwater samples in the searched area was between 0.03 and 3.20 Bq/L, with an average value of 1.16 Bq/L. These estimated values are far below the safety limit set by international organizations. The annual effective dose of radon exposure for infants, children and adults ranged from 0.05 to 16.24 μSv/y, with a mean value of 5.89 μSv/y. The health risk assessed by radon exposure for infants, children and adults was found to be in the safe limit recommended by international organizations.
Timber Structures and Prefabricated Concrete Composite Blocks as a Novel Development in Vertical Gardening
Authors: Teppand Tõnis , Escuer Olesja , Rikmann Ergo , Liiv Jüri , Shanskiy Merrit
Published: November 2022

A modern, environmentally friendly urban lifestyle requires paying attention to landscaping and green areas. The scarcity of free land in cities and the high price of land require the combination of greenery with buildings—both vertically and horizontally. The developed green technology for construction brings together computer numerical control (CNC) processing of supporting structures and prefabricated solid planting blocks made of concrete composite. The timber structures are fixed together using traditional carpentry joints. The details, which will be manufactured in the factory using CNC processing at a controlled temperature and humidity corresponding to indoor conditions, can be easily assembled on the construction site. The high bending strength but good elasticity and connections of carpentry joints endow the structure with good properties in a non-controllable environment. By combining CNC-processed wooden structures with concrete technology as substrate composites, labor-intensive manual work in landscaping and gardening will be reduced in the future. The novel material-hardening substrate composite material uses only the residues as the raw materials.
KidBright: An Open-Source Embedded Programming Platform with a Dedicated Software Framework in Support of Ecosystems for Learning to Code
Authors: Tan-a-ram Surapol , Leelayuttho Anuchit , Kittipiyakul Somphong , Pornsukjantra Wuthipong , Sereevoravitgul Thundluck , Intarapanich Apichart , Kaewkamnerd Saowaluck , Treeumnuk Dusadee
Published: November 2022

The concept of coding at school has enabled educators and parents around the globe to become interested in coding as, these days, coding is regarded as a gateway to computational thinking for children. However, coding education in Thailand appears to lag behind that of many other countries due to the lack of accessible coding learning resources suitable for students as well as the limited number of teachers with coding experience. Regarding these issues, we have developed an open-source hardware-based coding platform named KidBright, based on these requirements: 1. making coding simple for novice learners through the use of graphical blocks with Thai and English support; 2. inspiring young students to develop creative embedded applications with minimal effort; and 3. providing sustainable support for coding education. KidBright is proposed as a coding learning tool that can motivate children to learn to code and develop embedded system projects using its block-based coding environment, the KidBright IDE, in conjunction with its embedded device, the KidBright board. KidBright is distinguished from other embedded programming platforms due to the deployment of a dedicated software framework as the backend of the KidBright IDE. In this article, we introduce KidBright and present the design, architecture, and demonstrations of the software framework, the key roles of which are to conceal low-level hardware issues from learners and to enable makers to develop new command blocks and hardware peripherals in support of KidBright. We claim that, with this particular design, KidBright can help support coding education sustainably. In particular, we present how a small research team introduces coding to a large number of learners who have little or no coding experience, resulting in an impact on coding education in the country.
Probabilistic Analysis of Slope against Uncertain Soil Parameters
Authors: Chuaiwate Pisanu , Jaritngam Saravut , Panedpojaman Pattamad , Konkong Nirut
Published: November 2022

The purpose of this article was to investigate the influence of uncertain soil parameters on slope stability problems using the probability method. The most important soil instability is probably the inherent spatial variability of soil properties and its influence on slope safety factors. The probability method is recognized for its validity both in practice and academic research. This method of geotechnical risk management involves uncertain parameters. In this study, randomly selected uncertain parameters were combined with traditional analysis using Bishop’s simple methodology and Monte Carlo simulation. The minimum safety factor and critical slip surface of the slope stability were analyzed by Bishop’s simple method. The influence of uncertain soil parameters was analyzed by the back analysis method with Monte Carlo simulation. The calculation was controlled by a critical slip surface, and the safety factor was equal to 1. The results of the analysis show the minimum safety factor and the significant slippery surface of slope stability with the original soil strength parameters. The new soil strength parameters were recommended by Monte Carlo simulation that was used for improving the soil strength parameters in construction. In addition, probability analysis can identify an insufficient understanding of groundwater level distribution and that the assumption of a uniform distribution increases the probability of failure. Governments can use the results of water level analysis in flood warnings and flood management projects to reduce risks to life and property.
Construction of Ecological Security Pattern for Plateau Lake Based on MSPA–MCR Model: A Case Study of Dianchi Lake Area
Authors: Zhou Shaokun , Song Yuhong , Li Yijiao , Wang Jing , Zhang Lan
Published: November 2022

The construction of ecological security patterns is an effective means to improve ecological environment quality, protect regional biodiversity, and alleviate the landscape fragmentation caused by urbanization in plateau lake cities. Taking the Dianchi Lake area as an example, we used the morphological spatial pattern analysis method (MSPA) and the minimum cumulative resistance model (MCR) to construct a comprehensive resistance surface, ecological corridor network, and ecological security pattern for the study area. Firstly, we selected 12 ecological sources with more than 1000 hm2, PC, IIC index more than 1, and high habitat quality and connectivity from the study area, including the Dianchi lake body and the mountain forests in the south, north, and west. The overall habitat quality in the eastern region was poor. Secondly, the regional comprehensive resistance value was 1.0925–4.5395. The comprehensive resistance surface showed that the influence of human activities in the region was strong, and the connectivity between important sources was poor. Thirdly, we identified 26 important corridors with interaction force values higher than 50, mostly mountain corridors, between sources that were close to one another and over 40 general corridors with interaction force values lower than 50 in urban built-up areas, most of which were river corridors. Fourthly, by identifying five potential sources and 43 potential corridors in the eastern region, we improved the ecological network function and overall connectivity. The α index (loop pass degree), β index (line point rate), and γ index (connectivity degree) were 2.895, 5.5, and 2.2 before optimization and 3.206, 6.412, and 2.422 after optimization, respectively. Lastly, the “ridge lines” and “valley lines” were used to screen the ecological nodes in our ecological network model and construct a “one core, three regions, and one belt” ecological security pattern by combining the geographical characteristics of the research region and the local policy planning guidance. We also provided ecological control, restoration, and construction suggestions based on the corridor plans of other administrative regions and the different types of source area.
Analyzing Reliability and Maintainability of Crawler Dozer BD155 Transmission Failure Using Markov Method and Total Productive Maintenance: A Novel Case Study for Improvement Productivity
Authors: Bhushan Kartick , Chattopadhyaya Somnath , Sharma Shubham , Sharma Kamal , Li Changhe , Zhang Yanbin , Eldin Elsayed Mohamed Tag
Published: November 2022

Surface mining is the world’s most costly industry due to its enormous expenses. Reduced production is forcing mining companies to automate their equipment, predominantly heavy earth mining machinery (HEMMs), for example, dump trucks, shovels, and dozers. The backbone of pit mining is the crawler dozer, commonly known as a dozer. Crawler dozers are tracked earth-moving machines with metal blades positioned in front for pushing materials such as rocks, soil, etc. In order to survive the harsh competition, dozers must be durable and adequately maintained. Crawler dozers work under challenging conditions to avoid production delays that result in losses such as breakdowns, transmission failures, and other issues in mining operations. Transmission failures, among other issues with dozers, are one of the hardest to resolve. This study evaluates the reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) of a BD155 crawler dozer transmission using failure and repair data and the Markov method. A realistic case study on (BD155) transmission failure and associated subsystems has been performed. Potential approaches and alternatives are also identified to increase dependability and performance. This article also discusses best maintenance practices for minimizing transmission failures and boosting productivity. The availability of the BD155 increases to 71% from 62% using proper planning and maintenance.
Impact of Industrial Intelligence on Total Factor Productivity
Authors: An Ke , Shan Yike , Shi Sheng
Published: November 2022

Industrial intelligence is gaining more prominence in the new era of the technical revolution. This paper conducts an empirical test based on the panel data of 30 Chinese provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) from 2006 to 2017. Firstly, the stochastic frontier analysis developed from the transcendental logarithmic production function is applied to calculate the total factor productivity of 30 provinces in China. The fluctuation of the total factor productivity is employed to reflect the quality of economic development. Secondly, the multilevel mediation model is applied to conduct the empirical test. Then, the robustness and endogeny of the conclusions are tested, and a further discussion is finally made, respectively, for eastern, central and western China. The results show that: (1) Industrial intelligence has a promoting effect on the improvement of total factor productivity. (2) Industrial intelligence can increase the demand for highly skilled labor and reduce the demand for low-skilled labor, but it has no significant impact on the demand for medium-skilled labor. (3) Industrial intelligence influences the improvement of total factor productivity through labor force structure.
The Environmental Significance of Contaminants of Concern in the Soil–Vegetable Interface: Sources, Accumulation, Health Risks, and Mitigation through Biochar
Authors: Pandey Mohineeta , Tirkey Astha , Tiwari Ankesh , Lee Sang , Dubey Rashmi , Kim Ki , Pandey Sudhir
Published: November 2022

Vegetable consumption is considered as an important part of the human diet as it serves as an essential source of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals. In this regard, the demand for new technologies and ideas in the agricultural sector has grown steadily to help expand the production of vegetable crops. The uptake and accumulation of trace elements (TEs) and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) as contaminants in vegetables have been accelerated by man-made activities. The dietary intake of these contaminated vegetables often poses significant human health risks. To counteract this, mitigation strategies in the form of environmental amendments have received increasing attention in the last decade. The incorporation of amendments in the form of biochar has been shown to reduce the uptake of contaminants in the soil and their accumulation in vegetables. The present review is organized to offer an overview of the occurrence and sources of important contaminants of concern particularly associated with vegetable plants. The factors influencing their uptake and accumulation in the edible parts of vegetable plants are discussed briefly along with the human health risk imposed via the consumption of contaminated vegetables. Furthermore, this review also explores feasible mitigation strategies through the use of biochar for these contaminants, along with future perspectives for addressing this issue of food contamination.
Sustainable Fruit Growing: An Analysis of Differences in Apple Productivity in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir
Authors: Shah Zahoor Ahmad , Dar Mushtaq Ahmad , Dar Eajaz Ahmad , Obianefo Chukwujekwu A. , Bhat Arif Hussain , Ali Mohammed Tauseef , El-Sharnouby Mohamed , Shukry Mustafa , Kesba Hosny , Sayed Samy
Published: November 2022

Apple is considered as an important fruit crop in temperate regions of the world including India. It is one of the major fruit crops, with a considerable area under cultivation throughout the world and a large associated population. Despite this, the productivity of this important fruit is not up to the expected standard. To gain a practical understanding of the low productivity of apple fruit and its probable causes, a study was undertaken to analyze productivity differentials and their determinants to enable sustainable cultivation. A multistage sampling procedure was adopted to select districts, horticultural zones, and villages, and data were collected from randomly selected apple growers (300). The collected data were empirically analyzed with simple descriptive statistics, logistic regression, polynomial plots, and inferential statistics such as t-tests. The results indicated that apple yields followed a sigmoidal pattern, with the average yield per hectare for the current season as 9.43 t/ha, which depends on experience, education, annual income, and the adoption rate of apple growers. This yield average was significantly lower than the yield of the previous season at a probability level of 1%. To determine the root cause of low productivity, different constraints were studied, creating yield disparities in different quarters; hence, their percentage and value contributions (socioeconomic 11.1%, credit 4.2%, pests and diseases 0.05%, technology 0.9%, extension 2.0%, and market 3.5%) were also established in the study. The study will be of great interest to the relevant authorities in the study area, and the areas globally having similar congenial agro-climatic conditions, who are seeking to address the issues raised in this study through sustainable policy decisions. The different constraints that were the fundamental reasons for low productivity and that prevented the apple growers from adopting innovative techniques/improved practices to increase their yields need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) and Trust Factors for the Continuance Intention of Mobile Payment Services
Authors: Kaewkitipong Laddawan , Chen Charlie , Han Jiangxue , Ractham Peter
Published: November 2022

The human–computer interaction (HCI) for mobile applications is becoming increasingly important as mobile applications have become an integral part of everyday life. Mobile app developers need to continuously improve the users’ experience to fulfill their conditions, which in turn, can trigger the purchase decision. Trust is another important factor, driving users to adopt mobile apps and use them to make online purchases. However, mobile app developers constantly face the dilemma between user trust and HCI experiences. This study’s primary purpose is to investigate the HCI and trust factors for the continued use of mobile payment apps and their services. Based on the human–computer interaction, task–technology fit, and IS success theories, an integrative framework is proposed to examine the relationships between continuance intention and its antecedents. An online survey was conducted to collect data from 544 mobile users. The results of the analyses indicate that trust plays a more significant role than HCI in increasing the users’ continuance usage of mobile payment services. As for improving HCI experiences for users, this study shows that system quality plays the most important role, followed by the skill of using mobile payment services and the perceived task–technology fit (TTF) for using the services. Information quality does not significantly impact the enhancement of positive HCI experiences. The results provide insights for the developers of mobile payment services to improve the user experience.
Critical Instability Criterion of Large-Diameter Shafts in Deep Topsoil Based on Ultimate Strain Analysis
Authors: Cong Yu , Liu Zhulan , Wang Xiaoshan , Chen Qiang , Wang Lei , Kang Fang , Abi Erdi
Published: November 2022

Shaft stability plays an important role in mine safety. Most of the previous studies focused on the stress analysis of shafts using monitoring data. Since the shaft wall state in the deep topsoil stratum is still not clear, the ultimate analysis method is adopted to study the bearing capacity and the strain of a large-diameter shaft wall in Yanzhou coal mine. First, the bearing capacity of the shaft wall is discovered. The value of the auxiliary shaft, main shaft and ventilating shaft is 22.22 MPa, 22.07 MPa and 21.73 MPa, respectively. Then, the ultimate strain of the shaft wall is obtained; the designed ultimate strain corresponding to those shafts is 1.468‰, 1.458‰ and 1.435‰, while the working ultimate strain is 2.078‰, 1.800‰ and 2.638‰, respectively. Since the working values are greater than the design values, the shaft walls need to be reinforced, which is consistent with the field situation. Finally, numerical analysis based on the finite difference method (FDM) is performed to investigate the evolution process of ultimate strain on the shaft wall. The results show the ultimate strain could provide a theoretical basis for safe service and management of a large-diameter shaft in a deep topsoil area.
Influence of Technology on Perceived Obsolescence though Product Design Properties
Authors: Pardo-Vicente Miguel-Angel , Camacho-Magriñan Patricia , Pavon-Dominguez Pablo
Published: November 2022

Formal or perceived obsolescence describes the fact that users decide to stop using a product, even though it still fulfils its function. This is because the design is perceived as obsolete, which also leads to negative product semantics. This is often the case with products that are frequently updated to incorporate the latest technology. The aim of this paper is to understand the influence of technology on the perception of design. To this end, 297 people were surveyed about their perception of formal obsolescence in regard to different elements of a car and a smartphone, based on their design properties: shape, colour and material. In addition, technological attributes (some of which were dystopian) were added to these products to assess the influence of current or obsolete technology on participants’ perception of obsolescence. Possible correlations were assessed by means of a chi-square analysis. The results show that technology does not influence all design properties in the same way, with shape being more important than colour or material. This is especially true for multimedia products, such as vehicle displays or smartphones. The results of this paper can help design engineers to create products that last longer, while also reducing their environmental impact.
Performance Evaluation of Aged Asphalt Pavement Binder through Rejuvenators
Authors: Yaseen Ghulam , Jamal Arshad , Almoshageh Meshal , Alharbi Fawaz , Awan Hammad Hussain
Published: November 2022

Natural resources are declining due to rising infrastructure, renovation, demolition, and recycling of existing structures that necessitate sustainable development. It urges the researchers to modify the aged asphalt binder in the recycling to enhance the performance life of asphaltic pavements. The aim of this research study is to reutilize recycled materials through rejuvenation. This study utilizes the Cereclor to rejuvenate the aged binder collected from recycling and explore its transformation by comparing it with parent binder of similar grade. Different types of tests, such as basic physical properties, saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes (SARA) analysis for the fractional composition, bending beam rheometer (BBR), and dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) for rheological properties are applied to investigate these properties and effect on the performance. The results show that rejuvenator improved the fractional composition of the aged asphalt binder. It significantly improved the physical properties of the binder. The asphaltene contents are reduced up to 18% in the fractional composition through the addition of the optimum dosage (7.5%) of the rejuvenator. The colloidal instability index was decreased from 0.74 to 0.43 value by changing its unstable to stable colloidal structure. In addition, rejuvenator improved the rheological properties at a wide range of temperatures. The rejuvenator has the potential to soften the aged binder through optimum dosage (7.5%), as indicated in the results of fractional composition, colloidal structure, and rheological properties. Furthermore, it has been concluded that it can be utilized as a rejuvenator in the recycling industry to resolve the recycled materials disposal issues and lead to promote sustainable development.
Willingness to Pay for Weather-Indexed Insurance: Evidence from Cambodian Rice Farmers
Authors: Wang Qingxia , Soksophors Yim , Barlis Angelica , Mushtaq Shahbaz , Phanna Khieng , Swaans Cornelis , Rodulfo Danny
Published: November 2022

This study examines Cambodian rice farmers’ willingness to pay for the weather-indexed insurance (WII) proposed to manage the financial impact of shifting monsoon rainfall patterns in Battambang Province in north-western Cambodia. Detailed interviews are conducted in the districts of Bavel and Thma Koul. We first analyse farmer respondents’ socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, climate change perceptions and experience, risk attitudes, and awareness of insurance. The binary logistic model is used to identify factors that significantly impact farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for WII. Our results show that farmers in general had lower awareness of how to use innovative financial products to adapt to extreme weather. The results also demonstrate that farmer respondents’ marital status, the number of off-farm labourers, and the farm size have a positive effect, whereas the number of children in the household has a negative effect on farmers’ WTP for WII. Specifically, being married, an increase of one off-farm labourer, and an increase of one hectare (ha) of farmland increase the probability of demand for WII by 38.6%, 21.4%, and 5.1%, respectively. In contrast, an increase of one child reduces the probability of WII demand by 9.7%. We also identify challenges confronted by Cambodian farmers for participating in the proposed WII scheme and provide relevant recommendations to overcome these challenges.
Activated Carbons Produced from Hydrothermally Carbonized Prickly Pear Seed Waste
Authors: Hsini Nourhen , Saadattalab Vahid , Wang Xia , Gharred Nawres , Dhaouadi Hatem , Dridi-Dhaouadi Sonia , Hedin Niklas
Published: November 2022

The agro-sector generates organic waste of various kinds, which potentially could be used to prepare functional materials, lessen environmental problems, and enhance circularity. In this context, the hypothesis that was put forward in this work is that prickly pear seed waste from the Tunisian agro-food industry could be used to prepare activated carbons. The prickly pear seed waste was first hydrothermally carbonized and the resulting hydrochar was activated in CO2 at 800 °C. The yield of the hydrothermal carbonization process is of importance, and it was the highest at intermediate dwell times and temperatures, which was ascribed to the re-precipitation of hydrochar particles on the heat-treated biomass. The hydrochars and activated carbons were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, Raman spectroscopy, and N2 and CO2 adsorption/desorption analyses. The activated carbons had micro- (<2 nm) and mesopores (2–50 nm), and specific surface areas and total pore volumes of about 400 m2 −1 and 0.21 cm3 g−1. The study showed that the prickly pear seed waste could be effectively transformed into both hydrochars and activated carbons and that is advisable to optimize the hydrothermal process for the mass yield. A life cycle analysis was performed to assess the environmental impact of the production of typical activated carbons using the approach of this study. Further studies could be focused on enhancing the properties of the activated carbons by further optimization of the activation process.
FRIDA, a Framework for Software Design, Applied in the Treatment of Children with Autistic Disorder
Authors: Constain Moreno Gustavo Eduardo , Collazos César A. , Bautista Susana , Moreira Fernando
Published: November 2022

The “FRIDA” framework is a guide for the agile development of accessible software for users with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as a tool for strengthening emotional and social skills in the treatment of autism. It is based on the use of accessible software for the development of emotional and social skills, and designed with a focus on the user with intellectual disabilities. A mixed quasi-experimental study is carried out with three focus groups: children with ASD, expert therapists in ASD treatments and software designers adapting the Design Thinking model for the co-creation of the functional characteristics of the software and its use in therapies. The findings and results show that using FRIDA facilitates the agile design of accessible apps by reducing their development time by 94% and increasing their usability level by more than 90%. This facilitates the treatment of people with ASD, especially in the development of emotional self-recognition skills and social adaptation. The experience applied collaborative design thinking models and agile software design methodologies, articulating knowledge between software developers, therapists, and families of users with ASD. Users were characterized separately, and the functionalities required for the software that would be developed and linked in the treatment of autism were identified.
The Synergy between Technological Development and Logistic Cooperation of Road Transport Companies
Authors: Vaičiūtė Kristina , Katinienė Aušra , Bureika Gintautas
Published: November 2022

In today’s world, with the acceleration of technological processes and the emergence of the wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, all production and service sectors, especially transport companies, are experiencing new challenges of technological development. The technological development of a transport company and the efficiency of road transport logistics depends on all the resources used and the latest implemented technologies. The authors analyse and evaluate the synergy of technological development and logistic cooperation. A synergy connection model is created to assess the interaction between logistic cooperation and technological development, and this synergy impacts the transport company’s activity. Three groups of factors are arranged for the defining of the level of synergy of logistics cooperation and technological development of road transport companies: the first, the influence of technological development on the effective use of IT; the second, the influence of technological development on the quality of innovative equipment; and third, the impact of technological development on the level of staff competence. The Alternative Hierarchy Processing (AHP) method was chosen to assess these factors’ importance as AHP enables quantifying the evaluation, i.e., gives numerical values for quality criteria. The synergy of transport company technological development and logistics cooperation is ensured mostly by the compatibility of transport system technologies and the technological literacy of logistic employees. It has been established that this factor is decisive for the formation of road transport companies’ technological development and logistic cooperation processes. Finally, the conclusions and recommendations are given.
Exploring the Heterocatalytic Proficiencies of ZnO Nanostructures in the Simultaneous Photo-Degradation of Chlorophenols
Authors: Chandio Ali Dad , Pato Abdul Hameed , Channa Iftikhar Ahmed , Gilani Sadaf Jamal , Shah Aqeel Ahmed , Ashfaq Jaweria , Buledi Jamil A. , Chandio Imran Ali , Jumah May Nasser Bin
Published: November 2022

The development of innovative technology for effective pollutant degradation is becoming more important as a result of major environmental issues. Here, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using facile and aqueous chemical growth routes. Analytical techniques such as scanning electron micrographs (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Zeta Seizer (ZS), and Zeta Potential were used to analyze the resultant nanoparticles (ZP). The ZnO reveals a nanocluster texture that has a medium scale of 27 nm and a surface charge (17 ± 3 mV) with a wurtzite phase and crystalline nature. Photo catalysts have a higher potential for the thermal disposal of chlorophenols pollutants due to their low cost and simple synthesis procedure. The as-prepared sample underwent photocatalysis for the simultaneous photo-degradation of PCP and TCP as a model dye under sunlight. The ZnO nanostructure exhibited an exceptional degradation of around 85–90% for PCP and TCP in the aqua liquid, with the lowest amount of catalyst dosage of 240–250 μg individually and simultaneously, over 3 min beneath the sun ray. The greater productivity of the ZnO nanostructure for natural deterioration during solar irradiation indicates that the aqueous chemical growth enables the creation of effective and affordable photocatalysts for the photodegradation of a variety of environmental contaminants.
Evaluating the Eligibility of Abandoned Agricultural Land for the Development of Wind Energy in Lithuania
Authors: Tumelienė Eglė , Sužiedelytė Visockienė Jūratė , Maliene Vida
Published: November 2022

Land requirements of wind power (WP) are often seen as a constraint to future broad-scale deployment. The aim of the study is to evaluate the eligibility of abandoned agricultural land (AAL) areas, covered with woody plants, for the development of wind energy (WE) in Lithuania. Agricultural land abandonment (ALA) has numerous negative aspects and its use for WE must be a profitable choice for the landowner, as for the energy developers also. A newly developed methodological approach, a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method known as TOPSIS (the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) was applied to select suitable areas for wind power plants (WPP). The authors have used various data sets, as follows: protected areas (reserves, parks) combined into one common geographic information system (GIS) layer, forest cadaster data, water (lakes, rivers) area layer; abandoned land area layer; buildings layer, taken from the Lithuania Georeferenced Data Base. The results were generated for the entire territory of Lithuania and separately for AAL using the algorithms of the open source QGIS program. The results showed that the central part of Lithuania is most suitable for the development of WE. However, ALA in this part is low, because of the high soil yield potential and suitable conditions for farming. According to the selection criteria, about 7% of AAL are suitable for WE, and more than 18% of AAL have an average suitability.
Research on the Influence of Different Types of Industrial Agglomeration on Ecological Efficiency in Western China
Authors: Gao Lei , Guo Junxuan , Wang Xu , Tian Yu , Wang Tielong , Zhang Jingran
Published: November 2022

In this study, we used the super-efficient global slacks-based measure of directional distance functions (SBM-DDF) model to evaluate the ecological efficiency and changes in 12 provinces in western China between 2006 and 2020. We then used two linear and nonlinear regression models to analyze in detail the influence mechanisms of different industrial agglomeration forms on the local ecological efficiency. The results show the following: the overall ecological efficiency in the western China region shows a dynamic upward trend. The ecological efficiency of western China is quite different, with the overall characteristics of “high in south and low in north”, “slow in south and fast in north”, and “three-way polarization.” Different types of industrial agglomeration in western China have obvious differences in terms of ecological efficiency. Both specialized agglomeration and unrelated diversification agglomeration in western China have a significant negative impact on ecological efficiency. The relationship between agglomeration-related diversity and ecological efficiency in the western region is of the “U” type. This study’s results can also provide a reference for the formulation of industrial transformation and ecological protection policies in the implementation process of the second round of the western development strategy. This study thus has fundamental significance in the promotion of the second round of western development work.