bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Instrumented Printed Insert for Continuous Monitoring of Distal Limb Motion in Suction and Elevated Vacuum Sockets
Authors: Coburn Kendrick A. , DeGrasse Nicholas S. , Mertens Joseph C. , Allyn Katheryn J. , McCarthy Nicholas K. , Ballesteros Daniel , Garbini Joseph L. , Sanders Joan E.
Published: December 2022

A suction or elevated vacuum prosthetic socket that loses vacuum pressure may cause excessive limb motion, putting the user at risk of skin irritation, gait instability and injury. The purpose of this research was to develop a method to monitor distal limb motion and then test a small group of participants wearing suction sockets to identify variables that strongly influenced motion. A thin plastic insert holding two inductive sensor antennae was designed and printed. Inserts were placed in suction sockets made for four participants who regularly used suction or elevated vacuum suspension. Participants wore a liner with a trace amount of iron powder in the elastomer that served as a distance target for the sensors. In-lab testing demonstrated that the sensed distance increased when participants added socks and decreased when they removed socks, demonstrating proper sensor performance. Results from take-home testing (3–5 days) suggest that research investigation into cyclic limb motion for sock presence v. absence should be pursued, as should the influence of bodily position between bouts of walking. These variables may have an important influence on suspension. Long-term monitoring may provide clinical insight to improve fit and to enhance suction and elevated vacuum technology.
Development and Reliability of a Questionnaire Assessing Stress, Coping, and Empathy (SCOPE) in Occupational Settings: Preliminary Evidence from Veterinarians
Authors: Di Gennaro Gianfranco , Pigaiani Yolande , Zocca Anastasia , Balestrieri Matteo , Colizzi Marco
Published: December 2022

Workplaces can be associated with occupational stress, detrimental consequences in terms of loss of health and reduced psychosocial well-being. Importantly, employees may be particularly at risk of poorer well-being during times of adversity at work, when not able to apply adaptive coping strategies and adopt a more empathetic approach. This study aimed to develop a scale to estimate occupational stress both in terms of situational and individual components, by performing item selection, internal reliability assessment, and investigation of the ceiling/floor effect. The target population consisted of veterinarians (n = 116), based on evidence of high risk of occupational stress and related mental distress. Out of twenty initial candidate entries, exploratory factor analysis retained fifteen items consisting of three domains related to occupational stress, copying strategies, and empathy (SCOPE). The SCOPE scale demonstrated good internal consistency as a whole (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.79) and when considering the three subscales (stress, 0.85; coping, 0.77; and empathy, 0.71). On a possible range from 15 (worst adjustment) to 75 (best adjustment), the sample mean performance was 51.68 (SD, 8.50). Preliminary evidence indicated that the SCOPE questionnaire may reveal differential effects of type of work on levels of occupational stress and related coping and empathy skills.
Isaac Qatraya and the Logical Problem of Evil
Authors: Collin James Henry
Published: December 2022

Sterba has recently produced a searching and significant version of the argument from evil. Here, I set out aspects of the view of God, suffering, and the afterlife articulated by Isaac Qatraya (also known as Isaac of Nineveh and Isaac the Syrian), and argue both that Isaac’s view is not undermined by this version of the argument from evil, and that it is not subject to at least some of the objections Sterba raises to soul-making or saint-making theodicies. I end with some remarks on the relevance of the discussion to ’sceptical theist’ approaches to the problem of evil.
A Home for the ‘Wandering Aramean’—In Germany?
Authors: Speliopoulos Elke B.
Published: December 2022

Migration to Germany has been a fact of life for the average German since the 1960s. Immigrants started arriving from countries like Turkey, Spain, Greece, or Italy as a post-war labor force was invited to Germany to address workforce shortages. Many of these immigrants ultimately brought their families to live in Germany. One group of these newcomers was Aramean families of Syriac Orthodox faith, forced to flee the Tur Abdin region in southeast Turkey via Syria, Lebanon, and Northern Iraq. This paper will discuss the background and impetus for moving to the West for this immigrant group in detail. It will review the impacts on the life of devout Syriac Orthodox families while living in Germany, a secular country. It will also take an initial look at whether evangelical communities in Germany can come alongside this group, still suffering from a different kind of persecution: the “otherness” of living in Germany.
Atmospheric Optical Characteristics in the Area of 30–400 km
Authors: Shevtsov Boris M. , Perezhogin Andrey N. , Seredkin Ilya N.
Published: December 2022

Extremely weak lidar reflections in the thermosphere, which correlate with ionosonde data, were detected in 2008 and 2017 over Kamchatka during seasons of low aerosol filling of the atmosphere at solar activity minima. Here, these reflections are considered in comparison with mesospheric and stratospheric lidar signals that makes it possible to determine favorable conditions for thermospheric lidar observations. In 2014, it was shown that lines of transitions between the excited states of atomic nitrogen ions fall within the 532 nm lidar signal emission band, and in 2017, lidar reflections in the thermosphere were simultaneously obtained at 561 and 532 nm excited transitions of atomic oxygen and nitrogen ions, thereby the resonant nature of thermospheric lidar reflections was established and confirmed. Here, using lidar signals at wavelengths of 561 and 532 nm in the altitude range of 30–400 km, by solving the inverse problem, we restore the light scattering coefficients corresponding to these wavelengths that makes it possible to compare the optical characteristics of the thermosphere, mesosphere, and upper stratosphere and to determine the relationship between resonant, Rayleigh, and aerosol light scattering at different heights of the atmosphere. In conclusion, using the scattering coefficients in the thermosphere, we find the cross-sections of light scattering at the 561 and 532 nm transitions of atomic oxygen and nitrogen ions and explain why the scattering coefficients for O+, 561 nm are less than for N+, 532 nm, while the concentration of O+ is two orders of magnitude higher than N+. The results obtained here are of interest for understanding the ionization effect of solar activity on the optical characteristics of the atmosphere that determine weather and climate changes.
Increased Dietary Protein to Energy Ratio in Pre-Weaning Lambs Increases Average Daily Gain and Cortical Bone Thickness in the Tibia
Authors: Gibson Michaela J. , Adams Brooke R. , Back Penny J. , Dittmer Keren E. , Herath Hitihamy M. G. P. , Pain Sarah J. , Kenyon Paul R. , Morel Patrick C. H. , Blair Hugh T. , Rogers Chris W.
Published: December 2022

The objective of this study was to examine if diets differing in crude protein (CP) to metabolizable energy (ME) ratio (CP:ME) pre-weaning altered peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) measures of bone mass and strength in lambs. The left hind leg of lambs were available at the completion of a trial designed to examine the effect that altering the CP:ME ratio in milk replacer had on growth and body composition of pre-weaned lambs reared artificially. Treatments consisted of either normal commercial milk replacer (CMR, n = 10) containing 240 g/kg CP and 21.89 MJ/kg ME, high protein milk replacer (HPM, n = 9) containing CMR with additional milk protein concentrate to reach 478.7 g/kg CP and 19.15 MJ/kg ME or a mix of normal milk replacer and milk protein concentrate adjusted twice-weekly to match optimal CP:ME requirements (MB, n = 8) based on maintenance plus 300 g/d liveweight gain. At 22 kg live weight, lambs were euthanized and the tibia including the surrounding muscle was collected and scanned using pQCT at the mid-diaphysis. Lambs on the HPM and MB diets had a greater average daily gain (p < 0.01). There were limited differences in bone morphology and muscle mass, though notably the higher protein diets (MB and HPM) were associated with greater cortical thickness (p < 0.05) and, therefore, potentially greater peak bone mass at maturity This finding demonstrates that pre-weaning diets, and the protein content in particular, may influence the developmental potential of long bones and attainment of peak bone mass at maturity.
Towards Accurate Ground Plane Normal Estimation from Ego-Motion
Authors: Zhang Jiaxin , Sui Wei , Zhang Qian , Chen Tao , Yang Cong
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we introduce a novel approach for ground plane normal estimation of wheeled vehicles. In practice, the ground plane is dynamically changed due to braking and unstable road surface. As a result, the vehicle pose, especially the pitch angle, is oscillating from subtle to obvious. Thus, estimating ground plane normal is meaningful since it can be encoded to improve the robustness of various autonomous driving tasks (e.g., 3D object detection, road surface reconstruction, and trajectory planning). Our proposed method only uses odometry as input and estimates accurate ground plane normal vectors in real time. Particularly, it fully utilizes the underlying connection between the ego pose odometry (ego-motion) and its nearby ground plane. Built on that, an Invariant Extended Kalman Filter (IEKF) is designed to estimate the normal vector in the sensor’s coordinate. Thus, our proposed method is simple yet efficient and supports both camera- and inertial-based odometry algorithms. Its usability and the marked improvement of robustness are validated through multiple experiments on public datasets. For instance, we achieve state-of-the-art accuracy on KITTI dataset with the estimated vector error of 0.39°.
A Survey of 3D Indoor Localization Systems and Technologies
Authors: Sesyuk Andrey , Ioannou Stelios , Raspopoulos Marios
Published: December 2022

Indoor localization has recently and significantly attracted the interest of the research community mainly due to the fact that Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) typically fail in indoor environments. In the last couple of decades, there have been several works reported in the literature that attempt to tackle the indoor localization problem. However, most of this work is focused solely on two-dimensional (2D) localization, while very few papers consider three dimensions (3D). There is also a noticeable lack of survey papers focusing on 3D indoor localization; hence, in this paper, we aim to carry out a survey and provide a detailed critical review of the current state of the art concerning 3D indoor localization including geometric approaches such as angle of arrival (AoA), time of arrival (ToA), time difference of arrival (TDoA), fingerprinting approaches based on Received Signal Strength (RSS), Channel State Information (CSI), Magnetic Field (MF) and Fine Time Measurement (FTM), as well as fusion-based and hybrid-positioning techniques. We provide a variety of technologies, with a focus on wireless technologies that may be utilized for 3D indoor localization such as WiFi, Bluetooth, UWB, mmWave, visible light and sound-based technologies. We critically analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each approach/technology in 3D localization.
Digital Image Decoder for Efficient Hardware Implementation
Authors: Savić Goran , Prokin Milan , Rajović Vladimir , Prokin Dragana
Published: December 2022

Increasing the resolution of digital images and the frame rate of video sequences leads to an increase in the amount of required logical and memory resources necessary for digital image and video decompression. Therefore, the development of new hardware architectures for digital image decoder with a reduced amount of utilized logical and memory resources become a necessity. In this paper, a digital image decoder for efficient hardware implementation, has been presented. Each block of the proposed digital image decoder has been described. Entropy decoder, decoding probability estimator, dequantizer and inverse subband transformer (parts of the digital image decoder) have been developed in such way which allows efficient hardware implementation with reduced amount of utilized logic and memory resources. It has been shown that proposed hardware realization of inverse subband transformer requires 20% lower memory capacity and uses less logic resources compared with the best state-of-the-art realizations. The proposed digital image decoder has been implemented in a low-cost FPGA device and it has been shown that it requires at least 32% less memory resources in comparison to the other state-of-the-art decoders which can process high-definition frame size. The proposed solution also requires effectively lower memory size than state-of-the-art architectures which process frame size or tile size smaller than high-definition size. The presented digital image decoder has maximum operating frequency comparable with the highest maximum operating frequencies among the state-of-the-art solutions.
Measurement of Restrained and Unrestrained Shrinkage of Reinforced Concrete Using Distributed Fibre Optic Sensors
Authors: Yager Jacob S. , Hoult Neil A. , Bentz Evan C. , Woods Joshua E.
Published: December 2022

Shrinkage is an important component of the behaviour of reinforced concrete (RC) structures, however, the number of variables that affect shrinkage make it a complex time-dependent phenomenon. Additionally, as new concrete materials with lower embodied carbon gain popularity, there is a need for an in-depth understanding into their shrinkage behaviour before they can be widely adopted by industry. Currently, the shrinkage behaviour of concrete is studied using discrete measurements on small-scale unrestrained prisms. Distributed fibre optic sensing (DFOS) potentially provides a method of measuring both restrained (with reinforcement) and unrestrained (without reinforcement) shrinkage in both small-scale specimens and structural elements. In the current study, methods of measuring distributed unrestrained shrinkage strains were developed and evaluated, and the restrained shrinkage strains in different types of structural members were studied. Unrestrained shrinkage strains were measured using fibres optic cables embedded in small concrete prisms, while restrained shrinkage strains were measured with fibres bonded to the longitudinal reinforcement. Unrestrained shrinkage strains were found to be highly variable (as large as 3800 microstrain range) depending on location, but further research needs to be undertaken to account for end effects, early-stage shrinkage, and bond between the fibre optic cable and the concrete. Restrained shrinkage strains from structural members revealed non-uniform shrinkage strain distributions along member length due to functional grading as well as high supplementary cementitious material concretes, suggesting that shrinkage models will need to account for this variability.
LPAI—A Complete AIoT Framework Based on LPWAN Applicable to Acoustic Scene Classification Scenarios
Authors: Jing Xinru , Tian Xin , Du Chong
Published: December 2022

Deploying artificial intelligence on edge nodes of Low-Power Wide Area Networks can significantly reduce network transmission volumes, event response latency, and overall network power consumption. However, the edge nodes in LPWAN bear limited computing power and storage space, and researchers have found it challenging to improve the recognition capability of the nodes using sensor data from the environment. In particular, the domain-shift problem in LPWAN is challenging to overcome. In this paper, a complete AIoT system framework referred to as LPAI is presented. It is the first generic framework for implementing AIoT technology based on LPWAN applicable to acoustic scene classification scenarios. LPAI overcomes the domain-shift problem, which enables resource-constrained edge nodes to continuously improve their performance using real data to become more adaptive to the environment. For efficient use of limited resources, the edge nodes independently select representative data and transmit it back to the cloud. Moreover, the model is iteratively retrained on the cloud using the few-shot uploaded data. Finally, the feasibility of LPAI is analyzed, and simulation experiments on the public ASC dataset provide validation that our proposed framework can improve the recognition accuracy by as little as 5% using 85 actual sensor data points.
‘You Know Them All’—Trust, Cooperation, and Cultural Volunteering in Rural Areas in Germany
Authors: Le Thi Huyen Trang , Kolleck Nina
Published: December 2022

(1) Background: Rural areas are characterised by a higher number of volunteers compared to urban centres in Germany. In this context, cultural and arts education is one of the largest voluntary sectors. However, an increasing decline in (cultural) volunteering can be observed. To counteract the decrease, it is important to strengthen regional cooperation and social networks, which are based on trust. The connection between trust, volunteering, and social networks has already been examined, but we still do not fully understand the emergence of trust in the link of cultural education cooperation and networks in rural areas. (2) Methods: A total of 34 semi-structured interviews in combination with egocentric network maps were conducted in four rural regions. The interview data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using qualitative content analysis. (3) Results: Four dimensions of trust-building were identified: 1. presence and spatial proximity, 2. multiplexity, 3. third party, and 4. community spirit.
Aside from Deterministic Prophecies, What Is Missing in the Contemporary Debate on Automation and the Future of Work? The Case of Automated Vehicles
Authors: Silva Daniel , Cunha Liliana
Published: December 2022

Debates around the future of work have (re-)emerged strongly as concerns about a new era of workplace automation grow from a plethora of narratives estimating the potential of machine substitution. This research aims to analyse how these perspectives dictate current discussions based on taken-for-granted assumptions about work. The analysis takes the lens of work psychology and delves into the case of automated vehicles (AVs), an oft-debated form of automation by its implications for the transport workforce. We explore how the debate is subdued to a deterministic “metrological universe”, overloading the present epoch with certainty about imaginaries of “driverless futures”. However, when we move our attention beyond the quantitative speculation of future employment and connect automation with the concrete socio-professional realities of transport workers, such imaginaries are deconstructed while key issues regarding the quality of work with AVs emerge. By arguing that such issues remain “forgotten” in dominant technological discussions, bipartite and tripartite actions towards decent work are gathered, considering the institutional constellation in road transport. As future research, we propose to challenge those governance models predicated on the language of AV acceptance, which ultimately places the responsibility of managing the uncertainties that AVs hold on the shoulders of transport workers.
Water Chemical Characteristics and Safety Assessment of Irrigation Water in the Northern Part of Hulunbeier City, Grassland Area in Eastern China
Authors: Su Wanli , Feng Feisheng , Yang Ke , Zhou Yong , Zhang Jiqiang , Sun Jie
Published: December 2022

Hulun Buir Grassland is a world-famous natural pasture. The Chenbalhu Banner coalfield, the hinterland of the grassland, is located on the west slope of the Great Khingan Mountains and on the north bank of the Hailar River in China. The proven geological reserves of coal are 17 billion tons. Hulun Buir Grassland plays a role in the ecological barrier, regional coal industry, power transmission from west to east and power transmission from north to south. The proportion of local groundwater in irrigation, domestic and industrial production water sources is about 86%. The large-scale exploitation of coal resources and the continuous emergence of large unit and coal-fired power plants have consumed a large amount of local water resources, resulting in the decrease of the local groundwater level and changing the natural flow field of groundwater. This paper studies the background hydrochemical values and evaluates the irrigatibility of the whole Chenbaerhu Banner coalfield, and studies the impact of coal industry chains such as mining areas and coal chemical plants on the hydrochemistry characteristics of groundwater. The above two studies provide important guiding values for guiding local economic structure planning, groundwater resources exploitation and ecological governance. The study found that Na+ and HCO3− in the groundwater in the study area occupy a dominant position. Referring to the comparison of the lowest values of three types of water standards in the Quality Standards for Groundwater (GB/T14848-2017), the amount of NH4+, Na+ and NO2− exceeding the standard is close to more than 30%. The main chemical types of river water in the study area are HCO3− Na and HCO3− Ca·Na, the main chemical types of surface water are HCO3− Na and HCO3− Na·Ca, and the main chemical type of confined water is HCO3−Na. The formation of hydrochemical types is mainly affected by the dissolution, filtration and evaporation of rocks, specifically the dissolution and filtration of sodium and calcium salts. The chemical correlation analysis of groundwater shows that there are abnormal values at many points in the study area. Further combining with the horizontal comparison of surface human activities in the study area, it shows that the influence scope of coal mine production and coal chemical plants on groundwater is extremely limited. The local groundwater is mainly polluted by a large quantity of local cattle and sheep manure, industrial and domestic sewage pollution and farmland fertilizer.
Improvement of Farmers’ Livelihood through Choi Jhal (Piper chaba)-Based Agroforestry System: Instance from the Northern Region of Bangladesh
Authors: Hemel Syed Aflatun Kabir , Hasan Mohammad Kamrul , Wadud Md. Abdul , Akter Rojina , Roshni Nasima Akther , Islam Md. Tariqul , Yasmin Afsana , Akter Keya
Published: December 2022

One of the most significant linchpins of the socioeconomic and livelihood milieu for rural farmers around the world is agroforestry. Several agroforestry practices are being employed by farmers in Bangladesh’s northern region, with Choi Jhal (Piper chaba)-based agroforestry being one of the most prevalent. Numerous researches have been conducted in different regions of Bangladesh to determine the potential livelihood for farmers who engage in diversified agroforestry, but hardly any comprehensive research has been carried out considering the aforementioned system as one of the most sustainable practices. To address this knowledge void, the present research was conducted in the Chinai union of Rajarhat Upazila in the Kurigram district of Bangladesh, surveying 105 Piper chaba farmers to assess the impact of this existing agroforestry system on their livelihood predicament. A mixed-method approach, including secondary data review, questionnaire survey, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and direct observations, were used for data collection and triangulation. To evaluate livelihoods and the problem severity, the Livelihood Improvement Index (LII) and the Problem Facing Index (FPI) were utilized, respectively. The findings demonstrate that the most suitable tree for Piper chaba cultivation is the betel nut (74.3%), and the majority (64.8%) of farmers have 41 to 90 Piper chaba plants. By strengthening farmers’ constant availability of food, fruit, timber, fodder, and fuelwood, this agroforestry system has markedly increased the sustainability of their livelihoods. This practice is thought to boost farmers’ livelihood capitals, with natural capital improving the most, while social capitals improve the least. However, eight major problems have been identified that farmers face while growing the crop and these must be remedied if different livelihood capitals are to be vastly improved. This research gives a full insight into the current Piper chaba production scenario and livelihood dynamics of local farmers, allowing some bold propositions to be formulated for further upgrading of their subsistence.
Research Productivity in Terms of Output, Impact, and Collaboration for University Researchers in Saudi Arabia: SciVal Analytics and t-Tests Statistical Based Approach
Authors: Alqahtani Mohammed S. , Abbas Mohamed , Muqeet Mohammed Abdul , Almohiy Hussain M.
Published: December 2022

Analysis of the research productivity for any university is so important in order to raise its international ranking. Rankings offer universities evidence that the education they deliver is of high quality and top standard. A student’s level of dedication to their studies directly affects the outcome of their academic career. Sitting in on a lecture at a top-five rated institution is far less significant than actively contributing (engaging with classmates, doing research, etc.) at a top-50 ranked university. Using a SciVal dataset of 13 university entities across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over a span of 5 years (2017–2021), we conducted a scientometric study for three categories, namely Output (O), Impact (I), and Collaboration (C), incorporating a total of 18 features. The methodology for selecting universities in this research depended on selecting the best universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in terms of the number of published research papers and the number of citations. This article aims to forecast the pattern of development and shortcomings faced by researchers from around the country from 2017 to 2021. The dataset is evaluated at the university level with homogenized features termed as “Scholar Plot” (SP), a popular approach to maintain and encourage development at the individual level. It is concluded that variances in efficiency within each knowledge field are the major drivers of heterogeneity in scientific output. Disparities in quality and specialization play a lesser impact in influencing productivity differences. The measure of such disparities using the mean of the group’s significance is illustrated using a t-tests statistical approach.
Sustainable Supply Chain System for Defective Products with Different Carbon Emission Strategies
Authors: Mala Pitchaikani , Palanivel Muthusamy , Priyan Siluvayan , Jirawattanapanit Anuwat , Rajchakit Grienggrai , Kaewmesri Pramet
Published: December 2022

Many nations have created ecological policies and regulations to prevent industries from emitting excessive amounts of carbon emissions into the environment. While significant progress has been achieved in the direction of sustainable growth, many nations still rely on nonrenewable energy sources. This study explores the viability of investing in green technology to achieve the optimal decisions (lot sizes, lead time, and green investment amount) in a two-echelon supply chain system by considering human error with two carbon emission strategies: carbon taxes and limited carbon emissions. It entails the inspection of every shipped lot by the buyer to identify defective products that could have resulted from the vendor’s production process. We show a constrained non-linear program and design a calculus-optimization technique to solve it. The methodology used in this research is the quantitative method, which is based on the principles of operations research, and the models are built on mathematically oriented inventory theory. The results imply that an outsized ecological carbon footprint can be reduced without compromising customer service by designing optimal inventory strategies. The findings also confirm that green investment is the greatest economical method for reducing carbon emissions and system costs.
The Effect of Time-Limited Promotion on E-Consumers’ Public Self-Consciousness and Purchase Behavior
Authors: Marjerison Rob Kim , Hu Jiamin , Wang Hantao
Published: December 2022

This paper explores the relationship between consumers’ public self-consciousness, purchase behavior, post-purchase regret, and time-limited promotions in e-commerce. Time-limited flash sales have become a common promotion strategy in e-commerce, particularly in China, the largest e-commerce market. Firstly, the effect of public self-consciousness on consumers’ impulsive purchase tendency and post-purchase regret is examined. Secondly, this paper extends the scope of previous studies and investigates how time pressure affects the relationships between self-consciousness, impulsive buying tendency, and post-purchase regret. Data were gathered via an anonymous online survey of 580 online shoppers and subjected to empirical analysis including validity testing and ANOVA. The results provide both practical and theoretical contributions to existing models and offer empirical evidence showing the positive relationships between public self-consciousness and impulse buying, between public self-consciousness and post-purchase regret, and between impulse buying and post-purchase regret.
Unlocking Wild Edible Fruits of Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hot Spot, Arunachal Pradesh, India, to Support Food Security and Sustainable Rural Livelihood
Authors: Hazarika Tridip Kumar , Tayeng Basik , Ngurthankhumi Rody , Lalruatsangi Esther , Upadhyaya Kalidas , Lyngdoh Nicolee
Published: December 2022

Forests inhabit a large number of trees, shrubs, climbers, non-timber forest products and a number of wild edible fruits. These wild edible fruits are an indispensable constituent of human life and rich in vitamins, minerals, fibres, antioxidants, alkaloids, and phenolics. Many of them are good source of medicines. The present study was undertaken to document wild edible fruits of Arunachal Pradesh, India, and their socioeconomic importance in the sustainable rural economy. The study revealed that altogether 50 wild edible fruits belonging to 31 families are used against a number of ailments. They have a number of uses in the socioeconomic life of rural people such as constructional timbers, firewood, charcoal, fodder, fish poisoning, dyes, oils, etc. Although these fruits play an important role in the life of tribal people, these valuable species have been vanishing at a very fast rate. Therefore, promoting their sustainable use and increasing their abundance in different landscapes through the agroforestry system must immediately be undertaken. The claimed therapeutic values are to be critically studied and dynamic conservation of associated indigenous knowledge among local tribal communities should be carried out through policy interventions, implementation of farmer’s rights, and generation of awareness among the local people. Policy makers should immediately undertake strategic plans for both in situ and ex situ conservation of wild edible fruits that have ethno-medicinal values. In addition, the orally transmitted therapeutic values of wild edible fruits should be urgently documented to safeguard these valuable species from further extinction.
How Does the Farmer Strike a Balance between Income and Risk across Inputs? An Application in Italian Field Crop Farms
Authors: Biagini Luigi , Severini Simone
Published: December 2022

The European Union’s Farm-to-Fork strategy, aiming at increasing the environmental sustainability of farming, is oriented to limit farm inputs that could harm the environment. This restrictive policy affects farmers’ productive choices and economic well-being. However, limited attention has been paid to how this could affect the economic risk farmers face. To do so, we examine how risk is affected by fertilisers, crop protection, irrigation water, and labour choices. This study relied on Antle’s method of moments applied to the irrigated field crop farms of the Italian Farm Accountancy Data Network from 2008 to 2019. This paper fills the literature gap jointly using three aspects usually adopted separately. First, consider the three moments and the semi-variance to investigate the risks of farmers’ strategies. Second, it accounts also for government payments to consider the relationship between these and risk. Finally, it adopts an estimation strategy that relies on the Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) for the first step and the Fixed Effects-Generalized Least Squared (FE-GLS) estimator for the second, considering time and individual fixed effects and considering interaction terms effects. According to our research, constraining fertilisers, crop protection, and irrigation water increases income variability, causing farming to be potentially riskier. However, restricting fertilisers and crop protection use decreases the downside risk. These results indicate that policy measures constraining input use, such as those foreseen in the EU, strongly influence the extent and type of risks farmers face. Therefore, policymakers should consider this evidence when designing environmental policies.
Reply to Fildani, A.; Hessler, A.M. Comment on “Gerbaudo et al. Are We Ready for a Sustainable Development? A Survey among Young Geoscientists in Italy. Sustainability 2022, 14, 7621”
Authors: Gerbaudo Andrea , Lozar Francesca , Lasagna Manuela , Tonon Marco Davide , Egidio Elena
Published: December 2022

We very much appreciate and thank Andrea Fildani and Angela Hessler for their comment [...]
Telework Implications on Work-Life Balance, Productivity, and Health of Different Generations of Romanian Employees
Authors: Ivasciuc Ioana Simona , Epuran Gheorghe , Vuță Daniela Roxana , Tescașiu Bianca
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this article is to analyse the impact of telework on the work-life balance, productivity, and health of different generations of Romanian employees. Qualitative and quantitative methods provide the means to exploit the richness of data and deepen the understanding of the phenomenon studied. The quantitative data derived from a research instrument was associated with qualitative data collection. Quantitative research was conducted to achieve the stated purpose using the survey method, the number of respondents being 1098 persons. The research tool was an online questionnaire. Results highlight how telework affected each generation of employees. The satisfaction towards teleworking achieved by Generation Z and Baby Boomers is, on average, higher than that of Generation Y and X. The differences between the age groups (Generation Z, Y, X, and Baby Boomers) in terms of telework satisfaction levels were also tested, considering each of the three aspects examined and presented in the article’s title. At the conceptual level, research brings a new methodological approach as an element of originality that can be used for similar future research. Moreover, new concepts on the effects of telework on employees were connected and analysed simultaneously: work-life balance, productivity, and health of employees during teleworking. At the operational level, this type of research can determine the degree of satisfaction of employees in different companies/organizations and identify solutions to increase employee engagement.
Mitigating Subsynchronous Torsional Interaction Using Geometric Feature Extraction Method
Authors: Noh Hyeokjin , Cho Hwanhee , Choi Sungyun , Lee Byongjun
Published: December 2022

This paper proposes a method to mitigate subsynchronous torsional interaction detected during power system operation. This innovative method employs the delay reconstruction of the damping controller of a thyristor-controlled series compensator. This addresses the need to detect and manage stability and electromagnetic transients in power systems caused by the increasing use of fast-response power electronics. Previously, severe oscillation conditions could be avoided via analysis of the subsynchronous torsional interaction scenarios during the planning stage, enabling the suppression of oscillations. However, planning, modeling, and analysis for various scenarios becomes more difficult as the complexity of the power system increases, owing to the use of renewable energy and the incorporation of topology changes. Therefore, interest in measurement data-based real-time oscillation analysis has increased. The first step of the mitigation strategy proposed herein reconstructs nonlinear time-series data to detect subsynchronous torsional interaction in real time and generate alert signals. The second step of the strategy is that the controller mitigates oscillations by controlling the firing angle using the geometric feature extraction method. In this paper, the relaxation of the frequency oscillation in the subsynchronous region of about 22 Hz and about 18 Hz was verified through two simulation cases.
Rural–Urban Divide: Generation Z and Pro-Environmental Behaviour
Authors: Dąbrowski Leszek S. , Środa-Murawska Stefania , Smoliński Paweł , Biegańska Jadwiga
Published: December 2022

Generation Z is the crucial cohort that will have to face the issues resulting from human impacts on the environment. The oldest members of this generation are now entering adulthood. Even though Generation Z is a global and homogeneous cohort, research indicates that the type of settlement unit where one lives may condition the emergence of intra-generational differences. The study focused on determining the pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) of Generation Z from the perspective of a former-socialist European country, Poland. We explored the motivational factors of Polish Generation Z towards their PEB and the actual PEB they undertake. We conducted focus-group interviews with 68 representatives of Generation Z, aged 16–19, living in villages, small towns, and medium-sized and large cities. The data obtained from the interviews were analysed in NVivo software by means of content analysis. Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour, we showed that the type of settlement unit determines pro-environmental attitudes and barriers to undertaking pro-environmental behaviour.
The Irreversible Quantum Dynamics of the Three-Level su(1, 1) Bosonic Model
Authors: Bogoliubov Nikolai M. , Rybin Andrei V.
Published: December 2022

We study the quantum dynamics of the opened three-level su(1, 1) bosonic model. The effective non-Hermitian Hamiltonians describing the system of the Lindblad equation in the short time limit are constructed. The obtained non-Hermitian Hamiltonians are exactly solvable by the Algebraic Bethe Ansatz. This approach allows representing biorthogonal and nonorthogonal bases of the system. We analyze the biorthogonal expectation values of a number of particles in the zero mode and represent it in the determinantal form. The time-dependent density matrix satisfying the Lindblad master equation is found in terms of the nonorthogonal basis.
Railway Intrusion Events Classification and Location Based on Deep Learning in Distributed Vibration Sensing
Authors: Yang Jian , Wang Chen , Yi Jichao , Du Yuankai , Sun Maocheng , Huang Sheng , Zhao Wenan , Qu Shuai , Ni Jiasheng , Xu Xiangyang , Shang Ying
Published: December 2022

With the rapid development of the high-speed railway industry, the safety of railway operations is becoming increasingly important. As a symmetrical structure, traditional manual patrol and camera surveillance solutions on both sides of the railway require enormous manpower and material resources and are highly susceptible to weather and electromagnetic interference. In contrast, a distributed fiber optic vibration sensing system can be continuously monitored and is not affected by electromagnetic interference to false alarms. However, it is still a challenge to identify the type of intrusion event along the fiber optic cable. In this paper, a railway intrusion event classification and location scheme based on a distributed vibration sensing system was proposed. In order to improve the accuracy and reliability of the recognition, a 1 DSE-ResNeXt+SVM method was demonstrated. Squeeze-and-excitation blocks with attention mechanisms increased the classification ability by sifting through feature information without being influenced by non-critical information, while a support vector machine classifier can further improve the classification accuracy. The method achieved an accuracy of 96.0% for the identification of railway intrusion events with the field experiments. It illustrates that the proposed scheme can significantly improve the safety of railway operations and reduce the loss of personnel and property safety.
Reconstruction of Paleoenvironment and Paleoclimate of the Neogene Guantao Formation in the Liaodong Sub-Uplift of Bohai Bay Basin in China by Sedimentary Geochemistry Methods
Authors: Wang Maolin , Qing Yuanhua , Liao Zheyuan , Li Yuefeng , Li Sheng , Lv Zhengxiang , Ni Shijun , Fang Jin , Tang Song , Yang Yawen
Published: December 2022

The paleosedimentary environment and paleoclimate of the Neogene Guantao Formation in the Liaodong sub-uplift of Bohai Bay Basin in China, which is an important oil and gas exploration horizon, are not clear owing to the lack of quantitative analysis. The paleosedimentary environment and paleoclimate can be qualitatively or semi-quantitatively reconstructed by sedimentary geochemical indicators sensitive to the environment and climate. Based on the evaluation of whether the elements and isotopes can effectively record paleosedimentary environment and paleoclimate information or not, the paleoclimate (temperature and humidity), paleoenvironment (salinity, water depth, redox conditions), and evolution of the paleoenvironment and paleoclimate are studied by analyzing the trace elements, carbon and oxygen isotopes, strontium isotopes, whole-rock mineral compositions, and clay minerals of mudstones of the Guantao Formation in the Liaodong sub-uplift, Bohai Bay Basin. The study results show that (1) according to the trace element distribution patterns, high concentrations of continental elements (Ti, Zr, Th), clay minerals, and detrital content, the Guantao Formation is a product of proximal deposits, and the provenance mainly originates from the intermediate–acidic magmatic rocks near surrounding uplifts. (2) The paleoclimate during the sedimentation of the Guantao Formation was mainly semi-arid and semi-humid, as revealed by the Sr/Cu ratio. However, the high Rb/Sr and 87Sr/86Sr ratios demonstrate that the paleoclimate is relatively warm and humid. (3) The paleosedimentary temperature calculated by the Sr content and δ18O is roughly 30 °C, indicating that the Guantao Formation was deposited in a subtropical to tropical climate. (4) The Guantao Formation was deposited in continental freshwater according to the Li, Ni, and Sr content, Sr/Ba ratios, 87Sr/86Sr ratios, and salinity index Z. (5) The water depth of the paleoenvironment of the Guantao Formation is mainly in nearshore shallow water, reflected by the Mn/Ti ratio and calculated by the Co content, and the oxidizing condition of the paleoenvironment of the Guantao Formation, reflected by the U/Th, V/Cr, and Ni/Co ratios, is in a good coupling relationship with this environment. (6) As revealed by the variations in the geochemical data in the section, the temperature, humidity, and water depth of the Guantao Formation gradually increased from the early to late period, while the salinity gradually decreased, and the chemical weathering effect gradually increased.
Investigations and Prevention Strategies on the Fracturing Water Pollution Triggering Permeability and Production Decrease in Underground Gas Reservoirs
Authors: He Faqi , Wang Ruifei , Chen Kui
Published: December 2022

The fracturing water injected into the underground gas reservoirs for development purposes has polluted the reservoirs, triggering a decrease in reservoir permeability and gas production. Here, we quantitatively investigate and provide preventions for the fracturing water pollution in the underground gas reservoir. We study the effects of fracturing water pollution on reservoir permeability with core experiments. According to the core experiments, we constructed an area-divided two-phase porous flow model to study the production of the underground gas reservoir considering fracturing water pollution. The simulation results are in good agreement with the field development data. It reveals that in the early, mid-term and late development, respectively, the fracturing water pollution accounts for 88%, 80% and 45% of the decline in permeability and production of the underground gas reservoir. In terms of the prevention of fracturing water pollution, reservoirs with an initial permeability over 0.20 mD are preferably produced by natural energy rather than fracturing. Once using the fracturing water, we suggest applying the propping agent with a large particle radius to reduce the pollution from the solid solute and adding the clay stabilizer and the surfactant to the fracturing water to reduce the pollution from the water solvent.
Hydrodynamic Behaviors and Geochemical Evolution of Groundwater for Irrigation in Yaoba Oasis, China
Authors: Lu Ting , Huo Aidi , Wang Jucui , Lu Yudong , Zhou Weibo
Published: December 2022

The Yaoba Oasis is an irrigated cropland entirely dependent on groundwater; previous investigations (1980–2015) revealed an over-abstraction of groundwater and deteriorating groundwater quality. For further exploring the hydrodynamic behaviors and geochemical processes of groundwater during the irrigation season, groundwater samples were collected and analyzed using different techniques including classical statistics, correlation analysis, Piper diagrams, and Gibbs diagrams. The results indicated that Na+, K+, SO42− and Cl− were the main ions in groundwater, which were significantly correlated with TDS. The water–rock interaction is manifested by the precipitation of calcite and dolomite and the dissolution of rock salt and gypsum as an increase in TDS related to evaporation. In addition, the increasing complexity of hydrochemical type is caused by the rapid variation of hydrodynamic regime, irrigation and evaporation, which are subjected to the constraints of salty water intrusion from the desert salty lake and infiltration of irrigation return flow. Existing wells should limit overexploitation to halt the decline in groundwater levels and cut down irrigation water to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination and restore ecological balance in desert oasis.
Associations between Traumatic Experience and Resilience in Adolescent Refugees: A Scoping Review
Authors: Danga Solomon D. , Adebiyi Babatope O. , Koegler Erica , Joseph Conran , Roman Nicolette V.
Published: December 2022

Research on adolescent refugee resilience is crucial for understanding the mechanisms of adaptation to resettlement areas and integration into a new country. However, the current literature does not provide clear evidence on the determinants of resilience factors and the association between traumatic experiences and resilience among adolescent refugees. Four electronic databases were searched to identify relevant articles. Inclusion criteria for articles were (i) potential traumatic experience was the independent variable and resilience was an outcome variable of the study, (ii) association between traumatic experiences and resilience was reported, (iii) participants of the study included adolescent refugees or asylum seekers and (iv) to be peer-reviewed publications based on primary data, written in English and published between 1 January 2010 and 20 January 2022. Eight articles were included in this scoping review. The review found that most of the included studies identified individual, relational/family and contextual/cultural factors as determinants of resilience. However, there were inconsistencies in the association between traumatic experiences and resilience. This review suggests that intervention strategies implemented among adolescent refugees should focus on enhancing individual, family/relational, and cultural/social factors to protect adolescents from possible poor mental health consequences after exposure to trauma.