bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Climate Change and Human Activity on Spatiotemporal Patterns of Multiple Cropping Index in South West China
Authors: Zhang Chuangjuan , He Hongming , Mokhtar Ali
Published: September 2019

Agricultural lands are very sensitive to climate and human activity changes, which result in variations in regional agricultural resources and decreased production of total grain output and increased difficulty in producing grain yields. Multiple cropping is one of the simplest ways to increase grain production. The research aims is to analyze the spatial and temporal variations in the multiple cropping index and study the factors that influence the multiple cropping index. Based on the maximum multiple cropping index (MCI) and a “heat-precipitation” quantitative relation model, we analyzed the theoretical potential multiple cropping index (PMCI) and the spatiotemporal changes in the potential increase in the multiple cropping index (PIMCI). Our results are as follows: The MCI was significantly higher in the eastern region than in the western region and higher in the central region than in the northern and southern regions; in Yunnan Province, it showed a fluctuating downwards trend; further, it exhibited sudden declines from 2004 to 2006 and from 2012 to 2014 in Guizhou, while it exhibited an increasing trend in Sichuan Province. The PMCIs were the highest in the eastern and southern regions, especially in eastern Sichuan Province, and the PIMCI was significantly higher in Yunnan Province than in Guizhou and Sichuan. Climate change, human activities, and terrain had significant influences on the MCI changes in southwest China, especially the temperature change, which was the key factor affecting the MCI changes. The dominant land use types in southwest China were forest (46%), grass (28%), and farmland (23%) during 1980–2015. Therefore, the adjustment of the planting structure in different terrain areas according to the temperature changes has become the main strategy to promote the sustainable development of cultivated land resources in the region, further, the results would help implement the plan to increase grain production capacity in southwest China.
Sustainable Environmental Management System Integration and Business Performance: A Balance Assessment Approach Using Fuzzy Logic
Authors: Herghiligiu Ionut Viorel , Robu Ioan-Bogdan , Pislaru Marius , Vilcu Adrian , Asandului Anca Laura , Avasilcăi Silvia , Balan Catalin
Published: September 2019

Companies constantly thrive to enhance their performance in order to achieve their environmental, social, and economic goals. One way to achieve these goals is to integrate some effective management tools, such as an environmental management system (EMS), that can support sustainable development and value creation. Based on the literature, in this study some EMS integration dimensions were identified that can be used to assess its influence on business performance. The study was conducted on SMEs listed on the AeRO-Bucharest Stock Exchange that voluntary apply the ISO 14001 EMS, using a quantitative approach. To assess the EMS integration score, principal component analysis was used. Using logistic regression analysis, business performance probability (quantified by return on assets) was estimated for each company included in the final sample. Fuzzy logic was further used for modelling the influence of EMS integration on business performance probability. The research results showed that EMS integration has different effects on business performance probability, considering the influence of activity field and environmental management experience. This research assertion could be extended for all the listed Romanian companies or for major companies at the EU level.
A Sustainable, Regional Agricultural Development Measurement System Based on Dissipative Structure Theory and the Entropy Weight Method: A Case Study in Chengdu, China
Authors: Li Sipan , Gong Qunxi , Yang Shaolei
Published: September 2019

As a large agricultural nation, China attaches great importance to agricultural development, as sustainable, regional agricultural development affects the sustainable development of China. Taking Chengdu, Sichuan Province as an example, this paper selected indicators and data from the past 15 years from the Chengdu Statistical Yearbook and applied the dissipative structure theory to establish an evaluation system for sustainable, regional agricultural development based on five main factors including economy, society, environment, education, and population. The entropy weight method was used to empower each indicator, and the changes in Chengdu’s sustainable agricultural development in the past 15 years were calculated. It was found that Chengdu’s sustainable agricultural development has been annually increasing, among which, economic and education subsystems had the greatest support for sustainable agricultural development. From 2003 to 2017, the entropy change of the total agricultural sustainable development system in Chengdu was negative, and the total entropy of the system gradually decreased. The sustainable agricultural development system in Chengdu has been developing towards a more orderly dynamic equilibrium state.
Long-Term Electricity Supply and Demand Forecast (2018–2040): A LEAP Model Application towards a Sustainable Power Generation System in Ecuador
Authors: Rivera-González Luis , Bolonio David , Mazadiego Luis F. , Valencia-Chapi Robert
Published: September 2019

This research assesses the Ecuadorian power generation system, estimating the electricity supply and demand forecast until 2040. For this purpose, three potential alternative scenarios were analyzed using the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) System; S1: Business As Usual; S2: Power Generation Master Plan; and S3: Sustainable Power Generation System. The main goal of this study is to analyze the possible alternatives for electricity supply and demand, fuel consumption, and the future structure of the Ecuadorian power generation system to transform the current system based on petroleum fuels into a sustainable system that consumes natural gas, and progressively introduces renewable power generation plants such as solar, wind, biomass, and hydroelectric until 2040. According to the estimated results through the inclusion of sustainable energy policies, S3 scenario relative to S1 scenario could reduce the average CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions by 11.72%, the average production costs by 9.78%, and the average petroleum fuel consumption by 15.95%. Consequently, a correct energy transition contributes to the protection of the environment and public health and has a direct effect on economic savings for the state, which benefits to improve the citizen’s quality of life.
Evolutionary Game Analysis on Knowledge-Sharing Behavior in the Construction Supply Chain
Authors: Hao Chanchan , Du Qiang , Huang Youdan , Shao Long , Yan Yunqing
Published: September 2019

With the increasingly fierce global competition, supply chain members have to collaborate to respond to constant changes. Efficient knowledge sharing is the basis for the collaborative operation of the supply chain. Combined with evolutionary game theory, this paper studies the evolution path and stable strategies of knowledge-sharing behavior between construction supply chain enterprises, analyzing the factors that influence the establishment of a knowledge-sharing alliance. A numerical simulation is conducted to verify theoretical results and the effects of parameter adjustments on behavioral evolution. The results indicate that under different income relationships, knowledge-sharing behavior in construction supply chains presents different evolutionary trajectories. In addition, the probability of accepting the sharing strategy is positively correlated with the penalty coefficient, incentive coefficient, trust level, and synergy coefficient and negatively correlated with cost. This study provides a new perspective and theoretical guidance for establishing stable knowledge collaboration between enterprises and promoting the sustainable development of the construction supply chain.
Factors Affecting the Business Model Innovation Employed by Small and Micro Travel Agencies in the Internet+ Era
Authors: Xue Lin-Lin , Shen Ching-Cheng , Lin Chun-Nan , Hsieh Kun-Lin
Published: September 2019

This study mainly investigated the factors affecting the business model innovation of small and micro travel agencies (SMTAs) in the Internet+ era. Based on a literature review, six hypotheses were proposed. To identify the influencing factors, the questionnaire, which was developed from previous studies, was distributed and 130 valid questionnaires were identified. Linear regression was used to test the hypotheses and further verify the relationship between each factor and the four dimensions of business model innovation. The results revealed that: 1. Organizational learning ability, consumer demand, entrepreneurial spirit, and website performance have significant effects on the business model innovation of SMTAs in the Internet+ era; 2. Organizational learning ability; consumer demand, and technological development were discovered to have positive effects on the value proposition innovation of SMTAs; 3. Consumer demand, entrepreneurial spirit, and organizational learning ability have positive effects on the value maintenance innovation of SMTAs; 4. Organizational learning ability and consumer demand have positive effects on the value network innovation of SMTAs; 5. Finally, organizational learning ability, website performance, and consumer demand have positive effects on the value realization innovation of SMTAs. These results can serve as the foundation for future relevant research and as a reference for SMTAs and related industry practitioners in their future management.
A MODA and MODE Comparison for Optimal Allocation of Distributed Generations with Different Load Levels
Authors: Alkhalaf Salem , Senjyu Tomonobu , Saleh Ayat Ali , Hemeida Ashraf M. , Mohamed Al-Attar Ali
Published: September 2019

In this paper, the performance of different optimization techniques namely, multi-objective dragonfly algorithm (MODA) and multi-objective differential evolution (MODE) are presented and compared. The uncertainty effect of a wind turbine (WT) on the performance of the distribution system is taken into account. The point estimate method (PEM) is used to model the uncertainty in wind power. Optimization methods are applied to determine the multi-objective optimal allocation of distributed generation (DG) in radial distribution systems at a different load level (light, normal, heavy load level). The multi-objective function is expressed to minimize the total power loss, total operating cost, and improve the voltage stability index of the radial distribution system (RDS). Multi-objective proposed algorithms are used to generate the Pareto optimal solutions; and a fuzzy decision-making function is used to produce a hybrid function for obtaining the best compromise solution. The proposed algorithms are carried out on 33-bus and IEEE-69-bus power systems. The simulation results show the effectiveness of installing the proper size of DG at the suitable location based on different techniques.
Agent-Based Modeling (ABM): Support for Emphasizing the Air Transport Infrastructure Dependence of Space Systems
Authors: Bucovetchi Olga , Georgescu Alexandru , Badea Dorel , Stanciu Radu D.
Published: September 2019

Critical infrastructure is foundational for the prosperity and quality of life in any society. By definition, its destruction or disruption would cause severe damage and possibly loss of life. Within this understanding, space systems are a new category of critical infrastructure, emerging as an enabler of new applications which are critical within the wider system-of-systems. This paper presents the results of a modeling exercise validating the proof of concept regarding the idea of the global, air-transport-critical infrastructure’s dependence on space systems. By using an open-source application, the authors constructed a complex system made up of 18 airports for which six scenarios were modeled that represent either the exposure to specific space phenomena or the effects of a partial or total critical space infrastructure disruption. Despite the limitations and assumptions made in the building of this model, its results suggest that a significant impact would result from disruptive events, with the potential for cascading disruptions within the system, beyond the system under analysis, and into the wider system-of-systems. Tools such as this model are useful to policy- and decision-makers, not only to protect existing, critical infrastructures, but also to adequately source future risks, vulnerabilities, and threats, and design and build new infrastructures.
A Green Closed-Loop Supply Chain Coordination Mechanism Based on Third-Party Recycling
Authors: Su Jiafu , Li Chi , Zeng Qingjun , Yang Jiaquan , Zhang Jie
Published: September 2019

Taking an environment-friendly green closed-loop supply chain as the research object, this work established a two-stage closed-loop supply chain game model. Considering the influence of the environmental protection input on the whole supply chain, there are different decisions among the participants in the supply chain, and the different choices will have impacts on the benefits of the whole supply chain when manufacturers select a closed-loop supply chain model of third-party recycling. Hence, this work compared and analyzed the impact of centralized decision-making and decentralized decision-making on the returns and pricing strategies of each participant. Finally, an optimized cooperative mechanism decision model considering a cost profit sharing contract was further designed. The model is conducive to obtaining the maximum profit value in centralized decision-making and avoids the negative impact of a “double marginal effect” on supply chain income in decentralized decision-making, and finally, improves the overall coordination and profit of a green closed-loop supply chain. The numerical examples are conducted to verify the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed models. This work provides a helpful decision support and guidance for enterprises and the government on the used products recycling decisions to better manage the green closed-loop supply chain.
The Impact of China’s Grain for Green Program on Rural Economy and Precipitation: A Case Study of Yan River Basin in the Loess Plateau
Authors: Guo Biyun , Xie Taiping , Subrahmanyam M.V.
Published: September 2019

Large-scale deforestation and abandoned planting will bring about the destruction of the ecological environment and the deterioration of the climate. In 1999, China initiated its “Grain for Green” Program (GGP) to improve the ecological environment, control soil erosion, and adjust the agricultural industrial structure to promote the sustainable development of the rural economy. In this paper, economic statistics, rainfall, and remote sensing data are used to analyze the impact of the GGP on agricultural and rural economic development and regional precipitation in the hilly and gully regions of the Loess Plateau. The results show that since the implementation of the program, the employment structure of the labor force has changed and the regional economic growth and farmers’ income have increased. From 2000 to 2016, the total gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita GDP of the Yan River Basin increased. The conversion of large-scale sloping farmland to forestry and grassland resulted in the decrease of farmland area and the increase of forestry area. The maximum, minimum, and mean value of vegetation coverage increased year by year. With the increase of vegetation coverage, the surface roughness, soil water content, and evapotranspiration improved and annual average precipitation grew significantly after the implementation of the program (2000 to 2018). From 1970 to the implementation of the project (1999), the annual average rainfall decreased at the trough from 1988 to 1999, and there was an overall upward trend from 1970 to 2018. The GGP has an important impact on the economy and people’s income in the Yan River Basin, and the vegetation change caused by the variation of land use types has a certain impact on regional rainfall. Under the background of global and regional climate change, it is of great significance to fully understand the impacts of vegetation conversion on climate and its mechanism for objective assessment of driving factors in regional and global climate, as well as for scientific planning of future land use.
Examining Roles of Tour Dure Producers for Social Capital and Innovativeness in Community-Based Tourism
Authors: Joo Jaehun , Choi Jeong-Ja , Kim Namhyun
Published: September 2019

The Dure community is a traditional meeting and collaborative effort for solving tasks and issues in rural farming villages in Korea. Recently, the South Korean government has tried to revitalize Dure communities to develop tourism businesses in local provinces. Tour Dure projects aimed at revitalizing local communities and promoting sustainable economic development have been operating since 2013. Tour Dure producers, as change agents, play a critical role in the Tour Dure projects. The purpose of this study is to reveal the producers’ roles in realizing community-based tourism (CBT). Using partial least squares structural equation modeling, this study analyzes the relationship between the producers’ role and social capital in local communities and the subsequent impact on residents’ innovativeness and life satisfaction. The results show that the producer’s role is important in creating social capital, improving innovativeness, and, as a result, residents’ life satisfaction. The present study suggests further implications for academics and policy makers focused on sustainable CBT.
Passengers’ Demand Characteristics Experimental Analysis of EMU Trains with Sleeping Cars in Northwest China
Authors: Zhang Yuzhao , Wang Jianqiang , Cai Wenjuan
Published: September 2019

Passenger demand characteristics for electrical multiple unit (EMU) trains with sleeping cars will directly affect the train operation scheme in a long transportation corridor. Descriptive statistics of individual attributes and passenger choice intentions for EMU trains with sleeping cars are calculated based on the revealed preference (RP) and stated preference (SP) survey data in Northwest China to illustrate the overall conditions of passengers’ demands. Considering the higher dimensionality and multi-collinearity in the dataset of influencing factors, the factor analysis method was first adopted to reduce the number of dimensions of the raw dataset and obtain orthogonal common factors. Then, the ordinal logistic regression model was adopted to test and perform a regression analysis based on multinomial logit theory. The analysis shows that these influencing factors, such as income, profession, educational background and residence, would have a greater impact on the choice of an EMU train with sleeping cars. It is significant that passengers’ choice intentions are positively correlated with income and educational background. The result can provide some reference for the decision-making regarding operating an EMU train with sleeping cars in Northwest China. In addition, the proposed method can be applied to the analysis of passengers’ demand characteristics in similar situations.
Genetic Diversity and Structure of the Portuguese Pear (Pyrus communis L.) Germplasm
Authors: Queiroz Álvaro , Bagoin Guimarães Joana , Sánchez Claudia , Simões Fernanda , Maia de Sousa Rui , Viegas Wanda , Veloso Maria Manuela
Published: September 2019

A rich heritage of traditional pear varieties is kept in national Portuguese collections. Out of these varieties, “Rocha” dominates national pear production. Although a noticeable phenotypic variation among clones of this variety has been reported, little is known about its genetic variability, as to date molecular studies have been performed on a single “Rocha” clone. Eleven Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) markers were used to assess the genetic diversity of 130 local cultivars, 80 of them being “Rocha” clones. The results allowed the differentiation of 75 genotypes of which 29 are “Rocha”. Three synonyms groups and four homonymous groups of other local varieties were confirmed. A Bayesian model-based clustering approach identified two distinct clusters. Using flow cytometry, six cultivars were found to be triploids. These results show high genetic variability among “Rocha” clones. In conclusion, there is a need for different “Rocha” clones to be preserved to enable the correct selection of the multiplication material.
How Social Entrepreneurs’ Value Orientation Affects the Performance of Social Enterprises in Korea: The Mediating Effect of Social Entrepreneurship
Authors: Shin Changhwan , Park Jungkyu
Published: September 2019

Efforts have been made to improve the performance of social enterprises through many studies on social entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurship. However, previous studies have conceptualized social entrepreneurship based on researches on commercial entrepreneurs. In addition, the scale used in the analysis of social entrepreneurship focuses primarily on behavioral aspects. Although the social and economic values pursued by social enterprises are important virtues for social entrepreneurs, research on the value orientation of social entrepreneurship is insufficient. The essence of a social enterprise is creating social value based on financial sustainability, so the concept of blended value has been recently emphasized. This study analyzed the relationships among blended value orientation, social entrepreneurship, and the performance of social enterprises. The results indicate that the blended value orientation of social entrepreneurs influenced social entrepreneurship and performance; social entrepreneurship fully mediated blended value orientation and performance. These findings suggest that it is important to focus on the blended value orientation of social entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurship in the promotion and policies of social enterprises.
Hygrothermal Properties of Raw Earth Materials: A Literature Review
Authors: Giada Giuffrida , Caponetto Rosa , Nocera Francesco
Published: September 2019

Raw earth historic and contemporary architectures are renowned for their good environmental properties of recyclability and low embodied energy along the production process. Earth massive walls are universally known to be able to regulate indoor thermal and hygroscopic conditions containing energy consumptions, creating comfortable interior spaces with a low carbon footprint. Therefore, earth buildings are de facto green buildings. As a result of this, some earthen technologies have been rediscovered and implemented to be adapted to the contemporary building production sector. Nevertheless, the diffusion of contemporary earthen architecture is decelerated by the lack of broadly accepted standards on its anti-seismic and thermal performance. Indeed, the former issue has been solved using high-tensile materials inside the walls or surface reinforcements on their sides to improve their flexural strength. The latter issue is related to the penalization of earth walls thermal behavior in current regulations, which tent to evaluate only the steady-state performance of building components, neglecting the benefit of heat storage and hygrothermal buffering effect provided by massive and porous envelopes as raw earth ones. In this paper, we show the results of a paper review concerning the hygrothermal performance of earthen materials for contemporary housing: great attention is given to the base materials which are used (inorganic soils, natural fibers, and mineral or recycled aggregates, chemical stabilizers), manufacturing procedures (when described), performed tests and final performances. Different earth techniques (adobe, cob, extruded bricks, rammed earth, compressed earth blocks, light earth) have been considered in order to highlight that earth material can act both as a conductive and insulating meterial depending on how it is implemented, adapting to several climate contests. The paper aims to summarize current progress in the improvement of thermal performance of raw earth traditional mixes, discuss the suitability of existing measurement protocols for hygroscopic and natural materials and provide guidance for further researches.
Multiple Dynamic Mechanisms of Globalization: Alternatives to Capitalism
Authors: Huang Yu , Ge Yuejing , Hu Wei
Published: September 2019

As one of the most striking topics in the contemporary world economy, the discussion on globalization seems to take capitalism as the main dynamic mechanism for its practice process, i.e., capital-driven globalization. Although many researchers have proposed other alternative solutions that are crucial to the development of globalization, relevant research is still very insufficient. Based on this point, this study aims to explore the driving forces, action mechanisms, manifestations, and influences of the contemporary globalization process in a more comprehensive way, particularly focusing on the dynamic mechanisms of globalization other than capitalism, and trying to explain the interaction between various dynamic mechanisms. Overall, this paper summarizes three major (but not all) dynamic mechanisms of the contemporary globalization: capital-driven, state-driven, and inter-state cooperation-driven. These three dynamic mechanisms act on different spaces in different ways, exert different influences, and have profound interactive relations on the process of globalization. By showing a more comprehensive picture of globalization, this study attempts to explain the existing alternatives to capital-driven globalization, and encourages a more in-depth discussion of anti-globalization and regional integration as alternative options for globalization from the perspective of internal operation mechanism.
How Does Information Transmission Influence the Value Creation Capability of a Digital Ecosystem? An Empirical Study of the Crypto-Digital Ecosystem Ethereum
Authors: Huang He
Published: September 2019

With the advancement of digitization, digital ecosystems are playing an increasingly important role in value creation. The mechanism by which digital ecosystems create value, however, has been generally deemed to be a mixed effect due to various factors. On the basis of signaling theory, this paper explores the effect of information transmission on the value creation capability of a digital ecosystem from two dimensions: the scale and sustainability of value creation. Taking a sample of weekly transaction data from Ethereum during August 2015–August 2018, our research proposes an integrated framework of information transmission in value creating, and discusses the diffusion process of the network effect within the digital ecosystem. As a generally accepted exchange medium, digital currency traffic acts as an observable proxy of information flow in a crypto-digital ecosystem, where the effects of heterogeneity in transaction attributes are filtered. Empirical results show that information transmission positively influences the scale and sustainability of value creation activities in a digital ecosystem by affecting user number and transaction frequency. Further research reveals that user number is the initial driving force of the network effect and a critical factor for the overall ecosystem market capitalization. This research provides a new insight into the design of sustainable value creation mechanisms under digital circumstances.
Assessing the Distribution of Commuting Trips and Jobs-Housing Balance Using Smart Card Data: A Case Study of Nanjing, China
Authors: Zheng Meina , Liu Feng , Guo Xiucheng , Lei Xinyue
Published: September 2019

The purpose of this research is to assess the distribution of commuting trips and the level of jobs-housing balance with Nanjing smart card data. A new approach is presented using the Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient based on the commuting time. This article also quantifies and visualizes Nanjing’s jobs-housing balance in each urban, suburban and exurban district. The core findings from this research are summarized as follows. First, the Gini coefficient of commuting time is 0.251 in urban areas, 0.258 for suburban areas and 0.267 for exurban areas. The gap of each non-urban district in commuting time is larger than urban districts. Second, the result of jobs-housing ratio (JHR) shows that jobs of Xuanwu district are far more than the working population of this district, whereas jobs and working population in other urban districts are relatively matched. The value of JHR is less than 0.8 in all suburban and exurban districts but Yuhuatai district, which suggests that jobs in these suburban districts (excluding Yuhuatai district) are in short supply compared with their working population. Third, the JHR within a particular district may be different according to the specific locations, especially those areas close to the boundary between two different kinds of districts.
Integrating Qualitative Comparative Analysis and Support Vector Machine Methods to Reduce Passengers’ Resistance to Biometric E-Gates for Sustainable Airport Operations
Authors: Kim Cheong , Costello Francis Joseph , Lee Kun Chang
Published: September 2019

For the sake of maintaining sustainable airport operations, biometric e-gates security systems started receiving significant attention from managers of airports around the world. Therefore, how to reduce flight passengers’ perceived resistance to the biometric e-gates security system became much more important than ever. In this sense, the purpose of this study is to analyze the factors which contribute to passenger’s resistance to adopt biometric e-gate technology within the airport security setting. Our focus lies on exploring the effects that perceived risks and benefits as well as user characteristics and propagation mechanisms had on causing such resistance. With survey data from 339 airport users, a support vector machine (SVM) model was implemented to provide a tool for classifying resistance causes correctly, and csQCA (crisp set Qualitative Comparative Analysis) was implemented in order to understand the complex underlying causes. The results showed that the presence of perceived risks and the absence of perceived benefits were the main contributing factors, with propagation mechanisms also showing a significant effect on weak and strong resistance. This study is distinct in that it has attempted to explore innovation adoption through the lens of resistance and in doing so has uncovered important complex causation conditions that need to be considered before service quality can be enhanced within airports. This study’s implications should therefore help steer airport managers in the right direction towards maintaining service quality while implementing sustainable new technologies within their current airport security ecosystem.
High Involvement and Ethical Consumption: A Study of the Environmentally Certified Home Purchase Decision
Authors: Foti Lianne , Devine Avis
Published: September 2019

Sustainable and energy efficient (SEE) attributes in the housing market have become a focus in Canada. Similarly, understanding the consumer’s decision-making process of this high-involvement ethical product has become a burgeoning area for researchers. This study describes the development of the subject, highlighting the nature of the ethical decision-making process and how it relates to this known intention–behaviour gap. An observation, followed by two studies consisting of in-depth interviews with real estate agents and sales representatives (n = 15) and home purchasers/consumers (n = 15), were conducted. Transcriptions were analysed qualitatively with NVivo Pro 12 software (NVivo Pro 12, QSR International Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia). Inductive thematic analysis revealed two main driving themes: information and trust in seller/realtor. Attribute investment return uncertainty was identified as a theme that affects the strength of the relationship between purchase intention and behaviour, whereas the trust in seller/realtor speaks to how and why this effect occurs. The findings present relationships among the driving factors that were identified by realtors and consumers in the SEE housing market, as well as barriers (investment return uncertainty) that prevent consumers from purchasing high-involvement ethical products.
Urban Heritage as Ethos in Resource-Based Small-Scale Property Management
Authors: Holmberg Ingrid Martins
Published: September 2019

This study puts urban heritage in the setting of property owners’ small-scale and resource-based management of ordinary old buildings. This phenomenon indicates a need not only to reconceptualize urban heritage in its actual complex web of negotiations over constraints of the regulation (urban planning, including preservation) and economy (the real estate market) but also to pay attention to the emergence of a new ethos. The case concerns a Swedish second-city context and the specific moment in time: When the 1990s recession had disarmed the real estate market. Based upon ethnographic fieldwork, this study used an assemblage perspective to allow for a following of entanglements of material and matter. The study sheds light upon the emergence of a small-scale and resource-based management in the midst of managerially defined cycles of investment. Important for the output was 1) the set-up of a network of skilled craftsmen, antiquarians, and entrepreneurs ‘of the right mindset that enabled for the authentic material result but that also helped navigate regulation and financial parties, 2) the “alternative market for reverential maintenance and repair” that guaranteed the appropriate supply of materials, products, and skills that differed from the mainstream construction market. For the means of understanding the ethos involved, the study introduced the notion of “factual life-span of buildings”. The overall aim of this article was to contribute to research on heritage urbanism by adding a resource management perspective that focusses on the entanglements of material and matter.
IoT Power Monitoring System for Smart Environments
Authors: Santos Diogo , Ferreira João C.
Published: September 2019

In this research work, we describe the development and subsequent validation of EnerMon a flexible, efficient, edge-computing based Internet of Things (IoT) LoRa (LongRange) System to monitor power consumption. This system provides real-time information and a descriptive analytics process to provide a ‘big picture’ about energy consumption over time and identify energetic waste. The solution is based on Arduinos, current transformer sensors, Raspberry Pi as an application server and LoRa communication alongside a description and information on what is to be expected of it, describing the development process from the design phase to the validation phase with all steps in between. Due to LoRa low debit communication, an edge computing approach was implemented to create a real-time monitoring process based on this technology. This solution, with the help of descriptive analysis, allows the creation of an energetic local footprint, using a low-cost developed solution for less than 80€ per three-phases monitoring device. This solution also allows for easy installation without communication range and obstacles limitations making it easy use in different situations from big complex building to smaller consumers, such as electric boilers, or simply to measure the energetic footprint of tourists in a small local tourist apartment.
Understanding Dynamics of Mangrove Forest on Protected Areas of Hainan Island, China: 30 Years of Evidence from Remote Sensing
Authors: Liao Jingjuan , Zhen Jianing , Zhang Li , Metternicht Graciela
Published: September 2019

Implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals requires countries to determine targets for the protection, conservation, or restoration of coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests by 2030. Satellite remote sensing provides historical and current data on the distribution and dynamics of mangrove forests, essential baseline data that are needed to design suitable policy interventions. In this study, Landsat time series were used to map trends and dynamics of mangrove change over a time span of 30 years (1987–2017) in protected areas of Hainan Island (China). A support vector machine algorithm was combined with visual interpretation of imagery and result showed alternating periods of expansion and loss of mangrove forest at seven selected sites on Hainan Island. Over this period, there was a net decrease in mangrove area of 9.3%, with anthropic activities such as land conversion for aquaculture, wastewater disposal and discharge, and tourism development appearing to be the likely drivers of this decline in cover. Long-term studies examining trends in land use cover change coupled with assessments of drivers of loss or gain enable the development of evidence based on policy and legislation. This forms the basis of financing of natural reserves of management and institutional capacity building, and facilitates public awareness and participation, including co-management.
Bridging Theories and Practices: Boundary Objects and Constellation Analysis as Vehicles for Interdisciplinary Knowledge Integration
Authors: Feldhoff Berenike , Stockmann Nils , Fanderl Nora , Gahle Anne-Kathrin , Graf Antonia , Leger Matthias , Sonnberger Marco
Published: September 2019

Knowledge integration is a major challenge of interdisciplinary research. Substantially different stocks of knowledge based on different scientific backgrounds, uses of language, methodologies, and epistemologies must be integrated into the research process. Addressing this challenge, this paper exemplifies the process of interdisciplinary knowledge integration drawing on the example of the junior research group DynaMo—Mobility-Energy Dynamics in Urban Areas that deals with the sustainable transformation of urban mobility systems. This paper shows how we apply the boundary object concept in combination with the method of Constellation Analysis as vehicles for interdisciplinary knowledge integration. By innovatively combining the boundary object concept with Constellation Analysis we (a) suggest a self-reflective tool for structuring the process of knowledge integration and (b) further operationalize the boundary object with the help of core concepts. The approach is illustrated with the boundary object sustainable transformation of urban passenger mobility used by DynaMo. In doing so, the paper aims to add an instrument to the toolkit of inter- and transdisciplinary research and offers practical knowledge for its application.
Assessment of the Crowd Logistics Solutions—The Stakeholders’ Analysis Approach
Authors: Rześny-Cieplińska Jagienka , Szmelter-Jarosz Agnieszka
Published: September 2019

This article presents the assessment results for crowd logistics (CL) solutions from the perspective of the needs of different stakeholders. The uniqueness of this study lies in entering these needs in the implementation of the three spheres of sustainable development in cities (social, economic, and environmental). The purpose of this publication is to present the benchmark solutions for the CL area, helping to adjust the business model and market offer of other providers to the needs of different groups of stakeholders. The reason for such valuation is the fast-paced sharing economy development in the city logistics area, as well as in the courier activity. For this study, the AHP (analytic hierarchy process) method was applied in order to develop the proposed evaluation tool of the CL initiatives. The evaluation criteria (the needs of particular groups of respondents) are derived from document-based data analysis and the primary data for the model are derived from information provided by service providers. The list of the best solutions is made for indicating benchmark brands on the market. The recommendations for managers were drawn on how to adjust solutions to the stakeholders’ needs.
On Energies of Charged Particles with Magnetic Field
Authors: Sariaydin Muhammed Talat
Published: September 2019

The present paper is about magnetic curves of spherical images in Euclidean 3-space. We obtain the Lorentz forces of the spherical images and then we determine if the spherical images have a magnetic curve or not. If a spherical image has a magnetic curve, then after presenting some basic concepts about the energy of a charged particle whose trajectory is that magnetic curve and the kinetic energy of a moving particle whose trajectory is the spherical indicatrix, we find the energy of the charged particle and the kinetic energy of the moving particle.
Efficient Vehicle Detection and Distance Estimation Based on Aggregated Channel Features and Inverse Perspective Mapping from a Single Camera
Authors: Kim Jong Bae
Published: September 2019

In this paper a method for detecting and estimating the distance of a vehicle driving in front using a single black-box camera installed in a vehicle was proposed. In order to apply the proposed method to autonomous vehicles, it was required to reduce the throughput and speed-up the processing. To do this, the proposed method decomposed the input image into multiple-resolution images for real-time processing and then extracted the aggregated channel features (ACFs). The idea was to extract only the most important features from images at different resolutions symmetrically. A method of detecting an object and a method of estimating a vehicle’s distance from a bird’s eye view through inverse perspective mapping (IPM) were applied. In the proposed method, ACFs were used to generate the AdaBoost-based vehicle detector. The ACFs were extracted from the LUV color, edge gradient, and orientation (histograms of oriented gradients) of the input image. Subsequently, by applying IPM and transforming a 2D input image into 3D by generating an image projected in three dimensions, the distance between the detected vehicle and the autonomous vehicle was detected. The proposed method was applied in a real-world road environment and showed accurate results for vehicle detection and distance estimation in real-time processing. Thus, it was showed that our method is applicable to autonomous vehicles.
Volumes of Hyperbolic Three-Manifolds Associated with Modular Links
Authors: Brandts Alex , Pinsky Tali , Silberman Lior
Published: September 2019

Periodic geodesics on the modular surface correspond to periodic orbits of the geodesic flow in its unit tangent bundle PSL 2 ( Z ) ∖ PSL 2 ( R ) . A finite collection of such orbits is a collection of disjoint closed curves in a 3-manifold, in other words a link. The complement of those links is always a hyperbolic 3-manifold, and hence has a well-defined volume. We present strong numerical evidence that, in the case of the set of geodesics corresponding to the ideal class group of a real quadratic field, the volume has linear asymptotics in terms of the total length of the geodesics. This is not the case for general sets of geodesics.
A Closed-Form Expression of the Instantaneous Rotational Lurch Index to Evaluate Its Numerical Approximation
Authors: Fiori Simone
Published: September 2019

The lurch index has recently been introduced in applied kinematics as an integral descriptor of the fluency of the motion of a rigid body in space. It may be defined in different versions, according to the component of motion under investigation. In the present paper, we analyze a rotational lurch index, which describes the fluency of the spin component of motion and whose value depends, through involved relations, on the dynamics of three canonical descriptors of the orientation of a rigid body in space. The aim of the present paper is to offer a closed-form expression of the instantaneous component of the rotational lurch, which leads to the namesake index upon integration and normalization. The closed form of the index is, then, used to evaluate its practical calculation, based on numerical approximations on a number of data sets.
Performance of Broilers Fed with Maize Colonized by Either Toxigenic or Atoxigenic Strains of Aspergillus flavus with and without an Aflatoxin-Sequestering Agent
Authors: Aikore M. , Ortega-Beltran Alejandro , Eruvbetine Daisy , Atehnkeng Joseph , Falade Titilayo , Cotty Peter , Bandyopadhyay Ranajit
Published: September 2019

In warm agricultural areas across the globe, maize, groundnut, and other crops become frequently contaminated with aflatoxins produced primarily by the fungus Aspergillus flavus. Crop contamination with those highly toxic and carcinogenic compounds impacts both human and animal health, as well as the income of farmers and trade. In Nigeria, poultry productivity is hindered by high prevalence of aflatoxins in feeds. A practical solution to decrease crop aflatoxin content is to use aflatoxin biocontrol products based on non-toxin-producing strains of A. flavus. The biocontrol product Aflasafe® was registered in 2014 for use in maize and groundnut grown in Nigeria. Its use allows the production of aflatoxin-safe maize and groundnut. A portion of the maize treated with Aflasafe in Nigeria is being used to manufacture feeds used by the poultry industry, and productivity is improving. One of the conditions to register Aflasafe with the national regulator was to demonstrate both the safety of Aflasafe-treated maize to avian species and the impact of Aflasafe as a public good. Results presented here demonstrate that the use of maize colonized by an atoxigenic strain of Aflasafe resulted in superior (p < 0.05) broiler performance in all evaluated parameters in comparison to broilers fed with toxigenic maize. Use of an aflatoxin-sequestering agent (ASA) was not sufficient to counteract the harmful effects of aflatoxins. Both the safety and public good value of Aflasafe were demonstrated during our study. In Nigeria, the availability of aflatoxin-safe crops as a result of using Aflasafe allows poultry producers to improve their productivity, their income, and the health of consumers of poultry products.
Characterizing the PRRSV nsp2 Deubiquitinase Reveals Dispensability of Cis-Activity for Replication and a Link of nsp2 to Inflammation Induction
Authors: Zhou Shaochuan , Ge Xinna , Kong Can , Liu Teng , Liu Aijing , Gao Peng , Song Jiangwei , Zhou Lei , Guo Xin , Han Jun , Yang Hanchun
Published: September 2019

The papain-like cysteine protease 2 (PLP2) within the N-terminus of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) nsp2 replicase protein specifies a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB), but its biochemical properties and the role in infection have remained poorly defined. By using in vitro assays, we found that the purified PLP2 could efficiently cleave K63 and K48 linked polyubiquitin chains Ub3-7 in vitro although displaying a differential activity in converting the respective ubiquitin dimers to monomer. The subsequent mutagenesis analyses revealed that the requirement for PLP2 DUB activity surprisingly resembled that for cis-cleavage activity, as several mutations (e.g., D91R, D85R, etc.) that largely ablated the DUB function also blocked the cis- but not trans-proteolytic cleavage of nsp2/3 polyprotein. Moreover, the analyses identified key mutations that could differentiate DUB from PLP2 cis- and trans-cleavage activities. Further reverse genetics analyses revealed the following findings: (i) mutations that largely blocked the DUB activity were all lethal to the virus, (ii) a point mutation T88G that selectively blocked the cis-cleavage activity of PLP2 did not affect viral viability in cell culture, and (iii) an E90Q mutation that did not affect either of the PLP2 activities led to rescue of WT-like virus but displayed significantly reduced ability to induce TNF-α production. Our findings support the possibility that the PLP2 DUB activity, but not cis-cleavage activity, is essential for PRRSV replication. The data also establish a strong link of nsp2 to pro-inflammatory cytokine induction during infection that operates in a manner independent of PLP2 DUB activity.