bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design, Motivation and Evaluation of a Full-Resolution Optical Tactile Sensor
Authors: Sferrazza Carmelo , D’Andrea Raffaello
Published: February 2019

Human skin is capable of sensing various types of forces with high resolution and accuracy. The development of an artificial sense of touch needs to address these properties, while retaining scalability to large surfaces with arbitrary shapes. The vision-based tactile sensor proposed in this article exploits the extremely high resolution of modern image sensors to reconstruct the normal force distribution applied to a soft material, whose deformation is observed on the camera images. By embedding a random pattern within the material, the full resolution of the camera can be exploited. The design and the motivation of the proposed approach are discussed with respect to a simplified elasticity model. An artificial deep neural network is trained on experimental data to perform the tactile sensing task with high accuracy for a specific indenter, and with a spatial resolution and a sensing range comparable to the human fingertip.
An Intelligent Vision Based Sensing Approach for Spraying Droplets Deposition Detection
Authors: Wang Linhui , Yue Xuejun , Liu Yongxin , Wang Jian , Wang Huihui
Published: February 2019

The rapid development of vision sensor based on artificial intelligence (AI) is reforming industries and making our world smarter. Among these trends, it is of great significance to adapt AI technologies into the intelligent agricultural management. In smart agricultural aviation spraying, the droplets’ distribution and deposition are important indexes for estimating effectiveness in plant protection process. However, conventional approaches are problematic, they lack adaptivity to environmental changes, and consumes non-reusable test materials. One example is that the machine vision algorithms they employ can’t guarantee that the division of adhesive droplets thereby disabling the accurate measurement of critical parameters. To alleviate these problems, we put forward an intelligent visual droplet detection node which can adapt to the environment illumination change. Then, we propose a modified marker controllable watershed segmentation algorithm to segment those adhesive droplets, and calculate their characteristic parameters on the basis of the segmentation results, including number, coverage, coverage density, etc. Finally, we use the intelligent node to detect droplets, and then expound the situation that the droplet region is effectively segmented and marked. The intelligent node has better adaptability and robustness even under the condition of illumination changing. The large-scale distributed detection result indicates that our approach has good consistency with the non-recyclable water-sensitive paper approach. Our approach provides an intelligent and environmental friendly way of tests for spraying techniques, especially for plant protection with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
Fluorescent Method for the Detection of Biothiols Using an Ag+-Mediated Conformational Switch
Authors: Zhao Han , Chen Mingjian , Ma Changbei
Published: February 2019

In this work, a novel, simple, and time-saving fluorescence approach for the detection of biothiols (glutathione and cysteine) was developed by employing a DNA probe labeled with 2-aminopurine. As an adenine analogue, 2-aminopurine exhibits high fluorescence intensity that can be rapidly quenched in the presence of DNA. In the presence of Ag+, the fluorescence increased significantly, which was a result of the formation of cytosine–Ag+–cytosine base pairs and the release of 2-aminopurine. Upon addition of either glutathione or cysteine, the structure of cytosine–Ag+–cytosine was disrupted, a product of the stronger affinity between biothiols and Ag+. As a result, the 2-aminopurine-labeled DNA probe returned to its former structure, and the fluorescence signal was quenched accordingly. The detection limit for glutathione and cysteine was 3 nM and 5 nM, respectively. Furthermore, the determination of biothiols in human blood serum provided a potential application for the probe as a diagnostic tool in clinical practice.
Zinc/Aluminium–Quinclorac Layered Nanocomposite Modified Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Paste Electrode for Electrochemical Determination of Bisphenol A
Authors: Zainul Rahadian , Abd Azis Nurashikin , Md Isa Illyas , Hashim Norhayati , Ahmad Mohamad Syahrizal , Saidin Mohamad Idris , Mukdasai Siriboon
Published: February 2019

This paper presents the application of zinc/aluminium-layered double hydroxide-quinclorac (Zn/Al-LDH-QC) as a modifier of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) paste electrode for the determination of bisphenol A (BPA). The Zn/Al-LDH-QC/MWCNT morphology was examined by a transmission electron microscope and a scanning electron microscope. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was utilized to investigate the electrode interfacial properties. The electrochemical responses of the modified electrode towards BPA were thoroughly evaluated by using square-wave voltammetry technique. The electrode demonstrated three linear plots of BPA concentrations from 3.0 × 10−8–7.0 × 10−7 M (R2 = 0.9876), 1.0 × 10−6–1.0 × 10−5 M (R2 = 0.9836) and 3.0 × 10−5–3.0 × 10−4 M (R2 = 0.9827) with a limit of detection of 4.4 × 10−9 M. The electrode also demonstrated good reproducibility and stability up to one month. The presence of several metal ions and organic did not affect the electrochemical response of BPA. The electrode is also applicable for BPA determination in baby bottle and mineral water samples with a range of recovery between 98.22% and 101.02%.
Hispanic Students’ Sense of Control in Relation to Post-Secondary Enrollment Outcomes
Authors: Aguilar Stephen J. , Kim Ann Y.
Published: February 2019

U.S. Hispanics are the fastest growing minority population pursuing post-secondary education, yet their bachelor degree attainment lags behind other ethnic–racial groups. Previous work supports the theory that having a high locus of control (LOC) can enable persistence in challenging post-secondary settings. We examine LOC as a potential mitigate against low college enrollment, and hypothesize that Hispanic students’ capability to enroll in post-secondary institutions (e.g., community college, 4-year colleges), in the face of personal, academic, and financial challenges, is likely predicated on their belief that they control their academic futures. We modelled college enrollment using a path-model using a generalized structural equation modeling (GSEM) approach. Our findings indicate that LOC decreases the likelihood of Hispanic students’ post-secondary enrollment. This work advances the current state of knowledge on how we understand Hispanic students’ transition to college, and informs the development of potential interventions supporting the academic success of this growing and significant community.
Influence and Sustainability of the Concept of Landscape Seen in Cheonggye Stream and Suseongdong Valley Restoration Projects
Authors: An Dai Whan , Lee Jae-Young
Published: February 2019

This study considered that the pursuit of nature in a city in the restoration projects of Cheonggye Stream and Suseongdong valley was the main motive of the landscape concept premised on humanity and, furthermore, found that it originated from Korean thoughts and cultures about nature. Based on these findings, the study aimed to investigate the influence and sustainability of historical and cultural backgrounds in the planning features of nature in the two restoration projects. The concept of landscape that started from the desire to go out of a city is premised on the secular world of humans. In Korean society, the concept has been developed based on the above common premise, through cultural exchanges with China, and in its regional specificity. In particular, the Korean culture of singing and painting the beauty of landscape using the words “Gyeong (景)” and “Gok (曲)” can be found in the backgrounds and landscape architecture plans of the Cheonggye Stream and Suseongdong Valley restoration projects. Therefore, the historical and cultural thoughts that pursued natural beauty were in the work for the restoration of the two streams, and these concepts should be considered for sustainable development for harmony between the city with nature and between nature with cultures.
Strategic Orientation, Environmental Innovation Capability, and Environmental Sustainability Performance: The Case of Taiwanese Suppliers
Authors: Tseng Chin-Hung , Chang Kuo-Hsiung , Chen Ho-Wen
Published: February 2019

Although previous research has explored the effect of strategic orientation (SO) on innovation and business performance, little attention has been paid to its effect on environmental innovation capability (EIC) and environmental sustainability performance. Drawing on the strategic marketing and dynamic capability theory, this study attempts to increase the understanding of how SO (i.e., customer orientation, competitor orientation, and technology orientation) influences the EIC, which in turn enhances supplier’s environmental sustainability performance in the context of buyer-supplier relationships. In addition, this study examines the impact of inter-functional coordination on SO and also explores the moderating role of buyers value added in the relationship between SO and EIC. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to test hypotheses that are based on survey data collected in 127 Taiwanese information technology firms. The results show that customer orientation and technology orientation have a positive impact on the EIC, that buyers value added has a synergistic effect on the impact of competitor orientation on EIC, that inter-functional coordination has a positive impact on SO, and that EIC mediates the relationship between SO and environmental sustainability performance.
Exploring the Relationship between Perceived Ease of Use and Continuance Usage of a Mobile Terminal: Mobility as a Moderator
Authors: Li Aoshuang , Sun Yongqiang , Yang Xiaodong , Guo Jinyu
Published: February 2019

As the number of mobile terminal users has increased worldwide, research on continuance usage of a mobile terminal (CUMT) has received wide attention to facilitate the sustainability of development of mobile application providers. However, different results of the relationship between perceived ease of use (PEU) and continuance usage toward information technology were found in prior studies, and studies that mainly focus on their linear relationship cannot provide an explanation of the different results. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between PEU and CUMT to examine the intriguing possibility that a curvilinear relationship can be found. This study proposed a model with a moderator of mobility based on the environment–behavior relationship theory and expectation disconfirmation theory. The research model was tested with 311 respondents collected in China through hierarchical regressions method. The results empirically indicate that mobility moderates the relationship between PEU and CUMT and show a linear relationship under high levels of mobility and a U-shaped relationship under low levels of mobility. At a low PEU stage, PEU negatively and significantly influences the behavior of CUMT, while, at a high PEU stage, there is a positive relationship between PEU and CUMT. This paper provides a detailed explanation of this behavior in the mobile Internet context. This paper discusses theoretical contributions and practical implications for the sustainable development of mobile application providers as well as the limitations of the study and future research directions.
Research on Urban Public Green Space Planning Based on Taxi Data: A Case Study on Three Districts of Shenzhen, China
Authors: Zheng Quanyi , Zhao Xiaolong , Jin Mengxiao
Published: February 2019

Urban public green space (UPGS) plays an important role in sustainable development. In China, the planning, classification, and management of green spaces are based on the Standard for Classification of Urban Green Space (SCUGS). However, limitations to the UPGS exist due to the over-emphasis on quantitative standards and insufficient consideration of the actual access mode of residents. Though the taxi trajectory data are widely selected to study public service facilities, its adoption in UPGSs research remains limited. Based on the case of UPGSs in the three districts of Shenzhen, we used the taxi (including cruise taxis and Didi cars, which are like Uber) trajectory data to investigate the spatial layout and the allocation of management resource of the UPGSs from the spatial interaction perspective. By rasterizing and visualizing the percentage of pick-up and drop-off points in the UPGSs’ buffer, the service scope of UPGSs was defined, which reflected the spatial distribution and activity intensity of the visitors. Then, an unsupervised classification method was introduced to reclassify the twenty two municipal parks in the three districts. Compared to the traditional planning method, the results show that the service scope of the same type of UPGS in the traditional classification is not the same as the one obtained by the study. Visitors to all UPGSs are distributed as a quadratic function and decay as the distance increases. In addition, the attenuation rates of the same type of UPGSs are similar. The findings of this study are expected to assist planners in improving the spatial layout of UPGSs and optimizing the allocation of UPGS management resources based on new classifications.
Screening of Rice Endophytic Biofertilizers with Fungicide Tolerance and Plant Growth-Promoting Characteristics
Authors: Shen Fo-Ting , Yen Jui-Hung , Liao Chien-Sen , Chen Wen-Ching , Chao Yi-Ting
Published: February 2019

The application of pesticides is unavoidable in conventional agricultural practice. To develop effective biofertilizers, bacterial strains with both pesticide tolerance and plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits were isolated for further testing. Seedlings of rice (Oryza sativa) were planted in soil with 1, 5, or 10 times the recommended rates of the fungicides etridiazole, metalaxyl, and tricyclazole. Endophytic bacteria were isolated from roots of rice seedlings. The bacterial 16S rDNA sequences and related PGP characteristics including potential nitrogen fixation, phosphorus-solubilizing and indole acetic acid (IAA) production ability were further examined. In all, 17 different strains were obtained from rice seedling roots; five strains with both nitrogen fixation potential and IAA production ability included Rhizobium larrymoorei E2, Bacillus aryabhattai E7, Bacillus aryabhattai MN1, Pseudomonas granadensis T6, and Bacillus fortis T9. Except for T9, all strains could tolerate two or more fungicides. We inoculated rice roots with the endophytic bacteria and all conferred rice growth-promoting ability. Bacillus aryabhattai MN1 was further tested and showed high tryptophan dose-dependent IAA production ability, tolerance towards etridiazole and metalaxyl application and should be considered a potential bacterial biofertilizer.
Do Codes of Ethics Reveal a University’s Commitment to Sustainable Development? Evidence from Italy
Authors: Mion Giorgio , Broglia Angela , Bonfanti Angelo
Published: February 2019

Higher education institutions, such as universities, formulate strategies and undertake initiatives to support sustainable development (SD). Scholars draw up and examine sustainability reports as the main institutional documents to assess and communicate universities’ efforts towards SD. However, the presupposition of a commitment to SD by the university community is the declaration included in their codes of ethics, which can subsequently be verified and included in their sustainability reports. Thus, although codes of ethics orient strategies, no studies have yet attempted to examine if they can be considered as a communication tool able to express a university’s commitment to SD. This exploratory study aims to investigate if and how the codes of ethics of the Italian public universities reflect their commitment towards SD. Content analysis was carried out using the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. The findings suggest that SD is a common aim among Italian universities, although it is not explicitly communicated in their codes of ethics, and that each university contributes to SD in different ways. In practical terms, this study suggests to adopt an approach that is better directed towards SD to improve universities’ codes of ethics and compliant strategies.
Correlation of Fish Assemblages with Habitat and Environmental Variables in a Headwater Stream Section of Lijiang River, China
Authors: Huang Jian , Huang Liangliang , Wu Zhiqiang , Mo Yuanmin , Zou Qi , Wu Naicheng , Chen Zhongbing
Published: February 2019

In order to determine the relationship between stream habitat and fish assemblages, an investigation of fish assemblages and environmental variables in different habitat types was carried out in the headwater stream section of Lijiang River, China, from September to November 2016. In total, 2968 individuals belonging to 4 orders, 11 families, 26 genera and 37 species were collected. Cypriniformes emerged as the most species-rich order, accounting for 62.2% of the total species. The dominant species were Pseudogastromyzon fangi, Zacco platypus, Acrossocheilus parallens and Erromyzon sinensis. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) revealed that fish assemblages were not affected by habitat type. However, one-way ANOVA results showed that species richness, fish abundance, fish density and Shannon index were significantly affected by habitat type. Redundancy analysis (RDA) further revealed that altitude, velocity, conductivity, turbidity, depth and wetted width had significant relationships within fish assemblages, whereas water temperature, dissolved oxygen and substrate size were less important in this study, and different fish species preferred different environmental variables potentially due to differences in species’ ecological requirements. Although habitat type did not affect overall fish assemblages, habitat heterogeneity played an important role in fish diversity. Hence, maintaining diverse stream habitats or restoring them are of key importance for fish diversity conservation and sustainability management of rivers.
Corporate Social Responsibility Information Disclosure and Corporate Fraud—“Risk Reduction” Effect or “Window Dressing” Effect?
Authors: Hu Haifeng , Dou Bin , Wang Aiping
Published: February 2019

We examine the impact in Chinese capital markets of publishing information on corporate fraud in a corporate social responsibility (CSR) report. We develop and test two competing hypotheses of “risk reduction” and “window dressing”. Based on the listed company’s CSR report, we analyze the effect of CSR disclosure on the commission of corporate fraud, fraud detection and the severity of corporate fraud. The research results show that after controlling for the firms’ characteristics and corporate governance factors, the CSR report’s information disclosures have a significantly negative relation to corporate fraud. Specifically, the CSR report’s publication reduces the information asymmetry between the insiders and the stakeholders, thus decreasing the tendency to commit fraud. Our findings support the risk reduction hypothesis but not the window dressing hypothesis. Further research shows that firms with a good CSR disclosure practice have a lower probability of committing corporate fraud and have fewer types of fraud violations, thereby mitigating the severity of corporate fraud.
Workplace Parking Provision and Built Environments: Improving Context-Specific Parking Standards Towards Sustainable Transport
Authors: Liu Qian , Zhu Mingjian , Xiao Zuopeng
Published: February 2019

Both academics and practitioners concur that parking restraints should be actively introduced in urban centers and job-intensive areas, to prevent overdependence on automobiles. Many Chinese metropolises have reduced the level of parking minimums for non-residential premises in central and transit-rich areas. However, there is a lack of research examining the effectiveness of these policies. Taking Shenzhen as a case study, this paper compares the parking supply with the parking minimums at each policy period, and analyzes the spatial characteristics of parking provision for office use. The descriptive analysis found that the effects of minimum parking requirements (MPRs) on parking provision vary by floor area ratio (FAR), operation period, and transit accessibility. By conducting a geographical weighted regression (GWR) model, this paper further examines the spatially varying effects of the built environment on parking provision. The modeling results conclude that the significance and strength of the effects of built environments on parking provision vary across space. (1) The total parking quantity increases with the growth of the FAR, and this increasing effect is larger in suburban areas than in the city proper. (2) Lot size has a positive relationship with parking provision, and the effects are stronger in areas with higher parking demand. (3) Transit accessibility has inconsistent associations with parking provision at different locations, in terms of the direction and strength of the influence. These results provide relevant insights into the development of context-specific parking policies in the high-density contexts of China’s large cities.
The Effect of Sustainable Urban Planning and Slum Disamenity on The Value of Neighboring Residential Property: Application of The Hedonic Pricing Model in Rent Price Appraisal
Authors: Hussain Touseef , Abbas Jaffar , Wei Zou , Nurunnabi Mohammad
Published: February 2019

This study is the first to perform a focalized analysis on city development, sustainable urban planning, and the negative impact of slum area disamenity on property valuation in suburban and posh areas of the Islamabad region, Pakistan. Slums exist in almost every country in the world. However, in the process of urbanization and city development, researchers have focused merely on the crumbled infrastructure, crimes, and other social problems associated with slums. Studies have covered the adverse effects of these factors on property value, although this unmatched study is the first to examine the negative impact of slum proximity on the valuation of properties in the surrounding areas and on the rental value of houses located in Islamabad. The survey method is applied to obtain feedback from inhabitants, and the study incorporated the hedonic price model to assess rental values within a range of one kilometer from selected slum areas. The findings revealed that slum neighborhoods negatively impact sustainable house rental values, as compared with the rental values of houses located far away. Rents became higher as the distance from the slums increased. The results showed that having slums in the vicinity caused a decline of almost 10% in rent. However, the rental value of a similar house unit, located 500 meters away, was found to be almost 10% higher. In the semi-log model, house rental values increased by approximately 12.40% at a distance of one kilometer from slums, and vice versa. This study will use residents’ feedback to help government officials and policymakers to resolve slum issues, which is essential for maintaining sustainable development and adequate city planning. This study sample’s findings are not generalizable to all slums, as the results are specific to this region.
What Drives People to Complain about Environmental Issues? An Analysis Based on Panel Data Crossing Provinces of China
Authors: Zeng Jingjing , Yuan Meng , Feiock Richard
Published: February 2019

Strengthening public participation has often proven essential for achieving environmental sustainability goals. The “Xinfang”system, through complaint visits and letters, offers institutional channels through which the public’s grievances can be addressed, and where court judgments can be challenged by filing complaints about environmental problems to Environmental Protection Bureaus. Operating under the monopoly of the state Party, the “Xinfang” system provides the political opportunity for pro-environmental values and interests to be voiced and heard by governments. Importantly, comprehending the evolution of public complaints over a prolonged period of time sheds light on various determinants of this public participation program. This paper seeks to better understand environmental degradation caused by unbridled economic growth in China and the efforts that civic environmentalism has made to reduce the problem. More specifically, it uses panel data on 31 Chinese provincial/first level administrative units, collected over a decade, from 2003 to 2015, to analyze how socioeconomic status in the general public and the political and policy structures have shaped civic environmentalism. We use two Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) models to explore how these actors have propelled the public to protect their environment from discharged industrial wastewater, industrial waste gas, and solid wastes.
Behavior-Based Pricing of Organic and Conventional Agricultural Products Based on Green Subsidies
Authors: Liu Kanying , Lan Yong , Li Wei , Cao Erbao
Published: February 2019

This study considers two types of consumers: those without preference difference, and those that prefer organic agricultural products. It constructs two two-stage hoteling behavior-based pricing models and solves for the optimal loyalty price and poaching price of the two types of enterprises. It analyzes the influence of subsidies on the pricing of the two types of products and corporate profits. The study also undertakes numerical simulation for further analysis, finding that green subsidies are negatively correlated with the loyalty price and poaching price of organic agricultural products, but that they will not affect the difference between the two types of prices. When the inherited market of organic agricultural products is dominant, the size of green subsidy affects the relationship between the prices of the two types of products. However, when organic agricultural products do not dominate the initial market, green subsidies do not affect the size of the relationship between the two prices of the two types of products. When the initial market position of organic agricultural products is different, the types of competing customers are different between the two types of enterprises, and the intensity of competition will increase with the increase of subsidies. Green subsidies increase the profits of organic agricultural enterprises and reduce the profits of conventional agricultural enterprises.
Impact of Momentary Cessation Voltage Level in Inverter-Based Resources on Increasing the Short Circuit Current
Authors: Choi Namki , Park Bohyun , Cho Hwanhee , Lee Byongjun
Published: February 2019

This study analyzed the impact of varying the momentary cessation (MC) voltage level on the short circuit current of inverter-based resources (IBRs). To analyze the impact of the IBR MC function on the short circuit current, this paper proposes an advanced IBR model for fault current calculation to reflect its fault characteristics and a scheme for analyzing the influence of MC on the short circuit current. Based on the proposed methods, the authors conducted case studies using planning data from the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). The influence of MC was investigated on the IBRs located at the southwest side of the KEPCO systems by screening the fault currents while varying the MC voltage. This paper demonstrates that the minimum MC voltage level needed for the fault current not to exceed the circuit breaker (CB) capacity can be proposed through analyzing the impact of MC voltage level on the short circuit current. The test results based on the proposed scheme showed that the short circuit current to power systems could not violate CB capacity if IBRs adjusted the MC voltage level higher than the lowest MC voltage level.
Association of Carbon Emissions and Circular Curve in Northwestern China
Authors: Dong Yaping , Xu Jinliang , Li Menghui , Jia Xingli , Sun Chao
Published: February 2019

Carbon emissions, produced by automobile fuel consumption, are termed as the key reason leading to global warming. The highway circular curve constitutes a major factor impacting vehicle carbon emissions. It is deemed quite essential to investigate the association existing between circular curve and carbon emissions. On the basis of the IPCC carbon emission conversion methodology, the current research work put forward a carbon emission conversion methodology suitable for China’s diesel status. There are 99 groups’ test data of diesel trucks during the trip, which were attained on 23 circular curves in northwestern China. The test road type was key arterial roads having a design speed greater than or equal to 60 km/h, besides having no roundabouts and crossings. Carbon emission data were generated with the use of carbon emission conversion methodologies and fuel consumption data from field tests. As the results suggested, carbon emissions decline with the increase in the radius of circular curve. A carbon emission quantitative model was established with the radius and length of circular curve, coupled with the initial velocity as the key impacting factors. In comparison with carbon emissions under circular curve section and flat section scenarios, the minimum curve radius impacting carbon emissions is 500 m. This research work provided herein a tool for the quantification of carbon emissions and a reference for a low-carbon highway design.
Development of a Business Model by Introducing Sustainable and Tailor-Made Value Proposition for SME Clients
Authors: Bolesnikov Minja , Popović Stijačić Milica , Radišić Mladen , Takači Aleksandar , Borocki Jelena , Bolesnikov Dragana , Bajdor Paula , Dzieńdziora Joanna
Published: February 2019

Due to the combination of vast technology trends brought by Industry 4.0, present-day consumers need and stiff global competition and require businesses from across many industries to constantly innovate. Clients request multifaceted support from manufacturers and service providers while the transition towards new symbiotic ecosystems disrupts traditionally established processes in some sectors. This is largely happening in the global automotive industry where in-car and around-the-car services with asset-sharing concepts are taking a dominant role rather than plain vehicles sales and car ownership. In our paper, we investigate the possibilities of new and improved business collaborations between a car retailer operating in several European countries and its SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) customers across various sectors currently owning car fleets of at least five vehicles. We test several hypotheses and conduct a systematic statistical analysis of the proposed business model’s aspects on the sample of almost 200 SMEs from five countries in Southeast Europe. By using the χ2 test and a one-tailed t-test we tested both frequency data and the continuous variables. Research indicates that SMEs look for new ways to organize their fleet management strategy more efficiently and thus more precisely plan associated costs. Regardless of the country of origin, SMEs want to explore a business model with more introduced to their fleet management and are ready to accept new technologies for fleet management operations.
Spatial Accessibility to Hospitals Based on Web Mapping API: An Empirical Study in Kaifeng, China
Authors: Zheng Zhicheng , Xia Haoming , Ambinakudige Shrinidhi , Qin Yaochen , Li Yang , Xie Zhixiang , Zhang Lijun , Gu Haibin
Published: February 2019

The accessibility of hospital facilities is of great importance not only for maintaining social stability, but also for protecting the basic human right to health care. Traditional accessibility research often lacks consideration of the dynamic changes in transport costs and does not reflect the actual travel time of urban residents, which is critical to time-sensitive hospital services. To avoid these defects, this study considered the city of Kaifeng, China, as an empirical case, and directly acquired travel time data for two travel modes to the hospital in different time periods through web mapping API (Application Program Interface). Further, based on travel time calculations, we compared five baseline indicators. For the last indicator, we used the optimal weighted accessibility model to measure hospital accessibility for each residential area. The study discovered significant differences in the frequency and spatial distribution of hospital accessibility using public transit and self-driving modes of transportation. In addition, there is an imbalance between accessibility travel times in the study area and the number of arrivals at hospitals. In particular, different modes of transportation and different travel periods also have a certain impact on accessibility of medical treatment. The research results shed new light on the accessibility of urban public facilities and provide a scientific basis with which local governments can optimize the spatial structure of hospital resources.
Methods to Assess the Impacts and Indirect Land Use Change Caused by Telecoupled Agricultural Supply Chains: A Review
Authors: Parra Paitan Claudia , Verburg Peter H.
Published: February 2019

The increasing international trade of agricultural products has contributed to a larger diversity of food at low prices and represents an important economic value. However, such trade can also cause social, environmental and economic impacts beyond the limits of the countries directly involved in the exchange. Agricultural systems are telecoupled because the impacts caused by trade can generate important feedback loops, spillovers, rebound effects, time lags and non-linearities across multiple geographical and temporal scales that make these impacts more difficult to identify and mitigate. We make a comparative review of current impact assessment methods to analyze their suitability to assess the impacts of telecoupled agricultural supply chains. Given the large impacts caused by agricultural production on land systems, we focus on the capacity of methods to account for and spatially allocate direct and indirect land use change. Our analysis identifies trade-offs between methods with respect to the elements of the telecoupled system they address. Hybrid methods are a promising field to navigate these trade-offs. Knowledge gaps in assessing indirect land use change should be overcome in order to improve the accuracy of assessments.
Systemic Risks of Climate Events and Households’ Participation in Mariculture Mutual Insurance: A Case Study of Shrimp Producers in Zhejiang Province
Authors: Han Hongyun , Jiang Ye
Published: February 2019

Mariculture is playing an important role in food safety, acting as strong complement to marine fishery. As a typical capital intensive and high-risk sector, mariculture mutual insurance is important for ensuring the stability and sustainability of mariculture due to the inertia of private insurance, it is necessary to examine factors for low household participation in marine fishery mutual insurance to promote the healthy development of marine insurance. Based on the field surveyed data of mariculture shrimp producers in Zhejiang Province, this study aims to examine the determinants underlying households’ participation in mariculture mutual insurance. Based on logistic model, we find out that climate risks, environmental risks and technical risks have seriously hindered the development of food security and fisheries in Zhejiang Province. In addition, farmers’ insurance involvement mainly depends on the individual characteristics of the farmers: whether used to go out to work, perception of burden level of premium and insurance awareness; family characteristics of fish farmers: total household income, and unpaid loan; and production characteristics: professional level, mariculture area and whether sea waters registration. Meanwhile, external factors, including organizations available for insurance participation, impact of national insurance subsidies, policy support and disasters on the aquaculture area. Corresponding risk management measures are urgently needed for the sustainable development of mariculture.
Can “Liking” Behavior Lead to Usage Intention on Facebook? Uses and Gratification Theory Perspective
Authors: Hossain Md. Alamgir , Kim Minho , Jahan Nusrat
Published: February 2019

The “like” feature on Facebook has emerged as a commonly used paralinguistic tool for communicating, and its importance as an indication of positive feelings toward the posts of others is likely to increase. Comprehensive research is needed into why and how users are motivated toward ‘liking’ behavior, and whether this behavior generates an intention to continue using Facebook over time. This study combines the theory of uses and gratification and a subjective norm perspective to create an integrated model that predicts liking behavior and usage intentions on Facebook. The research model is tested with data collected from online users of Facebook and the proposed model is supported by a measurement and structural model analysis based on empirical data collected from 267 Facebook users. The findings indicate that the most salient motivations for users to liking behavior are enjoyment, information seeking, social interaction, and subjective norms, and that they subsequently reinforce their continuous intention toward the Facebook. The results also revealed that subjective norms contribute strongly to the projections of liking behavior and continuous usage intention. The proposed research model contributes to global marketing research and information-technology service management by integrating personal and social motivators to understand the acceptance of social networking technologies by users in Asia. In particular, the outcomes stand to enhance the current state of knowledge of social networking site developers, managers, and organizations to improve acceptance of their services or products, development of customer support, advertising, and/or product development. The present results lay the foundation for uses and gratification theory and subjective norms model that have important theoretical and practical implications and may guide future research efforts in this context.
Aggregate Stability under Long-Term Fertilization Practices: The Case of Eroded Ultisols of South-Central China
Authors: Guo Zhonglu , Zhang Lichao , Yang Wei , Hua Li , Cai Chongfa
Published: February 2019

Soil aggregate stability is an important aspect of soil function and health. Fertilization could potentially alter soil properties and thereby affect aggregate stability. To determine which fertilizer is useful for improving soil fertility and stabilizing soil aggregates and thereby reducing soil erodibility, we examined three types of fertilizer, and measured how soil organic carbon, carbohydrates, and related soil properties influenced aggregate stability in eroded Ultisols. Treatments included control (CK), mineral fertilizer nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) (NPK), fertilizer NPK plus straw (NPKS), and farmyard manure (FYM). Aggregate stability was tested according to Le Bissonnais method, involving three disruptive tests: fast wetting (FW), slow wetting (SW), and mechanical breakdown (WS). Total organic carbon, particulate organic carbon, mineral-associated carbon, and cold-water-soluble carbohydrate, hot-water-soluble carbohydrate, and dilute acid hydrolysable carbohydrate were measured, as well as soil intrinsic properties (including pH, bulk density, iron and aluminum oxides). The 12-year fertilization had a larger effect on aggregate stability and related soil properties in a 0–15 cm soil layer, whereas no effect was evident at a soil depth of 15–40 cm. MWD (mean weight diameter) under the three tests decreased with increasing soil depth. Fertilization, especially farmyard manure evidently improved MWDFW and MWDWS at a depth of 0–15 cm. Slaking was the main mechanism of aggregate breakdown in Ultisols studied, followed by mechanical breakdown. Correlation analysis showed that MWDFW and MWDWS at a depth of 0–15 cm increased with the increase of particulate organic carbon, total organic carbon, hot-water-soluble carbohydrate and pH. Furthermore, their interaction with amorphous iron oxides enhanced aggregate stability against slaking or, with amorphous aluminum oxides, modified aggregate stability against mechanical breakdown. Consequently, particulate organic carbon was the dominant cementing agent for aggregation in Ultisols studied, and its combination with pH, amorphous aluminum oxides, amorphous iron oxides, and free aluminum oxides play a synergetic role in stabilizing soil aggregate. Accordingly, farmyard manure or fertilizer NPK plus straw improved soil fertility and the ability to resist slaking.
Temporal and Spatial Changes in Coupling and Coordinating Degree of New Urbanization and Ecological-Environmental Stress in China
Authors: Yao Li , Li Xiaolu , Li Qiao , Wang Jiankang
Published: February 2019

Over the past years, new urbanization in China has accelerated steadily and led to a continuous increase in ecological-environmental (eco-environmental) stress. A deep understanding of the coupling relationship between new urbanization and ecological-environmental stress is essential to benefiting the urban management in making decisions. How to realize the coordinated development of urbanization and the eco-environment is not only the key issue in world economic and social development, but has also been a hot topic of research in recent years. However, the quantitative relationship and the interaction mechanism between the new urbanization and ecological-environmental stress are still unclear. To fill this gap, this study constructed comprehensive assessment indicators for evaluating new urbanization and eco-environmental stress systems to accomplish the following objectives. We aimed to identify the spatial and temporal pattern of coupling and coordinating degree between new urbanization and eco-environmental stress in China during the period of 2005–2016. The degrees of coupling and coordination of new urbanization and eco-environmental stress systems in China in 2005, 2010, and 2016 were calculated at the provincial level. The degrees of coupling and coordination have achieved stable and continuous improvement from 0.389 to 0.484. We further aimed to evaluate the regional coupling and estimate the stage of urbanization at which an optimal outcome could be achieved in order to ensure high-quality urbanization in China. According to the model of coupling and coordination degree, this paper divided the Chinese territory into four area types: well coordination, middle coordination, primary coordination, and reluctance coordination, and about 35% of the provinces belonged to the well and middle coordination types. Lastly, this paper analyzed the spatial pattern and cluster mode of the coupling coordination of new urbanization and eco-environmental stress systems by using ArcGIS and GeoDa. The analysis implied that coupling coordination existed with obvious regional disparity. Moreover, the degrees of coupling coordination of the developed east coastal and middle area were generally higher than those of the undeveloped west area. The findings indicate that for different regions, the reluctance coordination and primary coordination subclass regions should accelerate to realize green transformation, improve the industrial structure, and strengthen the environmental law-enforcing supervision. However, we could not conduct an internal structural analysis. Future research will focus on conducting an internal structural analysis and an element system metrics analysis.
Exploring the Driving Forces and Reduction Potential of Industrial Energy-Related CO2 Emissions during 2001–2030: A Case Study for Henan Province, China
Authors: Liu Lei , Wang Ke , Wang Shanshan , Zhang Ruiqin , Tang Xiaoyan
Published: February 2019

In China, the industrial sector is the main contributor to economic development and CO2 emissions, especially for the developing regional provinces. This study employs the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) approach to decompose industrial energy-related CO2 emission into eight factors during 2001–2015 for Henan Province. Furthermore, the future CO2 emissions under different scenarios (Business as Usual (BAU), Efficiency Improvement (EI), Structural Optimization (SO), R&D Input (RD), and Comprehensive Policy (CP) scenarios) over 2016–2030 are projected. The results indicate that among these factors, the economic output, R&D intensity, investment intensity, and energy structure are the drivers for increasing CO2 emissions over the entire period, with the contribution of 293, 83, 80, and 1% of the total CO2 emissions changes, respectively. Conversely, the energy intensity, R&D efficiency, and industrial internal structure can decrease CO2 emissions with contributions of –86, –163, and –108% to the changes, respectively. Under the five scenarios, CO2 emissions in 2030 will reach 1222, 1079, 793, 987, and 638 Mt with an annual growth rate of 4.7%, 3.8%, 1.8%, 3.3%, and 0.4%, respectively. In particular, the CO2 emission peak for SO and CP scenarios is observed before 2030. Finally, some policy implications are suggested to further mitigate industrial emissions.
Historical Enquiry as a Critical Method in Urban Riverscape Revisions: The Case of Belgrade’s Confluence
Authors: Milinković Marija , Ćorović Dragana , Vuksanović-Macura Zlata
Published: February 2019

This article aims to underline the necessity of including historical enquiry in reaching the complex goals of sustainable development of urban riverscapes. Its proposed method is a survey conducted through selection, interpretation and systematization of the relevant historical data that consider the Belgrade cityscape, and specifically, the New Belgrade public spaces at the river confluence. The theoretical framework, which relies on the concepts of ‘landscape urbanism’ and ‘critical practice of landscape architecture’, has affected the selection and interpretation of dense historical layers of modernization, formed in diverse socio-economic and political conditions. We have distinguished five historical strata that contribute significantly to comprehension of the present state. By looking at the traces of the formative period of Belgrade urban landscape, the moments of New Belgrade’s inception, inerasable impacts of war, vigorous post WWII socialist transformation and, finally, the series of Danube riverscape revisions, we intend to depict the complexity of the modern city legacy and thus stress the interconnectedness of past and future endeavours. As a counterpoint to globalizing tendencies in re-designing city riverfronts, this work is conceived as a lateral contribution to a broader investigation that informs, supports and constitutes more ecologically viable practices.
Peristaltic Blood Flow of Couple Stress Fluid Suspended with Nanoparticles under the Influence of Chemical Reaction and Activation Energy
Authors: Ellahi Rahmat , Zeeshan Ahmed , Hussain Farooq , Asadollahi A.
Published: February 2019

The present study gives a remedy for the malign tissues, cells, or clogged arteries of the heart by means of permeating a slim tube (i.e., catheter) in the body. The tiny size gold particles drift in free space of catheters having flexible walls with couple stress fluid. To improve the efficiency of curing and speed up the process, activation energy has been added to the process. The modified Arrhenius function and Buongiorno model, respectively, moderate the inclusion of activation energy and nanoparticles of gold. The effects of chemical reaction and activation energy on peristaltic transport of nanofluids are also taken into account. It is found that the golden particles encapsulate large molecules to transport essential drugs efficiently to the effected part of the organ.