bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on Small Sample Dynamic Human Ear Recognition Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Lei Yanmin , Qian Junru , Pan Dong , Xu Tingfa
Published: February 2022

Due to the problem of insufficient dynamic human ear data, the Changchun University dynamic human ear (CCU-DE) database, which is a small sample human ear database, was developed in this study. The database fully considers the various complex situations and posture changes of human ear images, such as translation angle, rotation angle, illumination change, occlusion and interference, etc., making the research of dynamic human ear recognition closer to complex real-life situations, and increasing the applicability of human ear dynamic recognition. In order to test the practicability and effectiveness of the developed CCU-DE small sample database, we designed a dynamic human ear recognition system block diagram based on a deep learning model, which was pre-trained by a migration learning method. Aiming at multi-posture changes under different contrasts, translation and rotation motions, and with or without occlusion, simulation studies were conducted using the CCU-DE small sample database and different deep learning models, such as YOLOv3, YOLOv4, YOLOv5, Faster R-CNN, and SSD. The experimental results showed that the CCU-DE database can be well used for dynamic ear recognition, and it can be tested by using different deep learning models with higher test accuracy.
Identity Distress among Immigrant Students during COVID-19
Authors: Wagaman Bailey , Kerr Emalee , Branch Reilly , Berman Steven L.
Published: February 2022

The process of identity formation is complex for many; however, for immigrant populations experiencing acculturation and acculturative stress, the process may be particularly difficult. The current study examined the impact of immigration, acculturation, social support, and acculturative stress on identity formation and identity distress during the added stress of COVID-19. Late-adolescent college students from large enrollment psychology courses completed an anonymous online survey battery for course credit (N = 462). Results indicate that identity distress was higher among first-generation immigrants than second- and third-generation; however, it was highest for those with mixed parentage (one immigrant and one native-born parent). Further, acculturative stress and COVID-19 anxiety better predicted identity distress than identity development factors alone, and acculturative stress appeared to mediate the relationship between social support and identity distress. This study highlights the need for additional resources for immigrant students, especially during the current pandemic.
How Cross-Discipline Understanding and Communication Can Improve Research on Multiracial Populations
Authors: Gaither Sarah E. , Sims Jennifer Patrice
Published: February 2022

One of the strengths of Critical Mixed Race Studies is that it represents research methodologies and frameworks from multiple disciplines across the social sciences and humanities. However, if these disciplines are not in dialogue with each other, that benefit may be lost. Here, we use psychological and sociological research on Multiracial populations as examples to argue how strict disciplinarity and methodological trends may limit scientific production. We propose that reading and citing work across disciplines, expanding methodological training, and rejecting hegemonic “white logic” assumptions about what is “publishable” can enhance Multiracial research. First, the ability to cite effectively across disciplines will shorten the time it takes for new theories to be developed that focus on empirically underrepresented populations. Secondly, increasing understanding of both quantitative and qualitative methods will allow more effective reading between disciplines while also creating opportunities to engage with both causality and the richness of experiences that comprise being Multiracial. Finally, these changes would then situate scholars to be more effective reviewers, thereby enhancing the peer-reviewed publication process to one that routinely rejects color evasive racist practices that privilege work on majority populations.
Urban Resilience for Urban Sustainability: Concepts, Dimensions, and Perspectives
Authors: Zeng Xun , Yu Yuanchun , Yang San , Lv Yang , Sarker Md Nazirul Islam
Published: February 2022

Urbanization is a continuous process for a city’s economic development. Though rapid urbanization provides a huge employment opportunity for people, urban threats also increase proportionately due to natural and man-made hazards. Understanding urban resilience and sustainability is an urgent matter to face hazards in the rapidly urbanized world. Therefore, this study aims to clarify the concept and develop key indications of urban resilience and sustainability from the existing literature. A systematic literature review guided by PRISMA has been conducted using literature from 1 January 2001 to 30 November 2021. It argues that sustainability and resilience are interrelated paradigms that emphasize a system’s capacity to move toward desirable development paths. Resilience and sustainability are fundamentally concerned with preserving societal health and well-being within the context of a broader framework of environmental change. There are significant differences in their emphasis and time scales, particularly in the context of urbanization. This study has identified key indicators of urban resilience under three major components like adaptive capacity (education, health, food, and water), absorptive capacity (community support, urban green space, protective infrastructure, access to transport), and transformative capacity (communication technology, collaboration of multi-stakeholders, emergency services of government, community-oriented urban planning). This study also identified several indicators under major dimensions (social, economic, and environmental) of urban sustainability. The findings will be fruitful in understanding the dynamics of urban vulnerability and resilience and its measurement and management strategy from developed indicators.
Parking Allocation Index Analysis of Office Building Based on the TOD Measurement Method
Authors: Tang Xiang , Ma Jianxiao , He Peng , Xu Chubo
Published: February 2022

Under the overall strategic guidance of emission peaks and carbon neutrality, an increasing number of cities are focusing on sustainable transportation development as an important measure for sustainable transportation development. Transit-oriented development (TOD) can guide residents to green trip options and reduce the dependence on private cars. Many cities have qualitatively reduced the parking allocation index of office buildings around rail stations, and quantitative research on the influence area and degree of TOD is lacking. This paper selects office buildings in the rail transit station influence area as the research object, puts forward the TOD measurement method of rail transit stations based on the improved “Node-Place” model, and clusters the stations under different measurement indices by the K-means algorithm. For different types of stations, the multinomial logit (MNL) model is used to build different types of trip mode split models to put forward the reduction calculation method of the parking allocation index of office buildings in the rail transit station influence area. Finally, this paper applies the revision of Nanjing’s allocation index in 2019, and the TOD measurement is identified through the “Node-Place-Connection” model. The optimized calculation method of the parking allocation index for office buildings is proposed. The results indicate that the method can reduce parking allocations to encourage the use of green transportation and guide the construction of urban sustainable transportation systems.
Neglected Part of Education Sustainability: Social Work Intervention on the Quality of Extracurricular Life of Migrant Workers’ Children
Authors: Qiang Huiyuan , Liu Lin , Ma Fengzhi
Published: February 2022

The extracurricular life and education of migrant children are significant to the formation of personality and values, but it has been ignored for a long time. The aim of this study is to obtain evidence supporting the theoretical argument that social work intervention in extracurricular education can have a positive impact on migrant children’s learning ability, social adaptability, personality, and interest shaping. From the perspective of practice, including participatory observation and case study method, this paper analyzes the situation of 71 migrant children in order to improve their extracurricular life quality by social work intervention. In the short term, project members have generally developed good study habits. In the long term, the academic performance is generally excellent, which is beneficial to the development of school teaching tasks. The project has an obvious beneficial impact on the academic learning ability and mental health of migrant workers’ children, especially the ability of social adaptation and the shaping of personality interests. The project helps to strengthen the sustainability of migrant children’s education.
Potential Contribution to Carbon Neutrality Strategy from Industrial Symbiosis: Evidence from a Local Coal-Aluminum-Electricity-Steel Industrial System
Authors: Huan Jiajia , Han Ling
Published: February 2022

Urban sustainability is a critical target under the sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially considering the response of cities to most of the resource and carbon footprints of human beings. The circular economy (CE) strategy offers an innovative and important pathway for forwarding sustainable urban development in terms of resource saving and waste mitigation. A particularly important measure of the circular economy is the urban industrial symbiosis, which, as an imitation of the ecological system, is viewed as an effective way to achieve the sustainable and low-carbon transformation of industries and downtown areas. However, evidence of its comprehensive environmental benefit is less reported. With this circumstance, this paper aims at identifying the environmental benefits of urban industrial symbiosis, with a focus on urban carbon footprints (CFP). With this basis, we shall also discuss the promotion of urban industrial symbiosis as a critical component in support of the carbon neutrality strategy. A hybrid approach integrating a process-based inventory analysis and an input–output analysis (IOA) is developed to analyze urban CFPs. Results imply that considerable savings in resources and the reduction of CFPs could be achieved via the coal-aluminum-electricity-steel industrial symbiosis. In detail, the eight designed synergies, with the aluminum-electricity-steel plants as the hubs, could reduce CO2 by 1.09 Mt per year, which accounted for 3.63% of the total CFPs in the city in a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario in 2012. This could partly offset the increase of CO2 emissions due to the economy’s expansion and realize a second mitigation effect apart from the efficiency change in technologies. A crucial understanding of the function of industrial symbiosis in accelerating the sustainable transformation of cities could then be reached. Finally, further implications on policy when tackling the gaps in regional eco-industrial development are proposed and discussed.
Effects of the Post-Relocation Support Policy on Livelihood Capital of the Reservoir Resettlers and Its Implications—A Study in Wujiang Sub-Stream of Yangtze River of China
Authors: Xu Yuangang , Shi Guoqing , Dong Yingping
Published: February 2022

Hydropower energy is a clean alternative energy that has less impact on global climate change than fossil energy. However, the subsequent displacement and resettlement caused by dam construction is a global challenge perplexing the displaced population and the stability of the local socio-economic system. Without proper reconstruction and rehabilitation, the resettlers were highly risked in impoverishment. The Chinese government has formulated and implemented the post-relocation support (PReS) policy for reservoir resettlement and has continuously supported the resettlers to improve their livelihoods and socio-economic conditions since 2006. This paper focus on the 20 years dimension before and after policy formation, tests the variation of resettlers’ livelihood capital and explores the effectiveness of the PReS policy and its blank spots based on a survey of 360 affected households by three big hydroelectric dams in China. The results show that reservoir resettlers would have caused the overall decline of resettlers’ livelihood capital. The prominent problem is that the reduction of land resources and population relocation leads to the changes of resettlers’ livelihood diversification and lifestyle change, which puts forward new requirements for the improvement of job skills and personal capability; the policy plays a significant role in rapidly improving the social, economic, and physical assets of resettlers in the early stage of reservoir resettlement; from the time scale of 15 years of policy implementation, the resettlement policy has an obvious slow-release effect on making up for the improvement of natural resources development and human capital; there are still blank spots in the current resettlement policy. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust and extend the policy for specific groups of people.
Competition, Gender Equality, and Doping in Sports in the Red Queen Effect Perspective
Authors: Uyar Yalcin , Gentile Ambra , Uyar Hamza , Erdeveciler Övünç , Sunay Hakan , Mîndrescu Veronica , Mujkic Dino , Bianco Antonino
Published: February 2022

The nature of sports is characterized by a strong competitive component that generates inequalities among athletes at different levels, specifically in relation to gender, technology, and doping. These inequalities can be represented according to the Red Queen effect perspective, which has been previously hypothesized in other competitive environments (evolutionary biology and economics, for instance). The Red Queen effect considers each competitive environment to require a constant effort to maintain a position of competitive advantage in order reach the best result possible. Therefore, the aim of the current paper is to provide an innovative perspective for the understanding of competition in sports, identifying factors (i.e., physical appearance for gender equality, socioeconomic status of a sport team for technology, and antidoping rules for doping) influencing athletes’ possibilities to win a competition. Concerning gender differences, the disparity between genders reflects a lower coverage in sports news, and media are more likely to focus on female athletes’ physical appearance than their performance in sports. Therefore, women struggle more with increasing their visibility and in affirming their status as an athlete. On the other hand, the introduction of science and technological innovations in sports has generated economic interests in sport competitions, which reached superior performance levels compared to the past. Teams that cannot afford financial burdens of technological innovation risk being left out from sport competitions. Finally, doping creates a Red Queen environment since antidoping rules catch a small portion of athletes using performance enhancement drugs.
Evaluation of Conventional and Sustainable Modifiers to Improve the Stiffness Behavior of Weak Sub-Grade Soil
Authors: Jaffar Syed Taseer Abbas , Muneeb Abid Malik , Khan Sikander Zaman , Jafri Turab , Rehman Zia Ur , Tariq Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman , Ng Anne W. M.
Published: February 2022

The paper focuses on the improvement of the clayey soil (A-6) with the locally available and cheap modifiers, in terms of stiffness behavior of the weak subgrade soil for flexible pavement. The modifiers used include lime (hydrated), marble waste and sand. The soil specimens underwent triaxial testing and Clegg impact testing. Triaxial testing involved the assessment of the resilient modulus (MR) and impact testing using the Clegg Impact Hammer. According to the study, lime proved to be the most influencing modifier as it improves the stiffness of the weak soil better than other modifiers. A quite accurate statistical relationship between the MR and the variables (including Clegg Impact) involved in the testing procedure has been established
Evaluation of Resilience in Historic Urban Areas by Combining Multi-Criteria Decision-Making System and GIS, with Sustainability and Regeneration Approach: The Case Study of Tehran (IRAN)
Authors: Haghighi Fard Seyed Mohammad , Doratli Naciye
Published: February 2022

Historic urban areas are the beating heart of the city, but neglecting them can lead to low resilience. Therefore, paying attention to their regeneration can create a sustainable city. The purpose of this study was to determine the resilience of neighborhoods in Tehran and evaluate effective criteria for the resilience increase. In this study, to evaluate the resilience of Tehran, initially, 18 criteria were considered. Then, using the Delphi technique, 14 criteria among them were selected for final analysis. Using the AHP multi-criteria decision-making method, the importance of each criterion was determined. Using GIS capabilities, the parameters map was prepared, and by combining the prepared maps with AHP weights, a resilience map was created. Finally, 20 neighborhoods with the lowest resilience were identified as priorities for stabilization and regeneration measures, and the criteria status used in them was examined. Results showed that deteriorated urban areas (19.53%) and construction materials (18.51%) were the most important criteria. Non-resilience areas were generally in the southern half of the city. 78% of 20 selected neighborhoods had deteriorated urban areas, while only 14% of the city deteriorated. Finally, by examining the criteria in neighborhoods with the lowest resilience, suggestions were made to regeneration, sustainability, and increase the resilience of these neighborhoods.
Analyzing the Spatio-Temporal Distribution and Network Structure of Ecotourism Flow in Zhangjiajie
Authors: Liu Xiaoming , Xu Mei , Zhou Huiling
Published: February 2022

Tourism flow is an important monitoring indicator for the industrial operation of ecotourism destinations, crucial in its planning, development, and marketing. Based on the travel journal data of popular tourism websites, this paper analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution, network structure, and the coupling characteristics between ecotourism flow and traffic accessibility in Zhangjiajie using standard deviation ellipse, social network analysis, kernel density estimation, and a spatial coupling model. The main results are as follows: (1) In terms of time distribution, the ecotourism flow in Zhangjiajie is mainly short-term tourism, with significant seasonal differences. (2) In terms of spatial structure, the ecotourism flow in Zhangjiajie presents a polygonal distribution of “core-edge”, forming a dense distribution area of Wulingyuan–Tianmen Mountain–Huanglongdong ecotourism flow. (3) In terms of spatial and temporal distribution, the connection intensity between the core area of ecotourism flow in Zhangjiajie and other scenic spots increases as the tourism length of stay increases. However, the radiation scope is mainly in the surrounding ecotourism scenic spots. (4) The coupling degree of ecotourism flow and traffic accessibility in Zhangjiajie is high, but the coupling coordination degree remains low on the whole. In addition, there is a serious mismatch between ecotourism flow and traffic accessibility in Zhangjiajie.
Copernicus in Support of Monitoring, Protection, and Management of Cultural and Natural Heritage
Authors: Bonazza Alessandra , Bonora Nico , Duke Benjamin , Spizzichino Daniele , Recchia Antonella Pasqua , Taramelli Andrea
Published: February 2022

The current Copernicus evolution aims to meet horizontal users’ needs in order to widen uptake of the Copernicus monitoring products by non-traditional users. In 2019, the European Commission initiated a coordinated action to evaluate the current and potential uptakes of Copernicus products, and for the monitoring and protection of European Cultural and Natural Heritage in a future climate change scenario. An interaction matrix was developed, circulated to and fulfilled by users in order to collect their needs and identify the main gaps in terms of monitoring data and information. The results show what users require from Copernicus to face the daily challenges of preserving and protecting CH features. Moreover, the interaction with users identified a data and information access model that best maximizes uptake by the users. The present work illustrates the user requirement coordination mechanism adopted by the European Copernicus Cultural Heritage Task Force; synthesises the results achieved in terms of gap analysis; and assesses the current and potential uptake of Copernicus data, services, and products in support of the monitoring and protection of European cultural heritage. It also provides recommendation about the implementation of infrastructural solutions to improve Copernicus services data and information access by cultural heritage users.
Effects of Extracellular Polymeric Substances and Specific Compositions on Enhancement of Copper Bioleaching Efficiency from Waste Printed Circuit Boards
Authors: Xu Jin , Zhu Nengwu , Yang Ruying , Yang Chong , Wu Pingxiao
Published: February 2022

Bioleaching has been proven to be an efficient and environment-friendly method for processing metalliferous ore and waste printed circuit boards (PCBs), a type of urban mine waste. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) play a major role in the attachment of bacteria to the surface of sulfide minerals. However, there are few reports on the effects of EPS components on the bioleaching of metals from PCBs. In this study, synthetic EPS were used to investigate the effects of the composition of exo-polymers on the bioleaching of copper from waste PCBs, including the process efficiency. The copper extraction rate in bioleaching assays with synthetic EPS was 11.7% greater than in those without synthetic EPS. Moreover, the composition of EPS was proven to be a crucial factor affecting the efficiency of copper bioleaching, with EPS containing arginine yielding the highest recovery (95.2% copper). Under the condition of 0.5 g/L synthetic EPS added at the early stage of log phase, the copper leaching efficiency from waste PCBs was highly improved. This study provides important insights into how to analyze the working mechanisms of EPS for a better recovery efficiency.
Techno-Economic and Environmental Impact Analysis of Large-Scale Wind Farms Integration in Weak Transmission Grid from Mid-Career Repowering Perspective
Authors: Butt Rohan Zafar , Kazmi Syed Ali Abbas , Alghassab Mohammed , Khan Zafar A. , Altamimi Abdullah , Imran Muhammad , Alruwaili Fahad F.
Published: February 2022

Repowering a wind farm enhances its ability to generate electricity, allowing it to better utilize areas with high mean wind speeds. Pakistan’s present energy dilemma is a serious impediment to its economic development. The usage of a diesel generator as a dependable backup power source raises the cost of energy per kWh and increases environmental emissions. To minimize environmental emissions, grid-connected wind farms enhance the percentage of wind energy in the electricity system. These wind generators’ effects, on the other hand, are augmented by the absorption of greater quantities of reactive electricity from the grid. According to respective grid codes, integration of commercial onshore Large-Scale Wind Farms (LSWF) into a national grid is fraught with technical problems and inter-farm wake effects, which primarily ensure power quality while degrading overall system operation and limiting the optimal use of attainable wind resources. The goal of this study is to examine and estimate the techno-economic influence of large-scale wind farms linked to poor transmission systems in Pakistan, contemplating the inter-farm wake effect and reactive power diminution and compensating using a range of voltage-ampere reactive (VAR) devices. This study presents a partial repowering technique to address active power deficits produced by the wake effect by raising hub height by 20 m, which contributed to recovering the active power deficit to 48% and so reduced the effects of upstream wind farms. Simulations were conducted for several scenarios on an actual test system modeled in MATLAB for comparative study using capacitor banks and different flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) devices. Using the SAM (System Advisor Model) and RETscreen, a complete technical, economic, and environmental study was done based on energy fed into the grid, payback time, net present value (NPV), and greenhouse gases (GHG) emission reduction. The studies suggest that the unified power flow controller (UPFC) is the optimum compensating device via comparison analysis as it improved the power handling capabilities of the power system. Our best-case scenario includes UPFC with hub height augmentation, demonstrating that it is technically, fiscally, and environmentally viable. Over the course of its lifespan, the planned system has the potential to save 1,011,957 tCO2, resulting in a greener environment. When the energy generated annually by a current wake-affected system is compared to our best-recommended scenario, a recovered shortfall of 4.851% is seen, with improved system stability. This modest investment in repowering boosts energy production due to wake effects, resulting in increased NPV, revenue, and fewer CO2 footprints.
Exploring the Characteristics of Gifted Pre-School Children: Teachers’ Perceptions
Authors: Jawabreh Reem , Danju İpek , Salha Soheil
Published: February 2022

Based on SDG4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, and based on the fact that education is the core of Palestinian values, the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education launched an inclusive education policy in order to integrate all students into the educational system, regardless of their talents, abilities and disabilities. Therefore, the Palestinian Government seeks to develop educational practices to adapt to the needs of all students, including gifted children. Consequently, the identification of gifted pre-school children in Palestine aims to better include them in the general education curriculum. The current study aims to investigate the characteristics of gifted children through the perceptions of the pre-school teachers in Palestine. A mixed-methods approach was adopted. The quantitative data were collected by the “Scale for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Gifted and Talented Students”. The pre-school teachers in the sample were randomly selected, consisting of 450 female pre-school teachers. The qualitative data were collected by semi-structured interview, which 15 female pre-school teachers took part in. There was a significant difference in teachers’ perceptions according to their academic qualifications, and according to whether gifted children need a particular curriculum or not, but there was no significant difference in teachers’ perceptions according to their experiences. The final result shows that there were many positive perceptions regarding the characteristics of gifted children through qualitative data. Therefore, there was consistency between the qualitative and quantitative data of the study. This study emphasizes the significance of continuing to highlight the characteristics of gifted children and conducting more research to reveal them.
Defining a Digital System for the Pedestrian Network as a Conceptual Implementation Framework
Authors: Jabbari Mona , Ahmadi Zahra , Ramos Rui
Published: February 2022

In cities today, the digitalization of mobility is one of the most crucial tools that link each single mobility service providers (e.g., ride sharing, public transportation, air travel, etc.) to users. Based on the smart pedestrian network model, the purpose of this study is to initially provide the requirements towards the digitalization of a pedestrian network model and subsequently to draft an institutional framework towards the effective implementation and management of pedestrian mobility that will develop/create a pedestrian network as a new structure in the city. The methodology is applied in three phases, with three separate approaches: “desk approach” for a data gathering standard that is knowledge-based and connected to walkability; a “digitalization approach” for citizen and stakeholder participation in policy co-creation; and a “business approach”. A business approach is defined as a set of operations that takes one or more types of input and produces a customer-valued outcome. In this case, customers are citizens and the business approach by applying a digital system is assessing policies and finding/defining an optimized combination of shared applicable/effective policies to implement the pedestrian network. By boosting an innovative linkage of these three phases, digitalization of the pedestrian network has great potential to improve the walkability planning process and therefore to create more sustainable and livable urban spaces.
Inter-Municipal Methodology for Climate Transition Strategies: The First Case in Italy
Authors: Litt Giovanni , Ferraioli Elena , Magni Filippo , Lucertini Giulia , Musco Francesco
Published: February 2022

To build resilient and climate-neutral cities, it is required to modify current territorial planning processes to make them more sustainable and virtuous. However, the implementation of new strategies and innovative governance models faces multiple obstacles, economic restrictions, and technical gaps. In particular, local governments often find it difficult to build structured transition processes. This article investigates how it is possible to respond effectively to the need of urban contexts to adapt to climate impacts, analyzing the case of the Climate Transition Strategy (CTS) “La Brianza Cambia Clima”, the first in Italy of this kind. Through the technical framework and the methodology described, the CTS can activate inter-municipal transformative actions through the mainstreaming of planning tools, the construction of a medium-long-term vision, and the identification of concrete and widespread actions to be implemented in the territory. This coordinated and shared strategic approach allows one to give stability, coherence, and continuity to adaptation processes involving different stakeholders and sectors of the Public Administration. Finally, it favors the implementation of multidisciplinary policies for territorial resilience on a large scale.
Immunology-Based Sustainable Portfolio Management
Authors: Raudys Sarunas , Raudys Aistis , Pabarskaite Zidrina , Liubaviciute Ausra
Published: February 2022

Immunological principles can be used to build a sustainable investment portfolio. The theory of immunology states that information about recognized pathogens is stored in the memory of the immune system. Information about previous illnesses can be helpful when the pathogen re-enters the body. Real-time analysis of 11 automated financial trading datasets confirmed this phenomenon in financial time series. Therefore, in order to increase the sustainability of the portfolio, we propose to train the portfolio with the most similar segments of historical data. The segment size and offset may vary depending on the data set and time.
Cryosphere Services to Advance the National SDG Priorities in Himalaya-Karakoram Region
Authors: Zhang Jinglin , Zhang Wei , Liu Shiwei , Kong Weiming , Zhang Wei
Published: February 2022

The cryosphere in the Himalaya-Karakoram (H-K) is widespread, and its services significantly affect the SDGs implementation in the region, in particular related to the ‘No poverty’ (SDG 1), ‘zero hunger’ (SDG 2), ‘good health and well-being’ (SDG 3), ‘work and economic’ (SDG 8) and ‘partnership for the goals’ (SDG 17). We here established the networks to illustrate the complex relationship of cryosphere services with national SDG priorities in the countries of H-K, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China, Nepal and Bhutan. The cryosphere services contributing to the national SDG priorities and the key targets were elucidated in line with the centralities of the network. It was found that ‘freshwater’, ‘clean energy’, ‘runoff regulation’, ‘climate regulation’, ‘research and education’ and ‘infrastructure and engineering’ are the services that play critical roles in H-K, and they were then applied to assess the impact of cryosphere services on the national SDG priorities. We subsequently identified a set of principal indicators in relation to the key targets of national SDG priorities, which has the explanation up to 85% of six entry points (SEPs) to advance SDGs of each country in H-K. In conjunction with the centrality of the key targets to be contributed by the overall cryosphere services in the network for each country, the dependency of SEPs on the cryosphere services can be established through principal indicators in association with the national SDG priorities in H-K countries.
Concept-Based Integration of Project Management and Strategic Management of Rubber Dam Projects Using the SWOT–AHP Method
Authors: Ghorbani Mohammad Kazem , Hamidifar Hossein , Skoulikaris Charalampos , Nones Michael
Published: February 2022

The utilization of rubber dams for water supply and irrigated agriculture is becoming an emerging practice in developing countries. In this study, based on the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis, a variety of standards and processes in project management (PM) are integrated within the framework of the strategic management (SM) of an organization responsible for the management of new small-scale hydraulic infrastructures, e.g., rubber dam projects. The most important internal and external factors in PM and organizational SM of rubber dam projects in Iran are initially identified, adapted, and integrated. Thereafter, the factors are weighted, evaluated, and analyzed using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and combined SWOT–AHP methods. Based on the results, the total weighted scores of the internal and external factors are 2.353 and 2.718, respectively. Hence, the derived main strategy of the organization is WO. This means that the weakness factors can be reduced through the opportunities available for projects. Finally, a new methodology called “strategy matrix” resulting from “priority matrix” is proposed to prioritize and determine the organization’s possible strategies. The outputs demonstrate the first three priorities as a mix of the main strategy alternatives, e.g., W1O1, W7O1, and W9O1. The organization, hence, is proposed to use the economic benefits of rubber dam projects to further monitor organizational units, the project’s resource management, and the project’s stakeholder management (not the project’s stakeholders). The proposed research could be conceived as a pilot for sustainable management in developing countries, where strategic project management can produce important operational benefits.
Design Methods for the Elderly in Web of Science, Scopus, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure Databases: A Scientometric Analysis in CiteSpace
Authors: Li Yongchuan , Abdul-Rashid Salwa Hanim , Raja Ghazilla Raja Ariffin
Published: February 2022

With the increasing aging population globally, issues that come with aging are becoming more severe. This prompted the governments and society to focus on the social security of the elderly. To guarantee the safety of the elderly, satisfy their emotional requirements, and assist them in adapting to a fast-changing socio-technical environment, researchers have proposed many design methods. Various researchers have studied the relevant literature and design techniques for the elderly. However, it was discovered that China is second, followed by the United States, in terms of research impact in this area. We used the literature from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for China. We selected 1221 papers on geriatric design techniques from the Web of Science and Scopus (W&S) and CNKI. Bibliometrics analysis was used to evaluate the current state, development process, and future trend of research on the design methods for the elderly. The findings indicated that (1) the number of studies on geriatric design approaches in W&S and CNKI is rising every year, and (2) the accentuation and complementarity of W&S and CNKI are distinct. It will be a crucial area of study in the future to develop more pleasant and convenient goods and services for the elderly, as well as to address their emotional needs and experiences.
Assembly Configuration Representation and Kinematic Modeling for Modular Reconfigurable Robots Based on Graph Theory
Authors: Zhang Tuopu , Du Qinghao , Yang Guilin , Wang Chongchong , Chen Chin-Yin , Zhang Chi , Chen Silu , Fang Zaojun
Published: February 2022

A Modular Reconfigurable Robot (MRR) composed of standard joint and link modules has the advantages of rapid changeover of assembly configurations for a diversity of application requirements. To tackle the kinematics analysis issues for an MRR, it is essential to develop a generic method to mathematically represent all possible assembly configurations and automatically generate their kinematic models. In this paper, two types of robot modules, i.e., revolute joint modules and rigid link modules, are considered as the basic building blocks of an MRR. The topological structure of an MRR is represented by a graph, termed an Assembly Graph (AG), in which all robot modules, regardless of their types, are treated as vertices, while the connecting interfaces between any two robot modules are treated as edges. Based on graph theory, a modified adjacency matrix, termed an Assembly Adjacency Matrix (AAM), is proposed to represent the assembly configuration of an MRR, in which the three-dimensional assembly information is specified with connecting port vectors for the adjacent modules. A path matrix derived from the AAM of an MRR is employed to describe the connecting sequence of its constituting modules. The local frame representation of the Product-of-Exponentials (POE) formula is employed, which is configuration-independent. Therefore, for an MRR configuration represented with an AAM, its kinematic model will be automatically generated according to its path matrix. The proposed assembly configuration representation and kinematic modeling method are validated through a dual-branch MRR configuration.
Characterizing the E⊗e Jahn–Teller Potential Energy Surfaces by Differential Geometry Tools
Authors: Cimpoesu Fanica , Mihai Adela
Published: February 2022

The term ‘mathematical chemistry’ is mostly associated with applications of graph theory in topological issues of 3D chemical structures, thought of as a collection of atoms as dots and bonds as lines. We propose here new directions in this field, coming from the side of theoretical chemistry approached with modern computational tools. Possible challenges are proposed in using ancillary tools of differential geometry for examining the potential energy surfaces of certain specific structural prototypes. Concretely, we describe here the geodesics on the surfaces related to the potential energy functions of the so-called E⊗e Jahn–Teller effect, a spontaneous symmetry-breaking phenomenon also known as a case of conical intersection. To illustrate the case, first-principles (ab initio) quantum chemical calculations are performed on the cyclo-propenyl molecular radical C3H3.
Ultrasound-Guided OnabotulinumtoxinA Injections to Treat Oromandibular Dystonia in Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Reyes Fabiola I. , Shoval Hannah A. , Tenaglia Amy , Kim Heakyung
Published: February 2022

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of non-progressive disorders of motor function in children resulting from an injury to an immature brain. In addition to abnormal limb and trunk movement, individuals with CP can experience involuntary muscle contractions of the lower facial muscle groups, causing oromandibular dystonia (OMD). Contraction of the lateral pterygoids and submandibular muscles depresses the mandible. OMD involving the lateral pterygoids can therefore lead to involuntary jaw opening posture, affecting the ability to feed and speak effectively. We present a case series of five patients with CP and OMD that received novel ultrasound-guided onabotulinumtoxinA to the lateral pterygoid muscles. Our goal was to determine if chemodenervation would improve the mouth-closing ability, thus in turn improving the ability to swallow, chew, manage secretions, and communicate. We describe this unique injection method and report a subjective improvement in eating abilities and communication, in addition to a positive upward trend in most patients’ weights, with no significant adverse side effects.
Constraints on a Tidal Charge of the Supermassive Black Hole in M87* with the EHT Observations in April 2017
Authors: Zakharov Alexander
Published: February 2022

More than two years ago the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration presented the first image reconstruction around the shadow for the supermassive black hole in M87*. It gives an opportunity to evaluate the shadow size. Recently, the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration constrained parameters (“charges”) of spherical symmetrical metrics of black holes from an estimated allowed interval for shadow radius from observations of M87* in 2017. Earlier, analytical expressions for the shadow radius as a function of charge (including a tidal one) in the case of Reissner–Nordström metric have been obtained. Some time ago, Bin-Nun proposed to apply a Reissner–Nordström metric with a tidal charge as an alternative to the Schwarzschild metric in Sgr A*. If we assume that a Reissner–Nordström black hole with a tidal charge exists in M87*, therefore, based on results of the shadow size evaluation for M87* done by the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration we constrain a tidal charge. Similarly, we evaluate a tidal charge from shadow size estimates for Sgr A*.
Gravastars with Kuchowicz Metric in Energy-Momentum Squared Gravity
Authors: Naz Saba , Sharif Muhammad
Published: February 2022

This paper investigates the geometry of a gravitational vacuum star (also known as a gravastar) from the perspective of f(R,T2) gravity. The gravastar can be treated as a black hole substitute with three domains: (i) the inner domain, (ii) the intrinsic shell, and (iii) the outer domain. We examine these geometries using Kuchowicz ansatz for temporal metric function corresponding to a specific f(R,T2) model. We compute a nonsingular radial metric potential for both the interior and intermediate domains. The matching of these domains with exterior Schwarzschild vacuum results in boundary conditions that assist in the evaluation of unknown constants. Finally, we examine various attributes of gravastar domains, such as the equation of state parameter, proper length, energy, and surface redshift. We conclude that the gravastar model is a viable alternative to the black hole in the background of this gravity.
Chondroblastic Osteosarcoma Associated with Previous Chronic Osteomyelitis Caused by Serratia liquefaciens in a German Shepherd Dog
Authors: Franchini Delia , Paci Serena , Ciccarelli Stefano , Valastro Carmela , Greco Grazia , Di Bello Antonio
Published: February 2022

Development of bone tumors as a result of chronic osteomyelitis represents a relatively rare and late complication in humans and animals. We described a malignant transformation (chondroblastic osteosarcoma) in a 7-year-old German shepherd with a history of polyostotic osteomyelitis caused by Serratia liquefaciens when the dog was 15 months old. The tumor developed in the right humeral diaphysis, one of the sites of polyostotic osteomyelitis. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of polyostotic osteomyelitis caused by Serratia liquefaciens in dogs.
Isotretinoin Treatment for Autosomal Recessive Congenital Ichthyosis in a Golden Retriever
Authors: Petak Ana , Šoštarić-Zuckermann Ivan-Conrado , Hohšteter Marko , Lemo Nikša
Published: February 2022

Ichthyoses are hereditary cornification disorders that manifest with abnormal differentiation and desquamation of keratinocytes in a form of generalized dry and scaly skin. In golden retriever dogs, autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI) has been associated with mutations in the PNPLA 1 gene. In human medicine, isotretinoin is frequently used to treat ARCIs. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and histological effects of isotretinoin on ARCI in a golden retriever dog with confirmed mutation in the PNPLA 1 gene. Clinical examination, blood analysis and histopathological examinations were conducted before and after 90 days of isotretinoin therapy. The clinical and histopathological findings indicate that treatment with oral isotretinoin was effective in improving ichthyosis without any side-effects.
Swine Wastewater Treatment in Constructed Wetland Systems: Hydraulic and Kinetic Modeling
Authors: Ramos Nilton de Freitas Souza , Borges Alisson Carraro , Coimbra Eder Carlos Lopes , Gonçalves Gustavo Castro , Colares Ana Paula Ferreira , de Matos Antonio Teixeira
Published: February 2022

The use of constructed wetland systems (CWS) is presented as an alternative for the treatment of effluents since these have reduced implementation costs and relative ease of operation. The present research was undertaken to evaluate to study the hydrodynamic and the fitting of first-order mathematical kinetic models for the removal of pollutants in CWS. Three CWS were built, using expanded clay as filter support: one cultivated with Polygonum punctatum (CWSw), another cultivated with Chrysopogon zizanioides (CWSV), and a control unit (CWSc). The actual retention time was 3.12 days in the CWSc, whereas, in the CWSw and CWSv, we observed values of 4.14 and 4.11 days, respectively. The dispersion values were high in all CWS. The values of chemical oxygen demand (COD) across the length of the CWS were used to fit the kinetic models that describe the first-order decay of organic matter over the CWS. The models that showed a better fit to the experimental data were the plug-flow with residual concentration, the continuous stirred tank reactor, and Shepherd’s models.
General practitioner’s tactics in the management of patients with stable angina
Authors:   FSBI National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Klimov Vladimir Anatolyevich
Published: February 2022

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is one of the most common diseases of the cardiovascular system, which is based on a disorder of the trophism of the heart muscle against the background of pathological changes in the coronary vessels. The leading factor in changes in coronary vessels is stenosing atherosclerosis, which results in impaired blood flow. Risk factors include male gender, older age, a burdened familial history, as well as low physical activity, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death, especially in developed countries, and the number one cause of medical visits related to heart and vascular problems. One of the most common manifestations of ischemic heart disease is angina pectoris. When pain sensations appear against the background of physical activity or emotional stress, it is called angina of effort, but if angina manifestations occur outside the period of physical and mental activity, we are speaking about resting angina pectoris. There are acute and chronic forms of ischemic heart disease, and while cardiologists and cardiac resuscitators usually deal with acute conditions, dynamic monitoring of patients after a myocardial infarction or with angina pectoris is a part of the responsibility of a general practitioner.