bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A tripartite cytolytic toxin formed by
Vibrio cholerae
proteins with flagellum-facilitated secretion
Authors: Nadeem Aftab , Nagampalli Raghavendra , Toh Eric , Alam Athar , Myint Si Lhyam , Heidler Thomas V. , Dongre Mitesh , Zlatkov Nikola , Pace Hudson , Bano Fouzia , Sjöstedt Anders , Bally Marta , Uhlin Bernt Eric , Wai Sun Nyunt , Persson Karina
Published: November 2021

Significance

Vibrio cholerae
, responsible for outbreaks of cholera disease, is a highly motile organism by virtue of a single flagellum. We describe how the flagellum facilitates the secretion of three
V. cholerae
proteins encoded by a hitherto-unrecognized genomic island. The proteins MakA/B/E can form a tripartite toxin that lyses erythrocytes and is cytotoxic to cultured human cells. A structural basis for the cytolytic activity of the Mak proteins was obtained by X-ray crystallography. Flagellum-facilitated secretion ensuring spatially coordinated delivery of Mak proteins revealed a role for the
V. cholerae
flagellum considered of particular significance for the bacterial environmental persistence. Our findings will pave the way for the development of diagnostics and therapeutic strategies against pathogenic Vibrionaceae.
Being online off the beaten track: rhythms of connectivity and user-generated content in the marketing of Greenland.
Authors: Ren Carina , Cooper Elizabeth
Published: November 2021

To better understand how Visit Greenland works in marketing Greenland as a tourist destination, the case of social media influencers is explored. To do so, a review of the social media marketing literature is provided which zooms in on social media marketing, tourism and social media influencers in tourism. Encapsulation and decapsulation is introduced as an analytical tool to explore the study's material and is presented in the following analysis. After a short introduction to our methodology and case, empirical material from interviews with professional social media influencers sponsored by the DMO to promote the destination is used to show how users negotiate online presence and social media content during their travels in Greenland. In conclusion, the trade- offs and balancing acts of being 'online' and 'off the beaten track' are discussed, seeing them as equally important but at times hard to reconcile.
Tunneling effect in gapped graphene disk in magnetic flux and electrostatic potential
Authors: Babe Cheikh A , Bouhlal A , Jellal A , Atmani E H
Published: November 2021

We investigate the tunneling effect of a Corbino disk in graphene in the presence of a variable magnetic flux Φ
i
created by a solenoid piercing the inner disk under the effect of a finite mass term in the disk region (R
1 < r < R
2) and an electrostatic potential. Considering different regions, we explicitly determine the associated eigenspinors in terms of Hankel functions. The use of matching conditions and asymptotic behavior of Hankel functions for large arguments, enables us to calculate transmission and other transport quantities. Our results show that the energy gap suppresses the tunneling effect by creating singularity points of zero transmission corresponding to the maximum shot noise peaks quantified by the Fano factor F. The transmission as a function of the radii ratio R
2/R
1 becomes oscillatory with a decrease in periods and amplitudes. It can even reach one (Klein tunneling) for large values of the energy gap. The appearance of the minimal conductance at the points k

F

R
1 = R
1
δ is observed. Finally we find that the electrostatic potential can control the effect of the band gap.
Presentation of new geospatial datasets for renewable thermal energy systems modelling in Switzerland
Authors: Chambers Jonathan , Rittman-Frank Mercedes , Patel Martin
Published: November 2021

Decarbonising heating and cooling energy buildings means going beyond individual buildings to geospatial analysis of regions and the country. This creates a need for higher resolution geospatial datasets to perform energy systems modelling. In this work we present open heating and cooling demand geospatial raster dataset produced as part of the FEEB&D research project. We discuss challenges in the production and sharing of such datasets and discuss future work towards more comprehensive databases for thermal energy modelling.
Deep Reinforcement Learning for room temperature control: a black-box pipeline from data to policies
Authors: Di Natale L , Svetozarevic B , Heer P , Jones C N
Published: November 2021

Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) recently emerged as a possibility to control complex systems without the need to model them. However, since weeks long experiments are needed to assess the performance of a building controller, people still have to rely on accurate simulation environments to train and tune DRL agents in tractable amounts of time before deploying them, shifting the burden back to the original issue of designing complex models. In this work, we show that it is possible to learn control policies on simple black-box linear room temperature models, thereby alleviating the heavy engineering usually required to build accurate surrogates. We develop a black-box pipeline, where historical data is taken as input to produce room temperature control policies. The trained DRL agents are capable of beating industrial rule-based controllers both in terms of energy consumption and comfort satisfaction, using novel penalties to introduce expert knowledge, i.e. to incentivize agents to follow expected behaviors, in the reward function. Moreover, one of the best agents was deployed on a real building for one week and was able to save energy while maintaining adequate comfort levels, indicating that low-complexity models might be enough to learn control policies that perform well on real buildings.
Residential density classification for sustainable housing development using a machine learning approach
Authors: Mohajeri N , Walch A , Assouline D , Gudmundsson A , Smith A , Russel T , Hall J
Published: November 2021

Using Machine Learning (ML) algorithms for classification of the existing residential neighbourhoods and their spatial characteristics (e.g. density) so as to provide plausible scenarios for designing future sustainable housing is a novel application. Here we develop a methodology using a Random Forests algorithm (in combination with GIS spatial data processing) to detect and classify the residential neighbourhoods and their spatial characteristics within the region between Oxford and Cambridge, that is, the ‘Oxford-Cambridge Arc’. The classification model is based on four pre-defined urban classes, that is, Centre, Urban, Suburban, and Rural for the entire region. The resolution is a grid of 500 m × 500 m. The features for classification include (1) dwelling geometric attributes (e.g. garden size, building footprint area, building perimeter), (2) street networks (e.g. street length, street density, street connectivity), (3) dwelling density (number of housing units per hectare), (4) building residential types (detached, semi-detached, terraced, and flats), and (5) characteristics of the surrounding neighbourhoods. The classification results, with overall average accuracy of 80% (accuracy per class: Centre: 38%, Urban 91%, Suburban 83%, and Rural 77%), for the Arc region show that the most important variables were three characteristics of the surrounding area: residential footprint area, dwelling density, and number of private gardens. The results of the classification are used to establish a baseline for the current status of the residential neighbourhoods in the Arc region. The results bring data-driven decision-making processes to the level of local authority and policy makers in order to support sustainable housing development at the regional scale.
Prediction of Domestic Hot Water Temperature in a District Heating Network
Authors: Montet Frédéric , Rychener Lorenz , Pongelli Alessandro , Hennebert Jean , Bacher Jean-Philippe
Published: November 2021

With the fourth generation of district heating networks in sight, opportunities are rising for better services and optimized planning of energy production. Indeed, the more intensive data collection is expected to allow for load prediction, customer profiling, etc. In this context, our work aims at a better understanding of customer profiles from the captured data.

Given the variety of households, such profiles are difficult to capture. This study explores the possibility to predict domestic hot water (DHW) usage. Such prediction is made challenging due to the presence of two components in the signal, the first one bound to the physical properties of the DHW distribution system, the second one bound to the human patterns related to DHW consumption.

Our contributions include (1) the analysis of recurrent neural network architectures based on GRU, (2) the inclusion of state-based labels inferred in an unsupervised way to simulate domain knowledge, (3) the comparison of different features.

Results show that the physical contribution in the signal can be forecasted successfully across households. On the contrary, the stochastic “human” component is harder to predict and would need further research, either by improving the modelling or by including alternate signals.
An optimisation approach for spatial allocation of energy sources to district heating networks
Authors: Li Xiang , Chambers Jonathan , Yilmaz Selin , Patel Martin K.
Published: November 2021

District heating networks (DHN) combined with low-carbon heat sources are a promising way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heating. However, few works have addressed the problem of allocating localised thermal energy supplies to DHN heating demands considering the spatial proximity constraint of transporting heat energy. The work improves an existing spatiotemporal analysis method by introducing an adapted form of Hitchcock transportation problem and linear programming to solve the optimal allocation problem in network of supplies and demands. The new method is compared with the original method and is found to improve the accuracy of estimating the allocable industrial excess heat supply in a Swiss case study. The method could be applied to diverse thermal sources, such as industrial excess heat, geothermal, lakes and rivers, etc.
The Internet-of-Buildings (IoB) — Digital twin convergence of wearable and IoT data with GIS/BIM
Authors: Miller Clayton , Abdelrahman Mahmoud , Chong Adrian , Biljecki Filip , Quintana Matias , Frei Mario , Chew Michael , Wong Daniel
Published: November 2021

Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices in buildings and wearable technologies for occupants are quickly becoming widespread. These technologies provide copious amounts of high-quality temporal data pertaining to indoor and outdoor environmental quality, comfort, and energy consumption. However, a barrier to their use in many applications is the lack of spatial context in the built environment. Adding Building Information Models (BIM) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to these temporal sources unleashes potential. We call this data convergence the Internet-of-Buildings or IoB. In this paper, a digital twin case study of data intersection from various systems is outlined. Initial insights are discussed for an experiment with 17 participants that focused on the collection of occupant subjective feedback to characterize indoor comfort. The results illustrate the ability to capture data from wearables in the context of a BIM data environment.
High-resolution air temperature mapping in a data-scarce, arid area by means of low-cost mobile measurements and machine learning
Authors: Eldesoky Ahmed H M , Colaninno Nicola , Morello Eugenio
Published: November 2021

The availability of gridded, screen-level air temperature data at an effective spatial and temporal resolution is important for many fields such as climatology, ecology, urban planning and design. This study aims at providing such data in a data-scarce, arid city within the greater Cairo region (Egypt), namely the Sixth of October, where, to our knowledge, no such data are available. By using (i) air temperature data, collected from mobile measurements, (ii) multiple spectral indices, (iii) spatial analysis techniques and (iv) random forest regression modelling, we produced air temperature maps (for both daytime and nighttime) at 30-m spatial resolution for the entire city. The proposed method is systematic and relies on low-cost instrumentation and freely-available satellite data and hence it can be replicated in similar data-scarce, arid areas to allow for better spatial and temporal monitoring of air temperature.
Informing the design of courtyard street blocks using solar energy models: a case study of a university campus in Singapore
Authors: Vititneva Ekaterina , Shi Zhongming , Herthogs Pieter , König Reinhard , Richthofen Aurel von , Schneider Sven
Published: November 2021

This study discusses the interplays between urban form and energy performance using a case study in Singapore. We investigate educational urban quarters in the tropical climate of Singapore using simulation-based parametric geometric modelling. Three input variables of urban form were examined: street network orientation, street canyon width, and building depth. In total, 280 scenarios were generated using a quasi-Monte Carlo Saltelli sampler and Grasshopper. For each scenario, the City Energy Analyst, an open-source urban building energy simulation program, calculated solar energy penetration. To assess the variables’ importance, we applied Sobol’ sensitivity analysis. Results suggest that the street width and building depth were the most influential parameters.
Impact of wind direction on wind energy potential for building- integrated ducted wind turbines: a numerical analysis
Authors: Sahebzadeh Sadra , Montazeri Hamid , Rezaeiha Abdolrahim
Published: November 2021

The aerodynamic performance of building-integrated ducted wind turbines depends on several parameters such as the duct geometry, variation in wind speed and direction (which are inherent characteristics of the urban wind). This study focuses on the impact of wind direction on wind energy potential of a previously optimized building-integrated duct geometry [1], embedded in a generic isolated high-rise building. The mean power density at the duct throat (where the turbine can be installed) is investigated in four wind directions of θ = 0°, 30°, 60° and 90°. High-fidelity steady RANS simulations, validated with experimental data, are used. The results show that the studied duct can increase the mean power density at its throat (i.e. rotor plane) up to 7.08 – 24.8 times that of the freestream flow at the same height for a wide range of -60° ⩽ 0 ⩽ 60°. The variation of wind energy potential in different wind directions is shown to be due to the increased size of the nozzle stagnation and separation regions for θ > 0° which limit the nozzle effective area and lower flowrate through the throat. Flow deviation from the duct central axis towards its walls further depletes the wind energy in friction.
Towards a wearable sensor for spectrally-resolved personal light monitoring
Authors: Webler Forrest Simon , Chinazzo Giorgia , Andersen Marilyne
Published: November 2021

Given the large impact that the spectrum and intensity of light can have on people's health and well-being, it is of fundamental importance to understand the properties of light received under normal living conditions. Historically, as research into the biological responses of light has traditionally focused on laboratory studies with controlled lighting conditions, little is known about people's light exposure outside of experimental environments.Spectraceis the first wearable compressive spectrometer designed for continuous spectral light tracking in everyday environments. This paper presents the sensor and its evaluation based on wearability considerations and three performance criteria: 1) its accuracy (in terms of spectral sensing capability), 2) its reliability (notably as far as directional response is concerned), and 3) its adaptability to the large dynamics of ambient conditions. Results show the potential use of the newly developed sensor for chronobiological studies and beyond.
Immersive virtual reality as a tool for lighting design: applications and opportunities
Authors: Scorpio Michelangelo , Laffi Roberta , Teimoorzadeh Ainoor , Sibilio Sergio
Published: November 2021

Immersive virtual reality offers a wide range of applications. Immersive virtual reality in particular can play an important role in lighting design, thanks to its ability to allow a quick assessment between different design choices based on spaces, colours and light. However, immersive virtual reality has to guarantee a correct reproduction of light behaviour from photometric and visual points of view, in order to be effectively used for lighting analysis. This paper presents a literature review aimed to analyse the activities of the research groups operating in this field that have addressed, with different approaches and points of view, the issue of iVR applications in the reproduction of environments illuminated by either daylight or electric lighting, as well as a combination of them.
Daylighting provision and visual comfort in unilaterally and bilaterally illuminated classrooms
Authors: Liberska Martina , Maierová Lenka
Published: November 2021

Children between the ages of 6 and 14 spend much of their day in school classrooms, where they are exposed to only a fraction of the daylight quantities typical for natural outdoor conditions. This paper examines unilaterally and bilaterally illuminated classrooms in terms of quantitative and qualitative requirements for daylighting in classrooms during both winter and summer. The results of measurements and simulations pointed out the advantages of bilaterally illuminated classrooms when compared to unilaterally illuminated ones. In winter, the windows placed on two opposite walls provide a significantly higher uniformity of daylight. In summer, in addition to the improved uniformity, this window arrangement offers higher variability in shading strategies, resulting in greater availability of daylight and better visual comfort. These factors can potentially prevent or limit the development of myopia.
User’s behaviours in non-residential mixed-mode buildings: a case study in a tropical climate
Authors: Payet M , David M , Lauret P , Garde F
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we present the results obtained by modelling the users' behaviours in a mixed mode office building in a tropical climate, more exactly in La Réunion. Few specific research studies on comfort in tropical climates have been published, and there is little feedback on the users' behaviour in these buildings.

In order to improve users' assumptions in the design phase, users' actions on ceiling fans and windows have been measured and analysed. These data have then been modelled by machine learning methods, according to hygrothermal comfort and occupancy. The F1 scores eventually obtained for predicting fan use by random forests, decision trees and Bayesian networks are 99%, 98% and 95% respectively. For windows use, the F1 scores obtained are 92%, 91% and 70%, which demonstrates the ability of the models tested to predict the users' behaviours.
Preliminary investigation on the transient hygrothermal analysis of a CLT-based retrofit solution for exterior walls
Authors: Costanzo V , Evola G , Marletta L , Roccella G
Published: November 2021

This paper investigates the transient hygrothermal performance of an innovative energy and seismic renovation solution for reinforced concrete (RC) framed buildings, based on the addition of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) panels to the outer walls, in combination with wood-based insulation. This solution is being developed in the framework of a four-year EU-funded project called e-SAFE. The investigation relies on numerical simulations in DELPHIN 6.1, by considering combined heat and mass transfer (HAMT) due to water vapour diffusion and capillary transport. The proposed solution is tested in three different climates in Italy, to verify whether the CLT layer and the outer waterproof vapour-open membrane, inserted to protect the wood-based insulation from rain, still allow the effective drying of the vapour accumulated in liquid form in the walls, while also preventing mould formation. The results show that the increased thermal resistance of the wall assembly significantly reduces the total water content, although moderate risks of mould growth in the wooden materials may occur in coldest climates.
Synchronized coupling of thermal mass and buoyancy ventilation: wood versus concrete
Authors: Barrett L , Jeong J , Price R , Subasic C , Asselin S , Fortin R , Freear A , Kennedy D , Moe K , Craig S
Published: November 2021

This study describes an experiment that validates scaling rules for the design of thermal mass, coupled with buoyancy ventilation, suggesting that wood can perform as well as concrete if these rules are respected. The scaling rules potentially offer a shortcut for early design, showing how to tune the interior temperature and rate of buoyancy ventilation by adjusting the thickness and surface area of an internal thermal mass. A pair of test chambers (H~1m), comparing wood and concrete internal thermal masses, were located in Alabama, USA and Montreal, Canada, and left outside in sun- and-wind-sheltered environments for consecutive months. The thermal mass thicknesses were optimized so the chambers would maintain similar interior temperatures and airflow rates. The scaling rules predicted the behavior of the chambers with reasonable accuracy and both the concrete and wood thermal masses performed equivalently. For instance, the test chambers in Alabama were both designed to damp the maximum exterior temperature by a factor 1-1/Ai ≈ 0.7 and produce a maximum ventilation flow rate of Q ≈ 0.37 l/s. The measured damping was 1-1/Ai = 0.81±0.1 and 1-1/Ai = 0.81±0.13 for the concrete and wood chambers, respectively, while the maximum flow rates were 0.374±0.03 and 0.36±0.04 l/s, respectively.
Green and Transportable Modular Building: a prefabricated prototype of resilient and efficient house
Authors: Roggeri Simona , Olivari Paolo , Tagliabue Lavinia Chiara
Published: November 2021

Remote working proved to be an advantage in terms energy-saving as well as, for many, in terms of quality of life, while it was a necessity during the pandemic crisis of 2020/2021. This new habit is now promoted by many big enterprises due to associated cost savings. Some experiences of remote working in different locations have started to be supported by incentives in small municipalities to repopulate remote locations in Italy and people are now more inclined to move not just for vacation. These conditions could lead to a sort of “climatic nomadism” achievable, among other, through transportable homes. The net-zero energy Green and Transportable Modular Building (GTMB) project is able to cut its environmental impact. It can assume different configurations according to the user’s needs. The house is based on a timber construction system, easily adjustable and adaptable according to a modular framework. The energy performance has been simulated by means of BIM/BEM methodologies. The building has been tested in two different climates and configurations according to variable social interaction. The energy balance of the house in the life cycle showed the achievement of a carbon zero balance mainly due to timber technology, a heat pump, and PV integration.
Identification and life cycle based allocation of building emissions based on a systematic literature review
Authors: Theilig K , Vollmer M , Lang W
Published: November 2021

Even though it is scientifically well known that there are various building emissions with harmful impacts on human health and the environment, existing evaluating approaches only refer to selected emissions and life cycle phases. Especially in today’s building sector harmful emissions are mainly evaluated in the use stage and the target is to minimize rather than avoid them. However, in order to avoid subsequent negative impacts, implementation strategies have to be developed and applied during early planning phases. This research presents an overview of relevant building emissions as well as a life cycle based approach to allocate these emissions and to show possibilities of influence towards zero emission buildings.
Combining thermal insulation and mobile communication in buildings: influence of laser-treated glazing on microwave propagation
Authors: Fleury Jeremy , Burnier Luc , Delaporte Héloïse , Schüler Andreas
Published: November 2021

With the purpose of reducing the heating energy in buildings, it is common practice to install energy-efficient windows to increase the thermal insulation of a façade. These insulating glass units (IGIJ) include a thin silver coating acting as an infrared mirror which reduces the thermal losses that occur through radiation, but at the same time reflects the microwaves for mobile communication. To address this drawback, a specific laser treatment is performed on the silver coating which strongly improves the transmission of microwaves through the window. In this study, the attenuation of microwaves signal was analyzed inside the SolAce unit in the "NEST" research building at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) in Dübendorf. Two configurations (with and without laser-treated glazing) were carried out by interchanging two hinged windows. The results showed a significant improvement in signal strength in the configuration with laser-treated IGUs. A transmission loss contour plot of the SolAce unit showed a highly directional propagation of the wave which suggests that more than two windows should be treated to achieve better mobile communication in the entire unit. The novel patterned coating is thus especially valuable in the building sector to increase the microwave signal for mobile communication. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first implementation and testing of laser-treated coating for energy-efficient glazing in the building sector.
High frequency gravitational waves: generation, detection
Authors: Pustovoit V , Gladyshev V , Kauts V , Morozov A , Nikolaev P , Fomin I , Sharandin E , Kayutenko A
Published: November 2021

We consider the different approaches to the generation and detection of the high-frequency gravitational waves. The estimations of the amplitude of gravitational waves generated by these methods were made. The characteristics of the high-frequency gravitational waves induced by perturbations of matter and the electromagnetic field are compared. The possibility of the direct detection of gravitational waves on the basis of the different methods was considered as well.
An approach to Grand Unification
Authors: Rowlands Peter
Published: November 2021

Around the time of the completion of the Standard Model of particle physics in the 1970s, schemes were put forward for unifying the three gauge interactions (electric, strong and weak) using the renormalization equations at an energy approaching the Planck mass. Though these looked promising, the exact unification never materialised, and doubts have been raised about whether this Grand Unification can be achieved. It may be possible, however, to create Grand Unification at the Planck mass if we start with a radical examination of the nature of the colour model of quarks.
The novel pushing gravity model and volcanic activity. Is alignment of planets with compact stars a possible cause of natural phenomena?
Authors: Greco F , Krasnyy I V
Published: November 2021

We developed the model, and carried out its discussion at the PIRT-2021 conference, within the framework of the research topic “External Forcing on Volcanoes and Volcanic Processes: Observations, Analysis and Implications” announced by the journal “Frontiers in Earth Science” in October 2020. Besides other, external processes considered in this Research Topic included astronomical. In this study, in the category “Hypothesis and Theory”, we investigate how changes in the position of large bodies of the Solar system can cause natural phenomena, associated with the movement of free masses, such as volcanism, earthquakes and landslides in the lithosphere, as well as various catastrophic events in the atmosphere and hydrosphere. The analysis has shown that the discovered phenomena of celestial bodies’ alignments accompanying manifestations of natural phenomena require going beyond the standard cosmological model and clarify the fundamental mechanism of gravity. We propose the novel Bidirectional Pushing Gravitation model (BPG), which, in addition to application in Earth Sciences, may occur useful in Astrophysics, Cosmology and Gravitation research.
Geometry and kinematics induced by biquaternionic and twistor structures
Authors: Kassandrov V V , Markova N V
Published: November 2021

The algebra of biquaternions possess a manifestly Lorentz invariant form and induces an extended space-time geometry. We consider the links between this complex pre-geometry and real geometry of the Minkowski space-time. Twistor structures naturally arise in the framework of biquaternionic analysis. Both together, algebraic and twistor structures impose rigid restriction on the transport of singular points of biquaternion-valued fields identified with particle-like formations.
Examples of Calabi-Yau threefolds with small Hodge numbers
Authors: Shishanin A O
Published: November 2021

We observe some suitable examples of Calabi-Yau threefolds for heterotic superstring compactifications. It is reasonable to seek CY threefolds with Euler characteristic equals ±6 because of generation’s number. Hosotani mechanism for violations of the gauge group by the Wilson loops requires such CY space has a non-trivial fundamental group. These spaces can be obtained by factoring the complete intersection Calabi-Yau spaces by the free action of some discrete group. Also we shortly discuss cases when discrete groups act with fixed point sets.
Implementation of a remote laboratory for the identification of polymeric materials by means of physical properties analysis
Authors: Vargas-Mantilla C O , Palacios-Alvarado W , Medina-Delgado B
Published: November 2021

Due to the strategies implemented to carry out the development of a correct teaching by virtual means, a methodological strategy of experimental tests was developed for the identification of polymeric materials through the identification of physical and chemical properties, with the objective of providing the engineering student a greater approach to the application of the scientific method and the activation of the capacity of reasoning and deductive thinking from the physical and chemical point of view. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to validate this strategy implemented with a group of engineering students, for this purpose, the strategy was implemented, and the results obtained by the students from the development of the experimentation were analyzed, the data were analyzed by means of nonparametric tests, in this case binomial test. Finally, it is concluded that the polymer identification test is feasible to be implemented as a remote laboratory, as a methodical strategy in teaching, since it allows the development of experimentation, in this case, the identification of polymeric materials, which present diverse physical properties.
Diffuse scattering and physical optics in the propagation of electromagnetic waves applied to mobile communications
Authors: Gomez-Rojas J , Medina-Delgado B , Palacios-Alvarado W
Published: November 2021

In this work, the optical theory of physics helps to understand, analyze, and calculate the received power in a fifth-generation mobile telecommunications receiver. In these communication systems there are statistical models and deterministic physical models. We investigated how diffuse scattering in reflection contributes to specular reflection in received power at a receiver due to materials in the propagating environment in a communication channel using millimeter waves. The dimensions of building construction materials have sizes comparable to wavelength at millimeter wave frequencies. The power transmitted by communication equipment can be reflected in the roughness of these apparently smooth materials or spread out in multiple directions. The results show that the contribution due to diffuse scattering must be considered and that deterministic physical models using optical theory are valid and improve predictive analysis with good fit. With these results, the physical theory allows to make software with high precision and that improves the current applications.
Search for relativistic magnetic monopoles with ten years of the ANTARES detector data
Authors: Boumaaza J. , Brunner J. , Moussa A. , Tayalati Y.
Published: November 2021

The presented study is an updated search for Magnetic Monopoles (MMs) using data taken with the ANTARES neutrino telescope over a period of 10 years (January 2008 to December 2017). In accordance with some Grand Unification Theories (GUT), MMs were created during the phase of symmetry breaking in the early Universe, and accelerated by inter-galactic magnetic fields. As a consequence of their high energy, they could cross the Earth and emit a significant signal in a Cherenkov-based telescope like ANTARES, for appropriate mass and velocity ranges. This analysis a new simulation of MMs taking into account the Kasama, Yang and Goldhaber (KYG) model for their cross section with matter. The results obtained for relativistic magnetic monopoles with β = v/c ⩾ 0.817, where v is the magnetic monopole velocity and c the speed of light in vacuum, are presented.
First results with the ANET Compact Thermal Neutron Collimator
Authors: Sans-Planell O. , Costa M. , Durisi E. , Mafucci E. , Menzio L. , Monti V. , Visca L. , Grazzi F. , Bedogni R. , Altieri S.
Published: November 2021

This paper presents the first determination of the spatial
resolution of the ANET Compact Neutron Collimator, obtained with a
measuring campaign at the LENA Mark-II TRIGA reactor in Pavia. This
novel collimator consists of a sequence of collimating and absorbing
channels organised in a chessboard-like geometry. It has a scalable
structure both in length and in the field of view. It is
characterized by an elevated collimation power within a limited
length. Its scalability and compactness are added values with
respect to traditional collimating system. The prototype tested in
this article is composed of 4 concatenated stages, each 100 mm
long, with a channel width of 2.5 mm, delivering a nominal L/D
factor of 160. This measuring campaign illustrates the use of the
ANET collimator and its potential application in neutron imaging for
facilities with small or medium size neutron sources.
Storm surge risk under various strengths and translation speeds of landfalling tropical cyclones
Authors: Xuan Jiliang , Ding Ruibin , Zhou Feng
Published: November 2021

Landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs) frequently occur with strong intensity in most coastal areas, and storm surges are likely to occur in response to extreme sea level (ESL) growth. However, the level of ESL growth under various wind conditions, coastline geometries and tide-surge interactions has not been clarified. In the Pearl River Estuary and Daya Bay, observations of landfalling TCs have indicated an increasing frequency of intense and rapid landfalls in the 2010s as compared to the 2000s, accompanied by a noteworthy increase in storm surge. Based on a large ensemble (∼0.5 million storm surge events with various tracks, maximum wind speeds, maximum wind radiuses, translation speeds and tidal conditions) obtained from well-validated model simulations, the ESL growth in the study area is further quantified as follows: (a) ESL growth is more sensitive to the acceleration effect of landfalling TCs than to the strengthening effect of landfalling TCs since the effect of low acceleration (+3 m s−1) is comparable to that under notable strengthening (+10 m s−1); (b) ESL growth is strongly modulated by coastline geometry, especially in flared or arching coastline areas. ESL growth mainly occurs along flared coastline areas when landfalling TCs strengthen into severe TCs or typhoons but can also occur along arching coastline areas for stronger landfalling TCs, such as severe typhoons or supertyphoons; and (c) ESL growth could be increased or decreased by approximately 10% under the effect of tide-surge interactions. Both the large-ensemble method and the above ESL growth characteristics are worthy of attention in risk assessment and rapid prediction of storm surges in shallow waters.
Weakened dust activity over China and Mongolia from 2001 to 2020 associated with climate change and land-use management
Authors: Wang Shushan , Yu Yan , Zhang Xiao-Xiao , Lu Huayu , Zhang Xiao-Ye , Xu Zhiwei
Published: November 2021

Dust cycle is actively involved in the Earth’s climate and environmental systems. However, the spatiotemporal pattern and recent trend of dust emission from the drylands in East Asia remain unclear. By calculating dust aerosol optical depth (DOD) from the newly released moderate resolution imaging spectrometer aerosol products, we obtain a relatively long satellite-based time series of dust activity from 2001 to 2020 over China and Mongolia. We identify pronounced interannual variability of dust activity that is consistent with ground-based meteorological observations in the study area. A substantial reduction in spring dust activity in northern China is also found, which seems in accordance with the long-term weakening trend since the 1970s that has been attributed to the wind speed decline by previous studies. However, the spatial pattern of the trends in both annual mean and seasonal dust activity during the last 20 years is divergent, and the most significant dust diminishing is found over north-central China where large-scale vegetation restoration projects have been implemented. It indicates that in addition to the potential contribution of wind speed change, land-use change also plays an important role in the recent inhibition of dust emission. The current results show that dust activity occurs most intensively in spring, followed by summer and relatively weaker in autumn and winter. However, dust activity in autumn and winter has increased significantly in NW China despite the overall decreasing trend in other two seasons, probably associated with different seasonal atmospheric and land surface conditions. Finally, the DOD distribution reveals that the Tarim Basin, Gobi and Qaidam Basin Deserts are three major dust sources in East Asia. Compared to ground observations which are spatially limited and distributed unevenly, remote sensing provides an important complement, and it can serve as reference for identification of dust sources using other methods such as geochemical fingerprint and modeling.
Public support for climate adaptation aid and migrants: a conjoint experiment in Japan
Authors: Uji Azusa , Song Jaehyun , Dolšak Nives , Prakash Aseem
Published: November 2021

We examine public support in Japan for overseas climate adaptation assistance via foreign aid and accepting immigrants. Using a survey-embedded conjoint experiment (N= 2815), we focus on seven attributes of an adaptation policy package: (a) the continent in which the country is located; (b) the types of extreme weather event this country faces; (c) the volume of climate aid; (d) the number of climate migrants (e) Japanese exports; (f) Japanese imports, (g) the country’s record of voting with Japan in the United Nations. We find that while respondents are indifferent to aid volume, their support diminishes as the number of migrants increases. Moreover, support is higher for Asian countries, that provide export markets, vote with Japan, and where the effects of climate change are gradual. Importantly, we find that public support is not influenced by benchmarking of Japan’s or peer G7 countries’ past aid or immigration levels.
Community Resilience in facing Tsunami Disaster in the Coastal Areas of Purworejo Regency
Authors: Abdul Latif RF , Muryani Chatarina , Yusup Yasin
Published: November 2021

Purworejo Regency is one of the regencies in Central Java Province, which is directly adjacent to the Indian Ocean. Because the topography of the southern coast of Purworejo Regency is relatively flat, the area's vulnerability to a tsunami is high. A resilient community is needed to reduce the number of victims in the event of an earthquake and tsunami. This study aims to analyze the level of resilience of the southern coastal community of Purworejo Regency to the tsunami disaster. This research uses a qualitative approach. Collecting data using in-depth interviews with selected respondents, observation, secondary data analysis, and questionnaires. Data analysis used the scorecard toolkit version 2 with 22 questions for each question with five answer options. With a score of 1 to 5. The result of this study indicate that of the 16 villages the coastal area of Purworejo Regency, all of them have a caution zone status.
Interspecific agonistic behaviour of Odontotermes javanicus and Microcerotermes sp. (Isoptera: Termitidae): Preliminary study
Authors: Arif A , Muin M , Putri G , Hasil N
Published: November 2021

Termite interaction from the same or different colonies or species can display a variety of agonistic behaviours. The study aimed to observe the interspecific agonistic behaviour of Odontotermes javanicus and Microcerotermes sp. For this purpose, an assay was carried out using a test arena separated into two groups. Termite responses were tested against each other in the following pairwise test (worker versus worker, worker versus soldier, and soldier versus soldier) with a 1:1 ratio (ten individuals) from each colony. Specimens were collected at the area of Forestry Faculty, Universitas Hasanuddin, Indonesia. The observed agonistic behaviour of both species is dominated by examination (antennation) and aggression (attacking, grappling, and biting). There were three treatment combinations that classified as no aggression, except for the treatment (Microcerotermes sp. soldier versus O. javanicus worker) that classified in aggression level 3 (aggressive). Based on termite survival after five minutes of testing, O. javanicus is more competitive than Microcerotermes sp,; no more individual termites of both species survive after 24 hours of testing.
Energy management decarbonization policy and its implications for national economies
Authors: Savina N , Sribna Y , Pitel N , Parkhomenko L , Osipova A , Koval V
Published: November 2021

The article explains the stages of modern environmental policy formation and analyzes decarbonalization as a component of climate change, which requires the introduction of global regulation without taking into account any national priorities and the transition to global control over national economies through the OPEC oil and gas sector. The content of greening is revealed and it is noted that global warming in the climate has shifted to stable and dynamic regional geographical cooling, which makes not only doubt the causes of global ecological warming, but also to identify political motives for decarbonization and primarily in energy. The intensified development of wind farms has been noted as a result of the global policy of developed countries that do not have sufficient own reserves of coal and oil and gas hydrocarbons.
Maintaining the economic safety of environmental activities in agriculture
Authors: Krasovska Yu , Kuznietsova T , Kostrychenko V , Lesniak O
Published: November 2021

This article is devoted to the study of directions to ensure a sufficient level of economic safety of farms. The multifactorial nature of threats to the external environment and internal factors determining various aspects of economic safety of agricultural enterprises is determined by their wide range and complexity of influence. The high level of risk that results from such influence, on the one hand, makes the activities of such enterprises economically vulnerable but, on the other hand, makes this business attractive. Calculations on the basis of empirical agricultural data confirm that from 40 to 60% of income (depending on location and weather conditions) they can lose from inappropriate groundwater table and not sufficient meliorative state of soils. To substantially reduce this figure and to increase the level of economic safety, it is proposed to optimise the parameters of drainage systems and achieve land reclamation improvement by constructing a water discharge justification model as a key factor for achieving necessary drainage rates. In addition, the use of crop diversification model within justified crop rotations will allow to significantly increase the level of economic safety of farms by optimizing price risks.
Green human resource management policies and practices in Ukraine
Authors: Tsymbaliuk S , Vasylyk A , Stoliaruk Kh
Published: November 2021

The main purpose of the study is to assess the development and implementation of GHRM policies and identify prospects for the dissemination of GHRM practices in Ukraine. The results of the survey confirmed the working hypotheses: the practice of developing GHRM policies in Ukraine has not become widespread and there are no effective mechanisms for implementing GHRM policies. The research showed the average level of respondents’ assessment of their awareness of GHRM practices. The study confirmed a lack of effective mechanisms and tools for their implementation: units and employees responsible for implementing the GHRM policy; regulation of tasks, duties and responsibilities of employees; practices of planning the number of employees required for the implementation of environmental initiatives and activities; development of green competencies; informing employees about the GHRM policies implementation; involvement of employees in the formation of green policies and solving ecological problems; survey of employees’ opinion on corporate green practices. The paper focuses on the necessity of disseminating the practices of developing and implementing GHRM policies, it is crucial to raise the awareness of managers and HR specialists.
Managerial aspects of the agrarian enterprises financial support
Authors: Bieliaieva N , Yu Sova O , Bobrov Ye , Antypenko N
Published: November 2021

The article is about formulating a framework of actions for agrarian enterprises financial support provision on the base of researching managerial aspects of its implementation and its connection with nature management sphere. Analysis of the structure of agrarian enterprises financial resources sources proved the fact that the main emphasis of the financial resource’s formation is from their own sources. It is proved that financing the activity of agrarian enterprises is based on the specifics of its functioning and on the basis of it it’s determined evaluation indicators of agricultural enterprises strategic cost management effectiveness with the aim of indicating the structure of their financial resources sources. It is determined implementation impact of using principles of CALS in the agrarian enterprises management system. It is investigated open supply chain platform that covers several areas: financing agro bank; distribution of seeds, plant protection products and fertilizers; purchase of grain; logistics; agrotechnologies; providing IT and financial advice; export sales. Comprehensive assessment of the resource potential of the regional agro-industrial complex is calculated. Obviously, the activity of agrarian enterprises affects not only the production area but also the whole system of economics organization and functioning.