bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Crystallization and Relaxation Effects in Coarse-Grained Polyethylene Systems after Uniaxial Stretching
Authors: Grommes Dirk , Schenk Martin R. , Bruch Olaf , Reith Dirk
Published: December 2021

In this study, we investigate the thermo-mechanical relaxation and crystallization behavior of polyethylene using mesoscale molecular dynamics simulations. Our models specifically mimic constraints that occur in real-life polymer processing: After strong uniaxial stretching of the melt, we quench and release the polymer chains at different loading conditions. These conditions allow for free or hindered shrinkage, respectively. We present the shrinkage and swelling behavior as well as the crystallization kinetics over up to 600 ns simulation time. We are able to precisely evaluate how the interplay of chain length, temperature, local entanglements and orientation of chain segments influences crystallization and relaxation behavior. From our models, we determine the temperature dependent crystallization rate of polyethylene, including crystallization onset temperature.
Druze Women and Gender in Druze Society: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Zeedan Rami , Luce Miles
Published: December 2021

This systematic literature review on Druze women and gender in Druze society reviews central conceptual themes from existing publications to chart future research trajectories. Using a meta-ethnographic methodology, this literature review covers Druze women’s experience of gendered realities in higher education, economic participation, marriage, family life, and health. Our systematic literature review allows us to offer two propositions on existing published knowledge pertaining to Druze women and gender in Druze society. First, we propose that scholarship on Druze women and gender in Druze society constructs Druze women’s experience of gender as not only discursive but material. We incorporate the process of women’s relationship with prohibitive mechanisms of gendered space and men’s experience of masculinist subjectification into an existing term: the spatialization of everyday life. Second, quantitative analysis reveals a disparity in publications between Israel and other countries such as Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. We propose that this disparity relates to the concept of “Druze particularism” while emphasizing their difference vis-à-vis Islamic religion and Arab culture. We suggest that future research thoroughly covers other national contexts and inter-national comparisons of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and the diaspora, especially in education, economy, and health. Future research trajectories could include examining contemporary sociolegal research on the legal regime that governs family life, research on Druze men from an explicitly feminist perspective, or publications of influential Druze women.
Infrastructural Breaks on the Road from Birth to Death in Contemporary Russia
Authors: Mokhov Sergei , Novkunskaya Anastasia Andreevna
Published: December 2021

This paper addresses the problem of infrastructural breaks in two systems—the funeral market and maternity care. The authors analytically problematize how dysfunctions in the operation of these infrastructures shape the experiences of funeral and childbirth in contemporary Russia. The authors propose the conceptual model of the ‘rite of passage’, supplemented with the sociology of repair joint with the anthropology of infrastructures. Based on the ethnographic studies of the funeral market and maternity care (2015–2019), the authors uncover multiple infrastructural gaps and challenges that Russian families face while preparing for childbirth and funeral, especially in remote areas of the country. Empirical data of participant observations, in-depth and expert interviews demonstrated that continuous infrastructural failures can be considered to be an integral part of these life-cycle rituals, as both burial and maternity care arrangements never happen smoothly and unproblematically. In conclusion, the authors argue that necessity of “repairing” or patching the infrastructural gaps obtains self-sufficient symbolic meanings that possess ontological features.
Parameter Simulation and Design of an Airborne Hyperspectral Imaging LiDAR System
Authors: Qian Liyong , Wu Decheng , Liu Dong , Song Shalei , Shi Shuo , Gong Wei , Wang Le
Published: December 2021

With continuous technological development, the future development trend of LiDAR in the field of remote sensing and mapping is to obtain the elevation and spectral information of ground targets simultaneously. Airborne hyperspectral imaging LiDAR inherits the advantages of active and passive remote sensing detection. This paper presents a simulation method to determine the design parameters of an airborne hyperspectral imaging LiDAR system. In accordance with the hyperspectral imaging LiDAR equation and optical design principles, the atmospheric transmission model and the reflectance spectrum of specific ground targets are utilized. The design parameters and laser emission spectrum of the hyperspectral LiDAR system are considered, and the signal-to-noise ratio of the system is obtained through simulation. Without considering the effect of detector gain and electronic amplification on the signal-to-noise ratio, three optical fibers are coupled into a detection channel, and the power spectral density emitted by the supercontinuum laser is simulated by assuming that the signal-to-noise ratio is equal to 1. The power spectral density emitted by the laser must not be less than 15 mW/nm in the shortwave direction. During the simulation process, the design parameters of the hyperspectral LiDAR system are preliminarily demonstrated, and the feasibility of the hyperspectral imaging LiDAR system design is theoretically guaranteed in combination with the design requirements of the supercontinuum laser. The spectral resolution of a single optical fiber of the hyperspectral LiDAR system is set to 2.5 nm. In the actual prototype system, multiple optical fibers can be coupled into a detection channel in accordance with application needs to further improve the signal-to-noise ratio of hyperspectral LiDAR system detection.
Analysis on Land-Use Change and Its Driving Mechanism in Xilingol, China, during 2000–2020 Using the Google Earth Engine
Authors: Ye Junzhi , Hu Yunfeng , Zhen Lin , Wang Hao , Zhang Yuxin
Published: December 2021

Large-scale, long time-series, and high-precision land-use mapping is the basis for assessing the evolution and sustainability of ecosystems in Xilingol, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Based on Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Landsat satellite remote-sensing images, the random forest (RF) classification algorithm was applied to create a yearly land-use/land-cover change (LULC) dataset in Xilingol during the past 20 years (2000–2020) and to examine the spatiotemporal characteristics, dynamic changes, and driving mechanisms of LULC using principal component analysis and multiple linear stepwise regression methods. The main findings are summarized as follows. (1) The RF classification algorithm supported by the GEE platform enables fast and accurate acquisition of the LULC dataset, and the overall accuracy is 0.88 ± 0.01. (2) The ecological condition across Xilingol has improved significantly in the last 20 years (2000–2020), and the area of vegetation (grassland and woodland) has increased. Specifically, the area of high-coverage grass and woodland increases (+13.26%, +1.19%), while the area of water and moderate- and low-coverage grass decreases (−15.96%, −7.23%, and −3.27%). Cropland increases first and then decreases (−34.85%) and is mainly distributed in the southeast. The area of deserted land decreases in the south and increases in the center and north, but the total area still decreases (−13.74%). The built-up land expands rapidly (+108.45%). (3) In addition, our results suggest that regional socioeconomic development factors are the primary causes of changes in built-up land, and climate-related factors are the primary causes of water changes, but the correlations between other land-use types and relevant factors are not significant (cropland and grassland). We conclude that the GEE+RF method is capable of automated, long time-series, and high-accuracy land-use mapping, and further changes in climatic, environmental, and socioeconomic development factors, i.e., climate warming and rotational grazing, might have significant implications on regional land surface morphology and landscape dynamics.
As-Textured As-Built BIM Using Sensor Fusion, Zee Ain Historical Village as a Case Study
Authors: Alshawabkeh Yahya , Baik Ahmad , Fallatah Ahmad
Published: December 2021

The work described in the paper emphasizes the importance of integrating imagery and laser scanner techniques (TLS) to optimize the geometry and visual quality of Heritage BIM. The fusion-based workflow was approached during the recording of Zee Ain Historical Village in Saudi Arabia. The village is a unique example of traditional human settlements, and represents a complex natural and cultural heritage site. The proposed workflow divides data integration into two levels. At the basic level, UAV photogrammetry with enhanced mobility and visibility is used to map the ragged terrain and supplement TLS point data in upper and unaccusable building zones where shadow data originated. The merging of point clouds ensures that the building’s overall geometry is correctly rebuilt and that data interpretation is improved during HBIM digitization. In addition to the correct geometry, texture mapping is particularly important in the area of cultural heritage. Constructing a realistic texture remains a challenge in HBIM; because the standard texture and materials provided in BIM libraries do not allow for reliable representation of heritage structures, mapping and sharing information are not always truthful. Thereby, at the second level, the workflow proposed true orthophoto texturing method for HBIM models by combining close-range imagery and laser data. True orthophotos have uniform scale that depicts all objects in their respective planimetric positions, providing reliable and realistic mapping. The process begins with the development of a Digital Surface Model (DSM) by sampling TLS 3D points in a regular grid, with each cell uniquely associated with a model point. Then each DSM cell is projected in the corresponding perspective imagery in order to map the relevant spectral information. The methods allow for flexible data fusion and image capture using either a TLS-installed camera or a separate camera at the optimal time and viewpoint for radiometric data. The developed workflows demonstrated adequate results in terms of complete and realistic textured HBIM, allowing for a better understanding of the complex heritage structures.
A Complete Environmental Intelligence System for LiDAR-Based Vegetation Management in Power-Line Corridors
Authors: Mongus Domen , Brumen Matej , Žlaus Danijel , Kohek Štefan , Tomažič Roman , Kerin Uroš , Kolmanič Simon
Published: December 2021

This paper presents the first complete approach to achieving environmental intelligence support in the management of vegetation within electrical power transmission corridors. Contrary to the related studies that focused on the mapping of power lines, together with encroaching vegetation risk assessment, we realised predictive analytics with vegetation growth simulation. This was achieved by following the JDL/DFIG data fusion model for complementary feature extraction from Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) derived data products and auxiliary thematic maps that feed an ensemble regression model. The results indicate that improved vegetation growth prediction accuracy is obtained by segmenting training samples according to their contextual similarities that relate to their ecological niches. Furthermore, efficient situation assessment was then performed using a rasterised parametrically defined funnel-shaped volumetric filter. In this way, RMSE≈1 m was measured when considering tree growth simulation, while a 0.37 m error was estimated in encroaching vegetation detection, demonstrating significant improvements over the field observations.
Investigation of Vegetation Changes in Different Mining Areas in Liaoning Province, China, Using Multisource Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Ma Baodong , Yang Xiangru , Yu Yajiao , Shu Yang , Che Defu
Published: December 2021

Mining can provide necessary mineral resources for humans. However, mining activities may cause damage to the surrounding ecology and environment. Vegetation change analysis is a key tool for evaluating damage to ecology and the environment. Liaoning is one of the major mining provinces in China, with rich mineral resources and long-term, high-intensity mining activities. Taking Liaoning Province as an example, vegetation change in six mining areas was investigated using multisource remote sensing data to evaluate ecological and environmental changes. Based on MODIS NDVI series data from 2000 to 2019, change trends of vegetation were evaluated using linear regression. According to the results, there are large highly degraded vegetation areas in the Anshan, Benxi, and Yingkou mining areas, which indicates that mining activities have seriously damaged the vegetation in these areas. In contrast, there are considerable areas with improved vegetation in the Anshan, Fushun, and Fuxin mining areas, which indicates that ecological reclamation has played a positive role in these areas. Based on Sentinel-2A data, leaf chlorophyll content was inferred by using the vegetation index MERIS Terrestrial Chlorophyll Index (MTCI) after measurement of leaf spectra and chlorophyll content were carried out on the ground to validate the performance of MTCI. According to the results, the leaf chlorophyll content in the mines is generally lower than in adjacent areas in these mining areas with individual differences. In the Yingkou mining area, the chlorophyll content in adjacent areas is close to the magnesite mines, which means the spillover effect of environmental pollution in mines should be considerable. In the Anshan, Benxi, and Diaobingshan mining areas, the environmental stress on adjacent areas is slight. All in all, iron and magnesite open-pit mines should be monitored closely for vegetation destruction and stress due to the high intensity of mining activities and serious pollution. In contrast, the disturbance to vegetation is limited in resource-exhausted open-pit coal mines and underground coal mines. It is suggested that land reclamation should be enhanced to improve the vegetation in active open-pit mining areas, such as the Anshan, Benxi, and Yingkou mining areas. Additionally, environmental protection measures should be enhanced to relieve vegetation stress in the Yingkou mining area.
Protection Effect and Vacancy of the Ecological Protection Redline: A Case Study in Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, China
Authors: Wang Xiuming , Wen Youyue , Liu Xucheng , Wen Ding , Long Yingxian , Zhao Peng , Liu Piao , Zhong Jenny
Published: December 2021

The Ecological Protection Redline (EPR) is an innovative measure implemented in China to maintain the structural stability and functional security of the ecosystem. By prohibiting large-scale urban and industrial construction activities, EPR is regarded as the “lifeline” to ensure national ecological security. It is of great practical significance to scientifically evaluate the protection effect of EPR and identify the protection vacancies. However, current research has focused only on the protection effects of the EPR on ecosystem services (ESs), and the protection effect of the EPR on ecological connectivity remains poorly understood. Based on an evaluation of ES importance, the circuit model, and hotspot analysis, this paper identified the ecological security pattern in Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), analyzed the role of EPR in maintaining ES and ecological connectivity, and identified protection gaps. The results were as follows: (1) The ecological sources were mainly distributed in mountainous areas of the GBA. The ecological sources and ecological corridors constitute a circular ecological shelter surrounding the urban agglomeration of the GBA. (2) The EPR effectively protected water conservation, soil conservation, and biodiversity maintenance services, but the protection efficiency of carbon sequestration service and ecological connectivity were low. In particularly, EPR failed to continuously protect regional large-scale ecological corridors and some important stepping stones. (3) The protection gaps of carbon sequestration service and ecological connectivity in the study area reached 1099.80 km2 and 2175.77 km2, respectively, mainly distributed in Qingyuan, Yunfu, and Huizhou. In future EPR adjustments, important areas for carbon sequestration service and ecological connectivity maintenance should be included. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the protection effects of EPR on ecological structure and function, and it has produced significant insights into improvements of the EPR policy. In addition, this paper proposes that the scope of resistance surface should be extended, which would improve the rationality of the ecological corridor simulation.
Multinational Firm Growth and Sustainability Responses to Dynamics of Business Regulations in Host Market
Authors: Chewaka Damto Basha , Zhang Changzheng
Published: December 2021

Dynamics in business regulations measured by ease of doing business is a new approach that indicates countries’ business climate reforms toward suitability for investment growth. The present study took three variables from the ease of doing business data and evaluated them toward predictive power of FDI flow to 19 Sub-Saharan African countries by using fixed-effect model. Based on the analysis, the official time, procedures, costs, and minimum capitals in starting a business stage, enterprise registrations and official permissions of the firm establishment had a material effect on investment growth. Even though, on one side trade openness and the growing market size was seen as an opportunity, the deep-rooted corruption and landlocked was the trap for the smooth growth of firms in the region.
Transformational Leadership, Achievement Motivation, and Perceived Stress in Basic Military Training: A Longitudinal Study of Swiss Armed Forces
Authors: Sefidan Sandra , Pramstaller Maria , La Marca Roberto , Wyss Thomas , Roos Lilian , Sadeghi-Bahmani Dena , Annen Hubert , Brand Serge
Published: December 2021

In Switzerland, military service is a civic obligation for all adult male citizens, and thus, leadership style can be particularly challenging. The present study investigated the impact of superiors’ leadership styles on recruits’ achievement motivation, organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and perceived stress during their Basic Military Training (BMT). To this end, a total of 525 male recruits (mean age: 20.3 years) recruits were assessed both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. At the start of BMT (baseline), at week 7, and at week 11, participants completed a series of self-rating questionnaires covering demographic information, achievement motivation, organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), perceived stress, and their superiors’ leadership styles (transformational, transactional und laissez-faire). Longitudinally, scores for achievement motivation and OCB showed no significant difference between baseline and the 11th week. In a group comparison, the group experiencing higher transformational leadership (from week 7 to week 11) had the highest scores for achievement motivation and OCB, and the lowest scores for perceived stress, all at week 11. Exploratively, achievement motivation and OCB at baseline were associated with transformational leadership and transactional leadership at week 7 and week 11. Perceived stress at baseline correlated only with transformational leadership but not with transactional leadership, both at week 7 and week 11. Transformational leadership style fostered achievement motivation and OCB in Swiss military recruits and protected them from stress, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally.
Testing the Applicability of the Safe-by-Design Concept: A Theoretical Case Study Using Polymer Nanoclay Composites for Coffee Capsules
Authors: Pavlicek Anna , Part Florian , Gressler Sabine , Rose Gloria , Gazsó André , Ehmoser Eva-Kathrin , Huber-Humer Marion
Published: December 2021

The production and use of engineered nanomaterials and nano-enabled products is increasing, enabling innovations in many application areas, e.g., in the sector of food contact materials. However, nanosafety-relevant information for chemical risk assessment is still scarce, leading to a high level of uncertainty and making the early integration of safety to the innovation process indispensable. This study analyzed the strengths, weaknesses, and applicability of the nano-specific Safe-by-Design (SbD) concept using nanoclay-containing polymer coffee capsules as a theoretical case study. In addition, a material flow analysis was conducted to identify exposure pathways and potential risks, and a multi-stakeholder approach was applied to discursively discuss challenges when attempting to combine safety and innovation at an early stage. The results indicate that the SbD concept is generally welcomed by all stakeholders, but there is a lack of clear rules on the transfer of information between the actors involved. Furthermore, a voluntary, practical application usually requires in-depth knowledge of nanotechnology and often additional financial efforts. Therefore, incentives need to be created, as there is currently no obvious added value from a company’s point of view. The SbD concept should be further developed, standardized, and integrated into existing legal frameworks to be implemented effectively.
Empowering Collections-Based Organizations to Participate in Agenda 2030: The “Our Collections Matter Toolkit”
Authors: Loddo Marzia , Rosetti Ilaria , McGhie Henry , Pedersoli José Luiz
Published: December 2021

Collections-based organizations (CBOs) can play a crucial role in addressing sustainable development (SD), but their aspiration to become more sustainable, as seen in policies and guidelines, is confronted with several challenges in practice. To facilitate a sustainability transition, this process of change needs to be managed and adequate tools adopted and implemented. Many tools exist to support this transition; however, a scarcity of centralized resources available to CBOs might negatively affect the integration of sustainability practices in their work. With the aim to address this gap, ICCROM launched the project “Our Collections Matter” (OCM) and developed an online toolkit (OCMT) to centralize resources and help CBOs align their work to the UN Agenda 2030. Recently, a workshop was organized with professionals in the field to discuss shared challenges and aspirations and to test the OCMT. This study reflects on how such centralization of resources can contribute to overcoming existing challenges and support the sustainability aspirations of CBOs, fostering change in the field. To do that, the workshop outcomes are analyzed and discussed from a change management perspective, looking at the impact that the OCM project and its activities can have on fostering change, and the role that ICCROM can play in facilitating the sustainability transition of the field.
A Novel Approach of Synchronization of Microgrid with a Power System of Limited Capacity
Authors: Ghulomzoda Anvari , Safaraliev Murodbek , Matrenin Pavel , Beryozkina Svetlana , Zicmane Inga , Gubin Pavel , Gulyamov Kamol , Saidov Nasim
Published: December 2021

Currently, active networks called microgrids are formed on the basis of local power supply systems with a small share of distributed generation. Microgrids operating in an island mode, in some cases, have the ability to transfer electricity excess to an external network leading to a synchronization requirement; thus, the optimization task in terms of the system’s synchronization must be considered. This paper proposes a method for obtaining synchronization between microgrids and power systems of limited capacity based on a passive synchronization algorithm, allowing us to connect a microgrid to an external power system with a minimum impact moment on the shaft of the generating equipment. The algorithm application was demonstrated by considering a real-life object in Tajikistan. The simulation was carried out on RastrWin3. The obtained results show that the microgrid generator is connected to an external power system at an angle of 0.3° and a power surge of 29 kW, unlike the classical synchronization algorithm with an angle of 6.8° and a power surge of 154 kW (a reduction of the shock moment by more than five times). The proposed synchronization method allows us to reduce the resource consumption of the generating equipment and increase the reliability and efficiency of the functioning units of the examined power system.
Structural Changes of Organizational Maturity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of Lithuania
Authors: Savanevičienė Asta , Radvila Gintautas , Šilingienė Violeta
Published: December 2021

Organizational maturity is a dynamic construct and a change that depends on both internal and external conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to examine, from the perspective of organizational maturity, what challenges companies faced during the economic slowdown, when decisions had to be made quickly, but very responsibly. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on organizations and their activities has led to a response from organizations to find solutions that are sustainable and not only able to survive the economic downturn, but also able to achieve/maintain a higher level of organizational maturity. Although information on the changes in the organizational maturity structure observed in organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic is already available, there is little research in this area. Thus, the purpose of the paper is to reveal changes in the organizational maturity structure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Authors used a qualitative research strategy to identify which indicators of organizational maturity elements and sub-elements occurred in the companies surveyed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample of experts in both studies consisted of 24 top executives from 24 companies, 12 at each stage before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research disclosed that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the companies made sustainable decisions and they greatly strengthened the hard areas related to technology, work processes, and contributions to the organization’s operations. Meanwhile, the soft areas, related to employee competencies and, on the other hand, behavioural processes have become more vulnerable.
The Social Ecology of Food: Where Agroecology and Heritage Meet
Authors: Rahman Diana , Moussouri Theano , Alexopoulos Georgios
Published: December 2021

The current food system is unsustainable and no longer able to cope with the challenges caused by climate change and consumer behaviours. In this context, agroecology, with its commitment to crossing disciplinary boundaries, has been endorsed as one of the main approaches to the creation of a sustainable food system. Despite this, the integration of the social research on food has not been evident enough in agroecology as a discipline. To be sure, studies related to foodways, food traditions, and, more recently, food heritage have long been present, and have provided important insights into the social and cultural aspects of food. However, there appears to be little convergence between this body of research and the mainstream agroecology literature. This paper aims to address this disconnection between the sociocultural and environmental aspects of the food system, and to propose ways of moving forward. We argue that knowledge about food heritage can be a catalyst for the achievement of agroecology’s vision for whole-system transformative change, and a moving towards global food security and nutrition. Using the agroecology framework of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and looking at the examples of the subak system in Indonesia and the EU-funded BigPicnic project, we employ the elements of ‘co-creation and sharing of knowledge’, ‘culture and food traditions’ and ‘human and social values’ as entry points for the creation of sustainable transitions of the food and agricultural systems.
Run-Of-River Small Hydropower Plants as Hydro-Resilience Assets against Climate Change
Authors: Skoulikaris Charalampos
Published: December 2021

Renewable energy sources, due to their direct (e.g., wind turbines) or indirect (e.g., hydropower, with precipitation being the generator of runoff) dependence on climatic variables, are foreseen to be affected by climate change. In this research, two run-of-river small hydropower plants (SHPPs) located at different water districts in Greece are being calibrated and validated, in order to be simulated in terms of future power production under climate change conditions. In doing so, future river discharges derived by the forcing of a hydrology model, by three Regional Climate Models under two Representative Concentration Pathways, are used as inputs for the simulation of the SHPPs. The research concludes, by comparing the outputs of short-term (2031–2060) and long-term (2071–2100) future periods to a reference period (1971–2000), that in the case of a significant projected decrease in river discharges (~25–30%), a relevant important decrease in the simulated future power generation is foreseen (~20–25%). On the other hand, in the decline projections of smaller discharges (up to ~15%) the generated energy depends on the intermonthly variations of the river runoff, establishing that runoff decreases in the wet months of the year have much lower impact on the produced energy than those occurring in the dry months. The latter is attributed to the non-existence of reservoirs that control the operation of run-of-river SHPPs; nevertheless, these types of hydropower plants can partially remediate the energy losses, since they are taking advantage of low flows for hydropower production. Hence, run-of-river SHPPs are designated as important hydro-resilience assets against the projected surface water availability decrease due to climate change.
The Role of Digitalization on the Internationalization Strategy of Born-Digital Companies
Authors: Vadana Ioan-Iustin , Kuivalainen Olli , Torkkeli Lasse , Saarenketo Sami
Published: December 2021

Digital technologies have led to born-digital companies, defined by their highly digitalized value chains, designed at their inception. Born-digital (BD) companies leverage digitalization across their value chains in the internationalization path. However, despite this emergence, very few empirical studies in international business literature have explained the impact of bricolage in conducting value chain activities and exploiting the internationalization strategy of BD companies. The present study responds to these omissions of how the digitalization of the value chain activities and the internationalization strategy enhance companies by allowing them to reach customers (users) and partners with available resources and less time. The results indicate that the digitalization of value chain activities facilitates the re-use and mixing of the resources at hand to overcome challenges, innovate solutions, or create new opportunities for international growth, in line with the bricolage theory. Overall, this study contributes to international business literature regarding, specifically, the behaviors of born-digital companies as they strategically approach internationalization efforts.
Early Ethical Assessment: An Application to the Sustainability of Swine Body Scanners
Authors: Thompson Paul B. , Thorp Laurie , Ginsburg Blake L. , Zivku Tabitha Maria , Benjamin Madonna
Published: December 2021

An early ethics assessment method was used to evaluate sustainability goals and early findings from an automated body scanning technology for swine production. The project had twin goals of discovering potential pitfalls in the technology and exploring the applicability of the method, derived from the Ethical Matrix, as a tool to aid researchers in product design at very early stages in the research and development (R&D) process. This paper reports results on the second objective. Results of the evaluation workshop were coded and qualitatively analyzed. These results are reported and compared; the exercise is compared to the findings of other researchers using more traditional methods for ethical assessment on similar technologies, as well as standard social science methods for ascertaining economic sustainability and social acceptability of technological innovations. We conclude that the method has promise, especially for its applicability at very early stages in R&D, but that it does not substitute for analyses that occur at a much later stage in product or procedural development.
Ethics and Social Responsibility in Family Firms. Research Domain and Future Research Trends from a Bibliometric Perspective
Authors: Ramos-Hidalgo Encarnación , Orta-Pérez Manuel , Agustí Maria A.
Published: December 2021

Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics have been studied in a wide variety of business contexts, but the field of family business has mainly devoted attention to Corporate Social Responsibility, with less attention paid to the field of ethics. Being two closely related fields, they should be analyzed jointly in order to study the evolution of the field. To achieve this objective, we use two different bibliometric techniques, a co-word and a document coupling, as they are complementary and allow us to identify research topics and, therefore, to establish future research lines. Results show that the differences that exist between CSR in family businesses and CSR in non-family businesses continue to be a central focus, and that ethics should be found in the roots of that question. However, the underpinning factors and the linkage of the different CSR policies and ethical values to performance still require more attention. To be more precise, topics such as socio-emotional wealth, financial performance, ethics, firm, and management remain at the core of the field.
Sustainable International Expansion via Cooperation Networks in the Manufacturing Industries
Authors: Galvão Anderson Rei , Mascarenhas Carla , Marques Carla Susana , Braga Vitor , Moreira Luis , Ferreira Pedro , Castro Tiago
Published: December 2021

For the manufacturing industry in particular, networks lead to an increasing interaction between different actors representing a complementary response to insecurity arising from internationalization subjects. The aim of this study is to understand how cooperation networks contribute to the international sustainability of the manufacturing industry. To carry out this study, a qualitative methodology was chosen through semi-structured interviews with eight companies in the manufacturing sector from different areas. The interviews were handled with NVIVO software support. Regarding the findings, it is unanimous that cooperation networks are essential for the internationalization of the manufacturing industry. In general, the companies that participated in the study believe that the networks helped to reduce costs and to have access to certain resources that were essential for the success of internationalization. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the size of the country and the low purchasing power were some of the substantial factors that triggered the process of searching for new markets. It also became evident that there are barriers that need to be taken into account at the time of internationalization and that cooperation with other companies can help to overcome them. This study provides empirical evidence on the importance of cooperation networks for the internationalization of companies in the manufacturing industry. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the main motivations, strategies and barriers for these companies to internationalize.
Modeling and Analysis of Interorganizational Knowledge Transfer Considering Reputation Mechanisms
Authors: Huang Xiaoxia , Guo Peng , Wang Xiaonan , Wang Ding
Published: December 2021

Transferring a quantity of credible knowledge is a key sustainable competitive advantage for multi-agent cooperation in an interorganizational network (ION). This study presents simulation research to identify the impacts of reputation mechanisms in interorganizational knowledge transfer through systematic evolutionary game theory, addressing the sustainability of knowledge transfer behaviors in innovation, R&D, and low green carbon. The simulation results showed that an agent’s reputation provides information about having valuable knowledge, which can reduce some of the opportunistic behaviors of knowledge transfer faced by knowledge agents. Regardless of its form, we found that reputation distribution significantly promotes interorganizational knowledge transfer behaviors. In addition, higher reputation thresholds and more significant differences in the impact of high and low reputations prominently contribute to knowledge transfer efficiency and effectiveness. The relationship between reputation mechanisms and the efficiency and effectiveness of knowledge transfer is examined. This study sheds light on the sustainable management of interorganizational projects from reputation mechanisms.
A Review of Interpretable ML in Healthcare: Taxonomy, Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions
Authors: Abdullah Talal A. A. , Zahid Mohd Soperi Mohd , Ali Waleed
Published: December 2021

We have witnessed the impact of ML in disease diagnosis, image recognition and classification, and many more related fields. Healthcare is a sensitive field related to people’s lives in which decisions need to be carefully taken based on solid evidence. However, most ML models are complex, i.e., black-box, meaning they do not provide insights into how the problems are solved or why such decisions are proposed. This lack of interpretability is the main reason why some ML models are not widely used yet in real environments such as healthcare. Therefore, it would be beneficial if ML models could provide explanations allowing physicians to make data-driven decisions that lead to higher quality service. Recently, several efforts have been made in proposing interpretable machine learning models to become more convenient and applicable in real environments. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive survey and symmetry phenomena of IML models and their applications in healthcare. The fundamental characteristics, theoretical underpinnings needed to develop IML, and taxonomy for IML are presented. Several examples of how they are applied in healthcare are investigated to encourage and facilitate the use of IML models in healthcare. Furthermore, current limitations, challenges, and future directions that might impact applying ML in healthcare are addressed.
A Novel Model for Distributed Denial of Service Attack Analysis and Interactivity
Authors: Ahmad Ashraf , AbuHour Yousef , Alghanim Firas
Published: December 2021

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is a type of cybercrime that renders a target service unavailable by overwhelming it with traffic from several sources (attack nodes). In this paper, we focus on DDoS attacks on a computer network by spreading bots throughout the network. A mathematical differential equation model is proposed to represent the dynamism of nodes at different compartments of the model. The model considers two levels of security, with the assumption that the recovered nodes do not return to the same security level. In previous models, the recovered nodes are returned to be suspect on the same security level, which is an unrealistic assumption. Moreover, it is assumed that the attacker can use the infected target nodes to attack again. With such epidemic-like assumptions of infection, different cases are presented and discussed, and the stability of the model is analyzed as well; reversing the symmetry transformation of attacking nodes population is also proven. The proposed model has many parameters in order to precisely describe the infection movement and propagation. Numerical simulation methods are used to solve the developed system of equations using MATLAB, with the intention of finding the best counteraction to control DDoS spread throughout a network.
Stabilization of Periodical Discrete Feedback Control for Markov Jumping Stochastic Systems
Authors: Liu Zhiyou , Feng Lichao , Li Xinbin , Lu Zhigang , Meng Xianhui
Published: December 2021

Motivated by the two strategies of intermittent control and discrete feedback control, this paper aims to introduce a periodically intermittent discrete feedback control in the drift part to stabilize an unstable Markov jumping stochastic differential system. It is illustrated that, by the approach of comparison principle, this can be achieved in the sense of almost sure exponential stability. Further, the stabilization theory is applied to Markov jumping stochastic recurrent neural networks.
Air Quality in the Harbin-Changchun Metropolitan Area in Northeast China: Unique Episodes and New Trends
Authors: Wang Yulong , Sun Youwen , Zhao Gerong , Cheng Yuan
Published: December 2021

Because of the unique geographical, climate, and anthropogenic emission characteristics, it is meaningful to explore the air pollution in the Harbin-Changchun (HC) metropolitan area. In this study, the Air Quality Index (AQI) and the corresponding major pollutant were investigated for the HC cities, based on the air quality data derived from the China National Environmental Monitoring Center. The number of days with the air quality level of “good” gradually increased during recent years, pointing to an improvement of the air quality in HC. It was also found that ozone, a typical secondary pollutant, exhibited stronger inter-city correlations compared to typical primary pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. In addition, for nearly all the HC cities, the concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) decreased substantially in 2020 compared to 2015. However, this was not the case for ozone, with the most significant increase of ozone observed for HC’s central city, Harbin. This study highlights the importance of ozone reduction for further improving HC’s air quality, and the importance of agricultural fire control for eliminating heavily-polluted and even off-the-charts PM2.5 episodes.
Development of Generic Immuno-Magnetic Bead-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunoassay for Ustiloxins in Rice Coupled with Enrichment
Authors: Huang Yi , Tang Xiaoqian , Zheng Lu , Huang Junbin , Zhang Qi , Liu Hao
Published: December 2021

Ustiloxins are a group of mycotoxins produced by rice false smut pathogen. Previous studies have shown that the false smut balls contain six types of ustiloxins, and these toxins are toxic to living organisms. Thus, immunoassay for on-site monitoring of ustiloxins in rice is urgently required. The current immunoassays are only for detecting single ustiloxin, and they cannot meet the demand for synchronous and rapid detection of the group toxins. Therefore, this study designed and synthesized a generic antigen with ustiloxin G as material based on the common structure of the mycotoxins. Ustiloxin G was conjugated to two carrier proteins including bovine serum albumin (BSA) and ovalbvmin (OVA) by carbon diimide method. The mice were immunized with ustiloxin-G-BSA to generate the antibody serum, which was further purified to obtain the generic antibody against ustiloxins. The conjugated ustiloxin G-OVA and generic antibodies were used for establishing the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for ustiloxin detection and optimizing experiment conditions. The characterization of the antibody showed that the semi-inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of ustiloxin A, B, and G were 0.53, 0.34, and 0.06 µg/mL, respectively, and that their corresponding cross-reactivities were 11.9%, 18.4%, and 100%, respectively. To increase ELISA detection efficiency, generic antibody was combined with magnetic beads to obtain sensitive and class-specific immune-magnetic beads. Based on these immuno-magnetic beads, a high-efficiency enzyme-linked immunoassay method was developed for ustiloxin detection, whose sensitivity to ustiloxin A, B, and G was improved to 0.15 µg/mL, 0.14 µg/mL, and 0.04 µg/mL, respectively. The method accuracy was evaluated by spiking ustiloxin G as standard, and the spiked samples were tested by the immune-magnetic bead-based ELISA. The result showed the ustiloxin G recoveries ranged from 101.9% to 116.4% and were accepted by a standard HPLC method, indicating that our developed method would be promising for on-site monitoring of ustiloxins in rice.
Effect of Lonomia obliqua Venom on Human Neutrophils
Authors: Moraes João Alfredo , Rodrigues Genilson , Guimarães-Bastos Daniel , Nascimento-Silva Vany , Svensjö Erik , Renovato-Martins Mariana , Berger Markus , Guimarães Jorge , Barja-Fidalgo Christina
Published: December 2021

The significant incidence of deforestation in South America culminates in the contact of humans with typical forests species. Among these species, one may highlight Lonomia obliqua caterpillar, which, when touched by humans, can poison them through their bristles. Therefore, better acknowledging the mechanisms involved in envenomation caused by Lonomia obliqua caterpillar bristle extract (LOCBE) may contribute to further treatments. Recently, we demonstrated that LOCBE induces a pro-inflammatory profile in endothelial cells; thus, we decided to investigate the effects of LOCBE on human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), which are the first leukocytes that migrate to the inflammatory focus. Our results showed that treatment with LOCBE induced PMN chemotaxis together with alterations in actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation, favoring migration. Concurrently, LOCBE induced PMN adhesion to matrix proteins, such as collagen IV, fibronectin, and fibrinogen. Moreover, we observed that LOCBE attenuated PMN apoptosis and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production together with nuclear factor kB (NF-κB) activation—a redox-sensitive transcription factor—as well as interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-8 release. We call attention to the ROS-dependent effect of LOCBE on increased cell migration once an antioxidant treatment reverted it. In summary, we report that LOCBE activates PMN, inducing pro-inflammatory responses modulated by ROS.
Conharmonic Curvature Inheritance in Spacetime of General Relativity
Authors: Ali Musavvir , Salman Mohammad , Bilal Mohd
Published: December 2021

The motive of the current article is to study and characterize the geometrical and physical competency of the conharmonic curvature inheritance (Conh CI) symmetry in spacetime. We have established the condition for its relationship with both conformal motion and conharmonic motion in general and Einstein spacetime. From the investigation of the kinematical and dynamical properties of the conformal Killing vector (CKV) with the Conh CI vector admitted by spacetime, it is found that they are quite physically applicable in the theory of general relativity. We obtain results on the symmetry inheritance for physical quantities (μ,p,ui,σij,η,qi) of the stress-energy tensor in imperfect fluid, perfect fluid and anisotropic fluid spacetimes. Finally, we prove that the conharmonic curvature tensor of a perfect fluid spacetime will be divergence-free when a Conh CI vector is also a CKV.