bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Describing and Modeling Rough Composites Surfaces by Using Topological Data Analysis and Fractional Brownian Motion
Authors: Runacher Antoine , Kazemzadeh-Parsi Mohammad-Javad , Di Lorenzo Daniele , Champaney Victor , Hascoet Nicolas , Ammar Amine , Chinesta Francisco
Published: March 2023

Many composite manufacturing processes employ the consolidation of pre-impregnated preforms. However, in order to obtain adequate performance of the formed part, intimate contact and molecular diffusion across the different composites’ preform layers must be ensured. The latter takes place as soon as the intimate contact occurs and the temperature remains high enough during the molecular reptation characteristic time. The former, in turn, depends on the applied compression force, the temperature and the composite rheology, which, during the processing, induce the flow of asperities, promoting the intimate contact. Thus, the initial roughness and its evolution during the process, become critical factors in the composite consolidation. Processing optimization and control are needed for an adequate model, enabling it to infer the consolidation degree from the material and process features. The parameters associated with the process are easily identifiable and measurable (e.g., temperature, compression force, process time, ⋯). The ones concerning the materials are also accessible; however, describing the surface roughness remains an issue. Usual statistical descriptors are too poor and, moreover, they are too far from the involved physics. The present paper focuses on the use of advanced descriptors out-performing usual statistical descriptors, in particular those based on the use of homology persistence (at the heart of the so-called topological data analysis—TDA), and their connection with fractional Brownian surfaces. The latter constitutes a performance surface generator able to represent the surface evolution all along the consolidation process, as the present paper emphasizes.
A Brief Review on Selected Applications of Hybrid Materials Based on Functionalized Cage-like Silsesquioxanes
Authors: John Łukasz , Ejfler Jolanta
Published: March 2023

Rapid developments in materials engineering are accompanied by the equally rapid development of new technologies, which are now increasingly used in various branches of our life. The current research trend concerns the development of methods for obtaining new materials engineering systems and searching for relationships between the structure and physicochemical properties. A recent increase in the demand for well-defined and thermally stable systems has highlighted the importance of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) and double-decker silsesquioxane (DDSQ) architectures. This short review focuses on these two groups of silsesquioxane-based materials and their selected applications. This fascinating field of hybrid species has attracted considerable attention due to their daily applications with unique capabilities and their great potential, among others, in biomaterials as components of hydrogel networks, components in biofabrication techniques, and promising building blocks of DDSQ-based biohybrids. Moreover, they constitute attractive systems applied in materials engineering, including flame retardant nanocomposites and components of the heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta-type catalytic system.
Novel Non-Toxic Highly Antibacterial Chitosan/Fe(III)-Based Nanoparticles That Contain a Deferoxamine—Trojan Horse Ligands: Combined Synthetic and Biological Studies
Authors: Khubiev Omar M. , Esakova Victoria E. , Egorov Anton R. , Bely Artsiom E. , Golubev Roman A. , Tachaev Maxim V. , Kirichuk Anatoly A. , Lobanov Nikolai N. , Tskhovrebov Alexander G. , Kritchenkov Andreii S.
Published: March 2023

In this study, we prepared chitosan/Fe(III)/deferoxamine nanoparticles with unimodal size distribution (hydrodynamic diameter ca. 250 nm, zeta potential ca. 32 mV). The elaborated nanoparticles are characterized by outstanding in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity, which exceeds even that of commercial antibiotics ampicillin and gentamicin. Moreover, the nanoparticles are non-toxic. We found that the introduction of iron ions into the chitosan matrix increases the ability of the resulting nanoparticles to disrupt the integrity of the membranes of microorganisms in comparison with pure chitosan. The introduction of deferoxamine into the obtained nanoparticles sharply expands their effect of destruction the bacterial membrane. The obtained antibacterial nanoparticles are promising for further preclinical studies.
Characterization of Cassava Starch Extruded Sheets Incorporated with Tucumã Oil Microparticles
Authors: Santos Priscila Dayane de Freitas , Siqueira Larissa do Val , Tadini Carmen Cecilia , Favaro-Trindade Carmen Sílvia
Published: March 2023

The application of biopolymers and feasible technologies to obtain sheets is crucial for the large-scale production of food packages and for reducing plastic pollution. Additionally, the inclusion of additives in sheets can affect and improve their properties. This work aimed to incorporate tucumã oil (TO) and TO microparticles produced by spray drying (SD), spray chilling (SC), and their combination (SDC) into extruded cassava starch sheets and to evaluate the effect of such addition on their physical, optical, and mechanical properties. Gum Arabic and vegetable fat were used as wall materials for SD and SC/SDC, respectively. The sheets enriched with tucumã oil (FO) and the microparticles produced by SD, SC and SDC (FSD, FSC, and FSDC, respectively) presented yellow color (hue angle around 90°) and higher opacity (11.6–25.3%) when compared to the control (6.3%). All sheets showed high thickness (1.3–1.8 mm), and the additives reduced the water solubility of the materials (from 27.11% in the control to 24.67–25.54% in enriched samples). The presence of large SDC particles, as evidenced by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), caused discontinuity of the sheet structure and decreased mechanical strength of the FSDC. One may conclude that potential active packages were obtained by extrusion of cassava starch sheets added with pure and encapsulated TO.
Application of Multidimensional Structural Equations in the Emergency Management of Coal Mine Accidents
Authors: Zhang Tianyue , Liu Jiayu , Hong Liang
Published: March 2023

The use of coal as a source of energy is crucial for the growth of the national economy, but mining poses numerous risks and a potential for significant disasters. Coal mine safety is the prerequisite and guarantee for coal industry to achieve new industrialization and sustainable development. Therefore, it is crucial to predict a safety accident in the coal mine in advance. In order to facilitate the early warning of coal mine safety accidents, this study seeks to present a prediction model based on emergency management of safety accidents, which is a fusion model of principal component analysis (PCA) and long short-term memory neural network. According to the results, the correlation coefficients of risk identification and monitoring (a11), safety inspection and warning (a12), emergency planning and training (a13), material and technical support (a15), and macroenvironmental management (a21) were 0.718, 0.653, 0.628, 0.444, and 0.553, respectively, after the PCA dimensionality reduction process, demonstrating that the previous principal component analysis had a better effect. The absolute relative errors of each evaluation index of safety accident emergency management did not exceed the limit of 5%, including a15 and a21, whose values were 4.5% and −3.8%, while the relative errors of the remaining indicators were kept at a relatively low level. In conclusion, it is clear that the algorithm model suggested in this research improved the warning capabilities of safety accident emergency risk.
Molecular Structure of M(N13) Compounds with 12-Membered Nitrogen-Containing Cycle and Axial Nitrogen Atom (M = Mn, Fe): Quantum-Chemical Design by DFT Method
Authors: Mikhailov Oleg V. , Chachkov Denis V.
Published: March 2023

Based on the results of a quantum chemical calculation using the DFT method in the B3PW91/TZVP, OPBE/TZVP, M06/TZVP, and M062/Def2TZVP levels, the possibility of the existence of M(N13) chemical compounds (M = Mn, Fe) that are unknown for these elements has been predicted. Data on the structural parameters, the multiplicity of the ground state, APT and NBO analysis, and standard thermodynamic parameters of formation (standard enthalpy ΔfH0, entropy S0, and Gibbs’s energy ΔfG0) for these compounds are presented.
A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Audit of the American Families of Faith Project: Exploring Lifespan Spiritual Development in Religiously and Racially Diverse Families
Authors: Dollahite David C. , Hendricks Justin J. , Marks Loren D.
Published: March 2023

Social science and religious studies scholars should endeavor to broaden theories, methods, and samples to be more inclusive. Therefore, we have conducted an “equity audit” of the American Families of Faith (AFF) project. We evaluated the diversity, equity, and inclusion of the AFF project’s (a) research team, (b) products, and (c) samples. We then discuss the reasoning behind the decisions that resulted in the existing strengths and limitations of the project, the fruits of this and previous evaluations (including a presentation of some narrative accounts from parents and youths across several religious-ethnic communities across the US), opportunities for growth, and future directions for the AFF project and conclude with some thoughts on what other researchers might gain from this audit. Previous reviews have found a lack of diversity among scholars and samples in the field of psychology. Much needs to be done to create truly representative science. We subsequently conducted a diversity, equity, and inclusion audit.
Realizing the “Outwardly Regal” Vision in the Midst of Political Inactivity: A Study of the Epistolary Networks of Li Gang 李綱 (1083–1140) and Sun Di 孫覿 (1081–1169)
Authors: Chu Ming-Kin
Published: March 2023

How did politically inactive members of the Song literati attempt to realize the Confucian “outwardly regal” vision by putting their political ideal into practice? To what extent did their social networks play a role in this process? This paper aims to examine these questions via a comprehensive investigation of the writings of two prominent political and literary figures who experienced the Northern–Southern Song transition, Sun Di 孫覿 (1081–1169) and Li Gang 李綱 (1083–1140). A close examination of the letters written to senior court officials by these figures during their periods of political inactivity reveals not only these writers’ political agendas but also their attempts to exert influence in the political arena—a manifestation of the “outwardly regal” notion—via their epistolary networks. Despite the fact that Li has been highly praised while Sun has been widely condemned by posterity, the two men employed similar strategies to curry favor with senior court officials, who turned out to be potential patrons and facilitated the subsequent political rehabilitations of these two men. Sun Di’s and Li Gang’s eagerness to resume public service indicates the opportunistic motives underlying their epistolary exchanges and the ungenuine claims of disinterest in the politics expressed therein. Such claims, I would argue, are rhetorical conventions that the two men employed to present themselves as virtuous Confucian gentlemen who continued to cultivate “a sage inside” even when they lacked the opportunity to exercise the “outwardly regal” vision.
Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation with Rapid Ventricular Response Following COVID-19 Nasopharyngeal Swab: A Case Report
Authors: Viscusi Michele Mattia , Ambrosio Luca , Ricciardi Danilo , Mangiacapra Fabio , Nusca Annunziata , Paolucci Luca , Ussia Gian Paolo , Grigioni Francesco
Published: March 2023

Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab sampling is a simple procedure that has become extremely popular in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era, with hundreds of million specimens collected every day. However, rare but serious complications have been reported following NP swab acquisition. Here we present a case of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation associated with NP specimen collection in a healthy healthcare provider undergoing COVID-19 testing during departmental screening. This response may have been caused by an exaggerated vagal tone triggered by the trigeminocardiac reflex. Less invasive collection methods, such as saliva testing, may be warranted in predisposed individuals.
Performance Evaluation of MEMS-Based Automotive LiDAR Sensor and Its Simulation Model as per ASTM E3125-17 Standard
Authors: Haider Arsalan , Cho Yongjae , Pigniczki Marcell , Köhler Michael H. , Haas Lukas , Kastner Ludwig , Fink Maximilian , Schardt Michael , Cichy Yannik , Koyama Shotaro , Zeh Thomas , Poguntke Tim , Inoue Hideo , Jakobi Martin , Koch Alexander W.
Published: March 2023

Measurement performance evaluation of real and virtual automotive light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors is an active area of research. However, no commonly accepted automotive standards, metrics, or criteria exist to evaluate their measurement performance. ASTM International released the ASTM E3125-17 standard for the operational performance evaluation of 3D imaging systems commonly referred to as terrestrial laser scanners (TLS). This standard defines the specifications and static test procedures to evaluate the 3D imaging and point-to-point distance measurement performance of TLS. In this work, we have assessed the 3D imaging and point-to-point distance estimation performance of a commercial micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS)-based automotive LiDAR sensor and its simulation model according to the test procedures defined in this standard. The static tests were performed in a laboratory environment. In addition, a subset of static tests was also performed at the proving ground in natural environmental conditions to determine the 3D imaging and point-to-point distance measurement performance of the real LiDAR sensor. In addition, real scenarios and environmental conditions were replicated in the virtual environment of a commercial software to verify the LiDAR model’s working performance. The evaluation results show that the LiDAR sensor and its simulation model under analysis pass all the tests specified in the ASTM E3125-17 standard. This standard helps to understand whether sensor measurement errors are due to internal or external influences. We have also shown that the 3D imaging and point-to-point distance estimation performance of LiDAR sensors significantly impacts the working performance of the object recognition algorithm. That is why this standard can be beneficial in validating automotive real and virtual LiDAR sensors, at least in the early stage of development. Furthermore, the simulation and real measurements show good agreement on the point cloud and object recognition levels.
Feature-Based Occupancy Map-Merging for Collaborative SLAM
Authors: Sunil Sooraj , Mozaffari Saeed , Singh Rajmeet , Shahrrava Behnam , Alirezaee Shahpour
Published: March 2023

One of the most frequently used approaches to represent collaborative mapping are probabilistic occupancy grid maps. These maps can be exchanged and integrated among robots to reduce the overall exploration time, which is the main advantage of the collaborative systems. Such map fusion requires solving the unknown initial correspondence problem. This article presents an effective feature-based map fusion approach that includes processing the spatial occupancy probabilities and detecting features based on locally adaptive nonlinear diffusion filtering. We also present a procedure to verify and accept the correct transformation to avoid ambiguous map merging. Further, a global grid fusion strategy based on the Bayesian inference, which is independent of the order of merging, is also provided. It is shown that the presented method is suitable for identifying geometrically consistent features across various mapping conditions, such as low overlapping and different grid resolutions. We also present the results based on hierarchical map fusion to merge six individual maps at once in order to constrict a consistent global map for SLAM.
Convolutional Neural Networks for the Real-Time Monitoring of Vital Signs Based on Impulse Radio Ultrawide-Band Radar during Sleep
Authors: Choi Sang Ho , Yoon Heenam
Published: March 2023

Vital signs provide important biometric information for managing health and disease, and it is important to monitor them for a long time in a daily home environment. To this end, we developed and evaluated a deep learning framework that estimates the respiration rate (RR) and heart rate (HR) in real time from long-term data measured during sleep using a contactless impulse radio ultrawide-band (IR-UWB) radar. The clutter is removed from the measured radar signal, and the position of the subject is detected using the standard deviation of each radar signal channel. The 1D signal of the selected UWB channel index and the 2D signal applied with the continuous wavelet transform are entered as inputs into the convolutional neural-network-based model that then estimates RR and HR. From 30 recordings measured during night-time sleep, 10 were used for training, 5 for validation, and 15 for testing. The average mean absolute errors for RR and HR were 2.67 and 4.78, respectively. The performance of the proposed model was confirmed for long-term data, including static and dynamic conditions, and it is expected to be used for health management through vital-sign monitoring in the home environment.
On the Reliability of Temperature Measurements in Natural Gas Pipelines
Authors: Ficco Giorgio , Cassano Marialuisa , Cortellessa Gino , Zuena Fabrizio , Dell’Isola Marco
Published: March 2023

Accuracy of temperature measurement of natural gas flows in closed conduits is a highly debated topic due to the complexity of the measurement chain and the related economic impact. First, specific thermo-fluid dynamic issues occur because of the difference between the temperature of the gas stream and that of the external ambient and the mean radiant temperature inside the pipe. Furthermore, the installation conditions of the temperature sensor (e.g., immersion length and diameter of the thermowell) play a crucial role. In this paper, the authors present the results of a numerical and experimental study conducted both in the laboratory and in-field aimed at analyzing the reliability of temperature measurement in natural gas networks as a function of the pipe temperature and of the pressure and velocity of the gas stream. The results obtained in the laboratory show errors ranging between 0.16 and 5.87 °C in the summer regime and between −0.11 and −2.72 °C in the winter regime, depending on the external pipe temperature and gas velocity. These errors have been found to be consistent with those measured in-field, where high correlation between the pipe temperatures, the gas stream and the external ambient have been also demonstrated, especially in summer conditions.
A Laboratory Device Designed to Detect and Measure the Resistance Force of a Diagonal Conveyor Belt Plough
Authors: Hrabovský Leopold , Gaszek Jakub , Kovář Ladislav , Fries Jiří
Published: March 2023

This paper presents a laboratory device simulating a section of a conveyor belt on which a diagonal plough is installed. Experimental measurements were carried out in a laboratory belonging to the Department of Machine and Industrial Design at the VSB-Technical University of Ostrava. During the measurements, a plastic storage box, representing a piece load, transported on the surface of a conveyor belt at a constant speed was brought into contact with the front surface of a diagonal conveyor belt plough. The aim of this paper is to determine the amount of resistance generated by the diagonal conveyor belt plough when it is placed at different angles of inclination β [deg] in relation to the longitudinal axis, based on the experimental measurements performed using a laboratory measuring device. Based on the measured values of tensile force required to keep the conveyor belt moving at a constant speed, the resistance to the conveyor belt movement is expressed, with a value of 20.8 ± 0.3 N being attained. Based on the ratio of the measured value of the arithmetic average of the resistance force and the weight of the used length of the conveyor belt, a mean value of the specific movement resistance of the size 0.33 [N·N − 1] is calculated. This paper presents the time records obtained by measuring the tensile forces, on the basis of which it is possible to determine the magnitude of the force. The resistance during the ploughing operation of the diagonal plough when acting on a piece load placed on the working surface of the conveyor belt is presented. From the measured values of tensile forces presented in the tables, this paper reports the calculated values of the friction coefficient obtained during the movement of the diagonal plough when moving a piece of load with the defined weight from the working surface of the relevant conveyor belt. The maximum value of the arithmetic mean for the friction coefficient in motion µ = 0.86 was measured at an inclination angle of the diagonal plough of β = 30 deg.
Multi-Modal Decentralized Interaction in Multi-Entity Systems
Authors: Olaru Andrei , Pricope Monica
Published: March 2023

Current multi-agent frameworks usually use centralized, fixed communication infrastructures for the entities that are deployed using them. This decreases the robustness of the system but is less challenging when having to deal with mobile agents that can migrate between nodes. We introduce, in the context of the FLASH-MAS (Fast and Lightweight Agent Shell) multi-entity deployment framework, methods to build decentralized interaction infrastructures which support migrating entities. We discuss the WS-Regions (WebSocket Regions) communication protocol, a proposal for interaction in deployments using multiple communication methods, and a mechanism to facilitate using arbitrary names for entities. The WS-Regions Protocol is compared against Jade (the Java Agent Development Framework), the most popular agent deployment framework, with a favorable trade-off between decentralization and performance.
Recent Advances in the Development of Portable Electrochemical Sensors for Controlled Substances
Authors: Dai Zhaohua
Published: March 2023

This review article summarizes recent achievements in developing portable electrochemical sensing systems for the detection and/or quantification of controlled substances with potential on-site applications at the crime scene or other venues and in wastewater-based epidemiology. Electrochemical sensors employing carbon screen-printed electrodes (SPEs), including a wearable glove-based one, and aptamer-based devices, including a miniaturized aptamer-based graphene field effect transistor platform, are some exciting examples. Quite straightforward electrochemical sensing systems and methods for controlled substances have been developed using commercially available carbon SPEs and commercially available miniaturized potentiostats. They offer simplicity, ready availability, and affordability. With further development, they might become ready for deployment in forensic field investigation, especially when fast and informed decisions are to be made. Slightly modified carbon SPEs or SPE-like devices might be able to offer higher specificity and sensitivity while they can still be used on commercially available miniaturized potentiostats or lab-fabricated portable or even wearable devices. Affinity-based portable devices employing aptamers, antibodies, and molecularly imprinted polymers have been developed for more specific and sensitive detection and quantification. With further development of both hardware and software, the future of electrochemical sensors for controlled substances is bright.
Toughness Properties of a 50-Year-Old Pipeline Material
Authors: Bajić Darko
Published: March 2023

To ensure the reliable functioning of the main pipeline for water transport in hydropower, which has been operational for 50 years, a detailed analysis of the pipeline’s material condition is necessary. The pipeline material undergoes changing exploitation and working conditions, including extreme load phases such as periodic intensive emptying and filling with water for inspection. In this paper, we analyse the material resistance of NIOVAL47 steel using the method for determining R-curves for three states: Normalised state (2 samples), aged state (1 sample) which underwent 10% cold deformation and was heated for 30 min at +250 °C, and deformed state (1 sample) which underwent 10% cold deformation. The test results indicate that analysing the material’s aged and deformed states is crucial for obtaining a reliable picture of the structural integrity of the NO2500 mm pipeline, which has been in operation for five decades. The study should demonstrate the current state and level of reliability of the pipeline in order to ensure the sustainability of the energy facility. Additionally, these tests provide a realistic picture of the necessity of introducing an online monitoring system for the pipeline.
Family Conflict and Suicidal Behaviour in Adolescence: The Mediating Role of the Assertive Interpersonal Schema
Authors: Eslava Dalila , Martínez-Vispo Carmela , Villanueva-Blasco Víctor J. , Errasti José M. , Al-Halabí Susana
Published: March 2023

Suicidal behaviour in adolescents is a significant problem worldwide. Family plays an important role in this issue, with family conflict associated with a greater likelihood of current suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. It has been suggested that the relationship between these two variables may be mediated by how social information is handled. The assertive interpersonal schema, which helps to understand conflict as a normal experience, may be a relevant variable. The aim of this study was to examine the direct and indirect effects of family conflict on suicidal behaviour through the assertive interpersonal schema in an adolescent sample. The sample comprised 229 participants (52.8% boys, M(SD)age = 15.76 years (1.24)). A total of 29.7% of the participants reported suicidal ideation, and 4.8% indicated having attempted suicide in the previous two weeks. Family conflict was positively related to suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. A multiple mediation analysis showed that both effects were significant in all the dependent variables, with the assertive interpersonal schema explaining a large part of the effect of family conflict, particularly for suicidal ideation. These findings have implications for the prevention and treatment of this problem in adolescents.
The Role of Demographic Factors and Prior Entrepreneurial Exposure in Shaping the Entrepreneurial Intentions of Young Adults: The Case of Croatia
Authors: Cacija Ljiljana Najev , Lovrincevic Marina , Bilic Ivana
Published: March 2023

This research was designed in order to investigate the role of important individual and situational factors in shaping entrepreneurial intentions of young adults in the Republic of Croatia. For that purpose, a survey was conducted on the sample of 257 young adults using a questionnaire. In order to test the proposed hypotheses stating that there are statistically significant differences in young adults’ entrepreneurial intentions regarding demographic factors (gender, age, and level of education), prior entrepreneurial exposure, and the perception of prior entrepreneurial exposure, a statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Overall, the results give partial support for the hypothesis regarding demographic factors and prior entrepreneurial exposure and full support for the hypothesis regarding the perception of prior entrepreneurial exposure. Additionally, CHAID method classification was applied in order to fully grasp the relationship between entrepreneurial intentions and the analyzed factors, and the results clearly indicate that the perception of prior entrepreneurial exposure can be seen as a single best predictor of entrepreneurial intentions.
The Pocket Park and Its Impact on the Quality of Urban Space on the Local and Supralocal Scale—Case Study of Krakow, Poland
Authors: Bajwoluk Tomasz , Langer Piotr
Published: March 2023

The idea of building pocket parks in cities is one of the more rational proposals for utilizing cameral spaces to create new quality in terms of green areas while accounting for the potential to blend them into the compact functiospatial structure of the contemporary city. Numerous examples of pocket park projects from around the world point to there being considerable interest in this form of greenery. The goal of this paper is to present the findings of a study of a selected number of pocket parks in Krakow, Poland, in terms of their accessibility, local determinants, and the nearby functiospatial structure, as well as whether they can be included into a wider network of service and green spaces of supralocal significance. The research method included novel field research of selected pocket parks and their surroundings. The form and function of the parks were analyzed and the type of their surrounding urban structure was determined, along with the parks’ accessibility. The study investigated nine parks located in the northeastern part of Krakow in a dense development structure dominated by multi-family housing. Analyses of the parks themselves and the research on the relations and linkages between parks and their surrounding urban structure generally pointed to the accuracy of the concept of the pocket park, its universality, and its compliance with the concept of the sustainable development of urban space. The presence and manner of development of pocket parks can be said to enhance the quality of spaces in confined fragments of an urban structure and to have predominantly local significance.
Planning of Transportation Infrastructure Networks for Sustainable Development with Case Studies in Chabahar
Authors: Cao Bo , Shahraki Abdol Aziz
Published: March 2023

This article addresses the problem of increasing transport services that intercontinental corridors demand from the urban infrastructure networks along their routes. Yet, attention has not been paid to the coordination between the transportation potentials of a city infrastructure network located on the path of an intercontinental corridor and the sustainable application of the corridor itself. This article discusses solving this problem by increasing the transportation capacities of the cities on the path of the corridor. With field studies in Chabahar, we observe the situation of its transportation infrastructure network to discover shortcomings and suggest required changes. This paper recommends the necessary changes and improvements in the urban transportation system of Chabahar to have a sustainable intercontinental corridor and an effective urban infrastructure network simultaneously. The research methods used include observation of traffic flow and behavior in travel origins, destinations, and paths in Chabahar. Then, this study builds a mathematical model with a graph technique to calculate the traffic capacities on the nodes and streets and determine places that require changes. Analyses show that 13,420 cars enter just the center of Chabahar city due to the increasing pressure of the Chabahar–Milak corridor. This paper recommends a multi-modal transportation system with an urban public transport network. It also suggests physical and geometric corrections in sight distances and longitudinal curves of streets, sidewalks, and squares. We find urban transportation failures in the city and present a comprehensive transportation plan for its improvement. This model is applicable in all cities on the route of corridors and assists their sustainable function and urban transport system simultaneously.
Field Test Study on the Bearing Capacity of Extra-Long PHC Pipe Piles under Dynamic and Static Loads
Authors: Xiao Yonggang , Liu Xiaomin , Zhou Junlong , Song Liwei
Published: March 2023

Pretensioned prestressed high strength concrete (PHC) pipe piles are widely used in various engineering foundations, which have the advantages of high single pile bearing capacity, strong adaptability to geological conditions and high degree of construction mechanization. In order to study the vertical compressive bearing performance and settlement characteristics of ultra-long PHC pipe piles, high strain dynamic detections and static load tests were carried out on four PHC piles with a diameter of 0.9 m on site. It can be seen from the field test that the bearing capacity of the prefabricated pipe piles was time-dependent. By the end of the dynamic test, the bearing capacity of each test pile increased by 27% to 66%. The static load test also verified the rationality of the value of the restitution coefficient. Therefore, the final bearing capacity of the pile foundation can be predicted by using the high strain initial driving results and the restitution coefficient, which can reduce the repeated driving process, effectively save the cost and improve the engineering efficiency. Under 2.1 times the design load, the change range of the pile concrete modulus is from 37.5 GPa to 52 GPa, the change range of the pile side friction resistance is from 0 kPa to 97 kPa and the change range of the pile end to pile bottom load ratio is from 0% to 7.54%. During the test, the shaft friction and end bearing of the lower part of the piles were not fully mobilized. The shaft friction resistance, the end resistance and the movement behavior of the pile top and the end of the piles can provide parameter references for the subsequent design and construction of the piles.
A Modulation Method for Three-Phase Dual-Active-Bridge Converters in Battery Charging Applications
Authors: Nguyen Duy-Dinh , Pham The-Tiep , Le Tat-Thang , Choi Sewan , Yukita Kazuto
Published: March 2023

The Three-phase Dual-Active-Bridge (DAB3) converters are a common choice for quick charging stations for batteries in electric vehicles due to their high power density, versatility, and galvanic isolation capability. However, the DAB3 topology has limited soft-switching range, particularly under light load conditions when the voltage conversion ratio differs significantly from unity, resulting in hard switching, increased loss, and higher electromagnetic interference. To address these issues, various techniques have been proposed, but they often lead to other problems such as higher current ripple or unbalanced thermal distribution. In this paper, a new modulation scheme, called symmetric duty-cycle control (SDM), is proposed for DAB3 converters to overcome these issues. A multiaspect comparison of SDM was conducted against two existing techniques, SPS and ADCC, and its superiority was validated through simulation and experimental results. Our proposed SDM scheme provides a current ripple within 10% to 15% of the average current and enables zero current switching for the whole voltage and power ranges. Additionally, a modified version of SDM can even improve overall efficiency by 7% compared to the conventional SPS technique.
Augmented Reality: An Emergent Technology for Students’ Learning Motivation for Chemical Engineering Laboratories during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Guaya Diana , Meneses Miguel Ángel , Jaramillo-Fierro Ximena , Valarezo Eduardo
Published: March 2023

In higher education, the learning of Unit Operations in Chemical Engineering and the development of practical activities became a real challenge. Therefore, the use of emerging technologies became necessary to develop practical laboratory activities of the Unit Operations due to the inaccessibility to the equipment infrastructure. In this study, Project-Based Learning methodology was assisted with the Augmented Reality (AR) technology for the development of subjects. The development of a real educational experiment for the application of a basic topic of the course as a project for each subject was proposed. The results were presented using the Zappar application, and a unique rubric was used for the evaluation of project. The evaluation of students’ motivation for learning was measured using Keller’s Attention, Relevance, Confidence and Satisfaction (ARCS) model of motivation by Instructional Materials Motivation Survey (IMMS). The attention, confidence and satisfaction demonstrate an acceptable reliability in comparison to relevance, which was considered as moderate reliability. Above 96% of students considered that the activities, materials, and organization of information used for the AR project caught their attention and encouraged their interest towards the fundamentals applied in the project. Around 80% of students expressed concern about the ease of AR technology use, and understood the learning aim of the project. Above 85% of students recognized the relevance of activities and their usefulness, and considered AR as a meaningful educational tool. 90% of students considered that AR technology helped them to develop the subject competencies. Cronbach’s Alpha was used to indicate an acceptable reliability of IMMS instrument. Regarding IMMS, values were superior to 0.7, which could be considered acceptable. For the individual ARCS dimensions, values of Cronbach’s alpha reached values of 0.94.
Cross-Cultural Differences in Driving Styles: A Moderated Mediation Analysis Linking Forgivingness, Emotion Regulation Difficulties, and Driving Styles
Authors: Töre Berfin , Navon-Eyal Meital , Taubman – Ben-Ari Orit
Published: March 2023

Although various factors contributing to driving styles have been studied in recent decades, cultural differences have received little attention. Both emotion regulation difficulties and trait forgivingness have been found to be associated with driving styles, but the role of culture in these associations has not been yet explored. The current study seeks to understand the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties in the association between trait forgivingness and driving styles and whether this relationship differs in different cultures. To this end, a moderated mediation model was developed and tested among 823 drivers from Israel (n = 287), Turkey (n = 329), and the USA (n = 207). The participants completed the Forgivingness Scale, Multidimensional Driving Style Inventory (MDSI), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and background details. The moderated mediation analysis was conducted using model 59 in the PROCESS macro developed by Hayes and Preacher (2013). The results show significant differences in all driving styles between the study groups. In addition, the mediation model for the angry and hostile and the reckless and careless driving styles was found to apply only to certain countries. The study highlights cultural differences and their importance in understanding the association between emotional processes and driving styles and the need to design culturally sensitive interventions.
Exploring Consumers’ Intention to Use Bikes and E-Scooters during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Philippines: An Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Approach with a Consideration of Pro-Environmental Identity
Authors: Gaspar Rickie Mae , Prasetyo Yogi Tri , Mariñas Klint Allen , Persada Satria Fadil , Nadlifatin Reny
Published: March 2023

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted nations globally to adopt lockdown policies, resulting in a substantial shift in people’s travel behavior. This pandemic has influenced micro-mobility, an emerging urban transportation mode, including in the Philippines. However, a limited quantifiable study is dedicated to understanding the evolving micro-mobility use in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to determine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our future intention to use micro-mobility, particularly e-scooters/bikes, and to explore how hedonic and environmental motivations influence the decision-making process of its adoption. An extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was employed, with 152 Filipinos answering an online questionnaire that was distributed using a convenience sampling approach. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) showed that the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the awareness of environmental issues and the negative impact of cars, thereby significantly influencing the usage intention of e-scooters/bikes. In addition, social norms and perceived behavioral control partially mediated the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the intention to use micro-mobility. Meanwhile, the magnitude and significance of motivation variables were inconclusive, although they confirmed a positive relationship with attitude. The findings of this study could help provider firms and policymakers devise evidence-based policies concerning micro-mobility and promote its usage, particularly in developing countries.
Study on Bearing Capacity and Failure Mode of Multi-Layer-Encased Geosynthetic-Encased Stone Column under Dynamic and Static Loading
Authors: Kang Bowen , Wang Jiaquan , Zhou Yuanwu , Huang Shibin
Published: March 2023

The “method of overlap” replaces traditional welding to solve the problem of how the geosynthetic-encased stone column is limited by the welding frame during site construction, making the site construction simplified and economical, but its bearing mechanism is not clear. Therefore, the bearing mechanism and failure mode of the stone column was studied through the compression test of the multi-layer geosynthetic-encased stone column under dynamic and static loading. The research shows that the multi-layer encasement improves the modulus and lateral restraint of the stone column, which increases the stress transfer rate and reduces the damage degree of the stone column. The vertical ultimate bearing capacity increase in multi-layer geosynthetic-encased stone columns under dynamic and static loading is significantly different, and the difference can be up to 47.1%; the corresponding number of encasement layers should be selected according to the actual situation. The influence of the difference between dynamic and static loading on the location of the main radial strain of the stone column can be ignored, but the lateral restraint of the stone column under dynamic loading is weakened, the stress transfer rate is reduced, and the radial strain is reduced and more uniform along the stone column height. The vertical ultimate bearing capacity of the one- and two-layer geogrid-encased stone column under dynamic loading is lower than that of static loading. When treating soft foundations, the influence of traffic loads should be considered, and the bearing capacity of the geosynthetic-encased stone column should be appropriately increased in design value.
The Impact of Visitor Profile on Effective Management of Protected Areas: A Case of Atatürk Arboretum
Authors: Zeleke Ahmed Nuru , Deniz Tuğba
Published: March 2023

Protected areas are important for education and scientific research, in addition to making a significant contribution to the economy in terms of tourism and recreation. One of the most important factors in the effective management of these areas are the visitors. In this article, the effect of visitors on the effective planning and management of arboretums, which is one of the protected areas used for scientific research, education, and observation concerning various species of plants, was investigated. This study focused on the visitors to Atatürk Arboretum, segmented into specific subgroups by applying cluster analysis according to their activities. The data were obtained via conducting face-to-face questionnaires with the visitors (n = 383) in the area. The cluster groups were characterized by the perceived importance of their desired benefit, and socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics. The socio-demographic characteristics of the visitors were determined using descriptive statistics, and the relations among visitor characteristics were determined through linear regression analysis. The visitor segments which differed from each other significantly were identified as recreationalists and photographers and learners. This study has practical and managerial implications for understanding the role of visitors in the management of the arboretum. The study revealed that the arboretum was visited for reasons outside of its establishment purposes. These findings might directly help the arboretum managers in improving more effective visitor and resource management strategies.
Modeling, Simulation, and Experimental Validation of a Novel MPPT for Hybrid Renewable Sources Integrated with UPQC: An Application of Jellyfish Search Optimizer
Authors: Elmetwaly Ahmed Hussain , Younis Ramy Adel , Abdelsalam Abdelazeem Abdallah , Omar Ahmed Ibrahim , Mahmoud Mohamed Metwally , Alsaif Faisal , El-Shahat Adel , Saad Mohamed Attya
Published: March 2023

Changes in climatic circumstances, as well as intermittency, which has a significant impact on the overall energy system output from renewable energy sources (RESs), require the development of control strategies for extracting the maximum power available from RESs. To accomplish this task, several techniques have been developed. An efficient maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique should be utilized to guarantee that both wind-generation and PV-generation systems provide their full advantages. In this paper, a new MPPT approach with jellyfish search optimization (JSO) is developed; in addition, a unified power-quality conditioner (UPQC) is utilized to enhance the performance of the microgrid (MG) and to solve the power-quality issues for the sensitive load. The MG, which includes a photovoltaic (PV), a wind turbine, and a fuel cell battery, is examined and modeled for uniform and nonuniform wind speed and solar irradiance. A comparison between the developed algorithm and different maximum power tracking algorithms is presented. Additionally, four case studies are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the introduced UPQC in enhancing power-quality problems. The research outcome shows high performance from the developed algorithm when assessed with additional algorithms. MATLAB/Simulink software is utilized for the simulation of the wind, PV, and FC control systems. However, experiment validation tests are given under the same condition of PV irradiation to validate the simulation results. The experimental validation is executed by utilizing the PV module simulation model, threefold, 23 V/2A CO3208-1A with solar altitude emulator CO3208-1B board, and the results are compared to the simulation results.
Benchmarking Evaluation of Building Energy Consumption Based on Data Mining
Authors: Wu Thomas , Wang Bo , Zhang Dongdong , Zhao Ziwei , Zhu Hongyu
Published: March 2023

University building energy consumption is an important proportion of the total energy consumption of society. In order to work out the problem of poor practicability of the existing benchmarking management method of campus building energy consumption, this study proposes an evaluation model of campus building energy consumption benchmarking management. By analyzing several types of feature data of buildings, this study uses random forest method to determine the building features that have outstanding contributions to building energy consumption intensity and building classification, and uses the K-means method to reclassify buildings based on the building features obtained after screening, to obtain a building category that is more in line with the actual use situation and to solve the problem that the existing building classification is not in line with the reality. Compared with the original classification method, the new classification method showed significant improvement in many indexes, among which DBI decreased by 60.8% and CH increased by 3.73 times. Finally, the quart lines of buildings in the category of new buildings are calculated to obtain the low energy consumption line, medium energy consumption line and high energy consumption line of buildings, so as to improve the accuracy and practicability of energy consumption line classification.