bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cooperative Multiband Spectrum Sensing Using Radio Environment Maps and Neural Networks
Authors: Molina-Tenorio Yanqueleth , Prieto-Guerrero Alfonso , Aguilar-Gonzalez Rafael , Lopez-Benitez Miguel
Published: May 2023

Cogitive radio networks (CRNs) require high capacity and accuracy to detect the presence of licensed or primary users (PUs) in the sensed spectrum. In addition, they must correctly locate the spectral opportunities (holes) in order to be available to nonlicensed or secondary users (SUs). In this research, a centralized network of cognitive radios for monitoring a multiband spectrum in real time is proposed and implemented in a real wireless communication environment through generic communication devices such as software-defined radios (SDRs). Locally, each SU uses a monitoring technique based on sample entropy to determine spectrum occupancy. The determined features (power, bandwidth, and central frequency) of detected PUs are uploaded to a database. The uploaded data are then processed by a central entity. The objective of this work was to determine the number of PUs, their carrier frequency, bandwidth, and the spectral gaps in the sensed spectrum in a specific area through the construction of radioelectric environment maps (REMs). To this end, we compared the results of classical digital signal processing methods and neural networks performed by the central entity. Results show that both proposed cognitive networks (one working with a central entity using typical signal processing and one performing with neural networks) accurately locate PUs and give information to SUs to transmit, avoiding the hidden terminal problem. However, the best-performing cognitive radio network was the one working with neural networks to accurately detect PUs on both carrier frequency and bandwidth.
Attempt to Make the Upper-Limb Item of Objective Fugl–Meyer Assessment Using 9-Axis Motion Sensors
Authors: Ueyama Yusuke , Takebayashi Takashi , Takeuchi Kenta , Yamazaki Makoto , Hanada Keisuke , Okita Yuho , Shimada Shinichi
Published: May 2023

The Fugl–Meyer Assessment (FMA) has been used as a functional assessment of upper-limb function in stroke patients. This study aimed to create a more objective and standardized evaluation based on an FMA of the upper-limb items. A total of 30 first-ever stroke patients (65.3 ± 10.3 years old) and 15 healthy participants (35.4 ± 13.4 years old) admitted to Itami Kousei Neurosurgical Hospital were included. A nine-axis motion sensor was attached to the participants, and the joint angles of 17 upper-limb items (excluding fingers) and 23 FMA upper-limb items (excluding reflexes and fingers) were measured. From the measurement results, we analyzed the time-series data of each movement and obtained the correlation between the joint angles of each part. Discriminant analysis showed that 17 and 6 items had a concordance rate of ≥80% (80.0~95.6%) and <80% (64.4~75.6%), respectively. In the multiple regression analysis of continuous variables of FMA, a good regression model was obtained to predict the FMA with three to five joint angles. The discriminant analysis for 17 evaluation items suggests the possibility of roughly calculating FMA scores from joint angles.
Hole-Free Nested Array with Three Sub-ULAs for Direction of Arrival Estimation
Authors: Zhang Yule , Hu Guoping , Zhou Hao , Bai Juan , Zhan Chenghong , Guo Shuhan
Published: May 2023

Sparse arrays are of deep concern due to their ability to identify more sources than the number of sensors, among which the hole-free difference co-array (DCA) with large degrees of freedom (DOFs) is a topic worth discussing. In this paper, we propose a novel hole-free nested array with three sub-uniform line arrays (NA-TS). The one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) representations demonstrate the detailed configuration of NA-TS, which indicates that both nested array (NA) and improved nested array (INA) are special cases of NA-TS. We subsequently derive the closed-form expressions for the optimal configuration and the available number of DOFs, concluding that the DOFs of NA-TS is a function of the number of sensors and the number of the third sub-ULA. The NA-TS possesses more DOFs than several previously proposed hole-free nested arrays. Finally, the superior direction of arrival (DOA) estimation performance based on the NA-TS is supported by numerical examples.
Design, Development and Testing of a Monitoring System for the Study of Proton Exchange Fuel Cells and Stacks
Authors: Zambrano H Milena L. , Calderón Antonio José , Calderón Manuel , González Juan Félix , Pinzón Reinhardt , Fábrega Duque José Rogelio
Published: May 2023

This article is about the design, development and validation of a new monitoring architecture for individual cells and stacks to facilitate the study of proton exchange fuel cells. The system consists of four main elements: input signals, signal processing boards, analogue-to-digital converters (ADCs) and a master terminal unit (MTU). The latter integrates a high-level graphic user interface (GUI) software developed by National Instruments LABVIEW, while the ADCs are based on three digital acquisition units (DAQs). Graphs showing the temperature, currents and voltages in individual cells as well as stacks are integrated for ease of reference. The system validation was carried out both in static and dynamic modes of operation using a Ballard Nexa 1.2 kW fuel cell fed by a hydrogen cylinder, with a Prodigit 32612 electronic load at the output. The system was able to measure the voltage distributions of individual cells, and temperatures at different equidistant points of the stack both with and without an external load, validating its use as an indispensable tool for the study and characterization of these systems.
Nonlinear Robust Control by a Modulating-Function-Based Backstepping Super-Twisting Controller for a Quadruple Tank System
Authors: Aranda-Cetraro Italo , Pérez-Zúñiga Gustavo , Rivas-Pérez Raul , Sotomayor-Moriano Javier
Published: May 2023

In this paper, a robust nonlinear approach for control of liquid levels in a quadruple tank system (QTS) is developed based on the design of an integrator backstepping super-twisting controller, which implements a multivariable sliding surface, where the error trajectories converge to the origin at any operating point of the system. Since the backstepping algorithm is dependent on the derivatives of the state variables, and it is sensitive to measurement noise, integral transformations of the backstepping virtual controls are performed via the modulating functions technique, rendering the algorithm derivative-free and immune to noise. The simulations based on the dynamics of the QTS located at the Advanced Control Systems Laboratory of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) showed a good performance of the designed controller and therefore the robustness of the proposed approach.
The Impact of the Wavelength and Its Transmittance on the Visual Evoked Potentials, at Baseline, and under the Effect of Six Monochromatic Filters Used for Visual Treatments
Authors: Ibrahimi Danjela , Crúz-Martínez Enoé , Valencia Luna Guillermo , Romero Turrubiates Josué , Rodríguez-Reséndiz Juvenal
Published: May 2023

Purpose: This is an observational, non-invasive study which measures the VEPs of twelve individuals, at baseline, and under the effect of six monochromatic filters used in visual therapy, to understand their effect on neural activity to propose successful treatments. Methods: Monochromatic filters were chosen to represent the visible light spectrum, going from red to violet color, 440.5–731 nm, and light transmittance from 19 to 89.17%. Two of the participants presented accommodative esotropia. The impact of each filter, differences, and similarities among them, were analyzed using non-parametric statistics. Results: There was an increase on the N75 and P100 latency of both eyes and a decrease was on the VEP amplitude. The neurasthenic (violet), omega (blue), and mu (green) filter had the biggest effects on the neural activity. Changes may primarily be attributable to transmittance (%) for blue-violet colors, wavelength (nm) for yellow-red colors, and a combination of both for the green color. No significant VEPs differences were seen in accommodative strabismic patients, which reflects the good integrity and functionality of their visual pathway. Conclusions: Monochromatic filters, influenced the axonal activation and the number of fibers that get connected after stimulating the visual pathway, as well as the time needed for the stimulus to reach the visual cortex and thalamus. Consequently, modulations to the neural activity could be due to the visual and non-visual pathway. Considering the different types of strabismus and amblyopia, and their cortical-visual adaptations, the effect of these wavelengths should be explored in other categories of visual dysfunctions, to understand the neurophysiology underlying the changes on neural activity.
Illuminating the Immigration–Crime Nexus: A Test of the Immigration Revitalization Perspective
Authors: Ramos Javier , Hernandez Cristal , Shelfer Davis
Published: May 2023

Research shows that immigration is often associated with less crime. Yet, what remains unclear is why this is the case. The primary explanation for why immigration reduces crime, according to scholars, is the immigration revitalization thesis. This perspective argues that immigration revitalizes communities by promoting local business growth, bolstering social ties, and enhancing conventional institutions (e.g., churches, voluntary organizations), which then reduce crime. These ideas, however, have never been tested. Using longitudinal data from 139 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) between 2000 and 2019, we examine whether the relationship between immigration and violent crime is mediated by changes in the percentage of households headed by married couples, number of ethnic businesses, and/or number of immigrant/ethnic-oriented organizations. The results from the generalized structural equation models (GSEM) and mediation tests offer some support for the immigration revitalization perspective.
Long-Term Integrated Systems of Green Manure and Pasture Significantly Recover the Macrofauna of Degraded Soil in the Brazilian Savannah
Authors: Bonini Carolina dos Santos Batista , Maciel Thais Monique de Souza , Moreira Bruno Rafael de Almeida , Chitero José Guilherme Marques , Henrique Rodney Lúcio Pinheiro , Alves Marlene Cristina
Published: May 2023

Healthy soil biota is the key to meeting the world population’s growing demand for food, energy, fiber and raw materials. Our aim is to investigate the effect of green manure as a strategy to recover the macrofauna and the chemical properties of soils which have been anthropogenically degraded. The experiment was a completely randomized block design with four replicates. Green manure, Urochloa decumbens, with or without application of limestone and gypsum, composed the integrated systems. The macroorganisms as well as the soil fertility were analyzed after 17 years of a process of soil restoration with the aforementioned systems. The succession of Stizolobium sp. with Urochloa decumbens, with limestone and gypsum, was teeming with termites, beetles and ants. This integrated system presented the most technically adequate indexes of diversity and uniformity. Multivariate models showed a substantial increase in the total number of individuals due to the neutralization of harmful elements and the gradual release of nutrients by limestone and plaster. These conditioners have undergone multiple chemical reactions with the substrate in order to balance it chemically, thus allowing the macroinvertebrates to grow, develop, reproduce and compose their food web in milder microclimates. It was concluded that the integration of green manure together with grass is an economical and environmentally correct strategy to restore the macrofauna properties of degraded soil in the Brazilian savannah.
Analysis of Lifespan of Plastic Pallets and Containers in Korea Using Probability Density Function (PDF)
Authors: Kim Dowan , Kim Joungdae , Phae Chaegun
Published: May 2023

Pallets and containers are reused for a long period of time and are circulated and shared among consumers via a pool system. Although attempts have recently been made to convert to an EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) system in Korea, it is difficult to calculate their mandatory recycling rates because they are treated as the same waste, even though they are clearly different from disposable consumer goods and plastic packaging materials. In this study, we tried to calculate waste generation based on the lifespan of plastic pallets and containers using the probability density function. The life distribution for each material (PE (polyethylene) and PP (polypropylene)) of pallets and containers was derived, and by applying this, the amount of waste generation from 2010 to 2027 was estimated. The Mean Time to Failure among pallets was 9.6 years for PE and 3.2 years for PP, and among containers, was 16.5 years for PE and 12.2 years for PP. Additionally, it was calculated that pallets had a waste generation rate of 67.5% to 75.1% by shipment, and containers 26.9–69.2%. These results can be used to calculate the waste generation rate when calculating the mandatory recycling rate of pallets and containers in the future. However, since pallets and containers are used second-hand, or are exported together with products after being shipped domestically, the amount flowing into recycling companies decreases, so it is considered that supplementation via material balance analysis is necessary to calculate the mandatory recycling rate.
The Effects of Climate Variation and Anthropogenic Activity on Karst Spring Discharge Based on the Wavelet Coherence Analysis and the Multivariate Statistical
Authors: Zhang Juan , Zhu Zhongli , Hao Huiqing
Published: May 2023

This study focused on the impact of anthropogenic activity on magnitude, frequency, and minima of spring discharge. Niangziguan Springs (NS), China, was selected as an example, as its discharge is decreasing due to the combined effects of climate variation and human activity. For exploring the impact of human activity on the spring discharge from climate change, the spring discharges from 1959 to 2015 were divided into two periods: pre-development period (i.e., 1959–1980) and post-development period (i.e., 1981–2015). A polynomial regression model of the spring discharge was developed for the pre-development period. We deduced the model in the post-development period, compared the results with the observed spring discharge, and concluded that the climate variation and human activity caused 6.93% and 32.38% spring discharge decline, respectively. The relationships of spring discharge with Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM), East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM), E1 Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) were analyzed by wavelet analysis during the two periods. The results illustrated that the monsoons (i.e., ISM and EASM) were dominated by climate factors that affect the NS discharge versus climate teleconnections (i.e., ENSO and PDO). According to different time scales, human activities have had an impact on the periodicity of NS discharge, which altered the periodicities of the spring discharge at inter-annual time scales, but the periodicities at intra-annual and annual time scales have remained the same between the two periods. Under the effects of human activity, the local parameter of non-stationary general extreme value (NSGEV) distribution varied with time. The predicted spring discharge minimum value is supposed to be 4.53 m3/s with a 95% confidential interval with an upper boundary of 6.06 m3/s and a lower boundary of 2.80 m3/s in 2020. The results of this study would benefit the management of spring discharge and water resources.
A Systematic Review of Indigenous Food Plant Usage in Southern Africa
Authors: Nxusani Zoe Nomakhushe , Zuma Mthokozisi Kwazi , Mbhenyane Xikombiso Gertrude
Published: May 2023

Indigenous food plants provide various social functions; they are crucial to food supply diversification efforts, and they improve food and nutrition security. Research has shown that indigenous foods’ nutritional potential and advantages have yet to be adequately appreciated and explored. This systematic review discusses the various elements contributing to IF promotion, which may help increase their intake. Therefore, a systematic literature review was conducted to determine the availability, regularity of consumption, utilisation, preparation, harvesting, and preservation of indigenous foods. Additionally, this review details the knowledge, perceptions, and beliefs of IFs under these themes. The findings of this systematic review highlight the importance of promoting IFs through policies, the development of capabilities and skills, in-depth research, and an extensive indigenous food plant composition. The fact that Southern African populations do not value indigenous foods and their potential advantages appears to be a significant barrier. Furthermore, the younger generation has lost access to the older generations’ indigenous food knowledge. Thus, the preservation of indigenous food knowledge in books and continuing education of the younger generation about the importance of consuming indigenous foods and the nutrition content they contain may help with its uptake.
Investigation of Risk Factors Influencing the Safety of Maritime Containers Supply Chain: In the Period of the Pandemic
Authors: Ilyas Muhammad , Jin Zhihong , Ullah Irfan , Jafri Abbas Agha
Published: May 2023

Maritime security is facing many challenges due to war conflicts, geopolitics, sanctions, and pandemics. The supply chain for maritime containers has faced considerable obstacles as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous factors, such as port closures, travel restrictions, and a decreased workforce, have impacted the supply chain. The risk of cargo theft, piracy, and other security events has increased as a result of these difficulties. Therefore, it is essential to look at the risk variables that may affect the security of the marine container supply chain during the pandemic. This research paper highlights those risks through the following three indexes: the likelihood index (LI), severity index (SI), and average risk index (ARI) by analyzing 64 risk factors that were prepared and designed by incorporating the Delphi expert survey technique to prepare a systematic questionnaire. The article addresses worries over the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on international supply networks. The causes of the most recent global shipping industry disruptions and their impact on supply chains have been thoroughly examined. In order to reduce the number of disruptions in global supply chains and lower the direct and indirect costs for consumers, the authors have also mentioned the necessary actions that must be implemented. The results concluded after the analysis pointed to “management activities,” such as human resources or the working environment as having the highest possibility of going wrong, whereas “operation activities” were judged to likely be the fatal ones if the security of maritime containers was ever compromised. The main objective of the study is to evaluate how the COVID-19 epidemic may affect international shipping, particularly container shipping, which is currently the most important link in the world’s multimodal land–sea supply chains.
Comprehensive Strategic Analysis for Sustainability: An Aviation Industry Case Study
Authors: Heyes Graeme , Urquhart Cathy , Hooper Paul , Thomas Callum
Published: May 2023

This paper presents a framework for strategic innovation, the Comprehensive Strategic Analysis for Sustainability, aimed at identifying climate risks faced by organisations and developing appropriate responses to enhance their resilience. The framework integrates the analytical tools of comprehensive strategic analysis with a range of sustainability methodologies to offer a holistic approach to sustainable innovation. The framework was tested through a case study on a large multinational airport retailer, which helped identify the drivers and barriers to sustainably oriented innovation. The application of the framework informed criteria for assessing the suitability for different sustainable business model archetypes to be implemented but did not identify specific sustainable business model innovations that were appropriate for the case firm, highlighting the complexities of managing scope 3 emissions without taking systems-level and multi-stakeholder approaches. The Comprehensive Strategic Analysis for Sustainability framework presents a valuable contribution to approaches for strategic sustainable innovation by acting as a useful lens through which sustainable business model innovation in large industries can be viewed. This study suggests that such holistic frameworks have significant value for the business community in transitioning to low-carbon business models to mitigate the challenges of the climate emergency, whilst the CSAfS framework demonstrates potential as an effective tool for organisations seeking to enhance their sustainability and resilience.
Human-Impact Gradients through Anthropogenic Pollen Indicators in a Mediterranean Mosaic Landscape (Balearic Islands)
Authors: Servera-Vives Gabriel , Mus Amezquita Maurici , Snitker Grant , Florenzano Assunta , Torri Paola , Ruiz Maurici , Mercuri Anna Maria
Published: May 2023

This paper proposes new anthropogenic pollen indicators for the Balearic Islands and attempts to assess gradients of human impact on vegetation in Mediterranean islands. A combination of modern pollen analogue studies, complemented by phytosociological descriptions and ordination techniques using quantitative and presence/absence data was used. Redundancy analysis allowed us to evaluate the relationships between pollen types and significant environmental variables and propose regional (e.g., Centaurea, Rubus, Plantago lanceolata-t) and local/microregional anthropogenic pollen indicators (e.g., Cerealia, Poygonum aviculare, Matricaria-t). Additionally, an anthropogenic index score (AIS) for each sampled location was calculated to correlate each pollen type to a specific degree of human impact: (a) low (e.g., Cerastium-t, Erica arborea-t, Cistus albidus), (b) moderate (e.g, Sinapis-t, Sanguisorba minor-t, Plantago bellardii-t), (c) high (e.g., Papaveraceae undiff., Dipsacaceae, Secale-t). This paper contributes to a further understanding of land-use dynamics and to defining the degree of impact, which is especially necessary to assess colonization and anthropization rhythms in Mediterranean island environments.
Does Corporate Social Responsibility Moderate the Nexus of Organizational Culture and Job Satisfaction?
Authors: Khan Sania , Alonazi Wadi B. , Malik Azam , Zainol Noor Raihani
Published: May 2023

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is necessary in today’s organizations because they must balance profitability with the development of a positive reputation through environmental and social responsibilities. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to discover how organizational culture (OC) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) relate to job satisfaction (JS), as well as how CSR moderates their interaction. The research data were collected from 463 respondents of SME organizations in Saudi Arabia using an online survey questionnaire (and few by in-person survey) to determine the impact of hypothesized relations. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS to test the study hypotheses. The results indicated that corporate social responsibility moderated the relationship between OC and JS and improved employee’s job satisfaction. Among the hypothesized relationships of the variables, OC indicated a mediocre effect on JS, while CSR was found to have low influence on JS. However, the study revealed significant impact among the variables, thereby supporting all three hypotheses of the study. As the study only attempted to understand the associations among three variables, it lacks to explain the role of other potentially important factors such as business success, organizational structure, leadership style, and firm size. The only stakeholders considered by the study was the employees, which is considered a major limitation of this study. Further researchers may also consider the role of other primary stakeholders on CSR activities, who are vital in improving employee JS. The study’s findings have some practical implications for managers who seek to create contented personnel and prioritized CSR efforts.
Advanced Applications of Carbonaceous Materials in Sustainable Water Treatment, Energy Storage, and CO2 Capture: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Reza Md Sumon , Afroze Shammya , Kuterbekov Kairat , Kabyshev Asset , Zh. Bekmyrza Kenzhebatyr , Haque Md Naimul , Islam Shafi Noor , Hossain Md Aslam , Hassan Mahbub , Roy Hridoy , Islam Md Shahinoor , Pervez Md Nahid , Azad Abul Kalam
Published: May 2023

The demand for energy has increased tremendously around the whole world due to rapid urbanization and booming industrialization. Energy is the major key to achieving an improved social life, but energy production and utilization processes are the main contributors to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Mitigation of the energy crisis and reduction in pollution (water and air) difficulties are the leading research topics nowadays. Carbonaceous materials offer some of the best solutions to minimize these problems in an easy and effective way. It is also advantageous that the sources of carbon-based materials are economical, the synthesis processes are comfortable, and the applications are environmentally friendly. Among carbonaceous materials, activated carbons, graphene, and carbon nanotubes have shown outstanding performance in mitigating the energy crisis and environmental pollution. These three carbonaceous materials exhibit unique adsorption properties for energy storage, water purification, and gas cleansing due to their outstanding electrical conductivity, large specific surface areas, and strong mechanical strength. This paper reviews the synthesis methods for activated carbons, carbon nanotubes, and graphene and their significant applications in energy storage, water treatment, and carbon dioxide gas capture to improve environmental sustainability.
The Use of Steel Slags in Asphalt Pavements: A State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Pasetto Marco , Baliello Andrea , Giacomello Giovanni , Pasquini Emiliano
Published: May 2023

Steel slag is a by-product obtained through the separation of molten steel from impurities in steel-making furnaces. It can be produced by different types of furnaces (blast, basic oxygen, electric arc, ladle furnaces). The reuse of metallurgical slags in road pavements can pursue aims of recycling and environmental sustainability. Based on the extensive literature, the paper presents a state-of-the-art review concerning the use of slags in asphalt pavements, discussing the main controversial literature findings. Slag manufacturing processes, chemical, morphological, and physical characteristics, affect its contribution to the asphalt mixture, when it partially or fully substitutes natural aggregates. Legislative state-of-the-art environmental issues, weathering, and leaching aspects are also discussed. The main mechanical and durability properties of pavements containing different types of slags are analyzed based on laboratory and field studies. Generally, the higher mechanical properties of steel slag suggest that its inclusion in asphalt mixtures can provide high-performance pavement layers (excellent strength and stiffness, superior rutting and fatigue resistance, low moisture susceptibility). However, several research gaps still exist (e.g., mix design and seasoning procedure, bitumen–aggregate affinity, low-temperature behavior, brittleness); they are discussed to direct possible future study efforts to clarify specific technical aspects, such as, for example, the effect of slag morphology and physical properties on the final mix properties and the development of specific mix design guidelines.
Impact of Ship Emissions on Air Quality in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA): With a Particular Focus on the Role of Onshore Wind
Authors: Cheng Qinyu , Wang Xiaotong , Chen Dongsheng , Ma Yizhe , Zhao Ying , Hao Jianghong , Guo Xiurui , Lang Jianlei , Zhou Ying
Published: May 2023

Background: ship emissions have an adverse effect on air quality in coastal regions, and this effect can be exacerbated by onshore winds. Objectives and methods: to investigate the impact of ship emissions on air pollutant concentrations during the onshore wind period in a low-latitude region in China, this study applied the WRF/Chem model to simulate the contribution of ship emissions to PM2.5 and O3 by “zero-out” in 2018, in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Results/findings: results show that the onshore winds facilitated the transport of ship-emitted pollutants to inland areas, causing the contribution of ship emissions to PM2.5 exceeding 4 μg/m3 to areas north of Guangzhou in April and west of the GBA in October. The impact of onshore winds on the ship contribution to the O3 concentration shows a bidirectional trend both spatially and monthly. The onshore winds raised the ship contribution to O3 concentrations in April by 1.54 μg/m3, while exacerbated the decreasing contribution in other months. In VOC-sensitive cities such as Foshan, onshore winds exacerbated the negative contribution of ship emissions to O3 concentrations; while in NOx-sensitive cities such as Huizhou, they enhanced the contribution of ship-induced O3. Novelty/Improvement: this paper fills a gap in the study of pollutants transportation characteristics from ship emissions under the influence of onshore winds in the GBA. Our results demonstrate the importance of considering meteorological conditions and atmospheric chemical mechanisms regarding the coastal air pollution prevention caused by ship emissions.
Tracking the Transit Divide: A Multilevel Modelling Approach of Urban Inequalities and Train Ridership Disparities in Chicago
Authors: Owen Danial , Arribas-Bel Daniel , Rowe Francisco
Published: May 2023

Using a multilevel modelling approach, this study investigates the impact of urban inequalities on changes to rail ridership across Chicago’s “L” stations during the pandemic, the mass vaccination rollout, and the full reopening of the city. Initially believed to have an equal impact, COVID-19 disproportionally impacted the ability of lower socioeconomic status (SES) neighbourhoods’ to adhere to non-pharmaceutical interventions: working-from-home and social distancing. We find that “L” stations in predominately Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino neighbourhoods with high industrial land-use recorded the smallest behavioural change. The maintenance of higher public transport use at these stations is likely to have exacerbated existing health inequalities, worsening disparities in users’ risk of exposure, infection rates, and mortality rates. This study also finds that the vaccination rollout and city reopening did not significantly increase the number of users at stations in higher vaccinated, higher private vehicle ownership neighbourhoods, even after a year into the pandemic. A better understanding of the spatial and socioeconomic determinants of changes in ridership behaviour is crucial for policymakers in adjusting service routes and frequencies that will sustain reliant neighbourhoods’ access to essential services, and to encourage trips at stations which are the most impacted to revert the trend of declining public transport use.
The Impact of Emotional Experience on Tourists’ Cultural Identity and Behavior in the Cultural Heritage Tourism Context: An Empirical Study on Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes
Authors: Yang Yang , Wang Zhengyun , Shen Han , Jiang Naipeng
Published: May 2023

The emotions perceived by tourists and their effects in the tourism context are increasingly highlighted in tourism studies. In the cultural heritage tourism context, tourists’ emotional experience comes from their cognitive evaluation of the natural environment and the humanistic environment and triggers deep cognitive processing and prosocial behavior, further building tourists’ identity with culture and enhancing their awareness and heritage conservation behavior. Based on the theory of emotional evaluation and positive emotional expansion and construction, this study constructed the research model of emotional arousal—positive emotional experience—tourists’ cultural identity—heritage protection behavior. Three hundred and ninety-seven tourists’ data were empirically tested using the World Heritage Site, the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, as a case site. The study found that in the cultural heritage tourism context, the cognitive evaluation of the natural and humanistic environment has the effect of inducing positive emotional experience among tourists; positive emotional experience positively influences tourists’ cultural identity and heritage conservation behavior; and they are part of the mediating variables of tourists’ emotion elicitation and cultural identity. The results of this study will further enrich the theoretical research on emotions in the cultural heritage tourism context and also help the relevant departments of cultural heritage tourism further enhance tourists’ cultural identity and heritage conservation behaviors from the perspective of tourists’ emotional experience. The future research could focus on investigating the emotional triggers’ impact on tourists’ cultural identity and heritage conservation behavior in relation to a particular cultural experience activity.
Analysis of Spatiotemporal Evolution Patterns and Driving Forces of Reservoirs on the Northern Slope of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang
Authors: Sun Yinglin , Liu Bing , Yang Guang , Du Yongjun , Huang Hejiaolong , Wang Ting , Wang Jun
Published: May 2023

Revealing the temporal and spatial evolution pattern of reservoirs and their driving mechanisms is of great significance for promoting the coordinated development of the national economy and natural ecology. In this study, the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains (NSTM) in Xinjiang was selected as the study area. Based on remote sensing data from 1990 to 2020, the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of reservoirs on the NSTM in the past 30 years were analyzed using the grid cells method and the nuclear density analysis method, and the mechanisms by which natural geographical conditions and socio-economic development influence the temporal and spatial evolution of reservoirs in the NSTM were analyzed using GeoDetector. The results indicate the following: (1) In terms of temporal change, the area of reservoirs in the NSTM showed an overall expansion trend from 1990 to 2020, with a growth rate of 42.77%, and the number of reservoirs increased from 123 to 238 during the same period, with a growth rate of 93.50%. (2) In terms of spatial change, the distribution of reservoir accumulation areas on the NSTM gradually developed horizontally from the middle section with rapid economic development to the western and eastern sections. (3) The GeoDetector results showed that the main driving factors affecting the spatial differentiation of reservoir area in the NSTM from 1990 to 2020 were the average elevation (0.201), cultivated land area (0.112), and GDP (0.070), while the main driving factors combinations were the average elevation and cultivated land area (0.374), the average elevation and GDP (0.325), and the average elevation and average population (0.319). The research results can provide a theoretical basis and a decision-making reference for water conservancy project planning and water resources management in the NSTM.
Value Network Construction in High-Tech Parks
Authors: Qu Li , Wang Zihui , Liu Yueting , Liu Ying
Published: May 2023

With the rapid development of information technology, the industrial boundary is gradually blurred, and industrial cross-border integration brings new impetus for innovation development and value co-creation. High-tech industrial parks are characterized by industrial diversification, but few studies have analyzed how industrial integration in high-tech parks enhances the value creation of the entire high-tech park from a value perspective. In this study, we build a value network model of the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA) based on grounded theory research methods to explore the mechanism of value co-creation among industrial chains in the BDA. Additionally, we found that the communication network infrastructure represented by 5G, the Internet of Things, and the Industrial Internet, the new technology infrastructure represented by artificial intelligence and blockchain, and the computing infrastructure represented by the data center in BDA are integrated with the leading industries, which improves the value of the industry and promotes the digitalization, networking, and intelligent transformation and upgrading of the industry. Contributions for future research are presented.
The Diffusion of Competitive Platform-Based Products with Network Effects
Authors: Zhang Jie , Dong Lingfeng , Ji Ting
Published: May 2023

The existence of network effects not only changes traditional product diffusion patterns but also has significant impacts on individuals’ decision behaviors. Previous studies on competitive product diffusion have focused on macro-level diffusion speed and effects while neglecting the micro-level impacts of individual heterogeneity and social interaction on product diffusion. This paper introduces the individual heterogeneities and social interactions of consumers into the competitive product diffusion model on the basis of a two-sided market framework and complex network theory. We proposed a small world network model and behavioral game theory. Specifically, the small world network model was used to build interactions between users, and behavioral game theory was utilized to describe the interactions between users. In our model, the direct network effect was distinguished from the indirect network effect on the basis of the synergy of multiple complementary products. The results show that the final distribution often presented a situation wherein two products coexisted, but the market share was very different. In an asymmetric first-mover situation, the direct network effect dominated the indirect network effect. Moreover, the dominant position of one product at present can be changed by the other under certain conditions. Finally, when the switching and learning costs were high, the market maintained its concentration, and the prior platform was unable to dominate the market. A decrease in the costs raised the prior platform’s market share and the speed of market occupation.
Conceptualising Collaborations beyond Industrial Boundaries: A Literature Review and a Theoretical Proposition to Understand Cross-Industrial Collaborations in the Circular Supply Network
Authors: Ratsimandresy Anne , Miemczyk Joe
Published: May 2023

This state-of-the-art review paper aims to provide an overview of the current research in supply chain and management on cross-industrial collaborations. It also formulates a theoretical proposition to study them. This research on cross-industrial collaborations is carried out in the more specific context of the circular economy, as the scale-up of this economic model has the particularity of requiring collaborations between organisations from different industrial sectors, a subject that remains to date relatively unexplored. The paper is divided into two parts. The first part is a literature review. A presentation on current knowledge on supply-chain collaborations for the circular economy is realised, followed by a literature gap exploration of cross-industrial collaborations. The second part is a theoretical proposition. Concepts of the network theory and of the inter-organisational proximity framework and their relevance are explained, followed by a proposition of a combination of the two views to conceptualise cross-industrial collaborations. The objective of this concept paper is to provide a thematic and theoretical background for future studies to understand how to connect non-traditional actors within a supply network, how companies from different industries manage to collaborate, and to assess the opportunities and pitfalls of these collaborations for the scale-up of the circular economy.
How Cultural Intelligence Facilitates Employee Voice in the Hospitality Industry
Authors: Yuan Lu , Kim Hyun Jeong , Min Hyounae (Kelly)
Published: May 2023

Drawing upon person-environment fit, specifically demands–abilities fit, this paper examines the impact of hospitality employees’ cultural intelligence (CQ) on their voice behavior and job satisfaction. Data were collected from domestic contact employees working for restaurants in three major cities in the United States. The results of the PLS-SEM model show that CQ has a positive effect on employees’ voice behavior through self-efficacy. Further, CQ has a positive effect on job satisfaction through a sequential mediation of self-efficacy and voice. This study contributes to the CQ and voice literature, utilizing CQ as a person’s ability to meet job requirements. This study also has important practical implications for hospitality practitioners who depend on employee voice for the success of organizations in today’s ever-changing global environment.
Automatic Recognition of Beam Attachment for Massive MIMO System in Densely Distributed Renewable Energy Resources
Authors: Alaerjan Alaa
Published: May 2023

Several large-scale and distributed systems such as renewable energy systems (RESs) require ubiquitous and reliable communication. RESs are designed to provide efficient power management and improve both energy production and consumption. Decision making in RESs heavily depends on real-time communication. Fifth and sixth-generation (5G, 6G) wireless networks promise to deliver significant communication advantages to RESs including ultra-low latency, high throughput and improved coverage. However, the communication behavior in RESs is categorized as unpredictable due to aspects such as system flexibility and equipment heterogeneity. This may affect the stability of the entire RES, which results in further issues such as signal reliability and degraded coverage. Therefore, precise identification of user equipment’s (UE) location greatly improves the sustainability of 5G and 6G wireless services. In this work, we propose a novel low-complexity technique to automatically recognize UE locations in an area of interest. The approach aims at providing precise identification of UE with minimum memory and feature requirements. We use the lazy learning approach to build a prediction model to construct beam-attachment maps. We then train the model to provide distributed intelligent models to automatically recognize beam-attachment indexes. We compare the proposed approach with instance-based techniques to measure its ability at predicting beam-attachment maps. The results show that the proposed model has the ability to provide an accurate prediction with respect to the beam-attachment index (around 100%) with minimal complexity.
Four PQQ-Dependent Alcohol Dehydrogenases Responsible for the Oxidative Detoxification of Deoxynivalenol in a Novel Bacterium Ketogulonicigenium vulgare D3_3 Originated from the Feces of Tenebrio molitor Larvae
Authors: Wang Yang , Zhao Donglei , Zhang Wei , Wang Songshan , Wu Yu , Wang Songxue , Yang Yongtan , Guo Baoyuan
Published: May 2023

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is frequently detected in cereals and cereal-based products and has a negative impact on human and animal health. In this study, an unprecedented DON-degrading bacterial isolate D3_3 was isolated from a sample of Tenebrio molitor larva feces. A 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic analysis and genome-based average nucleotide identity comparison clearly revealed that strain D3_3 belonged to the species Ketogulonicigenium vulgare. This isolate D3_3 could efficiently degrade 50 mg/L of DON under a broad range of conditions, such as pHs of 7.0–9.0 and temperatures of 18–30 °C, as well as during aerobic or anaerobic cultivation. 3-keto-DON was identified as the sole and finished DON metabolite using mass spectrometry. In vitro toxicity tests revealed that 3-keto-DON had lower cytotoxicity to human gastric epithelial cells and higher phytotoxicity to Lemna minor than its parent mycotoxin DON. Additionally, four genes encoding pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent alcohol dehydrogenases in the genome of isolate D3_3 were identified as being responsible for the DON oxidation reaction. Overall, as a highly potent DON-degrading microbe, a member of the genus Ketogulonicigenium is reported for the first time in this study. The discovery of this DON-degrading isolate D3_3 and its four dehydrogenases will allow microbial strains and enzyme resources to become available for the future development of DON-detoxifying agents for food and animal feed.
Evidence of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus Transmission from Subclinically Infected Cattle by Stomoxys calcitrans
Authors: Haegeman Andy , Sohier Charlotte , Mostin Laurent , De Leeuw Ilse , Van Campe Willem , Philips Wannes , De Regge Nick , De Clercq Kris
Published: May 2023

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) is a vector-transmitted capripox virus that causes disease in cattle. Stomoxys calcitrans flies are considered to be important vectors as they are able to transmit viruses from cattle with the typical LSDV skin nodules to naive cattle. No conclusive data are, however, available concerning the role of subclinically or preclinically infected cattle in virus transmission. Therefore, an in vivo transmission study with 13 donors, experimentally inoculated with LSDV, and 13 naïve acceptor bulls was performed whereby S. calcitrans flies were fed on either subclinical- or preclinical-infected donor animals. Transmission of LSDV from subclinical donors showing proof of productive virus replication but without formation of skin nodules was demonstrated in two out of five acceptor animals, while no transmission was seen from preclinical donors that developed nodules after Stomoxys calcitrans flies had fed. Interestingly, one of the acceptor animals which became infected developed a subclinical form of the disease. Our results show that subclinical animals can contribute to virus transmission. Therefore, stamping out only clinically diseased LSDV-infected cattle could be insufficient to completely halt the spread and control of the disease.
Metavirome Profiling and Dynamics of the DNA Viral Community in Seawater in Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia
Authors: Jung Seung Won , Kim Kang Eun , Kim Hyun-Jung , Lee Taek-Kyun
Published: May 2023

Despite their abundance and ecological importance, little is known about the diversity of marine viruses, in part because most cannot be cultured in the laboratory. Here, we used high-throughput viral metagenomics of uncultivated viruses to investigate the dynamics of DNA viruses in tropical seawater sampled from Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia, in March, June, and December 2014. Among the identified viruses, 71–79% were bacteriophages belonging to the families Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, and Podoviridae (Caudoviriales), listed in order of abundance at all sampling times. Although the measured environmental factors (temperature, salinity, and pH) remained unchanged in the seawater over time, viral dynamics changed. The proportion of cyanophages (34.7%) was highest in June, whereas the proportion of mimiviruses, phycodnaviruses, and other nucleo-cytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs) was higher in March and December. Although host species were not analysed, the dramatic viral community change observed in June was likely due to changes in the abundance of cyanophage-infected cyanobacteria, whereas that in NCLDVs was likely due to the abundance of potential eukaryote-infected hosts. These results serve as a basis for comparative analyses of other marine viral communities, and guide policy-making when considering marine life care in Chuuk State.