bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fractional-Order Identification of Gyroscope MEMS Noise Under Various Temperature Conditions
Authors: Sierociuk Dominik , Macias Michal , Markowski Konrad Andrzej
Published: November 2024

This paper deals with identifying the fractional-order noise parameters for MEMS gyroscopes under various temperature conditions. The significant contribution of the paper is to investigate the relation between the fractional noise model of MEMS devices and different ambient temperatures. In our paper, variance, correlation, and introduced estimation analysis methods have been meticulously applied to determine noise parameters with fractional-order dynamics. Experimental data were collected precisely under various ambient temperatures, while the MEMS device was located in a climate chamber. The origin of the paper is motivated by a project entitled “Family of optoelectronic heads for guided missiles—SEEKER”, where the IMU sensor is a crucial electronic device used to measure the angular velocity of the optoelectronic head. It is widely known that the IMU measurements built-in MEMS technology often come with a random walk, as well as biases and noises affecting the final results.
Modeling and Optimization of Energy Harvesters for Specific Applications Using COMSOL and Equivalent Spring Models
Authors: Kandukuri Tharun Reddy , Liao Caizhi , Occhipinti Luigi G.
Published: November 2024

Energy harvesting from natural sources, including bodily movements, vehicle engine vibrations, and ocean waves, poses challenges due to the broad range of frequency bands involved. Piezoelectric materials are frequently used in energy harvesters, although their effectiveness depends on aligning the device’s natural frequency with the frequency of the target energy source. This study models energy harvesters customized for specific applications by adjusting their natural frequencies to match the required bandwidth. We evaluate commercially available piezoelectric transducers and model them using COMSOL Multiphysics alongside an equivalent spring-mass schematic approach, enabling precise adjustments to optimize energy capture. The proposed system achieves a maximum power output of 160 µW and a power density of 187.35 µW/cm3 at a natural frequency of 65 Hz. Furthermore, the theoretical maximum power density is calculated as 692.97 W/m3, demonstrating the system’s potential for high energy efficiency under optimal conditions. Simulations are validated against experimental data to ensure accuracy. Our findings provide a design framework for optimizing energy harvester performance across diverse energy sources, leading to more efficient and application-specific devices for varied environmental conditions.
BSDA: Bayesian Random Semantic Data Augmentation for Medical Image Classification
Authors: Zhu Yaoyao , Cai Xiuding , Wang Xueyao , Chen Xiaoqing , Fu Zhongliang , Yao Yu
Published: November 2024

Data augmentation is a crucial regularization technique for deep neural networks, particularly in medical imaging tasks with limited data. Deep learning models are highly effective at linearizing features, enabling the alteration of feature semantics through the shifting of latent space representations—an approach known as semantic data augmentation (SDA). The paradigm of SDA involves shifting features in a specified direction. Current SDA methods typically sample the amount of shifting from a Gaussian distribution or the sample variance. However, excessive shifting can lead to changes in data labels, which may negatively impact model performance. To address this issue, we propose a computationally efficient method called Bayesian Random Semantic Data Augmentation (BSDA). BSDA can be seamlessly integrated as a plug-and-play component into any neural network. Our experiments demonstrate that BSDA outperforms competitive methods and is suitable for both 2D and 3D medical image datasets, as well as most medical imaging modalities. Additionally, BSDA is compatible with mainstream neural network models and enhances baseline performance. The code is available online.
Research on Video Monitoring Technology for Galloping of OCS Additional Conductors of High-Speed Railway in Strong Wind Zone
Authors: Zhang Wentao , Wang Wenhao , Zhao Shanpeng , Yuan Huayu , Zhang Youpeng , Yao Xiaotong , Chen Guangwu
Published: November 2024

The strong wind environment causes the additional conductor of the overhead contact system (OCS) of the Lanzhou–Xinjiang high-speed railway to gallop, significantly impacting the safe operation of the train. This paper presents the design of an online monitoring system for the galloping of additional conductors in the OCS, utilizing video monitoring for accurate and real-time assessment. Initially, the dynamics of the OCS additional conductor and its operational environment are examined, leading to the selection of suitable data transmission and power supply methods to finalize the camera configuration. Secondly, a preprocessing method for enhancing images of galloping in OCS additional conductors is developed, effectively reducing noise in edge detection through a region chain code clustering analysis. The video monitoring system effectively extracts wire edges, addressing the issues of splitting, breakage, and edge overlap in edge detection, while accurately identifying wire targets in video images. In conclusion, a galloping monitoring test platform is established to extract galloping data from additional conductors through video monitoring. The analysis of the galloping frequency and amplitude facilitates the comprehensive monitoring and assessment of the galloping status of OCS additional conductors. The video monitoring system effectively extracts and analyzes galloping data of the OCS additional conductor, fulfilling the fundamental requirements for the online monitoring of additional conductor galloping, and possesses significant engineering application value.
Scalp-Implanted Ultra-Wideband Circularly Polarized MIMO Antenna for Biotelemetry Systems
Authors: Song Zhiwei , Shi Youwei , Zheng Xianren , Wang Yuchao
Published: November 2024

This paper presents an innovative, compact, dual-element, implantable, ultra-wideband, circularly polarized multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna designed to operate within the 2.45 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical band, and both of its radiating units are circularly polarized antennas with polarization diversity. Specifically, antenna-1 exhibits left-handed circular polarization properties, while antenna-2 demonstrates right-handed circular polarization properties. The slots in the radiating patch and ground plane help the antenna achieve 690 MHz (2.14–2.83 GHz) ultra-wide bandwidth characteristics and circularly polarized characteristics. Additionally, a slit connecting two U-slots on the ground plane allows the antenna to achieve a wide effective circularly polarized axial ratio bandwidth of 400 MHz (2.23–2.63 GHz). The antenna is compact, with dimensions of 0.065 × 0.057 × 0.0042 λ03 (λ0 represents the free-space wavelength corresponding to the lowest operating frequency). The proposed antenna system’s performance was evaluated with a seven-layer homogeneous human head model, a real human head model, and minced pork. This evaluation revealed that the antenna attained a peak gain of −24.1 dBi and an isolation level of 27.5 dB. Furthermore, the assessment included the antenna’s link margin (LM), key MIMO channel characteristics, and Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) metrics. The results indicate that the antenna performs exceptionally well.
Analysing Physical Performance Indicators Measured with Electronic Performance Tracking Systems in Men’s Beach Volleyball Formative Stages
Authors: Marzano-Felisatti Joaquín Martín , Martínez-Gallego Rafael , Pino-Ortega José , García-de-Alcaraz Antonio , Priego-Quesada Jose Ignacio , Guzmán Luján José Francisco
Published: November 2024

Sports performance initiation is of significant interest in sports sciences, particularly in beach volleyball (BV), where players usually combine indoor and BV disciplines in the formative stages. This research aimed to apply an electronic performance tracking system to quantify the physical-conditional performance of young male BV players during competition, considering age group (U15 or U19), sport specialisation (indoor or beach) and the set outcome (winner or loser). Thirty-two young male players, categorised by age and sport specialisation, were analysed during 40 matches using electronic performance tracking systems (Wimu PROTM). Data collected were the set duration, total and relative distances covered, and number and maximum values in acceleration and deceleration actions. U19 players and BV specialists, compared to their younger and indoor counterparts, covered more distance (719.25 m/set vs. 597.85 m/set; 719.25 m/set vs. 613.15 m/set) and exhibited higher intensity in terms of maximum values in acceleration (4.09 m/s2 vs. 3.45 m/s2; 3.99 m/s2 vs. 3.65 m/s2) and deceleration (−5.05 m/s2 vs. −4.41 m/s2). More accelerations (557.50 n/set vs. 584.50 n/set) and decelerations (561.50 n/set vs. 589.00 n/set) were found in indoor players. Additionally, no significant differences were found in variables regarding the set outcome. These findings suggest that both age and specialisation play crucial roles in determining a great physical-conditional performance in young players, displaying a higher volume and intensity in external load metrics, whereas indoor players seem to need more accelerations and decelerations in a BV adaptation context. These insights highlight the age development and sport specialisation in young volleyball and BV athletes.
Online Calibration of Inertial Sensors Based on Error Backpropagation
Authors: Simak Vojtech , Andel Jan , Nemec Dusan , Kekelak Juraj
Published: November 2024

Global satellite navigation systems (GNSSs) are the most-used technology for the localization of vehicles in the outdoor environment, but in the case of a densely built-up area or during passage through a tunnel, the satellite signal is not available or has poor quality. Inertial navigation systems (INSs) allow localization dead reckoning, but they have an integration error that grows over time. Inexpensive inertial measurement units (IMUs) are subject to thermal-dependent error and must be calibrated almost continuously. This article proposes a novel method of online (continuous) calibration of inertial sensors with the aid of the data from the GNSS receiver during the vehicle’s route. We performed data fusion using an extended Kalman filter (EKF) and calibrated the input sensors through error backpropagation. The algorithm thus calibrates the INS sensors while the GNSS receiver signal is good, and after a GNSS failure, for example in tunnels, the position is predicted only by low-cost inertial sensors. Such an approach significantly improved the localization precision in comparison with offline calibrated inertial localization with the same sensors.
Kinematical and Physiological Responses of Overground Running Gait Pattern at Different Intensities
Authors: Monteiro Ana Sofia , Galano João Paulo , Cardoso Filipa , Buzzachera Cosme F. , Vilas-Boas João Paulo , Fernandes Ricardo J.
Published: November 2024

Runners achieve forward locomotion through diverse techniques. However, understanding the behavior of the involved kinematical variables remains incomplete, particularly when running overground and along an intensity spectrum. We aimed to characterize the biomechanical and physiological adaptations while running at low, moderate, heavy and severe intensities. Ten middle- and long-distance runners completed an incremental intermittent protocol of 800 m steps until exhaustion (1 km·h−1 velocity increments and 30 s intervals) on an outdoor track field. Biomechanical data were captured using two high-resolution video cameras, and linear and angular kinematic variables were analyzed. With the intensity rise, a decrease in stride, step and contact times ([0.70–0.65], [0.35–0.33] and [0.42–0.37] s) and an increase in stride length and frequency and flight time ([3.13–3.52] m, [1.43–1.52] Hz and [0.28–0.29] s; p < 0.05) were observed, together with an increase in oxygen uptake and blood lactate concentrations ([54.7–67.6] mL∙kg−1∙min−1 and [3.1–10.2] mmol∙L−1). A more flexed hip at initial contact and toe-off (152.02–149.36] and [165.70–163.64]) and knee at initial contact ([162.64–159.57]; p < 0.05) were also observed. A consistent gait pattern along each protocol step was exhibited, with minor changes without practical significance. Runners are constantly adapting their gait pattern, reflected in both biomechanical and physiological responses, both of which should be considered for better characterization.
The Post-Harmonisation Health and Safety Challenges of Construction Industry Managers
Authors: Phelps Richard , Jansz Janis , Chang Ping , Ghosh Apurna
Published: November 2024

To minimise the occurrence of injuries, illnesses and deaths due to work-related causes, it is important to have effective workplace health safety legislation that is known and used. The introduction of more stringent workplace health and safety legislation across Australia has brought greater responsibility, and harsher penalties, for managers. The importance of the role those in management play in influencing and shaping a culture of safety is well researched, but little has been done to determine whether those in management are ready to assume that role. This study aimed to identify what has informed Western Australian construction industry managers who are working within the mining sector and ultimately shaped their approach to occupational health and safety. NVivo software was used to analyse the data by the creation of codes and subcodes to identify themes and subthemes. Analysis of two focus groups’ participants’ responses identified that many managers had insufficient work health and safety education to understand their obligations and that other challenges include insufficient preparedness of managers, particularly newly promoted supervisors and other management staff, rapid promotion, and the bureaucracy of modern workplace health and safety. The findings from this study can assist organisations to better prepare managers to fulfil their workplace health and safety obligations and reduce some of the post-harmonisation challenges.
Determinants of Climate-Smart Agriculture Adoption Among Rice Farmers: Enhancing Sustainability
Authors: Pandeya Shreesha , Gajurel Aarju , Mishra Binayak P. , Devkota Kedar , Gyawali Buddhi R. , Upadhaya Suraj
Published: November 2024

The use of conventional farming methods, excessive reliance on fertilizers and inputs, and abrupt shifts in climate have raised significant concerns regarding global agricultural production, particularly in developing countries like Nepal. Agriculture products such as rice hold significant importance in Nepal’s agriculture and economy, serving as a staple food and a crucial source of livelihood for its population. Sustainable cultivation and enhancing productivity are imperative for ensuring food security and economic stability in the country. Adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices can minimize detrimental effects, promote sustainability, and enhance resilience towards climate change. We surveyed 200 farmers across four municipalities in the Chitwan District of Nepal to explore the prevalence and socio-economic drivers of the adoption of CSA practices, which include stress-tolerant varieties, efficient water management, and diversified cropping, among others. The results revealed that the adoption of pest-resistant plant varieties was a common CSA practice in the study area. Logistic regression results revealed that the adoption of CSA practices increases with an increase in the education of farmers and membership of climate-related organizations. Similarly, the adoption of CSA practices is negatively associated with an increase in farm size, farmers’ farming experience, and their access to credit facilities. Short-term courses and training could be initiated as a complement to formal education to maximize the adoption of CSA practices. Similarly, climate and farmer-related organizations should be further strengthened to maximize their capacity to facilitate more farmers and provide need-based, timely information flow. This study highlights the potential of CSA to promote sustainability and enhance resilience to climate change, but also identifies barriers such as credit access and the need for tailored policy interventions. Our findings contribute to understanding the dynamics of CSA adoption in vulnerable agricultural settings and can guide future strategies to promote sustainability and climate resilience in smallholder farming communities in developing countries.
The Premature Mortality of Sabinos or Montezuma Bald Cypress (Taxodium mucronatum Ten.) in the State of Durango, Mexico
Authors: Perez-Lopez Maria Elena , Leal-Saenz Alejandro , Ortiz-Olivas Maria Elena , Ramirez-Crescencio Fermin , Arreola-Ortiz Ariana Elizabeth
Published: November 2024

The juniper (Taxodium mucronatum Ten. of the Cupressaceae family) is a long-lived species that forms gallery forests. Dozens of dead junipers > 100 years old have been identified in the San Pedro Mezquital watershed in Durango, Mexico. This work determines the causes of death of these specimens. The work was carried out in the field and in the laboratory, where in the former the surface of the damaged trees was identified, together with the changes observed in the watercourses. In the latter, sabino seedlings were transported to the work center and exposed for 7 days in containers with gravel to five types of wastewater generated in the region. With the above, the conditions experienced by the adult trees in the field were studied, as well as the sensitivity of the young specimens to the types of water quality, and the differences were validated with ANOVA tests. Five sites with dead junipers were found, ranging in size from 0.5 to 4 ha, with ages between 200 and 400 years. It was found that during the dry season, water is diverted to irrigated areas, leaving some areas without water for several months. The shoots survived in most of the water qualities, except the one with high salinity (3.34 mS/cm). It is concluded that the lack of water in the rivers had a stronger influence than the water quality and is the probable cause of the death of the sabino.
Can a Driving Restriction Policy Improve Air Quality? Empirical Evidence from Chengdu
Authors: Huang Xinbo , Xie Shang
Published: November 2024

Automotive exhaust emissions contribute significantly to air pollution in developing countries. However, the effectiveness of driving restriction policies (DRPs) is unclear, and most research on China emphasizes Beijing. This study used Chengdu, a typical large city in China, to examine the impact of a DRP on air quality. To alleviate potential endogeneity threats, we employed a regression discontinuity design to verify the policy’s effect. The results show that the DRP significantly reduced air pollution levels, effectively improving air quality in restricted areas. The heterogeneity analysis found that (1) the DRP effectively reduced pollution in newly added and original areas, while the air quality in adjacent areas deteriorated; and (2) the DRP significantly improved air quality during peak travel periods but had no significant impact in other periods. Our results indicate that the DRP is an effective tool for urban environmental governance but presents potential negative aspects. Therefore, restricted areas and periods should be carefully considered when designing similar policies. This study provides significant insights into the governance of automotive exhaust emissions pollution for large cities in developing countries.
Supply Chain Stability and Enterprises’ Total Factor Productivity: From the Perspective of Development Sustainability
Authors: Liu Jingyi , Wang Guoqing
Published: November 2024

Because of increasing global complexities and the frequent occurrence of black swan events, the risk of supply chain disruptions intensifies, and the sustainability of enterprise development faces significant challenges. By focusing on supply chain security and aiming for sustainable enterprise development, this study explores how stable supply chains contribute to enhanced productivity of core enterprises, using the theory of social capital as a framework. An empirical analysis was conducted using a sample of A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen, China, from 2009 to 2021. The research findings indicate that greater supply chain stability is associated with higher total factor productivity in enterprises. The mechanism test results show that the supply chain stability relationship can improve the total factor productivity of enterprises through two paths, such as improving the operation and management level of enterprises and optimizing resource allocation. After further heterogeneity analysis, it is found that the stable relationship of the supply chain has a stronger positive impact on the total factor productivity of core enterprises in the non-state-owned enterprise group, the eastern enterprise group, and the large-size enterprise group. These findings help to provide insights for enterprises to achieve sustainable development in the new era.
A Study of the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem with Time-Window and Three-Dimensional Loading Constraints in Land–Sea Transport
Authors: Li Yiling , Yang Zhiwen , Zhang Si , Liu Wenting
Published: November 2024

This paper addresses the capacitated vehicle routing problem with time-window and three-dimensional loading constraints in land–sea transport (3L-CVRPTWLS, which is an extension of the 3L-CVRP) to minimize the total cost of land–sea transport. The 3L-CVRPTWLS considers the online packing environment and port-of-destination (POD) constraint, which are clearly of practical significance in freight distribution. Due to its high degree of combinatorial complexity, the literature on this problem is very limited. To solve the 3L-CVRPTWLS, we develop a general deepest-bottom-left-fill (DBLF) and layer heuristic for packing and a hybrid variable-neighborhood tabu search for the routing phase (HLVNTS) based on the “packing first, routing second” (P1R2) strategy. HLVNTS reduces the average total number of vehicles by 2.51% and the average total travel distance by 27.62% in a shorter amount of time. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm performs well in the tested instances in terms of both computational efficiency and solution quality. Moreover, we evaluate the impact of the POD constraint on the total transportation cost. This study may provide some important support for the sustainable development of land–sea transport and help to protect the environment.
Towards Green Development: Exploring the Impact of Housing Price Bubbles on Regional Green Innovation Efficiency Based on Chinese Provincial Panel Data Analysis
Authors: Xu Xianpu , Zhao Tieshan
Published: November 2024

Innovation is an eternal theme of human development, and green innovation efficiency serves as the basis for achieving innovation-driven development in a country or region, as well as an important aspect of ecological civilization construction. In this context, based on the panel data of 30 Chinese provinces during 2003–2020, this study explores the effect of housing price bubbles on green innovation efficiency by using a global SBM-DEA model with unexpected outputs and a two-way fixed effects model. The results show that housing price bubbles considerably reduced green innovation efficiency, which is also verified by a series of robustness and endogeneity tests. Heterogeneity tests show that housing price bubbles in eastern and high human capital regions have a significantly higher inhibitory effect on green innovation efficiency than that in the central and western regions and low human capital regions. The mechanism test shows that housing price bubbles have reduced green innovation efficiency by intensifying the mismatch of labor and capital between regions. Moreover, high housing prices will further deepen the negative impact of housing price bubbles on green innovation efficiency, while expanding economic openness will help alleviate the negative impact. Therefore, to effectively enhance regional green innovation efficiency, we put forward a series of policy measures in terms of strengthening the adjustment of housing policies, optimizing the resource allocation structure, and implementing differentiated environmental control tools.
Does Quality Education and Governance Matter for Women’s Empowerment? The Role of Structural Factors and Governance in the MENA Region
Authors: Almugren Hawazen Zam , Kijas A. C. Muhammadu , Sarabdeen Masahina , Binsuwadan Jawaher
Published: November 2024

Women’s empowerment can be critical in achieving sustainable development goals. We analyse the influence of the quality of education, structural factors, and governance on women’s empowerment in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries using a generalised method of moments (GMM). Furthermore, this article examines the moderating effect of governance on the relationship between quality of education and women’s empowerment. The role of governance is measured along economic and political dimensions. Quality education is measured by enrolment in secondary education, women’s empowerment is measured by the ratio of women’s participation to men’s employment, and structural factors are measured by electricity accessibility and the fertility rate. These variables were selected from existing studies published by global entities. The findings revealed that women’s empowerment substantially influenced the quality of education in the MENA region. Further findings show that governance-induced changes substantially and positively influence inclusive education in all contexts. However, the results show negative and significant interaction coefficients between women’s empowerment and political and economic governance. This indicates that the interaction between women’s empowerment and governance has a complementary effect. Furthermore, our results should motivate regulators and governments to initiate more policies to improve the quality of education and women’s empowerment. This study provides policymakers with insights into the potential role of governance and structural factors in promoting women’s empowerment through quality education.
A Workflow for a Building Information Modeling-Based Thermo-Hygrometric Digital Twin: An Experimentation in an Existing Building
Authors: De Rubeis Tullio , Ciccozzi Annamaria , Ragnoli Mattia , Stornelli Vincenzo , Brusaporci Stefano , Tata Alessandra , Ambrosini Dario
Published: November 2024

Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based digital twin (DT) could play a fundamental role in overcoming the limitations of traditional monitoring methods by driving the digitalization of the construction sector. While existing studies on the topic have provided valuable insights, significant knowledge gaps remain, which continue to hinder the large-scale adoption of this approach. Moreover, to date, there is no standardized procedure available, able to guide the step-by-step creation of a DT. Another significant challenge concerns the choice of technologies able to integrate perfectly with each other throughout the process. This paper outlines a comprehensive workflow for creating a digital twin (DT) of an existing building and proposes various solutions to improve the integration of different technologies involved. These enhancements aim to address the limitations of current monitoring methods and leverage the advantages of BIM and DT for accessing and managing monitoring data, ultimately facilitating the implementation of energy-efficient interventions. This work examines the concept of “Living Lab” in an office building also used as an academic laboratory. The created DT allowed for real-time remote monitoring of four rooms, each with a different functional and occupational characteristic, useful also for future predictive analyses.
Free Trade and Haze Control: The Impact of Pilot Free Trade Zone Policy on Haze Pollution
Authors: Ji Zhanheng , Zhu Qianting
Published: November 2024

As a new window for opening up in the new era, whether the China Free Trade Pilot Zones (PFTZs) can effectively balance urban economic development and environmental sustainability remains a topic that warrants further exploration. This study employs the PFTZ policy as a quasi-natural experiment and constructs a difference-in-differences model to empirically investigate the impact and mechanism of the PFTZ policy on haze pollution using city-level data from 2005 to 2020 in China. The study finds that: (1) the PFTZ policy significantly reduces haze pollution, and the results remain robust using the historical opening of treaty ports as an instrumental variable; (2) the PFTZ policy reduces haze pollution through the learning effect, demonstration effect, and agglomeration effect; and (3) the haze reduction effect of PFTZs is particularly pronounced inland and in areas with high public environmental awareness. The results directly address the key question of whether the PFTZ policy can foster sustainable economic development. It provides empirical evidence on how the PFTZ policy balances environmental sustainability and economic growth and draws policy recommendations for formulating more sustainable development strategies.
Sustainable Health and Well-Being: Guidelines for Integrating Therapeutic Gardens for Holistic Hospital Care
Authors: Nieberler-Walker Katharina , Desha Cheryl , Roiko Anne , Caldera Savindi , Bosman Caryl
Published: November 2024

Therapeutic hospital gardens (THGs) need to be purposefully designed for hospital users and well-integrated into the clinical hospital treatment plan to be effective. Healthcare decision-makers are critically important in establishing therapeutic gardens in hospitals and healthcare facilities because they have the ultimate decision-making power to include such gardens for the holistic care of their patients, staff, and visitors. This study aims to establish how THGs can be successfully created by investigating the professional experiences of 12 global healthcare decision-makers in hospital administration, executive government, and senior consultancy to government on the role of THGs in creating a healthy and sustainable hospital environment. This article shows how these decision-makers, who have already worked with healthcare designers and clinical practitioners to design and establish THGs, have been selected and interviewed. The qualitative analysis of these semi-structured interviews uncovered why and how these healthcare decision-makers made THGs a reality in their hospitals. This analysis informed the development of the THG Healthcare Decision-maker Guidelines, which were designed to guide all hospital CEOs, government executives, and senior consultants to the government to both design and then establish THGs successfully. These guidelines include five systematic steps: 1. design for hospital cohorts; 2. purposefully design and integrate THGs well; 3. facilitate inclusive and defined stakeholder engagement; 4. evaluate the garden visitor experience; and 5. understand the benefits and values of THGs. These five systematic steps can be used immediately by healthcare decision-makers to work with healthcare designers and clinical experts to implement such gardens in hospitals successfully. When the three sectors, healthcare governance, healthcare design, and clinical health, work together, more THGs can be established in hospitals for better patient care, visitor well-being, and a healthy and sustainable hospital environment.
Machine Learning a Probabilistic Structural Equation Model to Explain the Impact of Climate Risk Perceptions on Policy Support
Authors: Zia Asim , Lacasse Katherine , Fefferman Nina H. , Gross Louis J. , Beckage Brian
Published: November 2024

While a flurry of studies and Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) have independently investigated the impacts of switching mitigation policies in response to different climate scenarios, little is understood about the feedback effect of how human risk perceptions of climate change could contribute to switching climate mitigation policies. This study presents a novel machine learning approach, utilizing a probabilistic structural equation model (PSEM), for understanding complex interactions among climate risk perceptions, beliefs about climate science, political ideology, demographic factors, and their combined effects on support for mitigation policies. We use machine learning-based PSEM to identify the latent variables and quantify their complex interaction effects on support for climate policy. As opposed to a priori clustering of manifest variables into latent variables that is implemented in traditional SEMs, the novel PSEM presented in this study uses unsupervised algorithms to identify data-driven clustering of manifest variables into latent variables. Further, information theoretic metrics are used to estimate both the structural relationships among latent variables and the optimal number of classes within each latent variable. The PSEM yields an R2 of 92.2% derived from the “Climate Change in the American Mind” dataset (2008–2018 [N = 22,416]), which is a substantial improvement over a traditional regression analysis-based study applied to the CCAM dataset that identified five manifest variables to account for 51% of the variance in policy support. The PSEM uncovers a previously unidentified class of “lukewarm supporters” (~59% of the US population), different from strong supporters (27%) and opposers (13%). These lukewarm supporters represent a wide swath of the US population, but their support may be capricious and sensitive to the details of the policy and how it is implemented. Individual survey items clustered into latent variables reveal that the public does not respond to “climate risk perceptions” as a single construct in their minds. Instead, PSEM path analysis supports dual processing theory: analytical and affective (emotional) risk perceptions are identified as separate, unique factors, which, along with climate beliefs, political ideology, and race, explain much of the variability in the American public’s support for climate policy. The machine learning approach demonstrates that complex interaction effects of belief states combined with analytical and affective risk perceptions; as well as political ideology, party, and race, will need to be considered for informing the design of feedback loops in IAMs that endogenously feedback the impacts of global climate change on the evolution of climate mitigation policies.
Evaluating Passing Capacity in High-Speed Rail Hub Stations: Multi-Objective Optimization for Multi-Directional Train Routes
Authors: Zhou Hanxiao , Zhou Leishan , Xu Binbin , Zou Dong
Published: November 2024

This study presents a comprehensive method for calculating the passing capacity of high-speed rail hub stations, accommodating the complexity of intersecting train paths from multiple directions. Unlike traditional models, this approach distinguishes passing capacity by assessing each train path type individually. Employing a multi-objective framework with the NSGA-III algorithm, we seek to identify optimal trade-offs (Pareto front) in station capacity under different cross-line train configurations. Through detailed numerical simulations with both a small-scale model and Jinanxi Railway Station, the methodology demonstrates its validity and effectiveness. This enhanced capacity representation offers critical insights for strategic operational planning and decision-making in managing railway transport systems.
Study on the Impact of Spatiotemporal Changes in the Ecological Environment on Grain Crops in the Subtropical Monsoon Climate Zone
Authors: Zuo Xiaokang , Zhi Rui , Tang Ruiqian , Wang Hanxi , Zang Shuying
Published: November 2024

Global warming and land-use type shifting lead to the degradation of natural habitats. The research on the ecological and environmental impact of the subtropical monsoon climate zone on food crop cultivation is not systematic enough. An Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST)–Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS)–Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model was created to provide a comprehensive assessment of the spatiotemporal variations for food crop habitat quality (HQ) in China’s subtropical monsoon climate zone from 2010 to 2030. The HQ degradation trend was obvious during 2010–2030 under the influence of land-use change. The expansion of lower habitat areas was larger than that of medium and higher habitat areas. The shared socio-economic pathways SSP-CP and SSP-EP increased the mean total area of suitable areas compared with the SSP-ND scenario for food crops by 9% and 17.8%, respectively. Land-use shifts increased the suitable range of food crops and mitigated the negative impacts of urban expansion on food growth. This research has theoretical guidance for land-use planning for food crop production in subtropical monsoon climate zones.
Residents’ Preferences on Green Infrastructure in Wuhan, China
Authors: Lu Chang , Tanaka Katsuya , Shen Qulin
Published: November 2024

Green infrastructure (GI) provides considerable benefits, including stormwater runoff management, biodiversity conservation, and urban sustainability promotion, and thus has garnered widespread attention. However, the limited research on residents’ preferences for GI constrains further promotion in China. To address this issue, data were collected from 436 residents in Wuhan, China, through an online survey. This study employed a comprehensive analytical framework that integrates best–worst scaling (BWS) with the contingent valuation method (CVM) to assess the preferences of residents in Wuhan, China, for six types of GI and estimate their willingness to pay (WTP) for GI enhancements. The conditional model and mixed logit model results indicated that residents preferred GI facilities that offer direct benefits, such as street trees and permeable pavements, and showed a lower preference for structures less suited to a Chinese context, such as eco-roofs. Regarding heterogeneity, only permeable pavements showed significant variation in preferences. Furthermore, the average WTP for GI enhancement was 142.28 RMB/household/year. Factors including familiarity with GI, information sources, and air quality improvement perceptions positively influenced the WTP, while low income negatively impacted the WTP. These findings offer insights for urban planners to develop effective policies to enhance public support for GI and promote urban sustainability.
Study of Land Surface Changes in Highland Environments for the Sustainable Management of the Mountainous Region in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Authors: Khan Amjad Ali , Xue Xian , Hussain Hassam , Hussain Kiramat , Muhammad Ali , Mukhtar Muhammad Ahsan , Butt Asim Qayyum
Published: November 2024

Highland ecologies are the most susceptible to climate change, often experiencing intensified impacts. Due to climate change and human activities, there were dramatic changes in the alpine domain of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is a vital project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The CPEC is subjected to rapid infrastructure expansion, which may lead to potential land surface susceptibility. Hence, focusing on sustainable development goals, mainly SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure) and SDG 13 (climate action), to evaluate the conservation and management practices for the sustainable and regenerative development of the mountainous region, this study aims to assess change detection and find climatic conditions using multispectral indices along the mountainous area of Gilgit and Hunza-Nagar, Pakistan. It has yielded practical and highly relevant implications. For sustainable and regenerative ecologies, this study utilized 30 × 30 m Landsat 5 (TM), Landsat 7 (ETM+), and Landsat-8/9 (OLI and TIRS), and meteorological data were employed to calculate the aridity index (AI). The results of the AI showed a non-significant decreasing trend (−0.0021/year, p > 0.05) in Gilgit and a significant decreasing trend (−0.0262/year, p < 0.05) in Hunza-Nagar. NDVI distribution shows a decreasing trend (−0.00469/year, p > 0.05), while NDWI has depicted a dynamic trend in water bodies. Similarly, NDBI demonstrated an increasing trend, with rates of 79.89%, 87.69%, and 83.85% from 2008 to 2023. The decreasing values of AI mean a drying trend and increasing drought risk, as the study area already has an arid and semi-arid climate. The combination of multispectral indices and the AI provides a comprehensive insight into how various factors affect the mountainous landscape and climatic conditions in the study area. This study has practical and highly relevant implications for policymakers and researchers interested in research related to land use and land cover change, environmental and infrastructure development in alpine regions.
Assessing Compound Coastal–Fluvial Flood Impacts and Resilience Under Extreme Scenarios in Demak, Indonesia
Authors: Chrysanti Asrini , Adhani Ariz , Azkiarizqi Ismail Naufal , Adityawan Mohammad Bagus , Kusuma Muhammad Syahril Badri , Cahyono Muhammad
Published: November 2024

Demak is highly vulnerable to flooding from both fluvial and coastal storms, facing increasing pressures on its sustainability and resilience due to multiple compounding flood hazards. This study assesses the inundation hazards in Demak coastal areas by modeling the impacts of compound flooding. We modeled eight scenarios incorporating long-term forces, such as sea level rise (SLR) and land subsidence (LS), as well as immediate forces, like storm surges, wind waves, and river discharge. Our findings reveal that immediate forces primarily increase inundation depth, while long-term forces expand the inundation area. Combined effects from storm tides and other factors resulted in a 10–20% increase in flood extent compared to individual forces. Fluvial flooding mostly impacts areas near river outlets, but the combination of river discharge and storm tides produces flood extents similar to those caused by SLR. Land subsidence emerged as the primary driver of coastal flooding, while other factors, adding just 25% to area increase, significantly impacted inundation depth. These findings underscore the effectiveness of mangroves in mitigating floods in low-lying areas against immediate forces. However, the resilience and sustainability of the Demak region are challenged by SLR, LS, and the need to integrate these factors into a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy.
Identification of Anthropogenic Impact and Indicators of Landscape Transformation in the Fatala River Basin (Republic of Guinea)
Authors: Myachina Ksenia , Ryakhov Roman , Shchavelev Anton , Dubrovskaya Svetlana
Published: November 2024

The aim of this study is to identify the main factors of anthropogenic impact and indicators of landscape transformation in the Fatala River Basin in the Republic of Guinea. Our fieldwork in the Boke and Kindia regions was the main source of materials and data. The landscape and ecological situation of nine key study plots were characterized. These key plots make up a representative series of transformed and natural landscapes. We complemented our fieldwork with Landsat satellite image analysis. We learned that the main factors of anthropogenic impact in the Fatala River Basin are the systematic burning of vegetation, mechanical disturbances of soil and vegetation cover, the depletion of fertile topsoil, grazing, and the littering of the landscape with household waste. The indicators of landscape transformation are deforestation, changes in the natural vegetation cover, and mechanically disturbed lands. We identified five main stages of agro-landscape development, starting from the clearing of a plot by burning vegetation (stage I) and ending with the completion of the agricultural activity in the plot and its abandonment to restore the topsoil (stage V). The limiting factors of nature management are elevation differences, the rapid restoration of vegetation cover, and rocky/gravelly substrate. It is possible to identify transformed landscapes in large or hard-to-reach regions using satellite images. Thus, natural or quasi-natural landscapes can be identified based on the lower surface temperature relative to the surrounding lands. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalized difference moisture index (NDMI) could be useful for identifying agricultural pasture plots within a tropical forest using long-term satellite data series. We revealed a tendency for landscape deterioration in the middle and upper parts of the Fatala River Basin, while vegetation cover is being restored in the lower part of the basin. Finally, we propose some measures to rehabilitate transformed landscapes and increase the efficiency of agricultural production in the study region.
Covariant Formulation of the Brain’s Emerging Ohm’s Law
Authors: Rivas Manuel , Reina Manuel
Published: November 2024

It is essential to establish the validity of Ohm’s law in any reference frame if we aim to implement a relativistic approach to brain dynamics based on a Lorentz covariant microscopic response relation. Here, we obtain a covariant formulation of Ohm’s law for an electromagnetic field tensor of any order derived from the emergent conductivity tensor in highly non-isotropic systems, employing the bidomain theory framework within brain tissue cells. With this, we offer a different perspective that we hope will lead to understanding the close relationship between brain dynamics and a seemingly ordinary yet profoundly crucial element: space.
Bound States and Particle Production by Breather-Type Background Field Configurations
Authors: Rout Abhishek , Altschul Brett
Published: November 2024

We investigate the interaction of fermion fields with oscillating domain walls, inspired by breather-type solutions of the sine-Gordon equation, a nonlinear system of fundamental importance. Our study focuses on the fermionic bound states and particle production induced by a time-dependent scalar background field. The fermions couple to two domain walls undergoing harmonic motion, and we explore the resulting dynamics of the fermionic wave functions. We demonstrate that while fermions initially form bound states around the domain walls, the energy provided by the oscillatory motion of the scalar field induces an outward flux of fermions and antifermions, leading to particle production and eventual flux propagation toward spatial infinity. Through numerical simulations, we observe that the fermion density exhibits quasiperiodic behavior, with partial recurrences of the bound state configurations after each oscillation period. However, the fermion wave functions do not remain localized, and over time, the density decreases as more particles escape the vicinity of the domain walls. Our results highlight that the sine-Gordon-like breather background, when coupled non-supersymmetrically to fermions, does not preserve integrability or stability, with the oscillations driving a continuous energy transfer into the fermionic modes. This study sheds light on the challenges of maintaining steady-state fermion solutions in time-dependent topological backgrounds and offers insights into particle production mechanisms in nonlinear dynamical systems with oscillating solitons.