bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Situ Characterization of Micro-Vibration in Natural Latex Membrane Resembling Tympanic Membrane Functionally Using Optical Doppler Tomography
Authors: Seong Daewoon , Kwon Jaehwan , Jeon Deokmin , Wijesinghe Ruchire Eranga , Lee Jaeyul , Ravichandran Naresh Kumar , Han Sangyeob , Lee Junsoo , Kim Pilun , Jeon Mansik , Kim Jeehyun
Published: December 2019

Non-invasive characterization of micro-vibrations in the tympanic membrane (TM) excited by external sound waves is considered as a promising and essential diagnosis in modern otolaryngology. To verify the possibility of measuring and discriminating the vibrating pattern of TM, here we describe a micro-vibration measurement method of latex membrane resembling the TM. The measurements are obtained with an externally generated audio stimuli of 2.0, 2.2, 2.8, 3.1 and 3.2 kHz, and their respective vibrations based tomographic, volumetric and quantitative evaluations were acquired using optical Doppler tomography (ODT). The micro oscillations and structural changes which occurred due to diverse frequencies are measured with sufficient accuracy using a highly sensitive ODT system implied phase subtraction method. The obtained results demonstrated the capability of measuring and analyzing the complex varying micro-vibration of the membrane according to implied sound frequency.
Integrated Management of Network Address Translation, Mobility and Security on the Blockchain Control Plane
Authors: Jung Younchan , Agulto Ronnel
Published: December 2019

Currently, the dual use of IPv4 and IPv6 is becoming a problem. In particular, Network Address Translation (NAT) is an important issue to be solved because of traversal problems in end-to-end applications for lots of mobile IoT devices connected to different private networks. The vertical model is typically used to solve NAT, mobility and security issues for them. However, the existing vertical model has limitations because it handles NAT, mobility and security management one by one. This paper proposes a Blockchain-based Integrated Network Function Management (BINFM) scheme where the NAT, mobility, and security management are handled at once. The proposed scheme is advantageous in that by using blockchain and the Query/Reply mechanism, each peer can easily obtain the necessary parameters required to handle the NAT, mobility, and security management in a batch. In addition, this paper explains how our proposed scheme guarantees secure end-to-end data transfers with the use of one time session key. Finally, it is proved that the proposed scheme improves performance on latency from the viewpoints of mobility and security compared to the existing vertical model.
Smart Bioimpedance Spectroscopy Device for Body Composition Estimation
Authors: Naranjo-Hernández David , Reina-Tosina Javier , Roa Laura M. , Barbarov-Rostán Gerardo , Aresté-Fosalba Nuria , Lara-Ruiz Alfonso , Cejudo-Ramos Pilar , Ortega-Ruiz Francisco
Published: December 2019

The purpose of this work is to describe a first approach to a smart bioimpedance spectroscopy device for its application to the estimation of body composition. The proposed device is capable of carrying out bioimpedance measurements in multiple configurable frequencies, processing the data to obtain the modulus and the bioimpedance phase in each of the frequencies, and transmitting the processed information wirelessly. Another novelty of this work is a new algorithm for the identification of Cole model parameters, which is the basis of body composition estimation through bioimpedance spectroscopy analysis. Against other proposals, the main advantages of the proposed method are its robustness against parasitic effects by employing an extended version of Cole model with phase delay and three dispersions, its simplicity and low computational load. The results obtained in a validation study with respiratory patients show the accuracy and feasibility of the proposed technology for bioimpedance measurements. The precision and validity of the algorithm was also proven in a validation study with peritoneal dialysis patients. The proposed method was the most accurate compared with other existing algorithms. Moreover, in those cases affected by parasitic effects the proposed algorithm provided better approximations to the bioimpedance values than a reference device.
Mobile Acoustic Wave Platform Deployment in the Amazon River: Impact of the Water Sample on the Love Wave Sensor Response
Authors: Tamarin Ollivier , Rube Maxence , Lachaud Jean Luc , Raimbault Vincent , Rebière Dominique , Dejous Corinne
Published: December 2019

This paper presents an experimental platform allowing in situ measurement in an aqueous medium using an acoustic Love wave sensor. The aim of this platform, which includes the sensor, a test cell for electrical connections, a microfluidic chip, and a readout electronic circuit, is to realize a first estimation of water quality without transportation of water samples from the field to the laboratory as a medium-term objective. In the first step, to validate the ability of such a platform to operate in the field and in Amazonian water, an isolated and difficult-to-access location, namely, the floodplain Logo Do Curuaï in the Brazilian Amazon, was chosen. The ability of such a platform to be transported, installed on site, and used is discussed in terms of user friendliness and versatility. The response of the Love wave sensor to in situ water samples is estimated according to the physical parameters of Amazonian water. Finally, the very good quality of the acoustic response is established, potential further improvements are discussed, and the paper is concluded.
Flexible Temperature Sensor Integration into E-Textiles Using Different Industrial Yarn Fabrication Processes
Authors: Lugoda Pasindu , Costa Julio C. , Oliveira Carlos , Garcia-Garcia Leonardo A. , Wickramasinghe Sanjula D. , Pouryazdan Arash , Roggen Daniel , Dias Tilak , Münzenrieder Niko
Published: December 2019

Textiles enhanced with thin-film flexible sensors are well-suited for unobtrusive monitoring of skin parameters due to the sensors’ high conformability. These sensors can be damaged if they are attached to the surface of the textile, also affecting the textiles’ aesthetics and feel. We investigate the effect of embedding flexible temperature sensors within textile yarns, which adds a layer of protection to the sensor. Industrial yarn manufacturing techniques including knit braiding, braiding, and double covering were utilised to identify an appropriate incorporation technique. The thermal time constants recorded by all three sensing yarns was <10 s. Simultaneously, effective sensitivity only decreased by a maximum of 14% compared to the uncovered sensor. This is due to the sensor being positioned within the yarn instead of being in direct contact with the measured surface. These sensor yarns were not affected by bending and produced repeatable measurements. The double covering method was observed to have the least impact on the sensors’ performance due to the yarn’s smaller dimensions. Finally, a sensing yarn was incorporated in an armband and used to measure changes in skin temperature. The demonstrated textile integration techniques for flexible sensors using industrial yarn manufacturing processes enable large-scale smart textile fabrication.
Electrochemically Reduced Graphene Oxide-Based Screen-Printed Electrodes for Total Tetracycline Determination by Adsorptive Transfer Stripping Differential Pulse Voltammetry
Authors: Lorenzetti Anabela S. , Sierra Tania , Domini Claudia E. , Lista Adriana G. , Crevillen Agustin G. , Escarpa Alberto
Published: December 2019

Disposable electrochemically reduced graphene oxide-based (ERGO) screen-printed electrodes (SPE) were developed for the determination of total tetracyclines as a sample screening approach. To this end, a selective adsorption-detection approach relied on adsorptive transfer stripping differential pulse voltammetry (AdTDPV) was devised, where the high adsorption capacity and the electrochemical properties of ERGO were simultaneously exploited. The approach was very simple, fast (6 min.), highly selective by combining the adsorptive and the electrochemical features of tetracyclines, and it used just 10 μL of the sample. The electrochemical sensor applicability was demonstrated in the analysis of environmental and food samples. The not-fully explored AdTDPV analytical possibilities on disposable nanostructured transducers become a new tool in food and environmental fields; drawing new horizons for “in-situ” analysis.
A Direction Self-Tuning Two-Dimensional Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvester
Authors: Zhao Haibo , Wei Xiaoxiang , Zhong Yiming , Wang Peihong
Published: December 2019

Most work from the last decade on the piezoelectric vibration energy harvester (PVEHs) focuses on how to increase its frequency bandwidth but ignores the effect of vibration direction on the output performance of the harvester. However, both the frequency and the direction of the vibration in a real environment are time-variant. Therefore, improving the capability of PVEH to harvest multi-directional vibration energy is also important. This work presents a direction self-tuning two-dimensional (2D) PVEH, which consists of a spring-mass system and a direction self-tuning structure. The spring-mass system is sensitive to external vibration, and the direction self-tuning structure can automatically adjust its plane perpendicular to the direction of the external excitation driven by an external torque. The direction self-tuning mechanism is first theoretically analyzed. The experimental results show that this direction self-tuning PVEH can efficiently scavenge vibration energy in the 2D plane, and its output performance is unaffected by vibration direction and is very stable. Meanwhile, the effect of the initial deflection angle and the vibration acceleration on the direction self-tuning time of the PVEH is investigated. The direction self-tuning mechanism can also be used in other PVEHs with different energy conversion methods for harvesting multi-direction vibration energy.
Monitoring a 28.5 m High Anchored Pile Wall in Gravel Using Various Methods
Authors: Moffat Ricardo , Parra Pablo , Carrasco Miguel
Published: December 2019

Horizontal displacements of a multiple-anchor pile wall in a 28.5 m deep excavation using the top–down construction method have been monitored using optical fiber (Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometry (BOTDR)), strain gauges, inclinometers, and a topographic survey. This work presents a comparison between these different techniques to measure horizontal displacements in the pile at several stages of the soil excavation process. It was observed that displacements can be separated into two components: Rigid body motion and pile flexural deformation. Measurements using optical fiber and inclinometers are considered the most adequate and easy to install. A numerical model allows us to evaluate the influence of earth pressure on the estimated horizontal displacements. It is shown that using soil pressure on the wall given by p = 0.65Kaγh, on a simplified modeled wall, provides a close deduction of horizontal displacements compared to observed values on the field.
Comparing Clothing-Mounted Sensors with Wearable Sensors for Movement Analysis and Activity Classification
Authors: Jayasinghe Udeni , Harwin William S. , Hwang Faustina
Published: December 2019

Inertial sensors are a useful instrument for long term monitoring in healthcare. In many cases, inertial sensor devices can be worn as an accessory or integrated into smart textiles. In some situations, it may be beneficial to have data from multiple inertial sensors, rather than relying on a single worn sensor, since this may increase the accuracy of the analysis and better tolerate sensor errors. Integrating multiple sensors into clothing improves the feasibility and practicality of wearing multiple devices every day, in approximately the same location, with less likelihood of incorrect sensor orientation. To facilitate this, the current work investigates the consequences of attaching lightweight sensors to loose clothes. The intention of this paper is to discuss how data from these clothing sensors compare with similarly placed body worn sensors, with additional consideration of the resulting effects on activity recognition. This study compares the similarity between the two signals (body worn and clothing), collected from three different clothing types (slacks, pencil skirt and loose frock), across multiple daily activities (walking, running, sitting, and riding a bus) by calculating correlation coefficients for each sensor pair. Even though the two data streams are clearly different from each other, the results indicate that there is good potential of achieving high classification accuracy when using inertial sensors in clothing.
An Autonomous Fruit and Vegetable Harvester with a Low-Cost Gripper Using a 3D Sensor
Authors: Zhang Tan , Huang Zhenhai , You Weijie , Lin Jiatao , Tang Xiaolong , Huang Hui
Published: December 2019

Reliable and robust systems to detect and harvest fruits and vegetables in unstructured environments are crucial for harvesting robots. In this paper, we propose an autonomous system that harvests most types of crops with peduncles. A geometric approach is first applied to obtain the cutting points of the peduncle based on the fruit bounding box, for which we have adapted the model of the state-of-the-art object detector named Mask Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (Mask R-CNN). We designed a novel gripper that simultaneously clamps and cuts the peduncles of crops without contacting the flesh. We have conducted experiments with a robotic manipulator to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed harvesting system in being able to efficiently harvest most crops in real laboratory environments.
Towards Digital Twin Implementation for Assessing Production Line Performance and Balancing
Authors: Fera Marcello , Greco Alessandro , Caterino Mario , Gerbino Salvatore , Caputo Francesco , Macchiaroli Roberto , D’Amato Egidio
Published: December 2019

The optimization of production processes has always been one of the cornerstones for manufacturing companies, aimed to increase their productivity, minimizing the related costs. In the Industry 4.0 era, some innovative technologies, perceived as far away until a few years ago, have become reachable by everyone. The massive introduction of these technologies directly in the factories allows interconnecting the resources (machines and humans) and the entire production chain to be kept under control, thanks to the collection and the analyses of real production data, supporting the decision making process. This article aims to propose a methodological framework that, thanks to the use of Industrial Internet of Things—IoT devices, in particular the wearable sensors, and simulation tools, supports the analyses of production line performance parameters, by considering both experimental and numerical data, allowing a continuous monitoring of the line balancing and performance at varying of the production demand. A case study, regarding a manual task of a real manufacturing production line, is presented to demonstrate the applicability and the effectiveness of the proposed procedure.
Data Augmentation with Suboptimal Warping for Time-Series Classification
Authors: Kamycki Krzysztof , Kapuscinski Tomasz , Oszust Mariusz
Published: December 2019

In this paper, a novel data augmentation method for time-series classification is proposed. In the introduced method, a new time-series is obtained in warped space between suboptimally aligned input examples of different lengths. Specifically, the alignment is carried out constraining the warping path and reducing its flexibility. It is shown that the resultant synthetic time-series can form new class boundaries and enrich the training dataset. In this work, the comparative evaluation of the proposed augmentation method against related techniques on representative multivariate time-series datasets is presented. The performance of methods is examined using the nearest neighbor classifier with the dynamic time warping (NN-DTW), LogDet divergence-based metric learning with triplet constraints (LDMLT), and the recently introduced time-series cluster kernel (NN-TCK). The impact of the augmentation on the classification performance is investigated, taking into account entire datasets and cases with a small number of training examples. The extensive evaluation reveals that the introduced method outperforms related augmentation algorithms in terms of the obtained classification accuracy.
Exploring the Relationship between Business Elite Networks and Redistributive Social Policies in Latin American Countries
Authors: Cárdenas Julián
Published: December 2019

Although the cohesion of business elites has been associated with income concentration and regressive policies, few studies have investigated in depth the role of business elite networks in macrosocial issues such as redistributive social policies. This research explores the relationship between business elite networks and redistributive social policies in several Latin American countries. To do so, this paper (1) examines business elite networks applying a network analysis of interlocking directorates, and (2) performs a cross-national comparative analysis of the cohesiveness of business elite networks, coverage and incidence of social protection and labor programs, and other variables. Results show that where business elites formed cohesive networks, social protection and labor programs were more inclusive. In conjunction with other factors, business cohesion plays a crucial role in business elites’ acceptance of redistributive social policies because it enables long-term cost-sharing agreements, reduces uncertainty and internal divergent interests, and facilitates inducement.
The Influence of Hydrogen on the Indications of the Electrochemical Carbon Monoxide Sensors
Authors: Majder-Łopatka Małgorzata , Węsierski Tomasz , Dmochowska Anna , Salamonowicz Zdzisław , Polańczyk Andrzej
Published: December 2019

This article examines electrochemical carbon monoxide (CO) sensors used as mobile devices by rescue and firefighting units in Poland. The conducted research indicates that the presence of chlorine (Cl2), ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), nitrogen (IV) oxide (NO2), and sulfur (IV) oxide (SO2) in the atmosphere does not affect the functioning of the electrochemical CO sensor. In the case of this sensor, there was a significant cross effect in relation to hydrogen (H2). It was found that the time and manner of using the sensor affects the behavior in relation to H2. Such a relationship was not recorded for CO. Measurements in a mixture of CO and H2 confirm the effect of hydrogen on the changes taking place inside the sensor. Independently of the ratio of H2 to CO, readings of CO were flawed. All analyses showed a significant difference between the electrochemical CO sensor readings and the expected values. Only in experiments with a 1:3 mixture of CO and H2 was the relative error less than 15%. The relative error in the analyzed concentration range for a sensor with an additional compensation electrode ranged from 7% to 38%; for a sensor without this electrode, it ranged from 23% to 55%. It was ascertained that in the cases of measurements for tests carried out at higher concentrations of H2 in relation to CO, a sensor with an additional electrode is significantly better (more accurate) than a sensor without such an electrode. Differences at the significance level p = 0.01 for measurements made in the CO:H2 mixture at a ratio of 1:3 were ascertained.
The Terms Foresters and Planners in the United States Use to Infer Sustainability in Forest Management Plans: A Survey Analysis
Authors: Gutierrez Garzon Alba Rocio , Bettinger Pete , Siry Jacek , Mei Bin , Abrams Jesse
Published: December 2019

Sustainable forest management is important for advancing sustainable societal development. Effective communication plays a major role in how goals and objectives are achieved. This study aims to assess how sustainability is considered by people who develop forest management plans (or forest plans in short). We employed the snowball sample technique to locate the study’s respondents. In addition, an open-ended questionnaire and a mix method data collection (phone and email) and analysis (qualitative and quantitative) were found to be adequate methods to survey forest planners who have been involved in the development, implementation, evaluation, and/or revision of forest plans in the United States. Our approach helped us to understand their perceptions of and means of incorporating sustainability concerns in forest plans. A total of 55 surveys were completed by forest planners physically located in 26 of the 50 states in the country. Results suggested that planners generally placed environmental sustainability concerns over social and economic sustainability concerns. A variety of key terms were central to forest planners’ attempts to communicate sustainability, from which most were associated with philosophical and temporal principles that would then be associated with concrete actions and the human dimension. Nevertheless, respondents also acknowledged difficulties and misunderstandings in describing how forest sustainability should be demonstrated within a forest plan. Topics such as restoration, carbon sequestration, and resilience were infrequently associated with sustainability and sustainable forest management. Finally, we found that the respondents were divided on whether the language used in forest plans to demonstrate sustainability could be improved.
New Public Institutional Forms and Social Innovation in Urban Governance: Insights from the “Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics” (MONUM) in Boston
Authors: Bevilacqua Carmelina , Ou Yapeng , Pizzimenti Pasquale , Minervino Guglielmo
Published: December 2019

This paper investigates how public sector institutions change their form and approach to achieve a socially innovative urban governance. The “Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics” (MONUM) in Boston, Massachusetts (USA) proves a representative case of innovation in the public sector. As a new type of government agency, it is essentially an open innovation lab dedicated to innovative evidence-based policymaking. Following a new dynamic organizational pattern in urban governance, MONUM is conducive to project-oriented social innovation practices and horizontal multi-sectoral collaboration among the three societal sectors: public, private, and civil. Its results suggest that first, the peculiarity of MONUM lies in its hybrid and boundary-blurring nature. Second, new institutional forms that experiment with urban governance can rely on multi-sectoral collaboration. Third, MONUM has experimented with a systemic approach to social innovation following the “design thinking theory.” The MONUM case can contribute to the current debate in Europe on the need to harmonize EU policies for an effective social inclusion by promoting the application of the place-sensitive approach.
Corporate Social Performance and Firm Performance: Comparative Study among Developed and Emerging Market Firms
Authors: Ting Irene Wei Kiong , Azizan Noor Azlinna , Bhaskaran Rajesh Kumar , Sukumaran Sujit K
Published: December 2019

This study examines the impact of firms’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives on financial performance. It also compares the valuation effects of corporate social performance initiatives in developed and emerging market firms. The study was based on ESG ranking scores in the Thomson Reuters database, and the sample comprised 1317 emerging market firms and 3569 developed market firms. In comparison with developed market firms, emerging market firms had higher ESG combined scores, ESG Controversy scores, category scores of resources use, workforce, human rights and corporate social responsibility strategy scores. This study finds that stakeholder initiatives positively impact valuation effects, based on all sample results. Firm-generated controversies may decrease valuation effects in the stock market. Results indicated that ESG initiatives have a significant positive to the firm performance. The presence of independent board members and ownership by investors is a positive determinant for value creation. The adoption of best practice corporate governance principles is an important determinant of the valuation of firms. Firms’ propensity to use defence mechanisms decreases valuation effects. Developed market firms received positive valuation effects due to ESG initiatives.
The Impact of Legislation on Sustainability of Farm Forests in Kenya: The Case of Lugari Sub-County in Kakamega County, Kenya
Authors: Ngome Chisika Sylvester , Park Juneyoung , Yeom Chunho
Published: December 2019

This study analyses the effects of the Agriculture (Farm Forestry Rules) of 2009 on Trees on Farms (ToFs) in Lugari sub-county in Kenya. Using existing literature, secondary and primary data sources from online surveys, the authors evaluated the current status of farm forests in order to determine the impact of these rules on respondents from three randomly selected income-expenditure groups through online surveys. Case results substantiate that between the years 2009–2019, ToFs generated social, economic, and environmental benefits amongst landowners surveyed. Moreover, online survey results indicate that young people in the age bracket 18–35 years are increasingly adopting farm forestry contrary to long-held beliefs in the country. However, due to the unpopularity of the 10% rule amongst surveyed income-expenditure groups, and challenges experienced by ToFs owners, this paper concludes that the observed impacts may not be necessary as a response to the 10% rule. Besides addressing the existing inconsistencies, this paper recommends full implementation by transcribing the rules in other languages, developing inventory protocols for ToFs, and awareness creation on the rules in order to register an impact.
Near Trapping Effect on Wave-Power Extraction by Linear Periodic Arrays
Authors: Ning Dezhi , He Zechen , Gou Ying , Göteman Malin
Published: December 2019

Near trapping is a kind of strong hydrodynamic interaction phenomenon in a regular array under specific incident wave conditions, which causes the excitation force on the structures in the array to change suddenly. In this paper, based on linear potential flow theory, the effects of near trapping on the hydrodynamic interaction and wave-power extraction characteristics of linear periodic arrays composed of the oscillating float type wave energy converters are studied by using the higher-order boundary element method in a frequency domain. The parameters considered include the separation spacing, number of devices, and incident wave direction. It is found that the near trapping significantly reduces the overall wave-power extraction, especially for the cases with a large number of devices, and changes the trend of the power distribution. The occurrence of the near trapping phenomenon depends on the ratio of the separation spacing to the wavelength and the incident wave direction. The results highlight the effective layout of linear arrays under the influence of near trapping, which not only ensures the total production power, but also reduces the power difference among wave energy converters.
Efficiency Evaluation of Regional Sustainable Innovation in China: A Slack-Based Measure (SBM) Model with Undesirable Outputs
Authors: Xu Kai , Bossink Bart , Chen Qiang
Published: December 2019

An efficiency evaluation of China’s regional sustainable innovation, evaluating industrial waste and total energy consumption, is the main research subject in this paper. It focuses on a regional measurement and comparison of these undesirable outputs of Chinese firm activities, such as industrial SO2 and CO2 emissions. By applying a data envelopment analysis–slack-based measure (DEA–SBM) model with undesirable outputs indicators, the regional innovation efficiency was evaluated for 30 provinces in China, from 2002 to 2014. The results indicate that the sustainable innovation efficiency of overall China is still relatively low, and varies significantly in different regions. Central and Western China have similar sustainable innovation efficiencies, which are much lower than the sustainable innovation efficiency in Eastern China. Furthermore, the data indicate that regional sustainable innovation efficiency disparities among these three areas are decreasing. Based on these findings, reasons for the sustainable innovation efficiency gap among the different regions were analyzed. To scholars, this paper extends the research on regional sustainable innovation efficiency by implementing an undesirable output perspective to the DEA–SBM model. The findings also provide Chinese policy makers with useful decision support insights for regional sustainable innovation, and energy conservation and emission reduction policies.
Pipeline Spills and Indigenous Energy Justice
Authors: Datta Ranjan , Hurlbert Margot A.
Published: December 2019

The Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan transport their energy resources by pipeline to the eastern and western seaboards, and south into the United States. The used pipeline infrastructure reshapes the landscape and affects sustainability of the environment, traditional Indigenous livelihoods, and drinking water, particularly when spills and leaks occur. This scoping review is focused on Indigenous sustainability issues in relation to surrounding pipeline spills/leaks, impacts on drinking water and Indigenous communities in Western Canada. We found that Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable to pipeline leaks, and have limited capacity to mitigate them. Strategic decisions need to be made about the management of pipeline leaks. For building Indigenous energy justice, the findings of this paper suggest that Indigenous-led databases, programs to monitor and assess impacts, report leaks, and funding of community-based participatory action research are required.
Cloud Services and Pricing Strategies for Sustainable Business Models: Analytical and Numerical Approaches
Authors: Chun Se-Hak
Published: December 2019

Previous studies have introduced different potential pricing strategies for cloud services. However, not much research has been done comparing subscription pricing and pay-per-use pricing, which are commonly used pricing schemes. Also, there are very few studies which analyze a two-part tariff pricing scheme for cloud services, even though this option may increasingly attract service providers as the cloud market becomes more competitive and the profit margin grows narrower. Previous research has focused on firms’ profitability rather than social welfare due to the limitations of free services. This study uses theoretical and numerical analysis to compare the social welfare and profitability of three pricing schemes commonly used by firms: subscription pricing, pay-per-use pricing, and two-part tariff pricing. It shows that the pay-per-use pricing is the best solution from the perspective of social welfare, which contrasts with the conclusion of a previous study stating that social welfare is maximized under a two-part tariff. This paper also shows that the two-part tariff is the most profitable pricing scheme for firms.
Assessment of the Use of Solar Desalination Distillers to Produce Fresh Water in Arid Areas
Authors: Monteiro Joaquim , Baptista Andresa , Pinto Gustavo , Ribeiro Leonardo , Mariano Hélder
Published: December 2019

Water is an important resource for human beings, yet there are inhabited places tormented by the scarcity of it. The present study is concerned with places where, seemingly, the best way to get water is through solar distillers. These places should have, typically, high values of solar irradiation and a lack of human and economic resources to build and operate complex equipment. A set of sites scattered around the world was chosen, and then the presumed productivity and thermal efficiency that solar distillers would have if they were installed at these places was calculated. The mathematical model used with this purpose assumes steady state operation; the values of mass of water distilled and distiller efficiency were calculated for every hour, but the results presented are annual averages. Then, an economic study was made based on local costs of construction materials for the distillers, the work force, and the prices of water to predict the payback time of solar distillers. Finally, a study on environmental impact, particularly in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, was made to compare reverse osmosis (RO) with solar distillation. For the sites studied, typical values of annual water output are in the range of 414 dm3/m2, for Évora, up to 696 dm3/m2, for Faya Largeau; the minimum efficiency was found for Évora, as 11.5%, and the maximum efficiency was found for Tessalit, as 15.2%. Payback times are very high, regardless of the areas of the globe where solar distillers are implanted. Regarding the GHG emissions, solar distillation is preferable to RO.
Citizenship Education for Adults for Sustainable Democratic Societies
Authors: Ünal Fatma , Kaygın Hüseyin
Published: December 2019

Adults have a key role in ensuring that society is democratic and sustainable, by making decisions about the permanence and continuity of the world/society, and as role models to the new participants in a democratic society. In this context, the purpose of this research is to determine the citizenship education needs of adults in a sustainable democratic society. The study was designed in a qualitative research pattern and was carried out using the case study method. The study group consisted of adults, who were determined by criteria sampling method. Demographic data, a semi-structured interview form, and scenario texts were used to obtain data. The data obtained were analysed by using the content analysis method. Perspectives on adult citizenship education were presented according to the themes created. It was found that participants have a citizenship tendency in line with the traditional national citizenship approach and behaved accordingly. In conclusion, this study proposes that citizenship education should be organized for adults, who are today’s decision makers and role models for tomorrow’s decision makers, in order to improve their political literacy, legal literacy, and political, social, civic engagement and democratic values, which will contribute to the goal of a sustainable democracy in society.
Energy Management System Application for Sustainable Development in Wood Industry Enterprises
Authors: Rajić Milena N. , Maksimović Rado M. , Milosavljević Pedja , Pavlović Dragan
Published: December 2019

This study analyzes the energy management approach as one of the driving factors for sustainable development, not only in enterprises, but also countries. Sustainability of an enterprise is defined as its tendency to meet the need of customers and stakeholders through creative and innovative business strategies as well as activities that have a positive influence on society and environment. In this study, sustainability is measured through the application of an energy management system, but in the wood industry, which has an increasingly significant impact on the economic development in one country. The aim of this research is to determine the current situation regarding the application of energy management practices in production and service systems. The ISO 50001 standard for energy management systems considers the energy performance achieved by an enterprise. The connections between critical factors and the level of application requirements for the energy management system were statistically analyzed in this research. It was found that in enterprises that have a certified system of quality and environmental management, a higher level of energy management system implementation is evident. The research results provide data on the scientific level for the national policy improvement, as well as a developed model based on the Plan Do Check Act (PDCA) cycle for energy management system application.
Computer Modeling for the Operation Optimization of Mula Reservoir, Upper Godavari Basin, India, Using the Jaya Algorithm
Authors: Paliwal Vartika , Ghare Aniruddha D. , Mirajkar Ashwini B. , Bokde Neeraj Dhanraj , Feijóo Lorenzo Andrés Elías
Published: December 2019

In this paper, an application of the Jaya Algorithm (JA) is presented, to develop an operation optimization model for the Mula reservoir, located on the upper Godavari Basin, in India. The mentioned algorithm is a relatively new optimization technique, which is algorithm-specific and parameterless. In JA, there is no need for algorithm-specific parameter tuning, unlike with other heuristic techniques. To test its applicability, the model performance has been compared with that of other models for hypothetical four reservoir system studies available in the literature. Simulations for hypothetical four reservoir system have proven that JA is a better solution for a number of Function Evaluations when compared with the results obtained by means of other evolutionary methods such as Genetic Algorithms, Particle Swarm Optimization, Elitist Mutated Particle Swarm Optimization, and Weed Optimization Algorithm models reported in previous studies. Simulations have been carried out for real time operation of the Mula reservoir, and have revealed its superior performance when comparing the water releases proposed by it and the ones proposed by existing policy. Hence, from the two case studies presented, it can be concluded that the JA has potential in the field of reservoir operation and can be further explored to operation optimization of existing multi-reservoir system, with lower computations.
A Maturity Model for Logistics 4.0: An Empirical Analysis and a Roadmap for Future Research
Authors: Facchini Francesco , Oleśków-Szłapka Joanna , Ranieri Luigi , Urbinati Andrea
Published: December 2019

The adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies has become particularly important nowadays for companies in order to optimize their production processes and organizational structures. However, companies sometimes find it difficult to develop a strategic plan that innovates their current business model and develops an Industry 4.0 vision. To overcome the growing uncertainty and dissatisfaction in implementing Industry 4.0, new methods and tools that specifically address dedicated companies’ areas, such as logistics, supply chain management, and manufacturing processes, were developed to provide guidance and support to align companies’ business strategies and operations. In particular, this paper develops and presents the application of a maturity model for Logistics 4.0, focusing on the specific applications of Industry 4.0 in the area of logistics. To do so, extant maturity models, linked to the context of Industry 4.0 implementation in logistics processes, were examined in the main scientific research. Afterward, two companies have been investigated through a survey, built around three fundamental macro-aspects, named (i) the propensity of the company towards Industry 4.0 and Logistics 4.0, (ii) the current use of technologies in the logistics process, and (iii) the investments’ level towards Industry 4.0 technologies for a Logistics 4.0 transition. By doing so, a maturity model for Logistics 4.0 emerged as the main result of our research, able to identify the level of maturity of companies in implementing the Industry 4.0 technologies in their logistics processes. Moreover, the model highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the two investigated companies with respect to the transition towards Logistics 4.0. On the basis of the obtained results, a roadmap for enhancing the digitalization of logistics processes, according to the principles of the fourth industrial revolution, was finally proposed.
A Retrospective and Foresight: Bibliometric Review of International Research on Strategic Management for Sustainability, 1991–2019
Authors: Suriyankietkaew Suparak , Petison Phallapa
Published: December 2019

Over the past 30 years, scholars have been calling for modern management theory and research to consider how strategic management tools could be applied to enhance corporate sustainability. While strategic management for sustainability has emerged as a multidisciplinary field, the existing knowledge base has yet to be systematic reviewed. This paper responded to the literature gap by conducting a bibliometric review of strategic management for sustainability. The paper aimed to document the landscape and composition of this literature through the analysis of 988 relevant Scopus-indexed documents. Data analyses found that the strategic management for sustainability knowledge base remained an emergent field with increasing interests from diverse groups of international scholars in various fields, particularly in environmental science, engineering, and strategic business management. Over the past three decades, the literatures have been continuously grown from a few publications in the early 1990s to almost 1000 documents to date. The review found that the most influential journals and authors of this knowledge base were international in scope but predominately from Western developed countries. Five Schools of Thought from author co-citation analysis revealed the intellectual clustering composition of the knowledge base on strategic management for sustainability: corporate sustainability strategy, sustainable waste management, strategic sustainability systems, strategic sustainability management and entrepreneurship, and sustainability assessment strategy. Key topics addressed in this research include the distribution of documents across the most highly cited journals, reflecting the breadth, quality and influential scholars in the strategic management for sustainability knowledge domain, naming of the influential scholars in the field and identification of contemporary foci and research front in the existing literature through the keyword co-occurrence analysis and co-word map. The strategic management for sustainability field has evolved from the key topics related to the green movement at the policy-driven macro level (i.e., ecological or environmental protection/impact, water/waste management and natural resource conservation) to the practicality in organizations with the topics related to social strategic responsibility and business management issues (i.e., corporate strategy, project management, supply chain management, information management, adaptive management, corporate sustainability). In addition to a retrospective, insightful prospective interpretation, practical implication, limitations and future research direction are discussed.
Shifts in Spatial Plans for Flood Resilience and Climate Adaptation: Examining Planning Procedure and Planning Mandates
Authors: Meng Meng , Dąbrowski Marcin , Stead Dominic
Published: December 2019

The paper examines the development of different spatial plans to address flood resilience in the Chinese city of Guangzhou, one of the most vulnerable cities to flooding and climate change. The analysis focuses on the differences in planning procedures and planning mandates (determined by different plans in authority) before and after the launch of the Sponge City Plan which calls for numerous spatial resilience measures to address the increasing flood risk. The analysis reveals that the introduction of the Sponge City Plan has changed the role of planning from onlooker to active participant in the arena of flood governance. In addition, new plans combine long-term strategic visions, soft principles, and strict regulations with an aim to promote concrete planning practice between multiple layers with a clear mandate. Despite these shifts, institutional and territorial challenges remain.
Exploring the Potential of Climate-Adaptive Container Building Design under Future Climates Scenarios in Three Different Climate Zones
Authors: Shen Jingchun , Copertaro Benedetta , Zhang Xingxing , Koke Johannes , Kaufmann Peter , Krause Stefan
Published: December 2019

The deployment of containers as building modules has grown in popularity over the past years due to their inherent strength, modular construction, and relatively low cost. The upcycled container architecture is being accepted since it is more eco-friendly than using the traditional building materials with intensive carbon footprint. Moreover, owing to the unquestionable urgency of climate change, existing climate-adaptive design strategies may no longer respond effectively as they are supposed to work in the previous passive design. Therefore, this paper explores the conceptual design for an upcycled shipping container building, which is designed as a carbon-smart modular living solution to a single family house under three design scenarios, related to cold, temperate, and hot–humid climatic zones, respectively. The extra feature of future climate adaption has been added by assessing the projected future climate data with the ASHRAE Standard 55 and Current Handbook of Fundamentals Comfort Model. Compared with the conventional design, Rome would gradually face more failures in conventional climate-adaptive design measures in the coming 60 years, as the growing trends in both cooling and dehumidification demand. Consequently, the appropriate utilization of internal heat gains are proposed to be the most promising measure, followed by the measure of windows sun shading and passive solar direct gain by using low mass, in the upcoming future in Rome. Future climate projection further shows different results in Berlin and Stockholm, where the special attention is around the occasional overheating risk towards the design goal of future thermal comfort.
Trend Analysis of Urban Heat Island Intensity According to Urban Area Change in Asian Mega Cities
Authors: Lee Kyungil , Kim Yoonji , Sung Hyun Chan , Ryu Jieun , Jeon Seong Woo
Published: December 2019

Urban heat island (UHI) is a phenomenon that occurs in cities worldwide. Therefore, there is an increasing need for studies on the changes in UHI intensity and long-term trends based on macroscopic characteristics related to urbanization. In this study, changes in seasonal UHI intensity based on urban area were analyzed for eight Asian mega cities from 1992–2012. The results indicate that the change in pattern of UHI intensity varies for different cities and seasons. UHI intensity increased as the urban area size increased. Furthermore, the dependency of UHI intensity on the economic situation was also demonstrated. With respect to the seasons, significantly increasing trends appeared during the summer. Moreover, depending on urban characteristics such as geography and climate, increasing trends appeared during other seasons. Population was also found to affect UHI intensity by generating anthropogenic heat; however, its effect as an individual factor appeared to be insignificant. This is a macroscale study that analyzes the effect of urban area size on UHI intensity. Future studies on urbanization factors and levels influencing the UHI intensity using higher resolution materials are required