bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling for Digital Twins—Potential Role of Surrogate Models
Authors: Bárkányi Ágnes , Chován Tibor , Németh Sándor , Abonyi János
Published: March 2021

The application of white box models in digital twins is often hindered by missing knowledge, uncertain information and computational difficulties. Our aim was to overview the difficulties and challenges regarding the modelling aspects of digital twin applications and to explore the fields where surrogate models can be utilised advantageously. In this sense, the paper discusses what types of surrogate models are suitable for different practical problems as well as introduces the appropriate techniques for building and using these models. A number of examples of digital twin applications from both continuous processes and discrete manufacturing are presented to underline the potentials of utilising surrogate models. The surrogate models and model-building methods are categorised according to the area of applications. The importance of keeping these models up to date through their whole model life cycle is also highlighted. An industrial case study is also presented to demonstrate the applicability of the concept.
Mpambu Nzila: José Bedia at the Crossroads
Authors: West-Durán Alan
Published: March 2021

The article draws on the Kongo term mpambu nzila of crossroads, that equally signifies altar, to discuss the paintings and drawings of Cuban-born artist José Bedia. He is a practitioner of Palo Briyumba, a syncretic Afro-Cuban religion that combines Kongo religious beliefs, Regla de Ocha, Spiritism, and Catholicism. The article examines six works by the artist from 1984 to 1999 and how Bedia represents Palo in his art. Additionally, the centrality of the nganga (a cauldron that paleros use to work for and protect them) is discussed historically, philosophically, and religiously as a physical and spiritual embodiment of the crossroads. Bedia’s work is also analyzed using the Sankofa bird as metaphor (of flying forward and looking back) and as an example of the West African notion of coolness. The article also examines Palo as a de-colonial way of knowing and ends with the crossroads through the example of Lucero Mundo (Elegguá).
Interannual and Seasonal Variability of Greenhouse Gases and Aerosol Emissions from Biomass Burning in Northeastern China Constrained by Satellite Observations
Authors: Zhao Hongmei , Yang Guangyi , Tong Daniel Q. , Zhang Xuelei , Xiu Aijun , Zhang Shichun
Published: March 2021

Biomass burning is a major source of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and particulate matter (PM) emissions in China. Despite increasing efforts of fire monitoring, it remains challenging to quantify the variability in interannual and seasonal emissions of GHGs and PM from biomass burning. In this study, we investigated the biomass burning emissions in Northeastern China based on fire radiative power (FRP) obtained from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites (VIIRS) active fires datasets during the period 2012 to 2019. Our results showed that the average annual emissions from biomass burning in Northeastern China during 2012–2019 were: 81.6 Tg for CO2, 260.2 Gg for CH4, 5.5 Gg for N2O, 543.2 Gg for PM2.5 and 573.6 Gg for PM10, respectively. Higher levels of GHGs and PM emissions were concentrated in the Songnen Plain and Sanjiang Plain, the main grain producing areas in this region, and were associated with dense fire points. There were two emission peaks observed each year: after harvesting (October to November) and before planting (March to April). During this study period, the total fire emissions initially increased and then decreased in a fluctuating pattern, with emissions peaking in 2015, the year when more emission regulations were introduced. Crop straw was the major source of GHGs and PM among all kinds of biomass burning. Following more stringent controls on burning and the utilization of crop straw, the main burning season changed from autumn to spring. The proportion from spring burning increased from 20.5% in 2013 to 77.1% in 2019, with an annual growth rate of 20%. The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of regulatory control in reducing GHGs and PM emissions, as well as satellite fire observations as a powerful means to assess such outcomes.
Spatial and Multi-Temporal Analysis of Land Surface Temperature through Landsat 8 Images: Comparison of Algorithms in a Highly Polluted City (Granada)
Authors: Hidalgo García David , Arco Díaz Julián
Published: March 2021

Over the past decade, satellite imaging has become a habitual way to determine the land surface temperature (LST). One means entails the use of Landsat 8 images, for which mono window (MW), single channel (SC) and split window (SW) algorithms are needed. Knowing the precision and seasonal variability of the LST can improve urban climate alteration studies, which ultimately help make sustainable decisions in terms of the greater resilience of cities. In this study we determine the LST of a mid-sized city, Granada (Spain), applying six Landsat 8 algorithms that are validated using ambient temperatures. In addition to having a unique geographical location, this city has high pollution and high daily temperature variations, so that it is a very appropriate site for study. Altogether, 11 images with very low cloudiness were taken into account, distributed between November 2019 and October 2020. After data validation by means of R2 statistical analysis, the root mean square error (RMSE), mean bias error (MBE) and standard deviation (SD) were determined to obtain the coefficients of correlation. Panel data analysis is presented as a novel element with respect to the methods usually used. Results reveal that the SC algorithms prove more effective and reliable in determining the LST of the city studied here.
Improving the Estimation of Weighted Mean Temperature in China Using Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Sun Zhangyu , Zhang Bao , Yao Yibin
Published: March 2021

As a crucial parameter in estimating precipitable water vapor from tropospheric delay, the weighted mean temperature (Tm) plays an important role in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based water vapor monitoring techniques. However, the rigorous calculation of Tm requires vertical profiles of temperature and water vapor pressure that are difficult to acquire in practice. As a result, empirical models are widely used but have limited accuracy. In this study, we use three machine learning methods, i.e., random forest (RF), backpropagation neural network (BPNN), and generalized regression neural network (GRNN), to improve the estimation of empirical Tm in China. The basic idea is to use the high-quality radiosonde observations estimated Tm to calibrate and optimize the empirical Tm through machine learning methods. Validating results show that the three machine learning methods improve the Tm accuracy by 37.2%, 32.6%, and 34.9% compared with the global pressure and temperature model 3 (GPT3). In addition to the overall accuracy improvement, the proposed methods also mitigate the accuracy variations in space and time, guaranteeing evenly high accuracy. This study provides a new idea to estimate Tm, which could potentially contribute to the GNSS meteorology.
Development of Coral Investigation System Based on Semantic Segmentation of Single-Channel Images
Authors: Song Hong , Mehdi Syed Raza , Zhang Yangfan , Shentu Yichun , Wan Qixin , Wang Wenxin , Raza Kazim , Huang Hui
Published: March 2021

Among aquatic biota, corals provide shelter with sufficient nutrition to a wide variety of underwater life. However, a severe decline in the coral resources can be noted in the last decades due to global environmental changes causing marine pollution. Hence, it is of paramount importance to develop and deploy swift coral monitoring system to alleviate the destruction of corals. Performing semantic segmentation on underwater images is one of the most efficient methods for automatic investigation of corals. Firstly, to design a coral investigation system, RGB and spectral images of various types of corals in natural and artificial aquatic sites are collected. Based on single-channel images, a convolutional neural network (CNN) model, named DeeperLabC, is employed for the semantic segmentation of corals, which is a concise and modified deeperlab model with encoder-decoder architecture. Using ResNet34 as a skeleton network, the proposed model extracts coral features in the images and performs semantic segmentation. DeeperLabC achieved state-of-the-art coral segmentation with an overall mean intersection over union (IoU) value of 93.90%, and maximum F1-score of 97.10% which surpassed other existing benchmark neural networks for semantic segmentation. The class activation map (CAM) module also proved the excellent performance of the DeeperLabC model in binary classification among coral and non-coral bodies.
Smart System with Artificial Intelligence for Sensory Gloves
Authors: Cerro Idoia , Latasa Iban , Guerra Claudio , Pagola Pedro , Bujanda Blanca , Astrain José Javier
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a new sensory system based on advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques that provides sensory gloves with the ability to ensure real-time connection of all connectors in the cabling of a cockpit module. Besides a microphone, the sensory glove also includes a gyroscope and three accelerometers that provide valuable information to allow the selection of the appropriate signal time windows recorded by the microphone of the glove. These signal time windows are subsequently analyzed by a convolutional neural network, which indicates whether the connection of the components has been made correctly or not. The development of the system, its implementation in a production industry environment and the results obtained are analyzed.
MSDU-Net: A Multi-Scale Dilated U-Net for Blur Detection
Authors: Xiao Xiao , Yang Fan , Sadovnik Amir
Published: March 2021

A blur detection problem which aims to separate the blurred and clear regions of an image is widely used in many important computer vision tasks such object detection, semantic segmentation, and face recognition, attracting increasing attention from researchers and industry in recent years. To improve the quality of the image separation, many researchers have spent enormous efforts on extracting features from various scales of images. However, the matter of how to extract blur features and fuse these features synchronously is still a big challenge. In this paper, we regard blur detection as an image segmentation problem. Inspired by the success of the U-net architecture for image segmentation, we propose a multi-scale dilated convolutional neural network called MSDU-net. In this model, we design a group of multi-scale feature extractors with dilated convolutions to extract textual information at different scales at the same time. The U-shape architecture of the MSDU-net can fuse the different-scale texture features and generated semantic features to support the image segmentation task. We conduct extensive experiments on two classic public benchmark datasets and show that the MSDU-net outperforms other state-of-the-art blur detection approaches.
Westdrive X LoopAR: An Open-Access Virtual Reality Project in Unity for Evaluating User Interaction Methods during Takeover Requests
Authors: Nezami Farbod N. , Wächter Maximilian A. , Maleki Nora , Spaniol Philipp , Kühne Lea M. , Haas Anke , Pingel Johannes M. , Tiemann Linus , Nienhaus Frederik , Keller Lynn , König Sabine U. , König Peter , Pipa Gordon
Published: March 2021

With the further development of highly automated vehicles, drivers will engage in non-related tasks while being driven. Still, drivers have to take over control when requested by the car. Here, the question arises, how potentially distracted drivers get back into the control-loop quickly and safely when the car requests a takeover. To investigate effective human–machine interactions, a mobile, versatile, and cost-efficient setup is needed. Here, we describe a virtual reality toolkit for the Unity 3D game engine containing all the necessary code and assets to enable fast adaptations to various human–machine interaction experiments, including closely monitoring the subject. The presented project contains all the needed functionalities for realistic traffic behavior, cars, pedestrians, and a large, open-source, scriptable, and modular VR environment. It covers roughly 25 km2, a package of 125 animated pedestrians, and numerous vehicles, including motorbikes, trucks, and cars. It also contains all the needed nature assets to make it both highly dynamic and realistic. The presented repository contains a C++ library made for LoopAR that enables force feedback for gaming steering wheels as a fully supported component. It also includes all necessary scripts for eye-tracking in the used devices. All the main functions are integrated into the graphical user interface of the Unity® editor or are available as prefab variants to ease the use of the embedded functionalities. This project’s primary purpose is to serve as an open-access, cost-efficient toolkit that enables interested researchers to conduct realistic virtual reality research studies without costly and immobile simulators. To ensure the accessibility and usability of the mentioned toolkit, we performed a user experience report, also included in this paper.
Benefits of Spectral Property Engineering in Distributed Brillouin Fiber Sensing
Authors: Feng Cheng , Schneider Thomas
Published: March 2021

As one of the most consolidated distributed fiber sensors based on stimulated Brillouin scattering, the Brillouin optical time-domain analyzer (BOTDA) has been developed for decades. Despite the commercial availability and outstanding progresses which has been achieved, the intrinsic Lorentzian gain spectrum restricts the sensing performance from possible further enhancements and hence limits the field of validity of the technique. In this paper, the novel method of engineering the gain spectral properties of the Brillouin scattering and its application on static and dynamic BOTDA sensors will be reviewed. Such a spectral property engineering has not only provided improvements to BOTDA, but also might open a new way to enhance the performance of all kinds of distributed Brillouin fiber sensors.
Towards Green Computing Oriented Security: A Lightweight Postquantum Signature for IoE
Authors: Rani Rinki , Kumar Sushil , Kaiwartya Omprakash , Khasawneh Ahmad M. , Lloret Jaime , Al-Khasawneh Mahmoud Ahmad , Mahmoud Marwan , Alarood Alaa Abdulsalm
Published: March 2021

Postquantum cryptography for elevating security against attacks by quantum computers in the Internet of Everything (IoE) is still in its infancy. Most postquantum based cryptosystems have longer keys and signature sizes and require more computations that span several orders of magnitude in energy consumption and computation time, hence the sizes of the keys and signature are considered as another aspect of security by green design. To address these issues, the security solutions should migrate to the advanced and potent methods for protection against quantum attacks and offer energy efficient and faster cryptocomputations. In this context, a novel security framework Lightweight Postquantum ID-based Signature (LPQS) for secure communication in the IoE environment is presented. The proposed LPQS framework incorporates a supersingular isogeny curve to present a digital signature with small key sizes which is quantum-resistant. To reduce the size of the keys, compressed curves are used and the validation of the signature depends on the commutative property of the curves. The unforgeability of LPQS under an adaptively chosen message attack is proved. Security analysis and the experimental validation of LPQS are performed under a realistic software simulation environment to assess its lightweight performance considering embedded nodes. It is evident that the size of keys and the signature of LPQS is smaller than that of existing signature-based postquantum security techniques for IoE. It is robust in the postquantum environment and efficient in terms of energy and computations.
Deploying an NFV-Based Experimentation Scenario for 5G Solutions in Underserved Areas
Authors: Sanchez-Aguero Victor , Vidal Ivan , Valera Francisco , Nogales Borja , Mendes Luciano Leonel , Damascena Dias Wheberth , Carvalho Ferreira Alexandre
Published: March 2021

Presently, a significant part of the world population does not have Internet access. The fifth-generation cellular network technology evolution (5G) is focused on reducing latency, increasing the available bandwidth, and enhancing network performance. However, researchers and companies have not invested enough effort into the deployment of the Internet in remote/rural/undeveloped areas for different techno-economic reasons. This article presents the result of a collaboration between Brazil and the European Union, introducing the steps designed to create a fully operational experimentation scenario with the main purpose of integrating the different achievements of the H2020 5G-RANGE project so that they can be trialed together into a 5G networking use case. The scenario encompasses (i) a novel radio access network that targets a bandwidth of 100 Mb/s in a cell radius of 50 km, and (ii) a network of Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (SUAV). This set of SUAVs is NFV-enabled, on top of which Virtual Network Functions (VNF) can be automatically deployed to support occasional network communications beyond the boundaries of the 5G-RANGE radio cells. The whole deployment implies the use of a virtual private overlay network enabling the preliminary validation of the scenario components from their respective remote locations, and simplifying their subsequent integration into a single local demonstrator, the configuration of the required GRE/IPSec tunnels, the integration of the new 5G-RANGE physical, MAC and network layer components and the overall validation with voice and data services.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the AhR, Smad2/3, and HIF-1α Pathways as the Mechanism of Ochratoxin A Toxicity in Kidney Cells
Authors: Pyo Min Cheol , Choi In-Geol , Lee Kwang-Won
Published: March 2021

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin occurring in foods consumed by humans. Recently, there has been growing global concern regarding OTA toxicity. The main target organ of OTA is the kidney, but the mechanism underlying renal toxicity is not well known. In this study, human-derived proximal tubular epithelial cells, HK-2 cells, were used for RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and transcriptome analysis. In total, 3193 differentially expressed genes were identified upon treatment with 200 nM OTA in HK-2 cells; of these, 2224 were upregulated and 969 were downregulated. Transcriptome analysis revealed that OTA significantly affects hypoxia, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), apoptosis, and xenobiotic metabolism pathways in kidney cells. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed gene expression patterns similar to RNA-seq analysis. Expression of EMT markers (E-cadherin and fibronectin), apoptosis markers (caspase-3 and Bax), and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) was suppressed by inhibiting AhR expression using siRNA, and the related transcription factors, Smad2/3, and HIF-1α were downregulated. Smad2/3 suppression with siRNA could inhibit fibronetcin, caspase-3, Bax, and KIM-1 expression. Fibronetcin, caspase-3, Bax, and KIM-1 expression could be increased with HIF-1α suppression with siRNA. Taken together, these findings suggest that OTA-mediated kidney toxicity via the AhR-Smad2/3-HIF-1α signaling pathways leads to induction of EMT, apoptosis, and kidney injury.
Bee Venom and Its Sub-Components: Characterization, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics
Authors: Kim Woojin
Published: March 2021

Bee venom, which is a complex substance produced by Apis mellifera, is widely used to treat various diseases, such as pain [...]
Potency-Enhancing Mutations of Gating Modifier Toxins for the Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel NaV1.7 Can Be Predicted Using Accurate Free-Energy Calculations
Authors: Katz Dana , Sindhikara Dan , DiMattia Michael , Leffler Abba E.
Published: March 2021

Gating modifier toxins (GMTs) isolated from venomous organisms such as Protoxin-II (ProTx-II) and Huwentoxin-IV (HwTx-IV) that inhibit the voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.7 by binding to its voltage-sensing domain II (VSDII) have been extensively investigated as non-opioid analgesics. However, reliably predicting how a mutation to a GMT will affect its potency for NaV1.7 has been challenging. Here, we hypothesize that structure-based computational methods can be used to predict such changes. We employ free-energy perturbation (FEP), a physics-based simulation method for predicting the relative binding free energy (RBFE) between molecules, and the cryo electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of ProTx-II and HwTx-IV bound to VSDII of NaV1.7 to re-predict the relative potencies of forty-seven point mutants of these GMTs for NaV1.7. First, FEP predicted these relative potencies with an overall root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.0 ± 0.1 kcal/mol and an R2 value of 0.66, equivalent to experimental uncertainty and an improvement over the widely used molecular-mechanics/generalized born-surface area (MM-GB/SA) RBFE method that had an RMSE of 3.9 ± 0.8 kcal/mol. Second, inclusion of an explicit membrane model was needed for the GMTs to maintain stable binding poses during the FEP simulations. Third, MM-GB/SA and FEP were used to identify fifteen non-standard tryptophan mutants at ProTx-II[W24] predicted in silico to have a at least a 1 kcal/mol gain in potency. These predicted potency gains are likely due to the displacement of high-energy waters as identified by the WaterMap algorithm for calculating the positions and thermodynamic properties of water molecules in protein binding sites. Our results expand the domain of applicability of FEP and set the stage for its prospective use in biologics drug discovery programs involving GMTs and NaV1.7.
Measuring the Humoral Immune Response in Cats Exposed to Feline Leukaemia Virus
Authors: Parr Yasmin A. , Beall Melissa J. , Levy Julie K. , McDonald Michael , Hamman Natascha T. , Willett Brian J. , Hosie Margaret J.
Published: March 2021

Retroviruses belong to an important and diverse family of RNA viruses capable of causing neoplastic disease in their hosts. Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is a gammaretrovirus that infects domestic and wild cats, causing immunodeficiency, cytopenia and neoplasia in progressively infected cats. The outcome of FeLV infection is influenced by the host immune response; progressively infected cats demonstrate weaker immune responses compared to regressively infected cats. In this study, humoral immune responses were examined in 180 samples collected from 123 domestic cats that had been naturally exposed to FeLV, using a novel ELISA to measure antibodies recognizing the FeLV surface unit (SU) glycoprotein in plasma samples. A correlation was demonstrated between the strength of the humoral immune response to the SU protein and the outcome of exposure. Cats with regressive infection demonstrated higher antibody responses to the SU protein compared to cats belonging to other outcome groups, and samples from cats with regressive infection contained virus neutralising antibodies. These results demonstrate that an ELISA that assesses the humoral response to FeLV SU complements the use of viral diagnostic tests to define the outcome of exposure to FeLV. Together these tests could allow the rapid identification of regressively infected cats that are unlikely to develop FeLV-related disease.
Incorporating the Effects of Complex Soil Layering and Thickness Local Variability into Distributed Landslide Susceptibility Assessments
Authors: Fusco Francesco , Mirus Benjamin , Baum Rex , Calcaterra Domenico , De Vita Pantaleone
Published: March 2021

Incorporating the influence of soil layering and local variability into the parameterizations of physics-based numerical models for distributed landslide susceptibility assessments remains a challenge. Typical applications employ substantial simplifications including homogeneous soil units and soil-hydraulic properties assigned based only on average textural classifications; the potential impact of these assumptions is usually disregarded. We present a multi-scale approach for parameterizing the distributed Transient Rainfall Infiltration and Grid-Based Regional Slope-Stability (TRIGRS) model that accounts for site-specific spatial variations in both soil thickness and complex layering properties by defining homogeneous soil properties that vary spatially for each model grid cell. These effective properties allow TRIGRS to accurately simulate the timing and distribution of slope failures without any modification of the model structure. We implemented this approach for the carbonate ridge of Sarno Mountains (southern Italy) whose slopes are mantled by complex layered soils of pyroclastic origin. The urbanized foot slopes enveloping these mountains are among the most landslide-prone areas of Italy and have been subjected to repeated occurrences of damaging and deadly rainfall-induced flow-type shallow landslides. At this scope, a primary local-scale application of TRIGRS was calibrated on physics-based rainfall thresholds, previously determined by a coupled VS2D (version 1.3) hydrological modeling and slope stability analysis. Subsequently, by taking into account the spatial distribution of soil thickness and vertical heterogeneity of soil hydrological and mechanical properties, a distributed assessment of landslide hazard was carried out by means of TRIGRS. The combination of these approaches led to the spatial assessment of landslide hazard under different hypothetical rainfall intensities and antecedent hydrological conditions. This approach to parameterizing TRIGRS can be adapted to other spatially variable soil layering and thickness to improve hazard assessments.
Alkylphenols and Chlorophenols Remediation in Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands: Removal Efficiency and Microbial Community Response
Authors: Montenegro Inês P. F. M. , Mucha Ana P. , Tomasino Maria Paola , Gomes Carlos Rocha , Almeida Cristina Marisa R.
Published: March 2021

This study aims to investigate the effect of two different groups of phenolic compounds (the alkylphenols nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP), and the chlorophenol pentachlorophenol (PCP)) on constructed wetlands (CWs) performance, including on organic matter, nutrients and contaminants removal efficiency, and on microbial community structure in the plant bed substrate. CWs were assembled at lab scale simulating a vertical flow configuration and irrigated along eight weeks with Ribeira de Joane (an urban stream) water not doped (control) or doped with a mixture of NP and OP or with PCP (at a 100 μg·L−1 concentration each). The presence of the phenolic contaminants did not interfere in the removal of organic matter or nutrients in CWs in the long term. Removals of NP and OP were >99%, whereas PCP removals varied between 87% and 98%, mainly due to biodegradation. Microbial richness, diversity and dominance in CWs substrate were generally not affected by phenolic compounds, with only PCP decreasing diversity. Microbial community structure, however, showed that there was an adaptation of the microbial community to the presence of each contaminant, with several specialist genera being enriched following exposure. The three more abundant specialist genera were Methylotenera and Methylophilus (methylophilaceae family) and Hyphomicrobium (hyphomicrobiaceae family) when the systems were exposed to a mixture of NP and OP. When exposed to PCP, the three more abundant genera were Denitromonas (Rhodocyclaceae family), Xenococcus_PCC_7305 (Xenococcaceae family) and Rhodocyclaceae_uncultured (Rhodocyclaceae family). To increase CWs efficiency in the elimination of phenolic compounds, namely PCP which was not totally removed, strategies to stimulate (namely biostimulation) or increase (namely bioaugmentation) the presence of these bacteria should be explore. This study clearly shows the potential of vertical flow CWs for the removal of phenolic compounds, a still little explored subject, contributing to promote the use of CWs as nature-based solutions to remediate water contaminated with different families of persistent and/or emergent contaminants.
Impact of Prospective Climate Change Scenarios upon Hydropower Potential of Ethiopia in GERD and GIBE Dams
Authors: Bombelli Giovanni , Tomiet Stefano , Bianchi Alberto , Bocchiola Daniele
Published: March 2021

Ethiopia is growing fast, and the country has a dire need of energy. To avoid environmental damages, however, Ethiopia is looking for green energy polices, including hydropower exploitation, with large water availability (i.e., the Blue Nile, the greatest tributary of Nile river). Besides other dams on the Omo river, the GIBE family, Ethiopia is now building the largest hydropower plant of Africa, the GERD (Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam), on the Blue Nile river, leading to tensions between Ethiopia, and Egypt, due to potentially conflictive water management. In addition, present and prospective climate change may affect reservoirs’ operation, and this thereby is relevant for downstream water users, population, and environment. Here, we evaluated water management for the GERD, and GIBE III dams, under present, and future hydrological conditions until 2100. We used two models, namely, Poli-Hydro and Poli-Power, to describe (i) hydrological budget, and flow routing and (ii) optimal/maximum hydropower production from the two dams, under unconstrained (i.e., no release downstream besides MIF) and constrained (i.e., with fair release downstream) simulation. We then used climate change scenarios from the reports CMIP5/6 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) until 2100, to assess future hydropower production. Our results demonstrate that the filling phase of the GERD, particularly critical, have optimal filling time of 5 years or so. Stream flows at GERD could be greater than the present ones (control run CR) at half century (2050–2059), but there could be large decrease at the end of century (2090–2099). Energy production at half century may increase, and then decrease until the end of century. In GIBE III discharges would increase both at half century, and at the end of century, and so would energy production. Constrained, and unconstrained simulation provide in practice similar results, suggesting potential for shared water management in both plants.
Development of a New Testing Approach for Decentralised Technical Sustainable Drainage Systems
Authors: Neupert Johannes Wolfgang , Lau Philipp , Venghaus Daniel , Barjenbruch Matthias
Published: March 2021

A part of the sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are used to treat stormwater and must be tested for their hydraulic performance and the removal efficiency to assess serviceability and retention of the pollutants efficacy for in situ use. Current test procedures provide a good basis for laboratory testing SuDS on the test stand. However, the evaluation is not sufficiently representative to compare different SuDS with each other or for in situ use. The individual steps and specifications of an applied test procedure in Germany were considered and evaluation and optimizations for the test substance and sampling methodology of SuDS on the test stand were proposed. A comparison of the particle size distribution of the test substance Millisil W4 currently in use and total suspended solids of real road runoff was made, which showed that the presented test substance of real road-deposited sediments (RDS) provides a better reference for the test conditions and they could be the basis for more representative test methods. A particle size distribution was proposed for this new test substance. Furthermore, two methods of sampling were compared, which showed that a full flow sampling is preferable to a discrete sample. At the same time, it was shown that a separation limit of 20 µm is sufficient for the determination of TSS63.
An Enhanced Innovative Triangular Trend Analysis of Rainfall Based on a Spectral Approach
Authors: Zerouali Bilel , Al-Ansari Nadhir , Chettih Mohamed , Mohamed Mesbah , Abda Zaki , Santos Celso Augusto Guimarães , Zerouali Bilal , Elbeltagi Ahmed
Published: March 2021

The world is currently witnessing high rainfall variability at the spatiotemporal level. In this paper, data from three representative rain gauges in northern Algeria, from 1920 to 2011, at an annual scale, were used to assess a relatively new hybrid method, which combines the innovative triangular trend analysis (ITTA) with the orthogonal discrete wavelet transform (DWT) for partial trend identification. The analysis revealed that the period from 1950 to 1975 transported the wettest periods, followed by a long-term dry period beginning in 1973. The analysis also revealed a rainfall increase during the latter decade. The combined method (ITTA–DWT) showed a good efficiency for extreme rainfall event detection. In addition, the analysis indicated the inter- to multiannual phenomena that explained the short to medium processes that dominated the high rainfall variability, masking the partial trend components existing in the rainfall time series and making the identification of such trends a challenging task. The results indicate that the approaches—combining ITTA and selected input combination models resulting from the DWT—are auspicious compared to those found using the original rainfall observations. This analysis revealed that the ITTA–DWT method outperformed the ITTA method for partial trend identification, which proved DWT’s efficiency as a coupling method.
ROPO and Reverse ROPO Effect in Gender-Generation Characteristics
Authors: Fedorko Richard , Bačík Radovan , Rigelský Martin , Oleárová Mária
Published: March 2021

Objective - The primary goal of the paper is to identify which purchasing channels (online or offline), Slovak consumers use to search for, research and purchase products as well as to evaluate the association between the selected elements of the purchasing process with respect to gender and generational characteristics of customers.
Findings - This paper proves the existence of a significant association between the place customers search for information about products (on the Internet or in brick-and-mortar stores) and the place where they make the actual purchase. The paper also reveals that in terms of the common gender and generation characteristics and the overall purchasing process there is a significant association in most of the analyzed cases.
Novelty - Although online shopping is considered convenient, cheaper and more time-efficient than shopping in brick-and-mortar stores, consumer behavior in the e-commerce sector may differ in terms of gender and generational characteristics. It is therefore important for marketers to know this behavior and tailor their business strategies to specific customer segments.
Type of Paper: Empirical.
JEL Classification: M31, M37.

Keywords: Customer Behaviour; ROPO; Purchase Channel; Association Analysis; Gender; Generation
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Fedorko, R; Bačík, R; Rigelský, M; Oleárová, M. (2021). ROPO and Reverse ROPO Effect in Gender-Generation Characteristics, Journal of Management and Marketing Review, 6(1) 24 – 35. https://doi.org/10.35609/jmmr.2021.6.1(3)
Online Relationship Marketing and Customer Loyalty Based on Signalling Theory
Authors: Pebrianti Wenny , Tanwira Wenseslaus , Ahmadi Ahmadi
Published: March 2021

Objective – The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Online Relationship Marketing on customer loyalty which was examined from the perspective of signalling theory in the banking sector.
Methodology/Technique – Signalling theory is used to identify the tendency of companies to build relationships with consumers by sending signals to consumers through a variety internet tools and applications to communicate transparency, security, and privacy to influence consumer perceptions, behavior, and interests. Data was analyzed using quantitative methods with the SEM-PLS method involving 384 samples.
Findings – The results of this study indicate that Online Relationship Marketing activities, such as engagement and interactivity, have a significant direct effect on customer loyalty and online trust.
Novelty - Online trust in this study has a significant effect on customer loyalty and has a partial mediating role.
Type of Paper: Empirical.
JEL Classification: M31, M39.

Keywords: Engagement; Interactivity; Online Trust; Customer Loyalty; Signalling Theory
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Pebrianti, W; Tanwira, W; Ahmadi. (2021). Online Relationship Marketing to Customer Loyalty Based on Signalling Theory, Journal of Management and Marketing Review, 6(1) 86 – 93. https://doi.org/10.35609/jmmr.2021.6.1(9)
Extension of remote distance of electromagnetically spinning viscometer
Authors: Hosoda M. , Yamakawa Y. , Sakai K.
Published: March 2021

An electromagnetically spinning (EMS) viscometer enables the remote sensing of rheological properties. To date, the distance of remote sensing of EMS system has been limited by the aperture size of rotating magnets, which drive the rotation of the metal viscosity probe through electromagnetic interactions. In this study, we develop a new device that can extend the remote distance. The extender is composed of a pair of freely rotating magnets set in a confined sample container, which rotates synchronously to the main driving magnets and applies torque to the probe above the extender. The remote distance is successfully extended up to 100 mm. We carried out the viscosity measurement for lowly viscous samples and examined that the EMS system equipped with a remote distance extender works as a viscometer with a measurement accuracy of 1%.
Political Communications of The Ministry of Education and Culture about “Merdeka Belajar, Kampus Merdeka (Independent Learning, Independent Campus)” Policy: Effective?
Authors: Purike Era
Published: March 2021

The policy of the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemdikbud) regarding “Merdeka Belajar, Kampus Merdeka (Free Learning, Independent Campus) as outlined in 5 (five) policies (Permendikbud) as a legal umbrella for this policy. This policy was launched on January 24, 2020 and is a breakthrough made by the Ministry of Education and Culture in the education sector in Indonesia. As a new policy, this policy is likely to experience obstacles, especially in its implementation. Therefore, effective communication is needed to achieve the objectives (outputs) of this policy. This research was conducted through literature review and monitoring of official online media as tools used by the Ministry of Education and Culture to socialize this policy. Policy communication could be effective if: (1) the policy can be received and understood as intended by the government; (2) the policy launched by the government can be approved by the recipient and followed up with the proper implementation as required by the government; (3) there are no significant obstacles to follow up and implement the policy. The results of this study indicate that there are still misinterpretations regarding the contents of this policy. The results of literature review state that educational institutions are still having difficulty implementing this policy in curriculum adjustments and learning activities. They also have obstacles to follow up on links and match programs for independent learning with industry due to it requires much budget and many universities have low budget.
The essence and structure of the innovative potential of the enterprise
Authors: Нarbar V.
Published: March 2021

The article clarifies the essence and structure of the innovative potential of the enterprise. Modern approaches to the definition of the category "innovation potential" are analyzed. It is established that the innovation potential as a set of innovative resources, the implementation of which leads to the improvement and optimization of production, makes it possible to create and implement innovations in order to achieve strategic competitive advantages of the enterprise. It was found that the innovation potential organically connects the main potential of the enterprise for innovative development. It is determined that under the conditions of effective realization of all main components of innovation potential the enterprise strengthens its position on the market and achieves sustainable development. The levels of innovation potential of the enterprise are considered, which allow to determine the ability of the enterprise to introduce new technologies into the economic turnover while providing for the financial needs of the current production and economic activity. It is proved that the analysis of innovation potential by components provides an opportunity to develop procedures for assessing its sufficiency for the development, production and promotion of specific innovations.
Design of Effective Smart Communication System for Impaired People
Authors: Sungheetha Akey , Sharma R Rajesh
Published: March 2021

In communication medium, sharing a conversation dialogue between the normal person and deaf and dumb person is one of the challenging tasks still. The dumb person can practice hand gesture language in their community but not to others. This research article focuses to minimize the difficulty level between these two communities with smart glove devices. Besides, the author believes that result of the proposed model provides a good impact on the dump community. The smart glove contains input, control, and output module to get, process, and display the data respectively. Our proposed model is used to help these communities to interact with each other continuously without any error. The proposed model is constructed with good specification flex sensors. Little change of resistance in flex sensor is providing changes in their gesture language. So this orientation direction is calculated well and gives better results over existing methods. The wireless set can be made with Bluetooth technologies here. Here the gestures are assigned based on the alphabet letter. The sign language performs and gives audible output in the display section of the proposed model. It gives good results in our experimental setup. This research work focuses on good recognition rate, accuracy, and efficiency. The good recognition rate shows the continuous conversation between the two persons. Moreover, this research article compares the recognition rate, accuracy, and efficiency of the proposed model with an existing model.
Community Policing and the Syrian Refugee Community in Wellington District
Authors: Tohill Yvette
Published: March 2021

Relationships between the New Zealand Police and refugee communities are largely unresearched. This case study focuses on Syrian refugees in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Syrian refugees are notable by their numbers since the onset of the Syrian Civil War in 2014, and Greater Wellington is an area where many have been re-settled. Police are a key symbol of the state and interaction with police can leave defining impressions. This study researches refugee experiences in New Zealand through semi-structured interviews with police and others who have worked with Syrian refugees. It seeks to shed light on the mixed nature of the refugee experience and the opportunities for improvement that exist. Community Policing studies in New Zealand have not previously included aspects of ethnicity beyond New Zealand Maori, and this study may therefore assist in more generally understanding the strengths and challenges of Community Policing and refugee communities in New Zealand.
PERBANDINGAN TUGAS MEDIATOR PADA PENGADILAN AGAMA INDONESIA DENGAN MAHKAMAH SYARIAH MALAYSIA
Authors: Hanifah Mardalena
Published: March 2021

Article 3 (2) Regulation of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia Number 1 of 2016 concerning Mediation Procedures, Case Examining Judges in the consideration of a decision must state that the case has been pursued peace through mediation by mentioning the mediator. The court is not only tasked with examining, trying, and resolving cases it receives but also seeks to reconcile the parties. The court, which has been impressed as a law enforcement and justice institution, now appears as an institution that seeks peaceful solutions for the parties. The implementation of Regulation of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia Number 1 of 2016 concerning Mediation Procedures in Courts can be an eff ort to resolve civil disputes so that the settlement of civil disputes through mediation is the main choice. The research method used is normative legal research which includes research on legal principles which is very basic in guided law. The nature of the research carried out is descriptive, namely research that describes and explains in clear and detailed sentences. The data used are secondary data obtained from literature, consisting of primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials. Processing and data analysis used qualitative methods. The defi nition of mediation according to the Religious Courts in Indonesia and the Syari’ah Courts in Malaysia is the eff ort of the judges and courts to reconcile the parties so that the divorce process does not continue at the next trial. When the mediation process was carried out at the Indonesian Religious Court and the Syari’ah Court in Malaysia, there was a similarity, namely the mediation process was carried out at the fi rst trial and it was an obligation for the disputing parties in a divorce case to take mediation. according to the procedure for the appointment of mediators at the Indonesian Religious Courts and the Syari’ah Courts in Malaysia and the appointments of these mediators are both made by the judges.
Assessment of indoor SPM in kitchens of household using different modes of cooking in Jammu, India
Authors: Rampal Raj Kumar , Chib Anjana
Published: March 2021

The present study has been carried out to assess indoor SPM levels in kitchens of the household using different modes of cooking in Jammu using handy air sampler (Envirotech APM 821) with air flow rate of 1.5 LPM from 6am to 2pm. All the kitchens with different modes of cooking exhibited values of indoor SPM higher than the prescribed CPCB values of 200 µg/m3. Complied average values of SPM were used to calculate IPI (Indoor Pollution Index). The calculated values of indoor SPM in all the four types of kitchens were observed to be statistically significant (p <0.05).
Bio-degradation of 40 micron plastic bags by Aspergillus niger and optimization of pre-treatment methods
Authors: Kittur Sagar , Patil Namrata , Kammar Shruti , Priya V. G. Shanmuga , Sastry D. N.
Published: March 2021

Lack of degradability and the closing of landfill sites as well as growing water and land pollution problems have led to concern about plastics. Among the various types of plastics, the most extensively used type is polyethylene bags. A survey on 40 micron polyethylene bags was done by obtaining the information from the City corporation office, Belgaum, Karnataka, India on the amount of plastic waste generated in the city. Polyethylene bags having a thickness less than 40 micron are not recycled, thus have to be degraded. In this work, Aspergillus niger is been employed to degrade the 40 micron plastic. Various pre-treatment methods are used which include UV, nitric acid, thermal and UV + nitric acid treatments to effectively degrade the plastic. Different media having pre treated plastic as the carbon source are tested for the degradation of plastic along with the growth of the fungi. Incubation period was taken as 15 and 30 days. Optimization of pre-treatment methods was done to improve the degradation efficiency. Various analysis methods such as FTIR spectroscopy and dry-weight analysis were done to confirm the degradation of plastic.