bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AgriPest: A Large-Scale Domain-Specific Benchmark Dataset for Practical Agricultural Pest Detection in the Wild
Authors: Wang Rujing , Liu Liu , Xie Chengjun , Yang Po , Li Rui , Zhou Man
Published: February 2021

The recent explosion of large volume of standard dataset of annotated images has offered promising opportunities for deep learning techniques in effective and efficient object detection applications. However, due to a huge difference of quality between these standardized dataset and practical raw data, it is still a critical problem on how to maximize utilization of deep learning techniques in practical agriculture applications. Here, we introduce a domain-specific benchmark dataset, called AgriPest, in tiny wild pest recognition and detection, providing the researchers and communities with a standard large-scale dataset of practically wild pest images and annotations, as well as evaluation procedures. During the past seven years, AgriPest captures 49.7K images of four crops containing 14 species of pests by our designed image collection equipment in the field environment. All of the images are manually annotated by agricultural experts with up to 264.7K bounding boxes of locating pests. This paper also offers a detailed analysis of AgriPest where the validation set is split into four types of scenes that are common in practical pest monitoring applications. We explore and evaluate the performance of state-of-the-art deep learning techniques over AgriPest. We believe that the scale, accuracy, and diversity of AgriPest can offer great opportunities to researchers in computer vision as well as pest monitoring applications.
A Video-Based Technique for Heart Rate and Eye Blinks Rate Estimation: A Potential Solution for Telemonitoring and Remote Healthcare
Authors: Ronca Vincenzo , Giorgi Andrea , Rossi Dario , Di Florio Antonello , Di Flumeri Gianluca , Aricò Pietro , Sciaraffa Nicolina , Vozzi Alessia , Tamborra Luca , Simonetti Ilaria , Borghini Gianluca
Published: February 2021

Current telemedicine and remote healthcare applications foresee different interactions between the doctor and the patient relying on the use of commercial and medical wearable sensors and internet-based video conferencing platforms. Nevertheless, the existing applications necessarily require a contact between the patient and sensors for an objective evaluation of the patient’s state. The proposed study explored an innovative video-based solution for monitoring neurophysiological parameters of potential patients and assessing their mental state. In particular, we investigated the possibility to estimate the heart rate (HR) and eye blinks rate (EBR) of participants while performing laboratory tasks by mean of facial—video analysis. The objectives of the study were focused on: (i) assessing the effectiveness of the proposed technique in estimating the HR and EBR by comparing them with laboratory sensor-based measures and (ii) assessing the capability of the video—based technique in discriminating between the participant’s resting state (Nominal condition) and their active state (Non-nominal condition). The results demonstrated that the HR and EBR estimated through the facial—video technique or the laboratory equipment did not statistically differ (p > 0.1), and that these neurophysiological parameters allowed to discriminate between the Nominal and Non-nominal states (p < 0.02).
6DYN : 6TiSCH with Heterogeneous Slot Durations
Authors: Rady Mina , Lampin Quentin , Barthel Dominique , Watteyne Thomas
Published: February 2021

New radio chips implement different physical layers, allowing firmware to change modulation, datarate and frequency dynamically. This technological development is an opportunity for industrial low-power wireless networks to offer even higher determinism, including latency predictability. This article introduces 6DYN, an extension to the IETF 6TiSCH standards-based protocol stack. In a 6DYN network, nodes switch physical layer dynamically on a link-by-link basis, in order to exploit the diversity offered by this new technology agility. To offer low latency and high network capacity, 6DYN uses heterogeneous slot durations: the length of a slot in the 6TiSCH schedule depends on the physical layer used. This article shows how reserved bits in 6TiSCH headers can be used to standardize 6DYN and details its implementation in OpenWSN, a reference implementation of 6TiSCH.
Olive Tree Biovolume from UAV Multi-Resolution Image Segmentation with Mask R-CNN
Authors: Safonova Anastasiia , Guirado Emilio , Maglinets Yuriy , Alcaraz-Segura Domingo , Tabik Siham
Published: February 2021

Olive tree growing is an important economic activity in many countries, mostly in the Mediterranean Basin, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and California. Although recent intensification techniques organize olive groves in hedgerows, most olive groves are rainfed and the trees are scattered (as in Spain and Italy, which account for 50% of the world’s olive oil production). Accurate measurement of trees biovolume is a first step to monitor their performance in olive production and health. In this work, we use one of the most accurate deep learning instance segmentation methods (Mask R-CNN) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) images for olive tree crown and shadow segmentation (OTCS) to further estimate the biovolume of individual trees. We evaluated our approach on images with different spectral bands (red, green, blue, and near infrared) and vegetation indices (normalized difference vegetation index—NDVI—and green normalized difference vegetation index—GNDVI). The performance of red-green-blue (RGB) images were assessed at two spatial resolutions 3 cm/pixel and 13 cm/pixel, while NDVI and GNDV images were only at 13 cm/pixel. All trained Mask R-CNN-based models showed high performance in the tree crown segmentation, particularly when using the fusion of all dataset in GNDVI and NDVI (F1-measure from 95% to 98%). The comparison in a subset of trees of our estimated biovolume with ground truth measurements showed an average accuracy of 82%. Our results support the use of NDVI and GNDVI spectral indices for the accurate estimation of the biovolume of scattered trees, such as olive trees, in UAV images.
Robust Adaptive Control of Fully Constrained Cable-Driven Serial Manipulator with Multi-Segment Cables Using Cable Tension Sensor Measurements
Authors: Lou Ya’nan , Lin Haoyu , Quan Pengkun , Wei Dongbo , Di Shichun
Published: February 2021

The structure of the cable-driven serial manipulator (CDSM) is more complex than that of the cable-driven parallel manipulator (CDPM), resulting in higher model complexity and stronger structural and parametric uncertainties. These drawbacks challenge the stable trajectory-tracking control of a CDSM. To circumvent these drawbacks, this paper proposes a robust adaptive controller for an n-degree-of-freedom (DOF) CDSM actuated by m cables. First, two high-level controllers are designed to track the joint trajectory under two scenarios, namely known and unknown upper bounds of uncertainties. The controllers include an adaptive feedforward term based on inverse dynamics and a robust control term compensating for the uncertainties. Second, the independence of control gains from the upper bound of uncertainties and the inclusion of the joint viscous friction coefficient into the dynamic parameter vector are realised. Then, a low-level controller is designed for the task of tracking the cable tension trajectory. The system stability is analysed using the Lyapunov method. Finally, the validity and effectiveness of the proposed controllers are verified by experimenting with a three-DOF six-cable CDSM. In addition, a comparative experiment with the classical proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller is carried out.
An Integrated Evanescent Field Sensor for the Simultaneous Measurement of Layer Refractive Index and Thickness
Authors: Jäger Matthias , Bruns Jürgen , Schneidewind Jessica , Pinnow Cay , Gargouri Hassan , Petermann Klaus
Published: February 2021

A novel integrated sensor for the simultaneous measurement of layer refractive index and thickness based on evanescent fields is proposed. The theoretical limits for the accuracy of the sensor were examined for the example of a TiO2 layer. The influence of production tolerance on the accuracy was evaluated. In the experimental part of this work, a sensor chip containing nanowire and nanorib waveguides realized in silicon on insulator technology was used to demonstrate the detection of refractive index and thickness of a TiO2 atomic layer deposition (ALD) layer.
Reconstruction of the Far-Field Pattern of Volumetric AUTs from a Reduced Set of Near-Field Samples Collected along a Planar Spiral with a Uniform Step
Authors: D’Agostino Francesco , Ferrara Flaminio , Gennarelli Claudio , Guerriero Rocco , Migliozzi Massimo , Riccio Giovanni
Published: February 2021

An efficient near-to-far-field transformation (NTFFT) technique, wherein the near-field (NF) measurements are acquired along a planar spiral with a uniform step to make the control of the involved positioners easier, is developed in this article. Such a technique is tailored for quasi-spherical, i.e., volumetric, antennas under test and makes use of a reduced number of NF data. An effective two-dimensional sampling interpolation algorithm, allowing the accurate reconstruction of the input NF data for the standard NTFFT with plane-rectangular scan, is obtained by setting the spiral step equal to the sample spacing required for interpolating along a radial line according to the spatial bandlimitation properties of electromagnetic fields, and by properly developing a non-redundant representation along such a spiral. Tests results are reported to demonstrate that the proposed NTFFT technique retains the same accuracy as the standard plane-rectangular one.
Statistical Models of the Distribution of Chemical Elements in Precambrian Rocks of the Siberian Craton
Authors: Kravchenko Alexander , Gerasimov Boris , Loskutov Evgeniy , Okrugin Alexander , Galenchikova Larisa , Beryozkin Vasily
Published: February 2021

Natural chemical systems are an excellent object for studying the properties of various elements. The most diverse and informative geological complexes are crystalline rocks of the Precambrian. These rocks are exposed near the northern and southern margins of the Siberian craton. The chemical composition of rocks, the contents of impurity elements, and metals were studied by us using chemical and spectral analysis methods. Microprobe studies were performed. Using regression and multivariate statistical methods of analysis, the regularities of the distribution of chemical elements were found. It is shown that the distribution of precious metals and carbon dioxide in rocks is attributed to their chemical properties and comparable with close in-chemical properties’ rock-forming elements. It is found that the factor analysis reflects the uniform regularities of the distribution of elements in different regions and rocks. These regularities are similar on macro and micro levels. Comparison of the distribution patterns with the results of geochemical and petrological studies of other authors shows the leading role of the redox potential and acidity of the environment in the formation of rocks and minerals. The role of mathematical statistics for solving problems of chemical petrology and chemical systems analysis is underlined.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of CuWO4 Doped TiO2 Photocatalyst Towards Carbamazepine Removal under UV Irradiation
Authors: Anucha Chukwuka Bethel , Altin Ilknur , Bacaksız Emin , Kucukomeroglu Tayfur , Belay Masho Hilawie , Stathopoulos Vassilis N.
Published: February 2021

Abatement of contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs) in water sources has been widely studied employing TiO2 based heterogeneous photocatalysis. However, low quantum energy yield among other limitations of titania has led to its modification with other semiconductor materials for improved photocatalytic activity. In this work, a 0.05 wt.% CuWO4 over TiO2 was prepared as a powder composite. Each component part synthesized via the sol-gel method for TiO2, and CuWO4 by co-precipitation assisted hydrothermal method from precursor salts, underwent gentle mechanical agitation. Homogenization of the nanopowder precursors was performed by zirconia ball milling for 2 h. The final material was obtained after annealing at 500 °C for 3.5 h. Structural and morphological characterization of the synthesized material has been achieved employing X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) N2 adsorption–desorption analysis, Scanning electron microscopy-coupled Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS) for optical characterization. The 0.05 wt.% CuWO4-TiO2 catalyst was investigated for its photocatalytic activity over carbamazepine (CBZ), achieving a degradation of almost 100% after 2 h irradiation. A comparison with pure TiO2 prepared under those same conditions was made. The effect of pH, chemical scavengers, H2O2 as well as contaminant ion effects (anions, cations), and humic acid (HA) was investigated, and their related influences on the photocatalyst efficiency towards CBZ degradation highlighted accordingly.
Sorption Mechanisms of Chemicals in Soils
Authors: Strawn Daniel G.
Published: February 2021

Sorption of chemicals onto soil particle surfaces is an important process controlling their availability for uptake by organisms and loss from soils to ground and surface waters. The mechanisms of chemical sorption are inner- and outer-sphere adsorption and precipitation onto mineral surfaces. Factors that determine the sorption behavior are properties of soil mineral and organic matter surfaces and properties of the sorbing chemicals (including valence, electron configuration, and hydrophobicity). Because soils are complex heterogeneous mixtures, measuring sorption mechanisms is challenging; however, advancements analytical methods have made direct determination of sorption mechanisms possible. In this review, historical and modern research that supports the mechanistic understanding of sorption mechanisms in soils is discussed. Sorption mechanisms covered include cation exchange, outer-sphere adsorption, inner-sphere adsorption, surface precipitation, and ternary adsorption complexes.
Earthquake Waste Management, Is It Possible in Developing Countries? Case Study: 2017 Mexico City Seism
Authors: Hernández-Padilla Flor , Anglés Marisol
Published: February 2021

After a seism, sanitation is an issue that requires immediate attention at different levels, with the aim of minimizing the latent risks to the public health. The aim of this study is to develop a methodological framework proposal to analyze the possibility of earthquake waste management, considering technical aspects and legal frameworks after an earthquake in a developing country. The implementation case study, the 2017 Mexico City earthquake, has presented data collection of the types of waste and quantities carried out in the field, as well as from government reports and calculations; furthermore, a study was developed to analyze the capacity installed to earthquake waste management, by means of interviews conducted in the field due to the lack of public and congruent institutional information. Finally, an analysis was conducted of the current legal framework and public policy of disaster waste management. In this sense, earthquake rubble totaled 344,211.3 tons and the estimated weight of households items per collapsed dwelling amounted to 424.16 kg. This manuscript deals with the management of earthquake waste in Mexico, based on the data of the 2017 earthquake; the study also explains possible problems and political challenges about the earthquake waste management with the limited conditions of a developing country.
Application of Exact and Multi-Heuristic Approaches to a Sustainable Closed Loop Supply Chain Network Design
Authors: Khan Abdul , Khalid Qazi , Naeem Khawar , Ahmad Rafiq , Khan Razaullah , Saleem Waqas , Pruncu Catalin
Published: February 2021

Closed-loop supply chains (CLSC) are gaining popularity due to their efficiency in addressing economic, environmental, and social concerns. An important point to ponder in the distribution of CLSC is that imperfect refrigeration and bad road conditions may result in product non-conformance during the transit and thus such products are to be returned to the supply node. This may hinder the level of customer satisfaction. This paper presents a sustainable closed-loop supply chain framework coupled with cross-docking subject to product non-conformance. A cost model is proposed to investigate the economic and environmental aspects of such systems. The transportation cost is analyzed in terms of total carbon emissions. A set of metaheuristics are administered to solve the model and a novel lower bound is proposed to relax the complexity of the proposed model. The results of different size problems are compared with the branch and bound approach and the proposed lower bound. The results indicate that the proposed research framework, mathematical model, and heuristic schemes can aid the decision-makers in a closed-loop supply chain context.
Assessment of the Overall Efficiency in WPT Stations for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Zucca Mauro , Cirimele Vincenzo , Bruna Jorge , Signorino Davide , Laporta Erika , Colussi Jacopo , Tejedor Miguel Angel Alonso , Fissore Federico , Pogliano Umberto
Published: February 2021

The on-site assessment of the efficiency of a charging station is not a trivial process and is a topic of discussion for professionals. The efficiency of electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), is an important parameter for both the user and the EVSE operator. This paper deals with a particular type of EVSE, using static wireless power transfer (WPT). This paper proposes a clear method to account for the parameters which can affect the correct determination of efficiency, such as in particular the accuracy of the meters and the effect of temperature. This work proposes a method to define the accuracy of the power and efficiency on-site assessment, and is aimed at clarifying that despite distorted waveforms at the charging stations, it is possible to reach a good accuracy in a wide temperature span (expanded uncertainty <0.5% between 5 °C and 40 °C). Analysis initiated from the measurement conditions and the actual waveforms recorded at two WPT EVSEs with differently rated power. This paper paves the way for the possibility of verifying class 0.5 m on-site, desirable for this type of application. The paper also clarifies that despite the evident presence of voltage and current ripple at the batteries, the weight of the ripple power on the total power is nevertheless lower than 0.1%. Finally, the paper highlights how, for the correct measurement of the ripple, it would be advisable to calibrate the instrumentation in DC and in AC, at a frequency double that of the working frequency of the EVSE coils.
Wind Resource and Wind Power Generation Assessment for Education in Engineering
Authors: Artigao Estefania , Vigueras-Rodríguez Antonio , Honrubia-Escribano Andrés , Martín-Martínez Sergio , Gómez-Lázaro Emilio
Published: February 2021

This paper proposes a practical approach to assess wind energy resource and calculate annual energy production for use on university courses in engineering. To this end, two practical exercises were designed in the open-source software GNU Octave (compatible with MATLAB) using both synthetic and field data. The script used to generate the synthetic data as well as those created to develop the practical exercises are included for the benefit of other educational bodies. With the first exercise the students learn how to characterize the wind resource at the wind turbine hub height and adjust it to the Weibull distribution. Two examples are included in this exercise: one with an appropriate fit and another where the Weibull distribution does not fit properly to the generated data. Furthermore, in this exercise, field data (gathered with a LiDAR remote sensing device) is also used to calculate shear exponents for a proper characterisation of the wind profile. The second exercise consists of the calculation of the annual energy production of a wind power plant, where the students can assess the influence of different factors (wind speed, rotor diameter, rated power, etc.) in the project. The exercises proposed can easily be implemented through either in-class or online teaching modes.
Research on the Evolution of Textile Technological Convergence in China
Authors: Xu Qian , Cheng Hua
Published: February 2021

Technological convergence (TC) plays a vital role in leading the next generation of technological innovation. Research in this field has practical significance for its ongoing deployment as an innovation-driven strategy in the sustainable development of the textile industry. However, there are few relevant studies, with most of them carried out on only one level, whether from a micro or macro perspective. This study analyses the evolution of TC from both macro (industry) and micro (technical field) levels. A patented co-occurrence method is employed to measure TC and various social network indicators, including density, node strength and the Jaccard coefficient, to measure the evolution of the network and its nodes and edges. The results present that the density of the macro TC network has been increasing and that the industrial technologies that are closely associated with the textile industry include chemical engineering technology, pharmaceutical technology and material technology. Meanwhile, the micro TC network manifests high dependence on proprietary technology, whilst the convergence degree between the core technologies is relatively high. This study proposes that the government should continue to encourage textile enterprises to strengthen TC, particularly their integration with leading technologies, and should strengthen the integration of emerging industrial textiles with national defence, medicine and other related fields to improve innovation speed.
Customer’s Choice of Purchasing Channel: Do Channel Characteristic, Brand, and Loyalty Matter When Shopping in Hybrid Retailers?
Authors: Bauerová Radka , Braciníková Veronika
Published: February 2021

Despite the increasing interest of researchers in the factors that lead customers to buy online, attention has not yet been paid to the factors in hybrid companies, where it is possible to choose both online and offline purchasing channels. Therefore, this paper is focused on investigating the importance of factors that affect customers in both environments. Data were obtained from 1021 respondents using an online panel from the IPSOS research company in Czechia in 2019. Two content analyses were used to obtain results. Attention was also focused on the perception of brand/loyalty in shifting retailers to the online environment or offline environment. The aim of the paper is to find out what factors and how they influence customers when deciding of purchasing channel. The results show the choice of channel is influenced by factors given by channel benefits, the product, brand perception, loyalty, and customer characteristics. Within hybrid retailers, the most preferred purchasing channel is still the offline channel. However, the results also show a significant impact of brand perception and loyalty in the transition of hybrid retailers to a purely online or offline environment, which significantly opens up opportunities for retailing management within sustainable brand management.
Cross-Organizational Learning Approach in the Sustainable Use of Fly Ash for Geopolymer in the Philippine Construction Industry
Authors: Ongpeng Jason Maximino C. , Guades Ernesto J. , Promentilla Michael Angelo B.
Published: February 2021

The construction industry faces a challenging situation in attaining sustainable development goals. The carbon footprint of the production and use of construction materials such as the use of ordinary Portland cement in concrete products is still on the rise despite of many alternatives and technologies. In this paper, the local cross-organizational learning approach (COLA) and a systematic review of academic and professional literatures were applied in analyzing the use of fly ash as a geopolymer in the Philippine construction industry. Three primary stakeholders were considered: academe, professional organizations, and industry. Documents from each stakeholder were collected, with keywords including sustainability, fly ash, and geopolymer. These documents included published materials, newsletters, department orders, codes, and policies. Text analytics throughout the documents were applied using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation model, which uses a hierarchal Bayesian-modelling process that groups set of items into topics to determine the maturity level of the organizational learning. An adoption framework is proposed aligning COLA with the awareness, interest, desire, and action (AIDA) funnel model. Results show that the organizational maturity until optimization of academe is sufficient towards interest and desire, while industry is highly encouraged to increase organizational maturity from managed to optimization towards desire and action. Factors such as organizational intelligence (OI) and organizational stupidity (OS) are to be considered in balancing critical thinking across organizations. Further studies are recommended by considering the use of COLA with ASEAN organizations in the development of sustainable construction materials.
Assessment of Enhancing Employee Engagement in Energy-Saving Behavior at Workplace: An Empirical Study
Authors: Chen Chun-Hsi Vivian , Chen Yu-Cheng
Published: February 2021

This paper investigates the possible benefits and effects of energy-saving attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and the behavioral intention of employees on habits in the workplace. The total sample size was 322 respondents. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were used for the statistical analysis. The analytical results indicate that energy-saving attitude and perceived behavioral control correlate positively with the employees’ energy-saving habits. However, the subjective norm does not have a positive correlation with employees’ energy-saving habits. In addition, an examination of the mediating effect reveals that employees’ behavioral intentions are a significant mediator for energy-saving attitude, the subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control of the employees’ energy-saving habit. Moreover, this study provides a framework for the management of energy-saving in the workplace, and closes with a discussion on the theoretical and practical implications of the research findings.
The Predictive Capability of a Novel Ensemble Tree-Based Algorithm for Assessing Groundwater Potential
Authors: Park Soyoung , Kim Jinsoo
Published: February 2021

Understanding the potential groundwater resource distribution is critical for sustainable groundwater development, conservation, and management strategies. This study analyzes and maps the groundwater potential in Busan Metropolitan City, South Korea, using random forest (RF), gradient boosting machine (GBM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGB) methods. Fourteen groundwater conditioning factors were evaluated for their contribution to groundwater potential assessment using an elastic net. Curvature, the stream power index, the distance from drainage, lineament density, and fault density were excluded from the subsequent analysis, while nine other factors were used to create groundwater potential maps (GMPs) using the RF, GBM, and XGB models. The accuracy of the resultant GPMs was tested using receiver operating characteristic curves and the seed cell area index, and the results were compared. The analysis showed that the three models used in this study satisfactorily predicted the spatial distribution of groundwater in the study area. In particular, the XGB model showed the highest prediction accuracy (0.818), followed by the GBM (0.802) and the RF models (0.794). The XGB model, which is the most recently developed technique, was found to best contribute to improving the accuracy of the GPMs. These results contribute to the establishment of a sustainable management plan for groundwater resources in the study area.
Towards Mountain Fire Safety Using Fire Spread Predictive Analytics and Mountain Fire Containment in IoT Environment
Authors: Imran  , Iqbal Naeem , Ahmad Shabir , Kim Do Hyeun
Published: February 2021

Mountains are popular tourist destinations due to their climate, fresh atmosphere, breathtaking sceneries, and varied topography. However, they are at times exposed to accidents, such as fire caused due to natural hazards and human activities. Such unforeseen fire accidents have a social, economic, and environmental impact on mountain towns worldwide. Protecting mountains from such fire accidents is also very challenging in terms of the high cost of fire containment resources, tracking fire spread, and evacuating the people at risk. This paper aims to fill this gap and proposes a three-fold methodology for fire safety in the mountains. The first part of the methodology is an optimization model for effective fire containment resource utilization. The second part of the methodology is a novel ensemble model based on machine learning, the heuristic approach, and principal component regression for predictive analytics of fire spread data. The final part of the methodology consists of an Internet of Things-based task orchestration approach to notify fire safety information to safety authorities. The proposed three-fold fire safety approach provides in-time information to safety authorities for making on-time decisions to minimize the damage caused by mountain fire with minimum containment cost. The performance of optimization models is evaluated in terms of execution time and cost. The particle swarm optimization-based model performs better in terms of cost, whereas the bat algorithm performs better in terms of execution time. The prediction models’ performance is evaluated in terms of root mean square error, mean absolute error, and mean absolute percentage error. The proposed ensemble-based prediction model accuracy for fire spread and burned area prediction is higher than that of the state-of-the-art algorithms. It is evident from the results that the proposed fire safety mechanism is a step towards efficient mountain fire safety management.
Use of Traffic Planning Software Outputs When a New Highway Section Is Put into Operation
Authors: Harantová Veronika , Kalašová Alica , Kubíková Simona
Published: February 2021

The main aim of this paper is to point out the assumptions of motorway operation effects on local transport. We assume positive effects of starting motorway operation on the specific section of road I/11. This section connects the cities of Žilina and Čadca. It is considered as one of the most problematic sections of the Slovak Republic because of the high intensity of individual transport and freight or cargo transport. This transport issue is growing beyond the regional level and is reaching alarming proportions. It needs to be solved as soon as possible. One of the available possibilities is to start the operation of the mentioned motorway D3. We have created a simulation model of a current state and also the state with the motorway. We have used intensities from the last national traffic census as basic inputs for simulation. These intensity values have been recalculated by relevant growth coefficients defined in Technical Conditions no. 102. Based on the results of a dynamic simulation, we have compared the average speed, delay times, and the length of congestions in two scenarios—the current state and effects of motorway operation.
Promotion of Environmental Education in the Spanish Compulsory Education Curriculum. A Normative Analysis and Review
Authors: Pellín Carcelén Ana , Cuevas Monzonís Nuria , Rodríguez Martín Ana , Gabarda Méndez Vicente
Published: February 2021

The environmental education and the promotion of the sustainability are two of the main axes in the international guidelines around the world. Education institutions must play an active role to achieve environment and sustainability awareness, and government educational policies should provide education institutions the necessary tools. This study tries to analyze the way in which these topics have been integrated in the Spanish compulsory curriculum through the normative review. Specifically, a content analysis has been used to quantify environmental and sustainability references, both in the subjects they integrate and the contents and standards which they relate with. The results show that: (1) there is not a transversal consideration of these terms; (2) the integration is greater in the Secondary Education; (3) environmental and sustainability treatment is mostly theoretical and focused on instrumental subjects; (4) when the approach is practical, it is often linked to reflections processes. Thus, we conclude on the need for governmental institutions to increase the presence of these terms in the educational curriculum and to integrate them in a transversal way and, through specific content, skills that contribute to build a collective social awareness of the importance of these phenomena in our society, including them as content as well as in the initial and continuous training.
A Conceptual Framework for Incorporation of Composting in Closed-Loop Urban Controlled Environment Agriculture
Authors: Dsouza Ajwal , Price Gordon W. , Dixon Mike , Graham Thomas
Published: February 2021

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA), specifically advanced greenhouses, plant factories, and vertical farms, has a significant role to play in the urban agri-food landscape through provision of fresh and nutritious food for urban populations. With the push towards improving sustainability of these systems, a circular or closed-loop approach for managing resources is desirable. These crop production systems generate biowaste in the form of crop and growing substrate residues, the disposal of which not only impacts the immediate environment, but also represents a loss of valuable resources. Closing the resource loop through composting of crop residues and urban biowaste is presented. Composting allows for the recovery of carbon dioxide and plant nutrients that can be reused as inputs for crop production, while also providing a mechanism for managing and valorizing biowastes. A conceptual framework for integrating carbon dioxide and nutrient recovery through composting in a CEA system is described along with potential environmental benefits over conventional inputs. Challenges involved in the recovery and reuse of each component, as well as possible solutions, are discussed. Supplementary technologies such as biofiltration, bioponics, ozonation, and electrochemical oxidation are presented as means to overcome some operational challenges. Gaps in research are identified and future research directions are proposed.
The ABC’s of Ecological and Nutrition Labels. The Impact of Label Theme and Complexity on the Environmental Footprint of Online Grocery Choices
Authors: Hallez Lotte , Qutteina Yara , Boen Filip , Smits Tim
Published: February 2021

Current food production and consumption patterns pose serious threats to our global environment. The goal of the current research is to investigate whether the presence of specific informational cues, i.e., ecological labels and nutrition labels, can improve the environmental impact of food choices. Two online experiments were carried out in which young adults were asked to select products in a grocery shop setting, and to indicate quantities (in grams) for a hypothetical one-person meal. In the first experiment (N = 142), we varied the theme (sustainability vs. nutrition vs. control) of the labels alongside the products. The labels displayed a summarized product score (i.e., the products’ actual nutri-score), but this was either presented as the nutritional score or as the ecological score of that product. In the second experiment (N = 250), we again varied this label theme as well as the level of complexity, namely interpretative (i.e., simple) vs. reductive (i.e., detailed). While the results of the first experiment revealed no impact of the labels, the results of the second experiment suggest that labels with a sustainability theme can influence young adults to compose a more sustainable meal with less meat, and with a lower carbon and blue water footprint. The labels’ level of complexity did not impact the different eating outcomes. In conclusion, while these results point to the potential use of labels with a sustainability theme, it is important to note that the results did not consistently replicate across studies and analyses and should therefore be interpreted with caution. A possible explanation for the effect of eco-themed labels might be that they trigger pro-environmental objectives during decision-making, and prime people to consider the sustainability of their food choices.
Assessing City Governance for Low-Carbon Mobility in London
Authors: Drummond Paul
Published: February 2021

City-level decisions are crucial for delivering a low carbon transition, particularly as urban population dynamics and environments change in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring appropriate governance structures, mechanisms and resources to facilitate these decisions is therefore essential. Based on a systematic literature review by van der Heijden (2019), this paper develops a simple framework to assess the state of ten enabling factors for effective urban climate governance, and applies it to low-carbon passenger mobility in London. Drawing on documentary evidence and a series of semi-structured expert interviews, it finds that London’s city authorities have a strong capacity for autonomy, stakeholder participation, local leadership and coordination on climate action and mobility, of which they make extensive use. The national legal and political framework remains broadly supportive following the UK’s departure from the EU, but multi-level co-ordination is thin, and funding issues have intensified conflict over political jurisdiction since the pandemic began. Spatial variation in urban form and infrastructure, coupled with dual-layer city administration, complicate the socio-political landscape and drive for climate action in mobility.
Episodic Retail Settings: A Sustainable and Adaptive Strategy for City Centre Stores
Authors: Sundström Malin , Lundberg Christine , Ziakas Vassilios
Published: February 2021

The fact that an already damaged retail industry is being challenged by a pandemic makes the industry’s survival a matter of urban resilience. Sustainable and adaptive strategies are needed to reverse the negative development of the retail sector, and in this conceptual paper, a new perspective is suggested based on episodic retail settings. Such a perspective can increase a physical store’s attraction and may serve as a flexible operation strategy for urban retailers and give added value to urban consumers as they shape an ongoing dramatological discourse and facilitate social interaction in a way that traditional fixed-store formats are unable to compete with. By applying the scientific circle of enquiry (SCE), the authors develop an interdisciplinary perspective cutting across the sustainability, service science, and urban studies fields. On this ground, they present a set of conceptual premises and a tripartite conceptual framework delineating how to effectively design episodic retail settings that are adaptive and sustainable. The paper concludes with suggestions for research questions to further advance this field of study.
Consequences of Confinement Due to COVID-19 in Spain on Anxiety, Sleep and Executive Functioning of Children and Adolescents with ADHD
Authors: Navarro-Soria Ignasi , Real-Fernández Marta , Juárez-Ruiz de Mier Rocío , Costa-López Borja , Sánchez Marta , Lavigne Rocío
Published: February 2021

The outbreak and the quick expansion of SARS-CoV-2, from December 2019 to today, has forced countries around the world to resolve virus containment measures in order to slow down the contagion curve. Between these measures, the situation of lockdown, and the isolation or limitation of social contact between the citizens, there has been an unknown psychological impact. Certain groups (the elderly, children and teenagers, and the clinical population, for instance) arouse serious fears among professionals due to their greater vulnerability and ignorance regarding the short- and long-term consequences. The main purposes of this work are first of all to evaluate the consequences of the lockdown in children and teenagers diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sleep-related problems, and problems with executive functions. Secondly, we aim to compare the effects produced with respect to the previously mentioned variables with normotypic subjects; that is to say, between a group that was subject to lockdown and another group that was not confined. The findings show that the clinic confined group had high levels of state anxiety and problems with sleep and executive functions; differences could also be seen between the two groups, with the confined ADHD group being more negatively affected in all measured variables.
A Systematic Mapping of Current Literature on Sustainability at Farm-Level in Beef and Lamb Meat Production
Authors: Arvidsson Segerkvist Katarina , Hansson Helena , Sonesson Ulf , Gunnarsson Stefan
Published: February 2021

Beef and lamb meat production is associated with important cultural, economic and environmental impacts in most countries worldwide. However, it is also related with sustainability challenges. To enable cattle and sheep farming to develop in line with sustainability, existing knowledge need to be implemented and identified knowledge gaps filled. The purpose of this article was to systematically map the scientific literature on environmental, economic and social sustainability at farm-level beef and lamb meat production to identify knowledge gaps and to point to important future actions and areas of research. Papers published January 2000–August 2020 with a geographical origin in Europe, Northern America, and Australia-New Zealand were included. The systematic literature search resulted in a total of 1355 hits; however, after removing papers which were considered out of the scope of the study, and duplicate papers, only 22 and 11 papers related to beef and sheep farming, respectively were retained for further analysis. Of these, only 11 in total included all three sustainability dimensions. Several papers only mentioned one or two of the sustainability dimensions or put them in relation to that/those main dimension covered, thus limiting the extent to which possible synergies or tradeoffs between different sustainability aspects actually can be studied. This indicates a need for a more comprehensive approach when studying farm-level sustainability. Future research would benefit from a more holistic approach and include all dimensions of sustainability within the same study. Further, focus should also be on how to measure and assess sustainability aspects in a standardized way.
Should Manufacturers Support the Entire Product Lifecycle with Services?
Authors: Bustinza Oscar F. , Vendrell-Herrero Ferrán , Sánchez-Montesinos Francisco J. , Campos-Granados José Antonio
Published: February 2021

The growing trend to develop product–service innovation (PSI) in manufacturing industries has forced firms to consider the real impact of adding services to their sales portfolio. Literature has shown that PSI implementation has heterogeneous effects on performance as it depends on the service development choice and the specific industry in which firms compete. Moreover, PSI implementation has differing effects on performance depending on the manufacturer’s position in the value ecosystem. Although the heterogeneous PSI–performance relationship has previously been studied in terms of its intensity, research has not yet examined whether services should support specific stages or the entire product lifecycle. For shedding light on this issue, a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) is carried out on a sample of Basque firms that operate in the machine manufacturing sector. This useful technique uncovers a set of specific service combinations that maximize manufacturers’ profit margin and ratio of solvency. As a result, this study is novel in analyzing the service provision over the entire product lifecycle and reveals that although some service complementarities do exist, single or bundled service specialization outperforms an integral and diversified service approach.
Trends in Civic Engagement Disaster Safety Education Research: Systematic Literature Review and Keyword Network Analysis
Authors: Seo Hyun Jeong , Son Minjie , Hong Ah Jeong
Published: February 2021

Background: Education plays the most important role in establishing a disaster management system by creating a safety culture in the community and by engaging its members. This study explored the trends in research on disaster safety education based on the community from the perspective of lifelong education. Methods: We undertook a systematic literature review and keyword network analysis. The main search keywords were “community”, “disaster”, “safety”, and “education”. The subjects of education were adults, including disaster-vulnerable people, such as elderly and disabled people. A total of 185 articles and papers were identified and then narrowed down to 56. Results: Research related to disaster safety education has developed in a direction that reflects the characteristics of disasters that occur in the region. Currently, disaster safety education is being studied in various fields, including the humanities, social sciences, and engineering, focusing on disaster prevention. The main research methods in the reviewed literature were qualitative, especially case studies that applied narrative, storytelling, and risk scenario construction. Conclusion: The study provides a framework for the in-depth analysis of disaster risk management and risk level of communities, and lays the academic foundation for it.
A Critical Review on the Performance of Pile-Supported Rail Embankments under Cyclic Loading: Numerical Modeling Approach
Authors: Riyad A. S. M. , Ferreira Fernanda Bessa , Indraratna Buddhima , Ngo Trung
Published: February 2021

Searching for economical and practical solutions to increase any transport substructure’s protection and stability is critical for ensuring the long-term viability and adequate load-bearing capacity. Piles are increasingly being used as an economical and environmentally sustainable solution to enhance the strength of soft subgrade soils on which embankments are raised. As per the available literature, there are two main strategies used to explain railway embankments’ performance: experimental approaches and numerical simulations on a broad scale. The purpose of this study is to examine the state-of-the-art literature on numerical modeling methods adopted to assess the performance of pile-supported rail embankments subjected to cyclic loading. The paper addresses the main results from various numerical methods to explain the appropriate mechanisms associated with the load deformation response. It also presents the key issues and drawbacks of these numerical methods concerning rail embankment development while outlining the specific shortcomings and research gaps relevant to enhanced future design and analysis.