bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three Types of Architectural Educational Strategies (AES) in Sustainable Buildings for Learning Environments in Canada
Authors: Chupin Jean-Pierre , Hazbei Morteza , Pelchat Karl-Antoine
Published: July 2021

This article explores a trend provisionally called “eco-didacticism” observable for nearly 15 years in art, design and architecture. The corpus concentrates on learning centres as buildings meant to diffuse advanced knowledge in the field of sustainable architecture. We found evidence of additional educational intentions to the pedagogical or scientific programs that these buildings have already been mandated to host and support. A variety of practices or devices have sometimes been added to the architecture, sometimes integrated, while others determine the overall structuring of these educational buildings. Seven cases of “learning centres” built in Canada between 2004 and 2018 have been screened through three epistemological filters distinguishing forms of “architectural didactics”: 1—a labeling often quantitative approach, 2—an experiential or practical approach, 3—a visually narrative or iconic approach. While outlining definitions of these Architectural Educational Strategies (AES), we offer initial explanations for their distinctive features. It appears that architects, designers and critics altogether operate on the belief that forms of architectural communication can operate as elements of a language that would be accessible to non-experts. Our conclusion indicates how future research could question the very possibility of giving lessons through formal language and aesthetic features.
Towards the Human–Machine Interaction: Strategies, Design, and Human Reliability Assessment of Crews’ Response to Daily Cargo Ship Navigation Tasks
Authors: Han Su , Wang Tengfei , Chen Jiaqi , Wang Ying , Zhu Bo , Zhou Yiqi
Published: July 2021

Human error is a crucial factor leading to maritime traffic accidents. The effect of human–computer interaction (HCI) also plays a leading role in human error. The objective of this study is to propose a method of interaction strategies based on a cognitive-processing model in crews’ daily navigation tasks. A knowledge-based ship HCI framework architecture is established. It provides an extensible framework for the HCI process in the maritime domain. By focusing on the cognitive process of a crew in the context of accident and risk handling during ship navigation, based on the information, decision, and action in crew context (IDAC) model, in combination with the maritime accident dynamics simulation (MADS) system, the MADS-IDAC system was developed and enhanced by the HCI structure and function design of the dynamic risk analysis platform for maritime management. The results indicate that MADS enhanced by HCI can effectively generate a strategy set of various outcomes in preset scenarios. Moreover, it provides a new method and thought for avoiding human error in crew interaction and to lower the risk of ship collision as well as effectively improving the reliability of HCI.
Meteorological and Hydrological Drought Analysis and Its Impact on Water Quality and Stream Integrity
Authors: Giri Subhasis , Mishra Ashok , Zhang Zhen , Lathrop Richard G. , Alnahit Ali O.
Published: July 2021

Rising temperature and shifting precipitation patterns due to climate change are likely to intensify droughts throughout the world. Understanding the drought characteristics of possible future scenarios under climate change requires verification of past drought events using appropriate drought indices. Consequently, this study investigates the application of two widely used drought indices, the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and standardized streamflow index (SSI), to characterize historical droughts, drought trends, and their impact on water quality and stream integrity for a selected study basin in New Jersey. Results indicated that both SPI and SSI were able to identify historical drought events, including three drought emergency periods and the most recent drought-watch periods. A significant positive meteorological drought was observed at the western side of the basin, whilst a significant positive hydrological drought was found in the eastern side. The average pollutant concentration of drought periods were lesser than non-drought periods due to reduction of different processes, such as erosion and transport of sediment and nutrients into rivers and streams, during drought periods as opposed to non-drought periods. The findings from this study will serve to bolster the ongoing efforts to formulate better drought management strategies for future climate change in the Raritan Basin.
Influence of Business-Operational Performances and Company Size on CO2 Emissions Decrease-Case of Serbian Road Transport Companies
Authors: Sofijanic Svetozar Slobodan , Arsic Sinisa Milos , Jovanovic Dragutin , Arsic Milos Zivko , Kalac Safet , Ribaric Zoran , Kostadinovic Dragan , Peulic Velibor , Rosulj Dragana , Fazekas Tibor , Ljubojevic Srdjan , Dimic Srdjan , Ribaric Boris
Published: July 2021

This research includes the analysis and comparison of long-term values of key business parameters of profit-oriented companies in Serbia, which are engaged in road transport of cargo or passengers. This paper takes into account the decreasing emissions of CO2 and its relation to the size of business (in terms of transported cargo or number of passengers), and thus by the company’s business success (income, profit). In the empirical part of this research—ecological, operational, and business factors were analyzed on a sample of road carriers from Serbia, i.e., the most common type of organized transport of people or physical goods. Key difference was made between large and small companies engaged in transport activities, followed by difference between those companies which have business activities only in Serbia, or engage also in international activities in the Balkan region (or in the rest of world). The main goal of this paper is to determine statistically significant differences between transport companies in terms of key performance indicators, depending on whether they operate only domestically or abroad. In relation to company size, this paper examined the sustainability of operations in the case of the largest transport companies, which represent half of the total transport activity in the country (by number of people transported or the amount of transported cargo), compared to all small carriers with less than 50 employees. Future research involves extending this sample of road transport companies to all Balkan countries, which have not yet become a part of the European Union and including additional operational as well as environmental indicators that are not conventionally measured during vehicle inspections.
Low-Carbon Multimodal Transportation Path Optimization under Dual Uncertainty of Demand and Time
Authors: Zhang Xu , Jin Fei-Yu , Yuan Xu-Mei , Zhang Hai-Yan
Published: July 2021

The research on the optimization of a low-carbon multimodal transportation path under uncertainty can have an important theoretical and practical significance in the high-quality development situation. This paper investigates the low-carbon path optimization problem under dual uncertainty. A hybrid robust stochastic optimization (HRSO) model is established considering the transportation cost, time cost and carbon emission cost. In order to solve this problem, a catastrophic adaptive genetic algorithm (CA-GA) based on Monte Carlo sampling is designed and tested for validity. The multimodal transportation schemes and costs under different modes are compared, and the impacts of uncertain parameters are analyzed by a 15-node multimodal transportation network numerical example. The results show that: (1) the uncertain mode will affect the decision-making of multimodal transportation, including the route and mode; (2) robust optimization with uncertain demand will increase the total cost of low-carbon multimodal transportation due to the pursuit of stability; (3) the influence of time uncertainty on the total cost is significant and fuzzy, showing the trend of an irregular wave-shaped change, like the ups and downs of the mountains. The model and algorithm we proposed can provide a theoretical basis for the administrative department and logistic services providers to optimize the transportation scheme under uncertainty.
Monitoring System for Tracking a PV Generator in an Experimental Smart Microgrid: An Open-Source Solution
Authors: Portalo José María , González Isaías , Calderón Antonio José
Published: July 2021

Smart grids and smart microgrids (SMGs) require proper monitoring for their operation. To this end, measuring, data acquisition, and storage, as well as remote online visualization of real-time information, must be performed using suitable equipment. An experimental SMG is being deployed that combines photovoltaics and the energy carrier hydrogen through the interconnection of photovoltaic panels, electrolyser, fuel cell, and load around a voltage bus powered by a lithium battery. This paper presents a monitoring system based on open-source hardware and software for tracking the temperature of the photovoltaic generator in such an SMG. In fact, the increases in temperature in PV modules lead to a decrease in their efficiency, so this parameter needs to be measured in order to monitor and evaluate the operation. Specifically, the developed monitoring system consists of a network of digital temperature sensors connected to an Arduino microcontroller, which feeds the acquired data to a Raspberry Pi microcomputer. The latter is accessed by a cloud-enabled user/operator interface implemented in Grafana. The monitoring system is expounded and experimental results are reported to validate the proposal.
The Relationship between Physical Education Teachers’ Perceptions of Principals’ Transformational Leadership and Creative Teaching Behavior at Junior and Senior High Schools: A Cross-Level Moderating Effect on Innovative School Climates
Authors: Chang Chia-Ming , Hsieh Huey-Hong , Chou Yu-Hui , Huang Hsiu-Chin
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between a principal’s transformational leadership and creative teaching behavior of physical education teachers at junior and senior high schools in Taiwan (at the individual level) and the cross-level effect on creative teaching behaviors of physical education teachers in an innovative school climate (at the school level) and the moderator effect of an innovative school climate on the relationship between a principal’s transformational leadership and creative teaching behaviors of physical education teachers. A total of 800 questionnaires were distributed to physical education teachers at 59 junior and senior high schools and 477 valid surveys were collected for data analysis. Using hierarchical linear modeling, we found that at the individual level, a principal’s transformational leadership has a positive impact on creative teaching behaviors of physical education teachers, and at the school level, an innovative school climate has a positive impact on creative teaching behaviors (at the person level) of physical education teachers. An innovative school climate at the school level has no moderating effects on the relationship between a principal’s transformational leadership and creative teaching behaviors of physical education teachers. This study provides implications and applications for cross-level studies, and builds the foundation for future multilevel research.
Becoming Family Farmers: The Contribution of the Existential Ontological Perspective to the Social Learning for Sustainability Theory
Authors: d’Angelo Marcia Juliana , Brunstein Janette , Telles Jones Madson
Published: July 2021

This research examines social learning for sustainability (SLfS), particularly in its social dimension. Few studies have discussed or advanced on the ontological issues of SLfS relating to who social actors are becoming. This study aims to describe and analyze how the process of SLfS facilitates Brazilian families who were at the base of the social pyramid (no income) to change the status from landless campers to family farmers with land moving up four levels in the social pyramid over a decade. The research is qualitative interpretative, based on narratives from semi-structured interviews with 16 social actors and document analysis. The results show the meaning of learning professional ways of being family farmers from an existential ontological perspective.
Toward the Sustainable Metropolis: The Challenge of Planning Regulation
Authors: Alfasi Nurit , Margalit Talia
Published: July 2021

Promoting urban sustainability and resilience is a demanding and challenging task. This paper focuses on the obstacles related to planning and regulation that stem from the structure of urban planning apparatuses and the substantial incompatibilities between them and common urban dynamics. Based on case studies from Tel Aviv-Jaffa, whose urban structure and municipal management appear to support the vision of urban sustainability and resilience, this paper presents three types of obstacles and concludes with four major challenges. The first obstacle relates to keeping urban infrastructure updated according to new technologies and knowledge. The second involves acknowledging the unintended consequences of planning actions, particularly those engaged with “green” policies. The third refers to confronting entrenched urban structures and processes. The practical obstacles include awareness of the widening social and spatial gaps that may result from uneven sustainability and resilience adaptation; the importance of keeping “open minds” about the required adaptation of plans and facilities to new knowledge and technologies; awareness of the fact that big plans require prolonged processes, which likely means timely adaptation of programs and means; and the need to facilitate communication between urban and governmental bodies and prepare for frequent coordination and consultation in various combinations.
Investigating International Students’ Perception of Foodservice Attributes in Malaysian Research Universities
Authors: Akbara Anisa Zahwa , Chua Bee-Lia , Han Heesup , Raposo António
Published: July 2021

University foodservice is expected to satisfy students’ food needs and is one of the necessities at a university. However, serving a community of international students who are multicultural is not an easy task. Thus, it is necessary to recognize international students’ needs and wants in order to increase their satisfaction with the overall on-campus dining experience. This study conducted an importance–performance analysis to examine international students’ perceived importance and perceived performance of university foodservice attributes. Using a self-administered questionnaire, a total of 620 international students who were studying in Malaysian research universities comprised the sample of this study. The results showed that food price was the most satisfactory foodservice attribute as perceived by international students. Food quality was deemed unsatisfactory and represented the main weakness. Results from this study can assist in determining how international students perceive the quality of the key attributes of on-campus foodservices and identify fields in which improvements are required.
Potential of Marketing Communication as a Sustainability Tool in the Context of Castle Museums
Authors: Lukáč Michal , Stachová Katarína , Stacho Zdenko , Bartáková Gabriela Pajtinková , Gubíniová Katarína
Published: July 2021

Based on the OECD research from 2020, tourism is one of the biggest and fast-growing sectors of the world economy. Tourism plays a key role in job creation as well as in added value creation. In 2018, the revenue from tourism in Slovakia totaled EUR 2.7 billion, which is EUR 4.7% more than the year before, where the mentioned refers to 3% GDP and 27.6% of the services-related exports. The authors drew their attention to identifying some marketing communication tools’ impact on the castle museum attendance in Slovakia and analyzed the degree and dynamics of the communication structure implementation in the context of cultural heritage. In general, 5840 cultural tourists were interviewed during three restricted cycles: 2006–2009, 2011–2014, and 2016–2019; the interviewing was held through the questionnaires only during the summer seasons. The study herein shows that the quality perception of the carried out offline marketing communication activities and the visit intention itself have significant influence on the interest of customers in repeated visits to castle museums.
Newly Elaborated Hybrid Algorithm for Optimization of Robot Arm’s Trajectory in Order to Increase Efficiency and Provide Sustainability in Production
Authors: Benotsmane Rabab , Dudás László , Kovács György
Published: July 2021

Nowadays, resources for production (raw materials, human, energy, etc.) are limited, while population, consumption and environmental damage are continuously increasing. Consequently, the current practices of resource usage are not sustainable. Therefore, manufacturing companies have to change to environmentally friendly and innovative technologies and tools, e.g., industrial robots. Robots are necessary in the production sector and also in terms of sustainability: (1) the application of robots is needed to compensate for the lack of human resources; (2) robots can increase productivity significantly; and (3) there are several hazardous (e.g., chemical, physical) industrial tasks for which robots are more adequate than human workforce. This article introduces a newly elaborated Hybrid Algorithm for optimization of a robot arm’s trajectory by the selection of that trajectory that has the smallest cycle time. This Hybrid Algorithm is based on the Tabu Search Algorithm and also uses two added methods—Point Insertion and Grid Refinement—simultaneously to find more precisely the optimal motion path of the robot arm in order to further reduce the cycle time and utilize the joints’ torque more efficiently. This Hybrid Algorithm is even more effective than applying the Tabu Search method alone and results in even higher efficiency improvement. The Hybrid Algorithm is executed using MATLAB software by creating a dynamic model of a 5 degree-of-freedom robot arm. The main contribution of the research is the elaboration of the new Hybrid Algorithm, which results in the minimization of robot arms’ motion cycle times, causing a significant increase in productivity and thus a reduction in specific production cost; furthermore, obstacles in the workspace can be avoided. The efficiency of the Hybrid Algorithm is validated by a case study showing that application of the new algorithm resulted in 32% shorter motion cycle time.
Performance Improvements for Romanian SMEs and Their Predictors
Authors: Berinde Sorin-Romulus , Herța Laura-Maria
Published: July 2021

The corporate governance of Romanian SMEs states that these companies have been less and less able to generate performance over the last few years. An average number of 1.273 SMEs per year have been included in the study, coming from all the eight local development regions of Romania. The data covers a period of 14 financial years, between 2005 and 2018. The findings showed, after statistical computations using regression models, that the performance of Romanian SMEs depended on the level of external managerial consultancy that corporate governance received from specialized companies and on the increasing level of wages. Given the high flexibility potential of SMEs, these choices are seen as tailored actions and strategies to compete successfully and support sustainable performance in the local context where its trend is downward. Moreover, the act of achieving performance at present is upheld by the performance attained in previous financial years. The impact of these factors could be established as a matter of priority in a long-term approach, for a time lag of up to 3 years. Moreover, the performance of companies covering all the local development regions is influenced only to a small degree by taxation levels, by the frequency of tax supervision performed by government institutions, by the capacity of corporate governance to be up to date with legislative change or by the self-financing of the activity conducted by the companies.
Game-Based Learning in Project Sustainability Management Education
Authors: Jääskä Elina , Aaltonen Kirsi , Kujala Jaakko
Published: July 2021

Projects and project-based activities account for over 30% of the global GPD and act as significant vehicles in the transition towards a more sustainable future. Sustainability strategies are typically enacted and implemented through projects in project-based organisations and firms. Incorporating sustainability principles into the project, product, and service management processes with successful project decision making is a challenging task and requires new personnel competencies and skills. Project sustainability management education requires the embedding of sustainability principles into project management education in a purposeful, integrative, innovative, and seamless manner. One way to facilitate this process is educational games. Active and experiential teaching methods will enable learning and practising complex project management activities in a simulative environment and are challenging at the same time. To extend knowledge of designing and using educational games for project sustainability management education, we explore the development and use of a novel educational game solution called the Project Business Game. It provides students and teachers with a computer game environment and game-based learning solution in which project planning, stakeholder management, cost management, decision making, and risk management skills can be enhanced by means of experiential, situational, and problem-based learning. The use of the game was explored in the context of educating European students of ‘Junior Expert in Circular Economy’ on a blended learning course in spring 2021. Action design research was applied as a research method. The results describe the requirements and goals for the instruction and the game design process based on these needs and experiences of the implementation. The findings indicate the strong suitability of using game-based learning methods to teach project sustainability management and create positive student experiences of achieving learning goals and improving engagement.
The Use of Smartphone English Language Learning Apps in the Process of Learning English: Slovak EFL Students’ Perspectives
Authors: Metruk Rastislav
Published: July 2021

In recent years, an accelerating trend in an undergoing shift from the use of traditional desktop computers towards the utilisation of smartphones for language learning purposes has been detected. In line with these trends, this study aims to investigate Slovak EFL learners’ attitudes and perceptions of English language learning apps (ELLA) regarding practicing and learning English. Furthermore, the differences in the perception of ELLA between the male and female research participants are also analysed. The target population totalled 158 Slovak university EFL learners, 48 males and 110 females, who were required to display their level of agreement to statements by responding to a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. The instrument consisted of 30 statements altogether, involving items on apps’ usage and apps’ perception. The calculated means indicate that the participants’ attitudes and perceptions of ELLA range between being neutral and positive, and that EFL learners tend to practice language systems and skills to varying degrees. Moreover, 30 independent-sample t-tests, which were run in order to determine the differences between the male and female attitudes and perceptions, reveal that 50% of statements on apps’ usage and apps’ perception differ significantly, demonstrating considerable differences between the two sexes. The achieved results seem to contribute to the existing research on the use of smartphones and ELLA in the context of EFL learning by casting more light on mobile language learning, an area that merits further scientific exploration.
Assessing the Static and Dynamic Efficiency of Scientific Research of HEIs China: Three Stage DEA–Malmquist Index Approach
Authors: Xue Wuzhao , Li Hua , Ali Rizwan , Rehman Ramiz ur , Fernández-Sánchez Gonzalo
Published: July 2021

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are the key to the economic and social development of a country. However, the recent advancements of higher education institutions’ universities in China have become a pivotal factor contributing to their swift growth. Considering the impact of the external environment, applying a three-stage data-envelopment analysis (DEA) and the Malmquist index method, we evaluated the static and dynamic efficiency of input–output data of scientific research produced by universities directly under the Ministry of Education in the period of 2010 to 2017. Results showed that the three stage DEA model is more accurate than the traditional DEA method for measuring the efficiency of scientific research input and universities’ output. The overall efficiency of universities’ scientific research activities increased at an average annual rate of 3.7% from 2010 to 2017. Further analysis showed that the optimization of the scale was the primary internal factor able to promote the efficiency of scientific research in universities. Technological progress slightly diminishes the efficiency of scientific research in universities, which should, therefore, take measures to improve pure technical efficiency to enlarge the scale of their scientific research according to the characteristics of scientific research efficiency. Such steps will strengthen internal motivation towards scientific research efficiency in universities.
Mapping Mangrove Opportunities with Open Access Data: A Case Study for Bangladesh
Authors: Gijón Mancheño Alejandra , Herman Peter M. J. , Jonkman Sebastiaan N. , Kazi Swarna , Urrutia Ignacio , van Ledden Mathijs
Published: July 2021

Mangroves protect coastal areas against hazards like storms or cyclones by attenuating waves and currents, and by trapping floating debris during extreme events. Bangladesh is a very vulnerable country to floods and cyclones, and part of its coastal system is thus being upgraded to a higher safety standard. These upgrades include embankment reinforcement and mangrove afforestation schemes seawards of the embankments. To further strengthen the implementation of combined green–grey infrastructure in future programs, identifying potential mangrove development sites near the polder systems is a necessary first step. We thus developed a tool to systematically identify mangrove sites throughout the coastal area based on open access data. This method identifies potential sites for mangrove development based on their distance from existing mangrove patches and suggests the required technique to implement the vegetation depending on the rate of coastline change. Our method showed that approximately 600 km of the coastal stretches placed seawards of embankments are within 10 km of existing mangroves, and could thus be potential sites for mangrove establishment. Out of those 600 km, we identified 140 km of coastline where the landwards polders are particularly vulnerable to flooding. The sites with highest restoration potential and priority are located in Galachipa, Hatiya, Bhola, Manpura, Khangona, and Boro Moheshkhali. More detailed data collection and local assessments are recommended prior to executing mangrove afforestation schemes. Nevertheless, this method could serve as a useful systematic tool for feasibility studies that identify mangrove opportunities in data-scarce areas and help to prioritize data collection at the sites of highest interest.
Exploring Options for Public Green Space Development: Research by Design and GIS-Based Scenario Modelling
Authors: Stessens Philip , Canters Frank , Khan Ahmed Z.
Published: July 2021

Green spaces have a positive influence on human well-being. Therefore, an accurate evaluation of public green space provision is crucial for administrations to achieve decent urban environmental quality for all. Whereas inequalities in green space access have been studied in relation to income, the relation between neighbourhood affluence and remediation difficulty remains insufficiently investigated. A methodology is proposed for co-creating scenarios for green space development through green space proximity modelling. For Brussels, a detailed analysis of potential interventions allows for classification according to relative investment scales. This resulted in three scenarios of increasing ambition. Results of scenario modelling are combined with socio-economic data to analyse the relation between average income and green space proximity. The analysis confirms the generally accepted hypothesis that non-affluent neighbourhoods are on average underserved. The proposed scenarios reveal that the possibility of reaching a very high standard in green space proximity throughout the study area if authorities would be willing to allocate budgets for green space development that go beyond the regular construction costs of urban green spaces, and that the types of interventions require a higher financial investment per area of realised green space in non-affluent neighbourhoods.
Sustainability Indicators: Information Asymmetry Mitigators between Cooperative Organizations and Their Primary Stakeholders
Authors: Macagnan Clea Beatriz , Seibert Rosane Maria
Published: July 2021

The research aims to identify indicators of representative information on sustainability from the cooperative organizations’ primary stakeholders’ perspective to mitigate information asymmetry. The study develops in seven stages: the primary stakeholders’ selection and training; the evidence survey; the triangulation between stakeholder responses, forming an indicators list; the indicators analysis by specialists; tests for indicators disclosure; and the indicators validation through the disclosure analysis. As a result, a list contains 61 sustainability indicators from the primary stakeholders’ perspective, in four pillars: economic, 20; social, 18; environmental, 13; and cultural, 10. With the cooperative organizations’ websites disclosure analysis, we found that the disclosure policies focus more on information asymmetry mitigating in the pillars: cultural and social, with the environmental and economic being neglected. Therefore, the procedures for disclosing information on sustainability have weaknesses. These policies reduce the primary stakeholders’ reliability about the cooperatives management system respective, limiting the primary stakeholders’ perspective on the cooperative organization value.
Cooperative Learning for a More Sustainable Education: Gender Equity in the Learning of Maths
Authors: Prieto-Saborit Jose Antonio , Méndez-Alonso David , Cecchini Jose Antonio , Fernández-Viciana Ana , Bahamonde-Nava Jose Ramón
Published: July 2021

Education and gender equity are of high priority in the list of objectives when looking to achieve sustainable development; however, various studies have analysed that these objectives are far from being reached. The goal of this paper was to investigate the influence that cooperative learning has on academic performance and on the gender gap in the subject of Maths. A total of 14,122 students between the ages of 10 and 19 took part in the study. The hypothesis posed was that gender differences observed in Maths would significantly be reduced in those classrooms in which cooperative learning had a higher degree of implementation. In the results, the analysis of the regression of means and gradients showed that gender predicts Maths results in a positive manner (estimated beta = 0.12, p < 0.01) and interacts with cooperative learning by taking a negative value (−0.26) and with an associated critical value less than 0.05. In other words, the relation between cooperative learning and Math grades is significantly higher in males than in females. However, females achieve better marks, which generates a certain relation of equity. These results prove that cooperative learning can reduce gender differences in the learning of Maths.
Shear Bond between Ultra-High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete Overlays and Normal Strength Concrete Substrates
Authors: Javidmehr Sara , Empelmann Martin
Published: July 2021

Strengthening or retrofitting of existing structures is a more sustainable and resource-efficient solution than replacing them with new constructions. To enhance the performance and effectiveness of strengthening works the use of high-performance materials is a promising method. Using ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) as supplementary concrete is one of such solutions leading to high structural resistance and better durability. For such UHPFRC overlays the shear bond resistance of the interface between the existing substrate, usually normal strength concrete (NSC), and the UHPFRC is a significant design aspect. This paper presents the results of push-off tests conducted on NSC-UHPFRC specimens, which were produced with different substrate treatment methods. Using different surface measurement techniques including the sand patch method and digital microscopy, the effects of substrate roughness and treatment method on shear bond behaviour and failure mechanisms are investigated, and the results are analysed with design approaches and further calculation models in the technical literature. Based on the results, the significance of considering roughness parameters and failure mode for the design of high-performance overlays is highlighted. Furthermore, the effectiveness of different substrate treatment methods is discussed and an effective treatment method is suggested.
Green Finance Innovation and Regional Green Development
Authors: Wang Yanli , Zhao Na , Lei Xiaodong , Long Ruyin
Published: July 2021

Through the use of 30 provincial panel datasets covering the years from 2013 to 2017, on the basis of constructing the regional green development indicator system, this paper used the fixed-base range entropy weight method to measure the regional green development level. The difference-in-differences model was used to test the policy effect, the mechanism of the establishment of the green financial reform, and the innovation pilot zone on green development. The results showed that: (1) the establishment of the pilot zone promotes regional green development and shows regional differences; (2) under the guidance of policies, the provinces that set up the pilot zone affect the level of regional green development mainly through the upgrading of industrial structure and technological innovation; further research has found (3) a high level of financial investment in environmental protection and marketization, which will help the pilot zone to further play a positive role in promoting the green development of the region. The results of this article indicated that China should continue to expand the scope of green finance reform and innovation pilot zones and make reasonable arrangements among regions according to local conditions to explore new ways of promoting green development. At the same time, the government should actively play the role of green finance in the pilot zone to promote industrial structure upgrading and technological innovation and guide market players to establish green development concepts to gradually build an environmentally friendly, circular model economy to enhance the overall green development capacity of the region.
Development and Validation of an Instrument to Assess Pro-Pensity to Cosmopolitanism in Adolescence
Authors: Di Maggio Ilaria , Santilli Sara , Ginevra Maria Cristina , Nota Laura
Published: July 2021

The study was designed to provide the initial validation of the instrument “How cosmopolitan do I think I am?” to assess the propensity to cosmopolitanism in adolescents interested in reflecting about their future career choices. Two studies were carried out to test psychometric requisites of the instrument “How cosmopolitan do I think I am?” Specifically, in the first study, after developing items and examining content validity, the factorial structure and the reliability of the scale were tested. The results showed good fit indexes for a factor structure characterized by three-correlated factors and for a second order-factor structure. This last factor structure model suggests that three hypothesised factors can be considered indicators of a global dimension of cosmopolitanism. In the second study, discriminant validity was evaluated. The results confirmed that the three dimensions of cosmopolitanism are related but distinct from career adaptability (CA) and the tendency to consider systemic challenges to attain sustainable development (TCSC). Overall, the results observed supported the use of the questionnaire in career vocational guidance and counseling activities.
Palatial Twistors from Quantum Inhomogeneous Conformal Symmetries and Twistorial DSR Algebras
Authors: Lukierski Jerzy
Published: July 2021

We construct recently introduced palatial NC twistors by considering the pair of conjugated (Born-dual) twist-deformed D=4 quantum inhomogeneous conformal Hopf algebras Uθ(su(2,2)⋉T4) and Uθ¯(su(2,2)⋉T¯4), where T4 describes complex twistor coordinates and T¯4 the conjugated dual twistor momenta. The palatial twistors are suitably chosen as the quantum-covariant modules (NC representations) of the introduced Born-dual Hopf algebras. Subsequently, we introduce the quantum deformations of D=4 Heisenberg-conformal algebra (HCA) su(2,2)⋉Hℏ4,4 (Hℏ4,4=T¯4⋉ℏT4 is the Heisenberg algebra of twistorial oscillators) providing in twistorial framework the basic covariant quantum elementary system. The class of algebras describing deformation of HCA with dimensionfull deformation parameter, linked with Planck length λp, is called the twistorial DSR (TDSR) algebra, following the terminology of DSR algebra in space-time framework. We describe the examples of TDSR algebra linked with Palatial twistors which are introduced by the Drinfeld twist and the quantization map in Hℏ4,4. We also introduce generalized quantum twistorial phase space by considering the Heisenberg double of Hopf algebra Uθ(su(2,2)⋉T4).
Existence, Uniqueness, and Stability Analysis of the Probabilistic Functional Equation Emerging in Mathematical Biology and the Theory of Learning
Authors: Turab Ali , Park Won-Gil , Ali Wajahat
Published: July 2021

Probabilistic functional equations have been used to analyze various models in computational biology and learning theory. It is worth noting that they are linked to the symmetry of a system of functional equations’ transformation. Our objective is to propose a generic probabilistic functional equation that can cover most of the mathematical models addressed in the existing literature. The notable fixed-point tools are utilized to examine the existence, uniqueness, and stability of the suggested equation’s solution. Two examples are also given to emphasize the significance of our findings.
The Improvement of Elliptic Curve Factorization Method to Recover RSA’s Prime Factors
Authors: Somsuk Kritsanapong
Published: July 2021

Elliptic Curve Factorization Method (ECM) is the general-purpose factoring method used in the digital computer era. It is based on the medium length of the modulus; ECM is an efficient algorithm when the length of modulus is between 40 and 50 digits. In fact, the main costs for each iteration are modular inverse, modular multiplication, modular square and greatest common divisor. However, when compared to modular multiplication and modular square, the costs of modular inverse and greatest common divisor are very high. The aim of this paper is to improve ECM in order to reduce the costs to compute both of modular inverse and greatest common divisor. The proposed method is called Fast Elliptic Curve Factorization Method (F-ECM). For every two adjacent points on the curve, only one modular inverse and one greatest common divisor will be computed. That means it implies that the costs in both of them can be split in half. Furthermore, the length of modulus in the experiment spans from 30 to 65 bits. The experimental results show that F-ECM can finish the task faster than ECM for all cases of the modulus. Furthermore, the computation time is reduced by 30 to 38 percent.
An Efficient Dynamic Regulated Fuzzy Neural Network for Human Motion Retrieval and Analysis
Authors: Huang Xin , Zhu Yuanping , Wang Shuqin
Published: July 2021

Human motion retrieval and analysis is a useful means of activity recognition to 3D human bodies. An efficient method is proposed to estimate human motion by using symmetric joint points and limb features of various limb parts based on regression task. We primarily obtain the 3D coordinates of symmetric joint points based on the located waist and hip points. By introducing three critical feature points on torso and symmetric joint points’ matching on motion video sequences, the 3D coordinates of symmetric joint points and its asymmetric limb features will not be affected by shading and interference of limb on different postures. With the asymmetric limb features of various human parts, a dynamic regulated Fuzzy neural network (DRFNN) is proposed to estimate human motion for different asymmetric postures using learning algorithm of network parameters and weights. Finally, human sequential actions corresponding to different asymmetric postures are presented according to the best retrieval results by DRFNN based on 3D human action database. Experiments show that compared with the traditional adaptive self-organizing fuzzy neural network (SOFNN) model, the proposed algorithm has higher estimation accuracy and better presentation results compared with the existing human motion analysis algorithms.
Continuous-Flow Photocatalytic Microfluidic-Reactor for the Treatment of Aqueous Contaminants, Simplicity, and Complexity: A Mini-Review
Authors: Gao Zhongwei , Pan Changqing , Choi Chang-Ho , Chang Chih-Hung
Published: July 2021

Water pollution is a growing global issue; there are many approaches to treating wastewater, including chemical coagulation, physical adsorption, and chemical oxidation. The photocatalysis process has provided a solution for removing pollutants from wastewater, where the pair of the photoelectron and hole works through an asymmetric way to degrade the contaminants under UV irradiation. This method offers an alternative route for treating the pollutant with a lower energy cost, high efficiency, and fewer byproducts. A continuous-flow microfluidic reactor has a channel size from tens to thousands of micrometers, providing uniform irradiation and short diffusion length. It can enhance the conversion efficiency of photocatalysis due to the simple spatial symmetry inside the microreactor channel and among the individual channels. In addition, the bandgap of TiO2, ZnO, or other photocatalyst nanoparticles with symmetric crystal structure can be modified through doping or embedding. In this mini-review, a review of the reported continuous-flow photocatalytic microfluidic reactor is discussed from the perspective of both microreactor design and material engineering.
An Improved Crow Search Algorithm Applied to the Phase Swapping Problem in Asymmetric Distribution Systems
Authors: Cortés-Caicedo Brandon , Avellaneda-Gómez Laura Sofía , Montoya Oscar Danilo , Alvarado-Barrios Lázaro , Álvarez-Arroyo César
Published: July 2021

This paper discusses the power loss minimization problem in asymmetric distribution systems (ADS) based on phase swapping. This problem is presented using a mixed-integer nonlinear programming model, which is resolved by applying a master–slave methodology. The master stage consists of an improved version of the crow search algorithm. This stage is based on the generation of candidate solutions using a normal Gaussian probability distribution. The master stage is responsible for providing the connection settings for the system loads using integer coding. The slave stage uses a power flow for ADSs based on the three-phase version of the iterative sweep method, which is used to determine the network power losses for each load connection supplied by the master stage. Numerical results on the 8-, 25-, and 37-node test systems show the efficiency of the proposed approach when compared to the classical version of the crow search algorithm, the Chu and Beasley genetic algorithm, and the vortex search algorithm. All simulations were obtained using MATLAB and validated in the DigSILENT power system analysis software.
Analysis of a Robot Selection Problem Using Two Newly Developed Hybrid MCDM Models of TOPSIS-ARAS and COPRAS-ARAS
Authors: Goswami Shankha Shubhra , Behera Dhiren Kumar , Afzal Asif , Razak Kaladgi Abdul , Khan Sher Afghan , Rajendran Parvathy , Subbiah Ram , Asif Mohammad
Published: July 2021

Traditional Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods have now become outdated; therefore, most researchers are focusing on more robust hybrid MCDM models that combine two or more MCDM techniques to address decision-making problems. The authors attempted to create two novel hybrid MCDM systems in this paper by integrating Additive Ratio ASsessment (ARAS) with Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and Complex PRoportional ASsessment (COPRAS). To demonstrate the ability and effectiveness of these two hybrid models i.e., TOPSIS-ARAS and COPRAS-ARAS were applied to solve a real-time robot selection problem with 12 alternative robots and five selection criteria, while evaluating the parametric importance using the CRiteria Importance Through Inter criteria Correlation (CRITIC) objective weighting estimation tool. The rankings of the robot alternatives gained from these two hybrid models were also compared to the obtained results from eight other solo MCDM tools. Although the rankings by the applied methods slightly differ from each other, the final outcomes from all of the adopted techniques are consistent enough to suggest that robot 12 is the best choice followed by robot 11, and robot 4 is the worst one among these 12 alternatives. Spearman Correlation Coefficient (SCC) also reveals that the proposed rankings derived from various methods have a strong ranking relationship with one another. Finally, sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the effects of weight variation and to validate the robustness of the implemented MCDM approaches.
An fcu Th-MOF Constructed from In Situ Coupling of Monovalent Ligands
Authors: Song Ting , Tang Wenlei , Bao Chuer , Lai Qiuxue , Zhang Zhiyuan , Feng Xuan , Liu Chong
Published: July 2021

Synthetic efforts targeting highly symmetrical metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have always been relentless, for the symmetry of a MOF’s pore environment and overall crystal structure are relevant to the MOF’s properties and behavior. Herein, we report a novel Th-based MOF constructed from assembling highly symmetrical Th-oxo clusters via in situ reductive coupling of nitroso groups on the cluster surface. Nitroso groups have long been known to dimerize in a reversible fashion. Putting them on the monovalent ligands that decorate the Th-oxo clusters can facilitate a downstream assembly process that link the said clusters in a controllable and predictable manner, preserving the overall symmetry in the MOF product. Moreover, the assembly can be made permanent by reducing the azodioxy moiety to azo, effectively locking the symmetrical MOF form. We believe this process of assembling pre-formed Th-oxo clusters helps the overall MOF adopt a highly symmetrical topology (face-centered cubic, fcu) resembling the well-known UiO series MOFs based on tetravalent Zr/Hf.