bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Creating Quality-Based Smart Sustainable Public Parking Enterprises: A Methodology to Reframe Organizations into Smart Organizations
Authors: Todorović Gordana , Puskarić Hrvoje , Klochkov Yury , Simić Vladimir , Lazić Zorica , Đorđević Aleksandar
Published: May 2022

Enterprise sustainability is a key aim in the fourth industrial revolution era, requiring a new approach based on intelligent technologies that considers the new roles of leadership and sustainability as well as the new trends in emerging smart technologies, with a new focus on Society 5.0. Smart parking has a significant role in fostering the determinants of sustainability in public parking enterprises and achieving adequate mobility in smart cities. Thus, smart parking is the subject of the research presented in this paper. This study defines the vital processes, including leadership processes and technologies needed for smart parking, managed by innovative public parking enterprises. Having this in mind, trends, key facts, the results of present innovative technology enterprises, and methodologies for designing and establishing smart public parking enterprises are analyzed. This paper aims to determine the sustainability of parking enterprises in their current states by developing a MORSO methodology. The MORSO methodology includes independent variables, including the leadership level of the intelligent technologies used, quality of the business processes, and risk related to the business processes, and a dependent variable, the sustainability of smart public parking enterprises. The MORSO methodology also includes steps for the definition of indices related to variables that could be assessed by appropriate techniques such as using questionnaires. Finally, the MORSO methodology introduces steps by which statistical approaches and artificial neural networks (ANN) are applied to test hypotheses regarding correlations between independent and dependent variables. The results of the presented model case study application show that there are strong correlations between smart sustainability and leadership (0.769), quality (0.904), and risk (−0.884), respectively. Additionally, at the level of the presented case study, the results of the application of the ANN indicate that the values of the dependent variable in the following time period can be determined with high accuracy, based on the knowledge of the values from the previous period, with a regression coefficient value of R = 0.99482. Finally, in this way, the transition from existing public enterprises to sustainable smart public parking enterprises is envisioned.
Management Optimization of Electricity System with Sustainability Enhancement
Authors: Hou Wei , Man Li Rita Yi , Sittihai Thanawan
Published: May 2022

Based on new policies and social changes, renewable energies have highly penetrated electrical systems, making the system more vulnerable than before. On the other hand, it leads to congestion and competition within the network. To this end, this paper developed a probabilistic multi-objective-based congestion management approach and applied it to the optimal transmission switching (OTS) strategies, to maximize system suitability and minimize total production costs. A point estimation economic method (PEM) has been applied, as one of the best management and economic tools to handle the uncertainties associated with a wind turbine’s power production and load demand (LD). Results demonstrate the effectiveness and merit of the proposed technique, compared to the existing one, which can lead to higher reliability and sustainability for the grids.
Assessing Conservation and Mitigation Banking Practices and Associated Gains and Losses in the United States
Authors: Theis Sebastian , Poesch Mark S.
Published: May 2022

Conservation and mitigation banks allow their proponents to buy credits to offset the negative residual impacts of their development projects with the goal of no net loss (NNL) in the ecosystem function and habitat area. However, little is known about the extent to which these bank transactions achieve NNL. We synthesized and reviewed 12,756 transactions in the United States which were related to meeting area and ecological equivalence (n = 4331) between the approved negative impact and offset. While most of these transactions provided an offset that was equal to or greater than the impacted area, approximately one quarter of the transactions, especially those targeting wetlands, did not meet ecological equivalence between the impact and offset. This missing ecological equivalence was often due to the significantly increasing use of preservation, enhancement, and rehabilitation over creating new ecosystems through establishment and re-establishment. Stream transactions seldom added new ecosystem area through creation but mainly used rehabilitation in order to add offset benefits, in many cases leading to a net loss of area. Our results suggest that best practice guidance on habitat creation as well as the incentivization of habitat creation must increase in the future to avoid net loss through bank transactions and to meet the ever-accelerating global changes in land use and the increased pressure of climate change.
Where Does an Individual’s Willingness to Act on Alleviating the Climate Crisis in Korea Arise from?
Authors: Kwon Seol A.
Published: May 2022

Climate change is the result of anthropogenic activities and will lead to widespread and rapid changes on Earth in the following decades. The climate change crisis has led to economic, social, and cultural crises worldwide. This study analyzes the factors impacting the voluntary actions of individuals to mitigate the climate change crisis. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire survey from 650 Korean adults. Statistical analysis was performed using the statistical program IBM SPSS Statistics 25. The results show that the factors affecting an individual’s willingness to act on climate change mitigation were gender, social class, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived obstacles, environmental attitude, and social exclusion. In particular, the results show that social exclusion had a moderating effect on the severity of the willingness to act on climate change mitigation. Regarding the moderating effect of social exclusion, significance was determined for gender, social class, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived obstacles, environmental attitude, and social exclusion (R2 = 0.617). The government should thus make efforts to reduce social exclusion in order to strengthen individuals’ willingness to act on climate change mitigation.
An Analysis of Water Use Efficiency of Staple Grain Productions in China: Based on the Crop Water Footprints at Provincial Level
Authors: Yu Aizhi , Cai Entai , Yang Min , Li Zhishan
Published: May 2022

This article analyzed the water use efficiency of China’s staple grain productions (maize, rice, and wheat). This research calculated the water footprints of crop production using the CROPWAT model based on reported water use in 2000 and during 2015–2019, and both green and blue water footprints were calculated. The results showed that compared to 2000 water use efficiency of crop production for maize, rice and wheat during 2015–2019 were increased by about 12.4%, 10.8%, and 2.5% respectively. The current spatial structure of the stable grain industry that makes up grain production regions are concentrated in northern China, then grains are distributed across China (North-to-South Grain Transportation). This has advantages in the increase of agricultural water productivity. This research indicated that agricultural policies should further consider an advance of regional grain production, along with the optimization of transportation channels for stable grains to increase irrigation water use efficiency. The establishment of staple grain production in designated areas not only ensures China’s food security, but also promotes the sustainable use of irrigation water resources.
A Roadmap for Innovation Capacity in Developing Countries
Authors: Novillo-Villegas Sylvia , Ayala-Andrade Ricardo , Lopez-Cox Juan Pablo , Salazar-Oyaneder Javier , Acosta-Vargas Patricia
Published: May 2022

Innovation capacity is a dynamic capacity linked with the achievement of competitive advantage. Several mechanisms have been proposed to evaluate this capacity. However, developing innovation capacity is a complex process, particularly for developing countries, due to the intricacy of its determinants. Hence, this research analyzes the interlinkages between the key determinants driving this capacity to further propose a continuous path for its growth. A comprehensive review of the literature regarding assessing mechanisms for innovation capacity was conducted, which included 14 key innovation determinants. From a contextual and systematic approach, interpretive structural modelling was employed to determine the interlinkages of these determinants and classified as drivers or dependent. Ten levels or steps were drawn from level partitioning of the final reachability matrix. The results show the relevance of promoting and protecting innovation and intellectual property as the ground to develop this capacity. In addition, R&D investment and university–industry collaboration contribute to the consolidation of innovation systems. Utility models, patents, trademarks, and institution prominence are the result of this loop of innovation capacity development. From these findings, policymakers, practitioners, and scholars can draw a sustained roadmap to enhance this dynamic capacity in their countries.
The Impact of Attracting a Mega-Sport Facility on the Development of a Small Town: A Case Study on Taekwondowon in Muju, South Korea
Authors: Lim Seungyup
Published: May 2022

The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of attracting a mega-sport facility on the development of a small town. As a case study, we took a close look at the changes occurring since Muju County attracted Taekwondowon in 2014 and its significance to urban development and city branding. Data were collected by individual interviews with five research participants engaged in the business and the regional development of Taekwondowon and the Muju County Office (MCO). As a result, the study produced the following outcomes: First, MCO has established an administrative and legal system to actively utilize Taekwondowon and spur urban development. Second, the regional ripple effects include the local economic consumption by the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation (TPF), purchasing local agricultural products by the TPF, and increasing income for local lodging and catering businesses generated by taekwondo events held at Taekwondowon. Third, and most importantly, Muju has been pursuing a transformation into a sustainable international tourism city by becoming the mecca for taekwondo. To achieve this goal, Taekwondowon has been taking some existing functions of Kukkiwon, and the MCO constructed the Taekwon Village, Taekwon Park, and Taekwon V Land throughout Muju. In addition, the social overhead capital necessary for a tourist destination, such as road expansion and a new express bus system between the international airport and Muju, has been reinforced. Furthermore, various tourism products using Taekwondowon have been provided to continue its city branding. In summary, it was found that Taekwondowon has played a pivotal role in Muju’s journey toward achieving sustainable development as the mecca for taekwondo.
Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Infiltration Wetting Front of Ring-Shaped Root Emitters
Authors: Zhang Jun , Li Lin
Published: May 2022

Ring-shaped root emitter is a new type of emitter applicable to the roots of fruit trees in arid areas. To study the characteristics of infiltration wetting front changes in ring-shaped root emitters, the orthogonal test method was used to design nine groups of schemes for four factors: radius of irrigation ring R, burial depth H, number of orifices M, irrigation water volume V and their three levels (R = 20, 30 and 40 cm; M = 4, 6 and 8; H = 20, 30 and 40 cm, V = 40, 60 and 80 L). The infiltration process of these nine scenarios was simulated using HYDRUS-3D software. The results show that the interference infiltration time exhibited a good power function relationship with the irrigation ring radius, number of orifices and burial depth; before the interference infiltration, the wetting fronts were all in the shape of a rotating ellipsoid centered on the infiltration point and can be expressed by the equations of the upper and lower semi-elliptic curves relative to the infiltration point. With the increase in time, the wetting fronts were centered at the infiltration point and infiltrated in all directions at a different velocity. The transport rate decreased with time. The power function relationship between the wetting fronts and the influencing factors after the interference infiltration in different directions was established, and the coefficient of determination was above 0.888. The wetting front shape after infiltration stabilization can be regarded as a rotating body formed by the vertical wetting front plane around the z-axis. The wetted soil volume of deep percolation, surface and suitable infiltration scenarios was rugby-shaped, apple-shaped with a flattened top and complete apple-shaped, respectively. Burying the irrigation ring at slightly deeper than one-third of the crop root zone is recommended, and half of the horizontal range of the crop root system can be selected as the irrigation ring radius. The research results can provide a reference for selecting root emitter parameters and layout as well as developing a root irrigation system.
Indigenous-Led Nature-Based Solutions for the Climate Crisis: Insights from Canada
Authors: Vogel Brennan , Yumagulova Lilia , McBean Gordon , Charles Norris Kerry Ann
Published: May 2022

This article provides an international and national overview of climate change and biodiversity frameworks and is focused on emerging evidence of Indigenous leadership and collaborations in Canada. After introducing the international context and describing the national policy landscape, we provide preliminary evidence documenting emerging national, regional, and local examples of Indigenous-led collaborative conservation projects and nature-based climate change solutions for the climate crisis. Based on our preliminary data, we suggest that Indigenous peoples and communities are well-positioned and currently have and will continue to play important roles in the protection, conservation management, and restoration of lands and waters in Canada and globally. These efforts are critical to the global mitigation, sequestration, and storage of greenhouse gases (GHGs) precipitating the climate crisis while also building adaptive resiliency to reduce impacts. Emerging Canadian evidence suggests that there are a diversity of co-benefits that Indigenous-led nature-based solutions to climate change and biodiversity protection bring, enabled by creating ethical space for reconciliation and conservation collaborations.
AR-AI Tools as a Response to High Employee Turnover and Shortages in Manufacturing during Regular, Pandemic, and War Times
Authors: Szajna Andrzej , Kostrzewski Mariusz
Published: May 2022

The world faces the continuously increasing issue of a lack of skilled employees, staff migration, and turnover. It is strengthened by unexpected situations such as wars, pandemics, and other civilization crises. Solutions are sought and researched in various branches of industry and academia, including engineering, social sciences, management, and political and computer sciences. From the viewpoint of this paper, this is a side topic of Industry 4.0 and, more specifically, sustainability in working environments, and the issue is related to production employees who perform manual operations. Some of the tasks cannot be carried out under robotization or automation; therefore, novel human-work support tools are expected. This paper presents such highly demanded support tools related to augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI). First, a panoramic literature review is given. Secondly, the authors explain the main objective of the presented contribution. Then the authors’ achievements are described—the R&D focus on such solutions and the introduction of the developed tools that are based on AR and AI. Benefits connected to the AR-AI technology applications are presented in terms of both time savings with the tool usage and job simplification, enabling inexperienced, unskilled, or less skilled employees to perform the work in the selected manual production processes.
Conditions Influencing Salary of the Automotive Industry in Mexico City—A Linguistic Fuzzy-Set Approach
Authors: Lozano Carmen , Chiatchoua Cesaire
Published: May 2022

Decision making in wages is generally a hard task. The aim of this work is to identify government conditions, personal conditions of the businessperson, and organizational circumstances that affect wage levels in the automotive industry in Mexico City using a linguistic fuzzy-set approach. We conducted a questionnaire, consisting of 23 observation variables with a five-point Likert scale. Independent variables were measured from 1 (“not important”) to 5 (“very important”). Based on the literature review and results of interviews, a total of 169 questionnaires were sent to participants using Google Forms. The results of the linguistic fuzzy-set approach identify three main conditions influencing the salary levels in the automotive industry in Mexico City, including unskilled manpower, the neoliberal economic model, and political and trade reforms. On the other hand, organizational conditions are not considered relevant in determining wage levels. Based on the findings, some recommendations have been proposed to help government, firm leaders, and businesspeople design appropriate personnel policies to achieve better salary satisfaction for employees in the future. This work shows a model based on the fuzzy-set approach that is a potential tool to overcome the difficulties posed by a complex environment.
The Relationship between Female Leadership Traits and Employee Innovation Performance—The Mediating Role of Knowledge Sharing
Authors: Jing Zhucui , Hou Qiaozhen , Zhang Yi , Zhao Yingsi
Published: May 2022

The arrival of the new economic era, especially the rapid development of the Internet era, provides a broader platform for the development of women; women leaders can be seen in various fields. The improvement of female leadership status makes more scholars pay attention to the development and improvement of female leadership and leadership style, but few scholars study the influence of female leadership characteristics on employee innovation performance. This paper innovatively starts from female leadership, studies the relationship between female leadership characteristics and employee innovation performance, and takes knowledge sharing as an intermediary variable. This paper first uses flexible management theory, leadership style theory and caring ethics theory to construct the theoretical research model of this paper, and proposes four major hypotheses by sorting out the relationships among female leadership characteristics, knowledge sharing, and employee innovation performance. Secondly, a questionnaire suitable for this study was developed, and an empirical analysis was conducted by using SPSS, AMOS, and other software after 313 valid questionnaires were collected. The research conclusions of this paper are as follows: the characteristics of female leadership help employees to actively share knowledge within the organization; female leadership characteristics contribute to the improvement of employee innovation performance; and knowledge sharing plays a good mediating role in the improvement of employee innovation performance by female leadership traits. This paper enriches the research on leadership, especially female leadership, and provides a powerful supplement and explanation to the research on innovation. In addition, the research conclusions of this paper provide a new perspective on the leadership characteristics required by the enterprise for female leaders, and provide direction support for the sustainable development of female leaders in the enterprise.
Occupational Safety and Health 5.0—A Model for Multilevel Strategic Deployment Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030
Authors: Ávila-Gutiérrez María Jesús , Suarez-Fernandez de Miranda Susana , Aguayo-González Francisco
Published: May 2022

The concept of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) is evolving towards Industry 5.0 (I5.0), where the human factor is the central axis for the formation of smart cyber-physical socio-technical systems that are integrated into their physical and cultural host environment. This situation generates a new work ecosystem with a radical change in the methods, processes and development scenarios and, therefore, in the occupational risks to which safety science must respond. In this paper, a historical review of the evolution of work as a complex socio-technical system formalised through Vygostky’s theory of Activity and the contributions of safety science is carried out, for its projection in the analysis of the future of complex systems as an opportunity for safety research linked to the current labour context in transformation. Next, the Horizon 2020 strategies for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) at the European level are analysed to extract the lessons learned and extrapolate them towards the proposed model, and subsequently the conceptual frameworks that are transforming work and Occupational Risk Prevention (ORP) in the transition to Industry 4.0 are identified and reviewed. Finally, a model is formulated that formalises the deployment of public policies and multi-level and multi-scale OSH 5.0 strategies within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN) for Horizon 2030.
Formulation of the Polymeric Double Networks (DNs) for Biomedical Applications with Physicochemical Properties to Resemble a Biological Tissue
Authors: Joshi Prutha , Uddin Ahmed Md Shakir , Vig Komal , Auad Maria L.
Published: May 2022

Single-network hydrogels can have an internal porous structure and biocompatibility, but have lower mechanical properties. Combining these properties with another biocompatible and mechanically strong network can help in mimicking the extracellular matrix of native tissues to make them suitable for tissue scaffolds with desired performance. In the current objective, we combine the properties of poly (ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) macromer and polysaccharides as the two components in double networks (DN) for synergistic effects of both components resulting in the interpenetrating polymeric network for making it functional for replacement of injured tissues. The hydrogels were characterized by physical properties like swelling ratio, mechanical properties like tensile and compressive modulus, and rheological behavior. The chemical composition was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the thermal behavior using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments. Biodegradability and mechanical strength both are gained using double networks (DN), thus making it resemble more like living tissues. DN hydrogels were tested for cell compatibility for possible application in tissue engineering. Furthermore, these properties may allow their application as tissue-engineered scaffolds.
Scanning Probe Microscopy Investigation of Topological Defects
Authors: Seidel Jan
Published: May 2022

Symmetry lowering phase transitions in ferroelectrics, magnets, and materials with various other forms of inherent order lead to the formation of topological defects. Their non-trivial real-space topology is characterized by a topological charge, which represents the topological invariant. The study of topological defects in such materials has seen increased interest over the last decade. Among the methods used for their study, scanning probe microscopy (SPM) with its many variants has provided valuable new insight into these structures at the nanoscale. In this perspective, various approaches are discussed, and different techniques are compared with regard to their ability to investigate topological defect properties.
Defect Healing of MAPbI3 Perovskite Single Crystal Surface by Benzylamine
Authors: Wang Wenjun , Cai Molang , Wu Yunzhao , Ji Kangyu , Cheng Bin , Liu Xuepeng , Lv Hui , Dai Songyuan
Published: May 2022

Controlling the surface traps in metal halide perovskites (MHPs) is essential for device performance, stability, and commercialization. Here, a facile approach is introduced to passivate the methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) perovskite single crystal (PSC) surface defects by benzylamine (BA) ligand treatment, and the natural crystallographic (100) facets surface of PSC is chosen as the research platform to provide a deeper understanding of the passivation process. The confocal photoluminescence (PL) results show that the pristine three-dimensional (3D) MAPbI3 PSC surface with a symmetric emission spectrum is normally converted to a pure two-dimensional (2D) BA2PbI4, and also forms a quasi-2D Ruddlesden–Popper perovskite (RPP) BA2MAn−1PbnI3n+1 (n = 2, 3, 4, … ∞) after BA exchange with cation defects. The blue shift in the PL peak, as well as the extended exciton lifetimes of time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL), indicate the realization of surface defect passivation. Additionally, changes in surface morphology are also investigated. The reaction starts with the formation of small, layered crystallites over the surface; as time elapses, the layered crystallites spread and merge in contact with each other, eventually resulting in smooth features. Our findings present a simple approach for MAPbI3 PSC surface defect passivation, which aims to advance MHP optimization processes toward practical perovskite device applications.
Identification of Abnormal Vibration Signal of Subway Track Bed Based on Ultra-Weak FBG Sensing Array Combined with Unsupervised Learning Network
Authors: Li Sheng , Qiu Yang , Jiang Jinpeng , Wang Honghai , Nan Qiuming , Sun Lizhi
Published: May 2022

The performance of the passing train and the structural state of the track bed are the concerns regarding the safe operation of subways. Monitoring the vibration response of the track bed structure and identifying abnormal signals within it will help address both of these concerns. Given that it is difficult to collect abnormal samples that are symmetric to those of the normal state of the structure in actual engineering, this paper proposes an unsupervised learning-based methodology for identifying the abnormal signals of the track beds detected by the ultra-weak fiber optic Bragg grating sensing array. For an actual subway tunnel monitoring system, an unsupervised learning network was trained by using a sufficient amount of vibration signals of the track bed collected when trains passed under normal conditions, which was used to quantify the deviations caused by anomalies. An experiment to validate the proposed procedures was designed and implemented according to the obtained normal and abnormal samples. The abnormal vibration samples of the track beds in the experiment came from two parts and were defined as three levels. One part of it stemmed from the vibration responses under the worn wheels of a train detected during system operation. The remaining abnormal samples were simulated by superimposing perturbations in the normal samples. The experimental results demonstrated that the established unsupervised learning network and the selected metric for quantifying error sequences can serve the threshold selection well based on the receiver operating characteristic curve. Moreover, the discussion results of the comparative tests also illustrated that the average results of accuracy and F1-score of the proposed network were at least 11% and 13% higher than those of the comparison networks, respectively.
Binomial Distributed Data Confidence Interval Calculation: Formulas, Algorithms and Examples
Authors: Jäntschi Lorentz
Published: May 2022

When collecting experimental data, the observable may be dichotomous. Sampling (eventually with replacement) thus emulates a Bernoulli trial leading to a binomial proportion. Because the binomial distribution is discrete, the analytical evaluation of the exact confidence interval of the sampled outcome is a mathematical challenge. This paper proposes three alternative confidence interval calculation methods that are characterized and exemplified.
A Novel DEMATEL Approach by Considering Normalization and Invertibility
Authors: Chen Chin-Yi , Huang Jih-Jeng
Published: May 2022

DEMATEL is a popular approach in multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) to understand the influence relationship between elements. In addition, the result of DEMATEL is used as the input in other approaches to explore further applications. However, DEMATEL may fail to derive the reasonable total influence matrix, i.e., all positive elements. Hence, DEMATEL uses a special normalization method to avoid that situation. It has been reported that selecting the normalization method plays a critical role after we determine the research method. This paper compares different normalization methods in DEMATEL and proposes a novel formula to derive the total influence matrix when the conventional DEMATEL cannot obtain a correct result. The numerical examples demonstrate how different normalization methods generate contradicted results of DEMATEL and the proposed approach ensures a reasonable result. In addition, we also shed light on further applications based on this paper.
A Note on q-analogue of Degenerate Catalan Numbers Associated with p-adic Integral on Zp
Authors: Khan Waseem A.
Published: May 2022

In this paper, we introduce q-analogues of degenerate Catalan numbers and polynomials with the help of a fermionic p-adic q-integrals on Zp and establish some new connections with the degenerate Stirling numbers of the first and second kinds. Furthermore, we also find a few new identities and results of this type of polynomials and numbers.
A New Method of Solving Special Solutions of Quaternion Generalized Lyapunov Matrix Equation
Authors: Liu Zhihong , Li Ying , Fan Xueling , Ding Wenxv
Published: May 2022

In this paper, we study the bisymmetric and skew bisymmetric solutions of quaternion generalized Lyapunov equation. With the help of semi-tensor product of matrices, some new conclusions on the expansion rules of row and column of matrix product on quaternion matrices are proposed and applied to the calculation of quaternion matrix equation. Using the H-representation method, the independent elements are extracted according to the structural characteristics of bisymmetric matrix and skew bisymmetric matrix, so as to simplify the operation process. Finally, it is compared with the real vector representation method of quaternion matrix equation to illustrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.
Evaluation of the Heterogeneity of Wheat Kernels as a Traditional Model Object in Connection with the Asymmetry of Development
Authors: Baranova Ekaterina N. , Aniskina Tatiana S. , Kryuchkova Viktoria A. , Shchuklina Olga A. , Khaliluev Marat R. , Gulevich Alexander A.
Published: May 2022

Wheat is one of the most important crops in the world, providing food for most of the world’s population. Wheat seeds are a popular model object for many experiments to evaluate various factors that improve germination or protect against various adverse stressful effects. Based on the high significance of increasing the productivity of this cereal crop and the applicability of this object, a detailed statistical evaluation of wheat grain (kernel) morphometry was carried out to assess the asymmetry of parameters of this ideal model. Depending on the location of the kernels in the spikelet of a wheat spike, there was a significant asymmetry between the right and left cheeks of the kernels located closer or further from the center of the spikelet. The expressiveness of asymmetry, and consequently, the kernel deformation was higher in the lower kernels of the spikelet. The degree of symmetry; that is, the similarity of the two halves (cheeks) and the kernel as a whole, was higher in kernels located higher in the spikelet. It seems that the reason for this phenomenon lies in the mechanical nature of kernel deformation. The ultrastructure of A-type and B-type starch grains in the central part of the kernel had significant differences between the upper and lower kernels, which indicated in favor of a high probability of differences by the composition and quality of kernels of the same variety when assessed separately. Uniform development of kernels and smaller differences between them may reveal more valuable genotypes in the future, provided their steady reproduction under adverse conditions of a changing climate.
Dyadic Helmholtz Green’s Function for Electromagnetic Wave Transmission/Diffraction through a Subwavelength Nano-Hole in a 2D Quantum Plasmonic Layer: An Exact Solution Using “Contact Potential”-like Dirac Delta Functions
Authors: Miessein Désiré , Horing Norman J. M. , Lenzing Harry
Published: May 2022

The dyadic Helmholtz Green’s function for electromagnetic (EM) wave transmission/ diffraction through a subwavelength nano-hole in a two-dimensional (2D) plasmonic layer is discussed here analytically and numerically, employing “contact potential”-like Dirac delta functions in 1 and 2 dimensions (δ(z) and δ(x)δ(y)≡δ(2)(r→)). This analysis is carried out employing a succession of two coupled integral equations. The first integral equation determines the dyadic electromagnetic Green’s function G^fs for the full non-perforated 2D quantum plasma layer in terms of the bulk 3D infinite-space dyadic electromagnetic Green’s function G^3D, with δ(z) representing the confinement of finite quantum plasma conductivity to the plane of the plasma layer at z=0. The second integral equation determines the dyadic electromagnetic “hole” Green’s function G^hole for the perforated 2D quantum plasma layer (containing the nano-hole) in terms of the dyadic electromagnetic Green’s function G^fs for the full non-perforated 2D plasma layer, with δ(2)(r→) describing the exclusion of the quantum plasma layer conductivity properties from the nano-hole region in the vicinity of r→=0 on the plane. Taking the radius of the subwavelength nano-hole to be the smallest length scale of the system in conjunction with the 2D Dirac delta function representation of the excluded nano-hole plasma conductivity, both of the successive coupled integral equations are solved exactly, and we present a thorough numerical analysis (based on the exact analytic solution) for the resulting dyadic “hole” Green’s function G^hole in full detail in both 3D and density plots. This result has been successfully applied to the determination of electromagnetic wave transmission/diffraction through the nano-hole of the perforated quantum plasmonic layer, jointly with the EM wave transmission through the rest of the plasma layer. This success necessarily involves spatial translational asymmetry induced by the use of spatial Dirac delta functions confining finite conductivity to the 2D quantum plasma sheet and the excision at a bit of it about the origin to represent the nano-hole perforation, thus breaking spatial translational invariance symmetry.
Relationships Organize Information in Mind and Nature: Empirical Findings of Action–Reaction Relationships (R) in Cognitive and Material Complexity
Authors: Cabrera Derek , Cabrera Laura , Cabrera Elena
Published: May 2022

Diverse phenomena such as feedback, interconnectedness, causality, network dynamics, and complexity are all born from Relationships. They are fundamentally important, as they are transdisciplinary and synonymous with connections, links, edges, and interconnections. The foundation of systems thinking and systems themselves consists of four universals, one of which is action–reaction Relationships. They are also foundational to the consilience of knowledge. This publication gives a formal description of and predictions of action–reaction Relationships (R) or “R-rule”. There are seven original empirical studies presented in this paper. For these seven studies, experiments for the subjects were created on software (unless otherwise noted). The experiments had the subjects complete a task and/or answer a question. The samples are generalizable to a normal distribution of the US population and they vary for each study (ranging from N = 407 to N = 34,398). With high statistical significance the studies support the predictions made by DSRP Theory regarding action–reaction Relationships including its universality as an observable phenomenon in both nature (ontological complexity) and mind (cognitive complexity); mutual dependencies on other universals (i.e., Distinctions, Systems, and Perspectives); role in structural predictions; internal structures and dynamics; efficacy as a metacognitive skill. In conclusion, these data suggest the observable and empirical existence, parallelism (between cognitive and ontological complexity), universality, and efficacy of action–reaction Relationships (R).
Enhancing Digital Innovation for the Sustainable Transformation of Manufacturing Industry: A Pressure-State-Response System Framework to Perceptions of Digital Green Innovation and Its Performance for Green and Intelligent Manufacturing
Authors: Yin Shi , Zhang Nan , Ullah Kifayat , Gao Shuo
Published: May 2022

Low carbon and digitalization are the general trends of manufacturing upgrading and transformation. Digital technology enables the whole process of green manufacturing and breaks down the spatial barrier. To achieve the dual carbon goals, the pressure-state-response (PSR) model, in which digital technology enables the green innovation of the manufacturing industry, was theoretically analyzed in this study. The measurement system of the digital green innovation (DGI) in the manufacturing industry was constructed according to the PSR framework. An evaluation model based on the analytic hierarchy process and the deviation maximization technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution method was constructed to measure the level of DGI. The results of this study from Chinese manufacturing are as follows. (i) The measurement system of the level of DGI in manufacturing industry includes a pressure system, state system and response system. (ii) In the past five years, the comprehensive index of the DGI in manufacturing industry has generally shown a trend of fluctuating rise. There are overall low and unbalanced phenomena in all regions. The gap decreased from 0.1320 to 0.1187, showing a gradually narrowing trend. (iii) Compared with other regions, the composite index of DGI is generally higher in the regions with a better ecological environment in the east and a more developed economy in the north. State parameters are higher than pressure and response parameters in most areas. (iv) Compared with other regions, the composite index of DGI in western and southern regions is lower, and the parameters of pressure, status and response are basically coordinated. (v) The application degree of digital technology, the emission intensity of waste water/exhaust gas of output value of one hundred million yuan and the expenditure intensity of digital technology adopted by enterprises are the key influencing factors of DGI in the manufacturing industry. This study not only proposed an evaluation index system of the digital green innovation level, but also puts forward policy guidance and practical guidance of digital technology to accelerate the green and intelligent manufacturing industry.
Characterization of Cognitive Function in Survivors of Diffuse Gliomas Using Morphometric Correlation Networks
Authors: Wang Chencai , Cho Nicholas S. , Dyk Kathleen Van , Islam Sabah , Raymond Catalina , Choi Justin , Salamon Noriko , Pope Whitney B. , Lai Albert , Cloughesy Timothy F. , Nghiemphu Phioanh L. , Ellingson Benjamin M.
Published: May 2022

This pilot study investigates structural alterations and their relationships with cognitive function in survivors of diffuse gliomas. Twenty-four survivors of diffuse gliomas (mean age 44.5 ± 11.5), from whom high-resolution T1-weighted images, neuropsychological tests, and self-report questionnaires were obtained, were analyzed. Patients were grouped by degree of cognitive impairment, and interregional correlations of cortical thickness were computed to generate morphometric correlation networks (MCNs). The results show that the cortical thickness of the right insula (R2 = 0.3025, p = 0.0054) was negatively associated with time since the last treatment, and the cortical thickness of the left superior temporal gyrus (R2 = 0.2839, p = 0.0107) was positively associated with cognitive performance. Multiple cortical regions in the default mode, salience, and language networks were identified as predominant nodes in the MCNs of survivors of diffuse gliomas. Compared to cognitively impaired patients, cognitively non-impaired patients tended to have higher network stability in network nodes removal analysis, especially when the fraction of removed nodes (among 66 nodes in total) exceeded 55%. These findings suggest that structural networks are altered in survivors of diffuse gliomas and that their cortical structures may also be adapting to support cognitive function during survivorship.
An Innovative Filtering System for the Handling of Asbestos-Based Products: Improvement of Safety and Quality of Work in Analysis Laboratories
Authors: Motta Oriana , Pironti Concetta , Venier Marta , Proto Antonio
Published: May 2022

Although being banned or restricted in many countries since the early 1990s, large quantities of asbestos are still used or present in building materials all over the world and its removal or handling requires specific systems that limit exposure to airborne fibers The exposure to asbestos causes chronic diseases such as asbestosis and lung cancer with an incubation period of 20 to 50 years. Among the operators most exposed to contamination are those who handle and analyze the materials in laboratories. For this reason, our work focused on an innovative method for removing a filter unit from a laboratory extraction hood, in order to improve the safety conditions for the operators and the surrounding environment. The hood has a particular construction technology with a mechanism that allows the spraying of a special encapsulating liquid on the ULPA filters below the work-bench, which is capable of forming a film and blocking the fibers on the surface of the same filter. The fibers are irreversibly bounded and can no longer be released into the surrounding environment. The monitoring of activity highlighted the absence of asbestos fibers in the air after installation of the filter and workers feel safer performing their activities. The introduction of an innovative filtering system enhanced the safety of work activities involving asbestos exposure, moreover, the time spent on the hood’s maintenance and the risk perception of workers were improved.
Associations between Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Cognitive Function in Australian Urban Settings: The Moderating Role of Diabetes Status
Authors: Tham Rachel , Wheeler Amanda , Carver Alison , Dunstan David , Donaire-Gonzalez David , Anstey Kaarin , Shaw Jonathan , Magliano Dianna , Martino Erika , Barnett Anthony , Cerin Ester
Published: May 2022

Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is associated with lower cognitive function and diabetes in older adults, but little is known about whether diabetes status moderates the impact of TRAP on older adult cognitive function. We analysed cross-sectional data from 4141 adults who participated in the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study in 2011–2012. TRAP exposure was estimated using major and minor road density within multiple residential buffers. Cognitive function was assessed with validated psychometric scales, including: California Verbal Learning Test (memory) and Symbol–Digit Modalities Test (processing speed). Diabetes status was measured using oral glucose tolerance tests. We observed positive associations of some total road density measures with memory but not processing speed. Minor road density was not associated with cognitive function, while major road density showed positive associations with memory and processing speed among larger buffers. Within a 300 m buffer, the relationship between TRAP and memory tended to be positive in controls (β = 0.005; p = 0.062), but negative in people with diabetes (β = −0.013; p = 0.026) and negatively associated with processing speed in people with diabetes only (β = −0.047; p = 0.059). Increased TRAP exposure may be positively associated with cognitive function among urban-dwelling people, but this benefit may not extend to those with diabetes.
Adsorption of Pb(II) and Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solution by Synthetic Allophane Suspension: Isotherm, Kinetics, and Mechanisms
Authors: Xia Yan , Li Yang , Xu Ying
Published: May 2022

The adsorption of heavy metals on allophane has been extensively studied due to the properties of allophane special. However, the difference in adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of a metal cation and metal anion on allophane remains uncertain. The present study aimed to investigate the removal of Pb(II) and Cr(VI) onto synthetic allophane under variable pH, initial Pb(II) and Cr(VI) concentrations, and contact time. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of allophane for Pb(II) and Cr(VI) was 88 and 8 mg/g, respectively. Equilibrium adsorption for Pb(II) was achieved in <2 min, but it took >12 h for Cr(VI). The response to changes in pH indicated the occurrence of electrostatic adsorption occurred during Cr(VI) absorption. XPS analysis suggested that reactions between predominant surface functional groups of allophane (Al-O- and Si-O-) and Pb(II) occurred through the formation of P-O bonds. The uptake mechanism of Pb(II) was based on a chemical reaction rather than a physical adsorption process. Synthetic allophane holds great potential to effectively remove aqueous metal ions for special wastewater treatment applications.
The Effect of BPA-Treated Water on the Small Intestine via an In Vivo Study
Authors: Kamaludin Roziana , Rasdi Zatilfarihiah , Othman Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan , Sheikh Abdul Kadir Siti Hamimah , Idorus Mohd Yusri , Khan Jesmine , Wan Mohamad Zain Wan Nor I’zzah , Ismail Ahmad Fauzi , Rahman Mukhlis A. , Jaafar Juhana
Published: May 2022

Since the major route of BPA exposure is via the oral route, BPA may have effects on the gastrointestinal tract, especially on the intestinal barrier, where most digestion and absorption processes occur. In this study, the effects of BPA-treated water on the small intestine (SI) and SI tight junction proteins (TJPs) of both pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats and their fetuses were investigated. Previously, hybrid photocatalytic filtration treatment by a visible light driven N-doped TiO2 membrane has successfully removed up to 81.6% of BPA in water. The effect of BPA-untreated (5.00 ± ppm) and BPA-treated water (0.9 ± ppm) after 21 days of exposure on the jejunum and ileum, as well as the expressions of claudin proteins, were investigated by Western blotting (WB) and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) in order to investigate the potential of the photocatalytic membrane in removing the detrimental effect of BPA. The results suggest that BPA exposure altered the morphology of villi, and affected the expression level of claudin-2, -3, and -4 proteins in the jejunum and ileum of both pregnant rats and their fetuses. Interestingly, villi and claudins expressions were undisrupted in a treated-BPA water group, which indicated that the degradation of BPA via membranes effectively mitigates the effect on BPA on gastrointestinal tract.