bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring LoRaWAN Traffic: In-Depth Analysis of IoT Network Communications
Authors: Povalac Ales , Kral Jan , Arthaber Holger , Kolar Ondrej , Novak Marek
Published: August 2023

In the past decade, Long-Range Wire-Area Network (LoRaWAN) has emerged as one of the most widely adopted Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) standards. Significant efforts have been devoted to optimizing the operation of this network. However, research in this domain heavily relies on simulations and demands high-quality real-world traffic data. To address this need, we monitored and analyzed LoRaWAN traffic in four European cities, making the obtained data and post-processing scripts publicly available. For monitoring purposes, we developed an open-source sniffer capable of capturing all LoRaWAN communication within the EU868 band. Our analysis discovered significant issues in current LoRaWAN deployments, including violations of fundamental security principles, such as the use of default and exposed encryption keys, potential breaches of spectrum regulations including duty cycle violations, SyncWord issues, and misaligned Class-B beacons. This misalignment can render Class-B unusable, as the beacons cannot be validated. Furthermore, we enhanced Wireshark’s LoRaWAN protocol dissector to accurately decode recorded traffic. Additionally, we proposed the passive reception of Class-B beacons as an alternative timebase source for devices operating within LoRaWAN coverage under the assumption that the issue of misaligned beacons can be addressed or mitigated in the future. The identified issues and the published dataset can serve as valuable resources for researchers simulating real-world traffic and for the LoRaWAN Alliance to enhance the standard to facilitate more reliable Class-B communication.
Underwater Target Detection Based on Parallel High-Resolution Networks
Authors: Bao Zhengwei , Guo Ying , Wang Jiyu , Zhu Linlin , Huang Jun , Yan Shu
Published: August 2023

A parallel high-resolution underwater target detection network is proposed to address the problems of complex underwater scenes and limited target feature extraction capability. First, a high-resolution network (HRNet), a lighter high-resolution human posture estimation network, is used to improve the target feature representation and effectively reduce the semantic information lost in the image during sampling. Then, the attention module (A-CBAM) is improved to capture complex feature distributions by modeling the two-dimensional space in the activation function stage through the introduction of the flexible rectified linear units (FReLU) activation function to achieve pixel-level spatial information modeling capability. Feature enhancement in the spatial and channel dimensions is performed to improve understanding of fuzzy targets and small target objects and to better capture irregular and detailed object layouts. Finally, a receptive field augmentation module (RFAM) is constructed to obtain sufficient semantic information and rich detail information to further enhance the robustness and discrimination of features and improve the detection capability of the model for multi-scale underwater targets. Experimental results show that the method achieves 81.17%, 77.02%, and 82.9% mean average precision (mAP) on three publicly available datasets, specifically underwater robot professional contest (URPC2020, URPC2018) and pattern analysis, statistical modeling, and computational learning visual object classes (PASCAL VOC2007), respectively, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed network.
SUGAN: A Stable U-Net Based Generative Adversarial Network
Authors: Cheng Shijie , Wang Lingfeng , Zhang Min , Zeng Cheng , Meng Yan
Published: August 2023

As one of the representative models in the field of image generation, generative adversarial networks (GANs) face a significant challenge: how to make the best trade-off between the quality of generated images and training stability. The U-Net based GAN (U-Net GAN), a recently developed approach, can generate high-quality synthetic images by using a U-Net architecture for the discriminator. However, this model may suffer from severe mode collapse. In this study, a stable U-Net GAN (SUGAN) is proposed to mainly solve this problem. First, a gradient normalization module is introduced to the discriminator of U-Net GAN. This module effectively reduces gradient magnitudes, thereby greatly alleviating the problems of gradient instability and overfitting. As a result, the training stability of the GAN model is improved. Additionally, in order to solve the problem of blurred edges of the generated images, a modified residual network is used in the generator. This modification enhances its ability to capture image details, leading to higher-definition generated images. Extensive experiments conducted on several datasets show that the proposed SUGAN significantly improves over the Inception Score (IS) and Fréchet Inception Distance (FID) metrics compared with several state-of-the-art and classic GANs. The training process of our SUGAN is stable, and the quality and diversity of the generated samples are higher. This clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach for image generation tasks. The source code and trained model of our SUGAN have been publicly released.
Design and Development of an Ultraviolet All-Sky Imaging System
Authors: Mathanlal Thasshwin , Martin-Torres Javier
Published: August 2023

All-sky cameras capture a panoramic view of the full sky from horizon to horizon to generate a wide-angle image of the observable sky. State-of-the-art all-sky imagers are limited to imaging in the visible and infrared spectrum and cannot image in the UV spectrum. This article describes the development of an all-sky imaging system capable of capturing 130° wide-angle sky images from horizon to horizon in the UV-AB spectrum. The design of the UV all-sky imaging system is based on low-cost, accessible, and scalable components to develop multiple images that can be deployed over a wider geographical area. The spectral response of the camera system has been validated in the UV spectrum (280–420 nm) using a monochromatic UV beam with an average power output of 22 nW. UV all-sky imaging systems complement existing infrared and visible all-sky cameras. They have wide applications in astronomy, meteorology, atmospheric science, vulcanology, meteors and auroral monitoring, and the defence sector.
Physical Activity Assessed by Wrist and Thigh Worn Accelerometry and Associations with Cardiometabolic Health
Authors: Maylor Benjamin D. , Edwardson Charlotte L. , Clarke-Cornwell Alexandra M. , Davies Melanie J. , Dawkins Nathan P. , Dunstan David W. , Khunti Kamlesh , Yates Tom , Rowlands Alex V.
Published: August 2023

Physical activity is increasingly being captured by accelerometers worn on different body locations. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between physical activity volume (average acceleration), intensity (intensity gradient) and cardiometabolic health when assessed by a thigh-worn and wrist-worn accelerometer. A sample of 659 office workers wore an Axivity AX3 on the non-dominant wrist and an activPAL3 micro on the right thigh concurrently for 24 h a day for 8 days. An average acceleration (proxy for physical activity volume) and intensity gradient (intensity distribution) were calculated from both devices using the open-source raw accelerometer processing software GGIR. Clustered cardiometabolic risk (CMR) was calculated using markers of cardiometabolic health, including waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, mean arterial pressure and fasting glucose. Linear regression analysis assessed the associations between physical activity volume and intensity gradient with cardiometabolic health. Physical activity volume derived from the thigh-worn activPAL and the wrist-worn Axivity were beneficially associated with CMR and the majority of individual health markers, but associations only remained significant after adjusting for physical activity intensity in the thigh-worn activPAL. Physical activity intensity was associated with CMR score and individual health markers when derived from the wrist-worn Axivity, and these associations were independent of volume. Associations between cardiometabolic health and physical activity volume were similarly captured by the thigh-worn activPAL and the wrist-worn Axivity. However, only the wrist-worn Axivity captured aspects of the intensity distribution associated with cardiometabolic health. This may relate to the reduced range of accelerations detected by the thigh-worn activPAL.
Limitations and Future Aspects of Communication Costs in Federated Learning: A Survey
Authors: Asad Muhammad , Shaukat Saima , Hu Dou , Wang Zekun , Javanmardi Ehsan , Nakazato Jin , Tsukada Manabu
Published: August 2023

This paper explores the potential for communication-efficient federated learning (FL) in modern distributed systems. FL is an emerging distributed machine learning technique that allows for the distributed training of a single machine learning model across multiple geographically distributed clients. This paper surveys the various approaches to communication-efficient FL, including model updates, compression techniques, resource management for the edge and cloud, and client selection. We also review the various optimization techniques associated with communication-efficient FL, such as compression schemes and structured updates. Finally, we highlight the current research challenges and discuss the potential future directions for communication-efficient FL.
Volume Expansion Rate Index Reveals the Damage Process of Surrounding Rock: A Machine Learning-Based Effectiveness Evaluation
Authors: Wen Jiaqi , Tang Lei , Deng Chang , Zhan Qibing , Wang Yukun
Published: August 2023

Energy sustainability and the establishment of the ‘national water network’ are all inseparable from the construction of underground engineering. Monitoring indices for the surrounding rock are vital for the safety management of underground engineering construction, which determines the actual state of the surrounding rock. The complexity of deep underground engineering construction leads to many situations that cannot be predicted and explained by existing experience. Therefore, it is necessary to identify which monitoring index best represents the surrounding rock damage. Currently, there are no advanced and convenient effectiveness evaluation schemes for surrounding rock monitoring information. To fill the technical gap, this study introduces the volume expansion rate (VER) index for surrounding rock and proposes a machine learning (ML)-based evaluation scheme for the effectiveness of monitoring indices. First, six conditions with different in situ stresses are designed, and tunnel excavation monitoring tests are conducted. Second, the surrounding rock damage determination experiments using the ML classification algorithm are performed, and the accuracy matrix and index significance scores are obtained. The evaluation results show that: (1) The multi-class logistic regression algorithm is more suitable for determining surrounding rock damage with high accuracy and more appropriate significance evaluation outcomes. (2) Under the higher in situ stress condition, the tangential stress is more sensitive to the surrounding rock damage. (3) As the in situ stress increases, the significant monitoring indices demonstrate a transition ‘from shallow to deep, from regional damage to point failure’, describing the instability of the surrounding rock and inspiring a new instability criterion for surrounding rock.
Construction of Course Content Integrating Ideas of Engineering Education Accreditation for Higher Education in China: An Example of Geochemistry Course
Authors: Chen Qiao , Yin Huiyong , Feng Jianguo
Published: August 2023

Engineering education accreditation is a developing trend in undergraduate education, which requires students to be aware not only of basic knowledge and techniques, but also of patriotism, global insight, law, ecology and environmental protection. Traditional course content fails to meet these demands. Thus, it is necessary to create new course content with the guidance of engineering education accreditation. The inherent requirements for instructional objectives, course content and teaching models of engineering education accreditation have been analyzed. Additionally, the elements of engineering education accreditation are often welded onto essential knowledge. In this study, mind mapping, which establishes logic through divergent thinking, was proposed to help construct course content integrating ideas of engineering education accreditation. The detailed process and constructed course content were shown, taking a Geochemistry course as an example. The constructed course content has logic and integrity, and also motivates students’ imagination and creativity and improves teaching effectiveness. Meanwhile, some effects observed during the implementation were summarized, including the limited class hours, lack of familiarity with the extracurricular knowledge points, a higher level of independent thinking in students and a higher number of requests made to teachers. Corresponding reformation strategies were proposed, such as exploring the teaching model of “student-oriented, teacher-assistance”, developing case-based and heuristic teaching models and strengthening the building of dual-talented teachers and teaching groups.
Energy Efficiency and Environmental Benefits of Waste Heat Recovery Technologies in Fishmeal Production Plants: A Case Study in Vietnam
Authors: Tung Tra Van , Nga Nguyen Thi To , Van Huu Tap , Vu Tran Hai , Kuligowski Ksawery , Cenian Adam , Tuan Nguyen Quang , Le Phuoc-Cuong , Tran Quoc Ba
Published: August 2023

The fishmeal production industry is essential for providing protein for animal feed in the aquaculture sector. However, the industry faces challenges related to energy consumption and environmental sustainability. This study evaluates the energy efficiency and environmental benefits of waste heat recovery (WHR) technologies in a fishmeal production plant in Vietnam. Data were collected from the plant between 2016 and 2022, and a specific energy consumption (SEC) indicator and a comprehensive methodology were utilized. Implementing an economizer as a WHR technology resulted in a 55.5% decrease in SEC compared to the state before installation. The enhanced energy efficiency also translated to reduced energy consumption per output unit. Moreover, the economizer contributed to annual energy savings of 4537.57 GJ/year and cost savings of USD 26,474.49. Additionally, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with producing one ton of fishmeal decreased by 58.37%. These findings highlight the potential for WHR technologies to improve energy efficiency and reduce the environmental footprint of fishmeal production. The study’s results provide valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers in promoting energy efficiency practices and reducing environmental impact in this and similar industries.
Assessment of the Dynamics towards Effective and Efficient Post-Flood Disaster Adaptive Capacity and Resilience in South Africa
Authors: Nyide Sindisiwe , Simatele Mulala Danny , Grab Stefan , Adom Richard Kwame
Published: August 2023

Government employees, municipal officials, and communities in South Africa have grappled with post-apartheid environmental challenges, such as floods, droughts, severe storms, and wildfires. These disasters are a result of both natural and human activities. The government implemented different policies and strategies after 1994 to address these issues. While acknowledging some success in managing these disasters with the current adaptive measures, the frequency and intensity of disasters have increased, causing significant damage to life and property, particularly among the vulnerable population. This paper uses qualitative and quantitative data collection approaches to explore possible systematic and structural weaknesses in addressing post-disaster situations in South Africa. Floods appear to be the most frequent natural disaster in South Africa. The paper uncovered the fact that disaster management is a multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary field. Although various institutional arrangements exist, they do not seem appropriate for assisting vulnerable groups. While officials have made some progress in implementing post-disaster projects, challenges still hinder sustainability. Furthermore, regrettably, despite the level of success in addressing disasters, most measures have failed to achieve the intended results for a variety of reasons. The consolidated long-term measures suggested by the participants yielded a proposed ‘South African Floods Post-Disaster Checklist or Model’, which was non-existent in South Africa. By implementing more effective and efficient post-disaster measures, the proposed tool can help policymakers and strategic partners standardise post-disaster resilience and adaptive capacity in various sectors’ sustainability contexts.
A Reliable Delivery Logistics System Based on the Collaboration of UAVs and Vehicles
Authors: Li Hanxue , Zhu Shuaiqi , Tolba Amr , Liu Ziyi , Wen Wu
Published: August 2023

In recent years, land–air collaborative logistics delivery is a promising distribution method. It combines the flexibility of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with the high payload capacity of vehicles, expanding the service range of UAVs while reducing carbon emissions. However, most existing research has focused on path planning and resource allocation for either UAVs or vehicles alone. Therefore, to address the shortcomings of the current research, this paper proposes an intelligent land–air collaboration delivery algorithm for trajectory optimization and resource scheduling. Subsequently, this paper develops a land–air collaboration reliable delivery logistics distribution system, showcasing the driving routes of vehicles and UAVs. Meanwhile, the mode of UAV–vehicle collaboration not only saves operating costs compared to traditional logistics delivery but also achieves energy conservation and emission reduction goals. During the specific design and implementation process of this platform, blockchain technology is integrated into the logistics delivery service to ensure data security and prevent tampering, making the system more efficient and reliable. Finally, through testing and verification of the system’s functionalities, its completeness is demonstrated.
Sustainability of Traditional, Historical Roofs in the Mediterranean: A Rediscovered Opportunity for a Carbon Neutral Future
Authors: Cassar JoAnn , Galdies Charles , Muscat Azzopardi Elizabeth
Published: August 2023

As the world grapples with the effects of climate change, there is an urgent need for sustainable solutions to help reduce carbon emissions. Historic urban centres can indicate one possible way forward, and this is because of the way traditional buildings (in this paper centring on the Mediterranean) are built. Their materials and technologies are usually well chosen and adapted to hot climates, while the layout of historic centres, often with quite narrow, winding streets, provide shading and frequently also appropriate direction of cooling winds, especially in marine locations. These often result in these urban cores being cooler than more modern city centres. Traditional roofs, in particular, have over the centuries proved to be reliable and sustainable (when given appropriate maintenance), with layers of porous materials providing inbuilt breathable (evaporative) properties. These lead to a degree of passive cooling and ultimately to less energy consumption (less use of air conditioning for example), thus creating a smaller carbon footprint for each building, and hence also for the urban centre when a number of these buildings are present. This paper is based on a three-year pilot study, where an innovative methodology using a combination of remote data (obtained from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and satellite) with in situ measurements, allows for the remote identification of traditional and modified roofs, as well helping understand the thermal behaviour of such roofs, with this study concentrating on historic centres in the Island of Malta, in the Mediterranean. Ultimately aimed at promoting preservation of these traditional roofs, this study provides data to help address, at least in part, current climatic concerns, whilst also potentially providing some adaptation strategies to address climate change (in particular increased ambient temperatures). Our studies on the behaviour of traditional deffun mortar roofs have shown that they are effective in protecting the internal environment from the external one. This can lead to a reduction in carbon emissions and help create a more carbon-neutral future over an entire historic centre. Therefore, in the long term, with the right management policies in place, traditional roofs on traditional buildings can provide an excellent and cost-effective way of moving towards carbon neutrality in historic urban centres.
Proposing a Method Based on Artificial Neural Network for Predicting Alignment between the Saudi Nursing Workforce and the Gig Framework
Authors: AL-Dossary Reem , Mayet Abdulilah Mohammad , Bhutto Javed Khan , Shukla Neeraj Kumar , Nazemi Ehsan , Qaisi Ramy Mohammed Aiesh
Published: August 2023

The goal of the present investigation is to assess the applicability of the Gig Economy Framework (GEF) to the nursing workforce in Saudi Arabia. In order to learn more about the viability of the gig economy paradigm for the nursing profession, this study employed a cross-sectional survey technique. The survey asked questions specific to the nursing profession in Saudi Arabia and the GEF, while also taking into account other relevant variables. This nurse survey was sent to 102 Saudi Arabian hospitals’ HR departments. After removing invalid and missing data, 379 responses remained. The gig economy’s impact on everyday living and professional growth differed significantly between groups. After processing the data, we inputted them into a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) neural network to find relationships between responses to surveys and compatibility with the GEF. There were 20 inputs to this neural network and four possible outputs. The results of the network are the answers to questions about how the gig economy might affect four areas—life, financial management, and personal and professional comfort and development. Outputs 1–4 were predicted with 96.5%, 96.5%, 99.2%, and 99.2% accuracy, respectively. The primary issues with the nursing workforce in Saudi Arabia may be addressed with the use of gig economy elements. As a result, it is crucial to provide a trustworthy, intelligent strategy for foreseeing the gig economy’s framework’s alignment.
Identifying Factors to Develop and Validate Social Vulnerability to Floods in Malaysia: A Systematic Review Study
Authors: Isia Ismallianto , Hadibarata Tony , Jusoh Muhammad Noor Hazwan , Bhattacharjya Rajib Kumar , Shahedan Noor Fifinatasha , Fitriyani Norma Latif , Syafrudin Muhammad
Published: August 2023

Flood disasters, a natural hazard throughout human history, have caused significant damage to human safety and infrastructure. This paper presents a systematic study using databases from Springer Link, Science Direct, JSTOR, and Web of Science. The study employs the PRISMA report analysis method to examine 11 flood disaster case studies between 2010 and 2022. The findings reveal that demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare crucially determine social vulnerability to adverse flood events. Notably, risk perception and coping capacity also received substantial attention in the case studies. Unfortunately, many indicators of social vulnerability fail to adequately consider the influence of these factors. The effects of factors that make communities vulnerable vary across disaster stages and countries. This emphasizes the importance of considering specific situations and locations when understanding the origins and consequences of vulnerability. The article concludes by offering recommendations to customize quantitative indicators of social vulnerability to flood contexts, covering aspects such as temporal context, measurability, and indicator relationships.
Practical AI Cases for Solving ESG Challenges
Authors: Burnaev Evgeny , Mironov Evgeny , Shpilman Aleksei , Mironenko Maxim , Katalevsky Dmitry
Published: August 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly advancing area of research that encompasses numerical methods to solve various prediction, optimization, and classification/clustering problems. Recently, AI tools were proposed to address the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges associated with sustainable business development. While many publications discuss the potential of AI, few focus on practical cases in the three ESG domains altogether, and even fewer highlight the challenges that AI may pose in terms of ESG. The current paper fills this gap by reviewing practical AI applications with a main focus on IT and engineering implementations. The considered cases are based on almost one hundred publicly available research manuscripts and reports obtained via online search engines. This review involves the study of typical business and production problems associated with each ESG domain, gives background details on several selected cases (such as carbon neutrality, land management, and ESG scoring), and lists challenges that the smart algorithms can pose (such as fake news generation and increased electricity consumption). Overall, it is concluded that, while many practical cases already exist, AI in ESG is still very far away from reaching its full potential; however, one should always remember that AI itself can lead to some ESG risks.
A Study of Measures for Sustainable Sport
Authors: Lim Dayoun , Park Sungjoo
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this study is to diagnose the environmental pollution problems caused by sports and analyze the eco-friendly methods applied to international sporting events held in the past to explore approaches and challenges concerning the sustainable development of sports. To this end, we first analyze the environmental pollution problems caused by sports, as categorized into three types through a review of previous studies, and examine the need for an environmental ethical approach to the conflict between sports and the environment. Then, we choose the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, which the IOC considers to be the most environmentally friendly competitions, as well as FIFA’s Green Goal program as case studies and analyze the features and limitations of environmentally friendly methods in terms of planning, operation, marketing, and performance dissemination in each case to draw implications for the sustainable development of sport. This study argues that to find a fundamental solution to conflicts between sports and the environment, it is necessary to change the perception from an anthropocentric paradigm to an ecocentric paradigm and establish a new value system for the natural environment.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Cue Words of Locally Grown Food Menu Items and Consumers’ Choice at Hyper-Local Restaurants: An Eye-Tracking Study
Authors: Conoly Yoonah Kim , Lee Yee Ming
Published: August 2023

This research examined whether intrinsic (fresh) and extrinsic (local) cue words of locally grown food menu items were associated with consumers’ visual attention (i.e., fixation count and total fixation duration) and menu choice using an eye-tracking methodology and an online survey. Fifty consumers were randomly assigned to read a hyper-local restaurant menu that featured four items (with or without intrinsic or extrinsic cue words) while being eye-tracked. The participants of this study showed a somewhat favorable attitude towards locally grown food though their behaviors were not incongruent with their attitudes. The results showed that there was a relationship between fixation counts and the extrinsic cue word, local, for subsequent menu choices in the way that participants who chose the menu item with the word local appeared to look at it more frequently before making their final menu selection. The participants of this study further identified that factors such as attractive menu descriptions, personal preference, and healthfulness were important when making menu selections. The findings of this study suggested that restaurant operators could use well-crafted descriptions with the word local in their menu, as this approach could influence consumers’ menu selections.
Landscape and Horticultural Fertigation Using Roof-Derived Storm Water: The Potential Multiple Benefits of Blue Green Roof Installations
Authors: Coupe Stephen , James Dalrene , Newman Alan P. , Trenchard Liz
Published: August 2023

A contribution to the sustainable management of storm water is the use of sustainable drainage (SuDS)-derived water as an unconventional source for irrigation. If storm-water runoff contains dissolved nutrients in excess of those found in conventional irrigation, reusing this water can contribute to the nutrient demands of horticulture or landscaping, which is known as “fertigation”. Green roofs are SuDS devices, and those with below-substrate water storage, blue green roofs, can be additional water sources. The nutrients released from a roof-substrate-growing medium could contribute to the growth of crop and landscape plants, but materials from blue green roofs must not release residues harmful to fertigated plants or receiving soils. This plant growth experiment examined the effects of water from a blue green roof on plant growth and health and the effects on soil and roof-harvested water when functioning as a nutrient-rich irrigation source. Tomatoes and ryegrass were used as examples of horticultural and landscaping plants, respectively. Blue green roof water was compared with potable water irrigation. The blue-green-roof-derived water provided a distinct growth advantage for tomatoes and lower sodium in fruits than tap water, at 285 mg/kg and 636 mg/kg, respectively. For ryegrass, the differences were minimal, but there was no disadvantage to using roof water for fertigation. Following three years of a blue green roof’s operational life, export of inorganic nutrients from the roof, local storage, and then application to plants were effective in contributing additional fertiliser.
Analyses of Vineyard Microclimate in the Eastern Foothills of the Helan Mountains in Ningxia Region, China
Authors: Chen Renwei , Zhang Xiaoyu , Yang Yu , Yang Yonge , Wang Jing , Li Hongying
Published: August 2023

Vineyard microclimate is a main determining factor for grape yield and quality. In the Eastern Foothills of the Helan Mountains in the Ningxia region, China, grape is a critical economic crop for wine making. The microclimate of vineyards in 2019 and 2020 was analyzed on the basis of observations from eight vineyards microclimate stations and a national reference station. The vineyard microclimate was compared with the larger-scale local weather conditions, and the vineyard microclimate was compared within and among different climatic zones. In addition, the climate was evaluated at the four study wine grape areas. The results showed that: (1) In the same wine-grape-growing area where the climate was similar, vineyard microclimate was affected by elevation, topography, and soil texture. (2) Excepting average wind velocity, there were no statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences in minimum and maximum air temperatures or relative humidity between the study field microclimate observation stations and the local national reference station. (3) Among the four climate-zone-based wine-grape-growing areas, vineyard microclimate was related to topography, geographical location, and soil type. In particular, the Yinchuan and Qingtongxia areas had an abundant heat resource, and the Hongsipu area had sufficient precipitation and high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). By contrast, the Shizuishan area had a relatively low-to-moderate amount of heat, precipitation, and radiation resources for grape. (4) According to the climate assessment of agricultural products—wine grape (QX/T 557—2020), the climate was superior in 2019 than in 2020 for wine grapes. In particular, the climate for grape was better in the Yinchuan area than in other study areas. The results of this study are evidence-based and could be used to assist the local wine grape community in making decisions about cultivars, management practices, area expansions, marketing strategies, etc.
Shifting to Sustainable Shipping: Actors and Power Shifts in Shipping Emissions in the IMO
Authors: Baumann Jennifer
Published: August 2023

Emissions from shipping have consequences for human health and climate change, yet achieving policy change to reduce these emissions remains challenging on a global scale. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN Agency tasked with formal international policy-making for the maritime sector, stands at the center of a complex maritime governance architecture. Yet, it is often criticized for heavy industry influence and power concentrated in the hands of a few actors. There has been recent research supporting this, while other research suggests that there are new actors influencing the agenda on shipping emissions. This article examines if the increasingly multi-actor and multi-layered governance architecture in shipping means that the actors and power in the IMO have shifted as well. The data were compiled from a selected sampling of the IMO documents from the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) meetings between 1988 and 2021. The paper follows the agenda item of focus, ‘Air Pollution’, as it evolves over time and identifies actors utilizing three indicators of influence, submissions to the MEPC, the ISWG-GHG, and the delegations at the MEPC meetings. The research shows that some of the early state actors on this issue are still highly active (Norway, Japan, US), while other actors emerge over time (China, Marshall Islands). The emergence of the NGO Clean Shipping Coalition is notable, as is the complex role of the European Commission. Industry associations and flag states maintain active roles, yet the changes noted suggest they do not have the same influence they once did over emissions issues in the IMO.
Protection Scheme for Transient Impedance Dynamic-Time-Warping Distance of a Flexible DC Distribution System
Authors: Ni Pinghao , He Jinghan , Wu Chuanjian , Zhang Dahai , Yuan Zhaoxiang , Xiao Zhihong
Published: August 2023

Flexible DC power distribution systems have characteristics such as rapid fault occurrence and fragile power electronics. DC faults usually result in rapid converter blocking (2–5 ms). However, existing protection schemes are susceptible to distributed capacitance, cannot tolerate long communication delays, and require artificial boundaries, among other features that make it impossible to combine speediness, selectivity, and reliability. A technique based on normalized transient impedance dynamic-time-warping (DTW) distance is proposed to improve the performance of the protection scheme. First, the fault equivalent circuit of the flexible DC distribution system (±10 kV) is established, and its transient impedance expression is derived accordingly. Subsequently, the expression components are split and their fault characteristics are resolved separately. Finally, the protection scheme for normalized DTW distance is proposed based on the transient impedance fault characteristics. A flexible DC distribution system (±10 kV) is established to verify the performance of the scheme.
Comparative Analysis of Multi-Criteria Decision Making and Life Cycle Assessment Methods for Sustainable Evaluation of Concrete Mixtures
Authors: Moro Carlos
Published: August 2023

In previous literature, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods and life cycle assessment (LCA) methods, integrating different properties, have been applied to cementitious materials separately. This study addresses the existing gap in the research by comparing LCA methods with durability parameters integrated and MCDM methods in concrete mixtures. The aim is to assess the differences between these two approaches when assessing the overall sustainability of cementitious materials. Concrete mixtures containing conventional and recycled materials, such as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), are evaluated based on their mechanical properties, durability parameters, environmental impact, and cost. The results highlight the positive impact of SCM usage on concrete performance and emphasizes the importance of reducing cement content for sustainability. Careful RCA utilization is crucial due to the variable outcomes when combined with SCMs. The results also exhibit that various MCDM methods show acceptable differences when ranking concrete mixtures, offering flexibility in property weighting for concrete applications. In contrast, different LCA methods with durability integrated yield higher differences, emphasizing the superior consistency of MCDM methods. The sensitivity analysis highlights the significance of weight methods and concrete parameters. Standardizing procedures for specific concrete applications is recommended to ensure the reliability and relevance of results.
Transportation Resilience Modeling and Bridge Reconstruction Planning Based on Time-Evolving Travel Demand during Post-Earthquake Recovery Period
Authors: Wu Yangyang , Chen Suren
Published: August 2023

After major earthquakes, communities may experience time-evolving population in terms of size and distribution, and varying travel demands, along with the displacement and recovery of residents caused by the damage and restoration of dwelling units. Community transportation can be significantly affected if the changes in population size and distribution are considerable. As a result, the post-earthquake infrastructure reconstruction process is essentially like urban replanning to meet the realistic traffic needs of the remaining and recovering residents and further maximize the sustainability of the community. To fill the gap in existing studies that considered the travel demand as fixed during the long-term recovery stage, it is important to investigate the effects of time-evolving travel demand on transportation resilience modeling and bridge reconstruction planning during the post-earthquake recovery period. A new methodology is proposed to analyze such impact by assessing the time-dependent resilience performance of transportation networks during the post-earthquake recovery stage. Traffic efficiency and safety are the two resilience performance indicators used to evaluate the transportation network. Post-earthquake infrastructure restoration planning is conducted using a heuristic algorithm based on the time-dependent resilience performance indicator. A demonstrative case study is carried out at Shelby County, Tennessee.
Analyzing Extreme Temperature Patterns in Subtropical Highlands Climates: Implications for Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies
Authors: Ghanim Abdulnoor A. J. , Anjum Muhammad Naveed , Rasool Ghulam , Saifullah  , Irfan Muhammad , Alyami Mana , Rahman Saifur , Niazi Usama Muhammad
Published: August 2023

This study utilized hot and cold indices to evaluate the changes in extreme temperature events that occurred in subtropical highland climates from 1991 to 2020. The modified Mann–Kendall (MMK) test and the Theil–Sen (TS) slope estimator were used to analyze the linear trends in the time series of the extreme temperature indices. The northern highlands of Pakistan (NHP) were considered as a case study region. The results showed that the annual maximum temperature had a slightly increasing tendency (at the rate of 0.14 °C/decade), while the annual minimum temperature had a slightly decreasing tendency (at the rate of −0.02 °C/decade). However, these trends were not significant at the 5% significance level. The decadal averages of the hot indices were the highest in the second decade (2000s), while they were the lowest in the subsequent decade (2010s). In comparison, all the cold indices except the annual minimum value of the maximum temperature (TXn) showed a persistent decline in their decadal averages throughout the 2000s and 2010s. Overall, the frequency of hot days significantly increased in the NHP during the study period. This study found that the hot days and coldest days increased over the past three decades in the NHP. However, there was a decreasing trend in the cold spell duration, cold nights, and the coldest nights over the past three decades, as demonstrated by the trends of the cold spell duration index (CSDI), the temperature of cold nights (TN10p), and the annual minimum value of the minimum temperature (TNn) indices. These changes may impact the environment, human health, and agricultural operations. The findings provide useful insights into the shifting patterns of extreme temperature events in northern Pakistan and have crucial implications for the climate-change-adaptation and resilience-building initiatives being undertaken in the region. It is suggested that the continuous monitoring of extreme temperature events is necessary to comprehend their effects on the region and devise strategies for sustainable development.
Factors Influencing Housing Satisfaction in Post-Disaster Resettlement: A Case of Nepal
Authors: Shrestha Barsha , Uprety Sanjaya , Pokharel Jiba Raj
Published: August 2023

Housing satisfaction, crucial for sustainable post-disaster resettlement housing, has received limited attention in research. This study aimed to identify households’ perceived importance of housing satisfaction factors and their significance in post-disaster resettlement housing programs. Focusing on Nepal’s Panipokhari Integrated Settlement after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, it identified relatively significant housing satisfaction factors using mean satisfaction scores, the relative importance index, and Spearman rank correlation. The data were derived from a structured questionnaire survey, complemented by field observations, measurement, and semi-structured qualitative interviews that support the findings. The study found key housing satisfaction factors as need-based housing design (r = 0.70), layout (r = 0.74), modification flexibility (r = 0.70), utility spaces such as kitchen gardens and cattle sheds (r = 0.67), house completeness (r = 0.80), thermal comfort (r = 0.63), and social and cultural aspects such as traditional hearths (r = 0.72) and spaces for rituals and events (r = 0.77). The study concluded that the integration of these factors in the policy-making, planning, and design is important for successful resettlement housing outcomes in regions with comparable socio-cultural and economic backgrounds. The study has practical significance and, thus, will help policy-makers, implementers, and researchers aiming for successful and sustainable resettlement outcomes.
Environmental CSR and the Purchase Declarations of Generation Z Consumers
Authors: Sawicka Joanna , Marcinkowska Elżbieta
Published: August 2023

Activities in the area of corporate social responsibility are more and more widely and willingly undertaken not only by large companies but also those in the SME sector. A very important part of these activities is environmental protection. Therefore, the question of how these activities are evaluated by their beneficiaries should be asked. One important group of recipients of CSR initiatives are consumers. We considered the opinions of young people from Generation Z to be particularly important because this generation is just entering the consumer market and thus will influence its formation for many years to come. We conducted a survey on a sample of 344 respondents from Generation Z to check whether the environmental CSR initiatives are perceived and appreciated by Generation Z consumers. The survey was expanded to include the influence of the gender factor and the type of education of the people surveyed (technical, business and humanities education). The results of this study indicate that young people (from Generation Z) declare the need to care about the environment and pay attention as consumers to pro-environmental activities implemented as part of CSR. Evaluations of these activities differ between genders. Also, the education profile matters in the perception of environmental CSR initiatives.
Exploring the Interactive Relationship between Retailers’ Free Shipping Decisions and Manufacturers’ Product Sales in Digital Retailing
Authors: Wang Hu , Li Di , Jiang Changbin , Zhang Yuxiang
Published: August 2023

In the realm of multichannel digital retailing, free shipping has gained popularity as a promotion strategy. However, few studies have investigated how retailers make decisions regarding free shipping. Furthermore, concerns have arisen regarding the sustainability of free shipping promotions for manufacturers. This research employs a simultaneous equation model with fixed effects to explore the determinants of market structure concerning the proportion of retailers offering free shipping and its impact on manufacturers’ product sales. As per our current knowledge, this research is pioneering in establishing a causal relationship between the percentage of free-shipping retailers and manufacturers’ product sales. Specifically, an increase in the percentage of retailers employing free shipping leads to higher product sales, while lower product sales drive increased retailers to adopt free shipping. Our findings indicate that competition among products has a significant positive effect on the percentage of retailers offering free shipping in the interactive relationship. Furthermore, increased competition among retailers results in more retailers adopting free shipping strategies. These results affirm the efficacy of free shipping as a promotional approach to increase manufacturers’ product sales, particularly in highly competitive markets.
Strong Necessary Conditions and the Cauchy Problem
Authors: Stȩpień Łukasz T.
Published: August 2023

Some exact solutions of boundary or initial conditions formulated for Bogomolny equations (derived by using the strong necessary conditions and associated with some ordinary equation and some partial differential equations) have been found. The solution obtained for the restricted baby Skyrme model, as well the density of energy for this solution, are localized. Moreover, it turns out that the densities of the ungauged Hamiltonian and the gauged Hamiltonian are correspondingly, non-zero and zero for the found solution of the Cauchy problem associated with the Bogomolny equation of the restricted baby Skyrme model. Hence, a degeneracy of the Hamiltonian for this model has been established. As such, one can see the breaking of some symmetry.
The Noether Symmetry Approach: Foundation and Applications: The Case of Scalar-Tensor Gauss–Bonnet Gravity
Authors: Bajardi Francesco , Capozziello Salvatore , Di Salvo Tiziana , Spinnato Francesca
Published: August 2023

We sketch the main features of the Noether Symmetry Approach, a method to reduce and solve dynamics of physical systems by selecting Noether symmetries, which correspond to conserved quantities. Specifically, we take into account the vanishing Lie derivative condition for general canonical Lagrangians to select symmetries. Furthermore, we extend the prescription to the first prolongation of the Noether vector. It is possible to show that the latter application provides a general constraint on the infinitesimal generator ξ, related to the spacetime translations. This approach can be used for several applications. In the second part of the work, we consider a gravity theory, including the coupling between a scalar field ϕ and the Gauss–Bonnet topological term G. In particular, we study a gravitational action containing the function F(G,ϕ) and select viable models by the existence of symmetries. Finally, we evaluate the selected models in a spatially flat cosmological background and use symmetries to find exact solutions.