bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fine-Grained Ship Classification by Combining CNN and Swin Transformer
Authors: Huang Liang , Wang Fengxiang , Zhang Yalun , Xu Qingxia
Published: June 2022

The mainstream algorithms used for ship classification and detection can be improved based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs). By analyzing the characteristics of ship images, we found that the difficulty in ship image classification lies in distinguishing ships with similar hull structures but different equipment and superstructures. To extract features such as ship superstructures, this paper introduces transformer architecture with self-attention into ship classification and detection, and a CNN and Swin transformer model (CNN-Swin model) is proposed for ship image classification and detection. The main contributions of this study are as follows: (1) The proposed approach pays attention to different scale features in ship image classification and detection, introduces a transformer architecture with self-attention into ship classification and detection for the first time, and uses a parallel network of a CNN and a transformer to extract features of images. (2) To exploit the CNN’s performance and avoid overfitting as much as possible, a multi-branch CNN-Block is designed and used to construct a CNN backbone with simplicity and accessibility to extract features. (3) The performance of the CNN-Swin model is validated on the open FGSC-23 dataset and a dataset containing typical military ship categories based on open-source images. The results show that the model achieved accuracies of 90.9% and 91.9% for the FGSC-23 dataset and the military ship dataset, respectively, outperforming the existing nine state-of-the-art approaches. (4) The good extraction effect on the ship features of the CNN-Swin model is validated as the backbone of the three state-of-the-art detection methods on the open datasets HRSC2016 and FAIR1M. The results show the great potential of the CNN-Swin backbone with self-attention in ship detection.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Fused Twins: A Review of Access to Digital Twins In Situ in Smart Cities
Authors: Grübel Jascha , Thrash Tyler , Aguilar Leonel , Gath-Morad Michal , Chatain Julia , Sumner Robert W. , Hölscher Christoph , Schinazi Victor R.
Published: June 2022

Smart Cities already surround us, and yet they are still incomprehensibly far from directly impacting everyday life. While current Smart Cities are often inaccessible, the experience of everyday citizens may be enhanced with a combination of the emerging technologies Digital Twins (DTs) and Situated Analytics. DTs represent their Physical Twin (PT) in the real world via models, simulations, (remotely) sensed data, context awareness, and interactions. However, interaction requires appropriate interfaces to address the complexity of the city. Ultimately, leveraging the potential of Smart Cities requires going beyond assembling the DT to be comprehensive and accessible. Situated Analytics allows for the anchoring of city information in its spatial context. We advance the concept of embedding the DT into the PT through Situated Analytics to form Fused Twins (FTs). This fusion allows access to data in the location that it is generated in in an embodied context that can make the data more understandable. Prototypes of FTs are rapidly emerging from different domains, but Smart Cities represent the context with the most potential for FTs in the future. This paper reviews DTs, Situated Analytics, and Smart Cities as the foundations of FTs. Regarding DTs, we define five components (physical, data, analytical, virtual, and Connection Environments) that we relate to several cognates (i.e., similar but different terms) from existing literature. Regarding Situated Analytics, we review the effects of user embodiment on cognition and cognitive load. Finally, we classify existing partial examples of FTs from the literature and address their construction from Augmented Reality, Geographic Information Systems, Building/City Information Models, and DTs and provide an overview of future directions.
Measures of Bone Morphology in the Medial and Lateral Condyles of the Metacarpus in Beef Cross Dairy Cattle at 8–12 and 24 Months of Age
Authors: Gibson Michaela J. , Hickson Rebecca E. , Dittmer Keren E. , Back Penny J. , Rogers Chris W.
Published: June 2022

Bone morphology in the mid-diaphysis of the metacarpus in cattle and the effect of puberty and age has been well described. However, there is limited information on how age and not attaining puberty affects bone morphology in the epiphysis of the metacarpus. The metacarpus is comprised of the third and fourth metacarpal bones fused together to create a medial and lateral epiphysis. When a cow is in stance phase there is greater pressure on the medial claw; however, the effect of this difference in loading on bone has not been described. Therefore, the aim of this experiment was to describe bone morphology in the medial and lateral epiphysis of the metacarpus at the age of puberty in steers. The metacarpus was collected from beef cross dairy steers at approximately one and two years of age. The distal epiphysis of the metacarpus was scanned using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Measures were corrected for body weight and demonstrated a lack of bone growth cessation at one year of age. The lack of difference in bone morphology in the medial and lateral condyles of the distal metacarpus reflects the even loading distribution observed in the forelimb of cattle.
On the Use of Class D Switching-Mode Power Amplifiers in Visible Light Communication Transmitters
Authors: García-Meré Juan R. , Rodríguez Juan , Lamar Diego G. , Sebastián Javier
Published: June 2022

Visible Light Communication (VLC) is a wireless communication technology that uses visible light to transmit information. The most extended implementation of a VLC transmitter employs a DC-DC power converter that biases the High-Brightness LEDs (HB-LEDs), and a Linear Power Amplifier (LPA) that reproduces the communication signal. Unfortunately, the power efficiency of LPAs is very low, thus reducing the overall system efficiency and requiring huge cooling systems to extract the heat. In this work, the use of Class D Switching-Mode Power Amplifiers (SMPAs) is explored in order to overcome that limitation. It is important to note that this SMPA is widely used for different applications, such as audio and RF power amplifiers. Therefore, there are a lot of versions of a Class D SMPA depending on the topology used for the implementation and the modulation strategy used to control the switches. Hence, this work aims to identify, adapt and explain in detail the best approach for implementing a Class D SMPA for VLC. In order to validate the proposed idea, a power-efficient VLC transmitter intended for short-range and low-speed applications was built and evaluated.
Control Aspects of Shape Memory Alloys in Robotics Applications: A Review over the Last Decade
Authors: Ruth Deivamoney Josephine Selvarani , Sohn Jung-Woo , Dhanalakshmi Kaliaperumal , Choi Seung-Bok
Published: June 2022

This paper mainly focuses on various types of robots driven or actuated by shape memory alloy (SMA) element in the last decade which has created the potential functionality of SMA in robotics technology, that is classified and discussed. The wide spectrum of increasing use of SMA in the development of robotic systems is due to the increase in the knowledge of handling its functional characteristics such as large actuating force, shape memory effect, and super-elasticity features. These inherent characteristics of SMA can make robotic systems small, flexible, and soft with multi-functions to exhibit different types of moving mechanisms. This article comprehensively investigates three subsections on soft and flexible robots, driving or activating mechanisms, and artificial muscles. Each section provides an insight into literature arranged in chronological order and each piece of literature will be presented with details on its configuration, control, and application.
Autoencoder and Partially Impossible Reconstruction Losses
Authors: Dias Da Cruz Steve , Taetz Bertram , Stifter Thomas , Stricker Didier
Published: June 2022

The generally unsupervised nature of autoencoder models implies that the main training metric is formulated as the error between input images and their corresponding reconstructions. Different reconstruction loss variations and latent space regularizations have been shown to improve model performances depending on the tasks to solve and to induce new desirable properties such as disentanglement. Nevertheless, measuring the success in, or enforcing properties by, the input pixel space is a challenging endeavour. In this work, we want to make use of the available data more efficiently and provide design choices to be considered in the recording or generation of future datasets to implicitly induce desirable properties during training. To this end, we propose a new sampling technique which matches semantically important parts of the image while randomizing the other parts, leading to salient feature extraction and a neglection of unimportant details. The proposed method can be combined with any existing reconstruction loss and the performance gain is superior to the triplet loss. We analyse the resulting properties on various datasets and show improvements on several computer vision tasks: illumination and unwanted features can be normalized or smoothed out and shadows are removed such that classification or other tasks work more reliably; a better invariances with respect to unwanted features is induced; the generalization capacities from synthetic to real images is improved, such that more of the semantics are preserved; uncertainty estimation is superior to Monte Carlo Dropout and an ensemble of models, particularly for datasets of higher visual complexity. Finally, classification accuracy by means of simple linear classifiers in the latent space is improved compared to the triplet loss. For each task, the improvements are highlighted on several datasets commonly used by the research community, as well as in automotive applications.
Detection of Aflatoxin B1 in Single Peanut Kernels by Combining Hyperspectral and Microscopic Imaging Technologies
Authors: Zhang Haicheng , Jia Beibei , Lu Yao , Yoon Seung-Chul , Ni Xinzhi , Zhuang Hong , Guo Xiaohuan , Le Wenxin , Wang Wei
Published: June 2022

To study the dynamic changes of nutrient consumption and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) accumulation in peanut kernels with fungal colonization, macro hyperspectral imaging technology combined with microscopic imaging was investigated. First, regression models to predict AFB1 contents from hyperspectral data ranging from 1000 to 2500 nm were developed and the results were compared before and after data normalization with Box-Cox transformation. The results indicated that the second-order derivative with a support vector regression (SVR) model using competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) achieved the best performance, with RC2 = 0.95 and RV2 = 0.93. Second, time-lapse microscopic images and spectroscopic data were captured and analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and synchrotron radiation-Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) microspectroscopy. The time-lapse data revealed the temporal patterns of nutrient loss and aflatoxin accumulation in peanut kernels. The combination of macro and micro imaging technologies proved to be an effective way to detect the interaction mechanism of toxigenic fungus infecting peanuts and to predict the accumulation of AFB1 quantitatively.
Ultra-Fast Polarity Switching, Non-Radioactive Drift Tube for the Miniaturization of Drift-Time Ion Mobility Spectrometer
Authors: Li Lingfeng , Gu Hao , Lv Yanzhen , Zhang Yunjing , He Xingli , Li Peng
Published: June 2022

Drift-time ion mobility spectrometer (DT-IMS) is a promising technology for gas detection and analysis in the form of miniaturized instrument. Analytes may exist in the form of positively or negatively charged ions according to their chemical composition and ionization condition, and therefore require both polarity of electric field for the detection. In this work the polarity switching of a drift-time ion mobility spectrometer based on a direct current (DC) corona discharge ionization source was investigated, with novel solutions for both the control of ion shutter and the stabilization of aperture grid. The drift field is established by employing a switchable high voltage power supply and a serial of voltage regulator diode, with optocouplers to drive the ion shutter when the polarity is switched. The potential of aperture grid is stabilized during the polarity switching by the use of four diodes to avoid unnecessary charging cycle of the aperture grid capacitor. Based on the proposed techniques, the developed DT-IMS with 50 mm drift path is able to switch its polarity in 10 ms and acquire mobility spectrum after 10 ms of stabilization. Coupled with a thermal desorption sampler, limit of detection (LoD) of 0.1 ng was achieved for ketamine and TNT. Extra benefits include single calibration substance for both polarities and largely simplified pneumatic design, together with the reduction of second drift tube and its accessories. This work paved the way towards further miniaturization of DT-IMS without compromise of performance.
The Preparation of the Essential Oil from Pomelo (Citrus maxima ‘Shatian Yu’) Peel Using Microwave-Assisted Distillation by Pectinase Soaking and Its Anti-Fungal Activity
Authors: Zhang Xiaonan , Huang Yan , Niu Yaqian , Liu Zhiwei , Chen Mengyu , An Yimin , Zhang Lubin
Published: June 2022

To verify the anti-fungus properties of the crop-harmful pseudocercospora, the essential oil (EO) of pomelo peel (PP) was extracted by a single factor combined with response surface optimization. Meanwhile, the composition and activity of EO were studied. The PP was squeezed by a screw extruder and pretreatmented by pectinase, then extracted by microwave-assisted steam distillation. The optimal conditions were as follows: pectinase dosage was 69.17 μmol/g, microwave power was 651.42 W and extraction time was 43.84 min. The dry weight (DW) yield of PPEO reached 14.63 mL/kg DW after BBD optimization. There were 23 compounds in the PPEO identified by GC-MS. Limonene, α-phrenbutene, and laurene in PPEO accounted for 79.31%, 4.72%, and 3.46%, respectively. In addition, the antifungal was effective when the concentration of PPEO was 3.5 mg/mL. Therefore, this study has guiding significance for the development of natural resources.
The Socio-Emotional Competencies of High School and College Students in the National Polytechnic Institute (Mexico)
Authors: Huerta Cuervo Rocío , Téllez Liliana Suárez , Luna Acevedo Víctor Hugo , Ramírez Solís María Eugenia , Vela Ibarra Citlali , Ávila García Guillermina
Published: June 2022

The socio-emotional competencies of students are essential for supporting their school and personal performance. This article presents the results and analysis of an experiment with students from the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN, Mexico) and the subsequent application of an instrument to assess their socio-emotional competencies. The questions that guided the research were the following: (1) What is the level of development of the socio-emotional competencies of IPN students? (2) How do variables such as sex, age, and educational level affect the degree of development of socio-emotional competencies? (3) Are the socio-emotional competencies of the study group similar to those of the control group? These questions were examined through a quantitative analysis of the results of an instrument organized into nine theoretical dimensions with 72 questions that integrate the content of socio-emotional competencies. The instrument was applied to 405 students. The results show, first, a high level of development, on average, of the students’ socio-emotional competencies. Second, significant differences were found between the study group and the control group in two dimensions exclusively: empathy and autonomy. Similarly, the results show significant differences in the responses of men and women in two dimensions, regulation and pro-sociality, which, according to the analysis carried out, are related to prevailing gender stereotypes. A relevant conclusion is that the strengthening of socio-affective skills from school is essential for the comprehensive development of students. Failure to attend to them reproduces pre-existing conditions in families where poverty and violence do not allow for enriched socio-emotional environments.
Research on Frequency Response Modeling and Frequency Modulation Parameters of the Power System Highly Penetrated by Wind Power
Authors: Qi Junfeng , Tang Fei , Xie Jiarui , Li Xinang , Wei Xiaoqing , Liu Zhuo
Published: June 2022

Renewable energy units led by wind power participate in diversified control primary frequency modulation, making the frequency response modes and the setting of frequency modulation parameters more complex. This paper proposes a frequency response model of the power system which is highly penetrated by wind power based on the two mainstream control strategies of wind power that participate in primary frequency modulation. The model considers the influence of wind capture devices, maximum power point tracking (MPPT), and other complex control strategies on system frequency response. Based on this model, the calculation formulas of the maximum change rate of dynamic frequency, the lowest point of dynamic frequency, and the maximum steady-state frequency deviation of the system after fault disturbance are derived in the frequency domain. The influences of wind power permeability and two typical frequency response control strategies on system frequency stability are analyzed. On the one hand, it is found that the proposed model can fit the system frequency response better than the traditional system frequency response model. Beyond that, two control strategies are mainly aimed at the different frequency stability requirements. On the other hand, under the condition of meeting the system’s stability requirements, the paper calculates the control parameters of frequency response of the doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG). The time-domain simulation model of the improved IEEE three-machine nine-node system and IEEE 39-node system with high permeability of wind power are built. Through the different fault scenarios, the simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed model and the accuracy of control strategy parameter calculation.
Teachers’ Perceptions of Teaching Sustainable Artificial Intelligence: A Design Frame Perspective
Authors: Lin Xiao-Fan , Chen Lu , Chan Kan Kan , Peng Shiqing , Chen Xifan , Xie Siqi , Liu Jiachun , Hu Qintai
Published: June 2022

Teaching artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging challenge in global school education. There are considerable barriers to overcome, including the existing practices of technology education and teachers’ knowledge of AI. Research evidence shows that studying teachers’ experiences can be beneficial in informing how appropriate design in teaching sustainable AI should evolve. Design frames characterize teachers’ design reasoning and can substantially influence their AI lesson design considerations. This study examined 18 experienced teachers’ perceptions of teaching AI and identified effective designs to support AI instruction. Data collection methods involved semi-structured interviews, action study, classroom observation, and post-lesson discussions with the purpose of analyzing the teachers’ perceptions of teaching AI. Grounded theory was employed to detail how teachers understand the pedagogical challenges of teaching AI and the emerging pedagogical solutions from their perspectives. Results reveal that effective AI instructional design should encompass five important components: (1) obstacles to and facilitators of participation in teaching AI, (2) interactive design thinking processes, (3) teachers’ knowledge of teaching AI, (4) orienteering AI knowledge for social good, and (5) the holistic understanding of teaching AI. The implications for future teacher AI professional development activities are proposed.
How Are Material Values and Voluntary Simplicity Lifestyle Related to Attitudes and Intentions toward Commercial Sharing during the COVID-19 Pandemic? Evidence from Japan
Authors: Lee Kyung-Tae
Published: June 2022

This paper attempts to elucidate how material values (MV) and voluntary simplicity lifestyle (VSL) are related to Japanese consumers’ attitudes and intentions toward commercial sharing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper provides the following findings by employing the two-step structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to analyze the data (n = 750) collected in Japan during the pandemic from people with no experience in commercial sharing. (1) MV has a positive effect on attitudes. (2) VSL is divided into “simplicity,” “long-term usage,” and “planned buying.” (3) Simplicity and planned buying are negatively related to MV, but long-term usage is not significantly related to MV. (4) Simplicity and long-term usage significantly affect attitudes, whereas planned buying does not. (5) Attitudes and subjective norms have positive effects on intentions. Consequently, two conflicting consumption orientations, MV and VSL, positively affect consumers’ responses toward commercial sharing in a pandemic context. The author suggests that although the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic exists now, the sharing economy can still contribute to enhancing sustainability and alleviating technological inequality by attracting people with different values and lifestyles.
Welfare-Partnership Dynamics and Sustainable Development
Authors: Gonçalves Hermínia
Published: June 2022

The welfare partnership is defined as the process through which local agents interact with each other in the dynamics of collectively defining strategic objectives and building place-based approaches that reinforce local citizenship. What can we learn from the experience of municipal social action partnerships that is likely to assist us in building sustainable development formulas? This article analyses the partnership practices in six Portuguese municipalities in the Northern Region, discussing forms of social support that are convergent with sustainable development and how they tend to be articulated in municipal social action partnerships. The present research followed phenomenological reasoning using qualitative methods and multiple case studies. There were debates with professionals, looking for explicit meanings in the abstract knowledge of the concept trajectory. The results suggest that convergence with sustainable development resides in the combination of three elements: (1) developing innovative eco-community social responses that are aligned with a comprehensive social sustainability ideal that is contextualized in the relationship between subjectivities and territory, as well as with the general principles of the providence system; (2) implementing a local strategic planning practice, monitored and aligned with local projects that act on the ecological effect, determining local vulnerabilities; and (3) adopting an efficient practice of governance and allocation of stakeholders and resources, emphasizing the multilevel articulation and durability of the implemented local processes.
Development of Flow-Based Heating Supply Water Temperature Control for Apartment Building Using District Heating System
Authors: Lee Chanuk , Jin San , Lee Donghoon , Do Sung Lok
Published: June 2022

In the heating supply systems in apartment buildings utilizing district heating, the supply water temperature setting is a critical control for providing sufficient heating and effective usage of the heating energy. Conventional water temperature control methods such as fixed temperature (FT) control can result in energy wastage and outdoor air temperature reset (OTR) control cannot reflect the variation in the heating demands of households because it only considers the outdoor air temperature. Therefore, this study proposes an advanced control method called flow-based residential energy demand (f-RED) control, which sets the supply water temperature based on the outdoor air temperature and household heating demands (i.e., the changes in the circulated heating water flow). To determine the performance of the proposed method compared to the conventional one, this study utilizes building energy simulation. The simulation analysis results confirm that the f-RED control method appropriately sets the supply water temperature based on a combination of the two factors, supplies heat according to heating demands, and reduces the energy consumption of the circulation pump by approximately 1.6% and that of the secondary pump by 4.2%. Thus, the f-RED control method is able to utilize heat energy more effectively and efficiently than the conventional control method.
Understanding Students’ Acceptance and Usage Behaviors of Online Learning in Mandatory Contexts: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Tao Da , Li Wenkai , Qin Mingfu , Cheng Miaoting
Published: June 2022

Online learning has been mandatorily adopted in many countries due to the closure of educational institutions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, antecedents of the acceptance and continuance of online learning in such a situation and their changing role over time have not been well understood. This study proposed and empirically tested a longitudinal acceptance model of online learning by integrating the technology acceptance model (TAM) with the task–technology fit (TTF). Data were collected using a three-wave longitudinal survey from 251 Chinese college students after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that most hypothesized relationships in the proposed model were supported and remained across the three-time stages, while the effects of perceived ease of use on perceived usefulness and behavioral intention changed over time. In addition, students’ perceptions at previous stages had little impact on perceptions at subsequent stages, except for perceived usefulness and behavioral intention. Our study demonstrates that the integrated model of TAM and TTF could be an effective tool to understand students’ acceptance of online learning across different time stages in a mandatory setting and that longitudinal design could be applicable to examine the changing mechanism of the acceptance and continuance use of online learning over time.
Fertiliser Effect of Ammonia Recovered from Anaerobically Digested Orange Peel Using Gas-Permeable Membranes
Authors: Horta Carmo , Riaño Berta , Anjos Ofélia , García-González María Cruz
Published: June 2022

The manufacture of mineral N fertilisers by the Haber–Bosch process is highly energy-consuming. The nutrient recovery technologies from wastes through low-cost processes will improve the sustainability of the agricultural systems. This work aimed to assess the suitability of the gas-permeable membrane (GPM) technology to recover N from an anaerobic digestate and test the agronomic behaviour of the ammonium sulphate solution (ASS) obtained. About 62% of the total ammonia nitrogen removed from digestate using GPM was recovered, producing an ASS with 14,889 ± 2324 mg N L−1, which was more than six-fold higher than in digestate. The ASS agronomic behaviour was evaluated by a pot experiment with triticale as a plant test for 34 days in a growth chamber. Compared with the triticale fertilised with the Hoagland solution (Hoag), the ASS provided significantly higher biomass production (+29% dry matter), N uptake (+22%), and higher N agronomic efficiency 3.80 compared with 1.81 mg DM mg−1N in Hoag, and a nitrogen fertiliser replacement value of 133%. These increases can be due to a biostimulant effect provided by the organic compounds of the ASS as assessed by the FT-Raman spectroscopy. The ASS can be considered a bio-based mineral N fertiliser with a biostimulant effect.
Patterns of Human–Brown Bear Conflict in the Urban Area of Brașov, Romania
Authors: Cimpoca Alina , Voiculescu Mircea
Published: June 2022

Human–bear conflicts are increasing in number due to deforestation, urban expansion, tourism, and habitat invasion by humans. Our study was conducted in Brașov, a picturesque city in central Romania. Brașov is surrounded by forests and has significant tourist traffic, but also much uncollected garbage and many garbage containers, which attract brown bears. We recorded human–bear conflicts in four districts (Răcădău, the Historic Centre, Noua, and Gară) between 2004 and 2018, finding 55 cases in total, of which in 19 cases involving people, 4 people were killed and 32 were injured. In 36 cases, there were no human victims. We mapped the locations of human–bear conflicts and garbage containers, then analysed their space–time location and human victims in terms of behavioural factors. The altitudes at which brown bears were identified ranged from 580 to 790 m, whereas bears were found in the city at distances of between 100 and 2600 m from the forest. The highest frequency of human–bear conflicts occurred during summer and autumn, and the most common behavioural factor was human outdoor activities. This study provides an important background for understanding human–bear conflicts and will help local authorities develop effective strategies to reduce human–bear conflicts and mitigate risk.
Does the Inclusion of Disabled Employees Affect Firm Performance? Empirical Evidence from China
Authors: Jing Jiaqi , Feng Xiaoqing , Song Jianbo , Li Boya
Published: June 2022

Disabled persons are the largest minority group in the world and an important part of the labor market. However, few studies use empirical methods to investigate the economic consequences of including disabled employees from the perspective of the demand side. Based on the background of China’s employment quota system for the disabled, and using a sample of Chinese Listed Companies from 2016 to 2020, this paper empirically tests the influence of including disabled employees on firm performance. The results show that there is a U-shaped relationship between the inclusion of disabled employees and firm performance. Firm size and social donation have a negative incentive effect, while average employee compensation has a positive incentive effect on the relationship between disabled employees and firm performance. The above results provide empirical evidence for companies to arrange a diversified labor force, and also provide a new perspective for policymakers to adjust policies to promote the employment of the disabled.
Effects of Climate Change on the Climatic Production Potential of Potatoes in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Yang Li-Tao , Zhao Jun-Fang , Jiang Xiang-Ping , Wang Sheng , Li Lin-Hui , Xie Hong-Fei
Published: June 2022

Understanding the impacts of regional climate change on crop production will benefit strategic decisions for future agricultural adaptation in China. In this study, the climatic production potential of potato over the past 61 years in Inner Mongolia was simulated based on long-term observed data and the step-by-step correction method. The results show that the annual average potential for potato climatic production in Inner Mongolia is 19,318 kg·hm−2, fluctuating between the highest value (25,623 kg·hm−2) and the lowest value (15,354 kg·hm−2). Over the past 61 years, the climatic production potential exhibited an insignificant decreasing trend, with large interannual fluctuation, especially since 2000. The high-value areas of the climatic production potential were mainly located in the central and southern regions. The climatic production potential of potato in most areas showed a decreasing trend. The influence of radiation changes on the potato climatic production potential was not obvious in most areas. The effects of temperature changes on the climatic production potential of potato were mostly negative, and were most obvious in the central and western regions and in the southeastern region. The change in precipitation in most parts of western Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, Chifeng and eastern Xingan League had a positive effect on the climatic production potential of potato. However, the change in precipitation in southern Ulanchabu, eastern Chifeng, Hulunbuir and western and eastern regions had a negative effect on the climatic production potential of potato. The main limiting factor for the climatic production potential of potato in Inner Mongolia is precipitation. Our findings have important implications for local potato production to cope with ongoing climate change in China.
Urban Competitiveness: Identification and Analysis of Sustainable Key Drivers (A Case Study in Iran)
Authors: Komasi Hossein , Hashemkhani Zolfani Sarfaraz , Prentkovskis Olegas , Skačkauskas Paulius
Published: June 2022

From the mid-1990s onwards, the concept of competitiveness was introduced to firms at the level of countries, regions, and cities. It was used as an index of the success and superiority of places. The present study used quantitative (survey) and qualitative methods in the framework of the exploratory paradigm to achieve key driving variables affecting the competitiveness of Kermanshah. The present study was applied in terms of its purpose and descriptive–analytical nature and research method. The study’s statistical population consisted of experts related to the Kermanshah competitiveness index, which studied 30 experts using the snowball method. MICMAC software was used to analyze the research data. Findings indicated that out of a total of 54 variables affecting the competitiveness of Kermanshah, 11 variables were in this group, which were the role of Kermanshah city in the power structure (MIN1); geographical and strategic location (MIN4); national, regional, and local plans (MIN5); management (MIN6); clean and healthy air (ENV1); potential sources of soil and water (ENV2); security of space (SEC2); the agricultural sector (ECO7); domestic tourism (ECO16); foreign tourism (ECO17); and sustainable sources of income (ECO19). The final model of Kermanshah’s future competitiveness will be that in the first stage, if the government (administration and government structure), in the form of national, regional, and local programs, pays attention to the competitive advantages of places. Especially, in large cities, and eliminating regional inequalities and in the next stage, local government (officials, managers, and all planners as the executive department) will need to act in order to operationalize the competitiveness of the city. With the correct use of opportunities and potentials (economic, socio-cultural, environmental, and security), in the 20-year horizon, Kermanshah will be a city with national and even transnational competitiveness. Otherwise, in addition to burning opportunities and destroying the capabilities of Kermanshah, other places adjacent to Kermanshah province will gradually be involved in challenges; tensions; and economic, cultural, social, environmental, security, and other crises.
Microplastics in the Gulf of Mexico: A Bird’s Eye View
Authors: Grace Jacquelyn K. , Duran Elena , Ottinger Mary Ann , Woodrey Mark S. , Maness Terri J.
Published: June 2022

Microplastic debris is a persistent, ubiquitous global pollutant in oceans, estuaries, and freshwater systems. Some of the highest reported concentrations of microplastics, globally, are in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM), which is home to the majority of plastic manufacturers in the United States. A comprehensive understanding of the risk microplastics pose to wildlife is critical to the development of scientifically sound mitigation and policy initiatives. In this review, we synthesize existing knowledge of microplastic debris in the Gulf of Mexico and its effects on birds and make recommendations for further research. The current state of knowledge suggests that microplastics are widespread in the marine environment, come from known sources, and have the potential to be a major ecotoxicological concern for wild birds, especially in areas of high concentration such as the GoM. However, data for GoM birds are currently lacking regarding typical microplastic ingestion rates uptake of chemicals associated with plastics by avian tissues; and physiological, behavioral, and fitness consequences of microplastic ingestion. Filling these knowledge gaps is essential to understand the hazard microplastics pose to wild birds, and to the creation of effective policy actions and widespread mitigation measures to curb this emerging threat to wildlife.
Drip Fertigation with Relatively Low Water and N Input Achieved Higher Grain Yield of Maize by Improving Pre- and Post-Silking Dry Matter Accumulation
Authors: Guo Dong , Chen Chuanyong , Zhou Baoyuan , Ma Di , Batchelor William D. , Han Xiao , Ding Zaisong , Du Mei , Zhao Ming , Li Ming , Ma Wei
Published: June 2022

Appropriate irrigation and nitrogen (N) management strategies are necessary to achieve a sustainable yield of maize with relatively low water and N inputs. Here, a 2-year field experiment with two irrigation methods (drip irrigation and flood irrigation) and five N application rates (0, 225, 300, 375, and 450 kg N ha−1) was conducted to evaluate maize yield and water and N use efficiency in the North China Plain (NCP). Compared with flood fertigation (FF), drip fertigation (DF) improved the soil water content (SWC) in the 0 to 40 cm soil layer and maintained a greater soil mineral N content (Nmin) of that soil layer. This resulted in increased soil Nmin in the 0 to 40 cm soil layer for the 375 kg ha−1 (N3) under DF compared with the 450 kg N ha−1 (N4) treatment under FF during both pre- and post-silking of maize. The maize crop accumulated greater N at both pre- and post-silking compared using N3 under DF compared to N4 under FF. Greater pre-silking N accumulation increased both leaf area and plant growth rate, leading to more dry matter (DM) accumulation and develop more kernels, while sufficient post-silking N accumulation maintained high leaf area to produce more DM post-silking and promote maize ability to support grain filling. As a result, maximum maize yield (10.4 Mg ha−1) was achieved due to increased kernel number and kernel weight for N3 (375 kg N ha−1) under DF with a 20% reduction in N fertilizer input compared with the N4 (450 kg N ha−1) treatment under FF. Due to greater grain yield and N uptake and less water consumption, the agronomic N efficiency (AEN), N partial factor productivity (PFPN), water use efficiency (WUE) and net income for the N3 treatment under DF increased by 30.4%, 28.6%, 58.3% and 11.0% averaged over two years, respectively, compared to the N4 treatment under FF. Therefore, drip fertilization could improve maize grain yield with a relatively lower water consumption and N application rate compared with flood irrigation with higher N fertilization, as well as increase the economic benefits.
Iron-Doped Biochar Regulated Soil Nickel Adsorption, Wheat Growth, Its Physiology and Elemental Concentration under Contrasting Abiotic Stresses
Authors: Khan Waqas-ud-Din , Shaukat Rabia , Farooq Muhammad Ansar , Ashraf Muhammad Nadeem , Nadeem Faisal , Tanveer Mohsin , Hamid Yasir , Sun Nan
Published: June 2022

The prevalence of abiotic stresses hampers soil health and plant growth in most ecosystems. In this study, rice husk iron-enriched biochar (BC) was prepared and its superiority in terms of nutrients enrichment, porosity and different acidic functional group (O-H, C=O) relative to simple biochar was confirmed through scanning electron microscopic, X-ray fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared analysis. To further evaluate its nickel (Ni), salt (NaCl) and carbonate (CaCO3) stress mitigating impact on wheat physiology and biochemical attributes, a pot experiment was conducted using; BC (1%), Ni (0.5 mM NiNO3), Na (100 mM NaCl) and CO3 (100 mM CaCO3) and with twelve treatments; T1; Control, T2; NiNO3, T3; CaCO3, T4; NaCl, T5; BC, T6; Ni + BC, T7; CaCO3 + BC, T8; NaCl + BC, T9; Ni + CaCO3 + BC, T10; Ni + NaCl + BC, T11; CaCO3 + NaCl + BC, T12; Ni + NaCl + CaCO3 + BC. The Langmuir isotherm model revealed the maximum Ni adsorption capacity (2433 mg g−1) in treatments where Ni was applied with BC soil. Maximum soil DTPA-extractable Ni was found in the T9 treatment; however, Ni concentration was not reported in wheat roots while only trace amounts of Ni were found in wheat shoots with the T9 treatment. It was suggested that BC has the capacity to induce the immunization effect in plant roots by providing additional Fe so their ionic homeostasis and redox metabolism worked properly. This argument was further paved by the enhanced adsorption of these toxic ions in the presence of BC-favored wheat growth as indicated by maximum increases in shoot iron and potassium concentrations under Ni + CaCO3 + BC, relative to control. Furthermore, the decrease in shoot hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (20%) and malondialdehyde (32%) concentrations and increase in shoot ascorbate peroxidase (81%) and catalase (three-fold) activities under Ni + BC relative to Ni + NaCl + CaCO3 + BC controlled the cell membrane damage. In conclusion, BC proved to be an excellent amendment to reduce the toxic effects of Ni, NaCl and CaCO3 stresses and enhance wheat growth and nutrition.
The Generation and Effects for Recyclable Waste from Households in a Megapolis: A Case Study in Shanghai
Authors: Yu Chaojie , Xu Junqing , Zhao Aihua , Xiao Peiyuan , Tai Jun , Bi Zhujie , Li Guangming
Published: June 2022

Shanghai is one of the world-leading megapolises facing the challenge of ecological sustainable development. The recyclable waste from households (RWH) generated in Shanghai has increased rapidly since the implementation of garbage classification in 2019. However, there are no rigorous data on the generation and collection of RWH, and the corresponding countermeasures are required to be studied. This paper attempted to investigate RWH generation and identify the effects of RWH recycling in Shanghai. We used questionnaires combined with a field survey to investigate the competent authorities and leading recycling enterprises to analyze the characteristics of RWH generation. We conducted a monthly survey of 52 leading recycling enterprises in 11 typical districts for 2020. We also identified the main influencing factors of RWH generation using a multiple linear regression model. In addition, we popularized the model to estimate Shanghai’s RWH generation rate. Results show that data from leading recycling enterprises surveys were more accurate and reached a maximum of 82,104.77 kg/cap/month in November 2020. Higher RWH generation was found in suburban districts at 36,396.20 kg/cap/month. Shanghai’s RWH generation rate was 6253.60 t/d through model calculation. The educational level of household managers, regional economic condition, resident population, and disposable income impact RWH generation. Based on the abovementioned results, the implications for RWH management were discussed. We propose to promote the combination of theoretical simulation and information data platform construction. Meanwhile, it is also necessary to improve the capacity of the collection and transport system and accelerate the construction of pre-treatment bases in Shanghai.
Imperceptible Image Steganography Using Symmetry-Adapted Deep Learning Techniques
Authors: Khalifa Amal , Guzman Anthony
Published: June 2022

Digital image steganography is the process of embedding information within a cover image in a secure, imperceptible, and recoverable way. This research extends a symmetry-adapted deep-learning approach to identify hidden patterns of images using two-dimensional convolutional neural networks (CNN). The proposed method (SteGuz) uses three CNNs to implement the different phases of the steganography process on digital image covers. SteGuz introduced a gain function, based on several image similarity metrics, to maximize the imperceptibility of the hiding process. Using 10 different pairs of cover-secret images, the performance of the proposed method was measured in terms of standard metrics such as peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) and structured similarity index measurement (SSIM). The results showed that the proposed methodology outperformed the original method in terms of both imperceptibility and recoverability. In addition, when compared with some existing methods, SteGuz proved the outstanding performance of achieving a very high PSNR value while maintaining high accuracy of the extracted image.
Fixed Point and Homotopy Methods in Cone A-Metric Spaces and Application to the Existence of Solutions to Urysohn Integral Equation
Authors: Arif Anam , Nazam Muhammad , Al-Sulami Hamed H. , Hussain Aftab , Mahmood Hasan
Published: June 2022

The purpose of this article is to introduce an ordered implicit relation that can be used for the existence of fixed points of new contractions defined in cone A-metric spaces. We investigate a fixed-point method for proving the existence of Urysohn integral equation solutions. We prove an homotopy result by the application of obtained fixed-point theorem. The hypothesis is demonstrated with examples.
Geometry and Spectral Theory Applied to Credit Bubbles in Arbitrage Markets: The Geometric Arbitrage Approach to Credit Risk
Authors: Farinelli Simone , Takada Hideyuki
Published: June 2022

We apply Geometric Arbitrage Theory (GAT) to obtain results in mathematical finance for credit markets, which do not need stochastic differential geometry in their formulation. The remarkable aspect of the GAT is the gauge symmetry, which can be translated to the financial context, by packaging all of the asset model information into a (stochastic) principal fiber bundle. We obtain closed-form equations involving default intensities and loss-given defaults characterizing the no-free-lunch-with-vanishing-risk condition for government and corporate bond markets while relying on the spread-term structure with default intensity and loss-given default. Moreover, we provide a sufficient condition equivalent to the Novikov condition implying the absence of arbitrage. Furthermore, the generic dynamics for an isolated credit market allowing for arbitrage possibilities (and minimizing the total quantity of potential arbitrage) are derived, and arbitrage credit bubbles for both base credit assets and credit derivatives are explicitly computed. The existence of an approximated risk-neutral measure allowing the definition of fundamental values for the assets is inferred through spectral theory. We show that instantaneous bond returns are serially uncorrelated and centered, that the expected value of credit bubbles remains constant for future times where no coupons are paid, and that the variance of the market portfolio nominals is concurrent with that of the corresponding bond deflators.
A Dynamic GLR-Based Fault Detection Method for Non-Gaussain Dynamic Processes
Authors: Pan Xiaogang , Gao Long , Jiao Yuanyuan , Chen Zhiwen
Published: June 2022

Non-Gaussian dynamic processes are ubiquitous due to the presence of non-Gaussian distributed variables. Therefore, fault detection of non-Gaussian dynamic processes plays a vital role to maintain the safe operation of systems and symmetry of data distribution. In this paper, a dynamic generalized likelihood ratio (DGLR)-based fault detection method is proposed for non-Gaussian dynamic processes. Different from the conventional principal component analysis (PCA)-based, dynamic PCA-based, and PCA-based GLR fault detection methods, the novelty of the proposed method is that the GLR is extended to non-Gaussian dynamic processes, and the randomized algorithm is integrated for threshold setting to attenuate the influence of non-Gaussian. The application scope of these methods is also discussed. The proposed method is compared with four existing fault detection methods on a numerical simulation and the continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) process. The achieved results show that the proposed method is able to significantly improve the detection performance in terms of fault detection rate and prompt response to faults.