bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Classification of Terrestrial Laser Scanner Point Clouds: A Comparison of Methods for Landslide Monitoring from Mathematical Surface Approximation
Authors: Kermarrec Gaël , Yang Zhonglong , Czerwonka-Schröder Daniel
Published: October 2022

Terrestrial laser scanners (TLS) are contact-free measuring sensors that record dense point clouds of objects or scenes by acquiring coordinates and an intensity value for each point. The point clouds are scattered and noisy. Performing a mathematical surface approximation instead of working directly on the point cloud is an efficient way to reduce the data storage and structure the point clouds by transforming “data” to “information”. Applications include rigorous statistical testing for deformation analysis within the context of landslide monitoring. In order to reach an optimal approximation, classification and segmentation algorithms can identify and remove inhomogeneous structures, such as trees or bushes, to obtain a smooth and accurate mathematical surface of the ground. In this contribution, we compare methods to perform the classification of TLS point clouds with the aim of guiding the reader through the existing algorithms. Besides the traditional point cloud filtering methods, we will analyze machine learning classification algorithms based on the manual extraction of point cloud features, and a deep learning approach with automatic extraction of features called PointNet++. We have intentionally chosen strategies easy to implement and understand so that our results are reproducible for similar point clouds. We show that each method has advantages and drawbacks, depending on user criteria, such as the computational time, the classification accuracy needed, whether manual extraction is performed or not, and if prior information is required. We highlight that filtering methods are advantageous for the application at hand and perform a mathematical surface approximation as an illustration. Accordingly, we have chosen locally refined B-splines, which were shown to provide an optimal and computationally manageable approximation of TLS point clouds.
Low-Cost GNSS and Real-Time PPP: Assessing the Precision of the u-blox ZED-F9P for Kinematic Monitoring Applications
Authors: Hohensinn Roland , Stauffer Raphael , Glaner Marcus Franz , Herrera Pinzón Iván Darío , Vuadens Elie , Rossi Yara , Clinton John , Rothacher Markus
Published: October 2022

With the availability of low-cost, mass-market dual-frequency GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receivers, standalone processing methods such as Precise Point Positioning (PPP) are no longer restricted to geodetic-grade GNSS equipment only. However, with cheaper equipment, data quality is expected to degrade. This same principle also affects low-cost GNSS antennas, which usually suffer from poorer multipath mitigation and higher antenna noise compared to their geodetic-grade counterparts. This work assesses the quality of a particular piece of low-cost GNSS equipment for real-time PPP and high-rate dynamic monitoring applications, such as strong-motion seismology. We assembled the u-blox ZED-F9P chip in a small and light-weight data logger. With observational data from static experiments—which are processed under kinematic conditions—we assess the precision and stability of the displacement estimates. We tested the impact of different multi-band antenna types, including geodetic medium-grade helical-type (JAVAD GrAnt-G3T), as well as a low-cost helical (Ardusimple AS-ANT2B-CAL) and a patch-type (u-blox ANN-MB) antenna. Besides static tests for the assessment of displacement precision, strong-motion dynamic ground movements are simulated with a robot arm. For cross-validation, we collected measurements with a JAVAD SIGMA G3T geodetic-grade receiver. In terms of precision, we cross-compare the results of three different dual-frequency, real-time PPP solutions: (1) an ambiguity-float solution using the Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES) open-source software, (2) an ambiguity-float and an AR (ambiguity-resolved) solution using the raPPPid software from TU Vienna, and (3) and a PPP-RTK solution using the u-blox PointPerfect positioning service. We show that, even with low-cost GNSS equipment, it is possible to obtain a precision of one centimeter. We conclude that these devices provide an excellent basis for the densification of existing GNSS monitoring networks, as needed for strong-motion seismology and earthquake-early-warning.
AF-SRNet: Quantitative Precipitation Forecasting Model Based on Attention Fusion Mechanism and Residual Spatiotemporal Feature Extraction
Authors: Geng Liangchao , Geng Huantong , Min Jinzhong , Zhuang Xiaoran , Zheng Yu
Published: October 2022

Reliable quantitative precipitation forecasting is essential to society. At present, quantitative precipitation forecasting based on weather radar represents an urgently needed, yet rather challenging. However, because the Z-R relation between radar and rainfall has several parameters in different areas, and because rainfall varies with seasons, traditional methods cannot capture high-resolution spatiotemporal features. Therefore, we propose an attention fusion spatiotemporal residual network (AF-SRNet) to forecast rainfall precisely for the weak continuity of convective precipitation. Specifically, the spatiotemporal residual network is designed to extract the deep spatiotemporal features of radar echo and precipitation data. Then, we combine the radar echo feature and precipitation feature as the input of the decoder through the attention fusion block; after that, the decoder forecasts the rainfall for the next two hours. We train and evaluate our approaches on the historical data from the Jiangsu Meteorological Observatory. The experimental results show that AF-SRNet can effectively utilize multiple inputs and provides more precise nowcasting of convective precipitation.
Evaluation of the Spatial Representativeness of In Situ SIF Observations for the Validation of Medium-Resolution Satellite SIF Products
Authors: Rossini Micol , Celesti Marco , Bramati Gabriele , Migliavacca Mirco , Cogliati Sergio , Rascher Uwe , Colombo Roberto
Published: October 2022

The upcoming Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) mission will provide sun-induced fluorescence (SIF) products at unprecedented spatial resolution. Thus, accurate calibration and validation (cal/val) of these products are key to guarantee robust SIF estimates for the assessment and quantification of photosynthetic processes. In this study, we address one specific component of the uncertainty budget related to SIF retrieval: the spatial representativeness of in situ SIF observations compared to medium-resolution SIF products (e.g., 300 m pixel size). Here, we propose an approach to evaluate an optimal sampling strategy to characterise the spatial representativeness of in situ SIF observations based on high-spatial-resolution SIF data. This approach was applied for demonstration purposes to two agricultural areas that have been extensively characterized with a HyPlant airborne imaging spectrometer in recent years. First, we determined the spatial representativeness of an increasing number of sampling points with respect to a reference area (either monocultural crop fields or hypothetical FLEX pixels characterised by different land cover types). Then, we compared different sampling approaches to determine which strategy provided the most representative reference data for a given area. Results show that between 3 and 13.5 sampling points are needed to characterise the average SIF value of both monocultural fields and hypothetical FLEX pixels of the agricultural areas considered in this study. The number of sampling points tends to increase with the standard deviation of SIF of the reference area, as well as with the number of land cover classes in a FLEX pixel, even if the increase is not always statistically significant. This study contributes to guiding cal/val activities for the upcoming FLEX mission, providing useful insights for the selection of the validation site network and particularly for the definition of the best sampling scheme for each site.
Effects of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Sequential Performance Testing in Male Rugby Union Players
Authors: Burnett Patrick J. M. , Willems Mark E. T.
Published: October 2022

Previous studies on performance effects by New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract used mainly a single exercise task. We examined the effects of NZBC extract in a battery of rugby union–specific tests including speed, agility and strength testing. University male rugby union players (n = 13, age: 21 ± 2 years, height: 182 ± 6 cm, body mass: 87 ± 13 kg) completed two full familiarisations and two experimental visits in an indoor facility. The study had a double blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, crossover design. For the experimental visits, participants consumed NZBC extract (210 mg/day of anthocyanins for 7 days) or placebo with a 7-day wash-out. Testing order was the running-based anaerobic sprint test, the Illinois agility test, seated medicine ball (3 kg) throw, and handgrip strength. With NZBC extract, there may have been an effect for average sprint time to be faster by 1.7% (placebo: 5.947 ± 0.538 s, NZBC extract: 5.846 ± 0.571 s, d = −0.18 (trivial), p = 0.06). However, with NZBC extract there may have been reduced slowing of sprint 2 (d = −0.59 (moderate), p = 0.06) and reduced slowing for sprint 6 (d = −0.56 (moderate), p = 0.03). In the Illinois agility test, there may have also been an effect for the mean time to be faster by 1.6% (placebo: 18.46 ± 1.44 s, NZBC extract: 18.15 ± 1.22 s, d = −0.24 (small), p = 0.07). The correlation between the %change in average sprint time and %change in mean agility time was not significant (Pearson R2 = 0.0698, p = 0.383). There were no differences for the seated medicine ball throw distance (p = 0.106) and handgrip strength (p = 0.709). Intake of NZBC extract in rugby union players seems to improve tasks that require maximal speed and agility but not muscle strength. NZBC blackcurrant extract may be able to enhance exercise performance in team sports that require repeated movements with high intensity and horizontal change of body position without affecting muscle strength.
Evaluation of Online Communities for Technology Foresight: Data-Driven Approach Based on Expertise and Diversity
Authors: Kim Youngjun , Son Changho
Published: October 2022

This study proposes a framework for selecting and validating data sources for public-based technology foresight. In other words, it finds out which of the many online communities have valuable data sources. Specifically, we evaluate the usefulness of text data from online communities for technology foresight in terms of expertise and diversity. To this end, not only is a bibliographic analysis using metadata conducted, but also, topic modeling techniques for a semantic analysis of texts are utilized. As a case study, we selected 20 candidate communities where discussions and predictions related to technology are made and applied newly proposed metrics. As a contribution of this study, it is expected that it will provide a basis for public participation in technology foresight, not only leaving it to a few experts.
Implementation of EDGE Computing Platform in Feeder Terminal Unit for Smart Applications in Distribution Networks with Distributed Renewable Energies
Authors: Chih Hsin-Ching , Lin Wei-Chen , Huang Wei-Tzer , Yao Kai-Chao
Published: October 2022

Under the plan of net-zero carbon emissions in 2050, the high penetration of distributed renewable energies in distribution networks will cause the operation of more complicated distribution networks. The development of edge computing platforms will help the operator to monitor and compute the system status timely and locally, and it can ensure the security operation of the system. In this paper, a novel EDGE computing platform that is implemented by a graphics processing unit in the existing feeder terminal unit (FTU) is proposed for smart applications in distribution networks with distributed renewable energies and loads. This platform makes timely forecasts of the feeder status for the next seven days in accordance with historical weather, sun, and loading data. The forecast solver uses the machine learning long short-term memory (LSTM) method. Thereafter, the power calculation analyzers transform feeder topology into the circuit model for transient-state, steady-state, and symmetrical component analyses. An important-factor explainer parses the LSTM model into the concise value of each historical datum. All information transports to remote devices via the internet for the real-time monitor feature. The software stack of the EDGE platform consists of the database archive file system, time-series forecast solver, power flow analyzers, important-factor explainer, and message queuing telemetry transport (MQTT) protocol communication. All open-source software packages, such as SQLite, LSTM, ngspyce, Shapley Additive Explanations, and Paho-MQTT, form the aforementioned function. The developed EDGE forecast and power flow computing platform are helpful for achieving FTU becoming an Internet of Things component for smart operation in active distribution networks.
Reducing Risks by Transporting Dangerous Cargo in Drones
Authors: Bridgelall Raj
Published: October 2022

The transportation of dangerous goods by truck or railway multiplies the risk of harm to people and the environment when accidents occur. Many manufacturers are developing autonomous drones that can fly heavy cargo and safely integrate into the national air space. Those developments present an opportunity to not only diminish risk but also to decrease cost and ground traffic congestion by moving certain types of dangerous cargo by air. This work identified a minimal set of metropolitan areas where initial cargo drone deployments would be the most impactful in demonstrating the safety, efficiency, and environmental benefits of this technology. The contribution is a new hybrid data mining workflow that combines unsupervised machine learning (UML) and geospatial information system (GIS) techniques to inform managerial or investment decision making. The data mining and UML techniques transformed comprehensive origin–destination records of more than 40 commodity category movements to identify a minimal set of metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) with the greatest demand for transporting dangerous goods. The GIS part of the workflow determined the geodesic distances between and within all pairwise combinations of MSAs in the continental United States. The case study of applying the workflow to a commodity category of dangerous goods revealed that cargo drone deployments in only nine MSAs in four U.S. states can transport 38% of those commodities within 400 miles. The analysis concludes that future cargo drone technology has the potential to replace the equivalent of 4.7 million North American semitrailer trucks that currently move dangerous cargo through populated communities.
The Influence of Tourism Development Strategies on the Attractiveness of Mountainous Destinations: A Case Study of the Aures Mountains in Algeria
Authors: Zeraib Salah , Kouba Yacine , Berghout Belkacem
Published: October 2022

Tourism development strategies play a crucial role in tourism development. However, the reaction of the former to the needs of visitors and its effect on attractiveness is essential, especially in mountainous destinations. This study evaluates the impact of tourism development strategies on the attractiveness of mountain destinations. The study relied on appropriate elements derived from the literature. The study was conducted in three tourist sites in the Aures Mountains, and the sample included 468 visitors. The results showed that the destination’s attractiveness depends mainly on local factors such as nature, monuments, traditional food, and apple purchase, in addition to the quality of the price, which received the satisfaction of the majority of visitors. In turn, visitors were dissatisfied with the services assigned to tourism development strategies, such as accommodation, entertainment, communications, and transportation. The results also showed that the return to the destination is affected by nature and determined by several factors such as age, gender, use of a specific vehicle, and proximity. Therefore, the destination’s attractiveness is not based on the elements assigned to tourism strategies; this indicates the gap in local potential and tourism development.
Use of Remote-Sensing-Based Global Products for Agricultural Drought Assessment in the Narmada Basin, India
Authors: Sirisena Jeewanthi , Augustijn Denie , Nazeer Aftab , Bamunawala Janaka
Published: October 2022

Droughts exert severe impacts on the environment, economy, and society. The south Asian region is vulnerable to droughts and the Indian sub-continent is one of the most vulnerable in the region to frequent drought disasters. This study assesses the agricultural droughts in the Narmada River Basin (NRB), India, where more than 50% of the area is utilized for agriculture, through freely available local and global remote-sensing-based data focusing on long-term rainfall trends (1989–2018) and recently weakened monsoons in 2017 and 2018. In this study, some of the widely used indices to characterize droughts (viz., Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), simplified Rainfall Index (RIs), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)), soil moisture content, and reservoir surface areas were used to assess the drought conditions in the Narmada River Basin over the study period. Our analysis shows that the NRB has experienced a decreasing trend in monsoon rainfall over the past three decades. The SPI captured most of the basin’s historical droughts. The weakened monsoons during 2017–2018 show that different parts of the NRB have experienced severe or moderate drought conditions. A clear difference does not show in the NDVI and in the soil moisture contents of the basin over three hydrological years (2015/16, 2016/17, and 2017/18), except for July to September 2017/18. The estimated water area depletion using the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) follows the actual water levels in three selected reservoirs in the basin, of which, two show a decline in the maximum surface area, likely due to the weakened monsoons in 2017 and 2018. This research indicates that the freely available data can be beneficial for local authorities to monitor and understand the drought conditions to support water resources management and planning for agricultural activities.
Dry–Wet Cyclic Sulfate Attack Mechanism of High-Volume Fly Ash Self-Compacting Concrete
Authors: Liu Junxia , Li Anbang , Yang Yanmeng , Wang Xueping , Yang Fei
Published: October 2022

High-volume fly ash replacing cement helps to improve the fluidity, volume stability, durability, and economy of self-compacting concrete (SCC). Sulfate attack is the most common form of the durability damage of hydraulic concrete; in particular, the performance degradation at the water level change position is more significant. Therefore, research on the influence effect and mechanism of fly ash on the durability is of great significance. In this paper, the change regularity of the SCC physical and mechanical properties with the fly ash replacement percentage and dry–wet cycles were studied by 60 dry–wet cycles of sulfate attack test. The 6 h electric flux, MIP, and SEM were used to study the performance degradation mechanism of SCC cured for 56 days, which had also been attacked by sulfate. The results show that the physical and mechanical properties of SCC increased first and then decreased with the dry–wet cycles of sulfate attack. After 10–15 cycles, the corresponding properties increased slightly, and then decreased gradually. When the fly ash content was 40%, the corrosion resistance coefficient, relative dynamic elastic modulus, and flexural strength retention were higher than those of the control specimen. However, when the fly ash content was 50%, they were close to the control and deteriorated obviously with the further addition of fly ash. For pore sizes in the range of 120–1000 nm, the porosity of SCC cured for 56 days was inversely proportional to the 6 h electric flux and the retention of mechanical properties, indicating that the porosity of the large pores is the decisive factor affecting the chloride ion permeability and corrosion resistance. The incorporation of fly ash in SCC can change the sulfate attack products and destruction mechanism. The sulfate attack damage of SCC with 40% of fly ash and the control specimen was dominated by ettringite crystallization and expansion, while those with a fly ash content of 50% and 60% had no obvious corrosion products, and the microstructures became looser. The appropriate fly ash replacement percentage could significantly improve the corrosion resistance of SCC.
Board Group Faultlines, Slack Resource, and Corporate Carbon Performance
Authors: Qi Bing , Yang Zhilin
Published: October 2022

A general consensus has been reached among many countries that low-carbon development is important for the protection of the environment and the mitigation of climate change. In line with the attitude of a responsible country, China urges enterprises to participate in energy conservation and emission reduction through various policies. Based on the faultline theory, this paper considers the data of 124 listed companies in China’s manufacturing industry from 2015 to 2019 as a research sample. From the perspective of corporate governance, this analysis discusses the influence of the aggregation effect of the multiple characteristics of board members on the environmental protection benefits of enterprises, and empirically studies the board group. The relationship between the faultline and the carbon performance of the enterprise is further investigated, and the internal slack resources of the enterprise are further investigated in relation to the board members and the moderating effect. The study found that the existence of the board’s bio-demographic-related faultline has a positive effect on the carbon performance level of enterprises, but it is not statistically significant. The existence of the board’s task-related faultline has a positive effect on the carbon performance level of the enterprise. Further research found that precipitated slack resources have a significant negative moderating effect on the relationship between the existence of boardroom faultlines and corporate carbon performance, and that the relationship had a positive moderating effect, but was not statistically significant. The preceding conclusions not only enrich the research on corporate internal governance in theory, but also provide useful guidance for how to improve corporate environmental protection behavior on a microlevel in practice.
Types of ERP Systems and Their Impacts on the Supply Chains in the Humanitarian and Private Sectors
Authors: Lukyanova Iryna , Haddud Abubaker , Khare Anshuman
Published: October 2022

(1) Background: This paper explores different ERP systems used in the supply chains of humanitarian and private sectors and their key impacts on supply chain performance. The study examined 19 potential impacts from the published literature from 2015 to 2020 and investigated whether they are equally relevant in the global private and humanitarian sectors. (2) Methods: An anonymous online questionnaire was used and advertised on different social media websites. Fifty humanitarian supply chain professionals and 53 private sector professionals completed the questionnaire. A descriptive statistic cross-tabulation analysis was used to show the differences or similarities in the collected responses, and a Mann–Whitney Test was used to test the research hypotheses. (3) Results: The findings highlighted the key impacts of ERP systems on supply chain performance and confirmed that these impacts are similar in both sectors. Additionally, the humanitarian sector prefers to implement custom-made ERPs, whereas the private sector purchases ready-to-use products. (4) Conclusions: The reviewed literature did not show studies conducting such a comparative study. The results provide a better understanding of the types of ERP systems and their impacts on supply chain operations within the two examined sectors.
Italian Ryegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, and Meadow Fescue as Undersown Cover Crops in Spring Wheat and Barley: Results from a Mixed Methods Study in Norway
Authors: Poudel Prabhat , Ødegaard Jørgen , Mo Siri Josefine , Andresen Rebekka Kaald , Tandberg Hans Andre , Cottis Thomas , Solberg Harald , Bysveen Kari , Dulal Puspa Raj , Mousavi Hesam , Solberg Svein Øivind
Published: October 2022

Cover crops could provide environmental benefits in spring-grain systems through diversification, reduced nitrate leaching, and carbon sequestration. However, few farmers apply the technique, partly as they believe the cover crops will compete with the main crop and cause yield losses. Cover crops can either be sown together with the grain (undersown) or in autumn and establish after grain harvest. The current study uses a mixed-method approach combining field trials, interviews, and literature synthesis. The field trials focused on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis L.) that were undersown with 15 kg ha−1 but with different seeding dates in spring wheat and barley. The interviews focused on gathering practical experiences from farmers in Norway and the literature synthesis gathered results from other studies. For carbon sequestration, nine studies were judged relevant for our target climate and included in our synthesis. They showed a median value at 264 kg C ha−1 year−1. In our field trials, 300–900 kg DM ha−1 year−1 was produced, with Italian ryegrass sown at the same date as the grain on top. Our trials showed no significant grain yield reduction due to the use of cover crops. However, our synthesis of the literature showed a 5–10% yield reduction with Italian ryegrass that was sown at the same time as the grain. One- or two-weeks delay in the sowing of Italian ryegrass, or reduced seeding rates, could reduce the problem. The interviews showed that farmers do not prefer undersown species, especially not perennial species, as they have experienced that such species may come up again in the following years and cause a weed problem. We recommend farmers to use cover crops and for undersowing, we recommend Italian ryegrass that is sown one or two weeks after the grain. Perennial ryegrass can also be recommended, as long as the growth is properly terminated.
Evaluation of the Bioremediation Potential of Staphlococcus lentus Inoculations of Plants as a Promising Strategy Used to Attenuate Chromium Toxicity
Authors: Jamil Nuzhat , Hyder Sajjad , Valipour Mohammad , Yasir Muhammad , Iqbal Rashid , Roy Rana , Zafar Muhammad Umar , Ahmed Ambreen
Published: October 2022

Current industrial developments, advanced farming techniques, and further anthropogenic activities are adding substantial amounts of heavy metals into the ecosystem and having dangerous effects on lifeforms, including plants and animals, and changing their biological activities. Decontamination following the heavy metal contamination is an important point deserving attention in the current scenario. Among all the other approaches used for this purpose, bioremediation is ecofriendly and green approach that can be used to remediate heavy metal toxicity. In plant cells, the regulation of ionic homeostasis is a primary physiological prerequisite for upholding plant development, growth, and production. To avoid the dreadful effects of toxic heavy metal exposure, plants manifest physiological, biochemical, and structural responses. In the present research, we reported on the isolation and molecular identification of an effective heavy-metal-tolerant bacterial strain, Staphylococcus lentus (E3), having a minimum inhibitory concentration of 300 µg/mL for chromium, Cr, taken from soil polluted with industrial effluents at Kasur, Pakistan. Bacterial inoculations enhanced all the growth parameters of Triticum aestivum and Helianthus annus. To observe the physiological strain, the proline content and peroxidase (POD) activities were estimated under Cr stress in the bacterial-inoculated plants. The chlorophyll content and Cr uptake in the aerial parts the of plants were also studied, along with the overexpression of proteins. The bacterial inoculations produced encouraging results. Bioremediation using PGPR is an efficient, convincing, and reliable approach to attenuating heavy metal toxicity.
Psychoactive Substance Effect on Mental Health and Well-Being Focusing on Student-Aged Lithuanian Cohort of Sexual Minorities
Authors: Baranauskas Marius , Kupčiūnaitė Ingrida , Stukas Rimantas
Published: October 2022

Mental health refers to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional well-being. However, significant research gaps are still found in disclosing the disparities in mental health outcomes between heterosexual and sexual minority (SM) individuals during the period of 20–24 years of age. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the association between the prevalence of psychoactive substance use and the severity of anxiety or depressive symptoms, and well-being across SM and non-SM student-aged populations (N = 1330). This cross-sectional study was conducted in Lithuania over the period of fifteen months following the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study concentrated on the mental health symptomatology, well-being status, and the prevalence of the psychoactive substance use, which were measured by three screening instruments. In terms of negative well-being, mental health problems, and health-risk behaviors, it was found that the SMs were potentially more exposed than the non-SMs. The current study also revealed a significant impact of substance use (alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking) on the symptoms of anxiety (adjusted odds ratios (AOR) 1.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0–2.6), AOR 1.5 (95% CI: 1.0–2.2)), and negative well-being (AOR 1.7 (95% CI: 1.0–2.8), AOR 1.7 (95% CI: 1.1–2.5)) across the SM student-aged group. The association between the increased self-administration of cannabis and positive mental health outcomes appertained to milder anxiety symptoms amid SMs has been identified (AOR 0.5 (95% CI: 0.2–0.9)). Given that minority stressors could play an important part in mediating between the sexual orientation and negative outcomes of mental and behavioral health in student-aged populations, health strategies should focus on the development of effective substance abuse and drug prevention programs, both student-centered and SMs-centered, aimed to reduce health-risk behaviors in emerging adulthood.
Frequency Stability Analysis of Multi-Renewable Source System with Cascaded PDN-FOPI Controller
Authors: Behera Aurobindo , Pati Subhranshu Sekhar , Subudhi Umamani , Ghatak Subhankar , Panigrahi Tapas Kumar , Alsharif Mohammed H. , Mohsan Syed
Published: October 2022

The present work describes a multi-area (two and three) renewable-energy-source-integrated thermal-hydro-wind power generation structure along with fleets of plug-in electrical vehicles (PEVs) in each control area. The generation–load balance is the prime objective, so automatic generation control (AGC) is adopted in the system. In the paper, a cascaded combination of proportional derivative with filter PDN and fractional-order proportional integral (FOPI) is proposed and tuned using the hybrid chemical reaction optimization with pattern search (hCRO-PS) algorithm. The hCRO-PS algorithm is designed successfully, and its effectiveness is checked through its application to various benchmark functions. Further, Eigen value analysis is carried out for the test system to verify the system stability. The impacts of diverse step load perturbation (i.e., case I, II, III, and IV) and time-varying load perturbation are also included in the study. Moreover, the impact of renewable sources, PEVs in different areas, and varied state of charge (SOC) levels on the system dynamics are reflected in the work. From the analysis, it can be inferred that the proposed controller provides comparable results with other fractional-order and conventional controllers under varying loading conditions.
Effects of Internal Curing on Inclusion in Prepackaged Cementitious Grout and Ultra-High Performance Concrete Materials
Authors: Saladi Naveen , De la Varga Igor , Munoz Jose F. , Spragg Robert , Graybeal Benjamin
Published: October 2022

Proprietary, prepackaged materials such as some cementitious grouts and ultra-high performance concretes (UHPC) are commonly used in the bridge construction industry due to their convenience and desirable properties. However, due to particularities of their mixture designs, grouts and UHPC are prone to exhibit shrinkage, thus resulting in potential durability issues. This paper describes a step-by-step methodology for including internal curing (IC) in these types of materials, with the main goal of addressing some of their shrinkage and durability issues. A brief analysis of the relative cost implications is also provided, along with a compilation of experimental results to show the effect that IC has on important material properties. The results from this study indicate that the inclusion of IC in cementitious grouts and UHPC has the potential to increase durability, leading to more sustainable bridge structures with longer service lives.
Market-Specific Barriers and Enablers for Organizational Investments in Solar PV—Lessons from Flanders
Authors: Van Opstal Wim , Smeets Anse
Published: October 2022

Solar Photovoltaics (PV) is an important contributor to a sustainable energy transition and consists of an increasingly affordable and accessible technology. Although solar PV policies in industrialized countries have mainly benefited affluent households, non-homeowner market segments often remain underdeveloped. In this paper, we review barriers and enablers for solar PV investments in non-homeowner market segments and investigate sustainability aspects of its institutional environment. We use focus group data from Flanders (Belgium) to investigate non-homeowner residential markets (including social, rental, and collective housing), public sector markets (including schools, and health and social care facilities), and commercial markets. They have in common that they are mostly governed or mediated by organizations, and that very specific regulatory and institutional conditions apply. Our main finding is that, even in times of high energy prices, the energy savings potential of solar PV is often not a sufficient condition for organizations to engage in solar PV investments. Major barriers include diseconomies of scale, split incentive problems, internal organizational barriers, and legal uncertainty. Important enablers are energy sharing frameworks and framework contracts for group purchasing. We conclude with recommendations on institutional quality, organizational capacity building, market development, mechanism design, and social justice to ensure sustainability.
Reuse of Bleaching Earth: The Green Solution for Rapeseed Oil Producers
Authors: Marcinkowski Damian , Czwartkowski Kamil , Bochniak Marta , Wereńska Monika , Krzaczek Paweł
Published: October 2022

The main purpose of the presented research is to characterize the relationship between the amount of bleaching earth used in the bleaching process of rapeseed oil and the efficiency of this process. Changes in the content of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments were examined using spectrophotometric and colorimetric methods. The process was carried out on a plate filter with different thicknesses of bleaching earth (BE) layers (1–3% in relation to the amount of oil). On the basis of the conducted research, a decrease in the content of chlorophylls (from 59 to 97%) and carotenoids (from 55 to 78%) was found, which affected the overall color of the oil. Based on the research results, it was found that the bleaching earth does not lose all of its adsorption properties after reaching the maximum, but they decrease in the next cycle. For some time, the sorbent can be used successfully, but to a lesser extent (40–45% of the original properties). This information is crucial as it will reduce BE consumption by up to 30% and shorten the oil bleaching cycle, as it will reduce the setup time of the machine.
Group Buying of Competing Retailers with Strategic Inventory
Authors: Xiong Lang , Xiao Tingting , Nie Fuhai
Published: October 2022

Group buying involves cooperation and competition among multiple retailers, and strategic inventory can affect this relationship. To investigate the interaction between them, we consider a two-tier distribution channel consisting of one supplier and two competing retailers who can hold strategic inventory, and explore the effect of strategic inventory on the operational decisions and profits of all members of the supply chain. In this research, we make a major contribution by integrating strategic inventory into group buying. Furthermore, we make another major contribution by examining the impact of strategic inventory on the operational decisions of the supplier and the retailers in a competing environment. We construct a Stackelberg game, where the supplier is the leader and the retailers are followers. We find that the retailers will hold strategic inventory under group buying only when the holding cost is low or the basic wholesale price is high. Moreover, a higher holding cost is detrimental to the retailers while beneficial to the supplier, and intensified competition is detrimental to both the retailers and the supplier. Interestingly, contrary to the common view that inventory should be reduced or not held, the retailers have incentives to hold strategic inventory. The supplier also prefers that because strategic inventory benefits her. Therefore, strategic inventory achieves a win–win outcome for the supplier and the retailers. In addition, strategic inventory can improve supply chain performance and consumer surplus.
The Effect of Environmental Information Disclosure on Green Total Factor Productivity: Evidence from Quasi-Natural Experiments on Cities in China
Authors: Meng Xiangyan , Tang Mingyuan , Kong Fanchao , Li Shuai
Published: October 2022

The relationship between environmental regulation and green economic growth has become a focal issue in China. This study utilizes the environmental information disclosure (EID) policy as a quasi-natural experiment in the Chinese context. Using a sample of 280 Chinese cities from 2003–2019 and measuring urban green total factor productivity (GTFP), the propensity score matching and difference-in-difference methods are applied to assess the impact mechanism of EID on urban GTFP in China. The results show that, first, the urban GTFP showed a decreasing trend from 2003 to 2008 and a general increasing trend from 2009 to 2019. The EID policy had a significantly positive impact on GTFP, and this finding remained robust after a series of tests. Second, the policy effect of EID was more pronounced in large and medium-sized cities than in small cities and eastern and central regions. The mechanism analysis shows that a positive effect from EID on GTFP in cities can be achieved through green technological innovation and industrial agglomeration.
The Importance of Measuring Local Governments’ Information Disclosure: Comparing Transparency Indices in Spain
Authors: Garrido-Rodríguez Juan-Carlos , Garrido-Montañés Marta , López-Pérez Germán , Zafra-Gómez Elisabeth
Published: October 2022

Transparency is considered a key element for developing a reliable government; it is the ability that all public entities have to provide access to all their information. The main objective of this work is to test the differences in the transparency of municipalities between the main indices and a new index made following the regulatory advances in this area at the national level. Called BTI, this new index aims to measure in the best possible way the degree of compliance of Spanish municipalities, through two dimensions (depth and breadth), which measure the quality and the quantity of the information. This work makes a comparison of the BTI with three of the main existing transparency indexes in Spain, to a sample of Spanish provincial capitals. The results obtained reveal clear differences between the indices, where three of the four indices analyzed show that most municipalities only fulfil the Transparency Act at the minimum level, with only a few municipalities reaching the maximum rating range. This work concludes that the BTI index is more demanding than the rest of the indexes. However, ITA stands out with a higher average score than the rest, which indicates that transparency portals are designed to obtain a good score in this index, being less objective. Finally, this paper remembers the importance of having an objective tool to measure transparency, as it can show notable differences with respect to reality.
Biofuel Technologies and Petroleum Industry: Synergy of Sustainable Development for the Eastern Siberian Arctic
Authors: Bashmur Kirill A. , Kolenchukov Oleg A. , Bukhtoyarov Vladimir V. , Tynchenko Vadim S. , Kurashkin Sergei O. , Tsygankova Elena V. , Kukartsev Vladislav V. , Sergienko Roman B.
Published: October 2022

This article is a compilation of interdisciplinary studies aimed at ensuring the environmental, political, and economic sustainability of oil and gas-producing countries with a focus on areas with many years of permafrost. One of the main concepts adopted in this research was the desire to show that confronting various energy lobbies is not mandatory and that it is necessary to find compromises by finding and introducing innovative technologies for integrated development for the benefit of society, industry, and the state. This is particularly relevant due to the increasing share of hard-to-recover hydrocarbon reserves, widely represented in the fields of the Eastern Siberian Arctic, and because Russia is the leader in flare emissions. We thus present the relevance of using these gases as industrial waste while reducing the carbon footprint. The technology of biofuel production based on the use of supercritical liquid extraction in a well extractor is presented as a result of the development of the presented experimental devices representing the investigation of the processes of extraction in wells and reactors for the distillation of hydrocarbons from heavy oil components. The obtained yield of the desired product (hydrogen) of the thermocatalytic pyrolysis of the test extract was in the range of 44 to 118 L/h, depending on the catalyst. This information can help inform the direction of future ecological engineering activities in the Eastern Siberian Arctic region.
A Novel Method for Watershed Best Management Practices Spatial Optimal Layout under Uncertainty
Authors: Gu Jinjin , Cao Yuan , Wu Min , Song Min , Wang Lin
Published: October 2022

Watershed Best management Practices (BMPs) spatial optimal layout would be affected by uncertainty, and there are still three problems which are worthy of studying in the present studies of watershed BMPs spatial optimal layout under uncertainty: (1) how to integrate multiple uncertainties in optimization model effectively; (2) how to avoid subjective weight in multi-objective uncertainty model; (3) how to develop more elastic schemes for uncertainty impact. To solve the mentioned problems, this study takes Zhegao river watershed, China as an example, interval stochastic fuzzy fractional programming (ISFFP) integrated with SWAT hydrology model is applied for BMPs spatial optimal layout in watershed to reduce non-point source (NPS) pollution. The result shows that the ISFFP method could solve the problems effectively, and the method could be adapted to different types of uncertainty, also the method has seldom been used in uncertainty BMPs spatial optimal layout, and the method is worth of popularization.
A Study on the Reliability of Mass, Density, and Fire Performance of Recycled Wastepaper Building Finishing Material Made with Large Wet Cellulose 3D Printers
Authors: Ahn Chansol , Park Dongin , Hwang Jeo , Rie Dongho
Published: October 2022

The impact of non-face-to-face contact following the COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as a social problem and has increased the amount of wastepaper, mainly in home delivery boxes. The appropriate recycling of paper waste is an area where sustainable growth is required in terms of the net environment system and carbon neutrality practice. Therefore, in this study, a specimen of building finishing material using wastepaper was produced using a custom-made large wet cellulose (LWC) 3D printer, and the site applicability of the fire performance was evaluated. The specimen of the building finish material was a mixture of wastepaper and ceramic binder, and the molding of the specimen was uniformly produced by a cylinder injection-type LWC 3D printer. The production reliability of the 3D printer was analyzed by measuring the mass and density of the specimen. The uniformity of the mass and density of the manufactured building finishes were confirmed to have standard deviations of ±0.05 g and ±0.01 g/cm3, respectively. The uniformity of the fire performance of specimens was confirmed by checking the relative standard deviation (RSD) value of ±3% under the same ceramic addition conditions from ISO 5660-1. Through the mass and density analysis and fire performance analysis of the building finishing materials, it was confirmed that the same mass, density, and fire performance can be produced simultaneously, and manufacturing using LWC 3D printers has been confirmed to be effective in developing uniform semi-non-combustible and retardant building materials.
Determining Risk Factors That Influence Cycling Crash Severity, for the Purpose of Setting Sustainable Cycling Mobility
Authors: Filipović Filip , Mladenović Dušan , Lipovac Krsto , Das Dillip Kumar , Todosijević Bojana
Published: October 2022

This paper has, for the purpose of setting sustainable cycling mobility, identified and assessed basic risk factors influencing crash severity. The study has examined risk factors for cyclist injuries and fatalities, according to the characteristics relative to cyclists, roads, vehicles and environment posing the risk of cyclist fatalities or serious injuries. The method of Binary logistic regression has been used as the study to analyze a sample of 21,235 traffic crashes involving cyclists in Serbia, over the period 2010–2021. The task was not to define the equations for risk prediction, but to determine the injury and fatality risk factors for cyclists. The results of this study show that cyclists older than 60 have a higher probability of being injured. Cyclists are more likely to be injured or killed on weekdays than on weekends, as well as in conditions of twilight. The odds of fatality and injury outside built-up areas are higher, while the odds of sustaining a serious injury are higher in built-up areas. The results of this study indicate significant overlapping with the previous research related to the analysis of factors influencing the severity of cyclist crashes. These results can be important for the policy makers and stakeholders involved, as they can help them gain clear understanding of the current road safety situation, for the purpose of creating an opportunity for developing best action plans and practical measures in the process of implementing sustainable urban mobility planning.