bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Expanded Steel Pipe Pile to Enhance Bearing Capacity
Authors: Kim Junghoon , Kim Uiseok , Min Byungchan , Choi Hangseok , Park Sangwoo
Published: March 2022

An expanded steel pipe pile increases the cross-sectional area of conventional micropile by expanding the steel pipe to exhibit a higher bearing capacity owing to increased frictional resistance. However, construction cases of the expanded steel pipe pile are insufficient due to the absence of equipment for expanding steel pipes inside the ground. In this study, hydraulic expansion equipment was developed to verify the reinforcing impact on the bearing capacity and field applicability of the expanded steel pipe pile. A series of laboratory and test bed experiments was conducted to measure the expansion time and deformation of carbon steel pipes by using the developed equipment. The results of these experiments demonstrated that the developed equipment has sufficient ability and constructability to be used in the field for constructing expanded steel pipe piles. Then, field load tests were performed by constructing expanded and conventional steel pipe piles to confirm the improved bearing capacity of the expanded steel pipe pile compared to that of the conventional micropile. As a result, the expanded steel pipe pile exhibited a 20.88% increase in bearing capacity compared to that of the conventional steel pipe pile.
Knowledge Sharing and Sustainable Development
Authors: Russ Meir
Published: March 2022

As the knowledge and data-intensive economy continues to evolve, in view of the continuously accelerating technological revolutions and pressures from ecological threats and the COVID-19 pandemic (e [...]
A Bibliometric Analysis on the Effects of Land Use Change on Ecosystem Services: Current Status, Progress, and Future Directions
Authors: Xu Jie , Xiao Pengnan
Published: March 2022

Land use changes cause significant alterations in the land surface structure and significantly impact ecosystem services. Research on land use change (LUC) and ecosystem services has become one of the hotspots of interdisciplinary research in ecology and geography. Based on 1860 publications collected from the Web of Science Core CollectionTM (WoS), the top authors, top organizations, top journals, and subject categories were discussed in detail. For the number of published articles, Sustainability ranks first with 86 publications, providing significant contributions in domain. The keywords could be classified into six categories: land use/land cover change, conservation, biodiversity, policies and programmers, environmental change, and agriculture. Citations and reference co-citations were analyzed, and popular literature and co-cited literature in the field were identified. In the discussion, we focus on four important issues, including land use area changes, land use pattern changes, land use spatial pattern changes, and land use changes at different scales. The research framework in the field and the shortcomings of existing research are discussed as well. The main aim of the paper is to assist researchers in identifying potential gaps in the research that should be addressed in future research.
Solution and Stability Analysis of Sliding Surface of Tailings Pond under Rainstorm
Authors: Wu Pengfei , Liang Bing , Jin Jiaxu , Zhou Kelin , Guo Bin , Yang Zetao
Published: March 2022

In the case of rainstorm, instability accidents in tailings ponds occur frequently, but there is no reliable calculation method for the stability calculation of tailings ponds. At the same time, there are problems of fuzzy hydrological boundaries and randomness of geotechnical parameters in the stability analysis of tailings ponds, which greatly weakens the credibility of the stability calculation. Therefore, this paper studies the stability of tailings ponds by using the principle of hydrogeology, the theory of elastic-plastic mechanics, the idea of limit equilibrium, and the probability analysis model. The boundary conditions of rainfall slope of tailings ponds are determined based on hydrogeological rainstorm analysis and trapezoidal generalization method. The potential sliding surface of tailings pond slope is solved by using the limit strain criterion. Through the random sampling method of Monte Carlo parameters to deal with the randomness of slope geotechnical parameters, the limit strain Monte Carlo reliability analysis method is established. Finally, through the calculation of practical cases, the stability results of tailings ponds under rainstorm are analyzed. The research results provide ideas for the quantitative analysis of tailings pond stability and have important significance for engineering guidelines.
Spatial-Temporal Variation and Tradeoffs/Synergies Analysis on Multiple Ecosystem Services: A Case Study in Fujian
Authors: Li Min , Zheng Peng , Pan Wenbin
Published: March 2022

The rapid urbanization process has severely affected the ecological security and ecosystem services (ESs) in China’s southern province of Fujian, and threated the sustainable development of the local economy and society in the last two decades. This study mapped the spatial-temporal variation of four types of ESs and evaluated the tradeoffs/synergies among the ESs in Fujian Province from 2000 to 2020 on the three scales of the province, city and county. The results showed that: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the three ESs functions of soil conservation service, carbon storage service, and habitat quality decreased, while the function of food supply service increased. (2) At the provincial scale, soil conservation services, carbon storage services, and habitat quality were in a synergistic relationship, and food supply service was always in tradeoffs relationships with soil conservation services, carbon storage services, and habitat quality. At the prefecture-level scale, the tradeoffs/synergies among ESs vary among prefecture-level cities. At the county scale, the Moran’s I index of bivariate spatial autocorrelation was consistent with the correlation coefficient, and the tradeoffs/synergies between ESs showed significant spatial heterogeneity. (3) Based on the correlation analysis method, the Ecosystem Service Tradeoff-synergy Degree (ESTD) model and bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis can clearly show the relationship between various ESs, and the research results are relatively consistent. The spatial distribution of four ecosystem services in Fujian province showed a specific aggregation pattern. High—high concentrations and low—low concentrations are strong. Low—high agglomeration and high—low agglomeration are weak.
Understanding Flood Risk Perception: A Case Study from Canada
Authors: Oubennaceur Khalid , Chokmani Karem , Lessard Florence , Gauthier Yves , Baltazar Catherine , Toussaint Jean-Patrick
Published: March 2022

In recent years, understanding and improving the perception of flood risk has become an important aspect of flood risk management and flood risk reduction policies. The aim of this study was to explore perceptions of flood risk in the Petite Nation River watershed, located in southern Quebec, Canada. A survey was conducted with 130 residents living on a floodplain in this river watershed, which had been affected by floods in the spring of 2017. Participants were asked about different aspects related to flood risk, such as the flood hazard experience, the physical changes occurring in the environment, climate change, information accessibility, flood risk governance, adaptation measures, and finally the perception of losses. An analysis of these factors provided perspectives for improving flood risk communication and increasing the public awareness of flood risk. The results indicated that the analyzed aspects are potentially important in terms of risk perception and showed that the flood risk perceptions varied for each aspect analyzed. In general, the information regarding flood risk management is available and generally understandable, and the level of confidence was good towards most authorities. However, the experiences of flood risk and the consequences of climate change on floods were not clear among the respondents. Regarding the adaptation measures, the majority of participants tended to consider non-structural adaptation measures as being more relevant than structural ones. Moreover, the long-term consequences of flooding on property values are of highest concern. These results provide a snapshot of citizens’ risk perceptions and their opinions on topics that are directly related to such risks.
@thermogramer: Thermal Imaging as a Tool for Science Communication and E-Learning in Social Media
Authors: Bermudez-Garcia Juan Manuel
Published: March 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic boosted the presence of thermal cameras in our society. These devices are becoming cheaper and smaller and can even be plugged in our smartphones. Therefore, soon enough everybody will have access to these instruments. Thermal cameras have been widely used for industrial, research and/or academic purposes. Now, in the rise of the online era, this work proposes and assesses a new application for such devices as visual engaging tools for science communication and e-learning in social media. Here, we introduce @thermogramer as a science communication channel that shows multispectral (optical and thermal) images of daily life objects to explain the science behind different topics of social interest (climate change, emerging technologies, health, and popular traditions). This young project is already present in social media, press, TV and museum’s exhibitions, and its designed content have been already useful for new inexperienced users, science educators and communicators.
Comprehensive Study on Melting Process of Phase Change Material by Using Paraffin Coupled Finned Heating Plate for Heat Transfer Enhancement
Authors: Zhang Lixi , Zhang Zhengyang , Yin Hui
Published: March 2022

Paraffin is a low-temperature phase change material, which is often used to recover and store heat in a solar thermal utilization system. This study aims to reveal the development and migration law of paraffin melting interface with time under the influence of a finned heating plate, as well as the heat transfer mechanism, and obtain the ways and methods to enhance the heat transfer in phase change material through visual experiments and numerical simulation. The research shows that once the paraffin with a high liquid fraction connects the mushy zone between the fin and the top wall, the vortexes in the mushy zone increases rapidly, which enhances the natural convective heat transfer in it, resulting in the rapid increase of liquid fraction. The lower the position of the fin, the longer the time required to form a mushy zone with a high liquid fraction between the fin and the top wall, and the later the phenomenon of rapid increase of liquid fraction occurs. Compared with changing the fin position, increasing the fin length has a greater effect on the paraffin melting rate. When other conditions remain unchanged, the inclination of fin and the effective length of fin in the horizontal direction jointly determine the melting rate of paraffin. The melting effect of paraffin is the best when the fin is inclined upward by 15°.
The Influence of Higher Education on Student Learning and Agency for Sustainability Transition
Authors: Sidiropoulos Elizabeth
Published: March 2022

Higher education (HE) has a key role in educating graduates as decision makers and change agents; however, sustainability education (SE) remains on the fringes of mainstream curricula and is conducted on an ad hoc basis. The context of this research is five connected studies that aimed to investigate the influence of SE on tertiary students’ views, knowledge, behaviour, and agency to contribute to sustainability transitions. The mixed-methods study investigated learning for sustainability by focusing on key elements of the “learning system”, namely the learner’s personal context, the teaching context (SE compared to regular education) and learning outcomes. The research was guided by a unique conceptual framework that linked theories in education and learning, environmental psychology, and sustainability transitions. The influence of educational interventions was assessed using online pre-post surveys that consisted of well-established instruments and open-ended questions. Key transversal findings are resistance to SE, converging views and attitudes towards an “anthropocentric environmentalist” perspective, limited empowerment and occasional disempowerment from SE, a focus on personal behaviour change rather than professional action/agency, and a limited incidence of wider agency. Cumulative and deeper learning for sustainability occurred with repetition of SE and a greater connection to a student’s lifeworld. The current ad hoc approach to SE in HE is ineffective in creating widespread agents for change. Influences that foster transformative learning for sustainability and the development of competency and agency for sustainability are identified, and recommendations are provided for educational policy and praxis to enhance student learning and agency for sustainability transitions.
Forecasting of Power Output of a PVPS Based on Meteorological Data Using RNN Approaches
Authors: Beigi Mohsen , Beigi Harchegani Hossein , Torki Mehdi , Kaveh Mohammad , Szymanek Mariusz , Khalife Esmail , Dziwulski Jacek
Published: March 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly popular as a tool to model, identify, optimize, forecast, and control renewable energy systems. This work aimed to evaluate the capability of the artificial neural network (ANN) procedure to model and forecast solar power outputs of photovoltaic power systems (PVPSs) by using meteorological data. For this purpose, based on the literature review, important factors affecting energy generation in a PVPS were selected as inputs, and a recurrent neural network (RNN) architecture was established. After completing the trained network, the RNN capability was assessed to predict the energy output of the PVPS for days not included in the training database. The performance evaluation of the trained RNN revealed a regression value of 0.97774 for test data, whereas the RMSE and the mean actual output power for a sample day were 0.0248 MJ and 0.538 MJ, respectively. In addition to RMSE, an error histogram and regression plots obtained by MATLAB were employed to evaluate the network’s capability, and validation results represented a sufficient prediction accuracy of the trained RNN.
Assessment of Urban Mobility via a Pressure-State-Response (PSR) Model with the IVIF-AHP and FCE Methods: A Case Study of Beijing, China
Authors: Lu Xi , Lu Jiaqing , Yang Xinzheng , Chen Xumei
Published: March 2022

Urban transportation issues continue to emerge and evolve as a result of rapid urbanization, and the systematic and scientific assessment of urban mobility is becoming increasingly essential. In this work, a Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model with 25 indicators was established to reflect the status of urban mobility. Then, the importance of indicators was determined with the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (IVIF-AHP) method, and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (FCE) method was applied to assess the overall status of urban mobility. The validity of the proposed model was demonstrated using the mobility system of Beijing as a case study, and the pressure, state, and response scores were calculated. The proposed assessment model can help to improve urban transportation monitoring and can also provide a scientific foundation for future urban transportation policymaking, planning, and traffic management, thereby further ensuring the sustainable development of urban transportation systems.
A New Mobility Era: Stakeholders’ Insights regarding Urban Air Mobility
Authors: Koumoutsidi Annitsa , Pagoni Ioanna , Polydoropoulou Amalia
Published: March 2022

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) constitutes a future aerial mobility alternative, which concerns the use of electric and autonomous aerial vehicles for transporting people throughout a planned network of vertiports. To materialize UAM, several actors of the air and urban transport ecosystem play a vital role. This paper describes the insights gathered from 32 key stakeholders around the world to present and frame the key aspects for the future implementation of UAM. The participants include representatives from the UAM industry such as airports, airlines, aviation consulting companies, academia, and authorities. The data collection encompasses various key research areas, covering topics such as UAM strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks, requirements for implementation, concept integration in the existing transport system, specific use cases, business models, and end-user segments. The research aims at setting up the stakeholder scene and expanding the current literature for UAM by engaging key decision makers and experts towards shaping the new mobility era. The results demonstrate that ensuring certification standards for UAM fleets and updating the current legal and regulatory framework are the main prerequisites for UAM’s realization. In addition, the usage of UAM for transporting cargo or for air ambulance services are the most mature business models for the coming decade.
Green Microfinance and Women’s Empowerment: Why Does Financial Literacy Matter?
Authors: Lee Cheng-Wen , Huruta Andrian Dolfriandra
Published: March 2022

This study investigated the role of financial literacy in the relationship between women’s empowerment and green microfinance. We set a conceptual model with green microfinance as an outcome variable, financial literacy as a mediating variable, and women’s empowerment as an exposure variable. Variance-based SEM was employed for analysis. The results show that the exposure and mediating variables have a significant direct and indirect impact on the outcome variable. The relationship between women’s empowerment and green microfinance is partially mediated by financial literacy. Local wisdom-based financial literacy is found to be an alternative for mainstreaming women’s empowerment in local development. In addition, gender-targeted programs need to consider pro-literacy policies for achieving green microfinance sustainability. By using financial literacy as a mediating variable, this study contributes to the current literature on the relationship between women’s empowerment and green microfinance.
Study on the Coupling Coordination and Spatial Correlation Effect of Green Finance and High-Quality Economic Development—Evidence from China
Authors: Zhou Tao , Ding Rui , Du Yiming , Zhang Yilin , Cheng Shihui , Zhang Ting
Published: March 2022

The article aims to study the coupling coordination and spatial correlation effects of green finance (GF) and high-quality economic development (HQED) in 30 Chinese provinces. The index system of GF and HQED is constructed by selecting relevant index data from 2007 to 2017. The index of GF and HQED is measured by the entropy value method. Next, the coupling coordination degree (CCD) and spatial association strength are calculated based on the index using the coupling coordination degree model and the gravity model. Then the driving factors of the CCD between GF and HQED are analyzed by using geographic detectors. Finally, the spatial association network is constructed and its robustness is studied. The research results show that the coupling coordination degree between GF and HQED in each province is generally low, with strong regional heterogeneity, and the coupling coordination degree shows a trend of decay from the eastern region to the western region, but the western region has more room for development. Green credit, green, coordination, and sharing are the strong driving factors of the CCD between GF and HQED. The network of spatial association between GF and HQED in each province is gradually tightened, making the western peripheral provinces more closely connected with the eastern provinces through the intermediate node provinces. The network robustness of GF and HQED is more influenced by provinces with higher node degree values. Accordingly, the article proposes that China should continuously improve relevant GF policies, environmental disclosure systems, enhance green innovation technology and guide private capital to enter the GF market.
Mentoring in the School of Mines and Energy to Cover Student Needs: From the Newly Enrolled to the Near-Graduates
Authors: García-Laso Ana , Montalvo Cristina , Martín Domingo Alfonso , Presa Leticia , Parra José Luis , Costafreda Jorge Luis
Published: March 2022

University students face situations throughout their careers that are sometimes difficult to overcome due to their lack of experience or preparation. Mentoring programs in university education have been proven to be a great accompaniment tool to solve these difficulties in addition to helping students’ personal and professional development. Our study aimed to show the complete mentoring process that accompanies students in the most crucial stages of their university education at the School of Mines and Energy of Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Three stages of interest were identified in which mentoring projects have been implemented through training activities at the Unit of Social Entrepreneurship, Ethics and Values in Engineering (UESEVI). At the beginning of their studies, two welcome actions are offered: Mentor and Monitor projects that provide administrative and academic support; during the development of their studies, the Mentoring with Energy project offers professional tutoring that helps students in their incorporation into the labor market and provides them with tools to select a specialty; and in the last stage, professional accompaniment is provided by the Gray Angels project that helps students to develop their future careers. The activities of UESEVI are a strategy in our School to guarantee the development of soft skills and compliance with quality education processes. The usefulness of these programs can be measured through the participation and interest of the students. A positive evolution of these projects has been observed over the years. They have been growing according to the demand and needs detected in the successive evaluations of the programs.
Production Performance, Egg Quality Characteristics, Fatty Acid Profile and Health Lipid Indices of Produced Eggs, Blood Biochemical Parameters and Welfare Indicators of Laying Hens Fed Dried Olive Pulp
Authors: Dedousi Anna , Kritsa Maria-Zoi , Đukić Stojčić Mirjana , Sfetsas Themistoklis , Sentas Antonios , Sossidou Evangelia
Published: March 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the long-term dietary effects of dried olive pulp (OP) on production performance, fatty acid profile and health lipid indices and quality characteristics of produced eggs, health and welfare indicators of laying hens. It was carried out in a commercial poultry farm using 300 Isa Brown layers at 23 weeks of age. The hens were randomly and equally divided in six dietary groups CON, OP2, OP3, OP4, OP5 and OP6, according to the inclusion rate of OP in the ration (0%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% and 6%, respectively). OP feeding increased the percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in eggs, decreased that of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and improved the PUFA to SFA ratio and health lipid indices, as indicated by the decrease of AI and TI and the increase in the h/H ratio of produced eggs, in a dose-dependent way. OP-fed layers presented a lower percentage of broken eggshells compared to controls. No adverse effects on birds’ performance, egg quality traits, health and welfare parameters were observed but a positive impact on Keel Bone Damage (KBD) incidence and belly plumage damage was recorded. OP feeding at the rates of 5% and 6% seems to be beneficial in improving egg nutrition quality.
Compressed Earth Blocks Using Sediments and Alkali-Activated Byproducts
Authors: Belayali Fouad , Maherzi Walid , Benzerzour Mahfoud , Abriak Nor-Edine , Senouci Ahmed
Published: March 2022

Sediment dredging is necessary and vital to preserve maritime activities and prevent floods. The management of these sediments represent an environmental challenge for many countries all over the world. This study focuses on evaluating the feasibility of using dredged sediments for the manufacturing of compressed earth blocks (CEB). The alternative construction material has the potential of reducing the need for dredged sediment onshore storage or ocean dumping. Several experimental tests have been conducted on two geopolymer types, which were obtained by mixing sediments from the northern region of France, fly ash (FA), and grounded blast furnace slag (GBFS). The geopolymers, which were activated using an eight-molar concentrated sodium hydroxide solution (NH), were cured at a temperature of 50 °C. The results have shown that a geopolymer content of 36% of FA and 10% of GBFS along with (NH) alkaline solution has significantly improved the mechanical properties of CEBs, which have outperformed those of Portland Cement-stabilized traditional blocks. The use of NH has resulted in the formation of crystalline calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) amorphous gel. Adding GBFS to the mix has enhanced the geopolymer paste compressive strength and microstructure because of the formation of additional C-S-H. The valorization of dredged sediments in CEB based on geopolymer stabilization can contribute to the reduction of the CO2 footprint of the construction industry.
What Reduces Household Food Waste in Japan? Nation-Wide and Region-Specific Contributing Factors in Urban and Rural Areas
Authors: Nakamura Kazuki , Kojima Daizo , Ando Mitsuyoshi
Published: March 2022

We analyze the contributing factors (i.e., attribute factors and behavioral factors) that lead to household food waste in Japan by region (i.e., large cities, small cities, and villages) using a nationwide sample and an ordered probit model. As a result of the analysis, it was found that “gender”, “age”, “children in the household”, “occupation”, “safety awareness”, and “time” were related to the occurrence of food waste in terms of consumer attributes, which were common throughout Japan. In terms of consumer behavior, “action”, “checking labels”, and “food management” are related. Among these, only “checking labels” had a positive relationship with the occurrence of food waste. By region, “children in the household”, “time”, “safety awareness”, and “food management” were particularly affected in large cities, while they were less affected in small cities and towns. For those who had “agricultural experience”, the occurrence of food waste was significantly lower in towns and villages.
Living Amidst the Ruins in Rome: Archaeological Sites as Hubs for Sustainable Development
Authors: Capuano Alessandra
Published: March 2022

In Rome, the intertwining of natural and built environments is structural, and has consolidated over the centuries. In the contemporary fabric, the overabundant presence of archaeology, always in symbiosis with vegetation, plays an important role for the image of the city and has helped maintain the alternation of voids and solids. Porosity can be seen therefore as a permanent morphological urban character of the city, particularly significant nowadays for environmental considerations. Ruins, which only a few years ago were perceived more as a brake to urban transformation, in recent years are emerging as an interesting potential in terms of biodiversity spots and social catalysts to implement more sustainable development. Out of the concept of sustainability, we can in fact recognize new and more cutting-edge ways of planning and designing heritage territory. This article describes a different approach to the enhancement of archaeological areas, through three case studies—The Appian Way Park, Rome’s City Walls and ArchaeoGRAB—that consider heritage as a sustainable integrated system. These projects present, through a holistic and multidisciplinary perspective, possible ways in which landscape design can contribute to the preservation of natural and heritage environments, as well as the development of healthier lifestyles and strengthening of local culture for the communities that dwell therein.
The Antecedents and Consequences of Study Commitment to Online Learning at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Cambodia
Authors: Chet Chealy , Sok Serey , Sou Veasna
Published: March 2022

A rapid spread of the COVID-19 outbreak has recently shifted teaching and learning at higher education institutions (HEIs) worldwide from the traditional classroom to the online process. During the educational disruption, online teaching and learning have become an alternative to pursue education. This paper aims to analyze the antecedents and consequences of students’ study commitment at Cambodia’s HEIs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research focused upon: adaptation of online teaching and learning, consequences and antecedents of students’ study commitment to online learning, and factors influencing students’ willingness to participate in online learning during the post–COVID-19 pandemic. The research was primarily based on an online survey among 1002 undergraduate students at Cambodia’s largest and oldest University for quantitative data. The SPSS 25 and AMOS 23 were adopted to proceed with the data analysis, especially in Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). We found that: (1) two stages of online teaching and learning processes were adopted at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP): individually-managed and institutionally-managed processes; (2) the students’ study commitment played an active role in improving their learning satisfaction. Meanwhile, academic support is one of the most outstanding factors influencing students’ online learning; and (3) in the post–COVID pandemic, 81.4% of undergraduate students did not propose to continue online learning. The survey confirms that online learning significantly reduced their academic performance, and 62.3% claimed online teaching negatively affected their studies. A prediction reveals that gender, the effect of online learning, permanent address, and home WIFI connection influence the students’ willingness to take online education in the post–COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of this research have advanced knowledge of students’ study commitment and provided scientific evidence for practitioners, planners, policymakers, and researchers to promote online teaching and learning at Cambodia’s HEIs during the post–COVID-19 pandemic.
Investigation on Characteristics and Prevention of Rockburst in a Deep Hard and Soft Compound Stratum Tunnel Excavated Using TBM
Authors: Jiang Bangyou , Ding Mingjun , Li Wenshuai , Gu Shitan , Ji Hongguang
Published: March 2022

Rockburst disasters frequently occur in deep tunnels excavated by TBM (tunnel boring machine) under complex geological conditions in western China. Using FLAC3D, the characterization of a three-dimensional numerical model of a compound stratum tunnel excavated by TBM is conducted, based on a water transport project in Shanxi Province. Then, the characteristics of rockburst in deep hard and soft compound stratum tunnels excavated by TBM are revealed, and the energy criteria of the rockburst considering the rock brittleness are proposed. In addition, the prevention and control method of drilling pressure relief for rockburst has been investigated. Results show that: (i) the rockburst risk of compound stratum tunnel excavated using TBM is mainly in the upper-hard rock part, while there is no rockburst risk in the soft rock part; (ii) after the excavation of the tunnel, slight rockburst risk occurs first in the hard rock area of the tunnel vault, and then the rockburst risk gradually rises to the strong level at 7 m behind the working face, indicating the hysteresis of strong rockburst; (iii) the rockburst in the vault of the rock surrounding the compound stratum tunnel has the effect of forming the deepest area, gradually narrowing to both sides, showing a “V” shape, and the occurrence of rockburst may not be completed at one time; (iiii) borehole pressure relief can significantly reduce the rockburst risk of surrounding rock in a tunnel. The larger the borehole diameter and depth, the better the effect of rockburst prevention. In addition, the effect of borehole diameter is more significant than depth. The research results provide guiding references for the prevention and control of similar rockburst disasters in underground engineering.
Determinants of Farmers’ Awareness and Adoption of Extension Recommended Wheat Varieties in the Rainfed Areas of Pakistan
Authors: Ullah Ayat , Saqib Shahab E. , Kächele Harald
Published: March 2022

Scientific evidence suggests that there is room for eradicating poverty and hunger by increasing food production through the adoption of modern agricultural practices by farmers. This study aimed, first, to explore the relationship between the farmers’ awareness and adoption of improved wheat varieties. Second, it aimed to find the key factors that govern the farmers’ awareness and adoption of extension-recommended innovations in the rainfed cropping system of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Data were collected from 395 respondents. A binary logit model was used to analyze the effect of the farmers’ socioeconomic and farm-specific characteristics on their awareness and adoption of the extension-suggested wheat varieties. Moreover, qualitative data from 40 key informants were collected for in-depth analysis. The results show a strong association between the farmers’ awareness of a technology (improved wheat varieties) and its adoption. The results of the logit model show that their extension contacts, income from agriculture, and access to credit positively affected the farmers’ awareness, whereas their education and household sizes negatively affected their awareness. Moreover, the factors that positively influenced the farmers’ decision to adopt the technology included the extension contact, the confidence in the extension, the risk-bearing attitude, and the credit access, whereas the household size and education negatively affected it. The results of the key informant interviews reveal that the high incidence of poverty, the low soil fertility, the farmers’ inability to make effective decisions, the lack of accurate weather predictability in the rainfed farming system, the lack of government interest, and the asymmetric information in the inputs markets contributed to the farmers’ low levels of awareness and to their poor adoption of improved agricultural technologies. These results indicate that any intervention aimed at the awareness and adoption by farmers of improved technologies, such as new wheat varieties, should recognize the heterogeneity in the farmers’ socioeconomic and farm-specific characteristics.
Asymmetric Solid–Liquid Two-Phase Flow around a NACA0012 Cascade in Sediment-Laden Flow
Authors: Zhu Lei , Zhang Haiping , Chen Ying , Meng Xiaochao , Lu Li
Published: March 2022

Sediment abrasion may cause the removal of material and efficiency loss to hydraulic machinery (hydro-turbine, pump, etc.), which may worsen the internal flow and endanger the safe operation of the machines. As abrasion is caused by the impact of sediment on the solid surface, the movement of particles determines the wear intensity. To understand the wear mechanism of hydraulic machinery, the motion characteristics of the asymmetric solid–liquid two-phase flow in a sediment-laden flow around NACA0012 cascades were studied. The laser particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) method was used to measure the flow of quartz particles with median diameters d50 of 82.7 μm, 65.9 μm, and 31.8 μm near the wall of cascades at an impact angle of 10° in a Venturi circuit. The flow characteristics and velocity slip between solid and liquid phases, as well as the effects of particle size and the Reynolds number on velocity slip, were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) the flow is asymmetrically distributed in front of the cascade’s leading edge at a 10° impact angle, and there is strong velocity slip between solid and liquid phases; (2) under the influence of particle inertia, the velocity of the solid phase is higher than that of the liquid phase in the deceleration stage, while the velocity of the solid phase is lower than that of liquid phase in the acceleration stage; (3) in the process of approaching the leading edge, the velocity difference between the solid and liquid phase increases by about 10% and the angle difference increases by about 8.8°.
Anisotropic Compact Stars in D → 4 Limit of Gauss–Bonnet Gravity
Authors: Nashed Gamal , Odintsov Sergei , Oikonomou Vasillis
Published: March 2022

In the frame of Gauss–Bonnet gravity and in the limit of D→4, based on the fact that spherically symmetric solution derived using any of regularization schemes will be the same form as the original theory, we derive a new interior spherically symmetric solution assuming specific forms of the metric potentials that have two constants. Using the junction condition we determine these two constants. By using the data of the star EXO 1785-248, whose mass is M=1.3±0.2M⊙ and radius l=8.849±0.4 km, we calculate the numerical values of these constants, in terms of the dimensionful coupling parameter of the Gauss–Bonnet term, and eventually, we get real values for these constants. In this regard, we show that the components of the energy–momentum tensor have a finite value at the center of the star as well as a smaller value to the surface of the star. Moreover, we show that the equations of the state behave in a non-linear way due to the impact of the Gauss–Bonnet term. Using the Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff equation, the adiabatic index, and stability in the static state we show that the model under consideration is always stable. Finally, the solution of this study is matched with observational data of other pulsars showing satisfactory results.
Supporting Luxury Hotel Recovered in Times of COVID-19 by Applying TRIZ Method: A Case Study in Taiwan
Authors: Wang Chia-Nan , Tran Khanh-Mai , Huang Ching-Chien , Wang Yen-Hui , Dang Thanh-Tuan
Published: March 2022

The current COVID-19 pandemic, which is alarming for another global economic recession, puts the sustainable development of the tourism system under high consideration. The tourism industry is a key generator of foreign exchange across the region. However, tourism is one of the sectors most affected by the global pandemic. Through a case study in Taiwan, the objective of this study is to show how an Evergreen hotel fixed itself on existing and recovering in the hospitality business during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 using the combination of the problem hierarchy analysis (PHA) and the Teoriya Resheniya Izobreatatelskih Zadatch (TRIZ) or the so-called theory of inventive problem-solving technique. Following PHA technique and extensive investigation, the management team determined that the most recent problems at the Evergreen hotel are in marketing and human resources. The 39 parameters and 40 principles of TRIZ were used to determine the improvement solution and create a solution strategy that simultaneously simplified critical control-point (CCP) processes and improved the correctness of tasks, increasing CCP efficiency and supporting and satisfying customer demands in the COVID-19 pandemic in the world in general and in Taiwan in particular. The results revealed that customer bookings grew over the four quarters of 2020 due to adjusting the cancellation policy, discounting, and segmenting the market from international to domestic, increasing the CCP efficiency percentage and customer rating score from 19% to 40% and 8.3 to 8.5 score, respectively. Aside from that, changing the hotel structure with a partnership with the Taixie company assisted Evergreen in reducing various cost pressures to manage the business and recover after a difficult period. This paper can be a useful reference for managers, investors, governments, and policymakers to improve the sustainability performance in the tourism industry.
Semi-Supervised Deep Learning Semantic Segmentation for 3D Volumetric Computed Tomographic Scoring of Chronic Rhinosinusitis: Clinical Correlations and Comparison with Lund-Mackay Scoring
Authors: Kuo Chung-Feng Jeffrey , Liao Yu-Shu , Barman Jagadish , Liu Shao-Cheng
Published: March 2022

Background: The traditional Lund-Mackay score (TLMs) is unable to subgrade the volume of inflammatory disease. We aimed to propose an effective modification and calculated the volume-based modified LM score (VMLMs), which should correlate more strongly with clinical symptoms than the TLMs. Methods: Semi-supervised learning with pseudo-labels used for self-training was adopted to train our convolutional neural networks, with the algorithm including a combination of MobileNet, SENet, and ResNet. A total of 175 CT sets, with 50 participants that would undergo sinus surgery, were recruited. The Sinonasal Outcomes Test-22 (SNOT-22) was used to assess disease-specific symptoms before and after surgery. A 3D-projected view was created and VMLMs were calculated for further comparison. Results: Our methods showed a significant improvement both in sinus classification and segmentation as compared to state-of-the-art networks, with an average Dice coefficient of 91.57%, an MioU of 89.43%, and a pixel accuracy of 99.75%. The sinus volume exhibited sex dimorphism. There was a significant positive correlation between volume and height, but a trend toward a negative correlation between maxillary sinus and age. Subjects who underwent surgery had significantly greater TLMs (14.9 vs. 7.38) and VMLMs (11.65 vs. 4.34) than those who did not. ROC-AUC analyses showed that the VMLMs had excellent discrimination at classifying a high probability of postoperative improvement with SNOT-22 reduction. Conclusions: Our method is suitable for obtaining detailed information, excellent sinus boundary prediction, and differentiating the target from its surrounding structure. These findings demonstrate the promise of CT-based volumetric analysis of sinus mucosal inflammation.
Low Pathogenicity H7N3 Avian Influenza Viruses Have Higher Within-Host Genetic Diversity Than a Closely Related High Pathogenicity H7N3 Virus in Infected Turkeys and Chickens
Authors: Leyson Christina M. , Criado Miriã F. , Youk Sungsu , Pantin-Jackwood Mary J.
Published: March 2022

Within-host viral diversity offers a view into the early stages of viral evolution occurring after a virus infects a host. In recent years, advances in deep sequencing have allowed for routine identification of low-frequency variants, which are important sources of viral genetic diversity and can potentially emerge as a major virus population under certain conditions. We examined within-host viral diversity in turkeys and chickens experimentally infected with closely related H7N3 avian influenza viruses (AIVs), specifically one high pathogenicity AIV (HPAIV) and two low pathogenicity AIV (LPAIVs) with different neuraminidase protein stalk lengths. Consistent with the high mutation rates of AIVs, an abundance of intra-host single nucleotide variants (iSNVs) at low frequencies of 2–10% was observed in all samples collected. Furthermore, a small number of common iSNVs were observed between turkeys and chickens, and between directly inoculated and contact-exposed birds. Notably, the LPAIVs have significantly higher iSNV diversities and frequencies of nonsynonymous changes than the HPAIV in both turkeys and chickens. These findings highlight the dynamics of AIV populations within hosts and the potential impact of genetic changes, including mutations in the hemagglutinin gene that confers the high pathogenicity pathotype, on AIV virus populations and evolution.
Rotavirus-Mediated Suppression of miRNA-192 Family and miRNA-181a Activates Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Banerjee Anwesha , Chawla-Sarkar Mamta , Mukherjee Anupam
Published: March 2022

The significance of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade in Rotavirus (RV) infection has not been elucidated. In this study, we attempt to elucidate the importance of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the RV pathogenesis and investigate a miRNA-mediated approach to regulate the pathway to repress the RV infection in the host. The regulation of the Wnt signaling pathway in terms of β-catenin accumulation and activation was analyzed by Western blotting and Confocal imaging analysis. The expression levels of miR-192 family members and miR-181a were enquired into using qPCR assays, whereas their targets in the Wnt pathway were confirmed using the Luciferase Reporter Assays. Members of the miR-192 family and miR-181a, which target the components of the pathway, were also found to be considerably decreased in expression during RV infection. Ectopic expression of these miRNAs could restrict the RV pathogenesis by targeting the intermediates of the Wnt signaling pathway. The miR-192 family and miR-181a were capable of suppressing the RV infection via targeting of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The study not only highlights the role of the Wnt signaling cascade in RV infection but also suggests that miRNAs can synergistically decrease RV replication by a significant amount. Thus, the miR-192 family and miR-181a present themselves as prospective antivirals against RV infection.
Dynamics of Antibodies to Ebolaviruses in an Eidolon helvum Bat Colony in Cameroon
Authors: Djomsi Dowbiss , Mba Djonzo Flaubert , Ndong Bass Innocent , Champagne Maëliss , Lacroix Audrey , Thaurignac Guillaume , Esteban Amandine , De Nys Helene , Bourgarel Mathieu , Akoachere Jane-Francis , Delaporte Eric , Ayouba Ahidjo , Cappelle Julien , Mpoudi Ngole Eitel , Peeters Martine
Published: March 2022

The ecology of ebolaviruses is still poorly understood and the role of bats in outbreaks needs to be further clarified. Straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) are the most common fruit bats in Africa and antibodies to ebolaviruses have been documented in this species. Between December 2018 and November 2019, samples were collected at approximately monthly intervals in roosting and feeding sites from 820 bats from an Eidolon helvum colony. Dried blood spots (DBS) were tested for antibodies to Zaire, Sudan, and Bundibugyo ebolaviruses. The proportion of samples reactive with GP antigens increased significantly with age from 0–9/220 (0–4.1%) in juveniles to 26–158/225 (11.6–70.2%) in immature adults and 10–225/372 (2.7–60.5%) in adult bats. Antibody responses were lower in lactating females. Viral RNA was not detected in 456 swab samples collected from 152 juvenile and 214 immature adult bats. Overall, our study shows that antibody levels increase in young bats suggesting that seroconversion to Ebola or related viruses occurs in older juvenile and immature adult bats. Multiple year monitoring would be needed to confirm this trend. Knowledge of the periods of the year with the highest risk of Ebolavirus circulation can guide the implementation of strategies to mitigate spill-over events.