bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intercultural Theology Competence for an Intercultural Faith Education
Authors: Lourdunathan Antony Christy
Published: August 2022

The article begins with clarifying what an Intercultural Faith Education would mean in a global culture that seems to be growing more pronounced in its pluralistic nature. Taking for granted the evident fact that Intercultural theology is the bedrock for a faith education in an intercultural context, it seeks to enumerate certain specific Intercultural theology competences that can render the process of intercultural faith education possible, significant and feasible. From a catechetical or faith education point of view, it analyses the three perspectives of faith that intercultural theology should promote, namely, the dialogic personalisation of faith, the prophetic challenging of faith and the cohesive exchange of faith—corresponding to personal and interpersonal dimensions, communitarian and social dimensions and expressive and missionary dimensions of faith, respectively. Each of these three perspectives declinate themselves into at least three specific competences, amounting to nine practical competences in all: comparative understanding, critical interpretation, cultural collaboration, the recognition of power equations, the ratification of identity formation, the recommendation of theological bonum, equality of expression in faith, an eagerness to learn and empathy in engagement. Interpreting each of these competences and their distinctive contributions, the article configures the foundational framework of intercultural theology for intercultural faith education in terms of these competences.
The Logical Problem of the Trinity: A New Solution
Authors: Sijuwade Joshua Reginald
Published: August 2022

This article aims to introduce a new solution to the Logical Problem of the Trinity. This solution is provided by utilising a number of theses within the field of contemporary metaphysics in order to establish a conceptual basis for a novel account and model of the doctrine of the Trinity termed Monarchical Aspectivalism, which will provide the means for proposing an alternative reading of the Athanasian Creed that is free from any consistency problems.
Correction: Mishra, A.; Li, C. A Review: Recent Progress in the Design and Development of Nonlinear Radars. Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 4982
Authors: Mishra Ashish , Li Changzhi
Published: August 2022

There was an error in the original publication [...]
Reconstruction of Indoor Navigation Elements for Point Cloud of Buildings with Occlusions and Openings by Wall Segment Restoration from Indoor Context Labeling
Authors: Liu Guangzu , Wei Shuangfeng , Zhong Shaobo , Huang Shuai , Zhong Ruofei
Published: August 2022

Indoor 3D reconstruction and navigation element extraction with point cloud data has become a research focus in recent years, which has important application in community refinement management, emergency rescue and evacuation, etc. Aiming at the problem that the complete wall surfaces cannot be obtained in the indoor space affected by the occluded objects and the existing methods of navigation element extraction are over-segmented or under-segmented, we propose a method to automatically reconstruct indoor navigation elements from unstructured 3D point cloud of buildings with occlusions and openings. First, the outline and occupancy information provided by the horizontal projection of the point cloud was used to guide the wall segment restoration. Second, we simulate the scanning process of a laser scanner for segmentation. Third, we use projection statistical graphs and given rules to identify missing wall surfaces and “hidden doors”. The method is tested on several building datasets with complex structures. The results show that the method can detect and reconstruct indoor navigation elements without viewpoint information. The means of deviation in the reconstructed models is between 0–5 cm, and the completeness and correction are greater than 80%. However, the proposed method also has some limitations for the extraction of “thick doors” with a large number of occluded, non-planar components.
An Improved Method for Rainfall Forecast Based on GNSS-PWV
Authors: Li Longjiang , Zhang Kefei , Wu Suqin , Li Haobo , Wang Xiaoming , Hu Andong , Li Wang , Fu Erjiang , Zhang Minghao , Shen Zhen
Published: August 2022

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) has been applied to the sounding of precipitable water vapor (PWV) due to its high accuracy and high spatiotemporal resolutions. PWV obtained from GNSS (GNSS-PWV) can be used to investigate extreme weather phenomena, such as the formation mechanism and prediction of rainfalls. In the study, a new, improved model for rainfall forecasting was developed based on GNSS data and rainfall data for the 9-year period from 2010 to 2018 at 66 stations located in the USA. The new model included three prediction factors—PWV value, PWV increase, maximum hourly PWV increase. The two key tasks involved for the development of the model were the determination of the thresholds for each prediction factor and the selection of the optimal strategy for using the three prediction factors together. For determining the thresholds, both critical success index (CSI) and true skill statistic (TSS) were tested, and results showed that TSS outperformed CSI for all rainfall events tested. Then, various strategies by combining the three prediction factors together were also tested, and results indicated that the best forecast result was from the case that any two of the prediction factors were over their own thresholds. Finally, the new model was evaluated using the GNSS data for the 2-year period from 2019 to 2020 at the above mentioned 66 stations, and the probability of detection (POD) and false-alarms rate (FAR) were adopted to measure the model performances. Over the 66 stations, the POD values ranged from 73% to 97% with the mean of 87%, and the FARs ranged from 26% to 77% with the mean of 53%. Moreover, it was also found that both POD and FAR values were related to the region of the station; e.g., the results at the stations that are located in humid regions were better than the ones located in dry regions. All these results suggest the feasibility and good performance of using GNSS-PWV for forecasting rainfall.
Temporal and Spatial Variation of Land Surface Temperature and Its Driving Factors in Zhengzhou City in China from 2005 to 2020
Authors: Zhou Shenghui , Liu Dandan , Zhu Mengyao , Tang Weichao , Chi Qian , Ye Siyu , Xu Siqi , Cui Yaoping
Published: August 2022

Rapid urbanization is an important factor leading to the rise in surface temperature. How to effectively reduce the land surface temperature (LST) has become a significant proposition of city planning. For the exploration of LST and the urban heat island (UHI) effect in Zhengzhou, China, the LST was divided into seven grades, and the main driving factors of LST change and their internal relations were discussed by correlation analysis and gray correlation analysis. The results indicated that LST showed an upward trend from 2005 to 2020, and a mutation occurred in 2013. Compared with 2005, the mean value of LST in 2020 increased by 0.92 °C, while the percentage of LST-enhanced areas was 22.77. Furthermore, the spatial pattern of UHI was irregularly distributed, gradually spreading from north to south from 2005 to 2020; it showed a large block distribution in the main city and southeast in 2020, while, in the areas where woodlands were concentrated and in the Yellow River Basin, there was an obvious “cold island” effect. In addition, trend analysis and gray correlation analysis revealed that human factors were positively correlated with LST, which intensified the formation of the UHI effect, and the influence of Albedo on LST showed obvious spatial heterogeneity, while the cooling effect of vegetation water was better than that of topography. The research results can deepen the understanding of the driving mechanism of the UHI effect, as well as provide scientific support for improving the quality of the urban human settlement environment.
A Fully Unsupervised Machine Learning Framework for Algal Bloom Forecasting in Inland Waters Using MODIS Time Series and Climatic Products
Authors: Ananias Pedro Henrique M. , Negri Rogério G. , Dias Maurício A. , Silva Erivaldo A. , Casaca Wallace
Published: August 2022

Progressively monitoring water quality is crucial, as aquatic contaminants can pose risks to human health and other organisms. Machine learning can support the development of new effective tools for water monitoring, including the detection of algal blooms from remotely sensed image series. Therefore, in this paper, we introduce the Algal Bloom Forecast (ABF) framework, a fully automated framework for algal bloom prediction in inland water bodies. Our approach combines machine learning, time series of remotely sensed products (i.e., Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images), environmental data and spectral indices to build anomaly detection models that can predict the occurrence of algal bloom events in the posterior period. Our assessments focused on the application of the ABF framework equipped with the support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and long short-term memory (LSTM) methods, the outcomes of which were compared through different evaluation metrics such as global accuracy, the kappa coefficient, F1-Score and R2-Score. Case studies covering the Erie (USA), Chilika (India) and Taihu (China) lakes are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and flexibility of our learning approach. Based on comprehensive experimental tests, we found that the best algal bloom predictions were achieved by bringing together the ABF design with the RF model.
Scientometric Full-Text Analysis of Papers Published in Remote Sensing between 2009 and 2021
Authors: Balz Timo
Published: August 2022

Covering the full texts of all papers published in MDPI’s Remote Sensing between 2009 and 2021, in-depth scientometric analyses were conducted. Trends in publications show an increase in the overall number of papers. A relative increase in papers using SAR sensors and a relative decrease in papers using optical remote sensing can also be seen. The full-text analyses reveal distinctive styles and writing patterns for papers from different sub-fields of remote sensing and for different countries and even cities. While a slight increase in the readability of abstracts is detected over time, the overall readability of papers is decreasing. Institutional co-authorship analysis reveals the ongoing ‘scientific decoupling’ between China and the USA in remote sensing. Using scientometric full-text analysis, current trends and developments are revealed.
Investigation of Displacement and Ionospheric Disturbance during an Earthquake Using Single-Frequency PPP
Authors: Lv Jie , Gao Zhouzheng , Yang Cheng , Wei Yingying , Peng Junhuan
Published: August 2022

Currently, it is still challenging to detect earthquakes by using the measurements of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), especially while only adopting single-frequency GNSS. To increase the accuracy of earthquake detection and warning, extra information and techniques are required that lead to high costs. Therefore, this work tries to find a low-cost method with high-accuracy performance. The contributions of our research are twofold: (1) an improved earthquake-displacement estimation approach by considering the relation between earthquake and ionospheric disturbance is presented. For this purpose, we propose an undifferenced uncombined Single-Frequency Precise Point Positioning (SF-PPP) approach, in which both the ionospheric delay of each observed satellite and receiver Differential Code Bias (DCB) are parameterized. When processing the 1 Hz GPS data collected during the 2013 Mw7.0 Lushan earthquake and the 2011 Mw9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake, the proposed SF-PPP method can provide coseismic deformation signals accurately. Compared to the results from GAMIT/TRACK, the accuracy of the proposed SF-PPP was not influenced by the common mode errors that exist in the GAMIT/TRACK solutions. (2) Vertical Total Electron Content (VTEC) anomalies before an earthquake are investigated by applying time-series analysis and spatial interpolation methods. Furthermore, on the long-term scale, it is revealed that significant positive/negative VTEC anomalies appeared around the earthquake epicenter on the day the earthquake occurred compared to about 4–5 days before the earthquake, whereas, on the short-term scale, positive/negative VTEC anomalies emerged several-hours before or after an earthquake.
Clinical Progress and Optimization of Information Processing in Artificial Visual Prostheses
Authors: Wang Jing , Zhao Rongfeng , Li Peitong , Fang Zhiqiang , Li Qianqian , Han Yanling , Zhou Ruyan , Zhang Yun
Published: August 2022

Visual prostheses, used to assist in restoring functional vision to the visually impaired, convert captured external images into corresponding electrical stimulation patterns that are stimulated by implanted microelectrodes to induce phosphenes and eventually visual perception. Detecting and providing useful visual information to the prosthesis wearer under limited artificial vision has been an important concern in the field of visual prosthesis. Along with the development of prosthetic device design and stimulus encoding methods, researchers have explored the possibility of the application of computer vision by simulating visual perception under prosthetic vision. Effective image processing in computer vision is performed to optimize artificial visual information and improve the ability to restore various important visual functions in implant recipients, allowing them to better achieve their daily demands. This paper first reviews the recent clinical implantation of different types of visual prostheses, summarizes the artificial visual perception of implant recipients, and especially focuses on its irregularities, such as dropout and distorted phosphenes. Then, the important aspects of computer vision in the optimization of visual information processing are reviewed, and the possibilities and shortcomings of these solutions are discussed. Ultimately, the development direction and emphasis issues for improving the performance of visual prosthesis devices are summarized.
Quality Evaluation of Crude and Salt-Processed Cuscutae Semen through Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Multiple Components Using HPLC Combined with Chemometrics
Authors: Shi Yun , Xu Chang-Li , Zhu Yu-Jie , Tian Yi-Wen , Liu Xiao , Gao Xun , Qin Kun-Ming , Li Wei-Dong
Published: August 2022

Cuscutae Semen (CS; Chinese common name “Tusizi”) is one of the most common traditional herbal medicines used to treat liver and kidney diseases in China. Although it is most commonly used as a processed product, little progress has been made on the quality control of CS and salt-processed Cuscutae Semen (PCS). The purpose of this study was to establish a comprehensive strategy integrating chromatographic analysis and chemometric methods for quality evaluation and discrimination of CS and PCS. An accurate and reliable HPLC method was established for the simultaneous quantification of 12 analyte compounds in CS and PCS. The results showed that this method exhibited desirable sensitivity, precision, stability, and repeatability. Multivariate chemometric methods were applied to analyze the obtained HPLC fingerprints, including hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principle component analysis (PCA), and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The results indicated that CS and PCS samples showed a clear classification of the two groups, and three chemical markers with great contributions to the differentiation were screened out. Collectively, the chemometrics combined with the quantitative analysis based on HPLC fingerprint results indicated that salt processing may change the contents and types of components in Cuscutae Semen.
Optimization of an Analytical Method for Indoxacarb Residues in Fourteen Medicinal Herbs Using GC–μECD, GC–MS/MS and LC–MS/MS
Authors: Ham Hun-Ju , Sardar Syed Wasim , Ishag Abd Elaziz Sulieman Ahmed , Choi Jeong-Yoon , Hur Jang-Hyun
Published: August 2022

Pesticide residue analysis in medicinal herbs is a challenging task because of the matrix effect and its influence on quantitative analysis despite the continuous development of several new analytical methods and instrumentations. In this study, a modified QuEChERS method was developed for the analysis of indoxacarb residue in medicinal herbs by using the conventional instrument, gas chromatography micro-electron-capture-detector (GC–μECD), and comparing it with gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Samples were extracted with acetonitrile and purified using an NH2 cartridge. The optimized method efficiently removes the co-extractives and offered a limit of quantification of 0.01 mg kg−1. The GC–μECD analysis results of indoxacarb in seven medicinal herbs out of fourteen species at a fortification level of 0.01 mg kg−1 showed a recovery range of 79.7–117.6%, while the rest showed recovery > 120%. Similarly, the recovery of indoxacarb by GC and LC–MS/SM were 74.1–105.9 and 73.0–99.0%, respectively, with a relative standard deviation of <20%. Matrix effects for the majority of medicinal herbs analyzed by GC–MS/MS were >±20%. Whereas the results for LC–MS/MS were <20%, which was within the acceptable range according to the SANTE/11312/2021 guidelines. Considering the performance of the method and alignment with the regulatory guidelines, LC–MS/MS is recommended for the analysis of indoxacarb in selected medicinal herbs.
Towards a Conceptual Understanding of an Effective Rural-Based Entrepreneurial University in South Africa
Authors: Iwara Ishmael Obaeko , Kilonzo Beata Mukina
Published: August 2022

There is a considerable discussion about the entrepreneurial university concept in academia, likewise, debates on its different facets and overarching socio-economic benefits globally. However, the transformation pathways from traditional to entrepreneurial higher learning institutions in Africa are still under-researched. Similarly, while the concept contributes significantly to innovation and growth of developed countries, it is less clear how this can create meaningful value to stimulate local economy in developing economies on the African continent. This exploratory qualitative case study seeks to identify conditions that can serve as pathways for determining an effective rural-based entrepreneurial university with the potential to meet societal needs, as well as impact positively on local economy. A sample of 33, specifically, individuals with deep knowledge of entrepreneurial university, was drawn from diverse groups using snowball and purposive sampling techniques to co-interact the phenomenon. The data collection was performed following hybrid (physical and digital) methods. Excerpts drawn primarily from stakeholders based on semi-structured questions were fitted and modelled on Atlas-ti v8 software open coding system, for thematic data analysis. Five conditions emerged as key findings. These include (1) entrepreneurial knowledge and skills building; (2) integration of indigenous entrepreneurship systems; (3) engaged scholarship; (4) value creation and venturing, and (5) embedding resourceful stakeholders in the university value chain network. These conditions set a foundation for the systemic institutional design that follows. Future research may consider examining the conditions on a broader scale to develop an index for measuring a rural-based entrepreneurial university with the potential to foster local economic development agenda in South Africa.
Study on the Distribution of the Suburban Expressway Hourly Traffic Volume and Modification of the Design Hourly Volume under the Background of the Tourism Economy—Analysis on Design Factors of Normalized Congestion in Suburban Expressway
Authors: Ma Fangchen , Xu Jinliang , Gao Chao , Bi Yufeng
Published: August 2022

An unreasonable design hourly volume (DHV) greatly impacts road facility construction costs and traffic efficiency. With the rapid rise in the tourism economy and widespread emergence of holiday travel characteristics in China, DHV applicability for suburban expressways requires verification. This study collected annual traffic volume data over 8760 h along Xi’an Ring Expressway from 2017 to 2019. Traffic demand distribution patterns throughout the year and peak hours were analyzed on the basis of the descending order of the obtained hourly traffic volume (HV) and factor data. HV distribution characteristics, 30th highest hourly volume (30 HV) typicality, and DHV factor applicability were investigated. Due to travel characteristics under the background of the tourism economy, the peak HV distribution exhibits polarization characteristics. The recommended value of the design hour traffic factor in the specification corresponded to a number of hours greater than 200, with the 30 HV factor under the background of the tourism economy being 25% higher than the recommended value. Considering the tourism economy, the high level of traffic operation time increased significantly, and the characteristics of a sharp decline in the peak HV disappeared. The 30 HV factor no longer exhibited traditional characteristics. The design causes of traffic congestion are identified herein.
Assessing Circular Economy Opportunities at the Food Supply Chain Level: The Case of Five Piedmont Product Chains
Authors: Fassio Franco , Borda Isaac Enrique Perez , Talpo Elisa , Savina Alessandra , Rovera Fabiana , Pieretto Ottavia , Zarri Davide
Published: August 2022

The impact of linear agri-food supply chains is progressively leading to ever wider socio-environmental and cultural repercussions, undermining the balance of territories and communities to the point of disrupting the entire planet’s health. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a paradigm change involving the agri-food sector, the economic sector, and local public policies, in the direction of a diffused ecological transition. In this scenario, the Circular Economy, supported by the adoption of a Systemic Approach, represents a useful operational tool to respond to complex transversal challenges, to reduce and enhance waste, minimize the use of new raw materials, and strengthen the territorial identity and relations among local stakeholders. This article describes a research project conducted for the Piedmont Region (Italy), through which it was possible to apply these innovative tools and approaches to five typical local agri-food chains (wine, dairy and cheese, rice, water, and bovine beef). Currently, at the Piedmontese level, concrete proposals for public policies capable of supporting the ecological transition of the local agri-food chains have not yet been developed, especially in terms of cyclicality of outputs and territorial co-evolution. For this reason, through the use of a multi-stakeholder approach, participatory mechanisms of local actors, and the analysis of several national and international case studies, the purpose of this research was to evaluate the possible enhancement of food waste and by-products, finally developing specific proposals for good practices and public policies capable of contributing to the achievement of the Piedmontese Regional Strategy for Sustainable Development.
Special Issue: Sustainable Agri-Food Networks
Authors: Keck Markus
Published: August 2022

Our current agri-food networks cause severe environmental, socioeconomic, and health-related problems [...]
Analysis of Major Temporary Electrical Equipment Consumption and Usage Patterns in Educational Buildings: Case Study
Authors: Lee Seungtaek , Kim Jonghoon , Jang Daehee
Published: August 2022

The energy use patterns of electrical appliances are more difficult to predict than energy use for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) and lighting, as: (1) there are large varieties of electrical equipment (e.g., appliances, vending machines, etc.) in buildings and each serves a different function; thus, their energy consumption patterns are difficult to predict; (2) electrical appliances are scattered across buildings, most are not permanently fixed to a location, and they consume much energy. Appliances are also not centrally controlled, such as HVAC and lighting. Thus, energy consumption patterns are more difficult to predict. In addition, electrical appliances consume significant amounts of energy to influence energy consumption volatility. This case study focuses on understanding the energy consumption patterns of electrical appliances in educational buildings. This research analyzes the electrical appliances and energy consumption data from institutional buildings and the factors that drive energy consumption. The analyses show that: (1) energy consumption patterns are dependent on building characteristics and use; (2) the number of appliances in a building influences the peak electricity consumption; (3) vending machines and fridges consume significant amounts of electricity; it has been proven (by minimum building energy loads) that buildings that have more vending machines have significantly higher minimum loads than no or fewer vending machines; and (4) the energy-saving potential from desktops and monitors rose to 60 kWh during lunchtime and 500 kWh at night.
LOTE (Languages Other than English) Teachers’ Emotions and Professional Identity in Response to Educational Reforms: A Social-Psychological Perspective
Authors: Kang Minghao , Shen Qi , Zheng Yongyan
Published: August 2022

Teachers’ emotions and professional identities in response to educational reforms play a key role in teacher development and policy implementation. However, little attention has been paid to the shifting emotions of teachers of LOTEs (languages other than English). Taking a social-psychological approach, this study examines the emotional reactions and professional identities of LOTE teachers who were inspired to cater for the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative. Semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis were used to probe the emotions and professional identities of 15 LOTE teachers in a Chinese foreign language university. The analysis identifies four categories of LOTE teachers’ identities: The enthusiastic accommodators, the lonely fighters, the drifting followers, and the passive executors. The findings indicate that current educational policies might lead to tensions among LOTE teachers without sufficient support, and suggest that the voices of LOTE teachers should be accommodated in the process of policy-making along with the affordances of support. The study reveals the necessity of adopting a social-psychological perspective on teacher development in the global multilingual educational context.
Evidence of Genetic Connectivity among Lyle’s Flying Fox Populations in Thailand for Wildlife Management and One Health Framework
Authors: Chaiyes Aingorn , Ariyaraphong Nattakan , Sukgosa Ngamphrom , Jangtarwan Kornsuang , Ahmad Syed Farhan , Laopichienpong Nararat , Singchat Worapong , Panthum Thitipong , Duangjai Sutee , Muangmai Narongrit , Wacharapluesadee Supaporn , Duengkae Prateep , Srikulnath Kornsorn
Published: August 2022

Bats are important reservoir hosts of emerging viruses. Recent viral outbreaks and pandemics have resulted in an increased research focus on the genetic diversity, population structure, and distribution of bat species. Lyle’s flying fox (Pteropus lylei) is widely distributed throughout central Thailand, with most colonies congregating in temples within proximity to humans. A lack of knowledge regarding the genetic connectivity among different colonies hinders the investigation of zoonotic disease epidemiology and wildlife management. In this study, we hypothesized that genetic material may be exchanged between Lyle’s flying fox colonies that live in proximity. We assessed the mitochondrial displacement loop and cytochrome b nucleotide sequences of samples collected from 94 individuals from ten colonies across different roosting sites and detected limited genetic differentiation but increased nucleotide divergence within colonies. This suggests that genetic connectivity among Lyle’s flying fox colonies has experienced frequent and recent gene flow. These findings indicate that this species has maintained demographic equilibrium in a stable population, with a slight expansion event in certain populations. These data provide insights into the dynamics of bat populations, and the genetic knowledge gained presents opportunities for the improved monitoring of bat population structure.
Research on the Design of Community Museums Based on the Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Method
Authors: Guo Sifan , Zheng Xuesen , Heath Timothy
Published: August 2022

The new museum movement of the twentieth century has driven the development of the form and function of museums around the world. Museums began to be actively open to the public, and some new concepts of museums, such as eco-museums and community museums, emerged. The aim of these museums is to build a cultural bridge between people and the city and to promote the harmonious development of society, economy, and culture. The visitors, as the service targets of the museum, will directly influence the popularity of the museum among the masses by their evaluation of the museum experience; however, at present, there is a clear gap between the design of many museums and the feedback of subsequent visitors’ experiences. Only by understanding visitors’ feelings and preferences can subsequent museum design be improved; this paper will focus on demonstrating the application of the mathematical idea of the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method to community museums; it establishes a community museum quality evaluation system based on human-centered design principles from the perspective of urban community museums and constructs a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model of a community museum experience. Finally, the design of a community museum in Nottingham, UK, is used as an example to make a comprehensive evaluation of its quality. According to the analysis, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method has practical value in scientifically evaluating the quality of urban community museums through data on the visitor experience.
Analysis of the Factors Influencing the Favorable Participation of Students with Special Needs in Public Tertiary Education in Romania
Authors: Stăiculescu Camelia , Dincă Violeta Mihaela , Gheba Andreea
Published: August 2022

Even though research focused on inclusive education in Romania for institutions within the primary and secondary education system has been carried out, there are not many studies that approach the factors determining a favorable inclusion of students in higher education institutions. The central goal of the article consisted in investigating what impacts the willingness and openness for inclusive education for Romanian universities and the potential impact of five constructs of variables applied on fifteen universities from Romania. The outcomes of the quantitative (econometrical) analysis (a survey based on a questionnaire) showed the major impact of the variables of “policies and structures of the university”, “curriculum and pedagogy/teaching strategies”, “community and social integration”, and “accessibility and resources for students” (all focused on students with special needs) on the “willingness and openness for inclusive education” for Romanian universities. The variable of “communication and transparency” (focused on students with special needs) was associated with a medium influence on the “willingness and openness for inclusive education” for Romanian universities. This paper underlines the importance of incorporating the necessary training, support, flexibility, and resources to respond to a variety of student needs in order to improve inclusive education within higher education institutions in Romania.
Perceived Accessibility and Key Influencing Factors in Transportation
Authors: Jamei Elmira , Chan Melissa , Chau Hing Wah , Gaisie Eric , Lättman Katrin
Published: August 2022

Accessibility is commonly assessed using indicators calculated from spatial data. Comparatively perceived accessibility cannot be adequately reflected by these calculated measures because it involves the perception to participate in spatially dispersed opportunities. This highlights the need to understand and consider perceived accessibility for planning and evaluation of transport systems from a complementary perspective. Therefore, this study aims to offer a systematic review concerning the interpretations of perceived accessibility in transport, its concept, major social drivers, barriers, evaluation methods and key influencing factors. This review also highlights the importance of perceived safety and service quality in public transport and their relationship with perceived accessibility in daily travel. The paper argues that perceived accessibility with due consideration of perceived safety and service quality will contribute to the development from mobility-based to accessibility-based planning.
The Impact of Social Benefits on Work Commitment and Organizational Socialization in the Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Aranibar Mónica Fernanda , Baez-Lopez Yolanda , Limon-Romero Jorge , Ramírez-Barón María Concepción , García Rivera Blanca Rosa , Ortega-Pérez Tejada Melina , Hernández Bejarano Jacqueline
Published: August 2022

In organizations, social benefits are expected to positively influence employee engagement and job satisfaction. Likewise, organizational socialization becomes key to achieving work commitment and can also be improved by the introduction of social benefits. Thus, the main aim of this research is to determine how the variables social benefits, bonuses and incentives, work commitment, and organizational socialization are related, taking data gathered from the maquiladora industry of northern Mexico as a reference. This research used a cross-sectional study design to collect data from workers at the operational level, obtaining 377 complete questionnaires for analysis; later, using the structural equation modeling technique, it was concluded that social benefits had a positive impact on work commitment as well as on organizational socialization, whereas a lack of bonuses and incentives negatively impacts on the organizational socialization. Understanding these relationships could provide important information to the managers of companies in the manufacturing sector that would allow them to carry out strategies focused on the sustainability of human resources to increase their well-being and thus their performance at work.
Simulation of Natural Gas Treatment for Acid Gas Removal Using the Ternary Blend of MDEA, AEEA, and NMP
Authors: Farooqi Abid Salam , Ramli Raihan Mahirah , Lock Serene Sow Mun , Hussein Noorhidayah , Shahid Muhammad Zubair , Farooqi Ahmad Salam
Published: August 2022

Natural gas (NG) requires treatment to eliminate sulphur compounds and acid gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S), to ensure that it meets the sale and transportation specifications. Depending on the region the gas is obtained from, the concentrations of acid gases could reach up to 90%. Different technologies are available to capture CO2 and H2S from NG and absorb them with chemical or physical solvents; occasionally, a mixture of physical and chemical solvents is employed to achieve the desired results. Nonetheless, chemical absorption is the most reliable and utilised technology worldwide. Unfortunately, the high energy demand for solvent regeneration in stripping columns presents an obstacle. Consequently, the present study proposes a novel, ternary-hybrid mixture of N-methyl diethanolamine (MDEA), amino ethyl ethanol amine (AEEA), and N-methyl 2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to overcome the issue and reduce the reboiler duty. The study employed high levels of CO2 (45%) and H2S (1%) as the base case, while the simulation was performed with the Aspen HYSYS® V12.1 software to evaluate different parameters that affect the reboiler duty in the acid gas removal unit (AGRU). The simulation was first validated, and the parameters recorded errors below 5%. As the temperature increased from 35 °C to 70 °C, the molar flow of the CO2 and H2S in sweet gas also rose. Nevertheless, the pressure demonstrated an opposite trend, where elevating the pressure from 1000 kPa to 8000 kPa diminished the molar flow of acid gases in the sweet gas. Furthermore, a lower flow rate was required to achieve the desired specification of sweet gas using a ternary-hybrid blend, due to the presence of a higher physical solvent concentration in the hybrid solvent, thus necessitating 64.2% and 76.8%, respectively, less reboiler energy than the MDEA and MDEA + AEEA.
Effects of Urban Smart Farming on Local Economy and Food Production in Urban Areas in African Cities
Authors: Moghayedi Alireza , Richter Isabell , Owoade Folasade Mary , Kapanji-Kakoma Kutemba K. , Kaliyadasa Ewon , Francis Sheena , Ekpo Christiana
Published: August 2022

African cities are growing rapidly into inefficient, unsustainable, resource-starved ecosystems that negatively affect the local economy and food production. Food as a critical resource needs to be produced and managed more efficiently by local communities in the urban area. Urban smart farming (USF) has emerged as an important mechanism to address these challenges to achieve sustainable, resilient, and inclusive cities. USF has the potential to be the industry 4.0 green revolution in agriculture, which embodies innovative digital technologies. However, it is unclear how local African communities and key stakeholders perceive this novel solution and if they are willing to engage in its uptake. This study examines the relationship between the perceived benefits and challenges of USF and the willingness of local African communities to actively participate in USF projects as a potential mechanism to improve local economy and food production. To assess this relationship, a causal model was developed. In this causal model, the local economy and food production were defined as dependent variables. The conceptualized model and the inherent causality between the constructs were validated through a survey administered among African cities’ residents. The results of structural equation modelling indicate a significant positive impact of perceived benefits of USF as well as the willingness of African communities to engage in this technology on local economy and food production. Only minimal adverse effects of the perceived challenges of USF on the local economy and food production have been found. The study concludes that the benefits and willingness of local communities are the key drivers for implementing urban smart farms in African metropolitans. Therefore, it is recommended to focus on the benefits and the motivation of local communities in African cities where USF shall be further developed, rather than on the barriers. The validated causal model can be used as a framework to facilitate the adoption of USF in Africa and consequently enhance the local economy and food production in African cities.
New Analytical Solutions for Coupled Stochastic Korteweg–de Vries Equations via Generalized Derivatives
Authors: Hyder Abd-Allah , Barakat Mohamed A. , Soliman Ahmed H. , Almoneef Areej A. , Cesarano Clemente
Published: August 2022

In this paper, the coupled nonlinear KdV (CNKdV) equations are solved in a stochastic environment. Hermite transforms, generalized conformable derivative, and an algorithm that merges the white noise instruments and the (G′/G2)-expansion technique are utilized to obtain white noise functional conformable solutions for these equations. New stochastic kinds of periodic and soliton solutions for these equations under conformable generalized derivatives are produced. Moreover, three-dimensional (3D) depictions are shown to illustrate that the monotonicity and symmetry of the obtained solutions can be controlled by giving a value of the conformable parameter. Furthermore, some remarks are presented to give a comparison between the obtained wave solutions and the wave solutions constructed under the conformable derivatives and Newton’s derivatives.
Existence and Uniqueness of Generalized Solutions of Variational Inequalities with Fourth-Order Parabolic Operators in Finance
Authors: Wu Tao , Sun Yudong
Published: August 2022

In the present study, we analyze a kind of variation-inequality problem based on symmetric structure, which also incorporates fourth-order parabolic operators with a degenerate type. The penalty method is used to construct the approximate solution of the variation-inequality problem, and then the existence and uniqueness of the generalized solution are studied by a limit approximation method.
Fuzzy Control Problem via Random Multi-Valued Equations in Symmetric F-n-NLS
Authors: Saadati Reza , Allahviranloo Tofigh , O’Regan Donal , Alshammari Fehaid Salem
Published: August 2022

To study an uncertain case of a control problem, we consider the symmetric F-n-NLS which is induced by a dynamic norm inspired by a random norm, distribution functions, and fuzzy sets. In this space, we consider a random multi-valued equation containing a parameter and investigate existence, and unbounded continuity of the solution set of it. As an application of our results, we consider a control problem with multi-point boundary conditions and a second order derivative operator.
Exploiting Anyonic Behavior of Quasicrystals for Topological Quantum Computing
Authors: Amaral Marcelo , Chester David , Fang Fang , Irwin Klee
Published: August 2022

The concrete realization of topological quantum computing using low-dimensional quasiparticles, known as anyons, remains one of the important challenges of quantum computing. A topological quantum computing platform promises to deliver more robust qubits with additional hardware-level protection against errors that could lead to the desired large-scale quantum computation. We propose quasicrystal materials as such a natural platform and show that they exhibit anyonic behavior that can be used for topological quantum computing. Different from anyons, quasicrystals are already implemented in laboratories. In particular, we study the correspondence between the fusion Hilbert spaces of the simplest non-abelian anyon, the Fibonacci anyons, and the tiling spaces of the one-dimensional Fibonacci chain and the two-dimensional Penrose tiling quasicrystals. A concrete encoding on these tiling spaces of topological quantum information processing is also presented by making use of inflation and deflation of such tiling spaces. While we outline the theoretical basis for such a platform, details on the physical implementation remain open.
Analytical Scaling Solutions for the Evolution of Cosmic Domain Walls in a Parameter-Free Velocity-Dependent One-Scale Model
Authors: Avelino Pedro , Grüber David , Sousa Lara
Published: August 2022

We derive an analytical approximation for the linear scaling evolution of the characteristic length L and the root-mean-squared velocity σv of standard frictionless domain wall networks in Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker universes with a power law evolution of the scale factor a with the cosmic time t (a∝tλ). This approximation, obtained using a recently proposed parameter-free velocity-dependent one-scale model for domain walls, reproduces well the model predictions for λ close to unity, becoming exact in the λ→1− limit. We use this approximation, in combination with the exact results found for λ=0, to obtain a fit to the model predictions valid for λ∈[0,1] with a maximum error of the order of 1%. This fit is also in good agreement with the results of field theory numerical simulations, especially for λ∈[0.9,1]. Finally, we explicitly show that the phenomenological energy-loss parameter of the original velocity-dependent one-scale model for domain walls vanishes in the λ→1− limit and discuss the implications of this result.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Exposure Triggers Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction in BALB/c Mice: A Pilot Study
Authors: Rojas Gabriel A. , Saavedra Nicolás , Saavedra Kathleen , Hevia Montserrat , Morales Cristian , Lanas Fernando , Salazar Luis A.
Published: August 2022

The particulate matter present in air pollution is a complex mixture of solid and liquid particles that vary in size, origin, and composition, among which are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Although exposure to PAHs has become an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the mechanisms by which these compounds contribute to increased cardiovascular risk have not been fully explored. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of PAH exposure on systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers of endothelial dysfunction. An intervention was designed using a murine model composed of twenty BALB/c male mice separated into controls and three groups exposed to a mixture of phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene using three different concentrations. The serum levels of the inflammatory cytokines and gene expression of adhesion molecules located on endothelial cells along with inflammatory markers related to PAH exposure in aortic tissue were determined. Furthermore, the expression of the ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 proteins was evaluated. The data showed significant differences in IL-6 and IFN-γ in the serum. In the gene expression, significant differences for ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-Selectin were observed. The results suggest that phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene, present in air pollution, stimulate the increase in serum inflammatory cytokines and the expression of markers of endothelial dysfunction in the murine model studied, both relevant characteristics associated with the onset of disease atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
Medicinal Plant Growth in Heavy Metals Contaminated Soils: Responses to Metal Stress and Induced Risks to Human Health
Authors: Hlihor Raluca Maria , Roșca Mihaela , Hagiu-Zaleschi Laura , Simion Isabela Maria , Daraban Gabriel Mihăiță , Stoleru Vasile
Published: August 2022

Accelerating heavy metal pollution is a hot issue due to a continuous growth in consumerism and increased activities in various global industries. Soil contamination with heavy metals has resulted in their incorporation into the human food web via plant components. Accumulation and amplification of heavy metals in human tissues through the consumption of medicinal plants can have hazardous health outcomes. Therefore, in this critical review we aim to bring together published information on this subject, with a special highlight on the knowledge gaps related to heavy metal stress in medicinal plants, their responses, and human health related risks. In this respect, this review outlines the key contamination sources of heavy metals in plants, as well as the absorption, mobilization and translocation of metal ions in plant compartments, while considering their respective mechanisms of detoxification. In addition, this literature review attempts to highlight how stress and defensive strategies operate in plants, pointing out the main stressors, either biotic or abiotic (e.g., heavy metals), and the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in stress answers. Finally, in our research, we further aim to capture the risks caused by heavy metals in medicinal plants to human health through the assessment of both a hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI).