bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Remote Sensing Retrieval of Turbidity in Alpine Rivers based on high Spatial Resolution Satellites
Authors: Liu Weihua , Wang Siyuan , Yang Ruixia , Ma Yuanxu , Shen Ming , You Yongfa , Hai Kai , Baqa Muhammad Fahad
Published: December 2019

Turbidity, relating to underwater light attenuation, is an important optical parameter for water quality evaluation. Satellite estimation of turbidity in alpine rivers is challenging for common ocean color retrieval models due to the differences in optical properties of the water bodies. In this study, we present a simple two-band semi-analytical turbidity (2BSAT) retrieval model for estimating turbidity in five alpine rivers with varying turbidity from 1.01 to 284 NTU. The model was calibrated and validated, respectively, while using one calibration dataset that was obtained from the Three Parallel Rivers basin and two independent validation datasets that were obtained from the Kaidu River basin and the Yarlung Zangbo River basin. The results show that the model has excellent performance in deriving turbidity in alpine rivers. We verified the consistency of the simulated reflectance and satellite-based reflectance and calibrated the 2BSAT model for the specified bands of high spatial resolution satellites in order to achieve the goal of remote sensing monitoring. It is concluded that the model can be used for the quantitative monitoring of turbidity in alpine rivers using satellite images. Based on the model, we used the Sentinel-2 images from one year to identify the seasonal patterns of turbidity of five alpine rivers and the Landsat series images from 1989 to 2018 to analyze the turbidity variation trends of these rivers. The results indicate that the turbidity of these alpine rivers usually presents the highest level in summer, followed by spring and autumn, and the lowest in winter. Meanwhile, the variation trends of turbidity over the past 30 years present distinctly different characteristics in the five rivers.
A New Remote Sensing Approach to Enrich Hydropower Dams’ Information and Assess Their Impact Distances: A Case Study in the Mekong River Basin
Authors: Lin Zihan , Qi Jiaguo
Published: December 2019

Hydropower dam information such as construction and completion timings is often incomplete and missing in existing dam databases, and the hydropower dam’s adjacency impact distance, which is important to the surrounding environment, is also lacking for many dams. In this study, we developed a new remote sensing approach to specifically determine the timings and to assess the influencing distance on land use and land cover at the above and below dam areas. We established the new remote sensing method by identifying levels shifts in trajectories of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) indicators and by identifying the change point in entropy coefficient of variation (CV) variations to allow an auto-acquisition of the information above at the water basin level. We used three geospatial datasets including 1) a 30-year Landsat time series, 2) an annual Landsat Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) composite, and 3) digital elevation model (DEM) data. We applied the proposed method to the Mekong River Basin (MRB) in Southeast Asia, where hydropower dam constructions have increased significantly since the 1990s. Results suggested that we were able to obtain the desired information for 67 Mekong hydropower dams successfully. Pearson correlation tests were used to validate timing results against official records, and the correlation coefficients were found to be 0.96 and 0.90, respectively, for construction and completion timing determination. We discovered that the buffer radius of a Mekong dam’s adjacency impact on land use and land cover was usually 4.0-km and 2.5-km in the above and below dam area. The data determined from this study may fill important information gaps in existing dam databases, and the approach developed in this case may be generalized to the other watersheds of the world, where hydropower dams exist. However, essential dam information is either incomplete or unavailable.
Impact of ECOM Solar Radiation Pressure Models on Multi-GNSS Ultra-Rapid Orbit Determination
Authors: Liu Yang , Liu Yanxiong , Tian Ziwen , Dai Xiaolei , Qing Yun , Li Menghao
Published: December 2019

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) ultra-rapid precise orbits are crucial for global and wide-area real-time high-precision applications. The solar radiation pressure (SRP) model is an important factor in precise orbit determination. The real-time orbit determination is generally less accurate than the post-processed one and may amplify the instability and mismodeling of SRP models. Also, the impact of different SRP models on multi-GNSS real-time predicted orbits demands investigations. We analyzed the impact of the ECOM 1 and ECOM 2 models on multi-GNSS ultra-rapid orbit determination in terms of ambiguity resolution performance, real-time predicted orbit overlap precision, and satellite laser ranging (SLR) validation. The multi-GNSS observed orbital arc and predicted orbital arcs of 1, 3, 6, and 24 h are compared. The simulated real-time experiment shows that for GLONASS and Galileo ultra-rapid orbits, compared to ECOM 1, ECOM 2 increased the ambiguity fixing rate to 89.3% and 83.1%, respectively, and improves the predicted orbit accuracy by 9.2% and 27.7%, respectively. For GPS ultra-rapid orbits, ECOM 2 obtains a similar ambiguity fixing rate as ECOM 1 but slightly better orbit overlap precision. For BDS GEO ultra-rapid orbits, ECOM 2 obtains better overlap precision and SLR residuals, while for BDS IGSO and MEO ultra-rapid orbits, ECOM 1 obtains better orbit overlap precision and SLR residuals.
Spaceborne EO and a Combination of Inverse and Forward Modelling for Monitoring Lava Flow Advance
Authors: Rogic Nikola , Cappello Annalisa , Ganci Gaetana , Maturilli Alessandro , Rymer Hazel , Blake Stephen , Ferrucci Fabrizio
Published: December 2019

We aim here to improve the understanding of the relationship between emissivity of the lava and temperature by carrying out a multi-stage experiment for the 2017 Mt Etna (Italy) eruption. We combine laboratory, spaceborne, and numerical modelling data, to quantify the emissivity–temperature relationship. Our laboratory-based Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) results indicate that emissivity and temperature are inversely correlated, which supports the argument that emissivity of molten material is significantly lower than that of the same material in its solid state. Our forward-modelling tests using MAGFLOW Cellular Automata suggest that a 35% emissivity variation (0.95 to 0.60) can produce up to 46% overestimation (for constant emissivity 0.60) in simulated/forecasted lava flow lengths (compared to actual observed). In comparison, our simulation using a ‘two-component’ emissivity approach (i.e., different emissivity values for melt and cooled lava) and constant emissivity 0.95 compares well (≤10% overestimation) with the actual 2017 lava flow lengths. We evaluated the influence of variable emissivity on lava surface temperatures using spaceborne data by performing several parametrically controlled assessments, using both constant (‘uniform’) and a ‘two-component’ emissivity approach. Computed total radiant fluxes, using the same spaceborne scene (Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI)), differ ≤15% depending on emissivity endmembers (i.e., 0.95 and 0.60). These results further suggest that computed radiant flux using high-spatial resolution data is bordering at lower boundary (range) values of the moderate-to-high temporal resolution spaceborne data (i.e., Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI)), acquired for the same target area (and the same time interval). These findings may have considerable impact on civil protection decisions made during volcanic crisis involving lava flows as they approach protected or populated areas. Nonetheless, the laboratory work, reported here, should be extended to include higher volcanic eruptive temperatures (up to 1350 K).
Cloud Detection from FY-4A’s Geostationary Interferometric Infrared Sounder Using Machine Learning Approaches
Authors: Zhang Qi , Yu Yi , Zhang Weimin , Luo Tengling , Wang Xiang
Published: December 2019

FengYun-4A (FY-4A)’s Geostationary Interferometric Infrared Sounder (GIIRS) is the first hyperspectral infrared sounder on board a geostationary satellite, enabling the collection of infrared detection data with high temporal and spectral resolution. As clouds have complex spectral characteristics, and the retrieval of atmospheric profiles incorporating clouds is a significant problem, it is often necessary to undertake cloud detection before further processing procedures for cloud pixels when infrared hyperspectral data is entered into assimilation system. In this study, we proposed machine-learning-based cloud detection models using two kinds of GIIRS channel observation sets (689 channels and 38 channels) as features. Due to differences in surface cover and meteorological elements between land and sea, we chose logistic regression (lr) model for the land and extremely randomized tree (et) model for the sea respectively. Six hundred and eighty-nine channels models produced slightly higher performance (Heidke skill score (HSS) of 0.780 and false alarm rate (FAR) of 16.6% on land, HSS of 0.945 and FAR of 4.7% at sea) than 38 channels models (HSSof 0.741 and FAR of 17.7% on land, HSS of 0.912 and FAR of 7.1% at sea). By comparing visualized cloud detection results with the Himawari-8 Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) cloud images, the proposed method has a good ability to identify clouds under circumstances such as typhoons, snow covered land, and bright broken clouds. In addition, compared with the collocated Advanced Geosynchronous Radiation Imager (AGRI)-GIIRS cloud detection method, the machine learning cloud detection method has a significant advantage in time cost. This method is not effective for the detection of partially cloudy GIIRS’s field of views, and there are limitations in the scope of spatial application.
Satellite Observations of Wind Wake and Associated Oceanic Thermal Responses: A Case Study of Hainan Island Wind Wake
Authors: Sha Jin , Li Xiao-Ming , Chen Xue’en , Zhang Tianyu
Published: December 2019

The wind wake on the lee side of Hainan Island in the winter covers the southwest entrance of Beibu Gulf (or Gulf of Tonkin) and is essential to regional ocean dynamics. Using multiple satellite observations including advanced synthetic aperture radar (ASAR), we revisited the wake process during the winter of 2011. Asymmetric oceanic thermal responses were found with a warm band expanding northwestwardly while a cold tongue formed to the southeast. Combining satellite observations, model simulations, and reanalysis data, heat advection terms (ADV) are reconstructed and compared to air-sea heat flux terms. The observed thermal evolution process across the wake footprint is closely related to the balanced spatial variability from the Ekman ADV, the barotropic geostrophic ADV, and the latent heat flux (LHF), which are all on the order of 10−5 K·m·s−1. Specifically, the Ekman ADV tends to heat the northwestern side of the wake and cool the southeastern side, while the geostrophic ADV compensates with the Ekman ADV across the wake footprint. This study reveals detailed oceanic responses associated with the wind wake and clarifies the contribution of ADV to the asymmetric spatial thermal variabilities. The identified role of heat advection on a sub-seasonal timescale may further benefit the understanding of regional oceanic dynamics.
The Implementation of a Low Power Environmental Monitoring and Soil Moisture Measurement System Based on UHF RFID
Authors: Korošak Žiga , Suhadolnik Nejc , Pleteršek Anton
Published: December 2019

A smart sensor label based on the integration of ultra high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and sensors is presented. The label is composed of a semi-active system that measures temperature, light, relative humidity and gravimetric water content (GWC) in the soil. The deployed system provides a simple, cost effective solution to monitor and control the growing of plants in modern agriculture and is intended be a part of a smart wireless sensor network (WSN) for agricultural monitoring. This paper is focused on analysis and development of a moisture sensor to measure GWC. It is based on a capacitance measurement solution, the accuracy of which is enhanced using several sensor driving frequencies. Thanks to the cancellation of supply voltage variations, the modeling of the GWC sensor and readout circuit was correct. The results we measured were close to modeled values. The maximum measurement resolution of the capacitive moisture sensor was 0.07 pF. To get the GWC from measured capacitance, a scale was used to weigh the mass of water in the soil. The comparison between capacitance measurement and calculated soil GWC is presented. The RFID measurement system has energy harvesting capabilities and an ultra-low power microcontroller, which uses embedded software to control the measurement properties. The microcontroller has to choose the appropriate model depending on the measured amplitude and chosen frequency to calculate the actual voltage on the sensing capacitor.
Evaluation of a 10 nm Particle Number Portable Emissions Measurement System (PEMS)
Authors: Giechaskiel Barouch , Mamakos Athanasios , Woodburn Joseph , Szczotka Andrzej , Bielaczyc Piotr
Published: December 2019

On-board portable emissions measurement systems (PEMS) are part of the type approval, in-service conformity, and market surveillance aspects of the European exhaust emissions regulation. Currently, only solid particles >23 nm are counted, but Europe will introduce a lower limit of 10 nm. In this study, we evaluated a 10-nm prototype portable system comparing it with laboratory systems measuring diesel, gasoline, and CNG (compressed natural gas) vehicles with emission levels ranging from approximately 2 × 1010 to 2 × 1012 #/km. The results showed that the on-board system differed from the laboratory 10-nm system on average for the tested driving cycles by less than approximately 10% at levels below 6 × 1011 #/km and by approximately 20% for high-emitting vehicles. The observed differences were similar to those observed in the evaluation of portable >23 nm particle counting systems, despite the relatively small size of the emitted particles (with geometric mean diameters <42 nm) and the additional challenges associated with sub-23 nm measurements. The latter included the presence of semivolatile sub-23 nm particles, the elevated concentration levels during cold start, and also the formation of sub-23 nm artefacts from the elastomers that are used to connect the tailpipe to the measurement devices. The main conclusion of the study is that >10 nm on-board systems can be ready for introduction in future regulations.
A LS-SVM based Measurement Points Classification Algorithm for Adjacent Targets in WSNs
Authors: Wang Xiang , Zhao Zong-Min , Wang Tao , Zhang Zhun , Hao Qiang , Li Xiao-Ying
Published: December 2019

In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), the problem of measurement origin uncertainty for observed data has a significant impact on the precision of multi-target tracking. In this paper, a novel algorithm based on least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) is proposed to classify measurement points for adjacent targets. Extended Kalman filter (EKF) algorithm is firstly adopted to compute the predicted classification line for each sampling period, which will be used to classify sampling points and calculate observed centers of closely moving targets. Then LS-SVM algorithm is utilized to train the classified points and get the best classification line, which will then be the reference classification line for the next sampling period. Finally, the locations of the targets will be precisely estimated by using observed centers based on EKF. A series of simulations validate the feasibility and accuracy of the new algorithm, while the experimental results verify the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposal.
Citrus Tree Segmentation from UAV Images Based on Monocular Machine Vision in a Natural Orchard Environment
Authors: Chen Yayong , Hou Chaojun , Tang Yu , Zhuang Jiajun , Lin Jintian , He Yong , Guo Qiwei , Zhong Zhenyu , Lei Huan , Luo Shaoming
Published: December 2019

The segmentation of citrus trees in a natural orchard environment is a key technology for achieving the fully autonomous operation of agricultural unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Therefore, a tree segmentation method based on monocular machine vision technology and a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm are proposed in this paper to segment citrus trees precisely under different brightness and weed coverage conditions. To reduce the sensitivity to environmental brightness, a selective illumination histogram equalization method was developed to compensate for the illumination, thereby improving the brightness contrast for the foreground without changing its hue and saturation. To accurately differentiate fruit trees from different weed coverage backgrounds, a chromatic aberration segmentation algorithm and the Otsu threshold method were combined to extract potential fruit tree regions. Then, 14 color features, five statistical texture features, and local binary pattern features of those regions were calculated to establish an SVM segmentation model. The proposed method was verified on a dataset with different brightness and weed coverage conditions, and the results show that the citrus tree segmentation accuracy reached 85.27% ± 9.43%; thus, the proposed method achieved better performance than two similar methods.
An Underwater Image Enhancement Method for Different Illumination Conditions Based on Color Tone Correction and Fusion-Based Descattering
Authors: Liu Yidan , Xu Huiping , Shang Dinghui , Li Chen , Quan Xiangqian
Published: December 2019

In the shallow-water environment, underwater images often present problems like color deviation and low contrast due to light absorption and scattering in the water body, but for deep-sea images, additional problems like uneven brightness and regional color shift can also exist, due to the use of chromatic and inhomogeneous artificial lighting devices. Since the latter situation is rarely studied in the field of underwater image enhancement, we propose a new model to include it in the analysis of underwater image degradation. Based on the theoretical study of the new model, a comprehensive method for enhancing underwater images under different illumination conditions is proposed in this paper. The proposed method is composed of two modules: color-tone correction and fusion-based descattering. In the first module, the regional or full-extent color deviation caused by different types of incident light is corrected via frequency-based color-tone estimation. And in the second module, the residual low contrast and pixel-wise color shift problems are handled by combining the descattering results under the assumption of different states of the image. The proposed method is experimented on laboratory and open-water images of different depths and illumination states. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms many other methods in enhancing the quality of different types of underwater images, and is especially effective in improving the color accuracy and information content in badly-illuminated regions of underwater images with non-uniform illumination, such as deep-sea images.
Evaluation of Anaerobic Co-Digestion to Enhance the Efficiency of Livestock Manure Anaerobic Digestion
Authors: Jeung Jae Hoon , Chung Woo Jin , Chang Soon Woong
Published: December 2019

In this paper, the anaerobic co-digestion of three different organic wastes, including livestock manure, slaughterhouse waste, and agricultural by-products (ABs), was carried out to enhance the efficiency of mono-digestion of livestock manure. The characteristics of co-digestion were evaluated at different mixing ratios. The experiment was performed using the Batch test and was divided into two parts. The first experimental section (EXP. 1) was designed to evaluate the seasonal characteristics of ABs, which are the different ratios of fruits and vegetables, where the mixing ratio of spring (fruits:vegetables = 3:7) showed the highest biogas yield (0.24 m3/kg volatile solids). The second experiment (EXP. 2) was conducted by using ABs in the ratio that gave the highest biogas yield in EXP. 1 in combinations of three wastes livestock manure, slaughterhouse waste, and ABs. The highest CH4 yield was 0.84 m3/kg volatile solids (VS), which was obtained with a mixing ratio that had even amounts of the three feedstocks. In addition, the results of the second biochemical methane potential test, which assessed the digestive efficiency according to the mixing ratio of the three types of organic waste, showed that the CH4 production rate of the merged digestion was approximately 1.03–1.29 times higher than that of the mono-digestion of livestock manure. The results of our experiment were verified using the modified Gompertz model, the results of which were relatively similar to the experimental results.
Evaluation of Matricaria aurea Extracts as Effective Anti-Corrosive Agent for Mild Steel in 1.0 M HCl and Isolation of Their Active Ingredients
Authors: Khan Merajuddin , Abdullah Mahmood M. S. , Mahmood Adeem , Al-Mayouf Abdullah M. , Alkhathlan Hamad Z.
Published: December 2019

Plant extracts have shown promising corrosion inhibitive actions for different metals in diverse corrosive climate. In numerous studies, it has been demonstrated that corrosion inhibitive features of plant extracts are due to the presence of complex mixtures of phytomolecules in their composition. However, rare efforts have been made to identify those phytomolecules accountable for the activity of the extracts. Therefore, in this paper, several Matricaria aurea extracts were prepared and assessed for their anticorrosive actions for mild steel (MS) in corrosive media (1.0 M HCl). Among the tested extracts, the methanolic extract showing the utmost anticorrosive activity was selected and processed further to identify its active phytomolecules, which led to the identification of a novel green corrosion inhibitor, MAB (Apigetrin). Furthermore, the anticorrosive properties of MAB on MS were evaluated comprehensively involving gravimetric, linear polarization, Tafel plots, EIS, and techniques like SEM and EDS. These findings expose that MAB performs like a mixed-type inhibitor and conforms the isotherm of Langmuir adsorption model. Moreover, the MS surface via SEM techniques exhibits a remarkable advanced surface of the MS plate in the company of MAB. The outcome of results through electrochemical analysis and weight loss methods were in good consonance, which depicts remarkable inhibition properties of the novel green inhibitor MAB.
Impact of Suburbanisation on Sustainable Development of Settlements in Suburban Spaces: Smart and New Solutions
Authors: Hlaváček Petr , Kopáček Miroslav , Horáčková Lucie
Published: December 2019

The aim of this article is to evaluate the impact of suburbanisation on the development of settlements with an emphasis on environmental aspects that need to be addressed in the process of extensive growth of municipalities in suburban regions. In the theoretical part, the article evaluates the processes of suburbanisation and their environmental impact. On a methodological level, municipalities in the suburban zone were first defined on the basis of driving distances. These municipalities were subjected to an analysis of the intensity of residential suburbanisation by calculating a multicriteria indicator from five selected criteria. In the second part of the analysis, a questionnaire survey of mayors was carried out in the particular municipalities. The responses were evaluated using the Likert scale method, and then statistically significant dependencies were sought among individual phenomena and environmental problems which need to be solved by the municipal management due to the growth of municipalities. It was found that the mayors consider changes in the landscape character to be among the most significant impacts of suburbanisation in the territory. A change in the rural character of municipalities because of the construction of urban-type houses is perceived as being very problematic. Another serious problem is the insufficient capacity of technical infrastructure such as sewerage and waste-water treatment. The costs of ensuring the quality of the environment and of public spaces, which are, in many cases, beyond the economic possibilities of municipalities, are also increasing significantly. The article also includes specifications of selected smart solutions and procedures that can help preserve the quality of the environment.
Industry versus Government Regulation of Food Date Labels: Observed Adherence to Industry-Endorsed Phrases
Authors: Roe Brian E. , Qi Danyi , Bender Kathryn E. , Hilty Julia
Published: December 2019

A leading factor in the creation of avoidable household food waste is confusion about food date labels. In the United States, date labels are largely unregulated, resulting in a plethora of date label phrases used in commerce. Federal regulation has been proposed but never passed, while both industry and government have provided voluntary guidance on preferred label phrases. We study food producer adherence to the label phrases endorsed by the Trading Partner Alliance (TPA, an industry group), which includes “Use By” for perishable products subject to a material degradation of critical performance or potential food safety concern and “Best If Used By” for all other packaged foods. Based on three studies conducted between the fall of 2018 and the summer of 2019 that use two distinct measurement methodologies, we find adherence to be less than 50% and to differ by product category, retailer, region, and brand type (store versus national brands). We find numerous dry goods and other foods that are better suited to the “Best If Used By” phrase instead feature the “Use By” phrase. This misapplication of phrases to products and the low TPA phrase adherence rate suggests that practices as of the summer of 2019 may still contribute to consumer confusion about date labels and to inadvertent food discard. We explore possible reasons why our estimated adherence rate is lower than industry reported figures and discuss tradeoffs between government regulation and industry self-regulation.
Smart Planning: From City to Territorial System
Authors: Panuccio Paola
Published: December 2019

Actual cities have become smart cities divided by zones. In the past, various innovative actions have been carried out to facilitate smart cities. The projects that were carried out, in response to the needs expressed by inhabitants and driven by individualistic growth, have gone beyond the regulations defined by the urban plan. In fact, territorial contexts reflect the needs of inhabitants, which always shift faster and are more reactive than traditional urban planning tools. The territory is a complex system and it works well if the design choices for its sustainable development are structured and coordinated by a strategic planning tool. The objective of this research is to propose a smart planning process in order to pursue the sustainable development of complex territorial systems. The paper has a particular interest in observing the integrated coastal-marine system as a possible example of real smart development. Smart planning applied to this type of landscape has a positive influence on the development of the environment, landscapes, infrastructure, mobility, services, energy, research, and innovation.
Empirical Study of Omnichannel Purchasing Pattern with Real Customer Data from Health and Lifestyle Company
Authors: Kang Jongsoo , Majer Marko , Kim Hyun-Jung
Published: December 2019

This study examines the effect of omnichannel usage pattern on customers’ purchasing amount by determining statistical significance of different purchasing amount occurred for online and offline channel usage pattern with empirical analysis. The data is collected from a health and lifestyle company operated by Major Pharmaceutical company in Korea, which sells health supplement and skincare products through their owned online and offline channels. The channel usage pattern of customers is categorized into four groups: Customer using online channel only, customer using offline channel only, customer first joined membership through online and use both on/offline channels and customers joined membership through offline channel and use both on/offline. Then, the trading period, total number of purchasing, average purchasing amount per transaction and total purchasing amount during trading period among the above four groups were analyzed. The result demonstrated the number of purchasing, average purchasing amount and total purchasing amount for the omnichannel customer groups who cross used on and offline showed statistical significance. However, the difference in purchasing amount between the group of customers who joined online membership and use offline channel and another customer group that joined offline membership and use online channel was not statistically significant. This study overcame the limitation of conventional studies used survey based data, by the application of empirical data from the real customers in on/offline channels, and provides meaningful insights based on empirical real data that group of customers with higher purchasing experience in both on/offline channels shows high performance.
Application of User Experience and Design Thinking to the Construction of a Class Assistance System for Hearing- and Speech-Impaired People
Authors: Lo Jih-Sheng , Lo Chi-Hung , Huang Shyh-Chour , Wang Wei-Chen
Published: December 2019

According to a study by the Department of Statistics, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan, a total of 15,145 people had a voice function impairment or speech function impairment, and a total of 122,533 people had a hearing impairment by the second quarter (Q2) of 2018. Hearing and speech are the most commonly used sensory functions for communication. Therefore, a person will suffer unimaginable difficulties with the loss of both functions during her/his life. The problems that a handicapped student might encounter during school are often neglected. The way a teacher teaches during a class and how a student interacts with others should be highlighted. The deficiency in assistive devices for hearing- and speech-impaired people is due to several factors. In fact, there is insufficient information and not enough researchers. The translation of language by foreign assistive devices is more rigorous; however, domestic resources for assistive devices for hearing- and speech-impaired people are limited. No relevant information on learning through assistive devices is available. The subject examined in this study was a hearing-impaired student in her junior year, who lost speech capability after an ear stroke. This study examined the problems that she encountered during her learning in a class with average students. After a literature review and the investigation of the case study, user experience and design thinking approaches were implemented for the development of an assistive device. A class learning assistive system, which is based on a simple innovative design and a highly flexible combination of elements, was created. After a series of experimental verifications and improvements, the results indicated that this learning assistive system could effectively enhance the research subject’s confidence and autonomy during learning in class.
Adequacy Analysis of the Basic Old-Age Pension System Based on Local Administrative Data in China
Authors: Zhao Qing , Li Zhen , Wang Yihuan
Published: December 2019

There is no consensus on the judgment of the adequacy status of the old-age pension benefit in China at present. Therefore, clarification of various types of indicators and benchmarks of pension adequacy is urgently needed. According to the theoretical development of pension adequacy, this paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the benefit level of basic pension from the perspectives of poverty alleviation, income substitution, and financial sustainability. The calculation results based on local administrative data show that the current pension benefit in urban China is unbalanced: on the one hand, the average pension level of self and flexible employees cannot keep track of the local average consumption level or even the relative poverty standard in particular years and the individual replacement rates for a few nonstandard employees are less than the minimum standard of 40% set by the International Labor Organization, which means the pension benefit performs poorly in terms of consumption smoothing. On the other hand, the lifelong pension rights are much higher than the lifelong contribution obligations for new retirees. Under the trend of population ageing, the extremely high benefit–cost ratio means that the current retired generation is eroding the welfare of the current working generations, and the long-term financial sustainability of the pension system is facing challenges. In the future, in order to improve the benefit level of the basic old-age pension system in a sustainable way, we need to increase the average and individual replacement rates and reduce the benefit–cost ratio by consolidating contribution bases and delaying the number of contribution years.
Evolution of Fish and Shellfish Supplies Originating from Wild Fisheries in Thailand Between 1995 and 2015
Authors: Sampantamit Tiptiwa , Noranarttragoon Pavarot , Lachat Carl , Goethals Peter
Published: December 2019

Fisheries resources play a crucial role in economic development, food security, and healthy nutrition for humans. Consequently, fisheries are of paramount importance for several Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDGs 1 and 8, which are related to poverty and economic growth, as well as SDGs 2 and 3, which are about zero hunger and good health. On the other hand, fisheries can also negatively influence the ecosystem (SDG 14, life below water). Thailand is one of the world’s most significant producers and exporters of fisheries products. This present work describes the evolution of wild fisheries production in Thailand for over twenty years and discusses its impact on fish and shellfish supplies. The present overview uses mainly the official statistical catch data of Thailand. From 1995 to 2015, Thailand’s marine fisheries production gradually decreased from approximately 2.8 million tonnes to 1.3 million tonnes per year. Concerning taxonomic composition of the catches, no dramatic shifts were recorded during the 20-year period. The main observation seems that for less abundant taxa, such as Chirocentridae, Sillaginidae, Ariidae, Sharks, and Psettodidae, their part in the catch was halved between 1995 and 2015. On the other hand, inland capture fisheries remained constant at 0.2 million tonnes per year. The annual value of wild fisheries production was, on average US$1.7 billion. Notably, trawl fishing systematically reduced during these two decennia, resulting in a fishing efficiency of approximately 140 tonnes of demersal fish per trawl unit per year in 2015. During 2008–2015, the number of registered gill net fishing boats drastically increased from 2,300 to 6,600, and this has led to a dramatic decline in fishing efficiency to about 10% in 2014–2015. More in general, Thailand’s continuous decline in marine capture production was linked to increased fuel prices, tightening restrictions by neighbouring countries for access into their exclusive economic zone, and the depletion of resources due to overfishing and illegal fishing. Against rising concerns about the sustainability of intensive fishing practices in recent years, Thailand is ramping up efforts to reduce the exploitation of fishery resources to levels that would achieve maximum sustainable yields. In particular, the intensity of fishing based on gill nets needs to be addressed in the future. Hence, Thailand’s fisheries production faces the pressure of realising the importance of sustainable fisheries resources management and its impact on marine life and biodiversity, in addition to its role as a significant food source for a healthy population.
Study of the Sustainability of Electrical Power Systems: Analysis of the Causes that Generate Reactive Power
Authors: Graña-López M. A. , García-Diez A. , Filgueira-Vizoso A. , Chouza-Gestoso J. , Masdías-Bonome A.
Published: December 2019

Reactive power is an important parameter in electrical power systems since it affects the efficiency of the system because it is not useful energy. It decreases the power factor of the system and limits the ability of generators to deliver useful power. It is therefore necessary to understand and correctly measure the phenomenon of reactive energy in three-phase systems. In this paper, we analyze reactive power in linear and unbalanced three-phase systems using the Unified Theory of Electrical Power and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standard 1459-2010 (IEEE Std. 1459-2010) to obtain expressions for reactive power in balanced and unbalanced systems and noting that there are terms that exist only for unbalanced systems. Analysis of the measurements carried out led us to identify the existence of two components of reactive power—that due to reactive elements, and that caused by unbalances in the system. Knowing the causes that generate reactive power, it is possible to act more effectively on the problem and therefore achieve a more sustainable generation of electric power and a lower environmental impact.
Climate Change and Its Attribution in Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China
Authors: Zeng Yixue , Zhou Zhixiang , Yan Zhaogui , Teng Mingjun , Huang Chunbo
Published: December 2019

Climate change in dam areas is one of the environmental problems associated with dams. However, the main factors and mechanisms that impact climate change in dam areas remain unclear. In this study, linear regression, the observed minus reanalyzed (OMR) method, and multi-source data are used to assess climate change in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area of China and investigate the main impact factors among the controversial factors (land cover change, environmental climate, and reservoir impoundment). Our results indicate that turning points of trend changes for annual fog days (FD), annual average temperature (T), and annual average relative humidity (RH) occurred at around 1996 during the period 1973–2013, and annual precipitation (PRE) suggested no obvious turning point. The change trends after 1996 were steeper than before 1996. These changes are mainly closely correlated with environmental climate. In particular, temperature was significantly correlated with environmental temperature (1979–2013: r = 0.799, p < 0.01), and their relationship was stronger after 1990 (r = 0.842, p < 0.01). Moreover, the turning point for FD, T, and RH also correlated with land use/cover change. In addition, reservoir impoundment showed an obvious humidification effect (OMR RH correlated with water area: r = 0.566, p < 0.01). Our findings support the view that climate change in dam areas is mainly affected by environmental climate changes.
Sustainable Debt Behaviour and Well-Being of Young Adults: The Role of Parental Financial Socialisation Process
Authors: Cwynar Andrzej , Cwynar Wiktor , Baryła-Matejczuk Monika , Betancort Moises
Published: December 2019

Literature shows that parental financial socialisation plays an important role in attaining financial literacy as well as in shaping sustainable financial behaviours and that both translate into increased well-being indicators and financial security on micro- and macroeconomic levels. However, debt literacy and debt behaviour seem to be unique. Very little is known about the childhood financial socialisation process through which adults’ sustainable debt behaviour is shaped and how debt behaviour may affect well-being. This study tests a hierarchical model of childhood financial socialisation consisting of five levels: the anticipatory parental socialisation, and later life financial learning outcomes (particularly, debt literacy levels), financial attitudes, debt behaviour, and well-being. Using data collected from a purposive sample of young adult Poles (N = 600) during the period from 10 to 13 November 2018 and employing structural equation modelling, we have found evidence confirming the hierarchical relationship of literacy–attitude–behaviour. Our data do not support, however, either the hypothesised positive relationship between parental socialisation and objectively measured debt literacy or the assumed relationships between debt behaviour and well-being indicators. We posit that country-specific factors related to generational differences entailed by system-wide transition and the specificity of debt behaviour, respectively, are key for explaining these empirical deviations from the assumed conceptual framework. Finally, we found no significant differences between the models estimated separately for maternally conditioned and paternally conditioned respondents.
Characterization of Small Forest Landowners as a Basis for Sustainable Forestry Management in the Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins Region, Chile
Authors: Ruiz-Gozalvo Francisca , Martín-Fernández Susana , Garfias-Salinas Roberto
Published: December 2019

Sclerophyllous forests are extremely sensitive to global warming, and the sclerophyllous forest in the possession of small forest landowners (SFLs) in the Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins Region in Chile is degraded in spite of their high ecological value. Due to the total lack of forest management, the yield obtained from native forests is very low, with highly intervened forests and intense soil erosion. The main contribution of this article is to present, for the first time, a study on the characterization and problems of 211 small forest landowners in this region of Chile. After interviewing the landowners, multivariate analysis techniques were applied to the results of the survey, which enabled four types of SFL to be identified. Differences were found in regard to the surface area of their properties and the products extracted, among others. However, they all had a similar social profile, low education level and little training in forest management, very advanced ages, a lack of initiative to create forest communities, and lack of basic services due to their isolation. The characterization of the SFLs allowed proposals to be designed for future sustainable forest management activities to help mitigate the continuous deterioration of the native forest and obtain products in a sustainable way and with greater yields, considering current legal aspects, access to subsidies, and specific forest training plans for each type of SFL.
Reliability Validation of a Low-Cost Particulate Matter IoT Sensor in Indoor and Outdoor Environments Using a Reference Sampler
Authors: Trilles Sergio , Vicente Ana Belen , Juan Pablo , Ramos Francisco , Meseguer Sergi , Serra Laura
Published: December 2019

A suitable and quick determination of air quality allows the population to be alerted with respect to high concentrations of pollutants. Recent advances in computer science have led to the development of a high number of low-cost sensors, improving the spatial and temporal resolution of air quality data while increasing the effectiveness of risk assessment. The main objective of this work is to perform a validation of a particulate matter (PM) sensor (HM-3301) in indoor and outdoor environments to study PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations. To date, this sensor has not been evaluated in real-world situations, and its data quality has not been documented. Here, the HM-3301 sensor is integrated into an Internet of things (IoT) platform to establish a permanent Internet connection. The validation is carried out using a reference sampler (LVS3 of Derenda) according to EN12341:2014. It is focused on statistical insight, and environmental conditions are not considered in this study. The ordinary Linear Model, the Generalized Linear Model, Locally Estimated Scatterplot Smoothing, and the Generalized Additive Model have been proposed to compare and contrast the outcomes. The low-cost sensor is highly correlated with the reference measure ( R 2 greater than 0.70), especially for PM2.5, with a very high accuracy value. In addition, there is a positive relationship between the two measurements, which can be appropriately fitted through the Locally Estimated Scatterplot Smoothing model.
Evaluation on Effects of Climate and Land-Use Changes on Streamflow and Water Quality in the La Buong River Basin, Southern Vietnam
Authors: Khoi Dao Nguyen , Nguyen Van , Sam Truong Thao , Nhi Pham
Published: December 2019

The effects of climate and land-use changes have put intense pressures on water resources with regard to water quantity and quality in the La Buong River Basin, located in Southern Vietnam. Therefore, an estimate of such effects and their consequences on water resources in this area is needed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the segregated and aggregated effects of climate change and land-use change on streamflow and water quality components (sediment and nutrient loads) using the well-known Soils and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The SWAT model was carefully calibrated and validated against the observation data before it can be used as a simulation tool to study the impacts of climate and land-use changes on hydrological processes. As a result of this study, it shows a reduction in the wet-season and annual streamflow, and sediment and nutrient loads will be occurred in the study area due to climate change effects, while the streamflow, and sediment and nutrient loads will be increased under the effects of the land-use change. Moreover, the streamflow and water quality components are more sensitive to land-use change than climate change. The results obtained from this study can provide a basic knowledge of the effects of climate and land-use changes on the streamflow and water quality to the local and national authorities for the future development of integrated water resources management in the La Buong River Basin.
An Inter- and Transdisciplinary Approach to Developing and Testing a New Sustainable Mobility System
Authors: Gebhardt Laura , Brost Mascha , König Alexandra
Published: December 2019

Sustainability research is frequently tasked with the development of concrete solutions that can be directly applied to socio-environmental problems as such this paper presents and discusses an inter- and transdisciplinary approach to developing and testing a mobility-on-demand-system in a “real world laboratory” set up in Schorndorf, Germany. This paper addresses the following questions: (1) How can stakeholders be involved in the research and development process and become co-designers? (2) What are the suitable ways of supporting and facilitating interdisciplinary exchange and joint work at different places? The main contribution of this paper is the description of a methodological approach. It thereby reflects on the process of inter- and transdisciplinary work in the development phase and pilot operation. In addition, a joint working document, a so called “Specification Book”, is utilized to facilitate teamwork and enable the exchange of scientific knowledge within the team. The experiences in the project are also reflected upon and specific recommendations are determined. The paper further reflects on the possibilities and challenges of the methodology and provides recommendations for its application. The originality of the paper lies in its description and reflection of a method that goes beyond the participation of users in the design phase of the project.