bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the Effectiveness of Collective Decisions for Maintenance-Rehabilitation Works of Water Pipelines Using a Qualitative Risk-based Group Decision-Making Model
Authors: Salehi Sattar , Khiavi Kaveh Nezam , Danesh Mohammadreza , Mehrdad Morteza , Shalpoosh Hamid , Azariun Esmat , Khalaji Reza , Khalilian Hossein , Shafighi Abbas 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Among the most important decisions in water companies are planning the Maintenance-Rehabilitation Works (MRWs) of water pipelines. Since the MRWs are costly, it is essential to use the collective decisions of an expert team for planning these works. However, the effectiveness of these group decisions is not very clear and has been less considered in previous studies. Hence, the main objective of this research is to assess the effectiveness of these collective decisions. For this purpose, the MRWs of water pipes are determined based on two methods. In the first, the collective decision of experts is omitted, and in the second one, these decisions are considered. Finally, the results obtained from these methods are compared. The method used in this work for collective decisions is based on the nominal group technique. Furthermore, since there is deep uncertainty in water network data as well as hesitation in the group decisions, a qualitative (fuzzy) risk-based group decision-making model is developed in this research. The water pipelines studied in this work, as the case study, are addressed to pipes, which have been proposed by water companies in the six provinces of Iran. The MRWs of these pipes are determined, first, using the collective decision of 76 experts in these water companies; and then, without this group decision making. The results of comparing these methods indicated that group decisions do not have a significant effect on prioritizing water pipelines for the MRWs. While, in determining the renovation strategies of pipes, the viewpoints of experts could have a decisive effect on the results. Furthermore, it was found that increasing the number of decision criteria could lead to more realistic results; whereas, the number of assessed pipelines as well as the number of decision makers does not have an obvious effect on the results.
Coupled Sharp-interface and Density Dependent Model for Simultaneous Optimization of Production Well Locations and Pumping in Coastal Aquifer
Authors: Dey Subhajit , Prakash Om 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
The main management challenge in coastal aquifers is to prevent saltwater intrusion, still ensuring ample supply of freshwater. Saltwater intrusion happens due to unregulated pumping from production wells. Therefore, it is essential to have effective management policy, which ensures the requisite amount of freshwater to be withdrawn from coastal aquifers without causing saltwater intrusion. To achieve these conflicting objectives, a methodology for optimizing production well locations and maximizing pumping from production wells is presented. Location of pumping wells directly affects the amount of freshwater that can be pumped out of costal aquifer. Simultaneous optimization of production well locations and pumping from the same is achieved by linking mathematical simulation models with optimization algorithm. A new methodology using coupled sharp-interface and density dependent simulation models is developed to find optimal well locations and optimize the amount of freshwater pumped from the coastal aquifer. The sharp-interface model is linked with Simulated Annealing to solve this constrained optimization problem. In the next step, density dependent model is used to improve the outcome of sharp-interface model. The process is iterated until the results of the sharp-interface mimic the results of density dependent model which is more realistic, as it considers both advection and dispersion phenomenon. The performance of the developed methodology is evaluated for saltwater intrusion in coastal city of Puri, India. The performance evaluation results show the applicability of the developed methodology for management of saltwater intrusion while maximizing freshwater pumping in coastal aquifers under constraints of well location.
Using Machine Learning to Identify At-risk Students in an Introductory Programming Course at a Two-year Public College
Authors: Cooper Cameron I. 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Nationally, more than one-third of students enrolling in introductory computer science programming courses (CS101) do not succeed. To improve student success rates, this research team used supervised machine learning to identify students who are “at-risk” of not succeeding in CS101 at a two-year public college. The resultant predictive model accurately identifies \(\approx\)99% of “at-risk” students in an out-of-sample test data set. The programming instructor piloted the use of the model’s predictive factors as early alert triggers to intervene with individualized outreach and support across three course sections of CS101 in fall 2020. The outcome of this pilot study was a 23% increase in student success and a 7.3 percentage point decrease in the DFW rate. More importantly, this study identified academic, early alert triggers for CS101. Specifically, the first two graded programs are of paramount importance for student success in the course.
Evaluating A Broad Scope of Transboundary Water Sharing Benefits With Hydro-Economic Modelling
Authors: Hossen Mohammad Abul , Connor Jeffery D , Ahammed Faisal 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
There are more than 260 transboundary river basins in the world which cover nearly half of the Earth’s surface. These rivers, traversing around 145 countries, are a common cause of conflict between nations. The case study selected for this study is the Teesta River, a tributary to the Brahmaputra which flows from India to Bangladesh, where water sharing between India and Bangladesh has a long and disputed history. The model quantifies economic net benefit of opportunities to share water between the countries using a Hydro-Economic Model (HEM). Whilst HEMs exist for many transboundary river basins including the Nile Basin, the Ganges Basin, the Mekong, Volta, and Amu Darya, most HEMs that treat transboundary water issues consider a limited scope of water values most frequently including: agriculture, hydropower, and municipal water uses. However, water has many additional values including navigation, environment, fisheries, and water quality. This study adds to the HEM literature by considering a wider range of benefits than have commonly been included in HEM assessments of transboundary water sharing in the past. Results show that a re-allocation scenario with more water flowing over the border from India to Bangladesh leads to an overall annual basin-wide gain. The estimated loss for India (mostly lost hydropower value) would be substantially greater if non-extractive flow related benefits for fisheries, navigation, sediment transport and environment were not accounted for. Similarly, estimated gain for Bangladesh would be much less if these non-extractive flow related benefits were ignored.
A Study on the Influence of Synoptic-Scale Flows on Sea Breeze During Wintertime in the Coastal Zone Near Visakhapatnam, India
Authors: Kumar N.V.P. Kiran , Jagadeesh K. , Niranjan K. 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
The present study focuses on the influence of prevailing winds (like onshore, offshore and alongshore) on sea breeze flow over the coastal station Visakhapatnam (17.7 ° N, 83.3 ° E). The database consists of sodar observation relative to 58 sea breeze occurred during the winter season (December 2011-February 2012). Results show that the strength of sea breeze are modulated by the large-scale wind flow and show substantial changes between offshore, along-shore and onshore. The role of thermal forcing on the breeze circulation was investigated. Results show that temperature difference between land and sea (ΔT) is larger for offshore and along-shore when compared to that of onshore flow. Results reveal that the vertical velocities show downdrafts and updrafts just before and after the onset of sea breeze. The depth of sea breeze is found to be higher (~220 m) for the offshore than onshore large scale circulation (~160 m). It is found that offshore and alongshore favours the delayed arrival of sea breeze compared to that of onshore. The statistical analysis of sea breeze circulation addressed in this work highlight the distinct behavior in the structure and evolution of sea breeze using high temporal and vertical resolution of sodar observations under different synoptic-scale wind flow. Such statistical results are sparse over the industrialised coastal zones like Visakhapatnam where air pollution is a major concern, as well as for better understanding on the vertical mixing of aerosols and trace gases, and air-pollution dispersal.
Associations of Smartphone Addiction, Chronotype, Sleep Quality, and Risk Of Eating Disorders Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Hasan Hayder , Shihab Katia Hazim Abu , Mohammad Zohreh , Jahan Hafsa , Coussa Ayla , Faris MoezAlIslam Ezzat 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Purpose

With smartphone addiction’s (SA) increasing prevalence among young adults, there is a growing concern about its adverse effects on distorted dietary and lifestyle behaviors, including disturbed sleeping and eating patterns. We aim to study the prevalence of SA risk, poor sleeping quality, evening chronotype, and eating disorders (ED) risk among university students in the UAE. We also aim to assess the associations between them, emphasizing the one between ED and SA risks.
Methods

In this cross-sectional study, a self-administered online questionnaire was disseminated using the convenience sampling technique. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, Eating Attitude Test-26 items, and Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version were used to measure sleep quality, chronotype, ED risk, and SA risk, respectively. Descriptive and analytical statistics were applied, and P< 0.05 was considered for statistical significance.
Results

Out of 552 students (mean age: 21.2±5.1 years), 71% had poor sleep quality, 33.9% reported evening chronotype, 37.9% had ED risk, and 56.2% had SA risk. The risk of SA was significantly associated with both poor sleep quality (OR=2.93; 95% CI: 2.01-4.29; p<0.001) and evening chronotype (p=0.005). ED risk was significantly associated with poor sleep quality (p<0.001), but not with chronotype or SA risk. Poor sleep quality predicted best ED risk.
Conclusion

High prevalence of SA, ED risk, and poor sleep quality was reported among university students in the UAE. Associations between poor sleep quality, evening chronotype, SA risk, and ED risk were further confirmed, along with sleep quality predicting risks of ED.
Does Government Intervention Affect CO2 Emission Reduction Effect of Producer Services Agglomeration? Empirical Analysis Based on Spatial Dubin Model and Dynamic Threshold Model
Authors: Yan Jinling , Yang Xiaodong , Nie Chunxia , Su Xufeng , Zhao Junfeng , Ran Qiying 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is an inherent requirement for countries to promote green recovery and transformation of the global economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. As "a smoke-free industry", its agglomeration may have significant impacts on CO2 emission reduction. This study uses nightlight data to calculate the CO2 emissions of 268 cities in China from 2005 to 2017 and then employs dynamic spatial Dubin model and intermediary effect model to explore the impact and transmission mechanism of producer services agglomeration (PSA) on CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the dynamic threshold model is used to analyze the nonlinear characteristics of PSA on CO2 emissions under different degrees of government intervention. The findings indicate that: (1) Generally, China's CO2 emissions are path-dependent in the time dimension, showing a "snowball effect". PSA not only significantly inhibits local CO2 emissions, but also reduces CO2 emissions in adjacent areas through spatial spillover effect; (2) PSA can indirectly curb CO2 emissions through economies of scale, technological innovation and industrial structure upgrading, Heterogeneity analysis shows that there are significant differences in the impact of PSA on CO2 emissions in different regions, time nodes and sub-industries; (3) The impact of PSA on China's CO2 emissions has an obvious double threshold effect under different degree of government intervention. Accordingly, the Chinese government should increase the support for producer services, dynamically adjust industrial policies, take a moderate intervention, and strengthen market-oriented reform to reduce CO2 emissions so that the goal of "carbon peak and carbon neutrality” can be early achieved.
The energy requirements of providing universal decent living in a ‘fairly’ unequal world
Authors: Millward-Hopkins Joel 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Ecological breakdown and economic inequality are among the largest contemporary global challenges, and the issues are thoroughly entangled – as they have been throughout the history of civilisations. Yet, the global economy continues toward ecological crises, and inequalities remain far higher than citizens believe to be ‘fair’. Here, we explore the role of inequality, alongside traditional drivers of ecological impacts, in determining global energy requirements for providing universal decent living. We consider scenarios from ‘fair inequality’ – where inequalities mirror public ideals – through a ‘fairly unequal’ world, to one with a ‘super-rich’ global elite. The energy-costs of inequality appear far more significant than population: even fair levels increase the energy required to provide universal decent living by 40%, and a super-rich global 1% could consume as much energy as would providing decent living to 1.7 billion. We finish by arguing that total population remains important nonetheless, but for reasons beyond ecological impacts.
Energy, Exergy, Environmental Impact and Economic (4E) Analysis of ET-CPC-Powered Solar Domestic Water Heating System
Authors: Sharma Dinesh K , Sharma Dilip , Ali Ahmed Hamza H. 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
World energy demand is increasing continuously; consequently, the environmental impact forces towards utilizing renewable energy resources with efficient and optimized cost-performance conversion technologies. Therefore in this study, an analytical model is developed to propose the energy, exergy, environmental impact and economic (4E) analysis of the water heating system at Jaipur (India) with evacuated tube compound parabolic concentrator ET-CPC field of the total area of 81m2. The model results were validated with the experimental data, and a good agreement has prevailed. After that, the model is used to perform parametric studies on the effect of operating and meteorological parameters on the productivity and performance of the system. Moreover, the system’s performance, environmental impact and economic aspects have been investigated and compared under different meteorological conditions at four different locations in Rajasthan (India) using TMY2 weather data files. Results clarified that Jodhpur receives the highest solar radiation intensity from these four locations. Consequently, the results indicate the highest annual energy and exergy with the value of 79.72 MWh and 9.311 MWh followed by Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Jaipur. The economic analysis results clarified that the simple payback period ranged from 4.5 to 4.75 years and the discounted payback period ranged from 6.6 to 7 years based on a 6% discount rate. At the same time, the Levelized Cost of Heating (LCOH) ranges from 1.62 to 1.72 INR/kWh of heat compared to closest with CNG as fuel ranging from 4.39 to 4.41 INR/kWh for specified locations. The internal rate of return is reported to be 16.76, 16.82, 16.77, and 16.75% for Barmer, Jodhpur, Jaipur, and Jaisalmer respectively, and savings of 74400, 78125, 75371, and 73813 kg of CO2 emission to the environment.
Spectrally Efficient IR-UWB Pulse Designs Based on Linear Combinations of Gaussian Derivatives
Authors: Taki Haidar , Abou-Rjeily Chadi 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Pulse design is critical for impulse radio communications, as it determines the transmission efficiency with respect to regulation spectral limits. In this paper, we propose the design of several novel pulse shapes relying on combinations of Gaussian derivatives with the target of improving the spectral efficiency. A general model for maximizing the efficiency of dual and triplet couplings is presented, employing the interior point global optimization algorithm. Then, the spectrum peak frequency is derived in closed form for any combination of two Gaussians with consecutive orders of derivation. The parameters controlling the time properties of the generated waveforms have been adequately adjusted to reach the best compliance with the spectral mask. Novel pulses have been investigated providing a high efficiency using simple generation mechanisms, which can be practically implemented via analog circuits. Results demonstrated the advantage of the proposed pulse shapes in terms of the bit error rate performance for 2 Gbps OOK and 1 Gbps PPM in AWGN and multipath channels.
Opportunities and Challenges in Delivering Remote Primary Care During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Authors: Kaufman-Shriqui Vered , Shani Michal , Boaz Mona , Lahad Amnon , Vinker Shlomo , Birk Ruth 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Background: Social distancing and lockdowns were implemented during the first period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Primary care physicians needed to adapt quickly to deliver remote care/telemedicine. Methods: A cross-sectional, 47-item online Google Survey was distributed through the Israel Association of Family Physicians (IAFP) mailing list between March 31-May 5, 2020. The questionnaire included demographics, physician characteristics, and information on usage and perceived telemedicine quality. Sampling weights by sex and age groups were applied.Results: 159 primary care physicians (10.6% of registered IAFP members; 63.5% women; mean age 53.4±10.4 years and median professional experience 21.3 years) replied to the survey. The majority (59.7%) of the participants performed a mixture of in-person along with phone counseling. About 40% had no former telemedicine experience. The majority indicated that telephone and video formats were inferior to in-person consultation (68%, 57.1% online and phone, respectively). The overall counseling quality grade (on a 1–10 scale, )median (IQR)) was 6.2 (3) for telephone and 7(2) for video. While 66.9% reported experiencing no challenges, 10% had technical problems, 10% interpersonal problems, 5.6% scheduling difficulties, and 7.5% other difficulties. Majority of 56.6% physicians indicated they prescribed more antibiotics,16.4% sent more blood tests, 24.5% referred more to experts, and 49.7% referred more to imaging in comparison to usual counseling. Higher phone quality score was significantly associated with physicians who indicated not prescribing more antibiotics during the pandemic (OR=0.30, 95%CI 0.134-0.688, p=0.004).Higher online quality score was associated with physicians who indicated not sending more blood tests during the pandemic (OR=0.06 95%CI 0.008-0.378, P=0.003).Conclusions: Our findings suggest telehealth holds considerable promise for counseling in the primary care setting. However, interpersonal challenges raised by physicians should be understood in-depth to develop tailored training and further examine it in randomized trials while integrating patient-reported outcomes. Finally, further research on utility, cost, and cost-efficiency during remote counseling with follow-ups, medical prescribing, and additional referrals is needed.
Genetic dissection of stage-dependent dry matter accumulation in Maize (Zea mays L.) kernel
Authors: Liu Jianju , Yu Hui , Liu Baoshen , Xu Mingliang , Chen Saihua 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Dry matter accumulation (DMA) in kernels is a fundamental requirement for high grain yield maize breeding and harvesting. However, the genetic mechanism underlying how DMA promotes the grain weight at different grain-filling stages is poorly understood. Here, with a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, we performed a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of DMA during the early and late grain-filling stages under three environmental conditions. Taking 0-45 days after pollination (DAP) as a minimum period to physiological maturity, we investigated the DMA before 45 DAP, designated DMA0-45, and found that 13 DMA QTLs are responsible for DMA0-45 and each could explain 7.11 to 23.64% of the total phenotypic variation. Of them, four QTLs, qDMA5.2, qDMA6.4, qDMA7.2, and qDMA9.2 were consistently detected in at least two of three field trials. For the DMA after 45 DAP, 18 QTLs were detected and they could account for 8.49 to 28.66% of the total phenotypic variation and only qDMA1.2 was consistently detected at Shandong for two years continuously. Since no common DMA QTL was found between the early (0-45 DAP) and the later (after 45 DAP) stage, it is speculated that the genetic control of DMA acts in a stage-dependent manner. Our results will be helpful to further decipher the genetic basis of grain yield formation and provide a sight for grain yield improvement in maize.
Locally adapting generic rubrics for the implementation of outcome-based medical education: A mixed-methods approach
Authors: Kondo Takeshi , Nishigori Hiroshi , Vleuten Cees van der 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Background
Rubrics are frequently used to assess competencies in outcome-based education (OBE). The implementation of assessment systems using rubrics is usually realised through years of involvement in projects with various stakeholders. However, for countries or specialities new to OBE, faster and more simplified processes are required. In March 2019, Japan introduced nine competencies and generic rubrics of competencies for medical residents. We explored the local adaptation of these generic rubrics and its consequences for assessors.
Methods
The study followed three steps. First, we locally adapted the generic rubrics. This was followed by conducting mixed-method research to explore the effect of the local adaptation. In step two, we examined the correlations between the scores in the locally adapted assessment sheets for supervising doctors, and the generic rubrics. In step three, we conducted interviews with supervising doctors. The study was conducted in the General Internal Medicine Department of Nagoya University, Japan. In the first step, doctors in the Medical Education Center and other medical departments, clerks, and residents participated. Supervising doctors in the General Internal Medicine Department participated in the second and third steps.
Results
A locally adapted assessment system was developed and implemented in seven months. The scores of the generic rubrics and the adapted assessment tool completed by the supervising doctors showed good correlations in some items as opposed to others, assessed mainly with other tools. Participant interviews revealed that local adaptation decreased their cognitive load leading to consistent ratings, increased writing of comments, and promoting reflection on instruction.
Conclusions
This adaptation process is a feasible way to begin the implementation of OBE. Local adaptation has advantages over direct use of generic rubrics.