Reference Point Research Articles

The Limitations of EMSs in Comparison with the SDGs When Considering Infrastructure Sustainability: The Case of the Terzo Valico Dei Giovi, Italy

Infrastructure plays the largest role in the amount of annual emissions, so much so that investments promoted in the European Union must be subjected to a careful assessment of the sustainability of projects. The current landscape for assessing the sustainability of infrastructure is varied and complex. Considering the object of the assessment methodologies (such as the Environmental Impact Assessment or the Ecological Management System) and specific tools such as Envision, there is a shift from the infrastructure in itself and the company’s actions to promoting sustainable development. This article introduces a methodology to examine how tools used in environmental impact assessments of transport infrastructure projects, regardless of the actor implementing them, align with different sustainable development objectives. Moreover, it identifies the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a reference point that can be used in estimating the validity of these instruments. This paper also validates the methodology proposed in our study, by comparing the results obtained on the Envision model with those obtained from its application in a case study regarding the Terzo Valico dei Giovi, a railway infrastructure in Italy. The article shows that although the final target is in many respects the same, the nuances with which actors pursue sustainability through the different instruments vary.

A Novel Miniature and Selective CMOS Gas Sensor for Gas Mixture Analysis-Part 4: The Effect of Humidity.

This is the fourth part of a study presenting a miniature, combustion-type gas sensor (dubbed GMOS) based on a novel thermal sensor (dubbed TMOS). The TMOS is a micromachined CMOS-SOI transistor, which acts as the sensing element and is integrated with a catalytic reaction plate, where ignition of the gas takes place. The GMOS measures the temperature change due to a combustion exothermic reaction. The controlling parameters of the sensor are the ignition temperature applied to the catalytic layer and the increased temperature of the hotplate due to the released power of the combustion reaction. The solid-state device applies electrical parameters, which are related to the thermal parameters. The heating is applied by Joule heating with a resistor underneath the catalytic layer while the signal is monitored by the change in voltage of the TMOS sensor. Voltage, like temperature, is an intensive parameter, and one always measures changes in such parameters relative to a reference point. The reference point for both parameters (temperature and voltage) is the blind sensor, without any catalytic layer and hence where no reaction takes place. The present paper focuses on the study of the effect of humidity upon performance. In real life, the sensors are exposed to environmental parameters, where humidity plays a significant role. Humidity is high in storage rooms of fruits and vegetables, in refrigerators, in silos, in fields as well as in homes and cars. This study is significant and innovative since it extends our understanding of the performance of the GMOS, as well as pellistor sensors in general, in the presence of humidity. The three main challenges in simulating the performance are (i) how to define the operating temperature based on the input parameters of the heater voltage in the presence of humidity; (ii) how to measure the dynamics of the temperature increase during cyclic operation at a given duty cycle; and (iii) how to model the correlation between the operating temperature and the sensing response in the presence of humidity. Due to the complexity of the 3D analysis of packaged GMOS, and the many aspects of humidity simultanoesuly affecting performane, advanced simulation software is applied, incorporating computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The simulation and experimental data of this study show that the GMOS sensor can operate in the presence of high humidity.

Reference points in sequential bargaining: theory and experiment

AbstractWe introduce loss aversion in an infinite‐horizon, alternating‐offers model. When outside options serve as reference points, the equilibrium of our model follows that of the standard Rubinstein bargaining model (i.e., outside options do not affect the equilibrium unless they are binding). However, when reference points are given by the resources that players contribute to the pie, the bargaining outcome changes such that a player's share increases in her contribution. We test our model's predictions in the laboratory. As predicted, only binding outside options affect the division of the pie. Data also show that contributions matter for bargaining outcomes when they are activated as reference points, but not quite as predicted by our theory. Proposers gain a higher share of the pie only when they have contributed a higher share than the opponent has.

Pointer Meter Reading Recognition by Joint Detection and Segmentation

To handle the task of pointer meter reading recognition, in this paper, we propose a deep network model that can accurately detect the pointer meter dial and segment the pointer as well as the reference points from the located meter dial. Specifically, our proposed model is composed of three stages: meter dial location, reference point segmentation, and dial number reading recognition. In the first stage, we translate the task of meter dial location into a regression task, which aims to separate bounding boxes by an object detection network. This results in the accurate and fast detection of meter dials. In the second stage, the dial region image determined by the bounding box is further processed by using a deep semantic segmentation network. After that, the segmented output is used to calculate the relative position between the pointer and reference points in the third stage, which results in the final output of reading recognition. Some experiments were conducted on our collected dataset, and the experimental results show the effectiveness of our method, with a lower computational burden compared to some existing works.

Performance of Differential Evolution Algorithms for Indoor Area Positioning in Wireless Sensor Networks

In positioning systems in wireless sensor networks, the accuracy of localization is often affected by signal distortion or attenuation caused by environmental factors, especially in indoor environments. Although using a combination of K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) algorithm and fingerprinting matching can reduce positioning errors due to poor signal quality, the improvement in accuracy by increasing the number of reference points and K values is not significant. This paper proposes a Differential Evolution-based KNN (DE-KNN) method to overcome the performance limitations of the KNN algorithm and enhance indoor area positioning accuracy in WSNs. The DE-KNN method aims to improve the accuracy and stability of indoor positioning in wireless sensor networks. According to the simulation results, in a simple indoor environment with four reference points, when the sensors are deployed in both fixed and random arrangements, the positioning accuracy was improved by 29.09% and 30.20%, respectively, compared to using the KNN algorithm alone. In a complex indoor environment with four reference points, the positioning accuracy was increased by 32.24% and 33.72%, respectively. When the number of reference points increased to five, in a simple environment, the accuracy improvement for both fixed and random deployment was 20.70% and 26.01%, respectively. In a complex environment, the accuracy improvement was 23.88% and 27.99% for fixed and random deployment, respectively.

Stacking nitrogen mitigation strategies for future pasture-based dairy farms: impacts on leaching and profit

Producers in New Zealand’s pasture-based, seasonal dairy sector are striving to reduce nitrogen (N) losses to the environment whilst maintaining or increasing farm profitability. This study examined the cost-effectiveness of stacking different combinations of five N leaching mitigation strategies within the whole farm system; 1) reduced N fertilizer input, 2) off-paddock infrastructure, 3) recycling N by growing maize silage on a dedicated area on the farm using effluent as a fertilizer source followed by a catch-crop, 4) dietary salt supplementation to dilute urinary N, and 5) applying a nitrification inhibitor (NI) to slow the release of nitrate in the soil. The reference point (baseline) was a typical current dairy farm (CF) system in the Waikato region of New Zealand. We modelled four Future Farm scenarios by stacking mitigation strategies as follows: baseline plus reduced N fertilizer input, reduced stocking rate, and off-paddock infrastructure (FF); FF plus a dedicated maize block (FFP); FFP plus dietary salt (FFPS); and FFPS plus NI (FFPSNI). These systems were modelled using the Whole Farm Model coupled with the Urine Patch Framework, and APSIM models, using observed climate and economic input data over five consecutive years from 2013-2018. Relative to CF, the FF system achieved a N leaching reduction of 31% with a reduction in profit of 16%. The FFP system had a smaller N leaching reduction (22%), but the reduction in profit was smaller (11%). The fully stacked system (FFPSNI) demonstrated the largest leaching reduction of 33%, but also the largest profit reduction of 27%, compared with the CF. Stacking these five N mitigation strategies can achieve substantial N leaching reductions at the farm-scale. Including a dedicated, effluent-fertilized maize block followed by a catch-crop as part of the stack can reduce the negative impact on profitability but has a trade-off in N leaching. Farmers will have to weigh up these compromises between profit and leaching, considering risk factors not modelled here.

Pengaruh Daya Tarik Wisata terhadap Minat Kunjung ke Gedung Joang 45 Jakarta Pusat

Historical tourism is a tour that is in great demand by tourists and also students, tourists rarely have the intention to visit historical tourism because they think historical tourism is very boring and this makes visitor intensity influential and many museums have implemented the development of digitalization technology which makes it easier for visitors to find out what they want to know about the object. The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of attractiveness on visiting interest. This research was conducted using quantitative methods with this quantitative research researchers will observe quantified phenomena and understand the quantity of a phenomenon that can be used later for comparison and, researchers can see patterns of relationships, interactions, and causality of the observed phenomena. In collecting samples used in this study using purposive sampling techniques, questionnaires as primary data, previous research data, journals, articles, and the internet as secondary data. This study amounted to 100 respondents who had criteria in the form of respondents who had come to the Joang 45 Museum. Static data management in this study uses SPSS software where the results of this data processing will explain the relationship between variable X and variable Y. The results of the tests conducted by the researcher prove that the results of the tests conducted by the researcher prove the relationship between variable X and variable Y. The results of the tests carried out by researchers prove that there is a significant influence of attractiveness on interest in visiting Joang 45 Museum. This is evidenced by the results of the t test with a significance value of 0.000 <0.05 and a tcount value of 10.417 ttable 1.66 in this study stating the significance of the influence of attractiveness on visiting interest. In addition to the t test, there are multicollinearity test results, it is known that the tolerance value is 1,000> 0.10 and the VIF value is 1,000 < 10.00, which means that there is no multicollinearity. And, based on the results of heteroscedasticity with a significance value of 0.598> 0.05, it can be concluded that this research data does not have problems with heteroscedasticity. As for the R2 test of 0.525, which means it can be concluded that there is an influence of variable X to variable Y of 52.5% with the rest being influenced by other variables not contained in this study. Based on the research findings, it can be deduced that the attractiveness factor significantly affects the interest in visiting the Joang 45 Museum. This study is anticipated to serve as a valuable point of reference for stakeholders involved in museum management.

Notwithstanding Minority Rights

This comment takes up the question of what considerations ought to shape our understanding of section 33. We do not engage directly with the attributes or failings of the current and limited judicial treatment of section 33. Instead, our focus is on the political ramifications of using section 33 in the current political climate. More specifically, we use Quebec’s Bill 21 as a reference point to highlight some deep issues about how section 33 has been integrated into and shapes constitutional discourse. Our analysis pays critical attention to the unique position of Muslim women in Quebec and is framed from the perspective of intersectional feminist equality thinking. From this grounding, we argue that the current legal treatment of section 33 establishes, contrary to the promises of proponents of the override, no equilibrium between parliamentary and judicial powers. Rather, section 33 unavoidably guarantees that majoritarian politics prevail, irrespective of the minority rights issues at play. Prioritizing majoritarian opinion and interests in this manner, we suggest, threatens great damage to the constitutional democracy we think we all should want. The result is a democratic comity in which critical aspects of substantive equality and participatory rights for the most vulnerable and marginal are negated.

Reliability of Neuronavigation in Localizing the Internal Acoustic Canal during Middle Fossa Approach

Abstract Objective The absence of precise landmarks in the middle fossa floor and frequent anatomical variations make it difficult to localize the internal acoustic canal (IAC) during the middle fossa approach (MFA). We aimed to investigate the reliability and utility of the neuronavigation system (NNS) in the MFA and to delineate specific technical considerations regarding NNS during the approach. Method One-millimeter-thin section computed tomography scans were performed on five formalin-fixed human cadavers (10 sides). During the MFA, structures, such as the IAC, vestibule and cochlea hidden in the temporal bone were investigated under NNS guidance. Results All the superficial landmarks, such as the foramen spinosum and ovale were correctly localized by NNS. Deeper landmarks, such as the central part of the IAC lying beneath the surface of the petrous apex could not be localized via NNS. The exact area of bone removal along roof of IAC was determined by using the orientation provided by the probe placed between the basal turn of cochlea and the vestibule. We were able to validate the location of the IAC via a medial to lateral drilling by using the navigation this reference point. Conclusion The NNS can be used effectively during the MFA, and localizing superficial landmarks on the middle fossa floor with a higher accuracy may prove helpful in identifying the IAC from above. By referring to the cochlea–vestibule junctional area, the exact location of the trace of the IAC can be revealed.

Consideration sets and reference points in a dynamic bargaining game

We introduce the notion of limited consideration into a bilateral, infinite-horizon, alternating-offers bargaining game. Both agents have reference-dependent preferences, and their reference points are dynamically updated. An agent's current consideration set (or focus) is influenced by the last offer he rejected such that the most salient point in that consideration set becomes his current reference point. We provide an implicit characterization of stationary subgame perfect Nash equilibria in our model. Without resorting to asymmetric or incomplete information, we show that our bargaining game can produce delay and disagreement in equilibrium. In addition to analytical results on the disagreement conditions and the nature of agreements, we provide computational comparative statics on model parameters and study their impacts on delay.

Taking ’Asia as method’ seriously in decolonizing comparative curriculum studies in South Korea

ABSTRACT This conceptual article is to problematize Western-centered comparative curriculum studies in South Korea, drawing on research related to postcolonial criticisms of comparative education and curriculum studies, and to suggest a decolonial research imagination for comparative curriculum research in South Korea and East Asia broadly, based on Kuan-Hsing Chen’s idea of Asia as method. To this end, I elaborate on Chen’s concepts of inter-referencing and critical syncretism for decolonizing the compliant research imagination. Additionally, I argue for the shift of the point of reference towards Asia, the extension of curriculum manifestation as a unit of comparison with curriculum conceptualized as a space for constructing cultural imaginary and subjectivity, and curriculum researchers’ onto-epistemological considerations as a comparativist. I conclude the paper with a caution not to dismiss Western contributions to curriculum research in Asia and the possibilities of the existence of resistance to Western-dominant knowledge structure in South Korean curriculum scholarship in the forms of translation and/or hybridity. This study can contribute to decolonizing the intersection of comparative education and curriculum studies that has been Western-centered in South Korea and suggesting a transgressive onto-epistemological orientation for comparative curriculum studies in the contexts of South Korea in particular and East Asia in general.

Forward‐Looking Responsibility and Political Corporate Social Responsibility

AbstractThis paper contributes to the literature on political corporate social responsibility (PCSR) by considering the forward‐looking, political responsibilities of corporations in relation to structural injustice, based on a critical engagement with Iris Marion Young's Social Connection Model (SCM) of responsibility. Although Young's SCM serves as a key reference point in the PCSR literature, engagement with her work tends to be superficial and lacks critical engagement. By offering a more developed engagement with Young's SCM, this paper addresses several themes that have been highlighted as being insufficiently developed in the PCSR literature. In particular, this paper considers (i) the grounds for corporate political responsibility in relation to structural injustice rather than globalization; (ii) the scope of corporate political responsibilities vis‐à‐vis other actors; and (iii) the role of power in relation to deliberative processes and in relation to scope.

Segmented guidance method for multi-UAVs cooperative attack with spatio-temporal constraints

This paper presents a segmented guidance method for multi-UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) cooperative attack with spatio-temporal constraints, and successfully implemented in the flight tests. First, the uniform distribution of UAVs around the target is completed through cooperative path planning and tracking in the mid-course phase. The path planning method for cooperative arrival is proposed based on Dubins curve, and the guidance strategy for circular formation flight enables the UAVs to accurately track the reference points which are evenly distributed on the circle. Second, the terminal guidance law in 3D space with impact time cooperation is proposed during the cooperative attack stage, which would further eliminate the accumulated deviation. Finally, simulations and field flight tests for coordinated attack are carried out, which show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Cloning and Characterization of Chitin Deacetylase from Euphausia superba.

Chitin deacetylase (CDA) can catalyze the deacetylation of chitin to produce chitosan. In this study, we identified and characterized a chitin deacetylase gene from Euphausia superba (EsCDA-9k), and a soluble recombinant protein chitin deacetylase from Euphausia superba of molecular weight 45 kDa was cloned, expressed, and purified. The full-length cDNA sequence of EsCDA-9k was 1068 bp long and encoded 355 amino acid residues that contained the typical domain structure of carbohydrate esterase family 4. The predicted three-dimensional structure of EsCDA-9k showed a 67.32% homology with Penaeus monodon. Recombinant chitin deacetylase had the highest activity at 40 °C and pH 8.0 in Tris-HCl buffer. The enzyme activity was enhanced by metal ions Co2+, Fe3+, Ca2+, and Na+, while it was inhibited by Zn2+, Ba2+, Mg2+, and EDTA. Molecular simulation of EsCDA-9k was conducted based on sequence alignment and homology modeling. The EsCDA-9k F18G mutant showed a 1.6-fold higher activity than the wild-type enzyme. In summary, this is the first report of the cloning and heterologous expression of the chitin deacetylase gene in Euphausia superba. The characterization and function study of EsCDA-9k will serve as an important reference point for future application.

Mean size at sexual maturity of female Cynoscion reticulatus along the Pacific coast off Mexico

Drums and croakers (Sciaenidae) are important to the species composition of coastal catches in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Among these species, the striped corvina (Cynoscion reticulatus) stands out because of its high fishery potential, high demand, and increased market value. The striped croaker has been under constant fishing pressure over the past 20 years. Still, there needs to be current biological information or reference points to allow the establishment of management measures for fisheries. The objective of the present study was to estimate the mean standard length at sexual maturity (SL50) of females using various models and to suggest a minimum catch size (MCS) for C. reticulatus off the southern coast of Sinaloa. Monthly samplings of coastal fishery landings were done from December 2020 to December 2021 on the south coast of Sinaloa. The SL50 was evaluated based on 3 candidate models (Gompertz, Lysack, and White) through a binomial approach. Confidence intervals for SL50 were estimated using likelihood profiles and contours, and Akaike’s information criterion (AIC) was used to select the best model. A total of 284 individuals were examined, of which 131 were used in calculations. White’s model was the most adequate; however, based on AIC weights, all 3 models performed similarly, and SL50 (24.48 cm; C.I. 95% 12.9–70 36.0 cm) was estimated as their average. As a management measure, we propose a precautionary MCS of 36 cm SL for C. reticulatus off southern Sinaloa.

The relationships between political-economic typology and public service satisfaction: an empirical evidence from Türkiye

PurposeThere are many factors that determine consumers’ satisfaction. Specifically, the current study examines how political-economic views affect the perception of public services. This study also aims to extend the relationship between public service satisfaction and political-economic opinion from an empirical perspective.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis process is carried out with the Microdataset of the Life Satisfaction Survey. Independent sample t-test which compares individual public service satisfaction ratings and ordinal probit regression models assesses the impacts of political-economic attitude on public service satisfaction.FindingsAccording to the findings, household size and gender impact public service satisfaction. Again, service satisfaction diminishes as the education level rises. Moreover, a person’s political-economic view affects their public service satisfaction. The study has the potential to literature in terms of determining society’s political-economic view on public services with these empirical results.Research limitations/implicationsThe study’s use of the state as a point of reference and quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the service exchange between the citizen and the state is a significant difference in the literature. Also, unlike the other studies, this one used microdata to test the relationship between the political-economic type and the level of satisfaction with public services at different levels. It is thought that future studies on the determinants of public service satisfaction, to be carried out in different country samples, will contribute to the field.Practical implicationsThis study has implications on whether the perception of public service varies according to partisanship status.Social implicationsThis study has implications on whether the perception of public service varies according to partisanship status.Originality/valueThis study determines the interaction between the political-economic typology derived from microdata and the satisfaction level variables related to public services offered at different levels. It also evaluates how public service satisfaction differs regarding personality traits and political-economic attitudes.

Submillimeter-Accurate Markerless Hand-Eye Calibration Based on a Robot's Flange Features.

An accurate and reliable estimation of the transformation matrix between an optical sensor and a robot is a key aspect of the hand-eye system calibration process in vision-guided robotic applications. This paper presents a novel approach to markerless hand-eye calibration that achieves streamlined, flexible, and highly accurate results, even without error compensation. The calibration procedure is mainly based on using the robot's tool center point (TCP) as the reference point. The TCP coordinate estimation is based on the robot's flange point cloud, considering its geometrical features. A mathematical model streamlining the conventional marker-based hand-eye calibration is derived. Furthermore, a novel algorithm for the automatic estimation of the flange's geometric features from its point cloud, based on a 3D circle fitting, the least square method, and a nearest neighbor (NN) approach, is proposed. The accuracy of the proposed algorithm is validated using a calibration setting ring as the ground truth. Furthermore, to establish the minimal required number and configuration of calibration points, the impact of the number and the selection of the unique robot's flange positions on the calibration accuracy is investigated and validated by real-world experiments. Our experimental findings strongly indicate that our hand-eye system, employing the proposed algorithm, enables the estimation of the transformation between the robot and the 3D scanner with submillimeter accuracy, even when using the minimum of four non-coplanar points for calibration. Our approach improves the calibration accuracy by approximately four times compared to the state of the art, while eliminating the need for error compensation. Moreover, our calibration approach reduces the required number of the robot's flange positions by approximately 40%, and even more if the calibration procedure utilizes just four properly selected flange positions. The presented findings introduce a more efficient hand-eye calibration procedure, offering a superior simplicity of implementation and increased precision in various robotic applications.

Ἡ κοιλία of the temple? Jn 7:38 revisited in the light of 1Kgs

For many years biblical scholars have been trying to answer the question of what “Scripture” is fulfilled in the Jesus’ words in Jn 7:38. Two dominant interpretative trends – christological and anthropological – are often juxtaposed as complementary. The aim of this article, based on the intertextual approach, is to show another point of reference – the description of the first temple in Jerusalem in 1Kgs 6–7, which contains an unknown architectural element rendered by the Hebrew word בֶ טֶןּּ , simi-lar in meaning to κοιλία from Jn 7:38 – as well as to analyze both the christological and anthropological aspects of showing the temple as a human body and the human body as a temple, with the particular emphasis on the symbolism of flowing water in the context of the (new) birth.

BLANK MATERIAL INFLUENCE ON STAMPING SPRINGBACK

This paper concerns the evaluation of blank material influence on springback of irregularly shaped stamping after drawing operation to keep the dimensions and tolerances of stamping after the drawing process which are given in part drawing. Simulation of the drawing process and consequent stamping springback were carried out by PAM-STAMP 2GTM software which uses the finite elements method, with the use of blanks from strip steels DX54D, HC220P, HX220BD and HX220YD. Two mesh strategies for drawing tool parts in the software PAM-STAMP 2GTM were compared. Stamping springback was evaluated with the use of a reference points system. Critical areas of deformations and stamping springback were evaluated. Simulation results were compared with measurements on real stampings. The most suitable strip steel in terms of achieving the minimum size of springback after stamping drawing was evaluated.

How does the space of production wells influence the heat extraction efficiency?–defined by a 3D modeling work in enhanced geothermal system (EGS)

The space of production well plays a crucial role in the heat extraction performance of the Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS), which have the potential to meet the growing global energy demand as a reliable energy source. Nonetheless, there has been insufficient research and attention focused on comprehending the impact of the space of production well on the efficiency and effectiveness of EGS. In this work, a series of numerical simulations were conducted to assess the impact of the space of production well on heat extraction efficiency in EGS. Three different cases were considered: Case 50 with 50 m production well spacing, Case 100 with 100 m production well spacing, and Case 150 with 150 m production well spacing. At the X-Y plane and Y-Z plane, the simulation results indicated that there were slight differences in temperature variation among the Case 50, Case 100 and Case 150. And the cooling area decreasing as the spacing of production wells decreased. Moreover, the delivery of cooling water via the injection well and its subsequent distribution to various reference points lead to a decline in temperature at each point, albeit with varying degrees of variation. Besides, the established efficiency (ef) for Case 50 is smaller than the Case 100 and Case 150 during the last 15 years. These findings contribute valuable insights to the exploration and exploitation of EGS systems and can serve as a guide for further research in this field.