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Keywords = open and closed societies

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49 pages, 10138 KiB  
Review
Water Supply Systems: Past, Present Challenges, and Future Sustainability Prospects
by Andreas N. Angelakis, Andrea G. Capodaglio, Rohitashw Kumar, Mohammad Valipour, Abdelkader T. Ahmed, Alper Baba, Esra B. Güngör, Laila Mandi, Vasileios A. Tzanakakis, Nektarios N. Kourgialas and Nicholas Dercas
Land 2025, 14(3), 619; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030619 - 14 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1475
Abstract
At the beginning of human history, surface water, especially from rivers and springs, was the most frequent water supply source. Groundwater was used in arid and semi-arid regions, e.g., eastern Crete (Greece). As the population increased, periodic water shortages occurred, which led to [...] Read more.
At the beginning of human history, surface water, especially from rivers and springs, was the most frequent water supply source. Groundwater was used in arid and semi-arid regions, e.g., eastern Crete (Greece). As the population increased, periodic water shortages occurred, which led to the development of sophisticated hydraulic structures for water transfer and for the collection and storage of rainwater, as seen, for example, in Early Minoan times (ca 3200–2100 BC). Water supply and urban planning had always been essentially related: the urban water supply systems that existed in Greece since the Bronze Age (ca 3200–1100 BC) were notably advanced, well organized, and operable. Water supply systems evolved considerably during the Classical and Hellenistic periods (ca 480–31 BC) and during the Roman period (ca 31 BC–480 AD). Also, early Indian society was an amazing vanguard of technology, planning, and vision, which significantly impacted India’s architectural and cultural heritage, thus laying the foundation for sustainable urban living and water resource management. In ancient Egypt, the main source of freshwater was the Nile River; Nile water was conveyed by open and closed canals to supply water to cities, temples, and fields. Underground stone-built aqueducts supplied Nile water to so-called Nile chambers in temples. The evolution of water supply and urban planning approaches from ancient simple systems to complex modern networks demonstrates the ingenuity and resilience of human communities. Many lessons can be learned from studying traditional water supply systems, which could be re-considered for today’s urban sustainable development. By digging into history, measures for overcoming modern problems can be found. Rainwater harvesting, establishing settlements in proximity of water sources to facilitate access to water, planning, and adequate drainage facilities were the characteristics of ancient civilizations since the ancient Egyptian, Minoan, Mohenjo-Daro, Mesopotamian, and Roman eras, which can still be adopted for sustainability. This paper presents significant lessons on water supply around the world from ancient times to the present. This diachronic survey attempts to provide hydro-technology governance for the present and future. Full article
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17 pages, 253 KiB  
Review
The Open Society Revisited
by Friedel Weinert
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(3), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14030118 - 20 Feb 2025
Viewed by 451
Abstract
The open society is under threat from populism and fake news. But what do we mean by the ‘open society’? The notion was made popular by Bergson and Popper. Under the impact of totalitarianism, Popper distinguished open from closed societies. They differ by [...] Read more.
The open society is under threat from populism and fake news. But what do we mean by the ‘open society’? The notion was made popular by Bergson and Popper. Under the impact of totalitarianism, Popper distinguished open from closed societies. They differ by their degree of institutionalized critical scrutiny of political and societal practices. Modern sociological theory uses the notions of differentiation (or complexity) and reflexivity to distinguish these types of society (Habermas, Giddens). Reflexivity goes beyond critical scrutiny; it describes the constant examination and revision of social practices in the light of incoming information. An evaluation of these criteria shows that a necessary and sufficient condition for the distinction between open and closed societies is the degree of institutionalized critical scrutiny (contestability) and, even more, reflexivity. Openness is not a function of the complexity of societal development. It is a function of appropriate political structures. Therein lies its deeper connection with democracy: drawing upon several historical and contemporary examples thisarticle suggests that open societies can be characterized by critical scrutiny and even more reflexivity. In the final section, this article analyses the malaise of modern democracies with respect to the risks posed by populism and disinformation through social media. But rather than focusing on immigration or the economy, it considers the risks in terms of the erosion of institutional trust. Institutional trust is one of the civic virtues which the Enlightenment regarded as an essential feature of a democratic society. I conclude that populism and the deliberate spread of false information undermine civic virtues; a return to civic virtues is an important feature of the survival of democracy as an open society. Full article
29 pages, 528 KiB  
Article
Religiosity and Scientificity: The Transformation of Missionary Anthropology in the West China Border Research Society (1922–1950)
by Peirong Li, Simei Bian and Qi Zhang
Religions 2024, 15(12), 1468; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15121468 - 2 Dec 2024
Viewed by 2276
Abstract
Religiosity and scientificity have long been intertwined in missionary anthropology. Since the 20th century, there has been a shift from religious missionary anthropology to scientific anthropology worldwide. Reviewing published materials and archives, this paper provides a case study of this transformation. It focuses [...] Read more.
Religiosity and scientificity have long been intertwined in missionary anthropology. Since the 20th century, there has been a shift from religious missionary anthropology to scientific anthropology worldwide. Reviewing published materials and archives, this paper provides a case study of this transformation. It focuses on how the foreign missionary-founded West China Border Research Society transformed from a relatively closed and fixed local Christian academic research institution into a more open, international, and purely scientific research institution disciplined by Christian rationality. It sheds some new light into the Society’s roles and its transformation process. Contrary to the views of many scholars who assert that the Society “died” in 1937 and subsequently engaged in China’s state service and nation-building efforts, we contend that after 1937, the Society sought greater independence and a more scientific approach. Christianity dominated the Society in the early stages after its inception in 1922 in Chengdu, China, and its research results could not be objective or scientific. Although the Society later became more open and globalized, missionary anthropologists still mainly controlled it. After 1937, missionary anthropologists returned to religious rationality under the pressure of being connected to global academia. The Society eventually adopted “salvage anthropology” and tried to develop into a scientific research institution aimed at objective recording, while this somewhat rigid research approach also disciplined and suppressed the nationalist research orientation of Chinese colleagues and scholars. In response, Chinese researchers established other institutions and journals with stronger nationalism and undertook the “border construction work” that the Society could not accomplish. Full article
35 pages, 374 KiB  
Article
Potential Impacts of Diversification of Food Retail Working Hours on Consumer Behaviour and the Benefits for Local Producers in Latvia
by Liga Proskina, Lana Janmere, Sallija Cerina, Irina Pilvere, Aija Pilvere, Aleksejs Nipers and Daniela Proskina
Agriculture 2024, 14(10), 1847; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14101847 - 19 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1575
Abstract
The capability of large food retail chains to respond quickly to changes in consumer behaviour and their dominant market position affects all food market players and often conflicts with the interests of national food producers, which can reduce the presence of locally sourced [...] Read more.
The capability of large food retail chains to respond quickly to changes in consumer behaviour and their dominant market position affects all food market players and often conflicts with the interests of national food producers, which can reduce the presence of locally sourced products in the food product mix in the country. Accordingly, the present research aims to identify the impacts of the diversification of opening hours of food supermarkets on consumer shopping habits and the implications for creating an advantage for small and medium agri-food producers in selling their products. The research applied a quantitative approach to identify the main trends in society (n = 2738), with a survey including 31 variables to quantify consumer behaviour, values, and opinions and seven socio-demographic variables. If a decision was made in Latvia to close grocery shops on Sundays or reduce their opening hours on weekends, 85% of consumers indicated that they would be unlikely to change their usual shopping location and would plan to shop at a supermarket on other days. The choice between farmers’ markets and local food shops on Sundays would be made by 45% of consumers, with more than half (53%) of them shopping at local food shops at least a few times a month. The research uniquely investigated the impact of reducing supermarket opening hours on the competitive advantage of small and medium-sized agri-food producers. The findings revealed that reducing supermarket opening hours does not confer a competitive advantage to the producers or significantly shift consumer preferences towards their products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agri-Food Marketing Strategies and Consumer Behavior)
19 pages, 264 KiB  
Article
Myth, Religion, Imagination, and (Virtual) Realities
by Daniel Boscaljon
Religions 2024, 15(10), 1279; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15101279 - 18 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1199
Abstract
This article provides a way to think through the division between religious and secular approaches to contemporary society through the use of rival myths. Myths are narrative structures that invite the interplay of language and the imagination, resulting in the creation of virtual [...] Read more.
This article provides a way to think through the division between religious and secular approaches to contemporary society through the use of rival myths. Myths are narrative structures that invite the interplay of language and the imagination, resulting in the creation of virtual realities and social imaginaries. Strong virtual realities were once premised on myths that guided the imagination to embrace an openness to mystery and the unknowable; however, current technological culture is predicated on a closed imagination that has led to worldwide despair. Religion was originally grounded in the virtual reality inspired by language and the capacity of language to distill and extract the “virtual” from the real. The ability of language to create a virtual reality created the capacity to think of a soul, as well as destinations for the soul. In the twentieth century, Freud found that the notion of “God” that was created had become problematic for humans and so created a modern myth that would provide a secular substitute. After providing a close reading of Freud’s governing myth for modern culture, showing how it inspires the imagination and the ways in which it falls short, this article concludes with an alternative myth—that of the Invisible City—proposed to inspire faith, hope, and love in our modern world. My approach relies on a depth psychological framework, which was formed to interrogate the nature of reality (relative to individuals and culture) at the intersection of myth, religion, language, and imagination. Throughout, I use a hermeneutic methodology, which is consistent with the initial mode of depth psychological exploration as well as the central role language plays in revealing the truth of a reality. This orientation enables an exploration of a deeper sense of virtual realities than what is deployed through current technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Religions and Humanities/Philosophies)
11 pages, 788 KiB  
Article
A French Preoperative Cholesteatoma Management: Current Preoperative Consultation and Tendencies
by Benjamin Reliquet, Mireille Folia, Paul Elhomsy, Serge Aho-Ludwig and Caroline Guigou
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(18), 5651; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13185651 - 23 Sep 2024
Viewed by 893
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to characterize the information delivery during preoperative consultations for cholesteatoma removal surgery in 2024. The secondary objective was to identify any factors influencing the information delivered. Methods: This study was a practice survey which included 33 closed-ended [...] Read more.
Objectives: This study aimed to characterize the information delivery during preoperative consultations for cholesteatoma removal surgery in 2024. The secondary objective was to identify any factors influencing the information delivered. Methods: This study was a practice survey which included 33 closed-ended questions and 1 open-ended question. Seven questions concerned the participants’ characteristics and 2 questions concerned the physiopathology of cholesteatoma. Nine questions focused on surgical information, six questions focused on the procedure modalities and ten questions focused on the risks of complications from the intervention. Results: Eighty-two surgeons answered the survey. In 75% of the cases, an information form written by a professional society was provided. The risk of recurrence or residual post-operative cholesteatoma was systematically stated in 78% of cases (n = 64), while the risk of aesthetic sequelae was only stated in 1% (n = 1). Participants working in a university hospital were more likely to inform patients about the risks of vertigo (p = 0.04), aesthetic risks (p = 0.04), poor functional outcomes (p = 0.04), surgical revision (p = 0.05) and the risk of peripheral facial paralysis (p = 0.05). Surgeons who mainly practiced otology were more likely to inform patients about the risks of recurrence and/or residual cholesteatoma (p = 0.02) and taste disturbances (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Cholesteatoma surgery was well explained to patients during the preoperative consultation, mostly with written support, even if the information given was not the same for all complication risks. It could be useful to create an information form dedicated to cholesteatoma surgery to improve comprehensive information and maintain a trustworthy relationship with patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Diagnosis and Surgical Strategies Update on Ear Disorders)
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13 pages, 3978 KiB  
Proceeding Paper
Analysis of Data Sharing Systems in the Context of Industry 4.0 via Blockchain in 5G Mobile Networks
by Teodora Hristova, Grigor Mihaylov, Peyo Hristov and Albena Taneva
Eng. Proc. 2024, 70(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2024070002 - 23 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 977
Abstract
The article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of Blockchain technologies. The types of distributed networks are defined and established as open, closed, consortium, and hybrid. Due to the variety of platforms in the Industry 4.0 society, which cannot be distinguished exactly as one [...] Read more.
The article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of Blockchain technologies. The types of distributed networks are defined and established as open, closed, consortium, and hybrid. Due to the variety of platforms in the Industry 4.0 society, which cannot be distinguished exactly as one type among those listed, the advantages and disadvantages of public and private networks are analyzed. Creating a real project requires compliance with various criteria. The synergism of standard and specialized environmental factors suggests difficulty in developing a techno-economic analysis for a specific task. Therefore, a SWOT analysis is proposed through which strengths and weaknesses, threats, and challenges are determined. To reduce the impact of threats and weaknesses when implementing technology in the industry, a combination of an Enterprise Resource Planning (shortly ERP) software platform and a fast data-transfer environment (such as 5G) is proposed. For this purpose, the features of the latter, which overcome threats and weaknesses, are established. It is established that the collaborative integration of technologies fosters business growth enhances economic impact, and serves as a strong foundation for long-term development across various fronts, positioning ahead of competitors. Full article
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19 pages, 520 KiB  
Article
Non-Equilibrium Enhancement of Classical Information Transmission
by Qian Zeng and Jin Wang
Entropy 2024, 26(7), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/e26070581 - 8 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 978
Abstract
Information transmission plays a crucial role across various fields, including physics, engineering, biology, and society. The efficiency of this transmission is quantified by mutual information and its associated information capacity. While studies in closed systems have yielded significant progress, understanding the impact of [...] Read more.
Information transmission plays a crucial role across various fields, including physics, engineering, biology, and society. The efficiency of this transmission is quantified by mutual information and its associated information capacity. While studies in closed systems have yielded significant progress, understanding the impact of non-equilibrium effects on open systems remains a challenge. These effects, characterized by the exchange of energy, information, and materials with the external environment, can influence both mutual information and information capacity. Here, we delve into this challenge by exploring non-equilibrium effects using the memoryless channel model, a cornerstone of information channel coding theories and methodology development. Our findings reveal that mutual information exhibits a convex relationship with non-equilibriumness, quantified by the non-equilibrium strength in transmission probabilities. Notably, channel information capacity is enhanced by non-equilibrium effects. Furthermore, we demonstrate that non-equilibrium thermodynamic cost, characterized by the entropy production rate, can actually improve both mutual information and information channel capacity, leading to a boost in overall information transmission efficiency. Our numerical results support our conclusions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Disorder and Biological Physics)
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22 pages, 5362 KiB  
Review
Toward the Circular Economy in the Aquaculture Sector: Bibliometric, Network and Content Analyses
by Margherita Masi, Felice Adinolfi, Yari Vecchio, Giulio Paolo Agnusdei and Benedetta Coluccia
Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5405; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135405 - 25 Jun 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3213
Abstract
This paper offers an overview of circular economy strategies applied to the aquaculture sector. The growing challenges imposed on the sector by the strategies of the Green Deal impose new growth strategies in the name of sustainability. The scalability of these strategies is [...] Read more.
This paper offers an overview of circular economy strategies applied to the aquaculture sector. The growing challenges imposed on the sector by the strategies of the Green Deal impose new growth strategies in the name of sustainability. The scalability of these strategies is increasingly hampered by regulatory voids and by the absence of a universally accepted assessment method for measuring the impacts of current aquaculture systems. More than ever, a review of knowledge in the circular economy field is required to comprehend where the aquaculture sector is heading, and in order to make the required transition. The present review proposes a bibliometric analysis, a network analysis and a content analysis, which highlight a very new and expanding field of research. The studies were firstly analyzed from a micro (animal metabolism) to a macro perspective (policies, markets and society), emphasizing where research is still lacking. Furthermore, a second level of classification concerns the type of circularity approach proposed for the aquaculture system, which can be divided into open-loop or closed-loop strategies. Regarding the open-loop-related studies, the focus of the evaluation is devoted to the different bioeconomic values of the circularity strategies proposed for the biological flows entering and exiting the aquaculture system. The literature review offered insights into the identification of research threads that are developing around the aquaculture sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development Goals and Circular Economic)
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21 pages, 2591 KiB  
Review
Understanding Compost-Bedded Pack Barn Systems in Regions with a Tropical Climate: A Review of the Current State of the Art
by Rafaella Resende Andrade, Ilda de Fátima Ferreira Tinôco, Flávio Alves Damasceno, Carlos Eduardo Alves Oliveira, Mariana Silva Concha, Ozana de Fátima Zacaroni, Gianluca Bambi and Matteo Barbari
Animals 2024, 14(12), 1755; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14121755 - 10 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1556
Abstract
The main challenge in milk production has been to maintain a focus on efficient processes that enhance production outcomes while aligning with animal welfare and sustainability and being valued by society. As an alternative to improve cow welfare in production and provide better [...] Read more.
The main challenge in milk production has been to maintain a focus on efficient processes that enhance production outcomes while aligning with animal welfare and sustainability and being valued by society. As an alternative to improve cow welfare in production and provide better handling of the waste generated by the activity, the system called the compost-bedded pack barn (CBP) has been widely adopted in countries with temperate climates and higher milk production. This CBP has been attracting global interest, including from countries with tropical and subtropical climates, such as Brazil, where many producers have started to use it due to the response in terms of milk productivity. A CBP can be designed either in (a) an open facility with natural ventilation or a positive-pressure ventilation system or (b) totally closed facilities, equipped with negative-pressure ventilation systems and permanent thermal control. The latter system is being implemented in Brazil, despite insufficient knowledge about its efficiency. The objective of this study was, through a review, to gather and describe the most recent information on the use of open and closed CBP systems for dairy cattle housing, mainly covering how it is applied in tropical climate regions. To achieve the proposed objective, this review study included the following topics related to CBPs: (i) implementation, (ii) bedding, (iii) general construction and architectural characteristics, and (iv) ambient thermal conditioning. Knowledge gaps and directions for future research are also identified here. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ruminant Welfare Assessment)
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14 pages, 677 KiB  
Article
Eco-Friendly Smart Car Parking Management System with Enhanced Sustainability
by Nazmus Sakib, A. S. M. Bakibillah, Susilawati Susilawati, Md Abdus Samad Kamal and Kou Yamada
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4145; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104145 - 15 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2866
Abstract
Efficient car parking management systems that minimize environmental impacts while maximizing user comfort are highly demanding for a future sustainable society. Using electric or gasoline vehicle-type information, emerging computation and communication technologies open the opportunity to provide practical solutions to achieve such goals. [...] Read more.
Efficient car parking management systems that minimize environmental impacts while maximizing user comfort are highly demanding for a future sustainable society. Using electric or gasoline vehicle-type information, emerging computation and communication technologies open the opportunity to provide practical solutions to achieve such goals. This paper proposes an eco-friendly smart parking management system that optimally allocates the incoming vehicles to reduce overall emissions in closed parking facilities while providing comfort incentives to the users of electric vehicles (EVs). Specifically, upon arrival of a car, the most suitable parking spot is determined by minimizing an adaptive objective function that indirectly reflects anticipatory operation for the overall performance maximization of the parking facility using electric or gasoline vehicle-type information. The adaptive objective function includes a trade-off factor that tunes driving and walking distances, relating emissions and comfort to treat incoming vehicles appropriately. The proposed system is simulated for managing a model car parking facility in a shopping complex in Japan, and the aspects related to fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, and user comfort are evaluated and benchmarked with other standard parking management systems. The proposed system reduces CO2 emissions and fuel consumption and improves parking efficiency compared to the current parking management systems, while also prioritizing user comfort. Full article
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26 pages, 4763 KiB  
Article
On the Link between Plastic Wake Induced Crack Closure and the Fatigue Threshold
by Rhys Jones, Andrew Ang, Nam D. Phan and Michael Nicholas
Metals 2024, 14(5), 523; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14050523 - 29 Apr 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1557
Abstract
This purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between crack growth equations based on Elber’s original plastic wake induced crack closure concept and the fatigue threshold as defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) fatigue test standard ASTM [...] Read more.
This purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between crack growth equations based on Elber’s original plastic wake induced crack closure concept and the fatigue threshold as defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) fatigue test standard ASTM E647-15el. It is shown that, for a number of conventionally manufactured metals, the function U(R), where R is the ratio of the minimum to maximum applied remote stress, that is used to relate the stress intensity factor ΔK to the effective stress intensity factor ΔKeff is inversely proportional to the fatigue threshold ΔKth(R). This finding also results in a simple closed form equation that relates the crack opening stress intensity factor Ko(R) to ΔK, Kmax, and the fatigue threshold terms ΔKth(R) and ΔKeff,th. It is also shown that plotting da/dN as function of ΔKKth(R) would appear to have the potential to help to identify the key fracture mechanics parameters that characterise the effect of test temperature on crack growth. As such, for conventionally manufactured metals, plotting da/dN as function of ΔKKth(R) would appear to be a useful addition to the tools available to assess the fracture mechanics parameters affecting crack growth. Full article
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27 pages, 3981 KiB  
Article
Study on the Spatiotemporal Evolution of Urban Land Use Efficiency in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region
by Zhang Zhang, Huimin Zhou, Shuxian Li, Zhibin Zhao, Junbo Xu and Yuansuo Zhang
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2962; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072962 - 2 Apr 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1561
Abstract
The Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region (BTH) is one of the crucial areas for economic development in China. However, rapid urban expansion and industrial development in this region have severely impacted the surrounding ecological environment. The air quality, water, and soil resources face significant pressure. Due [...] Read more.
The Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region (BTH) is one of the crucial areas for economic development in China. However, rapid urban expansion and industrial development in this region have severely impacted the surrounding ecological environment. The air quality, water, and soil resources face significant pressure. Due to the close relationship between land utilization, population, investment, and industry, effective land use is a key factor in the coordinated development of the region. Therefore, clarifying the patterns of urban land use change and revealing its influencing factors can provide important scientific evidence for the coordinated development of the BTH region. This study aims to improve urban land use efficiency (ULUE) in the BTH region. Firstly, based on the input and output data of land elements for the 13 cities in the BTH region, the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method is used to quantify the ULUE of the BTH urban agglomeration and analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of ULUE. Input indicators includes capital, labor, and land. Output indicators includes economy, society, and environment. The results show that the overall ULUE in the BTH region has increased, albeit with notable fluctuations. Between 2000 and 2010, ULUE rose swiftly across all cities except Beijing and Tianjin, where changes were minimal. Post-2010, cities exhibited varied trends: steady growth, slow growth, sustained growth, step-wise growth, and initial growth followed by decline. Spatially, before 2010, the BTH showed a “high in the northeast and low in the southwest” pattern, transitioning post-2010 to a smoother “core-periphery” pattern. Mid-epidemic, high ULUE values reverted to the core area, shifting southward post-epidemic. Secondly, panel data analysis is conducted to explore the factors influencing ULUE. The results indicate that fiscal balance, the level of openness, the level of digitalization, industrial structure, and the level of green development are significant factors affecting ULUE. Finally, strategies are proposed to improve ULUE in the BTH region, including national spatial planning, industrial layout, existing land use, infrastructure construction, optimization of local fiscal revenue, and improvement in the business environment, aiming to enhance ULUE and promote the coordinated development of industries in the BTH region. Full article
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29 pages, 17604 KiB  
Article
Road Accessibility during Natural Hazards Based on Volunteered Geographic Information Data and Network Analysis
by Janine Florath, Jocelyn Chanussot and Sina Keller
ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2024, 13(4), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi13040107 - 22 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2907
Abstract
Natural hazards can present a significant risk to road infrastructure. This infrastructure is a fundamental component of the transportation infrastructure, with significant importance. During emergencies, society heavily relies on the functionality of the road infrastructure to facilitate evacuation and access to emergency facilities. [...] Read more.
Natural hazards can present a significant risk to road infrastructure. This infrastructure is a fundamental component of the transportation infrastructure, with significant importance. During emergencies, society heavily relies on the functionality of the road infrastructure to facilitate evacuation and access to emergency facilities. This study introduces a versatile, multi-scale framework designed to analyze accessibility within road networks during natural hazard scenarios. The first module of the framework focuses on assessing the influence of natural hazards on road infrastructure to identify damaged or blocked road segments and intersections. It relies on near real-time information, often provided by citizen science through Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) data and Natural Language Processing (NLP) of VGI texts. The second module conducts network analysis based on freely available Open Street Map (OSM) data, differentiating between intact and degraded road networks. Four accessibility measures are employed: betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, a free-flow assumption index, and a novel alternative routing assumption measure considering congestion scenarios. The study showcases its framework through an exemplary application in California, the United States, considering different hazard scenarios, where degraded roads and connected roads impacted by the hazard can be identified. The road extraction methodology allows the extraction of 75% to 100% of the impacted roads mentioned in VGI text messages for the respective case studies. In addition to the directly extracted impacted roads, constructing the degraded network also involves finding road segments that overlap with hazard impact zones, as these are at risk of being impacted. Conducting the network analysis with the four different measures on the intact and degraded network, changes in network accessibility due to the impacts of hazards can be identified. The results show that using each measure is justified, as each measure could demonstrate the accessibility change. However, their combination and comparison provide valuable insights. In conclusion, this study successfully addresses the challenges of developing a generic, complete framework from impact extraction to network analysis independently of the scale and characteristics of road network types. Full article
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13 pages, 1965 KiB  
Article
In Vivo Total Ankle Arthroplasty Kinematic Evaluation: A Prospective Radiostereometric Analysis
by Silvio Caravelli, Laura Bragonzoni, Raffaele Zinno, Emanuele Vocale, Erika Pinelli, Giuseppe Barone, Giulio Vara, Stefano Di Paolo, Stefano Zaffagnini and Massimiliano Mosca
Biomedicines 2024, 12(4), 705; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12040705 - 22 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1360
Abstract
Ankle osteoarthritis (OA) represents a significant social burden and is one of the main causes of chronic disability in a rapidly growing part of the world’s population. Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has become increasingly popular despite the poor results obtained with the first [...] Read more.
Ankle osteoarthritis (OA) represents a significant social burden and is one of the main causes of chronic disability in a rapidly growing part of the world’s population. Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has become increasingly popular despite the poor results obtained with the first dedicated designs. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the ankle kinematics, in vivo and under weight-bearing conditions, of a TAA through a dynamic model-based radiostereometric analysis (MB-RSA). The clinical evaluation was performed by administering the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle–hindfoot score and Short Form-36 questionnaires. The kinematic evaluation was conducted through MB-RSA during the execution of an open kinetic chain and a closed kinetic chain motor task. Double radiographic images of the ankle joint were processed using dedicated software to obtain a 3D reconstruction of the ankle prosthetic components’ motion. Eighteen patients (five females) completed the clinical and instrumental preoperative and postoperative evaluations (age 59.1 ± 10.3). All clinical scores showed a marked improvement (p < 0.005). During the closed kinetic chain motor tasks, the ankle showed a total range of motion (ROM) in dorsi-plantarflexion of 19.84°. The parameters in varus–valgus were recorded. Physiological motion can be achieved in TAA, characterized by a wide range of motion and coupling of movements on the three planes. The results of the present work may help to understand the real movement of a widespread TAA model and possibly to improve future designs and instrumentation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Muscle and Bone Diseases)
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