Search Results (171)

Accurate measurement of plant height in leafy vegetables is challenging due to their short stature, high planting density, and severe canopy occlusion during later growth stages. These factors often limit the reliability of single-plant monitoring across the full growth cycle in open-field environments. To address this, we propose a multi-temporal point cloud alignment method for accurate plant height measurement, focusing on Choy Sum (Brassica rapa var. parachinensis). The method estimates plant height by calculating the vertical distance between the canopy and the ground. Multi-temporal point cloud maps are reconstructed using an enhanced Oriented FAST and Rotated BRIEF–Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (ORB-SLAM3) algorithm. A fixed checkerboard calibration board, leveled using a spirit level, ensures proper vertical alignment of the Z-axis and unifies coordinate systems across growth stages. Ground and plant points are separated using the Excess Green (ExG) index. During early growth stages, when the soil is minimally occluded, ground point clouds are extracted and used to construct a high-precision reference ground model through Cloth Simulation Filtering (CSF) and Kriging interpolation, compensating for canopy occlusion and noise. In later growth stages, plant point cloud data are spatially aligned with this reconstructed ground surface. Individual plants are identified using an improved Euclidean clustering algorithm, and consistent measurement regions are defined. Within each region, a ground plane is fitted using the Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) algorithm to ensure alignment with the X–Y plane. Plant height is then determined by the elevation difference between the canopy and the interpolated ground surface. Experimental results show mean absolute errors (MAEs) of 7.19 mm and 18.45 mm for early and late growth stages, respectively, with coefficients of determination (R²) exceeding 0.85. These findings demonstrate that the proposed method provides reliable and continuous plant height monitoring across the full growth cycle, offering a robust solution for high-throughput phenotyping of leafy vegetables in field environments. Full article

Elevation Digital Beamforming (DBF) technology is key to achieving high-resolution wide-swath (HRWS) imaging in spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems. However, multi-channel DBF-SAR systems face a prominent conflict between the need for real-time channel error calibration and the constraints of limited on-board hardware resources. To address this bottleneck, this paper proposes a real-time channel error calibration method based on Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) pulse compression and introduces a “calibration-operation” dual-mode control with a parameter-persistence architecture. This scheme decouples high-complexity computations by confining them to the system initialization phase, enabling on-board, real-time, closed-loop compensation for multi-channel signals with low resource overhead. Test results from a high-performance Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) platform demonstrate that the system achieves high-precision compensation for inter-channel amplitude, phase, and time-delay errors. In the 4-channel system validation, the DBF synthesized signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improved by 5.93 dB, reaching a final SNR of 44.26 dB. This performance approaches the theoretical ideal gain and significantly enhances the coherent integration gain of multi-channel signals. This research fully validates the feasibility of on-board, real-time calibration with low resource consumption, providing key technical support for the engineering robustness and efficient data processing of new-generation SAR systems. Full article

Grounded in stakeholder and social categorisation theories, this study addresses the limited European evidence regarding how board composition and functioning drive corporate equality—a multidimensional construct encompassing diversity, inclusion and people development. We examined the effects of seven board characteristics—gender diversity, the proportion of non-executive directors, tenure, size, cultural diversity, meeting attendance and remuneration structure—corporate equality and its three constituent pillars. Our analysis drew on a panel of 1797 firm–year observations from the Euro Stoxx 300 (2012–2023), extracted from Refinitiv Eikon, using OLS, fixed-effects and random-effects models selected via the Hausman test and AIC/BIC criteria, with firm-level controls and year- and industry-fixed effects. The results demonstrate that gender diversity, non-executive participation and regular meeting attendance are positively associated with corporate equality, particularly its diversity and inclusion dimensions, whilst tenure has no significant effect. Board size affects only people development; cultural diversity enhances the diversity pillar but diminishes the people development pillar; and remuneration schemes are negatively associated with overall equality. The principal contribution involves operationalising ‘corporate equality’ as a multidimensional construct within the European context and identifying differential effects across pillars. These findings offer practical guidance for regulators and organisations seeking to align board composition and governance practices with inclusion objectives, emphasising the importance of gender diversity, independent directors, consistent meeting participation and remuneration policies aligned with social objectives. Full article

Systematic biodiversity and ecosystem service (ES) conservation is vital for ecological sustainability and human well-being. This study combines MaxEnt, Zonation, InVEST, and MSPA models to identify Conservation Priority Areas (CPAs) in the Wujiang River Basin (WJRB), integrating biodiversity hotspots, ESs, and landscape connectivity. Results reveal CPAs span 1.13 × 10⁴ km² (primarily downstream), but existing natural reserves (NRs) cover only 24.86% of these critical zones, leaving over 75% unprotected in this region. Current NRs occupy 0.62 × 10⁴ km², with 5.82% of the basin (mainly upstream) available for targeted expansion. Spatial analysis reveals mismatches, such as some NRs protecting low-value ecological areas, resulting in imbalanced coverage. Expanding NRs across the board is less effective than adjusting protection scope or management strategies in areas of spatial mismatch, based on identified CPAs. This can involve establishing new reserves and appropriately relaxing land-use restrictions to allow compatible activities within them. New conservation planning should prioritize large, interconnected CPA regions to enhance landscape coherence. Simultaneously, integrating ecological compensation mechanisms can align protection goals with local livelihood improvements, fostering community engagement. This approach addresses critical gaps and enhances conservation efficiency by strategically directing resources toward high-value, vulnerable ecosystems. The methodology offers a replicable framework for balancing ecological preservation and human needs in river basin management. Full article

The goal of the study is to inquire into how longer tenure on the board may undermine directors’ independence and distort the efficiency of executive compensation mechanisms. Our empirical findings based on an international panel database and static panel regression modeling demonstrate that director tenure is positively associated with executive compensation with the effect being amplified by the degree of managerial capture of the board. Longer director tenure is also shown to reduce the sensitivity of executive compensation to negative earnings surprises while simultaneously contributing to the lower overall probability of management departures even in the event of a negative earnings surprise. Board independence is evidenced to play no significant role in intermediating the studied relationships. Overall, while postulating the existence of an independence–tenure tradeoff, the paper posits a need for revision of the currently applicable formal criteria of board independence in order for them to accommodate the possible impact of director tenure on the quality of corporate oversight. The present study extends upon the existing literature by expanding the geographical scale of the sample and focusing on indirect symptoms of reduced supervisory effectiveness of the boards. Full article

The corporate finance field is inherently engaging, with a strong focus on factors influencing various performance indicators. This study analyzes 66 companies from the Information and Technology sector, all part of the Standard and Poor’s 500 index, over a 22-year period from 2003 to 2024. I applied linear, nonlinear, and interaction-variable models to identify the causal relationship between profitability and key influencing factors. The results reveal that firm size, sales growth rate, current ratio, long-term debt to total capital, free cash flow, asset turnover, receivable turnover, number of board meetings, percentage of women on the board, CEO age, audit committee independence, the presence of compensation and nomination committees, and a pandemic dummy variable all had positive effects on performance. In contrast, firm age, dividend payout ratio, effective tax rate, board size, CEO duality, and the presence of a corporate social responsibility committee negatively impacted firm performance. This research also explores corporate governance by evaluating the role of regulations and internal policies designed to promote financial transparency and protect shareholders’ interests. Additionally, it highlights the importance of board independence, the effectiveness of specialized committees, and the role of ethical leadership in driving long-term corporate success. Full article

This study investigates the impact of financial performance and corporate governance mechanisms on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure in Saudi Arabia, a country undergoing significant institutional transformation under Saudi Vision 2030 and Tadawul’s 2021 ESG reporting reforms. While ESG research has gained traction globally, studies in emerging economies, particularly in the Gulf region, remain limited. This paper addresses this gap by examining whether profitability, measured by return on assets (ROA), and board size influence ESG disclosure. This study analyzes 260 firm-year observations of Saudi non-financial listed companies from 2009 to 2023. Using multiple regression analysis, including ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed effects (FE), and generalized method of moments (GMM), the analysis controls for endogeneity and ensures robust results. Findings indicate that board size had a negative and statistically significant relationship with ESG disclosure. The robustness tests confirm the inverse relationship between board size and ESG. ROA showed no correlation with ESG disclosure in the main findings; however, robustness tests revealed a negative and significant correlation. This study is the first to explore these impacts post Tadawul’s 2021 ESG guidelines. It also offers novel insights into ESG practices aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. This study contributes to the literature by situating ESG disclosure within the Saudi context, highlighting the unique role of governance dynamics in shaping sustainability practices in emerging markets. The results carry practical implications for policymakers, regulators, and corporate boards by recommending stronger governance frameworks, such as board-level ESG committees, executive compensation linked to ESG, and sector-specific disclosure standards. Full article

This paper presents a compact dynamic optical frequency domain reflectometry (D-OFDR) platform enabling millimeter-scale, distributed strain sensing for real-time structural health monitoring (SHM) of reinforced concrete subjected to seismic loading. The proposed D-OFDR interrogator employs a dual-interferometer architecture: a main interferometer for strain sensing and an auxiliary interferometer for nonlinear frequency sweep compensation. Both signals are detected by photodetectors and digitized via a dual-channel FPGA-based DAQ board, enabling high-speed embedded signal processing. A dual-edge triggering scheme exploits both the up-chirp and down-chirp of a 50 Hz bidirectional sweep to achieve a 100 Hz interrogation rate without increasing the sweep speed. Laboratory validation tests on stainless steel cantilever beams showed sub-hertz frequency fidelity (an error of 0.09 Hz) relative to conventional strain gauges. Shake-table tests on a 2 m RC column under incremental seismic excitations (scaled 10–130%, peak acceleration 0.864 g) revealed distinct damage regimes. Distributed strain data and frequency-domain analysis revealed a clear frequency reduction from approximately 3.82 Hz to 1.48 Hz, signifying progressive stiffness degradation and structural yielding prior to visible cracking. These findings demonstrate that the bidirectional sweep-triggered D-OFDR method offers enhanced real-time monitoring capabilities, substantially outperforming traditional point sensors in the early and precise detection of seismic-induced structural damage. Full article

Hexaglide parallel manipulators are characterized by high accuracy and dynamic performance, which makes them suitable for industrial high-precision assembly tasks such as placement of electronic THT components on printed circuit boards. In this paper we describe an assembly system that comprises a Hexaglide manipulator with vertical ball screws, moving printed circuit boards relative to stationary THT components. We evaluate the effects of the manufacturing tolerances of machine parts, such as bar length tolerance, ball screw axis position uncertainty, and ball screw axis orientation uncertainty, on Hexaglide end-effector pose accuracy using a geometric simulation study based on stochastic tolerance sampling. In the investigated configuration and under standard industrial tolerances, bar length inaccuracy and axis position uncertainty lead to significant position and rotation deviations for the Hexaglide end-effector in the horizontal plane that need to be compensated for by control algorithms to enable THT assembly using the Hexaglide prototype. The geometric simulation method applied in this paper can be used by designers of Hexaglide machines to study and evaluate different machine configurations. Full article

This study investigates the influence of corporate governance on reducing financial statement fraud (FSF) in Jordanian service and industrial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange from 2018 to 2022. To achieve this, the study employed the Beneish M-score model to assess the likelihood of FSF and logistic regression to examine the influence of corporate governance structure on fraud mitigation. The study identified 13 independent variables, including board size, board director’s independence, board director’s compensation, non-duality of CEO and chairman positions, board diversity, audit committee size, audit committee accounting background, number of annual audit committee meetings, external audit fees, board family business, the presence of women on the board of directors, firm size, and market listing on FSF. The study included 74 companies from both sectors—33 from the industrial sector and 41 from the service sector. Primary data was collected from financial statements and other information published in annual reports between 2018 and 2022. The results of the study revealed a total of 295 cases of fraud during the examined period. Out of the 59 companies analyzed, 21.4% demonstrated a low probability of fraud, while the remaining 78.6% (232 observations) showed a high probability of fraud. The results indicate that the following corporate governance factors significantly impact the mitigation of financial statement fraud (FSF): independent board directors, board diversity, audit committee accounting backgrounds, the number of audit committee meetings, family business involvement on the board, and firm characteristics. The study provides several recommendations, highlighting the importance for companies to diversify their boards of directors by incorporating different perspectives and experiences. Full article

This research investigates the effect of board characteristics on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure among firms listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) from 2021 to 2023. Motivated by the global shift toward sustainable development and the Saudi Vision 2030 agenda, this study examines how board size, gender diversity, independence, expertise, and compensation impact ESG disclosure practices. Drawing on stakeholder and agency theories, the regression model uses a sample of 78 Saudi-listed companies. ESG disclosure is measured using a content analysis-based checklist that conforms to international and Saudi ESG reporting frameworks. The findings indicate that background and skills, female representation, and compensation positively correlate with ESG disclosure. Conversely, board size and independence do not show significant relationships. The results highlight the pivotal role of board composition in emphasizing business practices for sustainability in emerging markets, particularly within the unique institutional setting of Saudi Arabia. The study contributes to the growing body of ESG literature by offering factual proof from an under-researched context and practical ramifications for investors, legislators, and business executives, as well as seeking to enhance transparency and accountability through effective board governance. Full article

The article describes an Arduino-based, portable, remotely usable weather monitoring station capable of measuring temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and carbon monoxide (CO) concentration and transmitting the collected data to the Cloud through the mobile telephony network. The main modules of the station are as follows: a DHT11 sensor for temperature and relative humidity sensing, a BMP180 sensor for pressure monitoring (with temperature compensation), a MQ7 sensor for the monitoring of the CO concentration, an Arduino Uno board, a GSM SIM900 module, and a buzzer, which is activated when the temperature exceeds 35 °C. The station operates as follows: the Arduino Uno board gathers the data collected by the sensors and, by means of the GSM SIM900 module, it transmits the data to the Cloud by using the mobile telephony network as well as the ThingSpeak software which is an open-code IoT application that, among others, enables saving and recovering of sensing and monitoring data. The main novelty of this work is the combined use of the GSM network and the Cloud which enhances the portability and usability of the proposed system and enables remote collection of data in a straightforward way. Additional merits of the system are the easiness and the low cost of its development (owing to the easily available, low-cost hardware combined with an open-code software) as well as its modularity and scalability which allows its customization depending on specific application it is intended for. The system could be used for real-time, remote monitoring of essential environmental parameters in spaces such as farms, warehouses, rooms etc. Full article

Air-coupled ground penetrating radar (GPR) systems are widely used for subsurface imaging in demining, geological surveys, and infrastructure assessment applications. However, strong surface reflections can introduce interference, leading to receiver saturation and reducing the clarity of subsurface features. This paper presents a novel surface reflection suppression algorithm for stepped-frequency continuous wave (SFCW) GPR systems. The proposed method estimates the surface reflection component and applies phase-compensated subtraction at the receiver site, effectively suppressing background reflections. A modular SFCW radar system was developed and tested in a laboratory setup simulating a low-altitude airborne deployment to validate the proposed approach. B-scan and time-domain analyses demonstrate significant suppression of surface reflections, improving the visibility of subsurface targets. Unlike previous static echo cancellation methods, the proposed method performs on-board pre-downconversion removal of surface clutter that compensates for varying ground distance, which is a unique contribution of this work. Full article

This paper proposes a frequency-modulated continuous-wave synthetic aperture radar (FMCW-SAR) imaging system for fast target detection. The system’s antenna array improves azimuthal resolution while maintaining low complexity using a 44-element equivalent virtual array and improves the data acquisition efficiency by employing the trigger and MCU control board. A series of improved algorithms are adopted to increase the speed of radar imaging and achieve fast detection. To solve the problem of large data volumes in traditional array antenna switching control methods, an array switching control algorithm is proposed based on the enhanced ordered statistical constant false alarm rate (EOS-CFAR). The data volume is reduced by dividing the array into several subarrays in advance. The echo signals acquired by the array switching control method are not continuous in the azimuthal direction, and data anomalies are handled by interpolating and compensating the received radar data to form compensated periodic data. The coherent background is subtracted from the padded signal using recursive averaging, resulting in high-resolution imaging while improving the data-processing speed. The TensorFlow-based Omega-K algorithm is employed for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, which customizes the optimization of TensorFlow for array radar signals. For the radar signal phase optimization, an improved Adam Optimizer optimizes the phase of the radar signal to maintain phase smoothing, thereby improving the clarity of the radar image. The Omega-K algorithm is optimized by TensorFlow and accelerated on the GPU to improve the efficiency of the large-scale fast Fourier transform (FFT) and Stolt interpolation operations, which improves the speed of radar imaging and enables fast detection. Full article

Near-field microwave microscopy (NSMM) is a promising technique for the non-destructive, high-resolution imaging of electrical and dielectric properties at the microscale. However, its performance is highly sensitive to the probe-to-sample distance, often requiring extremely close proximity, which limits its practical application in device manufacturing, especially in scenarios involving coatings and packaging. In this study, we propose a distance inversion method based on a dual-port symmetrical microwave probe to improve imaging performance at larger, safer scanning distances. This method utilizes the correlation between probe height and resonant frequency to compensate for distance-induced signal distortions. The experimental results demonstrate that even at a probe–sample distance of 80 µm, clear and distinguishable NSMM images of printed circuit boards (PCBs) can be obtained. The imaging resolution reached 13 µm. The defect structure with dimensions of 130 × 130 µm² on the PCB was successfully identified. The signal-to-noise ratio was significantly enhanced after applying the correction method. This approach not only improves the robustness and flexibility of NSMM in industrial scenarios but also extends its applicability to packaged or coated electronic devices, offering a valuable tool for advanced non-destructive testing. Full article