Search Results (7)

A high-resolution imaging radar is exceptionally well-suited for the detection and perception of extended targets (ETs), as it provides a comprehensive representation of the spatial distribution of target scattering characteristics. In this work, we propose an adaptive detection and tracking framework for non-cooperative ETs based on radar imaging. The framework leverages the statistical properties of ETs in radar imaging to construct a target distribution model and introduces an adaptive ET detection and tracking algorithm based on Scattering Point Shift (SPS). This algorithm is designed to track ETs with internal motion characterized by multiple scattering points. The initial target distribution is estimated using two-dimensional kernel density estimation (2D-KDE). Compared to existing ET tracking algorithms, the proposed SPS method demonstrates superior universality in accommodating diverse scattering point distributions and integrates detection and tracking into a unified process, thereby significantly improving information utilization efficiency. The effectiveness of the algorithm is validated through extensive simulations and real-world data collected using a millimeter-wave (mmWave) imaging radar operating in the Linear Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (LFMCW) mode. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), and myelofibrosis (MF), are hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by increased proliferation of mature myeloid cells, a chronic inflammatory state, and high cardiovascular risk. The diagnostic and therapeutic landscape in the field of MPNs is rapidly evolving. Therefore, it is important to assess the behavior of physicians involved in the management of MPN patients to gain insight into how they embrace the current diagnostic and treatment landscape in real-life settings. Methods: An online anonymous survey consisting of 50 questions regarding their MPN practice and divided into four major domains (physician characteristics, diagnostic procedures, therapeutic decisions, and patient follow-up) was sent through the Croatian Cooperative Group for Hematologic Diseases’ (KROHEM’s) e-mailing list to all Croatian hematologists. Results: Thirty-one out of ninety adult hematologists (34.4% response rate) from KROHEM responded to this survey. There was a very high rate of self-proclaimed abidance to current international diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations, with no major differences among academic and community practices. However, some areas of uncertainty have been highlighted, especially in the frequency of cytogenetic and molecular testing, as well as very low implementation of the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form (MPN-SAF) questionnaire in everyday practice. Conclusions: This study provides an important snapshot of the current MPN practice in Croatia. Similar studies from other countries are needed to provide a more detailed overview of real-life MPN practice globally. Full article

This study presents an extensive evaluation of heat transfer characteristics, flow patterns, and pressure drop for saturation pressures ranging from 460–660 kPa in a horizontal smooth tube of 5 mm internal diameter using R134a as the working fluid. The effect of saturation pressures for mass fluxes of 150–300 kg/m²s and heat fluxes of 8.26–23.3 kW/m² which are typical of refrigeration and air conditioning applications are also investigated. Flow patterns observed during the study are predicted with a well-known flow pattern map of Wojtan et al. The experimental results are compared with seven (7) correlations developed based on different theories to find which correlation best predicts the experimental data. The results show that, at low mass flux, increasing saturation pressure results in an increased heat transfer coefficient. This effect is more pronounced in the low vapor quality region and the dominant mechanism is nucleate boiling. At high mass flux, increasing saturation pressure leads to an insignificant increase in the heat transfer coefficient. At this high mass flux but low heat flux, the heat transfer coefficient increases with vapor quality, indicating convective boiling dominance. However, for high heat flux, the heat transfer coefficient is linear over vapor quality, indicating nucleate boiling dominance. Pressure drop is observed to decrease with increasing saturation pressure. Increasing saturation pressure increases the vapor quality at which the flow pattern transitions from intermittent flow to annular flow. The flow patterns predicted are a mixture of slug and stratified wavy and purely stratified wavy for low mass fluxes. For increased mass fluxes, the flow patterns predicted are slug, intermittent, annular, and dryout. Cooper’s model was the best predictor of the experimental data and the trend of heat transfer coefficient. Full article

It is critical for manufacturing sectors to improve maximum performance to foster a competitive advantage. This article aims to analyze how the manufacturing industry can promote its performance to achieve sustainable development. We embark performance evaluation on Taiwanese manufacturing sectors which have profound implications in the global manufacturing supply chain. This study collected public information and reliable data from the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) covering 12 Taiwanese manufacturing industries. Performance evaluation indicators consist of four inputs chosen from a set of six items, whereas one output is from a set of three items. The analysis from Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is conducted including CCR (Charnes, Cooper, & Rhodes) efficiency, BCC (Banker et al.) efficiency, A&P(Andersen and Petersen) efficiency, cross-efficiency and D&G(Doyle and Green) efficiency plus the VIKOR prioritization method to evaluate the 12 manufacturing industries in Taiwan. The comprehensive analysis and comparison results of this study show the sophisticated outcomes through the analysis of DEA and VIKOR. In another objective evaluation, the efficiency of DEA proves a certain correlation between the model and the measurement of the VIKOR method. The results indicate that Taiwan’s manufacturing industry is moving towards design innovation thinking towards the high value of its own brand, whereas the industries in China and South East Asia appear different. The results can provide the best practice to allow the international manufacturing industry to enjoy a resurgence after falling output and diminishing labor force. Full article

In implementing carbon emission trading schemes (ETSs), the cost of carbon embedded in raw materials further complicates supplier selection and order allocation. Firms have to make decisions by comprehensively considering the cost and the important intangible performance of suppliers. This paper uses an analytic network process–integer programming (ANP–IP) model based on a multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach to solve the above issues by first evaluating and then optimizing them. The carbon embedded in components, which can be used to reflect the carbon competitiveness of a supplier, is integrated into the ANP–IP model. In addition, an international large-scale electronic equipment manufacturer in China is used to validate the model. Different scenarios involving different carbon prices are designed to analyze whether China’s current ETS drives firms to choose more low-carbon suppliers. The results show that current carbon constraints are not stringent enough to drive firms to select low-carbon suppliers. A more stringent ETS with a higher carbon price could facilitate the creation of a low-carbon supply chain. The analysis of the firm’s total cost and of the total cost composition indicates that the impact of a more stringent ETS on the firm results mainly from indirect costs instead of direct costs. The indirect cost is caused by the suppliers’ transfer of part of the low-carbon investment in the product, and arises from buying carbon permits with high carbon prices. Implications revealed by the model analysis are discussed to provide guidance to suppliers regarding the balance between soft competitiveness and low-carbon production capability and to provide guidance to the firm on how to cooperate with suppliers to achieve a mutually beneficial situation. Full article

Forest ecosystem services (FES) are considered as public or common goods facing diverging individual and societal interests affecting the quality of ecosystems and well-being of the communities. This may result in overuse, degradation or unsustainable behaviour, as well as it can create also barriers for cooperation, economic profit and innovative business initiatives. The paper introduces the methodological approach which is applied within six different innovation regions (conceptualised as social-ecological systems) within the InnoForESt H2020 project. Each region uses innovative approaches in governance of FES and payments schemes. They are situated in Austria, the Czechia and Slovakia, Finland, Germany, Italy and Finland. All are characterised by manifold, sometimes diverging, FES, such as timber, recreation, regulation services or education. In order to get a better understanding of the role and the impact of key innovation factors for the regions, we have designed a behavioural [lab] experiment in the form of a Role board game (RBG). The proposed experimental game builds on Cardenas et al. (2013) and Castillo et al. (2011) as an interactive agent-based model arranging for repeated interaction and learning in real-world situations. It contributes to testing the effectiveness of incentives provision for the sustainable production of FES and the acceptance of such an intervention by FES communities (Kluvankova et al., in press). The game enables the adaptation to the specifics of each innovation region but at the same time it keeps the same internal experimental mechanism which will enable the comparison across the regions. The main question to be addressed by the RBG is: How to create conditions to enable innovations in forest management/governance for sustainable use and well-being in innovation regions under the diverging interest of FES users? We plan to test combinations of key innovation factors as preferred future scenario for sustainable FES provisions in regions, including fundamental policy interventions (e.g. strict regulation vs. payments for ecosystem services scheme), business incentives and external risk factors. RBG will allow testing stakeholders’ specific behaviour for resource use, and innovation activities, to create economic incentive, knowledge and social value. We argue that this will help to set conditions for successful development of policy and business innovations in innovations regions and to foster collaboration on FES provision for sustainability among stakeholders in a long term. Full article

With the worldwide spread of emissions trading schemes (ETSs) and the need for international cooperation on climate change, there is growing interest in linking ETSs. Along with sustainable development, preventing and controlling pollution, is now regarded as an urgent priority by China and Korea. In the context of the willingness of the Chinese and Korean governments to cooperate on ETS, this paper examines the feasibility of a pilot ETS cooperation between Shanghai and Korea from environmental efficiency and CO₂ marginal abatement cost (MAC) perspectives. We apply a directional distance function (DDF) and stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) to estimate the environmental efficiency and the CO₂ MAC of coal-fueled power plants in Shanghai and Korea using cross-sectional data from 2015. The results indicate that the group frontier environmental efficiency of Shanghai and Korea reached a similarly high score. However, as to meta-frontier environmental efficiency, the coal-fueled power plants in Korea performed better than those in Shanghai. The CO₂ MAC results indicate that, despite the small gap in efficiency performance, the CO₂ MAC of coal-fueled power plants is much higher than that in Shanghai due to the big feed-in tariff difference. This is because the MAC not only relates to the environmental efficiency, but also to the feed-in tariff. A higher feed-in tariff leads to higher MAC. To tackle this serious problem, which has also been addressed in previous studies, we suggest that policymakers should focus on the huge CO₂ MAC differences caused by feed-in tariff differences to avoid equity problems when building the structure of the Shanghai-Korea ETS cooperation. For instance, compared with power plants in Shanghai, policymakers should set a looser cap and a higher offset for Korean plants. To reduce the impact of feed-in tariff on carbon trading in the market, it would also be effective to arrange a higher quota or a lower carbon tax for coal-fueled power plants in Korea. In addition, policymakers should fill the gaps of 85.15% and 67.6% between the realistic market price and the MAC results of coal-fueled power plants in Shanghai and Korea, respectively, by introducing stricter regulations. Full article