Mapping and measuring urban-rural inequalities in accessibility to social infrastructures

Equal access to social infrastructures is a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development,but has long been a great challenge worldwide.Previous studies have primarily focused on the accessibility to social infras-tructures in urban areas across various scales,with less attention to rural areas,where inequality can be more severe.Particularly,few have investigated the disparities of accessibility to social infrastructures between urban and rural areas.Here,using the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan urban agglomeration,China,as an example,we investigated the inequality of accessibility in both urban and rural areas,and further compared the urban-rural difference.Accessibility was measured by travel time of residents to infrastructures.We selected four types of social infrastructures including supermarkets,bus stops,primary schools,and health care,which were funda-mentally important to both urban and rural residents.We found large disparities in accessibility between urban and rural areas,ranging from 20 min to 2 h.Rural residents had to spend one to two more hours to bus stops than urban residents,and 20 min more to the other three types of infrastructures.Furthermore,accessibility to multiple infrastructures showed greater urban-rural differences.Rural residents in more than half of the towns had no access to any infrastructure within 15 min,while more than 60%of the urban residents could access to all infrastructures within 15 min.Our results revealed quantitative accessibility gap between urban and rural areas and underscored the necessity of social infrastructures planning to address such disparities.

New roles of research data infrastructure in research paradigm evolution

Research data infrastructures form the cornerstone in both cyber and physical spaces,driving the progression of the data-intensive scientific research paradigm.This opinion paper presents an overview of global research data infrastructure,drawing insights from national roadmaps and strategic documents related to research data infrastructure.It emphasizes the pivotal role of research data infrastructures by delineating four new missions aimed at positioning them at the core of the current scientific research and communication ecosystem.The four new missions of research data infrastructures are:(1)as a pioneer,to transcend the disciplinary border and address complex,cutting-edge scientific and social challenges with problem-and data-oriented insights;(2)as an architect,to establish a digital,intelligent,flexible research and knowledge services environment;(3)as a platform,to foster the high-end academic communication;(4)as a coordinator,to balance scientific openness with ethics needs.

A novel framework to intercept GPS-denied,bomb-carrying,nonmilitary,kamikaze drones:Towards protecting critical infrastructures

Protection of urban critical infrastructures(CIs)from GPS-denied,bomb-carrying kamikaze drones(G-BKDs)is very challenging.Previous approaches based on drone jamming,spoofing,communication interruption and hijacking cannot be applied in the case under examination,since G-B-KDs are uncontrolled.On the other hand,drone capturing schemes and electromagnetic pulse(EMP)weapons seem to be effective.However,again,existing approaches present various limitations,while most of them do not examine the case of G-B-KDs.This paper,focuses on the aforementioned under-researched field,where the G-B-KD is confronted by two defensive drones.The first neutralizes and captures the kamikaze drone,while the second captures the bomb.Both defensive drones are equipped with a net-gun and an innovative algorithm,which,among others,estimates the locations of interception,using a real-world trajectory model.Additionally,one of the defensive drones is also equipped with an EMP weapon to damage the electronics equipment of the kamikaze drone and reduce the capturing time and the overall risk.Extensive simulated experiments and comparisons to state-of-art methods,reveal the advantages and limitations of the proposed approach.More specifically,compared to state-of-art,the proposed approach improves:(a)time to neutralize the target by at least 6.89%,(b)maximum number of missions by at least 1.27%and(c)total cost by at least 5.15%.

Enhancing the Trustworthiness of 6G Based on Trusted Multi-Cloud Infrastructure:A Practice of Cryptography Approach

Due to the need for massive device connectivity,low communication latency,and various customizations in 6G architecture,a distributed cloud deployment approach will be more relevant to the space-air-ground-sea integrated network scenario.However,the openness and heterogeneity of the 6G network cause the problems of network security.To improve the trustworthiness of 6G networks,we propose a trusted computing-based approach for establishing trust relationships inmulti-cloud scenarios.The proposed method shows the relationship of trust based on dual-level verification.It separates the trustworthy states of multiple complex cloud units in 6G architecture into the state within and between cloud units.Firstly,SM3 algorithm establishes the chain of trust for the system’s trusted boot phase.Then,the remote attestation server(RAS)of distributed cloud units verifies the physical servers.Meanwhile,the physical servers use a ring approach to verify the cloud servers.Eventually,the centralized RAS takes one-time authentication to the critical evidence information of distributed cloud unit servers.Simultaneously,the centralized RAS also verifies the evidence of distributed RAS.We establish our proposed approach in a natural OpenStack-based cloud environment.The simulation results show that the proposed method achieves higher security with less than a 1%system performance loss.

Analyzing the transportation infrastructure-rural industry integration relationship in China

Transportation infrastructure is crucial to China’s economic growth because it substantially contributes to the holistic development of rural primary,secondary,and tertiary industries.This study innovatively examines transportation infrastructure and urbanization levels to explore,both theoretically and empirically,their relationship with the holistic development of primary,secondary,and tertiary industries in rural China,and the mediating role of urbanization on this relationship.We employed fixed-effects models,the entropy weight approach,mixed regression,and generalized method of moments to analyze the data of 30 provinces across China from 2013 to 2020.The results indicate that the construction of transportation infrastructure directly fosters the collective advancement of such industries in rural areas and that urbanization partially mediates the transportation infrastructure-rural industry integration relationship.However,the western region shows disparities in the integrated development of these sectors.Further analysis reveals that foreign investments amplify the positive influence of transportation infrastructure on rural industry integration.Essentially,the enhancement of rural transportation infrastructure,promotion of urbanization,implementation of strategic planning,and strengthening of support mechanisms are crucial aspects in the comprehensive development of rural industries and the achievement of rural revitalization in China.

Digital Infrastructure and Common Prosperity: An Influence Mechanism and Effect Test

Common prosperity is an important goal of China’s modernization efforts,and narrowing the income gap among different regions and populations is crucial to achieving common prosperity.The construction of digital infrastructure has significantly boosted productivity and facilitated the diffusion of technology in less developed regions,leading to notable changes in labor employment and the income gap,which aligns with the goal of common prosperity.This paper explores the mechanism through which digital infrastructure influences common prosperity with a focus on employment,using panel data from 30 provinces in China between 2011 and 2021 for an empirical test.The research finds that digital infrastructure significantly promotes common prosperity.By expanding employment and increasing labor remuneration,the influence of digital infrastructure on common prosperity exhibits regional heterogeneity and a nonlinear threshold effect.The research suggests that the government should enhance investment in and construction of digital infrastructure,reduce the digital divide through policy support in rural areas,promote digital employment and skills training,and encourage industrial integration and enterprise participation.

Building a Stronger Foundation for Web3:Advantages of 5G Infrastructure

The emergence of Web3 technologies promises to revolutionize the Internet and redefine our interactions with digital assets and applications.This essay explores the pivotal role of 5G infrastructure in bolstering the growth and potential of Web3.By focusing on several crucial aspects—network speed,edge computing,network capacity,security and power consumption—we shed light on how 5G technology offers a robust and transformative foundation for the decentralized future of the Internet.Prior to delving into the specifics,we undertake a technical review of the historical progression and development of Internet and telecommunication technologies.

Developing Healthcare Infrastructure in Saudi Arabia Using Smart Technologies: Challenges and Opportunities

This study aims to explore the challenges and opportunities associated with developing healthcare infrastructure in Saudi Arabia through the implementation of smart technologies. The healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia is undergoing significant transformation, and the integration of smart technologies has the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes, and enhance the overall healthcare experience. However, several challenges need to be addressed in order to fully leverage the benefits of smart technologies in healthcare infrastructure development. This research identifies and analyzes these challenges while also highlighting the opportunities that arise from the adoption of smart technologies in the Saudi Arabian healthcare system. The findings contribute to the understanding of the current state of healthcare infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and provide insights into the strategies and policies required to overcome challenges and maximize the benefits of smart technologies in healthcare.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Consultants’ Roles in Improving Value for Money in Public Infrastructure Projects in Ghana

Ghanaian construction projects encounter a number of challenges, including low health, safety, and environmental requirements, poor performance, and time and cost overruns. To provide value for money (VFM) on government infrastructure projects in Ghana, this research assesses the roles of project consultants, specifically architects and quantity surveyors, and highlights important obstacles. A cross-sectional survey design involving architects and quantity surveyors yielded a 96% response rate after 100 questionnaires were distributed. Consultants’ responsibilities also include monitoring standards compliance, providing advice on delays, controlling budgets, and advising on project completion dates. Difficulties encompass a lack of promptness in decision-making, unethical conduct, political pressure, and inadequate focus on contract administration and construction audits. Project urgency, longevity, political clout, timely decision-making, and team experience are important variables that impact VFM. Policy makers and construction management practitioners should take note of the implications for Ghana’s public infrastructure projects.

Tunnel, Infrastructure Convergences/Monitoring and Engineering Role

Worldwide we see that the construction industry is expanding, requiring new directions, new perspectives that can help reduce time, cost, and make transportation easy, safe, and affordable. For decades now, most of the large cities have completed their surface infrastructure. It has become urgent to address their issues for overpopulated cities where nowadays all infrastructure is overwhelmed, these issues must be addressed, solved and have vision to build underground infrastructure. Developed countries are focused on expanding their infrastructure for road systems, subway network, railway, storm, and sanitary systems. The emergency for underground infrastructure development requires more large-scale projects to be built and it is becoming more crucial building tunnels/underground structures for the future than ever before. Engineering focus, scientific searches are looking to develop their ideas for designing and delivering project underground, but government, agencies and engineers are concerned about the safety, durability, functionality, and the lifetime of this structures planned to be functional for decades. To address all this concerns this study provides information of how to identify the risk on tunnels and underground structures by capturing data from the beginning phases of construction, to analyze, evaluate and produce bulletins and engineering reports through convergences and monitoring. Convergences are the key factor on development of infrastructure underground as it is the only way to explore and analyze the rock mass disturbance during excavation. Convergences and monitoring in infrastructure are the safety coefficient for building underground, preventing accidents, and assessing real risks associated with tunnel/mine works and ensuring progress of the construction in underground structures. This study delves into the engineering role of convergence monitoring, during construction activities on project excavated using New Austrian Tunnelling method and Sequential Excavation Method. The primary objective of convergence monitoring is to gather critical information on ground movements and disturbances, thereby enhancing safety measures during tunnel construction. The monitoring process serves as an early warning system offering evidence of the real risks associated with underground infrastructure, bringing results and engineering data to be used for the design as key coefficient for structural design, type of material, type and strength of the concrete, rebars, concrete mix design. By using the convergence and monitoring system on underground infrastructure this study represents information that can contribute to risk assessment, structural analysis, and the lifetime of a project.

Mapping Energy Expansion: Remote Sensing Insights into Oil and Gas Infrastructure and Land Use Changes in Midland, TX

Rapid expansion in global energy demand driven primarily by oil and gas consumption has spurred significant environmental concerns. This study delves into the intricate relationship between energy development and environmental impacts focusing on Midland County, Texas, a pivotal region within the Permian Basin. Leveraging satellite imagery and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques, the research meticulously examines land use dynamics from 2001 to 2019. The findings illuminate a marked decline in vegetation health and density attributable to the burgeoning oil and gas infrastructure in the area. Moreover, the analysis underscores the emergence of barren lands and the displacement of agricultural areas, indicative of the profound alterations in land cover patterns over the study period. These insights underscore the urgent need for concerted efforts to mitigate the adverse environmental effects of energy expansion, emphasizing the importance of collaborative approaches to foster sustainable land use practices. Additionally, the study explores the socio-economic implications of land use changes, addressing how energy expansion affects local communities and economies. Previous studies have emphasized the need for comprehensive assessments of cumulative environmental impacts, advocating for the implementation of effective mitigation strategies.

Telecommunications and Energy Infrastructure Sharing: Technical and Socio-Economic Impact Analysis in a Multi-Operator Environment in Burundi

The sharing of telecommunications infrastructure and power supply equipment is currently an applicable and very common model for grouping signal transmission and reception equipment and their power supply on the same site to ensure coverage of fixed, mobile, Internet and radio and television broadcasting networks. This study consists of producing an inventory of telecommunications and energy infrastructure sharing, focusing on the one hand on analyzing the impacts of active and passive sharing of telecommunications infrastructure from a technical point of view, particularly in terms of legal framework, deployment, coverage and exposure to electromagnetic radiation, and on the other hand on identifying the effects of infrastructure sharing from a socio-economic point of view in a multi-operator mobile telephony environment, by indicating the economic value of the revenue generated as a result of infrastructure sharing. Finally, the results will contribute to identify strategies for ensuring maximum deployment and coverage of the country, and for developing the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector in order to contribute to the digital transformation by digitising services using mobile telephony and the Internet in Burundi.

Bilevel Optimal Infrastructure Planning Method for the Inland Battery Swapping Stations and Battery-Powered Ships

Green shipping and electrification have been the main topics in the shipping industry.In this process,the pure battery-powered ship is developed,which is zero-emission and well-suited for inland shipping.Currently,battery swapping stations and ships are being explored since battery charging ships may not be feasible for inland long-distance trips.However,improper infrastructure planning for battery swapping stations and ships will increase costs and decrease operation efficiency.Therefore,a bilevel optimal infrastructure planning method is proposed in this paper for battery swapping stations and ships.First,the energy consumption model for the battery swapping ship is established considering the influence of the sailing environment.Second,a bilevel optimization model is proposed to minimize the total cost.Specifically,the battery swapping station(BSS)location problem is investigated at the upper level.The optimization of battery size in each battery swapping station and ship and battery swapping scheme are studied at the lower level based on speed and energy optimization.Finally,the bilevel self-adaptive differential evolution algorithm(BlSaDE)is proposed to solve this problem.The simulation results show that total cost could be reduced by 5.9%compared to the original results,and the effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed.

Digital Transformation Trend of the Pharmaceutical Distribution Industry in the Context of New Infrastructure in China

Objective To study the pharmaceutical distribution industry against the background of new infrastructure construction since it is vital to the health and life of the public,and to offer some suggestions to further improve the industry quality and achieve industry upgrading.Methods The national strategies for new infrastructure as well as the underlying logic for enterprise digital transformation were analyzed to provide the outlook on the digital transformation trend of the pharmaceutical distribution industry.Results and Conclusion In the future,the pharmaceutical distribution industry shall transform the pattern,channel,management and control,and experience in the entire business chain in a digital way by focusing on connection efficiency,data efficiency and decision-making efficiency.

The Effects of Infrastructure Projects on House Prices and Rents:Evidence from the HS2 Extension Cancellation in the UK

This paper uses the HS2 extension cancellation in November 2021 as a quasi-experiment to study its impact on house prices and rents in Leeds.Using a DiD approach on repeat sales and monthly rents,I compare property values near the HS2 station and proposed construction site before and after the announcement.Results show a 3.6%decrease in house prices and a 3.9%decline in rents near the station,while properties near the construction site experienced a 2.4%increase in prices and a 2.1%rise in rents.This is the first paper to analyse the HS2 cancellation effect using panel data methods.

二十年来我国高职教育信息化研究:热点、演进与展望——基于CiteSpace的知识图谱分析

基于中国知网期刊数据库资料,应用CiteSpace科学计量软件,对2002年至2022年我国高职教育信息化研究的文献进行了全面的梳理和知识图谱分析。研究成果展示了我国高职教育信息化研究的核心议题、关键时期及演进脉络。研究主要聚焦于四个方面:信息化基础设施的构建与管理、信息化教学的模式与方法创新、高职学生的专业能力与素质培养、教师信息化能力的提升与发展。研究归纳了高职教育信息化的发展轨迹,并对未来趋势提出了前瞻性展望,旨在为我国高职教育信息化的深化发展和教育实践提供理论支持和参考借鉴。

我国铁路基础设施公募REITs的法律构想

基础设施REITs作为创新融资模式的重要手段,具有降低负债水平、盘活存量资产的优势,可以有效缓解当前铁路行业面临的融资模式单一、负债规模大、资产流动性差的困境。在政策推动下,目前REITs试点工作稳步推进,但在立法层面尚未出台专门的REITs立法,主要依据部门规章和规范性文件对REITs进行调整。现有立法状况存在立法层级低、投资者利益保护制度不完备、税收优惠制度不匹配等问题。铁路基础设施积极尝试公募REITs融资的同时,还应积极防范相关法律风险。

基于CiteSpace的露天矿爆破技术知识演化和趋势分析

为了研究露天矿爆破技术的发展轨迹和热点变化规律,在中国学术期刊出版总库(CNKI)中选取“露天矿”并含“爆破”检索条件,获得1116篇有效期刊文献作为样本。通过利用CNKI的文献可视化分析报告和CiteSpace这一可视化知识图谱工具,对我国露天矿爆破研究领域的发展现状、分布特征、研究热点和前沿趋势进行了全面而深入的研究和分析。研究表明:露天矿爆破研究主要分为:(1)露天矿爆破理论的确立和发展阶段(2010年前)、(2)现代技术运用和创新阶段(2010—2015年)、(3)绿色智能精细化发展阶段(2015年至今)3个阶段;学科分布主要是矿业工程和工业通用技术与设备;发文期刊主要是《爆破》、《工程爆破》以及其他矿业工程领域的期刊;研究作者及机构主要是矿业相关高等学校教师以及企业、研究院研究人员;研究主题主要包括爆破工艺过程中的爆破设计软件开发与应用,孔网参数、炸药单耗、装药结构等爆破参数优化,深孔爆破、台阶爆破、抛掷爆破、预裂爆破等爆破方式,爆破振动的控制与监测,数值模拟、人工智能算法的应用,爆破质量原因分析及爆破效果评价。未来的露天矿爆破将继续朝着自动化、智能化、精确化和环境友好化的方向发展,通过技术创新和多学科融合,为矿山行业提供更高效、安全、可持续的爆破解决方案。

国家重大科技基础设施运行管理的改进方法与实践——以EAST全超导托卡马克核聚变实验装置为例

中国科学院合肥物质科学研究院等离子体物理研究所先后建成中国第一个圆截面超导托卡马克核聚变实验装置,以及世界上第一个非圆截面全超导托卡马克核聚变实验装置(EAST)。为持续改进EAST的运行管理,从顶层设计、组织实施和评估评价等方面分析EAST管理实践的有关探索与创新,具体包括:建立所领导、物理与实验运行部至一级系统的三级管理体系,能够更好围绕成果产出进行统一规划和分级管理;基于“计划—实施—检查—行动(PDCA)”管理理论,形成覆盖EAST运行周期的全过程管理机制;通过国内外评估制定设施中长期、近期计划,设置物理与实验运行部,负责主导EAST装置运行计划与目标的制定。另外,根据设施构成、结合运行需求设置一级系统,起用青年骨干担任负责人,分解任务、明确责任;同时,加强设施运行评估,部署实施系列改进举措,如优化基础研究组织模式和管理方式、创新国际合作模式等。根据EAST运行管理经验,对中国重大科技基础设施的运行和管理提出优化科研组织模式、完善管理方法、建设大科学工程团队、加强开放与合作等对策建议。

Characterization of Wastewater in School Environments for an Ecological Treatment Solution: A Case Study of Ndiebene Gandiol 1 School

The study conducted at Ndiebene Gandiol 1 school in Senegal has unveiled serious environmental and public health challenges. The wastewater analysis revealed high levels of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and fecal coliforms, signaling potential risks to the well-being of students and staff. This situation mirrors a wider issue in rural educational settings, where inadequate sanitation persists. Intensive wastewater treatment options are known for their effectiveness against high pollutant loads but are resource-intensive in both energy and cost. Conversely, extensive treatment systems, while requiring more land, provide a sustainable alternative by harnessing natural processes for pollutant removal. The research suggests a hybrid treatment approach could serve the school’s needs, balancing the robust capabilities of intensive methods with the ecological benefits of extensive systems. Such a solution would need to be tailored to the specific environmental, financial, and logistical context of the school, based on comprehensive feasibility studies and stakeholder engagement. This study’s findings underscore the urgency of addressing sanitation in schools, as it is intrinsically linked to the health and academic success of students. Quick, effective, and long-term strategies are vital to secure a healthier and more prosperous future for the youth. With proper implementation, the school can transform its sanitation facilities, setting a precedent for rural educational institutions in Senegal and similar contexts globally.