bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Weathering-Resistant Replicas Fabricated by a Three-Dimensional Printing Robotic Platform Induce Shoaling Behavior in Zebrafish
Authors: Wu Wei-Lin , Li Di-Ching , Chen Yen-Shuo , Ko Fu-Hsiang
Published: May 2022

In recent decades, zebrafish have become an increasingly popular laboratory organism in several fields of research due to their ease of reproduction and rapid maturation. In particular, shoaling behavior has attracted the attention of many researchers. This article presents a fully printed robotic model used to sense and stimulate shoaling behavior in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Specifically, we exposed laboratory-fabricated replicated materials to critical acid/base/salt environments and evaluated the mechanical, optical, and surface properties after a three-month immersion period. Focusing on weatherability, these test samples maintained high tensile strength (~45 MPa) and relatively similar transmission (>85%T in the visible region), as determined by UV–vis/FTIR spectroscopy. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology allowed printing of models with different sizes and appearances. We describe the sense of zebrafish responses to replicas of different sizes and reveal that replicas approximating the true zebrafish size (3 cm) are more attractive than larger replicas (5 cm). This observation suggests that larger replicas appear as predators to the zebrafish and cause fleeing behavior. In this study, we determined the weatherability of a high-transparency resin and used it to fabricate a fully printed driving device to induce shoaling by zebrafish. Finally, we demonstrate a weathering-resistant (for three months) 3D-printed decoy model with potential utility for future studies of outdoor shoaling behavior, and the result has the potential to replace the traditional metal frame devices used in outdoor experiments.
Finding a Suitable Object for Intervention: On Community-Based Violence Prevention in Sweden
Authors: Alstam Kristina , Forkby Torbjörn
Published: May 2022

In Sweden, local municipalities, working in collaboration with the police, are assigned an important role in community-based crime prevention and the promotion of safer neighbourhoods/cities. The strategies adopted are supposed to be informed by the policies of national advisory bodies, which emphasize surveying the current situation, problem analyses, systematic planning of interventions and evaluation of efforts. This paper reports on a three-year research project that studied local crime prevention/safer community practices in four so-called ‘particularly vulnerable areas’ (PVAs) using meeting observations and stakeholder interviews. The analysis shows that when constructing intervention strategies, the actors involved had to navigate between different organizational logics and found it difficult to demarcate a suitable object for joint efforts. When they were able to find an object to be targeted, such as youth at risk of drug abuse or low-level criminality, they could rely on a collective mindset, but they struggled in situations where a joint effort was not possible, such as when dealing with the risk of aggravated violence or when the operations got close to more organized crime—both elements that form part of the definition of PVAs. This failure may partly be explained by competing logics dominated by idiosyncratic action in line with bureaucratic rules and routines. This finding raises questions about a putative but non-articulated limit to crime prevention and whether a predetermined approach aligns with the prescribed sequence of survey, analysis, intervention planning and evaluation when faced with more brutish violence.
Increasing Refugees’ Work and Job Search Self-Efficacy Perceptions by Developing Career Adaptability
Authors: Morici Roberta , Massaro Davide , Brajda Bruno Federico , Boerchi Diego
Published: May 2022

Today’s unstable labor market increasingly requires flexibility and adaptability to cope with the threat of unemployment. Though this threat can cause distress in many people, its negative impact is even more significant on vulnerable workers such as refugees. This study aimed to explore if a career counseling intervention designed for refugees (CCfR) preceded increases in career adaptability and, therefore, perceptions of both work self-efficacy (WSe) and job search self-efficacy (JSSe). The study was conducted in Italy and involved a sample of 233 refugees, who were asked to respond to a questionnaire available in three languages (Italian, French, and English). Data analysis showed that improvement was demonstrated in all the variables considered, namely, career adaptability (composed by concern, control, confidence, and curiosity), WSe, and JSSe. In addition, the increase in career adaptability explained the increase in refugees’ WSe and JSSe; at the opposite, only the initial level of curiosity was found to explain the increase in WSe, while JSSe was completely independent from the initial level of the career adaptability.
Relationships of People with Intellectual Disabilities in Times of Pandemic: An Inclusive Study
Authors: Puyaltó Carolina , Beltran Maialen , Coll Tània , Diaz-Garolera Gemma , Figueras Marta , Fullana Judit , González Cristina , Pallisera Maria , Pujolar Joan , Rey Ana
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: Since 2012, our Inclusive Research Team has developed several studies on various topics that interest the co-researchers with intellectual disabilities. In 2021, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the co-researchers decided to investigate the impact of the pandemic on the relationships of people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of this article is to disseminate how this inclusive study was developed and to explain its results; (2) Methods: Co-researchers and academic researchers met six times to make different decisions: decide on the research topic; discuss the topic; prepare an interview script for people with intellectual disabilities; analyse the data obtained; and decide how to disseminate the results of the research. The co-researchers interviewed 10 people with intellectual disabilities and participated as facilitators in 3 focus groups; (3) Results: During the pandemic, digital devices have enabled people with intellectual disabilities to maintain their social relationships. However, the lack of access or support in using them, as well as the restrictions imposed on people with intellectual disabilities living in institutions, have presented significant barriers to maintaining their social relationships; (4) Conclusions: This article shows the difficulties people with intellectual disabilities face in maintaining successful social relationships in times of pandemic, and how we undertook research in an inclusive, virtual manner.
Method for Detecting Far-Right Extremist Communities on Social Media
Authors: Karpova Anna , Savelev Aleksei , Vilnin Alexander , Kuznetsov Sergey
Published: May 2022

Far-right extremist communities actively promote their ideological preferences on social media. This provides researchers with opportunities to study these communities online. However, to explore these opportunities one requires a way to identify the far-right extremists’ communities in an automated way. Having analyzed the subject area of far-right extremist communities, we identified three groups of factors that influence the effectiveness of the research work. These are a group of theoretical, methodological, and instrumental factors. We developed and implemented a unique algorithm of calendar-correlation analysis (CCA) to search for specific online communities. We based CCA on a hybrid calendar correlation approach identifying potential far-right communities by characteristic changes in group activity around key dates of events that are historically crucial to those communities. The developed software module includes several functions designed to automatically search, process, and analyze social media data. In the current paper we present a process diagram showing CCA’s mechanism of operation and its relationship to elements of automated search software. Furthermore, we outline the limiting factors of the developed algorithm. The algorithm was tested on data from the Russian social network VKontakte. Two experimental data sets were formed: 259 far-right communities and the 49 most popular (not far-right) communities. In both cases, we calculated the type II error for two mutually exclusive hypotheses—far-right affiliation and no affiliation. Accordingly, for the first sample, β = 0.81. For the second sample, β = 0.02. The presented CCA algorithm was more effective at identifying far-right communities belonging to the alt-right and Nazi ideologies compared to the neo-pagan or manosphere communities. We expect that the CCA algorithm can be effectively used to identify other movements within far-right extremist communities when an appropriate foundation of expert knowledge is provided to the algorithm.
Heat Acclimation with or without Normobaric Hypoxia Exposure Leads to Similar Improvements in Endurance Performance in the Heat
Authors: Hanson Erik D. , Cooke Matthew B. , Anderson Mitchell J. , Gerber Tracey , Danaher Jessica A. , Stathis Christos G.
Published: May 2022

Background: Combining the key adaptation of plasma volume (PV) expansion with synergistic physiological effects of other acclimation interventions to maximise endurance performance in the heat has potential. The current study investigated the effects of heat acclimation alone (H), combined with normobaric hypoxia exposure (H+NH), on endurance athletic performance. Methods: Well-trained participants completed a heat-stress trial (30 °C, 80% relative humidity (RH), 20.8% fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2)) of a 75 min steady-state cycling (fixed workload) and a subsequent 15 min cycling time trial for distance before and after intervention. Participants completed 12 consecutive indoor training days with either heat acclimation (H; 60 min·day−1, 30 °C, 80% RH; 20.8% FiO2) or heat acclimation and overnight hypoxic environment (H+NH; ~12 h, 60% RH; 16% FiO2 simulating altitude of ~2500 m). Control (CON) group trained outdoors with average maximum daily temperature of 16.5 °C and 60% RH. Results: Both H and H+NH significantly improved time trial cycling distance by ~5.5% compared to CON, with no difference between environmental exposures. PV increased (+3.8%) and decreased (−4.1%) following H and H+NH, respectively, whereas haemoglobin concentration decreased (−2%) and increased (+3%) in H and H+NH, respectively. Conclusion: Our results show that despite contrasting physiological adaptations to different environmental acclimation protocols, heat acclimation with or without hypoxic exposure demonstrated similar improvements in short-duration exercise performance in a hot environment.
PTFE-Modified Mn-Co-Based Catalytic Ceramic Filters with H2O Resistance for Low-Temperature NH3-SCR
Authors: Li Kun , Zhou Tao , Xu Xinqiang , Han Changye , Zhang Hua , Jin Jiang
Published: May 2022

Mn-Co-based catalysts were loaded to ceramic filters element by impregnation for the coprocessing of dust and nitrogen oxide (NOx) in flue gas. The influence of the Mn/Co ratio and loading on the catalytic performance was investigated. The Mn-Co-based catalytic ceramic filter with a Mn/Co molar ratio of 2/1 can achieve 99% NO conversion by selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3 (NH3-SCR) in the temperature range of 100−180 °C, but its resistance to H2O was relatively poor. The filter element was modified by PTFE to improve the H2O resistance. After modification, the catalytic ceramic filter showed superior resistance to H2O and SO2 at low temperatures (100–180 °C) and satisfactory self-cleaning performance.
The Role of Beneficial Microorganisms in Soil Quality and Plant Health
Authors: Ortiz Aurelio , Sansinenea Estibaliz
Published: May 2022

The practice of agriculture has always been a source of food production. The increase in the global population leads to improvements in agriculture, increasing crop quality and yield. Plant growth results from the interaction between roots and their environment, which is the soil or planting medium that provides structural support as well as water and nutrients to the plant. Therefore, good soil management is necessary to prevent problems that will directly affect plant health. Integrated crop management is a pragmatic approach to crop production, which includes integrated pest management focusing on crop protection. Currently, there is an extended idea that many microorganisms, such as fungi or bacteria, are useful in agriculture since they are attractive eco-friendly alternatives to mineral fertilizers and chemical pesticides. The microbes that interact with the plants supply nutrients to crops, control phytopathogens and stimulate plant growth. These actions have beneficial implications in agriculture. Despite the great benefits of microorganisms in agriculture, their use has been quite limited; however, there has been great growth in recent years. This may be because more progress is needed in field applications. One of the most employed genera in agriculture is Bacillus since it has several mechanisms to act as biofertilizers and biopesticides. In this review, the role of beneficial microorganisms, with special emphasis on the Bacillus genus, in soil and plant health will be discussed, highlighting the recent advances in this topic.
Innovative Agrifood Supply Chain in the Post-COVID 19 Era
Authors: Skalkos Dimitris
Published: May 2022

The world is changing rapidly in the age of Coronavirus [...]
Business Sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of AIS Implementation
Authors: Lutfi Abdalwali , Al-Khasawneh Akif Lutfi , Almaiah Mohammed Amin , Alsyouf Adi , Alrawad Mahmaod
Published: May 2022

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the pillars on which most businesses worldwide rest. Thus, without the support of qualified information systems, it can be very challenging for them to improve their performance and difficult for them to reach sustainability goals. Despite the essentiality of economic sustenance for a competitive advantage in the postmodern industrial era, Jordanian SMEs are hampered with multiple challenges, such as accounting information quality, which supports various organizational decisions. The prevalence of information technology (IT) optimizes accounting operations through accounting-based information. A computerized accounting system (accounting information system, or AIS) facilitates accurate reporting, processes large-scale transactions, and generates meaningful reporting for subsequent evaluation. Given the lack of AIS implementation in SMEs, despite its notable advantages, this study aims to investigate the AIS-implementation antecedents and their implications towards sustainable business performance among Jordanian SMEs. An integrated model was recommended based on the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework and resource-dependency theory (RDT) for the incorporation of AIS-implementation elements and sustainable business performance into one model. A self-administered questionnaire was disseminated among 194 respondents within the context of Jordanian SMEs for data collection and evaluation using structural equation modelling (SEM). Based on the study outcomes, external pressure, compatibility, financial support, top management support (TMS), and external assistance significantly impacted AIS implementation, which subsequently catalyzed sustainable business performance. Such results could offer useful insights into how organizations could optimize AIS implementation for sustainable business performance and expand the current body of literature on IS- or IT-implementation antecedents and impacts. The implications of this study are that SMEs should develop effective AIS implementation in order to reach sustainability goals. Therefore, we recommend and encourage SMEs decision makers to utilize AIS for their businesses.
Do Foreign Direct Investment and Migration Influence the Sustainable Development of Outward Foreign Direct Investment? From the Perspective of Intellectual Property Rights Protection
Authors: Zhang Huiying , Liu Yikang
Published: May 2022

In the current complicated and volatile international situation, maintaining the sustainable development of OFDI is critical to the economic recovery and growth of all countries. This study aims to examine the influence of foreign direct investment (FDI) and migration on the sustainable development of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI), the moderating effects of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection on the relationship between FDI and OFDI, and the relationship between migration and OFDI. Using the panel data of 85 countries from 2006 to 2018, we find that, globally, FDI positively affects OFDI and that the positive effect of FDI on OFDI is strengthened by the improvement of IPR protection. Migration negatively affects OFDI, and the influence of IPR protection on the relationship between migration and OFDI is not statistically significant. The study shows that in high-income countries, FDI positively affects OFDI, and IPR protection positively moderates the relationship between FDI and OFDI. For upper-middle-income countries, FDI positively affects OFDI, and IPR protection negatively moderates the relationship between FDI and OFDI. For lower-middle and low-income countries, the influence of FDI on OFDI is not statistically significant. Moreover, the influence of migration on OFDI is not significant in high- or upper-middle-income countries. For lower-middle and low-income countries, migration negatively affects OFDI, and IPR protection positively moderates the relationship between migration and OFDI.
The Role of CSR for De-Carbonization of Hospitality Sector through Employees: A Leadership Perspective
Authors: Xu Li , Mohammad Suleiman Jamal , Nawaz Nishad , Samad Sarminah , Ahmad Naveed , Comite Ubaldo
Published: May 2022

Tourism and hospitality have been recognized as leading economic sectors globally. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, it was estimated that the tourism and hospitality sector was growing by around 4% each year. Although the economic-efficiency-led hypothesis of the tourism and hospitality sector is strong, there is another perspective related to tourism and hospitality. That is, tourism and hospitality are not as “green” as they were supposed to be. Indeed, this sector is known for its outsized carbon footprint. It is estimated that, if not managed efficiently, the GHG contribution of the tourism sector will grow in the future. Specifically, the hotel business accounts for 1% of total global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), which is huge. Responding to these significant issues, this study investigates the relationship between the corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of a hotel enterprise and employees’ pro-environmental behavior (PEB). The mediating role of environmental-specific transformational leadership (ESTFL) and the moderating role of green perceived organizational support (GPOS) were also tested in the above relationship. The data were collected by the employees through a self-administered questionnaire. The hypothesized relations were statistically investigated by using structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings revealed that CSR activities of a hotel not only influence employees’ PEB directly, but the mediating role of ESTFL was also significant. At the same time, the conditional indirect role of GPOS was also confirmed. This study offers different theoretical and practical insights, which have been discussed in detail.
Analysis of Main Factors on Evaluation and Selection of Wet Waste Disposal Modes: A Case Study of Universities in Shanghai, China
Authors: Zou Jihaoming , Zhang Zhen
Published: May 2022

This paper explores greenhouse gas emission intensity and economy of centralized and on-site wet waste disposal mode, while comprehensively evaluating the two modes for decision-making. Based on the fieldwork in Shanghai’s 20 campuses of 15 universities, multiple scenarios that can reflect the different levels of technology and management in reality, were set for the following studies. The greenhouse gas emissions generated from centralized and on-site disposal modes of wet waste were calculated in two emission scenarios using Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Inventory, and the IPCC 2006 method. Additionally, the continuous cost input from the universities for the two disposal modes was analyzed in three cost-input scenarios using the Net Present Value method. Furthermore, a comprehensive evaluation of the two modes was also conducted by using Analytic Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation under the five main factors of greenhouse gas emission—control, economy, stability, education and innovation, and bargaining power for municipal sanitation departments. The results revealed that the centralized disposal mode is superior to the on-site disposal mode in terms of greenhouse gas emission control and economy. The centralized disposal mode is a more rational choice due to the better comprehensive evaluation performance. It was also emphasized that the construction of the wet waste disposal system is so complicated that the academic community and the policymakers may have to pay more attention to the integration of system design, industrial development, and other aspects of wet waste disposal.
Feasibility Assessment of Photovoltaic Systems to Save Energy Consumption in Residential Houses with Electric Vehicles in Chile
Authors: Salles-Mardones Javier , Flores-Maradiaga Alex , Ahmed Mohamed A.
Published: May 2022

Distributed local generation from photovoltaic (PV) systems are gaining more interest, due to reduced component costs, as well as becoming a great solution for the charging of electric vehicles (EV) and the protection of the electrical grid infrastructure. This work aims to size and analyze the economic feasibility of a PV system to support the energy demand presented by the daily charge of an EV, either with or without a battery energy storage system (BESS), for a residential home in Viña del Mar, Chile. Eight different scenarios are dimensioned, with and without BESS, varying the PV installed power according to the surface available on the roof, and the results are supported by using the PVsyst software to determine the energy generated, self-consumption, and the energy both injected and received from the grid. Five different cases are also dimensioned, varying the storage capacity of the BESS, to analyze how profitability varies in each case. The real data on energy consumption, and prices of electricity both injected and received from the grid, were collected from the electricity bills and the distribution company, respectively. The sizing of both the PV panel array and the BESS was performed based on the highest average daily consumption throughout the year. Meteorological data, such as global irradiation and environmental temperature, are obtained from the Explorador Solar platform. Lastly, PV systems with BESS do not achieve profitability; however, for BESS with lower storage capacities, it would be possible to increase its profitability to acceptable ranges. Photovoltaic systems without BESS present better levels of profitability since a lower capital expenditures is required and the payback is shorter. This work contributes to improve the use of solar energy and provides a guide to extend the work to different regions of Chile.
The Impact of Environmental Regulation and Carbon Emissions on Green Technology Innovation from the Perspective of Spatial Interaction: Empirical Evidence from Urban Agglomeration in China
Authors: Wang Xiaowen , Wang Shuting , Zhang Yunsheng
Published: May 2022

As an important means of reducing carbon emissions, environmental regulation and green technology innovation have become a top research topic in academia in recent years. Existing studies have investigated the phenomenon of green technology innovation responses to carbon emissions, but there is less existing literature explaining this phenomenon from a spatial perspective and exploring the effect of the joint mechanism of carbon emissions and environmental regulation on green technology innovation. Based on the spatial econometric model, this study used the panel data of 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration from 2010 to 2019, to measure the impact of environmental regulation and carbon emissions on green technology innovation from the perspective of spatial interaction. The findings are as follows: green technology innovation in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration shows a trend of “high in the east and low in the west” and has spatial autocorrelation; green technology innovation responds positively to changes in environmental regulations and carbon emissions and, by decomposing the spatial effects, it can be observed that there is a spatial spillover effect of environmental regulations and carbon emissions on green technology innovation in the surrounding areas; there is a substitution effect between environmental regulations and carbon emissions. This paper combines the above results and proposes the corresponding policy recommendations.
Evaluation of the Current State of Preservation of Vaccinio uliginosi-Pinetum Kleist 1929 in Eastern Poland
Authors: Masternak Katarzyna , Urban Danuta , Kowalczyk Krzysztof
Published: May 2022

The study assessed the genetic variability and the possibility of Scots pine regeneration in marshy forest. The genetic parameters were determined using the ISSR technique. The relationships between herbaceous plants, pine regeneration density, and their genetic variability were determined. On average, per 1 m2, three regenerated pine seedlings with a mean height of 27.56 cm were inventoried. Based on genetic analysis, it was found that the proportion of polymorphic loci was 60.46%. The average number of alleles at the locus was 1.345, and the effective number of alleles at the locus was 1.345. The values of the expected heterozygosity and Shannon index were 0.200 and 0.301, respectively. No species competing with pine regeneration were found. A significantly negative correlation of the number of pine regenerations with the area covered with an herbaceous plant layer and tree canopy closure was found. There was a relation to the insufficient amount of light under the stand canopy. In conclusion, the condition of marshy forests was satisfactory and the genetic variability of pine seedlings was moderate. The vegetation was typical for this habitat, but the significant presence of dry habitat species could indicate the beginning of habitat drainage. It seemed that the amount of light under the stand canopy was insufficient. Nevertheless, more light probably reached the inside of the stand in the terminal stage, as a result of upper layer tree separation, which in turn may facilitate the effective regeneration of Scots pine in this habitat.
A Comparison of Functional Fillers—Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Air Pollutants from Lignin-Based Filler, Carbon Black and Silica
Authors: Meisel Kathleen , Röver Lisa , Majer Stefan , Herklotz Benjamin , Thrän Daniela
Published: May 2022

The transformation from a fossil-based economy to a sustainable and circular bioeconomy is urgently needed to achieve the climate targets of the Paris Agreement, reduce air pollution and ensure a long-term competitive economy. Due to its carbonaceous and aromatic basic components, lignin has the potential for material valorization within bioeconomy. So far, lignin produced in the pulp and paper industry has mainly been used internally to generate thermal process energy, as it is difficult to extract it from biomass in a pure and unaltered form. The valorization of lignin to improve the economics of pulp mills is a current aim of the industry. Hydrothermal treatment (HTT) of a partial flow from the lignin stream to produce a functional filler for use in polymer blends is one valorization option. The environmental assessment of the lignin-based HTT filler, conducted using life cycle assessment (LCA), shows that substitution of the conventional fillers carbon black and silica could be associated with significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. Depending on the allocation methodology and the reference filler considered, approx. 5 kg CO2 eq./kg filler, 80–93% SO2 emissions, 27–79% PM emissions, and 88–98% PAH emissions can be saved.
Land Registry Framework Based on Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) for Environmental Sustainability
Authors: Shuaib Mohammed , Hassan Noor Hafizah , Usman Sahnius , Alam Shadab , Bhatia Surbhi , Agarwal Parul , Idrees Sheikh Mohammad
Published: May 2022

Providing a system user with a unique and secure identity is a prerequisite for authentication and authorization aspects of a security system. It is generally understood that the existing digital identity systems store the identity details in centralized databases, and users store the identity details in centralized databases in which users do not have any control over them. These vulnerabilities in the traditional digital identities make them susceptible to various malicious assaults and modifications. Users’ personally identifiable information (PII) may leak through these identity solutions that can consequently affect other applications being used by the users, and they have no control over them. Land registration is a major domain of governance that defines civilians’ well-being and needs to be handled properly to avoid conflict and to support Environmental Sustainability. These traditional land registry applications also lack identity parameters due to weaknesses in identity solutions. A secure and reliable digital identity solution is the need of the hour. Self-sovereign identity (SSI), a new concept, is becoming more popular as a secure and reliable identity solution for users based on identity principles. SSI provides users with a way to control their personal information and consent for it to be used in various ways. In addition, the user’s identity details are stored in a decentralized manner, which helps to overcome the problems with digital identity solutions. This article reviews existing SSI solutions and analyzes them using SSI principles. It also assesses the SSI components required for constructing SSI frameworks that adhere to the SSI principles. Furthermore, it defines the procedures for establishing an SSI ecosystem, explores the laws governing digital identity that governments have adopted, and identifies SSI applications in several fields. Finally, a review of SSI applications in the domain of land registry systems is given in order to propose an SSI-based land registry framework for a secure and reliable land registry system.
The Effect of Land Inheritance on Youth Migration and Employment Decisions in Rwanda
Authors: Byishimo Patrick , Tufa Adane , Yami Mastewal , Alene Arega D. , Feleke Shiferaw , Abdoulaye Tahirou , Manyong Victor
Published: May 2022

There is growing mobility of rural youth mainly caused by limited access to land resources and inadequacy of job opportunities. Increased population density coupled with low education rates has increased pressure on natural resources, especially land. This paper assessed the effect of land inheritance on youth migration and employment in Rwanda using the 2010/11 and 2013/14 Integrated Household Living Conditions Surveys (EICVs) data collected from 8160 households by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). In-depth key informant interviews and focus group discussions, at institutional and cooperative levels, were conducted to supplement and support survey results. We used the Hausman test to choose between the fixed-effects and random-effects models. Results show that land inheritance has a negative and statistically significant effect on youth migration and non-agriculture-based employment. This implies that greater access to land through inheritance reduces the likelihood of youth migration and their participation in nonagricultural employment. The paper concludes with implications for policy aimed at creating increased access to land, expanding youth employment opportunities in rural areas, and reducing rural–urban youth migration.
Simulating Socio-Technical Transitions of Photovoltaics Using Empirically Based Hybrid Simulation-Optimization Approach
Authors: Nurwidiana Nurwidiana , Sopha Bertha Maya , Widyaparaga Adhika
Published: May 2022

Energy transitions as socio-technical processes involves interactions among different actors such as households, firms, and government, thus requiring an integrated approach to explore the transition’s dynamics. The present study aims to simulate the socio-technical transitions of photovoltaics (PV) in Indonesia using an empirically based hybrid simulation-optimization model. The model involves households’ decision-making, PV supply chain, and government interventions. The hybrid simulation-optimization model consists of integer linear programming to optimize PV’s supply chain configuration which was embedded within agent-based modeling and simulation (ABM). The empirical data involving 413 households from 34 provinces in Indonesia was acquired from a survey that was specifically designed based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) to specify and parameterize the model. Export tariff regulation, incentives for PV investment, environmental campaigns, and the combinations of those interventions were evaluated. The findings demonstrate that all of the interventions increase the intention toward PV, but the intention is not necessarily translated into adoption due to either financial or facility constraints. The findings highlight the necessity to include both demand and supply aspects endogenously in the transition model. The export tariffs combined with the incentives, followed by the export tariffs combined with the campaigns, is found to be preferable due to low supply chain unit cost and high reduction of greenhouse gas. Managerial implications and future research are discussed.
Relationship between Work-Life Balance and Job Performance Moderated by Knowledge Risks: Are Bank Employees Ready?
Authors: Borgia Michele Samuele , Di Virgilio Francesca , La Torre Maura , Khan Muhammad Adnan
Published: May 2022

Despite the focus on knowledge risks in the literature, a limited number of studies have empirically examined technological knowledge risks in terms of digitalization, old technologies, and cybercrime as moderating variables in the relationship between work-life balance and job performance. To address this gap, this paper investigated the moderation effects of technological knowledge risks on the relationship between work-life balance and job performance during the pandemic period in employees of cooperative credit banks. A quantitative approach that involved gathering surveys was adopted. Applying PLS-SEM, the empirical findings revealed that technological knowledge risks have a significant impact on the relationship between work-life balance and job performance. Additionally, this research encourages managers to create and maintain a healthy work environment that promotes valuable employees’ job performance while also evaluating the use of new technological advances and their related risks.
Platform Service Supply Chain Network Equilibrium Model with Data Empowerment
Authors: Peng Yongtao , Chen Bohai , Veglianti Eleonora
Published: May 2022

With the rapid development of information and communication technology, data empowerment has become an important way for platform service supply chain (PSSC) members to obtain a competitive advantage. Based on the three-level PSSC network structure composed of service providers, platform operators, and demand markets, this paper assumes that platform operators empower service providers to improve service quality, and PSSC members invest in data security risk control. Then, using variational inequality and equilibrium theory, a supply chain network equilibrium model considering data empowerment is constructed, and the equilibrium conditions of the whole network are obtained. Based on numerical examples, this paper analyzes the impact of the sensitivity of the demand market to service quality, the relative importance of service providers’ service quality improvement level, the data empowerment cost of PSSC members, and the data security risk control investment of PSSC members on the equilibrium state of the supply chain network. The results show the following: because the service quality is produced by the cooperation between service providers and platform operators, platform operators may have free-riding behavior and are only willing to invest a fixed data empowerment cost to ensure the essential service quality; data security risk control investment is an important factor affecting service sales; and when supply chain network members reduce data security risk control investment, consumers’ willingness to pay for services will be reduced, resulting in a decline in the overall profit of the supply chain network.
The Impact of the Perceived Values of Social Network Services (SNSs) on Brand Attitude and Value-Co-Creation Behavior in the Coffee Industry
Authors: Kwon Ah-Min , Namkung Young
Published: May 2022

The coffee industry has grown into a highly competitive management environment, which has led to the contemplation of differentiated marketing strategies as tools for business success. Practitioners operate their own SNS brand pages to encourage customers to participate and engage in two-way interpersonal marketing practices that can generate value co-creation. This paper aims to explore the relationships among the types of value offered by SNSs, brand attitude, and customer value-co-creation behaviors in the hospitality context, by employing the Value–Attitude–Behavior model. Data were collected via an online survey research company and analyzed by PLS-SEM using SmartPLS 3.0 and Jamovi 1.0 software packages. A quantitative research method was carried out with a total of 406 adults in South Korea who had had both on-site and SNS coffee brand experiences within three months of the survey. The results of this study can be summarized as follows. First, information-seeking, entertainment, and expressive value all had a significant positive effect on brand attitude. Second, brand attitude had a significant positive effect on both customer participation behaviors and customer citizenship behaviors. The results of the current study suggest useful implications in that the usage of SNSs as marketing communication tools can influence not only online but also offline brand attitudes and customer value-co-creation behaviors.
Genetic Analysis of Geothermal Resources in Deep-Seated Fault Area in Tonghe County, Northeast China and Implications of Geothermal Exploration
Authors: Wang Guowen , Kuang Jian
Published: May 2022

Northeast China is an area with high energy consumption and high carbon emissions, and the utilization of geothermal resources can effectively overcome these problems. However, there are few geothermal manifestations in Northeast China and no systematic method for geothermal exploration at present, which hinders the utilization of geothermal resources. Here, a systematic analysis, including hydrochemistry, petrology, isotopes, controlled source audio magnetotelluric sounding, drilling, and temperature curve of two boreholes was carried out to investigate the genesis of geothermal resources in Tonghe County, Northeast China, along the Yilan-Yitong lithospheric fault (YYF). We found that the geothermal water is alkaline Na-HCO3 type water, is of local meteoric origin, and is recharged from the hilly area with an elevation of ~280 m around the study area. We established a geothermal water circulation path model: (1) cold water infiltrated along the YYF to a depth of 2–3 km, (2) cold water was heated by mantle heat, and (3) hot water was stored in sandstone/siltstone, forming a sandstone geothermal reservoir with a temperature of ~70 ℃. These results have important guiding significance for the scientific exploration of geothermal resources in Northeast China.
Group Heterogeneity of Rural Households’ Satisfaction with Good Life from the Perspective of Rural Revitalization—A Case Study from Zhejiang Province of China
Authors: Gao Jiachang , Wang Yuhan , Zhang Mei , Huo Zenghui
Published: May 2022

In the context of rural revitalization, this article explores the group heterogeneity and influencing factors of the satisfaction of rural households’ good life in five dimensions, including industry and economy, living environment, rural culture, rural governance, and material life, and provides micro evidence and policy suggestions for the specific strategies of deepening rural revitalization and improving the satisfaction level of rural households’ good life. Based on the field survey data in rural areas of Zhejiang Province, this article analyzes the group heterogeneity of rural households’ satisfaction with a good life through latent profile analysis and further reveals the influencing factors through multinomial logistic regression. The results indicate that most dimensions of rural households’ satisfaction with good life, except rural culture in Zhejiang, are higher than average. The rural households’ satisfaction with good life presents obvious group differences, which are aggregated into three latent classes: very-satisfied class, medium-satisfied class, and low-satisfied class. The results of multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that subjective psychological evaluation, such as communication, self-confidence, and village status evaluation, had significant positive effects on the group category of good life satisfaction. The proportion of non-agricultural income and the level of per-capita family income have a significant negative influence on the group category of good life satisfaction, and the condition of public service at the village level has a significant positive influence on the group category of good life satisfaction. The satisfaction of rural households on sanitary toilet environment, New Year celebration, cultural activities in the countryside, work of village committee, fair treatment of village affairs, and soliciting opinions of village affairs were not high. Lack of self-confidence in communication and other subjective psychological factors and poor public service conditions at the village level are the important reasons for this. Therefore, measures should be taken to deepen the construction of rural civilization, build a multi-path and long-term mechanism to increase farmers’ income, and make up for the shortage of rural infrastructure and public services.
Tool for the Establishment of Agro-Management Zones Using GIS Techniques for Precision Farming in Egypt
Authors: Elsharkawy Mohamed M. , Sheta Abd El Aziz S. , D’Antonio Paola , Abdelwahed Mohammed S. , Scopa Antonio
Published: May 2022

Agro-management zones recently became the backbone of modern agriculture. Delineating management zones for Variable-Rate Fertilization (VRF) can provide important ecological benefits and better sustainability of the new Egyptian farming projects. This article aims to represent an approach for delineating management zones using Spatial Multicriteria Evaluation (SMCE) within irrigated peanut pivot situated at the eastern Nile Delta, Egypt. The results indicated that soil data, such as soil texture, soil type, the elevation of the landscape, and slope, allow for sampling the study area into similar classes and in smaller units, along with a crop productivity map. The effects of the variability in soil characteristics within the field on Peanut yields are predicted by the soil suitability model. In addition, final management zones map a varied amount of nutrients that could be added to different pivot zones. In conclusion, mapping soil units with a sufficient number of field observations within each class provided an acceptable accuracy, and a good spatial distribution of the suitability classification was achieved. Hence, agro-management zones are essentially needed for policymakers in a specific field in order to furnish an evaluation about the transformations at a territorial scale and for studying the strategies to realize environmental sustainability and to reduce the territorial impacts.
Improving the Performance of the Reverse Osmosis Process with Fiber Filter and Ultrafiltration: Promoting Municipal Sewage Reclamation and Reuse for Industrial Processes
Authors: Chan Shih-Shuo , Wu Jung-Hua
Published: May 2022

Wastewater reuse presents a promising solution to the growing need for the sustainable use of available water resources. The reclamation of municipal sewage through reverse osmosis can be applied for diverse uses to alleviate chronic water scarcity. In this study, a pilot plant was fabricated to measure the efficiency and the costs that are associated with pretreatment by the fiber filtration and ultrafiltration of secondary effluent from a water resource recovery facility in Taiwan. The results of this dual-membrane process meet the quantity and quality standards for industrial reuse. The pretreatment produced feedwater with a silt density index (SDI15) lower than 4.1, and with average turbidity removal rates of 42.7% (fiber filtration) and 99.2% (ultrafiltration). Following reverse osmosis, a 97.9% rejection of the electrolyte conductivity was achieved in the reclaimed water. The fouling of the membranes was controlled through the application of intensive backwash, chemically enhanced backflushing, and cleaning in place. The proposed system improves the feasibility, reliability, and economy of the dual-membrane process as a tertiary treatment for safe water reuse, and it thereby demonstrates that this technology has reached maturity for the full-scale implementation of sustainable water reuse.
Government Support and Institutions’ Intermediation throughout Companies’ Adaptation to the COVID-19 Crisis
Authors: Pereira Helder Marcos Freitas , Saes Maria Sylvia Macchione
Published: May 2022

The current health and economic crisis is an unprecedented event in the recent history of humanity. Given the lack of treatment and the rapid spread of the virus, several countries and/or local governments had to adopt measures of social distancing and movement restriction. The scenario set by the pandemic, therefore, brought up the need for quick adaptation and innovation, so companies could avoid liquidity and bankruptcy issues. Additionally, as a means to prevent firms’ problems from generating a major macro-economic crisis, governments had to offer a range of support programs as ways to sustain employment and income. Given the dire need to find new ways to conduct businesses, this article sought to understand whether or not government support is a key factor for organizations to adjust or convert—totally or partially—their products or services. The applied methodology was logistic regression, and to solve eventual endogeneity problems, we applied the bivariate Probit model. More than 11,000 observations were included in the main model. The results showed that government support was an important element for companies to adapt their products and services during the first wave of COVID-19. Therefore, companies in countries with stronger institutional environments performed better than those in weaker settings.