bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing a Geocultural Database of Quaternary Palaeoenvironmental Sites and Archaeological Sites in Southeast Arabia: Inventory, Endangerment Assessment, and a Roadmap for Conservation
Authors: Sayama Kenta , Parker Adrian G. , Parton Ash , Viles Heather
Published: October 2022

Quaternary palaeoenvironmental (QP) sites in Southeast Arabia are important not only to understand the history of global climate change but also to study how ancient humans adapted to a changing natural environment. These sites, however, are currently missing from conservation frameworks despite reports of destroyed sites and sites under imminent threat. This study presents the Geocultural Database of Southeast Arabia, the first open-access database on QP sites in this region, created as a comprehensive inventory of regional QP sites and a tool to analyse QP records and archaeological records. The endangerment assessment of QP sites in this database reveals that 13% of QP sites have already been destroyed and 15% of them are under imminent threat of destruction, primarily due to urban development and infrastructure development. Chronological and spatial analyses of QP and archaeological sites and records highlight the intricate relationship between palaeoenvironment and archaeology and emphasise the need for sub-regional-scale studies to understand the variation of climatic conditions within the region, especially to study changes in the ancient human demography. This database illustrates the potential of a geocultural approach that combines archaeological heritage with Quaternary geoheritage as a way forward for the conservation of QP sites at risk.
A Study on the Dynamic Relationship between Landscape Information and Heat Island Intensity of Urban Growth Patterns—A Case of Five Cities in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei City Cluster
Authors: Liang Jianshe , Bai Yongping , Gao Zuqiao , Yang Xuedi , Li Lingwei , Zhang Chunyue , Qiao Fuwei
Published: October 2022

Urban heat islands (UHIs) endanger the health of urban residents. Different urban growth patterns (UGPs) have different effects on heat islands. However, the dynamic relationship between UGP landscape information and urban surface heat island intensity (SUHII) remains unclear. This study explored the dynamic relationship between SUHII and UGP landscape information through spatial regression and landscape pattern analysis using Landsat imagery and urban construction land data from five cities in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration from 2010 to 2018. The results show that SUHII increase areas overlap with expansion patches, and the edge expansion and outlying areas show a warming effect. The influence of the edge expansion landscape area and pattern on SUHII changes is greater than the other two growth patterns. The relationship between UGPs’ landscape information and SUHII changes varies among cities. The larger the city size, the stronger the influence of landscape information. Among the landscape patterns, the influence of the landscape area and pattern on SUHII change is large and the influence of landscape fragmentation is smaller. Exploring the dynamic relationship between UGP landscape information and SUHII is conducive to optimizing the spatial layout and pattern selection of urban development and providing a scientific reference for sustainable and livable urban development planning.
A Review on Intelligent Energy Management Systems for Future Electric Vehicle Transportation
Authors: Teimoori Zeinab , Yassine Abdulsalam
Published: October 2022

Over the last few years, Electric Vehicles (EVs) have been gaining interest as a result of their ability to reduce vehicle emissions. Developing an intelligent system to manage EVs charging demands is one of the fundamental aspects of this technology to better adapt for all-purpose transportation utilization. It is necessary for EVs to be connected to the Smart Grid (SG) to communicate with charging stations and other energy resources in order to control charging schedules, while Artificial Intelligent (AI) techniques can be beneficial for improving the system, they can also raise security and privacy threats. In recent years, privacy preservation methodologies have been introduced to ensure data security. Federated Learning (FL) and blockchain technology are two emerging strategies to address information protection concerns. Therefore, in this article, a comprehensive literature review is proposed to analyze existing EVs energy management challenges and solutions and present potential future research directions for EVs charging/discharging coordination applications.
Usage PlanetScope Images and LiDAR Point Clouds for Characterizing the Forest Succession Process in Post-Agricultural Areas
Authors: Szostak Marta
Published: October 2022

The paper investigates using PlanetScope satellite images together with LiDAR data for automation of land use/cover (LULC) mapping and 3D vegetation characteristics in the aspect of mapping and monitoring of the secondary forest succession areas. The study was performed for the tested area in the Biskupice district (South of Poland), where a forest succession occurs on post-agricultural lands. The research area was parcels where the forest overgrowing process was identified. It was verified whether the image processing allows for reliable LULC classification as an identification forest succession area. The PlanetScope classification showed forested areas as 62.77 ha (44.91% of the analyzed area). The overall accuracy of the image classification was 96.40% The airborne laser scanning (ALS) point clouds were used for deriving detailed information about the forest succession process. The precise vegetation parameters i.e., height and canopy cover were determined and presented as raster maps, histograms, or profiles.
Preliminary Results of the Use of Sowing Time and Variety Choice as Techniques of Adaptability of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) to Temperature Increases
Authors: Ottaiano Lucia , Di Mola Ida , Cozzolino Eugenio , Mori Mauro
Published: October 2022

In the 21st century, global climate change is a key concern for countries all over the world as, in the future, crops will face several extreme events, including an increase of 2–4 °C in the mean temperature with a possible consequent reduction in yield. Wheat (Triticum durum Desf) is one of the most important foods as it provides 20% of the protein for the world population. Since temperature is one of the most limiting factors of crop development, the aim of this trial was to verify the agronomic response of durum wheat to a temperature increase of about 1.5–2.0 °C through the use of short-time adjustment techniques, such as sowing time and variety choice. The experiment foresaw the comparison between two different temperature conditions (ordinary, OT—in the open field, and high, HT—under a polyethylene tunnel), two sowing times (ordinary—OS, and delayed—DS), and three varieties (Ofanto, modern variety; Cappelli, traditional variety; and a mix of the two). HT conditions caused a decline in the wheat yield (−52.5%), but without differences between the two sowing times. The grain quality resulted positively when affected by late sowing times with an increase in 1000 seeds weight and protein percentages and a decrease in shrunken grains. Therefore, it seems that in areas characterized by high temperatures, delayed sowing can improve grain quality without reducing yield quantity compared to ordinary sowing times.
Impacts of Reduced Inequalities on Quality Education: Examining the Relationship between Regional Sustainability and Higher Education
Authors: Liu Tingting , Zhu Xiaoxian , Cao Mengqiu
Published: October 2022

Although the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocate, through SDG 4 and SDG 10, equitable quality education and the reduction of inequalities within and between countries, respectively, few studies have examined how inequalities in regional sustainability influence higher education. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship between regional sustainability and higher education in China using fixed-effects panel modelling. A systematic force framework showing how regional sustainability drives higher education was constructed from economic, social, and environmental perspectives, and the endogeneity in the process of how regional sustainability affects higher education was explored by introducing one-year lagged values as instrumental variables. Our results show that regional sustainability has a significant impact on higher educational attainment in China, with differing effects in the eastern, central, and western regions, respectively. In central China, economic sustainability plays a significant positive role in higher educational attainment; in the western region, economic and social sustainability have stronger positive effects, while environmental sustainability has significantly negative effects. In terms of policy implications, our findings can be used to support regional development policies to promote regional higher education.
Pyramidal Solar Stills via Hollow Cylindrical Perforated Fins, Inclined Rectangular Perforated Fins, and Nanocomposites: An Experimental Investigation
Authors: Mohammed Suha A. , Basem Ali , Omara Zakaria M. , Alawee Wissam H. , Dhahad Hayder A. , Essa Fadl A. , Abdullah Abdekader S. , Majdi Hasan Sh. , Alshalal Iqbal , Isahak Wan Nor Roslam Wan , Al-Amiery Ahmed A.
Published: October 2022

A practical study was conducted to improve the performance of conventional pyramidal solar stills (CPSS) using two types of fins with differing geometries, as well as nanocomposites of TiO2 and graphene. The first fin was hollow, cylindrical, and perforated (HCPF), whereas the second fin was an inclined perforated rectangular fin (IPRF). The fins were integrated with the base of a solar still to evaluate their performance in comparison with a CPSS. The obtained experimental results demonstrated that the pyramidal solar still with hollow perforated cylindrical fins (PSS-HCPF) and the pyramidal solar still with inclined perforated rectangular fins (PSS-IPRF) produced more distillate than the PSS-HCPF and CPSS under all examined conditions. The daily productivities of the CPSS, PSS-HCPF, and PSS-IPRF were 3718, 4840, and 5750 mL/m2, respectively, with the PSS-HCPF and PSS-IPRF improving the productivity by 31.3% and 55.9%, respectively, compared to that of the CPSS. In addition, using nanocomposites with PSS-IPRF improved the daily distillate production by 82.1%.
Impact of Dense Networks of Reservoirs on Streamflows at Dryland Catchments
Authors: Rabelo Udinart Prata , Costa Alexandre C. , Dietrich Jörg , Fallah-Mehdipour Elahe , Van Oel Pieter , Lima Neto Iran Eduardo
Published: October 2022

Small reservoirs play an important role in providing water to rural communities. Increased construction of small reservoirs to mitigate the effects of droughts leads to a High-density Reservoirs Network (HdRN) of small reservoirs, which can potentially modify the streamflows both in dry and wet periods. However, there is a lack of understanding of the interannual behavior of flow retention and the impact of future increases in the number of small reservoirs, mainly for HdRN in dryland catchments. This research aims to determine the possible impact of the increase in the number of small reservoirs on dry hydrological networks, evaluating the annual flows generated at the outlet of a dryland watershed for scenarios with different densities of small reservoirs (number of reservoirs per area). The study area was the Conceição river catchment (3347 km2) in the semiarid of Brazil. The hydrological model of the study area was developed in SWAT. The model obtained appropriate results for daily streamflows, with values of 0.63, 0.81, and 0.53% for NSE, KGE, and PBIAS, respectively. The current density of small reservoirs in the region was estimated at 0.068 reservoirs per square kilometer (res/km2). Eight expansion scenarios were defined for densities between 0.1 res/km2 and 3.0 res/km2. The results showed that the influence of the HdRN on runoff reduction mostly occurs for a probability of exceedance between 1% and 10% of month flows and is very small for months with very high peaks of flow. The reduction in the outlet flow due to the increase in the number of small reservoirs was stronger during dry years (up to 30%) than during wet years (up to 8%), and it tended to increase in years with a consecutive lack of rain (from about 7% in the first year to about 20% in the last year and in the worst scenario), which may intensify the period of extended droughts. This research provides insights about the impact of the increase in the number of small reservoirs on the interannual variability of flow retention, and the understanding of the influence of small reservoirs on runoff reduction may help water resources agencies better prepare for hydrologic extremes (droughts and floods).
Using Natural Pozzolans to Partially Replace Cement in Pervious Concretes: A Sustainable Alternative?
Authors: Oviedo Ignacio , Pradena Mauricio , Link Óscar , Balbo José T.
Published: October 2022

Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials all around the globe. Associated with urban expansion, concrete pavements increase the impermeable surfaces that affect the hydrological cycle and generate urban heat islands. Cement is one of the main components of concrete, and its production is one of the main sources of worldwide CO2 emissions. Pervious concrete with partial cement replacement represents a more sustainable alternative. In this paper, the use of natural pozzolans zeolite and pumicite, as partial cement replacement materials in pervious concrete mixtures, is analyzed. The mechanical and hydraulic properties of pervious concretes using different percentages of pumicite and zeolite to replace cement (0% to 20%) were evaluated by a series of tests on compressive strength, flexural strength, permeability, porosity, and a microanalysis by SEM for the samples. Additionally, experiments with a plasticizer additive were conducted. The results show that mixtures with 0.35 W/C ratio present better mechanical and hydraulic properties; pumicite shows a better performance than zeolite, with the better properties achieved at 10% cement replacement; and the addition of plasticizer increased the final strengths. It is recommended to partially replace cement by adding 10% pumicite and to consider using 0.7% of plasticizer.
Prediction of Banana Production Using Epidemiological Parameters of Black Sigatoka: An Application with Random Forest
Authors: Olivares Barlin O. , Vega Andrés , Rueda Calderón María A. , Montenegro-Gracia Edilberto , Araya-Almán Miguel , Marys Edgloris
Published: October 2022

Accurate predictions of crop production are critical to developing effective strategies at the farm level. Knowing banana production is due to the need to maximize the investment–profit ratio, and the availability of this information in advance allows decisions to be made about the management of important diseases. The objective of this study was to predict the number of banana bunches from epidemiological parameters of Black Sigatoka (BS), using random forests (RF) for its ability to predict crop production responses to epidemiological variables. Weekly production data (number of banana bunches) and epidemiological parameters of BS from three adjacent banana sites in Panama during 2015–2018 were used. RF was found to be very capable of predicting the number of banana bunches, with variance explained as 70.0% and root mean square error (RMSE) of 1107.93 ± 22 of the mean banana bunches observed in the test case. The site, week, youngest leaf spotted and youngest leaf with symptoms in plants with 10 weeks of physiological age were found to be the best predictor group. Our results show that RF is an efficient and versatile machine learning method for banana production predictions based on epidemiological parameters of BS due to its high accuracy and precision, ease of use, and usefulness in data analysis.
S&T Innovation Platform Sharing Service Contract Mechanism to Achieve Supply Chain Resilience
Authors: Liang Ling , Han Zishu , Xie Jiaping , Wang Jialiang , Shi Nan , Zhu Weijun
Published: October 2022

While achieving fruitful patents in innovation, enterprises can face bottlenecks in industrial transformation. The fundamental cause of such difficulties is the lack of pilot equipment. To this end, the science and technology (S&T) innovation platform introduces equipment sharing to solve the problems in transforming enterprise patents. Based on the premise that service demand is endogenous to platform service effort and user relationship resilience, this paper introduces revenue-sharing and cost-sharing contract mechanisms. It constructs a Stackelberg game model between S&T innovation platforms and enterprise users. Further, we explore the decision-making optimization involving platform service pricing, service effort, and a user’s relationship resilience. Our main findings are: (1) service pricing and relationship resilience show supermodularity to the platform revenue while showing submodularity to the user revenue. (2) The optimal user relationship resilience always indicates a decreasing trend in the pricing of platform services. (3) The platform and users have their preferences for contract types. When the platform dominates the game, they tend to adopt a revenue-sharing contract. When the users dominate, they are more willing to implement a cost-sharing contract. (4) As the S&T innovation platform strengthens the connection between the platform and users through the revenue- and cost-sharing contracts, it further enhances the supply chain collaboration among equipment suppliers, technology innovation platforms, and users, thereby achieving the purpose of improving supply chain sustainability and resilience. Technological innovation is an essential means to improve supply chain sustainability and resilience.
Are Consumers Aware of Sustainability Aspects Related to Edible Insects? Results from a Study Involving 14 Countries
Authors: Guiné Raquel P. F. , Florença Sofia G. , Anjos Ofélia , Boustani Nada M. , Chuck-Hernández Cristina , Sarić Marijana Matek , Ferreira Manuela , Costa Cristina A. , Bartkiene Elena , Cardoso Ana P. , Tarcea Monica , Correia Paula M. R. , Campos Sofia , Papageorgiou Maria , Camino Daniel Abarquero , Korzeniowska Malgorzata , Černelič-Bizjak Maša , Kruma Zanda , Damarli Emel , Ferreira Vanessa , Djekic Ilija
Published: October 2022

In recent years, edible insects have been suggested as an alternative food that is more sustainable compared with other sources of animal protein. However, knowledge about the sustainability aspects associated with this source of food may play a role in convincing consumers to adopt insects as part of their diet. In this context, the present study investigated the level of knowledge about the sustainability of edible insects in a group of people originating from 14 countries, with some naturally entomophagous and others not. To measure the knowledge, 11 items were selected and the scores obtained were tested with statistical tools (t-test for independent samples, analysis of variance—ANOVA) to search for differences according to sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, geographical origin, and consumption habits of edible insects. The obtained results showed that, in general, knowledge is moderate, with the values of the average scores for the 11 items investigated ranging from 0.23 ± 0.99 to 0.66 ± 1.02, on a scale ranging from −2 (=very low knowledge) to 2 (=very high knowledge). The highest scores were found for items relating to the lower use of animal feed and lower emission of greenhouse gases required for the production of insects compared with beef. When investigating the differences between groups of participants, significant differences were generally found, revealing a trend for higher knowledge among males and young adults, for participants residing in urban areas and in countries such as Spain, Mexico, and Poland, and for participants with higher education levels and higher incomes. When testing the influence of consumption variables on the level of knowledge, the results showed a higher knowledge for participants who had already consumed insects or are willing to consume them. Finally, it was observed that higher knowledge was found for participants whose motivation to consume insects related to curiosity, a wish to preserve the planet, the gastronomic characteristics of insects, and their nutritional value. In conclusion, these results clearly indicate a very marked influence of a number of variables on the knowledge about the sustainability of edible insects, and this may be helpful to delineate strategies to effectively raise knowledge and eventually increase the willingness to consider insects as a more sustainable alternative to partially replace other protein foods, even in countries where this is a not a traditional practice.
Developing A Rule-Based Dynamic Safety Checking Method for Enhancing Construction Safety
Authors: Bao Quanxi , Zhou Jianliang , Zhao Yueqin , Li Xinyao , Tao Shiwei , Duan Pinsheng
Published: October 2022

Safety code compliance checking before construction is a key step in risk control. However, the conventional safety compliance checking methods are static model-oriented, which can lead to both the low adaptability of the model to the dynamic construction process, and low checking efficiency. This paper develops a dynamic safety checking method based on BIM and topology for enhancing construction safety management, by incorporating actual construction processes. Firstly, based on the four stages of automatic safety checking, a comprehensive dynamic safety checking framework is proposed. Secondly, the object attributes and spatial location in the BIM model are extracted to form a dynamic topological relationship database. Following this, the dynamic safety checking method is designed, and the checking results are intuitively reported to users based on BIM software. An actual construction scenery is taken as an example to verify the feasibility of the method in the final stage. The results showed that the dynamic safety checking method, based on topology and rules, can help to accurately identify safety risks in the pre-construction stage and reduce the safety risks due to poor design considerations or construction process modification.
Examining the Effect of Revenue Management on Customer Perceptions and Calculating the Service Performance Index: Food Order Application Example
Authors: Özek Kübra İpek , Ersöz Süleyman , Aktepe Adnan , Teslim Sıla
Published: October 2022

In this research, the target is to create a “Service Performance Index” for food order mobile applications. In order to create the index, a structural equation model is developed. Then the coefficients which are obtained from the model are used to calculate the index values. There are some revenue management practices carried out in the food sector such as “discounts when you order a meal for two” or “privileges for contracted credit card or mobile line users”. In this context, this study tried to measure whether there is a relationship between the revenue management and customer perceptions, which are e-service quality, satisfaction and word of mouth. It was realized that revenue management has a significant, positive and high-level effect on e-service quality, satisfaction and word of mouth. The index scores of participants of the questionnaire were compared according to the frequency of benefiting from revenue management applications and discount campaigns. Thus, it was revealed that the service performance index of those who always use revenue management applications is higher than those who never use them. This result contributes to businesses with an important reference in terms of food marketing strategy.
Driving Factors and Spatial Temporal Heterogeneity of Low-Carbon Coupling Coordination between the Logistics Industry and Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Wang Yijiao
Published: October 2022

The low-carbon coupling coordination of the logistics industry and manufacturing industry is an ecological innovation organization that integrates economic benefits, social benefits, and ecological benefits under strict carbon emission constraints. In order to control or reduce the carbon dioxide emission of the two industries, it is very important to understand the driving factors of emission change and formulate effective carbon policy. The Yangtze River Delta has developed manufacturing clusters and a perfect logistics system. The Yangtze River Delta region is taken as an example. Firstly, the coupling coordination model is used to calculate the low-carbon coupling coordination scheduling of the region. Then, the spatiotemporal geographically time-weighted regression model (GTWR) is used to explore the spatial heterogeneity of driving factors of low-carbon coupling coordination. The empirical results show the following: the low-carbon coupling coordination in the Yangtze River Delta is at a good coordination, and each driving factor has a positive effect on the coupling coordination. From the regional city level and time change level, the regression coefficients of each driving factors are analyzed, and it is found that the impact of driving factors on low-carbon coupling is significantly different between large cities and small and medium-sized cities, and the spatial heterogeneity of driving factors is significant. Specifically, the marginal impact of human capital, technological progress, and urbanization level on the low-carbon coupling between logistics and manufacturing in the Yangtze River Delta is increasing year by year; the marginal impact of international trade, industrial policy, and foreign investment on the Yangtze River Delta is decreasing year by year; and the marginal impact of capital investment and infrastructure on the Yangtze River Delta is relatively stable. Finally, according to the heterogeneity of driving factors in cities of different sizes, the corresponding development suggestions are put forward.
Bioconversion of Agro-Residues into Microbial Oil-Based Oleochemicals Employing Packed Bed Bioreactor
Authors: Tsouko Erminta , Papadaki Aikaterini , Carmona-Cabello Miguel , Dorado MP , Freire Denise Maria Guimarães , Papanikolaou Seraphim , Koutinas Apostolis A.
Published: October 2022

Lignocellulosic waste-streams are resources worth investigating to produce value-added bioproducts due to their low-cost, renewability, versatility, and abundance. This study evaluated five Zygomycota strains as potential oleaginous microorganisms for direct bioconversion of cakes derived from the vegetable-oil-milling industry into microbial oil. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) conditions in tray bioreactors revealed that temperature, moisture content, and substrate affected lipid production and fatty acids composition. Employing SSF, under optimal conditions (30 °C, 65% initial moisture content), and substrate supplementation with nitrogen sources increased lipid productivity 1.1-fold on palm kernel cake (PKC) substrate. Supplementation strategies using glycerol, molasses, or mineral solution did nοt favor lipid production. When cotton seed cake (CoSC) was applied, C. echinulata was able to produce 304.1 mg/gfs of biomass with a lipid content of 40.2% (w/w) in tray bioreactors. Scaling-up SSF using CoSC in packed bed reactors led to the highest biomass production (320.5 mg/gfs), while lipids production was unaffected. Then, microbial oil was enzymatically converted into polyol esters achieving the highest conversion yield of 80% after 2 h. Physicochemical properties of polyol esters demonstrated their potential utilization as biolubricants. The present study showed the perspective of bioconverting industrial side streams into microbial oil and a route for sustainable synthesis of oleochemicals.
Effect of Agricultural Social Services on Green Production of Natural Rubber: Evidence from Hainan, China
Authors: Chen Jingpeng , Zhang Desheng , Chen Zhi , Li Zhijian , Cai Zigong
Published: October 2022

It is vital to concentrate on conserving the ecological environment and promoting production efficiency in the process of planting natural rubber. Agricultural social services (ASSs) play an essential role in helping rubber farmers to achieve green production. Based on the survey data of 552 natural rubber farmers in Hainan Province, this study builds an index system regarding socialized services for rubber production from three factors: technology extension services, financial insurance services, and market information services. This research uses the slack-based measure (SBM) model and the Tobit model to analyze the green production efficiency (GPE) and the influences of rubber production socialized services on the rubber growers’ green production efficiency. Our results revealed that (1) the average green productivity of rubber planting in Hainan is approximately 0.41, which means that there is ample space for improvement; (2) ASSs have a significant positive effect on increasing the green rubber production efficiency; and (3) among ASSs, the technical extension service has the most significant effect on improving the green production efficiency of the growers. To further raise GPE of natural rubber, the socialized service system can be strengthened in terms of technology, capital, and information. ASSs have noticeable potential in improving the efficiency of rubber green production while ensuring economic, social, and ecological sustainability.
A Comprehensive Methodology for Evaluating the Economic Impacts of Floods: An Application to Canada, Mexico, and the United States
Authors: Wen Xin , Ferreira Ana María Alarcón , Rae Lynn M. , Saffari Hirmand , Adeel Zafar , Bakkensen Laura A. , Estrada Karla M. Méndez , Garfin Gregg M. , McPherson Renee A. , Franco Vargas Ernesto
Published: October 2022

In 2020, we developed a comprehensive methodology (henceforth, the methodology) to assess flood-related economic costs. The methodology covers direct damages, indirect effects, and losses and additional costs across 105 social, infrastructure, economic, and emergency response indicators. As a companion paper, this study presents findings from analysis of applying the methodology to investigate economic costs for major flood events between 2013 and 2017 and to assess gaps in the existing datasets across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. In addition, we conducted one case study from each country for an in-depth examination of the applicability of the methodology. Applying the methodology, Mexico showed the most complete flood indicator data availability and accessibility among the three countries. We found that most flood-related economic cost assessments evaluated only direct damages, and indirect effect data were rarely included in datasets in the three countries. Moreover, few of the records from Canada and the United States captured the losses and additional costs. Flood-related economic cost data at the municipal or county level were easily accessible in Mexico and the United States. Mexico’s National Center for Prevention of Disasters (Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres), unique among the three nations, provided access to centralized and comprehensive flood cost data. In the United States and Canada, data collection by multiple agencies that focus on different jurisdictions and scales of flood damage complicated comprehensive data collection and led to incomplete economic cost assessments. Our analysis strongly suggests that countries should aim to expand the set of data indicators available and become more granular across space and time while maintaining data quality. This study provides significant insights about approaches for collating spatial, temporal, and outcome-specific localized flood economic costs and the major data gaps across the three countries.
Understanding Travel Behavior and Sustainability of Current Transportation System for Older Adults in Malaysia: A Scoping Review
Authors: Noor Nur Farhana Mohammed , Kadir Shahar Hayati , Hamid Tengku Aizan , Zainalaludin Zumilah , Ahmad Siti Anom , Rokhani Fakhrul Zaman , Ujang Norsidah , Yusoff Irwan Syah Md , Akahbar Siti Aisyah Nor
Published: October 2022

Rapid transportation development may be welcomed by many, but older adults might find it difficult to keep up with their transportation uses and remain active. This study reviewed published articles on the travel behavior of older adults in Malaysia and associated transportation determinants to explore how sustainable the transportation system is for this vulnerable cohort. The authors searched four databases: PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost. Inclusion criteria were older respondents, living in a community in Malaysia, addressing any travel behavior characteristics, and being written in English. Review papers, letters, book citations, comments, editorials, and experimental and animal studies are excluded from this study. A total of seven studies were included in this review extending from 2007 to 2020. The result showed that the transportation use of older adults has shifted from relying on public transport to driving their own vehicles to move around. According to the findings of this study, besides personal and health factors, the transport use of older adults is affected mainly by cost, public transport availability, road traffic and safety, the complexity of the transportation system, distance to public transit, availability of parking space, as well as road conditions and signage. It is concluded that an effective strategy to improve the transportation system is needed to prevent the unmet travel needs of older adults in Malaysia.
Saudi Arabia’s Management of the Hajj Season through Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability
Authors: Abalkhail Asma Abdulaziz Abdullah , Al Amri Sumiah Mashraf Abdullah
Published: October 2022

High-density gatherings have the potential to turn from a peaceful mass into a human disaster unless they are managed in an organized manner. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj implemented an integrated system based on artificial intelligence. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was eager to take advantage of the techniques of artificial intelligence to conduct its strategic plan, considering limited pilgrims who would be allowed to perform the Hajj rites during these exceptional circumstances. In this study, the experience of the KSA in crowd management using artificial intelligence during the Hajj was examined to create a model for similar circumstances. This study employed the descriptive analytical method. The program Arc Gis Pro 2.9.2 was used to produce maps related to the study. A strategic analysis was also conducted regarding the experience of the KSA in crowd management using SWOT analysis concerning the study area. This study found that the KSA has become a leader in crowd management and a reference and role model in managing crowds through an expanded use of artificial intelligence during the COVID-19 pandemic. It undertook all necessary precautionary measures to protect the pilgrims, and no injuries were reported.
Flash Flood Hazard Mapping Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques in Southwestern Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alarifi Saad S. , Abdelkareem Mohamed , Abdalla Fathy , Alotaibi Mislat
Published: October 2022

Flash flooding is one of the most significant natural disasters in arid/hyperarid regions and causes vast property damage and a large number of deaths. For mitigating and reducing flood risks, data from several remote sensing satellite images—Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI), and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)—were prepared and combined through a GIS-based multicriteria decision-making technique to test and delineate the flash flood vulnerable areas of Wadi Hali in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Several flash flood thematic layers representing topographic, geomorphic, climatic, and hydrological conditions were prepared, normalized, and combined through a GIS- based analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique to obtain flash flood hazard zones (FFHs). This method successfully presented a satisfactory output map that revealed six zones of flood risk, and areas of extreme hazard covered about 13% of the entire basin. Landsat 8 band composite 7, 5, and 3 and field data validated the FFHs. This map considered a key requirement for sustaining safe settlements downstream of Wadi Hali. Overall, the integration of remote sensing and GIS techniques revealed significant areas of flash flood zones in an arid region.
Understanding and Exploring the Concept of Fear, in the Work Context and Its Role in Improving Safety Performance and Reducing Well-Being in a Steady Job Insecurity Period
Authors: Bellini Diego , Cubico Serena , Ardolino Piermatteo , Bonaiuto Marino , Mascia Maria Lidia , Barbieri Barbara
Published: October 2022

Job insecurity is attributable to the fear of being exploited by the organization and may have negative effects on employees. For example, it may lead employees to adopt non-compliant or deviant behaviors that harm individuals and their organization. However, knowledge about specific fears that have positive or negative effects on employees and organizations is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to detect the main fears related to job insecurity in an organization and the hidden meanings included in each of these fears that may cause negative and positive effects on important work-related outcomes. Further, we identified safety behaviors related to the previously identified fears. Notably, we investigated whether fears reduce well-being, the number of accidents and near misses, and behaviors related to safety and whether they increase the perceived probability of making mistakes. We conducted 65 focus groups with 37 managers/employees and 180 workers in separate groups. Furthermore, they completed a self-report questionnaire. We identified eleven fears and related meanings and ten safety behaviors. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that fears were significantly negatively associated with well-being and safety behaviors but not with the probability of making mistakes and causing accidents. Thus, fears play a key role in promoting behaviors, organizational strategies, and employees’ well-being. The analysis results show that fears are included in a main general factor and suggest a new way to consider fears at work. Given our findings, we propose a new definition of fear in the organization.
Governance and Institutional Drivers of Ecological Degradation in Urban River Ecosystems: Insights from Case Studies in African Cities
Authors: Odume Oghenekaro Nelson , Onyima Blessing Nonye , Nnadozie Chika Felicitas , Omovoh Gift Ochonogor , Mmachaka Thandi , Omovoh Blessing Odafe , Uku Jude Edafe , Akamagwuna Frank Chukwuzuoke , Arimoro Francis Ofurum
Published: October 2022

The degradation of rivers in urban landscapes is alarming and impaired their ecological functions and the services they provide to society. In African cities, urban rivers are among the most degraded ecosystems, yet ecologically sustainable utilisation of river resources can contribute to and support sustainable urban development. In this paper, we identify and analyse key governance and institutional drivers of ecological change in urban river systems in the Swartkops catchment in South Africa and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Nigeria. Our results indicate that poor ecological conditions of rivers in the two urban landscapes can be attributed to: (1) a lack of system view of the water value chain and associated infrastructure, (2) ambiguity in roles, responsibilities, and poor accountability, (3) prioritizing short-term social–economic–political agenda over long-term environmental sustainability goals, (4) institutional silos and failure of cooperative governance, and (5) over-centralised, top-down, state-centric governance processes. Strengthening the interactions between actors in the science, policy and practice domains, mainstreaming planning with rivers in integrated urban development plans, and strengthening cooperative and polycentric governance across administrative scales are key governance and institutional processes needed to address the trajectory of urban ecological degradation. Our paper sheds light on the fundamental role of strengthening governance and institutional processes for steering urban rivers toward sustainable paths for city resilience.
Education Sustainability for Intelligent Manufacturing in the Context of the New Generation of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Jing Xian , Zhu Rongxin , Lin Jieqiong , Yu Baojun , Lu Mingming
Published: October 2022

With the continuous breakthrough and innovation of artificial intelligence technology, the demand for diversified and multi-level compound intelligent manufacturing talents keeps growing. However, the current pace of intelligent manufacturing talent education in colleges and universities is still difficult to keep up with the advances in science and technology in the context of the new generation of artificial intelligence. This work conducted visual research of the literature on artificial intelligence in the field of manufacturing. All the literature was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and divided into three periods (1979–1994, 1995–2007 and 2008–2021) according to the fluctuation of literature volume. Bibliometric and content analysis of the related literature during these periods were conducted to track the hotspots and trend of artificial intelligence in the field of manufacturing. The results showed that the internet of things, deep learning, cyber physical systems and smart manufacturing have been the new research hotspots. Finally, a series of suggestions were given for the sustainable education of intelligent manufacturing talents in the context of the new generation of artificial intelligence. This work may provide references for the construction of sustainable education systems for intelligent manufacturing talents in the context of the new generation of artificial intelligence.
Spatial Distribution of COVID-19 Infected Cases in Kelantan, Malaysia
Authors: Nor Amal Najihah Muhamad , Jamil Rohazaini Muhammad , Aziz Hasifah Abdul , Abas Muhamad Azahar , Hambali Kamarul Ariffin , Hassin Nor Hizami , Abdul Karim Muhammad Firdaus , Nawawi Siti Aisyah , Amir Aainaa , Amaludin Nazahatul Anis , Ibrahim Norfadhilah , Yusoff Abdul Hafidz , Malek Nur Hanisah Abdul , Rafaai Nur Hairunnisa , Mohd Hatta Siti Khairiyah , Grafius Darren
Published: October 2022

Kota Bharu city in Kelantan, Malaysia was reported with the highest cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among other districts. Kota Bharu is the capital city of Kelantan, which acts as the administrative, commercial, and financial areas. A large population pool may become a potential carrier for disease transmission to become an epidemic. However, the impact of population density on the COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia is still unknown and undiscovered. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of population density on COVID-19 as a potential virus transmission carrier using linear regression models. The chances of formulating new strategies for combating COVID-19 are higher when the driver of transmission potential is identified. This study shows that the highest value of infected area density is in Kota Bharu (0.76), while the infected risk area was highest in Jeli (0.33). This study found that there is a strong relationship between COVID-19 infection cases in Kelantan and population density (R2 which is 0.845). Therefore, high population density was identified as a potential driver of transmission of COVID-19 outbreak. Understanding the potential drivers of the disease in a local setting is very important for better preparation and management. The outcome of the study can aid in the development of a new analytical model for strategic planning of Zero COVID-19 for securing the public health and wellness, both social and economic, by researchers, scientists, planners, resource managers, and decision-makers.
Designing a Mobile Application for Working Memory Training through Understanding the Psychological and Physiological Characteristics of Older Adults
Authors: Zhu Di , Jing Yuchen , Huang Ruonan , Gao Yan , Liu Yue , Zou Zheng , Liu Wei
Published: October 2022

Cognitive function declines with age, and when cognitive deterioration reaches a critical value and pathological changes occur, the brain neurons are irreversible. The aging of working memory even has profound adverse effects on older adults. This study aims to understand the psychological and physiological characteristics of older adults and to achieve mobile application design solutions that train working memory. According to the user study, the factors influencing the design of mobile applications for working memory training for older adults were mainly focused on six dimensions: training content, motivation, emotion, interaction, current state, and experience. Design opportunities were transformed, and seven new design strategies were obtained. Nine product functions with the highest priority were selected: daily practice, challenge mode, level-by-level difficulty selection, novice teaching, practice mode, sharing function, two-player mode, ranking, and desktop components. Finally, an interactive prototype was designed for usability testing, and the product solution was iterated based on expert evaluation and user feedback. The results indicate that the interface design provides a good user experience when applied daily. The process and results will be applied to make more solutions for training cognitive functions to be used in different situations.
Destination Social Responsibility and Residents’ Environmentally Responsible Behavior: Assessing the Mediating Role of Community Attachment and Involvement
Authors: Nasr Elsie , Emeagwali Okechukwu Lawrence , Aljuhmani Hasan Yousef , Al-Geitany Souha
Published: October 2022

This study revisited the relationship between destination social responsibility (DSR) and residents’ environmentally responsible behavior (ERB) in conjunction with the stimulus–organism–response (S-O-R) framework to assess the mediating effect of community attachment and involvement. The proposed conceptual research model was empirically examined with 375 residents from the largest tourist destinations in Ghana. A cross-sectional research design was used, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to test the mediating role of community attachment and involvement. The findings of this study confirmed that DSR has a significant and positive relationship with residents’ community attachment, involvement, and ERB. In addition, the findings of this study revealed a positive relationship between community attachment and residents’ ERB. The findings of this study also confirmed the indirect effect of DSR on residents’ ERB through community attachment. Contrary to expectations, the results of this study did not support the direct and indirect effects of community involvement on residents’ ERB. This study responded to the call from previous research to investigate the relationship between residents’ DSR and socio-psychological constructs, such as community attachment and involvement, which in turn enhance and improve their ERB in different cultures and tourism destinations.