bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Host-Feeding Preference and Diel Activity of Mosquito Vectors of the Japanese Encephalitis Virus in Rural Cambodia
Authors: Boyer Sébastien , Durand Benoit , Yean Sony , Brengues Cécile , Maquart Pierre-Olivier , Fontenille Didier , Chevalier Véronique
Published: March 2021

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is the most important cause of human encephalitis in Southeast Asia, and this zoonosis is mainly transmitted from pigs to human by mosquitoes. A better understanding of the host-feeding preference of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) major vectors is crucial for identifying risk areas, defining bridge vector species and targeting adapted vector control strategies. To assess host-feeding preference of JE vectors in a rural Cambodian area where JE is known to circulate, in 2017, we implemented four sessions of mosquito trapping (March, June, September, December), during five consecutive nights, collecting four times a night (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.), and using five baited traps simultaneously, i.e., cow, chicken, pig, human, and a blank one for control. In addition, blood meals of 157 engorged females trapped at the same location were opportunistically analyzed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using cow, pig, human, and dog blood primers. More than 95% of the 36,709 trapped mosquitoes were potential JE vectors. These vectors were trapped in large numbers throughout the year, including during the dry season, and from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Despite the apparent host-feeding preference of Culex vishnui, Cx. gelidus, and Cx. tritaenhyorhincus for cows, statistical analysis suggested that the primary target of these three mosquito species were pigs. Dog blood was detected in eight mosquitoes of the 157 tested, showing that mosquitoes also bite dogs, and suggesting that dogs may be used as proxy of the risk for human to get infected by JE virus.
Sensitivity of Solid-Scintillator Detectors to Dark Matter
Authors: Belli Pierluigi , Cerulli Riccardo
Published: March 2021

This paper shortly reviews the sensitivities that can be achieved to unambiguously point out the presence of a signal of Galactic origin in dark matter experiments with solid-scintillator detectors. Examples of the experimental sensitivities obtained by exploiting the annual and diurnal modulation signatures are reported with particular regard to the investigations performed in the framework of the DAMA Collaboration. The directionality approach in solid scintillators is also presented and, in particular, the perspectives of the ADAMO project are discussed.
Zinc Finger-Homeodomain Transcriptional Factors (ZF-HDs) in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): Identification, Evolution, Expression Analysis and Response to Abiotic Stresses
Authors: Liu Hao , Yang Ying , Zhang Linsheng
Published: March 2021

Zinc finger-homeodomain transcriptional factors (ZF-HDs), a kind of plant-specific transcription factor, play important roles in plant growth, development and various stress responses. In this study, the genome-wide analysis of the ZF-HD gene family was performed in wheat. A total of 37 TaZF-HD genes were identified in T. aestivum and classified into six groups. The results of a synteny analysis showed that gene replication events contributed to the expansion of the TaZF-HD gene family. The TaZF-HD paralogous gene pairs with similar chromosomal locations in different subgenomes had similar expression patterns. TaZF-HDs were highly induced under PEG (polyethylene glycol), NaCl and cold stress but not induced under heat stress. Gene ontology (GO) annotation and protein-protein interactions suggested that TaZF-HD proteins may participate in various biological processes of plants. These results increase our understanding of ZF-HD genes and provide robust candidate genes for future functional investigations aimed at crop improvement.
A Logistic Approach for Kinetics of Isothermal Pyrolysis of Cellulose
Authors: López-Beceiro Jorge , Díaz-Díaz Ana María , Álvarez-García Ana , Tarrío-Saavedra Javier , Naya Salvador , Artiaga Ramón
Published: March 2021

A kinetic model is proposed to fit isothermal thermogravimetric data obtained from cellulose in an inert atmosphere at different temperatures. The method used here to evaluate the model involves two steps: (1) fitting of single time-derivative thermogravimetric curves (DTG) obtained at different temperatures versus time, and (2) fitting of the rate parameter values obtained at different temperatures versus temperature. The first step makes use of derivative of logistic functions. For the second step, the dependence of the rate factor on temperature is evaluated. That separation of the curve fitting from the analysis of the rate factor resulted to be very flexible since it proved to work for previous crystallization studies and now for thermal degradation of cellulose.
Biodegradation of Hemicellulose-Cellulose-Starch-Based Bioplastics and Microbial Polyesters
Authors: Abe Mateus Manabu , Branciforti Marcia Cristina , Brienzo Michel
Published: March 2021

The volume of discarded solid wastes, especially plastic, which accumulates in large quantities in different environments, has substantially increased. Population growth and the consumption pattern of societies associated with unsustainable production routes have caused the pollution level to increase. Therefore, the development of materials that help mitigate the impacts of plastics is fundamental. However, bioplastics can result in a misunderstanding about their properties and environmental impacts, as well as incorrect management of their final disposition, from misidentifications and classifications. This chapter addresses the aspects and factors surrounding the biodegradation of bioplastics from natural (plant biomass (starch, lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and starch) and bacterial polyester polymers. Therefore, the biodegradation of bioplastics is a factor that must be studied, because due to the increase in the production of different bioplastics, they may present differences in the decomposition rates.
Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Ground-Based RGB Indices to Assess Agronomic Performance of Wheat Landraces and Cultivars in a Mediterranean-Type Environment
Authors: Rufo Rubén , Soriano Jose Miguel , Villegas Dolors , Royo Conxita , Bellvert Joaquim
Published: March 2021

The adaptability and stability of new bread wheat cultivars that can be successfully grown in rainfed conditions are of paramount importance. Plant improvement can be boosted using effective high-throughput phenotyping tools in dry areas of the Mediterranean basin, where drought and heat stress are expected to increase yield instability. Remote sensing has been of growing interest in breeding programs since it is a cost-effective technology useful for assessing the canopy structure as well as the physiological traits of large genotype collections. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a 4-band multispectral camera on-board an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and ground-based RGB imagery to predict agronomic traits as well as quantify the best estimation of leaf area index (LAI) in rainfed conditions. A collection of 365 bread wheat genotypes, including 181 Mediterranean landraces and 184 modern cultivars, was evaluated during two consecutive growing seasons. Several vegetation indices (VI) derived from multispectral UAV and ground-based RGB images were calculated at different image acquisition dates of the crop cycle. The modified triangular vegetation index (MTVI2) proved to have a good accuracy to estimate LAI (R2 = 0.61). Although the stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that grain yield and number of grains per square meter (NGm2) were the agronomic traits most suitable to be predicted, the R2 were low due to field trials were conducted under rainfed conditions. Moreover, the prediction of agronomic traits was slightly better with ground-based RGB VI rather than with UAV multispectral VIs. NDVI and GNDVI, from multispectral images, were present in most of the prediction equations. Repeated measurements confirmed that the ability of VIs to predict yield depends on the range of phenotypic data. The current study highlights the potential use of VI and RGB images as an efficient tool for high-throughput phenotyping under rainfed Mediterranean conditions.
Object-Based Predictive Modeling (OBPM) for Archaeology: Finding Control Places in Mountainous Environments
Authors: Magnini Luigi , Bettineschi Cinzia
Published: March 2021

This contribution examines the potential of object-based image analysis (OBIA) for archaeological predictive modeling starting from elevation data, by testing a ruleset for the location of “control places” on two test areas in the Alpine environment (northern Italy). The ruleset was developed on the western Asiago Plateau (Vicenza Province, Veneto) and subsequently re-applied (semi)automatically in the Isarco Valley (South Tirol). Firstly, we considered the physiographic, climatic, and morphological characteristics of the selected areas and we applied 3 DTM processing techniques: Slope, local dominance, and solar radiation. Subsequently, we employed an object-based approach to classification. Solar radiation, local dominance, and slope were visualized as a three-layer RGB image that was segmented with the multiresolution algorithm. The classification was implemented with a ruleset that selected only image–objects with high local dominance and solar radiation, but low slope, which were considered more suitable parameters for human occupation. The classification returned five areas on the Asiago Plateau that were remotely and ground controlled, confirming anthropic exploitation covering a time span from protohistory (2nd-1st millennium BC) to the First World War. Subsequently, the same model was applied to the Isarco Valley to verify the replicability of the method. The procedure resulted in 36 potential control places which find good correspondence with the archaeological sites discovered in the area. Previously unknown contexts were further controlled using very high-resolution (VHR) aerial images and digital terrain model (DTM) data, which often suggested a possible (pre-proto)historic human frequentation. The outcomes of the analysis proved the feasibility of the approach, which can be exported and applied to similar mountainous landscapes for site predictivity analysis.
Recent Advances in Internet of Things (IoT) Infrastructures for Building Energy Systems: A Review
Authors: Yaïci Wahiba , Krishnamurthy Karthik , Entchev Evgueniy , Longo Michela
Published: March 2021

This paper summarises a literature review on the applications of Internet of Things (IoT) with the aim of enhancing building energy use and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). A detailed assessment of contemporary practical reviews and works was conducted to understand how different IoT systems and technologies are being developed to increase energy efficiencies in both residential and commercial buildings. Most of the reviewed works were invariably related to the dilemma of efficient heating systems in buildings. Several features of the central components of IoT, namely, the hardware and software needed for building controls, are analysed. Common design factors across the many IoT systems comprise the selection of sensors and actuators and their powering techniques, control strategies for collecting information and activating appliances, monitoring of actual data to forecast prospect energy consumption and communication methods amongst IoT components. Some building energy applications using IoT are provided. It was found that each application presented has the potential for significant energy reduction and user comfort improvement. This is confirmed in two case studies summarised, which report the energy savings resulting from implementing IoT systems. Results revealed that a few elements are user-specific that need to be considered in the decision processes. Last, based on the studies reviewed, a few aspects of prospective research were recommended.
C-UNet: Complement UNet for Remote Sensing Road Extraction
Authors: Hou Yuewu , Liu Zhaoying , Zhang Ting , Li Yujian
Published: March 2021

Roads are important mode of transportation, which are very convenient for people’s daily work and life. However, it is challenging to accuratly extract road information from a high-resolution remote sensing image. This paper presents a road extraction method for remote sensing images with a complement UNet (C-UNet). C-UNet contains four modules. Firstly, the standard UNet is used to roughly extract road information from remote sensing images, getting the first segmentation result; secondly, a fixed threshold is utilized to erase partial extracted information; thirdly, a multi-scale dense dilated convolution UNet (MD-UNet) is introduced to discover the complement road areas in the erased masks, obtaining the second segmentation result; and, finally, we fuse the extraction results of the first and the third modules, getting the final segmentation results. Experimental results on the Massachusetts Road dataset indicate that our C-UNet gets the higher results than the state-of-the-art methods, demonstrating its effectiveness.
Fluoroindate Glass Co-Doped with Yb3+/Ho3+ as a 2.85 μm Luminescent Source for MID-IR Sensing
Authors: Kochanowicz Marcin , Zmojda Jacek , Baranowska Agata , Kuwik Marta , Starzyk Bartłomiej , Lesniak Magdalena , Miluski Piotr , Pisarski Wojciech A. , Pisarska Joanna , Dorosz Jan , Ferrari Maurizio , Dorosz Dominik
Published: March 2021

This work reports on the fabrication and analysis of near-infrared and mid-infrared luminescence spectra and their decays in fluoroindate glasses co-doped with Yb3+/Ho3+. The attention has been paid to the analysis of the Yb3+→ Ho3+ energy transfer processed ions in fluoroindate glasses pumped by 976 nm laser diode. The most effective sensitization for 2 μm luminescence has been obtained in glass co-doped with 0.8YbF3/1.6HoF3. Further study in the mid-infrared spectral range (2.85 μm) showed that the maximum emission intensity has been obtained in fluoroindate glass co-doped with 0.1YbF3/1.4HoF3. The obtained efficiency of Yb3+→ Ho3+ energy transfer was calculated to be up to 61% (0.8YbF3/1.6HoF3), which confirms the possibility of obtaining an efficient glass or glass fiber infrared source for a MID-infrared (MID-IR) sensing application.
Integration of 3D Printed Flexible Pressure Sensors into Physical Interfaces for Wearable Robots
Authors: Langlois Kevin , Roels Ellen , Van De Velde Gabriël , Espadinha Cláudia , Van Vlerken Christopher , Verstraten Tom , Vanderborght Bram , Lefeber Dirk
Published: March 2021

Sensing pressure at the physical interface between the robot and the human has important implications for wearable robots. On the one hand, monitoring pressure distribution can give valuable benefits on the aspects of comfortability and safety of such devices. Additionally, on the other hand, they can be used as a rich sensory input to high level interaction controllers. However, a problem is that the commercial availability of this technology is mostly limited to either low-cost solutions with poor performance or expensive options, limiting the possibilities for iterative designs. As an alternative, in this manuscript we present a three-dimensional (3D) printed flexible capacitive pressure sensor that allows seamless integration for wearable robotic applications. The sensors are manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques, which provides benefits in terms of versatility of design and implementation. In this study, a characterization of the 3D printed sensors in a test-bench is presented after which the sensors are integrated in an upper arm interface. A human-in-the-loop calibration of the sensors is then shown, allowing to estimate the external force and pressure distribution that is acting on the upper arm of seven human subjects while performing a dynamic task. The validation of the method is achieved by means of a collaborative robot for precise force interaction measurements. The results indicate that the proposed sensors are a potential solution for further implementation in human–robot interfaces.
Measurement Methods in the Operation of Ships and Offshore Facilities
Authors: Chybowski Leszek , Tomczak Arkadiusz , Kozak Maciej
Published: March 2021

The development of modern measurement methods for ship systems has occurred due to economic changes and increasingly stringent environmental requirements [...]
Unsupervised Fault Detection on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Encoding and Thresholding Approach
Authors: Park Kyung Ho , Park Eunji , Kim Huy Kang
Published: March 2021

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are expected to create enormous benefits to society, but there are safety concerns in recognizing faults at the vehicle’s control component. Prior studies proposed various fault detection approaches leveraging heuristics-based rules and supervised learning-based models, but there were several drawbacks. The rule-based approaches required an engineer to update the rules on every type of fault, and the supervised learning-based approaches necessitated the acquisition of a finely-labeled training dataset. Moreover, both prior approaches commonly include a limit that the detection model can identify the trained type of faults only, but fail to recognize the unseen type of faults. In pursuit of resolving the aforementioned drawbacks, we proposed a fault detection model utilizing a stacked autoencoder that lies under unsupervised learning. The autoencoder was trained with data from safe UAV states, and its reconstruction loss was examined to distinguish the safe states and faulty states. The key contributions of our study are, as follows. First, we presented a series of analyses to extract essential features from raw UAV flight logs. Second, we designed a fault detection model consisting of the stacked autoencoder and the classifier. Lastly, we validated our approach’s fault detection performance with two datasets consisting of different types of UAV faults.
Effectiveness of Sex Education in Adolescents
Authors: Cortínez-López Aroa , Cuesta-Lozano Daniel , Luengo-González Raquel
Published: March 2021

Adolescence is the time during which the personal and sexual identity develops. The specific characteristics of adolescents and the lack of maturity facilitates the acquisition of sexual risk behaviors such as relaxation in the use of barrier contraceptives or the use of toxic substances, alcohol or drugs during sexual relations, increasing of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies. Health education in sexuality is one of the best ways to prevent risk behaviors and to promote healthy and responsible sexuality. While there have been different works in sex education in adolescents, there is still a lack of a comprehensive systematic literature review that including randomized and non-randomized clinical trials and quasi-experimental pre-post studies addressing education programs that provide information on healthy and responsible sexuality. Further, it is noted that a protocol drafted in consideration of the existing approaches is needed to present a basis for a systematic literature review in this area. This article, therefore, proposes a review protocol that will evaluate the impact of comprehensive sex education programs in the level of knowledge about STIs, behavioral level concerning the frequency of use of effective contraceptive methods and level of knowledge about sexual identity, diversity and/or responsible sexuality, after the intervention.
Chilean Teacher Educators’ Conceptions on the Absence of Women and Their History in Teacher Training Programmes. A Collective Case Study
Authors: Marolla Gajardo Jesús , Castellví Mata Jordi , Mendonça dos Santos Rodrigo
Published: March 2021

Schools must assume a clear position that considers gender perspectives and studies in their programmes’ construction as well as in discourses and practices produced and reproduced in the school context. Social sciences education is a key area that enables the creation of tools to reflect and foster social justice practices in face of violence against women. In this article, we focus on some reflections of social sciences education professors in Chile. Specifically, we discuss the limitations they face to include women and women issues in their classes. The methodology utilised is Collective Case Studies. The methodology used has a socio-constructivist approach and critical theory perspective, seeking to understand the structures of meaning around the invisibility of women and their history. Among the results, the willingness of professors to include and transform their practices towards perspectives that promote inclusion and social justice stands out. However, they have different limitations, such as excessive workload, the tradition already present in teacher education programmes, and the rigidity of the hegemonic and patriarchal structures.
What Can Influence the Quality of International Collaborative Publications: A Case Study of Humanities and Social Sciences International Collaboration in China’s Double First-Class Project Universities
Authors: Cheng Zhe , Lu Xingfu , Xiong Xiong , Wang Chuanyi
Published: March 2021

International collaboration is one of the effective ways to enhance the impact of scientific research papers. In this research, international research collaboration papers published by world-class universities in the field of humanities and social sciences from 2015 to 2019 were selected as the research object, and the effective enhancement of the impact of international research collaboration papers was found to not be dependent on expanding the scale of international research collaboration, but rather on selecting researchers with different international backgrounds and from high-level institutions for collaboration. It was also discovered that, in the field of humanities and social sciences, despite a relatively low proportion of international research collaboration papers being led by Chinese scholars, the Chinese research is characterized by a higher impact compared with the research led by non-Chinese scholars. In light of this, a series of proactive measures should be taken by China’s world-class universities, such as actively participating in and initiating international collaboration, selecting high-level research collaborators, and attracting scholars from different countries to engage in research collaboration in the field of humanities and social sciences.
Microbial Community Composition Correlates with Metal Sorption in an Ombrotrophic Boreal Bog: Implications for Radionuclide Retention
Authors: Lusa Merja , Bomberg Malin
Published: March 2021

Microbial communities throughout the 6.5 m depth profile of a boreal ombrotrophic bog were characterized using amplicon sequencing of archaeal, fungal, and bacterial marker genes. Microbial populations and their relationship to oxic and anoxic batch sorption of radionuclides (using radioactive tracers of I, Se, Cs, Ni, and Ag) and the prevailing metal concentrations in the natural bog was investigated. The majority of the detected archaea belonged to the Crenarchaeota, Halobacterota, and Thermoplasmatota, whereas the fungal communities consisted of Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and unclassified fungi. The bacterial communities consisted mostly of Acidobacteriota, Proteobacteria, and Chloroflexi. The occurrence of several microbial genera were found to statistically significantly correlate with metal concentrations as well as with Se, Cs, I, and Ag batch sorption data. We suggest that the metal concentrations of peat, gyttja, and clay layers affect the composition of the microbial populations in these nutrient-low conditions and that particularly parts of the bacterial and archaeal communities tolerate high concentrations of potentially toxic metals and may concurrently contribute to the total retention of metals and radionuclides in this ombrotrophic environment. In addition, the varying metal concentrations together with chemical, mineralogical, and physical factors may contribute to the shape of the total archaeal and bacterial populations and most probably shifts the populations for more metal resistant genera.
Antimony (V) Adsorption at the Hematite–Water Interface: A Macroscopic and In Situ ATR-FTIR Study
Authors: Mierzwa Jerzy , Mumbi Rose , Ray Avedananda , Rakshit Sudipta , Essington Michael E. , Sarkar Dibyendu
Published: March 2021

The environmental mobility of antimony (Sb) is largely unexplored in geochemical environments. Iron oxide minerals are considered major sinks for Sb. Among the different oxidation states of Sb, (+) V is found more commonly in a wide redox range. Despite many adsorption studies of Sb (V) with various iron oxide minerals, detailed research on the adsorption mechanism of Sb (V) on hematite using macroscopic, spectroscopic, and surface complexation modeling is rare. Thus, the main objective of our study is to evaluate the surface complexation mechanism of Sb (V) on hematite under a range of solution properties using macroscopic, in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic, and surface complexation modeling. The results indicate that the Sb (V) adsorption on hematite was highest at pH 4–6. After pH 6, the adsorption decreased sharply and became negligible above pH 9. The effect of ionic strength was negligible from pH 4 to 6. The spectroscopic results confirmed the presence of inner- and outer-sphere surface complexes at lower pH values, and only outer-sphere-type surface complex at pH 8. Surface complexation models successfully predicted the Sb (V) adsorption envelope. Our research will improve the understanding of Sb (V) mobility in iron-oxide-rich environments.
Modelling and Implementing Smart Universities: An IT Conceptual Framework
Authors: Maciá Pérez Francisco , Berna Martínez José Vicente , Lorenzo Fonseca Iren
Published: March 2021

The smart city concept has been gaining momentum in the scientific community because of its potentially huge impact on citizens’ quality of life. However, expectations have not yet been met in practice. This is firstly due to the sheer breadth of such projects and secondly to the lack of methodologies available to guide the development of flexible and sustainable platforms over time. In this work, we propose to address these issues by using a university campus as a less complex mock-up version of a city. Despite differences between them, we find services that are common to both, and a medium-sized city’s population is comparable to that of a university community. We propose an IT conceptual framework to model and implement smart university projects, which supports the design of a platform that is both in line with the strategic plans of universities and is flexible, sustainable, stable, and sufficiently modular to support the addition of different value-added services over the years. Our framework is based on a service provision model materialised in an IT architecture and managed following a methodology to integrate IT components that ensure the insertion of new, smart initiatives of value to the community, aligned with the university’s needs, via a value-added service planning process. The results are presented in the University of Alicante case study and the SmartUA project.
Sustainability and Consumer Willingness to Pay for Legumes: A Laboratory Study with Lentils
Authors: Marette Stéphan
Published: March 2021

We performed a laboratory study in France to explore consumer reactions to information about lentils, a legume whose consumption is sustainable and recommended by nutritionists and environmentalists. More specifically, we examined the effect of informational messages on consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for lentils bearing different production labels. Study participants were given two generic messages designed to promote lentils as a general product with nutritional and environmental benefits. These messages were followed by two specific messages related to one lentil packet with revealed information about the use of certain agricultural practices (e.g., intercropping, organic and local production, and producer partnerships). Initial WTP were measured before the information was provided. The results show that labeling had a strong influence on initial WTP. When WTP were measured after the participants had received the generic and specific informational messages, we observed a weak but significant influence for the lentils with organic and local production labels. There was no effect for the lentils without any production labels. We thus conclude that providing generic information via official recommendations and further developing legume labeling systems could act synergistically to drive some weak changes in consumer choices.
Analyzing the Impact of High-Speed Rail on Tourism with Parametric and Non-Parametric Methods: The Case Study of China
Authors: Pagliara Francesca , Mauriello Filomena , Ping Yin
Published: March 2021

High-speed rail (HSR) and tourism are closely related activities since improved mobility is perceived to facilitate tourist behavioral changes. The interest in research is very high and this contribution tries to provide an insight into this topic by making a comparison between the estimation of the parametric Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) approaches with the non-parametric Classification and Regression Tree (CART). A dataset containing information both on tourism and transport for thirty Chinese provinces, during the 2001–2017 period, has been collected. The finding of this paper shows that the presence of HSR has value in the explanation of tourist arrivals.
A Study on Emerging Management Practices of Renewable Energy Companies after the Outbreak of Covid-19: Using an Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) Approach
Authors: Rafiq Muhammad , Naz Shumaila , Martins José Moleiro , Mata Mário Nuno , Mata Pedro Neves , Maqbool Saif
Published: March 2021

The role of management practices in the success of renewable energy organizations is not negligible because management practices are the backbone of any organization. Energy organizations are facing drastic environmental issues; therefore, the sector inevitably requires environment- friendly production, which is only possible through the deployment of concurrent management practices because sluggish management practices lead to dormancy and inadequate performance. This study investigates the emerging management practices that will enable the renewable energy sector to fulfill the current demands of the market, especially after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. This research deployed a qualitative research methodology that is grounded in the interpretivism research paradigm. Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) was applied due to the extent of its logical thinking, and its ability to address complex issues and disseminate results precisely. Data were collected through primary (structured and unstructured interviews) and secondary sources (literature reviews published in the last 10 years). Interviews of top- and middle-level managers working in the renewable energy sector of developing countries were conducted. The findings of the study postulate that the implementation of knowledge management practices and policy changes are the key influencing factors to achieve sustainable organizational performance. Decentralization also has the potential to influence and navigate the organizational performance of energy companies. The findings of the research advocate innovative practices for the energy sector that influence organizational performance. The qualitative findings of the study suggest that emerging practices, including knowledge management practices and decentralization, may proliferate organizational growth and development. The novel framework of the study implies that organizations should work progressively in deploying emerging management practices such as establishing a central response hub to avoid delays under the umbrella of resilience leadership.
Revitalization of Offline Fashion Stores: Exploring Strategies to Improve the Smart Retailing Experience by Applying Mobile Technology
Authors: Kim Yunjeong
Published: March 2021

With the reduction in offline fashion stores, retailers are trying to revitalize offline stores by applying smart retail technologies. This study aimed to determine how factors related to the offline–mobile connected smart retailing experience affected satisfaction through perceived quality and perceived risk. An online survey was conducted on female consumers in their 20s and 30s, and 302 questionnaires were distributed. The analysis, which utilized a structural equation model, confirmed that, from among five smart retailing experience-related factors, perceived advantage, perceived enjoyment, and interactivity affected perceived quality and that perceived advantage and interactivity significantly affected perceived risk. However, perceived control and personalization did not affect perceived quality and perceived risk. Furthermore, perceived quality significantly affected overall satisfaction, offline satisfaction, and mobile satisfaction, while perceived risk did not affect mobile satisfaction. This study confirmed that the perceived advantage and interactivity of smart retailing experiences play an important role in enhancing customer satisfaction.
Perceived Exposure and Acceptance Model of Appearance-Related Health Campaigns: Roles of Parents’ Healthy-Appearance Talk, Self-Objectification, and Interpersonal Conversations
Authors: Lee Eunsoon , Lee Gyu-il
Published: March 2021

Excessive focus on appearance or lookism requires social attention as it can have negative consequences on individuals’ psychological and mental states related to health and sustainable social practice. As part of a healthy and sustainable social practice, this study tests the mechanism of enhancing appearance-related health campaign’s effectiveness through the O1-S-O2-R framework. Participants were 220 Korean college students with being 141 male and 78 female and they completed an on-line survey. The result of SEM analyses confirmed the O1-S-O2-R model. As the result of hypotheses testing, health campaign contents suggesting anti-lookism and diverse beauty standards have attracted the attention of people whose parents conversed using relatively less healthy-appearance talk when growing up and who had higher self-objectification scores with body surveillance and body shame. Interpersonal conversations and thoughts on the media content played a mediating role in the model, while health campaigns had a higher persuasive effect on campaign evaluation and the behavior intention of spreading the campaign’s content. Implications of the findings were discussed regarding health campaign designers and individuals, including parents, in education settings.
Formulating Modes of Cooperative Leaning for Education for Sustainable Development
Authors: Colomer Jordi , Cañabate Dolors , Stanikūnienė Brigita , Bubnys Remigijus
Published: March 2021

In the face of today’s global challenges, the practice and theory of contemporary education inevitably focuses on developing the competences that help individuals to find meaningfulness in their societal and professional life, to understand the impact of local actions on global processes and to enable them to solve real-life problems [...]
Binary Linear Programming as a Tool of Cost Optimization for a Water Supply Operator
Authors: Kowalik Przemysław , Rzemieniak Magdalena
Published: March 2021

The problem of scheduling pumps is widely discussed in the literature in the context of improving energy efficiency, production costs, emissions, and reliability. In some studies, the authors analyze the available case studies and compare the results; others present their own computational methods. In the paper, a problem of pump scheduling in regular everyday operations of a water supply operator is considered. The issues of water production optimization and energy savings are part of the topic of sustainable development. The objective of the article is the minimization of the cost of electric power used by the pumps supplying water. It is achieved thanks to the variability of both the demand for water and the price of electric power during the day combined with the possibility of storing water. The formulation of an existing electric power cost optimization problem as a binary linear programming problem was improved. An essential extension of the above mathematical model, which enables more flexible management of the pump system, was also proposed. An example containing real-world input data was successfully solved using Microsoft Excel with a free OpenSolver add-in.
Land Use Dynamics and Optimization from 2000 to 2020 in East Guangdong Province, China
Authors: Lai Yong , Huang Guangqing , Chen Shengzhong , Lin Shaotao , Lin Wenjun , Lyu Jixin
Published: March 2021

Anthropogenic land-use change is one of the main drivers of global environmental change. China has been on a fast track of land-use change since the Reform and Opening-up policy in 1978. In view of the situation, this study aims to optimize land use and provide a way to effectively coordinate the development and ecological protection in China. We took East Guangdong (EGD), an underdeveloped but populous region, as a case study. We used land-use changes indexes to demonstrate the land-use dynamics in EGD from 2000 to 2020, then identified the hot spots for fast-growing areas of built-up land and simulated land use in 2030 using the future land-use simulation (FLUS) model. The results indicated that the cropland and the built-up land changed in a large proportion during the study period. Then we established the ecological security pattern (ESP) according to the minimal cumulative resistance model (MCRM) based on the natural and socioeconomic factors. Corridors, buffer zones, and the key nodes were extracted by the MCRM to maintain landscape connectivity and key ecological processes of the study area. Moreover, the study showed the way to identify the conflict zones between future built-up land expansion with the corridors and buffer zones, which will be critical areas of consideration for future land-use management. Finally, some relevant policy recommendations are proposed based on the research result.
The Economic Effects of China’s Distribution Industry: An Input-Output Analysis
Authors: Choi Jungseok , Kim Woohyoung , Choi Seokkyu
Published: March 2021

This study contributes by analyzing the economic effects of China’s distribution industry based on China’s 2012 and 2017 input-output data. It analyzes changes in the forward and backward linkage effect over a five-year period in accordance with the Chinese government’s distribution industry policy. The coefficients of the effects of the Chinese distribution industry, using Input-Output Tables and a comparative analysis of the sensitivity of dispersion, were determined. In terms of the coefficient of influence, most of the sectors that ranked high in 2012 are related to manufacturing, except for lodging and catering. The sensitivity and influence coefficients indicate that the top-ranked sectors in 2012 were more affected by the raw materials and energy essential for manufacturing development than by the services sector.
A Strategic Framework for Transformational Leadership Development in Megaprojects
Authors: Al-Subaie Abdulla Abdulaziz , Faisal Mohd. Nishat , Aouni Belaid , Talib Faisal
Published: March 2021

Project managers’ leadership has a direct and an indirect effect on project success. Extant literature has established that transformational leadership style positively affects project success in a major way. The main aim of this research is to understand the variables that positively affects transformational leadership development and their interrelationships in megaprojects. The Total Interpretive Structural Model (TISM) methodology is adopted to propose a framework, and Impact Matrix Cross-Reference Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC) approach is used to examine the strategic nature of the enablers. The research shows that there exists a group of enablers having a high driving power and low dependence, requiring maximum attention and of strategic importance, while another group consists of those variables that have high dependence and are resultant actions. Furthermore, the model explains the relationships among each pair of variables. Organisations dealing in megaprojects would be the major beneficiaries of this study. Policy makers in these organisations would explicitly understand the variables and their interrelationships that needs attention for transformational leadership development. This would help them to prioritize their efforts and implement suitable strategies to focus on the most important variables for developing transformational leaders ultimately leading to project success.
A STEM Model to Engage Students in Sustainable Science Education through Sports: A Case Study in Qatar
Authors: Ali Ruba , Bhadra Jolly , Siby Nitha , Ahmad Zubair , Al-Thani Noora Jabor
Published: March 2021

Sports has the potential to integrate with different scientific subjects, including materials science and engineering, making it an ideal approach to enhance the students’ affinity toward sustainable education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Amid gradual educational reformations in the state of Qatar, a distinctive STEM program titled, “Science in Sports” (SIS) was launched to investigate STEM integrated learning in secondary school students. The participant students, 248 students (112 females and 136 males) from 15 different government-operated (public) secondary schools, from rural and urban areas, were given STEM workshops on one of the sports materials, during this pilot study, resultantly challenging them to engineer a sports product. The study employed a mixed-method study in which quantitative approaches were applied to analyze the program effectiveness, with a t-test statistical analysis performed over data collected from a period of five continuous years from 2012 to 2017 in five different cycles. A more dominant data collection included pre and post surveys, substantiating observations of the program facilitator and their schoolteachers were included in this research and development (R&D) study to review the student learning behavior for a qualitative approach. Moreover, the results of the strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis provided an overview of the program’s effectiveness in implicating the engagement of the students in exhibiting their prototypical skills in engineering sports products along with STEM literacy. Apart from understanding the scientific concepts/principles applied in simple sports applications, student attitudes toward STEM fields augmented, as witnessed by the student productivity.
The Restorative Effect of the Presence of Greenery on the Classroom in Children’s Cognitive Performance
Authors: Bernardo Fátima , Loupa-Ramos Isabel , Matos Silva Cristina , Manso Maria
Published: March 2021

Studies developed in a scholar context report a restorative effect of nature on human beings, specifically in terms of the psychological recovery from attention fatigue and restored mental resources that were previously spent in activities that require attention. Studies usually compare the performance of children in schools with or without access to green spaces. In this study, the effect of introducing greenery into the classroom context was compared across time. The experiment was developed in two primary schools with pupils in different socioeconomic contexts, at three moments: before introducing an artificial green wall into the classroom, one month later, and one month after the introduction of vegetable pots. Results showed a significant increase in sustained and selective attention, and work memory between the experimental and the control group, notably in the third moment when vegetable pots were introduced. In the second moment (green walls), only the work memory (tested with the inversed number) showed a significant effect. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in terms of nature’s role both in terms of natural and artificial elements and the cumulative effect of direct interaction with natural elements.
Time–Frequency Analysis of Diesel Engine Noise Using Biodiesel Fuel Blends
Authors: Siavash Nemat Keramat , Najafi Golamhassan , Hassan-Beygi Sayed Reza , Ahmadian Hossain , Ghobadian Barat , Yusaf Talal , Mazlan Mohammed
Published: March 2021

In recent years, biodiesel has been demonstrated to offer a suitable level of reliability and attracted the attention of many researchers. Accordingly, various studies have been carried out to account for the biodiesel production and application, producing valuable reports and findings. In this research study, the effects of biodiesel on engine noise were studied on the basis of a time–frequency analysis. To do so, the acquired acoustic signal was initially filtered and denoised. Then the signal was transferred to the time–frequency SPL domain using short-time Fourier transform. In the A weighted signal, the SPL of all treatments were compared using an innovative visual technique. In this novel approach, the values of area percentages of the obtained SPL in the time–frequency domain were used to compare the propagated noise due to variables. The method revealed a consistent trend for all fuel blends at all engine rotational speeds. The analysis results showed that B10 (10% methyl/ethyl ester and 90% diesel fuel) and B30 had the lowest and highest A-Weighted SPL, respectively. Additionally, it was found that the engine had a maximum sensitivity for all fuel blends at an engine rotation speed of 1600 RPM. Moreover, Z-weighted (linear) signal processing was used to investigate what happens in a complete thermodynamic cycle at 1600 RPM. The developed time–frequency methodology successfully exposed all of the important acoustic events of the engine. The results of this study showed that the most effective acoustic events in engine noise were combustion, piston slap, and outlet valve closing. Furthermore, higher percentages of biodiesel blends resulted in longer combustion duration.
Sustainable Virtual Teams: Promoting Well-Being through Affect Management Training and Openness to Experience Configurations
Authors: González-Anta Baltasar , Orengo Virginia , Zornoza Ana , Peñarroja Vicente , Gamero Nuria
Published: March 2021

A disruptive digitalization recently occurred that led to the fast adoption of virtual teams. However, membership diversity and team virtuality threaten members’ well-being, especially if faultlines appear (i.e., subgroups). Considering the job demands–resources model and the role of group affect in shaping members’ perceptions of well-being, we test the effectiveness of a short-term affect management training for increasing members’ eudaimonic well-being. Moreover, based on the trait activation theory and the contingent configuration approach, we draw on the personality composition literature to test how different openness to experience configurations of team level and diversity together moderate the effect of the training. Hypotheses were tested using a pre–post design in an online randomized controlled trial in an educational context in Spain, with a sample of 52 virtual teams with faultlines. Results show that affect management training increased eudaimonic well-being. Furthermore, there was a moderation effect (three-way interaction) of openness to experience configurations, so that the training was more effective in teams with high levels and low diversity in openness to experience. We discuss implications for training, well-being, and personality composition literature. This study helps organizations develop sustainable virtual teams with engaged members through affect management training and selection processes based on the openness to experience trait.