bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Star Identification Based on Multilayer Voting Algorithm for Star Sensors
Authors: Liu Meiying , Wei Xin , Wen Desheng , Wang Hu
Published: April 2021

This paper describes the multilayer voting algorithm, a novel autonomous star identification method for spacecraft attitude determination. The proposed algorithm includes two processes: an initial match process and a verification process. In the initial match process, a triangle voting scheme is used to acquire candidates of the detected stars, in which the triangle unit is adopted as the basic voting unit. During the identification process, feature extraction is implemented, and each triangle unit is described by its singular values. Then the singular values are used to search for candidates of the imaged triangle units, which further improve the efficiency and robustness of the algorithm. After the initial match step, a verification method is applied to eliminate incorrect candidates from the initial results and then outputting the final match results of the imaged stars. Experiments show that our algorithm has more robustness to position noise, magnitude noise, and false stars than the other three algorithms, the identification speed of our algorithm is largely faster than the geometric voting algorithm and optimized grid algorithm. However, it takes more memory, and SVD also seems faster.
The Persistent Adivasi Demand for Land Rights and the Forest Rights Act 2006 in Kerala, India
Authors: Kjosavik Darley Jose , Shanmugaratnam Nadarajah
Published: April 2021

This paper asks whether the Forest Rights Act (FRA) passed by the Government of India in 2006 could provide effective access and ownership rights to land and forests for the adivasi communities of Kerala, thereby leading to an enhancement of their entitlements. The study was conducted in Wayanad district using qualitative methods of data collection. The FRA, it would seem, raised high expectations in the State Government circles and the Adivasi community. This was at a time when the Government of Kerala was grappling with a stalemate in the implementation of its own laws on adivasi land rights, due to the organized resistance from the settler-farmers and the non-adivasi workers employed in the plantations that were established to provide employment for adivasis. Our analysis shows that due to the inherent problems within the FRA as well as its complex and contested implementation, the FRA could not achieve the promised objectives of correcting historical injustice and provide effective land rights to the adivasis of Wayanad. The role played by the conservation lobby in thwarting the efforts of the Left government is discussed. While granting nominal possession rights (Record of Rights) to the dwelling sites of a small community of adivasis (Kattunaicker, who were traditional forest dwellers), the FRA has failed to provide them with substantive access and ownership rights to land and forests. The adivasis who were able to gain some rights to land have been those who were involved in land occupation struggles. The study reiterates the importance of struggles in gaining effective rights in land.
Training Freshmen Engineers as Managers to Develop Soft Skills: A Person-Centred Approach
Authors: Rodríguez-Jiménez Rosa-María , Lara-Bercial Pedro J. , Terrón-López María-José
Published: April 2021

This article describes a subject design to train engineer students in soft skills through an experiential and person-centred approach, as is usually developed in companies for managers to incorporate responsible and ethical engineering perspectives. This design is based on an experiential methodology and its impact on students is presented. The subject, called “Personal and Professional Effectiveness”, was designed and developed based on Covey’s classic book “The 7 habits of highly effective people” and introduces ethical and social commitment among other contents. A detailed description of different activities carried out within the module is provided to allow replication. Students’ perception, gathered from their reflexive diaries, and academic satisfaction survey results are presented. Students report that this teaching method leads to a deeper connection with themselves and increased awareness of their strengths and weaknesses. Students seem to have understood the importance of sustainability and how individual behavior impacts in an engineering team. They reflect on how being aware of their own strengths and difficulties helps them integrate different knowledge into their daily lives and how this can improve their behaviors, not only professionally, but also personally.
Economic Sustainability of Touristic Offer Funded by Public Initiatives in Spanish Rural Areas
Authors: Engelmo Moriche Ángela , Nieto Masot Ana , Mora Aliseda Julián
Published: April 2021

At the end of the 20th century, tourism was positioned as an activity capable of diversifying and reactivating the economies of European rural areas, which were experiencing problems of aging and population loss. One of the public initiatives that most promoted the development of tourism was the Leader Method, implemented in 1991 by the European Union, which is still active 25 years later. Within this initiative, the financing of tourist infrastructures adapted to the different rural areas was promoted. However, after 25 years, the economic sustainability has been very different and internal and external factors have determined their success. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the survival of the tourism offer financed by Leader in order to identify the factors that have determined its success in one of the European regions that has been managing Leader since 1991: Extremadura. For this purpose, a methodology based on a multivariate technique (Cluster Analysis) has been designed, which has allowed to establish a pattern of behavior based on context variables. The results obtained have shown that factors such as the concentration of investment, accessibility to urban spaces or the presence of natural resources in mountain areas have favored the sustainability of the tourist offer. This article shows what have been the keys to success in a given area for the survival of tourism companies by Leader, serving as a reference both for future public initiatives and for the scientific field, since there are hardly any studies focused on this area.
Homesickness and Socio-Cultural Adaptation towards Perceived Stress among International Students of a Public University in Sabah: An Exploration Study for Social Sustainability
Authors: Rathakrishnan Balan , Bikar Singh Soon Singh , Kamaluddin Mohammad Rahim , Ghazali Mohd Fahmi , Yahaya Azizi , Mohamed Noor Hassline , Krishnan Anath Rau
Published: April 2021

When adolescents go overseas to study, they have to face the challenge of adapting to local cultures, homesickness, and dealing with the stress. This study aimed to investigate the socio-cultural adaptation, homesickness, and perceived stress among international students in relation to social sustainability in a public university in Sabah, Malaysia. This research also related how international students manage both positive and negative impacts on their social life in university. The study included all international students in that university except Bruneian and Indonesian students. The sample group comprised 100 male and 100 female students. This study used four questionnaires: (i) Perceived Stress Scale, (ii) Homesickness Scale, (iii) Socio-cultural Adaptation Scale, and (iv) Revised Sociocultural Adaptation Scale. The results indicated that the socio-cultural adaptation and perceived stress levels were significantly correlated, r (198) = 0.354, p < 0.05. The level of homesickness and perceived stress were also significantly correlated, r (198) = 0.314, p < 0.05. The outcome of this study can help overseas students lead better lives abroad, while the university can arrange relevant activities to help them better adapt to local cultures and perceive less stress. The present study underlined the importance of increasing socio-cultural adaptation and social sustainability and decreasing homesickness among international students studying at the public university in Sabah.
Access to Digital Financial Services and Green Technology Advances: Regional Evidence from China
Authors: Liu Zhangsheng , Zhang Xiaolu , Yang Liuqingqing , Shen Yinjie
Published: April 2021

Using data of 265 Chinese cities from 2010 to 2017, we studied the impact of access to digital financial services on green technology advances in the context of regional competition. We found that access to digital financial services significantly promotes green technology advances within the region but inhibits those in other regions. We also found that modest regional competition can promote green technology advances, whereas excessive competition impairs the positive relationship between access to digital financial services and green technology advances. We identified a significantly positive spatial spillover effect for green technology advances.
Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Pineapple Cultivation on a Tropical Peat Soil
Authors: Jeffary Alicia Vanessa , Ahmed Osumanu Haruna , Heng Roland Kueh Jui , Choo Liza Nuriati Lim Kim , Omar Latifah , Musah Adiza Alhassan , Abdu Arifin
Published: April 2021

Farming systems on peat soils are novel, considering the complexities of these organic soil. Since peat soils effectively capture greenhouse gases in their natural state, cultivating peat soils with annual or perennial crops such as pineapples necessitates the monitoring of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, especially from cultivated peat lands, due to a lack of data on N2O emissions. An on-farm experiment was carried out to determine the movement of N2O in pineapple production on peat soil. Additionally, the experiment was carried out to determine if the peat soil temperature and the N2O emissions were related. The chamber method was used to capture the N2O fluxes daily (for dry and wet seasons) after which gas chromatography was used to determine N2O followed by expressing the emission of this gas in t ha−1 yr−1. The movement of N2O horizontally (832 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) during the dry period was higher than in the wet period (599 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) because of C and N substrate in the peat soil, in addition to the fertilizer used in fertilizing the pineapple plants. The vertical movement of N2O (44 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) was higher in the dry season relative to N2O emission (38 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) during the wet season because of nitrification and denitrification of N fertilizer. The peat soil temperature did not affect the direction (horizontal and vertical) of the N2O emission, suggesting that these factors are not related. Therefore, it can be concluded that N2O movement in peat soils under pineapple cultivation on peat lands occurs horizontally and vertically, regardless of season, and there is a need to ensure minimum tilling of the cultivated peat soils to prevent them from being an N2O source instead of an N2O sink.
An Exploratory Study of How Latecomers Transform Strategic Path in Catch-Up Cycle
Authors: Li Xiaoli , Wang Hongqi
Published: April 2021

In catch-up cycles, the industrial leadership of an incumbent is replaced by a latecomer. Latecomers from emerging economies compress time and skip amplitude by breaking the original strategic path and form a new appropriate strategic path to catch up with the incumbents. Previous studies have found that the original strategic path is difficult to break and difficult to transform. This paper proposes a firm-level framework and identifies the impetus and trigger factors for latecomers to transform the strategic path. The impetus is the mismatch between strategic mode and technological innovation capability. The trigger is the progressive industrial policy. Based on a Chinese rail transit equipment supplier’s (China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation; CRRC) catch-up process, this paper finds that the strategic path transformation is an evolutionary process from mismatch to rematch between strategic mode and technological innovation capability. With the implementation of industrial policy, the technological innovation capability will change. The original strategic mode does not match with changed technological innovation capability, which leads to performance pressure. With the adjustment of industrial policy, a new strategic mode adapted to new technological innovation capability emerges. This paper clarifies the source that determines successful catch-up practices for latecomers and contributes to latecomers’ sustainable growth in emerging economies.
Solar Thermal Processing to Disinfect Human Waste
Authors: Fisher Richard P. , Lewandowski Allan , Yacob Tesfayohanes W. , Ward Barbara J. , Hafford Lauren M. , Mahoney Ryan B. , Oversby Cori J. , Mejic Dragan , Hauschulz Dana H. , Summers R. Scott , Linden Karl G. , Weimer Alan W.
Published: April 2021

Almost half of the world’s population is living without access to sanitation services that are safe, reliable, and minimize public health risk of human waste exposure. Modern flush-based sanitation networks are unsustainable: substantial resources, namely water and fuel, are required to bring human waste to centralized treatment facilities. Moving toward sustainable sanitation requires the implementation of innovative renewable energy technologies for stabilization and disinfection of waste, at the local or household scale, where minimal inputs of water, electricity or chemicals are required. A novel solar thermal disinfection toilet prototype has been constructed and is assessed for overall solar to receiver efficiency in treating waste without electrical, chemical, or water inputs from municipal supply. The measured solar to receiver efficiency is 28%, incorporating the capturing and concentration of sunlight and transmission of the energy to the receiver. For a typical sunny day, the current system can achieve thermal treatment of 0.8 kg human waste in roughly 100 min. The novel toilet is available for any location in the world with sufficient sunlight and irradiance data, and is scalable by adding solar collectors for sizes from single dwellings to communities.
Development of an Agent-Based Model for Weather Forecast Information Exchange in Rural Area of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Authors: Musayev Sardorbek , Mellor Jonathan , Walsh Tara , Anagnostou Emmanouil
Published: April 2021

Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia are vulnerable to climate change impacts due to their low adaptive capacity and dependence on rainfed agriculture. Thus, a successful weather forecast system may bring significant economic and social value to the community. The main objectives of this study were to identify the key information exchange agents, understand the information flow path, rank the relative importance of the different information dissemination pathways, and determine weather forecast adoption. We conducted a household survey in five villages of Rim Kebele in Bahir Dar area and found that farmers communicate with four main agents with regard to information exchange. We developed an agent-based model to learn the adoption rates of weather forecast information. Agriculture extension agents were found to be the most influential members of the community. Farmers’ communicating with neighboring village farmers showed higher adoption. Our results show at least twice that improvements in communication network attain higher adoption rates. Radio has also demonstrated positive uptake of information. We also found that forecast accuracy of 70% is sufficient to achieve high adoption rates. Our findings might help decision-makers recognize critical information flow pathways and their relative importance, and identify barriers to disseminating weather forecast information in the community.
A Study of Lacquerware Industry’s Upgrading and Sustainability Strategies from the Perspective of GVCs—Using China Fuzhou Lacquerware Industry as Example
Authors: Huang Jianping , Lin Chinlon , Gao Yang , Chen Chun-liang
Published: April 2021

To discover how the lacquerware industry realizes its core competency, it is important to explore its upgrading strategies in the global value chains. The purpose of this study is to discuss the upgrading strategies applied during the lacquerware industry’s four economic stages and the approach to realize the industry’s sustainability. Results show that (1) OEM enterprises reach process upgrading with four strategies, ODM enterprises reach product upgrading with five strategies, OBM enterprises reach functional upgrading with four strategies, and OSM enterprises reach chain upgrading with two strategies; (2) the lacquerware industry‘s main elements in SSCM include the long-standing relations, reprocessing of defective products, employing the local community, and participation in regional and transregional development initiatives, wherein the design sector is the main link in the SSCM of the lacquerware. The result and implications provided by this study can serve as a reference for other lacquerware and local traditional handicraft industries that are seeking to upgrade and achieve sustainability during their economic development.
Merging Systems Thinking with Entrepreneurship: Shifting Students’ Mindsets towards Crafting a More Sustainable Future
Authors: Lynch Matthew , Andersson Gunnar , Johansen Frode Ramstad
Published: April 2021

The major challenges confronting humanity are systemic in nature: climate change, pollution, poverty, and inequality. Entrepreneurship fails to tackle these challenges, and ‘creative destruction’ is mostly just leading to the destruction of the natural world that we inhabit. The present economic, financial, and productive systems can and should be transformed to lead and power a shift towards sustainability. If we are to reverse the course of destruction that current capitalist systems are creating, we need to introduce more of a systems perspective into entrepreneurial education. This article addresses how merging systems thinking and entrepreneurship can be used to nudge students towards sustainability. Through a single case study, we argue that a practice-based pedagogy that combines perspectives from entrepreneurship and systems thinking can be used as a catalyst to bring about local changes in business models by making the business case go beyond the individual organization and seeing entrepreneurship as being about creating more sustainable business systems.
Lifecycle Design of Disruptive SCADA Systems for Waste-Water Treatment Installations
Authors: Brad Stelian , Murar Mircea , Vlad Grigore , Brad Emilia , Popanton Mariuța
Published: April 2021

Capacity to remotely monitor and control systems for waste-water treatment and to provide real time and trustworthy data of system’s behavior to various stakeholders is of high relevance. SCADA systems are used to undertake this job. SCADA solutions are usually conceptualized and designed with a major focus on technological integrability and functionality. Very little contributions are brought to optimize these systems with respect to a mix of target functions, especially considering a lifecycle perspective. In this paper, we propose a structured methodology for optimizing SCADA systems from a lifecycle perspective for the specific case of waste-water treatment units. The methodology embeds techniques for handling entropy in the design process and to assist engineers in designing effective solutions in a space with multiple constrains and conflicts. Evolutionary multiple optimization algorithms are used to handle this challenge. After the foundation of the theoretical model calibrated for the specific case of waste-water treatment units, a practical example illustrates its applicability. It is shown how the model can lead to a disruptive solution, which integrates cloud computing, IoT, and data analytics in the SCADA system, with some competitive advantages in terms of flexibility, cost effectiveness, and increased value added for both integrators and beneficiaries.
Rurality and Dropout in Virtual Higher Education Programmes in Colombia
Authors: Guzmán Rincón Alfredo , Barragán Sandra , Cala Vitery Favio
Published: April 2021

As part of the 2030 Agenda, higher education has been conceptualised as one of the ways to overcome the social disparities experienced in rural areas in Colombia. Thus, in concordance with the benefits of this level of education, the state has been designing public policies during the last few years, in order to facilitate access to undergraduate programmes to these populations, focusing mainly on the implementation of the virtual modality. In this context, it is recognised that access itself is not enough, but that continuance and timely graduation are required to materialise the benefits obtained along with a higher education degree; hence, dropout is a subject of interest for study, especially due to the high rates existing in the rural student population. Therefore, the event of dropout becomes an obstacle to social change and transformation in rural areas. Thus, this article aimed to identify which individual, institutional, academic and socio-economic characteristics influence rural student dropout in virtual undergraduate programmes in Colombia. For this purpose, an exploratory, quantitative and cross-sectional study was proposed, with a sample of 291 students to whom a student characterisation instrument and a classroom evaluation instrument were applied. With these data, it was proceeded to establish which of them had deserted, constituting the extraction of the sample of the study, which were 168. With the information, an exploratory factor analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis and descriptive statistics were used to establish which explanatory variables are involved in the dropout of this type of student. The results showed that the academic variables analysed do not have an impact on the event, while marital status (associated with family obligations), age, social stratum, work obligations, parents’ level of education and type of work, income and type of employment relationship of the student, and, finally, the number of people who depend on the family’s income do.
Evaluation of Reinforced Adobe Techniques for Sustainable Reconstruction in Andean Seismic Zones
Authors: Cárdenas-Gómez José Carlos , Bosch Gonzales Montserrat , Damiani Lazo Carlos Arturo
Published: April 2021

This research presents a methodological process for selecting the most appropriate construction technique for the reconstruction of housing after a seismic disaster in a rural and heritage context. This process, which is applicable to a large part of the Andean region, incorporates sustainability criteria to guarantee the economic, social and environmental balance of the intervention. The methodology was developed on a case study: the Colca Valley in Arequipa, Peru. In 2016 an earthquake affected this zone, where traditional unreinforced earthen buildings suffered serious damage. The objective of this research focuses on comparing six traditional building techniques strongly related to self-building: four techniques for adobe housing—reinforced with cane (CRA), wire mesh (WMRA), geogrid (GRA) and halyard ropes (HRRA)—and two techniques for masonry buildings— confined (CM) and reinforced (RM). For this purpose the authors used the Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (MIVES), a Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) model used to compare alternatives by assigning a “sustainability index” to each evaluated construction technique. This research study includes two types of variables: quantitative, such as economy ($/m2) and environmental impact (kgCO2/m2), among others, and qualitative, such as perception of safety, respect for the urban image and popular knowledge. The research results show that reinforced adobe techniques are a viable and competitive option, highlighting the cane reinforced adobe technique (CRA), with a value of 0.714 in relation to industrialized materials such as masonry. This technique has the same safety characteristics, but at almost half the price, with the additional advantage of using traditional materials and construction methods, having less environmental impact and showing better thermal performance in cold climates.
Sustainability Transfer as a Concept for Universities in Regional Transformation—A Case Study
Authors: Demele Uwe , Nölting Benjamin , Crewett Wibke , Georgiev Georgi
Published: April 2021

The research object of this study is the in-depth discourse on the sustainability transfer activities of higher education institutions (HEIs) and their contribution to a regional sustainable transformation. For this purpose, a heuristically-derived concept of sustainability transfer is empirically tested with a mixed-methods approach based on the example of Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE). The empirical findings demonstrate that the realization of sustainability transfer depends mainly on the personal initiative of teachers and researchers. Major barriers are a lack of time and financial resources. The observed concept of sustainability transfer is applicable to all study and research areas of HNEE. Involvement in sustainability transfer can include the whole of society, from politics, enterprises, and civil society to education and research institutions. Overall, the empirical testing of the concept offered by this study illustrates its practical suitability to capturing specifically those sustainability transfer activities that are not tapped by third mission approaches. This opens up a novel dimension for transfer potential at universities and their role in regional sustainability transformation. It also highlights that the interdependencies between HEIs and practitioners need to be more contextualized with quality criteria such as the value of the transfer performance or level of ambition.
Value-Based Decision to Redevelop Transportation Facilities: A Case Study of an Abandoned Airport
Authors: Xian Beryl Wong Xin , Rahmawati Yani , Al-Aidrous Al-Hussein Mohammed Hassan , Utomo Christiono , Wan Abdullah Zawawi Noor Amila , Raflis
Published: April 2021

Value-based decision making is the consideration of function and cost in the decision to select the highest possible option. Reviews to previous studies showed that there is a lack of consideration of the criteria of value in the decision-making process. Hence, this research aims to identify the criteria for redeveloping transportation facilities based on function and cost. The ultimate goal of this research is to select the best value alternative for project redevelopment. An abandoned airport was chosen as the case study to evaluate the decision made by the government to invest in the project of transforming the abandoned airport into a hospital that aims to cater to the increasing demand for healthcare. A quantitative and qualitative approach was applied through literature review, survey, and interview to experts in the area of transportation facilities development. Statistical descriptive analysis was used to analyse the first survey, which was to investigate the critical factors under the category of function. The second survey was conducted to select the most valuable alternative for the redevelopment by utilising the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and it was found that the transportation hub is the most valuable alternative for redeveloping the abandoned airport. The result was then validated by an expert from the industry, and it can be concluded that the value-based decision-making model can be used in enhancing the decision of the redevelopment of transportation facilities by considering both function and cost.
Foliar Application of Magnesium at Critical Stages Improved the Productivity of Rice Crop Grown under Different Cultivation Systems
Authors: Ali Hakoomat , Sarwar Naeem , Muhammad Shah , Farooq Omer , Rehman Atique-ur , Wasaya Allah , Yasir Tauqeer Ahmad , Mubeen Khurram , Akhtar Muhammad Naeem
Published: April 2021

Climatic variations have created many challenges for farmers, but the most important one is the change in the dynamics of nutrient uptake by plants. Nutrients that were sufficient in soil are now found deficient, an issue that needs more focus in order to sustain crop productivity. Magnesium is very important plant nutrient that has a direct role in chlorophyll synthesis and interacts with other nutrients to manage physiological mechanisms. We designed field experiments focusing on the foliar application of magnesium at different growth and reproductive stages of a rice crop. Results reveal that the combination of rice cultivation system and magnesium application, i.e., flooded rice with Mg application at seedling + tillering + panicle initiation (F6T2), significantly improved crop growth and exhibited noticeable results in crop yield and grain quality. Moreover, the rice crop also recorded the highest benefit cost ratio (BCR) when kept flooded and fertilized with Mg at three stages; viz seedling, tillering, and panicle initiation; during both the years. Combined application of magnesium at growth and reproductive stages improved crop performance both in aerobic as well as in flooded rice, but the crop grown under flooded condition showed accelerated performance in both cropping seasons, which reflects its viability and economic feasibility.
Incentive Contracts for Sustainable Growth of Small or Medium-Sized Enterprise
Authors: Park Daehyeon , Jo Jinhyeong , Ryu Doojin
Published: April 2021

This study analyzes incentive contracts in public procurement supply chains using a game-theoretic approach. Specifically, we compare a structure in which the host company is a large enterprise and the partner company is a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) to a structure in which the host is an SME and the partner is a large enterprise. For each structure, we examine whether an incentive contract improves supply chain performance and confirm that the performance improvement effect is greater when the host company is an SME. Our analysis has several policy implications. SMEs are less likely to be selected as host companies for large-scale procurement projects, limiting their growth opportunities. Thus, to enable SMEs’ sustainable growth through large-scale procurement projects, the governments can allocate a portion of public procurement to SMEs. The introduction of incentive contracts elicits sustainable cooperation from large companies when an SME is the host company in a public procurement supply chain.
Adoption of Green Environmental Practices in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Entrepreneur and Business Policies Patterns in Romania
Authors: Maniu Ionela , Costache Cătălina , Dumitraşcu Dănuţ-Dumitru
Published: April 2021

Current research shows that SMEs’ social and environmental actions are fragmented and informal, and few have formal policies and intentions. At the same time, many SMEs are engaged with environmental policies, often not knowing it. Concurrently, there is a gap between the pro-environmental attitudes of the SMEs managers, who are often seen as the main drivers for the firm’s behavior, and the policies implemented in reality in their firms. To this end, our research’s objective is to explore pro-environmental behavior, both at the individual and firm level, to identify connections between these levels and measures but also with firm’s and managers’ demographics, based on a study of Romanian SMEs. The descriptive analysis and factor analysis including tetrachoric correlation methods were used to explore these behaviors and the associations between them. The results confirm the research’s hypothesis and show that there are positive connections between the “green” behaviors at the individual level and in the SME context. Moreover, comparative analysis provided evidence of differences in the adoption of environmental practices, which were based on the firm’s demographics and manager’s characteristics. Simultaneously, five typologies of pro-environmental behavior in SMEs were identified and described, depending on the additional investment necessary and allocated resources, on the changes in organizational structure, and on the manager’s personal involvement. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the environmental improvement policies in SMEs and may help policy-makers tailor interventions and SMEs managers learn from good practices of their peers.
Effects of Hydro-Meteorological Factors on Streamflow Withdrawal for Irrigation in Yeongsan River Basin
Authors: Sung Jang Hyun , Baek Donghae , Ryu Young , Seo Seung Beom , Seong Kee-Won
Published: April 2021

The relationships between a variety of hydro-meteorological variables and irrigation water use rates (WUR) were investigated in this study. Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Potential Evapotranspiration (PET), and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were explored to identify the relationship with the WUR. The Yeongsan river basin, the agricultural land of which is mostly occupied by well-irrigated paddy, was used for the pilot study. Four different temporal scales of SPI-3, 6, 9, and 12 were tested, and PET was calculated using the Thornthwaite method. To calculate NDVI, the surface spectral reflectance data, which was acquired by Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) equipped on the Terra satellite, were used. As a result, there was a statistically significant relationship between SPI9 and the WUR during drought periods in which negative values of SPI9 were obtained. The WUR was strongly correlated with both PET and NDVI. Compared with SPI, the variability of WUR in this study area was more sensitively affected by PET and NDVI, which can cause a potential lack of agricultural water supply. The finding of this study implies that SPI9, PET, and NDVI are the critical factors for predicting water withdrawal during drought conditions so that they can be used for irrigational water use management. Although a part of the findings of this study has been discussed by a few previous studies, this study is novel in that it quantifies the relationship between these factors using actual field observations of streamflow withdrawal for irrigation.
Multiple Effects of Different Nickel Concentrations on the Stability of Anaerobic Digestion of Molasses
Authors: Khan Sohail , Lu Fuzhi , Kashif Muhammad , Shen Peihong
Published: April 2021

Molasses is a highly thick by-product produced after sugarcane crystallization constitutes large amounts of biodegradable organics. These organic compounds can be converted to renewable products through anaerobic digestion. Nevertheless, its anaerobic digestion is limited due to its high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ion concentration. The effects of nickel (Ni2+) on the stability of anaerobic digestion of molasses were established by studying the degradation of organic matter (COD removal rate), biogas yield, methane content in the biogas, pH, and alkalinity. The results showed that there were no significant effects on the stability of pH and alkalinity. Increased COD removal rate and higher methane content was observed by 2–3% in the digesters receiving 2 and 4 mg/L of Ni2+ in the first phase of the experiment. Ni2+ supplemented to reactors at concentration 2 mg/L enhanced biogas yield. Overall, it is suggested that the addition of Ni2+ has some effects on the enhancement of biogas yield and methane contents but has no obvious effects on the long-lasting stability of the molasses digestion.
The Impact of the Industry 4.0 Concept on Slovak Business Sustainability within the Issue of the Pandemic Outbreak
Authors: Grenčíková Adriana , Kordoš Marcel , Bartek Jozef , Berkovič Vladislav
Published: April 2021

Many studies have found that the most significant job structure changes in the Slovak business environment can be expected in production and logistics. The biggest manpower shortages are in the fields of mechanical engineering, production, construction, information sciences and communication technologies, and medical sciences. The smallest manpower shortage can be found in the humanities and social science areas. The main objective of this research was to assess the trends within the Slovak labor market from the perspective of the companies that participated in a survey focused on their assumptions on job structure changes in the context of the implementation of the elements of Industry 4.0. The estimation was based on a questionnaire conducted during the spring months of 2020 with the participation of 175 companies and institutions. The results showed that one third of companies anticipate job cuts in the implementation of smart industry. Along with the job position disposal and the qualified staffs’ need for new jobs, the demands of employers regarding the level of education are growing. On the other hand, three quarters of companies are not only willing but also ready to participate in human resource vocational training and requalification focused mainly on technical skills.
Virgin Natural Cork Characterization as a Sustainable Material for Use in Acoustic Solutions
Authors: Barrigón Morillas Juan Miguel , Montes González David , Vílchez-Gómez Rosendo , Gómez Escobar Valentín , Maderuelo-Sanz Rubén , Rey Gozalo Guillermo , Atanasio Moraga Pedro
Published: April 2021

A characterization of the sound absorption of a sustainable material with scarce current use such as natural virgin cork is presented in this paper in order to explore further possible applications in the design of acoustic solutions. Different samples of virgin cork not bonded and various decorative panel formats were tested under random sound incidence conditions in a standardized reverberation chamber. The samples in which the outer bark of the cork was facing upwards showed a better behavior as an acoustic absorber, with sound absorption coefficient values generally greater than 0.6 for frequency bands between 1 and 5 kHz. The results obtained were compared with samples of some recycled materials available in the scientific literature, such as sheep wool and PET.
The Valuation of Aesthetic Preferences and Consequences for Urban Transport Infrastructures
Authors: Evangelinos Christos , Tscharaktschiew Stefan
Published: April 2021

The importance of transport infrastructure for individual well-being and regional economic development and growth, but also its adverse side-effects, make a comprehensive assessment of the general appropriateness of new construction and rebuild indispensable. Assessments, however, often lack certain issues. For instance, aesthetic aspects are usually not part of the (economic) evaluation of large infrastructure projects, albeit individuals may be (positively or negatively) affected by the aesthetic ‘value’ of infrastructures. This paper proposes the aesthetic index developed by Birkhoff as a method to quantify the aesthetic impact of buildings/facilities in urban areas. To test the basic applicability of the index for transport infrastructure facilities, we apply it at first to airport terminals in Germany. We also test the suitability of the index to derive the willingness to pay for aesthetic exterior design—since market prices are easy to obtain with respect to hotel room rates—using hotel architecture as the first example. Regression results of a hedonic price model indicate a significant relationship, suggesting the basic suitability of the index to uncover consumers’ willingness to pay for an aesthetic outward appearance. We suggest further research to test the suitability of Birkhoff’s index for general urban transport infrastructures in order to derive utility-based welfare measures toward aesthetic issues. For highly controversial urban (overground) infrastructures, we propose the inclusion of an aesthetic component in cost–benefit analysis.
The Relationship between Well-Being and Knowledge Sharing
Authors: Aoki Kei
Published: April 2021

This research studies the relationship between well-being and knowledge sharing. While user innovation has garnered greater attention in recent years, the market has failed to properly incentivize the diffusion of user innovations. This study proposes that this shortcoming could be resolved through a consumer-to-consumer (C-to-C) marketplace and sheds light on non-financial benefits for the contributors, specifically, how knowledge sharing impacts contributor well-being. This research consists of two online survey studies. In both studies, the level of well-being was compared between knowledge sharing contributors and a control group using a scale developed in positive psychology. This study empirically shows that participation in knowledge sharing has a significant positive impact on contributor well-being. In a C-to-C marketplace, contributors diffuse and monetize their creations themselves, resulting in increased well-being. Contributing to knowledge sharing may be a sufficient incentive for user innovators to diffuse their innovations. The findings of this study will gain significance as the utilization of personal knowledge increases due to the expansion of the C-to-C business and the paradigm shift in work style.
Sustainability and Tourism Marketing: A Bibliometric Analysis of Publications between 1997 and 2020 Using VOSviewer Software
Authors: Cavalcante William Quezado de F. , Coelho Arnaldo , Bairrada Cristela Maia
Published: April 2021

Several studies have empirically explored the association between practices in sustainable tourism and their impact on tourism marketing. However, bibliometric studies that organize the production in this field are still scarce. The objective of this study is thus to provide a bibliometric analysis of research on sustainable practices in tourism related to marketing, identifying the state of the art, trends and other indicators, by monitoring the articles published on the Web of Science (WoS) platform. A sample of 694 materials was obtained. The data were processed and the results graphically illustrated using the VOSviewer software. The study analyzed the simultaneous occurrence of publications by year, keyword trends, cocitations, bibliographic coupling and analysis of coauthorship, countries and institutions, and indicates that the literature on tourism sustainability issues in the field of tourism marketing is growing at a quick pace; merely five papers accounted for more than 2193 citations, but there are several prolific authors. Of the 694 sources included in the review, the most important ones published 40.34% of the papers; Spain is the leading country in this topic. This research provides insight about the state of the art and identifies gaps and research opportunities in sustainability and tourism marketing.
Implementation of a Recycled Polypropylene Homopolymer Material for Use in Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Dobránsky Jozef , Pollák Martin , Běhálek Luboš , Svetlík Jozef
Published: April 2021

The main objective of the presented scientific article is to define the mechanical properties of polypropylene homopolymer with a prescribed percentage ratio of recycled granulate. The chosen material is intended for injection molding and especially for the production of products made by additive technologies. Experimental verification of the mechanical properties was realized by testing samples produced with various concentrations of the recycled material. Experimental samples underwent tests to obtain the mechanical properties of the produced new material. These tests included rheological tests, tensile and flexural tests as well as and Charpy impact toughness tests. These mechanical tests were conducted according to ISO standards valid for the individual testing method. Testing methods were carried out using prescribed numbers of testing samples. The presented scientific article is also focused on changes in microstructures of testing materials in relation to the percentage ratio of recycled granulate. Recycled granulate of thermoplastic was not necessity for additional modifications.
Introducing and Evaluating the Effective Inclusion of Gender Dimension in STEM Higher Education
Authors: Peña Marta , Olmedo-Torre Noelia , Mas de les Valls Elisabet , Lusa Amaia
Published: April 2021

The need to incorporate the gender dimension in higher education is a central element of gender equality policies within the European Union (EU). When most institutions of higher education have already strengthened and consolidated their curricula, the next challenge is to include and ensure that all people have the same opportunities to progress in education. This study intends to incorporate the gender dimension in teaching through a guide providing recommendations for the introduction of changes that will allow its effective incorporation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) areas. It will take into account the administration in charge of formulating policies in the field of education, the students, and, mainly, the teaching staff. Its objective is to cover aspects related to the principles of equal opportunities and gender equality in STEM higher education disciplines. For this purpose, 41 volunteer teachers from 8 degrees and master’s degrees from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in Spain participated. To achieve the results of this study, aspects related to social and gender relevance of the subjects, inclusive methodology, classroom management and assessment were considered. As a preliminary step to the development of the guide of recommendations, a teacher’s self-assessment tool and a questionnaire for students to analyze the perception of the gender dimension were developed.
Is Urbanization Good for the Health of Middle-Aged and Elderly People in China?—Based on CHARLS Data
Authors: Liu Xuena , Fang Wei , Li Haiming , Han Xiaodan , Xiao Han
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this paper is to test whether improved healthcare services can mitigate health hazards resulting from environmental pollution in the urbanization process. Specifically, using China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) data and official statistics, this paper constructs comprehensive urbanization indicators and healthcare service indicators by applying the fully arrayed polygonal graphical indication method. Then, we introduce healthcare service indicators, urbanization indicators, environmental pollution indicators, and the interaction term between environmental pollution and healthcare into an ordered-logistics regression model. Our results indicate that improvement in health conditions can decrease the health risks from multiplied emissions of industrial sulfur dioxide, industrial soot and dust, and industrial effluents, but it cannot counteract the adverse health effects of PM2.5. Furthermore, heterogeneity tests show that, when considering the multidimensionality of urbanization, the positive influence of healthcare is the greatest in residential surroundings urbanization and economic urbanization, which reduces the prevalence of chronic diseases by 18.4% and 14.9%, respectively. Among the diverse city types, mixed-economy cities have the most obvious positive effects, where healthcare has the greatest mitigating effect on the health damage caused by industrial sulfur dioxide and industrial soot and dust, decreasing the prevalence of chronic diseases among the middle-aged and elderly by 27.3% and 16.4%, respectively. When considering the regional impacts of urbanization, there is a large difference in the positive effects brought about by medical care, which is reflected mainly in eastern and western China. In eastern China, although healthcare does not offset the health damage of PM2.5, the increase in chronic diseases among the middle-aged and elderly is only 0.5%, while in western China, the increase rises to 22.4%.