bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a Structural Model for the Adoption of Industry 4.0 Enabled Sustainable Operations for Operational Excellence
Authors: Gupta Sumit , Prathipati Basai , Dangayach Govind Sharan , Rao Posinasetti Nageswara , Jagtap Sandeep
Published: September 2022

In the current competitive scenario, SMEs need to adopt advanced technology in order to comprehend the dynamics of Industry 4.0 and the sustainable operations for operational excellence. The present study discusses the relationship between Industry 4.0 with sustainable operations and operational excellence. A research model is proposed and assessed through structural equation modelling (SEM). The current research shows that if SMEs adopt Industry 4.0 practices and the use of advanced robotics in order to minimize human intervention, as well as smart logistics that react to changes in production capacity, virtual reality and dynamic simulation techniques, then SMEs can significantly achieve sustainability in manufacturing operations. Furthermore, this study will help companies to attain an operational excellence with greater efficiency and productivity. Therefore, SMEs need to focus on sustainable manufacturing practices.
Application of Biochar for Improving Physical, Chemical, and Hydrological Soil Properties: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ahmad Bhat Shakeel , Kuriqi Alban , Dar Mehraj U. Din , Bhat Owais , Sammen Saad Sh. , Towfiqul Islam Abu Reza Md. , Elbeltagi Ahmed , Shah Owais , AI-Ansari Nadhir , Ali Rawshan , Heddam Salim
Published: September 2022

Biochar is a carbon-based substance made by the pyrolysis of organic waste. The amount of biochar produced is determined by the type of feedstock and pyrolysis conditions. Biochar is frequently added to the soil for various reasons, including carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas mitigation, improved crop production by boosting soil fertility, removing harmful contaminants, and drought mitigation. Biochar may also be used for waste management and wastewater treatment. Biochar’s various advantages make it a potentially appealing instrument material for current science and technology. Although biochar’s impacts on soil chemical qualities and fertility have been extensively researched, little is known about its impact on enhancing soil physical qualities. This review is intended to describe biochar’s influence on some crucial soil physical and hydrological properties, including bulk density of soil, water holding capacity, soil porosity, soil hydraulic conductivity, soil water retention, water repellence–available plant water, water infiltration, soil temperature, soil color, and surface albedo. Therefore, we propose that the application of biochar in soils has considerable advantages, and this is especially true for arable soils with low fertility.
Dynamic of Ecological Agriculture Certification in Romania Facing the EU Organic Action Plan
Authors: Jităreanu Andy Felix , Mihăilă Mioara , Robu Alexandru-Dragoș , Lipșa Florin-Daniel , Costuleanu Carmen Luiza
Published: September 2022

Approaching the ecological agriculture topic in the context of European Policies to accelerate the conversion to those policies is an interdisciplinary challenge. The motivation to develop this subject is based on the longitudinal observation that the ecological agriculture evolution in Romania has been very slow, despite the policies aimed to accelerate the transition from the conventional to the ecological agriculture have been supported since the 2000s. The goal of the paper is to reframe the available data to evidence the slow dynamics of the organic farms’ certification. The methods used are descriptive and numerical analysis, supplemented by a qualitative-transversal interpretation. The research work has been carried out on the dynamic analysis of the ecological agriculture progress in Romania, based on the data with the ecological certification of the specialized companies (2019–2021). The main hypothesis: the slow dynamics are caused by subjective barriers. The results confirm the slow dynamics of ecological certifications due to some limits and barriers to understand the real role and benefits from the ecological agriculture. In this context, the European Union Organic Action Plan for 2021–2030 proves to be a stimulus for the Romanian ecological agriculture.
Influence of Online Learning Environment and Student Engagement on International Students’ Sustainable Chinese Learning
Authors: Fan Jingwei , Tian Mei
Published: September 2022

The outbreak of COVID-19 has forced Chinese international education to move online. An emerging number of studies have been published on online teaching and learning during the pandemic, few of which, however, focus on international students in China. This study examined the predictive effects of an online learning environment and student engagement on international students’ learning of Chinese as a foreign language (CFL). Self-reported data were collected in an online questionnaire survey involving 447 international CFL students at eight universities located in different geographical regions in China. Descriptive statistics revealed the participants’ favorable perceptions of an online learning environment, student engagement and Chinese learning achievement. The results of multiple linear regression revealed that three online learning environment factors, i.e., course accessibility, student interaction, course organization, and student engagement exerted significant positive effects on Chinese learning achievement. The implications of the study are discussed for the sustainable enhancement of the online learning environment to improve international students’ online language learning.
Circular Economy Guidelines for the Textile Industry
Authors: Furferi Rocco , Volpe Yary , Mantellassi Franco
Published: September 2022

The production of textiles has a strong impact on the environment due to both over-consumption and the practice of production processes requiring the use of substances to manufacture, treat, and dye fabrics. In this context, finding new ways and solutions to transform used textiles into by-products or inputs for production is a trump card for the future of the textile sector. This may be accomplished by developing a circular economy policy, which involves large investments with a payoff only in a medium to long-term perspective. The main aim of the present work is to provide a set of guidelines to guide textile industries in the transition from traditional production processes to a systemic approach in consideration of the circular economy. This could leverage the efficient use of regenerated wool, the reduction (or lack) of waste production, and the management of the end-of-life of the product.
A Tool for the Assessment of Forest Biomass as a Source of Rural Sustainable Energy in Natural Areas in Honduras
Authors: Bardales Menelio , Bukowski Catherine , Molina-Moreno Valentín , Gálvez-Sánchez Francisco Jesús , Ramos-Ridao Ángel Fermín
Published: September 2022

Forest biomass as a rural sustainable energy source has received much attention in recent years due to its major economic, social, and environmental benefits. This research focuses on an adapted methodology based on parameters of the Evaluation of Ecological Integrity for using site-specific information as a tool for the assessment of forest biomass as a source of rural sustainable energy in Honduras, focusing on the Central American Pine–Oak Forests. The parameters used were Percentage of Forest Cover (FC), Patch Area (AREA), Fractal Dimension Index (FRAC), and Proximity Index (PROX). The goal was an average index rating of 5 for an ecosystem which is intact or in its natural state. The findings showed an ecosystem degradation that was outside the range of acceptable variation with a simple average of 1.75, which is far lower than the target rating of five (5.0); the forest cover loss was 40% of the total area. This surprising finding shows that immediate intervention is required to maintain this ecosystem, and that if action is not taken, the ecosystem will suffer severe degradation. Decision makers must consider this methodology for using site-specific information and ensure that local communities are involved in restoring the ecosystem.
Sawdust Recycling in the Development of Permeable Clay Paving Bricks: Optimizing Mixing Ratio and Particle Size
Authors: Shafiquzzaman Md. , Alqarawi Saad Mohammed A. , Haider Husnain , Rafiquzzaman Md. , Almoshaogeh Meshal , Alharbi Fawaz , EL-Ghoul Yassine
Published: September 2022

The permeable pavement system (PPS) has effectively contributed to stormwater management as a low-impact development (LID) technology. The suitability of clay bricks, consolidated with waste materials, for sustainable PPS applications in urban infrastructure needs further attention. In this study, several series of permeable clay paving bricks samples were prepared by mixing different ratios and particle sizes of sawdust (SD) with clay soil and firing at 900 °C. The raw soil and SD samples were characterized through sieve analysis, X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The bricks were tested for their compressive strength, bulk density, apparent porosity, water adsorption, permeability coefficient, and stormwater treatment efficiency. The clay soil comprised 17.5% clay/silt with appropriate amounts of SiO2 (50.47%), Al2O3 (19.14%), and fluxing agents (15.34%) and was suitable for brick manufacturing. XRD and FTIR analysis revealed that the soil predominantly comprises quartz, dolomite calcite, feldspar, kaolinite, illite, and chlorites. The SD samples were enriched with amorphous and crystalline cellulose. The compressive strength of the bricks decreased, while the permeability of the bricks increased with an increasing percentage of SD. An optimal percentage of 10% SD achieved a 21.2 MPa compressive strength and a 0.0556 m/s permeability coefficient, meeting the ASTM specifications for PPS. The optimal size of SD, between 0.5 and 1.0 mm, achieved the desired compressive strength of the bricks. The permeable bricks effectively removed the total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, and BOD5 from the stormwater, which complies with the guidelines for wastewater reuse applications.
Contexts of Networking and Travelling in the Light of Buddhist “Wisdom” and Life Philosophy—Management of Accessibility and Barrier Generation in Tourism
Authors: Farkas Jácint , Raffay Zoltán , Pallás Edit Ilona , Fekete-Frojimovics Zsófia , Zsarnóczky Martin Balázs , Dávid Lóránt Dénes
Published: September 2022

The modern science of thinking in networks and the interpretation of human activities made in networks are almost as old as the science of tourism, or as this paper calls it, travel science. The basic background of the paper is provided by the accessibility scrutiny performed in travel science and frequently referred to in the article. The paper is definitely of a theoretical focus; it is a research methodology mix of emptiness and life philosophy, and also hermeneutics, meant to inspire a discussion and evoke thought. The paper is not based on empirical data, given that it is a review paper; however, the analysis of this limited set of data supports the scientifically verifiable relevance of this specific philosophical scrutiny as well, i.e., the theoretical framing in the classic sense is manifested through this special philosophical and hermeneutical dimension: it implicitly frames the thoughts of the authors, the fundamental objective of which is to induce more in-depth and sophisticated discourses on the correlation of networks and accessibility. The authors observe that their brief theoretical research may lead to a few surprising conclusions for the future, and hope that they have met the academically relevant expectations that they defined.
Solar–Biogas Microgrid: A Strategy for the Sustainable Development of Rural Communities in Pakistan
Authors: Nawab Faisal , Abd Hamid Ag Sufiyan , Arif Muhammad , Khan Tufial A. , Naveed Amir , Sadiq Muhammad , Imad Ud din Sahibzada , Ibrahim Adnan
Published: September 2022

Access to uninterrupted power is not a luxury but a basic need. Rural communities living far from the national grid, particularly those in the southern region of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, have limited access to a reliable power supply. In order to provide sustainable electricity, small-scale off-grid renewable energy systems are increasingly used for rural electrification. These systems are commonly known as stand-alone home systems or community micro-grids. This paper proposes an off-grid solar–biogas micro-grid for rural communities in the Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The area is mainly dependent upon income from the agricultural and livestock sectors. HOMER was used to simulate the electric power system, while RET-Screen was used to analyze the economics of the system. The optimized system’s results demonstrate that the most economically and technically possible system, which produces 515 kWh and 338.50 m3 biogas daily, is made up of a 30-kW photovoltaic system coupled with a 37-kW biomass hybrid system, a 64-kWh battery storage capacity, and a 20-kW invertor. The system will meet the cooking and power needs of 900 individuals who reside in 100 homes. In addition to household users, the system will provide fixed-priced electricity to productive buildings, and free electricity to community buildings. The system will generate 1300 kg of organic fertilizer each day, which will be sold to local farmers for 50% less than what it would cost on the open market. The proposed approach is techno-economically viable based on the payback period and internal rate of return.
A Worldwide Bibliometric Analysis of Publications on Artificial Intelligence and Ethics in the Past Seven Decades
Authors: Chuang Chien-Wei , Chang Ariana , Chen Mingchih , Selvamani Maria John P. , Shia Ben-Chang
Published: September 2022

Issues related to artificial intelligence (AI) and ethics have gained much traction worldwide. The impact of AI on society has been extensively discussed. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of research results, citation relationships among researchers, and highly referenced journals on AI and ethics on a global scale. Papers published on AI and ethics were recovered from the Microsoft Academic Graph Collection data set, and the subject terms included “artificial intelligence” and “ethics.” With 66 nations’ researchers contributing to AI and ethics research, 1585 papers on AI and ethics were recovered, up to 5 July 2021. North America, Western Europe, and East Asia were the regions with the highest productivity. The top ten nations produced about 94.37% of the wide variety of papers. The United States accounted for 47.59% (286 articles) of all papers. Switzerland had the highest research production with a million-person ratio (1.39) when adjusted for populace size. It was followed by the Netherlands (1.26) and the United Kingdom (1.19). The most productive authors were found to be Khatib, O. (n = 10), Verner, I. (n = 9), Bekey, G. A. (n = 7), Gennert, M. A. (n = 7), and Chatila, R., (n = 7). Current research shows that research on artificial intelligence and ethics has evolved dramatically over the past 70 years. Moreover, the United States is more involved with AI and ethics research than developing or emerging countries.
MgO Nano-Catalyzed Biodiesel Production from Waste Coconut Oil and Fish Oil Using Response Surface Methodology and Grasshopper Optimization
Authors: Dharmegowda Impha Yalagudige , Muniyappa Lakshmidevamma Madarakallu , Siddalingaiah Parameshwara , Suresh Ajith Bintravalli , Gowdru Chandrashekarappa Manjunath Patel , Prakash Chander
Published: September 2022

In India, a densely populated country, fossil fuel depletion affects the energy sector that fulfils the industrial and human needs. Concerning greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants, and sustainability, there is a great demand to search for alternate feedstocks to produce alternate fuels at a low cost. The present work focuses on waste coconut and fish oil as potential inexpensive feedstock for biodiesel production. Two-stage transesterification processes for biodiesel production from hybrid oils mixed in a 1:1 volume ratio by employing solid nano-catalyst Magnesium Oxide (MgO). Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to analyze the effects of the physics of transesterification variables, such as methanol-to-oil molar ratio (M:O), MgO catalyst concentration (MgO CC), and reaction temperature (RT), on biodiesel yield, based on experimental data gathered in accordance with the matrices of central composite design (CCD). MgO CC showed the highest contribution, followed by M:O and RT, to maximize biodiesel yield. All interaction factors showed a significant effect except the M:O with RT. Grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA) determined optimal conditions (M:O: 10.65; MgO CC: 1.977 wt.%; RT: 80 °C) based on empirical equations, resulting in maximum biodiesel yield conversion experimentally equal to 96.8%. The physical stability of the MgO nano-catalyst and reactivity up to 5 successive cycles can yield 91.5% biodiesel yield, demonstrating its reusability for sustainable biodiesel production at low cost. The optimized biodiesel yield showed better physicochemical properties (tested according to ASTM D6751-15C) to use practically in diesel engines.
Cold Chain Energy Analysis for Sustainable Food and Beverage Supply
Authors: Marchi Beatrice , Zanoni Simone
Published: September 2022

Perishable goods, such as chilled and frozen foods, have a short shelf life and high sensitivity to their surrounding environment (e.g., temperature, humidity, and light intensity). For this reason, they must be distributed within a specific time and require special equipment and facilities (e.g., refrigeration and dehumidification systems) throughout the entire chain from farm to fork to ensure slow deterioration and to deliver safe and high-quality products to consumers. Cold chains can last for short periods, such as a few hours, or for several months or even years (e.g., frozen food products) depending on the product and the target market. A huge amount of energy is required to preserve quality by maintaining the desired temperature level over time. The required energy is also affected by inventory management policies (e.g., warehouse filling levels affect the cooling demand per unit of a product) and the behavior of the operators (e.g., number and duration of door openings). Furthermore, waste entails the loss of energy and other resources consumed for processing and storing these products. The aim of the present study is to propose a quantitative approach in order to map the energy flows throughout the cold chain in the food and beverage sector and to evaluate the overall energy performance. The results of the energy flow mapping give decisionmakers insights into the minimum energy required by the cold chain and allow them to prioritize energy efficiency measures by detecting the most energy consuming stages of the cold chain. The implementation of a holistic approach, shifting from a single-company perspective to chain assessment, leads to a global optimum and to an increased implementation rate of energy efficiency measures due to the reduced barriers perceived by different actors of the cold chain.
Intentional Communities Finding Space Amid Geopolitical Turmoil: Belbek Valley Case Study
Authors: Tysiachniouk Maria S. , Kotilainen Juha
Published: September 2022

The authoritarian regime in Russia represents a political context of societal turmoil in which the challenges for building sustainability can be studied. We explore intentional communities (ICs) with an environmental component that often appear with a focus on other issues such as spirituality and culture. Our focus is on Crimea’s Belbek Valley, a contested space that has nevertheless become attractive for ICs. We use semi-structured and open-ended interviews to collect data, which we analyze thematically. We discuss the reasons for the emergence of the ICs in the Belbek Valley and the variety of different ICs and initiatives there and build a typology of the ICs. They stand in stark contrast with neighboring traditional villages in Crimea. The Belbek Valley’s ICs are small-scale alternatives to the mainstream lifestyle, and they aim for a low carbon footprint, practicing permaculture, the application of energy and water saving technologies, vegetarianism, and yoga. The number of environmental practices adopted by each IC depends on the scale of their activities and investments in the infrastructure. We conclude by emphasizing the paradoxical nature of the Belbek Valley becoming a hub for ICs seeking long-term sustainability amid geopolitical turmoil.
Impact of Resource-Saving and Environment-Friendly Society Construction on Sustainability
Authors: Sun Zhenglin , Zhang Jinyue
Published: September 2022

Promoting coordinated and environmentally sustainable development of the Chinese economy is one of the primary tasks at the moment, as well as one of the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. The Resource-saving and Environment-friendly Society (RES) has created a pilot promotion policy aimed at China, with the goal of supporting the sustainable development of economic production activities while preserving natural ecosystems. In this investigation, we used the global Malmquist–Luenberger index with a slack-based measure of the directional distance function to calculate the industrial green total factor productivity (IGTFP) of 105 prefecture-level cities along the Yangtze River from 2004 to 2019; IGTFP was used as a proxy for sustainable development. Then, by considering the RES construction as a quasi-natural experiment, we used propensity score matching difference-in-differences (PSM-DID) to determine the effect of RES construction on sustainable development of the Yangtze River economic belt. We also employed the mediating effect model and triple difference (DDD) model to further analyze the mechanisms underlying the heterogeneous impacts of different urban characteristics. The results revealed three key findings. (1) According to the IGTFP calculation results, RES construction can effectively promote green technological progress while inhibiting green technological efficiency. (2) After carrying out a series of robustness tests, we found that RES construction increased the IGTFP of pilot cities by 4%, indicating that RES construction can significantly promote the sustainable development of pilot cities along the Yangtze River. (3) The results of the mechanism analysis showed that RES construction had a significantly positive impact on sustainable development through technological innovation, human capital, energy conservation, and emission control. In terms of different urban characteristics, the RES construction promoted sustainable development in first-tier cities, second-tier cities, and resource-based cities. We summarized the practical experience of the RES construction as a typical pilot promotion policy. It provides an empirical basis for planning the construction of eco-friendly urban areas in the 21st century and responding to the international community’s sustainable development goals from a Chinese perspective.
Evaluation of the Main Control Strategies for Grid-Connected PV Systems
Authors: Ahmed Mostafa , Harbi Ibrahim , Kennel Ralph , Rodríguez José , Abdelrahem Mohamed
Published: September 2022

The present study aims at analyzing and assessing the performance of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems, where the considered arrangement is the two-stage PV system. Normally, the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) process is utilized in the first stage of this topology (DC-DC). Furthermore, the active and reactive power control procedure is accomplished in the second stage (DC-AC). Different control strategies have been discussed in the literature for grid integration of the PV systems. However, we present the main techniques, which are considered the commonly utilized and effective methods to control such system. In this regard, and for MPPT, popularly the perturb and observe (P&O) and incremental conductance (INC) are employed to extract the maximum power from the PV source. Moreover, and to improve the performance of the aforementioned methods, an adaptive step can be utilized to enhance the steady-state response. For the inversion stage, the well-known and benchmarking technique voltage-oriented control, the dead-beat method, and the model predictive control algorithms will be discussed and evaluated using experimental tests. The robustness against parameters variation is considered and an extended Kalman filter (EKF) is used to estimate the system’s parameters. Future scope and directions for the research in this area are also addressed.
Long-Term Care Sustainable Networks in ADRION Region
Authors: Bogataj David , Bogataj Marija , Drobne Samo
Published: September 2022

The Long-Term Care (LTC) industry mainly comprises networks managed by providers of services other than informal caregivers and government agencies. Among the providers are the local providers of community-based services. The segment still consists of mostly small businesses. As such, it needs many improvements in logistics, information and communication technology (ICT) support, and educational programs, specifically in the ADRION region, where the rural areas require a high percentage of travel time in a working day for service providers. The demand for LTC services must be known early enough for providers to adapt to the growth of these demands, and they also need methods to support decisions on how to optimize the number of care workers to be able to plan the necessary human resources in the long term. The results are based on the authors’ previous studies of sustainable hierarchical spatial systems. The paper presents the achievements of these research activities and policies, governance and financing in the hierarchically organized services and networks of educational programs for human resources and ICT innovations in LTC, which are currently in short supply. Projections of capacities from facilities are necessary. Logistic networks to human resources are based on geo-gerontological projections, such as the multistate transition model, which is a new achievement in this area, and the adequate norms and standards of these services. The optimal number of human resources is based on the combination of the Patterson-Albracht algorithm and Multiple Travelling Salesman Problem (mTSP), as a new Home Health Care Routing and Scheduling Problem (HHCRSP), which helps in ensuring the inclusion of travel time in the concept of norms and standards, to achieve a work balance and care schedule according to the wishes of clients. The proposed approach might help professionals adapt in advance to the coming changes caused by the growing number of seniors and rapid changes in technology, and might also help in considerations as to whether the priorities of clients should be included in the basic national insurance programs or additionally charged as a higher standard of home care services. The aim is to make care and supply networks as sustainable as possible.
Analysis of the Efficiency of Forest Carbon Sinks and Its Influencing Factors—Evidence from China
Authors: Wei Junmin , Shen Manhong
Published: September 2022

The study of the input–output efficiency and influencing factors of forest carbon sinks is beneficial for the realization of the rational allocation of forest carbon sink resources. Based on the DEA-SBM model, the efficiency of forest carbon sinks is measured and analyzed in 30 provinces (cities) of China from 2005 to 2018; the influencing factors of forest carbon sink efficiency are constructed from the three perspectives of pressure subsystem, state subsystem, and response subsystem with the help of the PSR model and regression analysis is conducted using the FGLS model so that the results of the study can provide a basis for formulating a regionally differentiated forest carbon sink system. The empirical results show that the average annual forest carbon sink efficiency in China is only 0.29, and there is much room for improvement. The level of urbanization, the degree of natural damage to forests, precipitation, and the proportion of financial support for forestry are positively correlated with forest carbon sink efficiency, while temperature is negatively correlated with forest sink efficiency. Additionally, different influencing factors have regional heterogeneity on forest carbon sink efficiency. Based on the above findings, we propose the following policy recommendations: formulate forest carbon sink strategies according to local conditions, adjust and optimize the forestry industry structure at the right time, minimize the intervention in forest ecosystems, improve the supervision mechanism of special forestry funds, improve the level of forestry human capital, and accelerate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements.
Modeling and Feature Analysis of Air Traffic Complexity Propagation
Authors: Wang Hongyong , Xu Ping , Zhong Fengwei
Published: September 2022

Air traffic complexity, an essential attribute of air traffic situation, is the main driving force of workload for air-traffic controllers and is the key to achieving refined air traffic control. The existing air traffic complexity studies are based on static network, ignoring the dynamic evolution of between-aircraft proximity relations. Research on such evolution course and propagation characteristics will help to comprehensively explore the mechanisms of complexity formation. Herein, an air traffic complexity propagation research method based on temporal networking and disease propagation modeling is proposed. First, a temporal network is built with aircraft as nodes and between-aircraft proximity relations as edges. Second, the disease propagation model is introduced to simulate the evolution course of between-aircraft proximity relations, and the propagation model is solved using Runge–Kutta algorithm and particle swarm optimization. Third, based on the solved results of the propagation model, the aircraft are divided into three groups with high, medium, and low propagation capability, respectively. Finally, the effects of different factors on the propagation course are analyzed using multivariate linear regression. Real data validation shows the propagation of high-propagation capability aircraft is significantly affected by duration, and the temporal-correlation coefficient. The propagation of medium-propagation capability aircraft is significantly affected by duration and the clustering degree. By adjusting the influencing factors, the air traffic complexity propagation process can be effectively controlled.
Employment Outcomes of Higher Education Graduates from during and after the 2007–2008 Financial Crisis: Evidence from a Romanian University
Authors: Baciu Elena-Loreni
Published: September 2022

In the current article, we seek to understand the ways in which unfavorable macro-level circumstances influence the employment outcomes of university graduates, in the long term. We use the 2007–2008 financial crisis as a historical setting and compare data about the later employment outcomes of 772 students who graduated a bachelor’s program at a public Romanian university before and after the financial crisis. The comparison includes a quantitative perspective and a qualitative one and refers to: duration of the job search after graduation; seniority levels; number of jobs held; profile of the first job gained after graduation; current status on the labor market; localization of the current employer; profile of the current job; satisfaction with the career status; perceived employability. Additionally, we also explore the influence of the following micro-level determinants on employment outcomes: attendance to internships programs; employment during the attendance of the BA program; and choosing to continue education with a master’s program. The findings suggest that, although the group who graduated during the financial crisis indeed faced some initial setbacks, manifested through longer waiting times before securing their first job, they currently have objectively superior employment outcomes compared with their counterparts who graduated after the crisis. Subjectively, the members of the two groups show similar levels of satisfaction with their career status. The analysis of the micro-level determinants shows that they have a positive influence on individual employment outcomes, and this may be of interest in the future in increasing graduates’ resilience on the labor market and supporting their sustainable employment.
Review on Infrared Imaging Technology
Authors: Hou Fujin , Zhang Yan , Zhou Yong , Zhang Mei , Lv Bin , Wu Jianqing
Published: September 2022

The application of infrared camera-related technology is a trending research topic. By reviewing the development of infrared thermal imagers, this paper introduces several main processing technologies of infrared thermal imagers, expounds the image nonuniformity correction, noise removal, and image pseudo color enhancement of infrared thermal imagers, and briefly analyzes some main algorithms used in image processing. The technologies of blind element detection and compensation, temperature measurement, target detection, and tracking of infrared thermal imager are described. By analyzing the main algorithms of infrared temperature measurement, target detection, and tracking, the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies are put forward. At the same time, the development of multi/hyperspectral infrared remote sensing technology and its application are also introduced. The analysis shows that infrared thermal imager processing technology is widely used in many fields, especially in the direction of autonomous driving, and this review helps to expand the reader’s research ideas and research methods.
Effects of Temperature Rise on Clean Energy-Based Capital Market Investments: Neural Network-Based Granger Causality Analysis
Authors: Swarup Shivam , Singh Kushwaha Gyaneshwar
Published: September 2022

During the past 20 years, due to climate change, the government and the private sector have significantly focused on relying on non-fossil fuel-based methods for their energy needs. Climate change-related events, such as unusual weather conditions, abnormal temperature spikes, etc., have an adverse influence on clean energy-based investments. In the given study, we intend to focus on how an incremental temperature rise could affect investors’ perceptions of clean energy assets. To understand the investor-based sentiment on climate change, we utilize prominent clean energy ETFs (exchange traded funds) and consider the temperature’s effect on them. The daily average temperatures of the three most dynamic international financial centers: New York, London and Tokyo, are taken as predictors. Deep learning-based neural networks are applied to understand both the linear and non-linear relationships between the desired variables and identify the causal effects. The results indicate that in almost all the cases with desired lags, there is some sort of non-linear causality, irrespective of linear causality effects. We hope this occurrence can help portfolio managers and environmental professionals in identifying novel climate change-related factors when considering the temperature-related risks.
COVID-19 Pandemic: The Impacts of Crude Oil Price Shock on Nigeria’s Economy, Legal and Policy Options
Authors: Olujobi Olusola Joshua , Olarinde Elizabeta Smaranda , Yebisi Tunde Ebenezer , Okorie Uchechukwu Emena
Published: September 2022

The outbreak of the COVID-19 disease has gravely shaken the world economy. The economies of many countries have come under severe strain; Nigeria’s petroleum industry has been particularly affected. This has threatened the countries’ budgets and other essential needs involved in citizens’ welfare. The government is taking drastic measures to combat this scourge, with few results. This study adopts a doctrinal legal research approach and considers both the primary and secondary sources of law, such as judicial precedents, international conventions, and peer-reviewed journals. Legal theories were also applied as an academic lens for modelling the research. The justification for using the method was to establish the trustworthiness of the findings on the impacts of crude oil price shock on Nigeria’s economy, its legal and policy options. This study investigates the influences of oil price shock on the country’s economy and the legal remedies required to build economic resilience to mitigate future contingencies. The study argues that the provisions of the extant laws can be utilised as a preventive mechanism for tackling the impacts of oil price shock on Nigeria’s economy. The study recommends other remedial measures, such as diversification from oil and gas to non-oil sectors. The study designed a hybrid model for mitigating the influences of crude oil prices on the country’s extractive wealth. The study advocates for the need for an effective legal regime to shield the domestic economy from international oil price instability. The implications of the main results are that crude oil production and prices play a significant role in real growth enhancement. However, they exert a negative but unsustainable standard innovation on growth, which could be mitigated through appropriate legal and policy options. Nigeria needs stringent, transparent, and the best petroleum management practice laws to manage its petroleum sector’s revenues for sustainability.
Numerical Investigation of Flow Channel Design and Tapered Slope Effects on PEM Fuel Cell Performance
Authors: Zhang Zhiming , Wu Sai , Miao Huimin , Zhang Tong
Published: September 2022

High-power proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell vehicles are important for the realization of carbon neutrality in transportation. However, it is difficult to maintain enough fuel supply and quick water removal capacity at a high current density where reactant gas transportation and water concentration are directly affected by flow channel configurations. This study aims to investigate the tapered slope effects of a flow channel on fuel cell performance using a 3-D CFD model. The positive, negative, zero and hybrid tapered slopes are proposed to illustrate the fuel cell voltage, reactant gas and water vapor concentration in the flow channels. Among them, the flow channel with a positive tapered slope performs better, especially at a high current density. Then, the positive tapered slope effects are discussed, including different tapered slopes, inlet depths and widths of flow channels. The results show that the larger the tapered slope, the smaller the depth and width, and the better the fuel cell performs; the corresponding current densities are increased by a maximum of 6.53%, 12.72% and 61.13%. The outcomes stated above provide a key direction for flow channel design that can particularly achieve higher fuel cell power density at high current densities.
Multi-Functional Isolated Three-Port Bidirectional DC/DC Converter for Photovoltaic Systems
Authors: Wu Yu-En , Hong Rui-Ru
Published: September 2022

This paper proposes a novel multi-function isolated three-port bidirectional DC–DC converter for a stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) system. The proposed topology was composed of a unidirectional step-up converter and a bidirectional step-up/step-down converter that only required one set of complementary PWM signals to control any operation mode and used multiple operating stages to improve the practicability of the converter. In addition, the proposed topology had the function of inductance energy leakage recovery to improve the conversion efficiency and used synchronous rectification technology to reduce the conduction losses from passive components. This paper implemented a 500 W converter to verify the feasibility of the proposed converter by theoretical analysis, simulation, and experiment results. The experimental results show the highest efficiency of 95.5% for the PV step-up to the DC bus, 97.8% for the PV step-down to the battery terminal, 94.5% for the battery terminal step-up to the DC bus, and 93.4% for the DC bus step-down to the battery terminal, respectively.
Heterologous Grafting Improves Cold Tolerance of Eggplant
Authors: Wang Duanhua , Wu Shuanghua , Li Qian , Wang Xin , Li Xuefeng , Liu Feng , Yang Jianguo
Published: September 2022

Grafting is commonly used to enhance the quality and confer biotic or abiotic stress tolerance to plants. There is, however, no clear understanding of how grafted eggplant responds to cold stress. Here, four grafting combinations of eggplant from cold-sensitive line J55 and cold-resistant line J65 were subjected to morpho-physiological experiments and transcriptome sequencing to compare their responses to cold stress. After being subjected to cold stress, a total of 5883,6608,6867 and 5815 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in J55-J55L0_vs_J55-J55L1 (C0), J55-J65_vs_J55-J65L1 (T2), J65-J55_vs_J65-J55L1 (T1), and J65-J65_vs_J65-J65L1 (C1), respectively. When comparing C0 and C1, there exist 4580 specifical DEGs which were differentially expressed either in C0 or C1 (C0_vs_C1), these DEGs are more likely to induce the difference of the two grafted combinations. There is a total of 5583 specifical DEGs in C0_vs_T1 and 5209 specifical DEGs in C0_vs_T2, respectively. GO functional analysis found specifical DEGs mainly enriched the cell and membrane, catalytic activity, metabolic process, and cellular process, which was the same in comparison to heterografted and self-grafted eggplant in C0_vs_C1, C0_vs_T1 and C0_vs_T2. KEGG analysis showed that the specifical DEGs were mainly enriched in plant hormone signal transduction in C0_vs_C1, C0_vs_T1, and C0_vs_T2. Therefore, we screened ten candidate genes associated with AUX/IAA, salicylic acid and other hormone regulations that were differentially expressed in C0_vs_C1 C0_vs_T1, and C0_vs_T2. We believe that plant hormones play a vital role in regulating the cold tolerance of grafted eggplant. We also found that 22 DEGs enriched in arginine and proline metabolism in comparison to self-and hetero-grafted eggplant C0 and T1, predicted that putrescine biosynthesis plays a certain role in improving the cold resistance of eggplant by heterologous grafting. Meanwhile, by the comparison of specifical DEGs on C0_vs_C1 and C0_vs_T2, the DEGs enriched in a similar KEGG pathway, it is considered that the better cold tolerance of J65 as a scion has a more important effect on the cold resistance of eggplant.
Experimental Investigation of the Mechanical Behavior and Damage Evolution Mechanism of Oil-Impregnated Gypsum Rock
Authors: Ge Yongxiang , Zhang Congrui , Ren Gaofeng , Zhang Luwei
Published: September 2022

In order to realize the comprehensive utilization of the underground space formed by gypsum mining, with the core goal of building an oil storage depot in the gypsum mine goaf, the designed rock infiltration loading device was used to prepare gypsum rock samples immersed in oil for 0, 15, and 30 days for rock mechanics experiments. The influence of oil immersion on the mechanical behavior of the gypsum ore rock mass was studied, and the damage evolution mechanism of gypsum ore rock was explored through statistical fitting and normalized quantitative evaluation. The results show that, with the increase in oil immersion time, the peak stress and elastic modulus of gypsum rock both tend to decrease, and the decrease degree of each parameter is smaller when the confining pressure is higher. The normalized expression of each parameter of gypsum ore and rock with the oil immersion time was established, the deterioration coefficient of each parameter was defined, and the influence law of the oil immersion time on each parameter was analyzed. With the increase in oil immersion time, the internal friction angle of gypsum ore rock exhibited an increasing trend, while the other parameters exhibited a decreasing trend. The oil immersion time had the greatest influence on the cohesion of gypsum ore rock, followed by peak stress, internal friction angle, and elastic modulus. Moreover, it was further demonstrated that high confining pressure conditions weaken the deterioration effect of oil immersion on gypsum rock, i.e., high confining pressure conditions are more conducive to crude oil storage. The research results herein provide theoretical support for the improvement of the theory of “treatment and utilization synergy” in gypsum mine goaf.
Work-From-Home Productivity and Job Satisfaction: A Double-Layered Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Kowalski Kellyann Berube , Aruldoss Alex , Gurumurthy Bhuvaneswari , Parayitam Satyanarayana
Published: September 2022

This study was conducted against the backdrop of the global-pandemic-induced change in work climate resulting in employees working from home (WFH). The current study investigated the relationship between work-from-home productivity (WFHP) and job satisfaction. Using a structured survey instrument, data were collected from 1158 respondents from a developing country, India. After checking the psychometric properties of the measures using the LISREL software of structural equation modeling (SEM), data were analyzed using Hayes’s PROCESS macros. The findings indicate that: (i) WFHP positively predicts (a) job satisfaction and (b) work–life balance (WLB), (ii) WLB positively predicts job satisfaction, and (iii) WLB mediates the relationship between WFHP and job satisfaction. The results also support that (i) work stress moderates the relationship between WFHP and WLB, (ii) work–personal life enhancement (WPLE) (second moderator) moderates the moderated relationship between WFHP and work stress (first moderator) in influencing WLB, (iii) emotional exhaustion moderates the relationship between WLB and job satisfaction, and (iv) WPLE (second moderator) moderates the relationship between WLB and emotional exhaustion (first moderator) in influencing job satisfaction. The first three-way interaction between WFHP, work stress, and WLB and the second three-way interaction between WLB, emotional exhaustion, and job satisfaction have been investigated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. The conceptual double-layered moderated mediation model is a novel idea, and the results significantly contribute to the literature on WLB and job satisfaction. The implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Ageing of Crumb Rubber Modified Bituminous Binders under Real Service Conditions
Authors: Albornoz Francisco Javier Sierra-Carrillo del , Moreno-Navarro Fernando , Sol-Sánchez Miguel , Rubio-Gámez María del Carmen , Saiz Leticia
Published: September 2022

Due to their environmental advantages, crumb rubber modified asphalt binders constitute an interesting alternative to conventional binders for road surfaces of a more durable and sustainable nature. However, in practice, they remain less commonly used than conventional polymer modified binders. This research aims to study the real ageing of crumb rubber modified asphalt binders during their service lives when exposed to various factors, including temperature gradients, the presence of water and oxidation. To this end, research was conducted on a selection of highways built with these binders and located in regions with severe climatic and traffic conditions. The binders from cores of highway surface layers were recovered and tested using the DSR (Dynamic Shear Rheometer) to determine the evolution of the rheological parameters. Crumb rubber modified asphalt binders were studied in comparison with traditional polymer modified bitumen. The analysis of the complex modulus and phase angle was conducted based on frequency and temperature sweep tests, while the evolution of the elastic recovery, Jnr, L-Index and T-Index were assessed from the multiple stress creep and recovery test. The results obtained indicate that crumb rubber modified binders show similar ageing and rheological parameters to those of conventional polymer modified bitumen, even under severe traffic and climate conditions. Furthermore, it was observed that, at high temperatures, the effect caused by real service life ageing was different to that obtained in the laboratory through the RTFO and PAV tests.