bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resilience and Academic Dropout in Ecuadorian University Students during COVID-19
Authors: Pertegal-Felices María Luisa , Valdivieso-Salazar Daisy Astrid , Espín-León Aldrin , Jimeno-Morenilla Antonio
Published: July 2022

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has had a global impact that has affected all areas of people’s lives. However, people have different capacities to adapt and cope with the adversities and traumatic events that may have occurred during the pandemic with different levels of resilience. One collective affected by this global crisis was university students, who had to face an unprecedented academic situation, resulting in some abandoning their studies. This study aims to analyse whether the resilience of the students could be related to academic dropout. To carry out this research, we assessed the resilience of 1676 university students from 11 universities in Ecuador. To do so, a committee of experts from the Ecuadorian Association of Social Work Education Centres and 11 Ecuadorian universities designed a questionnaire and sent it to the entire sample. Subsequently, we compared the levels of resilience between university students who withdrew from university during the COVID-19 pandemic with those who continued their studies by using a multivariate analysis. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences in all variables analysed. The students who obtained the highest scores were those who continued their studies, and those students who dropped out obtained the lowest scores. In summary, we found that school dropout among Ecuadorian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic was due to low levels of resilience. Therefore, increasing student resilience could improve university retention rates and, in turn, academic performance and future life prospects.
Mapping Roofing with Asbestos-Containing Material by Using Remote Sensing Imagery and Machine Learning-Based Image Classification: A State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Abbasi Mohammad , Mostafa Sherif , Vieira Abel Silva , Patorniti Nicholas , Stewart Rodney A.
Published: July 2022

Building roofing produced with asbestos-containing materials is a significant concern due to its detrimental health hazard implications. Efficiently locating asbestos roofing is essential to proactively mitigate and manage potential health risks from this legacy building material. Several studies utilised remote sensing imagery and machine learning-based image classification methods for mapping roofs with asbestos-containing materials. However, there has not yet been a critical review of classification methods conducted in order to provide coherent guidance on the use of different remote sensing images and classification processes. This paper critically reviews the latest works on mapping asbestos roofs to identify the challenges and discuss possible solutions for improving the mapping process. A peer review of studies addressing asbestos roof mapping published from 2012 to 2022 was conducted to synthesise and evaluate the input imagery types and classification methods. Then, the significant challenges in the mapping process were identified, and possible solutions were suggested to address the identified challenges. The results showed that hyperspectral imagery classification with traditional pixel-based classifiers caused large omission errors. Classifying very-high-resolution multispectral imagery by adopting object-based methods improved the accuracy results of ACM roof identification; however, non-optimal segmentation parameters, inadequate training data in supervised methods, and analyst subjectivity in rule-based classifications were reported as significant challenges. While only one study investigated convolutional neural networks for asbestos roof mapping, other applications of remote sensing demonstrated promising results using deep-learning-based models. This paper suggests further studies on utilising Mask R-CNN segmentation and 3D-CNN classification in the conventional approaches and developing end-to-end deep semantic classification models to map roofs with asbestos-containing materials.
The Board Structure and Performance in IPO Firms: Evidence from Stakeholder-Oriented Corporate Governance
Authors: Watanabel Naoki , Yamauchi Shohei , Sakawa Hideaki
Published: July 2022

This study investigates the internal mechanisms as an important factor for shareholders and stakeholders in initial public offering (IPO) firms with stakeholder-oriented corporate governance. Over the period of 2009–2016, we examine the role of independent directors in Japanese stakeholder-oriented corporate governance. According to previous research, the monitoring role of independent directors is strengthened in countries with a market-based financial system. Our empirical analyses show that independent directors do not effectively mitigate conflicts among shareholders such as IPO underpricing in a stakeholder-oriented corporate governance framework. Alternatively, accounting expertise may contribute to mitigating IPO underpricing in accordance with U.S. corporations. The participation of bank-affiliated directors in IPO firms further contributes to the mitigation of underpricing. Accordingly, these findings imply that bank ties through Horizontal Keiretsu’s bank-appointed directors are critical for mitigating conflicts among shareholders in IPO firms. These results imply that stakeholder-oriented corporate governance systems contribute to reducing conflicts among stakeholders.
Visualizing Source-Code Evolution for Understanding Class-Wide Programming Processes
Authors: Taniguchi Yuta , Minematsu Tsubasa , Okubo Fumiya , Shimada Atsushi
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in online classes, and programming classes are no exception. In such a learning environment, understanding every student’s programming process is mostly impractical for teachers, despite its significance in supporting students. Giving teachers feedback on programming processes is a typical approach to the problem. However, few studies have focused on visual representations of the evolution process of source-code contents; it remains unclear what visual representation would be effective to this end and how teachers value such feedback. We propose two feedback tools for teachers. These tools visualize the temporal evolution of source-code contents at different granularities. An experiment was conducted in which several university teachers performed a user evaluation of the tools, particularly with regard to their usefulness for reviewing past programming classes taught by another teacher. Questionnaire results showed that these tools are helpful for understanding programming processes. The tools were also found to be complementary, with different aspects being highly evaluated. We successfully presented concrete visual representations of programming processes as well as their relative strengths and weaknesses for reviewing classes; this contribution may serve as a basis for future real-time use of these tools in class.
Analysis of Competency Assessment of Educational Innovation in Upper Secondary School and Higher Education: A Mapping Review
Authors: Krstikj Aleksandra , Sosa Godina Juan , García Bañuelos Luciano , González Peña Omar Israel , Quintero Milián Héctor Nahún , Urbina Coronado Pedro Daniel , Vanoye García Ana Yael
Published: July 2022

Despite the plethora of studies reported during the last decade in relation to educational innovation in teaching and assessment of competencies, a consensus is seemingly lacking on a definition that establishes the scope and boundaries competency assessment. This research gap motivated a systematic review of the literature published on the topics of “educational innovation in teaching” and “assessment of competencies” in upper secondary and higher education during the period from January 2016 to March 2021. The main objective of the study was to define and evaluate educational innovation in teaching and assessment of competencies in upper secondary and higher education following PRISMA guidelines for a systematic literature review (SLR) on a curated corpus of 320 articles. We intended to answer the following questions: (1) What do “educational innovation in teaching” and “assessment of competencies” represent for upper secondary and higher education? (2) How are they evaluated? Lastly, (3) are efforts exerted toward the standardization of transversal competencies? The SLR seeks answers to these questions by examining nine research sub-queries. The result indicated that the greatest effort toward educational innovation in competencies was made at the higher education level and targeted students. Competencies were revised through associations with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. In addition, the methodologies used for teaching and evaluation of competencies were reviewed. Finally, the study discussed which technologies were used to develop the proficiencies of students.
Damage Data Analysis of Deep Coal Roadway Roof and Application of Long Anchorage and Zone Linkage Support Technology
Authors: Wang Yang , Zhang Nong , Wu Wenda , Cao Juncai , Guo Yu , Duan Donghong
Published: July 2022

China’s energy structure mainly depends on coal resources, which will still play the dominant role in economic development in the future. With the mining depth increasing, the deep roadway construction will be exposed to a complex stress environment, increasing the difficulty of roof control and further hindering the mining activities. The problem of deep roadway excavation causing significant fracture scope of surrounding rock in and outside the anchorage zone has attracted much attention. For the large crack scope existing in the roadway roof of deep underground openings, this paper focuses on the exploration of upgrading the support system. In order to solve this problem, we investigated the zone damage of the roadway roof with the discrete element model using the UDEC trigon method and damage quantified evaluation with data analysis. The long anchorage and zone linkage support technology was proposed based on the damage control effect of varying lengths of supporting bolts. The purpose of extending the length of bolts is to link the more severely damaged rock mass in the shallow part to the minimum damaged part in the deep place, aiming to form the thick anchor zone to mobilize the rock mass in each zone to participate and bear the load together. Furthermore, the onsite application of long anchorage and zone linkage technology gained good control effects in the selected typical roadway with different geological conditions. The results show obvious resistance in cross-section shrinkage, integrity maintenance, and minimization of crack scope in the roadway roof. The promotion of long anchorage zone linkage technology can help the mine with similar situations uplift the efficiency of working and guarantee the safety of miners during mine service life in the deep coal roadway.
Grain Size and Sedimentary Sorting Characteristics of Atmospheric Dust in the Cele Oasis, Southern Margin of Taklimakan Desert
Authors: Lin Yongchong , Mu Guijin , Xu Lishuai
Published: July 2022

Grain size is a proxy indicator of airflow intensity and also provides a scientific basis for the prevention of dust hazards. However, the variations in grain size characteristics that occur during transport and deposition processes are seldom discussed. Here, atmospheric dust samples were collected before and after deposition in a sand–dust storm for grain size analysis. The results showed that the grain size distributions of the atmospheric dust were unimodal during transportation but always became bimodal after deposition. This indicates that the bimodal grain size distribution of the aeolian deposits was caused by sedimentary sorting. The coarse-grained component, which was between 20 and 200 μm, was mainly deposited during the sand–dust storm. Grain size may indicate the strength of the airflow field. The fine-grained component, which ranged in size from 0.4 to 20 μm, was mainly deposited after the sand–dust storm. This component can remain suspended in the atmosphere for a long period of time. Oasis shelterbelts can be used to reduce the fine-grained component of the dust aerosol through the interception of particles by foliage. The grain size variation found in this study from before to after sand–dust storm deposition deepens our understanding of the sediment sorting process.
Sustainable Development in Higher Engineering Education: A Comparative Study between Private and Public Polytechnics
Authors: Forhad Md. Abdur Rahman , Alam Gazi Mahabubul , Rashid Mamunur , Haque Afruza , Khan Md. Sawgat
Published: July 2022

In Bangladesh, a four-year diploma program is the highest level of technical education provided by private and public polytechnic institutions. Using representative primary data of 1372 sample sizes from Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology, Gazipur, we examined whether students graduating from private polytechnics perform worse in higher engineering education than their public school counterparts. We mainly employed a multivariate regression model and found that students from private polytechnics receive lower grades by 0.120 cumulative grade points average (CGPA) despite similar socioeconomic, academic, and demographic backgrounds. These estimated effects imply that private polytechnics fail to significantly affect sustainable engineering education. These findings suggest that policy makers increase the number of teachers and laboratory facilities for sustainable engineering education.
How Natural Gas Infrastructure Affects Carbon Emission Indicators in Guangdong Province?
Authors: Yan Ziwei , Cui Chunying
Published: July 2022

As a public infrastructure, the West to East Natural Gas Pipeline Project (WENGPP), acting as a key supplier of energy, has adopted a potential approach to reduce CE by expanding Natural gas (NG) power in the developed areas in China. However, the literature pertaining to the effects of the efforts made by WENGPP to reduce CE remains scant. Therefore, this study applied the causal inference framework—Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) to the Guangdong province, which was chosen as a case in point that provides empirical evidence related to the nexus between WENGPP and CE. Remarkably, our results disclosed that WENGPP had caused the total volume of CE in Guangdong province to decline notably. Both short and long-term emission inhibition effects approximated 10.68–14.96%. We revealed two CE reduction mechanisms: (i) through the low-carbon emission trade-off effect, wherein NG consumers were able to gain emission advantages under policy pressure; and (ii) through price comparison effect, where high combustion efficiency of NG consumers combined with low energy consumption costs could provide the incentive of promoting the optimization of regional emission structure. The article suggests a substitutable channel upgrading public energy infrastructure to improve the low-carbon alternative process, to policy makers.
Survey of Simulation Tools to Assess Techno-Economic Benefits of Smart Grid Technology in Integrated T&D Systems
Authors: Salinas-Herrera Fernando , Moeini Ali , Kamwa Innocent
Published: July 2022

In order to succeed in the energy transition, the power system must become more flexible in order to enable the economical hosting of more intermittent distributed energy resources (DER) and smart grid technologies. New technical solutions, generally based on the connection of various components coupled to the power system via smart power electronic converters or through ICT, can help to take up these challenges. Such innovations (e.g., decarbonization technologies and smart grids) may reduce the costs of future power systems and the environmental footprint. In this regard, the techno-economic assessment of smart grid technologies is a matter of interest, especially in the urge to develop more credible options for deep decarbonization pathways over the long term. This work presents a literature survey of existing simulation tools to assess the techno-economic benefits of smart grid technologies in integrated T&D systems. We include the state-of-the-art tools and categorize them in their multiple aspects, cover smart grid technology, approach methods, and research topics, and include (or complete) the analysis with other dimensions (smart-grid related) of key interest for future power systems analysis such as environmental considerations, techno-economic aspects (social welfare), spatial scope, time resolution (granularity), and temporal scope, among others. We surveyed more than 40 publications, and 36 approaches were identified for the analysis of integrated T&D systems. As a relatively new research area, there are various promising candidates to properly simulate integrated T&D systems. Nevertheless, there is not yet a consensus on a specific framework that should be adopted by researchers in academia and industry. Moreover, as the power system is evolving rapidly towards a smart grid system, novel technologies and flexibility solutions are still under study to be integrated on a large scale. This review aims to offer new criteria for researchers in terms of smart-grid related dimensions and the state-of-the-art trending of simulation tools that holistically evaluate techno-economic aspects of the future power systems in an integrated T&D systems environment. As an imperative research matter for future energy systems, this article seeks to contribute to the discussion of which pathway the scientific community should focus on for a successful shift towards decarbonized energy systems.
Implication of Mutual Assistance Evacuation Model to Reduce the Volcanic Risk for Vulnerable Society: Insight from Mount Merapi, Indonesia
Authors: Chasanah Faizul , Sakakibara Hiroyuki
Published: July 2022

The successful evacuation of vulnerable people during emergencies is a significant challenge. In the case of a Mount Merapi eruption, limited private vehicles in the community and a lack of evacuation transport and government volunteers led some people to walk to the meeting area. Consequently, low walking speeds by vulnerable persons may increase the risk and delay. Therefore, the mutual assistance strategy is proposed to support vulnerable people by evacuating them with young people. This grouping was simulated using an AnyLogic software with the agent-based model concept. Pedestrians and vehicles played the roles of significant agents in this experiment. Evacuation departure rate, actual walking speed, group size, route, and coordination were crucial agent parameters. Human behavior and agent distribution were investigated using stakeholders and local community interviews. We measured the walking speed directly to find the independent and group speed. Afterward, we developed three scenarios and models for the evacuation process. A traffic approach was used in the simulation. The results revealed that this mutual assistance model is effective for the rapid evacuation and risk reduction of vulnerable communities where successful evacuation rates have improved. The highest arrival rating was obtained by the Model 3, which was assembled and well-coordinated from home. These findings are a novelty in the volcano context and reflect all categories of vulnerable behavior involving the elderly, disabled, children, and pregnant mothers. The model will benefit disaster management studies and authorities’ policies for sustainable evacuation planning and aging population mitigation.
When Does CSR Fail to Incentive Employees’ Affective Organizational Commitment? Exploring the Moderating Effects Based on the C-S-R Concerns Model
Authors: He Hongqing , Zhang Yameng , Ding Yaqi
Published: July 2022

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a strategy employed to engage stakeholders. Prior studies explored the different mechanisms by which employees, as one of an organization’s biggest stakeholder groups, positively respond to organizational CSR behavior. However, limited attention has been paid to the conditional boundaries when employees’ positive responses are stronger or weaker, overlooking the possibility that sometimes CSR fails to obtain employees’ support. The study employed the “C-S-R concerns” model to systematically investigate how caring-based (i.e., moral identity), self-based (i.e., corporate ability), and relational-based (i.e., importance of CSR) factors moderate the relationship between perceived CSR (PCSR) and affective organizational commitment (AOC). Using data collected from 326 employees in the Chinese high-tech industry, we found that the positive effects of employees’ PCSR on their AOC becomes negative when employees have higher levels of moral identity, when their organizations are perceived as having greater ability, and when CSR is perceived as more important to the success of their organization. The findings advance our understanding of the inconclusive impacts of CSR on firm performance by providing micro-level evidence from employees. This also provides practical implications for managers about how to select employees, set CSR strategies and cultivate organizational cultures.
The Role of Agritourism Microentrepreneurship and Collective Action in Shaping Stewardship of Farmlands
Authors: Peroff Deidre M. , Morais Duarte B. , Sills Erin
Published: July 2022

Agritourism has been promoted primarily as a way to mitigate economic challenges faced by small-scale family farmers, but it may also foster land stewardship and promote agricultural literacy. There has been very little research on these relationships. We employed a primarily qualitative approach to assess how farmers’ involvement in agritourism microentrepreneurship shapes their stewardship of small-scale farmlands in southeastern North Carolina. Furthermore, we examined how farmers’ involvement in social structures, summarized in measures of collective action, supported or hindered this relationship. We find that reasons for participation in agritourism differed greatly between conventional farmers and alternative farmers. While both groups expressed a desire to reduce agricultural illiteracy among the public through agritourism, conventional farmers were motivated primarily by sociocultural reasons (e.g., community and youth development) while alternative farmers wanted to educate visitors about land stewardship and environmentally sustainable food production. Involvement in agritourism microentrepreneurship did not directly influence land stewardship by either group of farmers. Alternative farmers expressed that collective action was important in helping them promote land stewardship, but they felt restricted by sociocultural and geographic barriers preventing them from developing trust within their community. Conversely, conventional farmers reported deeper cultural roots in the community. Thus, participation in agritourism does not have a generalizable impact on farmers’ land stewardship; instead, agritourism becomes a stage through which farmers try to demonstrate their pre-existing land ethics.
Moderating Effect of Paternalistic Leadership on the Relationship between Thriving at Work and Expatriate Performance
Authors: Zhuang Wen-Long , Lee Chun-Han , Lin Hsin-Mei , Nien Yen-Feng
Published: July 2022

This study explores the effect of thriving at work on expatriate performance and determines whether the paternalistic leadership of the local supervisor in a host country moderates this relationship. Convenience sampling was adopted. In total, 300 questionnaires were distributed, and 182 responses (20 invalid and 162 valid) were returned (effective questionnaire recovery rate = 54.00%). A regression model was applied to examine the causal relationship between thriving at work and expatriate performance and the moderating effect of paternalistic leadership. The analysis results indicated that more obvious learning and vitality characteristics were associated with higher task and contextual performances among expatriates. Furthermore, host country supervisors’ moral leadership moderated the relationship between expatriate task performance and both learning and vitality. Moreover, host country supervisors’ authoritarian leadership moderated the relationship between learning and expatriate task performance. Finally, host country supervisors’ authoritarian leadership moderated the relationship between vitality and expatriate contextual performance. Theoretically, this study is expected to fill the research gap in the expatriate literature pertaining to expatriate performance, thriving at work, and paternalistic leadership, because the relevant expatriate literature is quite lacking in this area. In practice, this study can be used as a reference by multinational corporations to create or shape a supportive employment environment, thereby enhancing expatriate performance.
Examining the Relationship between Rural and Urban Populations’ Access to Electricity and Economic Growth: A New Evidence
Authors: Milin Ioana Anda , Mungiu Pupazan Mariana Claudia , Rehman Abdul , Chirtoc Irina Elena , Ecobici Nicolae
Published: July 2022

The electric power industry has a dominant contribution to economic development in China, and growth in the industry needs to help the economy grow, protect the environment, and give people access to electricity. The current study’s main goal is to assess the rural and urban populations’ access to electricity, energy use, and economic development in China using yearly data ranging from 1995 to 2017. We applied two unit root tests to check the variables’ stationarity and a symmetric autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach to discover the variable links using long-run and short-run estimates. The Granger causality test was also used in this study under a vector error correction model (VECM) to assess the variables’ unidirectional connection. Short-run results demonstrate that total population access to electricity, urban population access to electricity, and energy use have positive links with economic development, with probability values of (0.004), (0.000), and (0.007), respectively. Similarly, long-run evidence shows that variables such as total population access to electricity, urban population access to electricity, and energy use have a positive relationship with economic growth, with p-values of (0.005), (0.000), and (0.047), respectively. Unfortunately, throughout the investigation, the variable electricity availability to the rural population demonstrated an adverse relationship with China’s economic growth. Furthermore, the Granger causality test results under the vector error correction model (VECM) show that all variables have unidirectional links. China’s implementation of new plans regarding energy consumption has a significant impact on both future energy supply and the country’s ability to stay sustainable. It will be able to maintain the stability of its energy levels as long as it sticks to suitable choices and policy options. Undoubtedly, China is a huge user of energy and an emitter of CO2 emissions; therefore, possible conservative strategies and policies are required from the Chinese government to use clean energy sources to fulfill its energy demand.
Does Regional Development Policy Promote Industrial Structure Upgrading? Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta in China
Authors: Zhang Weimin , Ma Wangrong , Chen Qiwei
Published: July 2022

The “Regional Development Plan of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD)”, or the “YRD Development Policy”, is a national policy of China aimed at promoting industrial structure upgrading and the high-quality development of the regional economy in the YRD. To test the implementation effect of this policy, this work applied the synthetic control method (SCM) to explore the impact of the YRD Development Policy on industrial structure upgrading in the YRD based on 15-year panel data of 30 provinces in mainland China. The results showed that, as a whole, the implementation of the YRD Development Policy has contributed to industrial structure upgrading in the YRD. The trend of industrial structure upgrading is more rapid in the original YRD than in the new YRD. From a local perspective, the YRD Development Policy has hindered the upgrading of the industrial structure in Anhui Province but promoted upgrading in the rest of the YRD. From a long-term perspective, the effectiveness of the YRD Development Policy is limited, presenting a clear N-shaped development trend. In terms of industrial structure changes, the impact of the YRD Development Policy on the three types of industries in the YRD shows obvious regional differences. Furthermore, economic development, urbanization, and technology innovation have a significant and positive impact on the industrial structure upgrading of the YRD. These findings have policy-making implications, enrich the research on the impact of the YRD Development Policy on industrial structure upgrading, and provide empirical reference for subsequent policy improvements.
The Impact of the Two-Child Policy on the Pension Shortfall in China: A Case Study of Anhui Province
Authors: Hu Jin , Stauvermann Peter Josef , Sun Juncheng
Published: July 2022

The one-child policy was designed as a basic national policy in China and was written into the Constitution in 1982. The main content and purpose of the policy are to advocate late marriage, late childbearing and fewer births to control population growth in a planned way. Since the implementation of the basic national policy, its positive effect upon China’s economic development cannot be ignored, but after entering the 21st century, the problems related to population aging became obvious. Consequently, the basic pension system is confronted with great challenges. Under these circumstances, China initiated the two-child policy in 2016. This paper tries to forecast the change of pension shortfall after the implementation of the “two-child” policy in Anhui Province in China by establishing a pension revenue model, a pension expenditure model and a population prediction model. The prediction results reveal that the “two-child” policy helps to alleviate the pressure on the pension system, but the effect is limited and the “two-child” policy cannot change the trend of increasing pension shortfall in the long run. To reduce the burden on the pension system, the government can consider extending the pension contribution period and retirement age to make pension system sustainable.
Climate Adaptation at the Local Scale: Using Federal Climate Adaptation Policy Regimes to Enhance Climate Services
Authors: Herrick Charles , Vogel Jason
Published: July 2022

This paper is an interpretive reanalysis of 17 in-depth case studies of community-based climate adaptation sponsored by the Kresge Foundation between 2014–2016. Drawing from the political science and international relations literature, we use the policy regime construct to characterize U.S. federal policies and programs that drive and enable climate adaptation at the local scale. While the regime construct has been used to evaluate the international governance of climate change mitigation, it has not been used in the context of climate adaptation. We find that numerous federal policies are used by localities to pursue adaptation objectives. We find that local adaptation initiatives based on federal policy tend to be non-prescriptive, are situational in their application, utilize common policy tools, and adopt a de-centered mode of governance. While a truly sustainable and resilient society may entail fundamental “transformation”, we suggest that such a paradigm shift might be constructively cultivated through the blueprint laid out in the 17 case studies examined here—using existing know-how and tools. Based on our analysis and characterization of a federal climate adaption policy regime, we propose that the enterprise of climate services may need to move beyond existing models of co-production to embrace an ‘apprenticeship’ model, immersing technical information providers in the milieu of policy and governance in order that they might learn to recognize factors that influence the applicability, usefulness, and uptake of climate products and services.
Students’ Perceptions of Online Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Approach
Authors: Curelaru Mihai , Curelaru Versavia , Cristea Mioara
Published: July 2022

In this study, we conducted a thematic analysis of the views and perspectives of university students about online learning, specifically regarding their interpretations and experiences of the transition from traditional face-to-face courses to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample included 209 undergraduate and postgraduate students who were invited to complete five tasks, i.e., a free association task, answering open questions about the advantages and disadvantages of online learning, providing suggestions for improving online learning, and sharing a personal experience lived during this period. Some of the main themes extracted from the data refer to the negative aspects of online learning mentioned by participants in relation to its disadvantages, such as health and psychosocial problems (e.g., stress, anxiety, decreased motivation, isolation/loneliness, and apathy) and learning process problems (e.g., misunderstandings, a lack of feedback, additional academical requirements, a lack of challenge, and disengagement). Other recurrent themes refer to the positive aspects of online learning associated with its benefits: comfort and accessibility, economy (saving time and money), and psychological and medical safety. The personal experiences during COVID-19 shared by our respondents were organised around four main themes (positive, negative, ambivalent, and transformative experiences) related to students’ adaptation to the educational context generated by the pandemic. Based on these findings, practical recommendations for universities and researchers are discussed.
Uplift Behavior of Pipelines Buried at Various Depths in Spatially Varying Clayey Seabed
Authors: Cheng Po , Guo Jia , Yao Kai , Liu Chaofan , Liu Xiushui , Liu Fei
Published: July 2022

The behavior of buried offshore pipelines subjected to upheaval buckling has attracted much attention in recent years. Numerous researchers have made great efforts to investigate the influence of different soil cover depth ratios, soil strengths and pipe-soil interfaces on failure mechanisms and bearing capacities during pipeline uplift. However, attention to soil spatial variability has been relatively limited. To address this gap, a random small-strain finite element analysis has been conducted and reported in this paper to evaluate the influence of the random distribution of soil strength on pipe uplift response. The validity of the numerical model was verified by comparison with the results presented in the previous literature. The spatial variation of soil strength was simulated by a random field. The effect of soil variability on the failure mechanism was determined by comparing the displacement contours of each random realization. Probabilistic analyses were performed on the random uplift capacity obtained by a series of Monte Carlo simulations, and the relationship between the failure probability and the safety factor was also determined. The findings of the present work might serve as a reference for the safety designs of pipelines.
Towards Human-Scale Competitiveness: Priority Challenges for Triple Helix towards 2030
Authors: Vivar-Simon Maria , Zabaleta Noemi , De La Torre Juan , Basañez Aimar , Urruzuno Aner , Markuerkiaga Leire
Published: July 2022

The future of regions must be built on human-scale competitiveness based on quality employment, sustainability (climate, digital, and demographic), knowledge and skills, new business projects focused on people, and equality between women and men. The achievement of this competitiveness requires cooperation among the Triple Helix, i.e., cooperation between companies, universities, and administration. However, as extant studies indicate, cooperation levels between universities and companies remain low. Therefore, the development of research projects and tools to foster this cooperation is necessary. As can be seen in the United Nations Sustainable Development 2030 Agenda, the challenges that the Triple Helix must face in the runup to 2030 are manifold. Given these multiple challenges and the limitation of existing resources, the identification of priorities is crucial in order to optimise resources, focus policies, and develop an agenda to guide cooperation. To this end, by conducting an exhaustive review of the literature, four focus group sessions with 24 participants and a quantitative questionnaire answered by 90 institutions, this study identifies the challenges that the Triple Helix of the Basque Country (Northern Spain) considers to be a priority for 2030 in order to ensure regional human-scale competitiveness. In accordance with the results of the study, eradicating gender-based violence, favouring the establishment of companies in the territory (incentives, legal measures, recognition, etc.), and developing alternative energy sources are some of the main priority challenges.
Does High-Tech Industry Agglomeration Promote Its Export Product Upgrading?—Based on the Perspective of Innovation and Openness
Authors: Pan Kang , He Feng , Liu Rong
Published: July 2022

Based on the inter-provincial high-tech industry panel data from 2010 to 2016 in China, this study constructs static and dynamic panel models, respectively, to study the relationship between high-tech industry agglomeration and high-tech export product upgrading, and makes an in-depth discussion on open innovation to achieve sustainable development through industry agglomeration. This paper studies and tests the transmission mechanism between high-tech industrial agglomeration and export product upgrading, which makes up for the research gap in industry agglomeration. The results show that: (1) China’s high-tech industry agglomeration has a significant positive effect on its export industry product upgrading. (2) Regional education has a significant positive effect on the high-tech industry’s export product upgrading, and the influence of high-tech industry agglomeration on export product upgrading is negatively regulated by regional education. (3) From the perspective of influence mechanism, high-tech industry agglomeration has a positive effect on high-tech export product upgrading mediated by innovation and openness (open innovation), and then affects the sustainable development of a regional economy. (4) The high-tech industry agglomeration has a heterogeneous effect in promoting their export products; in terms of scale, the promotion effect is more significant in the large enterprises than small- and medium-sized enterprises; in terms of region, the eastern and western regions have a more significant role in promoting export product upgrading; in terms of industries, the electronic and communication equipment manufacturing industry has the most obvious promotion effect. Based on the research results, this study puts forward policy suggestions such as increasing investment in high-tech industries, strengthening the degree of opening to the outside world, encouraging enterprise innovation, and promoting balanced development of the industry.
Measuring the Relationship between Physical Geographic Features and the Constraints on Ecosystem Services from Urbanization Development
Authors: Wang Yongzheng , Ji Yiwen , Yu Haoran , Lai Xiaoying
Published: July 2022

Exploring the constraint relationship between physical geographic features and urbanization on ecosystem services is important for managing and optimizing regional ecosystem services. Taking Anhui Province as an example, we assessed the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of five types of ecosystem services (habitat support, water production services, soil conservation, NPP, and carbon fixation) and five types of urbanization levels (population, economic, social, ecological, and spatial) in 2000, 2010, and 2020, and integrated the constraint line method, bivariate spatial autocorrelation model, and spatial regression model to measure the relationship between ecosystem services. The spatial constraints between ecosystem services and urbanization level and natural topography in Anhui Province were measured using the constraint line method, bivariate spatial autocorrelation model and the spatial regression model. The results show that: (1) the spatial distribution of the five types of ecosystem services in Anhui Province is characterized as “low in the north and high in the south”. At the provincial level, the five ecosystem services in southern and central Anhui Province are synergistic, while the five ecosystem services in northern Anhui Province show a trade-off; (2) topography has different effects on the five ecosystem services with “exponential” effects on water production services and NPP, “positive convex” effects on habitat support, and “positive convex” effects on habitat support”; (3) the bivariate global autocorrelation Moran’s I index between ecosystem services and urbanization level in Anhui Province is significant, confirming that ecosystem services and urbanization are spatially related, where the development of population urbanization, spatial urbanization, economic urbanization, and social urbanization leads to the decrease in ecosystem services, and ecological urbanization promotes the increase in ecosystem services. In the spatial regression model, the Spatial Lag Model passed the significance test, indicating that there is a spatial spillover effect between ecosystem services and urbanization. That is, changes in ecosystem services are influenced not only by their own urbanization elements, but also by urbanization elements in neighboring units or more distant units. Exploring the constraints of ecosystem services and identifying their interaction with urbanization can provide a scientific basis for land-use optimization, adjusting management measures and achieving regional sustainability.
Non-Financial Enterprises’ Shadow Banking Business and Total Factor Productivity of Enterprises
Authors: Yang Chen , Shen Weitao
Published: July 2022

This study empirically analyzes the impact of the shadow banking business (SBB) of non-financial enterprises (non-FEs) on the total factor productivity (TFP) of enterprises using data concerning non-FEs listed in China’s A-share market from 2008 to 2019. The results show that non-FEs’ SBB has a significantly negative impact on their TFP, and for every 10% increase in the involvement of non-FEs in SBB, their TFP decreases by 4.22% on average. The negative effect is more significant in the period of loose monetary policy, lower industry competition, and non-state-owned enterprises. Alleviating financing constraints, reducing information asymmetry, and optimizing financial resource allocation may mitigate the negative effect. Our study reveals the mechanism by which non-FEs’ SBB inhibits their TFP. These findings enrich the theoretical research on the two, and provide empirical evidence to alleviate the “off real to virtual” of the economy and promote long-term, high-quality and sustainable economic development.
Evaluation of the Predictive Performance of Regional and Global Ground Motion Predictive Equations for Shallow Active Regions in Pakistan
Authors: Waseem Muhammad , Rehman Zia Ur , Sabetta Fabio , Ahmad Irshad , Ahmad Mahmood , Sabri Mohanad Muayad Sabri
Published: July 2022

Ground motion prediction equations are a key element of seismic hazard assessments. Pakistan lacks a robust ground motion prediction equation specifically developed using a Pakistan seismic ground motion databank. In this study, performance assessment of the ground motion prediction equations for usage in seismic hazard and risk studies in Pakistan, a seismically highly active region, is performed. In this study, an evaluation of the global ground motion prediction equations developed for the shallow active regions is carried out based on a databank of strong ground motion that was compiled in this study. Thirteen ground motion prediction equations were considered applicable, and their goodness of fit was evaluated using the databank of 147 peak ground acceleration of 27 shallow earthquakes in Pakistan. Residual analysis and three goodness of fit procedures were implemented in the evaluation of the equations. The results of this study suggest that global ground motion prediction equations can be applicable in the shallow active regions of Pakistan. These equations were developed based on data from Europe and the Middle East. Next Generation Attenuation West-2 equations were also applicable, but they did not perform as well as the European and Middle Eastern databank-derived equations. A total of four global equations were applicable in Pakistan. The best performing equation in this study should be applied with the highest weight, and the others should be applied with small weights on the logic tree to perform better. These equations can be employed in seismic hazard and risk assessment studies for disaster risk mitigation measures.
Behavior of Polish Consumers in Relation to Meals Ordered in Food Service Establishments in the Context of Plate Waste
Authors: Tomaszewska Marzena , Bilska Beata , Kołożyn-Krajewska Danuta
Published: July 2022

In the food service industry, food is wasted at every stage of the process. A significant part of food wastage is the so-called plate waste, i.e., food left by the consumer on the plate. The purpose of this research was to analyze the behavior of Polish consumers in relation to meals ordered in food establishments. The following issues were taken into account: leaving an unfinished meal on a plate and reasons for it, taking an unfinished meal home, and ordering half portions. The study was conducted on a representative group of 1115 adult Polish citizens using the CAPI method. Segmentation (cluster analysis) of respondents differing in their behavior in relation to ordered meals was carried out. It turned out that about 53% of Polish citizens do not use food services at all. Men with secondary and higher levels of education and other sources of income (cluster C) less frequently declared leaving unfinished meals on a plate and taking an unfinished meal home, especially in canteens, compared to other clusters. Few respondents declared buying half portions. Excessively large portions and inadequate taste of dishes were indicated by almost 50% of respondents as the main reasons for the generation of plate waste. Measures should be promoted to encourage consumers and food service providers to reduce the generation of plate waste.
A Decision Model for Free-Floating Car-Sharing Providers for Sustainable and Resilient Supply Chains
Authors: Zhou Wei , Wang Haixia , Shi Victor , Chen Xiding
Published: July 2022

For green and sustainable supply chains, transportation resilience is a critical issue. Car Sharing is an effective way to improve transportation resilience. The emerging car-sharing industry continues to attract a lot of investment, but few companies in the industry are profitable. Indeed, numerical experiments based on dynamic models in this paper showed that it was challenging for a car-sharing company to be profitable. As the numerical experiments followed the fractional factorial designs, from the factor analysis, it is suggested that a new car-sharing business first study the external business environment. Even if the external environment is sound, the company still needs to pay attention to internal operations management. Moreover, when the company decides the number of cars it owns and the fleet size, it should consider factors including variable daily expenses, maintenance costs, salvage value, and commission.