bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Utility of Sentinel-2 Spectral Data in Quantifying Above-Ground Carbon Stock in an Urban Reforested Landscape
Authors: Mngadi Mthembeni , Odindi John , Mutanga Onisimo
Published: October 2021

The transformation of the natural landscape into an impervious surface due to urbanization has often been considered an important driver of environmental change, affecting essential urban ecological processes and ecosystem services. Continuous forest degradation and deforestation due to urbanization have led to an increase in atmospheric carbon emissions, risks, and impacts associated with climate change within urban landscapes and beyond them. Hence, urban reforestation has become a reliable long-term alternative for carbon sink and climate change mitigation. However, there is an urgent need for spatially accurate and concise quantification of these forest carbon stocks in order to understand and effectively monitor the accumulation and progress on such ecosystem services. Hence, this study sought to examine the prospect of Sentinel-2 spectral data in quantifying carbon stock in a reforested urban landscape using the random forest ensemble. Results show that Sentinel-2 spectral data estimated reforested forest carbon stock to an RMSE between 0.378 and 0.466 t·ha−1 and R2 of 79.82 and 77.96% using calibration and validation datasets. Based on random forest variable selection and backward elimination approaches, the red-edge normalized difference vegetation index, enhanced vegetation index, modified simple ratio index, and normalized difference vegetation index were the best subset of predictor variables of carbon stock. These findings demonstrate the value and prospects of Sentinel-2 spectral data for predicting carbon stock in reforested urban landscapes. This information is critical for adopting informed management policies and plans for optimizing urban reforested landscapes carbon sequestration capacity and improving their climate change mitigation potential.
Two-Stage Spatiotemporal Context Refinement Network for Precipitation Nowcasting
Authors: Niu Dan , Huang Junhao , Zang Zengliang , Xu Liujia , Che Hongshu , Tang Yuanqing
Published: October 2021

Precipitation nowcasting by radar echo extrapolation using machine learning algorithms is a field worthy of further study, since rainfall prediction is essential in work and life. Current methods of predicting the radar echo images need further improvement in prediction accuracy as well as in presenting the predicted details of the radar echo images. In this paper, we propose a two-stage spatiotemporal context refinement network (2S-STRef) to predict future pixel-level radar echo maps (deterministic output) more accurately and with more distinct details. The first stage is an efficient and concise spatiotemporal prediction network, which uses the spatiotemporal RNN module embedded in an encoder and decoder structure to give a first-stage prediction. The second stage is a proposed detail refinement net, which can preserve the high-frequency detailed feature of the radar echo images by using the multi-scale feature extraction and fusion residual block. We used a real-world radar echo map dataset of South China to evaluate the proposed 2S-STRef model. The experiments showed that compared with the PredRNN++ and ConvLSTM method, our 2S-STRef model performs better on the precipitation nowcasting, as well as at the image quality evaluating index and the forecasting indices. At a given 45 dBZ echo threshold (heavy precipitation) and with a 2 h lead time, the widely used CSI, HSS, and SSIM indices of the proposed 2S-STRef model are found equal to 0.195, 0.312, and 0.665, respectively. In this case, the proposed model outperforms the OpticalFlow method and PredRNN++ model.
Evaluating the Dynamic Changes of Urban Land and Its Fractional Covers in Africa from 2000–2020 Using Time Series of Remotely Sensed Images on the Big Data Platform
Authors: Yin Zherui , Kuang Wenhui , Bao Yuhai , Dou Yinyin , Chi Wenfeng , Ochege Friday Uchenna , Pan Tao
Published: October 2021

Dramatic urban land expansion and its internal sub-fraction change during 2000–2020 have taken place in Africa; however, the investigation of their spatial heterogeneity and dynamic change monitoring at the continental scale are rarely reported. Taking the whole of Africa as a study area, the synergic approach of normalized settlement density index and random forest was applied to assess urban land and its sub-land fractions (i.e., impervious surface area and vegetation space) in Africa, through time series of remotely sensed images on a cloud computing platform. The generated 30-m resolution urban land/sub-land products displayed good accuracy, with comprehensive accuracy of over 90%. During 2000–2020, the evaluated urban land throughout Africa increased from 1.93 × 104 km2 to 4.18 × 104 km2, with a total expansion rate of 116.49%, and the expanded urban area of the top six countries accounted for more than half of the total increments, meaning that the urban expansion was concentrated in several major countries. A turning green Africa was observed, with a continuously increasing ratio of vegetation space to built-up area and a faster increment of vegetation space than impervious surface area (i.e., 134.43% vs., 108.88%) within urban regions. A better living environment was also found in different urbanized regions, as the newly expanded urban area was characterized by lower impervious surface area fraction and higher vegetation fraction compared with the original urban area. Similarly, the humid/semi-humid regions also displayed a better living environment than arid/semi-arid regions. The relationship between socioeconomic development factors (i.e., gross domestic product and urban population) and impervious surface area was investigated and both passed the significance test (p < 0.05), with a higher fit value in the former than the latter. Overall, urban land and its fractional land cover change in Africa during 2000–2020 promoted the well-being of human settlements, indicating the positive effect on environments.
Generalized Image Reconstruction in Optical Coherence Tomography Using Redundant and Non-Uniformly-Spaced Samples
Authors: Nagib Karim , Mezgebo Biniyam , Fernando Namal , Kordi Behzad , Sherif Sherif S.
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we use Frame Theory to develop a generalized OCT image reconstruction method using redundant and non-uniformly spaced frequency domain samples that includes using non-redundant and uniformly spaced samples as special cases. We also correct an important theoretical error in the previously reported results related to OCT image reconstruction using the Non-uniform Discrete Fourier Transform (NDFT). Moreover, we describe an efficient method to compute our corrected reconstruction transform, i.e., a scaled NDFT, using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). Finally, we demonstrate different advantages of our generalized OCT image reconstruction method by achieving (1) theoretically corrected OCT image reconstruction directly from non-uniformly spaced frequency domain samples; (2) a novel OCT image reconstruction method with a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) using redundant frequency domain samples. Our new image reconstruction method is an improvement of OCT technology, so it could benefit all OCT applications.
Deep Learning-Based Optimal Smart Shoes Sensor Selection for Energy Expenditure and Heart Rate Estimation
Authors: Eom Heesang , Roh Jongryun , Hariyani Yuli Sun , Baek Suwhan , Lee Sukho , Kim Sayup , Park Cheolsoo
Published: October 2021

Wearable technologies are known to improve our quality of life. Among the various wearable devices, shoes are non-intrusive, lightweight, and can be used for outdoor activities. In this study, we estimated the energy consumption and heart rate in an environment (i.e., running on a treadmill) using smart shoes equipped with triaxial acceleration, triaxial gyroscope, and four-point pressure sensors. The proposed model uses the latest deep learning architecture which does not require any separate preprocessing. Moreover, it is possible to select the optimal sensor using a channel-wise attention mechanism to weigh the sensors depending on their contributions to the estimation of energy expenditure (EE) and heart rate (HR). The performance of the proposed model was evaluated using the root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and coefficient of determination (R2). Moreover, the RMSE was 1.05 ± 0.15, MAE 0.83 ± 0.12 and R2 0.922 ± 0.005 in EE estimation. On the other hand, and RMSE was 7.87 ± 1.12, MAE 6.21 ± 0.86, and R2 0.897 ± 0.017 in HR estimation. In both estimations, the most effective sensor was the z axis of the accelerometer and gyroscope sensors. Through these results, it is demonstrated that the proposed model could contribute to the improvement of the performance of both EE and HR estimations by effectively selecting the optimal sensors during the active movements of participants.
PeTroShare: Blockchain-Managed, Logistics-Aware, Privacy-Friendly, Comparative, and Efficient Petroleum Transportation
Authors: Hassan Salwa M. , Azab Mohamed , Hamada Amal O.
Published: October 2021

Crude oil is one of the critically needed resources. It is the main pillar supporting almost everything we rely on in daily life. Unfortunately, due to many factors, crude oil costs too much. Transportation is one of the critical factors that affect such costs. Due to many environmental risks attached to the transportation process, many countries added very high tariffs to cover any hazards during the transportation, loading, and unloading process. Logistics concerns and political conflicts are the other key factors that can massively impact the transportation cost. This paper presents an Industry 4.0-compliant PeTroShare (PTS), a blockchain-powered trustworthy, logistics-friendly, and cost-efficient crude oil trading platform. PTS is a novel ride-sharing platform that enables an anonymous exchange of crude oil between oil producers and customers, focusing mainly on the product quality, not the source of origin. In our scenario, floating crude oil tankers will hold the cargo to an intermediate position in the open ocean. PTS will match the product availability based on the location and the needed quality of the customer requests. Consequently, the time and distance travelled are minimized. Our simulation results show that enabling the anonymous sharing of crude oil products can significantly enhance system efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
The Use of Thermal Imaging in the Evaluation of Temperature Effects of Radiotherapy in Patients after Mastectomy—First Study
Authors: Baic Agnieszka , Plaza Dominika , Lange Barbara , Reudelsdorf-Ullmann Marta , Michalecki Łukasz , Stanek Agata , Ślosarek Krzysztof , Cholewka Armand
Published: October 2021

The aim of the study was to evaluate the temperature parameter of the breast area in patients undergoing radiotherapy at various intervals. The relationship between temperature changes on the patient’s skin and the time after the end of radiotherapy was studied. Measurements with a thermal imaging camera were performed in a group of twelve volunteers. Six of them were healthy women who did not have thermal asymmetry between the breasts, whereas six were diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent mastectomy due to the advanced stage of the disease. The patients were qualified for radiation therapy. Thermographic examinations were performed before treatment, two months later and then six months after the end of the treatment. Temperature differences between the healthy breasts and the treated areas were assessed. Additionally, the correlation between a patient’s skin temperature changes and the time after the end of radiotherapy was analyzed. The highest skin temperature increase (1.47 °C) was observed 6 months after the end of RT compared to the measurement before treatment. It seems that thermovision may bring a new tool for quantitative analyses of the temperature effects of radiotherapy.
A CAN-Bus Lightweight Authentication Scheme
Authors: Luo Jia-Ning , Wu Chang-Ming , Yang Ming-Hour
Published: October 2021

The design of the Controller Area Network (CAN bus) did not account for security issues and, consequently, attacks often use external mobile communication interfaces to conduct eavesdropping, replay, spoofing, and denial-of-service attacks on a CAN bus, posing a risk to driving safety. Numerous studies have proposed CAN bus safety improvement techniques that emphasize modifying the original CAN bus method of transmitting frames. These changes place additional computational burdens on electronic control units cause the CAN bus to lose the delay guarantee feature. Consequently, we proposed a method that solves these compatibility and security issues. Simple and efficient frame authentication algorithms were used to prevent spoofing and replay attacks. This method is compatible with both CAN bus and CAN-FD protocols and has a lower operand when compared with other methods.
Omnidirectional Fingertip Pressure Sensor Using Hall Effect
Authors: Seo Moo-Jung , Yoo Jae-Chern
Published: October 2021

When grasping objects with uneven or varying shapes, accurate pressure measurement on robot fingers is critical for precise robotic gripping operations. However, measuring the pressure from the sides of the fingertips remains challenging owing to the poor omnidirectionality of the pressure sensor. In this study, we propose an omnidirectional sensitive pressure sensor using a cone-shaped magnet slider and Hall sensor embedded in a flexible elastomer, which guarantees taking pressure measurements from any side of the fingertip. The experimental results indicate that the proposed pressure sensor has a high sensitivity (61.34 mV/kPa) in a wide sensing range (4–90 kPa) without blind spots on the fingertip, which shows promising application prospects in robotics.
Natura 2000 Network vs. Tourism and Investment Potential of Communes—A Case Study of Czarnkowsko-Trzcianecki County
Authors: Lisiak-Zielińska Marta , Cakaj Arlinda , Budka Anna , Drapikowska Maria , Borowiak Klaudia , Kanclerz Jolanta , Janicka Ewelina
Published: October 2021

The Natura 2000 is a network of protected areas established in the European Union on the basis of EU Directives. Simultaneously it is the youngest form of protected areas in Poland. Hence conflicts between conservation objectives and opportunities as well as needs of community economic development are quite common. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the tourism and investment potential of Czarnkowsko-Trzcianecki County and determine whether the Natura 2000 network is a factor in increasing the tourism and investment development of the commune or limiting it. We evaluated the tourism and investment potential based on modification of the Gołembski method (i.e., multidimensional comparative analysis) and measured the proportion of the Natura 2000 network in the total area of the commune. The Trzcianka commune was found to have the greatest tourism development and investment potential, but the Wieleń commune was the most attractive in terms of tourism, and Czarnków (municipal commune) was found to have the highest investment attractiveness. Moreover, there was no correlation between the Natura 2000 network and tourism and investment potential of communes. However, these areas had a negative impact on the investment attractiveness of communes, due to socio-economic and technical aspects, which may cause future potential limitation of development.
Joint Innovative Research Agenda for The Arctic: Programs, Projects, Success Stories
Authors: Zaikov Konstantin S. , Zarubina Lyubov A. , Popkova Svetlana V. , Kuprikov Nikita M. , Kuprikov Mikhail Yu. , Kvon Daniil A. , Ponyaev Leonid P.
Published: October 2021

In the context of circumpolar international cooperation within the framework of the Joint Innovative Research Agenda, for the development of a systems approach, it is important to use the resources of existing platforms for multi-level mutually beneficial cooperation. The Council of Barents/Euro-Arctic Region and the University of the Arctic are unique examples of interaction and cooperation between the regions of the Arctic states. The Northern Dimension policy is also an important platform for such cooperation between Russia, the European Union, Iceland and Norway. Cross-border cooperation is integral to international relations, which stimulates the sustainable development of regions, creates growth points for innovative projects, and is focused on the evolution of international economic relationship. Universities and research institutes, as holders of expertise, and centers for studying good world practices and transferring excellence, occupy leading positions in the development of advanced ecosystems and the use of complex technologies, the training of highly qualified personnel for the Arctic, the creating of end-to-end digital technologies, the transforming of priority sectors of the states’ economies, and in the social sphere. This article discusses international project activities as one of the most effective tools contributing to the development of these issues. The authors provide examples of successful practices aimed at solving common challenges in the Arctic region, and conclude that “Arctic fever”, and the intensification of Arctic scientific partnerships through programs to support the introduction of technologies and innovations and the advancement of scientific stations in the Arctic, directly affect the development of local territories, give impetus to economic progress, and create new models of cooperation.
Traditional and Revised Importance-Performance Analysis of Viewer Perceptions Regarding Korea Baseball Organization Broadcasting
Authors: Lee Seung-Man
Published: October 2021

Given the expectations regarding continued improvement in sports relay broadcasting, research related to Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) relay broadcasting is necessary for it to align with the priorities of viewers. The present study aimed to investigate viewers’ perceptions of the importance and performance of various aspects of KBO relay broadcasting. In May 2021, purposive sampling was used to select 523 participants who had watched KBO broadcasts for more than one year. Participants completed an online survey administered via Google Forms. Frequency analysis, reliability analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, paired t-tests, importance–performance analysis, and revised importance–performance analysis were used to analyze the data. Ratings of importance were higher than those for performance for all sub-factors of KBO relay broadcasting. The IPA, based on the method developed by Martilla and James, yielded 12 factors in Quadrant I, one factor in Quadrant II, five factors in Quadrant III, and two factors in Quadrant IV. In contrast, the use of Vavra’s revised IPA method yielded eight factors in Quadrant I, two factors in Quadrant II, five factors in Quadrant III, and four factors in Quadrant IV. Based on the results derived using these two methods, we discuss the strategic and practical implications of identifying priorities via IPA for future improvements in KBO relay broadcasting.
Development of Sustainable Partnership Organizational Mechanism (POM): Case of Local Action Groups (LAG)
Authors: Atkociuniene Vilma , Vaitkevicius Sigitas , Stareike Egle
Published: October 2021

The study of the partnership organization mechanism (POM) aims to answer the question of how an organization manages the mechanical operation of the partnership and how the partnership system shapes itself in order to achieve a fairer balance across all junctions of the POM, through shafts connected into a single mechanism. The study has led to a deeper understanding of the empirical operation of the POM and has led to the identification of 20 POM configuration principles, the harmonization of which, in accordance with the principle of coherence, enables sustainability to be achieved and managed. The study is exploratory and therefore empirical facts supporting theoretical insights were sought. The information database of the study consists of 5-year observation data of Lithuanian local action groups, exploratory survey data and in-depth interviews for verification of the phenomenon. The empirical study allowed us to verify the theoretical operation of the POM and helped us to determine the content and purpose of the relationships between different groups of stakeholders in the region. A total of 10 POM empirical models have been detected, which confirmed the fundamental thesis of the study that sustainability can be managed by ensuring the harmonious operation of the system and by controlling the level of system coherence.
An Assessment of the Ecological Landscape Quality (ELQ) of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Based on Existing Elements of Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI)
Authors: Sowińska-Świerkosz Barbara , Wójcik-Madej Julia , Michalik-Śnieżek Malwina
Published: October 2021

Nature-based solutions (NBS) positively impact ecological landscape quality (ELQ) by providing multiple benefits, including enhancing natural capital, promoting biodiversity, mitigating water runoff, increasing water retention, and contributing to climate change adaptations and carbon sequestration. To analyze the specific contribution of different NBS types, this study assessed 14 ELQ indicators based on the application of spatial data. Five NBS based on existing elements of green and blue infrastructure (GBI) were analyzed at the city level (Lublin, Poland), including parks (UPs), forests (UFs), water bodies (UWs), allotment gardens (AGs), and woods (Ws). The analysis revealed that different NBS contribute in contrasting ways to the improvement of various dimensions of ELQ. UFs made the biggest contribution to the maintenance of ecological processes and stability, as well as to aesthetic values. Ws together with AGs were crucial to maintaining a high level of diversity at the landscape scale and also contributed to preserving the ecological structure. UWs and UPs had no outstanding impact on ELQ, mainly due to their high level of anthropogenic transformation. The application of spatial indicators proved useful in providing approximate information on the ecological values of different types of NBS when other data types were either unavailable or were only available at a high cost and with considerable time and effort.
Advances in the Application of Nanocatalysts in Photocatalytic Processes for the Treatment of Food Dyes: A Review
Authors: Navia-Mendoza Jennifer María , Filho Otoniel Anacleto Estrela , Zambrano-Intriago Luis Angel , Maddela Naga Raju , Duarte Marta Maria Menezes Bezerra , Quiroz-Fernández Luis Santiago , Baquerizo-Crespo Ricardo José , Rodríguez-Díaz Joan Manuel
Published: October 2021

The use of food additives (such as dyes, which improve the appearance of the products) has become more prominent, due to the rapid population growth and the increase in demand for beverages and processed foods. The dyes are usually found in effluents that are discharged into the environment without previous treatment; this promotes mass contamination and alters the aquatic environment. In recent years, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have proven to be effective technologies used for wastewater treatment through the destruction of the total organic content of toxic contaminants, including food dyes. Studies have shown that the introduction of catalysts in AOPs improve treatment efficiency (i.e., complete decomposition without secondary contamination). The present review offers a quick reference for researchers, regarding the treatment of wastewater containing food dyes and the different types of AOPs, with different catalyst and nanocatalyst materials obtained from traditional and green chemical syntheses.
Insight into the Characteristics of Soil Microbial Diversity during the Ecological Restoration of Mines: A Case Study in Dabaoshan Mining Area, China
Authors: Fan Li , Zhao Weiping , Feng Wendan , Mo Ping , Zhao Yunlin , Yang Guiyan , Xu Zhenggang
Published: October 2021

Soil microorganisms play an important role in regulating a variety of ecological functions. In recent years, the research on ecological restoration after mining has made people more aware of the importance of microbial diversity to ecosystem restoration. The present study investigated the effect of ecological restoration on microbial community structure and its relationship with soil physicochemical properties in the Dabaoshan mining area, China. High throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze and compare the microbial community composition of three types of soil (undamaged area, unrestoration area, and ecological restoration area). The contents of organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus were 2.38–12.97 g/kg, 0.39–1.62 g/kg, and 0.99–1.51 g/kg, respectively. In different soil states, undamaged area and ecological restoration area were significantly higher than those in unrestoration area. The results showed that the structure of soil microbial community was significantly correlated with soil physicochemical properties, and formations in the repaired and unrepaired soils were different. Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) cluster analysis and diversity index analysis showed that soil microbial community changed at phylum and genus levels. The results showed that at the phylum level, all soil samples contained Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and actinobacteria. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria of the ecological restoration area (ER1, ER2) were the highest in relative abundance compared with other samples, accounting for more than 45%. Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria were the dominant phylum in the undamaged area (UD), accounting for 32.7% and 22.3%, respectively. It can be seen that soil restoration produced a new dominant population, and Proteobacteria showed an absolute competitive advantage in the mining soil.
PEMFC Poly-Generation Systems: Developments, Merits, and Challenges
Authors: Baroutaji Ahmad , Arjunan Arun , Robinson John , Wilberforce Tabbi , Abdelkareem Mohammad Ali , Olabi Abdul Ghani
Published: October 2021

Significant research efforts are directed towards finding new ways to reduce the cost, increase efficiency, and decrease the environmental impact of power-generation systems. The poly-generation concept is a promising strategy that enables the development of a sustainable power system. Over the past few years, the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell-based Poly-Generation Systems (PEMFC-PGSs) have received accelerated developments due to the low-temperature operation, high efficiency, and low environmental impact. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the main PEMFC-PGSs, including Combined Heat and Power (CHP) co-generation systems, Combined Cooling and Power (CCP) co-generation systems, Combined Cooling, Heat, and Power (CCHP) tri-generation systems, and Combined Water and Power (CWP) co-generation systems. First, the main technologies used in PEMFC-PGSs, such as those related to hydrogen production, energy storage, and Waste Heat Recovery (WHR), etc., are detailed. Then, the research progresses on the economic, energy, and environmental performance of the different PEMFC-PGSs are presented. Also, the recent commercialization activities on these systems are highlighted focusing on the leading countries in this field. Furthermore, the remaining economic and technical obstacles of these systems along with the future research directions to mitigate them are discussed. The review reveals the potential of the PEMFC-PGS in securing a sustainable future of the power systems. However, many economic and technical issues, particularly those related to high cost and degradation rate, still need to be addressed before unlocking the full benefits of such systems.
Building Community Resilience to Disasters: A Review of Interventions to Improve and Measure Public Health Outcomes in the Northeastern United States
Authors: Abrash Walton Abigail , Marr Janine , Cahillane Matthew J. , Bush Kathleen
Published: October 2021

Climate change-related natural disasters, including wildfires and extreme weather events, such as intense storms, floods, and heatwaves, are increasing in frequency and intensity. These events are already profoundly affecting human health in the United States and globally, challenging the ability of communities to prepare, respond, and recover. The purpose of this research was to examine the peer-reviewed literature on community resilience initiatives in one of the most densely populated and economically important regions, the Northeastern United States, and to identify evidence-based interventions and metrics that had been field-tested and evaluated. This paper addresses two critical gaps in the literature: (1) what strategies or interventions have been implemented to build or enhance community resilience against climate change-related natural disasters; and (2) what metrics were used to measure community resilience as an outcome of those strategies or interventions? This review provides a succinct list of effective interventions with specific health outcomes. Community or state-level health officials can use the results to prioritize public health interventions. This review used existing database search tools to discover 205 studies related to community resilience and health outcomes. Methods set criteria to assess if interventions were able to measure and change levels of community resilience to the health impacts associated with a changing climate. Criteria included: (a) alignment with the United States’ National Preparedness Goal for reducing risks to human health and for recovering quickly from disasters; (b) derived from publicly available data sources; (c) developed for use by communities at a local scale; and (d) accessible to modestly resourced municipalities and county health agencies. Five (5) peer-reviewed, evidence-based studies met all of the selection criteria. Three of these articles described intervention frameworks and two reported on the use of standardized tools. Health-related outcomes included mental health impacts (PTSD/depression), mental stress, emergency preparedness knowledge, social capital skills, and emergency planning skills. The paper recommends the COAST project, COPEWELL Rubric for self-assessment, and Ready CDC intervention as examples of strategies that could be adapted by any community engaged in building community resilience.
Strategies for Successful Mangrove Living Shoreline Stabilizations in Shallow Water Subtropical Estuaries
Authors: Fillyaw Rebecca M. , Donnelly Melinda J. , Litwak Jason W. , Rifenberg Julia L. , Walters Linda J.
Published: October 2021

By combatting erosion and increasing habitat, mangrove living shorelines are an effective alternative to hard-armoring in tropical and subtropical areas. An experimental red mangrove living shoreline was deployed within Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, using a factorial design to test the impact of mangrove age, breakwater presence, and mangrove placement on mangrove survival within the first year of deployment. Mixed mangrove age treatments were included to identify if seedling (11-month-old) survival could be enhanced by the presence of transitional (23-month-old) and adult (35 to 47-month-old) mangroves. Environmental factors were monitored to detect possible causes of mangrove mortalities. Approximately half (50.6%) of mangroves died, and of those, 90.7% occurred within the annual high-water season, and 88.9% showed signs of flooding stress. Planting seedlings haphazardly among older mangroves did not attenuate enough wave energy to significantly increase seedling survival. Breakwaters alleviated stress through a reduction in water velocity and wave height, increasing the odds of survival by 197% and 437% when mangroves were planted in the landward and seaward rows, respectively. Compared to seedlings, deployment of adult mangroves increased survival odds by 1087%. Collectively, our results indicate that sites with a high-water season should utilize a breakwater structure and mangroves with a woody stem.
Driving Green Investments by Measuring Innovation Impacts. Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for Regional Bioeconomy Growth
Authors: Gatto Fabiana , Daniotti Sara , Re Ilaria
Published: October 2021

Regional policies play a pivotal role in green transition and pursuing the European Green Deal decarbonization targets. Despite the general recognition of the strategic value of the bioeconomy in realizing this challenge, regional roadmaps for its growth are not yet a widespread tool in local innovation policy. Conversely, driving green investments by measuring the innovation potential of the bioeconomy could shape a low-carbon economy by leveraging the full potential of local resources. In order to validate a replicable decision-making model driving 2021–2027 ERDF funds towards this mission, this paper measures the economic, social and technological impact of the Lombard bioeconomy through five applications and eight criteria. The methodology allows quantification of the local bioeconomy value and, through a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), identifies the bio-based applications with the highest innovation potential. By measuring the current and prospective impact of the bioeconomy, Bio-chemicals, Agri-foods, and Biopolymers emerges as the applications with the highest innovation potential rate for Lombardy. Five recommendations to drive green investments and shape the regional roadmap for the bioeconomy are finally defined, providing a tool for industrial applications with a greater impact on local competitiveness.
Renewable Minigrid Electrification in Off-Grid Rural Ghana: Exploring Households Willingness to Pay
Authors: Korzhenevych Artem , Owusu Charles Kofi
Published: October 2021

Renewable energy minigrids hold significant prospects for Africa’s energy sector and its economic development in general. The government of Ghana has established pilot renewable minigrids in five off-grid communities as a testing ground for the electrification of over 600 existing rural communities that cannot be electrified via the national grid. Although there is evidence on willingness to pay (WTP) values for renewable-generated electricity in some developing countries, little is known about households’ WTP for renewable-based electricity in Ghana and, in particular, about renewable minigrids for rural electrification. This paper provides one of the first WTP estimates for renewable-based electricity for rural electrification in a developing economy context such as Ghana. Using data from a contingent valuation survey undertaken in all five pilot renewable minigrid project communities, we found that rural households are willing to pay an average of 30 GHC/month (≈5 USD/month) for high-quality renewable-powered electricity services, which is twice the amount they are currently paying based on the Uniform National Tariffs. The hypothetical bias is addressed by conducting a survey among active users of the minigrids. The starting point bias is reduced by employing random starting bids. The respondents are willing to pay between 9 and 11% of their discretionary incomes to cover the cost of accessing reliable renewable-powered electricity in the rural, off-grid communities in Ghana. The paper concludes by discussing the policy implications of these findings regarding the development of tariff regulations and business models for renewable minigrids in the rural, off-grid sector.
Sustainable School Environment as a Landscape for Secondary School Students’ Engagement in Learning
Authors: Brandisauskiene Agne , Buksnyte-Marmiene Loreta , Cesnaviciene Jurate , Daugirdiene Ausra , Kemeryte-Ivanauskiene Egle , Nedzinskaite-Maciuniene Rasa
Published: October 2021

The sustainable school is important in today’s education system to ensure the well-being of younger generations. This research work attempted to empirically test the different predictions of a sustainable school environment for secondary school students’ engagement in learning. The following objectives were formulated: to analyse the differences of sustainable school environment and engagement in learning based on gender and SES background; to analyse the relationship between sustainable school environment variables and engagement in learning; and to examine how sustainable school environment variables could predict students’ emotional and behavioural engagement. The research sample consisted of students from three districts of Lithuania with a disadvantaged SES context. We assessed the sustainable school environment variables and students’ emotional and behavioural engagement in learning with the What Is Happening in this Class? (WIHIC) questionnaire, a short form of the Learning Climate Questionnaire (LCQ), and the Student Engagement Scale. The results showed a statistically significant difference in behavioural engagement between boys and girls. There are no differences in sustainable school environment variables and engagement in relation to SES. Teachers’ autonomy supportive behaviour perceived by students has the strongest correlation with emotional and behavioural engagement in learning. Thus, in the Lithuanian schools surveyed, a sustainable school environment is developing.
Examining the Relationship between Information Systems, Sustainable SCM, and Competitive Advantage
Authors: Stroumpoulis Asterios , Kopanaki Evangelia , Karaganis George
Published: October 2021

Sustainability, information systems (IS), and sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) are the main research areas of this study. In an era where environmental and social responsibility is becoming increasingly more important, SSCM is very significant for the survivability and competitiveness of organizations. Information systems may facilitate sustainable practices, as they support supply chain processes, decrease costs, and enable the control and monitoring of operations. The aim of this research is to explore the relationship between information systems and SSCM and explain under what circumstances they could lead to competitive advantage or increase internal business performance. To analyze the above, the methodology comprises a literature review enabling the understanding and conceptualization of the main research constructs and revealing the gaps of previous research. It also comprises qualitative research based on a single-case study allowing an in-depth examination of the subject of study. The findings reveal that the use of information systems, combined with strong interorganizational relationships and collaboration, can support SSCM practices. They can bring important business advantages, such as improved business performance and increased customer loyalty, but not necessarily competitive advantage. The results of this research show that SSCM is a promising field of study, with prospects for future research.
Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Carbon Nanotubes Decorated with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Removal of Benzene, Toluene and p-Xylene from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Abussaud Basim Ahmed
Published: October 2021

The removal of benzene, toluene and p-xylene (BTX) from water is necessary to avoid various health and environmental concerns. Among various techniques, adsorption is suitable and widely used for the removal of BTX from water. In this study, the adsorption of BTX from water was performed using carbon nanotubes that were impregnated with zinc oxide nanoparticles. The impregnation was performed using the wet impregnation technique. The synthesized materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and nitrogen adsorption–desorption analysis. In batch adsorption experiments, the effect of adsorbent dosage, initial concentration, and contact time were investigated. The percentage removal for a given time and dosage was in the order of p-xylene > toluene > benzene. The kinetics models’ fitting revealed that the pseudo-second-order model fits well the adsorption of benzene, toluene and p-xylene with R2 > 99.4%. The results of adsorption isotherm fitting revealed the best fit with Sips isotherm model (R2 > 99.7%) and the adsorption capacity was p-xylene: 125 mg/g > toluene: 105 mg/g > benzene: 70 mg/g. This behavior is observed probably due to a decrease in solubility and an increase in the molecular weight of BTX.
Global Seafood Trade: Insights in Sustainability Messaging and Claims of the Major Producing and Consuming Regions
Authors: Malcorps Wesley , Newton Richard W. , Maiolo Silvia , Eltholth Mahmoud , Zhu Changbo , Zhang Wenbo , Li Saihong , Tlusty Michael , Little David C.
Published: October 2021

Seafood supply chains are complex, not least in the diverse origins of capture fisheries and through aquaculture production being increasingly shared across nations. The business-to-business (B2B) seafood trade is supported by seafood shows that facilitate networking and act as fora for signaling of perceptions and values. In the Global North, sustainability related certifications and messaging have emerged as an important driver to channel the demands of consumers, institutions, and lead firms. This study investigates which logos, certifications, and claims were presented at the exhibitor booths within five seafood trade shows in China, Europe, and USA. The results indicate a difference in the way seafood is advertised. Messaging at the Chinese shows had less of an emphasis on sustainability compared to that in Europe and the USA, but placed a greater emphasis on food safety and quality than on environmental concerns. These findings suggest cultural differences in the way seafood production and consumption is communicated through B2B messaging. Traders often act as choice editors for final consumers. Therefore, it is essential to convey production processes and sustainability issues between traders and the market. An understanding of culture, messaging strategies, and interpretation could support better communication of product characteristics such as sustainability between producers, traders, and consumers.
Strategy for the Evaluation and Monitoring of Competencies in Engineering Programs to Improve Students’ Learning and Quality of Education
Authors: Hermosilla Pamela , Muñoz-La Rivera Felipe , Ateaga Nicolás , Gallardo Elisa
Published: October 2021

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) framework propose the concept of competencies as a key cognitive, attitudinal, and procedural aspect aimed at the integral development of students, which implies a challenge in the way of evaluating them. Thus, the traditional monitoring of students’ progress through their grades is not enough, and monitoring competency is becoming more important. This research proposes a system for monitoring competencies in engineering programs. The system identifies the expected learning outcomes (LOs) of each course and cross-references them according to the ponderation of each evaluation planned. Subsequently, it links each LO with the competencies of the course, allowing the student to be monitored throughout their career. The strategy was applied to a civil engineering course. The students’ results, according to the course competencies, were obtained, linking them correctly with the LO and the grades obtained. The evolution of these competencies was evaluated until the end of the semester in which the students were taking the course. The analysis of the results shows the differences between the monitoring by grades versus by competencies, evidencing that there were cases in which a student passed the course by grades but failed to develop the expected competency.
The Renewable Energy (RE) Industry Workforce Needs: RE Simulation and Analysis Tools Teaching as an Effective Way to Enhance Undergraduate Engineering Students’ Learning
Authors: Jafarinejad Shahryar , Beckingham Lauren E. , Kathe Mandar , Henderson Kathy
Published: October 2021

The share of renewables in the U.S. electricity generation mix is increasing and one of the major obstacles to enhancing employment in the renewable energy (RE) sector is finding skilled/qualified labor to fill positions. RE systems engineer jobs mostly need bachelor’s degrees but there are few RE engineering-focused degree programs. Therefore, there are needs to accurately train undergraduate engineering students at universities and match the education system offerings to meet RE industry demands. This study reviews RE employment by technology, RE industry workforce needs, and engineering programs accreditation, and then suggests possible means, along with theoretical RE concepts, to enhance undergraduate engineering students’ RE learning at universities. In particular, RE industries require technology skills, including analytical, scientific, and simulation software programs or tools. These RE simulation and analysis tools can be used for teaching, training, techno-economic analysis, planning, designing, optimization, etc., and are the focus of this review.
Sustainability in Early Modern China through the Evolution of the Jesuit Accommodation Method
Authors: Rodriguez-Cunill Inmaculada , Gutierrez-Villarrubia Miguel , Salguero-Andujar Francisco , Cabeza-Lainez Joseph
Published: October 2021

This article clarifies the often overlooked facts attributed to European missionaries in Asia, especially Jesuits, who acted as catalysts of a kind of nuanced acculturation named Accommodatio (adaptation). To a great extent, they became harbingers of culture and science more than faith itself to the dismay of many, including the Roman Church. Such cultural and scientific transference was actually two-pronged, for simultaneously they presented in Europe unique findings related to language, e.g., the Chinese characters (considered to be the sole natural language), geography, cosmology and even governance. Here we try to prove that such procedure contributed positively to the modern scientific notions of sustainability and to provide the kind of accoutrements that model the modern world as we know it. However, in the process, many Jesuits clearly became sinified and eventually acculturated.
Physical Education Teachers’ Opinion about Online Teaching during the COVID-19 Pandemic—Comparative Study of European Countries
Authors: Korcz Agata , Krzysztoszek Jana , Łopatka Marlena , Popeska Biljana , Podnar Hrvoje , Filiz Bijen , Mileva Eleonora , Kryeziu Artan R. , Bronikowski Michał
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of implementation and Physical Education (PE) teachers’ perceived advantages, disadvantages, and encountered difficulties of online PE teaching during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were 1148 professionally active PE teachers from Poland, North Macedonia, Croatia, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Kosovo (613 female, 535 male). A cross-sectional online survey study was performed between May and September 2020 and was done online through an electronic questionnaire. Study results suggest differences in evaluation of online teaching between PE teachers from different countries: a positive evaluation of online teaching reported from teachers from Croatia, Poland, and Bulgaria, neutral in Turkey, and a negative evaluation during that period by teachers in Macedonia and Kosovo. Different ratings of advantages, disadvantages, and difficulties from the studied countries in online teaching in primary and secondary schools were also noted. A lack of proper equipment at home, a lack of proper training for information technology (IT) use, as well as use of different platforms for online teaching were among the highest-ranked difficulties during online teaching. The greatest concerns during online PE teaching were identified in terms of pupils’ safety, the intellectual property of resources, and the quality of curriculum delivery. The results from the study identify the most important areas of teachers work where PE should be supported regarding online teaching.