bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable Energy Management and Control for Variable Load Conditions Using Improved Mayfly Optimization
Authors: Subramani Prabu , Mani Sugadev , Lai Wen-Cheng , Ramamurthy Dineshkumar
Published: May 2022

In recent trends, renewable energies are infinite, safe, and are becoming a reliable source for electricity requirements. However, they have certain variations in their results because of climate change, which is its major issue. To solve this challenge, a hybrid renewable energy system was created by combining various energy sources. Energy management strategies must be employed to determine the best possible performance of renewable energy-based hybrid systems, as well as to fulfil demand and improve system efficiency. This work describes an Energy Management System (EMS) for a Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) called Improved Mayfly Optimization-based Modified Perturb and Observe (IMO-MP&O). The developed EMS is based on basic conceptual constraints and has the goal of meeting the energy demand of connected load, ensuring energy flow stabilization, and optimizing battery utilization. In addition, the suggested IMO-MP&O can identify the condition and operating state of every HRES sub-system and assure the network stability of frequency and voltage changes. Numerical simulations in the MATLAB/Simulink environment were used to evaluate the proposed EMS. The simulated results show that the proposed IMO-MP&O achieves the harmonic error of 0.77%, which is less than the existing Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) control and Artificial Neural Network (ANN)-based Z-Source Converter methods.
Determinants of the Digitalization of Accounting in an Emerging Market: The Roles of Organizational Support and Job Relevance
Authors: AlNasrallah Wafa , Saleem Farida
Published: May 2022

Digitalization has considerable potential to help achieve the sustainability of the planetary and human systems, including organizations. As digitalization is one of the most promising factors for transformation, there is no doubt that ICT and big data can help promote sustainability. Linking digitalization with a sustainable workplace, the purpose of this investigation is to identify the determinants of the adoption of digitalization of accounting procedures by accounting professionals in Saudi Arabia, an economy rapidly moving towards digital transformation. A holistic model based on the technology acceptance model (TAM), elaboration likelihood model (ELM), and social exchange theory (SET) is proposed and tested. The extension in TAM is proposed by integrating job relevance and organizational support as moderators. A survey method was used to collect data from 365 accounting professionals working in Saudi Arabia. Structural equation modeling and PROCESS macro were used as data analysis techniques. The findings reveal that perceived ease of use has both direct and indirect effects through perceived usefulness on intentions to use e-accounting. Both job relevance and organizational support act as moderators for perceived usefulness and intentions to use e-accounting when treated separately. However, job relevance becomes an insignificant moderator in the presence of organizational support. This finding highlights the importance of organizational support for the successful implementation of e-accounting in an organization.
The Effects of the Use of Algae and Jatropha Biofuels on Aircraft Engine Exhaust Emissions in Cruise Phase
Authors: Pawlak Małgorzata , Kuźniar Michał
Published: May 2022

Due to environmental pressure and the prevailing political and economic situation in the world, alternatives to traditional fossil fuels are being sought. The use of bio-derived fuels may reduce the emission of pollutants present in jet engine exhausts. The presented research investigates the possibility of replacing the conventional fuel, which is kerosene, with plant-derived fuels from marine algae and jatropha. During the analysis, based on the available data, the emission indices of pollutants were computed, and then, for the adopted aircraft and route, the emissions for kerosene and alternative fuels were determined. A significant reduction in the emission of most analyzed compounds (even by 40% for CO) was achieved compared to the emission for kerosene. The obtained results are discussed in the conclusion section.
Citizen Science as a Tool to Get Baseline Ecological and Biological Data on Sharks and Rays in a Data-Poor Region
Authors: Blanco-Parra María-del-Pilar , Argaez Gasca Angelli , Reyes Rincón Camila Alejandra , Gutiérrez Martínez Nicte Ha , Niño-Torres Carlos Alberto
Published: May 2022

The Mexican Caribbean is in one of the regions with the greatest diversity of elasmobranchs in the world. However, the population status of most of the shark and ray species in this region is unknown. We used a citizen science program based on divers to collect data about the diversity, abundance, and distribution of elasmobranchs in this region. We visited dive centers in six locations and performed structured interviews with divemasters, instructors, and owners of the diving centers. In total, 79 divers were interviewed, of which 69% had more than five years’ experience diving in the Mexican Caribbean. Divers could identify 24 elasmobranch species for this region. Most of the divers (82%) reported a decrease in sightings of sharks and rays. Rays were the most frequently sighted species by divers (89%), and the spotted eagle ray (A. narinari) was the most common elasmobranch species reported in the region. Citizen science was a useful approach gathering for baseline information about sharks and rays in the Mexican Caribbean, increasing our knowledge of the abundance and distribution of some species in this region. Citizen science affords the opportunity to obtain long-term data that can be useful for management and conservation.
Sustainability in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda
Authors: Martins Adelaide , Branco Manuel Castelo , Melo Pedro Novo , Machado Carolina
Published: May 2022

Main aim: This paper examines the main topics of research in the literature studying the topic of sustainability in small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), and aims at presenting a future research agenda. Method: We conducted a systematic literature review based on articles published between 2000 and 2020. From an initial set of 88 papers taken from WoS in the period under analysis, 42 papers were effectively analyzed. Main results: The results of an in-depth reading reveal four clusters representing the main topics of research in the field: sustainability and SMEs’ performance; green and environmental management issues; social and cultural issues and their impact on sustainability policies; values, skills, and capabilities. Key findings suggest that the following angles of research appear to be underexplored: theoretically grounded research; research using large samples; articles examining sustainability reporting; research looking into non-manufacturing sectors; work examining settings in developing countries; research undertaking international comparisons; articles exploring the complementarity between the literature on sustainability in SMEs and on family-owned businesses; and the influence of the social and cultural context on SMEs’ engagement with sustainability. Main contribution: This paper offers insights to academia, practitioners, and policy makers to help SMEs engaging with sustainability and may assist also the latter to develop strategies to improve SMEs’ social and environmental reporting. Given the current pandemic crisis, and the urgency for sustainable business practices, we expect to contribute to expanding knowledge in this field of research.
Unconventional Tourist Mobility: A Geography-Oriented Theoretical Framework
Authors: Timothy Dallen J. , Michalkó Gábor , Irimiás Anna
Published: May 2022

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism had permeated all spaces of experience, reaching nearly every country, region, community, and corner of the globe. In recent decades, the meanings, implications, and roles of tourism have also expanded significantly. This article focuses on unconventional tourism mobilities, including same-day visits, which are an important but often neglected part of the tourism system, constantly challenging both scholars and tourism industry stakeholders. Unconventional tourism is an umbrella term that covers most kinds of unregistered or unaccounted tourist mobilities, some of which might not appear to be ‘tourism’ but should be in certain localities and under certain conditions. Given the growth of unregistered tourist flows and unaccounted leisure (or utilitarian) mobilities, there is a need in tourism studies to apply innovative research methods and to reconceptualize the meanings of tourism in different geographical and social contexts. It is expected that people’s desire to travel in the post-pandemic era will educe new spatial and temporal travel experiences and behaviours in which unconventional tourisms will play an important role. To better understand this phenomenon and to evaluate the development of new approaches to travel and behavioural spatialities, new ways of thinking, new theoretical constructs, and new methodologies are needed. This article seeks to explore certain hidden or invisible tourism mobilities, focusing on the geographical patterns, processes, and hidden aspects of unconventional tourism.
A Multidimensional Model of Abusive Supervision and Work Incivility
Authors: Ali Shahab , Hussain Iftikhar , Shahzad Farrukh , Afaq Aneeqa
Published: May 2022

The ubiquity of abusive supervision in the workplace, as well as the serious repercussions that come with it, has prompted scholars to investigate the numerous dynamics of this problem. This research examines the circumstances in which subordinates react to abusive supervisory behavior. The study hypothesizes the negative impacts of abusive supervision associated with the impression of unfairness and politics in the workplace toward a subordinate deviant attitude based on current research and theoretical perspectives. According to the suggested paradigm, abusive supervision leads to subordinates’ work incivility by creating an unfair and politically thrilling atmosphere in the workplace. Furthermore, the study found that political skill and work incivility are linked to each other; workers who are experts in using political tactics are not supposed to turn toward work incivility while responding to the abusive behavior of the top management. The research was based on the social exchange theory and uncertainty management theory.
From Waste to Potential Reuse: Mixtures of Polypropylene/Recycled Copolymer Polypropylene from Industrial Containers: Seeking Sustainable Materials
Authors: Luna Carlos Bruno Barreto , da Silva Wallisson Alves , Araújo Edcleide Maria , da Silva Lara Júlia Medeiros Dantas , de Melo João Baptista da Costa Agra , Wellen Renate Maria Ramos
Published: May 2022

This work investigated the effect of thermo-oxidation aging in blends of copolymer polypropylene (PPc)/recycled copolymer polypropylene (PPcr) from industrial container waste, coded as PPc/PPcr blends. All compounds were melt extruded, and the injection molded specimens were characterized by mechanical properties (tensile and impact), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), melt flow index (MFI), contact angle, heat deflection temperature (HDT), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR spectra presented bands related to the hydroperoxides and carbonyl groups, as resulted from thermo-oxidation aging. The contact angle decreased upon a thermo-oxidation aging influence, corroborating the FTIR spectra. PPcr presented higher MFI as a consequence of reprocessing. Impact strength and elongation at break were quite sensible to the thermo-oxidation aging influence and were progressively reduced upon increased time, whereas tensile strength, elastic modulus, and HDT only slightly changed. SEM images of PPc presented a higher quantity of pulled-out particles, resulted from a lower interaction between phases, i.e., polypropylene and ethylene/propylene. From the impact strength and toughness data, proper dissipation energy mechanisms were found in PPc/PPcr blends. Summing up, using PPcr contributed to minimize properties’ losses, which may be related to the stabilizer agents, whereas the described results presented great potential for the PP market, while contributing to the sustainable environment.
Comparative Efficiency of Two Different Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment of Small Populations in Mediterranean Continental Climate
Authors: Acero-Oliete Alejandro , López-Julián Pedro Luis , Russo Beniamino , Ruiz-Lozano Oscar
Published: May 2022

The treatment of wastewater from small towns supposes problems of economic efficiency, leading to very high environmental costs in areas with low population density. Constructed wetlands (CW) seems to be the more suitable solution for this kind of situation, but further investigations are needed regarding their efficiency under different climatic conditions. This work presents the results concerning urban wastewater treatment by means of two different constructed wetlands using macrophytes: horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) and free water surface (FWS). The systems are located in a Mediterranean continental climate area and are fed by a by-pass at the entrance of a wastewater treatment plant. A four-year sampling campaign at the outlet of the CW allowed verifying their relative effectiveness in removing pollutants in the different seasons of the year. BOD5, COD, and TSS were significantly removed (with average reductions of 55%, 60%, and 57%, respectively) by these natural phytodepuration systems, with HSSF being more efficient during plants’ dormancy than FWS, but the concentrations of nutrients indicated that cumulative effects occur in CW with the need of adequate annual maintenance. It was found that the main factors controlling the efficiency of such systems throughout the year are the period of vegetative development, the presence/absence of a solid substrate, and the pollutant load of the wastewater inlet.
Public Health and Investment Protection in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic—From the Sustainable Perspective of Exception Clauses
Authors: Qu Guangyi , Shen Wei
Published: May 2022

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, various preventive and controlling measures have been taken by host states but may damage the interests of foreign investors and consequently result in international investment disputes. Confronted with potential international investment arbitration, the exceptions clause in international investment law is one of the host state’s defences. However, the public health exception clause is a general exception clause with uncertainty when investment arbitration takes place and investment arbitral tribunals interpret it. In the international society, sustainable development has gradually been recognized as a key principle in contemporary international law. Against this background, in the context of international investment, it is appropriate for host states to optimize the exception clauses in BITs or FTAs, thereby reducing the risk of arbitration concerning the host state’s regulatory measures to protect the public from the pandemic.
Improved and Highly Efficient Agrobacterium rhizogenes-Mediated Genetic Transformation Protocol: Efficient Tools for Functional Analysis of Root-Specific Resistance Genes for Solanum lycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom
Authors: Tóth Máté , Tóth Zoltán Gábor , Fekete Sándor , Szabó Zoltán , Tóth Zoltán
Published: May 2022

Gene function analysis, molecular breeding, and the introduction of new traits in crop plants all require the development of a high-performance genetic transformation system. In numerous crops, including tomatoes, Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation is the preferred method. As one of our ongoing research efforts, we are in the process of mapping a broad-spectrum nematode resistance gene (Me1) in pepper. We work to transform tomato plants with candidate genes to confer resistance to nematodes in Solanaceae members. The transformation technology development is designed to produce a reproducible, rapid, and highly effective Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation system of Micro-Tom. In our system, a transformation efficiency of over 90% was achieved. The entire procedure, starting from the germination of seeds to the establishment of transformed plants in soil, was completed in 53 days. We confirmed the presence of the NeoR/KanR and DsRed genes in the transformed roots by polymerase chain reaction. The hairy root plants were infected with nematodes, and after 3 months, the presence of DsRed and NeoR/KanR genes was detected in the transformant roots to confirm the long-term effectiveness of the method. The presented study may facilitate root-related research and exploration of root–pathogen interactions.
Carbon Handprint Approach for Cities and Regions: A Framework to Reveal and Assess the Potential of Cities in Climate Change Mitigation
Authors: Lakanen Laura , Kumpulainen Heli , Helppi Olli , Grönman Kaisa , Soukka Risto
Published: May 2022

Cities play a pivotal role in climate change mitigation; however, the methodology to quantify actual emission reduction potential of climate interventions implemented by cities and regions has been lacking. The aim of this study is to create a framework to assess positive climate impacts of cities and regions by modifying the life-cycle assessment (LCA)-based carbon handprint framework. Additionally, a step-by-step guidance to perform calculations is presented. A case study of the Finnish city of Espoo is used to further develop and test the regional handprint approach both qualitatively and quantitatively. According to our research, a city′s carbon handprint can be determined through the three main mechanism categories of ownership, operating environment and projects. In the case of Espoo, the carbon handprint of building public electric vehicle charging stations on city-owned land from the mechanism category of ownership showed to be up to 110 tCO2eq/a for 18 charging stations. However, the overall handprint of a city consists of several actions, to be calculated separately. The regional carbon handprint approach provides a useful instrument to reliable quantify and communicate the innovative climate actions implemented by a city and it can be used in cities′ climate work as well as in marketing and branding purposes. Handprint turns the focus on possibilities for increasing a city vitality. As a provider of climate solutions, a city can attract new taxpayers and by focusing efforts to a certain sector, a city can help companies to reach synergies in fields essential from the climate point of view.
Characterization and Analysis of Acetaldehyde Wastewater by Molecular Weight Distribution, Hydrophilicity, and Chemical Composition
Authors: Yang Yang , Yu Yin , Zhou Jingling , Xi Hongbo , Wang Chunrong , Zhou Yuexi , Fu Liya , Qi Yue , Yuan Yue
Published: May 2022

Acetaldehyde is a typical toxic substance of the petrochemical industry. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) plays an important role in wastewater treatment. Therefore, the molecular weight, hydrophilicity, and chemical composition of DOC in acetaldehyde wastewater were evaluated. First, the molecular weight (MW) distribution was investigated; the results showed that acetaldehyde wastewater was mainly composed of components with a MW less than 1 kDa, and possessed higher proportion of protein-like substances that were dominant contributors to membrane fouling. Then, the distribution of hydrophobicity was evaluated; hydrophobic bases were reported to be slowly biodegradable fractions due to the high humic content. Finally, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was utilized to determine chemical composition, and 30 pollutants were detected. Aldehydes, hydrocarbons, ketones, alcohols, furans, phenols, and organic acids were the dominant pollutants. Most of them were moderately toxic compounds. The comprehensive characterization of acetaldehyde wastewater will contribute to control strategies and sustainable development.
Is It Possible for Poland to Achieve the Policy Goal of 33% Forest Cover by Mid-Century?
Authors: Kaliszewski Adam , Jabłoński Marek
Published: May 2022

The aim of the present paper is to discuss the problems with attempts to increase forest area in Poland (with a focusing on afforestation in the last 30 years), to analyse the discrepancy between the afforested area and the recorded increase in forest area, and to identify solutions that could enable Poland to achieve the policy goal of 33% forest cover by 2050. The study is based on available official documents, statistical data, and the existing literature. It presents the results of a postal survey of key institutional actors involved in afforestation in Poland on the factors hindering the implementation of afforestation on private land. The study shows that the main factors influencing the collapse of afforestation are long-term, and it is unlikely that this trend will be reversed in the coming years. However, it appears possible to take steps to convert forested agricultural lands that meet national criteria for recognition as forest to forest. The urgent need to protect biodiversity and improve environmental quality in the face of climate change makes it necessary to develop and implement a new program to increase forest area and to provide coherent tools to support the conversion of forested agricultural land to forest.
A Novel DC-AC Fast Charging Technology for Lithium-Ion Power Battery at Low-Temperatures
Authors: Guo Shanshan , Han Zhiqiang , Wei Jun , Guo Shenggang , Ma Liang
Published: May 2022

There are several drawbacks for lithium-ion batteries at low temperatures, including weak electrolyte conductivity, low chemical reaction rate and greatly increased impedance. Thus, it is inefficient to charge lithium-ion batteries at low temperatures. This work proposes an AC incentive fast charging strategy at low-temperatures for lithium-ion batteries based on the analysis and comparison of the existing charging and heating methods. The charging speed, temperature variation, the capacity loss of the constant current constant voltage (CCCV) charging strategy and the proposed method with different current and frequency conditions are compared and analyzed. The results show that it takes about 1400 s for the proposed method to fully charge a lithium-ion battery in the case of 2.2 A current beginning at 25% state of charge (SOC). In addition, the temperature rises about 8 °C. In contrast, the charging time of the CCCV method is 400 s slower than the proposed method and the temperature of the CCCV method increases only about 2 °C. In the case of 1.5 A current beginning at 0% SOC, the charging time of the proposed method is 500 s faster than the CCCV method. The results indicate that the proposed charging method can significantly improve the charging efficiency of lithium-ion batteries at low temperatures.
Predict Students’ Attention in Online Learning Using EEG Data
Authors: Al-Nafjan Abeer , Aldayel Mashael
Published: May 2022

In education, it is critical to monitor students’ attention and measure the extents to which students participate and the differences in their levels and abilities. The overall goal of this study was to increase the quality of distance education. In particular, in order to craft an approach that will effectively augment online learning using objective measures of brain activity, we propose a brain–computer interface (BCI) system that aims to use electroencephalography (EEG) signals for the detection of student’s attention during online classes. This system will aid teachers to objectively assess student attention and engagement. To this end, experiments were conducted on a public dataset; we extracted power spectral density (PSD) features using used a fast Fourier transform. Different attention indexes were calculated. Then, we built three different classification algorithms: k-nearest neighbors (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF). Our proposed random forest classifier achieved a higher accuracy (96%) than KNN and SVM. Moreover, our results compared to state-of-the-art attention-detection systems with respect to the same dataset. Our findings revealed that the proposed RF approach can be used to effectively distinguish the attention state of a user.
The Effect of Built Environment on Older People Leisure-Time Walking and Physical Activity in Different Sex Groups in the City of Ningbo, China
Authors: Gao Chuang , Yu Jiabin , Zhao Xiaoguang , Wang Haibao , Liu Zhiyong , Gu Yaodong
Published: May 2022

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of built environment (BE) elements on older people’s (OP) leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and leisure-time walking (LTW) level in the city of Ningbo. Older participants numbering 312 were randomly recruited using cross-sectional survey in 2019. International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short version (IPAQ-S) and Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale—abbreviated (NEWS-A)—were used to gather LTPA data and the perceive scores of BE, respectively. Liner regression analysis was performed to investigate the association relationship between the perceived scores of BE and OP’s LTW and LTPA. The study’s results showed that, when not considering different sex groups, OP’s LTW was significantly related with the perceived scores of access to services (AE, p = 0.045), walking/cycling facilities (W/CF, p = 0.007), aesthetics, and land use mix diversity (LUMD, p = 0.04). OP’s LTPA was significantly related with AE (p = 0.04) and aesthetics (p < 0.001). The association relationships of BE with LTW and LTPA varied in different sex groups. Three elements (AE, W/CF, and LUMD) and one element (pedestrian/traffic safety and P/TS) of BE were found be related with older male and older female’s LTW, respectively. One element (aesthetics) and two elements (aesthetics, LUMD) of BE were found be related with older male and older female’s LTPA, respectively. The results indicated that the effects of BE on OP’s LTW and the effects of BE on OP’s LTPA were different. The effect also varied in different sex groups. More studies are needed to confirm the effect of BE on OP’s LTW and LTPA in different sex groups to globally enrich the scientific data base.
Optimal Waste-to-Energy Strategy Assisted by Fuzzy MCDM Model for Sustainable Solid Waste Management
Authors: Van Thanh Nguyen
Published: May 2022

In Vietnam, rapid population and economic growth are responsible for the recent increase in solid waste. Energy production from waste is now becoming an effective solution around the world, especially in Vietnam, to solve environmental challenges while contributing to the country’s sustainable energy production. Waste-to-energy production has become a solution to the municipal solid waste problem, which is projected to increase by 10–16%. In this study, the author proposed a fuzzy MCDM model to assess and select a solid-waste-to-energy plant location in Vietnam. In the first stage, the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) technique is utilized to analyze the relative weight of the primary and secondary evaluation elements, and a combined compromise solution (CoCoSo) model is used to rank the candidates in the final stage. This is the first solid-waste-to-energy plant location evaluation and selection model used in a renewable energy project in Vietnam based on expert interviews and a literature review. This study’s contribution can be a significant guide in analyzing and selecting appropriate locations for solid-waste-to-energy projects, as well as for decision makers and investors in other renewable energy projects in Vietnam and throughout the world.
Is Free Early Childhood Education a Sustainable Solution? Evidence from the Case Study of Nanjing
Authors: Qian Yu , Gu Xiurong , Li Hui
Published: May 2022

This case study adopted a mixed methods approach to understanding how and why the free early childhood education (ECE) policy in Nanjing, China, was formulated, implemented, and failed, using the “policy cycle” framework. Many countries have implemented the free ECE policy to solve affordability and accessibility problems without considering policy sustainability; thus, they have to discontinue the policy. Nanjing is no exception. Altogether 232 kindergarten principals and teaching/research staff were randomly sampled and surveyed, and 5 kindergarten principals and 5 teaching/researcher staff were interviewed. The results indicated that there were many obstacles to the policy’s sustainability, including conflict of interest, inefficient policy implementation, insufficient funding, and more social inequality issues. Additionally, the policymakers made mistakes in the five domains of the policy cycle: the context of influence, the context of policy text production, the context of practice, the context of outcomes, and the context of political strategy. Finally, the three important lessons for a more sustainable policy decision process are discussed.
Developing Return Supply Chain: A Research on the Automotive Supply Chain
Authors: Pinho Santos Liane , Proença João F.
Published: May 2022

The purpose of this study is to investigate and discuss the challenges namely, the barriers and solutions to developing return supply chain policies in automotive industry. This industry has been suffering governmental pressure to achieve sustainability in all industrial processes. The solution is to reorganize the supply chain and rethink the product from the beginning (closed-loop supply chain evolving to cradle-to-cradle supply chain); however, the literature about this process is scarce. This paper presents exploratory research into the automotive supply chain in order to study the processes developed to achieve more sustainable supply chains. A strategic business net is used as theoretical sample to collect data. The results show that climate change concerns and governmental guidelines lead to sustainable organizational culture. It was found that sustainability is integrated in all processes, which affects business interaction with partners. The business interaction is difficulted by total product recycling. To overcome this barrier, innovation strategies, strategic alliances and governmental politics are presented as enhancers to return supply chain policies development. Organizational and cultural elements were presented as difficulties, but could be easily mitigated with the enhancers, alongside commitment and proactivity of companies. The research shows that when the challenges are overcome, the companies can integrate cradle-to-cradle design frameworks into their supply chains. This reorganization is necessary to achieve sustainability and accomplish governmental guidelines.
Sustainable Local Development: Consolidated Framework for Cross-Sectoral Cooperation via a Systematic Approach
Authors: Marín-González Freddy , Moganadas Sharmila Rani , Paredes-Chacín Ana Judith , Yeo Sook Fern , Subramaniam Subhacini
Published: May 2022

Cross-sectoral cooperation (CSC) has gained recognition as the key to achieving sustainable development goals within a locality. However, existing studies focused on sustainable local development (SLD) initiatives resulting from CSC remain sparse. This article aims to review the CSC–SLD literature, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method. Research questions were constructed using the PICOC (population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, and context) structure. The identification of scientific works occurred through the search of relevant keywords, which resulted in a final set of 38 peer-reviewed manuscripts, from 1994 to 2021. First, the main driving forces for adopting CSC, to achieve SLD, which are dispersed at multiple levels, were captured and contextualised into the micro-, meso-, macro- and mega-framework. Second, salient aspects addressed in the literature for effective CSC implementation were identified and classified into approaches, governance, structure, key actors, psychological and social aspects, and experiences themes. This resulted in a consolidated guiding principles framework for implementing CSC, to pursue SLD. Additionally, the use of theories in different aspects of CSC–SLD initiatives was discussed. This study informs the practitioners, policy-makers, and researchers the fundamentals that need to be considered when planning, designing, and implementing effective CSC interventions for SLD.
Challenging and Interlinking Quality of Life with Social Sustainability in European Cross-Border Suburban Regions: An Empirical Survey in Bratislava-Lower Austria and Burgenland, and Salzburg-Bavaria
Authors: Štefkovičová Pavla , Koch Andreas
Published: May 2022

The relatively dynamic population growth in suburban municipalities in some European border regions caused by cross-border suburbanization poses challenges for maintaining and promoting the quality of life of residents and the social sustainability of municipalities. The aim of this paper is to provide insights into these issues based on our own empirical research conducted in the border regions of Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Bavaria, which are affected by the cross-border suburbanization of Bratislava and Salzburg. Empirical results illustrate a “cherry-picking strategy” of a high proportion of residents, i.e., choosing selectively the best options of both worlds to improve or maintain their quality of life. These strategies refer to housing decisions, satisfaction with the social neighborhood and the environment, functional patterns of daily activities, and local engagement. Although most respondents rated community relations positively, the coexistence of different social groups would benefit from their deeper integration into the community life. Residential satisfaction in terms of quality of life can foster a sense of belonging and thus contribute to the social sustainability of cross-border suburban regions.
Sustainable Innovative Mobility Solutions Preferred by Inhabitants of Rural Areas—The Case of Lithuania and Poland
Authors: Szymanska Elzbieta , Koloszko-Chomentowska Zofia
Published: May 2022

The research problem discussed in the paper covers innovative mobility solutions in rural areas. This study aims to identify the specifics of innovative mobility solutions expected by inhabitants of rural areas based on the example of selected regions in Lithuania and Poland. The research was conducted between 2019 and 2021 in two rural regions: Druskininkai and Birštonas in Lithuania, as well as the Hajnowski district and the area of the Bialowieza Forest in Poland. The quantitative methodology was used, i.e., survey research. The research confirmed the proposed concept and showed relatively many innovative mobility solution proposals in both regions. Another method used in the study was correspondence analysis, which was performed to assess the strength of the correlation between the proposed innovative solutions and the age and education of the respondents. Comparisons were also made with the use of Pearson’s chi-squared test and the Cramér’s V statistical method. Among the options presented, organisational innovation—the synchronisation of timetables of various means of transport—was met with great interest in Poland and Lithuania alike. The introduction of electric bikes was considered the most desirable product innovation. Solutions that require the ability to use a mobile application are accepted, especially by young people and individuals with university-level education. The results of the research include transport solution models that are expected to improve the mobility of residents of rural areas. This comparative approach concerning slightly different rural regions in two neighbouring countries ought to be deemed a new approach.
A Qualitative Study of Irish Dairy Farmer Values Relating to Sustainable Grass-Based Production Practices Using the Concept of ‘Good Farming’
Authors: Shortall Orla Kathleen
Published: May 2022

Ireland’s grass-based dairy system is relatively unique in industrialised countries in its focus on producing milk from grazed grass rather than increasing yields through non-forage feed. The environmental benefits of a grass-based dairy system have been promoted within Ireland and abroad. However, the means by which grass is produced is important. There have been environmental concerns about water pollution from nutrient leaching and increasing greenhouse gas emissions from the increased number of cows and higher fertiliser application in the Irish dairy sector. This paper uses qualitative interviews with Irish dairy farmers to assess: (1) how can we understand Irish farmer attitudes towards the grass-based system within a ‘good farmer’ theoretical framework? (2) How do concepts of extensive and intensive production fit with good farming norms within the grass-based system? (3) How could cultivation of multispecies swards, including legumes, fit with existing notions of good farming? The research finds that there had been a concerted efforts by researchers, advisory bodies and other actors to foster a definition of good farming to mean good grass management. This definition of good farming excluded the use of feed inputs over a certain level to increase yields but included the use of fertiliser to maximise grass production. There is scope to change the definition of good farming within the industry to include minimal use of fertiliser, for instance through the cultivation of multispecies swards including legumes and the skills and knowledge this involves. In terms of policy implications, the paper identified three strategies for government and industry to facilitate a definition of good farming which involves low fertiliser use: emphasising the cost-saving aspect of reducing fertiliser; identifying visible symbols of ‘good farming’ using multispecies swards; and co-producing the definition of good farming with a diverse range of stakeholders including farmers.
A Study–Life Conflict and Its Impact on Tourism and Hospitality Students’ Burnout and Their Employment Aspirations
Authors: Grobelna Aleksandra
Published: May 2022

This research aims to investigate the issue of study-life conflict and its negative consequences on students’ attitudes towards their studies and future employment in the tourism and hospitality industry. It also seeks an answer to the question: what may contribute to experiencing such a conflict by tourism and hospitality students. Therefore, in this study, a research model was developed and tested that measures relationships between tourism and hospitality students’ current working experience and study–life conflict and analyzes its relationships with students’ burnout and their employment aspirations. Data were collected through a questionnaire from tourism and hospitality students of a Higher Educational Institution of Northern Poland. Structural equation modeling was used to test the relationships between the study constructs. This study demonstrated that due to the competing demands of both the study and social life roles, students may experience the study–life conflict that may be additionally boosted by their current working experience. It was also reported that experiencing the study–life conflict may result in students’ burnout that exerts a significant and negative impact on students’ employment aspirations. As far as the authors know, such research concerning the issue of the study–life conflict experienced by tourism and hospitality students and its consequences for students’ burnout and its detrimental impact on employment aspirations has not been conducted before. This study is also the only one that simultaneously measures the relationships between the proposed constructs based on data from students in Poland.
Distributed Hydrological Model Based on Machine Learning Algorithm: Assessment of Climate Change Impact on Floods
Authors: Iqbal Zafar , Shahid Shamsuddin , Ismail Tarmizi , Sa’adi Zulfaqar , Farooque Aitazaz , Yaseen Zaher Mundher
Published: May 2022

Rapid population growth, economic development, land-use modifications, and climate change are the major driving forces of growing hydrological disasters like floods and water stress. Reliable flood modelling is challenging due to the spatiotemporal changes in precipitation intensity, duration and frequency, heterogeneity in temperature rise and land-use changes. Reliable high-resolution precipitation data and distributed hydrological model can solve the problem. This study aims to develop a distributed hydrological model using Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to simulate streamflow extremes from satellite-based high-resolution climate data. Four widely used bias correction methods were compared to select the best method for downscaling coupled model intercomparison project (CMIP6) global climate model (GCMs) simulations. A novel ML-based distributed hydrological model was developed for modelling runoff from the corrected satellite rainfall data. Finally, the model was used to project future changes in runoff and streamflow extremes from the downscaled GCM projected climate. The Johor River Basin (JRB) in Malaysia was considered as the case study area. The distributed hydrological model developed using ML showed Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) values of 0.96 and 0.78 and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 4.01 and 5.64 during calibration and validation. The simulated flow analysis using the model showed that the river discharge would increase in the near future (2020–2059) and the far future (2060–2099) for different Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). The largest change in river discharge would be for SSP-585. The extreme rainfall indices, such as Total Rainfall above 95th Percentile (R95TOT), Total Rainfall above 99th Percentile (R99TOT), One day Max Rainfall (R × 1day), Five-day Max Rainfall (R × 5day), and Rainfall Intensity (RI), were projected to increase from 5% for SSP-119 to 37% for SSP-585 in the future compared to the base period. The results showed that climate change and socio-economic development would cause an increase in the frequency of streamflow extremes, causing larger flood events.
Indigenous Knowledge on the Uses and Morphological Variation among Strychnos spinosa Lam. at Oyemeni Area, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Mbhele Zoliswa , Zharare Godfrey Elijah , Zimudzi Clement , Ntuli Nontuthuko Rosemary
Published: May 2022

The majority of rural communities in South Africa are characterised by insufficient nutrition and food insecurity at the household level. Due to a lack of information about indigenous fruit trees and their use, food-insecure households are missing out on the nutrition that these fruits provide. Strychnos spinosa Lam. (monkey orange; umHlala) has been identified as one of southern Africa’s top priority fruit species for domestication. However, indigenous information on S. spinosa usage and morphological diversity is still lacking. Indigenous knowledge of species characteristics might be a good place to start when attempting to understand variations in key phenotypic traits. Information on the use and morphological variation of S. spinosa was collected from participants of 100 randomly selected homesteads. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The results indicate that S. spinosa is a multi-purpose tree with numerous uses. Most respondents (97%) mentioned that they use it for fermented maize meal (umBhantshi); and others mentioned fermented porridge (amaHewu); alcohol; fruit; juice; jam; homestead protection; snakebite; firewood; food allergy; livestock increase; and only 7% mentioned for stomachache. Morphological variation was observed in leaf colour and shape, fruit rind colour, size, rind texture, pulp colour, pulp texture, and taste. However, the most mentioned variety featured green (78%), rounded leaves (78%) and green (39%), large (46%), smooth-textured rind (73%) fruits that had brown pulp (54%) and tasted sweet (58%). Understanding local knowledge systems and preferences can thus inform the selection of ethno-varieties that hold importance to local people and the potential to improve livelihoods in externally led domestication and development programs.
Exploring Associations between Multimodality and Built Environment Characteristics in the U.S
Authors: Lee Sangwan
Published: May 2022

This study demonstrated associations between multimodality and built environment characteristics, and proposed policy implications for fostering multimodal travel behaviors. It conducted a U.S. nationwide analysis using ordinary least square regression and gradient boosting decision tree regressor models with American Community Survey 2015–2019 5-year estimates and the United States Environmental Protection Agency Smart Location Database version 3.0. Notable findings were as follows: First, built environment characteristics were found to be statistically significant predictors of multimodality across the U.S. Second, certain features were identified as having considerable importance, specifically including population density, regional accessibility, walkability index, and network density, all of which should be given particular attention by transportation and land-use planners. Third, the non-linear effects of built environment characteristics on multimodality suggested an effective range to encourage multimodal transportation choice behaviors in various situations. The findings can guide the development of effective strategies to transform the built environment, which may subsequently be used to minimize reliance on automobiles and promote people to travel more sustainably.
Image Segmentation of a Sewer Based on Deep Learning
Authors: He Min , Zhao Qinnan , Gao Huanhuan , Zhang Xinying , Zhao Qin
Published: May 2022

An accurate assessment of the type and extent of sewer damage is an important prerequisite for maintenance and repair. At present, distinguishing drainage pipe defect types in the engineering field mainly relies on the human eye, which is time consuming, labor intensive, and subjective. Some studies have used deep learning to classify the types of pipe defects, but this method can only identify one main pipe defect. However, sometimes a combination of defects, such as corrosion and precipitation on a section of pipe wall, can be classified as one category by picture classification, which is significantly different from the reality. Furthermore, the deep learning method for defect classification is unable to pinpoint the precise location and severity of a defect or estimate the number of flaws and the cost of maintenance and repair. Therefore, an image segmentation method based on deep convolutional neural networks is proposed to achieve pixel-level image segmentation of defect regions while classifying pipe defects. Compared with the deep learning network for defect classification, it can segment a variety of defects and reduce the number of samples, which is convenient for defect measurement. First, the image defect locations of seven typical defects were manually labeled to create the dataset. Then, a model based on the SegNet network was used to label defect areas automatically in an image. The pipeline image dataset was used to test the previously trained model using the CamVid dataset. Finally, the model was applied to drainage pipe network images that were provided by periscope and closed-circuit television inspection cameras, and the pixel accuracy of image segmentation reached 80%. From the results, it can be concluded that image segmentation and annotation technology based on deep learning is applicable to sewer defect detection. The identification results of pipeline defects were accurate. The SegNet model is a reliable method for image analysis of pipeline defects, which can accurately evaluate the type and degree of sewer damage.