bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conductive Textiles for Signal Sensing and Technical Applications
Authors: Rayhan Md. Golam Sarower , Khan M. Khalid Hasan , Shoily Mahfuza Tahsin , Rahman Habibur , Rahman Md. Rakibur , Akon Md. Tusar , Hoque Mahfuzul , Khan Md. Rayhan , Rifat Tanvir Rayhan , Tisha Fahmida Akter , Sumon Ibrahim Hossain , Fahim Abdul Wahab , Uddin Mohammad Abbas , Sayem Abu Sadat Muhammad
Published: December 2022

Conductive textiles have found notable applications as electrodes and sensors capable of detecting biosignals like the electrocardiogram (ECG), electrogastrogram (EGG), electroencephalogram (EEG), and electromyogram (EMG), etc; other applications include electromagnetic shielding, supercapacitors, and soft robotics. There are several classes of materials that impart conductivity, including polymers, metals, and non-metals. The most significant materials are Polypyrrole (PPy), Polyaniline (PANI), Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), carbon, and metallic nanoparticles. The processes of making conductive textiles include various deposition methods, polymerization, coating, and printing. The parameters, such as conductivity and electromagnetic shielding, are prerequisites that set the benchmark for the performance of conductive textile materials. This review paper focuses on the raw materials that are used for conductive textiles, various approaches that impart conductivity, the fabrication of conductive materials, testing methods of electrical parameters, and key technical applications, challenges, and future potential.
Everyday Practices in Dealing with Cross-Border Crime: Some Insights from Conversation Analysis
Authors: Mora-Rodriguez Michael , Roca-Cuberes Carles
Published: December 2022

By approaching border security as a form of social interaction, the aim of this research is to provide a more thorough consideration of the how in the everyday communicative practices of police officers and civilians who participate in crime control at borders. Employing a corpus of 272 videos of police checks carried out by the Spanish Guardia Civil at La Jonquera–Le Perthus (the Spain–France border area), conversation analysis (CA) is introduced and applied as a novel perspective in the field of border security studies. From this approach, this article scrutinizes how meaningful actions emerge, and their relevance to the development of the encounter. The analysis highlights how certain actions can be consequential for police checks, such as initiating and modifying turns in conversation to overcome problematic situations that arise, for example, from the (non) ownership of the stopped vehicle, or the (lack of) reason for stopping it, which interfere with the police agenda in the management of border security (i.e., the resolution of suspicion). Consequently, this article sheds light on the role of CA in promoting analyses of micro-level border practices, allowing for the detailed examination of how border encounters are locally managed.
Potential of Passive Employees: How Servant Leadership Can Stimulate Innovation among Control-Oriented Employees
Authors: Qiang Ziyang , Wang Jigan , He Kaiyuan , Xu Lin
Published: December 2022

Depending on the organizational context, a control orientation on the part of an employee may either inhibit or promote their innovative job performance. To explore the question of which external conditions are conducive to control-oriented employees’ innovative potential, this study examined the effects of servant leadership on control-oriented employees’ motivation internalization processes and innovative job performance from a self-determination theory perspective. This study was conducted in Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Anhui provinces, which are relatively developed high-tech industries in China. An analysis of paired data from 298 employees and their leaders in nine technology-intensive companies revealed that servant leadership plays a positive moderating role between control orientation and employees’ autonomous motivation. Moreover, the interaction between control orientation and servant leadership can affect innovative job performance through the mediation of identified regulation, but not through that of integrated regulation. These findings are beneficial in promoting healthy development and innovative job performance of control-oriented employees, and are instructive for sustainable human resource management. Organizations should recognize the creative potential of control-oriented employees, promote servant leadership, leverage its management strengths, and focus on enhancing employees’ sense of identification with their jobs.
Affordable Electric Three-Wheeler in Bangladesh: Prospects, Challenges, and Sustainable Solutions
Authors: Hossain Md Junaed Al , Hasan Md. Zakir , Hasanuzzaman Md , Khan Md. Ziaur Rahman , Ahsan Habib Mohammad
Published: December 2022

With rapid urbanization and population growth, there has been a significant increase in the demand for public transport. Fossil-fuel-based internal combustion vehicles are increasingly fulfilling the transport demand and are creating negative impact on the environment. Electric three-wheeler (E3W) vehicles have better prospects in public transport in Bangladesh. The demand and usage of E3W vehicles are increasing rapidly because of their pollution-free and passenger-friendly services. However, there are many challenges, including vehicle stability, regulation, energy supply, battery disposal, etc. This paper discusses the prospects and challenges of the E3Ws in Bangladesh in terms of technological and environmental aspects. The paper addresses the issues of E3W, such as existing structural problems, inherent limitations, consequences of uncontrolled battery charging, and improper battery disposal. Potential solutions to tackle these challenges have been suggested for future sustainable transport in Bangladesh. An overview of existing policies regarding E3W in Bangladesh has been presented, and some recommendations have been made to facilitate the integration of E3Ws in the public transport domain. A review of the technologies can provide a base for strategic E3W policy for the next generation of sustainable transport policies and can help policymakers to frame strategies aiming for clean technology and sustainable development of the transportation system in Bangladesh.
Effect of Different Plant Communities on Fine Particle Removal in an Urban Road Greenbelt and Its Key Factors in Nanjing, China
Authors: Liu Congzhe , Dai Anqi , Ji Yaou , Sheng Qianqian , Zhu Zunling
Published: December 2022

Determining the relationships between the structure and species of plant communities and their impact on ambient particulate matter (PM) is an important topic in city road greenbelt planning and design. The correlation between the distribution of plant communities and ambient PM concentrations in a city road greenbelt has specific spatial patterns. In this study, we selected 14 plant-community-monitoring sites on seven roads in Nanjing as research targets and monitored these roads in January 2022 for various parameters such as PM with aerodynamic diameters ≤10 µm (PM10) and PM with aerodynamic diameters ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5). We used a spatial model to analyze the relationship between the concentrations of ambient PM10 and PM2.5 and the spatial heterogeneity of plant communities. The consequences revealed that the composition and species of plant communities directly affected the concentrations of ambient PM. However, upon comparing the PM concentration patterns in the green community on the urban road, we found that the ability of the plant community structures to reduce ambient PM is in the order: trees + shrubs + grasses > trees + shrubs > trees + grasses > pure trees. Regarding the reduction in ambient PM by tree species in the plant community (conifer trees > deciduous trees > evergreen broad-leaved trees) and the result of the mixed forest abatement rate, coniferous + broad-leaved trees in mixed forests have the best reduction ability. The rates of reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 were 14.29% and 22.39%, respectively. We also found that the environmental climate indices of the road community, temperature, and traffic flow were positively correlated with ambient PM, but relative humidity was negatively correlated with ambient PM. Among them, PM2.5 and PM10 were significantly related to temperature and humidity, and the more open the green space on the road, the higher the correlation degree. PM10 is also related to light and atmospheric radiation. These characteristics of plant communities and the meteorological factors on urban roads are the foundation of urban greenery ecological services, and our research showed that the adjustment of plant communities could improve greenbelt ecological services by reducing the concentration of ambient PM.
Measurement, Distribution Characteristics, and Convergent Analysis of China’s Green Development Level
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Ji Siyu , Zhu Zhichuan , Hu Jingwan
Published: December 2022

In order to carry out the concept of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, a multi-level national green development evaluation index system referenced to the relevant data of the provinces and a measurable model were constructed, and the green development level of each province in China was measured as an example. Meanwhile, the distribution and form characteristics and the regional differences between the green development levels of each province were estimated and analyzed through the nuclear density function and dagum Gini coefficient. The results indicate that some provinces and cities in China are concentrated at the backward level in the green development level and its sub-evaluation dimension, and a few first-line provinces and cities are developed; The largest contribution rate of regional differences is the main causation of regional differences, the comprehensive evaluation score of green development level in the whole country and the eastern region is σ-convergent, while there is no σ-convergence in the central and western region; The green development level of the whole country and the three parts of the east, central and western China is β-convergent and converges at the same steady-state level respectively.
The Impact of Household Appliances and Devices: Consider Their Reactive Power and Power Factors
Authors: Hannagan Jackson , Woszczeiko Rhys , Langstaff Thomas , Shen Weixiang , Rodwell John
Published: December 2022

In recent years, there has been a noticeable change in the flow of reactive power in power network systems around the world. A part of this change could be due to residential household appliances, particularly with the increasing use of LEDs and battery-powered devices with switch-mode power supplies. This study investigates the power characteristics of 56 modern appliances and devices. The results indicate a major change in the electrical behavior across these household appliances and devices. In particular, LED technology and switch mode power supplies are likely to increase household reactive power injection, which will increase as penetration of these products grows, particularly with government programs often incentivizing their uptake. A variety of avenues are available to address these issues, including governments requiring appliance manufacturers to display the power factor of their appliances or device. In time, appliance manufacturers may develop new products that have built-in power factor correction. Overall, the findings highlight how efforts to be sustainable with energy use may have unintended consequences on other parts of the electrical system that need to be considered for the sustainability of the system as a whole.
Design and Simulation of a Variable Speed Limit System for Freeway Bottleneck Areas
Authors: Niu Jun , Lin Shan , Lou Erlong , Li Zongdian , Chen Kaiqun , Li Haijian
Published: December 2022

Freeway bottleneck areas are prone to congestion and have high accident risk. A variable speed limit provides technical support for alleviating congestion and improving traffic safety in such areas. The existing variable speed limit rules in the related literature have a single focus, and most of them do not give specific quantitative speed limits. In this study, a variable speed limit system suitable for freeway bottleneck areas was constructed. Variable speed limit rules under different levels of traffic congestion and adverse weather conditions were designed, and the parameters for freeways were defined. Then, the VISSIM microscopic traffic simulation software was used to build two bottleneck scenarios of a tunnel area and a merging area for simulation tests. The research shows that in these two scenarios, reasonable speed limits can effectively reduce roadway delays and improve the operational efficiency of bottleneck areas in certain traffic flow ranges (e.g., a medium flow of around 900 pcu/h/lane). Unreasonable speed limits in low flow inhibit freeway efficiency more significantly. When congestion has already formed with high flow, different speed limits have a limited effect on efficiency improvement. The research results reported in this paper can provide a theoretical reference for the design and practical application of variable speed limit systems in freeway bottleneck areas. This provides a certain contribution to sustainable traffic development.
Study on the Optimization of Agricultural Production Waste Recycling Network under the Concept of Green Cycle Development
Authors: Wang Xi , Ning Wei , Wang Kun , Yu Dexin
Published: December 2022

This study is based on the concept of converting agricultural waste into green new energy, we combine the concept of green cycle development and the relevant theories in modern system engineering to optimize the study of agricultural production waste recycling network. In this paper, the optimization of the agricultural production waste recycling network is divided into two aspects—facility site selection and vehicle path planning—with the objectives of agricultural production waste green recycling and the minimization of system construction and operational costs. In this study, the site selection and path planning problems were unified and an optimization model for the agricultural production waste recycling network site-path (LRP) problem was constructed. The optimization results of agricultural production waste recycling network facility location and recycling vehicle path planning were obtained by using the simulation data in the optimization model and designing the genetic algorithm design with the relevant characteristics of agricultural production waste recycling. The feasibility and operability of the model were verified through experiments. The research related to the optimization of agricultural production waste recycling networks can be used to both reduce production costs in agricultural areas and progress the practical theory of reverse logistics in agricultural areas. Agricultural waste resource utilization provides important support for the development of an ecological agriculture cycle and helps protect the environment.
Design of UVA Ultraviolet Disinfection System for Nutrient Solution Residual Liquid and Development of Microbial Online Monitoring System
Authors: Wang Xinzhong , Fang Weiquan , Zhao Zhongfeng
Published: December 2022

If the nutrient solution used in the hydroponic system is recycled and reused without disinfection, the plant diseases are likely to spread. The current disinfection system still cannot conduct online monitoring of microorganisms at the same time as disinfection. In this paper, a UVA ultraviolet disinfection system and an online microbial monitoring system are proposed, which can conduct online monitoring at the same time as disinfection. This system includes the design of the disinfection system, the microbial online detection system and the microfluidic chip. The practical performance of the disinfection system and the microfluidic chip was verified by means of simulation and experiment. The relationship between the working power (P) of the UVA ultraviolet sterilizer used and its irradiance (Ee) is P = 29.98 Ee. The direct influencing factor of the ultraviolet disinfection rate of the nutrient solution residual liquid was the ultraviolet light irradiation dose. When the power of the ultraviolet lamp (radiation flux) is 30 W, the optimum wavelength is close to 300 nm, and the absorbance value is approximately 0.07. The error between bioluminescence detection and laboratory culture detection error is 0.002. The disinfection method and microfluidic chip proposed in this paper can be used in a greenhouse hydroponic system to reduce the impact of harmful microorganisms in the nutrient solution return on plants, and improve the effect of the return solution.
The Effect of Soil Surface Mounds and Depressions on Runoff
Authors: Liang Xinlan , Feng Jiawei , Ye Zhixin , Zhang Lei , Li Jidong , Lu Xiuyuan , Zhao Sixiang , Liu Qi , Zheng Zicheng , Wang Yong
Published: December 2022

Surface mounds and depressions are the basic patterns of microtopography. Their geometric forms and physical properties affect rainfall infiltration, runoff generation and runoff confluence process. In this study, soil beds were set up with seven different types of microtopography to study the effects of surface mounds and depressions on runoff. They were the control check (CK), alternate mounds (AM), continuous mounds (CM), alternate depressions (AD), continuous depressions (CD), alternate mounds and depressions (AMD) and continuous mounds and depressions (CMD). There was only one microtopography type for monomorphic surface relief (MSR) while two for compound surface relief (CSR). All soil beds were exposed under 60, 90 or 120 mm/h rainfall intensity for 90 min. The main results are as follows: surface mounds could promote surface runoff, triggering and shortening runoff generation time, while surface depressions showed contrary results. Whether there was an interval between mounds or depressions also affected the characteristics of runoff. The runoff generation time was 3.8–5.0 times higher for continuous slope than for interval slope, while the runoff yield and runoff coefficient both decreased by approximately 40%. CSR can significantly neutralize the flow-promoting effects of the mounds and the flow-inhibiting effects of the depressions, making the runoff yield and runoff process present a neutral state between the mounds and depressions. CSR prolongs runoff generation time from 1–10 min of MSR to 5–16 min. The runoff yield of CSR presented as 0.12, between 0.17 for mounds and 0.10 for depressions, and so did the runoff coefficient and hydrodynamic parameters. In addition, with rainfall intensity increased, the runoff pattern of CSR and MSR became more similar to each other, and the retarding effects of topography on overland flow were more effective.
Towards a Multi-Level Understanding of the Strategies Employed in Managing Hybridity: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bianchi Michele , Roy Michael J. , Teasdale Simon
Published: December 2022

This article aims to investigate the scientific literature on the management of tensions and trade-offs in hybrid organizations. These can arise from the hybrid nature of these organizations and involve diverse aspects relevant for their management. From our corpus of 16 papers, we assessed as being of ‘high quality’, we categorized different types of tensions and the solutions put forward to manage or mitigate those tensions. The systematic literature review is subdivided into five categories: (1) framing the question(s); (2) identifying relevant works; (3) collecting data; (4) analyzing evidence; (5) interpreting the findings. An iterative process of discussion about codes helped us to compose the final categories for analysis. Our results explain how hybrid organizations go through a constant process of balancing various logics, and how this balancing works to address issues that are both endogenous and exogenous to the organization. We identify two strategies that organizations employ to manage hybridity—decoupling logics and logic shifting—and each strategy has different effects at different levels of the institutional context. Because we focus only on the literature assessed as being of ‘high quality’ this inevitably leads to many excluded articles.
Effect of Acidification on Clay Minerals and Surface Properties of Brown Soil
Authors: Yin Na , Geng Na , Wang Tingting , Wang Hui , Pan Hong , Yang Quangang , Lou Yanhong , Zhuge Yuping
Published: December 2022

Globally, soil acidification is becoming a serious environmental and ecological concern, posing a major threat to ecosystem functions and services. In order to clarifying the acidification mechanism, evaluating acidification risk, and reconditioning soil acidification, the effects of acidification on clay mineral composition and soil surface properties should be evaluated. In this study, the surface charge, specific surface area (SSA), species and content of clay minerals were investigated using the ion adsorption method, methylene blue method, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) for brown soil samples, which collected from Muping, Shandong Province, China. The results showed that the clay mineral species and content varied with the degree of acidification. A small amount of montmorillonite was found in weakly acidic soils, and gibbsite was found in strongly acidic soils. Furthermore, although illite, kaolinite, vermiculite, and chlorite were commonly found in soils with different acidification degrees, their content differed. The negative charge (CEC8.2), permanent negative charge (CECP), variable negative charge (CECV), and SSA values decreased with increasing acidification, while anion exchange capacity values (AEC) decreased. The change of CECV was caused by soil organic matter, and the change of CECP was caused by illite content, which accounted for the largest proportion in clay minerals of brown soil.
A Semi-Automatic Data Management Framework for Studying Thermal Comfort, Cognitive Performance, Physiological Performance, and Environmental Parameters in Semi-Outdoor Spaces
Authors: Chen Shisheng , Mihara Kuniaki , Wong Nyuk Hien , Lee Jason Kai Wei , Tan Chun Liang
Published: December 2022

Semi-outdoor space can be used as an alternative to short-term office activities to save office energy consumption and promote a healthy and nature-based working environment. This study evaluated the suitability of semi-outdoor space in four aspects including environmental measurements, physiological measurements, subjective measurements and cognitive performance tests. However, the manual processing and analysis of such multidimensional data can be time-consuming and error-prone. Hence, the objective of this study was to develop a semi-automatic method to manage and analyze the data from different instruments and platforms and two open-source applications (a stroop color and word test and a digit span test) for cognitive performance tests. These codes were critical to the success of the project, providing an effective framework for data extraction, data pre-processing, data analysis and performance tests. Eighty-nine people participated in the experiment of evaluation of thermal comfort, cognitive performance, physiological performance and environmental parameters in semi-outdoor spaces in a tropical setting. Each participant received cognitive tests to assess their selective attention, short-term memory, concentration and creativity quotient. Concurrently, qualitative measurements were conducted to assess thermal sensation, thermal comfort and thermal acceptability. The heart rate, skin temperature, and skin conductance of participants were measured throughout the experiments. Microclimatic variables such as illuminance, noise levels, dry-bulb air temperature, global temperature, relative humidity, air speed, and air direction were monitored simultaneously. To understand the effects of semi-outdoor spaces on participant performance, this study recorded participant performance in different environments through controlled experiments. Data related to participants in different settings include those shared (e.g., environmental measurement), and data unique to each participant (e.g., physiological performance). The results revealed that the subjects’ cognitive and physiological performance did not change significantly after switching to the semi-outdoor space due to the availability of natural and mechanical ventilation, suggesting that short-term office activities in the semi-outdoor space are feasible in the tropics.
Latent Class Cluster Analysis and Mixed Logit Model to Investigate Pedestrian Crash Injury Severity
Authors: Esmaili Arsalan , Aghabayk Kayvan , Shiwakoti Nirajan
Published: December 2022

Traffic crashes involving pedestrians have a high frequency in developing countries. Among road users, pedestrians are the most vulnerable, as their involvement in traffic crashes is usually followed by severe and fatal injuries. This study aims to identify pedestrian crash patterns and reveal the random parameters in the dataset. A three-year (2015–2017) pedestrian crash dataset in Mashhad, Iran, was employed to investigate the influence of a rich set of factors on pedestrian injury severity, some of which have been less accounted for in previous studies (e.g., the vicinity to overpasses, the existence of vegetated buffers, and park lanes). A two-step method integrating latent class cluster analysis (LCA) and the mixed logit model was utilized to consider unobserved heterogeneity. The results demonstrated that various factors related to the pedestrian, vehicle, temporal, environmental, roadway, and built-environment characteristics are associated with pedestrian injuries. Furthermore, it was found that integrated use of LCA and mixed logit models can considerably reduce the unobserved heterogeneity and uncover the hidden effects influencing severity outcomes, leading to a more profound perception of pedestrian crash causation. The findings of this research can act as a helpful resource for implementing effective strategies by policymakers to reduce pedestrian casualties.
Repeated Palaeofloods of 8.2–6.4 ka and Coeval Rise of Neonatal Culture in the Upper Yangtze River, China
Authors: Li Zhongxuan , Li Wenhao
Published: December 2022

Flood events have long been very frequent along the Yangtze River in Chongqing, China. A complete sedimentary sequence of alluvia, found in the Yuxi profile (YXP) was applied to explore features of the palaeoflood layers that maintained records related to the contexts of flooding hydroclimate. The AMS14C dating results dependent on animal bones from the YXP validate that the chronology of the palaeoflood layers was dated, between ca. 8200 and 6400 a BP, and multiple cultural layers were intercut among these palaeoflood layers. By means of particle size and end-member analyses for the palaeoflood sediments, the fractions of fine silt and clay in deposits account for a high proportion of the flood sediments, suggesting that the overbank flood was the main power in building the palaeoflood layers. Due to the climatic episodes defined by pollen assemblages, the thickness of the flood layers is positively correlated with soil erosion because of different hydrothermal conditions. The wavelet spectra of the mean particle-size series also suggest that there may be two major palaeoflooding cycles of ~700 and ~30 years. Despite the sustained palaeoflooding, the Yuxi Culture grew from small to big, and was never broken off, in terms of the findings of artificial remains in the YXP.
Raman Spectroscopy Application in Food Waste Analysis: A Step towards a Portable Food Quality-Warning System
Authors: Dib Omar Hussein , Assaf Ali , Pean Alexia , Durand Marie-Jose , Jouanneau Sulivan , Ramanathan Ramakrishnan , Thouand Gérald
Published: December 2022

Food waste is one of the main problems contributing to climate change, as its piling up in landfills produces the greenhouse gas methane. Food waste occurs at every stage of food production; however, a major source of food waste occurs at businesses that supply food to consumers. Industry 4.0 technologies have shown promise in helping to reduce food waste in food supply chains. However, more innovative technologies, such as Raman spectroscopy, hold great promise in helping to reduce food waste, although this has largely been ignored in the literature. In this context, we propose a portable Raman platform to monitor food quality during transportation. The developed system was tested in conditions mimicking those present in a refrigerated truck by analyzing chicken samples stored at temperatures of 4 °C. Raman spectra were acquired for non-packaged and packaged samples over the duration of 30 days resulting in 6000 spectra. The analysis of Raman spectra revealed that the system was able to detect noticeable changes in chicken quality starting on day six. The main Raman bands contributing to this change are amide I and tyrosine. The proposed system will offer the potential to reduce food losses during transportation by consistently checking the food quality over time.
Determination of the Required Strength of Artificial Roof for the Underhand Cut-and-Fill Mine Using Field Measurements and Theoretical Analysis
Authors: Han Bin , Ji Kun , Wang Jiandong , Wang Shibo , Zhang Peng , Hu Yafei
Published: December 2022

For the underhand cut-and-fill mining method, to ensure safe and economic mining, a key issue is to correctly determine the required strength of the artificial roof made of cemented paste backfill (CPB). However, the determination of the required strength is typically based on historical experience and analytical beam formulas, resulting in the obtained required strength being unsuitable for the actual situation. Therefore, in order to determine the required strength of the CPB roof reasonably and accurately, field measurements based on sensors were proposed and carried out in the Jinchuan mine, and then formulas based on thick plate theory were derived to verify the measured results. The results show that the required strength obtained by field measurement is 0.325 MPa and that obtained by thick plate theory is 0.304 MPa, with an error of 6.78% between them, verifying the accuracy of the measurements. However, the strength standard currently used by Jinchuan is 0.59 MPa, which far exceeds the optimal strength and results in many additional, unnecessary expenses. To ensure economical mining, the span of the drift was enlarged from 5.0 m to 6.0 m based on the results of the actual measurements and the current production status of the mine. The measurements show that the maximum cumulative subsidence of the drift roof is 11.69 mm and the maximum convergence deformation of the sidewalls is 8.34 mm, which indicates that the stability of the span-enlarged drift is satisfactory. Meanwhile, enlarging the drift span allows for a 20% increase in production capacity per mining cycle. This field measurement method and theoretical analysis model can be used as an efficient guide to facilitate the design of underhand cut-and-fill mining.
Factors Influencing the Accommodation Prices of Romanian Rural Tourism
Authors: Gordan Marius-Ionuț , Peț Elena , Popescu Gabriela , Brad Ioan , Milin Anda Ioana , Adamov Tabita Cornelia , Ciolac Ramona , Pascariu Anka Roxana , Iancu Tiberiu
Published: December 2022

The hedonic pricing model posits that the price of a given product or service is an aggregate of several distinct characteristics that define it. In the context of tourism, this approach can be used to assess the prices of accommodations in a given area or market. This study explores the main determinants of tourism prices in the Brașov area of central Romania, a county that ranked as the second most visited area in Romania in 2021 based on the number of arrivals according to the ordinary least squares regression model on a sample of 398 accommodation units of different types. The main finding of this research paper is that prices are strongly influenced by luxury amenities and that prices tend to rise in lower-population-density areas, which we associate with rural areas. As previously noted in the literature, monetary values can be assigned to incremental changes in the independent variables, with the most significant changes deriving from the inclusion of spa, sauna and restaurant services in the tourism offer of accommodation units.
Environmental Risk from Organic Residues
Authors: Rodríguez-Espinosa Teresa , Navarro-Pedreño Jose , Gómez Lucas Ignacio , Almendro Candel María Belén , Pérez Gimeno Ana , Jordán Vidal Manuel , Papamichael Iliana , Zorpas Antonis A.
Published: December 2022

Soil nutrient imbalance is a global threat to food security and ecosystem sustainability but adding organic residues or constructing anthropogenic soils and technosols can optimize it. However, FAO considers organic residues not “risk-free”, mainly due to their heavy metal content. Despite the fact that applying pruning residues to soil is a worldwide fertilization practice, its potential heavy metal risk has been poorly studied. This work characterizes Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb elemental composition concentration and their solubility content in almond tree pruning, commercial peat substrate, hay straw, olive tree pruning, pomegranate peel, pine needle, date palm leaf pruning, sewage sludge compost and vine pruning. Furthermore, we compare the legal frameworks governing heavy metal content in agricultural substrates to heavy metal concentration in each residue. Results show that commercial peat substrate is the only one among those studied that surpasses the threshold value for Cr in agricultural substrates. All pruning residues met the heavy metal threshold value; hence, their application to soil involves minimal soil toxicity. Moreover, the solubility index of heavy metals and the maximum quantity of each residue are crucial to discerning a heavy metal-free organic fertilization plan.
NOAH as an Innovative Tool for Modeling the Use of Suburban Railways
Authors: Kruszyna Maciej
Published: December 2022

The paper presents an innovative method called the “Nest of Apes Heuristic” (NOAH) for modeling specific problems by combining technical aspects of transport systems with human decision-making. The method is inspired by nature. At the beginning of the paper, potential problems related to modeling a suburban rail system were presented. The literature review is supplemented with a short description of known heuristics. The basic terminology, procedures, and algorithm are then introduced in detail. The factors of the suburban rail system turn into “Monkeys”. Monkeys change their position in the nest, creating leaders and followers. This allows for the comparison of the factor sets in a real system. The case study area covers the vicinity of Wroclaw, the fourth largest city in Poland. Two experiments were conducted. The first takes into account the average values of the factors in order to observe the algorithm’s work and formulate the stopping criteria. The second is based on the current values of the factors. The purpose of this work was to evaluate these values and to assess the possibilities of changing them. The obtained results show that the new tool may be useful for modeling and analyzing such problems.
“Silver” Generation at Work—Implications for Sustainable Human Capital Management in the Industry 5.0 Era
Authors: Laskowska Agnieszka , Laskowski Jan Franciszek
Published: December 2022

The demographic low, and thus the inevitable aging of the populations of economically developed countries, makes it necessary to extend the working life of citizens. Therefore, an increasing percentage of workers are representatives of the so-called “silver” generation, i.e., people over 50 years of age. The main objective of the study is to characterize the system of values, attitudes to work, and related expectations of professionally active women and men over 50 years of age and to determine whether, and if so, how the hierarchy of values, attitudes to work, and job satisfaction affect the further development of their professional careers. In order to achieve such a goal, a CAVI survey was conducted on a sample of n = 600 respondents. The statistical significance of the differences between the groups was tested with the Mann–Whitney U test. To verify the main hypothesis, ordinal logistic regression models were built. The results of the study were supplemented with elements of descriptive statistics. In the course of the research work, it was confirmed that there are significant differences between the studied men and women in the assessment of traits concerning their value hierarchy, attitudes towards work, and career prospects. Traits such as value hierarchy and attitudes toward work have a significant impact on the career development of both women and men of the “silver” generation, while job satisfaction shows a significant impact on career development only for women.
Health and Safety Improvement through Industrial Revolution 4.0: Malaysian Construction Industry Case
Authors: Musarat Muhammad Ali , Alaloul Wesam Salah , Irfan Muhammad , Sreenivasan Pravin , Rabbani Muhammad Babar Ali
Published: December 2022

Safety on construction sites is now a top priority for the construction industry all around the world. Construction labor is often seen as hazardous, putting employees at risk of serious accidents and diseases. The use of Industrial Revolution (IR) 4.0 advanced technologies such as robotics and automation, building information modelling (BIM), augmented reality and virtualization, and wireless monitoring and sensors are seen to be an effective way to improve the health and safety of construction workers at the job site, as well as to ensure construction safety management in general. The main aim of this research was to analyze the IR-4.0-related technologies for improving the health and safety problems in the construction industry of Malaysia by utilizing the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) technique. IR-4.0-related technologies show great potential in addressing the construction industry’s existing health and safety problems from the perspective of civil engineering practitioners and industry experts. This research adopted the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for quantitative analysis of data collected through the survey questionnaire approach. The findings of the study indicate that from matrix multiplication, the highest importance among the criteria and the alternatives was for BIM with a score of 0.3855, followed by wireless monitoring and sensors (0.3509). This research suggests that building information modelling (BIM) and integrated systems had the greatest potential as advanced technology and should be prioritized when it comes to introducing it to the construction industry to improve the current health and safety performances.
How Do Political and Business Ties Matter for Supply Chain Management Capability? An Empirical Test of an Integrative Framework
Authors: Wang Mengmeng , Xiao Shufeng (Simon)
Published: December 2022

Supply chain management capability has become increasingly important in highly dynamic and uncertain situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. However, our systematic literature review indicates that little is known about how different types of ties influence the intention of firms to adopt B2B platforms and improve international performance. This study aims to explore the important role of political and business ties in the development of supply chain management capability by arguing that political and business ties are positively related to the development of supply chain management capability, which is proposed to shape the intention of firms to adopt B2B platforms and their international performance. Furthermore, we also attempt to develop a framework between potential strategic needs for a firm’s supply chain capability development and different ties. Using survey data collected from a sample of 369 firms in China, we test these proposed arguments empirically through structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. Results demonstrate that political and business ties contribute positively to developing a firm’s supply chain capability, positively related to the firm’s intention to adopt B2B platforms and international performance. In addition, our study also reveals that supply chain risk significantly modifies the relationships between political or business ties and supply chain capability development. This study provides important contributions to the literature by extending prior research on supply chain management and offers important insights into our understanding of the successful development of supply chain management capability, intention to adopt B2B platforms, and international performance improvement. We believe our findings can help inform how firms can develop supply chain management capability by utilizing different ties.
Influence of Grit on Physical Activity, Sitting Time and Dietary Behaviors: A Multi-Study Analysis
Authors: Martin Joel , Toczko Michael , Locke Emily , McCarthy Ryan , Milani Italia , Barrios Nathalie , Koutoubi Samer , Ambegaonkar Jatin , Dhokai Niyati , Boolani Ali
Published: December 2022

Engaging in physical activity (PA), minimizing sitting time and consuming a healthy diet are behaviors associated with health and wellness across the lifespan. The present multi-study analysis examined the relationship between grit and PA, sitting time and dietary behaviors in several populations that included US adults, active-duty military personnel, veterans, college students and performing artists. The four research laboratories administered an internet-based survey between spring and summer of 2020. The common questionnaires on the surveys were the Grit Scale Short Form, International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form and the Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants Short Form. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between grit, PA, sitting time and dietary behaviors. PA was associated with grit for US adults, civilians and college students but not for performing artists or active-duty military populations. Sitting time was associated with grit for US adults and active-duty military personnel. US adults, college students and performing artists were found to have a positive association between healthy dietary behaviors and grit. Overall, the findings indicate that grit has a positive influence on PA, sitting time and dietary behaviors across the unique populations; however, the relationships indicate some nuanced differences between the populations.
Health Risks and Country Sustainability: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic with Determining Cause-and-Effect Relationships and Their Transformations
Authors: Letunovska Nataliia , Kashcha Mariya , Dluhopolskyi Oleksandr , Lyeonov Serhiy , Artyukhova Nadiia , Gąsior Marcin , Sak-Skowron Monika
Published: December 2022

The authors investigated the coronavirus pandemic as a health and safety risk factor for sustainable state development. The main purpose is to determine the cause-and-effect relationships between the key spheres of society life: economic, financial–budgetary, political-–institutional. The authors hypothesize that these spheres influence each other and that this influence becomes more obvious and important to consider during significant shifts such as health threats and transformations in the public health system. As part of the calculations, the methodology of canonical regression analysis was used, which made it possible to evaluate the influence of a set of indicators using the construction of a correlation matrix. Aggregation of the complex of development indicators for each direction was carried out, and their mutual influence and degree of importance within each group of indicators was determined. The identified interdependencies are valuable for predicting the state of various industries in the future. It was concluded that there were no significant changes between the indicators of the analyzed components of a country’s development in the pre-and post-pandemic period. This makes it possible to state with a high probability that forecasting in the long-term perspective of a country’s development is possible based on the degree of interrelationships between the indicators of individual areas of development. Forecasting can also be based on the trends occurring in a specific related field to correct the upward or downward movement of a particular indicator, and to change the functioning of the complex system under the influence of threats to public health.
A Cross-Cultural Study of Value Priorities between U.S. and Chinese Airbnb Guests: An Analysis of Social and Economic Benefits
Authors: Suh Jungho , Tosun Cevat , Eck Thomas , An Soyoung
Published: December 2022

Guest value priorities in relation to online peer-to-peer accommodation are an underexamined area. This study examined social and economic benefits among Airbnb guests. The relationships between guests’ benefit priorities were tested in relation to satisfaction and behavioral intention. A total of 693 Airbnb guests were recruited from the U.S. and China. A framework to examine how cross-cultural differences moderate the associations between constructs was employed to examine the influences of the two cultures, one characterized by collectivism (China) and the other by individualism (U.S.). Confirmatory factory analysis and partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) were used to test variable relationships. PLS-SEM analysis indicated that social and economic benefits both significantly influenced satisfaction and behavioral intention (satisfaction also influenced behavioral intention). Multigroup analysis was employed to test a framework examining cultural differences. It was found that social and economic benefits influenced behavioral intention differently for Chinese and U.S. Airbnb guests. The results suggest the importance of social and economic benefits in a peer-to-peer accommodation setting, as well as the need to understand cultural differences in the sharing economy.
Absolute 3D Human Pose Estimation Using Noise-Aware Radial Distance Predictions
Authors: Chang Inho , Park Min-Gyu , Kim Je Woo , Yoon Ju Hong
Published: December 2022

We present a simple yet effective pipeline for absolute three-dimensional (3D) human pose estimation from two-dimensional (2D) joint keypoints, namely, the 2D-to-3D human pose lifting problem. Our method comprises two simple baseline networks, a 3D conversion function, and a correction network. The former two networks predict the root distance and the root-relative joint distance simultaneously. Given the input and predicted distances, the 3D conversion function recovers the absolute 3D pose, and the correction network reduces 3D pose noise caused by input uncertainties. Furthermore, to cope with input noise implicitly, we adopt a Siamese architecture that enforces the consistency of features between two training inputs, i.e., ground truth 2D joint keypoints and detected 2D joint keypoints. Finally, we experimentally validate the advantages of the proposed method and demonstrate its competitive performance over state-of-the-art absolute 2D-to-3D pose-lifting methods.
Islands of Shape Coexistence: Theoretical Predictions and Experimental Evidence
Authors: Martinou Andriana , Bonatsos Dennis , Peroulis Spyridon Kosmas , Karakatsanis Konstantinos Eleftherios , Mertzimekis Theodoros John , Minkov Nikolay
Published: December 2022

Parameter-free theoretical predictions based on a dual shell mechanism within the proxy-SU(3) symmetry of atomic nuclei, as well as covariant density functional theory calculations using the DDME2 functional indicate that shape coexistence (SC) based on the particle-hole excitation mechanism cannot occur everywhere on the nuclear chart but is restricted on islands lying within regions of 7–8, 17–20, 34–40, 59–70, 96–112, 146–168 protons or neutrons. Systematics of data for even-even nuclei possessing K=0 (beta) and K=2 (gamma) bands support the existence of these islands, on which shape coexistence appears whenever the K=0 bandhead 02+ and the first excited state of the ground state band 21+ lie close in energy, with nuclei characterized by 02+ lying below the 21+ found in the center of these islands. In addition, a simple theoretical mechanism leading to multiple-shape coexistence is briefly discussed.