bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Analysis with GC–MS of Fatty Acids and Volatile Compounds of Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin and Taraxacum officinale as Edible Resource Plants
Authors: Zhang Na , Chen Tianyan , Ye Shuang , Gao Shunkai , Dong Yiyang
Published: October 2022

Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin (TKS) is a potential edible resource plant that is rich in inulin, lipid, protein and other active ingredients. In this study, HS-SPME/GC–MS was used to analyze volatile compounds (VCs) and profile the fatty acids in TKS roots and leaves, and the results were compared with those from Taraxacum officinale (TO). A total of 105 and 107 VCs were detected in the leaves and roots of seven dandelion samples (three TKS and four TO), amongst which the main VCs were ethyl tetradecanoate, ethyl linolenate, ethyl linoleate, dihydroactinidiolide, ethyl palmitate, β-ionone, 3,5-octadien-2-one, β-ionone 5,6-epoxide, geranyl acetone, benzaldehyde, safranal, 2-Pentylfuran, farnesene and β-elemene. Linoleic acid and linolenic acid were the dominant fatty acids in seven dandelion samples, and the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids was larger than 4. Principal component analysis showed that the differences in VCs and fatty acid levels between different dandelion samples mainly came from different places of origin, while the differences between different varieties in the same place of origin was minor; i.e., the VCs and fatty acid levels of TKS and TO collected from the same place were basically similar.
Quantifying for Qualifying: A Framework for Assessing Gender Equality in Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Moreira Josilene Aires , Sales Oliveira Catarina
Published: October 2022

The objective of this study is to present the development of a framework for assessing gender inequality in higher education institutions (HEIs) which reveals how this academic environment is progressing in terms of gender balance. It proposes a multi-dimension-based index comprised by five dimensions—Empowerment, Education, Health, Violence, and Time. The mathematical model used enables the user to assign a weight value to each dimension, customizing the results according to the institution addressed. The paper is based on a post-doctoral research project which analyzed six globally recognized indexes (Gender Inequality Index; Global Gender Gap Index; Women, Business, and Law Index; Gender Equality Index; Social Institutions Global Index; Women Empowerment Principles) to construct a new framework for gender inequality evaluation tailored for HEIs. It used a Laplace–Gauss-based scale. The research included an experiment of concrete application to two instiutions, one in Europe and the other in South America. While the first one had a Gender Equality Plan, the second had not. The analysis was successfully conducted in both institutions. The two institutions presented general results above 60%. These results need to be read in the specific context of each university. The Gender Equality in Higher Education Institutions Index (GEHEI) provides a user-friendly way of checking the existence of gender inequality, summarized into a single number but able to be detailed in several levels and to provide insight into progression over time. The handling of the GEHEI tool is also very straightforward. The proposal is designed to be used in different HEIs; it is recommended that researchers customize the weights of the dimensions according to their relevance in the specific organization. This paper provides a new methodological model to measure gender inequality in HEIs based on easy-to-obtain data, distinguishing itself from global indexes by its ease of application and interpretation.
Building Energy Use: Modeling and Analysis of Lighting Systems—A Case Study
Authors: Powers Aron , Saad Messiha
Published: October 2022

Understanding how energy is used and where it can be saved in an existing building is critical not only from a cost and environmental standpoint, but for legal compliance as well, as the United States and the rest of the world increasingly have set tighter restrictions on energy usage and carbon emissions. Energy savings can be achieved from installing LED lights and occupancy sensors; however, the exact savings and impact of each method can vary depending on the building in question. The objective of this case study is to perform analysis of the lighting systems in Washington State University Tri-Cities’ Floyd & East buildings to determine energy savings potential. Lighting systems in each building were broken into several groups based on their operational patterns and then numerically modeled with the aid of Python. The results of this case study shows that 60% energy savings, totaling 350 MWh in a year, can be achieved by retrofitting fluorescent lights with LEDs and occupancy sensors. This energy savings translates to a reduction of 62.4 t of CO2 emissions per year. The results of our cost-analysis in this model shows that the LED light retrofit has a break-even point at 15 months of operation.
Application of Event Detection to Improve Waste Management Services in Developing Countries
Authors: Anjum Mohd , Shahab Sana , Umar Mohammad Sarosh
Published: October 2022

This study illustrates a proof-of-concept model to improve solid waste management (SWM) services by analyzing people’s behavior towards waste. A deep neural network model is implemented to detect and identify the specific types of events/activities in the proximity of the waste bin. This model consists of a three-dimensional convolutional neural network (3D CNN) and a long short-term memory (LSTM)-based recurrent neural network. The model was trained and tested over a handcrafted data set and achieved an average precision of 0.944–0.986. This precision is promising to support the implementation of the model on a large scale in the actual environment. The performance measures of all individual events indicate that the model successfully detected the individual events and has high precision for classifying them. The study also designed and built an experimental setup to record the data set, which comprises 3200 video files duration between 150–1200 s. Methodologically, the research is supported through a case study based on the recorded data set. In this case study, the frequencies of identified events/activities at a bin are plotted and thoroughly analyzed to determine people’s behavior toward waste. This frequency analysis is used to determine the locations where one of the following actions is required to improve the SWM service: (i) people need to be educated about the consequences of waste scattering; (ii) bin capacity or waste collection schedules are required to change; (iii) both actions are required simultaneously; (iv) none of the actions are needed.
Ensuring a Sustainable Hospitality and Tourism Industry in the COVID-19 Era: Using an Open Market Valuation Technique
Authors: Abdelmoety Ziad H. , Alamoudi Hawazen , Alharthi Majed , Sharkasi Nora , Agag Gomaa
Published: October 2022

Tourism has always been one of the most profitable service industries. But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism industry is facing some big problems. As a result, the tourism industry lost a lot of money. This paper aims to find and rank recovery solutions to help the tourism industry. This article investigates two key areas: firstly, how government aid can best be prioritised among the various subsectors of the hospitality and tourism industry, and secondly, whether public assessment of the measures the US government took against the pandemic is related to the outlook for recovery, including the role played by perceptions of government performance and efficacy at handling the crisis and self-efficacy in terms of avoiding infection. Two studies were conducted among US consumers, using different methods of data collection and analysis. The first study utilised an open market valuation technique to explore how governmental aid might be prioritised among the tourism and hospitality industries. The second study used AMOS/SEM to examine travellers’ positive perceptions of the likelihood of hospitality and tourism industry recovery. Study 1 found that all six industry subsectors investigated (hotels, airlines, restaurants, car rentals, casinos and cruise lines) had been influenced negatively by COVID-19, with the heaviest impact felt by hotels and cruise lines. Study 2 indicated that the level of public satisfaction with the US government’s performance in addressing the pandemic was positively related to expectations of hospitality and tourism industry recovery. The findings could guide policymakers in deciding how best to allocate public funds between the different subsectors of the hospitality and tourism industry.
Towards Constructing and Developing a Self-Efficacy Scale for Distance Learning and Verifying the Psychometric Properties
Authors: AlAli Rommel , Saleh Shoeb
Published: October 2022

Distance learning self-efficacy is the realistic awareness of the individual’s cognitive, emotional, and social capabilities, ability to solve problems, preferred thinking style, confidence in himself, and handling of desirable and difficult life activities in online learning environments. The current study aimed to construct and develop a distance learning self-efficacy scale for university students. To achieve this goal, a distance learning self-efficacy scale was constructed after reviewing the literature, namely theoretical and scientific frameworks regarding scales of self-efficacy in Arab and foreign environments. The current research reached a set of dimensions that are comprehensive and include most aspects of distance learning self-efficacy processes. The scale was piloted with 200 undergraduate students to verify validity and reliability. To verify the psychometric properties of the scale in preparation for its development, the final version of the scale was applied to a study sample of 1800 students. The results showed that the scale has good psychometric properties. This is indicated by the results of the Rasch model analysis, as well as the results of the confirmatory factor analysis of the agreement of the indicators of a good fit with the main dimensions of the scale. This means that the scale is valid as a tool for evaluating distance learning systems and that it can be used on learners in online learning environments.
Sustainable Application of Wool-Banana Bio-Composite Waste Material in Geotechnical Engineering for Enhancement of Elastoplastic Strain and Resilience of Subgrade Expansive Clays
Authors: Qamar Wajeeha , Khan Ammad Hassan , Rehman Zia ur , Masoud Zubair
Published: October 2022

Agro-biogenic stabilization of expansive subgrade soils is trending to achieve cost-effective and sustainable geotechnical design to resist distress and settlement during the application of heavy traffic loads. This research presents optimized remediation of expansive clay by addition of proportionate quantities of waste renewable wool-banana (WB) fiber composites for the enhancement of elastoplastic strain (ԐEP), peak strength (Sp), resilient modulus (MR) and California bearing ratio (CBR) of expansive clays. Remolded samples of stabilized and nontreated clay prepared at maximum dry density (γdmax) and optimum moisture content (OMC) were subjected to a series of swell potential, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), resilient modulus (MR) and CBR tests to evaluate swell potential, ԐEP, MR, and CBR parameters. The outcome of this study clearly demonstrates that the optimal WB fiber dosage (i.e., 0.6% wool and 1.2% banana fibers of dry weight of clay) lowers the free swell up to 58% and presents an enhancement of 3.5, 2.7, 3.0 and 4.5-times of ԐEPT, Sp, MR and CBR, respectively. Enhancement in ԐEP is vital for the mitigation of excessive cracking in expansive clays for sustainable subgrades. The ratio of strain relating to the peak strength (ԐPS) to the strain relating to the residual strength (ԐRS), i.e., ԐPS/ԐRS = 2.99 which is highest among all fiber-clay blend depicting the highly ductile clay-fiber mixture. Cost-strength analysis reveals the optimized enhancement of ԐEPT, Sp, MR and CBR in comparison with cost using clay plus 0.6% wool plus 1.2% banana fibers blend which depicts the potential application of this research to economize the stabilization of subgrade clay to achieve green and biogeotechnical engineering goals.
Development of an Adhesive Based on Waste Management as a Mechanism Towards Sustainability
Authors: Montalvo-Romero Nayeli , Montiel-Rosales Aarón , Fernández-Lambert Gregorio , Fernández-Echeverría Eduardo
Published: October 2022

Plastic pollution is an alarming issue; it is a phenomenon that, in addition to altering health, is capable of generating damage to the environment. It is estimated that only 8% of plastics are recycled and that 76% end up in landfill sites or are indiscriminately disposed of into the environment. “Single-use” plastics contribute the most to the generation of pollution due their short “life cycle” since after their useful life, they are discarded. Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), one of the plastics with the greatest use as a packaging material, has a complicated recycling process due to its volume and weight characteristics. Based on the above, following the Circular Economy model, the optimal development of an adhesive for the cut-sole union is addressed through the analysis by classified attributes using an orthogonal array L9(3)4 of Taguchi. Of the factors under study, it was determined that the “adhesive formulation” is the factor that statistically significantly influences the degree of adhesion of the cut-sole, followed by the “type of sole”. The adhesive with post-consumer EPS is viable and contributes to minimizing the environmental pollution footprint as a strategy toward sustainability.
Sustainable Development Goals and Equity in Urban Planning: A Comparative Analysis of Chicago, São Paulo, and Delhi
Authors: Teklemariam Nathan
Published: October 2022

Today, for the first time in the history of human civilization, over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. Due to this global urbanization, the United Nations included sustainable urban development in its recent Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda. SDG Goal 11 is one of 17 comprehensive SDGs, and it pays specific attention to making “cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. This study comparatively analyzes the current state of participatory urban planning processes in three cities: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.; São Paulo, Brazil; and Delhi, India. Utilizing the cities’ most recent master plans, a content analysis found that public engagement was a key instrument that they adopted in the production of their planning documents, but the level of engagement and tools used to engage the public differed among cities, with Chicago and São Paulo demonstrating more robust public engagement than Delhi. The historical context of the comparative countries’ political, cultural, and socioeconomic development also plays a role in the degree to which a landscape for public engagement and participation exists. The study finds that the ideals of a just city can be determined by the level of participation with which cities engage their citizens during the planning process, and that sustainable urban development is further determined by the level of social equity that currently exists in a city itself.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in Earth Construction: A Systematic Literature Review Considering Five Construction Techniques
Authors: Arduin Deborah , Caldas Lucas Rosse , Paiva Rayane de Lima Moura , Rocha Fernando
Published: October 2022

In the past decade, there has been an increase in the environmental performance assessment in earth construction through the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. A Systematic Literature Review verified LCA methodology trends of five earth construction techniques from 2016 to April 2022, resulting in 27 studies. The results have been analyzed through qualitative thematic analysis, considering LCA methodology. Considering embodied carbon (GWP) and embodied energy, transportation and binder content were the main factors that influenced environmental performance. Hence, earth-based constructions exhibit better results in different impact categories than conventional materials. Environmental guidelines and technical features that were presented in the LCA studies are discussed for Adobe, Cob, Rammed Earth (RE), Compressed Earth Block (CEB), and Light Straw Clay (LSC). This study presents environmental benchmarks at the unit, wall, and building scales aiming to encourage LCA methodology applied to earth construction techniques and fostering the discussion of earth construction sustainability.
Strategies to Mitigate Enteric Methane Emissions in Ruminants: A Review
Authors: Palangi Valiollah , Taghizadeh Akbar , Abachi Soheila , Lackner Maximilian
Published: October 2022

Methane is the main greenhouse gas (GHG) emitted by ruminants. Mitigation strategies are required to alleviate this negative environmental impact while maintaining productivity and ruminants’ health. To date, numerous methane mitigation strategies have been investigated, reported and suggested by scientists to the livestock industry. In this review, the authors will focus on the commonly practiced and available techniques expanding the knowledge of the reader on the advances of methane mitigation strategies with a focus on the recent literature. Furthermore, the authors will attempt to discuss the drawbacks of the strategies in terms of animal health and performance reduction as well as the concept of feed and energy loss, adding an economic perspective to methane emission mitigation which is in the farmers’ direct interest. As a whole, many factors are effective in reducing undesired methane production, but this is definitely a complex challenge. Conclusively, further research is required to offer effective and efficient methane production mitigation solutions in ruminants worldwide, thus positively contributing to climate change.
Facial Recognition System to Detect Student Emotions and Cheating in Distance Learning
Authors: Ozdamli Fezile , Aljarrah Aayat , Karagozlu Damla , Ababneh Mustafa
Published: October 2022

Distance learning has spread nowadays on a large scale across the world, which has led to many challenges in education such as invigilation and learning coordination. These challenges have attracted the attention of many researchers aiming at providing high quality and credibility monitoring of students. Distance learning has offered an effective education alternative to traditional learning in higher education. The lecturers in universities face difficulties in understanding students’ emotions and abnormal behaviors during educational sessions and e-exams. The purpose of this study is to use computer vision algorithms and deep learning algorithms to develop a new system that supports lecturers in monitoring and managing students during online learning sessions and e-exams. To achieve the proposed objective, the system employs software methods, computer vision algorithms, and deep learning algorithms. Semi-structural interviews were also used as feedback to enhance the system. The findings showed that the system achieved high accuracy for student identification in real time, student follow-up during the online session, and cheating detection. Future work can focus on developing additional tools to assist students with special needs and speech recognition to improve the follow-up facial recognition system’s ability to detect cheating during e-exams in distance learning.
Water Quality Prediction Based on LSTM and Attention Mechanism: A Case Study of the Burnett River, Australia
Authors: Chen Honglei , Yang Junbo , Fu Xiaohua , Zheng Qingxing , Song Xinyu , Fu Zeding , Wang Jiacheng , Liang Yingqi , Yin Hailong , Liu Zhiming , Jiang Jie , Wang He , Yang Xinxin
Published: October 2022

Prediction of water quality is a critical aspect of water pollution control and prevention. The trend of water quality can be predicted using historical data collected from water quality monitoring and management of water environment. The present study aims to develop a long short-term memory (LSTM) network and its attention-based (AT-LSTM) model to achieve the prediction of water quality in the Burnett River of Australia. The models developed in this study introduced an attention mechanism after feature extraction of water quality data in the section of Burnett River considering the effect of the sequences on the prediction results at different moments to enhance the influence of key features on the prediction results. This study provides one-step-ahead forecasting and multistep forward forecasting of dissolved oxygen (DO) of the Burnett River utilizing LSTM and AT-LSTM models and the comparison of the results. The research outcomes demonstrated that the inclusion of the attention mechanism improves the prediction performance of the LSTM model. Therefore, the AT-LSTM-based water quality forecasting model, developed in this study, demonstrated its stronger capability than the LSTM model for informing the Water Quality Improvement Plan of Queensland, Australia, to accurately predict water quality in the Burnett River.
A Mixed Reality Application for the On-Site Assessment of Building Renovation: Development and Testing
Authors: Carbonari Alessandro , Franco Carlos , Naticchia Berardo , Spegni Francesco , Vaccarini Massimo
Published: October 2022

This paper contributes to a sustainable construction design management approach to increase the successful renovation rate of existing residential building stock. Indeed, coupling BIM with mixed reality can speed up and improve the quality of the renovation design processes, because it can display virtual models of alternative design scenarios superimposed over the existing physical facility. To this purpose, a sample of technicians was enrolled to test the reliability of this technology. A prototype was developed that enables cooperation among stakeholders and the implementation of an efficient workflow. The volunteers carried out real-life tests in a building demonstrator in Caceres (Spain) and filled in two questionnaires with their feedback. The results showed that an MR-based platform can involve interested stakeholders in the assessment of renovation design projects, that speeds up the decision-making process and increases the quality of those projects. Moreover, technicians can master the technology quickly, provided that it is included in the current renovation workflow and some technology gaps are covered. However, the main limitations of this study are that these findings are valid for building renovation design only, and the tests were performed in a controlled, yet full scale, experimental environment. Finally, this paper deals with a few open technical issues, such as the efficient alignment of holograms, transformation of BIM models into a format suitable for mixed reality applications and sharing feedbacks in an on-line repository to foster collaboration.
Research on the Development Mechanism of Rural E-Commerce Based on Rooted Theory: A Co-Benefit-Oriented Perspective
Authors: Sun Fang , Li Jia
Published: October 2022

Rural e-commerce is a specific practice in the context of rural revitalization and common prosperity, but its short average life expectancy is also a serious practical problem. Therefore, it is of great theoretical and practical significance to conduct in-depth research on its development mechanism based on the perspective of common benefit orientation. An exploratory study of Longmei e-commerce using rooted theoretical methods found that: (1) the development of rural e-commerce can be divided into three stages: government-driven period, two-way interaction period, and co-benefit creation period under the perspective of co-benefit orientation; (2) the action path of the three major dynamic factors of policy promotion power, enterprise pulling power, and network synergy power is further identified; (3) and a unique development mechanism that transforms the common benefit orientation into the differentiated competition strategy of the enterprise is excavated. This provides a reference for solving the dilemma of rural e-commerce survival, achieving sustainable development, and promoting the revitalization of rural industries and common prosperity.
Balance between Hosts and Guests: The Key to Sustainable Tourism in a Heritage City
Authors: Rama Manuel , Carral Emilio , González-García Sara , Torres-Feijó Elías , del Rio Maria Luisa , Moreira María Teresa , Feijoo Gumersindo
Published: October 2022

A sustainable city implies socio-economic characteristics that allow citizens to maintain a certain quality of life. However, the effect of overtourism in some tourist cities negatively affects the community. In this study, a methodology was developed to analyze how tourism affects the way of life of residents in Santiago de Compostela. This work aims to define a set of environmental and socio-economic indicators to assess the impact of tourism activity. To this end, surveys were carried out among the three groups involved in the tourism sector: Citizens, traders, and visitors. Thereby, data were collected from the responses to the surveys conducted. Finally, this set of indicators was aggregated to a sustainability score on a scale of 1 to 10. The results show a sustainability score of 6.84, and the main weak points were the mobility between the residence of citizens and peripheral areas and the change in the offerings by the commerce promoted by tourism. Consequently, this methodology is useful for policy makers when making decisions and proposing actions to foster sustainable tourism.
3D Printing as a Disruptive Technology for the Circular Economy of Plastic Components of End-of-Life Vehicles: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ruiz Luis E. , Pinho Ana C. , Resende David N.
Published: October 2022

The automotive industry is frequently associated with high polluting manufacturing systems, which raise concern owing to the current environmental frame. For this reason, new alternative manufacturing technologies with lower environmental impact have been proposed and tested, such as additive manufacturing (AM). Since AM technologies produce almost no waste, they can represent a huge opportunity for the automotive industry to become greener. In this sense, the object of the present review is to explore the challenges and strategies of 3D printing, recycling, and circular economy in the automotive industry. Therefore, to achieve the aim of the study, a systematic review methodology was used in five stages: (1) defining the targets; (2) extraction of papers from Scopus; (3) text mining and corpora text analysis of relevant documents from the platform; (4) identification of the dominant categories of the research topics; and (5) discussion and control of obtained results and provision of recommendations for future studies. The analysis of 14 relevant articles revealed that 3D printing technology represents an opportunity to empower small-scale producers of polymers, recycle ELV materials, and decentralize the supply chains of plastic articles. The possibility to include plastic parts produced by AM technology has been pointed out as an innovative option for car manufacturers. Unfortunately, till the present day, poor information was found in this regard. Findings highlighted the need for strategies to turn polymeric automotive components into more eco-friendly and safer materials, improve the supply chain of polymers, perform sustainability assessments, and reformulate waste policies for ELVs.
Development and Validation of an E-Learning Education Model in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study in Secondary Education
Authors: Martínez-Gómez Mónica , Bustamante Eliseo , Berna-Escriche César
Published: October 2022

E-learning was crucial during the global lockdown. In this way, this article aims to propose and validate a holistic framework in which all the E-learning services are needed to ensure their effective implementation and use. To this end, an original 3S-T model, to measure E-learning success based on self-student assessment, was developed. This innovative model, which reinforces the existing theoretical framework of models, identifies a wide array of success predictors and relates them to various measures that help to reach success, including learning and academic achievements. The validation of the 3S-T model was carried out using the partial least squares structural regression equations modeling technique (PLS-SEM). In this analysis, four major constructors were identified as determinants of E-learning service performance, namely, the surrounding conditions, system characteristics, tutor’s development and student’s own performance. Although each of them is composed of several subcategories, finally, 15 indicators that estimate the fulfillment of these factors were defined and evaluated. The present study is strongly connected to the fourth goal of the Agenda established by the United Nations, which seeks Quality Education to ensure the sustainable development of countries.
Lane-Changing Trajectory Tracking and Simulation of Autonomous Vehicles Based on Model Predictive Control
Authors: Song Hui , Qu Dayi , Guo Haibing , Zhang Kekun , Wang Tao
Published: October 2022

In order to realize the lane-changing maneuver of Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAV), a lateral controller based on model predictive control is developed with the three degrees of freedom vehicle dynamic model. Then the controller is synthesized to track the reference trajectory fitted by the quintic Bézier curve. The controller is validated by MATLAB/CarSim under different road adhesion conditions and driving speeds. Results show that for different road adhesion conditions and driving speeds, the controller does not need to adjust the control parameters and can continuously correct the deviation from the expected trajectory. During the tracking process, the front wheel angle, front wheel angle increment, centroid side deflection angle, and front wheel side deflection angle are kept within the limited constraint range. The established control algorithm has good control robustness and tracking driving stability. The research can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for lane-changing safety and control of CAV.
E-Learning Model to Identify the Learning Styles of Hearing-Impaired Students
Authors: Luangrungruang Tidarat , Kokaew Urachart
Published: October 2022

Deaf students apparently experience hardship in conventional learning; however, despite their inability to hear, nothing can stop them from reading. Although they perform impressively in memorizing the information, their literacy and reading capability still appear to be weak since they lack the chance to revise by listening and practicing repetitively. Currently, the teaching media for deaf students are quite rare and inadequate, forcing them to face difficulties in integrating new knowledge, even though most of the contents are in a form of written, printed, downloaded, or even accessible via an e-learning platform. However, it is crucial to bear in mind that each learner is different. There is evidence showing that some learners prefer particular methods of learning, also known as learning preferences or learning styles. Thus, the present study reports the sequence of learning styles obtained by using a modified VRK + TSL model that categorized students based on their learning styles. We also propose four different ways of teaching using content-adaptive learning styles, namely visual, reading/writing, kinesthetic, and Thai sign language. Based on personal preferences and the principle of universal design under synthesized learning, an e-learning model was developed to identify deaf learners’ learning styles. The objective is to provide e-learning to identify the learning styles of hearing-impaired students and to respond with up-to-date e-learning materials that can be used anywhere and at any time. These materials must support the education of deaf students. As a result, learners have increased efficiency and increased learning outcomes.
International Management System Standards Related to Occupational Safety and Health: An Updated Literature Survey
Authors: Marhavilas Panagiotis K. , Pliaki Fani , Koulouriotis Dimitrios
Published: October 2022

The implementation of an international management system (IMS) in any organization (or part thereof) creates an efficient framework regarding the sustainable development and the review of processes required to manage occupational safety and health (OSH) efficaciously. Moreover, Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OSHMS) standards identify requirements regarding OSH management systems, with the aim of enabling an organization to adopt dynamic policy and objectives that take into consideration lawful requirements relating to OSH risks (e.g., safe and healthy workplaces, prevention of work-related injuries, etc.). This article extends the research and the results of a previous study of ours and comparatively presents (a) the main IMS standards concerning OSHMS and (b) the statistical results and new findings of an updated literature survey for additional time intervals (i.e., the years 1995–2005 and 2018–2020), ultimately covering the entire period of the years 1995–2020. Thus, the main targets of the study were (i) the implementation and comparative presentation of OSHMS standards, (ii) the reinforcement of their application at the worksites of any organization, and (iii) the development of a new ameliorated OSH management system model based on the knowledge from the literature review. On the other hand, some dominant results and findings are the following: (a) The industrial sector and construction sector demonstrate the highest percentage of OSHMS utilization. (b) The OHSAS 18001 standard remains the most frequent OSHMS standard even though, despite the fact that the ISO 45001:2018 is a recently developed OSHMS, it presents a considerable percentage distribution with reference to the total OSHMS articles despite its brief lifespan. (c) An effectual IMS OSHMS must merge various management systems, such as OSH (safety and health), QMS (quality), and EMS (environmental). (d) Organizations and businesses of any kind and any size can certainly develop and implement OSHMS standards. (e) Some substantial barriers to the implementation of an OSHMS standard are the high cost vis à vis implementation and management, the difficulty for the employees to realize its significance in OSH, and the complicatedness of combining different standards. (f) Occupational epidemiology must be one of the main features of an OSHMS standard. (g) Governments, employers, and employees admit day after day that the effectiveness of applying OSHMS standards at the organization level is considerable for decreasing the occupational hazards and risks and also for raising productivity.
Energy Trading on a Peer-to-Peer Basis between Virtual Power Plants Using Decentralized Finance Instruments
Authors: Seven Serkan , Yoldas Yeliz , Soran Ahmet , Yalcin Alkan Gulay , Jung Jaesung , Ustun Taha Selim , Onen Ahmet
Published: October 2022

Over time, distribution systems have begun to include increased distributed energy resources (DERs) due to the advancement of auxiliary power electronics, information and communication technologies (ICT), and cost reductions. Electric vehicles (EVs) will undoubtedly join the energy community alongside DERs, and energy transfers from vehicles to grids and vice versa will become more extensive in the future. Virtual power plants (VPPs) will also play a key role in integrating these systems and participating in wholesale markets. Energy trading on a peer-to-peer (P2P) basis is a promising business model for transactive energy that aids in balancing local supply and demand. Moreover, a market scheme between VPPs can help DER owners make more profit while reducing renewable energy waste. For this purpose, an inter-VPP P2P trading scheme is proposed. The scheme utilizes cutting-edge technologies of the Avalanche blockchain platform, developed from scratch with decentralized finance (DeFi), decentralized applications (DApps), and Web3 workflows in mind. Avalanche is more scalable and has faster transaction finality than its layer-1 predecessors. It provides interoperability abilities among other common blockchain networks, facilitating inter-VPP P2P trading between different blockchain-based VPPs. The merits of DeFi contribute significantly to the workflow in this type of energy trading scenario, as the price mechanism can be determined using open market-like instruments. A detailed case study was used to examine the effectiveness of the proposed scheme and flow, and important conclusions were drawn.
Feasibility of Applying Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients in a Drive-by Damage Detection Methodology for High-Speed Railway Bridges
Authors: de Souza Edson Florentino , Bittencourt Túlio Nogueira , Ribeiro Diogo , Carvalho Hermes
Published: October 2022

In this paper, a drive-by damage detection methodology for high-speed railway (HSR) bridges is addressed, to appraise the application of Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCC) to extract the Damage Index (DI). A finite element (FEM) 2D VTBI model that incorporates the train, ballasted track and bridge behavior is presented. The formulation includes track irregularities and a damaged condition induced in a specified structure region. The feasibility of applying cepstrum analysis components to the indirect damage detection in HSR by on-board sensors is evaluated by numerical simulations, in which dynamic analyses are performed through a code implemented in MATLAB. Different damage scenarios are simulated, as well as external excitations such as measurement noises and different levels of track irregularities. The results show that MFCC-based DI are highly sensitive regarding damage detection, and robust to the noise. Bridge stiffness can be recognized satisfactorily at high speeds and under different levels of track irregularities. Moreover, the magnitude of DI extracted from MFCC is related to the relative severity of the damage. The results presented in this study should be seen as a first attempt to link cepstrum-based features in an HSR drive-by damage detection approach.
An IPA Approach towards Including Citizens’ Perceptions into Strategic Decisions for Smart Cities in Romania
Authors: Ban Olimpia-Iuliana , Faur Monica-Eva , Botezat Elena-Aurelia , Ștefănescu Florica , Gonczi Jozsef
Published: October 2022

City administrators have begun to consider citizens’ perception as an essential enabler of smart and sustainable city development. In response to their need, our study mainly aimed to analyze the citizens’ perceptions related to the attributes of a smart city and to offer an evidence-based importance–performance analysis (IPA) technique, revised with triangular number fuzzy, to set priorities to develop it further successfully, taking Oradea, Romania, as an example. Specifically, we investigated varying the citizens’ perceptions regarding the attributes of a smart city across the thematic content analysis followed by an IPA approach to identify the attributes of a smart city that could be expected to advance its future development. The results show that most of our respondents appreciated the city administrators’ efforts and expressed relatively higher preferences for the fifteen smart city attributes of Oradea on which the local authorities should focus. The research brings valuable insight into the strategic decision making related to smart city development, which can serve academics and practitioners, complementing existing literature on the citizens’ perception of sustainable smart city development.
Light Shelves Optimization for Daylight Improvement in Typical Public Classrooms in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Sabbagh Mostafa , Mandourah Siraj , Hareri Raghda
Published: October 2022

Daylight is an essential component of the classroom environment, and its role in improving the education and productivity of students has been widely studied. This research focuses on daylight and studies the quality of lighting in a typical classroom in Saudi Arabia, where the classroom chosen as the research sample was identical to the standard model for designing schools in Saudi Arabia, to investigate the quality of natural lighting in this space. The amount and quality of the daylight in the sample classroom was studied by simulating the response of the classroom design to the daylight entering it, using the environmental variables of time, date, and direction. After reviewing the simulation results, the darkest cases were chosen to try to improve them by using light shelves. Two cases were chosen for this research: one with a western orientation and the other with a northern orientation. Four design alternatives were designed for the light shelves, and then their effects on the selected cases were simulated to determine the extent of their impact on the amount and quality of daylight in the classroom. After examining and studying the simulation results, the experiment demonstrated that the use of light shelves in this case was not very effective, but they can help in a simple way to reduce the effect of the difference in lighting levels between areas near the windows and areas deeper in the classroom, and to reduce the contrast in general.
Can Legislation Reduce Domestic Violence in Developing Countries?
Authors: Nguyen My , Le Kien
Published: October 2022

This study investigates the extent to which the legislation targeting domestic violence may influence both women’s victimization by their partners and marital dissolution in 54 developing countries. We find that the legislation is effective in reducing domestic violence against women, evidenced by the decreases in the composite indices of emotional abuse, less severe violence, more severe violence, and sexual violence by 13.6, 14.4, 19.6, and 11.5%, relatively, relative to the sample averages. The legislation also makes women less likely to be divorced. Our heterogeneity analysis reveals that the disadvantaged population, i.e., rural women, poorly educated women, women having poorly educated spouses, and women from relatively poorer households, might receive less protection from the domestic violence law. Our findings call for more reforms in the legislative systems, so that domestic violence victims can be better protected.
Tourism Experiences of People with Disabilities: Voices from Indonesia
Authors: Reindrawati Dian Yulie , Noviyanti Upik D. E. , Young Tamara
Published: October 2022

The implementation of inclusive sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the tourism sector must promote opportunities and experiences for people with disabilities. This study explored the tourism experiences of people with disabilities in Indonesia. This phenomenological study reported on data collected through in-depth interviews with participants whose disabilities impact their lived experiences in tourism. Several themes, grounded in lived experiences, emerged from systematic analysis of the data. These include desire for relaxation, unaccommodated needs, inability to travel alone, unheard voices, and lack of empathy and awareness. These findings strengthen theory by conceptualizing the original voices of the tourism experience through past experiences. The results contribute to growing tourism literature on accessible tourism and the sustainable development goals by presenting insights of the tourism experiences of people with disabilities in the Indonesian context and other developing countries. The voices of disability experience in tourism help to improve the understanding of inclusivity as it relates to tourism experiences, and the need to hear the voices of people with disabilities in tourism planning.
Photovoltaic Solar Cells and Panels Waste in Jordan: Figures, Facts, and Concerns
Authors: AL-Zoubi Omar H. , Shawaqfah Moayyad , Almomani Fares , Damash Rebhi A. , Al-Zboon Kamel
Published: October 2022

Even though the Kingdom of Jordan is moving in the right direction and adopting clean energy sources such as PV plants, the waste problem will eventually emerge within a few decades and will be an overwhelming issue if not addressed early on. According to reports, the installed PV capacity worldwide was around 410 GW in 2017 and is projected to increase to 5000 GW by 2050. Global solar PV waste is anticipated to reach between 5% and 15% of total generation capacity by 2030, with a 25-year average panel lifespan. This study aims to provide an estimation of the amount of PV waste expected within the next decade, and finally expand on the economic and environmental effects. Moreover, this paper’s target is to explore the possible effects of PV waste materials in the northern part of Jordan, and the obtained results can be applied to other regions in Jordan. Information about renewable energy in Jordan, retrieved from databases of electricity companies, is utilized to reach an accurate estimation of the amounts of materials that will occur at the end of life. The solar PV panel end of life (EOL) management is a developing field that necessitates additional research and development The obtained findings, figures, and facts about the photovoltaic solar energy sector presented in this study highlight the urgency to develop a suitable system for the collection and management of photovoltaic modules at their end of life.
Organizational Justice and Teachers’ Turnover Intention in Primary and Secondary Schools: The Importance of Sustainable Salary Management
Authors: Zhou Houyu , Ma Jianhong
Published: October 2022

Primary and middle school teachers are a critical part of China’s foundational education; teacher turnover heavily affects the stable development of foundational education. Aiming at the phenomenon of teacher turnover intention in primary and secondary schools, interviews and questionnaires were used to explore the relationship between teachers’ organizational justice, salary satisfaction, and turnover intention in the management of primary and secondary schools. The research subjects were more than 500 primary and secondary school teachers from Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces. The data analysis results show that the sense of interactive fairness is the highest, followed by procedural fairness and the lowest sense of distributional fairness, with a certain sense of unfairness among the three dimensions of organizational fairness among primary and secondary school teachers. The average salary satisfaction score is 2.64, which is lower than the midpoint of 3, and there is a certain degree of dissatisfaction. The results of the correlation analysis showed that the pairwise correlations between the variables reached a very significant level. The results of regression analysis showed that organizational justice had the greatest impact on turnover intention, accounting for 20% of the variance. Salary satisfaction plays a partial mediating role between various dimensions of organizational justice and turnover intention, indicating that procedural fairness, interaction fairness, and distributional justice not only have a direct impact on turnover intention, but also indirectly affect turnover intention by affecting salary satisfaction. The results of this study can provide empirical data support for educational administrative departments and school managers in economically developed regions to improve their compensation management level and implement effective and sustainable compensation management policies and programs, as well as provide first-hand information for cross-country comparative studies of teacher compensation management in the field of education administration.