bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Inclusion of Socially Irresponsible Companies in Sustainable Stock Indices
Authors: Arribas Iván , Espinós-Vañó María Dolores , García Fernando , Morales-Bañuelos Paula Beatriz
Published: April 2019

Social rating agencies implement complex filters to identify the companies with the best sustainable and social performance and help investors select the companies for their sustainable portfolios. This study analysed whether companies that are defined as ethical, sustainable and socially responsible by those agencies actually deserve this label. More specifically, the inclusion in the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World of companies that have been involved in controversies according to the Thomson Reuters Eikon database was studied. The results show that the inclusion of irresponsible companies in the DJSI Index is a fact. This outcome is in line with previous studies that criticise the methodologies applied by social rating agencies and those which outline the similarity of sustainable and conventional portfolios. The results may explain the contradictory conclusions regarding the performance of sustainable and conventional mutual funds in numerous studies.
Population Age Structure, Complex Socio-Demographic Systems and Resilience Potential: A Spatio-Temporal, Evenness-Based Approach
Authors: Cecchini Massimo , Cividino Sirio , Turco Rosario , Salvati Luca
Published: April 2019

The present study illustrates an original approach grounded on entropy theory and complex system thinking with the aim to investigate changes over time and space in population structure by age in Italy, in light of socioeconomic resilience and post-crisis recovery potential. Assuming that population structure may reflect different levels of resilience to exogenous shocks, a Pielou J evenness index was calculated on census data made available every 10 years (1861–2011) with the aim to identify compositional homogeneity (or heterogeneity) in the age structure of the Italian population. Trends over time in the Pielou J evenness index were identified using descriptive statistics, comparison with ancillary demographic indicators and multivariate exploratory techniques including principal component analysis. The empirical results allowed the identification of multiple dimensions of demographic transition in Italy, distinguishing two phases, the former encompassing a relatively long time period between 1861 and 1936, and the latter covering a shorter period between 1936 and 2011. A spatially-explicit analysis of Pielou J evenness indices applied to the population age structure of each Italian municipality at the latest survey (2017) finally provided a comprehensive overview of the demographic characteristics likely influencing the resilience potential of local districts. The empirical evidence outlined the consolidation of a coastal–inland divide as a result of the complex linkage between demographic dynamics and local background contexts.
Body Esteem among Korean Adolescent Boys and Girls
Authors: You Sukkyung , Shin Kyulee
Published: April 2019

Establishing a positive body image is a critical factor for adolescents’ physical and mental health as it leads to sustainable individual growth and development throughout their lives. Therefore, possible personality traits need to be examined for their capability as protective factors for a healthy body image. The current study examined how one internal personality trait (self-concept clarity) and three external factors (tripartite influence from media, parents, and peers) are associated with adolescents’ internalization of the thin-body ideal and body esteem in a sample of Korean adolescents (N = 1127). Self-concept clarity was identified as a powerful factor that is positively related with body esteem. The results showed that greater self-concept clarity, lower tripartite influences and thin body internalization were related to greater body esteem. Gender differences were found in the relationships between body esteem and the predictor variables. The implications of the findings and future research directions are discussed.
Segmentation of Nature-Based Tourists in a Rural Area (2008–2009): A Single-Item Approach
Authors: Deng Jinyang , Li Jian
Published: April 2019

Although much research on nature-based tourism (NBT) has been conducted in natural areas, such as national parks and other protected areas, studies on NBT in rural areas have been limited. Moreover, few NBT studies, if any, have examined the impact of seasons and/or locations on visitors’ perceptions of NBT. This comes as little surprise, given that naturalness, the fundamental core of NBT, is likely to vary with seasons and locations. To this end, this study examines NBT in a rural area in the Appalachian Region, USA, with a focus on market segmentation, based on data collected from a four-season on-site survey of 2692 visitors. Different from many other tourism market studies where multiple-item measures are used, this study uses a single-item measure on natural observation/study to identify NBT segments. Analysis of variance, Chi-square analysis, and discriminant analysis are used to confirm NBT segments and determine the effectiveness of the use of the single-item approach for segmentation. The results show that the single-item approach is effective to differentiate visitors by their socio-demographics and trip characteristics, with findings being consistent with NBT studies in natural areas. It is worth noting that people’s responses to questions on natural observation/study vary with seasons and locations, suggesting that different perceptions of natural affinity may arise from the differences in seasons and locations with different levels of natural elements. Theoretical, methodological, and managerial implications are discussed.
Responsible Leadership and Salespeople’s Creativity: The Mediating Effects of CSR Perceptions
Authors: Castro-González Sandra , Bande Belén , Fernández-Ferrín Pilar
Published: April 2019

Although sales tasks require creative thinking, salespeople’s creativity has been identified as one of the most under-researched topics in the sales literature. This study contributes to filling this gap by understanding how responsible leadership and corporate social responsibility (CSR) perceptions can contribute to fostering salespeople’s creativity. This study’s empirical analysis is based on information provided by 176 supervisor–salesperson dyads from 96 companies, and the results indicate that responsible leadership is positively related to salespeople’s creativity. Furthermore, our findings confirm that the relationship between responsible leadership and salespeople’s creativity is mediated by salespeople’s CSR perception, their job satisfaction, and their identification with the organization. Sales leaders should recognize that by practicing responsible leadership behavior, they can create this type of work environment for their subordinates.
Exploring Gaps between Bottom-Up and Top-Down Emission Estimates Based on Uncertainties in Multiple Emission Inventories: A Case Study on CH4 Emissions in China
Authors: Cheewaphongphan Penwadee , Chatani Satoru , Saigusa Nobuko
Published: April 2019

Bottom-up CH4 emission inventories, which have been developed from statistical analyses of activity data and country specific emission factors (EFs), have high uncertainty in terms of the estimations, according to results from top-down inverse model studies. This study aimed to determine the causes of overestimation in CH4 bottom-up emission inventories across China by applying parameter variability uncertainty analysis to three sets of CH4 emission inventories titled PENG, GAINS, and EDGAR. The top three major sources of CH4 emissions in China during the years 1990–2010, namely, coal mining, livestock, and rice cultivation, were selected for the investigation. The results of this study confirm the concerns raised by inverse modeling results in which we found significantly higher bottom-up emissions for the rice cultivation and coal mining sectors. The largest uncertainties were detected in the rice cultivation estimates and were caused by variations in the proportions of rice cultivation ecosystems and EFs; specifically, higher rates for both parameters were used in EDGAR. The coal mining sector was associated with the second highest level of uncertainty, and this was caused by variations in mining types and EFs, for which rather consistent parameters were used in EDGAR and GAINS, but values were slightly higher than those used in PENG. Insignificant differences were detected among the three sets of inventories for the livestock sector.
Measuring the Efficiency of Public and Private Delivery Forms: An Application to the Waste Collection Service Using Order-M Data Panel Frontier Analysis
Authors: Campos-Alba Cristina M. , De la Higuera-Molina Emilio J. , Pérez-López Gemma , Zafra-Gómez José L.
Published: April 2019

Many studies have been undertaken to determine whether waste collection services are provided more efficiently by private or by public management. To date, however, the findings reported are inconclusive, partly due to the need to evaluate this question over a broad time horizon. In this paper, the question is examined taking into account an extended study period (2002–2014) and applying an order-m data panel method that provides more robust findings than those reported in previous research. The results show that, in general, public-sector provision of the waste collection service is more efficient than private alternatives.
Comparison of Learning Effects of Merging TPSR Respectively with Sport Education and Traditional Teaching Model in High School Physical Education Classes
Authors: Pan Yi-Hsiang , Huang Chen-Hui , Lee I-Sheng , Hsu Wei-Ting
Published: April 2019

The purposes of the study were to examine the students’ learning effects of different physical education curriculum model, which merged Teaching Personal and Responsibility (TPSR), respectively, with the Sport Education Model (SEM) and Traditional Teaching Model (TTM) for better learning effects in high school physical education classes. A pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design was used with an experimental group (TPSR-SEM; 75 students, Mage = 16.78 ± 0.54 years) and a control group (TPSR-SEM; 58 students, Mage = 16.82 ± 0.57 years). Experimental and control group sessions spanned 32 lessons over 16 weeks. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used for statistical analysis. The findings of research showed that the TPSR-SEM experimental group could improve more learning effects than the TPSR-TTM control group in the dependent variables, including sport self-efficacy, sport passion, responsibility, and game performance. We concluded that TPSR-SEM group could improve more learning effects than the TPSR-TTM group in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains for physical education courses. It is worthy to develop TPSR-SEM in the physical education curriculum.
Analysis and Prediction of Water Quality Using LSTM Deep Neural Networks in IoT Environment
Authors: Liu Ping , Wang Jin , Sangaiah Arun Kumar , Xie Yang , Yin Xinchun
Published: April 2019

This research paper focuses on a water quality prediction model which requires high-quality data. In the process of construction and operation of smart water quality monitoring systems based on Internet of Things (IoT), more and more big data are produced at a high speed, which has made water quality data complicated. Taking advantage of the good performance of long short-term memory (LSTM) deep neural networks in time-series prediction, a drinking-water quality model was designed and established to predict water quality big data with the help of the advanced deep learning (DL) theory in this paper. The drinking-water quality data measured by the automatic water quality monitoring station of Guazhou Water Source of the Yangtze River in Yangzhou were utilized to analyze the water quality parameters in detail, and the prediction model was trained and tested with monitoring data from January 2016 to June 2018. The results of the study indicate that the predicted values of the model and the actual values were in good agreement and accurately revealed the future developing trend of water quality, showing the feasibility and effectiveness of using LSTM deep neural networks to predict the quality of drinking water.
Social Perception of Geo-Hydrological Risk in the Context of Urban Disaster Risk Reduction: A Comparison between Experts and Population in an Area of Southern Italy
Authors: Antronico Loredana , Coscarelli Roberto , De Pascale Francesco , Condino Francesca
Published: April 2019

The perception of risk is influenced by how the signals about impacts of events are collected, selected, and interpreted. Empirical data suggest that significant differences in the perception of risk occur within the non-expert population itself, as well as between experts and non-expert population. The paper seeks to examine the risk perception of citizens living in an area subject to high hydro-geological risk of Calabria (Southern Italy), and understanding if local policy makers are aware of how local residents perceive risk. Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to analyze the perception of experts, stakeholders and citizens on the following research topics: (i) perception of geohydrological risk, involvement in past events and behavior exhibited; (ii) information, communication, preparedness, and feeling of safety and trust. The results of the survey showed the communication gap between experts and people, evidencing the need for local authorities and experts to disseminate the culture of awareness on the risk and to increase the safety level of the citizens by means of participated actions aimed at reducing urban disaster risk.
Evaluation of Suitable Amount of Water and Fertilizer for Mature Grapes in Drip Irrigation in Extreme Arid Regions
Authors: Hou Yusheng , Wang Zhenhua , Ding Huaijun , Li Wenhao , Wen Yue , Zhang Jifeng , Dou Yunqing
Published: April 2019

Low water and fertilizer use efficiency have become important factors restricting the sustainable development of agriculture in extreme arid areas, typically like Xinjiang in China. In order to optimize the water and fertilizer management system of grape drip irrigation in the region, field experiments were carried out to study the effects of different water and fertilizer treatments on the physiological growth, yield, and quality of grapes. Meanwhile, principal component analysis, grey correlation analysis, and regression analysis were used to quantify the relative optimal amount of water and fertilizer. The results showed that the effects of water and fertilizer interaction on the photosynthetic index and fluorescence index of grape leaves, in different growth periods, ng reached extremely significant levels (p < 0.01). The physiological indicators showed regular changes with the increase and decrease of water and fertilizer use and the appropriate amount of water and fertilizer could maintain the index at a superior level. Meanwhile, there are differences in the index of different growth stages and regular changes with the growth period. The effects of water and fertilizer interaction on the yield, water use efficiency, and quality of drip irrigation reached a very significant level (p < 0.01). The yield reached the maximum in W3F2 treatment and the yield increased by 29.76% compared with the minimum yield of W1F1. The quality index reached a superior level in W3F2 treatment. The results of principal component analysis and grey correlation analysis showed that the optimal water and fertilizer dosage was W3F2 (irrigation 750 mm, fertilization 750 kg ha−1), of which N (300 kg ha−1)-P2O5 (150 kg ha−1)-K2O (300 kg ha−1), and multiple regression analysis was employed to determine the optimal range of water and fertilizer use is the following: Irrigation volume 725–825 mm and fertilization amount 684–889 kg ha−1, of which N (273.6–355.6 kg ha−1) - P2O5 (136.8–177.8 kg ha−1) - K2O (273.6–355.6 kg ha−1). The research results can provide a scientific basis for the water and fertilizer management and drip irrigation technology of drip irrigation in seedless white grape fields in extremely arid areas and it is of great significance for the efficient use of regional water and fertilizer resources and the realization of sustainable socio-economic development in the region.
Flight Path 2050 and ACARE Goals for Maintaining and Extending Industrial Leadership in Aviation: A Map of the Aviation Technology Space
Authors: Arnaldo Valdés Rosa Maria , Burmaoglu Serhat , Tucci Vincenzo , Braga da Costa Campos Luiz Manuel , Mattera Lucia , Gomez Comendador Víctor Fernando
Published: April 2019

In the last 40 years, the aeronautical industry has managed to move from a specialized sector to a worldwide leading industry. Companies, governments and associations all over the world acknowledge the importance of the aviation industry in supporting global development and the economy. However, aviation will be facing new challenges related to sustainability and performance in a technological environment in evolution. To succeed, the aeronautical industry must keep innovation as one of its main assets. It must master a wide range of technologies and then collaborate to integrate them into an aircraft design and development program. A collaborative approach to innovation is key to achieve these goals. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the structure of technological innovation networks in the aviation industry and to characterize the map of the “Aviation Technology Space”. Two different approaches and methods are used. In one approach, we performed a bibliometric network analysis of aviation research scientific publications using a keyword co-occurrence analysis method to map the aerospace collaboration structures. Complementarily, we performed a patent analysis to evaluate the innovation capacity of the aviation industry in the cutting-edge technologies previously identified. From the results of this analysis, the paper provides recommendations for future innovation and research policies to allow the sector to fulfill the demanding goals by the year 2050.
Investment Strategy of Chinese Terminal Operators along the “21st-Century Maritime Silk Road”
Authors: Wang Liehui , Zheng Yuanbo , Ducruet Cesar , Zhang Fan
Published: April 2019

After the the Belt and Road initiative launched in 2013, Chinese terminal operators invested in ports situated along the “21st- century Maritime Silk Road (MSR)”. Identifying which ports are important is made possible through applying complex network methods and GIS analysis. This paper thus identifies strategic hub ports and investment strategies along the MSR. Our main conclusions are as follows. (1) In 2017, the ports with the greatest contact with China were located in the Southeast Asian and European shipping areas. (2) The overseas invested terminals of Chinese terminal operators are mainly concentrated in European and the Mediterranean Sea. Although the connection between China and Southeast Asia is strengthening, terminal operations in Southeast Asia did not expand significantly in the past 12 years. (3) The ports of Singapore, Kelang, Manila (Asia), Rotterdam, Hamburg (Europe), Suez and Port Said (Mediterranean and Red Sea), Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney (Oceania) are the ports of major concern for current and future investment by Chinese terminal operators.
Field Test and Analysis of Energy-Saving Effects of Energy-Recovery Ventilators on Heat-Pump Electricity Consumption in a Classroom
Authors: Choi Jae-Sol , Kim Eui-Jong
Published: April 2019

Energy-recovery ventilators (ERVs) are regarded as important energy-saving systems in buildings. It has been reported that they have high energy-saving rates compared with conventional ventilators that operate without energy recovery, but the saving rates have been obtained typically by employing chamber tests and simulations. In this work, a field-test method is proposed that uses a single test room but alternates the tested ventilation modes hourly. This proposed method is useful because an additional comparison room is not always available and can be a source of uncertainty for field tests. The test is performed in a classroom during a heating period, and the results are calibrated to account for different experimental conditions during the test period. The calibrated energy-saving rates indicate the effectiveness of the ERV; however, they are lower in the early hours of the system operation, for two reasons: (1) the maximum power control schemes of the heat pumps are applied for cases where the indoor temperatures are far lower than the set-point temperature; (2) the ventilation load seemingly represents a decreasing proportion of the total heating load in early hours owing to the thermal-capacity effects for the building, which was cooled for many hours. The findings are verified via a chamber test and simulations. As a consequence, it is important to account for actual system characteristics affected by the thermal behaviors of classrooms when the overall performance of a system is evaluated.
Evaluating the Environmental-Technology Gaps of Rice Farms in Distinct Agro-Ecological Zones of Ghana
Authors: Asravor Jacob , Wiredu Alexander N. , Siddig Khalid , Onumah Edward E.
Published: April 2019

Rice (Oryza sativa) is an important food staple and a cash crop, which is cultivated in all the ten regions of Ghana under varying agro-ecological conditions. These conditions also reflect the production technologies used and the total farm output. In an attempt to determine the potential sources of production shortfalls on rice farms in Ghana, this paper estimates the production efficiency and the environmental-technology gaps of rice-producing households in the forest-savannah transition and guinea savannah agro-ecological zones of Ghana. The paper adopts the stochastic metafrontier framework, which permits technology-related inefficiency effects to be extricated from managerial inefficiency effects for appropriate policy formulation. In contrast to past studies, the empirical findings reveal that farms in the two agro-ecological zones adopt heterogeneous production technologies due to differences in their production environments. This is indicated by the estimated mean environmental-technology gap ratios of 0.95 and 0.50, and mean metafrontier technical efficiencies of 0.56 and 0.42 for farms in the forest-savannah transition and guinea savannah zones, respectively. These findings call for agricultural policy formulation in Ghana to be targeted at the prevailing environmental conditions of the various agro-ecological zones rather than being all-inclusive in addressing the extant inefficiencies in the rice production systems of Ghana.
Relationships between Ecosystem Services and Urbanization in Jiangsu Province, Eastern China
Authors: Li Cheng , Wang Ranghui , Zhang Fangmin , Luo Yunjian , Huang Yong
Published: April 2019

Ecosystem services are comprehensive and quantitative indicators for describing ecosystem–human interactions. China has experienced rapid urbanization in the past 30 years, which has created a significant impact on regional ecosystem services. However, whether the impact is linear is not clear as yet. In this study, the Jiangsu province, a main body of the Chinese Yangtze River Delta city cluster, was chosen as a case study. Multi-source remotely-sensed geospatial data, including meteorological, land use, vegetation, and socio-economic data, were collected to estimate the total amount of ecosystem services (TESV) and urbanization levels. Subsequently, the relationships between TESV and urbanization indices (i.e., gross domestic product (GDP) per unit area, GPUA; population per unit area, PPUA; and built-up land proportion, BULP) were determined using the Pearson correlation analysis and piecewise linear regression. The primary findings of this study were as follows: (1) There was a distinct spatial pattern in TESV, which gradually increased from west to east with high-value areas located in eastern coastal areas of Jiangsu. Among different land use types, cropland and woodland contributed the most to TESV; (2) The three urbanization indices had spatial patterns, indicating higher urbanization in southern Jiangsu than in central or northern Jiangsu; and (3) Once GPUA and PPUA exceeded threshold values of 3719.55 × 104 yuan/km2 and 744.37 person/km2, respectively, TESV sharply decreased with an increase in these indices. However, the BULP showed a linear and significantly negative relationship with TESV at all values, which indicated that the impacts of economic and population growth on TESV lagged behind that of built-up land expansion. These findings provide a potentially significant reference for decision-makers to rationally enhance regional ecosystem services during rapid urbanization processes.
The Differential Effect of Exploration and Exploitation on Work Performances
Authors: Kang Hyunjeong , Kim Mihee
Published: April 2019

In organizations, the role of ambidexterity is becoming critical these days. Flexibility that enables creativity and innovation in work is also important for survival in a wildly competitive market and flexibility determines the economic sustainability of business enterprises. Drawing on the ambidexterity of exploration and exploitation, we believe that there is a fit between each of them and certain tasks, i.e., operational or dynamic works. Thus, the current study will investigate the individual levels of exploratory and exploitative work capability. Most importantly, the complementary relationship between exploration and exploitation and its differential influence on work performance will be specifically evaluated. The current study results show that if the complementary fit of exploration and exploitation is appropriate for the tasks at hand, performance will increase.
Renewable Energy Perception by Rural Residents of a Peripheral EU Region
Authors: Kaya Ozgur , Florkowski Wojciech J. , Us Anna , Klepacka Anna M.
Published: April 2019

Renewable energy (RE) sources are often locally available and have the potential to lessen the rural dependence on the national power grid, reducing disruptions in power supplies and the heavy dependence on coal combustion. Poland faces an EU mandate of a 15% share of renewables in energy generation by 2020. However, the installations intended to supply several types of RE encountered local opposition, forcing a cancellation of the planned investments and stressing a need for understanding rural residents’ attitudes towards RE in general. Using survey data, this paper examines the perception of RE importance among rural residents in eastern Poland. The specified empirical relationship includes the sociodemographic and economic characteristics of residents. Perceptions of the links between health and specific sources of environmental pollution and actions demonstrating energy-saving behavior serve as explanatory variables. The performance of the estimated logit equation was rigorously tested. The probability of attaching importance to RE by rural residents increases most if a respondent displayed an energy-saving behavior, has certain demographic characteristics, and links health to environmental pollution caused by coal combustion. The graphic depiction of the effects of selected variables succinctly communicates possible future programs aimed at strengthening the rural population support of RE.
The Role of Transparency in Humanitarian Logistics
Authors: Khan Muhammad , Lee Hee Yong , Bae Jung Han
Published: April 2019

Human suffering has increased in recent years owing to increased intensity ad frequency of disasters. These are expected to further increase in the coming years due to climate change. Although natural disaster risks to humans cannot be completely eliminated, they can be minimized through efficient and effective humanitarian logistics (HL). Considering the importance of HL in reducing the impacts of disasters through fair distribution, this study aims to address the following question: “How can the performance, efficiency and effectiveness of HL be improved through transparency?” The primary data were collected through an online structured questionnaire from the employees participating in relief operations in Pakistan. This specific research model is reflective. Therefore, a covariance-based structure equation model (CB-SEM) based on confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with SmartPLS software was used. The study tested the items’ reliability, discriminate validity, goodness of fit, and psychometrical soundness of the hypothesized model. The study results indicate that the relationship between predictor variables (disclosure, clarity, accuracy, corporate governance, decision making and accountability) and the response variable (effective HL) is mediated by public trust. Furthermore, the study suggests that public trust plays an imperative role in enhancing the performance, efficiency and effectiveness of HL. In addition, first, the study findings are expected to be beneficial for all stakeholders of disaster risk management, especially for governments, donors and humanitarian organizations (HOs), because they are persistently seeking strategies to assist victims. Second, most importantly, this study raises awareness of the need to carefully evaluate decisions related to the fair distribution of relief items. Third, the structure of this article reveals research gaps and promising areas for further research. This article provides a deeper understanding of transparency in HL using empirical data, which has not been explored before.
The Potential Role of Short Food Supply Chains in Strengthening Periurban Agriculture in Spain: The Cases of Madrid and Barcelona
Authors: Yacamán Ochoa Carolina , Matarán Alberto , Mata Olmo Rafael , López Jose María , Fuentes-Guerra Rafael
Published: April 2019

Periurban agriculture is being hit by the effects of the globalized food system, as well as by concrete aspects of urban sprawl. Nonetheless, proximity to the main markets provides an opportunity to sustain agriculture in highly urbanized areas. In this sense, an increasing number of local initiatives is arising within the context of Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs). The economic impact of these initiatives, however, is limited by problems and inefficiencies that hinder their capacity to scale up. The present paper sets forth the results of a research project developed in Madrid and Cataluña. The study is based upon documentary and empirical research addressing the main problems periurban farmers are facing in relation to local food distribution. Among other factors, these refer to regulatory barriers, logistics, competition and dealing with consumers’ preferences. We conducted a questionnaire with a representative group of farmers from each region in three towns presenting different demographic sizes along with another questionnaire extended to the owners of small grocery stores, who play a vital role in the supply of fresh food in these municipalities. Our research demonstrates that most of the problems arising when dealing with SFSCS can be solved by introducing new forms of cooperation among the different agents of the food chain.
A Decision-Making Algorithm for Maritime Search and Rescue Plan
Authors: Agbissoh OTOTE Donatien , Li Benshuai , Ai Bo , Gao Song , Xu Jing , Chen Xiaoying , Lv Guannan
Published: April 2019

With the development of the maritime economy, sea traffic is becoming more and more crowded, and sea accidents are also increasing. Research on maritime search and rescue decision-making technology cannot be delayed. This paper studies the maritime search and rescue decision algorithm, based on the optimal search theory. It also analyzes three important concepts: Probability of containment (POC), probability of detection (POD), and probability of success (POS) involved in the maritime search and rescue decision-making process. In this paper, the calculation methods of POC and POD variables have been improved, and the search success rate has been improved to some extent. Finally, an example analysis of the maritime search and rescue incident is given. Through verification, the algorithm proposed in this paper can support maritime search and rescue decisions.
Studying the Reduction of Water Use in Integrated Solar Combined-Cycle Plants
Authors: Petrakopoulou Fontina , Olmeda-Delgado Marina
Published: April 2019

With vast amounts of water consumed for electricity generation and water scarcity predicted to rise in the near future, the necessity to evaluate water consumption in power plants arises. Cooling systems are the main source of water consumption in thermoelectric power plants, since water is a cooling fluid with relatively low cost and high efficiency. This study evaluates the performance of two types of power plants: a natural gas combined-cycle and an integrated solar combined-cycle. Special focus is made on the cooling system used in the plants and its characteristics, such as water consumption, related costs, and fuel requirements. Wet, dry, and hybrid cooling systems are studied for each of the power plants. While water is used as the cooling fluid to condense the steam in wet cooling, dry cooling uses air circulated by a fan. Hybrid cooling presents an alternative that combines both methods. We find that hybrid cooling has the highest investment costs as it bears the sum of the costs of both wet and dry cooling systems. However, this system produces considerable fuel savings when compared to dry cooling, and a 50% reduction in water consumption when compared to wet cooling. As expected, the wet cooling system has the highest exergetic efficiency, of 1 and 5 percentage points above that of dry cooling in the conventional combined-cycle and integrated solar combined-cycle, respectively, thus representing the lowest investment cost and highest water consumption among the three alternatives. Hybrid and dry cooling systems may be considered viable alternatives under increasing water costs, requiring better enforcement of the measures for sustainable water consumption in the energy sector.
Didactic Strategies to Promote Competencies in Sustainability
Authors: Tejedor Gemma , Segalàs Jordi , Barrón Ángela , Fernández-Morilla Mónica , Fuertes M. Teresa , Ruiz-Morales Jorge , Gutiérrez Ibón , García-González Esther , Aramburuzabala Pilar , Hernández Àngels
Published: April 2019

Higher education is a principal agent for addressing the sustainable development goals proposed by the 2030 Agenda, because of its key mission of knowledge generation, teaching and social innovation for sustainability. In order to achieve this, higher education needs to integrate transversally the values of sustainability in the way of developing the field of management, as well as research, university life and, of course, teaching. This paper focuses on teaching, and more specifically on the didactic strategies considered most relevant for training in sustainability competencies in college students, according to the guidelines commonly accepted by the international academic community. Through collaborative work among experts from six Spanish universities taking part in the EDINSOST project (education and social innovation for sustainability), funded by the Spanish R&D+i Program, in this paper the role of five active learning strategies (service learning, problem-based learning, project-oriented learning, simulation games and case studies) in education for sustainability are reviewed, and a systematic approach of their implementation in higher education settings is presented. The results provide a synthesis of their objectives, foundations, and stages of application (planning, implementation, and learning assessment), which can be used as valuable guidelines for teachers.
Gully Erosion Induced by Snowmelt in Northeast China: A Case Study
Authors: Xu Jinzhong , Li Hao , Liu XiaoBing , Hu Wei , Yang Qingnan , Hao Yanfang , Zhen Huaicai , Zhang Xingyi
Published: April 2019

Gully erosion stands out as one of the worst aspects of farmland degradation, which induces the loss of arable soil and tractor operation. Most of the gully erosion studies focused on the influence of precipitation erosion, slope erosion, and the freeze–thaw cycle on soil characteristics. Few studies discussed the effect of snowmelt on gully development. In this paper, the gully development induced by snowmelt was observed in a typical gully in Hailun City, the center of the Mollisols area of northeast China. The results showed that, during the snow melting period of 2017, the soil loss induced by snow melting was 0.22 t at the gully head + 0 m, 14.27 t at the gully head + 77 m, and 7.63 t at the gully head + 239 m, while 98.1% of the sediment was from the gully erosion. The horizontal projected area of the observed gully increased by 56.96 m2, and the gully head advanced 2.3 m during the snow melting period. About 92.2% of the total runoff occurred in the initial snow melting period. The discharge runoff and sediment concentration had a significant correlation with the air temperature above 0 °C, and the same relationship existed between the discharge runoff and sediment concentration in the initial and middle snowmelt stages. The results indicate that the gully development induced by snowmelt should not be ignored in the area.
The Effects of Co-Residence on the Subjective Well-Being of Older Chinese Parents
Authors: Zhu Shanwen , Li Man , Zhong Renyao , Coyte Peter C.
Published: April 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of co-residence on the parental subjective well-being among older Chinese parents. Our analysis included 2968 elderly parents. Parental subjective well-being was stratified into positive well-being (PWB) and negative well-being (NWB). Positive well-being was assessed through questions about life satisfaction, optimism, and happiness and NWB was measured by questions about fear, loneliness, and feelings of uselessness. We found co-residence with adult children resulted in a significant average increase in PWB by 0.17 points relative to those who did not cohabitate. In rural China, co-residence with adult children significantly increased PWB by 0.19 points, and co-residence with a son significantly increased parental PWB by 0.18 points. Negative well-being fell significantly by 0.63 points if co-residence was with an adult daughter. Our findings imply that support from adult children significantly improved parental PWB, especially for the elderly in rural China. Public policies that facilitate the strengthening of cohabitation may help improve the well-being for older Chinese residents. Our study makes two main contributions to the international literature: first, we strengthened the causal inferences regarding the effects of co-residence with adult children on parental well-being through the use of a longitudinal study design; and second, we introduced a difference-in-differences propensity score matching (PSM-DID) approach to address potential selection bias that has previously been ignored in the literature.
Translating Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Interdependencies into Policy Advice
Authors: Breuer Anita , Janetschek Hannah , Malerba Daniele
Published: April 2019

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, and their 169 targets, are interdependent and interlinked. The successful implementation of all SDGs will rely upon disentangling complex interactions between the goals and their targets. This implies that implementing the SDGs requires cross-sectoral processes to foster policy coherence. Over recent years, academic research has produced a number of different proposals for categorizing the SDGs, systematically mapping the linkages between them, and identifying the nature of their interdependencies. The aim of this review article is to provide ideas of how to move from generic appraisals of SDG interdependencies towards translating these interdependencies into policy action. To do so, the article first provides an overview of existing frameworks for the systematic conceptualization of the SDGs and the interlinkages and interdependencies between them. Secondly, the article critically discusses advantages and limitations of these frameworks, with a particular focus on methodological weaknesses, practical applicability to specific contexts, and utility for the development of policy strategies for coherent SDG planning and implementation. Based on this discussion, the article proposes a roadmap for how research on interdependencies can meaningfully provide orientation for policy action.
Contrasting Effects of Tillage and Landscape Structure on Spiders and Springtails in Vineyards
Authors: Pfingstmann Alexandra , Paredes Daniel , Buchholz Jacob , Querner Pascal , Bauer Thomas , Strauss Peter , Kratschmer Sophie , Winter Silvia , Zaller Johann
Published: April 2019

Interactions between predatory species and their potential prey are little studied in vineyards, especially considering the surrounding landscape structure. We examined the effects of soil tillage intensities in vineyard inter-rows on the activity density and diversity of spiders (Araneae) and springtails (Collembola), their potential preys, and assessed whether these effects are altered by non-crop elements in the surrounding landscape. We collected data in 16 vineyards in Austria; eight were periodically mechanically disturbed (PMD), eight had permanent green cover (PGC). The study vineyards were embedded in landscapes ranging from structurally simple to complex. Both, spiders and springtails were collected with pitfall traps. Data analyses using generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) showed different effects of soil tillage intensities on spiders and springtails and an interaction with semi-natural elements (SNEs) in the surrounding landscape. Activities of springtails were higher under PMD than under PGC while spider activity density remained unaffected. Spider family Shannon diversity was lower under PMD than under PGC, while springtail species Shannon diversity was unaffected by tillage. Under PMD, spider activity and family diversity decreased with increasing SNEs in the surroundings indicating spider emigration away from vineyards. Under PGC, spider activity density increased with increasing SNE proportions in the surroundings when springtail activity density was high. Our findings suggest that recommendations on sustainable vineyard management should include both site and landscape factors.
Collaborative Content Downloading in VANETs with Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation
Authors: Huang Tianyu , Guo Xijuan , Zhang Yue , Chang Zheng
Published: April 2019

Vehicle collaborative content downloading has become a hotspot in current vehicular ad-hoc network (VANET) research. However, in reality, the highly dynamic nature of VANET makes users lose resources easily, and the transmission of invalid segment data also wastes valuable bandwidth and storage of the users’ vehicles. In addition, the individual need of each customer vehicle should also be taken into consideration when selecting an agent vehicle for downloading. In this paper, a novel scheme is proposed for vehicle selection in the download of cooperative content from the Internet, by considering the basic evaluation information of the vehicle. To maximize the overall throughput of the system, a collaborative content downloading algorithm is proposed, which is based on fuzzy evaluation and a customer’s own expectations, in order to solve the problems of agent vehicle selection. With the premise of ensuring successful downloading and the selection preferences of customer vehicles, linear programming is used to optimize the distribution of agent vehicles and maximize customer’s satisfaction. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme works well in terms of average quality of service, average bandwidth efficiency, failure frequency, and average consumption.
Caristi, Nadler and

H
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-Type Contractive Mappings and Their Fixed Points in θ-Metric Spaces
Authors: Patle Pradip , Vujaković Jelena , Patel Deepesh , Radenović Stojan
Published: April 2019

A new proper generalization of metric called as θ -metric is introduced by Khojasteh et al. (Mathematical Problems in Engineering (2013) Article ID 504609). In this paper, first we prove the Caristi type fixed point theorem in an alternative and comparatively new way in the context of θ -metric. We also investigate two θ -metrics on CB ( X ) (family of nonempty closed and bounded subsets of a set X). Furthermore, using the obtained θ -metrics on CB ( X ) , we prove two new fixed point results for multi-functions which generalize the results of Nadler and Lim type in the context of such spaces. In order to illustrate the usability of our results, we equipped them with competent examples.
A Method of Determining Multi-Attribute Weights Based on Single-Valued Neutrosophic Numbers and Its Application in TODIM
Authors: Xu Dongsheng , Hong Yanran , Xiang Kaili
Published: April 2019

In this paper, the TODIM method is used to solve the multi-attribute decision-making problem with unknown attribute weight in venture capital, and the decision information is given in the form of single-valued neutrosophic numbers. In order to consider the objectivity and subjectivity of decision-making problems reasonably, the optimal weight is obtained by combining subjective weights and objective weights. Subjective weights are given directly by decision makers. Objective weights are obtained by establishing a weight optimization model with known decision information, then this method will compare with entropy weight method. These simulation results also validate the effectiveness and reasonableness of this proposed method.
Phase Diagram, Scalar-Pseudoscalar Meson Behavior and Restoration of Symmetries in (2 + 1) Polyakov-Nambu-Jona-Lasinio Model
Authors: Costa Pedro , Pereira Renan
Published: April 2019

We explore the phase diagram and the modification of mesonic observables in a hot and dense medium using the (2 + 1) Polyakov-Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model. We present the phase diagram in the ( T , μ B ) -plane, with its isentropic trajectories, paying special attention to the chiral critical end point (CEP). Chiral and deconfinement transitions are examined. The modifications of mesonic observables in the medium are explored as a tool to analyze the effective restoration of chiral symmetry for different regions of the phase diagram. It is shown that the meson masses, namely that of the kaons, change abruptly near the CEP, which can be relevant for its experimental search.
Cosmological Consequences of New Dark Energy Models in Einstein-Aether Gravity
Authors: Rani Shamaila , Jawad Abdul , Bamba Kazuharu , Malik Irfan Ullah
Published: April 2019

In this paper, we reconstruct various solutions for the accelerated universe in the Einstein-Aether theory of gravity. For this purpose, we obtain the effective density and pressure for Einstein-Aether theory. We reconstruct the Einstein-Aether models by comparing its energy density with various newly proposed holographic dark energy models such as Tsallis, Rényi and Sharma-Mittal. For this reconstruction, we use two forms of the scale factor, power-law and exponential forms. The cosmological analysis of the underlying scenario has been done by exploring different cosmological parameters. This includes equation of state parameter, squared speed of sound and evolutionary equation of state parameter via graphical representation. We obtain some favorable results for some values of model parameters