bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Private Sector’s Efforts in Improving the Supply Chain of Hermetic Bags in East Africa
Authors: Omotilewa Oluwatoba J. , Baributsa Dieudonne
Published: October 2022

Hermetic bags are effective at curbing grain losses due to insect pests, but their use remains low due to unavailability among smallholder farmers. This study used primary data from actors within the Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) supply chain network, mostly the private sector, in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda, to understand the challenges and opportunities in improving the availability of hermetic bags in rural areas. It finds that supply-side distribution approaches played a critical role in improving PICS bag availability. Some of the supply-side constraints included poor inventory management, pricing, and limited access to capital. Inventory management can be improved through better forecasting using sales records and prediction of farmers’ harvests. Improved access to credit during peak season can improve the timely supply and reduce stockouts. Marketing inefficiency appears to be fueled by a high-profit margin at the distributor level. Using all available distribution channels in addition to ag-input dealers will enhance the availability of the bags in rural communities.
Walking the Walk toward Increasing Access and Reducing Emissions: The Promise and Challenges of Virtual Climate Adaptation Convenings
Authors: Merritt Eileen G. , Brousseau Jennifer J. , Stern Marc J. , Hansen Lara J.
Published: October 2022

Joint professional and stakeholder meetings to share local, regional and national responses to the current and projected effects of climate change have become regular, recurring events over the past decade. These “climate adaptation convenings” generally include presentations, discussions, and social learning about how to effectively respond to climate-related impacts. Many of these convenings shifted to virtual formats during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a study to understand how four virtual convenings in the United States compare with otherwise similar in-person events. Through surveys with attendees of four virtual climate adaptation convenings, we explored how attendees’ outcomes differed between conference formats and captured their perceptions of virtual vs. in-person events. Overall, 71% of attendees indicated that they were more likely or equally likely to attend future convenings online, and 62% reported that knowledge gain was about the same or better online than in-person. Many respondents appreciated the accessibility and more inclusive participation at virtual convenings, as well as the environmental benefits and reduced costs. However, interpersonal interactions were inferior in virtual formats, and some attendees experienced difficulties with technology and screen fatigue. Respondents shared suggestions for addressing these challenges. Altogether, findings suggest that virtual convenings have high potential if greater attention is paid to these elements.
A Study of Chinese Consumers’ Consistent Use of Mobile Food Ordering Apps
Authors: Wang Xiaolong , Zhang Wenkun , Zhang Tao , Wang Yanan , Na Sanggyun
Published: October 2022

Mobile Food Ordering Apps (MFOAs) programs have changed the way consumers order and consume food. Mobile Food Ordering Apps (MFOAs) are widely recognized in the restaurant industry as an innovative method of serving customers; however, there are important questions about the impact of implementing MFOAs on customers’ willingness to reuse such applications, and several studies have examined the results of using MFOAs from a customer perspective. The main objective of this study was to identify and empirically test the main factors that predict Chinese users’ attitudes toward MFOAs, the satisfaction and re-use of such applications, and the moderating role of habits. This study proposes an integrated model based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Expectation Confirmation Theory (ECT), combined with the features of MFOA-added variables such as online reviews, price value and trust. A total of 212 valid questionnaires were obtained and collected from a sample of Chinese customers using MFOAs. This study uses SPSS 26.0 and smartPLS version 3.0 for a path analysis and empirical testing of the research model. There are 13 hypotheses, 6 of which are valid. H2(PE → SAT), H3(OR → SAT), H5(EOU → ATT), H6(PV → ATT), H7(TR → ATT), and H9(SAT → CI) are valid. However, H1(CON →SAT), H4(USF → ATT), H8(TR → CI), H10(ATT → CI) are not valid, and HAB does not play a moderating role between CI and SAT, CI and ATT, and CI and TR. Based on the research results, theoretical contributions and practical implications can be provided for scholars and practitioners in MFOA-related fields.
Challenges and Difficulties Related to the Professional Performance and Training of Peruvian Medical Residents during a Pandemic
Authors: Bazán-Ramírez Aldo , Tresierra-Ayala Miguel , Capa-Luque Walter , Cossío-Reynaga Marina , Quijano-Pacheco Juan
Published: October 2022

Physicians that pursue postgraduate studies must simultaneously manage activities related to their academic training and their duties as specialized in a hospital. The aim of this study was to determine the challenges that affect the professional development and growth of 142 first-year medical residents from a private university in Peru, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The residents responded to an online questionnaire with eight open-ended questions soliciting the identification of two difficulties or challenges per question. Descriptive analysis of the challenges that were detected was carried out and two binomial logistic regression models were tested to evaluate the effect of academic and personal factors on professional development. A structural regression model with three predicting factors (Academic training, Mentorship and use of ICT, and Health conditions) was also tested to predict professional development. Over 80% of the residents expressed having problems with their professional performance, activities, and attention span during the residency. The adjusted logistic regression model explained 42% of the effect of factors that make the emergence of challenges for medical residents more probable in the performance of professional activities. Likewise, the structural regression model indicated a good fit, where all three factors significantly explained medical residents’ professional performance; however, the Mentorship and use of ICTs factor was the best predictor of professional performance during the residency program.
Performance Evaluation of Omni-Channel Distribution Network Configurations considering Green and Transparent Criteria under Uncertainty
Authors: Babaei Ardavan , Khedmati Majid , Jokar Mohammad Reza Akbari , Babaee Tirkolaee Erfan
Published: October 2022

Satisfying customer demand is one of the growing concerns of supply chain managers. On the other hand, the development of internet communications has increased online demand. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for online shopping. One of the useful concepts that help to address this concern is the omni-channel strategy, which integrates online and traditional channels with the aim of improving customer service level. For this purpose, this paper proposes an algorithm for evaluating Omni-channel Distribution Network Configurations (OCDNCs). The algorithm applies an extended Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model to evaluate OCDNCs based on cost, service, transparency, and environmental criteria; and then, forms a consensus on the evaluation results generated according to different criteria by utilizing an uncertain optimization model. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt in which such an algorithm has been employed to take into account the mentioned criteria in a model to evaluate OCDNCs. The application of the proposed models was investigated in a case study in relation to the Indian retail industry. The results show that the configuration with the most connections among its members was the most stable, robust, and efficient.
Entrepreneurial Motivation, Competency and Micro-Enterprise Sustainability Performance: Evidence from an Emerging Economy
Authors: Fazal Syed Ali , Al Mamun Abdullah , Alshebami Ali Saleh , Muniady Rajennd , Ali Mohd Helmi , Al Shami Sayed Samer Ali , Al Marri Salem Handhal , Seraj Abdullah Hamoud Ali , Thomran Murad , Algobaei Faiz
Published: October 2022

Small to medium-sized enterprises suffer from loss of competitive advantage, low productivity, and poor performance because of inadequate competencies. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to examine the effect of selected motivational dimensions (i.e., self-improvement, self-confidence, openness to change, pull factors, and the need for achievement) on entrepreneurial competency among micro-entrepreneurs. We used a cross-sectional design and collected quantitative data from 403 micro-entrepreneurs in Malaysia using random sampling. SEM-PLS was used for data analysis. The findings revealed that self-confidence, openness to change, and pull factors positively influenced entrepreneurial competencies. Moreover, there was a positive effect of self-confidence, pull factors, need for achievement, and entrepreneurial competency on enterprise sustainability performance. Furthermore, entrepreneurial competencies significantly mediated the effect of self-confidence, openness to change, and pull factors on enterprise sustainability performance. Apart from extending the lens of a resource-based view, this study enriches enterprise sustainability literature from emerging nations’ perspective. Policymakers can strengthen their programs and policies to improve the entrepreneurial competencies of micro-entrepreneurs and their business sustainability.
Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses of Lycium barbarum L. under Heat Stress
Authors: Qin Xiaoya , Qin Beibei , He Wei , Chen Yan , Yin Yue , Cao Youlong , An Wei , Mu Zixin , Qin Ken
Published: October 2022

Heat stress has a strong and detrimental effect on plant growth and yield. Goji berry or wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) is a dual-purpose medicinal and food plant but an increase in high temperatures has caused a serious decline in wolfberry yield and quality. In this study, we first explored the heat stress responses of Goji berry, and found that heat stress adaptation mechanisms fluctuated over 48 h. Moreover, L.barbarum 1402 was more heat resistant while L.barbarum Ningqi No. 7 (N7) was sensitive to high temperatures, in which amino acids and alkaloids played key roles; expression and accumulation timing was also crucial. That is, 1402 responded to heat stress rapidly starting at 1 h under high temperature, activated related genes, and accumulated metabolites earlier in the amino acid metabolic pathway compared to N7, which responded to heat stress starting at 3 h under high temperature. Thus, 1402 resisted high temperatures much earlier and better compared to N7. Furthermore, joint transcriptome and metabolome analysis results showed that L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, N-benzylformamide, N-benzylmethylene isomethylamine, lysoPC 19:1, and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine-1-phosthate, as well as their related genes, were higher in content, or earlier in expression, in 1402 compared to N7 under heat treatment. This study initially elucidates that Goji berry 1402 has a better tolerance to heat stress than N7 for earlier and higher expression or accumulation of amino acids and alkaloids when related to high temperatures.
Sustainable Development of High School English Learners in China: Motivation and Its Impact on Their English Achievement
Authors: Jiao Shi , Liang Fang
Published: October 2022

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved without quality education and the cultivation of innovative and international talents. This study examined high school students’ English learning motivation structure, the differences between male and female students, and the motivational impact on English learning achievement. Participants included 778 high school students (385 boys and 393 girls) from two Chinese high schools in two representative regions. The results showed that the English learning motivation of high school students mainly included four types, namely, intrinsic interest, learning situation, social responsibility, and personal development. Females’ English learning motivation was significantly higher than that of males. Further, intrinsic interest and personal development had a significantly positive impact on English achievement, whereas social responsibility had a significantly negative impact, and learning situation had no significant impact. The above findings contribute to further understanding of the internal structure of second language learning motivation and the influence mechanism of motivation on achievement, which are of great significance to students’ growth and the sustainable improvement in the quality of education.
Decarbonization of Heat through Low-Temperature Waste Heat Recovery: Proposal of a Tool for the Preliminary Evaluation of Technologies in the Industrial Sector
Authors: Dadi Daniele , Introna Vito , Benedetti Miriam
Published: October 2022

In an industrial energy scenario increasingly focused on decarbonization and energy cost containment, waste heat is a resource that is no longer negligible. Despite the great abundance of waste heat, its recognized potential, and numerous technologies available for its use, the rate of waste heat recovery (WHR) is still low, especially at low temperatures (<230 °C). Non-technological barriers, such as the lack of knowledge and support tools, strongly limit the diffusion of WHR technologies. The work presented in this paper aims to overcome non-technological gaps by developing a simple and operational tool that can support companies in the preliminary stages of evaluating a WHR application. The methodology followed involved the development of specific data-based models for WHR technology sizing by correlating waste heat input characteristics with dimensional and economic parameters of the technologies evaluated. We considered the most representative technologies in the WHR scenario: organic Rankine cycles for electric power generation, heat pumps for thermal power generation, absorption chillers for cooling generation, and plate heat exchangers for low-temperature heat exchange applications. One of the significant strengths of the tool is that it was developed using real and hard-to-find technologies performance and cost data mainly collected through continuous interactions with WHR technology providers. Moreover, the interaction with the technology providers allowed contextualization and validation of the tool in the field. In addition, the tool was applied to three large companies operating in the Italian industrial sector to test its effectiveness. The tool applications made it possible to propose cost-effective solutions that the companies had not considered before, despite the high level of attention with which they were already approaching energy efficiency improvements. The result obtained demonstrates the applicability and innovativeness of the tool.
Competition or Authorization—Manufacturers’ Choice of Remanufacturing Strategies
Authors: Wu Ying , Li Youwei
Published: October 2022

In the face of the cannibalization of remanufactured products produced by independent remanufacturers (IRs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can produce remanufactured products themselves to compete with independent remanufacturers (IRs), or they can authorize the IRs to cooperate because of their seller reputation. This paper studies the key factors that influence OEMs’ choice of remanufacturing strategies. By establishing three two-stage models and comparing them, the thresholds for OEMs to choose different remanufacturing strategies were obtained. There is also an interesting finding that when the authorization fee is higher than a certain value, even if the remanufactured product poses a competitive threat to the new product, the OEM will help the IR improve their remanufacturing technology to save costs and achieve a win–win situation. With the increase in authorization fees, OEMs’ profits will increase first and then decrease, so it is not always better for OEMs to charge higher authorization fees. Whether it is an authorization or a competitive scenario, the improvement in remanufacturing technology by OEMs can increase the output of remanufactured products, which is conducive to environmental protection.
Policy Driven Compact Cities: Toward Clarifying the Effect of Compact Cities on Carbon Emissions
Authors: Fan Tianhui , Chapman Andrew
Published: October 2022

Compact cities, characterized by high density and accessibility with fully developed inner-city public transport, are widely discussed and practiced around the world in response to the challenges of sustainable development and global warming. On this basis, we are committed to answering the question of how cities with varying urban growth rates adopt different policy practices, and whether these practices contribute to achieving the goal of building a sustainable, low-carbon city. Specifically, this study assesses the theoretical evidence and practical experiences on the effect of compact city characteristics and policies on urban CO2 emissions using a focused literature review and representative case studies. The results illustrate that public transportation is often strengthened in compact city policies and the density and spatial configuration of cities has a significant impact on urban carbon emissions. Moreover, there are significant differences within the impact mechanisms of compact cities on carbon emissions between small-medium-sized cities (dealing with aging populations and resource waste) and megacities (dealing with excessive urban sprawl). However, there is still insufficient quantitative evidence on the effectiveness of compact city policies and this review provides insights into future compact city planning toward policy approaches which yield lower carbon emissions.
Sustainable Investment Preferences among Robo-Advisor Clients
Authors: Faradynawati Ida Ayu Agung , Söderberg Inga-Lill
Published: October 2022

The increasing role of individual investors in supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals through sustainable investment has gained growing interest from financial authorities and the research community. Digitalization in the financial sector, e.g., robo-advisors, enables lay-investors to make sustainable investments in a simple and convenient way. This study investigates whether investment-related attitudes and demographic profiles are related to robo-advisor clients’ sustainable investment choices. This paper describes an empirical study that uses a logistic regression model to investigate sustainable investment preferences at the individual investor level. Cross-sectional data consisting of 27,771 individual investors in Sweden, Norway, and Finland, who purchased investment products through a robo-advisor application, are used in this study. The results suggest that, concerning investment-related attitudes, robo-advisor clients with low-risk tolerance and a short investment horizon are more likely to choose to become sustainable investors. Furthermore, sustainable investments are preferred by robo-advisor clients who are less wealthy, female, and older.
Resilience of Smart Cities to the Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Context of Sustainable Development
Authors: Kuzior Aleksandra , Krawczyk Dariusz , Brożek Paulina , Pakhnenko Olena , Vasylieva Tetyana , Lyeonov Serhiy
Published: October 2022

The development of digital technologies is one of the factors influencing the cities’ readiness for the COVID-19 breakout. The purpose of this article is to assess cities’ resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic depending on the “smart” level criteria. The article uses the following research methods: (1) bibliometric analysis to identify the main directions of scientific research regarding “COVID-19” and “smart city” in Scopus publications for 2019–2022; (2) k-means clustering method to identify common patterns among smart cities regarding their readiness and responsiveness to COVID-19; (3) correlation analysis to identify the relationships between smart city performance indicators and COVID-19 severity in these cities. The Smart City Index 2021 was a key criterion for classifying a city as smart for this study. The correlation analysis included two stages: (1) correlation analysis of the Smart City Rank and indicators of COVID-19 readiness and responsiveness; (2) correlation analysis of the Smart City Rank and its health care components and COVID-19 severity indicators. According to the study results, smart cities demonstrated higher COVID-19 readiness and lower COVID-19 fatality rates. However, they lag behind in terms of resilience and sustainability of their health care systems.
The Environmental Impact of Partial Substitution of Fish-Based Feed with Algae- and Insect-Based Feed in Salmon Farming
Authors: Goglio Pietro , Van Den Burg Sander , Kousoulaki Katerina , Skirtun Maggie , Espmark Åsa Maria , Kettunen Anne Helena , Abbink Wout
Published: October 2022

One of the key challenges for aquaculture is to reduce “fishing-for-feed”. Alternative fish feeds need to be environmentally assessed to ensure they are sustainable. The present research consisted of an attributional LCA to (i) estimate the impact on salmon farming of a partially algal–insect-based diet vs a conventional fish meal/fish oil-based diet, (ii) identify the contribution of each process to the environmental impacts of the whole fish farming system, and (iii) identify potential improvements in the algal–insect value chain through sensitivity analysis of various algal–insect production pathways. The study shows that use of algal–insect-based feed resulted in a higher impact for most of the environmental impact categories due to fish feed production, particularly for soybean, insect, and algal meal. This points to the need to optimise production chains for new fish feed ingredients. Algal meal production using sugarcane sugar and optimised technology and insect meal using exhaust heat and renewable electricity would improve the environmental performance of salmon farming systems using insect- and algal-based fish feed. Methodological improvements with regard to system C and N cycle, biodiversity, and plastic use should be explored to inform policy making and support the implementation of sustainable future salmon farming innovations.
A Critical, Temporal Analysis of Saudi Arabia’s Initiatives for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction in the Energy Sector
Authors: Rahman Muhammad Muhitur , Hasan Md Arif , Shafiullah Md , Rahman Mohammad Shahedur , Arifuzzaman Md , Islam Md. Kamrul , Islam Mohammed Monirul , Rahman Syed Masiur
Published: October 2022

The per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Saudi Arabia were more than three times the global average emissions in 2019. The energy sector is the most dominant GHG-emitting sector in the country; its energy consumption has increased over five times in the last four decades, from over 2000 quadrillion joules in 1981 to around 11,000 quadrillion joules in 2019, while the share of renewable energy in 2019 was only 0.1%. To reduce GHG emissions, the Saudi Arabian government has undertaken initiatives for improving energy efficiency and increasing the production of renewable energies in the country. However, there are few investigative studies into the effectiveness of these initiatives in improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This study provides an overview of the various energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives undertaken in Saudi Arabia. Then, it evaluates the effectiveness of energy-related policies and initiatives using an indicator-based approach. In addition, this study performs temporal and econometrics analyses to understand the trends and the causal relationships among various drivers of energy sector emissions. Energy intensity and efficiency have improved moderately in recent years. This study will support policymakers in identifying significant policy gaps in reducing the emissions from the energy sector; furthermore, this study will provide a reference for tracking the progress of their policy initiatives. In addition, the methodology used in this study could be applied in other studies to evaluate various climate change policies and their progress.
Characterization of Arunachali Yak: A Roadmap for Pastoral Sustainability of Yaks in India
Authors: Das Pranab Jyoti , Kour Aneet , Deori Sourabh , Begum Safeeda Sultana , Pukhrambam Martina , Maiti Sanjit , Sivalingam Jayakumar , Paul Vijay , Sarkar Mihir
Published: October 2022

Highland pastoralism provides economic sustainability to the tribal livelihoods and is endemic to the yak-rearing tracts of India. Transhumant pastoralists of Arunachal Pradesh (in India) have centuries-old deep socio-religious and economic connections with this unique bovine species. As a result of their conservation efforts, Arunachali was recognized as the first and is still the lone breed (to date) of yaks in the country. A survey was conducted on the pastoral production system in the region to enable the phenotypic characterization of yaks and to understand the prevailing husbandry practices. Arunachali yaks are medium-sized bovines that are predominantly black with dense and long hairs hanging down the body and are docile in temperament. They have a convex head with horizontal ears and distinctly curved horns with pointed tips. The average milk yield is 0.98–1.04 kg milk/day with 7.45% fat and 11.5% SNF and the peak milk yield/day is 1.1–1.6 kg. The average ages of clipping of coarse hairs and down fibres are 12–18 months and 12 months, respectively, with average yields of 1.5 kg and 0.5 kg/clipping/animal, respectively. Value addition of yak milk and fibre presents a unique opportunity for the economic rejuvenation of yak pastoralism. However, winter feed scarcity, inbreeding, extreme climate events and the non-availability of essential services are still major challenges for yak production in the country. Our findings acknowledge that pastoral sustainability is critical for the conservation of yaks and yak rearing. This calls for pastoralism-centric governance and research efforts in the highlands to curb the declining population and to put Indian yaks on the road to sustainability.
Failure-Mechanism and Design Techniques of Offshore Wind Turbine Pile Foundation: Review and Research Directions
Authors: Basack Sudip , Goswami Ghritartha , Dai Zi-Hang , Baruah Parinita
Published: October 2022

Wind energy is one of the most sustainable and renewable resources for power generation. Offshore wind turbines (OWTs) derive significant wind energy compared to onshore installations. One of the greatest challenges encountered by installing the OWTs is the adequate design of their foundation in relatively soft and compressible marine soil. In most cases, the OWTs are supported by a single pile, termed as ‘monopile foundation’. Apart from the usual loads from the superstructure, these piles are subjected to complex loading conditions under static and cyclic modes in the axial, lateral, and torsional directions due to the primary actions of the wave, wind, and current. To incorporate an appropriate design methodology, understanding the failure mechanisms of such piles is of the utmost necessity. This review paper aims to focus on the progressive development in the analysis of failure mechanisms and design practice relevant to the monopile foundations for OWTs by theoretical and experimental studies conducted globally. An extensive literature survey has been carried out to study the gradual progress on offshore pile-soil interaction, failure mechanisms, and design techniques of OWT supporting monopile foundations. Based on the studies, a brief overview of the various aspects of analysis and design has been carried out, and the relevant conclusions are drawn therefrom.
The Effects of Different Patterns of Group Collaborative Learning on Fourth-Grade Students’ Creative Thinking in a Digital Artificial Intelligence Course
Authors: Hu Xiaoyong , Liu Yue , Huang Jie , Mu Su
Published: October 2022

Digital technology plays a unique role in the cultivation of students’ creative thinking, which helps them solve poorly structured problems with effective and original solutions. This study applied collaborative learning in a digital-technology-supported artificial intelligence (AI) course and aimed to explore the impact of collaborative learning on fourth-grade students’ creative thinking. According to whether a leadership role was assigned by a teacher and a final consensus was built in the group, four patterns of collaborative learning were designed for comparison in order to determine which pattern was more effective for the promotion of students’ creative thinking. In total, 37 fourth-grade students taking part in the study were divided into four groups, and each group adapted one of four patterns of collaborative learning. The Torrance Creative Thinking Test (TTCT-Figure) was used to test the pre- and post-creative thinking of the four groups of students. A paired-sample t-test was used to analyze the pre- and post-tests of students’ creative thinking to verify whether all four patterns of collaborative learning could improve the students’ creative thinking. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the post-test results of the four groups’ creative thinking to determine the differences in the creative thinking of the four groups of students. The results indicated that the patterns of collaborative learning used by G1, G3, and G4 were effective in improving students’ creative thinking, but the pattern for G2 was not. Moreover, there were significant differences in the cultivation of students’ creative thinking via AI courses among these four patterns of collaborative learning. The G4 students, who had an assigned leadership role and consensus building, showed the greatest improvement in creative thinking. In particular, without an assigned leadership role and consensus building, students’ flexibility of creative thinking would be improved to a greater extent. Teachers can adapt the findings of this study in order to consciously train team leaders in the collaborative learning process and guide them to reach a consensus to achieve the goal of fostering creative thinking in digital-technology-supported courses. To be specific, teachers should let students participate in group collaborative learning in a free way to cultivate their flexibility.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Situation of the Unemployed in Poland. A Study Using Survival Analysis Methods
Authors: Bieszk-Stolorz Beata , Markowicz Iwona
Published: October 2022

Many studies point to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the socio-economic situation of countries and, consequently, on the achievement of sustainable development goals. Although termed a health crisis, the pandemic has also had an impact on the labour market. The imposed restrictions caused companies to close or reduce their operations. Employees switched to remote work, but also often lost their jobs temporarily or permanently. However, the impact of the pandemic on the labour market is not so obvious. This is indicated by our research and that of other researchers. In this paper, we used individual data on the unemployed registered at the labour office in Szczecin (Poland) and were thus able to apply survival analysis methods. These methods allowed us to assess changes in the duration of unemployment and the intensity of taking up work for individual cohorts (unemployed people deregistered in a given quarter). The results indicate, on the one hand, the problems in the labour market during the pandemic and, on the other hand, the adapted reaction of the unemployed to the situation and the acceleration of the decision to accept an offered job.
Bibliometric Literature Review of Adaptive Learning Systems
Authors: Koutsantonis Dionisios , Koutsantonis Konstantinos , Bakas Nikolaos P. , Plevris Vagelis , Langousis Andreas , Chatzichristofis Savvas A.
Published: October 2022

In this review paper, we computationally analyze a vast volume of published articles in the field of Adaptive Learning, as obtained by the Scopus Database. Particularly, we use a query with search terms targeting the area of Adaptive Learning Systems by utilizing a combination of specific keywords. Accordingly, we apply a multidimensional scaling algorithm to construct bibliometric maps for keywords, authors, and references. Subsequently, we present the computational results for the studied dataset, reveal significant patterns appearing in the field of adaptive learning and the inter-item associations, and interpret the findings based on the current state-of-the-art literature in the area. Furthermore, we demonstrate the time-series of the evolution of the research terms, their trends over time, as well as their prevalent statistical associations.
External Shading Devices: Should the Energy Standard Be Supplemented with a Production Stage?
Authors: Pushkar Svetlana , Yezioro Abraham
Published: October 2022

The Israeli Standard SI5282 rates buildings according to the operational energy (OE) used to support their heating, cooling, and lighting needs. When it was proposed, OE was generally considered to be derived from fossil fuels, such as coal. However, at present, Israel is in the process of transitioning to cleaner energy sources, such as natural gas and renewables. In light of this change, the question that guided this study was as follows: should the production (P) stage of external shading devices be taken into account alongside the OE stage? In this study, we aimed to evaluate the P (environmental damage) and OE (environmental benefit) of five external shading devices with equivalently high energy rates that were installed in a typical office building using cleaner OE sources. We evaluated the environmental impacts using the ReCiPe2016 method. The results indicated that the P stage of the five shading devices led to significantly different degrees of environmental damage, thus reducing the environmental benefits related to the OE stage. Therefore, the five similarly rated shading devices could no longer be considered as equivalent sustainable alternatives. As such, we recommend that the energy rating be supplemented with a P stage environmental evaluation.
Impact of Land Cover Change on a Typical Mining Region and Its Ecological Environment Quality Evaluation Using Remote Sensing Based Ecological Index (RSEI)
Authors: Tang Huan , Fang Jiawei , Xie Ruijie , Ji Xiuli , Li Dayong , Yuan Jing
Published: October 2022

Ecological environment in mining cities has become an important part of ecological construction. This paper takes Tongling, a mining city, as the research area, and uses Landsat series remote sensing images from 2000 to 2020 as data sources. Using the principal component analysis method and the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) integrated with four indexes of greenness, humidity, dryness, and heat, the ecological disturbance of the mining area was evaluated and studied. Meanwhile, the land cover spatiotemporal classification of Tongling city was extracted by the maximum likelihood method. Furthermore, landscape metrics were used, based on the information on open-pit mining areas, to quantitatively analyze the ecological environment quality and its change characteristics in the study area. The results show that (1) RSEI can better characterize the ecological quality of Tongling city, greenness and humidity are positively correlated with it, dryness and heat are negatively correlated with it, and dryness and RSEI have the highest correlation coefficient, indicating that urban expansion will cause ecological environment deterioration to a certain extent. (2) The ecological environment quality of the research area showed a “decline-rising” trend, and the mean value of RSEI decreased from 0.706 to 0.644. Spatially, the areas with poor RSEI are mainly distributed in the central urban area and the open-pit mining area in the south. (3) Land cover change leads to changes in landscape metrics, and most landscape-level metrics are positively or negatively correlated with RSEI. The more concentrated the land cover type distribution is, the smaller the change is, and the more regional RSEI can be improved. (4) The mean value of RESI of the ten open-pit mining areas in Tongling city decreased significantly, with a maximum decrease of 52.73%. Among them, the RESI decline rate in the area around the no.1 open pit mine is 0.034/year. The ecological degradation in Tongling city is attributed to the rapid expansion of built-up areas and the development of the mining industry. The research results can provide a scientific basis for protecting the ecological environment of mining cities.
Adoption and Growth of Fuel Cell Vehicles in China: The Case of BYD
Authors: Qudrat-Ullah Hassan
Published: October 2022

Compared to battery electric vehicles (BEVs), fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have been developing since the early 2000s due to their efficiency and environmental advantages. However, unlike the battery industry which has already achieved economies of scale, the scale of fuel cell manufacturing is still in its early stage in China. In this exploratory study, using the case of BYD, we identify and analyze the key economic and environmental factors that might facilitate and propel the adoption of FCVs in China. Utilizing quantitative (i.e., the statistically descriptive method) and qualitative (i.e., a semi-structured interview and Porter’s model) reasoning, this study finds that by systematically addressing two factors, (i) customers’ misperceptions about the safety and environmental friendliness of FCVs and (ii) lack of technical competencies in the upstream and downstream of the FCV industry’s value chain in general and for BYD in particular, the sustainable development and adoption of FCVs in China can be achieved.
Vegetation Monitoring and Post-Fire Recovery: A Case Study in the Centre Inland of Portugal
Authors: Alegria Cristina
Published: October 2022

Wildfires are a major environmental issue that have an impact on land degradation. Remote sensing spectral indices provide valuable information for short-term mitigation and rehabilitation after wildfires. A study area in the Centre inland of Portugal occupied with Maritime pine and Eucalypts forests and affected by wildfires in 2003, 2017 and 2020 was used. The aims of the study were twofold: (1) to compute the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and with forest inventory data derivate a Maritime pine production model, differentiate evergreen coniferous forests (e.g., Maritime pine), evergreen broadleaved forests (e.g., Eucalypts), and shrubland, and monitor vegetation and its post-fire recovery; and (2) to compute the Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR) difference between pre-fire and post-fire dates for burn severity levels assessment. The plots of a previous forest inventory were used to follow the NDVI values in 2007 and from 2020 to 2022. An aerial coverage in 2007 and the Sentinel-2 imagery in 2020–2022 were used. Linear models fitted maritime pine production with the transformed NDVI by age, showing a fitting efficiency of 60%. The stratification of cover types by stand development stage and fire occurrence was possible using the NDVI time curve, which also showed the impact of fire and of low precipitation. Cover types were ranked by decreasing NDVI values as follows: mature Eucalypts plantations, young Maritime pine regeneration, mature Maritime pine, young Eucalypts plantations, Strawberry tree shrubland, Eucalypts plantations post-fire, Maritime pine post-fire, tall shrubland, and short shrubland. Vegetation post-fire recovery was lower in higher burn severity level areas. Maritime pine areas have lost their natural regeneration capability due to the wildfires’ short cycles. Spectral indices were effective tools to differentiate cover types and assist in the evaluation of forest and shrubland conditions.
Estimation of Active Earth Pressure for Narrow Unsaturated Backfills Considering Soil Arching Effect and Interlayer Shear Stress
Authors: Fu Daxi , Yang Minghui , Deng Bo , Gong Hutao
Published: October 2022

Affected by climatic conditions such as rainfall, evaporation and air temperature, most of the backfill soil is in an unsaturated state, and the decrease in matric suction leads to the failure of the retaining structure. In view of this, this study takes the vertical rigid retaining wall with narrow unsaturated backfill as the research object, assuming that the backfill behind the wall forms a circular soil arch and considering the interlayer shear stress; thus, the analytical solution of the active earth pressure of narrow unsaturated soil is derived based on the thin layer element method. The reliability of this method is verified by comparing with the experimental and existing theoretical results. A parameter analysis demonstrates that with the increase in the interface friction angle of the moving wall–soil, the average shear stress coefficient of zone I and zone II increases gradually, but with the increase in the interface friction angle of the fixed wall–soil, the average shear stress coefficient of zone I decreases; with the increase in effective internal friction angle and effective cohesion, the active earth pressure decreases and the tension crack depth increases; with the increase in the interface friction angle, the active earth pressure in the upper part of the retaining wall increases slightly, while the active earth pressure in the lower part decreases obviously; with the increase in matric suction, the active earth pressure first decreases rapidly and then increases gradually, and the tension crack depth first increases and then decreases, but the distribution pattern of the horizontal active earth pressure remains unchanged; the active earth pressure decreases with the decrease in the aspect ratio, and when the aspect ratio is smaller, the attenuation is more obvious; until the aspect ratio reaches a certain value, the active earth pressure is basically unchanged.
Improvement of Rock Cutting Performance through Two-Pass Abrasive Waterjet Cutting
Authors: Aydin Gokhan , Karakurt Izzet , Amiri Mohammad , Kaya Serkan
Published: October 2022

Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) has been widely used for the cutting of hard materials such as rocks. The AWJ cutting of rocks has been well documented in the relevant literature. In these studies, one-pass cutting is employed as the cutting mode. There is no study focusing on the two-pass AWJ cutting of rocks. Therefore, this study aims to fill this gap. Therefore, in the current study, the physicomechanical properties of the rock subjected to cutting are first determined. Following, the workpieces are cut with both one-pass and two-pass cutting modes. In the tests, cutting time is kept constant to compare the performances of cutting modes in terms of the smooth cutting depth and surface roughness. Kerf profiles of the cutting modes are also compared. In the study, significant relationships were not determined between the cutting parameters (abrasive flow rate and standoff distance) and performance outputs for the cutting modes. This may be attributed to the cutting parameters studied in a narrow range. The results indicate that two-pass cutting with higher speeds provides higher smooth depths than one-pass cutting at lower speeds. Two-pass cutting increases smooth depth up to 47%. Results show that surface quality could be improved by two-pass cutting, expanding the smooth zone and reducing the sizes of the striations. The results also show that two-pass cutting improves surface roughness by up to 25%. It is revealed that kerf wall inclination is reduced by two-pass cutting in the upper and lower parts of the kerf. A widened portion caused by the first pass is observed in the final kerf. It can be noted that two-pass cutting cannot provide any improvement in the top kerf width.
The Current State of Territorial Development of ASEAN Countries and Strategic Types for Balanced Development
Authors: An Yehyun , Kim Minjee
Published: October 2022

ASEAN countries are promoting regionally balanced development in their policy in response to development disparity resulting from rapid urbanization. This study aims to draw strategic approaches for balanced development based on the current status of territorial development of the ASEAN countries. Through the lens of Korea’s territorial development experience, this study presents three strategic types for balanced territorial development and an analysis framework to connect the strategic types and the territorial conditions of ASEAN countries. This study analyzes the current status from five aspects: (1) the current status of urbanization and industrialization, (2) the size distribution of cities, (3) the spatial structure of the territories, (4) the state of regional development, and (5) balanced development visions and territorial policies. Based on the analysis results, this study categorizes the ASEAN countries that exhibit similar territorial development and applies the strategic types. This study derives policy measures suitable to each strategic type that will help the ASEAN countries to facilitate balanced development in accordance with their territorial state.
Seven Principles and Ten Criticisms: Towards a Charter for the Analysis, Transformation and Contestation of Smart Innovations
Authors: Ferreira António
Published: October 2022

This theoretical essay argues that the development of so-called ‘smart innovations’ is based on the monotonous application of seven standardized principles: electrification, digitalization, webification, datafication, personalization, actuation, and marketization. When a new smart innovation appears, what has typically occurred was the implementation of these principles to an object or process that, until that moment, had managed to remain unscathed by the smart innovation monoculture. As reactions to this dominant logic, ten major critical arguments against smart innovations have emerged in the academic literature: smart innovations are considered to be superseding, unhealthy, subordinating, exploitative, manipulative, addictive, fragile, colonial, labyrinthine, and both ecologically and socially unsustainable. To a certain extent adopting the traits of a manifesto, this essay aims to challenge the monoculture of smart innovations by means of proposing the development of a charter potentially capable of promoting change on two fronts. First, facilitating technologists to develop truly creative ideas that are not based on the application of the monotonous principles of smart innovation. Second, challenging technologists to develop new ideas and concepts that are effectively beyond the above-mentioned ten criticisms. This is a highly relevant area for citizen-driven, political, and academic activism, as smart innovations, despite their conceptual weaknesses and patent negative consequences, surprisingly continue to be preferred beneficiaries for funding in contemporary policy-making and academic research circles.