bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical Determination of Morin in Natural Food Using a Chitosan–Graphene Glassy Carbon Modified Electrode
Authors: Nagles Edgar , Bello Monica , Hurtado John J.
Published: October 2022

This report presents a new application for the chitosan–graphene glassy carbon electrode (Ch-G/GCE) system in the determination of the hydroxyflavonoid morin (MR), one of the flavonoids with the highest favorable activity for people, due to its natural properties by square-wave voltammetry (SWV). The anodic peak current for MR was observed at 0.50 V with an increase of 73% compared with the glassy carbon electrode unmodified. The surface areas of Ch-G/GCE, Ch/GCE and GCE evaluated by cyclic voltammetry were 0.140, 0.053 and 0.011 cm2, respectively. Additionally, an increase greater than 100% compared to the electrode without modification was observed. The detection limit was 0.30 µmol/L for MR, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 1.8% (n = 6). Possible interferences as quercetin, rutin, and applications in real samples were also evaluated with very acceptable results.
Study on Detection and Recognition of Traffic Lights Based on Improved YOLOv4
Authors: Zhao Ying , Feng Yiyuan , Wang Yueqiang , Zhang Zhihan , Zhang Zhihao
Published: October 2022

To resolve the issues of a deep backbone network, a large model, slow reasoning speed on a mobile terminal, low detection accuracy for small targets and difficulties detecting and recognizing traffic lights in real time and accurately with YOLOv4, a traffic lights recognition method based on improved YOLOv4 is proposed. The lightweight ShuffleNetv2 network is utilized to replace the CSPDarkNet53 network of YOLOv4 to satisfy the requirements of a mobile terminal. The reformed k-means clustering algorithm is applied to generate anchor boxes for avoiding the sensitivity issue of outliers and initial values. A novel attention mechanism named CS2A is added to enhance the extraction capability of effective features. Multiple data augmentation methods are combined to improve the generalization ability of the model. Ultimately, the detection and recognition of traffic lights can be realized. The S2TLD dataset is selected for training and testing, and it can be proved that the recognition accuracy and model size are greatly optimized. Meanwhile, a self-made dataset is selected for training and testing. Compared with the conventional YOLOv4, the recognition accuracy of the proposed algorithm for traffic lights’ state information increases by 1.79%, and the model size decreases by 81.97%. Appropriate scenes are selected for real-vehicle testing and the results demonstrate that the detection speed of the presented algorithm increases by 16%, and the recognition effect for small targets increases by 37% in comparison with conventional YOLOv4.
Purification Technologies for NOx Removal from Flue Gas: A Review
Authors: Zhu Zihan , Xu Bin
Published: October 2022

Nitrogen oxide (NOx) is a major gaseous pollutant in flue gases from power plants, industrial processes, and waste incineration that can have adverse impacts on the environment and human health. Many denitrification (de-NOx) technologies have been developed to reduce NOx emissions in the past several decades. This paper provides a review of the recent literature on NOx post-combustion purification methods with different reagents. From the perspective of changes in the valence of nitrogen (N), purification technologies against NOx in flue gas are classified into three approaches: oxidation, reduction, and adsorption/absorption. The removal processes, mechanisms, and influencing factors of each method are systematically reviewed. In addition, the main challenges and potential breakthroughs of each method are discussed in detail and possible directions for future research activities are proposed. This review provides a fundamental and systematic understanding of the mechanisms of denitrification from flue gas and can help researchers select high-performance and cost-effective methods.
Urban Planning in the 15-Minute City: Revisited under Sustainable and Smart City Developments until 2030
Authors: Pozoukidou Georgia , Angelidou Margarita
Published: October 2022

The 15-minute-city concept represents an increasingly popular urban policymaking and planning paradigm that seeks to shift attention to the neighborhood as a “place” rather merely a spatial and functional planning unit. The core premise of the concept is that critical urban services and amenities should be reachable within 15 min of walking or cycling from a residence. The urban-planning principles that enable the realization of the 15-minute city variably embody planning in mixed-use neighborhood units, proximity-based planning, planning for active transport, citizen participation in planning, and innovation and intelligence-driven planning. We revisit these urban-planning premises in the light of emerging social, physical, and structural developments through 2030, with a focus on European cases. The findings provide important additions and recommendations to the urban-planning principles of 15-minute cities along the themes of proximity-based planning, the use of land and urban form, urban governance and citizen participation, and inclusive digitalization. The paper moves the discussion on the 15-minute city forward and will be helpful for urban planners, policymakers, and scholars seeking to envision and create a more sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant future in cities.
Child Internalizing Problems in Ukraine: The Role of Prosocial and Antisocial Friends and Generalized Self-Efficacy
Authors: Burlaka Viktor , Serdiuk Oleksii , Sung Hong Jun , O’Donnell Lisa A. , Maksymenko Serhii , Panok Vitalii , Danylenko Heorhii , Linskiy Igor , Sokurenko Valerii , Churakova Iuliia , Ilchyshyn Nadiya
Published: October 2022

The current study examines the association between peer behaviors, self-efficacy, and internalizing symptoms in a sample of 1545 children aged 11 to 13 years old who attended middle schools in eastern Ukraine. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the role of self-efficacy in the relationship between child internalizing behaviors (anxiety, depression, and somatic complaints) and exposure to prosocial and antisocial friends among girls and boys. Higher self-efficacy was linked with fewer internalizing symptoms for girls and boys. For both boys and girls, exposure to prosocial friends was not statistically associated with changes in internalizing behaviors. However, girls and boys who reported having more antisocial friends had significantly more internalizing symptoms. For girls, association with a greater number of prosocial friends and fewer antisocial friends has been linked with higher self-efficacy and fewer internalizing symptoms. For boys, having more prosocial friends was also linked with higher self-efficacy and fewer internalizing symptoms; however, there was no statistically significant association between having more antisocial friends and self-efficacy. The study discusses the cultural and gender aspects of child socialization in the context of antisocial and prosocial friends, and the development of internalizing behavior problems.
Positive and Negative Affects and Cultural Attitudes among Representatives of the Host Population and Second-Generation Migrants in Russia and Kazakhstan
Authors: Shamionov Rail M. , Sultaniyazova Nasiya J. , Bolshakova Alina S.
Published: October 2022

The experience of experiencing a new culture for first-generation migrants is usually quite an intense occurrence, one that has become the subject of numerous studies. However, the question of what happens later, at the level of the second and subsequent generations, is still under-investigated. The purpose of this study was to analyze the predictors of positive and negative affect of the second generation of migrants and representatives of the host (indigenous) population in Kazakhstan and Russia. The study involved 300 people selected on the basis of the principle of proportionality (quota selection). Survey methods and mathematical methods of data processing, including SEM (structural equation modeling), were used. The research model included comparative analysis of averages, regression analysis, and path analysis. The results testified in favor of the similarity of positive and negative affect indicators and their ratios in representatives of the host community and the second generation of migrants. Cultural attitudes of the host community representatives were characterized by higher certainty and rigidity than those of the representatives of the second generation of migrants. As a result of structural modeling, it was found that 20% of the positive affect dispersion in the representatives of the host community and 17% in the representatives of the second generation of migrants were conditioned by values, identity, and cultural attitudes. Positive affect in the representatives of the host community was associated with the values of self-overcoming, ethno-nihilism-based identity, and participation in cultural life of other peoples. Positive affect in representatives of the second generation of migrants was associated with the values of openness, attitude towards changing one’s ethnic identity, positive attitude towards cultural borrowings, and a tendency to observe the traditions of one’s ethnic group. Proposals have been formulated that contribute to reducing the cultural disunity of second-generation migrants and the host population.
Towards Sustainable Maize Production: Understanding the Morpho-Physiological, Genetics, and Molecular Mechanisms for Tolerance to Low Soil Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium
Authors: Gaikpa David Sewordor , Opata John , Mpanga Isaac Kwadwo
Published: October 2022

Maize is one of the globally most important cereal crops used for food, feed and fuel. It requires optimum soil nutrients such as Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) for proper growth and development as well as for tolerance to biotic and other abiotic stresses. Yield potentials are not met under suboptimal soil fertility. One of the innovations that can reduce environmental impacts of continuous fertilization and lower the cost of maize production under low soil nutrient conditions is the development and use of tolerant cultivars. This paper provides spotlights on the following: (1) morphology and physiology of root and shoot systems; (2) genetics and genomics; and (3) transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome profiles, to elucidate maize tolerance to low amounts of soil nutrients, N, P, and K. Maize cultivars having deeper rooting structure, more lateral roots, dense roots, and high root exudates are more tolerant to N, P, and K limited conditions. Cultivars that are tolerant to N, P, and K stress (low) have high nutrient use efficiency, good photosynthetic and translocation activity that support high aboveground shoot weight under suboptimal N, P, and K conditions. Maize tolerance to N, P, and K stress (low) is quantitative, and mainly controlled by additive genes. Maize cultivar development and dissemination programs can exploit the mechanisms highlighted in this review.
A Grid-Tied Inverter with Renewable Energy Source Integration in an Off-Grid System with a Functional Experimental Prototype
Authors: Zelba Mantas , Deveikis Tomas , Barakauskas Justinas , Baronas Artūras , Gudžius Saulius , Jonaitis Audrius , Giannakis Andreas
Published: October 2022

Renewable energy implementation in residential-scale grid-connected systems is already popular, and the growth of such systems is increasing every year. Grid-connected solar systems are relatively simple to install and operate; in addition, such power plants are relatively inexpensive compared to other renewable sources and grid-connection options. However, most residential grid-connected system owners believe that they will become independent from a distribution system operator (DSO) once a renewable energy source (RES) becomes available. As a rule, after installation, without DSOs, grid-connected systems are typically shut down due to a faulty grid, despite RES availability; therefore, such RES grid-connected system owners at later phases aim to become at least partially independent of DSOs. After such a change, the importance of developing a grid-tied inverter connection to an off-grid system will increase. While developing such a system connection the main issue analyzed in this paper is to control the excess power without affecting the accumulated energy levels in a system. As a result, a solution for such a system structure is presented with its main advantage to control excess power without affecting the accumulated energy level.
Narrative Insights Reveal the Motivations of Young Agricultural Entrepreneurs in Laos
Authors: Thephavanh Manithaythip , Philp Joshua Neil Monty , Nuberg Ian , Denton Matthew , Alexander Kim
Published: October 2022

The participation of youth in agricultural entrepreneurship (agripreneurship) is beneficial for the sustainable development of agrarian societies that are transitioning towards the commercialization of agriculture. Accordingly, we investigated the phenomena that motivate practicing young, small- and medium-scale agripreneurs to pursue their careers, using the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) as a case study. To achieve this, we applied narrative inquiry techniques to the accounts of 74 young Laotian agripreneurs regarding their entry into agripreneurship. This enabled us to identify and describe common and influential paradigms that were subsequently interpreted from the perspective of entrepreneurship and behavioral studies of career decision making to explain the influence of motivations on the young agripreneurs. Our study has shown that despite the characteristics that set agripreneurship in Laos apart from entrepreneurship in general, commonly identified typologies of entrepreneurial motivation, particularly income, extrinsic benefits and emotional paradigms also motivate Lao youth to become agripreneurs. The application of narrative inquiry has revealed the emphasis some practicing agripreneurs in Laos place on the attainability of their career, which resulted in its practice by both opportunity-driven and necessity-driven entrepreneurs, with implications for the sustainable development of other countries in transition to commercial agriculture.
A Pilot Study on Reproduction and Sustainable Development under the Promotion of Crafts: Taking Weaving in Taiwan as an Example
Authors: Sun Yikang , Lin His-Yen , Lin Rungtai
Published: October 2022

Taiwan’s crafts have a long history and distinctive characteristics. Crafting faces many challenges, such as the lack of new involvement and how to achieve sustainable development. This study takes Taiwanese weaving as an example. Employing a qualitative research method, this study focuses on measures that will help achieve sustainable development. After reviewing the humanistic approaches toward and values of craftsmanship, a conceptual model of communication and cognition between craftsmen and the public is constructed using communication theory. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with three craftsmen in the field of weaving. The findings indicate that the tenacity and connotations of Taiwanese crafts have been well protected. The question of how to make it sustainable has become increasingly more important. Three features were identified that may be important considerations to make for future development efforts: (1) emphasizing the cultivation of craftsmanship education; (2) keeping pace with the times so that handicrafts continue to transform; and (3) letting the crafts better reflect the true meaning of life. Future studies will further validate the results of this study, avoiding too few respondents or the limitations of subjective opinions.
Digital Skills as a Significant Factor of Human Resources Development
Authors: Stofkova Jana , Poliakova Adela , Stofkova Katarina Repkova , Malega Peter , Krejnus Matej , Binasova Vladimira , Daneshjo Naqibullah
Published: October 2022

Digital technologies play a key role in reviving the world economy. The EU has pledged to combine recovery support with resilient digital transformation. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the lack of digitization in Slovakia and the shortcomings of digital skills in citizens and communication with institutions. Digital skills are important and should form part of educational policy. ICT skills can help people succeed in the labour market and improve communication with public administration. Digitization and globalization increase the importance to communicate through the Internet, applications, and other e-based gadgets. Digital skills are one of the essential parts of e-Government, so people can use e-Government services in communication with public administration. The current crisis is affecting citizens’ use of online services. Indices concerning the digital economy are analysed, such as the digital economy and society index DESI and e-Government digital skills (EGDI) from 2018 to 2021 revealed a stagnant state in 2018 and 2019, and in 2020, there was a decrease in basic digital skills. The next index is E-Government Digital Index. It focuses on human capital and digital skills in these indices. The paper analyses and identifies the digital skills of citizens in the context of e-Government development and describes the use of e-Government services by EU citizens with a focus on the Slovak Republic. The data were collected through a questionnaire survey of Slovak Republic citizens’ digital skills according to selected categories, the use of e-Government services as well as awareness of e-Government services. Solutions that improve e-Government in the Slovak Republic are gradually being implemented. Improving digital skills according to the National Coalition for Digital Skills and Professions in the Slovak Republic is one of the priorities of The Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, which has adopted an action plan for 2019–2022 to improve the results in the DESI index by 2025 and focus on the digital skills required by employers. The survey revealed that in Slovakia, the majority of schools offer only weak support for digital education (about the EU-27 average of 68% and 45%, respectively). The research also revealed a decreased level of digital literacy among young people. These competencies are very important to gain a position in the labour market in the digital society. The projects aim to support the development of digital skills of primary and secondary school students, and the integration of new technologies into teaching.
Use of RPA Images in the Mapping of the Chlorophyll Index of Coffee Plants
Authors: Santos Luana Mendes dos , Ferraz Gabriel Araújo e Silva , Carvalho Milene Alves de Figueiredo , Teodoro Sabrina Aparecida , Campos Alisson André Vicente , Menicucci Neto Pedro
Published: October 2022

Coffee trading is an important source of income for the Brazilian commercial balance. Chlorophyll (Chl) are pigments responsible for converting radiation into energy; these pigments are closely related to the photosynthetic efficiency of plants, and the evaluation of the nutritional status of the coffee tree. The inversion method can be used for estimating the canopy chlorophyll content (Chlcanopy) using the leaf chlorophyll content (Chlleaf) and the leaf area index (LAI). The application of vegetation indices (VIs) in high spatial resolution images obtained from remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) can assist in the characterization of Chlcanopy in addition to providing vital and fast information for monitoring crops and aiding decision-making. This study aimed to identify which VIs adequately explain the Chl and evaluate the relationships between the VIs obtained from remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) images and the Chlleaf and Chlcanopy in coffee plants during the wet and dry seasons. The experiment was conducted on a Coffea arabica L. plantation in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Images were collected on 26 November 2019 (wet), 11 August 2020 (dry), and 26 August 2021 (dry) by a multispectral camera embedded in a quadcopter. Plant height (H), crow diameter (D), and Chlleaf (a, b and total) data were collected in the field by a metre ruler (H and D) and sensor (Chlleaf). The LAI was calculated based on H and D. The Chlcanopy (a, b, and total) was calculated based on Chlleaf and LAI. The image processing was performed in Pix4D software, and postprocessing and calculation of the 21 VIs were performed in QGIS. Statistical analyses (descriptive, statistical tests, Pearson correlation, residuals calculation, and linear regression) were performed using the software R. The VIs from the RPA that best correlates to Chlcanopy in the wet season were the Modified Chlorophyll Absorption Ratio Index 2 (MCARI2RPA), Modified Simple Ratio (MSRRPA) and Simple Ratio (SRRPA). These VIs had high sensitivity and, therefore, were more affected by chlorophyll variability. For the two dry season studied days, there were no patterns in the relationships between Chlleaf, Chlcanopy, and the VIs. It was possible to use the Chl inversion method for the coffee during the wet season.
Investigating Green Financing Factors to Entice Private Sector Investment in Renewables via Digital Media: Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development in the Post-COVID-19 Era
Authors: Rana Muhammad Waqas , Zhang Sufang , Ali Shahid , Hamid Iqra
Published: October 2022

Funding for developing-country investments in renewable energy sources has been considered an essential factor for sustainable development after COVID-19. Solar energy investments can be very beneficial in reducing fossil fuel usage. A poll of investors, stakeholders, industry experts, and media personalities in Pakistan was used to gather data for this study, which examines individual investors’ intentions to invest in solar energy. This study’s primary objective is to enhance investment intention connected with investment in solar energy projects after COVID-19. Investing in solar power projects in the post-COVID-19 period is the focus of this study. To evaluate the study’s hypotheses, we used partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). We used the purposive sampling technique for data collection in this study. The findings show that attitudes, subjective norms, perceived investment attitudes, and evaluations of the regulatory framework influence one’s willingness to invest in renewable energy initiatives. The study identified a correlation between environmental concern, financial rewards, and investing behavior. Investors’ desire to make these kinds of investments was found to be unaffected by risk aversion. According to the data, regulatory framework evaluation is the most significant determinant. Previous research that looked at investment behavior or other forms of pro-environmental intention or behavior came to different conclusions. In addition, this study examined how the theory of planned behavior (TPB) influences investors’ intentions to invest in solar energy by evaluating the regulatory environment. The study results show that people’s attitudes and perceptions of energy efficiency indirectly impact their willingness to invest in solar power. Subjective norms do not influence investors’ plans to put money into solar energy. Policymakers will benefit from this study’s realistic advice on how to increase solar energy investments.
Green Buildings as a Necessity for Sustainable Environment Development: Dilemmas and Challenges
Authors: Bungau Constantin C. , Bungau Tudor , Prada Ioana Francesca , Prada Marcela Florina
Published: October 2022

Sustainable development encompasses numerous development goals and strategies, with green buildings (GBs) being among the implementations of this concept. The development of GBs is a topic of increasing interest due to the massive development of conventional infrastructure that has the major limitation of environmental degradation, a fact also proven by the research of the scientific literature, with publications in the field enhancing in recent times. Even if strategies applying the GBs concept have many advantages, the public acceptance is not so high due to technologies that still need to be optimized, the relatively low return on investment, and the limited dissemination of information about this concept. Therefore, the manuscript provides a comprehensive assessment in a distinctive way of GBs in the context of sustainable development, clarifying notions and principles of application while integrating green materials and circular economy into the general scientific framework provided. Moreover, a score has been proposed which is assigned to the different types of buildings described, based on the assessment of several specific parameters. This paper provides stakeholders, from designers to occupiers, with a coherent overview of the GB concept and its beneficial role for future generations in order to develop this field by increasing the dissemination of scientific information based on a technical-engineering perspective.
Effect of European Integration on the Competitiveness of the Agricultural Sector in New Member States (EU-13) on the Internal EU Market
Authors: Jarosz-Angowska Aneta , Nowak Anna , Kołodziej Elżbieta , Klikocka Hanna
Published: October 2022

The 2004, 2007, and 2013 enlargement of the EU opened up free trade opportunities, increasing trade flows and demand for products of agriculture. On the one hand, the integration processes have intensified competition between countries, and on the other hand, they have created new opportunities for them. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of European integration on the competitiveness of the agricultural sector in countries that acceded to the EU in or after 2004. The assessment of the competitiveness of the agricultural sector was made using the following indicators: land and labour productivity in agriculture, importance of the agricultural sector in the economy of the EU countries, agricultural trade balance, importance of agricultural export in total export of the EU countries, trade coverage ratio, Grubel–Lloyd intra-industry specialization indicator, and Balassa comparative advantage indicator. The analysis was carried out from 2004 to 2020 with the Eurostat statistical database. The outcome of surveys implies that a gap still exists between the old and the new member states of the European Union (EU) in the efficient utilisation of their production factors, despite an increased dynamics of growth in labour productivity compared with the old member states, the so-called EU-15. The overall competitive position of all EU-13 countries in agricultural trade on the common EU market has improved; however, individual analysis reveals disparities between respective member states. In 2020, net exporters with comparative advantage were Hungary, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Croatia, and net importers with comparative disadvantage included Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Estonia, and Malta. Latvia and Romania improved their competitive position in agricultural trade.
Early Warning for Manufacturing Supply Chain Resilience Based on Improved Grey Prediction Model
Authors: Qi Fangzhong , Zhang Leilei , Zhuo Kexiang , Ma Xiuyan
Published: October 2022

In a dynamic, uncertain environment, increased supply chain resilience can improve business quality. Predicting changes in enterprise supply chain resilience can help enterprises adjust their operational strategy timeously and reduce the risk of supply and demand interruption. First, a comprehensive resilience assessment framework for manufacturing enterprises was constructed from the perspective of the supply chain, and an improved technique for order of preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) method was used to quantify the resilience level. Considering that the resilience index is easily affected by uncertain factors, and this produces large fluctuations, the buffer operator and metabolism idea are introduced to improve the grey prediction model. This improvement can realize dynamic tracking of the enterprise resilience index and evaluate changes in the enterprise resilience level. Finally, through the analysis of the supply chain data of a famous electronic manufacturing enterprise in China over a two-and-a-half-year period, the results show that the improved TOPSIS method and the improved grey prediction model are effective in improving the supply chain resilience of manufacturing enterprises. This study provides a reference method for manufacturing enterprises to improve their supply chain resilience.
Optimization of Snowplow Routes for Real-World Conditions
Authors: Rasul Abdullah , Seo Jaho , Xu Shuoyan , Kwon Tae J. , MacLean Justin , Brown Cody
Published: October 2022

During the winter season, snowplowing has a significant effect on road users as it is critical to winter road maintenance and operations. The main goal of this study is to generate optimal routes for snowplowing trucks for efficient road maintenance. In addition to the conventional problem of reducing travel time and distance, this study also incorporates actual operational constraints, such as minimum maintenance standards and driver safety, to improve the overall efficiency of operations. To achieve the objectives, we first implemented the Chinese Postman Problem (CPP) to create Euler circuits from the initial routes and then identified the shortest paths by applying Dijkstra’s algorithm. Then, the Tabu search algorithm was chosen as a metaheuristic algorithm for the optimization process that finds near-optimal solutions by considering operational constraints for snowplow routes. Unsafe turning conditions and minimum maintenance standards were taken into account in the objective function defined for the optimization process. In simulations, the route obtained by our approach was compared to one with the application of CPP only in terms of travel distance, time, turning conditions, and road maintenance priority.
Multi-Perspective Approach to Building Team Resilience in Project Management—A Case Study in Indonesia
Authors: Hamsal Mohammad , Dwidienawati Diena , Ichsan Mohammad , Syamil Ahmad , Trigunarsyah Bambang
Published: October 2022

Project management teams have to deal with risks and uncertainties from the project portfolio level to the individual level. Furthermore, project complexity adds to the challenges faced by the project management team. Moreover, projects are performed by project management teams comprising various individuals from different backgrounds. While they perform their project tasks, they have to face dynamics in the projects that lead to major challenges or stress and bounce back from negative experiences to be less likely to experience the detrimental effects of intimidating, uncertain situations. This study aims to show the influence of multi-perspective factors on team resilience and to confirm how team resilience influences team performance. A descriptive, quantitative study was conducted to test the six hypotheses of the study. Data collected through purposive sampling and snowball techniques were analyzed using a structural equation model with SmartPLS software version 3.2.9. The finding shows that individual resilience from the individual perspective, team resources, team interactions from the team perspective and organizational practice all have a positive and significant influence on team resilience, but transformational leadership does not. Team resilience has a positive, significant relationship with team performance. Team resilience appears to have had a strong and significant effect on team performance in multiple industries in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research implications and suggestions for future research are also given.
Deconstructing the Parent–Child Relationship during the COVID-19 Pandemic through Tech-Wise Outlets Such as the Internet and Media Consumption
Authors: Mindrescu Veronica , Enoiu Razvan-Sandu
Published: October 2022

Undoubtedly, technological developments in modern society have accelerated since the COVID-19 epidemic. When social distancing was required, technology and the Internet made it easier for adults and children to communicate. Nevertheless, it is generally recognized that social isolation can result in social network addiction. Consequently, family ties including those between parents and children evolved, as parents tried to blend their jobs and personal lives while also becoming teachers, babysitters, and playdate hosts. No studies have looked at how the lockdown has affected these relationships. Therefore, the current study aims to investigate how parenting, media consumption, and the use of constant technology can affect parent–child relationships. Toward this aim, a structural equation model (SEM) incorporating three parenting styles (permissive, authoritative, neglectful, and authoritarian) was then run. The model displayed excellent fit for adoption. Technology use was thusly predicted by the interaction between parents and children, which successively predicted the relationship between children and school. Hence, a positive relationship between permissive parenting style and family relationships with technology emerged. The new study helps us understand how family relationships, as well as technology and education attitudes, have changed through time.
A Layer-Based Relaxation Approach for Service Network Design
Authors: Diao Xudong , Gao Ai , Jin Xin , Chen Hui
Published: October 2022

Service-network design in transportation applications has attracted much scientific attention due to the rapid growth of online shopping. Practical service-network planning tools could help express service providers in minimizing the total cost while improving service levels. Efficient service network design is a requirement for sustainable logistical development. Express delivery has substantial negative environmental impacts, and service network design minimizes the environmental impact by reducing energy consumption costs. This paper addresses the service network design problem, which integrates a heterogeneous fleet of vehicles for vehicle dispatching in a consolidation-based time–space network to reflect the express service scenarios. Due to the NP-hard nature of this problem, we designed a layer-based relaxation algorithm to solve large-scale applications. The relaxation method relaxes and fixes the network structure on a layer-by-layer basis, and the computational experience confirms the effectiveness and efficiency of the relaxation algorithm. The solution time and quality are both improved significantly.
Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Sustainability Aspects among Higher Education Students in Qatar
Authors: Al-Nuaimi Shaikha R. , Al-Ghamdi Sami G.
Published: October 2022

Sustainable development necessitates that societies design activities to meet human needs while protecting the planet’s life-support systems in consideration of depleting natural resources and concern for the state of the resources and climate. Sustainable development emphasizes the conservation and enhancement of natural resources by modifying how they are utilized, highlighting the role of nations in meeting their basic needs for employment, food, energy, and water. Higher education institutions (HEI), such as universities, should be able to produce a workforce that satisfies the demand for competent stakeholders and contributes to the successful implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by integrating Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and sustainability principles into their institutional strategy and organizational culture. This research evaluates the sustainability consciousness of higher education students and the effect of ESD on higher education students in Qatar. The study employs the sustainability consciousness questionnaire (SCQ) to assess HEI students’ sustainable development knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors while considering educational system characteristics such as curriculum, community, and the campus. The questionnaire was distributed among students from different fields and universities in Qatar. Results were analyzed using statistical tools to show that over 80% grasp sustainability-related knowledge. This value gradually decreases in attitudes and behaviors based on evaluating the pro-sustainability student responses. Further, over 60% of the surveyed students indicate external factors excluding the educational system characteristics to have the most profound effect on providing and developing the student’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards sustainable development. Understanding the current state of sustainability education in HEI can lead to an improved preparation of the global youth with the necessary skills to meet the sustainability challenges and to be involved in establishing and sustaining long-term progress that can aid in achieving SDG goals and drive sustainability action.
Decomposition of Formic Acid and Acetic Acid into Hydrogen Using Graphitic Carbon Nitride Supported Single Metal Catalyst
Authors: Isahak Wan Nor Roslam Wan , Kamaruddin Muhammad Nizam , Ramli Zatil Amali Che , Ahmad Khairul Naim , Al-Azzawi Waleed Khalid , Al-Amiery Ahmed
Published: October 2022

In a combination of generation and storage of hydrogen gas, both formic acid (FA) and acetic acid (AA) have been notified as efficient hydrogen carriers. This study was conducted to synthesize the monometallic catalysts namely palladium (Pd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) on graphitic-carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and to study the potential of these catalysts in FA and mixed formic acid (FA)-acetic acid (AA) decomposition reaction. Several parameters have been studied in this work such as the type of active metals, temperature, and metal loadings. The mass percentage of Pd, Cu, and Zn metal used in this experiment are 1, 3, and 5 wt%, respectively. At low temperature of 30 °C, 5 wt% Pd/g-C3N4 catalyst yielded higher volume of gas with 3.3 mL, instead of other Pd percentage loadings. However, at higher temperature of 70 °C and 98% FA concentration, Pd with 1 wt%, 3 wt%, and 5 wt% of loading over g-C3N4 has successfully produced optimum gas (H2 and CO2) of 4.3 mL, 7.4 mL, and 4.5 mL in each reaction, respectively. At higher temperature, Pd metal showed high catalytic performance and the most active element of monometallic system in ambient condition. Meanwhile, at higher percentage of Pd metal, the catalytic decomposition reaction also increased thus producing more gas. However, it can be seen the agglomeration of the particles formed at higher loadings of Pd (5 wt%), and remarkably lowering the catalytic activity at higher temperature, while higher activity at low temperature of 30 °C. The result also showed low catalytic decomposition reaction for Cu and Zn catalyst, due to the small formation of Cu and Zn metal, but presence of high metal oxide (CuO) and (ZnO) promotes the passive layer formation on the catalyst surface.
Spatiotemporal Evolution of Tourism Eco-Efficiency in Major Tourist Cities in China
Authors: An Chaogao , Muhtar Polat , Xiao Zhenquan
Published: October 2022

Tourism development consumes ecological resources to varying extents while bringing economic benefits; tourism eco-efficiency (TEE) assessment has thus become an area of major focus in destination sustainability research. This paper intends to examine the spatiotemporal characteristics and driving factors of eco-efficiency changes in 36 tourist cities on the Chinese mainland from 2010 to 2019, using a super-slacks-based measure (SBM) model, the data envelopment analysis (DEA)–Malmquist index, spatial correlation, and regression analysis. In contrast to the previous work, this work explores TEE among major tourist cities in China by considering the undesirable outputs of carbon emissions and sewage. The results show that (1) the TEE of most cities during the study period was low but increasing; there were significant spatial differences among different cities, and the eco-efficiency of the same city fluctuated over time. (2) The TEE was globally uncorrelated, but low-eco-efficiency areas were adjacent to each other and formed agglomerates, enhancing the negative spillover effect. (3) Despite fluctuations, the Malmquist indices exhibited positive trends, which resulted from the technical progress index rather than the technical efficiency index. (4) Socioeconomic development significantly promoted TEE. This research reveals the evolutionary law of TEE on the urban scale and explores the impact of social and economic development on TEE, which can provide a reference for policymaking and enrich research on destination sustainability.
Can Digital Inclusive Finance Promote Food Security? Evidence from China
Authors: Lin Qiaohua , Dai Xinyi , Cheng Qiuwang , Lin Wenhe
Published: October 2022

Eliminating hunger and ensuring food security is one of the specific goals of sustainable development of the United Nations in 2030, and food production is of great significance to food availability. Based on this, this paper investigates the impact of digital inclusive finance on food security by constructing a fixed effects model using panel data for 30 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2020. The results found that: (1) Digital inclusive finance significantly and positively affects food security, and the results remain robust after robustness tests and endogeneity tests. (2) The scale of farmland operations plays a positive mediating role in the effect of digital inclusive finance on food security, and the level of agricultural machinery positively moderates the effect of digital inclusive finance on food security. (3) Heterogeneity tests show that there is a positive effect of digital inclusive finance on food security in eastern China, and a non-significant effect of digital inclusive finance on food security in central and western regions;. There is a significant positive effect of digital inclusive finance on food security in China’s main grain marketing areas and balanced production and marketing areas, and a non-significant effect of digital inclusive finance on food security in the main grain producing areas.
Seismic Fragility Analysis of Aqueduct Structural Systems Based on G-PCM Method
Authors: Ma Ying , Wu Zebin , Liu Zhongshan , Zhang Mengqing , Aibaidula Mayibair
Published: October 2022

In order to accurately predict the seismic fragility of an aqueduct system, the General Product of Conditional Marginal (G-PCM) method was applied to the seismic fragility analysis of the aqueduct structural system, consisting of interrelated components such as the aqueduct body, pier, and support. First, a finite element dynamic analysis model of a three-span aqueduct with an equidistant simply-supported beam was established, based on the OpenSees platform. The uncertainties of structure, ground motion, and structural capacity were considered, and then the incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) method was used to calculate the seismic fragility of the three individual components, such as the aqueduct pier, the plate rubber bearing at the cap beam, and the PTFE sliding plate bearing at the aqueduct platform. Subsequently, seismic fragility curves of the aqueduct system were established using the G-PCM method and were compared with the traditional second-order bound method. The results showed that the two bearings of the aqueduct are more likely to be damaged than the pier; the failure probability of the aqueduct system is higher than that of any single component; and the seismic fragility curves of the aqueduct system acquired via the G-PCM method were all within the range of the failure probability obtained by the second-order bound method and had a better accuracy, which is suitable for the seismic fragility analysis of multi-failure mode aqueduct systems.
Youth’s Entrepreneurial Intention: A Multinomial Logistic Regression Analysis of the Factors Influencing Greek HEI Students in Time of Crisis
Authors: Ragazou Konstantina , Passas Ioannis , Garefalakis Alexandros , Kourgiantakis Markos , Xanthos George
Published: October 2022

Governments’ coronavirus disease (COVID-19) measures have forced the community to stay at home. During this period, youths have had time to think about their career paths. For some, a conventional eight-hour job in a private company is undesirable; meanwhile, entrepreneurship can mitigate the adverse effects of the crisis, such as unemployment. Accordingly, this study investigates the intention of Greek youths that study in a higher education institution (HEI) to engage in entrepreneurship in times of crisis, and highlights the factors that drive them to enter the business arena. This study designed and distributed a questionnaire to 369 Greek youths who were studying at the University of Thessaly. The data from the empirical research were used to develop a multinomial logistic regression model to investigate youths’ entrepreneurial intention and reveal the driving factors. The results showed that during times of crisis, youths appeared hesitant to enter the business arena. However, those who were more confident indicated that entrepreneurship could provide them with greater satisfaction. Driving factors for engaging in entrepreneurship were family and friends. Inhibiting factors for establishing a new business were having previous work experience in a family business and lack of educational knowledge. This study contributes to the understanding of youths’ entrepreneurial intention and the driving factors that play a key role in shaping this intention in Greece during a crisis period, since there are few studies on this topic.
A Prior Semantic Network for Large-Scale Landcover Change of Landsat Imagery
Authors: Yang Xuan , Bai Yongqing , Chen Pan , Li Cong , Lu Kaixuan , Chen Zhengchao
Published: October 2022

Landcover change can reflect changes in the natural environment and the impact of human activities. Remotely sensed big data with large-scale and multi-temporal key characteristics provide the data support for landcover change information extraction. The development of deep learning provides technical method support for information extraction from remotely sensed big data. However, the current mainstream deep learning change detection methods only establish the changing relationship between two phases of images. They cannot directly extract the ground object categories before and after the change. It is easily affected by pseudo-changes caused by the color difference of multi-temporal images, resulting in many false detections. In this paper, we propose a prior semantic network and a difference enhancement block module to establish prior guidance and constraints on changing features to solve the pseudo-change problem. We propose a semantic-change integrated single-task network, which can simultaneously extract multi-temporal landcover classification and landcover change. On the self-made, large-scale multi-temporal Landsat dataset, we have performed multi-temporal landcover change information extraction, reaching an overall accuracy of 83.1% and achieving state-of-the-art performance. Finally, we thoroughly analyzed the landcover change results in the study area from 2005 to 2020.