bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards the Sea Ice and Wind Measurement by a C-Band Scatterometer at Dual VV/HH Polarization: A Prospective Appraisal
Authors: Nekrasov Alexey , Khachaturian Alena , Labun Ján , Kurdel Pavol , Bogachev Mikhail
Published: October 2020

Following the mission science plan of EPS/Metop-SG C-band scatterometer for 2023–2044, we consider the potential application of the sea ice/water discrimination method based on the minimum statistical distance of the measured normalized radar cross sections (NRCS) to the geophysical model functions (GMF) of the sea ice and water, respectively. The application of the method is considered for the classical spacecraft scatterometer geometry with three fixed fan-beam antennas and the hypothetical prospective scatterometer geometry with the five fixed fan-beam antennas. Joint vertical (VV) and horizontal (HH) transmit and receive polarization are considered for the spaceborne scatterometer geometries. We show explicitly that the hypothetical five fixed fan-beam antenna geometry combined with the dual VV and HH polarization for all antennas provides better estimates of the sea wind speed and direction as well as sea ice/water discrimination during single spacecraft pass. The sea ice/water discrimination algorithms developed for each scatterometer geometry and dual VV/HH polarization are presented. The obtained results can be used to optimize the design of new spaceborne scatterometers and will be beneficial to the forthcoming satellite missions.
Conductance-Based Interface Detection for Multi-Phase Pipe Flow
Authors: Wang Shiyao , Corredor Garcia Jesus Leonardo , Davidson Jonathan , Nichols Andrew
Published: October 2020

Sediment and flow depth monitoring in sewers is important for informing flow models and for predicting and mitigating against sewer blockage formation and surcharge. In this study, a novel sensor based on conductance measurement has been developed and tested under a laboratory environment and validated by a finite-element model. The relative conductance is measured between pairs of adjacent electrodes to provide a conductance profile along the sensor length. A piecewise linear relationship between conductance and electrode length was derived and the interface positions between sediment, water, and air can be determined from the profile. The results demonstrated that the root mean square error of the model and the measured interface level are within 1.4% and 2.6% of sensor’s measurement range. An error distribution of interface height shows that all anticipated errors are within the resolution of the electrode length increments. Furthermore, it was found that the conductivity of the measured medium is proportional to the gradient of the linear relationship of conductance and electrode length. It could therefore prove a valuable new tool for the accurate quantification of sediment and flow levels in sewer conduits, coastal environments, drainage systems for transport networks, and other industrial or academic applications.
Quantum Strategic Organizational Design: Alignment in Industry 4.0 Complex-Networked Cyber-Physical Lean Management Systems
Authors: Villalba-Diez Javier , Zheng Xiaochen
Published: October 2020

The strategic design of organizations in an environment where complexity is constantly increasing, as in the cyber-physical systems typical of Industry 4.0, is a process full of uncertainties. Leaders are forced to make decisions that affect other organizational units without being sure that their decisions are the right ones. Previously to this work, genetic algorithms were able to calculate the state of alignment of industrial processes that were measured through certain key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure that the leaders of the Industry 4.0 make decisions that are aligned with the strategic objectives of the organization. However, the computational cost of these algorithms increases exponentially with the number of KPIs. That is why this work makes use of the principles of quantum computing to present the strategic design of organizations from a novel point of view: Quantum Strategic Organizational Design (QSOD). The effectiveness of the application of these principles is shown with a real case study, in which the computing time is reduced from hundreds of hours to seconds. This has very powerful practical applications for industry leaders, since, with this new approach, they can potentially allow a better understanding of the complex processes underlying the strategic design of organizations and, above all, make decisions in real-time.
Development of a Colorimetric Sensor for Autonomous, Networked, Real-Time Application
Authors: Johnson Brandy J. , Malanoski Anthony P. , Erickson Jeffrey S.
Published: October 2020

This review describes an ongoing effort intended to develop wireless sensor networks for real-time monitoring of airborne targets across a broad area. The goal is to apply the spectrophotometric characteristics of porphyrins and metalloporphyrins in a colorimetric array for detection and discrimination of changes in the chemical composition of environmental air samples. The work includes hardware, software, and firmware design as well as development of algorithms for identification of event occurrence and discrimination of targets. Here, we describe the prototype devices and algorithms related to this effort as well as work directed at selection of indicator arrays for use with the system. Finally, we review the field trials completed with the prototype devices and discuss the outlook for further development.
A New Approach for Impedance Tracking of Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvesters Based on a Zeta Converter
Authors: Quattrocchi Antonino , Montanini Roberto , De Caro Salvatore , Panarello Saverio , Scimone Tommaso , Foti Salvatore , Testa Antonio
Published: October 2020

Piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) are a reduced, but fundamental, source of power for embedded, remote, and no-grid connected electrical systems. Some key limits, such as low power density, poor conversion efficiency, high internal impedance, and AC output, can be partially overcome by matching their internal electrical impedance to that of the applied resistance load. However, the applied resistance load can vary significantly in time, since it depends on the vibration frequency and the working temperature. Hence, a real-time tracking of the applied impedance load should be done to always harvest the maximum energy from the PEH. This paper faces the above problem by presenting an active control able to track and follow in time the optimal working point of a PEH. It exploits a non-conventional AC–DC converter, which integrates a single-stage DC–DC Zeta converter and a full-bridge active rectifier, controlled by a dedicated algorithm based on pulse-width modulation (PWM) with maximum power point tracking (MPPT). A prototype of the proposed converter, based on discrete components, was created and experimentally tested by applying a sudden variation of the resistance load, aimed to emulate a change in the excitation frequency from 30 to 70 Hz and a change in the operating temperature from 25 to 50 °C. Results showed the effectiveness of the proposed approach, which allowed to match the optimal load after 0.38 s for a ΔR of 47 kΩ and after 0.15 s for a ΔR of 18 kΩ.
Analysis of Intermodal Transport Potentials for Vegetables Export from Southeast Spain
Authors: Pérez-Mesa Juan Carlos , Aballay Lucía , Serrano-Arcos Mª , Sánchez-Fernández Raquel
Published: October 2020

This work studies the viability of intermodal transport of horticultural products from southeast Spain to the rest of Europe. This sector has an exportation turnover of 4100 million € and accounts for 69% of total Spanish exports and 35% of the consumption of vegetables in the European Union. The transportation services for the sector are carried out entirely by refrigerated trucks. Due to increased cost, transit limitations, and the strategic dependence on only one transport mode, it is necessary to seek out alternative logistics formulas. In this sense, intermodal transport could be a good option as it can reduce cost and the environmental impact of transport. This paper analyzes the problems involved in using intermodality by conducting a survey among exporters with the additional goal of looking for viable routes using road + short sea shipping. The impact of the transport modal shift on exports is also analyzed using a gravity model. The results show that the route from southeast Spain to the United Kingdom is the most viable. What is more, this strategy can increase exports to this country by reducing transport costs. In general, intermodality can help improve the competitiveness of the Spanish horticultural export sector.
Fiscal Sustainability in the European Countries: A Panel ARDL Approach and a Dynamic Panel Threshold Model
Authors: Ramos-Herrera María del Carmen , Prats María A.
Published: October 2020

We analyze the fiscal sustainability hypothesis for a panel of 20 European Union countries from 2000 to 2019. In particular, we employ new econometric methodologies that, to the best of our knowledge, are applied for the first time to the study of sovereign fiscal policy sustainability in these economies. Specifically, we estimate the panel ARDL technique, distinguishing between short- and long-run coefficients because the order of integration of our variables is not the same. Moreover, a panel threshold model with endogeneity is considered to investigate whether, departing from a particular threshold, there is different behavior between the government primary balance and public debt, both taken as a ratio of potential GDP. Finally, the panel Granger causality test is implemented to determine the direction of causality or the existence of bidirectional causality.
Future-Proofing the High-Performance Organization
Authors: de Waal André , Linthorst Julie
Published: October 2020

The future of work is one of the most crucial platforms currently for business leaders as organizations have to prepare themselves to adequately deal with megatrends and disruptors in their technical and physical environments. At the same time, megatrends and disruptors can present both business opportunities and threats. The research question this study dealt with was: How should high-performance organizations (HPOs) address megatrends and disruptors in such a way that they can secure sustainable performance? Thirteen megatrends and one disruptor were matched with the characteristics of HPOs, making use of the HPO Framework, which distinguishes five characteristics (management quality, openness and action orientation, long-term orientation, continuous improvement and renewal, employee quality), for mapping the predicted impact the megatrends and disruptor will have on HPOs. From this mapping exercise, clear opportunities and threats emerged for which solutions, i.e., courses of action to deal with the threats or take advantage of the opportunities, were identified from the literature. These courses of action will help leaders of HPOs in priority-setting and decision-making when making strategic plans and choosing solutions for their own organizations. Unfortunately, this study revealed that academic literature currently falls short at suggesting courses of action that organizations can use to deal with many of the megatrends and disruptors. This result creates an urgent call for in-depth academic research into ways that organizations, and specifically HPOs, should deal with the future of work changes as these courses of action have to be incorporated in future strategies such that they stay relevant for the daily practice of organizations.
Serious Games as an Engaging Medium on Building Energy Consumption: A Review of Trends, Categories and Approaches
Authors: Wu Xianfeng , Liu Shuli , Shukla Ashish
Published: October 2020

Serious games, as an engaging medium on energy consumption, have recently become more popular, as they present an educational mechanism to engage end-users. A novel application of serious games in engaging and educating end-users has been validated during the last years. However, there is little research focusing on the review of its development trends, categories and approaches. The proposed paper reviews serious games as an engaging medium for building energy consumption. The research focuses on the role of energy-consumption awareness-related education in motivating end-users to save energy and make informed decisions to change energy-related behaviours. This research stresses the approaches to underlining the issue as ascertained from a number of efficiency-related serious games. The investigation suggests the potential impact that serious games can have on changing the domestic practices of householders, in a safe, fun and interactive environment. This would enable householders to investigate alternative ways of meeting energy-consumption targets and realise the limits to their energy-saving potential. It concludes that at present, serious games do not take advantage of the opportunities available in energy monitoring and sub-metering, or real-life energy behaviours. Meanwhile, the existing evaluation framework for the effectiveness of an energy serious game still needs to be further developed. However, active engagement in energy monitoring has contributed to numerous past successes in energy use reduction, and gamification and serious games show great potential for building upon these achievements.
The Effects of Abusive Supervision and Motivational Preference on Employees’ Innovative Behavior
Authors: Tian Jian , Peng Yan , Zhou Xing
Published: October 2020

Individual innovative behavior has an important relationship with the sustainable development of an organization. Thus, mostly drawing on social cognitive theory, this study examined the relationship between abusive supervision and employees’ innovative behavior, focusing on the mediating role of creative self-efficacy and the moderating role of motivational preference. In an analysis of time-lagged data from three technological, innovation-based enterprises in Shenzhen, this study found that abusive supervision was negatively related to employees’ innovative behavior and that this relationship was mediated by creative self-efficacy. Moreover, motivational preference was found to moderate this relationship as well as that between abusive supervision and creative self-efficacy. Employees with higher levels of motivational preference (i.e., intrinsic motivational preference weighs more than extrinsic motivational preference) are more vulnerable to abusive supervision, causing lower creative self-efficacy performance and less innovative behavior. Alternately, employees with lower levels of motivational preference (i.e., extrinsic motivational preference weighs more than intrinsic motivational preference) are less vulnerable to abusive supervision, thus resulting in a weaker negative relationship between abusive supervision and their creative self-efficacy and innovative behavior.
The Sustainable Use of Cotton, Hazelnut and Ground Peanut Waste in Vegetable Crop Production
Authors: Petropoulos Spyridon A. , Fernandes Ângela , Plexida Sofia , Pereira Carla , Dias Maria Inês , Calhelha Ricardo , Chrysargyris Antonios , Tzortzakis Nikolaos , Petrović Jovana , Soković Marina D. , Ferreira Isabel C. F. R. , Barros Lillian
Published: October 2020

The environmental burden from crop production byproducts is gradually increasing and necessitates the sustainable management of waste towards a circular economy approach. In the present study, three byproducts (cotton ginning waste (CGW), ground hazelnut husks (GHH) and ground peanut husks (GPH)) were evaluated in lettuce cultivation. For this purpose, the tested materials were incorporated in soil at two different rates (25% and 50% of total substrate volume) while a control treatment (no addition of byproducts) was also considered. Fresh weight per plant and total yield was the highest for the GHH50% treatment. The highest fat, protein, carbohydrates and energy content were observed for the CGW25% treatment. Chemical composition also differed among the tested byproducts where CGW25% treatment had the highest total tocopherols, sugars (sucrose, fructose, trehalose and total sugars) and organic acids content. The most abundant fatty acids were α-linolenic, linoleic and palmitic acid in all the tested treatments, while the highest antioxidant activity was observed for the GHH50% treatment. Regarding polyphenols, phenolic acids content was the highest in the GHH treatments, whereas flavonoids were the highest for the CGW25% treatment. No cytotoxicity against the PLP2 non-tumor cell line was observed, whereas only the GPH50% treatment showed moderate efficacy against HeLa, HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines. The tested extracts also showed moderate antibacterial activities and only the extracts from the CGW50% treatment were more effective than the positive control against Trichoderma viride. In conclusion, the present results showed the great potential of using the tested byproducts as soil amendments for vegetable crops production, since they may improve the nutritional parameters, the chemical profile and the bioactivities of the final product. The suggested alternative use of the tested byproducts not only will increase the added value of crops but will also alleviate the environmental burden from bulky agroindustry byproducts.
Higher Education Students’ Assessments towards Gamification and Sustainability: A Case Study
Authors: Santos-Villalba María Jesús , Leiva Olivencia Juan José , Navas-Parejo Magdalena Ramos , Benítez-Márquez María Dolores
Published: October 2020

Some academics are pushing for teaching staff to implement didactical practices to obtain sustainable behavior. Moreover, a fundamental element of gamification in all educational stages is the noteworthy effect it has on student motivation. In our study, we examined higher education students’ assessments in the University of Malaga on the design of educational gamification and the teaching criteria that relate to gamification, and its effect on student’s motivation, the applications of gamification, and the attitude towards sustainability. A questionnaire was administered to students studying for degrees in education from the University of Malaga. A total of 187 valid surveys were obtained. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was computed for these data based on an exploratory–confirmatory model and using SmartPLS version 3.3.2. A positive relationship between assessment of students’ motivation and sustainability attitude was found. We found that the opinions of the students about the role of their training and teaching design material in education would affect students’ motivation and the sustainability behavior, although the power of this last construct is moderate.
Gender Differences in Wage, Social Support, and Job Satisfaction of Public Sector Employees
Authors: Yang Seung Hee , Jeong Byung Yong
Published: October 2020

This study aims to analyze gender differences in wages, social support, and job satisfaction in the public sector. From the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey data, 2046 subjects were selected as public sector workers. This study analyzed gender differences in the relationships by stepwise regression analysis and mediation model. The results showed that wages were directly affected by education level, followed by work experience and working hours. Also, there were significant gender difference relationships, and males’ wages increased faster than females as education level increased. The social support of females is higher than that of males regardless of wages or educational level, and it is more influenced by the level of education than that of wages. However, there was no gender difference in the regression equation of social support and wage on job satisfaction. Bridging gender gaps in the workplace is a crucial component of inclusive and sustainable growth. This study substantially contributes to the existing knowledge of gender differences, such as regression analysis and new findings.
Performance Analyses of Temperature Controls by a Network-Based Learning Controller for an Indoor Space in a Cold Area
Authors: Ahn Jonghoon
Published: October 2020

For the sustainable use of building spaces, various methods have been studied to satisfy specific conditions required by the characteristics of space types and the energy use in operation. However, several effective control approaches adopting the latest statistical tools may have problems such as higher control precision increases energy consumption, or lower energy consumption decreases their control precision. This study proposes an optimized model to reach the indoor set-point temperature by controlling the amount of heating supply air and its temperature and investigates the efficiency of an adaptive controller to maintain indoor thermal comfort within setting ranges. In the consistency of the comfort level, the fuzzy logic controller was found to be 1.76% and the artificial neural network controller to be 17.83%, respectively, more efficient than the conventional thermostat. In addition, for energy use efficiency, both of the controllers were confirmed to be over 3.0% more efficient. Consequently, the network-based controller with the adaptive controller checking comfort levels effectively works to improve both energy efficiency and thermal comfort. This improvement can be significant in places such as commercial high-rises, large hospitals, and data centers where many spaces are intensively woven with appropriate thermal environments to maintain users’ workability.
The Effect of Students’ Experience with the Transition from Primary to Secondary School on Self-Regulated Learning and Motivation
Authors: Uka Ana , Uka Arban
Published: October 2020

The transition from primary to secondary school is more successful when students’ learning is consistent. Students are also more likely to enjoy school, engage with learning, and have a high academic achievement in secondary school when they feel motivated. This is a critical aspect, especially in cases in which global pandemic situations allow only online schooling opportunities. Students that are away from school lack the traditional sources of motivation and self-regulated learning skills; thus, research is needed to identify other important factors that can be developed in remote settings. The aim of this study was to find out how students perceive their experience with the transition from primary to secondary school and how such a transition influences students’ self-regulated learning (SRL) and motivation. Self-reported data were collected during the COVID-19 breakout from a total of n = 80 sixth and seventh grade students aged 12–14 years old. The results showed that students had a successful transition, especially when they were supported by their parents and teachers. Next, bivariate Pearson correlation analysis indicated that students’ perceptions about their experience with the transition from primary to secondary school, their self-regulated learning, and their motivation were significantly correlated. No gender differences were found among any of the main study variables. Teachers can foster students’ SRL skills by implementing effective teaching methods and by guiding them towards SRL-enhancing techniques.
Investigating Sequence Patterns of Collaborative Problem-Solving Behavior in Online Collaborative Discussion Activity
Authors: Zheng Yafeng , Bao Haogang , Shen Jun , Zhai Xuesong
Published: October 2020

Collaborative problem solving (CPS) is an influential human behavior affecting working performance and well-being. Previous studies examined CPS behavior from the perspective of either social or cognitive dimensions, which leave a research gap from the interactive perspective. In addition, the traditional sequence analysis method failed to combine time sequences and sub-problem sequences together while analyzing behavioral patterns in CPS. This study proposes a developed schema for the multidimensional analysis of CPS. A combination sequential analysis approach that comprises time sequences and sub-problem sequences is also employed to explore CPS patterns. A total of 191 students were recruited and randomly grouped into 38 teams (four to six students per team) in the online collaborative discussion activity. Their discussion transcripts were coded while they conducted CPS, followed by the assessment of high- and low- performance groups according to the developed schema and sequential analysis. With the help of the new analysis method, the findings indicate that a deep exploratory discussion is generated from conflicting viewpoints, which promotes improved problem-solving outcomes and perceptions. In addition, evidence-based rationalization can motivate collaborative behavior effectively. The results demonstrated the potential power of automatic sequential analysis with multidimensional behavior and its ability to provide quantitative descriptions of group interactions in the investigated threaded discussions.
Estimating Invasion Dynamics with Geopolitical Unit-Level Records: The Optimal Method Depends on Irregularity and Stochasticity of Spread
Authors: Liang Wanwan , Tran Liem , Grant Jerome , Srivastava Vivek
Published: October 2020

Biological invasions are an ongoing threat for sustainability of ecosystems, and estimating the spread of invasive species is critical for making management decisions. Geopolitical unit-level data (GULD) are often used to estimate invasions due to their wide availability, and researchers had evaluated the abilities of multiple methods to estimate invasion with GULD. However, earlier studies were case based and only addressed limited information on the spread, thus making it inadequate to determine which method to choose to estimate invasions with GULD under various spread scenarios. Here, we conducted a simulation study to (1) evaluate performances of eight methods on estimating expansion patterns, spread rates, and spread dynamics of invasive species with GULD; (2) assess the impact of size and homogeneity of size of geopolitical unit on the estimations by studied methods; (3) evaluate the similarities of all studied methods. Additionally, we presented a concave hull boundary displacement method (Ctd_BD) and an area-based regression method (SqrtNA_R) to estimate spread with GULD. Three regions with varying sizes of counties in the United States (U.S.) were selected to conduct the simulations, and three spread scenarios and three expansion patterns were simulated. AIC, and R2 and root mean square error (RMSE) were used to evaluate the accuracy of methods on estimating expansion pattern, and overall spread rate and spread dynamics, respectively. Correlation coefficient and RMSE were used to assess the similarity of eight methods. We found Ctd_BD and area-based regression methods consistently estimated the right expansion patterns. Boundary displacement and area-based regression methods estimated highly correlated spread rates and dynamics. Distance-based regression methods provided a high accuracy on estimating overall spread rate without long-distance jump dispersal but performed poorly on estimating the spread dynamics. We recommend boundary displacement method, especially Ctd_BD, for estimating spread with GULD, whereas for spread without clear infestation boundaries, distance-based regression can be used to estimate overall spread rate and area-based regression can be used to estimate spread dynamics.
Construction and Empirical Research on the Dynamic Provisioning Model of China’s Banking Sector under the Macro-Prudential Framework
Authors: Hui Xiaofeng , Zhang Aoran
Published: October 2020

Since the international financial crisis in 2008, to achieve the political goal of financial stability, academic circles, financial industry, and regulatory authorities worldwide have deeply reflected on the current economic regulatory theories and policy adjustment tools through introducing the macroprudential policy. The dynamic provisioning system is a counter-cyclical policy tool in the macro-prudential adjustment framework widely used in the world. This paper uses the binary Gaussian Copula function to combine the measurement method of the default distance in the contingent claims analysis method with the risk warning idea based on the Probit model and proposes the contingent claims analysis (CCA)–Probit–Copula dynamic provisioning model based on nine forward-looking indicators. Based on China’s actual conditions, this model solves present problems faced by the current dynamic provisioning system in China, such as insufficient historical credit data reserves of commercial banks, excessive reliance on subjective judgments, and conflicts with the current accounting system. Moreover, this model can put forward corresponding counter-cyclical provisioning requirements according to the influence degree of macro-cyclical factors to different commercial banks’ own default risk, which not only takes into account the security and liquidity of commercial banks, but also ensures their profitability and competitiveness. Based on the empirical test of historical data from listed commercial banks in China, it proves that the dynamic provisioning requirements proposed in this model can effectively adjust the overall credit scale of the banking industry in counter-cyclical ways, thereby achieving the policy goals of counter-cyclical adjustment under the macro-prudential framework and maintaining the security of China’s financial system and the sustainable development of the macroeconomy.
Assessment of Soil Erosion Using the RUSLE Model for the Epworth District of the Harare Metropolitan Province, Zimbabwe
Authors: Marondedze Andrew K. , Schütt Brigitta
Published: October 2020

Urban development without adequate soil erosion control measures is becoming a major environmental concern in developing urban areas across Africa. These environmental disturbances encompass rampart Land Use and Land Cover changes (LULC) due to a high population growth rate and increased economic activities. To understand the influence of accelerated LULC changes and urban expansion as major drivers in landscape degradation in the Epworth district of the Harare Metropolitan Province, the RUSLE model was employed. This considers land use, soil, climate and topography as input parameters in the assessment of the extent and impact of these drivers on soil erosion. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was used to predict the potential erosion between 1984 and 2018 and soil erosion risk for the years 2000 and 2018. The mean rate of the predicted potential soil erosion was 13.2 t ha−1 yr−1 (1984–2018); areas especially vulnerable to erosion were predicted for foot slope areas with direct tributaries to the major streams and steep sloping zones. The average soil erosion risk was estimated at 1.31 t ha−1 yr−1 for the year 2000 and 1.12 t ha−1 yr−1 for 2018. While the overall potential soil loss decreased between 2000 and 2018, the potential soil loss was observed to increase tremendously in residential areas, which doubled in extent between 2000 and 2018. The findings reveal that about 40% of the Epworth district was threatened by unsustainable soil loss resulting from increased soil erosion risk within the built-up areas.
Education for Sustainable Development—The Case of Massive Open Online Courses
Authors: Hajdukiewicz Agnieszka , Pera Bożena
Published: October 2020

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a key instrument in transforming societies towards sustainable development, which can play a crucial role in the achievement of Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The main purpose of this paper is to explore the current status and problems of implementation of Education for Sustainable Development by examining the sustainability-related knowledge content included in the higher education curriculum, with a special focus on the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). We used both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods, including keyword analysis of selected MOOCs’ syllabuses, to capture the nature of the studied phenomenon and enable assessment of the degree to which the sustainable development goals are integrated into the learning content. We found that most of 17 SDGs are reflected in the MOOCs learning content, but in case of some learning topics, such as “Zero hunger” and “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions”, a bigger effort should be made to include them more broadly in the curricula. The research results can support educators’ efforts in identifying and incorporating challenging issues within the processes of curriculum development, indicating the need for a holistic and interdisciplinary approach, in which sustainability should be mainstreamed into all aspects of education.
Potential Role of Fertilizer Sources and Soil Tillage Practices to Mitigate Soil CO2 Emissions in Mediterranean Potato Production Systems
Authors: Mancinelli Roberto , Marinari Sara , Allam Mohamed , Radicetti Emanuele
Published: October 2020

Agricultural practices should be approached with environmental-friendly strategies, able to restore soil organic matter and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the environmental benefits, in terms of CO2 emissions and carbon balance, of some agricultural practices for potato cultivation. A randomized complete block design was adopted where the treatments were: (a) tillage systems (plowing; subsoiler and spading); (b) fertilizer sources (mineral and organic). All treatments were replicated three times. Potato yield and its carbon content, soil CO2 emissions, temperature, and volumetric water content were measured. The CO2 emissions were higher in organic than in mineral fertilizer (0.60 and vs. 0.77 g m−2 h−1, respectively), while they were low in spading compared to the other soil tillage (0.64 vs. 0.72 g m−2 h−1, respectively). Carbon input was the highest in plowing and organic fertilizer 4.76 and 5.59 Mg C ha−1, respectively. The input/output ratio of carbon varied according to the main treatments. The findings suggest that spading tillage and organic fertilizer might result in environmental and agronomical benefits, further research should be performed to evaluate to possibility to extend the results to other environments and crops.
Route and Path Choices of Freight Vehicles: A Case Study with Floating Car Data
Authors: Croce Antonello Ignazio , Musolino Giuseppe , Rindone Corrado , Vitetta Antonino
Published: October 2020

According to the literature, the path choice decision process of a user of a (road) transport network, named path choice problem (PCP), is composed of two levels/models: the definition of perceived alternative paths (choice set) and the choice of one path in the path choice set. The path choice probability can be estimated with two models: a choice model of the path choice set and a choice model of a path (Mansky paradigm). In this research, the paper’s contribution concerns two elements: extension of the PCP paradigm (two-level models) consolidated in the literature to the route choice decision process (vehicle routing problem (VRP)) and identification of common elements in the PCP and VRP concerning the criteria in the two decision levels and the procedure for route and path selection and choice. The experiment concerns the comparison of observed routes with simulated and optimized routes of commercial vehicles to analyse the level of similarity and coverage. The observed routes are extracted from floating car data (FCD) from commercial vehicles travelling inside a study area inside the Calabria Region (Southern Italy). The comparison is executed in terms of similarity of the sequences of nodes visited between observed routes and simulated/optimized routes.
Climate Adaptation Plans in the Context of Coastal Settlements: The Case of Portugal
Authors: Dal Cin Francesca , Fleischmann Martin , Romice Ombretta , Costa João Pedro
Published: October 2020

The impact of sea-level rise on coastal towns is expected to be a major challenge, with millions of people exposed. The climate-induced risk assessment of coastal areas subject to flooding plays an essential role in planning effective measures for adaptation plans. However, in European legislation, as well as in the regional plans adopted by the member states, there is no clear reference to urban settlement, as this concept is variable and difficult to categorise from the policy perspective. This lack of knowledge makes it complicated to implement efficient adaptation plans. This research examines the presence of the issue in Portugal’s coastal settlements, the European coastal area most vulnerable to rising sea levels, using the case of seashore streets as the most exposed waterfront public urban areas. Using the morphometric classification of the urban fabric, we analyse the relationship between urban typology and legislative macro-areas aimed at providing integrated adaptation plans. The study suggests that there is only a minimal relationship between the proposed classification and the geographical zones currently identified in coastal planning policies. Such incongruence suggests the need for change, as the policy should be able to provide a response plan tailored to the specificities of urban areas.
COVID-19 and Climate Change: A Tale of Two Global Problems
Authors: Fuentes Rolando , Galeotti Marzio , Lanza Alessandro , Manzano Baltasar
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we examine the similarities and the differences between two global problems, the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, and the extent to which the experience with the COVID-19 pandemic can be of use for tackling climate change. We show that both problems share the same microeconomic foundations, involving an overprovision of a global public bad. In addition, they entail externalities whose correction comes at very high economic and social costs. We leverage on a well-established problem such as climate change that has been studied for several years now, to highlight the common traits with the COVID-19 pandemic, but also important differences. The COVID-19 crisis is itself a reality check for climate policy, international governance and prevention in general. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic is a mock laboratory of climate change, where the time scale of unfolding events is reduced from decades to days. While the former is often measured in days, weeks, months, years, the latter is measured in years, decades, and centuries.
Disasters and Public Health Emergencies—Current Perspectives in Preparedness and Response
Authors: Khorram-Manesh Amir , Burkle Frederick M.
Published: October 2020

Disasters and public health emergencies are inevitable and can happen anywhere and anytime [...]
A Fair and Secure Reverse Auction for Government Procurement
Authors: Lin Chia-Chen , Chang Ya-Fen , Chang Chin-Chen , Zheng Yao-Zhu
Published: October 2020

With the development of e-commerce, the electronic auction is attracting the attention of many people. Many Internet companies, such as eBay and Yahoo!, have launched online auction systems. Many researchers have studied the security problems of electronic auction systems, but few of them are multi-attribute-based. In 2014, Shi proposed a provable secure, sealed-bid, and multi-attribute auction protocol based on the semi-honest model. We evaluated this protocol and found that it has some design weaknesses and is vulnerable to the illegal operations of buyers, which results in unfairness. In this paper, we improved this protocol by replacing the Paillier’s cryptosystem with the elliptic curve discrete (ECC), and we designed a novel, online, and multi-attribute reverse-auction system using the semi-honest model. In our system, sellers’ identities are not revealed to the buyers, and the buyers cannot conduct illegal operations that may compromise the fairness of the auction.
Why Is Airline Food Always Dreadful? Analysis of Factors Influencing Passengers’ Food Wasting Behaviour
Authors: You Fangzhou , Bhamra Tracy , Lilley Debra
Published: October 2020

Food waste is emerging as a global issue and has been recognised in the Sustainable Development Goals with a specific target to halve per capita global food waste at consumer levels and reduce food losses by 2030. Research on food waste has been neglected particularly in the aviation sector. The International Air Transport Association reported that 5.7 million tonnes of cabin waste was generated on airlines, up to 80.5% of which was leftover food and beverages. The exploration of passengers’ food wasting aims to provide insights for tackling the airline food waste problem. To address this issue, this research investigated the in-flight catering experience of 19 passengers from 21 full-service flights. Qualitative research techniques have been applied to analyse passengers’ food-wasting behaviour by collecting participant-produced photographs and completed questionnaires concerning food-related behaviour. This research identified key factors associated with passengers’ food wasting behaviour by adopting Design for Sustainable Behaviour approaches. Four types of factors were found to influence onboard passenger waste, these were normative, habitual, intentional and situational factors. This research indicates that behavioural change interventions need to incorporate the power of social norms to prevent food waste.
Muted by a Crisis? COVID-19 and the Long-Term Evolution of Climate Change Newspaper Coverage
Authors: Lyytimäki Jari , Kangas Hanna-Liisa , Mervaala Erkki , Vikström Suvi
Published: October 2020

The reasons for the emergence of environmental issues in public debate have been widely studied, while the reasons for the disappearance of environmental issues from the public agenda are researched to a far lesser extent. This article presents how the newspaper coverage of climate change has evolved in Finland. The study is based on long-term (1990–2020) data from the leading national-level newspaper. The climate coverage has been characterized by an increasing overall trend and remarkable fluctuations in the intensity of debate. The monthly coverage of climate change had four distinctive peak periods. The drops from peak levels are explained by several factors, such as the end of a specific news event or policy process (e.g., international climate policy meetings), lack of weather anomalies (e.g., normal winter weather and snow coverage), silence of key influencers (policy-makers, business elite), and news competition together with reporting fatigue following abundant climate coverage. The first months of the intense phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 showed a deep, but not unprecedented drop in climate coverage from the preceding peak level. The persistence of anthropogenic climate change, gradual mainstreaming of climate concerns across different societal sectors, and recent policy debates around so-called green or sustainable recovery suggest that climate coverage is not likely to be muted in the near future.
Effects of Various Drying Methods on Selected Physical and Antioxidant Properties of Extracts from Moringa oliefera Leaf Waste
Authors: Iwansyah Ade Chandra , Manh Tran Dinh , Andriana Yusuf , Aiman bin Hessan Muhammad , Kormin Faridah , Cuong Dang Xuan , Xuan Hoan Nguyen , Thai Ha Hoang , Thi Yen Dang , Thinh Pham Van , The Hai Lam , Ngoc Minh Truong
Published: October 2020

This study aims to evaluate the effects of different drying methods on the physical properties, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity of extracts from Moringa oliefera L. (MO) leaf waste. The effects of two drying techniques, namely, sun drying (A1) and tray drying (A2), on the physical and antioxidant properties of the extracts obtained using three extracting solvents, i.e., water (b1), ethanol (b2), and ethyl acetate (b3), were investigated. These extracts were analyzed for their physicochemical and antioxidant properties. The antioxidant properties were determined with the Folin Ciocalteau, aluminum chloride, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) was used to identify functional groups in the active compounds. It was found that the physical properties of the MO extract, including yield, pH, total solids, and color, showed significant differences for the two drying methods (p < 0.05). The b3 extract had the highest value for total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activities, followed by b2 and b1, respectively, for both the sun drying and tray drying methods. There was a significant correlation between the total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity (IC50). This study reveals that waste material from MO leaves could be utilized as an antioxidant agent, which is expected to reduce environmental pollution from the MO processing industry.
Measurement Development for Tourism Destination Business Environment and Competitive Advantages
Authors: Sul Hoon-Ku , Chi Xiaoting , Han Heesup
Published: October 2020

This study attempts to develop a measurement model of competitiveness utilized in the tourism sector, which appears to be fundamentally different in nature from traditional goods and services. Tourism destination competitiveness reflecting the generic characteristics should be considered diversified to notice the distinctive perspective between the business environment and competitive advantages. Criticism of some prior conventional literature stems from the lack of a rigorous process to find the structure and attributes of the measurement items for a destination’s business environment and competitive advantages. The available theoretical framework and measures containing the destination business environment and competitive advantages warrant further investigation. The vital dimensions of the destination business environment (i.e., dynamism, hostility, turbulence, investment, information technology, and governance) and destination competitive advantages (i.e., defensiveness, local acceptance, accessibility, reasonability, uniqueness, supportiveness, and image sustainability) were successfully identified through quantitative and empirical analysis, which could provide a significant basis for managerial and policy decisions in the tourism industry.
Determining the Relationship between Residential Electricity Consumption and Factors: Case of Seoul
Authors: Kim Min-Jeong
Published: October 2020

This paper aims to determine the relationship between residential electricity consumption and other factors by analyzing the correlation and multiple regression between residential electricity consumption and three variables which are known as the factors affecting residential electricity consumption. We used the electricity consumption, income, number of household members, and age of 25 autonomous districts in Seoul as data for analysis, assuming that the socio-demographic characteristics vary from district to district in Seoul. The results showed that the electricity consumption and the three variables each had a significant correlation. However, multiple regression analysis results showed that the income and the number of household members have an effect on electricity consumption, but the average age is not a factor influencing electricity consumption. The results of this study would be useful for understanding the characteristics of urban residential electricity consumption in situations where the needs for an increase in residential electricity rates are continuously coming out.