bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of Persistent Pollution in Hefei during Winter Revealed by Ground-Based LiDAR and the CALIPSO Satellite
Authors: Fang Zhiyuan , Yang Hao , Cao Ye , Xing Kunming , Liu Dong , Zhao Ming , Xie Chenbo
Published: January 2021

LiDAR and CALIPSO satellites are effective tools for detecting air pollution, and by employing PM2.5 observation data, ground-based LiDAR measurements, CALIPSO satellite data, meteorological data, and back-trajectory analysis, we analyzed the process of pollution (moderate pollution, heavy pollution, excellent weather, and dust transmission weather) in Hefei, China from 24 to 27 January 2019 and analyzed the meteorological conditions and pollutants causing heavy pollution. Observation data from the ground station showed that the concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 increased significantly on 25 January; the maximum value of PM10 was 175 µg/m3, and the maximum value of PM2.5 was 170 µg/m3. In this study, aerosol transboundary transport was observed using a combination of ground-based LiDAR and CALIPSO satellite observations. This method showed that aerosols were distributed at a height of 3–4 km over Hefei at 12:00 on 26 January, and it was found that the aerosols came from the desert region in northwest China. Moreover, we determined its transport pathway based on the backward trajectory, and the transportation of pollutants from the surrounding important industrial cities in central and eastern China led to severe pollution after aggregating and mixing with local aerosols in Hefei in the winter. Therefore, the method proposed in this paper can effectively monitor the optical properties and transportation process of aerosols, help to explore the causes of pollution under complex conditions, and improve environmental quality.
The Impact of Environmental Stimuli on Hotel Service Employees’ Service Sabotage—Mediation Role of Emotional Intelligence and Emotional Dissonance
Authors: Alipour Habib , Amelshahbaz Shahrzad , Safaeimanesh Farzad , Peyravi Bahman , Salavati Alireza
Published: January 2021

While scholarly inquiries into Service Sabotage (SS) have received ample attention in the literature of various industries, the role of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Emotional Dissonance (ED) in employee-customer relations in the context of Environmental Stimuli (ES) in the tourism accommodation sector has remained unexplored. The role of employee–customer interaction in tourism is paramount for a hospitality organization’s growth, sustainability, and profitability. We hypothesized hotel service employees’ EI and ED can be influential factors to SS. Adopting the Mehrabian–Russell model (M–R) and Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework as conceptual paradigms, we tested the effect of hotel ambiance on employees’ emotions, which can have significant effects on SS. The study revealed that ES links to behaviors and elicits EI and ED as human emotional responses to environments that have a parallel mediating effect on mitigating or neutralizing the negative effect of SS in an organization. The findings provide important insights into an organization’s awareness of the provision of ES as a positive factor for employees, subsequently forming their behavioral consequences of EI and ED which can mitigate the negative impacts of SS. The study yields important implications on how hospitality organizations should pay attention to the impact of rule-breaking behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.
Knowledge as an Organizational Asset for Managing Complex Projects: The Case of Naval Platforms
Authors: Cerezo-Narváez Alberto , Pastor-Fernández Andrés , Otero-Mateo Manuel , Ballesteros-Pérez Pablo , Rodríguez-Pecci Francisco
Published: January 2021

Knowledge management (KM) involves learning from past experiences to avoid or correct scope misalignments, quality deviations, safety problems, time delays and/or cost overruns. KM is frequently materialized as a risk management (RM) plan. An RM plan allows for anticipating, avoiding, mitigating, or reducing potential problems impacting project performance. However, despite their high complementarity, KM and RM are not the same, nor share the same purpose. In the advent of the fourth industrial revolution, managing complex projects involves many KM-related challenges, such as differential competitiveness enhancement and value chain streamlining. Naval platforms are complex projects that require the integration of multiple sources of knowledge and information. They also need to keep on integrating latest digital technology innovations in their production processes. In this context, streamlining the requirements management may become a differential asset for project stakeholders of naval platforms. Namely, enhancing requirements management can make the customers’ needs easier to meet, shorten the projects duration, reduce costs, optimize resources, and allow for higher flexibility. However, requirements management has KM as pre-requisite and RM as consequence. Unfortunately, potential synergies between KM and RM have remained largely unexplored in the project management literature, and so has requirements management as a potential bridge between both concepts. In this paper, a holistic model for shipbuilding organizations linking KM and RM is proposed. The model draws from existing KM and RM models while considering organizational factors, technological platforms, and competitiveness factors. A case study of a naval platform showing the model’s applicability is provided. It is shown how the model can allow shipbuilding companies to sustain a competitive advantage by facilitating more robust decision making in dynamic project environments. Furthermore, the model also facilitates the identification of the companies’ core competences to reach and keep a strong position in current global markets.
Fungicide Cost Reduction with Soybean Rust-Resistant Cultivars in Paraguay: A Supply and Demand Approach
Authors: Ishikawa-Ishiwata Yuki , Furuya Jun
Published: January 2021

Soybean rust (SBR) is one of the most serious diseases for Paraguay’s economy. To avoid excessive financial losses due to SBR, farmers utilize fungicides. Increasing fungicide costs are, therefore, becoming a threat to farmers’ incomes. Developing SBR-resistant cultivars is a possible solution to this problem. To investigate the effects of SBR-resistant cultivars on soybean farmers in Paraguay, we constructed a model for the supply and demand of soybeans considering yields, cultivated area, changes in the stock quantity of soybeans, exports of soybeans and soybean products, feed demand for soybean cake and price linkage functions. We established three scenarios: an SBR pandemic in which fungicides become ineffective (Scenario 1) and the adoption of SBR-resistant cultivars in 33% (Scenarios 2) and 75% (Scenarios 3) of cultivated areas. The estimation of these three scenarios demonstrates that SBR-resistant cultivar adoption will significantly reduce current fungicide costs for farmers by 112–253 million United States dollars (USD). The potential benefits of the widespread dissemination of SBR-resistant cultivars are also considered in terms of economic disparities and environmental risks. To establish a more sustainable agricultural industry, earlier dissemination of such cultivars is required.
An Empirical Study on Online Learners’ Continuance Intentions in China
Authors: Li Yiwen , Nishimura Norihiro , Yagami Hisanori , Park Hye-Sook
Published: January 2021

Online education in China is developing at a rapid pace due to its unique advantages, and its sustainable development is becoming increasingly crucial. Thus, this study attempted to understand learners’ continuance intentions in an online learning environment and examined the factors influencing online learners’ continuous retention. The research model for the influencing factors and study hypotheses were constructed based on multiple theoretical and synthesized perspectives, such as the information system success model; interactions between students, content, and instructors; and the theory of perceived value. To achieve the stated objectives, we conducted a questionnaire survey, in which 382 valid responses were collected from Chinese respondents from 32 provinces in China in April and May 2020. Furthermore, this study primarily employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the constructed model. The results indicate that service quality, course quality, and student–instructor interaction have indirect and positive effects on learners’ continuance intentions for online learning, while the variable of perceived value is a significant mediator for online learners’ retention and has a direct influence on their continuance intentions. Student–student interaction and student–content interaction do not have direct or indirect effects on online learners’ continuance intentions.
Impact of Susceptibility to Global Consumer Culture on Commitment and Loyalty in Botanic Cosmetic Brands
Authors: Hwang Jae Kwang , Kim Eun-Jung , Lee Sae-Mi , Lee Yong-Ki
Published: January 2021

Given that the market is becoming more competitive, it is imperative to understand what influences purchasing decisions of global consumers as consumer trends change regarding botanic cosmetics for anti-aging, maintaining appearance and skin health. This study considers and examines susceptibility to global consumer culture (SGCC) (conformity to consumer trend, social prestige, and quality perception) and its effect on affective commitment, which in turn influences behavioral commitment and loyalty in the context of the botanic cosmetic industry. In addition to examining the structural relationships among the variables, we test whether purchase experience moderates the proposed relationships. The results are as follows. First, conformity to consumer trends has a significant effect on emotional commitment, but is not positively associated with behavioral commitment. Second, social prestige has no significant direct effect on either emotional or behavioral commitment. Third, quality perception has a significant impact on emotional commitment, but no positive impact on behavioral commitment. Fourth, both emotional commitment and behavioral commitment affect brand loyalty, and behavioral commitment in particular has a significant effect on brand loyalty. Finally, through the analysis of the moderating effect on the cosmetic purchasing experience, first, it was confirmed that the less purchasing experience, the stronger the effect of conformity to consumption trend (CCT) on emotional commitment and behavioral commitment.
LSTM-Based Model Predictive Control for Optimal Temperature Set-Point Planning
Authors: Jeon Byung-Ki , Kim Eui-Jong
Published: January 2021

The growing interest in saving building energy has increasingly motivated studies on model predictive control (MPC), where system operation proceeds according to a planned operation strategy. Data-driven models that perform learning using past operation data of buildings are favorable for MPC applications owing to their fast computation speed. However, it is difficult to apply MPC to buildings with insufficient operation data, as the prediction accuracy varies depending on the data used for learning. To address this, we propose a method that involves generating data through a detailed building energy model and utilizing a long short-term memory (LSTM) network that performs learning using the data as an MPC model. The model was verified through a comparison with the reference model using the same optimization algorithm. In the MPC of the objective function, which is to reduce electrical energy expenditure by optimizing the indoor temperature of the target building, approximately 35% grid energy consumption was reduced compared to a reference case, by increasing self-consumption of photovoltaic (PV) energy and avoiding PV curtailment. Further, the required computation time was reduced to approximately 30%, even including the data generation time for daily learning, thereby confirming the feasibility of the MPC model that employs LSTM.
Understanding Student Acceptance of Online Learning Systems in Higher Education: Application of Social Psychology Theories with Consideration of User Innovativeness
Authors: Kim Eun-Jung , Kim Jinkyung Jenny , Han Sang-Ho
Published: January 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has created the opportunity to conduct a huge experiment with online classes in the university setting. The objectives of this study are (1) to provide obvious insight into determining factors driving greater intention of students to use online learning systems based on an integrated technology acceptance model (TAM) and theory of planned behavior (TPB), and (2) to provide the moderating role of innovativeness as a key factor. An online survey was conducted with 216 university students taking hospitality and tourism studies in Busan, Korea. The results of the study are as follows. First, perceived ease of use affects perceived usefulness, perceived usefulness affects attitude, whereas perceived ease of use does not directly affect attitude. Second, attitude and subjective norms positively influence behavioral intention, while perceived behavioral control does not. Third, user innovativeness plays a moderating role in the relationship between subjective norms and behavioral intention. As part of the lessons learned from COVID-19, it is meaningful to provide insightful implications to academia, specifically to the college of hospitality and tourism.
Combining Life Cycle Assessment and Circularity Assessment to Analyze Environmental Impacts of the Medical Remanufacturing of Electrophysiology Catheters
Authors: Schulte Anna , Maga Daniel , Thonemann Nils
Published: January 2021

Sustaining value after the end-of-life to improve products’ circularity and sustainability has attracted an increasing number of industrial actors, policymakers, and researchers. Medical products are considered to have great remanufacturing potential because they are often designated as single-use products and consist of various complex materials that cannot be reused and are not significant in municipal recycling infrastructure. The remanufacturing of electrophysiology catheters is a well-established process guaranteeing equivalent quality compared to virgin-produced catheters. In order to measure if using a remanufactured product is environmentally beneficial compared to using a virgin product, life cycle assessment (LCA) is often used. However, focusing on one life cycle to inform on the environmental-beneficial use fails to guide policymakers from a system perspective. This study analyzes the environmental consequences of electrophysiology catheters considering two modeling perspectives, the implementation of LCA, including a cut-off approach and combining LCA and a circularity indicator measuring multiple life cycles. Investigating the LCA results of using a remanufactured as an alternative to a newly-manufactured catheter shows that the global warming impact is reduced by 50.4% and the abiotic resource use by 28.8%. The findings from the system perspective suggest that the environmental savings increase with increasing collection rates of catheters.
Hydrogen Peroxide Supplementation in Irrigation Water Alleviates Drought Stress and Boosts Growth and Productivity of Potato Plants
Authors: Abd Elhady Salama A. , El-Gawad Hany G. Abd , Ibrahim Mohamed F. M. , Mukherjee Soumya , Elkelish Amr , Azab Ehab , Gobouri Adil A. , Farag Reham , Ibrahim Huda A. , El-Azm Nashwa Abu
Published: January 2021

The present investigations aim to decipher the beneficial role of hydrogen peroxide-supplemented irrigation in imparting drought tolerance and promotion plant growth and yield of potato plants grown under two different irrigation regimes. Hydrogen peroxide injection (oxygenation) was applied at 0, 300, and 600 ppm through subsurface irrigation regimes on potato performance grown in heavy clay soil. The results indicated that oxygenation of irrigation water boosted the plant′s vegetative growth and productivity, especially at 600 ppm hydrogen peroxide coupled with deficit irrigation. Root respiration, leaf biomass, chlorophyll content, and leaf osmotic status was observed to be improved in the presence of oxygenated irrigation. A similar trend was recorded on macro-elements (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium content), proline, and soluble carbohydrates content of leaf along with catalase enzyme activity. Individual tuber weight, tuber number and tuber yield per plant and hectare recorded higher values as responding to oxygenated irrigation (300 and 600 ppm) of water within the optimum irrigation level. While the highest value of water use efficiency (WUE) was obtained by pairing deficit irrigation with 600 ppm oxygenated water. Thus, the present work provides new insights into the importance of oxygenated irrigation in obtaining optimum yield and field performance in potato plants subjected to deficit irrigation in clayey-loamy soils.
External Benefit Assessment of Urban Utility Tunnels Based on Sustainable Development
Authors: Zhang Zi-Yun , Peng Fang-Le , Ma Chen-Xiao , Zhang Hui , Fu Su-Juan
Published: January 2021

Urban utility tunnels (UUTs) can have great external benefits in terms of social and environmental aspects for the sustainable development of a city. However, the high initial construction cost has been the main obstacle to the promotion of UUT projects for a long time. Although several evaluation methods for the benefits of UUTs have been proposed, most of them focus on the cost assessment during the construction period and are limited in terms of their scientificity, the feasibility of the valuation methodology and the comprehensiveness of external categories. The external benefit assessment of UUTs during their service life remains lacking, leading to an incomplete insight into UUT projects. Therefore, a scientific evaluation method of the long-term external benefits of UUTs is still needed from the perspective of urban sustainable development. This paper proposes a composite market price method to carry out a simple but systematic evaluation of the positive externalities of UUTs in monetary terms. Detailed instructions on the operation of the method are also elucidated to further improve its practicability. The feasibility and validity of the method is then demonstrated through a case study of the UUT project in Xiong’an New Area, China. It is also concluded that UUTs can benefit all social subjects and that a classification of externalities based on different social subjects can foster better development and broader support for the implementation of UUTs.
Assessments of Landowners’ Willingness to Accept Compensation for Participating in Forest Certification in Shandong, China
Authors: Tian Nana , Poudyal Neelam , Lu Fadian
Published: January 2021

Achieving sustainable management of forests in China is becoming increasingly important with more awareness and realization of the importance of forests in environmental protection. Forest certification, a market-based instrument to promote sustainable forest management, has been recognized by many countries including China. While landowners’ perception and perspective regarding this voluntary program have been well-documented in the literature, how to motivate and incentivize landowners to participate in forest certification remained understudied questions. With the face-to-face survey of landowners in Shandong, China, this study analyzed landowners’ willingness to accept compensation for participating in forest certification. Results indicated that the average accepted compensation in terms of increased timber price was about RMB 120 (~USD 17.6)/m3 to have their forests enrolled in certification programs. Results from multiple regression showed that the level of such compensation required for participation in certification was influenced by forestland size, owner demographics, certification-program requirements, and importance placed on timber production. These findings would inform policy-makers in designing compensation-related policies and establish incentive-based mechanisms to motivate forest landowners to participate in forest certification programs in China.
Impact of Car Sharing on Urban Sustainability
Authors: Roblek Vasja , Meško Maja , Podbregar Iztok
Published: January 2021

The article gives us an insight into the key issues of car sharing and its impact on urban sustainability. A selection of 314 articles published in peer-reviewed journals from the Scopus database were analysed using Leximancer 5.0 for Automated Content analysis. A total of seven themes were identified explaining the researched topic of the car sharing situation in Europe, which are sharing, economy, model, systems, electrical car sharing, policy and travel. There are two ways of sharing owned cars in Europe; access to cars from the fleet of private organisations and P2P car sharing. Sustainable environmental solutions in the context of the electrification of cars are used. Car sharing usually takes place online and can be free or for a fee as defined by The European Economic and Social Committee. The article provides an overview of understanding the concept of urban car sharing in Europe.
Reporting and Disclosure of Investments in Sustainable Development
Authors: Staszkiewicz Piotr , Werner Aleksander
Published: January 2021

This paper builds upon prior research regarding the quest for a sustainable measuring method. Here, we present a method to integrate sustainability and financial accounting at the level of transaction recording and introduce the concept of environmental debit and credit entry. This concept is illustrated through investment reporting. Identification of the research gap is based on the review of the initial population of 141 research papers and is supported with the European legal framework analysis. Logistic regression on the 500 largest European-based companies justifies the environmental footprint inclusion into the integrated journal entry. This study provides robust data concerning the limitations of the current financial reporting system. Our findings support the conclusion that the currently applied hybrid sustainable disclosure with synthetic ratios, indicators and unstructured narratives failed to provide a comprehensive and auditable picture of a company’s environmental.
Cognition, Value Perception and Purchase Intention of Organic Food—Evidence from China’s Organic Milk Market
Authors: Yuan Xiaohui , Xiao Yacheng
Published: January 2021

Organic agriculture is of great significance to human health and the ecosystem, and the consumption of organic food is considered a kind of pro-environment behavior of urban residents. Taking value perception, food safety awareness and environmental awareness as mediating variables, an analytical framework of the influence of “organic” cognition on purchase intention was constructed in this paper, and the empirical test was implemented by the Ologit model based on the micro-survey of organic milk purchase intention of 1113 urban consumers in China. The results show that cognitive level positively affects residents’ value perception and purchase intention of organic food, and value perception plays an intermediary role in the influence of cognition on purchase intention; meanwhile, consumers’ food safety awareness and environmental awareness play a moderating role between cognition and value perception, thus the mediating effect of value perception on the relationship between cognition and purchase intention is also regulated. Therefore, using diversified ways to publicize organic food knowledge is of positive significance to enhance consumers’ “organic” cognitive level and enhance their purchase intention in practice. Providing differentiated products and services, strengthening consumers’ benign social interaction and meeting their diversified value pursuit is crucial for suppliers. Meanwhile, the government and enterprises need to strengthen the popularization and dissemination of environmental protection and food safety knowledge to enhance consumers’ environmental and food safety awareness, improving the social environment of the cultivation of the organic food market.
“What Can I Be When I Grow Up?”—The Influence of Own and Others’ Career Expectations on Adolescents’ Perception of Stress in Their Career Orientation Phase
Authors: Ulrich Angela , Helker Kerstin , Losekamm Katharina
Published: January 2021

The future that adolescents are growing up to live and work in becomes increasingly complex and vague, making job choice a moving target. Thus, adolescents develop and are confronted with a number of different options for what job they wish to take up and have to balance their own and their social environment’s job aspirations for them. Prior research has suggested including more dynamic approaches to understanding career choice and counseling. In this research, we therefore draw on the possible selves approach and aim at understanding how far imbalance between adolescents’ own and their social environments’ expectations for their vocational future will cause stress. In an online mixed-methods study, 163 adolescent participants, aged 14–22, reported their own and their parents’, teachers’, and friends’ emotions, future orientation, and perceived stress regarding the career choice. Results showed a variety of expectations for future careers held by participants and their social environment, as well as emotions regarding these expectations. Positive deactivating emotions (satisfaction and relief) negatively predicted adolescents’ stress and strain and the older and closer to final job choice participants were, the more they reported stress and strain. These findings suggest including adolescents’ social environment in the career choice process.
Public Open Spaces Evaluation Using Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) in Saudi Universities: The Case of King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah
Authors: Addas Abdullah , Maghrabi Ahmad , Goldblatt Ran
Published: January 2021

Public open spaces (POSs) provide multiple services (such as facilities for physical activities and social interactions) to local people, and these services are important for the well-being of society and for improving the quality of life. Extensive research on POSs has been carried out in developed countries (such as the US and Australia, as well as European countries including Spain, France, and Germany). However, POSs in the Saudi Arabian context remain unexplored. This study aims to examine the importance and performance of public open spaces on King Abdulaziz University (KAU) campus, Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia, using importance-performance analysis (IPA). One-way ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests were performed to identify differences in the importance and performance of POSs. It was observed that there are significant differences between the importance and performance of public open spaces on the KAU campus, as perceived by stakeholders. Therefore, this study may be helpful in understanding the importance and performance of public open spaces, allowing spaces to be prioritized to improve management and restore open spaces to achieve environmental sustainability at a local scale. In addition, this study suggests that decision-makers involved in campus planning should consider the contribution of public open spaces to education, recreation, and the environment, at the campus planning stage.
How Society 5.0 and Industry 4.0 Ideas Shape the Open Data Performance Expectancy
Authors: Sołtysik-Piorunkiewicz Anna , Zdonek Iwona
Published: January 2021

The open data (OD) performance expectancy is a critical factor for the user technology acceptance models for future implementation OD in Industry 4.0, and to have an impact in area of Society 5.0. The purpose of this article is identifying trends and key words (leading terms) in promoting ODs for their use in Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0. We are also looking for leaders in Europe in promoting the use of OD in the context of Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0. The research methodology includes methods such as: analyses based on text mining, visualization techniques, and multidimensional cluster analyses with correlation analyses. The dataset covered 288 digital products and services based on OD. The timeframe covers the period January 2018–January 2020, and the research focuses on European issues. The research is focused on texts promoting the digital OD products and services, with the most popular being applications, websites and platforms. The main direction in presenting the benefits of their use is related to promoting them as tools to provide real time information on public issues, primarily in areas such as transport, education, culture and sport, economics and finance and health. The main types of OD are geodata and those specified as national and local. Additionally, the geographical area in Europe-dominating countries, and the key terms promoting product and services in context of OD performance expectancy in Western Europe, Northern Europe, Southern Europe and Eastern Europe, were found.
Availability of Non-Market Values to Inform Decision-Making in Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture: An Audit and Gap Analysis
Authors: Coglan Louisa , Pascoe Sean , Scheufele Gabriela
Published: January 2021

Fisheries and aquaculture management can have impacts on economic, social and environmental outcomes. Assessing alternative management options requires an understanding of the different trade-offs between these outcomes. Cost–benefit analysis provides a framework in which these trade-offs can be assessed, but requires all costs and benefits to be enumerated in monetary terms. However, some impacts associated with fisheries and aquaculture, particularly environmental, have no explicit monetary value, so they require non-market values to be derived. In this study, we identify and prioritize, through a stakeholder workshop, non-market values that are of the most relevance to Australian fisheries and aquaculture managers. We assess the potential of existing studies to provide appropriate values for use by managers through a detailed review of available studies. We found a deficiency in the number of recent studies across all priority areas. Non-market valuation of recreational fishing has attracted the most attention previously in Australia, but studies in the last five years were found in only half of the states. Other priority non-market values have been estimated in only one or two states, and most have no estimates within the last five years. The results of the study highlight the need for further research in this area.
Housefly Maggot Meal as a Potent Bioresource for Fish Feed to Facilitate Early Gonadal Development in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell,1822)
Authors: Ogunji Johnny , Iheanacho Stanley , Mgbabu Christopher Nwokwa , Amaechi Nuria , Evulobi Onyedikachi
Published: January 2021

Food security is threatened by the global increase of human population, climate change, inequality of wealth distribution, the state of natural resources, peace and sustainability, among others. Aquaculture has become an important part of the food supply, hence contributing to food security. Sustainable fish production, which represents an important affordable protein supply, should therefore involve feed formulation and production techniques that are not dependent on fish meal as the protein source. It is on this basis that bioeconomy becomes very important to promote the resourceful use of biomass for feed, food, biomaterials, and bioenergy. This study presents housefly maggot meal as an efficient alternative protein source to fishmeal and a valuable bioresource. Clarias gariepinus fingerlings (male and female) were fed maggot meal supplemented diets for 24 weeks and we assessed their growth and gonadal development. The findings of this study revealed that maggot-meal-enhanced diets promoted growth and faster gonadal development in fish. Maggot meal represents a quality alternative protein source to fish meal and an excellent bioresource, which can help us attain sustainable aquaculture production.
Simultaneous Adsorption and Reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in Aqueous Solution Using Nitrogen-Rich Aminal Linked Porous Organic Polymers
Authors: Sabri Muhammad A. , Sara Ziad , Al-Sayah Mohammad H. , Ibrahim Taleb H. , Khamis Mustafa I. , El-Kadri Oussama M.
Published: January 2021

Two novel nitrogen-rich aminal linked porous organic polymers, NRAPOP-O and NRAPOP-S, have been prepared using a single step-one pot Schiff-base condensation reaction of 9,10-bis-(4,6-diamino-S-triazin-2-yl)benzene and 2-furaldehyde or 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde, respectively. The two polymers show excellent thermal and physiochemical stabilities and possess high porosity with Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface areas of 692 and 803 m2 g−1 for NRAPOP-O and NRAPOP-S, respectively. Because of such porosity, attractive chemical and physical properties, and the availability of redox-active sites and physical environment, the NRAPOPs were able to effectively remove Cr(VI) from solution, reduce it to Cr(III), and simultaneously release it into the solution. The efficiency of the adsorption process was assessed under various influencing factors such as pH, contact time, polymer dosage, and initial concentration of Cr(VI). At the optimum conditions, 100% removal of Cr(VI) was achieved, with simultaneous reduction and release of Cr(III) by NRAPOP-O with 80% efficiency. Moreover, the polymers can be easily regenerated by the addition of reducing agents such as hydrazine without significant loss in the detoxication of Cr(VI).
Geomechanical Characterization of a Rock Cliff Hosting a Cultural Heritage through Ground and UAV Rock Mass Surveys for Its Sustainable Fruition
Authors: Mineo Simone , Pappalardo Giovanna , Onorato Salvatore
Published: January 2021

In mountainous areas around the world, dealing with rockfalls means facing some technical survey difficulties due to the low accessibility of areas and the height of slopes. If a cultural heritage is also threatened by such mass movement, the need of specific survey solutions, even in a combined asset, is required. This paper deals with the integration of ground and UAV rock mass surveys aimed at defining the rockfall attitude of an unstable rock cliff sector hosting an example of cultural heritage in tourist area of southern Italy, whose fruition has already been threatened by the occurrence of rockfalls. As an example of the defensive architecture of XII and XIII centuries, the Saracen Castle in Taormina is reached by hundreds of visitors each year, but its access path and the surrounding area are threatened by the unstable condition of the cliff, hosting unstable rock volumes on kinematically critical planes. In order to achieve a reliable geostructural setting of the cliff, aiming at its possible securing through proper mitigation works, ground rock mass surveys could not provide enough information due to the bad accessibility of the rock faces. Therefore, a survey by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, with a reliable verified accuracy, was carried out to map the discontinuity planes especially occurring at the highest portions of the cliff, achieving geostructural data of different fronts of the cliff. Ground and aerial data were combined and statistically analyzed to define the main kinematic failure patterns. In this perspective, a critical comparison between the two employed surveying methodologies is proposed herein, highlighting that both approaches are affected by potential and limitations and that the integration of the mutual dataset represents a suitable solution for a complete rock mass characterization in this type of areas. Furthermore, rockfall simulations allowed ascertaining that potential falling blocks would cross the access path to the castle, thus representing a natural threat to the fruition of cultural heritage, thus proving the need of mitigation measures to ensure the safe fruition of the cultural heritage.
Older Pedestrian Traffic Crashes Severity Analysis Based on an Emerging Machine Learning XGBoost
Authors: Guo Manze , Yuan Zhenzhou , Janson Bruce , Peng Yongxin , Yang Yang , Wang Wencheng
Published: January 2021

Older pedestrians are vulnerable on the streets and at significant risk of injury or death when involved in crashes. Pedestrians’ safety is critical for roadway agencies to consider and improve, especially older pedestrians aged greater than 65 years old. To better protect the older pedestrian group, the factors that contribute to the older crashes need to be analyzed deeply. Traditional modeling approaches such as Logistic models for data analysis may lead to modeling distortions due to the independence assumptions. In this study, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), is used to model the classification problem of three different levels of severity of older pedestrian traffic crashes from crash data in Colorado, US. Further, Shapley Additive explanations (SHAP) are implemented to interpret the XGBoost model result and analyze each feature’s importance related to the levels of older pedestrian crashes. The interpretation results show that the driver characteristic, older pedestrian characteristics, and vehicle movement are the most important factors influencing the probability of the three different severity levels. Those results investigate each severity level’s correlation factors, which can inform the department of traffic management and the department of road infrastructure to protect older pedestrians by controlling or managing some of those significant features.
Renovation Management Method in Neglected Buildings
Authors: Nowogońska Beata , Mielczarek Magdalena
Published: January 2021

Renovation works to buildings are often not carried out or there are shifts in time, which causes degradation of the building. The article presents an analysis of the consequences of abandoning renovation works. The aim of this article is to present a method of preliminarily planning renovations of a MRUB (Managing Renovation in Un-renovated Buildings). This method of decision-making support is based on the consequences in the case of the omission of renovations. The omission of renovations may lead to a threat to the stability of the building’s structure, threaten the lives of its users, and further damage the building by damaging further elements, or even cause a building disaster. Often, as a result of the abandonment of renovation, usually caused by the lack of the owner, improper manager, or irresponsible owners, these objects are degraded. The consequences of the failure of renovating buildings lead to irreversible processes of destruction. As a result of the research, it was found that it was not only a bad technical condition that was a prerequisite for carrying out the renovation. The consequences of the absence of renovation works, in addition to the technical condition, should be a motivating factor. The problem of the abandonment of renovations is presented using the example of the palace in Drwalewice.
Exemptions of the EU Water Framework Directive Deterioration Ban: Comparing Implementation Approaches in Lower Saxony and The Netherlands
Authors: Starke Jan R. , Van Rijswick Helena F. M. W.
Published: January 2021

The sustainable use of precious water resources requires effective water management. In the European Union, water management is mainly regulated by the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), introducing an integrated river basin management approach. As a European Union (EU) directive, the legislation needs to be implemented in the Member States, entailing not only legal transposition but also application and enforcement. One major instrument introduced by the Water Framework Directive is the environmental goal achievement obligation of article 4 WFD, containing also a deterioration ban with several exemptions. We compare the transposition, application, and enforcement of the exemption of permanent deterioration (art. 4 (7) WFD) in the context of the environmental goal achievement obligation regime in Lower Saxony (Germany) and the Netherlands. The study rests on a comparative legal analysis of literature, river basin management plans, and jurisprudence. Although based on the same EU directive wording and case law of the European Court of Justice, the deterioration ban and the exemption of permanent deterioration are implemented rather differently. While the deterioration ban is predominantly understood as planning obligation in the Netherlands, it became an important permit requirement in Lower Saxony since the Weser ruling of the European Court of Justice.
Corporate Data Sharing, Leakage, and Supervision Mechanism Research
Authors: Yu Haifei , He Xinyu
Published: January 2021

Data sharing helps to make full use of each other’s data and enable the digital economy. With the gradual rise of corporate data sharing, the frequent occurrence of data leakage events highlights the dilemma of data sharing, leakage and supervision, which infringes on the data assets of the leaked party. Our paper aims to design an effective data supervision mechanism and achieve the stability of data sharing alliance. Therefore, this paper considers the data technology capabilities of both parties of the data sharing alliance and the benefits and loss of data leakage, establishes the game model and supervision mechanism of data sharing, leakage and supervision under the condition of complete information, and analyzes the game equilibrium and the influence of different supervision levels on the company’s data sharing and leakage behavior. The results show that the company sharing and leaking behavior is affected by both the level of data supervision fines and the relative technical level. Our model can make up for the weakness of the low-tech company, control the company’s choice of leaking behaviors, and ensure the stability of data sharing alliance by designing reasonable data supervision mechanism, especially the severe data supervision strategy.
Sustainability and Waste Imports in China: Pollution Haven or Resources Hunting
Authors: Li Bowen , Alleyne Antonio , Zhang Zhaoyong , Mu Yifei
Published: January 2021

Motivations behind a country’s importation of waste are categorized into the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH) and the resource hunting hypothesis (RHH). The importation of wastes can lead to environmental sustainability concerns, requiring governments to intervene when the market fails to reduce the negative externalities by strengthening and implementing environmental regulations. Motivated by China’s position within a rapidly growing but environmentally damaging sector of trade, this paper has three goals: (1) to classify the primary hypothesis that governs China’s flow of traded wastes; (2) to verify the heterogeneous impact of the pollution paradise motivation and resource demand motivation of waste imports from developed and developing countries, and across industries; (3) to assess the impact of domestic environmental regulations on the motives behind China’s waste imports. Using 28 imported waste-varieties from 20 of China’s major trade partners across 24 years, findings indicate that the flow of Chinese waste imports is relatively unresponsive under the pollution haven effect. However, the resource hunting effect from developing countries is significantly greater than what originates from developed countries, despite the laws of 2011 and 2017 established to restrict resource hunting activities. These results have important implications for improving the efficiency of China’s waste sorting and recycling systems.
Beach Certification Schemes in Latin America: Are They Applicable to the Brazilian Context?
Authors: Marchese Luidgi , Botero Camilo M. , Zielinski Seweryn , Anfuso Giorgio , Polette Marcus , Correa Iran Carlos Stalliviere
Published: January 2021

Beaches are multidimensional ecosystems that develop relevant natural functions and host tourist activities of great economic value. Therefore, they are currently being subjected to severe human pressure and natural impacts often enhanced by climate change. Beach certification schemes (BCSs) were designed to bridge the gap between recreation and conservation uses. The aim of this paper is to assess the compatibility and potential contribution of nine Beach Classification Schemes (BCSs) used in Latin America with the Orla Project implemented in Brazil to optimize land use planning of coastal zones, including beaches. The weaknesses and strengths of each BCSs were assessed according to the criteria for integrated coastal zone management. As a result, four of the nine BCSs were found to be the most compatible with the context of Brazilian beaches (Ecuadorian, Colombian, Cuban, and Argentinean BCSs), indicating that BCSs can contribute to specific aspects of beach management, but they should not be the only management strategy. In conclusion, the strengths of the four BCSs identified in this study can be used to build a new management tool for Brazilian beaches aligned with the Orla Project—the main coastal planning and management instrument currently used.
Statistically Validated Component- and Indicator-Level Requirements for Sustainable Thai Homestay Businesses
Authors: Thanvisitthpon Nawhath
Published: January 2021

This research proposes an updated version of homestay indicators for 10 existing component-level homestay requirements. The updated indicators were aimed to replace the decade-old original indicators for Thai homestay businesses. Besides, the 31 original homestay indictors were not statistically validated. In this study, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to determine the statistical relevancy between the updated homestay indicators and the components. The SEM analysis involved two steps: exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The EFA statistically regrouped the 31 updated indictors by six new homestay components. The six components and 31 updated indicators were further validated by CFA to determine the factor loadings and statistical reliability of the components and indicators. The factor loadings indicate the levels of importance that homestay guests attach to different homestay components and indicators. Therefore, Thai homestay operators should give priority to the components and indicators with high factor loadings.
Using the Multilevel Random Effect Model to Analyze the Behavior of Carpool Users in Different Cities
Authors: Chen Tzu-Ying , Jou Rong-Chang , Chiu Yi-Chang
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this study was to offer a comprehensive econometrical framework based on a multilevel random effect logistic model that could highlight important contributors to carpool users among different cities with various attributes. The data was collected from the three cities of Tucson, AZ, USA; El Paso, TX, USA; and Austin, TX, USA and was based on register-based travel trip data from the Metropia platform and American Community Survey information from 2016 to 2017. The empirical results indicated there were statistically significant differences among carpool users in different cities due to the transportation mode, number of vehicles available, total number of males driving alone, and number of single-parent households. The individual level result showed that incentives had a significant effect on the promotion of carpool passenger and driver behavior. In addition, the time of finding the parking space at work, living situation of the household, flexibility to change departure times, gender, and age could effectively increase the possibility of carpool usage. The results of this study give a better understanding of the events in the initial factors of carpooling behavior and can be used by the government or commercial company to design an effective solution for traffic congestion.