bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Qatar Electricity Demand and Load Forecasting: Preparedness of Distribution Networks for Emerging Situations
Authors: El-Hafez Omar Jouma , ElMekkawy Tarek Y. , Kharbeche Mohamed , Massoud Ahmed
Published: August 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought several global challenges, one of which is meeting the electricity demand. Millions of people are confined to their homes, in each of which a reliable electricity supply is needed, to support teleworking, e-commerce, and electrical appliances such as HVAC, lighting, fridges, water heaters, etc. Furthermore, electricity is also required to operate medical equipment in hospitals and perhaps temporary quarantine hospitals/shelters. Electricity demand forecasting is a crucial input into decision-making for electricity providers. Without an accurate forecast of electricity demand, over-capacity or shortages in the power supply may result in high costs, network bottlenecks, and instability. Electricity demand can be divided, typically, into two sectors: domestic and industrial. This paper discusses the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on Qatar’s electricity demand and forecasting. It is noted that students’ and employees’ attendance are the restrictions with the highest impact on electricity demand. There was an increase of nearly 28% in the domestic peak due to the attendance of 30% of school students. Furthermore, in this study, historical data on Qatar’s electricity demand, population, and GDP were collected, along with information on COVID-19 restrictions. Statistical analysis was used to unfold the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results and findings will help decision-makers and planners manage future electricity demand, and support distribution networks’ preparedness for emerging situations.
Modeling and Simulation of Multipumping Photovoltaic Irrigation Systems
Authors: Ledesma Javier R. , Almeida Rita H. , Narvarte Luis
Published: August 2022

The growing market of large-power photovoltaic irrigation systems (PVISs)—made of systems with different and several motor pumps working in parallel—needs simulation tools capable to estimate their energy and water productivity. The objective of this paper is to present the simulation models developed for parallel multipump PVISs fed by a single PV generator. These models seek to maximize the instantaneous water flow rate according to the available PV power and were developed for the typical configurations of large-power irrigation facilities. The models present some advantages when compared with the current state of the art (in which a single motor pump connected to a 1/N fraction of the PV generator is simulated and the result is multiplied by N): in the case of negligible hydraulic friction losses, the use of the multipump model shows gains with respect to the state of the art; in the case of appreciable friction losses, the current state of the art overestimates the productivity of the systems. Then, the ability of these models to compare different multipump designs is shown: two groups of pumps working at variable frequencies show better performance than a group working at a variable frequency and a group at a nominal frequency—an 8% increase in the water pumped is seen.
The Impact of Lean Management Practices on Economic Sustainability in Services Sector
Authors: Awad Mai Mostafa , Hashem Abd‘Elazez , Naguib Hend Mohamed
Published: August 2022

Lean management is a significant weapon that can help firms within the fourth industrial revolution to find unique solutions to their own unique problems. On the other hand, there is a noticeable increase in the level of awareness of firms all over the world regarding their urgent need to achieve economic sustainability. This paper aims to build a model that best measures the impact of lean management practices on economic sustainability for service firms. For this purpose, a multiple case study is employed, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are utilized to develop valid and reliable measure of lean management, and Pearson’s correlation and regression analyses are employed to measure the impact of lean management on economic sustainability. The results provide evidence of the positive impact of lean management on economic sustainability. This paper contributes to the literature by developing a novel measure of lean management and by providing evidence of the positive impact of lean management on economic sustainability, as this relation is not well tested empirically, especially in emerging economies.
Remediation and Optimisation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Degradation in Contaminated Water by Persulfate Activated with Bagasse Biochar-Supported Nanoscale Zerovalent Iron
Authors: Zhang Ronghai , Chen Yudao , Li Shudi , Wei Zhuangmian , Huang He , Xie Tian
Published: August 2022

In this study, biochar (BC) was prepared from bagasse and then successfully loaded with nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) to produce BC-supported nZVI, termed nZVI@BC. Satisfactory results were obtained using a nZVI@BC-activated persulfate (PS), termed nZVI@BC/PS, to remediate total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH)-contaminated water. The effects of three influencing factors—the dosage of nZVI@BC, DnZVI@BC, the concentration of PS, CPS, and the initial pH, pHi—on TPH removal were examined through single-factor and batch tests. The results show the following. Each factor considerably influenced the performance of the prepared nZVI@BC/PS reaction system in removing TPH. The TPH degradation process conformed to a first-order kinetic model. The response surface method (RSM) was used in tandem with a Box–Behnken design to optimise the variables involved in TPH degradation. The three influencing variables (i.e., DnZVI@BC, CPS, and pHi) were set in the range of 0.4–1.0 g/L, 20–160 g/L, and 2.21–9.42, respectively, during the experiment. An optimised quadratic model used to fit the experimental data displayed a high level of significance (p < 0.0001) with a very high regression value (R2 = 0.9906; adjusted R2 = 0.9786). Analyses of regression and variance revealed that the quadratic model sufficiently explains the TPH degradation rate. An electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic analysis of the nZVI@BC/PS system revealed that SO4−·, ·OH, O2−·, and 1O2 participated in the activation and degradation processes. The results of this study show that nZVI@BC-activated PS systems possess great potential for applications in TPH-contaminated wastewater treatment and environmentally sustainable development.
The Impact of Clogging Issues at a Riverbank Filtration Site in the Lalin River, NE, China: A Laboratory Column Study
Authors: Hu Bin , Liu Linmei , Chen Ruihui , Li Yi , Li Panwen , Chen Haiyang , Liu Gang , Teng Yanguo
Published: August 2022

Although riverbank filtration (RBF) has been widely applied in China, the managers do not pay enough attention to the inevitable clogging issues during continuous RBF operation. The RBF site, which is located near the Lalin River, northeastern China, was selected as the study area, and the laboratory column experiments were used to simulate the RBF process and further investigate the physical and chemical clogging. The removal of turbidity (59.4–95.1%), COD (21.9–71.7%), NH4+ (10.9–39.4%), Fe (18.5–64.8%), and Mn (19.8–71.7%) demonstrated the water quality improvement by RBF. Whereas, the significant decrease in permeability (39.6–88.2%) also indicated that the clogging issues could not be ignored during RBF. Among them, the physical clogging-dominated area, chemical clogging-dominated area, and the transition zone were located at 0–12.5%, 37.5–100%, and 12.5–37.5% of the infiltration pathway, respectively. Moreover, the concentration of suspended particle materials, mean size of riverbed sediments, and aquifer media are the major impact factors for physical clogging; the precipitation of soluble constituents and redox reaction and other hydrochemical processes were the major impact factors for chemical clogging. The conclusion of this study can contribute to managers alleviating the clogging issues and improving the effectiveness of the sustainable operation in the local RBF system.
Field Applicability of Earthwork Volume Calculations Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Authors: Kim Young Hyun , Shin Seung Su , Lee Hyun Kyu , Park Eun Soo
Published: August 2022

The earthwork volume must be calculated as accurately as possible for economical construction and cost savings. In particular, when calculating the areas and volumes of irregular curved terrains such as mountains, reservoirs, lakes, and coasts, the vertical assumptions for the boundary equation must be rationally and systematically established. This study focuses on earthwork volume calculation technology using UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). UAV can be used for various types of work, including checking the progress of construction at construction sites and calculating the earthwork volume for large areas. However, earthwork volume calculation technology using UAV is inefficient in terms of information production, management, and reuse because the quantitative guidelines for UAV operations are insufficient, and the output quality, analysis method, and analysis results differ. To solve these problems, the authors investigated an earthwork volume calculation method for construction sites that use UAV to automate the on-site calculation of construction errors and support an on-site monitoring system using building information modeling (BIM). To calculate the earthwork volume of the target site, a chain method with a planned plane map based on the average end-area method was used as a representative earthwork volume calculation method. The digital surface model method was applied to review the optimization of the earthwork volume calculation using UAV. This study is a process of analyzing construction data, and aims to strengthen the linkage of 3D data and provide construction management information specialized in excavation work. Through this earthwork analysis using UAV, it is possible to intuitively review the progress of earthwork in 3D by linking the current site with the planned plane.
An Integrated Online/Offline Social Network-Based Model for Crowdfunding Support in Developing Countries: The Case of Nigeria
Authors: Ogwu Kanayo , Hickey Patrick , Okeke Okeoma John-Paul , Haque Adnan ul , Pimenidis Elias , Kozlovski Eugene
Published: August 2022

This paper is one of the first attempts to address the fundamental barriers to the adoption of online crowdfunding mechanisms in a developing country by offering a new online/offline fundraising model. The focus is on Nigeria as a typical example of an environment that, unlike that in the developed world, is not fully conducive to social networking as a crowdfunding platform due to both economic and technological issues. Using a mixed research method, the study first compares the state of the art in crowdfunding in a developed and developing economy by interviewing two groups of 20 entrepreneurs from the UK and Nigeria, respectively. The differences between those in terms of crowdfunding facilitation are identified, and propositions for the Nigerian market are formulated. These are then tested statistically by surveying 160 randomly selected Nigerian fundraisers. Based on the outcomes of the thematic analysis and statistical modelling, a unique integrated online/offline crowdfunding model is proposed. It is particularly aimed at supporting entrepreneurial activities and related policymaking that can have a key impact on further social and economic development of these countries. The proposed model can be considered as an alternative novel fundraising instrument in regions where socioeconomic and technological challenges inhibit the adoption of traditional crowdfunding approaches.
Urbanization, Economic Development, and Environmental Degradation: Investigating the Role of Renewable Energy Use
Authors: Rehman Abdul , Radulescu Magdalena , Cismas Laura Mariana , Alvarado Rafael , Secara Carmen Gabriela , Tolea Claudia
Published: August 2022

The current study explored the impact of renewable energy use, urbanization, economic growth and trade in services on CO2 emission in Maldives by using annual data series ranging from 1990 to 2020. We have checked the variables influences by utilizing the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) method with long-run and short-run connections. Findings via long-run and short-run showed that the variables renewable energy use and economic growth has positive and negative coefficients via positive and negative shocks that uncover the constructive and adverse linkage to CO2 emission in Maldives. Similarly, trade in services showed an adversative and positive connection to CO2 emission via positive and negative shocks. During the analysis, the variable urbanization uncovered a negative linkage to CO2 emission. It is imperative that Maldives implement new policies and strategies aimed at reducing CO2 emission in order to avert the environmental devastation.
Quantitative Evaluation of High-Tech Industry Policies Based on the PMC-Index Model: A Case Study of China’s Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region
Authors: Liu Yiwen , Li Jian , Xu Yi
Published: August 2022

High-tech industrial agglomeration plays a significant role in regional sustainable development. Local governments have issued many industrial policies to accelerate the development of high-tech industries in China. Evaluating high-tech industry policies from the perspective of regional industrial synergy can prevent problems in policy implementation and promote the industrial synergy in a region. For this purpose, taking China’s Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region as a case, we evaluate seven policies governing the high-tech industry in this region by using the approach which integrates the policy modeling consistency index (PMC-Index) model and text mining. We propose an evaluation system with consideration of regional industrial synergy, which is based on the PMC-Index model. The results show that the lowest PMC-Index value of the seven policies is 5.30, the highest is 8.17, and the average is 6.67. Among the policies, four are of excellent or perfect grade and relatively comprehensive; three are of acceptable grade and relatively insufficient. The overall designs of the high-tech industrial policies are reasonable but there is still much room for improvement. According to the average scores of the main indicators, the policies function relatively poorly in terms of policy release agency, policy timeliness, policy type and policy receptor. The optimizations for the shortcomings of each policy are also suggested. This study may not only provide some enlightenment to policymakers, but also provide a supplement for the policy evaluation field.
Exploring International Faculty’s Perspectives on Their Campus Life by PLS-SEM
Authors: Chen Chia-Chi , Chang Dian-Fu
Published: August 2022

The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of international faculty members on their life in higher education institutions (HEIs). The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted not only most citizens’ lives but also the international faculty members’ lives during this period. Since building sustainable campuses has become a priority for various HEIs, attracting and maintaining international faculty have become the focus of various internationalized campuses. However, the issue of international faculty’s satisfaction is still neglected in higher education. Using a self-compiled online survey, we collected 80 international faculty members of HEIs in Taiwan to investigate this issue. About 31.25% of the responses were collected by the online survey technique. The survey covered the career and professional status, teaching and research status, and demographics of the faculty. This study proposed a novel conceptual framework for addressing international faculty’s campus life, the design of which examined the relationships among working conditions, views of institutions, views of government measures, and levels of satisfaction through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The demographic profile of the participants revealed that (a) most international faculty are employed full-time as lecturers or assistant professors in most public universities and (b) most international faculty members earned their first degree outside of Taiwan; however, 66% of them earned their post-doctoral degrees in Taiwan. The result of the PLS-SEM confirms that the international faculty’s perspective of government, through their current work satisfaction, impacts overall satisfaction. This study found a mediation effect in the testing model. The design of the study can be extended to other higher education settings to tackle similar issues.
Training of Health Professionals to Promote Active Fatherhood during the Pre and Post-Natal Care to Prevent Violence against Women
Authors: Zambri Francesca , Santoro Andrea , Lubbock Annina , Volta Alessandro , Bestetti Giovanna , Marchetti Francesca , Pecilli Paola , Nassa Elisabetta , Preziosi Jessica , Colaceci Sofia , Giusti Angela
Published: August 2022

Violence against women is a violation of human rights and a form of discrimination against women. Healthcare services play a key role in the care of women exposed to violence, and father involvement in delivery and childcare can reduce intimate partner violence and has positive effects during pre and post-natal care. Our study aims to assess attitudes, practices, and perceived competencies of social-healthcare professionals on fathers’ active engagement in care and on prevention and management of violence against women after specific training. A pre–post study was carried out at two points in time: T0 (pre-training) and T1 within 15 days from the end of the course, using a semi-structured questionnaire. Changes were analyzed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Statistical analysis was carried out using Stata version 16. At T0, there were 129 participants. The most represented professions were midwives (66%). The average score of opinions at T0 and T1 improved, and this difference was significant (T0: 4.44; SD ± 0.6; T1: 4.42 SD ± 0.3; p = 0.0126). The same applies to perceived competencies (T0: 2.79; SD ± 0.6; T1: 2.99; SD ± 0.5; p = 0.0198). Professionals’ training on active fatherhood and on prevention and management of violence against women for health professionals is an effective public health strategy for health promotion.
The Benefits of Truck Platooning with an Increasing Market Penetration: A Case Study in Japan
Authors: Han Yifeng , Kawasaki Tomoya , Hanaoka Shinya
Published: August 2022

Truck platooning can potentially reduce carbon emissions caused by the road freight sector because fuel consumption would be reduced when trucks travel in a platoon. While research about the coordination and benefits of truck platooning is underway, the high costs of such technology suggest it will be several years before significant market penetration is achieved. In this study, we develop an improved mixed-integer linear programming model to optimize the formation and route of truck platooning. Then the model is applied to Japanese 10th logistic census data to estimate the benefits and formation pattern of truck platooning with the increase in the market penetration of platooning technologies. The results of the numerical calculations indicate that the largest total cost saving rate, matching rate and fuel saving rate are 1.15%, 57% and 5.7%, respectively. These three rates were all found to increase at first and then decrease as more and more trucks become platoonable, implying that truck platooning is profitable even in the initial stage and that not all trucks are suited to joining a platoon. Furthermore, several scenarios, including a discount on toll fees and different inter-vehicle distances, are considered to determine the effect of these factors on the benefits of truck platooning.
On the Properties Evolution of Eco-Material Dedicated to Manufacturing Artificial Reef via 3D Printing: Long-Term Interactions of Cementitious Materials in the Marine Environment
Authors: Boukhelf Fouad , Sebaibi Nassim , Boutouil Mohamed , Yoris-Nobile Adrian I. , Blanco-Fernandez Elena , Castro-Fresno Daniel , Real-Gutierrez Carlos , Herbert Roger J. H. , Greenhill Sam , Reis Bianca , Franco João N. , Borges Maria Teresa , Sousa-Pinto Isabel , van der Linden Pieter , Gómez Oscar Babé , Meyer Hugo Sainz , Almada Emanuel , Stafford Rick , Danet Valentin , Lobo-Arteaga Jorge , Tuaty-Guerra Miriam , E. Hall Alice
Published: August 2022

This paper deals with the evolution monitoring of biomass colonization and mechanical properties of 3D printed eco-materials/mortars immersed in the sea. Measurements of tensile strength, compressive strength, and Young’s modulus were determined on samples deployed along the Atlantic coast of Europe, in France, United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal. The samples were manufactured using 3D printing, where six mix designs with a low environmental impact binder were used. These mortars were based on geopolymer and cementitious binders (Cement CEM III), in which sand is replaced by three types of recycled sand, including glass, seashell, and limestone by 30%, 50%, and 100% respectively. The colonization of concrete samples by micro/macro-organisms and their durability were also evaluated after 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months of immersion. The results showed that both biomass colonization and mechanical properties were better with CEM III compared to geopolymer-based compositions. Therefore, the mixed design optimized according to mechanical properties show that the use of CEM III should be preferred over these geopolymer binders in 3D printed concrete for artificial reef applications.
Improving Tea Quality by Balancing ROS and Antioxidant System through Appropriate Ammonium Nitrogen Application
Authors: Xiang Fen , Zhou Lingyun , Liu Hongyan , Li Wei
Published: August 2022

Nitrogen is an important nutrient for the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), which profoundly affects the quality and value of tea. In this study, the variations of biochemical activities, antioxidant systems, and tea quality of two tea varieties under four levels of nitrogen fertilizers were analyzed to explore the responses of tea plants to nitrogen stress. The primary maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII(Fv/Fm), the photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) and the relative electron transport rate (rETR) decreased under nitrogen deficiency (ND) and high nitrogen treatments (HN) in tea plant. Meanwhile, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased significantly under ND/HN treatments, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased under HN/ND treatments. The relative expressions of antioxidant biosynthesis enzyme genes (CsSOD, CsPOD, CsCAT and CsAPX) were up-regulated under ND/HN treatments. Furthermore, the change trend of total free amino acid content under ND/HN treatments showed that nitrogen stress was not conducive to the accumulation of free amino acid content in tea, which may be related to the increase in ROS. This study presents a potential approach to improve tea quality by balancing ROS and antioxidant systems.
The Impact of Rainfall on Urban Human Mobility from Taxi GPS Data
Authors: Guo Peng , Sun Yanling , Chen Qiyi , Li Junrong , Liu Zifei
Published: August 2022

Rainfall severely impacts human mobility in urban areas and creates significant challenges for traffic management and urban planning. There is an urgent need to understand the impact of rainfall on residents’ travels from multiple perspectives. Taxi GPS data contains a large amount of spatiotemporal information about human activities and mobility in urban areas. For this study, we selected the central area of Zhuhai as the study area and used taxi data from August 2020 for the investigation. Firstly, we divided the taxi data into four scenarios, i.e., weekdays with and without rainfall and weekends with and without rainfall and analyzed and compared the trip characteristics for the different scenarios. Then, using the traffic analysis zone (TAZ) as the node and taxi flow between TAZs as edges, we constructed a network and compared the network indicators under the different scenarios. Finally, we used the Leiden algorithm to detect communities in different scenarios and compared the network indicators of the communities. The results showed that on days with rainfall, taxi flow and its spatial and temporal distribution pattern changed significantly, which affected transportation supply and demand. These findings may provide useful references for the formulation of urban transport policies that can adapt to different weather conditions.
Valorization of SCG through Extraction of Phenolic Compounds and Synthesis of New Biosorbent
Authors: Solomakou Nikoletta , Tsafrakidou Panagiota , Goula Athanasia M.
Published: August 2022

Coffee is considered to be one of the most renowned beverages and it is the second-most consumed product worldwide. Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) are the primary solid residue, which are generated during the coffee powder brewing in hot water or steam. The formation of huge amounts of these byproducts poses a severe threat to the environment, due to their organic nature and their high phenolic compounds concentration. Nevertheless, the latter are characterized as bioactive compounds with high antioxidant activity turning SCG into an economical raw matrix for the isolation of valuable components. Phenolic compounds that can be isolated from coffee byproducts can be potentially used as natural antioxidants in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries. Thus, the research community has focused its efforts on the optimization of phenolics extraction by the development of novel environmentally friendly techniques except for conventional maceration extraction using organic solvents. The objective of this review is to present an inclusive summary of the revalorization of SCGs and the potential uses of those solid residues through the recovery of phenolic compounds or the use of untreated or treated SCGs as biosorbents of valuable compounds from other food industry byproducts.
Spatial Expansion and Correlation of Urban Agglomeration in the Yellow River Basin Based on Multi-Source Nighttime Light Data
Authors: Zhang Zhongwu , Liu Yuanfang
Published: August 2022

The Chinese government proposed a major national strategy for ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin. The Framework of the Plan for Ecological Protection and High-Quality Development of the Yellow River Basin proposes building a dynamic development pattern characterized by “one axis, two regions and five poles” in the Yellow River Basin with high-quality and high-standard urban agglomerations along the Yellow River. The urban agglomeration is the economic growth pole of the Yellow River Basin and the main carrier of the population and productivity. This study integrates DMSP/OLS (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program/Operational Linescan System) and NPP/VIIRS (Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership/Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) night light remote sensing data from 2000 to 2020 and uses methods such as spatial expansion measurement, the center of gravity offset, urban primacy, and the gravity model to study the spatial expansion and correlation characteristics of five urban agglomerations. The results show that: (1) From 2000 to 2020, urban agglomeration in the Yellow River Basin continued to expand, and the area increased by 6.4 times. The total amount of nighttime lights in the city presents a spatial distribution pattern that is high in the east and low in the west. (2) The expansion centers of the five major urban agglomerations all shifted. The centers of gravity of the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration, the Jiziwan urban agglomeration of the Yellow River, the Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration, and the Lanzhou–Xining urban agglomeration all shifted westward, while the center of gravity of the Central Plains urban agglomeration shifted to the southeast. (3) Qingdao, Zhengzhou, Xi’an and Lanzhou are the primate cities of the four urban agglomerations of the Shandong Peninsula, Central Plains, Guanzhong Plain, and Lanzhou–Xining, respectively. The primate city in the Jiziwan urban agglomeration of the Yellow River was changed from Taiyuan to Yinchuan and then to Yulin. (4) The density of the gravitational network of the urban agglomeration in the Yellow River Basin and the distribution of the maximum gravitational line show the spatial differentiation characteristics of being dense in the east and sparse in the west.
Crop Diversification in South Asia: A Panel Regression Approach
Authors: Singh Pardeep , Adhale Pradipkumar , Guleria Amit , Bhoi Priya Brata , Bhoi Akash Kumar , Bacco Manlio , Barsocchi Paolo
Published: August 2022

The South Asian agricultural sector has experienced vigorous growth and structural transformation over the last few decades, albeit differently across the region. This study examines the crop diversification status and various determinants, such as socioeconomic (per capita gross domestic product, population, arable land, and cropland), soil/agronomic (root zone moisture), agricultural inputs (fertilizer and pesticide consumption), the productivity of food and non-food crops, international trade, and climate (maximum and minimum temperature and rainfall) factors. The share of cereals has decreased in most countries, but they continue to dominate South Asian agriculture. The area under high-value crops in India has increased significantly, replacing the area under cereal cultivation during the study period. Similar results were seen in the Maldives, where vegetables replaced oilseeds. The Hausman model test suggested a random-effects model for analyzing the determinants. All the determinants considered in the study explain 69 percent of the variation in the crop diversification index. The crop diversification in South Asia was influenced by per capita gross domestic product (G.D.P.), minimum temperature, pesticide consumption, food crop yield index, and non-food crop yield index during the study period. Cropland percentage and population, on the other hand, reduce crop diversification. The price factor contributed more than half to agricultural growth. It remained the primary source of growth in all South Asian countries, followed by yield, which is identified as the second most crucial factor. The contribution of crop diversification to agricultural growth has been declining over time.
Biopolymers Produced by Treating Waste Brewer’s Yeast with Active Sludge Bacteria: The Qualitative Analysis and Evaluation of the Potential for 3D Printing
Authors: Zupančič Gregor Drago , Lončar Anamarija , Budžaki Sandra , Panjičko Mario
Published: August 2022

Biopolymers are a suitable alternative for the ongoing problem of plastic accumulation, even though commercialization is difficult, which is reflected in the price of the product. However, costs can be reduced if active sludge bacteria and cheap, accessible substrates such as waste brewer’s yeast are used. Waste brewer’s yeast is a rich source of carbon and nitrogen and is widespread as a substrate in various industries. Thus, the cultivation of active sludge bacteria was performed on waste brewers’ yeast to obtain biopolymers that can be used in 3D printing. FT-IR, TG, and DSC analyses of produced polymers were conducted after extraction, as well as biogas and biomethane potential tests. Results of cultivation under various conditions show that biopolymer content is extremely heterogeneous. However, during cultivation in SBR, signals at 1741.3, 1709.6, 1634.3, and 1238 cm−1 were detected. Further analyses are needed, but when said results are compared to those of consulted scientific articles, there is an indication that at least a small amount of PHA is present in biomass produced in SBR. Biopolymers produced in SBR were used as a material for the 3D printing of a cube. Moreover, testing of the physical properties (Young’s modulus) of a 3D-printed cube was performed. After conducting experiments, it can be concluded that said process, although time-consuming, achieved the goal of printing a stable and rigid 3D-printed cube made from biopolymers. Further optimization of said process should focus on more detailed microbial selection as well as biopolymer extraction. In that way, isolation, purification, and identification techniques will be improved, which could achieve higher biopolymer yield and, thus, make biopolymers more accessible in various industries.
Effects of Future Climate Change on Citrus Quality and Yield in China
Authors: Wang Shuangshuang , Xie Wenqiang , Yan Xiaodong
Published: August 2022

As the world’s most widely cultivated fruit, citrus in China is increasingly suffering from ongoing climate change, which affects the sustainability of agricultural systems and social economy. In this study, we linked climate factors to citrus quality and yield and established projection models to elucidate the impact of future climate change. Then, we used the ensemble mean of 19 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6 (CMIP6) models to project the 2021–2040 and 2041–2060 climate changes relative to the historical baseline 1995–2014 period under different shared socioeconomic pathways scenarios (SSP2-4.5, SSP5-8.5). The results show that the monthly mean diurnal temperature range in July had the greatest influence on quality, and monthly mean temperature in October, monthly mean relative humidity in October, monthly mean minimum temperature in November and monthly mean maximum temperature in September had the greatest influence on yield at the growth and ripening stages. Moreover, the quality and yield of citrus present different characteristics in terms of change in cultivation areas in the future. The quality of Sichuan, Zhejiang and Fujian Provinces in China will become significantly better, however, Hubei, Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces it will become worse. Surprisingly, yield will increase in all plantations due to future suitable climate conditions for citrus growth and ripening.
Animal Nutrition and Welfare in Sustainable Production Systems
Authors: Puvača Nikola , Tufarelli Vincenzo , Voslarova Eva
Published: August 2022

The production of food animals today requires large amounts of energy, land, chemicals, and water—all of which are becoming increasingly scarce [...]
Small Signal Stability Analysis of a Microgrid in Grid-Connected Mode
Authors: Alnuman Hammad
Published: August 2022

Microgrid stability issues are classified into three categories: transient, voltage, and small signal stability (SSS). Small variations in the load demand and small perturbations in the control system and line impedance parameters can cause instability, which can be avoided by performing an SSS analysis. This paper focuses on investigating the impact of line impedance and passive filter parameters on the stability of a MG in grid-connected mode. Therefore, a MG system was represented mathematically, before performing an SSS analysis that calculated the stability margin of the MG parameters. A sensitivity analysis was performed to determine those parameters highly participating in the SSS. The mathematical results were validated using the simulation results, which were obtained using MATLAB Simulink.
Occupational Risk Assessment for Flight Schools: A 3,4-Quasirung Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making-Based Approach
Authors: Gul Muhammet , Ak Muhammet Fatih
Published: August 2022

The concept of occupational risk assessment is related to the analysis and prioritization of the hazards arising in a production or service facility and the risks associated with these hazards; risk assessment considers occupational health and safety (OHS). Elimination or reduction to an acceptable level of analyzed risks, which is a systematic and proactive process, is then put into action. Although fuzzy logic-related decision models related to the assessment of these risks have been developed and applied a lot in the literature, there is an opportunity to develop novel occupational risk assessment models depending on the development of new fuzzy logic extensions. The 3,4-quasirung fuzzy set (3,4-QFS) is a new type of fuzzy set theory emerged as an extension of the Pythagorean fuzzy sets and Fermatean fuzzy sets. In this approach, the sum of the cube of the degree of membership and the fourth power of the degree of non-membership must be less than or equal to 1. Since this new approach has a wider space, it can express uncertain information in a more flexible and exhaustive way. This makes this type of fuzzy set applicable in addressing many problems in multi-criteria decision making (MCDM). In this study, an occupational risk assessment approach based on 3,4-quasirung fuzzy MCDM is presented. Within the scope of the study, the hazards pertaining to the flight and ground training, training management, administrative and facilities in a flight school were assessed and prioritized. The results of existing studies were tested, and we considered both Pythagorean and Fermatean fuzzy aggregation operators. In addition, by an innovative sensitivity analysis, the effect of major changes in the weight of each risk parameter on the final priority score and ranking of the hazards was evaluated. The outcomes of this study are beneficial for OHS decision-makers by highlighting the most prioritized hazards causing serious occupational accidents in flights schools as part of aviation industry. The approach can also be suggested and adapted for production and service science environments where their occupational health & safety are highly required.
Dynamic Evolution, Spatial Differences, and Driving Factors of China’s Provincial Digital Economy
Authors: Luo Run , Zhou Nianxing
Published: August 2022

The digital economy is critical to national economic growth and high-quality economic development. It is theoretically and practically significant to measure the development level and spatial differences in the digital economy to promote the construction of a digital China. This study constructed a digital economy evaluation index and analyzed the dynamic evolution, spatial differences, and driving factors of China’s provincial digital economy from 2011 to 2020 using a spatial Markov chain, the Dagum Gini coefficient, and geographical detector methods. The results demonstrated that China’s provincial digital economy grew from 2011 to 2020. The spatial distribution of the digital economy was high in eastern provinces and municipalities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, and low in central and western provinces and autonomous regions. The probability of upward transfer in developing China’s provincial digital economy was greater than that of preserving the original state, and China’s provincial digital economy has great potential for development. A region with a medium-high level in the digital economy is more likely to achieve high-level development when neighboring regions are characterized by a medium-high or high level of digital economy development, as the spillover effects from the neighbors may be strongly favorable and the region takes advantage of its developed surroundings. There were significant spatial differences in the development of China’s provincial digital economy, caused primarily by inter-regional differences. The spatial differentiation of China’s provincial digital economy was caused by the interaction of multiple factors, led by economic conditions and R&D expenditure.
An Analysis of Customer Textual Reviews and Satisfaction at Luxury Hotels in Singapore’s Marina Bay Area (SG-Clean-Certified Hotels)
Authors: Handani Narariya Dita , Williady Angellie , Kim Hak-Seon
Published: August 2022

Singapore relies heavily on the tourism industry, which was severely affected by COVID-19. During the early phase of the pandemic, the Singapore government created a campaign reassuring locals and encouraging them to “travel” within Singapore. During the pandemic, travelers’ focus shifted to pandemic-related topics. This study examined 8441 customer textual reviews from seven luxury hotels in the Marina Bay area through Google Travel derived from SCTM 3.0. In order to determine the new attributes affecting customer satisfaction, this study used UCINET 6.0 and Text2Data as part of text mining. Subsequently, SPSS was used for descriptive analysis and regression analysis to identify the relationship between the attributes in the customer textual reviews and the overall satisfaction of the customers. The results showed that all the attributes were significant in terms of overall customer satisfaction, with three attributes, sentiment polarity, readability, and word length, positively affecting overall customer satisfaction. Through social media and online platforms, consumers express their thoughts and feelings about online reviews of many products and services. With the adopted methodology, the industry may be able to benefit from this abundance of information in order to adjust strategies and increase financial benefits post-COVID-19.
Impact of Agricultural Extension Services on Fertilizer Use and Farmers’ Welfare: Evidence from Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Mahbubur , Connor Jeffry D.
Published: August 2022

Although many studies have assessed the impact of extension, most treat the presence or absence of extension as a binary variable to test treatment effects, and fewer investigate how the type of provider (e.g., govt./private) and the frequency of the contact (number of extension visits) impact farm household welfare. To address this knowledge gap, this article investigates the impact of agricultural extension access, frequency, and provider type on chemical fertilizer application, crop yield, and profit. Data from a nationwide survey in 2015 in Bangladesh, a case country with a heavy over-application of urea fertilizer, are the basis for the endogenous switching regression approach to control for potential self-selection and endogeneity. The empirical results revealed significant differences in the outcomes for farmers who had just one extension contact, more than one extension contact, and those who accessed private provisions. We found that farmers who frequently accessed extension used significantly less urea fertilizer than farmers who accessed extension only once. Farmers who accessed extension more frequently also experienced a statistically significantly higher yield and profit from cropping. Private extension access appeared to result in statistically significantly higher incomes but not reduced urea fertilizer application rates. Our results suggest that a more nuanced understanding can be gained from extension source and frequency treatment effects modelling than with the presence or absence of the extension binary variable formulation that is most common in the literature.
The Sustainable Effect of Artificial Intelligence and Parental Control on Children’s Behavior While Using Smart Devices’ Apps: The Case of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alrusaini Othman , Beyari Hasan
Published: August 2022

The study was necessitated by the unprecedented consumption of smart devices by children in Saudi Arabia, which has been a concern to parents and other stakeholders. It investigated the way that game apps, social media apps, and video-streaming apps impact child development. It also examined the roles played by artificial intelligence control and parental control in enhancing the sustainability of children’s behavior amidst smart technologies. The theories underpinning this research were the theory of reasoned action and the theory of planned behavior. The population of the study was 1,616,755 households in the eastern, western, and central regions. The researcher used an online survey to capture the sentiments of a sample of 415 parents who had given their children at least one smart device. The primary questionnaire focused on game apps, social media apps, video-streaming apps, artificial intelligence control, parental control, and the sustainability of child behavior. On the other hand, a separate questionnaire designed specifically to capture demographic information was also drafted. The structural equation model (SEM) was preferred, as it depicted the moderating roles of artificial intelligence control and parental control by using SPSS AMOS software. Findings established that games, social media, and video-streaming applications negatively affected the sustainability of child behavior. The findings presented in this paper show that the moderating effect of artificial intelligence control was more statistically significant than parental controls in influencing the sustainability of child behavior. Moreover, the results show that the greatest effect on children’s behavior were social media, video-streaming, and games apps. respectively. Nevertheless, both approaches resulted in positive child behavior. Hence, the study concluded that using artificial intelligence control is more effective than relying on parental controls to enhance the behavioral sustainability of children with smart device applications in Saudi Arabia.
A Load-Independent Output Current Method for Wireless Power Transfer Systems with Optimal Parameter Tuning
Authors: Yarmohammadi Leila , Hosseini S. Mohammad Hassan , Olamaei Javad , Mozafari Babak
Published: August 2022

In current study, a method for achieving a load-independent output current with the ability to optimize the parameter tuning, which is applied to wireless power transfer (WPT) systems, is analyzed. The proposed technique is based on the immittance property in a passive resonant network (PRN) with the purpose of transforming a voltage/current resource into a current/voltage resource. This study determines an immittance conditions-qualified family of PRN, which is associated with a more appropriate topological description in WPT applications. Considering the resource and sink type, a comprehensive specification of the coupling coefficient-based design condition and operating point is carried out. Moreover, the parameters of each proposed topology are reconfigured by adjusting the proportion of active power to reactive power ratios as an index to optimize the topology size as well as a reduction of voltage/current stresses on their elements without changing the specified system-level parameters, such as the loosely coupled transformer operating frequency, and specified constant current outputs. The sample topology selection is also carried out with respect to the absorption of the parasitic components and achieving the inherent dc-blocked transformer. Zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) operation of the switches, minimum conduction losses of the rectifier diodes within an extensive variety of load variations, and capability of consistent generation of stable load-regulated current are also achieved. Analytical results show that the proposed compensation has the minimum output current fluctuation versus variations of the coupling coefficient and other parameters. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed methodology is evaluated through simulations, and practical experiments, and compared with the conventional design method.