bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Livelihood Analysis and a New Inferential Model for Development of Forest-Dependent Rural Communities
Authors: Mahmoudi Beytollah , Zenner Eric , Mafi-Gholami Davood , Eshaghi Fatemeh
Published: June 2023

The livelihood of many households and communities in the Central Zagros of Iran is strongly dependent on income from forests. While this has led to the widespread over-utilization of forests, poverty levels have remained high and rural development low. The objective of this study was to understand how households utilize forests and to what extent forests contribute to household income and alleviate poverty in order to develop strategies to raise families out of poverty and offer development perspectives to communities that avoid destructive forest utilization. To do so, semi-structured interviews were conducted in five rural communities, community poverty was quantified using several indices (e.g., the Census Ratio Index, Poverty Gap Index), the level of rural development was quantified using socio-economic indicators, and an inferential model was developed that combines household dependence on forests with the level of rural development to provide development perspectives. Local households earned income from nine livelihood strategies that involve forests. Forest-dependent strategies provided the second highest economic share (18.1%) of household income, averaging IRR 27.7 million (USD 657) annually, and moved 12% of households above the poverty line (76% still remained below). Without forest income, most indices of poverty decreased, income inequality increased by 11%, and poverty depth increased 1.54-fold. The low development index of most villages indicates that rural villagers are heavily dependent on forests to meet their livelihood. Our conceptual model indicates that communities should pursue different development strategies that consider whether households depend on forests to meet their livelihood or derive more supplemental income.
Digital Integration of Temperature Field of Cable-Stayed Bridge Based on Finite Element Model Updating and Health Monitoring
Authors: Zhong Guoqiang , Bi Yufeng , Song Jie , Wang Kangdi , Gao Shuai , Zhang Xiaonan , Wang Chao , Liu Shang , Yue Zixiang , Wan Chunfeng
Published: June 2023

A health monitoring system typically collects and processes data to observe the health status of a bridge. The cost limitations imply that only the measurement point data of a few key points can be obtained; however, the entire bridge monitoring information cannot be established, which significantly interferes with the data integrity of the structural monitoring system. In this study, a solution is proposed for reconstructing the monitoring data of the entire bridge. By updating the finite element (FE) model based on structural thermal analysis, numerical simulation technology, and other methods, the temperature field integration model of a cable-stayed bridge is realized. The temperature spatial expansion method of deep learning is established by using the complete simulated temperature field of the entire bridge based on limited measured temperature data; this data is verified and applied to the main beam and bridge tower, thereby establishing the complete measured temperature field of the whole bridge. This is of great significance in supplementing health monitoring information, allowing for the accurate monitoring and evaluation of the structural safety and service performance of long bridges.
How Does Trade Openness Affect Output Growth? A Perspective from the Input Diversity
Authors: Yu Jiajie , Meng Shuang
Published: June 2023

Globalization has led to a rapid increase in the international trade of intermediate goods, which plays a vital role in economic growth. This study investigates whether trade openness facilitates output growth by improving access to intermediate inputs. In particular, it has been examined whether industrial sectors with higher intermediate input diversity grow relatively faster in countries that are more open to trade. Through the adoption of the difference-in-differences approach, we find strong evidence that this is indeed the case based on a large cross-country sample. The empirical estimation indicates that industries more diversified in intermediate inputs will grow by 2.6 percentage points faster in more outward-oriented countries. Furthermore, our results are robust to various specification checks and are unlikely to be driven by omitted variables, outliers, or reverse causality. By identifying the mechanism through which trade openness facilitates output growth, our study highlights the additional gains from trade liberalization that may be undermined by increased protectionism, especially for industrial sectors that rely on diversified intermediate inputs.
Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Driving Factors of “Non-Grain Production” in Hubei Province Based on a Non-Grain Index
Authors: Hu Jundong , Wang Hong , Song Yu
Published: June 2023

Non-grain production (NGP) on cultivated land has become a common phenomenon due to the prosperity of the rural economy and the optimisation of the agricultural structure. However, the excessive use of cultivating land for NGP has threatened food production and the sustainable use of cultivated land. To halt this trend and to ensure food security, the authors of this paper applied a novel non-grain index to measure NGP, which could reflect multiple NGP activities; designated Hubei Province as its object of research; and revealed NGP’s spatio-temporal patterns of the past 30 years. We then assessed the characteristics of NGP based on spatial autocorrelation analysis, the Theil index, and geographically weighted regression. The results showed that the value of the non-grain index grew from 0.497 to 1.113 as NGP increased significantly in Hubei Province. The number of high-NGP counties increased, spatial agglomeration became obvious, and the eastern and western sides of Hubei Province witnessed an observable growth in NGP. As a result, the NGP in the eastern and western regions overtook production in the central region. Despite a series of historical subsidy policies and agricultural modernisation initiatives that promoted the planting of grain crops, the policy of “grain on valuable cultivated land” could be better implemented. We conclude by making some suggestions for reducing NGP and protecting cultivated land.
Teaching Methods in Medical Education: An Analysis of the Assessments and Preferences of Students
Authors: Fernández-Rodríguez Conrado A. , Arenas-Fenollar M. Carmen , Lacruz-Pérez Irene , Tárraga-Mínguez Raúl
Published: June 2023

Knowing which teaching methods students value the most is important, as it directly affects the quality of learning. This paper analyzes which teaching methods are most commonly used in the Medicine Degree at a Spanish university, as perceived by both professors and students. It further explores the students’ assessments of these methods and the relationship between these assessments and the methods’ frequencies of use. The participants were 36 professors and 150 students. Professors completed the Teaching and Assessment Methodology of University Faculty Questionnaire (TAMUFQ), while students were administered a specially designed questionnaire. The questionnaire defined twelve teaching methods, and students were asked to provide their personal assessment and the frequency of use for each method based on their experiences. Professors reported adhering to a traditional style of teaching and assessment. According to the students, the most commonly used method was the lecture, although their assessments of lectures were significantly lower than the frequency with which that method was being used. Regarding the eleven remaining methods, the prospective doctors’ assessments were significantly higher than the methods’ degree of use. The main conclusion is that, while students did not negatively assess lectures, they considered them to be overused. This may mean that the potential of other teaching methods is being missed.
Waste Pickers’ Formalisation from Bogotá to Cartagena de Indias: Dispossession and Socio-Economic Enclosures in Two Colombian Cities
Authors: Neville Laura , Tovar Cortés Luisa Fernanda
Published: June 2023

Colombia is considered a pioneer in inclusive recycling in Latin America and the state-led formalisation policies are considered a referent for the socio-economic inclusion of waste pickers beyond the region. Nevertheless, more than 60,000 waste pickers in Colombia are struggling to remain in place despite these inclusive recycling and formalisation policies. This paper examines the implementation of formalisation policies and their consequences for the population of waste pickers by comparing evidence from two Colombian cities: Bogotá and Cartagena de Indias. The paper draws on extensive qualitative community-based research methodology with waste pickers in both cities guided by an interdisciplinary epistemological position to support Colombian waste pickers’ political struggle for recognition from a theoretical reflection. This paper shows how formalisation policies became a mechanism of manifold dispossessions in both cities. This paper categorises three forms of enclosures faced by waste pickers: (a) material and socio-economic; (b) bodily and spatial; and (c) political and organisational. Finally, this paper concludes by urging to consider the situated social, political, and cultural facets of waste pickers’ labour to enhance grassroots reflections on how to achieve greater levels of social justice and inclusion.
Teaching Sustainable Employability: Examining the Factor Structure of the Perception of Career Development Inventory for Chinese College Students
Authors: Qu Yi
Published: June 2023

The universalization of higher education and the uncertainty of the labor market in China has rendered the career development of college students increasingly important. However, previous constructs of career development and their measurements were mainly developed for psychological interventions based on Western culture, rather than educational practices in China. To investigate the career development of Chinese college students, this study examined a four-factor model of the Perception of Career Development Inventory for Chinese College Students. The four factors are self-seeking, competence enhancements, context exploration, and role matching. The present study confirmed the four-factor structure and provided evidence of satisfactory psychometric properties using a sample of Chinese college students (N = 739). Further validation and the investigation of educational effects need to be extended.
Sustainable Continuity of Cultural Heritage: An Approach for Studying Architectural Identity Using Typo-Morphology Analysis and Perception Survey
Authors: Khaznadar Binyad Maruf Abdulkadir , Baper Salahaddin Yasin
Published: June 2023

Architecture plays a crucial role in expressing identities. Cultural heritage as a sustainable process identifies the representation of architectural identity and its continuity. This study aims to create a model of the sustainable continuity of cultural heritage as an approach to studying architectural identity in Erbil. This study contributes to revealing a comprehensive model that includes the relationship between inherited and created sustainable elements related to cultural heritage that affects the continuity of architectural identity. The study combined visual analysis using graphical representation, the analysis of previous studies, field surveys, and questionnaire surveys as methods of data collection. The rationale behind selecting Erbil is related to its unique sustainable developments related to its cultural heritage through the ages, as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. This paper built two hypotheses. The first assumes that there is a significant correlation between elements that represent cultural heritage as a sustainable process and the continuity of architectural identity, and the second assumes that certain elements of cultural heritage have a greater effect on the continuity of architectural identity. The proposed model revealed a strong correlation between independent variables that represent cultural heritage frameworks such as the typo-morphology of house layouts and facades, sociocultural factors, and sustainable development factors and the dependent factor of the continuity of architectural identity in houses situated in Erbil. The regression analysis demonstrated that the most effective factor contributing to the continuity of the architectural identity of houses in Erbil is the physical characteristics related to the typo morphology of the house’s plan layout.
Role of Logistics Integration Capability in Enhancing Performance in Omni-Channel Retailing: Supply Chain Integration as Mediator
Authors: Liu Yue , Song Guang
Published: June 2023

Although the importance and benefits of logistics integration in omni-channel (OC) retailing have been discussed in the literature, the impacts of logistics integration from the dimension of internal and external logistics remain unknown. To fill this gap, this study aims to investigate the relationships among internal and external logistics integration capabilities, supply-chain integration (SCI), and financial performance (FP) in OC retailing based on the dynamic capability view. An empirical study is conducted based on a survey of 230 OC retailers in China’s market. Factor analysis and regression analysis are conducted to examine the hypotheses of the proposed conceptual model. The quantitative analyses show that the internal logistics integration capability is significantly related to the external logistics integration capability, and they both have positive effects on SCI, while the external logistics integration capability generates a higher impact (i.e., almost 1.5 times that of the internal logistics integration capability). The numerical results also demonstrate that the logistics integration capabilities and SCI have similar positive effects on FP (i.e., all the relevant regression coefficients show values around 0.25), and SCI plays a partial intermediary role in the relationships between logistics integration capabilities and FP. Furthermore, the quantitative evidence addresses the fact that the FP is not influenced by OC retailers’ characteristics, indicating a fair business environment in the OC retail industry.
Relationship between Population and Ethno-Cultural Heritage—Case Study: Crișana, Romania
Authors: Deac Luminița Anca , Herman Grigore Vasile , Gozner Maria , Bulz Gheorghe Codruț , Boc Emilia
Published: June 2023

Crișana Region is one of the most representative and wide historical regions of Romania, which encompasses several “lands” and ethnographic areas, each of them being defined by a series of features, among which those of demographic nature (ethnicity, religion) and ethno-cultural features stand out. In this context, the aim of the current study is to identify, assess and emphasize the relationship between the demographic features and those related to the ethno-cultural heritage. The accomplishment of this work required the use of the multi-criteria analysis method, successfully applied in various activity areas, a method which is characterized by a high level of complexity. The obtained results emphasized the spatial distribution on ‘territorial administrative unit’ (TAU) level of the aggregated synthetic values and of the relationship types which were determined between population and ethno-cultural heritage in Crișana Region, Romania.
The Impact of Political Stability on Environmental Quality in the Long Run: The Case of Turkey
Authors: Kirikkaleli Dervis , Osmanlı Aygün
Published: June 2023

In the 21st century, environmental problems are considered the biggest challenges. Turkey is one of the emerging markets that need to improve the quality of their environment. In the literature, how political risk affects the environment in Turkey has not been studied. In order to contribute to the issue, this study aims to determine the impact of political stability on the quality of the environment in Turkey. The present study investigates the effect of political stability on environmental quality, taking into account the critical role of economic growth, environmental regulation, patents in environmental technologies, and renewable energy consumption in Turkey from 1990 to 2019. The present study used nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) and dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) models to investigate the effect of political stability on environmental quality in Turkey. The empirical findings show that political stability in Turkey reduces environmental deregulation by declining CO2 emissions. Similarly, patents in environmental technologies and renewable energy consumption positively contribute to the environmental quality in Turkey by decreasing CO2 emissions. On the other hand, economic growth has a significant positive effect on CO2 emissions. This study suggests that political stability is an important indicator of environmental quality in Turkey. In order to ensure the continuity of Turkey’s environmental sustainability, political tension in the country should be controlled by politicians, and it is recommended that Turkey should turn to and invest in renewable energy sources by following technological innovation.
Assessing the Content Quality of Industry Technology Roadmaps
Authors: Li Si-Nuo , Li Yi , Yu Winnie
Published: June 2023

An industry technology roadmap (hereafter ITRM) is a strategic planning tool to predict the technologies and innovations demanded by the future market, allowing the industry to leverage capital and other investments in a range of alternative technologies and achieve sustainable development. To date, ITRM has been adopted by various global organizations in different industries; however, the majority of research has focused on roadmapping techniques only. Although success factors have been mentioned in some of the literature, little work has been conducted to assess the success of any ITRM. This research, therefore, developed an assessment model, including a theoretical and knowledge framework, assessment methods, and quantitative indices, to systematically assess the contents of an ITRM. We then used it to assess four global textile ITRMs. The assessment results led us to recommend five success factors of an effective ITRM: (1) methodological industry technology roadmapping; (2) a multi-organizational background; (3) systematic presentation of ITRM contents; (4) balanced contents for market and technology forces; and (5) appropriate databases. Compared with the success factors proposed in the previous literature, these five success factors are more practical for roadmap content construction.
Analysis of Environmental Sustainability through a Weighting Matrix in the Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Guerrero-Martin Camilo Andrés , Ortega-Ramírez Angie Tatiana , Rodríguez Paula Alejandra Perilla , López Shalom Jireth Reyes , Guerrero-Martin Laura Estefanía , Salinas-Silva Raúl , Camacho-Galindo Stefanny
Published: June 2023

In the oil sector, various strategies are applied to mitigate harmful effects on the environment. These strategies include, among others, compensation plans, the measurement and control of the carbon footprint and/or water footprint, the recovery of waste from activities and processes, and Environmental Management Systems (EMS). An EMS provides a formal framework that enables more efficient work on environmental issues, thereby improving performance. It aims to raise awareness of the environmental impacts associated with the oil industry in different areas through the use of weighting matrices. Additionally, it seeks to conduct sustainable studies and optimize the direct activities involved in the exploitation of hydrocarbons as a natural resource. Factors considered in decision making include ensuring that the strategy does not compromise the well-being of future generations, has economic viability, and does not hinder any oil sector activities such as exploration, drilling, production, or processing of derivatives. The purpose of this is that it allows for the creation of decision matrices based on weighting methodologies that outline possible correlations between specific activities of the oil sector such as water use, effects on soils and landscapes, greenhouse gas emissions, solid waste, liquid effluents, hazardous waste, and toxic waste, among others. The decision matrices can also help elucidate the relationship of these activities with mitigation strategies to provide a decision-making tool for environmental management plans so that activities are implemented in a way that can mitigate impacts on water, soil, and air resources. The results of this study were classified using a traffic light matrix, based on the level of technical congruence, using an optimal (green), regular (yellow), medium (orange), and at-risk (red) scale. The environmental impact of “alteration of the geoform of the land” was positioned in the at-risk category due to its assessment by experts in relation to the activity of “land adaptation”. In the medium category, a total of 23 impacts were identified, while 10 impacts fell into the regular category. These results were evaluated in the context of the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of the oil industry.
Assessment of Variability in Hydrological Droughts Using the Improved Innovative Trend Analysis Method
Authors: Ashraf Muhammad Shehzad , Shahid Muhammad , Waseem Muhammad , Azam Muhammad , Rahman Khalil Ur
Published: June 2023

The use of hydro-climatological time series to identify patterns is essential for comprehending climate change and extreme events such as drought. Hence, in this study, hydrological drought variability based on the standard drought index (SDI) using DrinC was investigated at ten (10) hydrological stations in the Upper Indus River Basin (UIRB) of Pakistan on a monthly timescale for a period of 1961–2018. Moreover, the applicability of the improved innovative trend analysis by Sen Slope method (referred hereafter as the IITA) method was evaluated in comparison with innovative trend analysis (ITA) and Mann–Kendall (MK). The findings demonstrated a significant decreasing trend in the hydrological drought from October to March; on the other hand, from April through September, a significant increasing trend was observed. In addition to that, the consistency of the outcomes across the three trend analysis methods was also observed in most of the cases, with some discrepancies in trend direction, such as at Kharmong station. Conclusively, consistency of results in all three trend analysis methods showed that the IITA method is reliable and effective due to its capability to investigate the trends in low, median, and high values of hydrometeorological timeseries with graphical representation. A degree-day or energy-based model can be used to extend the temporal range and link the effects of hydrological droughts to temperature, precipitation, and snow cover on a sub-basin scale.
Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Agricultural Sustainability Assessment: A Study across 30 Chinese Provinces
Authors: Du Yuan-Wei , Fan Yi-Pin
Published: June 2023

Agricultural sustainability is crucial for ensuring food security, promoting economic development, maintaining ecological balance, and achieving sustainable development goals. In this study, based on relevant theories of agricultural sustainability, an analytical framework is constructed for agricultural sustainability encompassing economic, resource, environmental, and social dimensions. The Analytic Network Process (ANP) method is employed to determine indicator weights and assess the spatiotemporal changes in agricultural sustainability levels across Chinese provinces. The findings reveal that environmental quality is the primary dimension for assessing agricultural sustainability, and the significance of the rural social development dimension is continuously increasing. Although the sustainability levels have significantly improved in various regions of China, there remain issues of development imbalance and instability. In conclusion, this paper offers a comprehensive understanding of the spatiotemporal changes in agricultural sustainability across Chinese provinces, providing valuable insights for policymakers and researchers.
Research on Spatial-Temporal Characteristics and Affecting Factors of Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity in Jiangxi Province
Authors: Wang Zhen , Zhu Jiayi , Liu Xieqihua , Ge Dongdong , Liu Bin
Published: June 2023

Increasing green total factor productivity is the key to achieving green development in agriculture. This study measured the green total factor productivity of Jiangxi’s agriculture, and its regional and temporal evolution characteristics were examined. The fixed-effects model was then used to investigate the model’s fundamental components empirically. The study’s findings reveal the following: During the period under review, technical change was the primary element driving the rise in the green total factor productivity of agriculture. A rising “U”-shaped trend with notable regional variances characterizes the spatial and temporal evolution. The primary factors that affect changes in green total factor productivity in agriculture include the ease of transportation, the per capita disposable income of rural residents, the level of agricultural mechanization, the degree of urbanization, the level of financial support for agriculture, and the percentage of workers in secondary industries, with the impact effect values of 0.581, 0.647, −0.126, −0.729, −0.326, and −0.559, respectively. As a result, it is suggested that in order to substantially increase agricultural green total factor productivity, agricultural green technological support should be strengthened, more fully developed, and promoted in a multi-pronged approach.
Do Digital Trade Rules Matter? Empirical Evidence from TAPED
Authors: Jiang Tao , Hu Yizhu , Haleem Fazli , Zeng Shaolong
Published: June 2023

This study aims to examine (1) the impact of digital trade rules on digital services exports, (2) the heterogeneity of this impact in different trade categories, (3) the impact of digital trade rules on the growth of services exports through reducing trade costs, and (4) whether this impact is different in national income levels. In order to test the hypotheses, this study uses panel data from the TAPED database encompassing 143 economies between 2005 and 2019, employing a differences-in-differences model as the analytical framework. Our empirical results yield several key findings. Firstly, digital trade rules have a significant role in promoting the export of digital services. Secondly, the impact of trade rules on different types of trade and national income levels is significantly different. Thirdly, the mechanism analysis results show that trade costs have an intermediary role, and digital trade rules can promote the export of digital services by reducing trade costs. Finally, compared to “high-income countries”, the establishment of digital trade rules brings greater benefits to the digital services trade of low- and middle-income countries. Digital trade has brought significant changes to globalization development. Few studies address the role of digital trade rules in regulating the development of digital trade, and some researchers suggest reconstructing the global trade rules to meet the growth of digital trade. Nevertheless, research on how digital trade rules affect digital services exports is still sparse. This study contributes to the literature by revealing the importance of digital trade rules and provides a reference to promote institutional openness in the field of digital trade.
Promising Application of Grape Pomace and Its Agri-Food Valorization: Source of Bioactive Molecules with Beneficial Effects
Authors: Caponio Giusy Rita , Minervini Fabio , Tamma Grazia , Gambacorta Giuseppe , De Angelis Maria
Published: June 2023

Grapes, particularly the species Vitis vinifera L., are one of the most widely grown crops in the world. Winemaking processes generate a high amount of residues, which currently pose an environmental and economic sustainability problem for companies in the sector. For this reason, solutions are being explored for the development of new products with high-added value derived from the valorization of these residues. One of the wastes produced by winemaking processes is grape pomace, which chemical composition is promising because it is rich in compounds with high antioxidant activity, such as polyphenols (anthocyanins, flavonols, flavan-3-ols, procyanidins), phenolic acids, resveratrol, and fiber. Commonly grape pomace is used to produce distillates and to extract tartaric acid and coloring substances such as enocyanin. Recently, alternative uses of grape pomace have been adopted, such as the production of extracts with antioxidant properties, fermentation substrates, composting and biomass for energy production, and fiber extraction for the development of high-value-added products enriched with bioactive molecules from grape pomace. Here, we discuss how bioactive molecules from grape pomace are involved in various human biological functions and their applications in the agri-food sector.
Self-Paced Ensemble-SHAP Approach for the Classification and Interpretation of Crash Severity in Work Zone Areas
Authors: Asadi Roksana , Khattak Afaq , Vashani Hossein , Almujibah Hamad R. , Rabie Helia , Asadi Seyedamirhossein , Dimitrijevic Branislav
Published: June 2023

The identification of causative factors and implementation of measures to mitigate work zone crashes can significantly improve overall road safety. This study introduces a Self-Paced Ensemble (SPE) framework, which is utilized in conjunction with the Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) interpretation system, to predict and interpret the severity of work-zone-related crashes. The proposed methodology is an ensemble learning approach that aims to mitigate the issue of imbalanced classification in datasets of significant magnitude. The proposed solution provides an intuitive way to tackle issues related to imbalanced classes, demonstrating remarkable computational efficacy, praiseworthy accuracy, and extensive adaptability to various machine learning models. The study employed work zone crash data from the state of New Jersey spanning a period of two years (2017 and 2018) to train and evaluate the model. The study compared the prediction outcomes of the SPE model with various tree-based machine learning models, such as Light Gradient Boosting Machine, adaptive boosting, and classification and regression tree, along with binary logistic regression. The performance of the SPE model was superior to that of tree-based machine learning models and binary logistic regression. According to the SHAP interpretation, the variables that exhibited the highest degree of influence were crash type, road system, and road median type. According to the model, on highways with barrier-type medians, it is expected that crashes that happen in the same direction and those that happen at a right angle will be the most severe crashes. Additionally, this study found that severe injuries were more likely to result from work zone crashes that happened at night on state highways with localized street lighting.
Enhancing Sustainable Arts Education: Comparative Analysis of Creative Process Measurement Techniques
Authors: Wang Churan , Zhang Xiaolin , Pan Younghwan
Published: June 2023

Contemporary research indicates that student creativity is crucial to the success of arts education. Self-regulated learning has become one of educational psychology’s most critical research areas. However, there is limited research on creativity in arts education in self-regulated learning. Therefore, this study aims to define the creativity characteristics that determine the quality of students’ work. This study implemented a creative competition in painting and composition for first-year undergraduates. It was conducted at a Chinese university with the participation of 178 first-year students aged 18 to 26. It evaluated the characteristics of creativity during the three main phases of the task: planning, execution, and completion. We investigated the subject by employing semi-open questionnaires (n = 178) and using the content analysis method and quantitative analysis. According to the competition results, the students with the highest scores in flow, inspiration, and idea generation in the performance phase had the best quality work. In the forethought phase, analogical thinking and idea generation worked best for most students, while in the performance phase, flow sense, idea generation, and idea manipulation worked best. Data on creativity characteristics at different work phases and final quality might adequately guide and organize educational procedures. These findings can serve as a theoretical foundation for quantifying the creativity phase in self-regulated learning and offer arts educators a reference for creativity instruction.
Microplastic Pollution and Monitoring in Seawater and Harbor Environments: A Meta-Analysis and Review
Authors: Belioka Maria-Paraskevi , Achilias Dimitrios S.
Published: June 2023

Due to its widespread occurrence in practically all environmental sectors, including the terrestrial, marine, and atmospheric, microplastics (MP) have transitioned from an emerging pollutant to a chronic contaminant. Studies on the prevalence and hazardous effects on marine creatures have been conducted all over the world, but only in coastal environments. Microplastic pollution has emerged as a global concern in marine environments and a danger to animals, predators, and humans because it has been discovered in the marine environment all over the world. This review examines the quantity of MP samples around the world and their colonization by marine microorganisms, as well as the detection, features, origins, and ecological implications of paint fragments and resins in our oceans and ports. These polymers are derived from paints and the fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) matrix used in shipbuilding. Microplastics should be regarded as coming from synthetic polymers found in ship coatings. For assessing microplastic pollution, choosing an appropriate sample technique is essential. Additionally, this review offers an overview of MP investigation methods, concentrating on sampling techniques, laboratory procedures, and the identification of MPs found in seawater, as well as assessing how well they apply to the seaport environment. Because of the widespread discovery of MP pollution, particularly in Africa, Asia, India, South Africa, North America, and Europe, it is clear that monitoring is crucial for determining the efficacy of mitigation efforts to limit the quantity of waste plastic entering the environment, especially through sensors and real-time information transfer systems (e.g., smart digital seawater monitoring).
Noise Isolation System for Indoor Industrial Ventilation
Authors: Escudero-Villa Pedro , Fonseca-Gonzales Patricio , Núñez-Sánchez Jéssica
Published: June 2023

The prevalence of hearing loss among workers in Ecuador is concerning, with up to 40% affected. One of the root causes is the lack of insulation in sources of noise generation. This study presents a practical solution to reduce noise contamination in indoor industrial facilities and to extend the usability of functional old equipment by enabling the addition of accessories, specifically in the sanding and classification areas of an agglomerate manufacturing industry. An isolation camera was designed and implemented using a combination of insulating materials to reduce the noise of a main ventilator and to ensure compliance with local noise regulations. The design and simulation were carried out using CAD tools and the finite element method (FEM) to ensure a simple assembly design, and the camera was manufactured using rapid prototyping tools with lightweight and cost-effective materials, such as wood, foam, and metal. The camera was tested in situ, and its effectiveness was evaluated through functional tests and noise level measurements. The implementation of the camera resulted in a 16% reduction in pressure noise and a 95% reduction in noise frequency. With the additional use of earmuffs, the pressure reduction improved to 44%. These values ensured that noise levels remained 27% below the limit set by Decree 2393, significantly reducing the impact of noise on workers.
Enhancing Green Electronic Word-of-Mouth in the Saudi Tourism Industry: An Integration of the Ability, Motivation, and Opportunity and Planned Behaviour Theories
Authors: Al Naim Abdullah F. , Sobaih Abu Elnasr E. , Elshaer Ibrahim A.
Published: June 2023

Green electronic word-of-mouth (GeWOM) is a type of online communication that focuses on eco-friendly products and services. Understanding the determinants of GeWOM can help businesses develop effective strategies for promoting their environmentally friendly products and services. An integration of two main theoretical frameworks was used to analyse the determinants of GeWOM: the Ability, Motivation, and Opportunity (AMO) theory and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). The current study aims to examine the determinants of green electronic word-of-mouth (GeWOM) through the lens of both AMO and TPB theories. The study further examines the mediating role of tourists’ green purchase intentions in the above-mentioned relationships. The data were collected from a sample of 625 tourists in Saudi Arabia using a structured questionnaire and analysed using PLS-SEM. The results showed a significant positive influence of green AMO and green attitude on green purchase intention. Green ability and green attitude have a direct positive influence on GeWOM and indirect influence through green purchase intention. Furthermore, green motivation and opportunity failed to have a significant direct influence on GeWOM; however, they have indirect influence through green purchase intention. The findings have implications for tourism administrators and scholars, particularly in Saudi Arabia, about green tourism development.
Exploring Plastic-Management Policy in China: Status, Challenges and Policy Insights
Authors: Liu Chen , Liu Chang
Published: June 2023

Plastic pollution is recognized as one of the most urgent global environmental concerns. China is the top producer and consumer of plastics and creates the most plastic waste globally. To evaluate policy options to control plastic pollution in China, we first reviewed the relevant policies and action plans in place. Then, we examined plastic-material flows and changes at the national level based on officially published data to evaluate the current situation and efficacy of policies at the macro-level. Results showed that 2016, the start of the 13th Five-Year Plan, was a pivotal year in the history of China’s plastic policies tackling plastic issues nationally and internationally. Since 2016, the growth trend in the production and consumption of plastic products has slowed and the recycling rate has risen, surpassing 30% in 2021. To further tackle plastic pollution, key suggestions with important policy implications were provided, covering better integration of policies, the combined management of vertical–horizontal governance, tracking-system implementation, the introduction of a quality-certification system, the development of behaviour-based consumer-oriented solutions, the promotion of stakeholder collaboration, and the need for appropriate post-COVID-19 policies.
Reflections on Establishing a System for Cultivating Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritors in the New Era: Based on the Survey in Fujian Province
Authors: Zhang Jianfeng , Cai Xinyi , Zhan Zexiong
Published: June 2023

In the context of globalization and modernization, it has become particularly important to build an effective system to cultivate intangible cultural heritage (ICH) inheritors. This study utilizes a mixed-method approach, including questionnaires, interviews, and fieldwork, to investigate the current status of cultivating ICH inheritors in Fujian Province. The findings suggest that policies, integration into formal education, industry training, and continuing education have guided the cultivation of ICH inheritors in Fujian Province. However, problems persist, including lack of systematization, shortage of resources, and limited coverage. Based on a systematic analysis of the current situation, ideas and frameworks are proposed for developing a new system to cultivate ICH inheritors. This study aims to provide a theoretical reference and practical inspiration for the cultivation of ICH inheritors in other regions and promote the effective inheritance and development of ICH.
The Extension and Improvement of the Forest Land Net Present Value Model and Its Application in the Asset Evaluation of Cunninghamia lanceolata Forest Land
Authors: Hua Weiping , Qiu Tian , Pan Xin , Wu Chengzhen , Zhuang Chongyang , Chi Shangping , Jiang Xidian , Wu Jianwei
Published: June 2023

In order to solve the problem in that the classical forest land expectation value method ignores the actual forest stock volume when assessing the income at the end of the current production cycle in the forest, and fill the research gap in this area, the technical system of the forest land asset evaluation was enriched. The forest land returns were divided into two parts, i.e., the segmented forest land return price from the growth of the actual forest stand to the end of the growth cycle (Bu1), and the segmented forest land return price for an infinite number of growth cycles after the growth of the actual forest stand to the end of the growth cycle (Bu2). Through structure, the forest land gain price expansion model was obtained, and the stand quality including the average diameter at breast height, average height, stock volume, and outturn of stand as dummy variables were used to construct the growth harvest model related to asset evaluation. Taking Cunninghamia lanceolata forest land as an example, the traditional asset evaluation methods were comparatively analyzed. The residual standard deviation (RSD) of the growth model was less than 10%, the total relative error (TRE) and mean system error (MSE) were within ±10%, the mean prediction errors (MPE) were less than 5%, and the mean percentage standard errors (MPSE) were less than 10%, respectively. Combining the forest land net present value expansion model with the traditional evaluation method, the evaluation value of the forest land assets was subsequently calculated, and accordingly, the forest land asset evaluation prime stand factors were predicated. It was found that the valuation results of the forest land net present value expansion model were consistent with the actual situation. The forest land net present value expansion model can therefore be used for asset evaluation of tree forest land (including natural uneven-aged forest land), bamboo forest land, shrub forest land, and economic forest land, and provide new technical support for forest land asset evaluation.
LCA Case Study of Ceramic Tableware: Ecodesign Aspects of Ceramics Production from Ancient Technology to Present Factory
Authors: Železný Adam , Kulhánek Jan , Pešta Jan , Kočí Vladimír
Published: June 2023

Ceramic tableware, as one of the products of daily use, can be produced in multiple ways. However, they all consume primary raw materials for manufacturing and energy for firing and generate emissions and waste. To assess how different types of production cause an environmental impact, five scenarios were compared using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). In the first step, the energy and material flows from the following scenarios were analysed: factory (FAC), slip casting (PSC), pottery wheel (PW), high energy rate formation technique (HERF) and experimental reconstruction of the ancient technique (ANC). The results related to 1 kg of ceramics were interpreted using the perspective of ecodesign to discuss key parameters that affect environmental impacts. Considering the results in the Climate Change category, the FAC production of 1 kg of ceramics reached 3.64 kg CO2 eq. but the highest impact in this category was caused by low energy efficiency in the specific case of the PSC scenario (8.93 kg CO2 eq.). On the one hand, this paper contributes to the discussion of environmentally friendly tableware, but also serves as a case study that describes the implementation of ecodesign in the ceramic tableware industry as an important field of industrial production in the specific context of the Czech Republic, as a state, which has significant deposits of kaolin.
Estimation of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Removal Efficiency for TiO2 Concrete
Authors: Ahn Hui Rak , Lee Seung Woo , Kim Jae Hoon , Kim Young Kyu
Published: June 2023

Nitrogen oxide (NOx) is a significant precursor of particulate matter (PM), particularly in high-traffic areas. Accordingly, this study aimed to reduce the presence of nitrogen oxide (NOx) along roadsides. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is used as a photocatalyst to remove NOx through a chemical reaction. Typically, concrete and TiO2 are mixed to create TiO2 concrete. However, air pollutants or UV rays cannot be allowed to come into contact with a significant amount of TiO2. Thus, the TiO2 surface penetration method was used to fix TiO2 to the surface of the concrete. In this method, surface penetrants and TiO2 are combined and sprayed onto the concrete surface, enabling the possibility of NOx reduction using relatively less TiO2. When the fixation method is applied to vertical concrete structures, however, a peeling issue arises. To address this, a pressurized TiO2 fixation method was applied to vertical concrete structures. This method uses external force to penetrate and fix TiO2 to a specific depth. In the instance of the pressurized TiO2 fixation method, which was tried for the first time, penetration depth was used to ensure long-term durability as well as NOx removal efficiency. To investigate TiO2 distribution characteristics, the penetration depth and mass ratio of TiO2 particles in TiO2 concrete were measured using a scanning electron microscope (SEM/EDX). In addition, NOx removal efficiencies were evaluated using the NOx analyzing system (ISO 22197-1 standard). The experimental results showed that NOx removal efficiency increased with an increasing TiO2 mass ratio. When the TiO2 fixation method was used, the NOX removal efficiency was 32% when the TiO2 mass ratio at the surface was 50%, and the efficiency was 61% when the TiO2 mass ratio was 70%. This is attributed to the increase in NOx removal efficiency as TiO2 content at the concrete surface increases. This study analyzed and forecasted the NOx removal efficiency of TiO2 concrete based on the mass ratio of TiO2 on the surface. As the TiO2 mass ratio increased, the NOx removal efficiency improved, and it was determined that the surface TiO2 mass ratio significantly influences the NOx removal efficiency. Consequently, this study developed an equation to estimate NOx removal efficiency, making it possible to determine a suitable maintenance interval for TiO2 concrete.
Fluxbrane Polynomials and Melvin-like Solutions for Simple Lie Algebras
Authors: Bolokhov Sergey V. , Ivashchuk Vladimir D.
Published: June 2023

This review dealt with generalized Melvin solutions for simple finite-dimensional Lie algebras. Each solution appears in a model which includes a metric and n scalar fields coupled to n Abelian 2-forms with dilatonic coupling vectors determined by simple Lie algebra of rank n. The set of n moduli functions Hs(z) comply with n non-linear (ordinary) differential equations (of second order) with certain boundary conditions set. Earlier, it was hypothesized that these moduli functions should be polynomials in z (so-called “fluxbrane” polynomials) depending upon certain parameters ps>0, s=1,…,n. Here, we presented explicit relations for the polynomials corresponding to Lie algebras of ranks n=1,2,3,4,5 and exceptional algebra E6. Certain relations for the polynomials (e.g., symmetry and duality ones) were outlined. In a general case where polynomial conjecture holds, 2-form flux integrals are finite. The use of fluxbrane polynomials to dilatonic black hole solutions was also explored.