bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Incoherence of an Evil God
Authors: Alvaro Carlo
Published: January 2022

The evil god challenge is for theists to explain why a good god’s existence should be considerably more reasonable than an evil god’s existence. Challengers note that there is a symmetry between a good god and an evil god. Moreover, the classical arguments for a good god can prove the existence of an evil god just as well. Furthermore, theodicies can be mirrored by reverse theodicies. Consequently, the evil god challenge leads to two implications. One, if an evil god is deemed absurd, by logical symmetry, a good god must also be absurd. Two, if an evil god is not absurd, then no reason exists in favor of the existence of a good god. This paper offers two strategies to show that a good god’s existence is plausible, but an evil god’s is not. One is to argue that an evil god’s motivations for creating the world are inconsistent with its alleged nature. The other is a close examination of theodicies and reverse theodicies, which shows that no symmetry exists between them and that theodicies are effective, but reverse theodicies are not.
Pandemic Religion in Brazil—Temptation and Responsibility
Authors: von Sinner Rudolf , Zeferino Jefferson
Published: January 2022

Religious incidence in Brazilian public space is a widespread fact that has been gaining new visibility in pandemic times. Responsibility in liminal situations represents specific theological hermeneutics, as well as what matters for the respective religious agents. Thus, based on a bibliographical review connected to an analysis of websites, this article aims to reflect on the current Brazilian context, the challenges to doing theology in Brazil today and points to some possible responses. “Pandemic religion”, as we call it, is the synthesis of theologies and religious practices that legitimise irresponsible approaches to life, vulnerabilising the other instead of assuming care-based ethics. Firstly, we briefly describe current theological trends, followed by an analysis of the Brazilian scenario by way of three representative scenes of public religious incidence that reflect a lack of responsibility in view of the pandemic challenges caused by COVID-19. Subsequently, we look back into history for alternative responses to public health crises that required theological positioning. In a Brazilian perspective of a public theology, we finally reflect on a responsible ethics that may help respond to the current challenges, particularly for pandemic religion.
A Methodology for Flexible Implementation of Collaborative Robots in Smart Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Giberti Hermes , Abbattista Tommaso , Carnevale Marco , Giagu Luca , Cristini Fabio
Published: January 2022

Small-scale production is relying more and more on personalization and flexibility as an innovation key for success in response to market needs such as diversification of consumer preferences and/or greater regulatory pressure. This can be possible thanks to assembly lines dynamically adaptable to new production requirements, easily reconfigurable and reprogrammable to any change in the production line. In such new automated production lines, where traditional automation is not applicable, human and robot collaboration can be established, giving birth to a kind of industrial craftsmanship. The idea at the base of this work is to take advantage of collaborative robotics by using the robots as other generic industrial tools. To overcome the need of complex programming, identified in the literature as one of the main issues preventing cobot diffusion into industrial environments, the paper proposes an approach for simplifying the programming process while still maintaining high flexibility through a pyramidal parametrized approach exploiting cobot collaborative features. An Interactive Refinement Programming procedure is described and validated through a real test case performed as a pilot in the Building Automation department of ABB in Vittuone (Milan, Italy). The key novel ingredients in this approach are a first translation phase, carried out by engineers of production processes who convert the sequence of assembly operations into a preliminary code built as a sequence of robot operations, followed by an on-line correction carried out by non-expert users who can interact with the machine to define the input parameters to make the robotic code runnable. The users in this second step do not need any competence in programming robotic code. Moreover, from an economic point of view, a standardized way of assessing the convenience of the robotic investment is proposed. Both economic and technical results highlight improvements in comparison to the traditional automation approach, demonstrating the possibility to open new further opportunities for collaborative robots when small/medium batch sizes are involved.
BiFDANet: Unsupervised Bidirectional Domain Adaptation for Semantic Segmentation of Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Cai Yuxiang , Yang Yingchun , Zheng Qiyi , Shen Zhengwei , Shang Yongheng , Yin Jianwei , Shi Zhongtian
Published: January 2022

When segmenting massive amounts of remote sensing images collected from different satellites or geographic locations (cities), the pre-trained deep learning models cannot always output satisfactory predictions. To deal with this issue, domain adaptation has been widely utilized to enhance the generalization abilities of the segmentation models. Most of the existing domain adaptation methods, which based on image-to-image translation, firstly transfer the source images to the pseudo-target images, adapt the classifier from the source domain to the target domain. However, these unidirectional methods suffer from the following two limitations: (1) they do not consider the inverse procedure and they cannot fully take advantage of the information from the other domain, which is also beneficial, as confirmed by our experiments; (2) these methods may fail in the cases where transferring the source images to the pseudo-target images is difficult. In this paper, in order to solve these problems, we propose a novel framework BiFDANet for unsupervised bidirectional domain adaptation in the semantic segmentation of remote sensing images. It optimizes the segmentation models in two opposite directions. In the source-to-target direction, BiFDANet learns to transfer the source images to the pseudo-target images and adapts the classifier to the target domain. In the opposite direction, BiFDANet transfers the target images to the pseudo-source images and optimizes the source classifier. At test stage, we make the best of the source classifier and the target classifier, which complement each other with a simple linear combination method, further improving the performance of our BiFDANet. Furthermore, we propose a new bidirectional semantic consistency loss for our BiFDANet to maintain the semantic consistency during the bidirectional image-to-image translation process. The experiments on two datasets including satellite images and aerial images demonstrate the superiority of our method against existing unidirectional methods.
Application of Reinforcement Learning and Deep Learning in Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output (MIMO) Systems
Authors: Naeem Muddasar , De Pietro Giuseppe , Coronato Antonio
Published: January 2022

The current wireless communication infrastructure has to face exponential development in mobile traffic size, which demands high data rate, reliability, and low latency. MIMO systems and their variants (i.e., Multi-User MIMO and Massive MIMO) are the most promising 5G wireless communication systems technology due to their high system throughput and data rate. However, the most significant challenges in MIMO communication are substantial problems in exploiting the multiple-antenna and computational complexity. The recent success of RL and DL introduces novel and powerful tools that mitigate issues in MIMO communication systems. This article focuses on RL and DL techniques for MIMO systems by presenting a comprehensive review on the integration between the two areas. We first briefly provide the necessary background to RL, DL, and MIMO. Second, potential RL and DL applications for different MIMO issues, such as detection, classification, and compression; channel estimation; positioning, sensing, and localization; CSI acquisition and feedback, security, and robustness; mmWave communication and resource allocation, are presented.
Free Space Detection Algorithm Using Object Tracking for Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Lee Yeongwon , You Byungyong
Published: January 2022

In this paper, we propose a new free space detection algorithm for autonomous vehicle driving. Previous free space detection algorithms often use only the location information of every frame, without information on the speed of the obstacle. In this case, there is a possibility of creating an inefficient path because the behavior of the obstacle cannot be predicted. In order to compensate for the shortcomings of the previous algorithm, the proposed algorithm uses the speed information of the obstacle. Through object tracking, the dynamic behavior of obstacles around the vehicle is identified and predicted, and free space is detected based on this. In the free space, it is possible to classify an area in which driving is possible and an area in which it is not possible, and a route is created according to the classification result. By comparing and evaluating the path generated by the previous algorithm and the path generated by the proposed algorithm, it is confirmed that the proposed algorithm is more efficient in generating the vehicle driving path.
DAB Signal Preprocessing for Passive Coherent Location
Authors: Mazurek Gustaw
Published: January 2022

Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) transmitters can be successfully used as illumination sources in Passive Coherent Location (PCL). However, extending the integration time in such a configuration leads to the occurrence of periodical artifacts in the bistatic range/Doppler plots, resulting from the time structure of the DAB signal. In this paper, we propose some methods of signal preprocessing (based on symbol removal, substitution by noise, and duplication) that operate on the DAB transmission frame level and improve the received signal’s correlation properties. We also demonstrate that two of these methods allow us to avoid the mentioned artifacts and thus to improve the quality of the range/Doppler plots with detection results. We evaluate the performance of the proposed methods using real DAB signals acquired in an experimental PCL platform. We also provide the analysis of the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) during the detection of a moving target which shows that the proposed solution, based on symbol duplication, can offer around 3 dB of gain in SNR. Finally, we carry out the computational complexity analysis showing that the proposed method can be implemented with a minimal cost after some optimizations.
Electrical Discharges in Oil-Lubricated Rolling Contacts and Their Detection Using Electrostatic Sensing Technique
Authors: Esmaeili Kamran , Wang Ling , Harvey Terry J. , White Neil M. , Holweger Walter
Published: January 2022

The reliability of rolling element bearings has been substantially undermined by the presence of parasitic and stray currents. Electrical discharges can occur between the raceway and the rolling elements and it has been previously shown that these discharges at relatively high current density levels can result in fluting and corrugation damages. Recent publications have shown that for a bearing operating at specific mechanical conditions (load, temperature, speed, and slip), electrical discharges at low current densities (<1 mA/mm2) may substantially reduce bearing life due to the formation of white etching cracks (WECs) in bearing components, often in junction with lubricants. To date, limited studies have been conducted to understand the electrical discharges at relatively low current densities (<1 mA/mm2), partially due to the lack of robust techniques for in-situ quantification of discharges. This study, using voltage measurement and electrostatic sensors, investigates discharges in an oil-lubricated steel-steel rolling contact on a TE74 twin-roller machine under a wide range of electrical and mechanical conditions. The results show that the discharges events between the rollers are influenced by temperature, load, and speed due to changes in the lubricant film thickness and contact area, and the sensors are effective in detecting, characterizing and quantifying the discharges. Hence, these sensors can be effectively used to study the influence of discharges on WEC formation.
A Sensor-Based Perspective in Early-Stage Parkinson’s Disease: Current State and the Need for Machine Learning Processes
Authors: Krokidis Marios G. , Dimitrakopoulos Georgios N. , Vrahatis Aristidis G. , Tzouvelekis Christos , Drakoulis Dimitrios , Papavassileiou Foteini , Exarchos Themis P. , Vlamos Panayiotis
Published: January 2022

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with dysfunction of dopaminergic neurons in the brain, lack of dopamine and the formation of abnormal Lewy body protein particles. PD is an idiopathic disease of the nervous system, characterized by motor and nonmotor manifestations without a discrete onset of symptoms until a substantial loss of neurons has already occurred, enabling early diagnosis very challenging. Sensor-based platforms have gained much attention in clinical practice screening various biological signals simultaneously and allowing researchers to quickly receive a huge number of biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. The integration of machine learning into medical systems provides the potential for optimization of data collection, disease prediction through classification of symptoms and can strongly support data-driven clinical decisions. This work attempts to examine some of the facts and current situation of sensor-based approaches in PD diagnosis and discusses ensemble techniques using sensor-based data for developing machine learning models for personalized risk prediction. Additionally, a biosensing platform combined with clinical data processing and appropriate software is proposed in order to implement a complete diagnostic system for PD monitoring.
Fixed and Mobile Low-Cost Sensing Approaches for Microclimate Monitoring in Urban Areas: A Preliminary Study in the City of Bolzano (Italy)
Authors: Croce Silvia , Tondini Stefano
Published: January 2022

In the current scenario of massive urbanization and global climate change, an intelligent monitoring of the environmental variables is becoming fundamental to ensure good living conditions in cities. Indeed, the acquisition of data with high spatiotemporal resolution can enable the assessment of environmental vulnerabilities in urban areas towards the definition of responsive adaptation and mitigation strategies. In this context, the current work presents a two-fold approach based on low-cost cloud-connected sensors for (i) fixed and (ii) mobile monitoring of several environmental parameters. This paper, which focuses on the measurement aspects of the urban micro-climate, describes in detail the hardware and software components of both approaches, and how to exploit them for setting up a field campaign. The methods were tested in the city of Bolzano (Italy), demonstrating their suitability for identifying the spatial variability of the microclimate in relation to the urban morphology, and for highlighting the presence of the urban heat island and estimating its intensity.
‘Focusing and Unfocusing’—Cognitive, Evaluative, and Emotional Dynamics in the Relationship with Human Embryos among ART Beneficiaries
Authors: Gouveia Luís , Delaunay Catarina
Published: January 2022

This article uses data gathered from a study conducted in Portugal to examine the (plural and composite) conceptions that doctors, embryologists, and beneficiaries of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) have of the in vitro human embryo. Taking the sociology of engagements, developed by Thévenot, as its theoretical lens, the article draws on a total of 69 interviews with ART patients to analyse the plurality of fluid meanings produced about this biological entity, whose status is neither static nor universal. ART beneficiaries are likely to produce plural conceptions of the lab-generated embryo within the framework of different regimes of engagement, understood as cognitive and evaluative formats. These various pragmatic regimes, in turn, entail distinct emotional investments. When speaking about their relationship with embryos, beneficiaries therefore express plural emotional experiences, which are articulated using terms such as affection, love, detachment, loss, frustration, hope, mourning, and anguish. Using the theoretical framework of the sociology of engagements, we propose an approach that enables us to produce a detailed record of the connections between the cognitive, evaluative, and emotional dimensions in beneficiaries’ relationship with—and decision-making processes about—the embryos, accounting for the plasticity of emotional states linked to the (re)configuration of attributed meanings.
More Money, More Problems? Addressing the Funding Conditions Required for Rights-Based Child Welfare Services in England
Authors: Webb Calum J. R.
Published: January 2022

Policymakers and academics continue to debate the criteria used in formulas to allocate funding to children’s services, but few studies have considered how well the results of these formulas align with rights-based entitlements and commitments after implementation. This research measured correspondence between local authority spending per child and levels of income deprivation, special educational needs, and child development from 2011–2019 to assess the extent to which funding matches local authorities’ statutory responsibilities to provide support to children ‘in need’ under the Children Act 1989. There was weak and worsening correspondence between funding and needs, especially for preventative services.
Women’s Entrepreneurship and Government Policy: Facilitating Access to Credit through a National Program in Chile
Authors: Bentancor Andrea
Published: January 2022

In this paper, I evaluate the impact of a multidimensional national program implemented in Chile during the second term of President Bachelet to facilitate female entrepreneurs’ access to credit, reduce gender gaps in financial inclusion, and change patriarchal stereotypes. I construct a difference-in-difference estimate of the program. My findings indicate that the program has successfully met its principal aim: the loans granted to women have increased, reducing the gender gap in this dimension. In addition, evidence of heterogeneity by the economic sector has emerged. This evidence aligns with prior research that has emphasised that public policies should not be designed and implemented under the logic of "one type of program fits all". The program analysed in this study is an example of a national public policy that has improved female entrepreneurs’ access to funding, reduced gender gaps in a Latin American country, and potentially offered lessons to other Latin American and middle-income countries worldwide.
Phytoremediation of Cadmium Polluted Soils: Current Status and Approaches for Enhancing
Authors: Subašić Mirel , Šamec Dunja , Selović Alisa , Karalija Erna
Published: January 2022

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal present in atmosphere, rocks, sediments, and soils without a known role in plants. It is relatively mobile and can easily enter from soil into groundwater and contaminate the food chain. Its presence in food in excess amounts may cause severe conditions in humans, therefore prevention of cadmium entering the food chain and its removal from contaminated soils are important steps in preserving public health. In the last several years, several approaches for Cd remediation have been proposed, such as the use of soil amendments or biological systems for reduction of Cd contamination. One of the approaches is phytoremediation, which involves the use of plants for soil clean-up. In this review we summarized current data on the use of different plants in phytoremediation of Cd as well as information about different approaches which have been used to enhance phytoremediation. This includes data on the increasing metal bioavailability in the soil, plant biomass, and plant accumulation capacity as well as seed priming as a promising novel approach for phytoremediation enhancing.
Desorption Kinetics of Legacy Soil Phosphorus: Implications for Non-Point Transport and Plant Uptake
Authors: Penn Chad J. , Williams Mark R. , Camberato James , Wenos Nicholas , Wason Hope
Published: January 2022

Soil phosphorus (P) solubility and kinetics partly control dissolved P losses to surface water and uptake by plants. While previous studies have focused on batch techniques for measuring soil P desorption kinetics, flow-through techniques are more realistic because they simulate P removal from the system, akin to runoff, leaching, and plant uptake. The objectives were to measure soil P desorption by a flow-through technique at two flow rates and several batch methods, and utilize both for understanding how flow rate impacts the thermodynamics and kinetics of soil P desorption. Desorption obeyed first-order kinetics in two different phases: an initial rapid desorption phase followed by a gradual release. Desorption was limited by equilibrium and the kinetics of physical processes as demonstrated by an interruption test. Dilution-promoted desorption occurred with increasing cumulative volume, which increased desorption rate via first-order kinetics. The batch tests that simulated cumulative solution volume and time of flow-through were similar to the flow-through results; however, the batch methods overestimated the desorption rates due to less limitations to diffusion. Fast flow rates desorbed less P, but at a greater speed than slow flow rates. The differences were due to contact time, cumulative time, and solution volume, which ultimately controlled the potential for chemical reactions to be realized through physical processes. The interaction between these processes will control the quantity and rate of desorption that buffer P in non-point drainage losses and plant uptake.
Improving Oil Recovery of the Heterogeneous Low Permeability Reservoirs by Combination of Polymer Hydrolysis Polyacrylamide and Two Highly Biosurfactant-Producing Bacteria
Authors: Xue Shuwen , Zhao Yanhong , Zhou Chunling , Zhang Guangming , Chen Fulin , Wang Shiwei
Published: January 2022

Polymer hydrolysis polyacrylamide and microbes have been used to enhance oil recovery in many oil reservoirs. However, the application of this two-method combination was less investigated, especially in low permeability reservoirs. In this work, two bacteria, a rhamnolipid-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa 8D and a lipopeptide-producing Bacillus subtilis S4, were used together with hydrolysis poly-acrylamide in a low permeability heterogeneous core physical model. The results showed that when the two bacterial fermentation liquids were used at a ratio by volumeof 1:3 (v:v), the mixture showed the optimal physicochemical properties for oil-displacement. In addition, the mixture was stable under the conditions of various temperature (20–70 °C) and salinity (0–22%). When the polymer and bacteria were mixed together, it had no significant effects in the viscosity of polymer hydrolysis polyacrylamide and the viability of bacteria. The core oil-displacement test displayed that polymer hydrolysis polyacrylamide addition followed by the bacterial mixture injection could significantly enhance oil recovery. The recovery rate was increased by 15.01% and 10.03%, respectively, compared with the sole polymer hydrolysis polyacrylamide flooding and microbial flooding. Taken together, these results suggest that the strategy of polymer hydrolysis poly-acrylamide addition followed by microbial flooding is beneficial for improving oil recovery in heterogeneous low permeability reservoirs.
Responsible Consumer Behavior: Driving Factors of Pro-Environmental Behavior toward Post-Consumption Plastic Packaging
Authors: Widayat Widayat , Praharjo Ardik , Putri Viajeng Purnama , Andharini Sri Nastiti , Masudin Ilyas
Published: January 2022

This quantitative investigation aims to test the model of responsible consumption behavior (RCB). The specific purpose is to examine the relationship of pro-environmental behavior, attitudes, norms, intention, and awareness using the theory of planned behavior as an underlying theoretical framework. A multistage sampling technique was used to select people (n = 665). Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from sample respondents. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM)–partial least square (PLS). The findings revealed that attitudes, norms, and awareness all have a role in predicting the intention to engage in post-consumer plastic packaging activity. This finding supports the theory of planned behavior, and it can be extended to explain environmental behavior by adding a reasonable variable.
From Coopetition to Hyper-Coopetition: Focusing on a New Paradigm of Heterogeneous Organizational Relationship in the High-Tech Industry
Authors: Moon Seungyeon , Yoon Changhee , Park Changhyun
Published: January 2022

In this study, we proposed the concept of hyper-coopetition based on an investigation of the inter-organizational relationships of chipmakers. Hyper-coopetition is distinguished from traditional coopetition by having companies in heterogeneous industries as participants, whereas traditional coopetition is a relationship between competitors in the same industry. To investigate antecedents and processes of hyper-coopetition, we established the conceptual framework of hyper-coopetition through a literature review. We conducted a case study on leading chipmakers, including Intel, Samsung, and Nvidia, to investigate antecedents and processes of the chipmakers’ hyper-coopetition. By examining hyper-coopetition, we contributed to the relevant academic field by introducing hyper-coopetition, its typology, and a new research agenda. The analysis result also brought managerial implications for companies in a rapidly changing environment.
How Does Experiential Value toward Robot Barista Service Affect Emotions, Storytelling, and Behavioral Intention in the Context of COVID-19?
Authors: Yoo Se-Ran , Kim Seon-Hee , Jeon Hyeon-Mo
Published: January 2022

This study aims to examine the antecedents of storytelling and intention to a behavioral robot barista coffee shop (RBCS) by exploring experiential values and emotions. For the analysis, a set of hypotheses was developed and tested based on data collected from 300 customers who had visited a RBCS in South Korea. In the verification, the atmosphere showed the greatest influence on positive emotion, followed by consumer return on investment (CROI). These results mean that atmosphere, CROI, and escapism are important to induce positive emotion and behavioral intention for robot barista coffee shop. This is the first study to examine consumers’ experiential value regarding non-face-to-face robot service in the food service industry. This design is different from previous experiential value studies on human services in the hospitality industry. By integrating artificial intelligence and digital innovation into food service, this study broadens the scope of research in consumer behavior, making a significant theoretical contribution to the literature. Furthermore, this study proposes practical implications for sustainable coffee shop management in a COVID-19 environment.
Sustainability in the Coffee Supply Chain and Purchasing Policies: A Case Study Research
Authors: Proença João F. , Torres Ana Cláudia , Marta Bernardo , Silva Débora Santos , Fuly Grazielle , Pinto Helena Lopes
Published: January 2022

The literature shows that companies increasingly need to become more sustainable. To achieve sustainable development, supply chain management needs to be related to sustainable business practices, which include relevant values and sustainable purchasing policies. Focusing on these principles on the topic of coffee, this study shows the difficulties associated with this product. The study finds that coffee production is dependent on factors unrelated to management. This paper presents a case study of Delta Cafés owned by Grupo Nabeiro, a Portuguese company that shows relevant ways of achieving sustainable business methods to be incorporated in supply chain management. Our research shows a business based on sustainable, efficient handling of the food safety of its product and certification along the supply chain, as well as an adaptable purchasing policy. By reviewing the literature and information provided by the company, we confirm that the case study is a business leader in innovation, thought process, and action related to sustainability practices. Our research illustrates how business operations and culture can be explored to achieve sustainable buying processes and practices.
Rural Broadband and Precision Agriculture: A Frame Analysis of United States Federal Policy Outreach under the Biden Administration
Authors: Sanders Catherine E. , Gibson Kristin E. , Lamm Alexa J.
Published: January 2022

Global food security requires sustainable and resource-efficient agricultural production. Precision agriculture may provide the tools needed to intensify agricultural production while prioritizing sustainability; however, there are barriers such as initial investments, knowledge gaps, and broadband access that may hinder adoption. Many rural areas in the United States lack the appropriate infrastructure for broadband access needed for precision agriculture, indicating government policies are needed to expand broadband access. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to develop a conceptualization of the current frames used by the Biden administration in communications related to rural broadband and precision agriculture. The methodological framework used was frame analysis. Data were initially analyzed inductively for overall gestalt and subsequently analyzed with abductive coding. Five overarching frames were identified during the data analysis process: broadband access and economic issues, garnering support for broadband expansion, urgency and equity surrounding broadband, expanding beyond the rural, and broadband infrastructure and the agricultural sector. The findings revealed broadband access associated with the Biden administration expanded beyond rural areas, recognizing that cities also face broadband access and affordability issues. There was a lack of discourse, however, surrounding rural broadband policy and precision agriculture, which may downplay its importance in agricultural sustainability.
Tax Avoidance, Tax Risk, and Corporate Governance: Evidence from Korea
Authors: Choi Jihwan , Park Hyungju
Published: January 2022

This study examines the association between the effective corporate tax rate and the volatility of future effective corporate tax rates in Korean companies. We analyzed the effect of corporate governance on the association between tax avoidance and tax risk. Our sample is comprised of all the firms listed on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index market. We measure each firm’s tax avoidance as GAAP ETR, Cash ETR, and BTD, and use the corporate governance rating of the Korea Corporate Governance Service to measure corporate governance. Our results show that the volatility of the effective corporate tax rate and the effective corporate tax rate would have a significant negative association. Our results show that tax risk decreases when the corporate tax avoidance level increases and the tax risk increases when the corporate tax avoidance level decreases. In addition, we find that the better the corporate governance structure, the higher the level of supervision and control of managers, thereby mitigating the impact of tax evasion on future corporate tax risk. The findings of this study regarding tax avoidance and corporate governance are important for investors because tax risk can significantly affect investor welfare.
Solid Waste Management in the Context of a Circular Economy in the MENA Region
Authors: Hemidat Safwat , Achouri Ouafa , El Fels Loubna , Elagroudy Sherien , Hafidi Mohamed , Chaouki Benabbas , Ahmed Mostafa , Hodgkinson Isla , Guo Jinyang
Published: January 2022

Solid waste management in most MENA countries is characterized by lack of planning, improper disposal, inadequate collection services, inappropriate technologies that suit the local conditions and technical requirements, and insufficient funding. Therefore, waste management is mainly limited to collection, transportation, and disposal. As the circular economy has recently been given high priority on the MENA region’s political agenda, all MENA member states are seeking to move away from old-fashioned waste disposal, “waste management”, towards a more intelligent waste treatment, “resource efficiency”. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of national systems for municipal solid waste (MSW) management, and material and energy recovery as an important aspect thereof, in the context of the circular economy in selected countries in the MENA region. Since policy, regulation, and treatment technologies are traditionally connected to MSW management, the focus of this article is twofold. Firstly, it aims to identify the different practices of solid waste management employed in selected MENA region countries and their approaches to embracing the circular economy and, secondly, it examines the extent to which policies and technologies applied play any role in this context. The study revealed that most waste management issues in the countries analyzed appear to be due to political factors and the decentralized nature of waste management with multi-level management and responsibilities. In fact, material and energy recovery in the context of municipal solid waste management does not differ significantly in the countries in the MENA region considered. In most cases, “waste” is still seen as “trouble” rather than a resource. Therefore, a fresh vision on how the solid waste management system can be transformed into a circular economy is required; there is a need for paradigm shift from a linear economy model to a circular-economy model.
Threat to Nature Connectedness: How Does It Influence Consumers’ Preferences for Automated Products?
Authors: Zhang Ke , Tao Jian
Published: January 2022

Connection with the natural world is a fundamental human need related to sustainable development. However, such a human need is very likely to be threatened in modern, industrialized society. This paper represents the first attempt to investigate the effect of perceived disconnection from nature on consumers’ preference for automated products (e.g., virtual assistants). Based on two surveys (276 adult participants) and one experimental study (282 adult participants), we found that perceived disconnection from nature can magnify consumers’ resistance to automated products. We further examined the underlying mechanism through moderated mediation model and revealed that consumers who perceive greater nature disconnection are less likely to perceive automated products as helpful friends, leading to a lower likelihood of adopting these products. The present research unveils this novel effect of perceived disconnection with nature on consumer behavior and provides fresh insight into how consumers’ preferences for automated products can be influenced by psychology rather than technology. Additionally, these findings can extend the research regarding sustainable consumption.
Exploring Worldwide Wardrobes to Support Reuse in Consumers’ Clothing Systems
Authors: de Wagenaar Dieuwertje , Galama Joris , Sijtsema Siet J.
Published: January 2022

Extending the use of garments is often seen as an important strategy to decrease the impact of the fashion industry. However, currently there are a lack of data on and understanding of consumers’ wardrobes. This study explores consumers’ wardrobes internationally, and we aim to explore the total amount, unused and second-hand garments in order to develop interventions to support reuse. Through an online course, data were gathered in a survey about the content of participants’ wardrobes, counting the amounts of garments in predefined categories, and the amount of unused and second-hand garments thereof. Differences were found between clothing categories, age groups and gender for unused and second-hand garments. Between nationalities only differences were found for second-hand garments. These insights are supportive to targeted interventions for gender and age groups related to specific categories of (unused and second-hand) garments, to elongate the practical service life of garments, support consumers’ sustainable clothing decisions and in the end reduce consumption. Additionally, this exploration provides insights how to improve international monitoring and the value of digital wardrobe studies. Recommendations are provided, especially focused on interventions to support motivations, capabilities, and opportunities to improve reuse. Ultimately, through consumers’ wardrobes this study supports the next steps towards a more circular clothing system.
Buyer–Supplier Role in Improving Ergonomics in Garment Supplier Factories: Empirical Evidence from the Garment Industry of Bangladesh
Authors: Hoque Imranul , Hasle Peter , Maalouf Miguel Malek
Published: January 2022

Ergonomics is a key concern of garment suppliers to improve their workers’ well-being and efficiency. However, suppliers’ isolated initiatives are not sufficient to improve ergonomics conditions. Thus, buyers’ cooperation and collaboration with suppliers are necessary to make the ergonomic initiatives successful and sustainable. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of buyer-assisted ergonomics intervention on suppliers’ performance and the role of buyers’ assistance and suppliers’ initiatives for improving ergonomics conditions in garment supplier factories. Following a qualitative research approach and multiple embedded case study method, this study intervened in supplier factories and collected qualitative and quantitative data from one Danish buyer and their four key suppliers on ergonomics and the role of buyers and suppliers in improving ergonomics conditions. Collected data were analysed by employing both quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques. This study demonstrates that buyer-assisted ergonomics intervention on the shop floor can improve ergonomics conditions in garment supplier factories. This study also shows that improving ergonomics in supplier factories need joint efforts of buyers and suppliers. The findings of this study will enrich the literature on ergonomics, sustainability, and buyer–supplier relationships by demonstrating how garment suppliers in developing countries can improve ergonomics to meet the expectations of lead buyers and their workers. This is a unique research attempt to understand ergonomics from a buyer–supplier relationship perspective and its impact on the social sustainability of garment suppliers.
Factors Influencing University Students’ Adoption of Digital Learning Technology in Teaching and Learning
Authors: Sayaf Amer Mutrik , Alamri Mahdi M. , Alqahtani Mohammed Ayid , Alrahmi Waleed Mugahed
Published: January 2022

Education and learning have been significantly impacted by ICT. The purpose of this project is to create a new model and conduct confirmatory factor analysis in order to better understand how students utilize ICT in the classroom. An additional aim is to study, based on students’ attitudes and aspirations to utilize ICT for digital learning, their fundamental computer abilities, media-related skills, WBS, and adoption of digital learning technologies, by surveying students at Bisha University and King Faisal University. Structural equations modeling (SEM)-AMOS was used to survey 711 university students, and this study used an improved version of the Technology Acceptance Paradigm (TAM) approach as its research paradigm, as well as quantitative data collection and analytic methodologies. Students’ comments were divided into seven categories and analyzed to identify their attitudes toward and intentions for using ICT in learning environments. BCS, media-related abilities, and WBS all had a substantial influence on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, according to the research. This model, which was based on research, was successful in describing students’ attitudes and intentions about using ICT for digital learning.
Biological-Based Produced Water Treatment Using Microalgae: Challenges and Efficiency
Authors: Alsarayreh Malak , Almomani Fares , Khraisheh Majeda , Nasser Mustafa S. , Soliman Yousria
Published: January 2022

Produced water (PW) is the most significant waste stream generated in the oil and gas industries. The generated PW has the potential to be a useful water source rather than waste. While a variety of technologies can be used for the treatment of PW for reuse, biological-based technologies are an effective and sustainable remediation method. Specifically, microalgae, which are a cost-effective and sustainable process that use nutrients to eliminate organic pollutants from PW during the bioremediation process. In these treatment processes, microalgae grow in PW free of charge, eliminate pollutants, and generate clean water that can be recycled and reused. This helps to reduce CO2 levels in the atmosphere while simultaneously producing biofuels, other useful chemicals, and added-value products. As such, this review focuses on PW generation in the oil and gas industry, PW characteristics, and examines the available technologies that can be used for PW remediation, with specific attention to algal-based technologies. In addition, the various aspects of algae growth and cultivation in PW, the effect of growth conditions, water quality parameters, and the corresponding treatment performance are presented. Lastly, this review emphasizes the bioremediation of PW using algae and highlights how to harvest algae that can be processed to generate biofuels for added-value products as a sustainable approach.
Brand Equity and Usage Intention Powered by Value Co-Creation: A Case of Instagram in Kazakhstan
Authors: Sadyk Dina , Islam Dewan Md Zahurul
Published: January 2022

Purpose: Unprecedented communication features of social media noticeably reinforce the active role of consumers in the value co-creation (VCC) of offline and online brands including social media. From the consumer perspective, this study examines a contribution of VCC behavior to consumer-based brand equity (CBBE) and consequent intention to use social media based on Instagram as the most popular platform in Kazakhstan. Methodology: A web-based survey provided data from 550 Instagram users in Almaty city. Empirical analysis includes testing statistical assumptions using SPSS 23, conducting confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM) using Warp PLS 7.0. Findings: With the result of this study investigation, the paper develops the model that explains the effect of VCC on continuous usage intention to use social media through CBBE comprising brand associations, brand loyalty and brand perceived quality. Originality: Even though the importance of social media in the brand VCC process is widely recognized, a brand equity view of social media brands with users’ participation is under-investigated. However, brand equity’s importance for firm sustainability in terms of long-term business strategy is indisputable. This research enhances brand equity theory and VCC concept with the empirical data within the modern social media context. Practical implications: Owners and managers of social media brands can use the conceptual model to grow, maintain and assess their brands’ equities through their marketing efforts on the consumer motivation for brand VCC activities driving continuous usage of the brands.
How Effective Is Fiscal Decentralization for Inequality Reduction in Developing Countries?
Authors: Digdowiseiso Kumba , Murshed Syed M. , Bergh Sylvia I.
Published: January 2022

The relationship between fiscal decentralization and vertical inequality has long received attention by fiscal federalism theorists. However, horizontal inequality has been largely overlooked. This study will present a novel empirical examination of the relationship between fiscal decentralization, vertical inequality, and horizontal inequality. Specifically, it will focus on how institutional quality and military expenditure affect the fiscal decentralization–inequality nexus across 33 developing countries in the period 1990–2014. Findings indicate that varieties of fiscal authority have a significant effect on distribution of income and ethnic inequality. This depends on the level of institutions and defense spending achieved by these developing countries.
Territorial Distribution of EU Funds Allocation for Developments of Rural Romania during 2014–2020
Authors: Maier Doru , Remete Ancuta-Nicoleta , Corda Alina-Mihaela , Nastasoiu Ioana-Alexandra , Lazăr Paul-Sorin , Pop Iustin-Atanasiu , Luca Traian-Ionuţ
Published: January 2022

This study uses cross-section regressions and spatial econometrics techniques to identify determinants of rural development project implementation based on the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) of the European Union. For this, we use 40 Romanian counties. Results show that agricultural land abundancy and land concentration degree are significant positive factors. On the contrary, the local human development level is a negative determinant, low values for this factor being an incentive to compensate the lack of own resources through European funding. No significant effects of the average salary or population density were depicted. Spatial analysis indicates contagion and diffusion processes for fund accession through projects. This behavior is like that in other financial sectors, in which human behavior is a decisive factor, such as the insurance one. A West–East clusterization process is identified for the total project value, conditioned by the identified factors.
The Impact of Place of Residence on the Sense of Coherence of Population Aged 60–89: Evidence from Poland
Authors: Michalik-Marcinkowska Urszula , Kiełtyka Aleksandra , Buława Bartłomiej
Published: January 2022

Place of living is one of the most important socio-demographic factors which characterizes the lives of older people. The importance of with whom and under what conditions older adults live to a large extent determines their health and standard of living. The goal of the study was to find the relationship between the place of residence and housing condition of older adults in Poland and their sense of coherence and health problems. The 29-item Antonovsky SOC questionnaire was used. In the research 303 people (76% women and 24% men) aged 60–89 were evaluated: 158 lived in their own houses/flats, while 145 resided in Daily Homes of Social Assistance (DPS). The overall result for the sense of coherence was 129.65 for older adults living in their own homes and 126.48 for these living in DPS. Statistical dependence between the place of residence and sense of manageability and meaningfulness was found. There is no dependence between gender and the overall score, nor the three components of the sense of coherence. Statistical dependence was determined in the criterion of age. A higher level of meaningfulness was observed in people aged 60–74. Taking into account the place of residents, 52% of the respondents living in their own houses/flats experience loneliness and among the people living in Daily Homes of Social Assistance, 46% experience loneliness. The type of place of residence is one of the most important personal factors affecting the sense of coherence, chronic health problems, and sense of loneliness. The last factor, especially, can adversely affect community sustainability and undermine social cohesion.