bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Path Planning and Control of a UAV Fleet in Bridge Management Systems
Authors: Bono Antonio , D’Alfonso Luigi , Fedele Giuseppe , Filice Anselmo , Natalizio Enrico
Published: April 2022

Traditional methodologies for precise inspection of bridges (pavement, beams, column cap, column, joints and inside box girder, etc.) with By-bridge equipment, Aerial Work Platform (AWP) or via ropes have several limits that can be overcome by using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The constant development in this field allows us to go beyond the manual control and the use of a single UAV. In the context of inspection rules, this research provides new inputs to the multilevel approach used today and to the methods of structural inspection with drones. Today, UAV-based inspections are limited by manual and/or semi-automatic control with many restrictions on trajectory settings, especially for areas of difficult access with Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) denied that still require the intervention of a human operator. This work proposes the use of autonomous navigation with a fleet of UAVs for infrastructural inspections. Starting from a digital twin, a solution is provided to problems such as the definition of a set of reference trajectories and the design of a position controller. A workflow to integrate a generic Bridge Management System (BMS) with this type of approach is provided.
High-Resolution Boundary-Constrained and Context-Enhanced Network for Remote Sensing Image Segmentation
Authors: Xu Yizhe , Jiang Jie
Published: April 2022

The technology of remote sensing image segmentation has made great progress in recent years. However, there are still several challenges which need to be addressed (e.g., ground objects blocked by shadows, higher intra-class variance and lower inter-class variance). In this paper, we propose a novel high-resolution boundary-constrained and context-enhanced network (HBCNet), which combines boundary information to supervise network training and utilizes the semantic information of categories with the regional feature presentations to improve final segmentation accuracy. On the one hand, we design the boundary-constrained module (BCM) and form the parallel boundary segmentation branch, which outputs the boundary segmentation results and supervises the network training simultaneously. On the other hand, we also devise a context-enhanced module (CEM), which integrates the self-attention mechanism to advance the semantic correlation between pixels of the same category. The two modules are independent and can be directly embedded in the main segmentation network to promote performance. Extensive experiments were conducted using the ISPRS Vahingen and Potsdam benchmarks. The mean F1 score (m-F1) of our model reached 91.32% and 93.38%, respectively, which exceeds most existing CNN-based models and represents state-of-the-art results.
Estimating Reservoir Storage Variations by Combining Sentinel-2 and 3 Measurements in the Yliki Reservoir, Greece
Authors: Gourgouletis Nikolaos , Bariamis Georgios , Anagnostou Marios N. , Baltas Evangelos
Published: April 2022

Inland water resources are facing increasing quantitative and qualitative pressures, deriving from anthropogenic causes and the ongoing climate change. The monitoring of reservoirs is essential for sustainable management and preparation against water scarcity and extreme events, such as droughts. This research, relying on the Sentinel-2 and 3 missions, attempts to demonstrate the efficiency of combining remotely sensed water level and water area estimations, in order to estimate the water storage variation of Yliki reservoir. The case study is conducted in one of the few sufficiently monitored reservoirs in Greece, enabling a direct comparison of the proposed methodology results with in situ observations. Moreover, this research work proposes a weekly time interval for pairing level and area estimations, instead of shorter time intervals. The results strongly demonstrate the efficiency of remote sensing in the production of empirical level–area–storage (L–A–S) curves. Correlation to in situ monitored storage- and satellite-derived water level, area stand for 98.81% and 99.27% respectively. Water storage variation is estimated and compared to the observed time series, resulting in an RMSE of 1.28% of the reservoir capacity and a correlation of 96.14%. The empirical L–S relationship underestimates storage, while the A–S relationship overestimates storage when compared to the existing L–A–S curve.
The Global Patterns of Interannual and Intraseasonal Mass Variations in the Oceans from GRACE and GRACE Follow-On Records
Authors: Delforge Damien , de Viron Olivier , Durand Fabien , Dehant Véronique
Published: April 2022

We decompose the monthly global ocean bottom pressure (OBP) from GRACE(-FO) mass concentration solutions, with trends and seasonal harmonics removed from the signal, to extract 23 significant regional modes of variability. The 23 modes are analyzed and discussed considering sea-level anomalies (SLA), wind stress curl (WSC), and major climate indices. A total of two-thirds of the patterns correspond to extratropical regions and are substantially documented in other global or regional studies. Over the equatorial band, the identified modes are unprecedented, with an amplitude ranging between 0.5 and 1 cm. With smaller amplitude than extratropical patterns, they appear to be less correlated with the local SLA or WSC; yet they present significantly coherent dynamics. The Pacific Ocean modes show significant correlations with the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) and El Niño southern oscillation (ENSO).
Parental Digital Mediation According to the Age of Minors: From Restraint and Control to Active Mediation
Authors: Suárez-Álvarez Rebeca , Vázquez-Barrio Tamara , de Frutos-Torres Belinda
Published: April 2022

Research shows that parental mediation is essential for the introduction of minors into the digital environment and their development therein as well as to reduce their exposure to online risks. The present study examines parental strategies depending on whether minors are (dis)connected to the Internet and whether they differ according to their age. The motivations for minors to connect are also examined in relation to the frequency to which they connect to the Internet (activities related to school or learning, interacting with friends, and being entertained). The sample consists of 776 Spanish families with minors aged 5–17. Results show that parental mediation depends on the age of the minor, parental mediation strategies are more restrictive when minors are younger, and as their age increases strategies become more dialogue and collaboration oriented. In adolescence, parents mainly control internet purchases, yet they become more flexible with minors’ presence on social networks. The conclusions reveal that parental mediation is in the process of evolving from a restrictive approach to one that is more empathetic. The change in mediation is due to a greater awareness of the relevance of proper use of the Internet for the well-being of their children.
Rethinking the Ideology of Using Digital Games to Increase Individual Interest in STEM
Authors: Ishak Shahrul Affendi , Din Rosseni , Othman Nabilah , Gabarre Serge , Hasran Umi Azmah
Published: April 2022

Using games to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) can enhance the quality of education. The idea of using digital games to increase individual interest towards STEM has been implemented as gaming technology has evolved in the 21st century. A correlation exists between using digital games and the learning outcomes which suggests that incorporating digital games may develop interest; however, the theoretical discussion on how interest may be developed with digital games remains inconclusive, thus, resulting in the need for further discussion. Hence, we aim to contribute with a discussion on how STEM digital games can develop individual interest in STEM. Previous studies on digital games in the STEM education context support the arguments presented in this study, therefore, there is a high probability that STEM digital games develop interest. Nevertheless, this can only be achieved with a good STEM game design and defining what is a good STEM game design is subjective. Several elements can be used as indicators to describe the quality of a design. These include the pedagogical learning content and the inclusion of fun elements within a design. Therefore, we propose the integration of theories with pedagogy, learning strategies, STEM learning content, game elements, and game principles design to ensure the presence of a three-layer process to develop interest. The creativity of game designers and developers is key to creating appealing STEM digital games providing young players with an inspiring experience.
The Impact of Industrial Subsidies and Enterprise Innovation on Enterprise Performance: Evidence from Listed Chinese Manufacturing Companies
Authors: Wang Shuai , Ahmad Fayyaz , Li Yanlong , Abid Nabila , Chandio Abbas Ali , Rehman Abdul
Published: April 2022

Governments worldwide have introduced various tax mechanisms to foster enterprise innovation, which in turn affect enterprise performance. To promote the innovation level of domestic enterprises, China has adopted an innovation-driven strategy policy. Based on China’s manufacturing company data from 2007 to 2017, this article constructs a mediating effect model to study the direct effect of tax incentives and government subsidies on enterprise performance and the mediating effect of innovation on enterprise performance. We use RIF regression to investigate the difference between the effect of industrial subsidies on promoting technological innovation and enterprise performance. The study finds that tax incentives and government subsidies encourage enterprise performance through innovation, with the mediating effect accounting for about 34.5% and 16.8%, respectively. Industrial subsidies play a more obvious role in improving the innovation performance of high-tech enterprises. There is no significant difference in tax incentives on the performance of large enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises. Moreover, government subsidies play an essential role in promoting the performance of large enterprises. Furthermore, with the increase in quantile, the impact of tax incentives and government subsidies on innovation is getting more extensive and more significant. Innovation has an increasing effect on enterprise performance, the effects of tax incentives on enterprise performance are becoming less and smaller, and the nexus of government subsidies and enterprise performance is generally unchanged. Therefore, implementing appropriate tax incentives and government subsidies for enterprise innovation is essential for improving enterprise performance, especially for high-tech enterprises. Enterprise size should not be used as a criterion for the government to implement tax incentives, although government subsidies tend to support large enterprises.
Growth, Nutrient Accumulation, and Drought Tolerance in Crop Plants with Silicon Application: A Review
Authors: Rea Rafea Sultana , Islam Mohammad Rafiqul , Rahman Mohammad Mahmudur , Nath Bibhash , Mix Ken
Published: April 2022

Plants take up silicon (Si) from the soil which impacts their growth and nutrient accumulation. It increases plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and heavy metal, diseases, and pest infestation. However, until recently, research of Si application on the crop is limited. This article reviews the recent progress of research on Si application on crop growth and yield, nutrient availability in soil and accumulation, and drought tolerance of crop plants. The review’s findings show that Si improves crop development and output under stressful environmental conditions. Silicon increases the availability and accumulation of both macronutrients (nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and sulphur) and micronutrients (iron and manganese). It improves drought resistance by increasing plant water usage efficiency and reducing water loss during transportation. Silicon application is a crucial aspect of crop productivity because of all of these favorable attributes. The gaps in current understandings are identified. Based on the outcome of the present research, future scopes of research on this field are proposed.
Analysis of Learner’s Sentiments to Evaluate Sustainability of Online Education System during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Hina Saman , Baig Mirza Mahmood
Published: April 2022

Education is an important domain that may be improved by analyzing the sentiments of learners and educators. Evaluating the sustainability of the education system is critical for the continuous improvement and satisfaction of the learner’s community. This research work focused on the evaluation of the effectiveness of the online education system that has been adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this purpose, sentiments/reviews of learners were collected from the Twitter website regarding the education domain during COVID-19. To automate the process of evaluation, a hybrid approach was applied that used a knowledgebase of opinion words along with machine learning and boosting algorithms with n-grams (unigram, bigram, trigram and combination of all these n-grams). This automated approach helped to evaluate the transition of the education system in different circumstances. An ensemble classifier was created in combination with a customized knowledgebase using classifiers that individually performed best with each of the n-grams. Due to the imbalanced nature of the data (tweets), these operations were performed by applying the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE). The obtained results show that the use of a customized knowledgebase not only improved the performance of the individual classifiers but also produced quality results with the ensemble model. As per the observed results, the online education system was not found sustainable as the majority of the learners were badly affected due to some important aspects (health issues, lack of training and resources).
Responses of Urban Wetland to Climate Change and Human Activities in Beijing: A Case Study of Hanshiqiao Wetland
Authors: Zhang Yong , Cao Bo , Zhang Qiyue , Cui Shifeng , Cui Baoshan , Du Jizeng
Published: April 2022

Hydrological connectivity is an essential indicator of wetland pattern and functional stability. The reduction of connectivity usually means the degradation of wetland ecological function, internal energy flow, and nutrient cycle disturbance. Taking Hanshiqiao wetland as a case, we used Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) with the Connectivity Index (IIC, Integral Index of Connectivity; PC, Probability of Connectivity) to analyze the change in hydrological connectivity of Hanshiqiao Wetland from both spatial and temporal aspects. The results showed that the hydrological connectivity of Hanshiqiao Wetland significantly improved with the implementation of the wetland restoration project. According to the changes in MSPA function types, the spatial morphological evolution of Hanshiqiao Wetland can be divided into two stages: the recovery stage and the stable stage. In the restoration stage, the area of the core wetland gradually increased, and many croplands and islet wetlands were transformed into the core wetland. The area of the core wetland recovered from 33 hm2 in 2005 to 119 hm2 in 2020. However, during the stable period, the landscape pattern of Hanshiqiao Wetland did not change significantly, and the hydrological connectivity of the wetland was mainly affected by water resource supply. In general, during the restoration period of Hanshiqiao Wetland, the changes in core wetlands played a leading role in the hydrological connectivity of Hanshiqiao Wetland. In the stable period, the main factors affecting the hydrological connectivity of Hanshiqiao Wetland are upstream recharge water, land-use change, and climate change. However, with climate warming and population surge, upstream water supply gradually decreases, and Hanshiqiao Wetland faces an increasingly severe water resource crisis. Therefore, to maintain the hydrological connectivity of Hanshiqiao Wetland, it is necessary to increase the artificial ecological water supply. The combined MSPA model and grey relational analysis method can better reveal the evolution characteristics and driving mechanism of wetland hydrological connectivity, which can provide a methodological reference for other wetland-related research.
EFL Teachers’ Spatial Construction of Linguistic Identities for Sustainable Development in Globalization
Authors: Feng Maomao , Kim Hoe Kyeung
Published: April 2022

Grounded in Gidden’s space theory, this case study examines the construction of linguistic identity in Chinese English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) teachers teaching in a major Chinese city with regard to their language-learning experiences and beliefs about the roles of English as a language within the context of globalization. The data were collected from semi-structured interviews with two Chinese EFL teachers and observations of their classrooms. The narrative and thematic analyses show how two Chinese EFL teachers came to have preferences for moving from the “periphery” to the “center” of a monolingual or multilingual foreign-language community in different ways. The findings not only reveal how English as a language relates to globalization, they also broaden our understanding of the complex formation of identity of the language teachers within a global context.
Prediction of the Stability of Various Tunnel Shapes Based on Hoek–Brown Failure Criterion Using Artificial Neural Network (ANN)
Authors: Jearsiripongkul Thira , Keawsawasvong Suraparb , Thongchom Chanachai , Ngamkhanong Chayut
Published: April 2022

In this paper, artificial neural network (ANN) models are presented in order to enable a prompt assessment of the stability factor of tunnels in rock masses based on the Hoek–Brown (HB) failure criterion. Importantly, the safety assessment is one of the serious concerns for constructing tunnels and requires a reliable and accurate stability analysis. However, it is challenging for engineers to construct finite element limit analysis (FELA) algorithms with the HB failure criterion for tunnel stability solutions in rock masses. For the first time, a machine-learning-aided prediction of tunnel stability based on the HB failure criterion is proposed in this paper. Three different shapes of tunnels, i.e., heading tunnel, dual square tunnels, and dual circular tunnels, are considered. The inputs include four dimensionless parameters for the heading tunnel including the cover-depth ratio, the normalized uniaxial compressive strength, the geological strength index (GSI), and the mi parameter. Moreover, dual square and circular tunnels include one more additional parameter namely the distance ratio. The results present the best ANN models for each tunnel shape, providing very reliable solutions for predicting the tunnel stability based on the HB failure criterion.
Dynamic Coupling Trajectory and Spatial-Temporal Characteristics of High-Quality Economic Development and the Digital Economy
Authors: Shen Weikang , Xia Weiqi , Li Sufeng
Published: April 2022

This paper takes China’s 2014–2019 provincial data as the observation sample to explore the dynamic coupling law of the digital economy and high-quality economic development. First, using the coupling coordination model, it is found that the coupling coordination degree of the digital economy and high-quality economic growth is on an upward trend, and the coupling coordination degree in the eastern region is higher than that in other regions; then, using Markov chain algorithm, it is found that the coupling coordination degree in the east of region achieves a two-level leap of “antagonism stage-running-in stage-coordination stage”, while the central and western regions accomplish a single level of “antagonism stage-running-in stage” leap. Finally, using the Dagum Gini coefficient decomposition method, it was found that the mean values of inter-regional, intra-regional, and supervariate density differences in coupling coordination contributed 67.60%, 24.03%, and 8.36% to the overall differences, respectively, with highly moderate fluctuations. The general, inter-regional and intra-regional differences all show a decreasing trend, but there is heterogeneity in their corresponding variation characteristics. This paper provides substantial empirical evidence for exploring the inherent laws and provides an essential guarantee for China’s regional economy’s comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable development.
Heritage-Led Urban Regeneration in the Context of WH Listing: Lessons and Opportunities for the Newly Inscribed City of As-Salt in Jordan
Authors: El Faouri Bayan F. , Sibley Magda
Published: April 2022

The nomination of a city on the UNESCO WHL is usually followed by urban regeneration with emphasis on tourism development and the OUV assigned to the city. In doing so, other heritage values are likely to be excluded, while new urban challenges are unintentionally triggered such as gentrification, touristification, social exclusion, amongst others. Following the recent inscription of As-Salt City in Jordan on the UNESCO WHL in July 2021, this paper traces the urban regeneration initiatives in the city from the first attempt of its nomination on the WHL in 2014 to its inscription in 2021. Based on a survey of the local community members’ perceptions and priorities, conducted in November 2020, the paper highlights the opportunities and the challenges that have resulted from the urban transformations triggered by the WHL nomination processes of As-Salt. In addition, key lessons are drawn from the urban regeneration trajectories of world heritage cities in the MENA region that have been on the WHL for a number of decades. These lessons combined with the result of As-Salt community survey are used to develop a list of prioritized short, medium, and long-term recommendations for the city of As-Salt to address how the urban regeneration practices that have already started can be nudged to change to more sustainable trajectories.
Contrasting Traditional and Virtual Teams within the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic: From Team Culture towards Objectives Achievement
Authors: Stratone Mădălina-Elena , Vătămănescu Elena-Mădălina , Treapăt Laurențiu-Mihai , Rusu Mihaela , Vidu Cristian-Mihai
Published: April 2022

The current paper aimed to comparatively scrutinize some key dimensions apposite for the dynamics of traditional versus virtual teams in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Emphasis was laid on the positive leadership perception, communication effectiveness among team members, objectives achievement, diversity approach, and the perception of team culture strength. Invitations to fill in an online questionnaire consisting of paired items were sent in January 2022 via email to over 200 potential respondents working in both traditional and virtual teams, using a snowball sampling technique; 137 subjects completed the entire questionnaire, hence allowing a reasonable research sample for conducting relevant statistical analyses (i.e., paired t-test given that the aim was to investigate the difference between paired sets of variables for the same issues). The empirical exploration brought to the fore significant differences among the considered dimensions, thus underscoring the benefits and drawbacks of working in traditional versus virtual teams in the context of the new normal. Evidence was brought forward that teamwork in traditional teams (i.e., based on face-to-face interaction) is preferable to that in virtual teams (i.e., based on online interaction). Meaningful differences were observed regarding the perception of team culture strength, communication effectiveness, positive leadership perception, and diversity approach in favor of traditional teams, the questioned respondents opting for the offline coordination and collaboration processes.
Impact of Oil Price, Economic Growth and Urbanization on CO2 Emissions in GCC Countries: Asymmetry Analysis
Authors: Mahmood Haider , Asadov Alam , Tanveer Muhammad , Furqan Maham , Yu Zhang
Published: April 2022

Oil prices and rapidly increasing urbanization could have a long-lasting impact on the environment in oil-abundant Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Therefore, the environmental role of oil price, economic growth, and urbanization on CO2 emissions should be tested. The present study investigates the impact of oil price, economic growth, and urbanization on CO2 emissions in those countries, considering asymmetrical relationships. For this purpose, a nonlinear autoregressive distributive lag cointegration approach is applied in GCC countries during the 1980–2019 period, and cointegration is corroborated in all investigated models. Long-run results show that rising economic growth positively affects CO2 emissions in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Decreasing economic growth positively affects CO2 emissions in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Moreover, the rising oil price has a positive impact on CO2 emissions and shows a scale effect in Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Moreover, it has a negative effect and corroborates technique and composition effects in Kuwait and the UAE. Further, decreasing oil prices has a positive impact on CO2 emissions in Bahrain and has a negative effect in Kuwait and the UAE. Lastly, urbanization positively affects CO2 emissions in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE. Economic growth is found asymmetrical in all GCC countries, and the asymmetrical effect of oil price is also observed in all GCC countries except the UAE.
Change Management and Innovation Practices during Pandemic in the Middle East E-Commerce Industry
Authors: Alichleh AL-Ali Ahmed Saleh Mohamed , Sisodia Gyanendra Singh , Gupta Bhumika , Venugopalan Murale
Published: April 2022

This study highlights the appropriateness of innovation management principles to successfully manage radical change in the e-commerce industry during the COVID-19 period. The study focuses on transforming delivery platforms in the context of popular e-commerce organizations in the U.A.E. We conducted the study through interviews, and the results reflect the development of three major themes (shifting consumer behavior, implementation of innovation, and innovation for effective change management) since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the transition stage, critical aspects concerning product delivery have emerged to stabilize logistics performance with sustainability. The study suggests that firms need to be faster and more flexible to address the market uncertainty through innovative practices. Similar organizations can use this study to develop mechanisms to improve their delivery systems. Additionally, the study also argues that collaborative innovation significantly contributes to the enhancement of consumers’ well-being and boosts economic growth.
A Frugal Eco-Innovation Policy? Ecological Poverty Alleviation in Contemporary China from a Perspective of Eco-Civilization Progress
Authors: Huan Qingzhi , Chen Yiwen , Huan Xincong
Published: April 2022

Ecological poverty alleviation is a discursive and policy system with rich theoretical implications, comprehensive policy tools and multiple practical approaches, constituting an important dimension of contemporary Chinese poverty alleviation theory and practice, or a complete case of eco-innovation. Promoting green development, establishing ecological public-welfare compensation mechanisms and organizing ecological relocation are the three major modes or paths of implementing this policy. It is undoubtedly a historic success on the one hand and has still great potential for self-adjustment or self-transformation on the other from a perspective of eco-civilization progress or sustainability.
Travel Behavior before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil: Mobility Changes and Transport Policies for a Sustainable Transportation System in the Post-Pandemic Period
Authors: Costa Carolina Silva , Pitombo Cira Souza , Souza Felipe Lobo Umbelino de
Published: April 2022

This article was motivated by the urban mobility changes observed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. We aim to analyze travel behavior before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil considering two samples of revealed preference online data, independent samples tests, multinomial logit models (MNL), and mixed logit models (ML). The analysis shows a decrease in Urban Public Transport (UPT) use. Comfort and frequency of the UPT service were important factors to attract users during the pandemic period. Ridesourcing services were used for leisure purposes before the pandemic. During the pandemic, they were used for health purposes. Active modes were used more for shopping and leisure purposes during the pandemic. Regarding car users, such as drivers, it was found that they used ridesourcing less often during the pandemic than before. The main contribution of this research concerns the changes in travel behavior that might remain and how these analyses can shape sustainable transportation public policies in the future. Therefore, for a Brazilian study case, this article suggests an increase in the quality of UPT services, a reform on pricing regulations for UPT, an increase in the infrastructure for active modes, an implementation of car demand management strategies, and more strategies to support teleworking as a form of traffic demand management.
Prediction of the Impact of Meteorological Conditions on Air Quality during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
Authors: Wang Taihao , Du Huadong , Zhao Zezheng , Zhou Zeming , Russo Ana , Xi Hailing , Zhang Jiping , Zhou Chengjun
Published: April 2022

The issue of air pollution has attracted more and more attention. Understanding how to predict air quality based on weather conditions has strong practical significance. For the first time, this paper combines weather circulation with climate prediction models to explore long-term air quality predictions. Using the T-mode (time realizations in columns) objective circulation classification method, we classified the weather circulation affecting Beijing, China, according to nine categories of predominant weather conditions. PM2.5, NO2, SO2, and CO concentration distributions for these nine circulation patterns were also determined. When the Beijing area was controlled by northwestern low pressure, a high-pressure rear, or a weak pressure field, the PM2.5 concentrations were higher, while high-pressure systems and a high-pressure rear were mostly associated with relatively high NO2, SO2, and CO concentrations. The concentrations of these pollutants under high-pressure fronts and northwestern high-pressure settings were low. Using the FLEXPART-WRF model to simulate the 48 h backward trajectory of the highest PM2.5 concentration under the nine circulation patterns from 2015 to 2021, we obtained the trap time of pollutants per unit concentration (imprint analysis) and determined the particle trap area under each circulation pattern. When using the EC-Earth climate prediction model, the daily circulation field during the Beijing Winter Olympics was forecasted, and the nine circulation patterns were compared. The corresponding circulation pattern in Beijing during the 2022 Winter Olympics should be conducive to the diffusion of pollutants and, therefore, the air quality is expected to be good.
Prolonged Emergency Remote Teaching: Sustainable E-Learning or Human Capital Stuck in Online Limbo?
Authors: Vrgović Petar , Pekić Jasmina , Mirković Milan , Anderla Andraš , Leković Bojan
Published: April 2022

We introduce the term “prolonged emergency remote teaching” to accentuate the temporal aspect of the current educational crisis. In-depth lived experiences of students and teaching staff in one engineering education institution were examined, in order to depict what being involved in an exclusively online communication feels like from the personal perspective, thus examining e-learning sustainability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews with samples of students and teaching staff were conducted, and then psychological phenomenology was employed to produce rich descriptions of their personal experiences and impressions. Both the students and the faculty employees observed e-learning during the Fall semester of 2020 as challenging and artificial. Although trying to function as everything is in order, as the semester unfolded, motivation deteriorated, communication turned more and more superficial, and limitations became more prominent. For both sides, although there were some conveniences, the educational process yielded sub-optimal results and was hard to sustain; intellectual and social capital of both sides appeared to be underutilized. We present conclusions and recommendations, suggesting that modern technologies should help both sides to adapt to the new reality, instead of feeling stuck in an online “limbo”.
Creating Actionable and Insightful Knowledge Applying Graph-Centrality Metrics to Measure Project Collaborative Performance
Authors: Nunes Marco , Bagnjuk Jelena , Abreu António , Cardoso Edgar , Smith Joana , Saraiva Célia
Published: April 2022

Tools and techniques supported by math and statistics are often used by organizations to measure performance. These usually measure an employees’ traits and states performance. However, the third type of data usually neglected by organizations, known as relational data, can provide unique and actionable insights regarding the root causes of individual and collective performance. Relational data are best captured through the application of graph-based theory due to its ability to be easily understood and quantitatively measured, while mirroring how employees interact between them as they perform work-related tasks or activities. In this work, we propose a set of graph-based centrality metrics to measure relational data in projects by analyzing the five most voted relational dimensions ((1) communication, (2) internal and external collaboration, (3) know-how exchange and informal power, (4) team-set variability, and (5) teamwork performance), in a survey conducted to 700 international project stakeholders in eight business sectors. The aim of this research is to tackle two issues in projects: First, to understand in a quantitative way how the project’s relational data may correlate with project outputs and outcomes, and second, to create unique and actionable knowledge to help mitigate the increasing project failure rates. A case study illustrates the step-by-step application of the developed graph-based metrics as well as its benefits and limitations.
The Impacts of COVID-19 on Technological and Polytechnic University Teachers
Authors: Vital-López Lourdes , García-García Raul , Rodríguez-Reséndíz Juvenal , Paredes-García Willfrido , Zamora-Antuñano Marco , Oluyomi-Elufisan Temidayo , Rodríguez Reséndiz Hugo , Álvarez Sánchez Ana , Cruz-Pérez Miguel
Published: April 2022

University teachers have adapted to different situations during the development of distance learning due to the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus. This study was conducted by assigning a data collection instrument to 993 teachers who are part of 15 technological universities (TUs) and 7 polytechnic universities (PUs) to determine how they were affected by COVID-19. The questions asked were related to the social, economic, academic, emotional, and health effects experienced. The results show that 63% of the teachers working online complained that online teaching invaded their family privacy; 56% pointed out that working from home and the virtual classes affected their performance as teachers; 90% of the teachers thought that they dedicated too much extra to preparing for their classes; 15% were stressed; 4% felt negative under the new teaching scheme of virtual classes; finally, 38% of the teachers stated that repeated interaction with electronic devices had a lot of negative impacts on their emotional wellbeing. By means of a G-test, it was determined that gender was independent from the studied effects. Through a multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), it was determined that, of the total number of teachers who responded to the questionnaire, half were comfortable with the online teaching model and the other half were not. The most impacted effects were the economic, training and connectivity independently from the gender.
From Used to New: Committing to Product Refresh Services
Authors: Pangburn Michael S. , Stavrulaki Euthemia
Published: April 2022

In practice, we see examples of firms offering product refresh services across different industries. Refresh services promote sustainable reuse and are distinct from typical refurbished-product sales which imply a change in ownership. This study is the first to use an analytic model to derive optimal prices and quantities for a firm offering product-refresh services in tandem with new products. Using a two-period framework, we establish that a firm can use a refresh service to align its second-period decisions with its overall profitability objective. We show that by committing to offering a refresh service at a pre-established price, the firm can enjoy higher selling prices in the first period. Thus, we find that even if the direct profit contribution of refresh-service sales is negative, it is possible for their overall impact on profits to be positive. Therefore, managers must view the contribution of product refresh services holistically, considering indirect price effects, to account for their full potential value.
A Literature Review on Facade Greening: How Research Findings May Be Used to Promote Sustainability and Climate Literacy in School
Authors: Pacini Annalisa , Edelmann Hans Georg , Großschedl Jörg , Schlüter Kirsten
Published: April 2022

The promotion of Climate Literacy is a central concern of our time. To achieve this ability, one can draw on different content areas. One possible area is Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), such as Vertical Greening Systems (VGS), and their effectiveness in mitigating climate change. However, VGS is not yet an established topic in environmental education, even if the pro-environmental effectiveness of VGS has been proven from a scientific point of view and this topic is close to everyday life. To facilitate the transfer of knowledge from research to school, this paper presents an example of a possible procedure. This procedure starts with a narrative review of the scientific literature on VGS. Then, the main results of this review are related to the Sustainable Development Goals, Climate Literacy, and general educational goals to capture its educational relevance. Finally, a flow chart for a teaching sequence is developed, with the phase sequence derived from the performed narrative review. Thus, a parallelism between the structure of a scientific review and an action-oriented environmental education becomes visible. To what extent this parallelization may be generalized, and whether teaching based on it is effective, will have to be tested.
Does Corporate Governance Affect Labor Investment Efficiency?
Authors: Oh Hyunmin , Park Sambock
Published: April 2022

This study examined the effect of corporate governance on labor investment efficiency, using 5178 firm-year samples from companies listed on the Korean stock market over the period from 2011 to 2019. In addition, the relationship between corporate governance and labor investment efficiency according to whether the company belongs to a chaebol group was examined. Corporate governance was measured using KCGS’s corporate governance ratings. This study tried to verify whether labor investment inefficiency due to information asymmetry is improved by excellent corporate governance. The results show that in the case of the entire sample, the relationship between corporate governance and labor investment efficiency was significant in the positive (+) direction. That is, it is an empirical result indicating that a company with a sound governance structure is making effective labor investment. The samples were divided into overinvestment samples and underinvestment samples, and the relationship between corporate governance and labor investment efficiency was analyzed separately in the two samples. According to the results, the positive relationship between corporate governance and labor investment efficiency was significant only in the case of underinvestment samples. In addition, the positive relationship between corporate governance and labor investment efficiency was more statistically significant in the case of companies belonging to a chaebol group. This study provided implications for authorities, shareholders, and investors, etc., in that it suggests the role of corporate governance as a mechanism to alleviate the agency problem between managers and investors.
Does Proactive Green Technology Innovation Improve Financial Performance? Evidence from Listed Companies with Semiconductor Concepts Stock in China
Authors: Qing Lingli , Chun Dongphil , Dagestani Abd Alwahed , Li Peng
Published: April 2022

Academia and business alike are paying increasing attention to innovation in green technology due to the potential environmental and financial performance benefits. However, a limited amount of research has been carried out on the effect of proactive green technology innovation on corporate financial performance. This study examines the effects of two dimensions of proactive green technology innovation, namely, proactive green process innovation and proactive green product innovation, on corporate financial performance. Moreover, the moderating role of absorptive capacity on these relationships is introduced. The proposed hypotheses were tested empirically using a dynamic panel dataset of 126 Chinese listed semiconductor concept stocks from 2010 to 2020 and a difference-GMM approach. It was found that proactive green process innovation has a significant positive effect on both short-term and long-term corporate financial performance. Moreover, proactive green product innovation has a significant positive effect on long-term corporate financial performance. However, it does not improve short-term corporate financial performance. In addition, absorptive capacity has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between proactive green process innovation and both short-term and long-term corporate financial performance, and shows a positive moderating effect on the relationship between proactive green product innovation and long-term financial performance. However, it has a significant negative moderating effect on short-term corporate financial performance. Thus, we suggest that firms adopt more supportive proactive green technology innovation practices in order to improve their financial performance.
A Robust Dynamic Control Strategy for Standalone PV System under Variable Load and Environmental Conditions
Authors: Anjum Waqas , Husain Abdul Rashid , Abdul Aziz Junaidi , Fasih ur Rehman Syed Muhammad , Bakht Muhammad Paend , Alqaraghuli Hasan
Published: April 2022

Dual-stage standalone photovoltaic (PV) systems suffer from stability, reliability issues, and their efficiency to deliver maximum power is greatly affected by changing environmental conditions. A hybrid back-stepping control (BSC) is a good candidate for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) however, there are eminent steady-state oscillations in the PV output due to BSC’s recursive nature. The issue can be addressed by proposing a hybrid integral back-stepping control (IBSC) algorithm where the proposed integral action significantly reduces the steady-state oscillations in the PV array output under varying temperature and solar irradiance level. Simultaneously, at the AC stage, the primary challenge is to reduce both the steady-state tracking error and total harmonic distortion (THD) at the output of VSI, resulting from the load parameter variations. Although the conventional sliding mode control (SMC) is robust to parameter variations, however, it is discontinuous in nature and inherit over-conservative gain design. In order to address this issue, a dynamic disturbance rejection strategy based on super twisting control (STC) has been proposed where a higher order sliding mode observer is designed to estimate the effect of load disturbances as a lumped parameter which is then rejected by the newly designed control law to achieve the desired VSI tracking performance. The proposed control strategy has been validated via MATLAB Simulink where the system reaches the steady-state in 0.005 s and gives a DC–DC conversion efficiency of 99.85% at the peak solar irradiation level. The AC stage steady-state error is minimized to 0 V whereas, THD is limited to 0.07% and 0.11% for linear and non-linear loads, respectively.
Simplified Route for Deposition of Binary and Ternary Bismuth Sulphide Thin Films for Solar Cell Applications
Authors: Fazal Tanzeela , Ismail Bushra , Shah Mazloom , Iqbal Shahid , Elkaeed Eslam B. , Awwad Nasser S. , Ibrahium Hala A.
Published: April 2022

For photovoltaic applications, undoped and Ni2+ doped Bi2S3 thin films were chemically deposited onto glass substrates at room temperature. Elemental diffraction analysis confirmed the successful Ni2+ incorporation in the range of 1.0 to 2.0 at. %, while X-ray Diffraction analysis revealed that orthorhombic crystal lattice of Bi2S3 was conserved while transferring from binary to ternary phase. Scanning electron microscopy images reported homogeneous and crack-free morphology of the obtained films. Optoelectronic analysis revealed that the bandgap value was shifted from 1.7 to 1.1 eV. Ni2+ incorporation also improved the carrier concentration, leading to higher electrical conductivity. Resultant optoelectronic behavior of ternary Bi2−x NixS3 thin films suggests that doping is proved to be an effectual tool to optimize the photovoltaic response of Bi2S3 for solar cell applications.
Development of Soil Substitutes for the Sustainable Land Reclamation of Coal Mine-Affected Areas
Authors: Bauerek Arkadiusz , Diatta Jean , Pierzchała Łukasz , Więckol-Ryk Angelika , Krzemień Alicja
Published: April 2022

The main purpose of this paper was to outline a novel approach for the use of industrial by-products generated in coal mines and coal-fired power plants as the components for artificial soils. Several coal combustion by-products, coal mine waste and organic waste materials were tested at laboratory scale for use in the reclamation of areas degraded by coal mining activity. The role of artificial soils was the land rehabilitation of the high acidic waste heap. The results revealed that the amounts of organic matter (14.87–25.01%) and nutrients in the soil substitutes were sufficient to support plant growth, i.e., N (0.37–0.51%), P (0.23–0.47%), K (1.78–3.17%), Ca (4.93–8.39%) and Mg (1.16–1.71%). A phytotoxicity test using white mustard (Sinapis alba) seeds under laboratory conditions showed good germination results (56–66%) for three soil substitutes that did not contain fly ash from biomass combustion, compared to the reference soil (84%). The relationships established for the aqueous leachate parameters of soil substitutes vs. the Sinapis alba germination revealed negative correlations with electrical conductivity (r = −0.88), SO42− (r = −0.91) and Cl− (r = −0.70) ions; the two latter ones were responsible for the salinity which hampered the germination process of the soil substitutes. Moreover, quite similar correlations were obtained between the germination of Sinapis alba and the trace elements of the soil substitutes: Fe (r = −0.69), Cd (r = −0.72), Cu (r = −0.80), Pb (r = −0.78) and Zn (r = −0.74). However, negative and significant correlations in aqueous leachates were shown only with Ni concentration (r = −0.73). The relevance of these results for the effect of salinity on germination and the early growth of S. alba was discussed in detail and was confirmed with the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The study proved that the physicochemical characteristic of recycled wastes exhibited their potential usefulness for the reclamation of affected areas such as mine waste heaps.