Search Results (17,082)

The construction industry plays a crucial role in contributing to the economy and developing sustainable infrastructures. However, it is known as one of the most dangerous industrial domains. Over the years, special attention has been paid to developing models for managing and planning construction safety. Many research studies have been carried out to analyze the root causes of fatal accidents in construction sites to develop models for preventing them and mitigating their consequences. Root cause identification and analysis are essential for effective risk mitigation. However, implementing mitigation activities is usually limited to the project’s safety budget. The construction sector suffers from a lack of allocation of appropriate safety resources triggered by a dynamic and complex project environment. This study aims to address the gap in safety resource allocation through a comprehensive root cause analysis of construction work accidents. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of work accident-related research, categorized according to the 5M model into five root factors: medium, mission, man, management, and machinery. A novel methodology for construction safety resource allocation is proposed to mitigate risks analyzed by the 5M model with the aid of advanced technological solutions. Safety resource allocation alternatives are formulated, and their priorities are established based on an analysis of structured criteria that integrate both risk and cost considerations. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is employed to select the optimal alternative for safety resource allocation, with the objective of effective risk mitigation. The proposed model underwent validation through two different case studies. The findings indicate that risk aversion is a critical factor in the optimal allocation of safety resources. Furthermore, the results suggest that regulatory measures should prioritize the stimulation of risk motivation in the safety decision-making processes of construction firms. Full article

Over the last several decades, there has been an arms race to acquire credentials as higher education has shifted from an elitist system to mass education. From an individual perspective, given the higher education system and labor market conditions, it is rational to pursue advanced qualifications. However, whether the education system delivers improvements in human capital or is principally a signaling mechanism is questionable. Estimates of the proportion of labor market rewards due to signaling range as high as 80%, suggesting that education is not only expensive but inefficient. In an increasingly transactional environment in which education providers are highly motivated by financial considerations, this situation is only likely to be exacerbated by the rapid developments in artificial intelligence (AI). The use of AI has the potential to make learning more effective, but given that many students see credential acquisition as transactional, it may reduce both human capital and the value of the signaling effect. If the credibility of the credentials offered is further damaged, the higher education sector in its present form and scale may well be unsustainable. We examine the evidence on credential inflation, returns to education, and mismatch of graduates to jobs before analyzing how AI is likely to affect these trends. We then suggest possible responses of prospective students, education providers, and employers to the growing adoption of AI in both education and the workplace. We conclude that the current offerings of generalist degrees, as opposed to vocational qualifications, are not sustainable and that to survive, even in a downsized form, the sector must respond to this disruptive technology by changing both the nature of its offerings and its methods of ensuring that the credentials they offer reflect genuine student learning. Full article

The availability of synthetic indicators of the degree and type of nonlinearity in systems is used in various fields to assess system quality or to highlight possible malfunctions. Different distortion or damage indexes are synthetic measures designed (and standardized) to evaluate the frequency trend of specific aspects resulting from the nonlinear behavior of the system under consideration. The different measures of deviation from linear behavior quantitatively consider the system and its nonlinearity characteristics; they were defined according to practically feasible measurement methodologies and the various aspects of the system’s nonlinearity that needed to be highlighted. In parallel, techniques for representing and modeling nonlinear systems have been defined, capable of describing the system in a more general way, attempting to capture its input–output characteristics by varying the level of stress to which the system is subjected. Numerous modeling techniques have been proposed, aimed at representing the nonlinear behavior of physical devices. In this paper, after an extensive description of the Hammerstein model identification technique based on swept sinusoidal signals, we show how the nonlinear model of the system can be used to obtain accurate estimates of the parameter aimed at describing the nonlinearity characteristics of the system. This extensive description makes it possible to point out that the same Hammerstein model can be obtained not only from a single type of excitation, but it is shown that the identification technique can be extended to input signals of different types. The description of the method also makes clear the motivation behind the introduction of the proposed original technique for estimating, from a single measurement, the model parameters of the nonlinear system—and from these the synthetic estimators—relative to multiple values of the input signal amplitude, thus enabling a considerable increase in the estimation efficiency of these parameters. The proposed technique is verified with both synthetic and laboratory experiments, demonstrating the effectiveness of the method in evaluating nonlinear system parameters, distortion estimates, and parameters defined for an early detection of defects of the structure. Full article

Nowadays, agriculture businesses have been significantly impacted by rapid global changes, compelling the agro-industry to adopt sustainable development practices to remain resilient. Moreover, the application of stakeholder theory has become essential in business management to achieve inclusive growth and fulfill sustainable business. Understanding the interlink between stakeholder pressure and the motivation to transform an enterprise’s practices into sustainable development is imperative. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the direct pressure of stakeholder groups on sustainable practices in agriculture enterprises in Thailand through a questionnaire survey. This paper focused on the influence of primary and secondary stakeholders and evaluated the weighting of sustainability practices. The survey was conducted on employees who work in enterprises that apply Thailand’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP). The research adopted the regression and information entropy methods for result analysis. The results showed that employees, shareholders, and competitors are significant stakeholder groups that drive sustainable capital covering economics, nature, society, and human capital. Last, stakeholder management is an outstanding practice in a SEP thinking enterprise. Concurrently, human capital is the highest priority to fulfill this alternative pathway to be successful in enterprise sustainability. Full article

Plant-based beverages (PBB) consumption has increased significantly worldwide due to an interest in vegetarian/vegan diets, taste preferences, health and ethical and environmental issues. Therefore, this study intends to investigate consumption habits, consumer preferences and consumers’ level of knowledge about PBB. In this study, a voluntary, anonymous questionnaire survey was applied to a sample of participants from Portugal. The sample was recruited by convenience, and therefore, the distribution among the groups was not even. Data analysis involved different statistical techniques: basic statistics, chi-square tests, factor analysis, cluster analysis and tree classification analysis. The results indicated that the most consumed PBB were almond, soy and oat beverages. The majority of consumers chose these beverages for nutritional and health reasons, while a smaller number consumed them as part of a vegetarian or vegan diet. The main motivations for consuming PBB are mainly associated with sustainability and health benefits. The results regarding the respondents’ knowledge about PBB revealed that a health-related profession was the most significant predictor. These results allowed us to conclude that the factors of nutrition, health, ethics and practice of a vegetarian/vegan diet influence the consumption of PBB. It was also concluded that being in a healthcare profession, along with age and professional status within this field, were significant factors influencing the level of knowledge about PBB. Full article

One of the earliest reports on synchronization of inert systems dates back to the time of the Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens, who discovered that a pair of pendulum clocks coupled through a wooden bar oscillate in harmony. A remarkable feature in Huygens’ experiment is that different synchronous behaviors may be observed by just changing a parameter in the coupling. Motivated by this, in this paper, we propose a novel synchronization scheme for chaotic oscillators, in which the design of the coupling is inspired in Huygens’ experiment. It is demonstrated that the coupled oscillators may exhibit not only complete synchronization, but also mixed synchronization—some states synchronize in anti-phase whereas other states synchronize in-phase—depending on a single parameter of the coupling. Additionally, the stability of the synchronous solution is investigated by using the master stability function approach and the largest transverse Lyapunov exponent. The Lorenz system is considered as particular application example, and the performance of the proposed synchronization scheme is illustrated with computer simulations and validated by means of experiments using electronic circuits. Full article

Automatics and Robotics students usually engage in some interdisciplinary approaches on their courses at universities, joining the areas of computer science and control theory. During the limited duration of these courses, some knowledge must be acquired by the students. Remote education, temporarily enforced by the COVID-19 pandemic in recent years, has posed new challenges related to the limited contact that students have with academic staff, as well as the limited access students have to hardware facilities. This paper discusses the motivations of students after the COVID-19 pandemic based on a case study of student projects completed at the University of Zielona Gora (Poland). The conducted study was student-centered and highlighted some important aspects of motivation from the point of view of the students, focusing mostly on the emerging challenges, how they have been overcome, and what the students have learned from them. The results indicate that the students, minimally supported by an academic teacher, were able to plan everything by themselves and bring the project to completion according to their own intuition. In comparison to before the COVID-19 pandemic, students are now more independent and self-motivated. Full article

Recently, political philosophers have debated the role of religious reasons in public deliberations, such as appealing to religious convictions and religious classics. Exclusivists, such as Rawls, Quong, Hartley, and Watson, argue that democratic governments and citizens should restrict or exclude the use of religious reasons in making laws and policies, while inclusivists, such as Gaus, Vallier, and Billingham, oppose such categorical exclusion. Nevertheless, the debate mainly focuses on the role of religious reasons in public deliberation. In this paper, I will argue that religious behaviors—defined as highly altruistic actions motivated by religious beliefs, such as dedicating substantial time and effort to serving the poor and advancing the common good—can exert positive influences on public deliberation. Through this kind of altruistic action, religious believers can subtly influence non-religious citizens. While religious believers may not rationally persuade non-religious citizens through religious reasoning, the altruistic actions exhibited by religious believers could emotionally inspire admiration and motivate non-religious citizens to learn more about those religions. This enhances mutual understanding among different religious and secular sects and thus improves public deliberation. Furthermore, I argue that the improved understanding fostered by religious behaviors can facilitate exclusivism and inclusivism to overcome certain philosophical challenges, such as the problems of incompleteness and anarchy, which are among the most frequent criticisms directed at exclusivism and inclusivism. Hence, this paper highlights an aspect overlooked in the exclusivism–inclusivism debate: no matter whether the democratic government and citizens should permit or restrict religious reasons, religious behavior is still beneficial in public deliberation. Full article

This study aims to investigate the factors contributing to and affecting consumer behavior toward renewable energy by following the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior. For this reason, a quantitative research method was employed and primary data were collected via a questionnaire, resulting in a random sample of 450 respondents. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that concern for environmental commitment positively affects attitudes toward solar energy (β = 0.272, p < 0.001), positive subjective norms toward environmental commitment positively influence attitudes (β = 0.092, p < 0.001), perceptions of solar energy values significantly shape attitudes (β = 0.533, p < 0.001), social influence also plays a role in shaping attitudes (β = 0.047, p < 0.001), and that regulations (behavioral control) have a negative impact on attitudes (β = −0.204, p < 0.001). A positive attitude toward solar energy strongly predicts purchase intention (β = 0.944, p < 0.001). The overall model highlights the direct influence of attitude on buying intention and underscores the roles of environmental concern and functional utility in shaping consumer attitudes. This study contributes to the existing literature on renewable energy adoption by providing empirical evidence on the factors influencing consumers’ attitudes toward solar energy systems. By identifying key predictors, the study offers valuable insights into how these elements shape consumer attitudes and subsequent purchase intentions. Additionally, the study enhances the understanding of the role of positive attitudes in driving investment in solar energy, thereby contributing to both theoretical frameworks and practical applications in energy policy and marketing strategies. Full article

This study investigates the impact of theory of mind, anticipated emotions before actual behavior, and consequential emotions following the behavior on sharing and allocation behavior in 4–6-year-old children. In Experiment 1, 95 children were randomly assigned to three conditions (external emotion expectancy condition, internal emotion expectancy condition, and control condition) to explore the role of cognition and emotions in children’s sharing and allocation behaviors. Experiment 2 employed a dictator game to further validate the influence of theory of mind and consequential emotions on behavior. The findings indicated that both anticipated and consequential emotions influence sharing behavior, but neither serves as a key predictor of allocation behavior. Theory of mind influences children’s sharing behavior and is related to the fairness of allocation. Children with higher levels of theory of mind tend to rate consequential emotions more positively, while those with lower ratings of consequential emotions are more likely to reconsider sharing after reflection. Notably, theory of mind and emotional factors demonstrate distinct motivational effects on children’s prosocial sharing and resource allocation, with negative emotions exhibiting a more pronounced impact on decision-making processes. Full article

Injectable, in situ-forming hydrogels, both biocompatible and biodegradable, have garnered significant attention in tissue engineering due to their potential for creating adaptable scaffolds. The adaptability of these hydrogels, made from natural proteins and polysaccharides, opens up a world of possibilities. In this study, sodium alginate was used to synthesize alginate di-aldehyde (ADA) through periodate oxidation, resulting in a lower molecular weight and reduced viscosity, with different degrees of oxidation (54% and 70%). The dual-crosslinking mechanism produced an injectable in situ hydrogel. Initially, physical crosslinking occurred between ADA and borax via borax complexation, followed by chemical crosslinking with gelatin through a Schiff’s base reaction, which takes place between the amino groups of gelatin and the aldehyde groups of ADA, without requiring an external crosslinking agent. The formation of Schiff’s base was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. At the same time, the aldehyde groups in ADA were characterized using FT-IR, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC), which determined its molecular weight. Furthermore, borax complexation was validated through boron-11 nuclear magnetic resonance (¹¹B NMR). The hydrogel formulation containing 70% ADA, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and 9% gelatin exhibited a decreased gelation time at physiological temperature, attributed to the increased gelatin content and higher degree of oxidation. Rheological analysis mirrored these findings, showing a correlation with gelation time. The swelling capacity was also enhanced due to the increased oxidation degree of PEG and the system’s elevated gelatin content and hydrophilicity. The hydrogel demonstrated an average pore size of 40–60 µm and a compressive strength of 376.80 kPa. The lower molecular weight and varied pH conditions influenced its degradation behavior. Notably, the hydrogel’s syringeability was deemed sufficient for practical applications, further enhancing its potential in tissue engineering. Given these properties, the 70% ADA/gelatin/PEG hydrogel is a promising candidate and a potential game-changer for injectable, self-crosslinking applications in tissue engineering. Its potential to revolutionize the field is inspiring and should motivate further exploration. Full article

In surgically treated individuals with surgical stomas, the return to physical activity is an indicator of quality of life that reflects their well-being. With the aim of synthesizing the available evidence regarding the return to physical activity in individuals with surgical stomas, a scoping review was developed following the methodological approach of the Joanna Briggs Institute and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews criteria. Searches were conducted in Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, Cinahl, and Lilacs, as well as the meta-search engines TripDatabase and Epistemonikos, using MeSH terms. Included studies were written in Spanish, English, Portuguese, and German, without any limitation on the year of publication. A total of n = 15 studies was included (n = 2 qualitative; n = 2 case reports; n = 1 case series; n = 1 cohort; n = 8 cross-sectional; and n = 1 randomized clinical trial), which showed variability in the quality of the designs. The qualitative studies explored themes such as motivation, beliefs about physical activity, and other lifestyle factors. The case reports described physiological, psychological, and functional implications of returning to physical activity for specific individuals after ostomy surgery. Quantitative studies evaluated the effects of different types of physical activity on quality of life and tolerance to physical activity in these individuals, employing various measurement instruments. In conclusion, the evidence on returning to sports and physical activity after stoma surgery is limited and varied. While studies highlight the importance of social support and self-confidence, they generally lack rigor and primarily focus on adults and oncology patients. There is a need for more research to establish clear guidelines on physical activity type, frequency, and intensity to ensure safe and beneficial outcomes for individuals with stomas. Full article

To improve the integrity of vegetation point clouds, the missing vegetation point can be compensated through vegetation point clouds completion technology. Further, it can enhance the accuracy of these point clouds’ applications, particularly in terms of quantitative calculations, such as for the urban living vegetation volume (LVV). However, owing to factors like the mutual occlusion between ground objects, sensor perspective, and penetration ability limitations resulting in missing single tree point clouds’ structures, the existing completion techniques cannot be directly applied to the single tree point clouds’ completion. This study combines the cutting-edge deep learning techniques, for example, the self-supervised and multiscale Encoder (Decoder), to propose a tree completion net (TC-Net) model that is suitable for the single tree structure completion. Being motivated by the attenuation of electromagnetic waves through a uniform medium, this study proposes an uneven density loss pattern. This study uses the local similarity visualization method, which is different from ordinary Chamfer distance (CD) values and can better assist in visually assessing the effects of point cloud completion. Experimental results indicate that the TC-Net model, based on the uneven density loss pattern, effectively identifies and compensates for the missing structures of single tree point clouds in real scenarios, thus reducing the average CD value by above 2.0, with the best result dropping from 23.89 to 13.08. Meanwhile, experiments on a large-scale tree dataset show that TC-Net has the lowest average CD value of 13.28. In the urban LVV estimates, the completed point clouds have reduced the average MAE, RMSE, and MAPE from 9.57, 7.78, and 14.11% to 1.86, 2.84, and 5.23%, respectively, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of TC-Net. Full article

A company’s “value” is increasingly influenced by three criteria: the way it acts to protect the environment, its attitude towards society and the principles of corporate governance it has adopted. That is the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) acronym, and it has substantial impact on company value. To further understand the ESG landscape in business research, this article aims to analyze the existing literature and present the current state of knowledge, main trends, and future perspectives. Through the Scopus database, the authors examine a sample of 1034 articles spanning from 2006 to 2022. VOSviewer and Biblioshiny packages are used for performance analysis and visualization of the publication trends, the conceptual structure of the field and the research collaborations. The results suggest that the publication and citation trends of ESG register an upward trend over time. In terms of research institutions, most of the influential ones emanate from the US, while a significant percentage of articles were published in top-tier financial journals. Science mapping via co-authorship analysis bifurcates the sample into six clusters and reveals the major themes and their evolution. Keyword analysis unfolds emerging trends that could be further explored. Given the breadth of the sustainability field and the ever-changing business environment, this paper is of great practical importance in motivating companies to engage in ESG activities. To the authors’ knowledge, no other study has attempted a comprehensive and detailed BA covering multiple aspects and dimensions of ESG in the corporate research field. The theoretical framework of this paper fills this gap and offers an in-depth synthesis of all published papers, providing invaluable insights to scholars, the business community and regulatory authorities, and creating alternative research paths for aspiring researchers. Full article

The present study focuses on the fabrication and characterization of cerium oxide (CeO₂)-doped yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) composite particles, aiming to enhance the durability of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) in high-temperature applications such as gas turbines and aircraft engines. The incorporation of CeO₂ into the YSZ matrix was motivated by the need to address the limitations of YSZ coatings, particularly their phase transformation and thermal degradation at temperatures exceeding 1300 °C. The synthesis of a composite with a core–shell structure, where CeO₂ is doped into YSZ particles, was pursued to improve the thermal stability and reduce the thermal conductivity of the material. The fabrication process involved surface treatment of YSZ particles with HCl and NH₄OH to enhance their dispersion characteristics, followed by the adsorption of CeO₂ nanoparticles precipitated from Ce precursors. The study revealed a reduction in the average particle size and improved the dispersion stability of the surface-treated YSZ. Notably, base-treated YSZ exhibited increased CeO₂ adsorption due to the strong interaction between Ce ions and surface hydroxyl groups. The successful formation of the YSZ@CeO₂ core–shell structure was confirmed through XRD, HR-TEM, and SAED analyses. The study suggest that base-treated YSZ@CeO₂ composites have the potential to extend the operating life and improve the performance of TBCs under extreme temperature conditions, which may contribute to the development of more resilient thermal barrier systems. Full article