VGTU Journals (Vilnius Gediminas Technical University - Vilnius Tech)
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The effect of nature-based landscape design on human health and well-being: a thematic synthesis
No full textPopulation growth, high-density living situations, and rapid urbanization lead to environmental change that affects ecosystems, human behavior, and well-being. To design health-promoting urban landscapes, it is necessary to conduct more detailed studies of landscape features. However, there is a lack of review articles discussing specific approaches and factors of landscape design for human well-being in evidence-based landscape research. Therefore, this review aims to explore the research trends and future studies’ direction by adopting a thematic analysis approach. Using ATLAS.ti 23 software, we analyzed 40 literature articles on landscape design and human well-being published between 2018 and 2022. The article attribute findings show the research trends on the topic. Six main themes emerged from the subsequent qualitative analysis: (1) Human-nature Interactions, (2) Health-promoting Design, (3) Integrative Strategies, (4) Landscape Intervention, (5) Perceptions and Restorativeness, and (6) Sustainability. The resulting framework serves to guide landscape designers, urban planners, and researchers to improve the effectiveness of public social, physical, and mental health with feasible measures and design approaches
Utilization of recycled carbide as adsorbent for adsorption of dyes and COD from textile waste
No full textThis study assessed the potential of carbide waste (CW), a by-product of the welding industry, as a cost-effective adsorbent for removing dyes and COD from textile wastewater. CW was prepared through drying, filtering, and shaping into 2 mm-thick tablets (3 mm diameter), followed by heating at 150 °C for 120 minutes. Characterization using FTIR and SEM-EDX confirmed functional groups like hydroxyl and carbonyl and significant surface morphological changes. Batch experiments achieved maximum color and COD removal efficiencies of 94.48% and 96.73%, respectively, at 75 g adsorbent dosage and 150 min contact time. Freundlich isotherm (R² = 0.9918 for color) indicated heterogeneous adsorption, and kinetic studies fit a pseudo-second-order model. The process was exothermic, spontaneous, and governed by physical adsorption. Regeneration trials showed COD removal efficiency remained 90% after four cycles. These findings establish CW as an efficient, sustainable adsorbent with promising environmental and industrial applications for textile wastewater treatment
Exploring distance learning in higher education: satisfaction and insights from Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Romania, Turkey
No full textEducation, notably higher education, faced a significant challenge during the last period. Our data exploratory study aims to provide insights into the key factors that define students’ Distance Learning (DL) in the current period. Based on the main findings, we justify our bold proposition for the current era of distance and blended learning in Higher Education. Our research study aims to understand cultural and national differences in four countries: Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Romania. It contributes to the theory of DL with a model of six hermeneutic factors for the satisfaction of using the DL method. It investigated and confirmed the capacity of the components to explain 60% of the DL satisfaction variance. Our research study also emphasized the interpretation of the essential findings and the drafting of bold propositions for the DL practice, emphasising academic environments. We identified significant areas of improvement, and we suggested the orchestration of combined efforts. Our research promotes the strategic deployment of DL in the current context as a resilient strategy of institutions for high-impact training and targeting of huge audiences, with emphasis on the deployment of new tools and teaching methods customized for a new, unique value proposition of the DL
The influence of AI on price forecasting. The view of the academic community
No full textIn the context of the impressive development of Big Data, AI algorithms have proven their efficiency in processing and analyzing large volumes of data. Price prediction was no exception. In the modern economic fields, the need for advanced prediction models, with increased efficiency, has become more and more important. Thus, the interest in the potential of AI solutions in terms of price prediction for all industries has also grown progressively. The present study aims to capture, by using several Natural Language Processing techniques, the feeling that the academic community has in relation to the subject of price prediction and the way in which opinions have evolved over the years. For this purpose, the abstracts of the works indexed in the Clarivate WoS that addressed this topic are included in the current analysis. The scores obtained after the analysis reveal a slightly positive attitude towards the subject, but nevertheless quite reserved. The main topics existing in these articles are also extracted by means of Latent Dirichlet Allocation. Our analysis makes contributions to the formulation of the position that specialists in the scientific community have in relation to price prediction and AI evolution. Further, it provides new research directions for future studies
Determinants of AI adoption intention in SMEs. Romanian case study
No full textThe paper investigates the drivers and barriers that encourage or hinder the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies within Romanian SMEs. By using the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework, we examined the role of several factors from each TOE dimension in predicting the AI adoption behaviour. The factors were constructed through factor analysis followed by the estimation of a linear regression model. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was then used in order to further explore the relationships and to check the robustness of the linear regression model. Our findings highlight the significant role played by leadership, organizational readiness, as well as the “push-and-pull” effect of competitors and customers in encouraging SMEs to adopt AI technologies. However, in the case of Romania, specific challenges related to a lack of digital skills among employees, a limited understanding of the relative advantage that digitalisation can offer, as well as a lack of marketing efforts from the side of vendors make it difficult for SMEs to consider the implementation of AI technologies. This exploratory study seeks to understand the underlying trends of the phenomenon and serves as a stepping stone for vendors, managers, as well as researchers to better understand the market for AI tools and solutions among Romanian SMEs
The challenge of communicating corporate sustainability on website: the role of dialogic potential
No full textWith the growing social concern for corporate sustainability, organizations are under increasing pressure to communicate their sustainability efforts transparently and effectively. Websites, driven by their participatory nature, have emerged as pivotal platforms for such communication and a key relational tool. This study explores the role of website communication in fostering dialogic potential to facilitate two-way communication on sustainability issues. This research delves into the level of two-way communication of websites, which is determined by a suitable management of sustainability content and the presence of interactive features. Specifically, this study aims to identify boundaries in website design features that influence the effectiveness of sustainability communication. To this end, a novel measurement instrument, the Two-Step Index, has been designed to provide a comprehensive and in-depth assessment of the dialogic potential of websites. Few studies have explored the dialogic potential of websites for sustainability communication highlighting the need to uncover limitations and gaps in current practices. The findings reveal a low level of dialogic potential in corporate sustainability communication on the sampled websites, with a stronger emphasis on content management than on interactivity. Based on these results, practical insights are provided, along with specific actions to facilitate the implementation of dialogic strategies on websites
The impact of energy consumption on economic growth: application of CES function for Romania
No full textThis paper analyses the contribution of the renewable and non-renewable primary energy consumption per capita and the gross fixed capital formation per capita to sustainable economic growth using two models approximated by CES-type functions. Estimates are made by applying the TRANSLOG method. The results obtained following the analysis of data over a period of 33 years (1990–2022), show that only the increase in gross fixed capital formation per capita contributes to the economic growth. The increase of the consumption of renewable primary energy per capita, respectively of non-renewable primary energy leads to decreases of real GDP per capita. The Granger causality test, reflects that only non-renewable primary energy consumption per capita has a unidirectional causality relation with real GDP per capita. Also, the technical efficiency of inputs in relation to GDP, analysed through an SFA model, suggests that, in general, the resources are used efficiently in the case of Romania. The current inability of renewable primary energy consumption to generate increases in real GDP per capita can be an aspect for policymakers to consider in their efforts to adapt successful low-carbon energy transition models to national needs, so that renewable energy becomes a determinant with a positive and substantial influence on economic growth
Do emotional strategies work? Evidence from rumor clarification announcement
No full textFinancial markets are filled with rumors because of information asymmetry. Although issuing clarification announcements is the most straightforward approach for organizations, previous research has mostly focused on analyzing the influence of rumors and the heterogeneity of their clarification statements on the efficacy of rumor management. This study investigates how mood elements influence the effectiveness of 335 rumor clarification statements in China\u27s A-share market from 2019 to 2023. By employing textual sentiment analysis, event study method, and fixed-effects regression models, the primary results indicate that rumors vary in their characteristics and have diverse effects on stock price volatility. Furthermore, we find that clarification announcements effectively restore stock values, though their influence on negative rumors is somewhat restricted. Announcements with a positive mood greatly improve the effectiveness of clarification, particularly when addressing favorable rumors. The level of transparency and the characteristics of the firm\u27s information influence the impact of sentiment. Furthermore, the positive impact of sentiment is more noticeable in firms that are extremely transparent or not owned by the state
Exploring BIM technology development using patent citation analysis: USA case study
No full textBroadening the perspective on technology and stakeholders within the construction sector, this study aims to uncover the trajectories of BIM’s technological progression, alongside the interconnected industries and knowledge networks. Information in Derwent Innovation’s patent database originates from the United States Patent Database (USPTO). Initially, 1,062 patents related to BIM were gathered to form a patent citation network. The subsequent stage of expanding patent citations involved accumulating a total of 9,755 patents. The main path is composed of three streams: Stream I is used for the construction and application of 3D models, Stream II is used for the presentation of 3D images, and Stream III is used for the automatic analysis of architectural information. This study also uses edge-betweenness clustering for cluster analysis and conducts a more in-depth main path study of the specific patent clusters on the main path. These findings are: (1) Energy consumption management control, (2) 3D building modeling for design and construction, (3) Asset tracking, monitoring, and security monitoring. The development of BIM should be directed towards the integration and application of transformative information and communication technologies. Integration with innovative technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence, and 5G is an important trend.
First published online 20 December 202
Systematic review and mapping of governments’ sustainable initiatives and entrepreneurial expectations
No full textThis systematic literature review aimed to map existing governmental practices aimed at achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and comparing them with entrepreneurial expectations. The primary objective was to identify gaps in existing policies concerning sustainability initiatives. The review employed a systematic search strategy in one of the primary scientific publication databases over the last three years, focusing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Inclusion criteria involved studies addressing “sustainability” and “state interventions”, and synonyms. The assessment methodology incorporated PICO criteria and content analysis, with rigorous double-check controls. A total of 367 studies on sustainability interventions were included, with in-depth analysis of 185 articles. The review highlighted that those governmental measures primarily concentrated on pivotal factors crucial to entrepreneurs, such as robust policies, investments, and effective communication strategies. The synthesis of findings from this systematic review emphasizes the importance of bridging gaps between governmental sustainability initiatives and entrepreneurial expectations. It illuminates key areas where policy alignment could be optimized, offering insights into additional factors pivotal for a more comprehensive and effective approach towards achieving SDGs. Using the PICO methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of applied interventions, authors concluded that while this methodology can improve research question formulation and evidence identification in social science, our review found that studies often lack a clear statement of the problem, rarely report intervention failures, and seldom present alternative approaches