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A Structural Equation Model for Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Food Industry †
No full textThis paper presents a model designed to measure and investigate the relationships between critical factors, practices, and performance of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) in the food industry. A survey of 423 firms in the Greek food industry was conducted to meet these objectives. The data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, followed by confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling, to explore the relationships between the model’s constructs. The results indicate that “firm-level critical sustainability factors” and “supply chain critical sustainability factors” significantly enhance “supply chain collaboration” and “supply chain strategic orientation”. Additionally, “supply chain strategic orientation” positively influences “social performance” and “environmental performance”, while “supply chain collaboration” positively affects “economic performance” and “environmental performance”. Furthermore, “social performance” is found to have a significant positive impact on “economic performance”. This study provides empirical evidence that helps managers understand the importance of the relationships among SSCM critical factors, SSCM practices, and SSCM performance, and enables them to allocate resources effectively and design SSCM strategies. Finally, the developed constructs offer a measurement tool useful for both practitioners implementing SSCM in their firms and researchers who wish to apply or test the proposed scales in other projects or use them as benchmarks.13233713372
Performance Evaluation of Kubernetes Networking Approaches across Constraint Edge Environments
No full textKubernetes (K8s) serves as a mature orchestration system for the seamless deployment and management of containerized applications spanning across cloud and edge environments. In this context, optimizing Kubernetes networking to achieve high-performance connectivity and minimal resource utilization is crucial for its applicability and effectiveness at the edge. This paper contributes to this effort, by conducting a qualitative and quantitative performance evaluation of diverse Container Network Interface (CNI) plugins within different K8s environments, incorporating lightweight implementations designed for the Edge. Our experimental assessment was conducted in two distinct (intra- and inter-host) scenarios, revealing interesting insights and tradeoffs for both researchers and practitioners. For example, the deployment of plugins across lightweight distributions does not necessarily lead to resource utilization improvements, e.g., in terms of CPU/memory or throughput, while, in contrast, their impact on lifecycle metrics such as pod readiness times, is significant.1
The effect of entrepreneurial culture on innovation in a negative business environment: the case of Greece
No full textThe aim of the paper is to study and propose a model of the effect of entrepreneurial culture on innovation, with the country's relevant institutional framework as a mediator. The model applies to the field of wine industry within the Greek institutional framework.The research population consists of wineries in Greece. A questionnaire was used to collect the data. Due to the fact that the model includes latent variables and indirect effects, the partial least squares (PLS) algorithm and the SMART-PLS software were chosen to analyze the data. The effect of entrepreneurial culture and institutional framework on innovation was examined as well as the role of institutional framework as a mediator.It was found that entrepreneurial culture affects innovation positively and statistically significantly. What is more, it was found that the Greek institutional framework affects innovation negatively and statistically significantly. Finally, institutional framework negatively mediates between entrepreneurial culture and innovation, highlighted as a partial mediator.It is highlighted that it is up to entrepreneurs themselves to succeed. Furthermore, policymakers have to take the necessary measures to improve the external business environment of Greece. Indeed, entrepreneurship can succeed even further if the external environment is favorable.It is interesting that despite the negative effect of institutional framework on innovation, the indirect positive effect of entrepreneurial culture on innovation is still statistically significant. This means that entrepreneurs who have the right mindset can overcome external barriers.19470571
Self-esteem and locus of control of individuals with visual impairments before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A latent class analysis
No full textThis study aims to investigate the effect of lockdowns on self-esteem and the locus of control (LoC) of individuals with visual impairments. This research question is important to be answered, as there is no previous research on the topic, and the findings of this study add significant elements to our knowledge on the subject. It is the first time that a study examines the effect of the pandemic on the self-esteem and LoC of individuals with visual impairments. The sample of the research consisted of 321 individuals with visual impairments; 176 of them participated in the pre-COVID period, 50 in the first wave of COVID period, and 95 in the second wave of COVID period. Two research instruments were used: the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Rotter Internal–External LoC Scale. High self-esteem and a more internal LoC are positively associated with the pre-COVID period and negatively associated with first- and second-wave COVID periods. The participants with high self-esteem and internal LoC are most likely males, people with blindness, people who work, people who have a university degree, and people who frequently move independently. However, the individuals with low self-esteem and a more external LoC are most likely older people or people with higher age at onset of visual impairment. The first- and second-wave COVID periods are negatively associated with self-esteem and LoC of individuals with visual impairments.42376978
A smart KPI system for reinforcing sustainable urban mobility plans under pandemic crises
No full textThe latest worldwide application of social distancing measures highlighted dramatic effects on the daily life, mobility, well-being, mental health, and economic activity of citizens during the pandemic. Unfortunately, societies were unprepared to confront a pandemic and applied movement restriction measures, often harsh and unbalanced, creating confusion, uncertainty, and annoyance to communities. In this paper, we reviewed a wide array of databases to categorise the mobility management measures implemented internationally in response to the social distancing restrictions that had to be taken during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, to comprehensively assess the measures implemented to contain the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of the local community, we conducted focus group interviews with specific population groups that may have been affected to a greater extent. These groups consisted of vulnerable road users, such as mobility-impaired people and people who are facing severe health problems, representatives of the local economy and businesses and representatives of institutional stakeholders and policymakers. Our research showed that in the post-pandemic era, accessibility and not mobility should be at the heart of economic and social welfare. At the same time, the assurance of physical activity, which is strongly associated with the mental health of citizens, and the protection of the local economy are issues of outermost importance. However, local authorities were unprepared to manage these issues and often made fragmented and punitive decisions. By recognising the need for a regional or metropolitan emergency mechanism, this study aims to introduce a new system of indicators specifically adapted to the particularities and challenges encountered during the pandemic, accounts for local communities' unique needs and requirements, and complies with the general principles of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs). In the future, the SUMP methodology should be revised to be able to handle and manage mobility systems under pandemic conditions.1610024
Internet of Things systems and Big data analytics for Smart Agriculture: A bibliometric analysis
No full textBy giving farmers access to real-time data on crop yields, soil moisture, and weather patterns, the Internet of Things (IoT) has grown in importance and transformed the agricultural sector. The goal of this study is to present a bibliometric analysis of the most recent advancements in Scopus-based research on IoT for smart agriculture during the previous several years. The study's findings may offer insightful information to academics, professionals, policymakers, and funding agencies that want a thorough understanding of the goals and trends going forward in this field. The findings of this research can offer great chances for collaboration and make it easier to get current information on smart agriculture.1419Short Paper Proceedings, Volume I of the 11th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies in Agriculture, Food & Environment (HAICTA 2024
A Comparative Analysis between Sentiment Analysis Methods in Stock Prediction of IoT-based companies
No full textPredictions in financial markets have attracted much of scholars' interest. Since the stock market is generally defined as dynamic and volatile due to the affect of the well-known "Internet of Things"(IoT). It is a fact that IoT significantly impacts the financial market and stocks in various ways. Therefore, numerous researchers have attempted to detect patterns regarding the way financial markets react to various external factors. In the last decade, the integration of machine learning and sentiment analysis has appeared to be an effective approach for improving IoT-based stock price predictions in the financial field. This paper intends to propose an approach involving financial news as a source of information for forecasting the stock movement of noteworthy IoT-related companies, employing Big Data Analytics (BDA), Machine Learning, and Sentiment Analysis methods as well. A comparative analysis is conducted between lexicon-based and machine learning-based methods of sentiment analysis about their performance, particularly in the domain of IoT-related stock market prediction.57622024 7th World Symposium on Communication Engineering (WSCE
Accessible Dialog System for Public Service Information Provision: The Case of Transportation Card for the Disabled
No full textPublic service provision is divided into two phases: the information phase and the execution phase. In the information phase, the citizen obtains information related to the public service he is interested in, then proceeds to the execution phase and receives its output (if any). However, the information phase of public services is often informal, and the quality of the information services provided is often deficient, and in some cases, it's completely absent. The absence of such information and the lack of integrated and accessible services are major obstacles to citizens' easy access to important information. This lack of information is considered an even greater problem, especially in cases where public services are intended for disabled people. Such an example is the "Transportation Card for the Disabled"public service, from which the information phase is absent. So, this paper aims to create a process for developing accessible dialog systems for public service information provision. For this purpose, we developed an accessible web-based dialog system for information provision, using as a case study the Greek public service "Transportation Card for the Disabled".8894Proceedings of the 27th Pan-Hellenic Conference on Progress in Computing and Informatic
Programming Errors and Academic Performance in an Introductory Data Structures Course: A Per Gender Analysis
No full textComputer Science studies is among the primary fields usually dominated by male audiences. But can the empirical data explain this preference or are other types of factors responsible for its perpetuation? This study aims to contribute by examining the student performance in a per gender manner from an introductory Data Structures course taught in the second semester of a university’s undergraduate program. The years whose data was used are 2021 and 2022. Visualization and statistical analysis tests are applied on the programming errors and grades per student as an attempt to monitor said performance per gender throughout the semester and determine if any differences arise. Association rule mining is also used in order to uncover the role of the students’ different attributes in shaping their course pass status. The findings suggest that the student’s gender does not considerably affect their performance, while the two genders’ results rarely were statistically different. Moreover, in all the cases where differences emerge, women are the gender with the higher academic performance.911 LNNS5768Towards a Hybrid, Flexible and Socially Engaged Higher Educatio
Challenges Faced by Students with Special Needs in Primary Education during Online Teaching
No full textThis study investigates the psychological, educational, and technological difficulties faced by primary education students with special needs during online teaching. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was used for the qualitative analysis of data obtained through semi-structured interviews with twenty-two (22) teachers in primary education at a European country. The results revealed that their students showed negative emotions and behaviour. Those diagnosed with autism and learning disabilities had difficulty concentrating in class, while those with sensory disabilities had epileptic instances. Students with mild mental retardation in particular found it difficult to use digital tools. Many problems, however, are due to the lack of infrastructure and digital skills, as well as proper preparation of teachers for online teaching. Therefore, students and teachers should be equipped with the necessary digital skills, specialised digital tools and accessible open educational resources (OER) in order to effectively participate in online education.14322