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Nov 11, 2021

Estimation of soil erosion in loess plateau based on geographic information system

One of the core problems in soil erosion research is the estimation of soil erosion. It is a feasible method and technical approach to estimate soil erosion in Loess Plateau region by using USLE model, GIS and RS technology and using DEM data, meteorological data and land-use type data. With the support of GIS and RS technology, the USLE factors and soil erosion in Loess Plateau region were estimated, and the soil erosion intensity was classified according to the Chinese soil erosion intensity classification standard. The results can provide reference for the development of soil erosion control measures in the Loess Plateau.

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Jan 12, 2024

Is there a need for employee protection processes in U.S. organizations today? A comparative study to assess the progress of procedural and distributive justice systems today versus unionization

This research study was undertaken to complete a comparative study of the seminal work conducted by Anderson and Ruderman on procedural and distributive justice systems versus unionization. This research was conducted in 2023. The main focus of this research effort was to determine if current U.S. organizations were utilizing any form of justice system in protecting employees’ rights and providing processes that would prevent employees from having a desire to join a union for its protections. Parts of the original survey used by Anderson and Ruderman were used in this study to address the research questions and hypotheses posed for this study. A statistical analysis of the data was conducted, and the results indicated employees have a need for protection in their employment relationship. It is suggested that procedural and distributive justice systems be implemented as an alternative to unionization of employees to meet these employee protections.

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Nov 19, 2024

Synthetic composite membranes and their manifold applications: A comprehensive review

Synthetic membranes play a crucial role in a wide range of separation processes, including dialysis, electrodialysis, ultrafiltration, and pervaporation, with growing interest in synthetic emulsion membranes due to their precision, versatility, and ion exchange capabilities. These membranes enable tailored solutions for specific applications, such as water and gas separation, wastewater treatment, and chemical purification, by leveraging their multi-layered structures and customizable properties. Emulsion membrane technology, particularly in pressure-driven methods like reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF), has shown great potential in overcoming traditional challenges, such as fouling and energy inefficiency, by improving filtration efficiency and selectivity. This review explores the latest advancements in emulsion membrane development, their adaptability to various industrial needs, and their contribution to addressing long-standing limitations in membrane separation technologies. The findings underscore the promise of emulsion membranes in advancing industrial processes and highlight their potential for broader applications in water treatment, environmental management, and other key sectors.

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Sept 2, 2024

Evaluating how and why the Government of Rwanda failed to achieve middle-income status (MICS) in 2020: Lessons for other African countries

In the 1960s, many East Asian Tiger countries, such as Taiwan, Malaysia, China, etc., faced unfavourable socio-economic conditions like those facing many African countries such as Rwanda. For example, in the 1960s, Singapore was classified as an undeveloped country, with its GDP per capita standing at less than $320. However, all these countries managed to reach a development level like that of Western and North American countries (such as the U.S. and Canada), within a space of less than 15 years. Today, Singapore’s GDP per capita has risen to an incredible $84,501, making it the sixth highest GDP per capita in the world. With Vision 2020, President Kagame promised that Rwanda, which he referred to as “the African lion”, would cruise faster to the middle-income country status faster than Singapore and other middle income status countries, most of which are in East-Asia in less than 20 years. Thirteen years after the introduction of Rwanda’s Vision 2020, President Kagame dashed off the Wall Street Journal and other western media which often referred to Rwanda’s economic development as “the economic tiger of Africa” in his 2013 famous statement as follows: “There is a view that development is a marathon, not a sprint. We do not agree. Development is a marathon that must be run at a sprint. In our pursuit of progress, we have, of course, looked to East Asia’s so-called “tiger” economies for inspiration. But Africa’s experience is unique, and we must now define our own destiny. So, while being described as an “African tiger” is a welcome recognition of how far Rwanda has come, perhaps it isn’t quite right. After all, our continent has its own big cat. Step forward, the new lions of Africa.”. To achieve this objective between 2000 and 2020, Rwanda’s GDP per capita needed to increase from 254.94 USD (2000) to $1240 (in 2020), and the GDP growth rate was to grow consistently between 7% and 10% for a period of 20 years (2000–2020). The objective of this article is to critically analyse how the Government of Rwanda failed to achieve its promise of achieving a middle-income status (MICS) between 2000 and 2020. In 2000 the Rwandan president Paul Kagame launched Rwanda’s Vision 2020. This was a long-term framework for Rwanda’s development in 20 (i.e., 2000–2020). The idea behind Rwanda’s leadership was to imitate whatever Singapore did to become a developed country in just 15 years after its independence in 1965. Blatantly stated, President Paul Kagame wanted to turn his country into the Singapore of Africa. The IMF states that “Vision 2020 was the longer-term socio-economic development framework that sought to transform Rwanda into a middle-income country by 2020”. There is no doubt that Rwanda has made some developmental strides through the implementation of Vision 2020 as an instrument for operationalisation for the Singaporean-modelled developmental state over the past 20 years and has succeeded in some areas. However, the Government of Rwanda has failed in many areas and has failed to achieve the prestigious MICS in 2020. Therefore, among the many gaps in the current literature that this research seeks close is to find out what were some of the accomplishments that Rwanda’s Vision 2020 was unable to achieve? Why did the Government of Rwanda fail to achieve middle-income status within 20 years? What insights can other developing countries gain from Rwanda’s Vision 2020 experience? This study is a significant contribution to the current theoretical knowledge as it sheds light on the reasons behind the Government of Rwanda’s failure to achieve middle-income country status in 2020, a topic that has been largely ignored by the Government’s documents and the media. Despite Rwanda’s Vision 2020, there has been no scientific study to date that has attempted to deal with this topic. Therefore, this study, titled “Why the Government of Rwanda failed to achieve middle-income status (MICS) in 2020” is likely the first of its kind. By addressing

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Apr 3, 2024

Measuring the resilience of rural tourism in Indonesia using the Adjusted Mazziotta-Pareto index

Rural tourism plays a crucial role in rural development in Indonesia by providing employment opportunities, livelihood, infrastructure, cultural preservation, and environmental preservation. However, it is prone to external shocks such as natural disasters, public health events, and volatility in the national and global economy. This study measures the resilience of rural tourism to external shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 24 rural tourism destinations in Indonesia covering four years from 2019 to 2022. A synthetic composite index of the Adjusted Mazziotta-Pareto index (AMPI) is used to measure rural tourism resilience followed by clustering analysis to determine the typology of the resilience. The AMPI measure is also compared with the conventional Mazziotta-Pareto index (MPI) method. The resilience index is composed of capacity and performance components related to resilience. The results show that in the first year of COVID-19, most tourism villages in Indonesia were severely affected by the pandemic, yet they were able to recover afterward, as indicated by positive differences in the AMPI index before and after COVID-19. Thus, rural tourism villages in Indonesia have a strong capacity and performance to recover from pandemic shock. Lessons learned from this analysis can be applied to policies related to rural tourism resilience in developing countries.

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Nov 21, 2024

Transformative technologies: A global Bibliometrci review of artificial intelligence in infrastructure governance and economic outcomes (2000–2024)

This paper investigates the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing infrastructure governance and economic outcomes. Through a bibliometric analysis spanning more than two decades of research from 2000 to 2024, the study examines global trends in AI applications within infrastructure projects. The analysis reveals significant research themes across diverse sectors, including urban development, healthcare, and environmental management, highlighting the broad relevance of AI technologies. In urban development, the integration of AI and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies is advancing smart city initiatives by improving infrastructure systems through enhanced data-driven decision-making. In healthcare, AI is revolutionizing patient care, improving diagnostic accuracy, and optimizing treatment strategies. Environmental management is benefiting from AI’s potential to monitor and conserve natural resources, contributing to sustainability and crisis management efforts. The study also explores the synergy between AI and blockchain technology, emphasizing its role in ensuring data security, transparency, and efficiency in various applications. The findings underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in AI research and implementation, advocating for ethical considerations and strong governance frameworks to harness AI’s full potential responsibly.

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