The increasing demand for electricity and the need to reduce carbon emissions have made optimizing energy usage and promoting sustainability critical in the modern economy. This research paper explores the design and implementation of an Intelligent-Electricity Consumption and Billing Information System (IEBCIS), focusing on its role in addressing electricity sustainability challenges. Using the Design Science Research (DSR) methodology, the system’s architecture collects, analyses, and visualizes electricity usage data, providing users with valuable insights into their consumption patterns. The research involved developing and validating the IEBCIS prototype, with results demonstrating enhanced real-time monitoring, load shedding schedules, and billing information. These results were validated through user testing and feedback, contributing to the scientific knowledge of intelligent energy management systems. The contributions of this research include the development of a framework for intelligent energy management and the integration of data-driven insights to optimize electricity consumption, reduce costs, and promote sustainable energy use. This research was conducted over a time scope of two years (24 months) and entails design, development, pilot test implementation and validation phases.

The objective of this work was to analyze the effect of the use of ChatGPT in the teaching-learning process of scientific research in engineering. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a topic of great interest in higher education, as it combines hardware, software and programming languages to implement deep learning procedures. We focused on a specific course on scientific research in engineering, in which we measured the competencies, expressed in terms of the indicators, mastery, comprehension and synthesis capacity, in students who decided to use or not ChatGPT for the development and fulfillment of their activities. The data were processed through the statistical T-Student test and box-and-whisker plots were constructed. The results show that students’ reliance on ChatGPT limits their engagement in acquiring knowledge related to scientific research. This research presents evidence indicating that engineering science research students rely on ChatGPT to replace their academic work and consequently, they do not act dynamically in the teaching-learning process, assuming a static role.

This study was designed to study the push and pull motivational factors affecting the foreign backpackers travel behavior towards Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan District, Surat Thani Province. In the sample 300 foreign backpackers aged 18 or older were included, who came to attend the Full Moon Party solely for vacation purposes and not for any work or income generating activities. The study was executed using a structured questionnaire. The statistical tools for the analysis of the data included, but were not limited to, frequency counts, computed percentages, means, standard deviations, chi-square analysis, one- way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation at the 0.05 level of significance. The research demonstrated that with respect to the first-time foreign visitors in Thailand to attend the Full Moon Party, then, they have habitually stayed at the resorts and the bungalows. It was a general observation that such visitors preferred to seek out information on the Internet, social websites as well as tourism websites. Their activities included horse riding, general activities, seeing natural sights including waterfalls and mountains, going for mountain hikes, participating in physically hard and risky outdoors activities, and nighttime activities. Tourists are sufficiently motivated to visit Thailand for its various appealing attributes, as revealed by the analysis. Furthermore, 10 motivational components were identified with 24 variables; Push Motivation Components: (1) Escape and Novelty Seeking, (2) Feel Free, (3) Open the World, and (4) Social Need. Pull Motivation Components: (1) Party, (2) Unique, (3) Only for Myself, (4) Sea Lover, (5) Diversity, and (6) Loner. Demographic characteristics for example gender, age, marital status, education level, occupation, and place of residence were also studied. The push factors, as well as the pull factors of travel, were found to co-relate with the behavior of female foreign backpackers on the other hand where both were significant.

The process of internationalization and innovation (IPI) in the urban road passenger transport (URPT) sector is driven by the need to provide cities with efficient and sustainable mobility solutions. The objective of this study is to understand the perceptions of URPT employees in relation to PII, based on a comprehensive case study. By exploring how these two concepts interrelate and influence each other, the study seeks to provide valuable information that can help improve strategic planning and policy formulation in the urban transport sector. The research, based on semi-structured interviews with 20 employees, reveals significant gaps in internal communication, with only about half of the participants aware of ongoing national and international projects. Information was often limited to those directly involved, indicating a need for improved dissemination strategies. Despite these communication issues, employees positively view the company’s presence at international events and recognize the importance of involvement in European organizations, particularly for knowledge acquisition and networking. Challenges identified include inadequate internal communication and insufficient investment in international projects. However, there was strong agreement on the value of internationalization and innovation process (IIP) for both professional development and organizational growth. To enhance the company’s international presence and return on investment (ROI), the study recommends better coordination, improved information sharing, and strategic planning. These findings emphasize the critical role of effective communication and active participation in international initiatives for the sustainable growth of the organization.

Within the last four years, Lithuania has faced different foreign policy challenges due to geopolitical situations such as the Ukraine-Russia war, the migration crisis on the border with Belarus, and the conflict with China. After opening a Taiwanese representative office in Vilnius, China downgraded diplomatic relations with Lithuania. The purpose of the article is to assess the impact of the changes on international economic relations between Lithuania and China. The paper employs descriptive statistics, correlation-regression, sensitivity analysis, and agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis. The research is based on the impact of international economic relations on international trade by analyzing separately imports and exports. Our research fills a gap in international relations and globalization theory by focusing on international collaboration between small and large countries, while the large country implements economic sanctions. In the context of Lithuania, exports to China and imports from China comprise a small percentage in the structure of international trade. Lithuania’s GDP level reacts sensitively to changes in export and import data only if they change drastically (over 50%).

The issue of urban land management in the world in general and in Africa in particular has been exacerbated by the liberalization of land practices and the commodification of land, which has led to an increase in corrupt practices within land institutions in all cities. A mixed methodology was employed, combining a comparative case study of secondary towns with a quantitative survey of 559 landowners in the towns of Bohicon and Sokodé. In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 informants, who were surveyed on the land acquisition process, the individual determinants influencing corrupt practices, and the institutions most involved in these practices. The findings revealed that the acquisition of a formal title conferring property rights in both cities necessitates the completion of several steps. Corrupt practices are present at almost every stage of the transaction. The application of logistic regression models to the independent variables indicates that age and profession are highly significant in the sociodemographic characteristics of those most susceptible to engaging in these practices. Formal land administration institutions are the most involved in these types of everyday corruption. These practices are ultimately linked to people’s life paths and cannot therefore be combated without psychosociological education and the promotion of ethical behavior among all stakeholders, particularly among those who demand services.