Search Everything

Tip: Search using "First Name + Last Name", e.g.
János Kiss instead of Kiss János.

Publications - 6342

Exercise Addiction: a Thematic Analysis of Self-Reported Cases for Clinical Insight and Prevention

Publication Name: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

Publication Date: 2025-01-01

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Exercise addiction (EA) is a potentially harmful behavioral disorder that remains clinically undefined, with research often relying on symptom-based models that overlook subjective experiences. This study reviewed 63 self-reported EA cases using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis to identify recurring experiential patterns that may go beyond the component model of addictions (CMA). Nine themes emerged: loss of control, diverse exercise engagement, identity fusion, emotional coping, social disconnection, health denial, gender disparity, compulsive quantification, and severe physical consequences. The findings provide ecologically valid insights into the psychological and social dynamics of EA. Some themes partially overlapped with the CMA, but also with obsessive passion and self-determination, highlighting the limitations of current research frameworks and the need for more inductive, person-centered approaches. The results have practical implications for prevention, early detection, and intervention strategies and contribute to the ongoing effort to establish clinical diagnosis criteria for EA.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/s11469-025-01549-4

Evaluation of sustainability reporting of the food industry in Hungary from an EU taxonomy perspective

Publication Name: Quality and Quantity

Publication Date: 2024-10-01

Volume: 58

Issue: 5

Page Range: 4479-4504

Description:

Compliance with green requirements is becoming increasingly important in assessing the performance of companies. The new CSRD legislation requires a wider range of companies to produce sustainability reports and their content is influenced by the EU's taxonomy regulation setting out the framework for sustainable finance. The disclosure of information affects the perception of companies' sustainability performance, which will affect their access to financial resources and development opportunities. The main question is, both in theory and in practice, how companies can comply with the legislation in the future. It is essential for the competitiveness of Hungary's food industry to keep pace with future environmental sustainability requirements, so we examined the sustainability reporting practices of the sector's key companies in terms of their contribution to the environmental objectives set out in the taxonomy regulation. The research fits well with the EU's overall green transition regulatory procedure and our study is gap-filling at macro-regional and sectoral levels. The sustainability reports were assessed by content analysis using a scoring method. The results show that the sustainability reporting practices of food processing companies in Hungary differ significantly. Furthermore, greater emphasis must be placed on reporting and the credibility of the reports to meet future expectations. Foreign-owned companies and companies with more than 500 employees attribute greater importance to reporting. In the food processing sector, the disclosure of information and data under the taxonomy objectives of mitigation of climate change, sustainable use of water and marine resources, and transition to a circular economy was most common.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/s11135-024-01873-2

Operating and Cycling Characteristics of European Thermal Power Plants: Insights from Time-series Data Analytics

Publication Name: Cinti 2025 IEEE 25th International Symposium on Computational Intelligence and Informatics Proceedings

Publication Date: 2025-01-01

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 581-586

Description:

The shift towards a more sustainable energy supply has multiple unprecedented impacts on the European electricity infrastructure. Recently launched energy data hubs and data platforms offer large datasets that can allow for detailed quantitative assessments. The advanced tools of data analytics can make an essential contribution to highlight the multifaceted implications of the energy transition. As a research objective, the paper addresses the altered role and operating conditions of thermal power plants using fossil fuels. The applied methodology relies on a structured data cleaning and technology-specific preprocessing of hourly generation output data of 810 large thermal units located in 19 European countries, covering the period 2016-2024. As thermal power plants are increasingly seen as sources of flexibility, the analysis focused on operational and cycling characteristics. The set of indicators related to utilization and operational flexibility covers capacity factors, load factors, running hours and total startups for hard-coal fired, brown coal/lignite-fired, oil-fired and gasfired units. Unlike studies relying on aggregate country-level statistics, limited to a high-level analysis, the methodology based on unit-level time series provides quantitative empirical evidence on the main implications of the energy transition on the operation of thermal power plants.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1109/CINTI67731.2025.11311725

SOCIAL EXPENDITURE MULTIPLIER: ASSESSMENT OF ECONOMIC EFFECT AND OPTIMAL VALUES

Publication Name: Economics and Sociology

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 17

Issue: 1

Page Range: 182-195

Description:

The main aim of the study is to test the hypothesis that social expenditures are not only a source of social support and budgeting of the social sphere, but can be a significant lever of economic development, provided proper planning of their share and volume. In this regard, the authors have adapted the open-economy multiplier to assess the economic effect of social expenditures. Based on the correlation analysis of the relationship between the share of social expenditures (% of GDP) and the multiplier of social expenditures, conducted on the example of EU countries, two groups of countries are identified depending on the impact of social expenditure multiplier on GDP: the first one embraces those countries that are characterized by a growing economic return from social expenditures; the second one is where the return is declining. To determine the optimal levels of social expenditures, which can be expected to have a positive economic effect in the form of GDP growth, we have identified critical limits of the multiplier of social expenditures according to the principle: the maximum value is seen in the group of countries with positive impact; the minimal one is experienced in countries with inverse dependence of the share of social expenditures and their multiplier. As a result, the experience of financing social expenditures in the EU leads to the conclusion that the optimal share of social expenditures in GDP ranges from 28% to 30% – within these limits multiplier values exceed 1.0, i.e. there is a positive impact of social expenditures on GDP in the form of the growth of economic results over the resources consumed.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.14254/2071-789X.2024/17-1/12

Using innovation and entrepreneurship for creating edge in service firms: A review research of tourism and hospitality industry

Publication Name: Journal of Innovation and Knowledge

Publication Date: 2024-10-01

Volume: 9

Issue: 4

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This paper aims to inform policy and research in the domain of tourism and hospitality on the role of innovation and entrepreneurship. The paper applies the review research methodology to collate, comprehend, and synthesise 139 papers selected through a standard procedure. Our findings show that innovation drives growth and value in new tourism and hospitality firms. The study examines external factors, particularly government policies, influencing industry stakeholders’ entrepreneurial orientation and the macroeconomic environment affecting entrepreneurial activities. It also highlights the importance of social entrepreneurship in industry innovation and sustainability. This article emphasises the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in tourism and hospitality growth, value creation, and social and environmental issues.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.jik.2024.100572

AI-Powered Digital Transformation of Government Human Resource Management: A Bibliometric and Systematic Literature Review

Publication Name: Journal of Innovation Management

Publication Date: 2025-01-01

Volume: 13

Issue: 3

Page Range: 66-95

Description:

Recent developments in modern artificial intelligence (AI) have driven profound changes in public sector human resource management systems, offering remarkable opportunities alongside intricate challenges. Governments across the globe are progressively integrating AI tools to modernize HR operations, enhance workforce planning, and respond to evolving socio-economic demands. This research utilizes the PRISMA framework for systematic literature review to explore the role of AI in transforming government HR practices. By analyzing 47 peer-reviewed articles published from 2019 to 2023, the study identifies five central themes: ethical and governance models for AI in public administration; AI’s influence on HR functions and organizational behavior; implementation barriers and potential benefits; AI applications in digital governance and policy formulation; and innovations in HR technologies driven by big data. The findings highlight critical success factors such as strong data infrastructure, structured employee training initiatives, and well-defined ethical standards. Key challenges identified include concerns around data privacy, biased algorithms, workforce adaptation, and wider societal implications like employment shifts and changing competency needs. The study underscores the importance of: (1) adaptive regulatory frameworks that support innovation while safeguarding public interest; (2) robust data governance strategies to manage confidentiality and cybersecurity risks; (3) tailored training programs aimed at improving AI understanding among government staff; and (4) collaborative efforts across sectors to promote ethical AI adoption and mitigate socio-economic disruptions.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.24840/2183-0606_013.003_0003

FAMILY ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY: EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS FROM HUNGARY

Publication Name: Central European Business Review

Publication Date: 2025-01-01

Volume: 14

Issue: 5

Page Range: 23-40

Description:

Family firms, accounting for 60% of European private sector jobs, play a critical role in advancing business sector sustainability through their practices and employment characteristics. This study examines family entrepreneurs’ attitudes toward sustainability using quantitative methods and the 2023 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Annual Population Survey (APS) dataset from Hungary. Businesses were categorised into nonfamily, one-person, and family enterprises. After analysing the reliability of sustainability-related questions, two indices measuring attitudes toward environmental, social, and economic sustainability were constructed: a comprehensive index allowing compensation between dimensions and an aggregate evaluation index. Using one-way ANOVA, we compared sustainability indices across the business categories. Results revealed no significant differences in sustainability performance, irrespective of the indicator used. Robustness was confirmed with four control variables (gender, educational attainment, entrepreneurship phase, and number of jobs created), none of which indicated significant differences. No significant correlations emerged between sustainability indices and entrepreneurs’ age. These findings align with prior analyses, indicating no marked differences in sustainability attitudes between family and non-family firms. Two factors may explain these results: Hungary’s market dominance by microbusinesses due to disrupted business traditions during the socialist era and GEM’s focus on entrepreneurship, favouring smaller entities like sole proprietorships. Implications for Central European audience: This study underscores the need to continuously develop sustainable business attitudes. It also offers a recent literature review, providing valuable insights for Central European researchers, corporate leaders, and family business managers.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.18267/j.cebr.399

FinTech Solutions Supporting Sustainable Agriculture - Lessons from Africa: FinTech Solutions Supporting Sustainable Agriculture

Publication Name: ACM International Conference Proceeding Series

Publication Date: 2024-09-12

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 97-103

Description:

This paper explores the transformative role of FinTech solutions in enhancing agricultural productivity and financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa, a region confronted by myriad challenges including fragmented economies, limited capital, climate adversities, and restricted access to financial services. Drawing upon empirical examples, it delves into the potential of crypto-assets and blockchain technology to address these issues, spotlighting the rapid growth of the FinTech industry as a disruptive force capable of revolutionizing financial accessibility for rural communities. Through a comprehensive literature review and case studies, the study highlights innovative FinTech applications, such as mobile money services, which have significantly contributed to financial inclusion among smallholder farmers, facilitating access to savings, loans, and insurance products. The paper presents two pioneering initiatives from Kenya - the blockchain-based insurance model, Etherisc, and Agri-wallet, a digital wallet solution, demonstrating their effectiveness in mitigating risks associated with agriculture and enabling efficient financial transactions; and a central information-operator from Ghana, the Esoko. Furthermore, it identifies existing barriers to the wider adoption of FinTech solutions, including infrastructural deficits, legal uncertainties surrounding smart contracts, and the limited penetration of internet services, underscoring the imperative for enhanced digital infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to maximize the benefits of digital technologies for sustainable agriculture. The findings suggest that, despite challenges, the integration of FinTech in agriculture presents a promising avenue for boosting productivity, ensuring food security, and fostering economic resilience among rural populations in Africa. The paper calls for concerted efforts by stakeholders to address the digital divide and create enabling environments for the deployment of innovative financial technologies, paving the way for a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1145/3670243.3672435

Analyzing Energy Efficiency and Battery Supervision in Electric Bus Integration for Improved Urban Transport Sustainability

Publication Name: Sustainability Switzerland

Publication Date: 2024-09-01

Volume: 16

Issue: 18

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Addressing the critical challenge of reducing local emissions through the electrification of urban public transport, this research specifically focuses on integrating electric buses. The primary objectives are to evaluate energy efficiency and ensure battery cell supervision. Introducing electric buses plays a significant role in reducing emissions, contributing to more sustainable urban transport systems. However, this transition introduces a set of new challenges, including the complexities of electric charging logistics, the establishment of new consumption standards, and the intricate relationships between distance traveled, ambient temperature, passenger load, and battery health. Methodologically, this study collects and examines factors impacting energy consumption, including external temperatures, bus conditions, road conditions, and driver behavior. By analyzing these variables, a baseline for actual consumption can be established, allowing for the calculation of an energy balance to identify energy inefficiencies. This enables the optimization of route planning, the strategic selection of stops, and the efficient scheduling of charging times, along with ensuring the proper scaling of the bus battery system. This study found that energy consumption peaked at 116.73 kWh/100 km in the lowest temperature range of −5 °C to 0 °C. Consumption decreased significantly with rising temperatures, dropping by 25 kWh between 5 °C and 10 °C and by an additional 10 kWh between 10 °C and 15 °C. Beyond 20 °C, variations were more influenced by route and driving style than by temperature. Route and driver variability significantly influenced energy consumption, with up to threefold differences across routes due to factors such as road type and traffic volume. Additionally, there was a 31.85% difference between the most and least efficient drivers, highlighting the critical impact of driving style. Furthermore, this study explores the assessment of battery systems through cell-level diagnostics to detect potential faults. Considering that buses are equipped with significantly more batteries than typical electric vehicles, detecting and localizing faults at the cell level is crucial to avoid the substantial costs and environmental impact associated with replacing large battery systems. Utilizing the results of this research and the applied examination methods, it is possible to enhance energy efficiency and extend battery life, thereby contributing to the development of more sustainable and cost-effective urban transport solutions.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/su16188182