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This research presents a dual-pronged bibliometric and systematic review of the integration of phase change materials (PCM) in asphalt pavements to counteract the urban heat island (UHI) effect. The bibliometric approach discerns the evolution of PCM-inclusion asphalt research, highlighting a marked rise in the number of publications between 2019 and 2022. Notably, Chang’an University in China has emerged as a leading contributor. The systematic review addresses key questions like optimal PCM types for UHI effect mitigation, strategies for PCM leakage prevention in asphalt, and effects on mechanical properties. The findings identify polyethylene glycols (PEGs), especially PEG2000 and PEG4000, as prevailing PCM due to their wide phase-change temperature range and significant enthalpy during phase transitions. While including PCM can modify asphalt’s mechanical attributes, such mixtures typically stay within performance norms. This review emphasises the potential of PCM in urban heat management and the need for further research to achieve optimal thermal and mechanical balance.

Purpose>This study aims to analyse the effects of (1) open innovation on corporate risk management, organisational strategy and competitive advantage, (2) corporate risk management on organisational strategy, and (3) organisational strategy on competitive advantage. In addition, it assesses (4) the mediating effects of corporate risk management on the relationship between open innovation and organisational strategy.Design/methodology/approach>This exploratory and transversal study takes a quantitative methodological approach based on survey data from 251 hotel executive directors from Portuguese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).Findings>The results confirm relationships between open innovation and corporate risk management, organisational strategy, and competitive advantage. They also confirm the importance of corporate risk management for organisational strategy and organisational strategy for achieving competitive advantage. The research demonstrates that corporate risk management has a mediating effect between open innovation and organisational strategy.Research limitations/implications>The present study proposes a model which provides better knowledge of the relationships between open innovation, corporate risk management, organisational strategy and competitive advantage. The model uses various scales to create a robust analytical measurement instrument. This research provides an in-depth analysis of the psychometric properties of the structural model’s latent variables through PLS-SEM and shows the differentiated paths of the endogenous and exogenous constructs. Finally, the importance of the role of open innovation in the process of attracting the resources necessary, that is, organisational and technological resources, to successfully operate in the hotel sector is highlighted. Thus, this research fills existing gaps in the literature.Practical implications>This research can contribute to the development of new instruments and programmes to improve the operational performance of SMEs in the hospitality sector. Understanding the relationship between the constructs will allow top managers to strengthen corporate resources, technologies and dynamic capabilities, and to promote entrepreneurial policies to enhance the relationship between open innovation and competitive advantage. Ultimately, the results of this study will allow governments, national, regional and local, to create policies, programmes and incentives to help firms adopt or extend the open innovation model, thus promoting the exchange of internal and external knowledge and strengthening the dynamics of the business ecosystem.Originality/value>The paper discloses the relationships between open innovation, corporate risk management, organisational strategy, and competitive advantage, by identifying the main characteristics of the constructs and revealing the linkage between them. This pioneering study analyses the mediating effect of corporate risk management between open innovation and organisational strategy and those mentioned above.

This paper assesses the relationship between open innovation and competitive advantage and the mediating effect of organizational strategy. Using a quantitative methodological approach with survey data from 251 Portuguese hotel executive directors’ small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this research adopted a quantitative methodological approach, thereby conducting an exploratory and transversal study. Findings show that (1) open innovation influences organizational strategy and (2) organizational strategy enhances competitive advantage. Moreover, the results also highlight that (3) organizational strategy has a mediating effect between open innovation and competitive advantage. The paper provides relevant insights that will lead the firms’ top managers to design and implement strategies and define effective government policies, programs, and incentives to support the development of the firms’ open innovation model in the hospitality sector considering the new smart society and smart cities growing environment.

Road markings (RM) consist of two distinct layers: the paint layer and the retroreflective layer. Together, they function as system and are essential features for road safety. Recent studies have been centred on elevating these systems to a smarter level, imbuing them with novel functionalities, increasing their visibility, service life and road safety. These new capabilities encompass photoluminescence, anti-aging, self-cleaning, and thermochromism. The aim of this study is to review the advancements and highlight potential opportunities for RM, the materials employed, functionalization techniques, and the key outcomes achieved.

Resumen. IntroducciónEl presente trabajo presenta los aspectos relativos al género en el desarrollo de la Inteligencia Artificial. Comienza conceptualizando la IA, y situando su contexto y desarrollo histórico, paso previo para poder describir los actuales y futuros retos de género en la IA. Objetivo. Definir las principales áreas de estudio en género e IA, entre las que se encuentran la desigual participación de la mujer en el sector, así como los sesgos de datos y algoritmos, que hacen que los resultados puedan presentar sesgos de género. Metodología. El presente estudio ha realizado un análisis de contenido cualitativo, ya que la temática es emergente, y no existen todavía marcos teóricos y paradigmáticos asentados sobre los que realizar otro tipo de investigaciones. Resultados. Se presentan las principales áreas a tener en cuenta para lograr un desarrollo responsable y ético de la IA, integrando los aspectos presentados de género en el desarrollo futuro de esta tecnología. Aportación. Se describen los principales problemas existentes, presentado los aspectos a tener en cuenta en el desarrollo de la IA para evitar los sesgos de género, entre los que destacamos al explicabilidad, el desarrollo responsable y ético de los sistemas de IA, y la rendición de cuentas. Se presentan además otros retos, como la potenciación de la educación de la mujer en ámbitos STEM o su incorporación a la industria de la IA para evitar los sesgos de género en los equipos de desarrollo de algoritmos, así como el desarrollo de técnicas que permiten evitar los sesgos en el entrenamiento de conjuntos de datos y algoritmos.

Road markings (RMs) typically consist of a paint layer and a retroreflective layer. They play a crucial role in road safety by offering visibility and guidance to drivers. Over their lifetime, dirt particles, oils, and greases are adsorbed on the RM surface, reducing their visibility and service life. A self-cleaning ability has been widely studied in several substrates. However, for RMs, this represents a breakthrough and a sustainable advance, while having the potential to increase their service life and enhance road safety. In this context, nanotechnology can be a strong ally through the application of semiconductor materials, such as TiO2, to develop the self-cleaning ability. In addition to this novelty in RMs, quantifying this ability in terms of pollutant removal efficiency is also a challenge. In this sense, artificial intelligence (AI) and colorimetry can be combined to achieve improved results. The aims of the work herein reported were to assess the self-cleaning capability in an RM paint through the mass incorporation of semiconductors, evaluate their photocatalytic efficiency using traditional (spectrophotometric) and modern (AI-enhanced) colorimetry techniques, and compare the results obtained using both techniques. To this end, a water-based acrylic RM paint was modified through the mass incorporation of 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3% of nano-TiO2, and a pollutant model widely used, Rhodamine B, was applied onto their surface. The samples were irradiated with a light source that simulates sunlight for 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. Visual analysis and spectrophotometric and artificial intelligence-enhanced colorimetry techniques were used and compared to evaluate the pollutant removal. The results confirm that RM paints with 2% and 3% nano-TiO2 incorporated have a significantly higher pollutant removal ability and that both colorimetric techniques used are suitable for this assessment.

Throughout the lifetime, road markings (RMs) accumulate dirt, oils, and greases, which reduce visibility, shorten service life, and compromise road safety. If RMs could degrade these pollutants, their service life would increase. When exposed to UV light and humidity, semiconductors, such as titanium dioxide (TiO2), can interact with contaminants and promote their chemical degradation. Semiconductors are commonly used on different types of substrates to achieve self-cleaning ability. In this study, 0.25–3 wt% TiO2 was incorporated into a commercial RM paint for this purpose. After functionalization, the RM paint samples were contaminated with Methylene Blue and Rhodamine B. After pollution, the specimens were irradiated with a light source that simulates sunlight. To assess the self-cleaning capacity of the paints, visual analysis, color variation and discoloration by using CIELAB color coordinates, diffuse reflectance, and digital image processing techniques were applied. In both techniques, the samples with 2% and 3% of TiO2 showed a greater capacity to degrade pollutants. Further, the chemical and morphological characteristics of the reference paint and the samples that showed the best self-cleaning results were analyzed by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). They identified the polymer, filler, and pigment in the commercial paint and confirmed the TiO2 increase after functionalization. This study demonstrated the innovative potential of incorporating semiconductors to achieve a new capability (self-cleaning) for RM paints. This breakthrough not only has the potential to extend the RM service life, but also to improve road safety through greater visibility.

This research aims to understand the contribution of transformational leadership to employee Portuguese startups’ creativity. An empirical study was conducted using a quantitative methodological approach, with the application of an online questionnaire sent to Portuguese startups. 102 employee responses were validated. The results obtained showed the existence of a positive and significant relationship between transformational leadership and creativity in Portuguese startups. Therefore, we conclude that it is recommended that startups use this leadership style so that, as a consequence, they can obtain higher results in terms of organisational creativity.

This research aims to analyze how creativity techniques can enhance workers’ soft skills. In addition, this study aims to understand how the environment that surrounds company workers can affect their performance. Therefore, a quantitative methodology was developed through a questionnaire with 87 answers from employees of large companies in the area of Marketing and Management. The data was studied through reliability to find the relation between the creativity techniques, soft skills and the work environment, where the workers are inserted. The results show that most of the companies approached are comfortable using creativity techniques as a way of stimulating creative potential and enhancing the soft skills of workers, such as negotiation, problem-solving and innovation. It was also found that most only use the best-known techniques such as Brainstorming and Mind Map. These findings focus on the need to implement more creative techniques and an environment/sessions where workers feel comfortable exposing their ideas. It is recommended that companies start taking into account the creative potential of workers, as this allows a company to differentiate itself in an increasingly competitive working world.

This research reports a simple, innovative, and low-cost doping method of TiO2 nanoparticles presenting the effects of calcination and the weight ratio of TiO2:FeCl3 (1:0.33–1:4.5). The photocatalytic activity of the nanomaterials was investigated by decolorizing Rhodamine B (RhB) dye in an aqueous solution. The main results showed that there is anatase-to-rutile transformation after the calcination process. The Fe-doped process modified the TiO2 spectrum and showed a connection in the Ti–O–Fe vibration. The particle size is within the nanometer range, between 20–51 nm, except for calcined TiO2. The inclusion of Fe in TiO2 decreased the band gap energy from 3.16 (reference) up to 2.06 eV (1:3). Additionally, after the calcination, there was a decrease in this value from 3.03 eV (reference) up to 1.95 eV (1:1.6). The TiO2, with a ratio of (1:1.6), showed the highest activity in the photocatalytic degradation of RhB with an efficiency of 93.8% after 3 h of irradiation.