bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Metaverse as a Virtual Form of Data-Driven Smart Urbanism: On Post-Pandemic Governance through the Prism of the Logic of Surveillance Capitalism
Authors: Bibri Simon Elias , Allam Zaheer
Published: May 2022

The Metaverse, as a gigantic ecosystem application enabled mainly by Artificial Intelligence (AI), the IoT, Big Data, and Extended Reality (XR) technologies, represents an idea of a hypothetical "parallel virtual environment" that incarnates ways of living in virtually inhabitable cities. It is increasingly seen as a transition from smart cities to virtual cities and a new target for city governments to attain “new” goals. However, the Metaverse project was launched amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a crisis purported to be a rare opportunity that should be seized to reset and reimagine the world—though mainly in regard to its digital incarnation, and what this entails in terms of both cementing and normalizing the corporate-led, top-down, technocratic, tech-mediated, algorithmic mode of governance, as well as new forms of controlling ways of living in urban society. The “new normal” has already set the stage for undemocratically resetting and unilaterally reimagining the world, resulting in an abrupt large-scale digital transformation of urban society, a process of digitization and digitalization that is in turn paving the way for a new era of merging virtuality and urbanity. This has raised serious concerns over the risks and impacts of the surveillance technologies that have been rapidly and massively deployed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. These concerns also relate to the global architecture of the computer mediation of the Metaverse upon which the logic of surveillance capitalism depends, and which is constituted by control and commodification mechanisms that seek to monitor, predict, control, and trade the behavior of human users, as well as to exile them from their own. This viewpoint paper explores and questions the Metaverse from the prism of the social and economic logic of surveillance capitalism, focusing on how and why the practices of the post-pandemic governance of urban society are bound to be undemocratic and unethical. The novelty of the viewpoint lies in providing new insights into understanding the dark side of the ostensible fancier successor of the Internet of today, thereby its value and contribution to the ongoing scholarly debates in the field of Science, Technology, and Society (STS). In addition, by shedding light on the emergence of the Metaverse as a computing platform, the viewpoint seeks to help policymakers understand and assess the ramifications of its wide adoption, as well as to help users make informed decisions about its usage in everyday activity—if it actualizes.
The World Isn’t Fair, but Shouldn’t Elections Be? Evaluating Prospective Beliefs about the Fairness of Elections and Referenda
Authors: Rose Jonathan , van der Eijk Cees
Published: May 2022

Almost all academic literature about the causes and consequences of fairness of elections and referenda is based on retrospective evaluations. One of the strongest findings of such studies is that nonvoting is higher among citizens who retrospectively perceived an election as unfair. However, on logical grounds, it is impossible to attribute lower rates of voting to retrospectively perceived unfairness because at the time of the vote citizens can only rely on their prospective expectations of fairness. Moreover, it is well documented that retrospective evaluations are strongly influenced by the outcome of the election which is, at the time of voting, still unknown. In view of the dearth of earlier studies on prospective views of electoral fairness, this article presents the first major exploratory analyses of determinants and consequences of prospective expectations of electoral fairness. Using data from Britain about expectations of fairness of three general elections and two referenda in the period between 2014 and 2019, it shows that the public hold mixed views about the fairness they expect to find when voting. The article demonstrates that these prospective fairness beliefs are sometimes noticeably different to retrospective beliefs in terms of their predictors. Moreover, in sharp contrast to literature based on retrospective evaluations, this article also finds that prospective evaluations do not importantly affect the decision to vote. These findings have important implications for how we understand and evaluate the inclusiveness of elections.
Thinking about the Future: Young People in Low-Income Families
Authors: Brannen Julia , O’Connell Rebecca
Published: May 2022

This paper examines the orientations to the future of young people living in low-income families in the U.K. and Portugal following the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and the contexts in which they are socially reproduced. It is based on data from comparative research on families and food poverty, funded by the European Research Council. The study focused on parents and young people aged 11–16 living in low-income families in three European countries (the U.K., Portugal and Norway); only the U.K. and Portuguese data were analysed here. Given the study was concerned with the consequences of low income for food insecurity, we primarily sought to understand how young people manage in the present; however, the project also affords a theoretical and methodological opportunity to explore young people’s thoughts about the future as they begin to transition to adulthood. We found that, when asked about the future, young people responded in different ways: some said they did not think about the future; others mentioned their dreams, but considered them unrealisable. while others expressed hopes that were more concrete and achievable. Precarity constrained the control that young people and their families exercised over their lives. We argue that young people’s aspirations and time horizons are framed in relation to the present and the temporalities of the life course, the public discourses to which they are subjected and the limited access of their families to resources provided by the labour market and the state.
Reflections on the Implementation of an Ongoing Inclusive Research Project
Authors: Bonello Isabel , Borg Sandra , Callus Anne-Marie , Grech Cristina
Published: May 2022

This reflective piece is co-authored by four members of an inclusive research team, who have been working on a project that aims to create an online resource with a video curriculum vitae of individuals with intellectual disability to showcase their achievements and skills. Taking the view that conducting research inclusively is a dynamic and ongoing process, we discuss our experiences in implementing the project and the steps we took to ensure that the process was as inclusive as possible. We first present an overview of the aims of the project and what we have achieved so far. We then provide our individual perspectives on the experience of being involved in the project so far and how inclusive it has been. Together, we then reflect on the main outcomes of the project so far, on the factors that affected how we implemented it, and on how we plan to work towards the last phase of the project.
The “Problem” of Multispecies Families: Speciesism in Emergency Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Shelters
Authors: Lindsay Sarah May
Published: May 2022

When a woman seeks emergency shelter from an abusive relationship, she may bring her children but rarely companion animals. Through a Critical Animal Studies (CAS) lens, this article qualitatively analyzes in-depth interviews with shelter workers in Ontario, Canada, exploring the place of multispecies families in intimate partner violence (IPV) shelters. The findings indicate that companion animals are viewed as problematic, as obstacles to their clients’ safe relocation, falling outside the scope of IPV shelters (who rarely take a co-sheltering approach), and as potential strains on an already resource-stretched social institution. Addressing a gap in the literature about the effects of companion animal policies in social housing on clients and staff, the results are relevant to social service providers and policymakers working with multispecies families, including insights about women and children’s reactions to separation from companion animals, contradictions in related policies, and institutional priorities. The article concludes that multispecies families are poorly accounted for in the IPV shelter system and suggests that researchers and shelters should collaborate with their communities to advocate for resources and policies that accommodate families with companion animals.
Crossing the Binaries of Mobility Control: Agency, Force and Freedom
Authors: Martins Angelo , O’Connell-Davidson Julia
Published: May 2022

This article draws on qualitative data on journeys to Europe or Brazil undertaken by adults and teenagers from Sub-Saharan African countries to develop a conceptual analysis of the blurriness of the lines drawn between supposedly different types of movement via referencing the conceptual binary of forced/voluntary movement (such as asylum, trafficking, smuggling). It questions the liberal model of ‘agency’ that is employed not just by state actors, but also by many antislavery, anti-trafficking, child rights, and refugee rights activists, to construct boundaries between different ‘types’ of people on the move. Conceptual divisions between refugees and economic migrants, trafficked and smuggled persons, forced and voluntary labourers, child and adult migrants, and the idea of ‘modern slavery’, deflect attention from the structures that limit the choices open to people on the move. This article argues that the voluntary/forced binary encourages a tendency to falsely conflate choice with freedom and works to preserve the illusion that human freedom is a defining feature of liberal democratic societies rather than working to universally protect the freedoms of actual living human beings.
Manganese Uptake to Wheat Shoot Meristems Is Differentially Influenced by Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungal Communities Adapted to Acidic Soil
Authors: Faria Jorge M. S. , Teixeira Dora Martins , Ferreira Diana , Barrulas Pedro , Brito Isabel , Pinto Ana Paula , Carvalho Mário
Published: May 2022

Soil acidity is a strong promoter of the bioavailability of Al, Fe, and Mn, whose concentrations can sometimes reach toxic levels for plants. In agricultural soils, the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has shown a protective influence on wheat growth under Mn toxicity. The intact extraradical mycelium (ERM) promotes faster AMF colonization, leading to a higher wheat shoot weight, lower Mn uptake, and changes in antioxidant enzyme activity. Its effect on the uptake and distribution of plant nutrients according to the developmental stage of shoot organs has seldomly been analyzed. In the present study, Mn, Mg, Ca, and K were quantified by ICP–MS in leaves and apical meristems of wheat grown in soil with two different ERM consortia, developed from the native plants Lolium rigidum (LOL) and Ornithopus compressus (ORN). The ORN treatment induced the highest wheat shoot weights and the lowest Mn levels. In the leaves, no significant differences were detected for Mg, Ca, or K, but in the apical meristems, the ORN treatment slightly lowered the Ca concentration. The AMF associated with ORN was seen to enhance wheat weight partly by protecting the zones of active growth against high Mn levels in Mn toxic soils. The use of ORN in acidic soils with Mn toxicity provides a sustainable alternative and an efficient complement to current farming practices to lower the negative impacts of farming on the environment.
Effect of Pre-Season Training on Physiological and Biochemical Indices in Basketball Players—A Systematic Review
Authors: Mexis Dimitrios , Nomikos Tzortzis , Kostopoulos Nikolaos
Published: May 2022

The pre-season period in basketball includes all the physiological attributes that the players need to work on and develop, in order to sustain a full season workload. The monitoring of the effectiveness of pre-season training is based on a variety of biochemical and physiological indices; however, it is still unclear how pre-season training affects those markers. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the effects of pre-season training on biochemical and physiological markers. A search was performed in five large scientific databases (Pubmed (Medline), Scopus, Science-Direct, Sport-Discus (EBSCO), Semantic Scholar) and produced 7081 results, which after removing duplicates and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulted in 28 published scientific articles being included in this review. The most important findings suggested that the majority of the studies used a 6- or an 8-week pre-season training protocol, because these protocols have shown significant positive effects over the years. In addition, the plyometric training protocols that were used by many studies have been found to be beneficial for basketball athletes for many physiological parameters. Furthermore, the evaluation of biochemical markers can be a very useful tool in monitoring and managing fatigue, which is an essential part of modifying the training process, in order to maximize performance.
Ensemble Climate and Streamflow Projections for the Assiniboine River Basin, Canada
Authors: Anis Muhammad Rehan , Sauchyn David J.
Published: May 2022

The Assiniboine River Basin (ARB) is subject to an exceptionally variable precipitation regime of the Canadian Prairies, ranging between record droughts and unprecedented flooding in just the past decade. To assess the impact of a changing climate on hydroclimate variability in the ARB, we used the bias–corrected simulations from the Canadian Regional Climate Model (CanRCM4) to drive MESH model for two 60–year periods, a historical baseline (1951–2010) and future projection (2041–2100), under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 to simulate ARB flows at eight hydrometric stations. The precipitation is projected to increase in every season (~10–38%) except for summer (~−1–−5%). Minimum winter and maximum summer temperatures have the largest seasonal trends, increasing by 2–3 °C in the near future (2021–2050) and 5–6 °C in the far future (2051–2080). These climate changes produce higher winter river flows while peak runoff shifts by several weeks to earlier in the year. There is a shift in the magnitude and timing of extreme water levels. The ensemble of climate projections from a single model and one RCP to the variability and uncertainty in the future hydrology supports adaptation planning in the industrial sectors of Saskatchewan’s economy.
The Roles of Transformational Leadership and Growth Mindset in Teacher Professional Development: The Mediation of Teacher Self-Efficacy
Authors: Lin Wei , Yin Hongbiao , Liu Zhijun
Published: May 2022

This study investigated the effects of school-related factors (i.e., transformational leadership) and teacher-related factors (i.e., teachers’ growth mindset and self-efficacy) in teachers’ sustainable professional development, as indicated by their reported desirable professional attitudes and their adoption of teaching strategies using the method of structural equation modelling. Based on a questionnaire survey of 1297 teachers in China, the results of this study showed that, compared with teachers’ growth mindset, transformational leadership had a stronger effect on teacher self-efficacy; transformational leadership, rather than teachers’ growth mindset, was significantly and directly related to teachers’ professional attitudes towards classroom teaching and their adoption of desirable teaching strategies. Moreover, teacher self-efficacy significantly mediated the effects of transformational leadership and growth mindset on teachers’ professional attitudes and the adoption of desirable teaching strategies. These findings highlight the importance of teachers’ affective attributes (e.g., growth mindset, self-efficacy, and professional attitudes) in teacher professional development, and provide implications for school leaders and teachers to sustain effective teacher professional development.
A Brief Overview of the Effects of Exercise and Red Beets on the Immune System in Patients with Prostate Cancer
Authors: Nobari Hadi , Saedmocheshi Saber , Johnson Kelly , Suzuki Katsuhiko , Maynar-Mariño Marcos
Published: May 2022

Research over the past few decades has focused on the use of functional ingredients such as an active lifestyle and proper diet as a treatment for many diseases in the world. Recent studies have shown a variety of health benefits for red beets and their active ingredients such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, blood pressure and fat reduction, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity effects. This review article examines the effects of exercise and red beet consumption and the effective mechanisms of these two interventions on cellular and molecular pathways in prostate cancer. However, there is a significant relationship between an active lifestyle and proper diet with the incidence of cancer, and the use of these natural interventions for cancer patients in the treatment protocol of avoidance patients. Furthermore, this review article attempts to examine the role and effect of exercise and beetroot nutrition on prostate cancer and provide evidence of the appropriate effects of using natural interventions to prevent, reduce, and even treat cancer in stages. In addition, we examine the molecular mechanisms of the effectiveness of exercise and beetroot consumption. Finally, the use of natural interventions such as exercising and eating beets due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties, due to the lack or low level of side effects, can be considered an important intervention for the prevention and treatment of cancer.
Local Governance in Just Energy Transition: Towards a Community-Centric Framework
Authors: Swarnakar Pradip , Singh Mudit Kumar
Published: May 2022

Knowledge of energy transition (ET) is evolving in developing countries. Yet, it is unclear how the transition should be managed in a way that ensures justice for local stakeholders. We synthesise the extant theoretical ideas and practices of the local governance (LG) related to ET, which are vital in ensuring justice in energy policy at the local level. The paper advances this development by a systematic integrative literature review (N = 569) from the Web of Science (WoS) and highly cited grey literature linked to participation, LG, and ET. The bibliometric analysis indicates that, while the literature on energy justice is growing, limited attention has been paid to LG in just energy transition (N = 36). The analysis further indicates that more than half of the scientific literature is produced by five countries from the global North alone. In-depth scrutiny of highly cited studies and grey literature in LG and ET underlines the lack of a generalised framework of local ET governance, especially in the global South. We address this gap and propose a framework that exhibits a community-centric LG, which is essential for just energy transition.
Spatial Correlation and Influencing Factors of Environmental Regulation Intensity in China
Authors: Feng Lili , Shao Jingchen , Wang Lin , Zhou Wenjun
Published: May 2022

In this study, we examined the spatial difference of environmental regulation intensity in 30 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) of China. It was found that there were significant differences in environmental regulation intensity in the four regions, with a decreasing trend of “west–central–northeast–east” on the whole. Applying the Theil index showed that intra-regional differences accounted for more than 85% of the overall differences in environmental regulation intensity. Goble Moran’s I index was used to verify the spatial correlation of China’s environmental regulation. It was found that the p-value of Goble Moran’s I index was less than 10% in 7 years from 2010 to 2019. It was verified that the environmental regulation intensity in China has had a spatial correlation. In addition, a positive spatial correlation between the environmental regulation intensity in each province was found, indicating that an increase in the environmental regulation intensity of one province will lead to an increase in the intensity of environmental regulation in neighboring provinces. Finally, through the construction of a spatial Markov model to test the spillover effect of environmental regulation intensity in China, it was found that the local environmental regulation intensity will change to different degrees when there are spatial differences in the intensity of environmental regulation in neighboring provinces. This research will be helpful for provincial governments to formulate appropriate environmental regulation targets based on regional characteristics, which is of great significance for China’s and other countries’ green economic development and other countries to solve the contradiction between environmental pollution and economic development.
Food Services in the Tourism Industry in Terms of Customer Service Management: The Case of Poland
Authors: Pilis Wiesław , Kabus Dominik , Miciuła Ireneusz
Published: May 2022

The catering market in Poland, especially in such areas as the Old Town in Gdańsk, is constantly developing, and in recent years there has been a great development in gastronomic offerings; therefore, the potential in this sector is significant. The gastronomic services market in Gdańsk is subject to segmentation due to the diversity of consumer needs and the location of the outlets. New points are constantly appearing on the gastronomic map of this historical part of Tri-City, where every tourist, regardless of the adopted form of tourism, can satisfy his or her needs without any problems. The authors aimed to analyse the impact of catering services on the tourism industry. In particular, the study is an attempt to identify the functioning of the contemporary culinary market and the conditions for the development of catering services and to describe the forms of enterprises providing this service. The variety of aspects of the research subject matter, oscillating around the main objective, made it necessary to formulate the following research hypotheses: first hypothesis (H1)—catering services influence the management of the tourism industry; second hypothesis (H2)—the tourist is the main determinant shaping demand; third hypothesis (H3)—the tourist contributes to benefits in the sphere of supply. The research tool was two structured, short survey questionnaires used to verify the hypothesis. The survey was conducted during the summer of 2018. The survey involved 20 restaurateurs from the Old Town in Gdańsk and 438 random tourists over 15 years old. The survey of tourists can be characterised as randomised focus groups. The questionnaire addressed to owners of catering establishments was a representative survey. The implication of research carried out among representatives of the tourism segment is the development of a foodservice market based on a marketing strategy that takes into account the specific needs of consumers and the constant monitoring of market behaviour in order to keep up with the changes that occur in it.
A Mathematical Model of Value Co-Creation Dynamics Using a Leverage Mechanism
Authors: Hara Tatsunori , Tsuru Satoko , Yasui Seiichi
Published: May 2022

Service marketing for sustainability can be addressed in studies on human wellbeing promoted by delight and value co-creation within service systems. However, there is scant research on formal models of value co-creation dynamics with respect to customer delight. This study aimed to formulate a mathematical model of value co-creation dynamics based on a “seesaw catapult” using a lever system. This is based on the concept presented in ISO/TS 24082 and involved service providers’ customer centricity and customers’ active participation. We solved the maximization problem for a ball’s height (i.e., customer experience) by optimizing customers’ active participation and the scale of data collection. Theoretical analysis of rotational motion dynamics revealed nonlinear, complementary, and trade-off relationships in the model. Optimal conditions for the variables were obtained, and additional conditions of the service provider’s customer centricity were derived to achieve customer delight. In this study, a switchback co-creation process of the service system was constructed based on these findings. This study contributes to the value co-creation literature by providing a normative model of co-creation dynamics that enables deductive development and generates various co-creation processes. Service marketing sustainability can be expanded by exploring appropriate co-creation scenarios that maintain and engage people in service systems.
Impact of Long Term Nutrient Management on Soil Quality Indices in Rice-Wheat System of Lower Indo-Gangetic Plain
Authors: Basak Nirmalendu , Mandal Biswapati , Biswas Sunanda , Basak Piu , Mitran Tarik , Saha Bholanath , Rai Arvind Kumar , Alam Md. Khairul , Yadav Arvind Kumar , Datta Ashim
Published: May 2022

Globally, soil degradation is an important issue for sustainable crop production. Soil quality indicators are the soil attributes that address the ecological functions of soil. Therefore, indicator-based soil quality assessment has been emphasized for quantifying the relative soil quality changes in different nutrient management systems. Soil quality underthe rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivam L.) cropping system was assessed using a modified “Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF)” model. Soil’s physical, chemical, nutritional, and biological indices were analyzed for different nutrient management strategies, viz., inorganic fertilizer (NPK), NPK + 7.5 Mg ha−1 farmyard manure (NPKF), NPK + 10.0 Mg ha−1 paddy straw (NPKP) and NPK + 8.0 Mg ha−1 Sesbania sesban L. green manure (NPKG). Nutrient management strategies significantly influenced soil quality indices. NPKF showed the highest SMAF score for soil physical quality index followed by NPKP > NPKG > NPK and control; whereas the score of soil chemical quality was greater in NPKP followed by NPKF/NPKG > NPK > control (p > 0.05). Overall, the soil nutritional quality index was greater in NPKF (0.96) followed by NPKG > NPKP > NPK, and the least was in control. The SMAF score of soil biological quality index was highest in NPKF compared to NPKG > NPKP > NPK > control. The wholesome index of SMAF (SQI) was developed withthehighest score in NPKF (0.94) followed by NPKG (0.90) > NPKP (0.89) > NPK (0.79) > control (0.71). The β-glucosidase activity, mineralizable C, KMnO4 oxidizable N, microbial biomass C, and total water-stable aggregates explained 82% variability in the dataset and represented a good agreement with system yield (R2 = 0.89, p < 0.05). This study concludes that the conjunctive application of NPK with manures restores the overall soil quality more than other management practices, and thatthe SQ indices can be utilized for screening the best management practices for rice-wheat and other similar cropping systems.
Exploring the Driving Factors Influencing Designers to Implement Green Design Practices Based on the DANP Model
Authors: Wang Gang , Shao Qigan , Jiang Changchang , Liou James J. H.
Published: May 2022

Green design is a key step in improving the green performance of corporate projects. Stimulating the green design behavior of designers is the guarantee for the sustainable implementation of green design. This study extracted four dimensions, namely, external motivation, corporate-level drivers, product-level drivers and designers’ attributes, and 18 indicators to consider designers’ green design driving force through the literature. The DANP model was used to analyze the relationship between the indicators and the degree of importance of the indicators. The results indicated that external motivation and designer attributes influenced corporate-level drivers, while product-level drivers were outcome factors. Corporate reputation, organizational strategy and institutional pressure were the three most important criteria. Enterprises’ incentives and personnel care for designers are crucial for promoting designers’ continuous participation in green design.
Rethinking Sustainability in Human Resource Management
Authors: Edvardsson Ingi Runar , Durst Susanne
Published: May 2022

The Special Issue, “Rethinking Sustainability in Human Resource Management”, contains five papers that focus directly or indirectly on the vast effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on employment, employment relations and in this context human resource management (HRM) [...]
New Methodology to Characterize the Workability of Asphaltic Concrete Mixtures Based on Kinematic Compaction Energy
Authors: Jamshidi Ali , White Greg , Mohd Hasan Mohd Rosli
Published: May 2022

The workability of asphalt mixtures influences the logistical processes and workmanship during pavement construction. There are various methods for analyzing the workability of asphaltic concrete mixtures. However, there is a lack of user-friendly laboratory methods that enable asphalt technologists, pavement engineers, laboratory technicians, and researchers to characterize the trend of workability via Newtonian physics. In this paper, a new methodology, based on momentum theory, has been proposed to evaluate the effects of construction temperature and compaction aid additives on mixture workability. Additionally, a new parameter, namely, the kinematic densifying index (KDI), is defined by the energy conservation theory. The results indicate a linear relationship between compaction energy and bulk specific gravity, which proportionally influence the indirect tensile strength of the mixtures. An adverse correlation between the KDI and the compaction energy index (CEI) was detected. The trend of the KDI strongly depends on the mixing temperature and the additive content. In conclusion, in the future, the KDI can be recommended as a supplementary indicator to analyze the workability of asphalt mixtures. More research is required to correlate the KDI and the other workability indicator for various aggregate gradations and binder types.
Experimental Investigation of Mass Transfer Intensification for CO2 Capture by Environment-Friendly Water Based Nanofluid Solvents in a Rotating Packed Bed
Authors: Ghadyanlou Farhad , Azari Ahmad , Vatani Ali
Published: May 2022

In this research, two intensification approaches for CO2 capture via a rotating packed bed (RPB) and nanofluids were examined simultaneously to maximize the experimental mass transfer coefficient. The two intensification approaches were done by using water as a green, environmentally friendly absorption solvent and as the base fluid for preparing nanofluids and also by using centrifugal acceleration in an RPB. Physicosorption of CO2 in an RPB was carried out by applying Al2O3, TiO2, and SiO2 nanofluids to intensify the mass transfer in water, and the operation parameters such as the angular speed of the rotor, concentration and type of nanoparticles, gas and liquid flow rates, and CO2 concentration in mass transfer intensification were evaluated and several nanofluids were selected to survey investigate how they affect the mass transfer at low pressure. The results show that the Al2O3 nanofluid was more effective than other nanofluids and that the 40 nm nanofluid of this type was more efficient than the 20 nm size. Therefore, a correlation is proposed in this paper for liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient prediction that includes the microconvection of nanoparticles and surface tension.
Peer Assessment of Curriculum Content of Group Games in Physical Education: A Systematic Literature Review of the Last Seven Years
Authors: Mohammed Sherzad Saber , Baysen Engin
Published: May 2022

The study aims to systematically review the literature on the curriculum content of group games in physical education (PE) in northern Iraq. Overall, eight studies published between 2015 and 2021 were analysed on major research objectives, methodologies, and outcomes, guided by two research questions: ‘What were the key research objectives, methods, and outcomes of the selected studies in this systematic review?’ And ‘What are the general objectives of PE, the standards for selecting the contents of curricula, and the types of assessments used in PE?’. This study aims to provide a guide for Northern Iraqi universities on how to incorporate group games into PE based on the analysis of the related current literature. For that reason, researchers have primarily used quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches to investigate learning phenomena, with most studies indicating positive learning outcomes. Besides, most studies were conducted in the formal educational setting, revealing three general objectives of PE: psychokinetic, social-emotional, and knowledge. The standards for selecting curricula contents include validity/effectiveness, self-sufficiency, significance, interest, learnability, utility, and consistency with social realities. Moreover, three types of assessments were used in PE: cognitive assessment, summative assessment, and formative assessment. The findings shed light on the main curriculum content of PE and how group games can potentially be included in the curriculum of PE in educational settings.
Correction: Jančaříková, K. Czech Preschool Children’s Conceptions about Nature. Sustainability 2021, 13, 10962
Authors: Jančaříková Kateřina
Published: May 2022

The authors would like to make the following corrections to the published paper [...]
Blockchain for Governments: The Case of the Dubai Government
Authors: Khan Shafaq , Shael Mohammed , Majdalawieh Munir , Nizamuddin Nishara , Nicho Mathew
Published: May 2022

Blockchain technology is an innovative technology with the potential of transforming cities by augmenting the building of resilient societies and enabling the emergence of more transparent and accountable governments. To understand the capabilities of blockchain, as well as its impact on the public sector, this study conducted a review of blockchain technology and its implementations by various governments around the globe. E-government evolution is analyzed, based on empirical evidence from a Dubai government entity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has utilized blockchain technology for developing end-user services, relevant to the public sector. Benefits achieved and challenges to overcome in such blockchain-based pilot deployments are discussed. The findings of this study offer new insights for practitioners involved in bringing in innovations for the benefit of society, using blockchain technology. Furthermore, it provides insights into policy actions to be developed to address the future challenges and to improve already existing e-government policies. The results of this research will benefit all blockchain-based pilot deployments by providing guidance and knowledge on this immature yet developing technology.
Enhance Systemic Resistance Significantly Reduces the Silverleaf Whitefly Population and Increases the Yield of Sweet Pepper, Capsicum annuum L. var. annuum
Authors: Zayed Mohamed S. , Taha El-Kazafy A. , Hassan Montaser M. , Elnabawy El-Said M.
Published: May 2022

The silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) is one of the most harmful insects attacking several economic plant crops worldwide, and it has developed a resistance toward several conventional insecticides. This study was conducted to estimate the impact of potassium phosphite (PK), effective microorganisms (EMs), and salicylic acid (SA) as plant inducers, and imidacloprid (IMI) as a synthetic insecticide on the systemic acquired resistance of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum var. annuum) crop, whitefly population, and crop yield under greenhouse conditions. The treatment plots were sprayed with IMI, PK, EMs, SA, and water (control) on the 27th day after planting, and dinotefuran was applied when the whitefly-infestation ratio reached 3.00%. The enzymes responsible for the internal defence system, whitefly population, and crop yield were determined. Our results confirmed the idea that the PK, EMs, and SA may induce the synthesis of plant enzymes responsible for the internal defence system. The IMI, PK, EMs, and SA significantly suppressed the whitefly population compared with the control. Moreover, the reduction percentages of the whitefly population were significantly higher when using IMI and PK than EMs and SA. The IMI, PK, EMs, and SA improved the crop yield. It could be concluded that PK, EMs, and SA enhanced the systemic acquired resistance in sweet pepper crop causing high defence against the population of whitefly and might be a potent alternative to conventional insecticides and compatible with an integrated pest management program.
Do Lawsuits by ENGOs Improve Environmental Quality? Results from the Field of Air Pollution Policy in Germany
Authors: Bothner Fabio , Töller Annette Elisabeth , Schnase Paul Philipp
Published: May 2022

It is generally assumed that in EU Member States the right of recognized environmental organizations (ENGOs) to file lawsuits under the Aarhus Convention contributes not only to a better enforcement of environmental law, but also to an improvement of environmental quality. However, this has not yet been investigated. Hence, this paper examines whether 49 lawsuits that environmental associations filed against air quality plans of German cities between 2011 and 2019 had a positive effect on air quality by reducing NO2 emissions in the respective cities. Using a staggered difference-in-differences regression model, we show that, on average, lawsuits against cities’ clean air plans have a negative effect on NO2 concentration in these cities. In fact, the NO2 concentration in cities sued by ENGOs decreased by about 1.31 to 3.30 µg/m3 relative to their counterfactual level.
Evaluation of Critical Success Factors for Enterprise Resource Planning Implementation Using Quantitative Methods in Agricultural Processing Companies
Authors: Kouriati Asimina , Moulogianni Christina , Kountios Georgios , Bournaris Thomas , Dimitriadou Eleni , Papadavid George
Published: May 2022

This study aims to evaluate critical success factors (CSFs), considering the perspectives of various stakeholders who are involved in enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation in agricultural processing companies in Central Macedonia (Greece). This evaluation—combined with aspects from the literature—may show how a digital production system can be managed and redesigned to become sustainable for a company. Research was conducted through the use of a specially designed questionnaire that was addressed to various stakeholders in the ERP implementation in agricultural processing companies. Descriptive statistics, Grey Relational Analysis (GRA), and Friedman test methods were used in order for relevant information to be identified and valid conclusions to be drawn. Given the results of the grey relational analysis (GRA), respondents consider 33 out of 37 critical success factors to be “very important”. Friedman test results seem to differ from GRA results in 19 out of 37 factors with regard to their ranking. Based on this, and using two different methods, the most important ERP critical success factors are highlighted. For the objective aim of this paper to be fulfilled, there is a contribution giving insights into stakeholders’ perspectives regarding the management of a digital production system in the field of agricultural processing companies. It also contributes to the literature, as it highlights methods that refer to the evaluation of critical success factors for ERP implementation.
Experimental Study of the Valorization of Sulfate Soils for Use as Construction Material
Authors: Seco Andrés , del Castillo Jesús María , Perlot Céline , Marcelino-Sádaba Sara , Prieto Eduardo , Espuelas Sandra
Published: May 2022

This article shows an experimental investigation carried out for the stabilization of a sulfate soil. The stabilization was carried out in two phases: the first phase was the consumption of the sulfate present in the soil through its controlled transformation into ettringite. After this, a modified soil with lower maximum density, greater optimum moisture identified via standard proctor (SP) test, no plasticity and improved unconfined compressive strength (UCS) was obtained. In the second phase, the modified soil was stabilized by the use of different additives rich in oxides of calcium or magnesium, combined with by-products or waste materials containing reactive aluminum or silicon oxides. As a result, the mechanical strength of the modified soil was improved. In this phase, a binary binder composed of a magnesium oxide product and ground granulated blast-furnace slags (GGBS) obtained the highest UCS. The binary binder composed of lime and an alumina filler formed ettringite in the treated soil. This experiment allowed for the validation of a two-phase stabilization process and the non-conventional additives used, mainly magnesium oxide and GGBS, even for high-bearing-requirement pavement layers’ construction.
Element Matching and Configuration Path of Corporate Social Responsibility Performance
Authors: Zhang Dongsheng , Wang Hongwei , Jin Xiangshan
Published: May 2022

With rapid progress in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) theories and the up-gradation of the global market information disclosure system, enterprises have increased their attention toward relevant stakeholders and social responsibility. CSR exerts a substantial impact on the sustainable development of enterprises and markets in the economic and social fields. On the one hand, the increasingly perfect supporting facilities promote the financial growth of the entire society. While on the other hand, the profit-seeking trend of capital is also on the rise. The incongruity between the rapid progress of enterprises and the lack of social responsibility limits the benign development of the market. This study discusses the antecedents of CSR from the variable combination perspective using the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. It also investigates which combination of characteristics has better CSR performance. After the configuration analysis, it is identified that four paths lead to high CSR performance. These include the market-developed type, political link type, financial performance type, and state-owned enterprise subsidy type, and the level of each type is explained in-depth. Finally, this study provides management inspiration for the government and enterprises to formulate a sound social responsibility strategy and improve CSR performance by optimizing the matching of CSR activities and business objectives.
Place-Branded Foods with Responsible and Sustainable Management: A La Carte Serving in Regional Restaurants
Authors: Lopes Celso , Leitão João , Rengifo-Gallego Juan
Published: May 2022

This study assesses whether the association of place-branded foods and the adoption of responsible and sustainable management practices (e.g., quality management, environmental management, and corporate social responsibility) influence the financial performance of regional restaurants linked to the land of origin. The data collected from 265 regional restaurants located in the Centre Region of Portugal allowed estimation of a selected set of discrete-choice model specifications, namely, probit, logit and generalised extreme value regression models. The empirical findings reveal that the use of place-branded foods increases the demand for regional restaurants, which positively influences their financial performance. In addition, responsible sustainable management practices such as collaboration with customers to improve products and services, quality and safety control, choice of organic foods, commitment to maintaining jobs and cooperation with the community reveal a positive and significant influence on financial performance. Conversely, the results show that the use of origin certification in marketing and advertising campaigns and improvement of the restaurant’s image through the use of place-branded products have a significantly negative influence on regional restaurants’ financial performance, considering the pandemic crisis and the additional costs associated with this differentiation procedure.
Applying a Coupled Hydrologic-Economic Modeling Framework: Evaluating Alternative Options for Reducing Impacts for Downstream Locations in Response to Upstream Development
Authors: Amaya Maria , Duchin Faye , Hester Erich , Little John C.
Published: May 2022

Economic input-output and watershed models provide useful results, but these kinds of models do not use the same spatial units, which typically limits their integration. A modular hydrologic-economic modeling framework is designed to couple the Rectangular Choice-of-Technology (RCOT) model, a physically constrained, input-output (I-O) model, with the Hydrological Simulation Program-Fortran (HSPF). Integrating these two models can address questions relevant to both economists and hydrologists, beyond addressing only administrative or watershed concerns. This framework is utilized to evaluate alternative future development prospects within Fauquier County, northern Virginia, specifically residential build-up, and agricultural intensification in the upstream location of the local watershed. Scenarios are designed to evaluate the downstream impacts on watershed health caused by upstream development and changes made within the economic sectors in response to these impacts. In the first case, an alternative residential water technology is more efficient than the standard for ensuring adequate water supply downstream. For scenarios involving upstream agricultural intensification, a crop shift from grains to fruits and vegetables is the most efficient of the alternatives considered. This framework captures two-way feedback between watershed and economic systems that expands the types of questions one can address beyond those that can be analyzed using these models individually.
Borrowing-Firm Emission Trading, Bank Rate-Setting Behavior, and Carbon-Linked Lending under Capital Regulation
Authors: Chen Shi , Huang Fu-Wei , Lin Jyh-Horng
Published: May 2022

The article develops a capped barrier option model to evaluate a bank’s equity. We explore the effects of borrowing-firm carbon emission trading on bank carbon-linked lending, explicitly considering borrowing-firm credit risks under capital regulation. We also integrate the regulatory compensation for bank low-carbon lending with borrowing-firm carbon allowance transactions in the emission trade scheme. Results show that an increase in the regulatory low-emitter lending compensation decreases loans at an increased interest margin, contributing to bank profitability and stability. The stringent regulatory cap for carbon emission allowances hurts profitability and stability. Strict capital regulation would jeopardize bank performance.
Sustainable Effect of the Usefulness of and Preference for Digital Textbooks on Perceived Achievements in Elementary Education Environments
Authors: Lim Keol , Go Jueun , Kim Jeongrang , Son Jinyoung , Jang Yoonho , Joo Min-Ho
Published: May 2022

This empirical study was conducted to evaluate whether digital textbooks contribute to sustainable development in school education. Accordingly, 690 students participated in the three-year research, and the data on the relationship between students’ perceived usefulness/preference for digital textbooks and academic achievement were analyzed using latent growth curve model statistics. The results showed that the usefulness of and preference for digital textbooks had a significant effect on academic achievement, with the impact enhancing depending on the increase in their preference. To cope with new digitalized education settings, especially in the post-COVID-19 era, digital textbooks should be flexible, connected, instructional, and data driven so that schools can achieve sustainable development.