bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Knowledge and Assessment-Centered Reflective-Based Learning Approaches
Authors: Colomer Jordi , Serra Laura , Cañabate Dolors , Serra Teresa
Published: May 2022

This paper addresses the development of knowledge and assessment-centered learning approaches within a reflective learning framework in a first-year physics class in a university faculty. The quality of students’ reflections was scored using a Self-reporting Reflective Learning Appraisal Questionnaire at the end of each learning approach. The results showed the differences between the approaches based on reflections on the learning control through self-knowledge, by connecting experience and knowledge, as well as through self-reflection and self-regulation. Assessment-centered activities fundamentally help students identify aspects of their attitudes towards, as well as regulate, their sustainability learning education.
How Knowledge Sharing Affects Business Model Innovation: An Empirical Study from the Perspective of Ambidextrous Organizational Learning
Authors: Li Xiangqian , Qiang Qiang , Huang Li , Huang Cunquan
Published: May 2022

In the era of knowledge economy and open innovation, it is especially important for organizations to learn how to store and utilize internal and external knowledge for the sustainability of business models. The ability to innovate is a necessity for sustainable development, thus this paper starting from the internal factors driving enterprises to realize business model innovation, from perspective of ambidextrous organizational learning, takes 257 managers in enterprises as samples to empirically study the mechanism of knowledge sharing on business model innovation. The results of regression analysis and structural equation model (SEM) path analysis show that knowledge sharing affects novel and efficient business model innovation through ambidextrous organizational learning, and ambidextrous organizational learning plays a complete mediating role. Both explorative and exploitative learning have a significant positive impact on the novel and efficient business model innovation, and explorative learning has a stronger promoting effect. Therefore, in the practice of enterprise business model innovation, leaders need to establish a system that can promote the willingness of employees to share knowledge. Organizations need to pay attention to the effectiveness of explorative learning, consider the actual demand of employees as much as possible, and mobilize the initiative of employees in the learning process. Organizations also are required to pay attention to the balance between explorative learning and exploitative learning.
Coral Reef Bleaching under Climate Change: Prediction Modeling and Machine Learning
Authors: Boonnam Nathaphon , Udomchaipitak Tanatpong , Puttinaovarat Supattra , Chaichana Thanapong , Boonjing Veera , Muangprathub Jirapond
Published: May 2022

The coral reefs are important ecosystems to protect underwater life and coastal areas. It is also a natural attraction that attracts many tourists to eco-tourism under the sea. However, the impact of climate change has led to coral reef bleaching and elevated mortality rates. Thus, this paper modeled and predicted coral reef bleaching under climate change by using machine learning techniques to provide the data to support coral reefs protection. Supervised machine learning was used to predict the level of coral damage based on previous information, while unsupervised machine learning was applied to model the coral reef bleaching area and discovery knowledge of the relationship among bleaching factors. In supervised machine learning, three widely used algorithms were included: Naïve Bayes, support vector machine (SVM), and decision tree. The accuracy of classifying coral reef bleaching under climate change was compared between these three models. Unsupervised machine learning based on a clustering technique was used to group similar characteristics of coral reef bleaching. Then, the correlation between bleaching conditions and characteristics was examined. We used a 5-year dataset obtained from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Thailand, during 2013–2018. The results showed that SVM was the most effective classification model with 88.85% accuracy, followed by decision tree and Naïve Bayes that achieved 80.25% and 71.34% accuracy, respectively. In unsupervised machine learning, coral reef characteristics were clustered into six groups, and we found that seawater pH and sea surface temperature correlated with coral reef bleaching.
The Role of Entrepreneurial Marketing in the Indonesian Agro-Based Industry Cluster to Face the ASEAN Economic Community
Authors: Sarma Ma’mun , Septiani Stevia , Nanere Marthin
Published: May 2022

The agro-industry plays an important role in the Indonesian economy. However, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in this industry face various challenges to be competitive, one of which is the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) agreement. The study aims to develop a model for the agro-industry Micro-Small Medium Enterprises to face the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) using entrepreneurial marketing approaches. This research was conducted at three centers of agro-based industry clusters in Indonesia. The respondents were business actors representing the leading Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the fruit-processing industry cluster, fish processing industry cluster and milk processing industry cluster. Primary data collection was conducted through structured interviews using close ended questionnaires. This study used Structural Equation Modelling analysis with a Partial Least Squares (PLS) approach to develop a model of enhancement for the agro-industry clusters in dealing with AEC. The findings suggest that the entrepreneurial marketing has significant impact in increasing business development and business competitiveness. The MSMEs possessing great competitiveness would be more ready to penetrate their business into other ASEAN markets. In addition, supportive government policies that encourage and improve innovativeness can significantly increase the entrepreneurial marketing ability.
Impact of the Number of Hours Spent at Home on the Volume of Municipal Waste Generated: Evidence from Tokyo during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Aruga Kentaka
Published: May 2022

This study explores how changes in hours spent at home during the COVID-19 pandemic (February 2020–February 2022) affected the volume of municipal waste generated by households. Applying autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) to a time series model created to measure the volume of combustible waste, recyclable plastic, plastic bottles, glasses and cans, and used paper, this study finds that an increase in the number of hours spent at home elevated the amount of combustible waste, recyclable plastic bottles, and glass bottles and cans generated. The increase in the volume of waste during the pandemic tended to be related to increased demand for delivery and take-out containers, and the increase in combustible waste was likely caused by a surge in the use of unrecyclable plastic containers. Thus, the results of the study suggest the importance of enhancing the use of recyclable containers and the need for support to develop ways to spread the use of such containers.
Sustainability of Agaricus blazei Murrill Mushrooms in Classical and Semi-Mechanized Growing System, through Economic Efficiency, Using Different Culture Substrates
Authors: Rózsa Sándor , Andreica Ileana , Poșta Gheorghe , Gocan Tincuța-Marta
Published: May 2022

Mushroom cultivation is a source of organic, sustainable food that is growing rapidly to become a profitable sector of agriculture. Nutritional supplements and natural medicines are provided by many mushroom products, including the Agaricus blazei Murrill mushroom. In recent years, the classical culture system has begun to be used more in less-developed countries, providing an additional gain for locals. The content of the article is based on the deductive research method, starting from theory to practice. This paper aimed at the economic efficiency of the Agaricus blazei Murrill mushroom crop using four substrate recipes and two protein additives, following the economic efficiency of the crops and the composition of production costs for the classic semi-mechanized production system. According to prepared technological sheets, the principal component analysis of the main economic indicators highlighted the experimental variant V5 (Synthetic substrate, with 3% wheat bran protein addition) with the highest labor productivity, obtaining 6.48 kg md−1, the equivalent of 194.3 RON md−1, and a profit rate of 80.42% compared to the V10 variant (reed substrate without protein addition), where the profit rate was only 26.16%. The addition of 3% wheat bran protein to the synthetic culture substrate (V5) brings an increase in global production with 45 RON sqm−1 compared to the variant without protein addition (V4). The research carried out is of practical use, especially for small producers using classical mushroom cultivation technology, and can be extended to other harvested mushroom species.
Emotional Strengths and Difficulties in Italian Adolescents: Analysis of Adaptation through the SDQ
Authors: Corvasce Catalda , Martínez-Ramón Juan Pedro , Méndez Inmaculada , Ruiz-Esteban Cecilia , Morales-Rodríguez Francisco Manuel , García-Manrubia María Belén
Published: May 2022

An adolescent’s knowledge of him/herself (positive aspects and weaknesses) is shaped by interactions with external and internal factors, including the family context and the educational environment. The assessment of this knowledge serves to construct the concept of self-esteem. The main objective of the present study was to examine the prevalence of self-reported emotional and behavioral symptoms in a representative sample of Italian adolescents and their relationship with gender and age, using Goodman’s Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). A total of 440 adolescents (49.8% female) aged 15–18 years from the southern Italy region participated. The results show the prevalence of emotional and behavioral symptoms in the analyzed sample. Gender differences were also found in the variables under study. In conclusion, the SDQ test is offered as an agile, simplified, and effective tool, to be proposed to all formative agents who are concerned with the interest and care not only of young people, but also of the future of socio-political realities.
The Practice of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries on the High Seas: Challenges and Suggestions
Authors: Dong Limin , Guo Peiqing
Published: May 2022

Since the 1990s, the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) has developed rapidly and become an important method of high seas fishery management. The EAF has already been practiced by many Regional Fisheries Management Organizations. The practice of the approach in the management of high seas fisheries faces numerous challenges, such as constraints by the approach, increasing stakeholders affecting the implementation of the EAF, inconsistency with political ocean boundaries, resistance from vested interests, and the threat of Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated fishing. In order to deal with the dilemma faced by EAF, ideas are proposed as follows, building a sense of maritime community with a shared future, advancing the approach by explicating definition, objectives, and priorities, strengthening coordination and cooperation between the states and regional fisheries organizations, adopting area-based management tools with biogeographical criteria, and enhancing the level of stakeholders’ participation.
Conceptualization of Sustainable Marketing Tools among SME Managers in Selected Countries in Poland and Sri Lanka
Authors: Kowalska Magdalena
Published: May 2022

The implementation of the concept of sustainable marketing in corporate strategies plays a significant role in the realities of the modern market. The failure to include actions for sustainable development in traditional marketing mix tools makes it necessary to redefine them. The main goal of this article is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the scope of implementing sustainable marketing tools (5P) in SMEs of the food and drink industry in socioeconomically diverse markets of Poland (as an example of a developed country) and Sri Lanka (as an example of a developing country). This empirical study was based on responses obtained from 262 questionnaires conducted among SMEs operating in two different countries, i.e., 150 companies operating in Poland (example of a developed country), and 112 in Sri Lanka (example of a developing country). The aim of this study is to provide a complete understanding of the scope of implementing a sustainable marketing mix in SMEs operating in the food industry within Poland and Sri Lanka—in particular, the ways of defining individual marketing tools, as well as the differences between enterprises operating in the two surveyed countries.
Recycling Potential Comparison of Mass Timber Constructions and Concrete Buildings: A Case Study in China
Authors: Sun Qiming , Huang Qiong , Duan Zhuocheng , Zhang Anxiao
Published: May 2022

The recycling potential (RP) indicates the ability of building materials to form a closed-loop material flow, that is, the material efficiency during its whole life cycle. Mass timber constructions and concrete buildings vary widely in RP, but the differences are difficult to calculate. This paper proposed a level-based scheme to compare the RP of mass timber and concrete buildings, and a BIM-Eco2soft-MS Excel workflow coupling Material Cycle Database and digital design tools were established to obtain information on building materials, resource consumption, and environmental impact for the RP calculation. Taking a residential building as an example, the difference in RP between mass timber and concrete at the material-level is firstly discussed. Then at the component-level, the RP of the wood structure component and concrete component is compared, and the optimization methods are proposed. Finally, the difference in RP between the mass timber building and reinforced concrete building at the building-level are illustrated. The results show that the RP of mass timber building is higher, and the disassembly ability is better. Within a 100-year service life, the RP of mass timber buildings is 73% and that of the reinforced concrete building is 34%. The total amount of material consumption and waste of the Variant CLT is 837,030 kg and 267,237 kg respectively, which is less than one-third of that of concrete buildings (3,458,488 kg; 958,145 kg). The Global Warming potential (GWP) of these two variants is −174.0 kgCO2/m2 and 221.0 kgCO2/m2 separately, indicating that the Variant CLT can realize negative carbon emissions and gain ecological benefits. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to explore the potential impacts of certain parameters on GWP and RP of buildings. The research can provide the reference for material selection, component design, and RP optimization of mass timber buildings. In addition, new ideas for assessing the potential of circularity as a design tool are proposed to support the transition towards a circular construction industry and to realize carbon neutrality.
Risk Assessment of Crowd-Gathering in Urban Open Public Spaces Supported by Spatio-Temporal Big Data
Authors: Yang Yicheng , Yu Jia , Wang Chenyu , Wen Jiahong
Published: May 2022

The urban open public spaces are the areas where people tend to gather together, which may lead to great crowd-gathering risk. This paper proposes a new method to assess the rank and spatial distribution of crowd-gathering risk in open public spaces in a large urban area. Firstly, a crowd density estimation method based on Tencent user density (TUD) data is built for different times in open public spaces. Then, a reasonable crowd density threshold is delimited to detect critical crowd situations in open public spaces and find out the key open public spaces that need to have intensive crowd-gathering prevention. For estimating the crowd-gathering risk in key open public spaces, the quantified risk assessment approach is conducted based on the classical risk theory that simultaneously considers the probability of an accident occurring, the severity of the accident consequence, and the risk aversion factor. A case study of the area within the Outer-ring Road of Shanghai was conducted to determine the feasibility of the new method. The thematic maps that describe the ranks and spatial distribution of crowd-gathering risk were generated. According to the risk maps, the government can determine the crowd control measures in different areas to reduce the crowd-gathering risk and prevent dangerous events.
Development of a Real-World Eco-Driving Cycle for Motorcycles
Authors: Kusalaphirom Triluck , Satiennam Thaned , Satiennam Wichuda , Seedam Atthapol
Published: May 2022

Climate change is a major issue all around the world. The transportation industry currently accounts for most CO2 emissions. The goal of this research is to develop a real-world eco-driving cycle for internal combustion engine motorcycles that can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. This study developed onboard measuring equipment to measure the speed profile and fuel consumption of a motorcycle driving in real time. A total of 78 motorcycle riders rode a test motorcycle with the onboard equipment along a road network to collect real-world data. All of the collected real-world data were analyzed by cluster analysis based on fuel consumption (km/L) to divide riders into two groups, high-fuel-consumption riders and low-fuel-consumption riders. The collected real-world data of the low-fuel-consumption riders were used to develop a real-world eco-driving cycle, whereas the collected real-world data from the high-fuel-consumption riders were used to develop a real-world non-eco-driving cycle. The CO2 emissions were calculated by the speed profiles of the developed driving cycles. The findings reveal that the real-world eco-driving cycle provided a fuel consumption rate 39.3% lower than the real-world non-eco-driving cycle. In addition, the real-world eco-driving cycle provided a CO2 emission rate 17.4% lower than the real-world non-eco-driving cycle. The application of the developed real-world eco-driving cycle for motorcycles is proposed.
Educational Technology as a Support Tool for Students with Specific Learning Difficulties—Future Education Professionals’ Perspective
Authors: Rodríguez-Cano Sonia , Cuesta-Gómez José Luis , Delgado-Benito Vanesa , Fuente-Anuncibay Raquel de la
Published: May 2022

The research presented is framed in the context of educational technology (ET), and specifically in its use as a support tool for students with specific learning difficulties (SLD). This is descriptive quantitative research, the objective of which is to know what students know about the use of educational technology, the perceived usefulness of educational applications, and the use of educational technology as support for students with specific learning difficulties. In order to answer this question, a data-collection instrument was designed that included an ad hoc questionnaire made up of three blocks to evaluate the use of ET, the perceived usefulness of educational applications, as well as ET as a support for students with SLD. The participating sample is made up of students from different teacher training degrees of the Faculty of Education of the University of Burgos (n = 130). After the descriptive analysis was carried out, the results that were obtained allowed us to conclude that ET is an excellent proposal for the classroom, and that, due to its adaptability, it can, and should, be a frequent resource for achieving educational objectives, and especially as support for students with SLD.
Stormwater Utilities: A Sustainable Answer to Many Questions
Authors: Novaes Carlos , Marques Rui
Published: May 2022

One of the most complex and difficult questions to answer concerns how to organize and economically support public services of all kinds. In terms of services that involve a multiplicity of actors and objectives, as is the case with urban stormwater management, the difficulty is magnified and resources never seem to be sufficient. This paper reviews the successful approaches to stormwater management in a number of countries and concludes that it is both feasible and possible to successfully structure stormwater management in cities using a variety of models and incentives. With examples from cases practiced in the USA and Canada, based theoretically on the user-pays principle and on the fair distribution of impacts, the text innovates showing not only a technically and legally viable option, but an opportunity for users to become aware of the importance of reducing environmental impacts. By raising the possibility of delivering services out of the general public budget, reducing the taxation of all in exchange for charging only users and improving the performance, the discussion is directed, in an innovative way, to a very rarely questioned aspect and links the change in mentality from and economic way of thinking towards the new stormwater paradigm shift and SDGs.
Variation in Plant Community Composition and Biomass to Macro and Micronutrients and Salinity across Egypt’s Five Major Coastal Lakes
Authors: Keshta Amr E. , Shaltout Kamal H. , Baldwin Andrew H. , Sharaf El-Din Ahmed , Eid Ebrahem M.
Published: May 2022

To better assess the relationship between excess nutrient runoff and plant species diversity in the Egyptian northern coastal lakes, the relationships between aboveground biomass, species diversity, and both micro and macronutrient concentrations in sediment, water, and plant materials were investigated. A total of 38 sampling sites were established for the five Egyptian northern lakes (8 for Bardawil, 10 for Manzala, 8 for Burullus, and 6 for each of Edku and Mariut). Sediment, water, and plant materials were collected and analyzed for both micro and macronutrients including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), iron (Fe), boron (B), sodium (Na), and aluminum (Al). Based on the Sørensen similarity index, Burullus and Mariut lakes were very similar (0.70) in their vegetation composition, while Bardawil Lake had no similarity with the rest of the lakes. In sediment, Mariut Lake had the highest total P concentrations (1.3 g kg−1), while Bardawil Lake had the lowest (0.3 g kg−1). Bardawil, a hypersaline lake, had the highest concentrations for both Na and B (9.6 and 0.1 g kg−1, respectively). Among the deltaic lakes, Mariut Lake water bodies had the lowest plant species richness. The current study indicated that the excessive agricultural and industrial nutrient runoff had a greater impact on the nutrient distribution pattern and negatively impacted plant species diversity at the Egyptian coastal lakes. An integrated management plan, including establishing more pretreatment facilities for runoff and wastewater, should be implemented to reduce the nutrient loads from the main industrial and agricultural runoff sources. Moreover, periodic monitoring and assessment for nutrient runoff reaching the lakes are necessary to help reduce eutrophication levels.
Optimizing the Vehicle Scheduling Problem for Just-in-Time Delivery Considering Carbon Emissions and Atmospheric Particulate Matter
Authors: Quan Bingtao , Li Sujian , Wu Kuo-Jui
Published: May 2022

The coordinated development of companies and ecological protection are possible only with increasing environmental awareness. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how companies can achieve sustainable development. It is found that the scientific implementation of the vehicle scheduling problem (VSP) for just-in-time (JIT) delivery in the raw material procurement logistics of iron and steel companies can reduce the carbon emissions in the VSP process and, taking into account the negative correlation between weather conditions and PM10, can effectively reduce PM10. On this basis, a multiobjective optimization model is constructed with the objectives of minimizing carbon emissions and PM10 along with the traditional objective of cost optimization. A greedy algorithm with high computational efficiency and an embedded genetic algorithm (GA) is used to further improve the response time of the VSP. Verification shows that in practice, the model enables companies to effectively reduce not only logistics costs but also PM10 and carbon emissions; in theory, the model expands the applicability of JIT to all value-added activities, exploring all value-added activities in different spatial and temporal dimensions to achieve the optimal combination of company cost, environmental effects, and weather dimensions.
Spatial Simulation of Land-Use Development of Feixi County, China, Based on Optimized Productive–Living–Ecological Functions
Authors: Zhang Yichen , Li Chuntao , Zhang Lang , Liu Jinao , Li Ruonan
Published: May 2022

Rural revitalization places higher demands on the productive–living–ecological (P-L-E) spaces of towns and cities. It is necessary, therefore, to identify, evaluate, and optimize P-L-E spaces to better guide spatial planning. Existing studies typically evaluate a single space, lacking a comprehensive consideration of whole-area integration. This study, therefore, developed a coupled spatial/developmental suitability evaluation system for Feixi County, Anhui Province, China, combining spatial quality evaluation, a coupled coordination model, and future land-use simulation (FLUS) model. The spatial quality of Feixi County in 2010, 2015, and 2020 was obtained by applying the evaluation system to the spatial development pattern. The results were analyzed and verified using the landscape pattern index and development suitability evaluation. The results showed the following: (1) The coupling coordination degree of the region increased from 0.131 to 0.372, changing from low to moderate coordination. (2) Based on the FLUS model to better capture the uncertainty and stochastic basis of the development in the study area. The kappa coefficient and Figure of Merit (FoM) index of the land-use simulation accuracy verification index were 0.7647 and 0.0508, respectively, and the logistic regression ROC values were above 0.75, thus meeting accuracy requirements. This demonstrated that the simulation model—based on a factor library of the evaluation of resource and environmental carrying capacity and suitability for development and construction—could better reflect future land-use changes. (3) The simulation showed that under the baseline development scenario, the area’s spatial layout is too concentrated in terms of construction land, ignoring P-L-E coordination. Under the ecological optimization scenario, high-quality ecological space is ensured, but other types of spaces are lacking. Under the comprehensive guidance scenario, lagging ecological space is optimized and P-L-E spatial development is enhanced through aggregation, clustering, concentration and integration. This way, the spatial quantity structure and distribution form can meet P-L-E spatial development needs in Feixi County. In this study, on the basis of scientific assessment of the current P-L-E space, the FLUS model was applied to carry out a scenario simulation according to different objectives. Moreover, based on the construction of the coupling system of human–nature system, the driving factors were improved to enhance the prediction accuracy of the FLUS model. This study’s findings can help improve the scientificity, flexibility and management efficiency of Feixi County’s P-L-E spatial layout, thereby supporting its sustainable development.
Interprovincial Differences in Air Pollution in the Background of China’s Carbon Neutrality Target
Authors: Zou Qi , Zhao Jinhui , Sun Yingying , He Chao , Zhang Zhouxiang
Published: May 2022

Increasing air pollution, particularly in terms of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3), caused by large-scale fossil fuel combustion, affects human health and economic activities in China. In this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal trends of carbon emissions, carbon emission intensity, and concentrations of PM2.5 and O3 in 30 provincial-level administrative regions of China during 2010–2019. Overall, an increasing trend was observed in carbon emissions, with high emissions occurring in Shandong, Hebei, and Jiangsu in particular. The highest growth rates of carbon emissions were 169% and 117% in Xinjiang and Ningxia, respectively. Conversely, the carbon emission intensities and concentrations of PM2.5 and O3 decreased across the study regions at different rates. The western and central regions experienced the greatest decrease in carbon emissions in 2019 compared with that of 2010, followed by those in the northeastern and eastern regions. Spatiotemporal variations suggest that pollution control is essential for improving air quality and offsetting the negative impact of increased energy consumption. Overall, this study shows that pollution control policies lead to short-term improvements in air quality, and hence that the implementation of stringent environmental protection policies is essential.
Critical Masses and Gender Diversity in Voluntary Sport Leadership: The Role of Economic and Social State-Level Factors
Authors: Lesch Lara , Kerwin Shannon , Thormann Tim F. , Wicker Pamela
Published: May 2022

Gender equality in leadership positions is important for sport organizations to achieve economic and social sustainability. Based on a multi-level framework, this study examines spillover effects from economic and social state-level factors in sport organizations’ environment on critical masses of women on their boards (in terms of share and numbers) and board gender diversity (reflected by different types of boards). Data of national and regional sport governing bodies in Germany were collected (n = 930), with variables capturing organizational characteristics (e.g., board composition) and economic and social factors at the state level. The results of regression analyses show that women’s attainment in tertiary education increases the likelihood of a critical mass of at least 30% women on the board, and a higher divorce rate increases the likelihood of a critical mass of three women on the board. Sport organizations in states with a higher gender wage gap are more likely to have balanced boards, indicating that volunteering might be a substitute to paid work. The findings suggest that the presence of women in sport leadership is affected by economic and social conditions in the organizations’ geographical surroundings and that spillover effects occur from the state level to the organizational level.
Promoting the Sustainable Development of Rural EFL Learners’ Email Literacy through a Facebook Project
Authors: Lin Ming-Fang , Chen Yuan-shan , Lai Yu-Ting
Published: May 2022

Promoting the sustainable development of rural EFL students’ English ability is a vital issue in the general curriculum guidelines of Taiwan’s 12-Year Basic Education. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a Facebook project on developing rural EFL learners’ email literacy in English. There were two participant groups: (1) six university English majors and (2) 12 ninth-graders from a rural junior high school. The instruments included a multiple-choice awareness task (MCT), a written discourse completion task (WDCT), a perception questionnaire, interviews, and teaching journals. The university students first received a training session on email literacy, and then they taught the ninth-graders invitation email-writing through Facebook interactions for eight weeks. The results showed that after the project, the ninth-graders made significant improvements when completing the MCT. As for the quality of their emails, the ninth-graders not only scored significantly higher in the post-test but also made qualitative progress in their invitation emails. Furthermore, both participant groups had positive perceptions of this project and indicated the strengths and weaknesses of their participation. This paper concludes with pedagogical implications for English education in Taiwan.
Traditional Knowledge and Modern Motivations for Consuming Seaweed (Limu) in Samoa
Authors: Tiitii Ulusapeti , Paul Nicholas , Burkhart Sarah , Larson Silva , Swanepoel Libby
Published: May 2022

Seaweeds are a traditional food throughout the Pacific. In Samoa, the edible seaweeds limu fuafua (sea grapes, Caulerpa racemosa and C. chemnitzia) and limu a’au (red seaweed, Halymenia durvillei and Halymenia sp.) are hand-harvested and consumed fresh or cooked, respectively. However, there is limited scientific or traditional documentation of these commodities. Here, we assess the traditional use and cultural value of edible seaweeds and explore modern consumer preferences and perceived nutritional benefits. Structured enumerator-administered questionnaires were used to examine the relationship between consumption and demographics and subsequently to assess the key motivators for consumption, including perceived nutritional benefits. A total of 320 participants were surveyed across 20 village communities, with 95% reporting consumption of Caulerpa and 40% of Halymenia. Consumption was primarily on a weekly to monthly basis, and even once a day. Motivators and barriers for consumption were then assessed in 320 village participants with an additional 203 intercept interviews at fish markets. A content analysis of the open-ended questions revealed the key motivators for eating limu were health and taste (positive), whereas the key barriers were taste (negative) and availability. We identify opportunities to develop a nutrient evidence base for Samoan seaweeds to aid in marketing, especially for youth.
The Impact of Digital Capability on Manufacturing Company Performance
Authors: Wang Xiaoli , Gu Ying , Ahmad Mahmood , Xue Chaokai
Published: May 2022

Digital capability is an advanced capability that manufacturing companies need for their digital and intelligent development. At present, the influence mechanism behind the impact of digital capability on manufacturing companies’ performance is still unclear and lacks quantitative analysis. Based on the dynamic capability view, we propose a research model to investigate digital capability, digital innovation, value co-creation, and company performance and conduct an empirical study based on questionnaire data from 209 digital manufacturing companies. The empirical results show that digital capability has a significant positive impact on company performance. The results further show that digital innovation mediates the effect of digital capability on performance within a company, while outside the company, value co-creation mediates the impact of digital capability on company performance. This research provides empirical support in favor of companies developing digital capabilities in the context of digital transformation and offers theoretical insight into the contradiction between the potential value of digital capability and companies’ practice.
A Short Review of Recent Progress in Improving the Fracture Toughness of FRP Composites Using Short Fibers
Authors: Wang Yongan , Wang Zhenxing , Zhu Lvtao
Published: May 2022

Fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composite laminates have excellent mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and designability and thus are widely used in various engineering fields. However, their interlayer performance is relatively poor due to no fiber reinforcement between the laminate layers. These layers are adhered through resin bonding only, caused during their usage, which results in composite material delamination damage, thus, limiting its performance. In response, researchers have conducted numerous studies on how to improve the interlaminate properties of laminates through component and structural modifications of the composites and interlaminate toughening. Short fiber toughening is a simple and effective way to solve this problem. This paper reviews the latest research progress in short fiber interlaminate toughening and short fiber modified resin toughening, analyzes the mechanisms of short fiber toughening is fiber bridging, fiber debonding, fracture, and the toughening mechanisms specific to different fibers. This review paper also discusses the current problems encountered in short fiber toughening and provides an outlook on the future development direction for short fiber toughening to provide a reference for subsequent research on short fiber toughened composites.
An Experimental Study on Geotechnical Properties and Micro-Structure of Expansive Soil Stabilized with Waste Granite Dust
Authors: Abdelkader Hassan A. M. , Ahmed Abdelaal S. A. , Hussein Mohamed M. A. , Ye Haiwang , Zhang Jianhua
Published: May 2022

Mining industries around the world produce massive amounts of solid waste that has potential environmental impacts. Therefore, it is necessary to explore alternative solutions to this waste disposal problem and to obtain economic benefits from it. Up to now, no significant attempts have been made to use granite dust (GD) as a soil stabilizer. GD is a by-product produced in large amounts during the cutting and processing of granite rocks at manufacturing factories. Thus, an attempt has been made here to define the role of GD in enhancing the geotechnical behaviour of expansive soil in order to make it suitable for construction. Moreover, the aim of this study is to evaluate the micro-level alterations occurring in the soil to elucidate the stabilization mechanism of granite dust–soil interaction. Comprehensive geotechnical tests, such as Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California bearing ratio (CBR), and swelling percentage, as well as microstructural analysis, such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy, and Fourier transform infrared, have been performed on natural and stabilized expansive soils using different portions of GD ranges from 0% to 30% with an increment of 5%. The results showed that the GD can be effectively used to improve soil plasticity and to control the swelling behaviour. Additionally, the results indicated that both UCS and CBR increase with increasing the content of GD, and that this increase reaches the maximum value at 20% of GD, after which it decreases. Hence, this amount can be taken as the optimum value of GD. The micro-analyses confirmed that the apparent formation of some new peaks, changes in the soil morphology, and alterations in the parent elements are the major factors in controlling the interactive behaviour of soil-GD mixes.
ELECTRE III for Strategic Environmental Assessment: A “Phantom” Approach
Authors: Battisti Fabrizio
Published: May 2022

The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a systematic evaluation process of the environmental consequences of urban and territorial plans and programs which aims to guarantee a high degree of environmental protection and to contribute to integrating environmental factors during the design, adoption, and approval of plans and programs. Even if in Europe the SEA was already included in the legislation of each European Member State as of 2017, in these countries—and particularly in Italy—there is a diffuse lack of indications on procedures and/or evaluation protocols. In this article, the use of evaluation techniques in SEA is discussed. The specific objective of the research is the construction of an evaluation method to express a synthetic judgement—based on acknowledged, objective parameters—within the SEA procedure. According to the literature review, results regarding the SEA procedure, and its possible supporting methodologies, Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) appears to be the most SEA-coherent approach. Moreover, the ELECTRE method family has shown the highest suitability to perform the evaluation phase of SEA. Hence, an operational development of ELECTRE III is herein proposed and applied to a case study.
Different Fertility Approaches in Organic Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Production Alter Floral Biomass Yield but Not CBD:THC Ratio
Authors: Bruce Dylan , Connelly Grace , Ellison Shelby
Published: May 2022

Industrial hemp is once again legal in the United States but agronomic practices are not well characterized, especially for organic production systems. Many producers are concerned that while increased fertility may increase biomass yield it will also disproportionally increase that rate of total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) accumulation, making their crop more likely to be noncompliant at harvest. We measured the effect of four organic fertility treatments: (1) no fertility (NA); (2) manure-based compost (CM); (3) an industry-standard organic fertilizer blend (ST); and (4) an intensive fertility treatment designed for cannabis production (BQ), on biomass yield and cannabinoid accumulation over multiple timepoints and two years. We found that higher fertility (ST and BQ) led to increased biomass but did not influence the ratio of cannabidiol (CBD) to THC over time. We also found the ST treatment yielded the most consistently across years, whereas CM and BQ were less predictable and more costly, respectively. Our results show that fertility recommendations can be made to increase biomass yield without increasing the chance of noncompliance. Additional research addressing specific fertility requirements in organic cropping systems for hemp will be needed to meet consumer demand while remaining profitable and sustainable for growers.
The Impact of Leadership Diversity on Firm Performance in Singapore
Authors: Loh Lawrence , Nguyen Thi Thuy , Singh Annette
Published: May 2022

The intersection of sustainability and corporate governance is particularly evident in leadership diversity, which has gained increasing prominence in recent years. The central question of leadership diversity’s impact on firm performance remains open, including for Asia, which has been relatively less-studied. This paper seeks to contribute to this literature, adopting a multi-dimensional view of leadership diversity in Singapore’s public-listed companies. We examine diversity in boards and senior management combined, in order to better understand the impact of diversity among firm strategic leadership. Based on random effects regression analysis using data from 577 companies, our results generally provide support for a beneficial diversity impact. Gender, age, and education leadership diversity were found to have a positive influence on financial performance. We further found gender diversity and performance to have an inverted U-shaped relationship, with the inflexion point being gender parity. This suggests a potentially important role for gender parity in firm leadership governance.
Re-Do Surgery after Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Single Center Comparison between Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass
Authors: Auricchio Pasquale , Tanay Emre , Kieninger Christopher , Köninger Jörg , Meile Tobias
Published: May 2022

Introduction: According to the high rate of patients requiring a Re-Do surgery after a primary Sleeve Gastrectomy, due to failure on weight loss, this study proposes a comparison between RYGB and OAGB as a secondary intervention for morbidly obese patients. Methods: A retrospective review of patients who underwent revisional surgery to convert SG to RYGB or OAGB at our institution from November 2011 to November 2019 was performed. Results: A subset of sixty-three patients with previous SG underwent revisional surgery due to failure of the primary intervention. The OAGB group (n = 17) had a mean BMI at the time of the sleeve of 62 kg/m2 and a mean BMI of 50.7 kg/m2, the length of the Omega was 139.35 cm. The RYGB (n = 46) group showed a mean BMI of 47 kg/m2 at the time of the sleeve and a BMI of 34.8 kg/m2 at the time of the revision. The RYGB was performed according to the 70/120 cm standard for all the patients. One patient also had a revision from secondary OAGB to RYGB due to persistent biliary reflux, in this case the biliary branch was settled at 150 cm and the alimentary at 50 cm. Conclusions: The outcomes in the OAGB group showed a 29%WL and a 47%EWL (out of a 17%WL and 28%EWL at the time of the sleeve), on the other side the RYGB group reached a 33%WL and 72%EWL (out of a 25%WL and a 54%EWL at the time of the sleeve). According to our data we assume that RYGB is more effective in terms of weight loss as a revisional surgery after sleeve
Control Analysis of Stochastic Lagging Discrete Ecosystems
Authors: Zhang Jinyi
Published: May 2022

In this paper, control analysis of a stochastic lagging discrete ecosystem is investigated. Two-dimensional stochastic hysteresis discrete ecosystem equilibrium points with symmetry are discussed, and the dynamical behavior of equilibrium points with symmetry and their control analysis is discussed. Using the orthogonal polynomial approximation theory, the stochastic lagged discrete ecosystems are approximately transformed as its equivalent deterministic ecosystem. Based on the stability and bifurcation theory of deterministic discrete systems, through mathematical analysis, asymptotic stability and Hopf bifurcation are existent in the ecosystem, constructing control functions, controlling the behavior of the system dynamics. Finally, the effects of different random strengths on the bifurcation control and asymptotic stability control are verified by numerical simulations, which validate the correctness and effectiveness of the main results of this paper.
How a Nonequilibrium Bath and a Potential Well Lead to Broken Time-Reversal Symmetry—First-Order Corrections on Fluctuation–Dissipation Relations
Authors: Yuvan Steven , Bellardini Nick , Bier Martin
Published: May 2022

The noise that is associated with nonequilibrium processes commonly features more outliers and is therefore often taken to be Lévy noise. For a Langevin particle that is subjected to Lévy noise, the kicksizes are drawn not from a Gaussian distribution, but from an α-stable distribution. For a Gaussian-noise-subjected particle in a potential well, microscopic reversibility applies. However, it appears that the time-reversal-symmetry is broken for a Lévy-noise-subjected particle in a potential well. Major obstacles in the analysis of Langevin equations with Lévy noise are the lack of simple analytic formulae and the infinite variance of the α-stable distribution. We propose a measure for the violation of time-reversal symmetry, and we present a procedure in which this measure is central to a controlled imposing of time-reversal asymmetry. The procedure leads to behavior that mimics much of the effects of Lévy noise. Our imposing of such nonequilibrium leads to concise analytic formulae and does not yield any divergent variances. Most importantly, the theory leads to simple corrections on the Fluctuation–Dissipation Relation.
On Strengthened Extragradient Methods Non-Convex Combination with Adaptive Step Sizes Rule for Equilibrium Problems
Authors: Shutaywi Meshal , Kumam Wiyada , Rehman Habib ur , Sombut Kamonrat
Published: May 2022

Symmetries play a vital role in the study of physical phenomena in diverse areas such as dynamic systems, optimization, physics, scientific computing, engineering, mathematical biology, chemistry, and medicine, to mention a few. These phenomena specialize mostly in solving equilibria-like problems in abstract spaces. Motivated by these facts, this research provides two innovative modifying extragradient strategies for solving pseudomonotone equilibria problems in real Hilbert space with the Lipschitz-like bifunction constraint. Such strategies make use of multiple step-size concepts that are modified after each iteration and are reliant on prior iterations. The excellence of these strategies comes from the fact that they were developed with no prior knowledge of Lipschitz-type parameters or any line search strategy. Mild assumptions are required to prove strong convergence theorems for proposed strategies. Various numerical tests have been reported to demonstrate the numerical behavior of the techniques and then contrast them with others.