bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Racialized Welfare Discourse on Refugees and Asylum Seekers: The Example of “Scroungers” in Italy
Authors: Perocco Fabio , Della Puppa Francesco
Published: January 2023

The rise of anti-immigrant racism over the past two decades has taken place through multiple mechanisms and processes, including the resurgence of welfare racism, which has been re-functionalized towards refugees and asylum seekers. As a key weapon of today’s sovereignism and white supremacism, the “return” of welfare racism is intrinsic to the rise of neo-liberal racism and is an integral part of a global process of erosion of social rights, weakening of social citizenship, and dismantling of the welfare state. Welfare racism—a combination of racial discrimination in the welfare system and racialized welfare discourse—operates through discriminatory laws and measures related to social benefits and through public discourses depicting refugees, immigrants, and people of color as parasites and scroungers sponging off the welfare state. The resurgence of welfare racism in the last decade has seen the specific spread of welfare racism against refugees and asylum seekers as part of the dual war on asylum and on the welfare state. This article examines the ideological-discursive dimension of welfare racism (that is, the public discourses, rhetoric, and images), first analyzing the development, dimensions, and characteristics of racialized welfare discourse more generally, then focusing on racialized welfare discourses about refugees and asylum seekers in contemporary Italy. It explores the arguments and conceptual metaphors of the racialized welfare discourse on asylum seekers, revealing the devices and dynamics at play in the construction of the refugee as a “scrounger” and welfare abuser. Furthermore, it highlights the consequences of racialized welfare discourse on public policies (particularly on social policies and welfare controls), on migration policies (particularly on immigration controls and internal controls), and on the relationship between citizens and migrants, receiving societies, and newcomers.
Hierarchical Multimodal Hub Location Problem with Carbon Emissions
Authors: Li Huifang , Wang Yin
Published: January 2023

The increasing demand for multimodal freight transportation makes the expansion of new secondary hubs necessary. The carbon tax has also received attention from various sectors due to the development requirements of green transportation. Therefore, this study proposed a multimodal transport hub location problem, where carbon emissions are specifically considered to achieve green strategic planning. A mixed integer non-linear programming model was formulated to determine the location of newly-built secondary hubs, the distribution of cargo flow and the modes of the transportation links. A tangible adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA) is designed to effectively search for the optimal solution. The result of the secondary hub location based on Ningbo Port shows that the additional secondary hub brought a 41.46% increase in cargo flow, a 2.2% saving in transportation time and a 2.35% saving in total cost. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis of the carbon tax reveals that a higher carbon tax increases the transport time, and more secondary hubs are needed to reduce the average cargo transport volume and save the total cost.
How Has COVID-19 Changed the Way We Travel? Exploring Tourist Personality, Reactions to the Perceived Risk and Change in Travel Behavior
Authors: Kovačić Sanja , Cimbaljević Marija , Tretyakova Tatyana N. , Syromiatnikova Yulia A. , García Henche Blanca , Petrović Marko D. , Blešić Ivana , Pivac Tatjana , Demirović Bajrami Dunja , Gajić Tamara
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic created novel conditions for researching travel behavior and tourists’ reactions in times of crisis, which largely differs from previous studies of travel behavior affected by local risks or lower travel and recreational risks. This study aims to provide an understanding of the relationship between tourist personality (MINI IPIP-6 and sensation seeking), tourists’ reactions to travel risk perception and changes in their travel behavior influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. To explore this, a global survey including 905 respondents from four countries (Spain, Croatia, Serbia and Russia) was conducted, while data were analyzed by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in AMOS. The findings suggest that tourist personality affects the changes in travel behavior influenced by COVID-19, both directly and via their reactions to travel risk.
Exploring the Motivations, Abilities and Opportunities of Young Entrepreneurs to Engage in Sustainable Tourism Business in the Mountain Area
Authors: Ivasciuc Ioana-Simona , Ispas Ana
Published: January 2023

An important driver of socio-economic development in mountain areas is sustainable tourism. Young entrepreneurs can represent a solution for the sustainable development of the mountain area. However, little is known if an opportunity or necessity drives them to engage in sustainable tourism business in the mountain area. The present study uses the motivation–ability–opportunity (MAO) framework in an effort to understand young entrepreneurs’ sustainable behavior. Semi-structured interviews with young tourism entrepreneurs in the Romanian Carpathian Mountains (n = 21) showcase why young business owners are motivated to engage in sustainable behaviors, how they make the sustainable outcome happen, and what is entrepreneurs’ perception on the opportunities that allow them to do sustainable business. This paper brings new perspectives presenting the perception of young entrepreneurs regarding the opportunities provided by natural resources in the mountain area for the sustainable development of the tourism business. The results reveal that intrinsic motivation is dominant, sustainable business development being considered an extension of personal lifestyle by most of the study participants. All respondents stated that they have knowledge about alternative energy sources, and they want to use them as much as possible in their business. Most respondents have the managerial capability to integrate the specifics of the area in the offers and to use the natural resources and infrastructure to business advantage. The use of technologies that help save resources is considered an opportunity to build a sustainable business by all study respondents, followed by facilities offered by the local community. The findings may be used by governments and other stakeholders to make key decisions that stimulate sustainable forms of entrepreneurship in the mountain area.
Strategic Planning as the Core of Active and Healthy Ageing Governance: A Case Study
Authors: Santinha Gonçalo , Soares Carolina , Forte Teresa
Published: January 2023

The present study explores the design and implementation of public policies focusing on ageing by Portuguese local governments, considering the lack of a centralized national strategy for active and healthy ageing to guide and be customized at a local level. To take stock of what is being accomplished at the city council level, we first collected and analyzed the available local strategies and further explored the process of elaboration and implementation through semi-structured interviews in four case studies. Findings suggest that only a small percentage of local governments have a strategic plan for (active and healthy) ageing. The first was launched in 2008, but most have been in place for only a few years, indicating that local governments are growing more aware of their relevance and necessity. The qualitative data supports the vital importance of this policy instrument; however, lacking centralized guidelines, the process of elaboration and implementation is idiosyncratic and prone to strategic shortcomings. Common to all is the agreement with the role of the strategy in meeting older people’s needs and expectations, currently attuned with ageing located in the community with the least disruption possible. These results provide some cues to what may be a conceptual and operational framework of healthy ageing policies to apply at the local level, privileging more flexible, fair, and adjusted approaches to the needs of older individuals in different territories.
Implications of Renovated Buildings in Yeonnam-Dong, Seoul, an Area under Commercial Gentrification
Authors: An Dai Whan , Lee Jae-Young
Published: January 2023

We aimed to identify the characteristics of the changes in the buildings and alleyways in Yeonnam-dong, Seoul, where low-rise, residential buildings are being renovated or repurposed into commercial buildings, as well as to investigate their renovations, repurposes, and sociocultural implications. Thus, we surveyed and classified 149 renovated buildings, investigated the perceptions and ambiance of the area and buildings using a trade area analysis and interviews with visitors and store owners, and uncovered the importance of renovation. Since the early gentrification, a trend of performing renovations that retained the original form of the building from the initial renovation stage was seen; this created an ambiance of nostalgia, naturalness, and authenticity, along with the urban conditions of low-rise, residential buildings in Yeonnam-dong, a representative undeveloped area. These renovated buildings reflect the social status, taste, and practice of gentrifiers, and they reveal a hybridization of the past and present, Korean circumstances and exotic cultures, and residential and commercial buildings. As commercialization progressed, renovated buildings vastly differing from the original and displaying active commercial characteristics were seen. Our findings imply that the area’s early ambiance, which had an air of “distinctiveness”, has lost its personality and begun to generalize. Thus, numerous gentrifiers have been replaced and several aspects of renovation have changed that the visitors are aware of.
Can Industry 4.0 Assist Lean Manufacturing in Attaining Sustainability over Time? Evidence from the US Organizations
Authors: Maware Catherine , Parsley David M.
Published: January 2023

Recent research asserts that Industry 4.0 technologies have positively impacted Lean Manufacturing and sustainable performance. Although the combined impact of Industry 4.0 and Lean Manufacturing on sustainable performance has been scientifically studied, no study has shown how Lean duration moderates the relationship between Industry 4.0 and Lean Manufacturing in US manufacturing firms. This research aims to close this gap by evaluating whether Lean duration moderates the association between Industry 4.0 and Lean Manufacturing, which in turn affects sustainability performance. The Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method was used to formulate and examine proposed relationships. The study used data collected from 126 managers who worked in 65 different manufacturing organizations. The data demonstrated a moderating effect of Lean duration on the relationship between Industry 4.0 and Lean Manufacturing and a significant and direct effect of Lean Manufacturing on sustainable performance. However, Industry 4.0 had a positive indirect effect on sustainable performance through the moderating effect of Lean Manufacturing and a negative direct impact on sustainable performance. The study’s findings add to the body of knowledge on the impact of Industry 4.0 on the Lean Manufacturing philosophy by identifying Lean duration as a moderator of this relationship. Theoretically, this research empirically validated the association between Lean duration, Industry 4.0, Lean Manufacturing, and sustainable performance in US Manufacturing organizations. The results showed that industry practitioners should consider the effect of Lean duration when adopting and managing Industry 4.0 technologies for better sustainable performance.
An Improved Method and the Theoretical Equations for River Regulation Lines
Authors: Li Linqi , Zhang Hongwu , Hou Lin , Li Haobo
Published: January 2023

The regulation of wandering rivers is a universal problem that attracts significant attention. To effectively control the dynamic state of river course, it is necessary to adjust and construct river training works, which can be regarded as inseparable parts of the planning of river regulation lines. In this study, by comprehensively analyzing the water and sediment discharge in the wandering river of the Yellow River over the period 1952–2020, the large change in water and sediment conditions will inevitably affect the change in river regimes. By analyzing the river regime evolution process from 1990 to 2020 and calculating the river change index, it is found that the wandering channel of the Yellow River has gradually been stabilized, and there is no longer a large channel change, but a small amplitude swing still occurs frequently since 2010. Therefore, these phenomena highlight an urgent need for improving the planning of river regulation lines. According to the properties of parabola, circular arcs, elliptical arcs and curvature arcs, these curves are used to describe the flow path of the river. The theoretical equations of river regulation line with four curve forms are developed based on the latest river regimes and the location of the existing training works as the basis. Four groups of theoretical equations were verified by selecting typical river bends or reaches. The innovative practices from this study may assist in providing technical references, which control the frequent changes that occurred in river regime, as well as guaranteeing the healthy and sustainable development of rivers.
An Analysis of the Impact of International R&D Spillovers and Technology Innovation in China
Authors: Wang Mengzhen , Choi Baekryul
Published: January 2023

To test the impact of international R&D spillovers on China’s technological innovation, we collect and use province-country-level data from 23 provinces from 2001 to 2020 to fill a measurement gap of international R&D spillovers, so that our measurement can avoid ‘aggregation bias’ unlike the calculation methods in previous studies. We find that imports act as an effective international R&D spillover channel for improving technological innovation. Meanwhile, international R&D spillover through inward FDI and imports positively promotes China’s innovation performance. It suggests to policymakers that continuing to open up the economy and attract high-quality inward FDI is still required. Moreover, our results confirm that the eastern region enjoys a more significant international R&D spillover effect because of a more effective innovation environment. Hence, we suggest that given the inherent short board in the central and western regions, preferential policies to make up for this short board should be proposed to improve the innovation environment in the inland regions so as to enjoy a more significant international R&D spillover effect. Finally, we also observe that different periods of economic growth and the development levels of source countries also result in heterogeneous innovation impacts of international R&D spillover effects.
Sustainability Analysis of Soil Erosion Control in Rwanda: Case Study of the Sebeya Watershed
Authors: Majoro Félicien , Wali Umaru Garba , Munyaneza Omar , Naramabuye François-Xavier
Published: January 2023

Soil erosion is a complex process that results in soil and fertility losses from agricultural land and, ultimately, leads to river sedimentation. This study aimed to assess various influential factors and processes affecting soil erosion and to recommend suitable site-based Soil Erosion Control Measures (SECM) for sustainable agriculture while minimizing the downstream rivers and reservoir sedimentation in the Sebeya watershed of Rwanda. The present research used a literature review, site visits, and focus groups to assess various SECM within the Sebeya watershed. As a result, various site-based SECM were evaluated, recommended, and simulated to alleviate high soil loss rates in the Sebeya watershed using the Universal Soil Erosion Equation (USLE) model. Simulating existing and proposed SECM, soil loss was reduced significantly from 73 t/ha/y to 29 t/ha/y. To highlight the implication of the site-based recommended SECM in improving agricultural productivity, this study suggests field investigations in soil erosion plots and prediction of crop yields from an established linear correlation model between soil loss and crop yields in the Sebeya watershed. For effective action in reducing high soil erosion rates to tolerable rates in the Sebeya watershed, the present research recommends implementing the site-based recommended SECM with mulching and drainage channels on the same farmland. However, lack of money and knowledge are the main limitations in implementing SECM in the Sebeya watershed. Therefore, governmental and non-governmental organizations should technically and financially help farmers in the Sebeya watershed.
Determining Ergonomic Appraisal Factors Affecting the Learning Motivation and Academic Performance of Students during Online Classes
Authors: Gumasing Ma. Janice J. , Castro Francee Mae F.
Published: January 2023

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, students face intolerable mental and physical discomfort when taking online classes, directly impacting their learning motivation and academic performance. Related studies indicated that students had negative sentiments regarding online learning. This may be an alarming notion for students, particularly regarding their learning ability and participation in school. To overcome this nuisance, the primary objective of this study was to examine the factors affecting students’ learning motivation and academic performance during online learning using a novel framework of ergonomic appraisal. A total of 316 respondents answered the online questionnaire using a purposive sampling approach through social media platforms. Ergonomic-based indicators for physical, cognitive, and macro-ergonomics were analyzed simultaneously using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results showed that the design of the workstation, the use of LMS, access to technology, teaching delivery, temperature level, and visual learning style were found to significantly influence students’ learning motivation, which then impacts the student’s academic performance. Thus, it is essential for those who are facilitating distance learning to keep in mind the factors that could motivate the student. As a result, this paper becomes an avenue to help appropriately plan the course program to ensure its viability and productively engage the students since online learning is becoming increasingly necessary. Further, this article also provides recommendations and implications on assisting schools, educators, and students in aiding a student’s learning motivation and academic performance.
Optimizing the Sample Selection of Machine Learning Models for Landslide Susceptibility Prediction Using Information Value Models in the Dabie Mountain Area of Anhui, China
Authors: Liu Yanrong , Meng Zhongqiu , Zhu Lei , Hu Di , He Handong
Published: January 2023

The evaluation of landslide susceptibility is of great significance in the prevention and management of geological hazards. The accuracy of the landslide susceptibility prediction model based on machine learning is significantly higher than that of traditional expert knowledge and the conventional mathematical statistics model. The correct and reasonable selection of non-landslide samples in the machine learning model greatly improves the prediction accuracy and reliability of the regional landslide susceptibility model. Focusing on the problem of selecting non-landslide samples in the machine learning model for landslide susceptibility evaluation, this paper proposes a landslide susceptibility evaluation method based on the combination of an information model and machine learning in traditional mathematical statistics. First, the influence factors for landslide susceptibility evaluation are screened by the correlation analysis method. Second, the information value model is used to delimit areas with low and relatively low landslide susceptibility, and non-landslide points are randomly selected. Third, a landslide susceptibility evaluation method combined with IV-ML, such as logistic regression (IV-LR), random forest (IV-RF), support vector machine (IV-SVM), and artificial neural network (IV-ANN), is established. Finally, the landslide susceptibility factors in the Dabie Mountain area of Anhui Province are analyzed, and the accuracy of the landslide susceptibility evaluation results using the IV-LR, IV-RF, IV-SVM, and IV-ANN and LR, RF, SVM, and ANN methods are compared. The accuracy is evaluated by examining the ACC, AUC, and kappa values of the model. The results indicate that the evaluation effect of the IV-ML models (IV-LR, IV-RF, IV-SVM, IV-ANN) on landslide susceptibility is significantly higher than that of the ML models (LR, RF, SVM, ANN).
Collaborative Governance in Desertification Control in China: A Case Study of Hobq Desert
Authors: He Wensheng , Yue Xiao
Published: January 2023

Increasing desertification has been threatening the sustainable development of human society. Accordingly, the topic of desertification has garnered increasing attention in ecological development and environmental protection. Since the reform and opening-up (1978), China has been actively engaged in desertification control practices and has achieved remarkable results. However, studies have discussed China’s achievements in desertification control mainly from the perspective of natural science and science and technology. Studies conducting an in-depth analysis from the perspective of public management have been inadequate. This study considers collaborative governance in public management as a crucial theoretical tool to analyze collaborative governance in desertification control. Based on desertification control practices in China, an analysis framework was formed for collaborative desertification governance. The analysis framework encompasses the following four dimensions: (1)value, specifying the means to effectively achieve the value goal of collaboration; (2) institutions, identifying the measures to ensure the long-term operation of collaborative governance; (3) structure, identifying the specific relationship and content of collaboration; and (4) mechanisms, defining the practices for collaborative governance. In addition, the case of the Hobq Desert was considered to analyze the framework through the aforementioned four dimensions.
Port Competition through Hinterland Connectivity—A Case Study for Potential Hinterland Scope in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) Regarding an Environmental Policy Measure
Authors: Gleser Michael , Elbert Ralf , Wu Hongjun
Published: January 2023

Comparable port efficiency among ports of the European northern range leads to a competitive shift toward hinterland connectivity. North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), having a high population and industry density and an extensive road, rail and waterway network, is prone to such inter port competition due to its proximity. Using a simulation model, the potential hinterland scope by each port and mode in NRW is depicted and a sensitivity analysis with increasing carbon tax rates is conducted. With an increasing tax rate, the scope for central areas of NRW, prone to a shift to rail transport, expands and become heavily contested among multiple ports. A major profiteer of an increase is projected to be the Port of Rotterdam due to its good connectivity at the cost of Antwerp. The market share of German ports is likely to stay the same with a mode shift occurring. Policy measures like a carbon tax not only have an effect on environmentally friendly mode shift but can severely impact the competitive situation of infrastructure components. While achieving the primary goal of transport sustainability, national interests might mandate the economical existence of a functioning maritime port, which leads to the consideration of additional measures when increasing carbon tax rates.
Exploring Teacher Education for Sustainable Development in the UAE
Authors: Baroudi Sandra
Published: January 2023

New ways of modernizing professional development programs (hereafter PDs) focus on the acquisition of new teaching methods and techniques through hands-on opportunities provided to teachers, thereby enabling them to practice and reflect on the knowledge gained. Moreover, the new vision of reform and sustainability in education emphasizes the development of sustainable PDs that resist disruptive factors, increase teachers’ commitment, and ensure more sustainable development across children’s lifespans. This study explores the impact of a piloted sustainable PD on the development of 16 teachers and head teachers’ attitudes about assessment practices, professional growth, and leadership skills. Qualitative data collected in the form of interviews, post-PD surveys, and reflections were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Findings indicate that the confidence in creating assessments and rubrics of participants in their different positions increased, and their ability to provide their students with engaging, sustainably developed assessments that improved higher-order thinking skills was also enhanced. The findings in this study demonstrated the need to develop within teachers the awareness that they can individually contribute towards a more sustainably developed classroom and learning environment. Although participants did make some changes to their classroom-based practices, these changes could not be well-maintained as they were limited by the high stakes involved in varying the structure of mandatory assessments required in the public education sector. It is hoped that the findings of this study can be used as a model for the development of sustainable PDs in education.
Tracking Visual Programming Language-Based Learning Progress for Computational Thinking Education
Authors: Wu Ting-Ting , Lin Chia-Ju , Wang Shih-Cheng , Huang Yueh-Min
Published: January 2023

Maker education that incorporates computational thinking streamlines learning and helps familiarize learners with recent advances in science and technology. Computational thinking (CT) is a vital core capability that anyone can learn. CT can be learned through programming, in particular, via visual programming languages. The conclusions of most studies were based on quantitative or system-based results, whereas we automatically assessed CT learning progress using the Scratch visual programming language as a CT teaching tool and an integrated learning tracking system. The study shows that Scratch helped teachers to diagnose students’ individual weaknesses and provide timely intervention. Our results demonstrate that learners could complete tasks and solve problems using the core CT steps. After accomplishing numerous tasks, learners became familiar with the core CT concepts. The study also shows that despite increased learning anxiety when solving problems, all learners were confident and interested in learning, and completed each task step by step.
Response of Soil Environment and Microbial Community Structure to Different Ratios of Long-Term Straw Return and Nitrogen Fertilizer in Wheat–Maize System
Authors: Yu Man , Wang Qingxia , Su Yao , Xi Hui , Qiao Yuying , Guo Zhanlin , Wang Yunlong , Shen Alin
Published: January 2023

To determine the reasonable rate of straw return and nitrogen (N) fertilizer use which may maintain soil ecosystem health, we analyzed their soil microbial biomass and composition in a 10-year field experiment with different rates of straw return (50%, 100%) and N fertilizer (270, 360, 450, 540 kg N ha−1 yr−1) by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis and high-throughput sequencing. A rate of 50% straw return combined with 450 or 540 kg N ha−1 yr−1 effectively increased the soil available nutrient contents mainly for total nitrogen, available potassium, and available phosphorus. Total PLFAs indicated that straw return combined with N fertilizer promoted soil microbial growth and increased biomass. A rate of 100% straw return with 450 kg N ha−1 yr−1 was not conducive to the stability of the soil ecosystem according to the ratio of fungi to bacteria (F:B). The similar rate of straw returning and the similar level of nitrogen fertilizer application will be divided into the same cluster using a heatmap analysis. Some saprophytic fungi or pathogens became the dominant fungi genera, such as Gibberella, Sarocladium, Pseudallescheria, and Mycosphaerella, in the treatments with 100% straw returning combining higher N fertilizer (>450 kg ha−1 yr−1 yr−1 added). The relative abundances of some heavy metal-tolerant bacteria, such as those in Proteobacteria and Chlorobi, increased in the soils in the 100% straw return treatments. Therefore, the combined application of 100% straw returning and higher N fertilizer (>450 kg ha−1 yr−1) added long-term was not appropriate for soil health, which will lead to the risk of disease and pollution in soil.
Effect of Geographical Conditions on Moss–Soil Crust Restoration on Cut Rock Slopes in a Mountainous Area in Western Sichuan, China
Authors: Pu Wanqiu , Zhao Maoqiang , Du Jie , Liu Yongyao , Huang Chengmin
Published: January 2023

Ecological restoration has great significance on cut rock slopes, which are considered extremely degraded habitats. The development of moss–soil crusts on cut rock slopes as a critical pathway to ecological restoration in mountain areas has been poorly reported. A total of 335 quadrats were selected on cut rock slopes with formation ages between 0 and 60 years to evaluate the evolution characteristics of moss–soil crusts under various geographical conditions (e.g., aspect, lithology, and altitude) in the mountainous area of western Sichuan, Southwest China. The results suggested that moss growth decoupled from soil accumulation within the crusts and was controlled by multiple factors. Moss growth depended on lithology, altitude, and age, while soil weight was mainly influenced by slope aspect. The development of mosses on limestone was better than on sandstone. Moss biomass varied with altitude, consistent with that of rainfall with respect to moss development dependent on moisture. Furthermore, moss development under a semiarid climate was more distinctly impacted by moisture with altitude relative to a humid region, likely owing to the higher sensitivity of the mosses to moisture in the former than in the latter. Moss biomass increased with recovery time, while the rate of moss biomass development was diverse in different geographical areas. The vegetation developed rapidly in low-altitude areas (~1000 m above sea level), resulting in moss biomass increasing from 0 to 24.08 g·m−2 with formation time increasing from 0.5 to 1.5 years and subsequently being restricted by the evolution of higher plants on cut rock slopes, leading to an insignificant difference in moss biomass between 1.5 and 60 years. In high-altitude areas, when the altitude changed slightly (from 2024 to 2430 m above sea level), the moss biomass on cut rock slopes increased linearly with increasing age from 5 to 27 years. Influenced by the surrounding fertile soils and moss bioaccumulation, there were high levels of soil major nutrient content, especially the organic matter content, which reached 377.42 g·kg−1. More soils accumulated on south-facing slopes than on north-facing slopes. This study provided field data to clearly reveal the influence of geographic factors on moss–soil crust development in natural restoration processes in high-altitude mountainous areas.
“Learn to Conserve Your Passion and Care”: Exploring the Emotional Labor of Special-Post Teachers in Rural China
Authors: Wu Jianjian , Song Huan
Published: January 2023

In recent decades, the growing trend of post-structuralist research on teacher emotional labor has offered a discursive lens to elucidate rural teachers’ identities and their teaching practices. To date, however, few studies have explored the emotional labor of special-post teachers in rural China. Through a post-structuralist framework, this study aimed to explore the emotional labor of special-post teachers. Ethnographic qualitative data from a rural primary school in northern China showed that special-post teachers experienced various emotional conflicts embedded in multiple discourses. As teaching experience increases, special-post teachers obtain agentive emotional and practical responses to lighten their negative emotional burden for work. The findings suggested that the role overload and conflicts of special-post teachers were especially prominent in the social context of the urban–rural dichotomy. Emotional reflexivity and vulnerability of special-post teachers in their identity construction as educator, professional-service-provider, and also passer-by were also discussed.
Development and Validation of Chinese Kindergarten Teachers’ Learning and Development Scale
Authors: Duan Qingru , Jiang Yong , Wang Yifang , Zheng Chuchu , Liu Jing , Liu Xin
Published: January 2023

This study examined Chinese kindergarten teachers’ learning and development (CKTLD) using a newly developed and validated instrument, the CKTLD scale. Altogether, 1170 kindergarten teachers who were randomly sampled from ten provinces in China participated in the survey. First, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed a seven-factor structure: motivation, information literacy, cultural literacy, reflection, career planning, teacher collaboration, and belief and mission, thereby indicating that the CKTLD scale was reliable and valid. Second, descriptive statistics showed that the overall status of kindergarten teachers’ learning and development was below average in China; meanwhile, the level of motivation ranked the highest, while that of information literacy and cultural literacy were lower. Third, hierarchical regression analysis revealed that job position and teaching experience were critical predictors of teachers’ learning and development, after controlling for personal and family factors. The findings indicate the necessity of reforming teacher education and providing school support to enhance kindergarten teachers’ learning and development. Further, this study broadens the research framework and provides a valuable tool with which to evaluate kindergarten teachers’ learning and development in China and other countries.
How Can We Frame Energy Communities’ Organisational Models? Insights from the Research ‘Community Energy Map’ in the Italian Context
Authors: De Vidovich Lorenzo , Tricarico Luca , Zulianello Matteo
Published: January 2023

According to the early transposition of the EU directives by the Italian government, this paper presents some of the outcomes of the qualitative-led applied research titled Community Energy Map, aimed at identifying the main operational models and organisational frameworks put in place for the development of renewable energy communities (RECs). In this respect, the article discusses a threefold subdivision of organisational models to implement RECs: public lead, pluralist, and community energy builders’ model. Furthermore, the paper illustrates in detail three of the nine case studies dedicated to recently launched RECs, conducted through qualitative fieldworks, to investigate the social and local implications generated by these community-led initiatives. The article stresses the relevance of both the local scale and community-led initiatives in the pathway towards a fair and just energy transition, by discussing how RECs define new organisational models of distributed energy systems.
Environmental Regulation and Green Technology Innovation under the Carbon Neutrality Goal: Dual Regulation of Human Capital and Industrial Structure
Authors: Liang Peng , Xie Shuangyi , Qi Fengyu , Huang Yu , Wu Xiuwen
Published: January 2023

Green technology innovation is increasingly becoming an important driver of modern development. Facing the pressure of the carbon neutrality target, China has been strengthening environmental regulations in recent years, and the green technology innovation ability of market players has been affected. Moreover, the impact of environmental regulations on green technology innovation and the strategies to develop green technology innovation still need to be further explored. Here, we used 285 cities from 2010–2020 as research subjects, constructed indicators such as environmental regulation and green technology innovation capability, and used panel regression, threshold effect and mediating effect methods. The results reveal that: (1) environmental regulation has a disincentive effect on green technology innovation, as increased environmental regulation increases production costs, external costs and opportunity costs for firms, causing a mismatch of resources and creating a “crowding-out effect” that inhibits innovation development; (2) further study finds that when the human capital level reaches a certain threshold value, the impact of environmental regulation on green technology innovation shifts significantly, i.e., there is a threshold effect; (3) industrial structure can further be upgraded and optimized by environmental regulation, which will have an impact on green technology innovation, thus industrial structure optimization plays a mediating role. We conclude with recommendations for improving green innovation techniques for market players, and provide some lessons for accelerating the goal of carbon neutrality and promoting quality economic development.
Archaeoastronomy and Conflict: On the Orientation of Prehistoric Funerary Monuments in Western Sahara
Authors: Rodríguez-Antón Andrea , Urrutia-Aparicio Maitane , Perera Betancor María Antonia
Published: January 2023

A variety of Prehistoric dry-stone monuments are ubiquitous in Western Sahara, a region delimited by the boundaries of the former Spanish colony. With either burial or ritual functions, these monuments are spread throughout the Sahara Desert creating sacred landscapes and housing the memory of millennia of occupation. Previous research has explored the role of the sky in various aspects of the life of early inhabitants, such as their religious beliefs or funerary practices. These have been identified by the patterns of location and orientation of these constructions and their relation to particular astronomical events. This work presents a statistical analysis of the orientation of more than 200 prehistoric dry-stone monuments in Western Sahara occupied by Morocco, currently the biggest sample ever studied in this area and the first unique sample obtained in situ. The results show that the orientations follow similar trends observed in other areas of North Africa and the Mediterranean and that they fit with the visibility of particular celestial objects. This provides new insights into the ideas about space, time, and death and the cultural changes and mobility of those peoples and contributes to the preservation of a highly threatened heritage that is immersed in a vast land currently under dispute.
Simulation of the Energy Performance of a Building with Green Roofs and Green Walls in a Tropical Climate
Authors: Pragati Saranathan , Shanthi Priya Radhakrishnan , Pradeepa Chandramouli , Senthil Ramalingam
Published: January 2023

Global temperatures have continued to rise for decades, partly due to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and subsequent urban heat island (UHI) effects. This current research examines the benefits of urban greenery by studying the impact of green roofs and walls of a building on thermal behavior and heat transfer in a warm and humid climate. This simulation study discusses the importance of greening systems in improving thermal comfort and minimizing the causes of UHI by assessing an integrated green building design. Using the simulation software DesignBuilder, the significance of greening systems, green roofs, and walls in enhancing thermal comfort and reducing the factors that contribute to UHI is investigated. The simulation results are based on the building’s energy usage in hot and humid regions while featuring green roofs and walls. The simulation results indicate a considerable positive impact of greening systems in improving the urban environment in hot and humid tropical climates. Air temperature, radiant temperature, humidity, and solar gain are decreased by urban greening. The total energy consumption and district cooling demand of buildings with green roofs and walls are reduced by 10.5% and 13%, respectively. The greening systems substantially improve air quality and building’s energy efficiency. Thus, the present study‘s findings can benefit urban designers and dwellers in devising strategies for establishing green spaces in congested urban environments by integrating green technologies and systems into built environments.
Park-Based Physical Activity, Users’ Socioeconomic Profiles, and Parks’ Characteristics: Empirical Evidence from Bangkok
Authors: Miao Shengyue , Sasaki Nophea , Tsusaka Takuji W. , Winijkul Ekbordin
Published: January 2023

It is beneficial to a person’s physical and mental health to engage in regular physical activity, while public parks are a critical infrastructure for encouraging physical activity. However, little research has examined how parks’ and users’ characteristics affect activity intensity. Using primary data collected from 432 users of six public parks of different sizes in Bangkok, this study examined the relationship between park and user characteristics and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to understand the user profile and usage of the parks. Logistic regression was employed to determine the association between MVPA and the characteristics of parks and park users. The results show that MVPA was positively influenced by gender (being male with MVPA of 29.0%), time spent in the parks (MVPA of 22.7%), weekend evenings by 21.6%, large park size by 18.9%, and availability of park facilities by 233.0%. However, age, marital status, and occupation did not influence MVPA. Our findings indicate that the improvement of park facilities and enlargement of park size can increase MVPA for various ages and genders. Furthermore, improving facilities in small parks, raising local awareness, and disseminating information about parks can boost MVPA.
Analysis of Human Disturbance Features in Natural Reserves and Empirical Research on Their Restoration: A Case Study of the Huangchulin Nature Reserve in Fujian Province
Authors: Wu Xiaopei , Yi Can , Cui Wenwen , Zhang Zhi , Yan Chen , Xie Xiangcai
Published: January 2023

Nature reserves are important areas delineated to protect natural resources and the ecological environment. They have various ecological functions, such as protecting biodiversity, conserving water sources, and purifying the atmosphere. However, with the rapid development of the social economy, human disturbance in natural reserves is becoming increasingly pronounced, which has seriously damaged the initial balance of the ecosystem in the reserves. Based on the specific local conditions of the reserve, this study selects four influencing factors that are closely related to human activities, namely, land use, vegetation cover, slope and elevation as the primary evaluation indicators of human disturbance. With the support of an analytic hierarchy process and GIS technology, this study conducts a comprehensive analysis of human disturbance in the Fujian Huangchulin Nature Reserve and proposes corresponding ecological restoration measures for different disturbed areas. The results indicate that the area that is seriously and completely disturbed by human activities is primarily that around the river basin, which accounts for 25.30% of the total area. The lightly disturbed area covers the largest area, followed by the intermediately disturbed area, which accounts for 37.91% and 32.96% of the total area, respectively. The smallest area is slightly disturbed and accounts for only 3.83% of the total area. Based on the comprehensive analytical results of human disturbance and the functional zoning of the natural reserves in China, the Shitan Stream area in the Huangchulin Nature Reserve is selected as the experimental site for ecological restoration. According to the human disturbance in different sectors of the Shitan Stream area and the concept of “Mountain, Water, Forest, Field, Lake and Grass,” the ecological restoration measures of the “Four-tiered Protection System” are proposed in the experiment, which are the river system restoration, brownfield restoration, soil and water conservation, and original ecological protection areas. Natural regeneration and active restoration are then combined to be implemented in different areas, and the ecological problems of brown land pollution, water system cutoff, and soil erosion have been effectively solved, and the plant coverage increased substantially. In summary, this study shows that only by taking social, economic and ecological factors into account and establishing a sound management system can restoration work proceed smoothly and achieve more environmental benefits.
A Systematic Literature Review on ESG during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Savio Riccardo , D’Andrassi Edoardo , Ventimiglia Francesca
Published: January 2023

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues have been investigated by scholars from several points of view. Although the epidemic of COVID-19 is recent, numerous scholars have analyzed its effects on ESG, making it difficult to systematize current knowledge. This generates the risk that the discussion will become stale. This study aims to provide a systematic literature review able to examine the combination of ESG and COVID-19 outbreak, to understand what the academics discovered. Eighty-five studies were systematically reviewed. We used a systematic literature review which is the tool that can ensure that all relevant data from the topic under investigation are considered. This approach is considered as the most comprehensive and rigorous one because it allows the creation of the advancement of knowledge of the specific topic. We identified five classes plus a residual one that accommodate the main topics analyzed in the literature (investment and stock returns, ESG in specific industries, ESG rating, gender studies, ESG reporting, and other). Our research highlights that most of the studies have been focused on the first three topics, sometimes reaching different or opposite findings, while only few studies have been dedicated on the other topics. Therefore, we state the need for more research into the ESG/COVID-19 combination in the fields of gender diversity and ESG reporting, and for more research able to understand the different findings of the other three identified topics.
Effects of M-Truncated Derivative and Multiplicative Noise on the Exact Solutions of the Breaking Soliton Equation
Authors: Mohammed Wael W. , El-Morshedy M. , Moumen Abdelkader , Ali Ekram E. , Benaissa M. , Abouelregal Ahmed E.
Published: January 2023

In this article, the fractional–space stochastic (2+1)-dimensional breaking soliton equation (SFSBSE) is taken into account in the sense of M-Truncated derivative. To get the exact solutions to the SFSBSE, we use the modified F-expansion method. There are several varieties of obtained exact solutions, including trigonometric and hyperbolic functions. The attained solutions of the SFSBSE established in this paper extend a number of previously attained results. Moreover, in order to clarify the influence of multiplicative noise and M-Truncated derivative on the behavior and symmetry of the solutions for the SFSBSE, we employ Matlab to plot three-dimensional and two-dimensional diagrams of the exact fractional–stochastic solutions achieved here. In general, a noise term that destroy the symmetry of the solutions increases the solution’s stability.