bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use, Practices and Attitudes of Elite and Sub-Elite Athletes towards Tart Cherry Supplementation
Authors: Wangdi Jimmy T. , Sabou Vlad , O’Leary Mary F. , Kelly Vincent G. , Bowtell Joanna L.
Published: March 2021

Tart cherry (TC) supplementation can improve exercise recovery and performance; and may also improve sleep duration and quality. This study investigated the use and knowledge of TC supplementation by athletes of all competitive levels. Eighty participants (52.5% elite (international, national, professional), 47.5% sub-elite (semi-professional, state/regional, county level, club level, recreational)) completed an online questionnaire investigating their attitudes towards and use of TC supplementation. Overall, 22.6% of participants were using or had previously used TC supplements, and 12.5% of participants planned to used TC supplements. Improved recovery (71.4%), sleep (32.1%) and immunity and general health (32.1%) were the most frequently indicated goals by respondents using TC supplements. In total, 32.1% of respondents were supplemented with TC chronically, 39.3% acutely and 28.6% used a combination of chronic and acute supplementation. The majority of those employing TC supplementation chronically used TC either over 2–3 days (37.0%) or continuously (37.0%). The most popular TC pre- and post-loading period was one day (34.3% and 41.5%, respectively). There were no significant differences between elite and sub-elite athletes in any parameters assessed (p > 0.05). TC supplementation is not widely used by the athletes surveyed, and athletes using TC supplements showed poor awareness of an evidence-led dosing strategy, regardless of competitive level.
Greening the Brownfields of Thermal Power Plants in Rural Areas, an Example from Romania, Set in the Context of Developments in the Industrialized Country of Germany
Authors: Bostenaru Dan Maria , Bostenaru-Dan Magdalena Maria
Published: March 2021

This paper describes the greening of ash dumps from two thermal power plants located in Romania, in the villages of Mintia and Doicești, two rural areas neighboring middle-sized cities, both with architectural, archaeological and landscape heritage. Currently, the two Romanian villages have different fates in the context of shrinking cities, and solutions from the industrialized country of Germany that are more advanced in closing polluting thermal power plants are examples of this. Thus, the greening of industrial waste is one of the current challenges of the energy shift towards renewable energy. Nature-based solutions such as the proposed use of the biodegradable geo-textile in the greening is one of the current trends. The development of the biodegradable geo-textile was contemporary with the creation of the International Building Exhibition (Internationale Bauaaustellung—IBA) Emscher Park in the ancient industrial coal mining Ruhr area, in Germany; later research, around 10 years ago, explored soil pollution at these two Romanian thermal power plants. A recent research study investigated the conversion of the industrial buildings of the thermal power plant in Doicești, however, these buildings were demolished at the end of last year. Mintia thermal power plant continues to function. This paper explores the current challenges of industrial brownfields, energy shift, ecology, the 21st yearly session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris and “Laudato si”, spanning 30 years of history and the legacy of the research over this time.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Events during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The User Preferences of VirBELA Virtual 3D Platform at the SHIFT Event Organized in Finland
Authors: Jauhiainen Jussi S.
Published: March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic brought abrupt changes for international events that promote entrepreneurship and innovation. Usually, such events bring together thousands of participants to provide them with information about ongoing and emerging trends in their fields, to network with old and new colleagues and get ideas that can develop into innovations. In 2020, most such events were cancelled. Few events were organized virtually, that is without participants physically coming together. Compared with physical face-to-face events, virtual events reduce the travel-related emissions and consumption, thereby supporting sustainability. This article studies the SHIFT entrepreneurship and innovation event held virtually in October 2020 and organized in Finland. For this article, the author gathered data about user preferences from surveying participants, speakers, presenters and organizers, almost all of whom were first-time users of VirBELA’s 3D virtual platform. Furthermore, participant observation and interviews via avatars were conducted during the event. At the virtual event, 68% of respondents talked with former acquaintances, and 68% also talked with new acquaintances, and 53% opinioned that using the virtual platform can support the emergence of innovations. Virtual entrepreneurship and innovation events have potential to support networking, novel ideas and thus innovations, but issues of trust and confidentiality arose concerns among some participants.
Specialty Coffee Shops in Mexico: Factors Influencing the Likelihood of Purchasing High-Quality Coffee
Authors: Servín-Juárez Roselia , Trejo-Pech Carlos J. O. , Pérez-Vásquez Alma Yanet , Reyes-Duarte Álvaro
Published: March 2021

This study models the purchasing behavior of specialty coffee by 114 coffee shops across 15 cities in nine states in Mexico. Simple and multilevel mixed-effects logistic models are tested. Our models extend the framework used in prior research. We model the purchase of specialty coffee as a function of: (a) material attributes, (b) symbolic attributes, (c) coffee shop characteristics, (d) profile of the coffee shop’s owner, and (e) socio-economic variables of the cities where the coffee shops were located. Overall, our results are consistent with expectations developed from the coffee literature. That is, the likelihood of purchasing specialty coffee increases when: coffee’s aroma drives the purchase, coffee purchased is from the state of Oaxaca, the coffee shop has a value-added business model, the coffee shop is diversified selling both ground coffee and coffee drinks, the coffee shop owner’s knowledge on coffee supply chain activities is high, and the coffee shop is located in a city with a higher education index. In contrast, the likelihood of purchasing specialty coffee decreases when a coffee professional tastes the coffee before the purchase, when coffee shops are not given the opportunity to roast their own coffee, and in coffee shops located in larger cities. Overall, our research suggests that the specialty coffee niche in Mexico has some elements required for this segment to transition from a supply chain approach to a value-based supply chain approach. This might be particularly beneficial for smallholder coffee growers, who despite several constraints contribute to the sustainability of coffee supply chains.
A Comprehensive Study of Spatiotemporal Variations in Temperature Extremes across China during 1960–2018
Authors: Zhao Na , Chen Mingxing
Published: March 2021

Understanding the changing patterns of extreme temperatures is important for taking measures to reduce their associated negative impacts. Based on daily temperature data derived from 2272 meteorological stations in China, the spatiotemporal variations in temperature extremes were examined with respect to covariates by means of the Mann–Kendall test and a spatiotemporal model during 1960–2018. The results indicated that the temporal changes in cold extremes showed decreasing trends and warm extremes experienced increasing trends across almost all of China, with mean change rates of −3.9 days, −1.8 days, 3.7 days and 2.3 days per decade for TN10p, TX10p, TN90p and TX90p, respectively. Nighttime warming/cooling was higher than daytime warming/cooling, which indicated that trends in minimum temperature extremes are more rapid than trends in maximum temperature extremes. In addition, the temporal effect on the temperature extremes varied throughout the year, with significant increasing trends in the temporal heterogeneity of warm extremes occurring during 1992–2018. The areas with strong spatial heterogeneity of cool nights mainly included northeastern and central China, and the spatial variation on cool days was more prominent in northern China. For warm nights, the areas showing high spatial heterogeneity were mainly located in the northwestern part of China, while areas for warm days were distributed in northern China. Our results provide meaningful information for a deeper understanding of the spatiotemporal variations in temperature extremes across mainland China.
Impacts of Manufacturing Specialized and Diversified Agglomeration on the Eco-Innovation Efficiency—A Nonlinear Test from Dynamic Perspective
Authors: Zhang Lu , Mu Renyan , Hu Shuhua , Zhang Quan , Wang Song
Published: March 2021

Eco-innovation is the main driver of realizing the coordinated development of resource, environmental and economic systems. This paper measures regional eco-innovation efficiency (EIE) by using the Super-Slack Based Measure (SBM) model with undesirable outputs and distinguishes different agglomeration patterns based on Chinese data of 21 manufacturing sub-industries of 30 provinces. In particular, from the perspective of the dynamic evolution of manufacturing agglomeration, the nonlinear effects of specialized and diversified agglomeration on EIE are investigated based on panel threshold regression models. The results indicate that China’s EIE shows a U-shaped changing trend. The impacts of specialized and diversified agglomeration on EIE are nonlinear and have significant three-threshold effects. There exist a U-shaped relationship between specialized agglomeration and EIE, and an S-shaped relationship between diversified agglomeration and EIE. In terms of eco-innovation, the development of diversified agglomeration is superior to that of specialized agglomeration. Overall, there is still much room for more than 70% of provinces in China to increase their EIE by optimizing the layout of manufacturing specialized and diversified agglomeration. To improve the EIE and achieve sustainable economic growth, differentiated agglomeration policies should be formulated in various stages and regions. In addition, the driving mechanism of eco-innovation should be strengthened.
Driving Consumer Engagement through Diverse Calls to Action in Corporate Social Responsibility Messages on Social Media
Authors: Chae Myoung-Jin
Published: March 2021

Although a growing number of consumers acknowledge the importance of firms’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, how companies can effectively communicate these initiatives to consumers is still a challenge. Although the rise of social media platforms has provided firms with opportunities for more immediate and interactive communication with consumers, recent academic studies related to social media have mostly focused on effective communication of promotional messages, and relatively little attention has been paid to prosocial messages. For better communication, social media branded messages have encouraged user participation (i.e., calls to action), but how diverse types of calls to action can generate consumer engagement remains unexplored. Using over 2000 branded posts from popular consumer product brands on Facebook and Twitter, this research explores diverse types of calls to action that drive consumers’ attitudinal (i.e., likes) and behavioral (i.e., shares) engagement with CSR-related messages on social media. The research findings suggest that the types of calls to action matter in the effectiveness of CSR messages. Specifically, CSR messages inviting consumers to brand-related programs or games generated a greater number of likes and shares. However, the overall engagement was lower when CSR messages encouraged further conversations, and rewarding consumers was also less effective. Finally, the results show that multiple calls to action within one message decrease engagement. Overall, this study contributes to the academic literature and management by providing new insights and actionable guidelines on how to encourage user participation when designing CSR messages to enhance consumers’ attitudinal and behavioral engagement within social media, thereby contributing to sustainable development while enhancing the effectiveness of marketing communications.
Semantic Network Analysis to Explore the Concept of Sustainability in the Apparel and Textile Industry
Authors: Youn Chorong , Jung Hye Jung
Published: March 2021

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware and sensitive to the negative environmental impact caused by the fashion industry and by consumers’ high consumption of fashion. This study analyzes people’s unfiltered comments and behaviors on social media sites related to the sustainability of fashion products. Recently, the number of social media data, called big data, has exploded, transcending the level that can be analyzed with existing tools. This study aims to identify consumers’ perceptions of sustainable fashion using the search words “sustainable fashion” to examine public opinion trends found in SNS big data. Text mining was employed to extract meaningful words from the SNS texts using semantic network analysis to analyze the connectivity and propagation trends. The text data were collected from Facebook using the Google search engine to detect tendencies in the occurrence of keywords related to sustainable fashion in SNS over the past five years (2016~2020). The results revealed that the keywords “eco-friendly”, “ethical”, and “recycle” had the highest frequency and centrality. As a result of grouping the keywords based on their correlations, sustainable fashion texts from the SNS data could be classified into four groups: “supply chain of sustainable fashion”, “circular fashion”, “fashion business concepts for sustainability”, and “academic importance of sustainable fashion”. This study strengthens the extent of research by using SNS big data and provides guidelines for product development and communication strategies for a sustainable fashion industry based on customers’ meaningful opinions.
Trace Metals and Diatom Stratigraphy along the Sill between Lakes Telaga Warna and Telaga Pengilon, Dieng, Central Java, Indonesia
Authors: Sari Kenanga , Soeprobowati Tri Retnaningsih , Jumari Jumari , Hariyati Riche , Miller Jerry R.
Published: March 2021

This study examines the spatiotemporal variations in diatom assemblages and selected metal concentrations (Pb, Cr, Cd, Al, and Zn) in bed sediments of lakes Telaga Pengilon and Telaga Warna in Dieng, Indonesia to document natural and/or anthropogenic changes in the local aquatic and terrestrial environment. The analyses focused on sediments collected from a 150-cm core taken from a sill between the two lakes, which exhibit significant differences in water chemistry. The core was subdivided into 14 stratigraphic intervals allowing for an analysis of the vertical (and temporal) variations in diatom composition and selected metal concentrations. A total of 103 taxa from 25 genera were identified in the core. Diatom assemblages were dominated by Eunotia (56%), Pinnularia (17.2%), and Frustulia (4.6%). The most abundant species was Eunotia, a diatom that can tolerate a wide range of pH conditions. Given that pH within waters of the two lakes differs significantly, the abundance of Eunotia suggests that pH in the area between Telaga Pengilon and Telaga Warna varied through time, potentially ranging from about 2.5 to 8. Changes in pH were likely related to alterations in hydrological conditions. Metal concentrations varied with depth/time of deposition within the core. Peak metal concentrations appear to be related to the influx of debris from a volcanic eruption. Based on the principle component analysis (PCA), the input of volcanic materials also influenced diatom assemblages and resulted in a distinct layer of broken diatom frustules. Relatively low metal concentrations in surface sediments suggest that the erosion of hillslope soils in response to agricultural activity did not significantly impact the lakes.
Impacts of Social Innovation on Spatiality in Mountain–Lowland Relationships — Trajectories of Two Swiss Regional Initiatives in the Context of New Policy Regimes
Authors: Perlik Manfred
Published: March 2021

This article places the topic of “social innovation” in the context of the paradigm shift of the 1980s. This shift from Fordism to post-Fordism has led to a weakening of the model of the European welfare state. Social innovation has become an instrument to promote regional self-responsibility and entrepreneurial activity by local authorities. The concept of social innovation has become widespread among various disciplines and controversially used by them. Referring to regional and corporate success stories based on the commitment of grassroots movements and civil society has its shortcomings, as the new spatiality regimes show increasing disparities. The article shows the different lines of conflict in the discussion about social innovations and makes suggestions for the specification and delimitation of the concept. Using two case studies on social innovations from mountain regions of Switzerland, based on standardized interviews, including the results of a social network analysis, the article distinguishes between adaptive and transformative social innovations. The adaptive social innovations analysed did not result in changing the inferior position of the regions; however, they prevented even greater destabilization by mobilizing the dynamic actors in the valley to work together. This is helpful for ensuring that the urban majority continues to show solidarity with the population in rural and mountain areas. The constructive interaction between public, private, and civil society institutions is seen as the key factor of social innovation in the European peripheral areas to which most mountain areas belong.
A Systematic Literature Review on Sustainability in Family Firms
Authors: Curado Carla , Mota António
Published: March 2021

In this study, we explore the research published from 2015 to 2020 on the importance of family firms (FFs) to sustainability. Our results come from a content analysis of 28 studies on this topic. Further, they deal with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the construction industry in Italy and Spain. These studies mainly follow a quantitative approach with data from a survey. This study’s main contribution regards the identification of three sorts of aspects associated to sustainability in FFs which match the three pillars of the triple bottom line approach that supports sustainable business development: social inclusion, economic development, and environmental protection. Our findings show that the family’s religiosity, reputation, and image play relevant roles in the FFs’ adoption of sustainable practices. Moreover, the CEO and their successor’s choices also have consequences for sustainability. These studies demonstrate how the family’s control, its values, and the industry influence the adoption of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices. FFs go green by adopting eco-innovation to adapt to the constantly changing environment and market pressures. We acknowledge the limitations of the study. We offer advice to colleagues when developing future futures studies to address the influence of cultural differences between FFs and non-FFs and suggest they perform comparative analyses. This research could lead to further investigation of the effects of other variables that may influence sustainability in the context of FFs.
Mapping the Market Segments for the Consumers of Greek Cooperative Food Products
Authors: Tremma Ourania , Kontogeorgos Achilleas , Karipidis Philippos , Chatzitheodoridis Fotios
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this study was to illustrate and understand how consumers of cooperative food products could be segmented in the region of Western Greece. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey was undertaken involving almost 500 consumers in the selected region. Consumers were segmented on the basis of their consumption of cooperative products and in association with their attributes and beliefs regarding cooperatives’ products. Τhe performed cluster analysis grouped participants into four distinct groups with different characteristics and perceptions regarding cooperatives’ products. The consumer groups were called “skeptics”, “cooperative”, “passively sensitive”, and “indifferent”. According to the results, in general, participants considered cooperative food products as a safe choice with excellent value for money and contributing to the local society, economy, and sustainability. Segmentation could allow agricultural cooperatives to focus only on those segments of consumers that are willing to pay for cooperative products by allocating all available resources in serving them. The results of this research, even with its limitations, can help directors and marketing executives of agricultural cooperatives to better understand that operating in a specific market could be more effective when targeted at specific segments to help not only the viability of agricultural cooperatives but also their economic development and growth.
Sustainable Businesses Speak to the Heart of Consumers: Looking at Sustainability with a Marketing Lens to Reap Banking Consumers’ Loyalty
Authors: Ahmad Naveed , Mahmood Asif , Ariza-Montes Antonio , Han Heesup , Hernández-Perlines Felipe , Araya-Castillo Luis , Scholz Miklas
Published: March 2021

Achieving consumer loyalty will remain a prime objective of every business in the current volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment (VUCA), which demands some out-of-the-box thinking on the part of policymakers to sustain the competitive advantage. Sustainability has been emerging as a “new normal” for all industries of the present era, which forces all sectors to incorporate it into their business operations. There have been studies on the relationship between sustainability and consumer loyalty, but these studies are inconclusive, further establishing the importance of more research in this area. In this frame of reference, the present research objective is to test the dimensional impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities (economic, environmental, social) on banking consumers’ loyalty in the context of Pakistan. The data were collected from different bank account holders, which were then analyzed through the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique in AMOS. The results revealed that all three dimensions of CSR positively relate to consumer loyalty. The banking industry policymakers can benefit from the findings of the present study to understand sustainability from the lens of marketing to drive a higher level of consumer loyalty.
A Population Game Model for the Expansion of Airbnb in the City of Venice
Authors: Arbara Sophia , D’Autilia Roberto
Published: March 2021

The emergence of Airbnb along with an increase in urban tourism has intensified the pressure on urban areas while adding a new dimension to the dynamics of housing distribution, especially in historic cities. These dynamics affect local economies and significantly alter the characteristics of urban spaces, hence the necessity to not only create policies that foster sustainable tourism development but also to advance urban models that explore the relation between Airbnb and the traditional rental and accommodation sector. Through the case of Venice, the present study sheds light on the potential evolution of Airbnb housing in comparison to the traditional rental and homeowner market. In particular, we sought to understand whether a potential equilibrium between these uses exists and if so, at which point in regard to this equilibrium the historic center of Venice is. To tackle this question, methods derived from the field of game theory and specifically evolutionary game theory were used. With the agents (players) being the housing units, the designed theoretical model explored the population dynamics of the housing units in Venice given the three options of homeownership or long-term renting (residential); short term renting or Airbnb (airbnb); and no use (vacant). The findings of our theoretical population game model were validated and discussed with a dataset describing the usage patterns in the city of Venice during the past 20 years. A verification of the outcome through further case studies could eventually provide insights into the future behavior of tourism’s pressure in historic urban areas.
The Relationship of Sustainability Communication on Social Media with Banking Consumers’ Loyalty through e-WOM
Authors: Wei Gao , Lin Wang , Yanxiong Wu , Jingdong Yan , Musse Sadik Yusuf
Published: March 2021

Prior literature has largely addressed corporate social responsibility (CSR) from outcomes related to organizational themes. However, its importance for achieving consumer-related outcomes is something that has been largely ignored by contemporary researchers. Likewise, how CSR communication through social media can create positive emotions on the part of consumers has to date been under-explored. Hence, the present study aims to fill these gaps by investigating the impact of CSR communication of an organization through social media on consumer loyalty. The study also proposes electronic word of mouth (e-WOM) as a potential mediator between this relationship. The proposed model of the present study was tested in the banking sector of a developing country. The data were collected from a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed through the structural equation modeling technique (SEM). The results of the present study validated that CSR communication of a bank through social media directly and indirectly, through e-WOM, influences consumer loyalty in a positive manner. The results of the present study will be helpful for policymakers to better understand how well-planned CSR communication of an organization on social media can lead towards better consumer-related outcomes such as consumer loyalty and e-WOM.
The Influence of Droplet Dispersity on Droplet Vaporization in the High-Temperature Wet Gas Flow in the Case of Combined Heating
Authors: Miliauskas Gintautas , Puida Egidijus , Poškas Robertas , Poškas Povilas
Published: March 2021

The change in the thermal and energy state of the water droplet is defined numerically. The influence of droplet dispersity on the interaction of the transfer processes was evaluated. In influence of the Stefan flow was considered as well. The internal heat transfer of the droplet was defined by the combined heat transfer through effective conductivity and radiation model. The results of the numerical modeling of heat and mass transfer in water droplets in a wet flue gas flow of 1000 °C highlight the influence of the variation in heat transfer regimes in the droplet on the interaction of the transfer processes in consistently varying phase change regimes. The results of the investigation shows that the inner heat convection diminishes intensively in the transitional phase change regime because of a rapid slowdown of the slipping droplet in the gas. The radiation absorption in the droplet clearly decreases only at the final stage of equilibrium evaporation. The highlighted regularities of the interaction between combined transfer processes in water droplets are also valid for liquid fuel and other semi-transparent liquids sprayed into high-temperature flue gas flow. However, a qualitative evaluation should consider individual influence of dispersity that different liquids have.
An Enabling Framework to Support the Sustainable Energy Transition at the National Level
Authors: Blohm Marina
Published: March 2021

The world is fighting against the impacts of the climate crisis. Although the technical feasibility of 100% renewable energy systems was already verified by a variety of research studies, there were still more than 200 GW of unsustainable new coal power capacity under construction at a global level in 2018. To achieve the required carbon neutrality, current energy systems need to be transformed toward sustainable energy. The review of the literature has shown that several barriers for carbon-neutral technologies exist, which currently impede the sustainable transition. This paper focuses on the development of an enabling framework to overcome existing barriers to facilitate sustainable and carbon-neutral technologies at the national level. Additionally, it should support decision makers to consider all underlying criteria of this urgently needed energy transition. The criteria of such an enabling framework can be classified in 11 categories, which are (1) environmental and ecological protection; (2) society, culture, and behavior; (3) equity and justice; (4) knowledge; (5) energy markets; (6) energy policy; (7) legal requirements; (8) finance; (9) institutions; (10) infrastructure; and (11) clash of interests. Even though some criteria differ from country to country, a strong governmental support for the transition is always required to be successful.
Densify and Expand: A Global Analysis of Recent Urban Growth
Authors: Angel Shlomo , Lamson-Hall Patrick , Blei Alejandro , Shingade Sharad , Kumar Suman
Published: March 2021

Serious concerns with accelerating global warming have been translated into urgent calls for increasing urban densities: higher densities are associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions, especially those related to vehicle kilometers traveled (VKT). In order to densify meaningfully in the coming decades, cities need to make room within their existing footprints to accommodate more people. In the absence of adequate room within their existing footprints, cities create more room through outward expansion, typically resulting in lower overall densities. We introduce a quantitative dimension to this process, focusing on the population added to a global stratified sample of 200 cities between 1990 and 2014. In three-quarters of the cities we studied, the areas built before 1990 gained population and thus densified significantly. On average, however, only one-quarter of the total population added to the 200 cities in the sample in the 1990–2014 period were accommodated within their 1990 urban footprints, while three-quarters were accommodated within their newly built expansion areas. That resulted in an overall decline in average urban densities during the 1990–2014 period despite the near-global, decades-old and rarely questioned consensus that urban expansion must be contained.
Using Social Media in Tourist Sentiment Analysis: A Case Study of Andalusia during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Flores-Ruiz David , Elizondo-Salto Adolfo , Barroso-González María de la O.
Published: March 2021

This paper explores the role of social media in tourist sentiment analysis. To do this, it describes previous studies that have carried out tourist sentiment analysis using social media data, before analyzing changes in tourists’ sentiments and behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the case study, which focuses on Andalusia, the changes experienced by the tourism sector in the southern Spanish region as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are assessed using the Andalusian Tourism Situation Survey (ECTA). This information is then compared with data obtained from a sentiment analysis based on the social network Twitter. On the basis of this comparative analysis, the paper concludes that it is possible to identify and classify tourists’ perceptions using sentiment analysis on a mass scale with the help of statistical software (RStudio and Knime). The sentiment analysis using Twitter data correlates with and is supplemented by information from the ECTA survey, with both analyses showing that tourists placed greater value on safety and preferred to travel individually to nearby, less crowded destinations since the pandemic began. Of the two analytical tools, sentiment analysis can be carried out on social media on a continuous basis and offers cost savings.
Local and Global Aspects: Teaching Social Sustainability in Swedish Preschools
Authors: Borg Farhana , Gericke Niklas
Published: March 2021

Although policy documents emphasize the importance of integrating social, economic, and environmental dimensions into education for sustainability (EfS), there is a lack of studies investigating how social sustainability can be included in preschool teaching. Therefore, this study aims to increase knowledge about preschool teachers’ teaching practices relating to social sustainability. This study uses EfS as a conceptual framework that includes a holistic view of sustainability addressing social, economic, and environmental aspects, as well as pluralistic teaching approach from a transformative perspective. To explore the views and teaching practices, individual interviews were conducted with 12 preschool teachers from eight preschools that took part in a school development project. The project included professional development workshops for teachers on EfS and local implementation efforts. Thematic content analysis was conducted. The interviews made it apparent that the teachers initially viewed sustainability from an environmental perspective; however, after involvement in the school development project, they began to integrate the social sustainability dimension into their teaching. The teachers associated local sustainability challenges with those faced internationally. To a certain extent, children’s agency was noted in pluralistic educational activities that supported children’s active participation. The level at which preschool teachers integrated social sustainability into their teaching varied.
Social Sustainability through Children’s Expressions of Belonging in Peer Communities
Authors: Johansson Eva , Rosell Yngve
Published: March 2021

The aim of this article is to explore the social dimension of sustainable development through children’s expressions of belonging in peer communities in preschool. Social sustainability and sustainable communities emphasize practices, human activity, and interactions that are equitable, inclusive, and sustainable, and preschool provides children with experiences of participation in collective groups and networks. Belonging to a community is an existential need and belonging, itself, is a relational phenomenon. Belonging is connected to power; the notion of “us” sets boundaries and creates a “them”. Based on Yuval-Davis’ analytical concepts and using video observation of children’s (aged 3–5) free play, this article explores children’s belonging in peer communities. This study contributes new knowledge in the field of social sustainability by illuminating communities of belonging built on closeness, conflict/negotiations, and joyfulness. Together, these elements embody experiences of importance to children’s belonging. A common thread running through these communities is the relationship between the individual and the community.
Different Leaders in a COVID-19 Scenario: CEO Altruism and Generous Discourse
Authors: García-Sánchez Isabel-María , Amor-Esteban Víctor , García-Sánchez Alejandra
Published: March 2021

Academic literature has begun to be interested in the informational gaps between what companies say and do in relation to their financial performance and their commitment to society and the environment, identifying the use of self-protection and self-enhancement strategies before their interest groups. In this research, based on a statistical analysis of textual data and a correspondence analysis, the sentiment of the discourse that Spanish CEOs have held with their stakeholders regarding the operational and strategic decisions they made in the face of COVID-19 is analysed. The evidence shows that managers who promptly reported negative news regarding divestments, cutting expenses and destroying jobs, used the epidemic as justification. The leaders who combined these decisions with responsible actions—focused on the ethical and commercial sustainable dimensions—adopted an approach with a different degree of self-enhancement to value their responsible decisions. In contrast, optimistic CEOs, altruistically committed to society, opted for more personal, emotional, dynamic and constant channels and procedures, avoiding selfish attributions for their actions.
A Systematic Review of Factors Influencing Farmers’ Adoption of Organic Farming
Authors: Sapbamrer Ratana , Thammachai Ajchamon
Published: March 2021

Understanding the evidence-based factors that influence the adoption of organic farming yields benefits in terms of managing said adoption effectively. We searched relevant articles published in databases including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Google. The inclusion criteria were as follows: original article; published in journals, proceedings, or dissertations; full article publication; published between 1999 and 2021; focusing on assessing the adoption of organic farming or conversion to organic farming; published in English; included data analyzed via correlation coefficient analysis, regression analysis, or discriminant analysis. Out of the 50 articles identified, 33 studies described findings associated with farmer and household factors, 32 described psychobehavioral and psychosocial factors, 36 assessed farming factors, and 33 analyzed supportive factors. The literature provides evidence that relevant factors include the following: (1) farmer and household factors (i.e., gender, off-farm income, and level of education); (2) psycho-behavioral and psychosocial factors (i.e., positive attitude, normative and moral obligations); (3) farming factors (i.e., organic farm experience, production cost, and farm ownership); (4) supportive factors (i.e., training, support of technology, organic farmer neighbors, information acquisition, membership of association, and extension contacts). To promote the adoption of organic farming, extension agents play a vital role in the provision of information via training and the encouragement of conventional farmers to shift towards organic agriculture. The target groups that have the greatest potential for the adoption of organic farming are young farmers, females, individuals who have ownership of their farm, those with a high level of education, and farmers with off-farm income. Farm associations also play a vital role in the sharing of experience and in increasing bargaining power. Support by the government in terms of resources, credit, markets, and subsidy is also relevant in motivating organic farming adoption. Therefore, three sectors, extension agents, farm associations, and the government, are key drivers for the sustainable adoption of organic farming.
Using Design Thinking to Improve Cook Stoves Development in Mexico
Authors: Ferriz Bosque Elena , Muneta Luisa , Romero Rey Gregorio , Suarez Berta , Berrueta Víctor , Beltrán Alberto , Masera Omar
Published: March 2021

A traditional use of bioenergy is the main source of residential energy in developing countries, essentially using firewood to cook, boil water or heating affecting people in developing countries. Improved cook stoves are more efficient and less polluting, and there is a need to evaluate different design options to facilitate their adoption. There are different types of very economical improved cookstoves with high combustion efficiency. In Mexico, multiple projects about cook stoves have been carried out, the root of this study being one of them: the Patsari cook stoves. The goal of this project was to modify previous stove designs to align with local people’s habits and traditions. This study shows the importance of including the participation of users in the design of the portable model of Patsari cook stoves, applying the Design Thinking methodology. Many designs or design changes have been carried out on cook stoves by different researchers, but users often do not adapt to them. This article, through a field study, shows the importance of integrating theoretical analyses along with user experiences to facilitate the adoption of improved cook stoves and ensure their success.
The Influence of Seasonal Water Level Fluctuations on the Soil Nutrients in a Typical Wetland Reserve in Poyang Lake, China
Authors: Zhang Shuangshuang , Wei Jin , Li Yiping , Duan Maoqing , Nwankwegu Amechi S. , Norgbey Eyram
Published: March 2021

To comprehend the distribution characteristics of the nutrients and the variations in the soil fertility, a total of 23 samples were collected from Nanjishan wetland reserve in the dry season, wet season, and water-recession season. The study area was divided into four areas (A1, A2, A3, and A4) based on the local hydrological conditions, geographical locations, and nutrient load characteristics. The findings showed that the highest concentration of nutrients appeared in A1, followed by A2 due to anthropogenic activities and the sewage discharge along Ganjiang River. Except for the total amounts of nutrients (the total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK)), the nutrient concentrations dropped in the wet season and recovered in the water-recession season. A close association between microorganisms and the soil nutrients was observed. The Integrated Fertility Index (IFI) indicated a significant spatio-temporal variability in the soil fertility. The soil quality was higher in the dry season. The values of the IFI displayed a decreasing trend during the growing season (wet season). The single factor standard index method (SFSI) suggested that the whole area had a potential risk of eutrophication, to which the TN could be considered a main contributor.
Inclusive Governance and Biodiversity Conservation: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Ullah Inayat , Kim Dong-Young
Published: March 2021

We examine the conservation effects attributable to changes in the size of community-governed protected areas (PAs) by adopting a generalized difference-in-difference (DID) design with a two-way fixed effect regression model and synthetic control methods. Panel data from the extraordinary datasets of the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPAs) and the Red List of International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are used for 32 Sub-Saharan African countries in this study. Our generalized DID estimates show that countries with community-governed PAs have reduced the IUCN Red List threat level by 17% for mammals. We also find stronger evidence of the effect of community-governed PAs on the IUCN threat level using synthetic control method that allows us to match the “intervention countries” with those countries that exhibit similar pre-intervention threat level. Our results are robust on alternate specifications in which we exploit variations in the cumulative size of the designated PAs differentiated by the IUCN governance types. We also compare the effect of strictly state-governed PAs with community-governed PAs. Our findings provide evidence in support of recent qualitative studies that find positive responses of community participation towards common goods that carry potential economic incentives. This paper contributes to the idea that inclusive environmental policies and legislations yield environmental gains not at the cost of social exclusion.
Improvement of Self-Starting Capabilities of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines with New Design of Turbine Blades
Authors: Mitchell Samuel , Ogbonna Iheanyichukwu , Volkov Konstantin
Published: March 2021

A lift-driven vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) generates peak power when it is rotating at high tip-speed ratios (TSR), at which time the blades encounter angles of attack (AOA) over a small range from zero to 30 degrees. However, its ability to self-start is dependent upon its performance at low TSRs, at which time the blades encounter a range of AOAs from zero to 180 degrees. A novel vented aerofoil is presented with the intention of improving the performance of a lift-driven VAWT at low TSRs without hampering the performance of the wind turbine at high TSRs. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation is used to predict the aerodynamic characteristics of a new vented aerofoil based on the well documented NACA0012 profile. Simulations are performed using the SST turbulence model. The results obtained show a reduction in the coefficient of tangential force (the force that generates torque on the wind turbine) at low AOAs (less than 90 degrees) of no more than 30%, while at high AOAs (more than 90 degrees) an improvement in the tangential force of over 100% is observed. Using a simple momentum based performance prediction model, these results suggest that this would lead to an increase in torque generation by a theoretical three-bladed VAWT of up to 20% at low TSRs and a minor reduction in coefficient of performance of up to 9% at TSR of 2 and closer to 1% at higher TSRs.
Development of an Improved Bonobo Optimizer and Its Application for Solar Cell Parameter Estimation
Authors: Abdelghany Reem Y. , Kamel Salah , Sultan Hamdy M. , Khorasy Ahmed , Elsayed Salah K. , Ahmed Mahrous
Published: March 2021

Recently, photovoltaic (PV) energy has been considered one of the most exciting new technologies in the energy sector. PV power plants receive considerable attention because of their wide applications. Consequently, it is important to study the parameters of the solar cell model to control and determine the characteristics of the PV systems. In this study, an improved bonobo optimizer (IBO) was proposed to improve the performance of the conventional bonobo optimizer (BO). Both the IBO and the BO were utilized to obtain the accurate values of the unknown parameters of different mathematical models of solar cells. The proposed IBO improved the performance of the conventional BO by enhancing the exploitation (local search) and exploration (global search) phases to find the best optimal solution, where the search space was reduced using Levy flights and the sine–cosine function. Levy flights enhance the explorative phase, whereas the sine–cosine function improves the exploitation phase. Both the proposed IBO and the conventional BO were applied on single, double, and triple diode models of solar cells. To check the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, statistical analysis based on the results of 20 runs of the optimization program was performed. The results obtained by the proposed IBO were compared with other algorithms, and all results of the proposed algorithm showed their durability and exceeded other algorithms.
Freight Demand and Supply Assessment for Implementation of Crowdsourcing Technology: A Case Study in Bratislava, Slovakia
Authors: Galkin Andrii , Schlosser Tibor , Cardenas Ivan , Hodakova Dominika , Capayova Silvia
Published: March 2021

The article studies the development of crowd shipping technologies in the Old Town of Bratislava. The paper aims to assess the potential for implementation of the crowdsourcing technology in the transport system of Bratislava. Methodology: An interview with the entrepreneurs in this area was conducted to assess the potential demand. In the survey, we collected information about type of goods; operations, quantities, and frequency of delivery; willingness to pay for one delivery among others. Based on the results, the freight demand, and its characteristics were assessed. The second part of the paper is devoted to assessing the supply of logistics to meet the demand. A survey of the willingness of ordinary travelers to work as an occasional courier was conducted. In the end, the equilibrium of demand and supply in the crowd shipping market in Bratislava is presented. The regression and correlation analysis were performed to understand the relationship between parameters of demand and delivery quantities in the first part of the research, sociodemographic characteristics of nonprofessional couriers, and the maximum weight of the parcel nonprofessional couriers agree to delivery. The willingness to pay per delivery was determined for respondents of different genders. Key findings: The results of the survey allowed us to estimate the freight demand for the Old Town of Bratislava, as well as to understand the needs of potential demand for crowd shipping services. The results of the second questionnaire show the sociodemographic characteristics of nonprofessional couriers (age, gender, gender, income, travel time) significantly influence the decision to participate in the delivery market.