bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contribution of Family, Behavioral, and Neuropsychological Factors to Long-Term Functional Outcomes in Young Adults with ADHD: A 12-Year Follow-Up Study
Authors: Miranda Ana , Berenguer Carmen , Rosello Belen , Martínez-Raga José , Mulas Fernando
Published: January 2021

The persistent nature of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the role of behavioral factors in its continuity have been widely documented in the literature. However, less is known about the role of early family and neuropsychological factors in predicting later adaptive functioning and quality of life in individuals with ADHD. This study aimed to analyze the contribution of early family, behavioral, and neuropsychological factors to long-term functional outcomes in young adults with ADHD. Family (parental mood disorders, family risk index, parenting stress, coherence), behavioral (oppositionism, inattention, emotional lability, hyperactivity), and cognitive factors were examined at baseline. Twelve years later, daily life functioning, quality of life, and executive and behavioral functioning were also evaluated in 61 young adults with a childhood diagnosis of ADHD. Results revealed significant correlations between most of the family and behavioral factors at baseline and the long-term functional outcomes. Specifically, multiple regressions showed that mothers’ depression and laxness predicted later quality of life, executive functioning, and the hyperactivity index, and mothers’ depression and parenting stress at baseline also significantly predicted the hyperactivity index. Oppositionism behavior and inhibition were also significant predictors of the hyperactivity index. Therefore, understanding the family, behavioral, and neuropsychological factors that can contribute to later quality of life, daily functioning, and behavioral and executive functions is a particularly critical issue in detecting and planning efficacious ADHD interventions.
Historical Ecology of Scandinavian Infield Systems
Authors: Eriksson Ove , Arnell Matilda , Lindholm Karl-Johan
Published: January 2021

Infield systems originated during the early Iron Age and existed until the 19th century, although passing many transitions and changes. The core features of infield systems were enclosed infields with hay-meadows and crop fields, and unenclosed outland mainly used for livestock grazing. We examine the transitions and changes of domesticated landscapes with infield systems using the framework of human niche construction, focusing on reciprocal causation affecting change in both culture and environment. A first major transition occurred during the early Middle Ages, as a combined effect of a growing elite society and an increased availability of iron promoted expansion of villages with partly communal infields. A second major transition occurred during the 18th and 19th centuries, due to a then recognized inefficiency of agricultural production, leading to land reforms. In outlands, there was a continuous expansion of management throughout the whole period. Even though external factors had significant impacts as well, human niche construction affected a range of cultural and environmental features regarding the management and structure of domesticated landscapes with infield systems. Thus, niche construction theory is a useful framework for understanding the historical ecology of infield systems.
A Step towards Sustainable Self-Compacting Concrete by Using Partial Substitution of Wheat Straw Ash and Bentonite Clay Instead of Cement
Authors: Ahmad Jawad , Tufail Rana Faisal , Aslam Fahid , Mosavi Amir , Alyousef Rayed , Faisal Javed Muhammad , Zaid Osama , Khan Niazi Muhammad Sohaib
Published: January 2021

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a special type of concrete that is highly flowable, nonsegregating and spread into place by its own weight, completely filling the formwork even in the presence of dense reinforcement and then encapsulating the rebar without the need for any additional compaction. This research was carried out to evaluate the effects of bentonite clay and wheat straw ash as a partial substitution for cement in SSC. Bentonite clay and wheat straw ash were added in proportion of 0%, 5.0%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of the weight of the cement. Fresh characteristics were evaluated based on its passing ability and flowability using slump flow, slump T50, L-box, and V-funnel tests. After 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days of curing, cylinders of standard size were cast and tested for compressive and split tensile strength. The test results indicate that bentonite clay and wheat straw ash decrease the passing ability and filling ability of SCC. Furthermore, the concrete specimens’ tests indicate that wheat straw ash and bentonite clay additions of up to 10% and 15% of the weight of the cement tend to improve the compressive and split tensile strength of hardened SCC. Response surface methodology (statistical models) is used to optimize the combined dosage of wheat straw ash and bentonite clay and is verified through experimental tests. It can also be suggested that bentonite and wheat straw ash are successfully neutralized in concrete instead of cement.
Evaluation of Safety Degree at Railway Crossings in Order to Achieve Sustainable Traffic Management: A Novel Integrated Fuzzy MCDM Model
Authors: Blagojević Aleksandar , Kasalica Sandra , Stević Željko , Tričković Goran , Pavelkić Vesna
Published: January 2021

Sustainable traffic system management under conditions of uncertainty and inappropriate road infrastructure is a responsible and complex task. In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), there is a large number of level crossings which represent potentially risky places in traffic. The current state of level crossings in BiH is a problem of the greatest interest for the railway and a generator of accidents. Accordingly, it is necessary to identify the places that are currently a priority for the adoption of measures and traffic control in order to achieve sustainability of the whole system. In this paper, the Šamac–Doboj railway section and passive level crossings have been considered. Fifteen different criteria were formed and divided into three main groups: safety criteria, road exploitation characteristics, and railway exploitation characteristics. A novel integrated fuzzy FUCOM (full consistency method)—fuzzy PIPRECIA (pivot pairwise relative criteria importance assessment) model was formed to determine the significance of the criteria. When calculating the weight values of the main criteria, the fuzzy Heronian mean operator was used for their averaging. The evaluation of level crossings was performed using fuzzy MARCOS (measurement of alternatives and ranking according to compromise solution). An original integrated fuzzy FUCOM–Fuzzy PIPRECIA–Fuzzy MARCOS model was created as the main contribution of the paper. The results showed that level crossings 42 + 690 (LC4) and LC8 (82 + 291) are the safest considering all 15 criteria. The verification of the results was performed through four phases of sensitivity analysis: resizing of an initial fuzzy matrix, comparative analysis with other fuzzy approaches, simulations of criterion weight values, and calculation of Spearman’s correlation coefficient (SCC). Finally, measures for the sustainable performance of the railway system were proposed.
Sustainable Underground Iron Ore Mining in Ukraine with Backfilling Worked-Out Area
Authors: Bazaluk Oleg , Petlovanyi Mykhailo , Lozynskyi Vasyl , Zubko Serhii , Sai Kateryna , Saik Pavlo
Published: January 2021

The present paper considers aspects of underground iron ore mining in Ukraine, in particular the level of mine production and reserves of basic ore fields. It analyzes and generalizes the practice of using cemented rockfill under difficult mining and hydrogeological conditions of the Pivdenno-Bilozerske high-grade iron ore field. The Belozersky iron ore district is the only one in Ukraine that, without any technological cycle of beneficiation, can provide both domestic and foreign consumers with high-quality raw iron ore as required by world markets. The PJSC Zaporizhzhia iron ore plant extracts iron ore from the Pivdenno-Bilozerske field with an iron content of more than 60% using the low-waste, environmentally friendly technology of backfilling the mined-out area with a hardening mixture. The peculiarities of the technology for steep deposit mining and the main processes of backfilling operations in terms of preparation, transportation, and construction of the backfill mass with its stability assessment are explained in detail in this paper. As a result of using cemented rockfill, rock mass stability is provided, a considerable part of industrial waste is disposed of in the mined-out area, and the earth’s surface subsidence within the area is prevented (in comparison with mining enterprises in other fields).
Perceptions of Food Waste Reduction in Sri Lanka’s Commercial Capital, Colombo
Authors: Reitemeier Maren , Aheeyar Mohamed , Drechsel Pay
Published: January 2021

In 2019, Sri Lanka introduced two policies that referred to food waste and the need to reduce it. To understand key stakeholders’ readiness in this context, this study analyzed the food waste perceptions of private and public sectors in Colombo (open markets, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, canteens, food caterers and key authorities). Interviews were carried out with operational managers and public officials, as well as other stakeholders who have roles in food waste redistribution and reuse, such as NGOs and the livestock sector. So far, the food-waste-related policy recommendations lack an operational inter-institutional home which can build on measures, like standards, regulations and incentives. Thus, most food waste reduction initiatives are initiated by NGOs or by the private sector, e.g., by larger hotels and supermarket chains. These entities were ready to lead by example, based on the understanding that urban food waste is an internal (financial) management challenge. Among smaller local entities, food waste was perceived more as an external issue to be handled by the city’s waste collection services. Although perceptions varied between entities generating smaller or larger quantities of food waste, there was general agreement that suboptimal capacities and mechanisms to quantify, monitor and cost food waste generation appeared to be obstacles for in-depth awareness creation and action. There was significant interest in communication platforms for cross-sectoral learning, win/win collaborations with reliable collection (reuse) services that are currently operational, such as those provided by piggeries, as well as surplus redistribution initiatives if food safety and related liabilities can be addressed effectively.
Bridging Gaps in Minimum Humanitarian Standards and Shelter Planning by Critical Infrastructures
Authors: Fekete Alexander , Bross Lisa , Krause Steffen , Neisser Florian , Tzavella Katerina
Published: January 2021

Current agendas such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction or the Sustainable Development Goals are demanding more integration of disaster risk management into other thematic fields and relevant sectors. However, certain thematic fields such as shelter planning and critical infrastructure have not been integrated yet. This article provides an analysis of minimum humanitarian standards contained in the well-known Sphere handbook. Gaps are identified for several critical infrastructure services. Moreover, guidance on how to derive infrastructure or lifeline needs has been found missing. This article analyses the missing service supply and infrastructure identification items and procedures. The main innovation is a more integrative perspective on infrastructure that can improve existing minimum humanitarian standards. It can guide the provision of infrastructure services to various types for different hazard scenarios, hence make humanitarian aid and shelter planning more sustainable in terms of avoiding infrastructure or lifeline shortages.
Study of the Optimal Dosage of Celullose Ash as a Contribution Filler in Asphalt Mixtures Based on Its Adhesiveness under Moisture Conditions
Authors: Movilla-Quesada Diana , Raposeiras Aitor C. , Lagos-Varas Manuel , Muñoz-Cáceres Osvaldo , Andrés-Valeri Valerio-Carlos , Troncoso Loreto
Published: January 2021

Chile is the first Latin American country to begin an “ecological overdraft”, as established by the Global Footprint Network (GFN). This implies that the country’s ecological footprint has exceeded the global average bio-capacity. The consumption of natural aggregates for construction in Chile has grown by around 6.6% in the last year, with around 120 million tons being extracted. Given the above, it is important to seek alternatives that help to minimize the problem of resource scarcity, as well as the recovery of industrial by-products and/or waste. The Chilean forestry sector has also grown in recent years, generating approximately 4000 metric tons of waste in 2018, which was deposited in landfills or disposed of on forest roads. The present research is focused on the reuse and possible recovery of ash from the incineration of cellulose as a filler in bituminous mixtures. We analyze the adhesiveness of the filler/bitumen system in dry and wet states, based on the Cantabro wear loss test. The results obtained show that the limit of the relation between the volumetric concentration and critical concentration (Cv/Cs) is 1 for the addition of ash and that concentrations lower than or equal to this value present controlled losses, with 1.00 being the optimal (Cv/Cs) ratio that allows better behavior against the effect of water.
Robust Management of Systemic Risks and Food-Water-Energy-Environmental Security: Two-Stage Strategic-Adaptive GLOBIOM Model
Authors: Ermolieva Tatiana , Havlik Petr , Ermoliev Yuri , Khabarov Nikolay , Obersteiner Michael
Published: January 2021

Critical imbalances and threshold exceedances can trigger a disruption in a network of interdependent systems. An insignificant-at-first-glance shock can induce systemic risks with cascading catastrophic impacts. Systemic risks challenge traditional risk assessment and management approaches. These risks are shaped by systemic interactions, risk exposures, and decisions of various agents. The paper discusses the need for the two-stage stochastic optimization (STO) approach that enables the design of a robust portfolio of precautionary strategic and operational adaptive decisions that makes the interdependent systems flexible and robust with respect to risks of all kinds. We established a connection between the robust quantile-based non-smooth estimation problem in statistics and the two-stage non-smooth STO problem of robust strategic–adaptive decision-making. The coexistence of complementary strategic and adaptive decisions induces systemic risk aversion in the form of Value-at-Risk (VaR) quantile-based risk constraints. The two-stage robust decision-making is implemented into a large-scale Global Biosphere Management (GLOBIOM) model, showing that robust management of systemic risks can be addressed by solving a system of probabilistic security equations. Selected numerical results emphasize that a robust combination of interdependent strategic and adaptive solutions presents qualitatively new policy recommendations, if compared to a traditional scenario-by-scenario decision-making analysis.
Clean Development, Energy Substitution, and Carbon Emissions: Evidence from Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Project Implementation in China
Authors: Shi Beibei , Wu Lei , Kang Rong
Published: January 2021

In the face of increasingly severe climate change and its disastrous effects, how to effectively tackle it and reduce carbon dioxide emissions has become an important global issue. Clean development mechanism (CDM) project implementation provides an opportunity for more developing countries to actively participate in global climate governance. As the largest global emitter of carbon dioxide, have China’s CDM projects slowed down carbon dioxide emissions? In order to answer this question, the study constructs panel data at the provincial level from 2000 to 2017 to investigate the emission-reduction effects of China’s CDM projects. Results showed that China’s CDM projects’ implementation significantly reduced carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) and the growth rate of carbon dioxide emissions. The emission reduction effects of different types of CDM projects have obvious heterogeneity. In addition, this study further found that China’s CDM projects’ implementation can not only effectively substitute traditional fossil energy, but also improve energy-utilization efficiency.
Mineral Resource Depletion Assessment: Alternatives, Problems, Results
Authors: Ponomarenko Tatiana , Nevskaya Marina , Jonek-Kowalska Izabela
Published: January 2021

The depletion of non-renewable natural resources (primarily mineral and energy resources) and its assessment is a problem that is analyzed based on the concept of sustainable development. Mineral resource depletion assessment is particularly important for resource-based economies. It provides for assessing the impact of mineral asset disposal that results from the suspension or termination of operations conducted by a mining company due to insurmountable circumstances. The results of such an event will be manifested at the national, regional, and local levels and felt by mining companies, suppliers, workers, the population of the territory, and other stakeholders. The study clarifies the attributes and essence of mineral resource depletion, analyzes the advantages and limitations of the existing tools for assessing mineral resource depletion, identifies depletion factors, describes a methodology for assessing mineral resource depletion, and contains a case study of a tin deposit. The results of the study contribute to the development of the theory on the depletion of non-renewable natural resources. They provide for assessing losses to social wellbeing that can be caused by stopping the use of profitable mineral reserves.
Perception Analysis of E-Scooter Riders and Non-Riders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Survey Outputs
Authors: Almannaa Mohammed Hamad , Alsahhaf Faisal Adnan , Ashqar Huthaifa I. , Elhenawy Mohammed , Masoud Mahmoud , Rakotonirainy Andry
Published: January 2021

This study explores the feasibility of launching an e-scooter sharing system as a new micro-mobility mode, and part of the public transportation system in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Therefore, survey was conducted in April 2020 to shed light on the perception of e-scooter systems in Riyadh. A sample of 439 respondents was collected, where majority indicated willingness to use the e-scooter sharing system if available (males are twice as likely to agree than females). Roughly 75% of the respondents indicated that open entertainment areas and shopping malls are ideal places for e-scooter sharing systems. Results indicated that people who use ride-hailing services such as Uber, expressed more willingness to use e-scooters for various purposes. The study found that the major obstacle for deploying e-scooters in Saudi Arabia is the lack of sufficient infrastructure (70%), followed by weather (63%) and safety (49%). Moreover, the study found that approximately half of the respondents believed that COVID-19 will not affect their willingness to ride e-scooters. Two types of logistic regression models were built. The outcomes of the models show that gender, age, and using ride-hailing services play an important role in respondents’ willingness to use e-scooter. Results will enable policymakers and operating agencies to evaluate the feasibility of deploying e-scooters and better manage the operation of the system as an integral and reliable part of public transportation.
Utilization of Industrial By-Products/Waste to Manufacture Geopolymer Cement/Concrete
Authors: Azad Numanuddin M. , Samarakoon S.M. Samindi M.K.
Published: January 2021

There has been a significant movement in the past decades to develop alternative sustainable building material such as geopolymer cement/concrete to control CO2 emission. Industrial waste contains pozzolanic minerals that fulfil requirements to develop the sustainable material such as alumino-silicate based geopolymer. For example, industrial waste such as red mud, fly ash, GBFS/GGBS (granulated blast furnace slag/ground granulated blast furnace slag), rice husk ash (RHA), and bagasse ash consist of minerals that contribute to the manufacturing of geopolymer cement/concrete. A literature review was carried out to study the different industrial waste/by-products and their chemical composition, which is vital for producing geopolymer cement, and to discuss the mechanical properties of geopolymer cement/concrete manufactured using different industrial waste/by-products. The durability, financial benefits and sustainability aspects of geopolymer cement/concrete have been highlighted. As per the experimental results from the literature, the cited industrial waste has been successfully utilized for the synthesis of dry or wet geopolymers. The review revealed that that the use of fly ash, GBFS/GGBS and RHA in geopolymer concrete resulted high compressive strength (i.e., 50 MPa–70 MPa). For high strength (>70 MPa) achievement, most of the slag and ash-based geopolymer cement/concrete in synergy with nano processed waste have shown good mechanical properties and environmental resistant. The alkali-activated geopolymer slag, red mud and fly ash based geopolymer binders give a better durability performance compared with other industrial waste. Based on the sustainability indicators, most of the geopolymers developed using the industrial waste have a positive impact on the environment, society and economy.
Energy Utilization Efficiency of China Considering Carbon Emissions—Based on Provincial Panel Data
Authors: Huang Ge , Pan Wei , Hu Cheng , Pan Wu-Lin , Dai Wan-Qiang
Published: January 2021

With the development of the economy, environmental pollution caused by energy consumption has become increasingly prominent. Improving the efficiency of energy utilization is an important way to solve this problem. Firstly, we used a data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to calculate the energy utilization efficiency of China’s provinces and regions from the perspective of environmental constraints, including four inputs—labor force, capital stock, energy consumption and carbon emission—and one output, GDP. Secondly, an entity fixed effect model of panel data was built to investigate the influence of openness, urbanization, marketization and industrial structure on energy utilization efficiency in the process of economic structure change. The results indicate that China’s energy efficiency shows a trend of first stabilizing and then declining from 2007 to 2017. Meanwhile, the comprehensive energy efficiency of all provinces and regions is not very ideal. Only Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong constitute the forefront of China’s energy efficiency. The lack of pure technical efficiency in most provinces is the main reason for the low comprehensive efficiency, but there are also obvious differences among provinces and regions. In addition, urbanization, openness and industrial structure have a negative impact on energy efficiency, while marketization has a significant positive impact on energy efficiency. Finally, based on the regional differences, some suggestions were put forward to improve China’s energy utilization efficiency.
Classification of Heritage Residential Building Stock and Defining Sustainable Retrofitting Scenarios in Khedivial Cairo
Authors: Ibrahim Hanan S.S. , Khan Ahmed Z. , Attia Shady , Serag Yehya
Published: January 2021

This study aims to develop an integrated classification methodology for retrofitting that preserves both energy use and cultural value aspects in hot climates, especially, in North Africa, as a hot zone, which lacks retrofitting initiatives of built heritage. Despite the number of existing methods of classification for energy purposes, little attention has been paid to integrate the perceptions of cultural values in those methods. The proposed methodology classifies heritage building stocks based on building physical characteristics, as well as heritage significance levels, and then later integrates the outcomes into a matrix to propose sustainable retrofitting scenarios based on three dimensions, i.e., heritage value locations, types, and heritage significance level. For validation, the methodology was applied to the heritage residential building stock along with a microscale analysis on a building in Khedivial Cairo, Egypt. The findings include extracting twelve building classes, providing a reference building for each class, and a detailed catalogue of the extracted reference buildings that includes retrofitting scenarios for creating energy models. The originality of this work lies in integrating cultural values in a building classification methodology and providing a list of sustainable retrofitting scenarios for reference buildings. The findings contribute to fill the gap in existing building classifications, more specifically in hot climates.
Evaluating the Efficiency of Bike-Sharing Stations with Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Caggiani Leonardo , Camporeale Rosalia , Hamidi Zahra , Zhao Chunli
Published: January 2021

This paper focuses on the efficiency evaluation of bike-sharing systems (BSSs) and develops an approach based on data envelopment analysis (DEA) to support the decisions regarding the performance evaluation of BSS stations. The proposed methodology is applied and tested for the Malmöbybike BSS in Malmö, Sweden. This was done by employing spatial analyses and data about the BSS usage trends as well as taking into account transport, land use, and socioeconomic context of the case study. The results of the application demonstrate consistency with the literature and highlight meaningful associations between the station relative efficiency and the urban context. More specifically, the paper provides in-depth knowledge about the preprocessing data, selection of input and output variables, and the underlying analytical approach to be potentially applied to other cases and urban contexts. Overall, the DEA-based methodology presented in this study could assist decision-makers and planners with developing operational strategies for planning and management of BSS stations and networks.
Experimental Performance of an Advanced Air-Type Photovoltaic/Thermal (PVT) Collector with Direct Expansion Air Handling Unit (AHU)
Authors: Kim Jin-Hee , Kim Sang-Myung , Kim Jun-Tae
Published: January 2021

In addition to electrical energy generation, photovoltaic/thermal (PVT) systems utilize heat from building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) modules for domestic hot water and space heating. In other words, a PVT system can improve the electricity efficiency of BIPVs while using the waste heat of BIPVs as a source of thermal energy for the building. By generating thermal and electrical energies simultaneously, PVT systems can improve the utilization of solar energy while enhancing the energy performance of buildings. To optimize the performance of an air-type PVT collector, it is necessary for the system to extract more heat from the PV module. Consequently, this approach decreases PV temperature to improve PV electrical energy generation. The thermal and electrical performance of an air-type PVT collector depends on its design, which affects airflow and heat transfer. Moreover, the performances of the PVT collector can differ according to the coupled facility in the building. In this study, the thermal and electrical performances of an advanced air-type PVT collector with a direct expansion air handling unit (AHU) were analyzed experimentally. For this purpose, six prototypes of an advanced air-type PVT collector were developed. Furthermore, a direct expansion AHU with a heat recovery exchanger (HRX) was designed and built. The advanced PVT collectors with a total capacity of 740 Wp were installed in an experimental house and were coupled to the direct expansion AHU system with a maximum airflow of 700 CMH. The performance of PVT collectors was analyzed and compared with the BIPV system. Results showed that building-integrated photovoltaic/thermal (BIPVT) collectors produced 30 W more power than the BIPV system. When operating the AHU system, the temperature of the BIPVT collector was generally lower than the BIPV. The maximum difference in temperature between BIPVT and BIPV was about 22 °C. During winter season, the BIPVT collector supplied preheated air to the AHU. The supplied air temperature from the BIPVT collector reached 32 °C, which was 15 °C higher than outdoor air temperature.
Nutrient and Stoichiometric Characteristics of Aggregates in a Sloping Farmland Area under Different Tillage Practices
Authors: Zhang Jie , Liu Yaojun , Zheng Taihui , Zhao Xiaomin , Liu Hongguang , Zhang Yongfen
Published: January 2021

Sloping farmland is prevalent in hilly red soil areas of South China. Improper tillage patterns induce decreased soil organic matter, soil aggregate breakdown, and nutrient imbalance, thereby restricting crop production. However, the stoichiometric characteristics could reflect the nutrient availability which was mostly studied on bulk soil. The stoichiometric characteristics of soil aggregates with multiple functions in farmlands has rarely been studied. The study was to reveal the impact of tillage patterns on the size distribution, nutrient levels, and stoichiometric ratios of soil aggregates after 20 years’ cultivation. Soil samples of 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm from five tillage patterns, bare-land control (BL), longitudinal-ridge tillage (LR), conventional tillage + straw mulching (CS), cross-ridge tillage (CR), and longitudinal-ridge tillage + hedgerows (LH) were collected. The elemental content (C, N and P) and soil aggregate size distribution were determined, and the stoichiometric ratios were subsequently calculated. Through our analysis and study, it was found that the nutrient content of >2 mm soil aggregates in all plots was the highest. In the hedgerow plots, >2 mm water-stable soil aggregate content was increased. Therefore, LH plots have the highest content of organic matter and nutrients. After 20 years of cultivation, stoichiometric ratio of each plot showed different changes on soil aggregates at different levels. the C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios are lower than the national average of cultivated land. Among of them, the stoichiometric ratio in the LH plot is closer to the mean and showed better water-stable aggregate enhancement. Therefore, longitudinal-ridge tillage + hedgerows can be recommended as a cultivation measure. This study provides a reference for determining appropriate tillage measures, balancing nutrient ratios, and implementing rational fertilization.
Front-Line Management during Radical Organisational Change: Social Exchange and Paradox Interpretations
Authors: Buhusayen Bassam , Seet Pi-Shen , Coetzer Alan
Published: January 2021

External shocks have severely affected the aviation sector with detrimental impacts on airport service employees. Service-sector organizations tend to implement radical organizational change to survive and front-line managers face often-opposing demands. This study aims to shed light on how front-line managers cope by utilizing social exchange-based strategies during radical organizational change. This study uses an exploratory qualitative design and thematically analyses data obtained from 40 semi-structured interviews with senior managers, front-line managers and employees working for an airline services provider operating in a major international airport in Australia. The study finds that front-line managers employ several social exchange approaches to overcome the paradoxical challenge of facilitating change while maintaining current operations. We find evidence of four approaches that the front-line managers utilize that are based on social exchange: (1) building relationships with clients’ representatives; (2) utilizing relationships with experienced employees to facilitate radical organizational change practices; (3) rewarding employees in exchange for helping to manage personnel shortages; and (4) motivating employees by various morale-enhancing techniques. The study contributes to organizational sustainability and change research by developing a deeper understanding of the importance of social exchange in facilitating the work of front-line managers in the airport services sector.
The Influence of Nontimber Forest Products Development on the Economic–Ecological Coordination—Evidence from Lin’an District, Zhejiang Province, China
Authors: Ao Guiyan , Xu Qianqian , Liu Qiang , Xiong Lichun , Wang Fengting , Wu Weiguang
Published: January 2021

The influence of the nontimber forest products (NTFPs) on the coordinated economic and ecological development has received considerable attention, where the results are mixed. This study took Lin’an District in Zhejiang Province of China as an example for analysis. Using long-term (more than 40 years) data, system coupling and autoregressive distributed lag models were combined to analyze the effect of NTFP development on coordinated economic–ecological development. The results show that large-scale commercial NTFP development positively affected coordinated economic–ecological development, and a long-term stable equilibrium relationship between them existed. The degree of regional economic–ecological coupling increased from 0.05 in 1978 to 0.98 in 2019, and both area and value of NTFP had a significant effect on the coupling degree at the 5% level. These findings indicate that NTFP development is an effective method to promote the coordinated development of the economy and ecological environment especially in mountain areas, and the government should encourage NTFP development by ecological management, strengthening policy guidance, and providing technological innovation support, etc.
Use of Mining Tailings or Their Sedimentation and Flotation Fractions in a Mixture with Soil to Produce Structural Ceramics
Authors: Amaral Igor BC. , Cavalcante Luis Carlos D. , Fabris José D. , Prat Bernat V. , Reis Arlete B.
Published: January 2021

The ceramic materials industry has vast potential for use of waste from industrial processes, such as iron mining tailings. The aim of this study was to test technological use of tailings samples from the dam rupture of the Samarco S.A. Company in 2015 to produce structural ceramics. Sedimentation and flotation processes were used to improve their characteristics, analyzing their chemical and mineralogical composition and granulometry. We produced 48 samples with a mixture of soil and residues in proportions of 10, 20, and 30 wt%, with sintering at 950 °C. The results showed that co-processing of iron mining tailings can be considered viable for improving certain aspects of some technological properties. The maximum amount of residue used was 30 wt% for any of the fractions used, as above this concentration the specimens lose important characteristics.
On Earth as It Is in Heaven: Proxy Measurements to Assess Sustainable Development Goals at the Company Level through CSR Indicators
Authors: Gallardo-Vázquez Dolores , Hourneaux Junior Flavio , da Silva Gabriel Marcelo Luiz Dias , Valdez-Juárez Luis Enrique
Published: January 2021

In recent years, we have witnessed dramatic changes in the following two regards: First, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices have become ubiquitous in companies, and second, the challenge that Sustainable Development (SD) presents to society and to the planet has been illustrated in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, this study aims to identify the extent to which companies address the SDGs through their CSR practices. We conducted the present research by first performing a content analysis to determine the communalities between CSR practices and the SDGs. Then, we performed a quantitative analysis to assess the performance of various companies in terms of common aspects of CSR and SDGs. The main findings are as follows: (1) Not all SDGs are related to CSR practices; (2) companies perform differently in their CSR practices and, consequently, make different contributions to the SDGs; and (3) there is little difference among company profiles regarding their performances in CSR practices towards the SDGs. The main contributions of this study are, first, that it provides a new perspective on the relationship between CSR and SD and, second, the creation of a list of what can be considered the minimum requirements for CSR practices if the SDGs are to be reached.
Characterization and Evaluation of MODIS-Derived Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) for Monitoring Drought from 2001 to 2017 over Inner Mongolia
Authors: Ma Zi-Ce , Sun Peng , Zhang Qiang , Hu Yu-Qian , Jiang Wei
Published: January 2021

Inner Mongolia is one of the main green production bases of agricultural and animal husbandry products. Due to factors such as natural geographical location, drought occurs frequently in Inner Mongolia. Based on the MOD16 product and the method of crop water stress index (CWSI) combined with multi-year precipitation and temperature data, the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics and major influencing factors of drought in Inner Mongolia from 2001 to 2017 were analyzed. In order to provide effective scientific basis for drought control and drought resistance in Inner Mongolia for decision. The results showed that: (1) during 2001–2017, the average annual CWSI in Inner Mongolia had a strong spatial heterogeneity, which showed a trend of gradual increase from northeast to southwest. The annual average CWSI was 0.7787 and showed a fluctuating downward trend for Inner Mongolia. (2) The CWSI of every 8d during one year in Inner Mongolia showed the double-peak trend, reaching its maximum of 0.9043 in the 121st day. In addition, the average CWSI of every 8d was 0.6749. (3) In Inner Mongolia, the average CWSI of different land-use types showed little difference and ranged from small to large: woodland (0.5954) < cropland (0.7733) < built-up land (0.8126) < grassland (0.8147) < unused land (0.8392). (4) The average correlation coefficients between CWSI and precipitation, temperature respectively were −0.53 and 0.18, which indicated that CWSI was highly correlated with precipitation in Inner Mongolia.
Heating Energy Consumption and Environmental Implications Due to the Change in Daily Habits in Residential Buildings Derived from COVID-19 Crisis: The Case of Barcelona, Spain
Authors: Monzón-Chavarrías Marta , Guillén-Lambea Silvia , García-Pérez Sergio , Montealegre-Gracia Antonio Luis , Sierra-Pérez Jorge
Published: January 2021

The COVID-19 crisis has changed daily habits and the time that people spend at home. It is expected that this change may have environmental implications because of buildings’ heating energy demand. This paper studies the energy and environmental implications, from a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, due to these new daily habits in residential buildings at their current level of thermal insulation, and in different scenarios of thermal retrofit of their envelope. This study has a building-to-building approach by using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for the residential housing stock in the case of Barcelona, Spain. The results show that a change in daily habits derived from the pandemic can increase the heating energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission in residential buildings by 182%. Retrofitting all buildings of Barcelona, according to conventional energy renovation instead of nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB), will produce between 2.25 × 107 and 2.57 × 107 tons of carbon dioxide. Retrofitting the building stock using energy recovery is the option with better energy and emission savings, but also is the option with higher payback time for buildings built until 2007. The methodology presented can be applied in any city with sufficient cadastral data, and is considered optimal in the European context, as it goes for calculating the heating energy consumption.
Effects of a Thermal Inversion Experiment on STEM Students Learning and Application of Damped Harmonic Motion
Authors: González-Peña Omar Israel , Morán-Soto Gustavo , Rodríguez-Masegosa Rodolfo , Rodríguez-Lara Blas Manuel
Published: January 2021

There are diverse teaching methodologies to promote both collaborative and individual work in undergraduate physics courses. However, few educational studies seek to understand how students learn and apply new knowledge through open-ended activities that require mathematical modeling and experimentation focused on environmental problems. Here, we propose a novel home experiment to simulate the dynamics of a flue gas under temperature inversion and model it as damped harmonic motion. After designing and conducting the experiment, twenty six first year students enrolled in STEM majors answered six qualitative questions to inform us about their epistemological beliefs regarding their learning process. Their answers imply that this type of open-ended experiments may facilitate students’ understanding of physical phenomena and point to the significance of physics instructors as promoters of epistemological development. In general, students described this activity as a positive experience that helped them connect an environmental phenomenon with a fundamental physics concept.
The Influence of the Ecosystem on the Motivation of Social Entrepreneurs
Authors: Carriles-Alberdi Maria , Lopez-Gutierrez Carlos , Fernandez-Laviada Ana
Published: January 2021

Social entrepreneurs have particular characteristics that differentiate them from commercial entrepreneurs, but research on this differential behavior is still a field in which many questions need to be explored. Specifically, a factor of special relevance is the ecosystem where social entrepreneurial activity takes place. The aim of this study is to analyze how the ecosystem affects the motivation of social entrepreneurs compared to commercial entrepreneurs. This general objective is divided into two specific objectives. First, we analyze how the ecosystem influences the probability of being a social entrepreneur, considering both factors of the entrepreneurial environment and economic and financial factors. Second, we analyze whether the effect of the entrepreneurial ecosystem is determined by the level of development of the country where the activity takes place. The results show that the entrepreneurial ecosystem (the entrepreneurial, financial, and institutional environment) determines the motivation of social entrepreneurs in a different way compared to commercial entrepreneurs. In addition, we find that this influence is different according to the level of development of countries.
A Conceptual Framework to Analyze Food Loss and Waste within Food Supply Chains: An Operations Management Perspective
Authors: Luo Na , Olsen Tava Lennon , Liu Yanping
Published: January 2021

Alongside the development of the circular economy and sustainable food supply chains (FSCs), research on food loss and waste (FLW) reduction and prevention has drawn much attention from academia, practitioners, and governments. The significance of FLW has been highlighted in the literature due to its impact on society, economy, and the environment. We propose a conceptual framework to systematically examine FLW issues within FSCs in the field of operations management (OM). We discuss various types and distribution modes of FSCs where FLW occurs, definitions of FLW, the impacts of FLW, and measures to reduce FLW in the OM field. We further introduce the methodologies that have been applied in existing FLW studies. The contribution of this paper is threefold. First, it proposes a conceptual framework to identify FLW problems within FSCs. Second, it helps to comprehensively understand FLW occurrence and thus stimulate research focusing on FLW from different perspectives. Third, it motivates researchers to discuss FLW issues by applying different methodologies.
15-Minute City: Decomposing the New Urban Planning Eutopia
Authors: Pozoukidou Georgia , Chatziyiannaki Zoi
Published: January 2021

As cities are struggling to cope with the second wave of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the idea of 15-min cities seem to have sparked planners’ imagination and politicians’ willingness for providing us with a new urban planning eutopia. This paper explores the “15-min city” concept as a structural and functional element for redesigning contemporary cities. Methodologically, a study of three case cities that have adopted this new model of city vision, is carried out. The analysis focus on understanding how the idea of 15-min cities fits the legacies of different cities as described by traditional planning principles in the context of three evaluation pillars: inclusion, safety and health. The paper argues that the 15-min city approach is not a radical new idea since it utilizes long established planning principles. Nevertheless, it uses these principles to achieve the bottom-up promotion of wellbeing while it proposes an alternative way to think about optimal resource allocation in a citywide scale. Hence, application of 15-min city implies a shift in the emphasis of planning from the accessibility of neighborhood to urban functions to the proximity of urban functions within neighborhoods, along with large systemic changes in resource allocation patterns and governance schemes citywide.
A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective on Food Labelling for Environmental Sustainability: Attitudes, Perceived Barriers, and Solution Approaches towards the “Traffic Light Index”
Authors: Gröfke Nathalie , Duplat Valérie , Wickert Christopher , Tjemkes Brian
Published: January 2021

The so-called “Traffic Light Index” (TLI) is a meta-sustainability label aimed at condensing the information provided by existing sustainability labels into an overarching message on food products’ environmental footprints. Such an overarching message is critical to reduce the confusion caused by existing labels and to foster more sustainable dietary habits among consumers. While research shows that the TLI is a viable and effective choice, its actual development and implementation are impeded by debates between relevant stakeholders in the European food system. This study examines those debates and adopts a multi-stakeholder perspective to address the following question: How do different stakeholder groups involved in the discussion towards a meta-sustainability label inhibit the adoption of the TLI label? Exploratory interviews with representatives from non-governmental organizations, social enterprises, academia, multi-national corporations, and governmental organizations show that each stakeholder group (1) adopts either optimistic or skeptical attitudes towards the TLI label, (2) perceives different types and magnitudes of barriers to its adoption (i.e., cognitive, methodological, and processual), and (3) proposes solutions to overcome those barriers that are either of an entrepreneurial or risk-averse nature. Findings further reveal that multi-stakeholder interactions influence attitudes and thereby inhibit or favor TLI adoption. Hence, entrepreneurial (vs. risk-averse) solutions proposed by optimistic (vs. skeptical) stakeholders may alter the attitudes of skeptical (vs. optimistic) stakeholders and the barriers they perceive to TLI adoption. By responding to calls for holistic approaches towards food labelling, our study shows how the diversity of stakeholders’ perceptions towards the TLI inhibits its adoption. We propose a theoretical framework and a set of propositions that can serve as springboards for policy ideas to propel progress in food labelling for environmental sustainability.