bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Weed Management Challenges in Rice Cultivation in the Context of Pesticide Use Reduction: A Survey Approach
Authors: Calha Isabel , Oliveira Maria de Fátima , Reis Pedro
Published: December 2022

Weeds are the main phytosanitary problem in rice crop. Over-reliance on herbicides and lack of crop operations range in the rice system have produced intense selection for the evolution of resistant weed populations. This study focused on rice farmers’ perceptions and attitudes towards weeds and agricultural practices for weed management. The methodology of a questionnaire was used, carried out in person with rice producers in the main rice producing regions in Portugal, complemented by three focus groups. The outcomes reveal that Echinochloa spp. is the weed of greatest concern, followed by Oryza sativa var. sylvatica. New weeds are about to emerge, mainly Leptochloa fusca ssp. fascicularis. It will be critical for performance at the innovation ecosystem level to achieve evolution in social capital. Policies that promote innovation for the performance of more ecological and sustainable practices must be settled. The problem of herbicide resistance is increasing with the reduction in the number of active substances. There is great difficulty in adopting non-chemical weed control to meet the requirements of the European Ecological Pact. The implementation of these alternatives cannot be widespread, but must be studied on a case-by-case basis and requires technical monitoring adapted to the region and to the plot.
Research Progress, Hotspots and Trends of Land Use under the Background of Ecological Civilization in China: Visual Analysis Based on the CNKI Database
Authors: Nan Mingyang , Chen Jun
Published: December 2022

Land use is a fundamental element of ecological civilization, whose relevant academic results are not only a concentrated expression of the construction of ecological civilization and land use but also an important theoretical basis for guiding land use changes to promote the construction of ecological civilization. Therefore, based on CiteSpace visual software, this paper analyzes the research progress, hotspots, and trends of 558 articles related to land use under the background of ecological civilization in China based on the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database. The results are as follows: (1) The research cycle is characterized by two distinct stages: the nascent stage and the fluctuating growth stage. (2) The number of publications by researchers and institutions is low, the collaborative network is fragmented, and a core of research researchers and institutions has not yet been formed. (3) The journals in which the papers are published indicate that the research is cross-disciplinary in character, while the highly cited journals have a central role, and the research content of the high-frequency cited papers mainly includes three parts: spatiotemporal evolution pattern and measurement, spatial planning, and land reclamation. (4) The research hotspots are grouped into 12 keyword clusters, which can be further grouped into two sections: “ecological civilization construction and land use” and “national spatial planning”. (5) The burst of territorial spatial planning has reached 2022 and will continue to be a research hotspot in this field in the future. The results of this study can help relevant scholars clarify the research context and current situation in this field and grasp future research directions.
Consumer Behavior in the Service Industry: An Integrative Literature Review and Research Agenda
Authors: Singh Prakash , Arora Lokesh , Choudhry Abdulaziz
Published: December 2022

Ongoing technological disruptions in the service industries have altered modern business practices globally. Due to the unending transference in the overall consumer behavior in online and offline business environments, service providers are forced to rethink their existing business strategies, to understand the disruptive behaviors of consumers and the factors responsible for this. An integrative literature review (ILR) method has been employed to track the ongoing disruption in consumer behaviors in diverse service industries. This study is an attempt to bridge the gap by offering global insights related to the study of consumer behaviors in diverse service settings. The Web of Science and Scopus electronic databases have been mined to extract the existing literary works and 120 articles are selected as the final sample for this study through advanced inclusion and exclusion criteria. The key findings of the study have been categorized using the TCM (Theory, Context, and Methodology) framework as the future research agenda of this study. This study will contribute to enhancing the understandings of marketers, researchers, and academics through the massive collection of the existing literature in the research study of consumer behavior.
Older People’s Knowledge Creation Motivations for Sustainable Communities
Authors: Ho Bach Q. , Shirahada Kunio
Published: December 2022

To enhance the sustainability of local communities in an aging society, older people have begun independently organizing community activities as social support services. The knowledge created by the community-dwelling older people for these community activities is a valuable resource. Although many studies have addressed the motivations of older people to participate in social activities, few studies have explored motivations toward knowledge creation in community activities. The present study investigates how older people are motivated knowledge creation in community activities from the perspective of services marketing. We conducted in-depth interviews with older individuals participating in community activities and identified four scenes (reminiscence, resonance, reuse, and rewarding) by content analysis. These four scenes are associated with specific contexts describing how older people are motivated knowledge creation in community activities. We interpreted these scenes from the axes of the source of motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic) and approaches for psychological well-being (affiliation and power) and developed the 4R model. Our findings add insights to services marketing to enhance the sustainability of local communities through community activities.
Towards Energy Transition: Use of Blockchain in Renewable Certificates to Support Sustainability Commitments
Authors: Delardas Orestis , Giannos Panagiotis
Published: December 2022

Corporations increasingly consider sustainability as an important goal and set net zero carbon emissions targets, consequently looking towards their electricity procurement to achieve them. Guarantees of Origin (GOs) are widely used as insurances for the renewability of electricity supplies and proofs of compliance to renewable standards; however, they suffer from structural problems. Their transactional history cannot distinguish between those traded among market actors and the ones that come directly from power plants, giving rise to transparency issues. Certificate trading dissuades producers from investing in an increase in renewable capacity resulting in lack of additionality while complex frameworks and administrative structures emerge to keep track of the vast network of GOs. These issues can be resolved through the introduction of blockchain networks which can provide transparency and help incentivise renewable investment while increasing automation and process simplification. This review explores the benefits and challenges of blockchain implementation for GOs and proposes a rethinking of how this scheme may fulfil the future needs of the energy sector.
Towards Circular Fashion: Design for Community-Based Clothing Reuse and Upcycling Services under a Social Innovation Perspective
Authors: Wu Duan , Zhuang Mingyu , Zhang Xinni , Zhao Yuheng
Published: December 2022

With the rise of the circular economy, recycling, and upcycling is an emerging sustainable system in the fashion industry, emphasising a closed loop of “design, produce, use, and recycle”. In this context, this paper will explore community-based approaches to scale up clothing reuse and upcycling under a social innovation perspective. This study aims to establish community-based practice models, which contribute toward promoting a greater understanding of sustainable fashion and achieving collaborative cocreation frameworks for community stakeholders. This paper, therefore, takes a social innovation perspective to conduct design studies helping with the technical (problem-solving) and cultural (sense-making) barriers that clothing reuse and upcycling face. The research was conducted in the context of the Shanghai community, and a large amount of first-hand research data were obtained through field research, expert and user interviews, and participatory workshops. Finally, this research establishes a platform proposal which combines strategic service design and practical toolkit design. It is a new community-based service model highlighting a significant advancement in the degree of collaboration and cocreation in traditional community service models. Additionally, it dramatically demonstrates the potential of socially innovative design thinking in promoting circular fashion and the closed-loop fashion system.
Quantification of Residual Unhydrated Cement Content in Cement Pastes as a Potential for Recovery
Authors: Kulisch Daniele , Katz Amnon , Zhutovsky Semion
Published: December 2022

All types of concrete contain residual unhydrated cement. For example, unhydrated cement is present in high-strength concrete due to low water/cement ratios, as well as in old concrete due to coarser cement used in the past, and in fresh concrete waste due to the lack of curing. These residues of unhydrated cement are a waste of resources with potential for recovery and reuse. In this work, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and analytical modeling were used to quantify the residual cement and the hydration degree of various cement pastes to explore their recovery potential. The study included cement pastes with water/cement ratios of 0.2–0.6 and residual unhydrated cement was found to be in the range 6–36%, indicating great potential for recovery and further use in the manufacture of new concrete.
Crisis Leadership: Political Leadership during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Samad Ataus , Al Jerjawi Khalil , Dadich Ann
Published: December 2022

This article identifies leadership attributes that enable effective leaders to manage crises. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 13 Australian political leaders, including senators, members of federal and state parliament, premiers, ministers, and mayors of local governments. The findings suggest that, to be an effective leader during a crisis, political leaders need to be: visionary; courageous; calm; inspirational; ethical; empathetic; authentic; and resilient. Single leadership theories do not capture all the attributes necessary to lead during a crisis, suggesting the importance of different, complementary theories. The findings clarify what it takes for politicians to lead during a global crisis, like COVID-19. Furthermore, they provide a foundation to enable constituents to gauge their political leaders’ leadership capacities. Despite extensive research on what it takes to lead, little is known about political leadership during a crisis. The study unveils the key attributes that are essential for political leaders to navigate a crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic.
International Youth Movements for Climate Change: The #FridaysForFuture Case on Twitter
Authors: Padilla-Castillo Graciela , Rodríguez-Hernández Jonattan
Published: December 2022

Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are critical pieces of climate change communication. #FridaysForFuture (FFF) is one of the movements with the most coverage. This paper analyzes the network structure generated in Twitter by the interactions created by its users about the 23 September 2022 demonstrations, locates the most relevant users in the conversation based on multiple measures of intermediation and centrality of Social Network Analysis (SNA), identifies the most important topics of conversation regarding the #FridaysForFuture movement, and checks if the use of audio-visual content or links associated with the messages have a direct influence on the engagement. The NodeXL pro program was used for data collection and the different structures were represented using the Social Network Analysis method (SNA). Thanks to this methodology, the most relevant centrality measures were calculated: eigenvector centrality, betweenness centrality as relative measures, and the levels of indegree and outdegree as absolute measures. The network generated by the hashtag #FridaysforFuture consisted of a total of 12,136 users, who interacted on a total of 37,007 occasions. The type of action on the Twitter social network was distributed in five categories: 16,420 retweets, 14,866 mentions in retweets, 3151 mentions, 1584 tweets, and 986 replies. It is concluded that the number of communities is large and geographically distributed around the world, and the most successful accounts are so because of their relevance to those communities; the action of bots is tangible and is not demonized by the platform; some users can achieve virality without being influencers; the three languages that stood out are English, French, and German; and climate activism generates more engagement from users than the usual Twitter engagement average.
Coupling PLUS–InVEST Model for Ecosystem Service Research in Yunnan Province, China
Authors: Wang Rongyao , Zhao Junsan , Chen Guoping , Lin Yilin , Yang Anran , Cheng Jiaqi
Published: December 2022

In efforts to improve regional ecosystem service functions, coordinate land development and ecological conservation, and establish a reference for optimizing land resource allocation and policy formulation to cope with climate change, it is critical to investigate the spatial distribution of land use/cover change (LUCC) and ecosystem services (ESs) under future climate change. This study proposes a framework based on the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway and Representative Concentration Pathway (SSP-RCP), integrating the patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model and the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and tradeoffs (InVEST) model to analyze the spatial agglomeration of ESs, to analyze the importance of each driving factors. The results of the study show as follows: (1) the combination of CMIP6 and PLUS models can effectively simulate land use with an overall accuracy of 0.9379. (2) In spatial correlation, ESs show good clustering in all three future scenarios, with similar distribution of cold hotspots in the SSP126 and SSP245 scenarios. Hotspots are more dispersed and cold spots are shifted to the west in the SSP585 scenario. (3) GDP is an important factor in carbon storage and habitat quality, and precipitation has a greater impact on soil retention and water production. Overall, ESs can be increased by appropriately controlling population and economic development, balancing economic development and ecological protection, promoting energy transition, maintaining ecological hotspot areas, and improving cold spot areas.
Effect of Tumbling Conditions on the Tendinous and Tenderness Index of Chicken Leg Meat
Authors: Mierzejewska Sylwia , Diakun Jarosław , Seńcio Mariusz , Piepiórka-Stepuk Joanna
Published: December 2022

This article presents the results of the effect of chicken leg meat tumbling parameters on its texture, as assessed by the tendinous-tenderness index KZ-S, where the value of KZ-S = 1 index means maximum tendinous—no tenderness and the value of KZ-S = 0 means no tendinous—maximum tenderness. The tumbling of the meat was performed in an agitator-tilt tumbler. The variable factors of the tumbling process were temperature (T), time (τ), rotational speed (ω) and angle of the tumbler drum inclination (α). The meat texture was tested using the universal testing machine TMS-Pro with a Warner–Bratzler knife. The results of the study were described using second-degree polynomial correlation functions with couplings and presented in the form of diagrams. The effect of the favorable reduction of the tendinous in favor of the tenderness of meat is most significantly influenced by the angle of the inclination of the drum of the tumbler and the time of massage. The optimal results for the tendinous-tenderness index KZ-S were obtained for the angle of the inclination of the drum of the tumbler α = 45° and tumbling duration τ = 50 min. For such tumbling parameters, the index KZ-S = 0.25 (reduced meat tendons). It is unfavorable, whereas massage tumbling at T = 0 °C, compared to higher and lower temperatures of massaging. The effect of the agitator speed ω depends on the time and temperature. The research results showed that the most favorable effects of the tendinous loss in favor of the tenderness, determined by the tendinous-tenderness index KZ-S, are obtained by the tumbling condition with high a high angle of inclination of the tank (α > 45°), a low value of the rotational speed (ω < 12 [1/min]), a longer time (τ > 50 min) and a temperature different from 0 °C.
Thauera sp. in Hydrogen-Based Denitrification: Effects of Plentiful Bicarbonate Supplementation on Powerful Nitrite Reducer
Authors: Rujakom Suphatchai , Kamei Tatsuru , Kazama Futaba
Published: December 2022

Nitrite accumulation in hydrogen-based denitrification (HD) has been reported as a difficulty for achieving complete denitrification. Thauera sp. has been found as the dominant bacterial species in HD previously when using a plentiful amount of HCO3−. This present study was successful in isolating Pseudomonas sp., Dietzia sp., Pannonibacter sp., Halomonas sp., Bacillus sp., and Thauera sp. These isolated strains were selected for investigating the nitrogen removal performance under the plentiful HCO3− condition. Only Pseudomonas sp. and Thauera sp. were capable of removing NO2− where the specific NO2− removal rate of Thauera sp. (36.02 ± 5.66 mgN gVSS−1 day−1) was 9 times quicker than that of Pseudomonas sp. (3.94 ± 0.80 mgN gVSS−1 day−1). The Thauera sp. strain was then tested at different HCO3− amounts. As a result, Thauera sp. had no ability to function both NO3− and NO2− removals under HCO3− deficit condition. This study provided evidence on the role of Thauera sp. and the necessity of bicarbonate in the hydrogen-based denitrification process to enhance its efficiency and to simultaneously reduce the operational cost especially for hydrogen.
Using Netnography to Understand Customer Experience towards Hotel Brands
Authors: Khan Imran , Fatma Mobin
Published: December 2022

The competitive environment in the hospitality and tourism industry requires proper attention towards the effective management of hotel brands. Recently, in marketing literature, the customer brand experience has emerged as a multidimensional construct that influences customer loyalty. Stressing the importance of this branding construct, the study explores the underlying dimensions of brand experience in five-star hotel brands in an emerging economy like India. The study employs a qualitative research method, that is, netnography to identify the brand experience dimensions. The results reveal the importance of sensory (sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste), affective (feelings and emotions), relational (feelings of not being left alone), food (memorable meal) and leisure time (freedom to perceive and select activity during free time) experiences.
Fuzzy Front-End Vertical External Involvement, Corporate Social Responsibility and Firms’ New Product Development Performance in the VUCA Age: From an Organizational Learning Perspective
Authors: Huang Jiaxu , Hu Haiqing , Wang Yong
Published: December 2022

Fuzzy front-end (FFE) innovation is the important initial phase of manufacturing companies’ new product development (NPD) process, which can be a factor that determines manufacturers’ NPD performance and sustainable growth. This study seeks to investigate the role of FFE vertical external involvement (FFE customer involvement and FFE supplier involvement) in advancing firms’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) and NPD performance in the COVID-19-influenced age of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA). This study adopts an organizational learning (OL) perspective as its theoretical foundation in constructing a comprehensive framework by developing a series of hypotheses. In addition, we test the mediating effect of CSR on the relationship between FFE vertical external involvement and firm NPD performance. We use the structural equation modeling method to examine our hypotheses empirically based on data collected from 548 Chinese manufacturing companies. The findings illustrate that FFE customer involvement and FFE supplier involvement are vital drivers of a firm’s CSR engagement. Furthermore, we find that FFE supplier involvement plays a more significant role than FFE customer involvement in contributing to NPD performance. Finally, we find that a firm’s CSR engagement positively mediates the relationship between FFE vertical external involvement and NPD performance.
A Brief Review of Microgrid Surveys, by Focusing on Energy Management System
Authors: Abdi Hamdi
Published: December 2022

Microgrids are new concepts in power systems that can upgrade current power systems due to their technical, economic, and environmental advantages. In addition, the increasing penetration of renewable energies and their use in microgrids have increased the complexity of these new grids in terms of planning and operation. Along with numerous research and practical projects built in different countries with multiple applications, countless types of research have also been performed relying on different aspects of MGs. In this paper, based on a review of studies and review articles related to MGs, an attempt has been made to evaluate and report the optimal energy management of MGs, based on what is addressed in the literature. In addition, the most critical surveys on various topics of MGs are introduced as a guide for researchers to draw a road map for future works.
Shaking Table Test and Numerical Simulation Study on Tunnel-Soil-Bridge Pile Structure Interaction System
Authors: Lu Shasha , Zhao Dongxu , Dai Junwu , Yin Hang , Wang Laigui
Published: December 2022

In this study, based on the actual project in Dalian, the dynamic interaction of the double tunnel sand bridge pile system (SSSI) under earthquake action is studied by shaking table test, and the dynamic response laws of the structure and site are obtained, which are compared with ABAQUS numerical simulation. The Kelvin constitutive model subprogram is introduced into the numerical model, and the equivalent linear method is used to deal with the nonlinear problems of sand in the calculation process. The experimental results are compared with the results obtained using the numerical model to verify the reliability of the numerical simulation. Based on this, eight working conditions are designed, and the interaction law between the structures in the system is investigated through a comparative analysis. The results showed that the tunnel amplifies the dynamic responses of the bridge pile, adjacent tunnel, and far field, while the bridge pile attenuates the dynamic responses of the side tunnel and far field; the presence of both the tunnel and bridge pile increases the internal force of the adjacent structure, and the peak internal force often occurs near the intersection of the structure or at the pile–soil interface.
Investigating the Relationship between Climate and Hospital Admissions for Respiratory Diseases before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil
Authors: Krüger Eduardo L. , Nedel Anderson Spohr
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to analyze meteorological variables versus hospital admissions for respiratory diseases for the age groups of children under five and the elderly (over 65 years of age) in different climate regions of Brazil, for the years 2018 and 2020, i.e., before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study was, on one hand, to evaluate the influence of weather variables on respiratory disease in humans, and on the other hand, take into account two years with differing dynamics due to a worldwide pandemic that significantly changed people’s lifestyles. The human biometeorological index (Universal Thermal Climate Index, UTCI) was used as representative of the integral association of meteorological variables. UTCI data were obtained from the ERA5-HEAT reanalysis database, which provides hourly grid data with a spatial resolution of 0.25° × 0.25°. The Brazilian cities Manaus, Brasilia and Porto Alegre, which represent different climatic contexts in the country, were used in the analysis. The method compared temperature and climate reanalysis data to hospital admission data for respiratory diseases, obtained from the Brazilian Unified Health System database (DATASUS), according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10). Correlation analysis was performed between variables (hospital admissions versus climate-related data) in order to identify associations between them, also accounting for different time-lag effects. We analyzed seasonal influences on the obtained correlations, correlation strength and direct or inverse relationships. Results showed that the pandemic interfered in the association between morbidity due to respiratory illnesses and climate-related variables.
Improvement of Reinforcement Performance and Engineering Application of Small Coal Pillars Arranged in Double Roadways
Authors: Huang Wanpeng , Liu Shilei , Gao Mingtao , Hou Tao , Wang Xuewen , Zhao Tongyang , Sui Le , Xie Zhonghui
Published: December 2022

The supporting technology of retaining small coal pillars in a double roadway layout can effectively relieve the tension of mining and excavation replacement and improve the coal recovery rate. The critical difficulty is that the supporting structure on both sides of the small coal pillar has not established an effective mechanical connection, and the improvement of the bearing capacity of the coal pillar is limited, so it is difficult to achieve long-term stability control of the small coal pillar. Taking the 301 and 302 working faces of Gaojiapu Coal Mine as the engineering background, this paper first constructs the overburden structure model of the whole process of mining with small coal pillars in a double roadway layout, obtains the load calculation and strength calculation methods of small coal pillars through the analysis of the mechanism of small coal pillars surrounding rock mechanics, and gives the selection design of support parameters of anchor cables and concrete filled steel tubular piers; Secondly, the influence rules of physical and mechanical parameters such as axial load, elastic modulus and residual strength of anchor solid under different reinforcement methods and the lateral reinforcement coefficient of anchor cable are obtained through experiments. Finally, the support parameters and the coal pillar width are reasonably designed. The field monitoring data show that the reinforcement technology of a small coal pillar with anchor cable as the main body can effectively control the deformation of the small coal pillar, which has specific guiding significance and application value for solving the long-term stability control problem of small coal pillar under the influence of mining.
Evaluating Portuguese Public Hospitals Performance: Any Difference before and during COVID-19?
Authors: Nunes Alexandre Morais , Ferreira Diogo Filipe da Cunha
Published: December 2022

COVID-19 is a well-known respiratory disease that has spread worldwide since January 2020, causing many deaths and massive pressure on health systems. This pandemic’s appearance compromised health service sustainability and quality as many procedures were postponed or canceled, with an expected increase of adverse events like nosocomial infections, in-hospital deaths, and the worsening of the patient’s clinical status. For instance, the year 2020 featured an increase in undesirable results in Portugal: a rise of 10% in delayed first medical appointments, 0.02% in avoidable bloodstream infections, and more than 100 post-operative pulmonary embolisms and septicemia cases per 100,000 inpatients. Therefore, assessing whether the healthcare providers’ performance has changed is paramount. In this case, we evaluated public hospitals in Portugal. To this end, we developed a network data envelopment analysis model relating to efficiency and effectiveness. We observed consistent drops in efficiency when the pandemic started, followed by a recovery to levels above the pre-pandemic ones. Regarding effectiveness, we observed a positive trend during the evaluated period. We conclude that, apart from the great resilience of public healthcare providers, the Portuguese state was unprepared for a pandemic like COVID-19, but still the actions taken (including massive vaccination) were beneficial.
A Greening Strategy of Mitigation of the Thermal Environment for Coastal Sloping Urban Space
Authors: Zhang Ying , Hu Xijun , Liu Zheng , Zhou Chunling , Liang Hong
Published: December 2022

Greening can usually have a cooling effect on urban space; but is this law also applicable to coastal sloping urban space? The coastal urban space of Qingdao Haizhifeng Square, with a sloping topography, was the area we selected to study. The study area contained two parts: a coastal green space and a residential area. ENVI-met was used to create six scenarios. Different lawns, black pine and ash were planted in the two areas to study the cooling effect. The results showed that the closer the area was to the sea, the better the thermal comfort. In both the coastal green area and the residential area, trees increased the PET of the site, and the higher the LAI of the trees, the more obvious the thermal effect. At 15:00, the hottest time during the summer, the highest PET at pedestrian height was lowest in the scenario without trees, reaching 28.3 °C, and the highest was with full ash, reaching 34.3 °C. At the same time, the average difference in PET between the two scenarios was 1.4 °C. The highest PET at pedestrian height was generated in the area of the building away from the sea breeze, especially in the case of the sloping topography behind it or dense street trees on the urban road. Finally, it was concluded that, in urban spaces with a coastal slope topography, lawns should be planted in the coastal green part and low LAI trees in residential areas, and shade trees should not be planted on the coastal walkway. This afforestation strategy can provide a basis to formulate a strategy for promoting the design of regions with similar geographical and climatic conditions in the future.
Research on the Path of Sustainable Development of China’s Logistics Industry Driven by Capital Factors
Authors: Chen Heng , Zhang Yan
Published: December 2022

In order to identify the path of the sustainable development of China’s logistics industry, this paper creatively constructs the LMDI (Logarithmic Mean Index Method) model of capital factor investment, analyzes the main driving forces of the development of China’s logistics industry and its sustainability, and discusses the key factors and realization path of the sustainable development of the logistics industry. This study can provide expertise to a vast number of developing countries. The research results indicate the following: (1) Capital scale expansion is the principal driving force in the development of the logistics industry. As the capital investment efficiency of the logistics industry crosses the threshold value, capital investment scale expansion has a long-term positive effect on the development of the logistics industry. The key to achieving sustainable development in China’s logistics industry is to improve the efficiency of capital investment. (2) Improving the institutional environment can reduce the competitive pressure of foreign direct investment (FDI) on the logistics industry, weaken the crowding-out effect on capital investment efficiency, and assist in the sustainable growth of the industry. (3) An improvement in capital investment efficiency is promoted by capital mobility; however, these effects differ depending on the region.
Effectiveness and Sustainability Indicators in Higher Education Management
Authors: Mattos Luísa Karam de , Flach Leonardo , Costa Alexandre Marino , Moré Rafael Pereira Ocampo
Published: December 2022

This research aims to analyze the determinant factors of the effectiveness and sustainability indicators of higher education management at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. The research is characterized as a quantitative study of inferential nature, with structural equation modeling. Data were collected from a survey and applied to professors and employees of two teaching centers at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. The theoretical basis is the Baldrige Excellence Model. This research brings together several theoretical and practical implications involving the sustainability of higher education management, because higher education institutions have been under pressure to improve their performance, and many governments have implemented new regulations that seek to professionalize universities in pursuit of excellence. So, this paper discusses one of the models in the academic literature, the Baldrige model, which focuses on the effectiveness of university management, encompassing quality improvement and excellence in management. The results obtained show that the construct leadership, focus on the student, and society, have a direct effect on strategic planning and an indirect effect on the effectiveness of management. In addition, the constructs of transparency and management by competencies have a direct effect on work processes. Universities face a management challenge and demand new quality models.
The Use of Virtual Reality Technology in Intelligent Transportation Systems Education
Authors: Pense Caner , Tektaş Mehmet , Kanj Hassan , Ali Nawaf
Published: December 2022

Simulation-based education is a critical component of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) education. This study discusses the experimental success of using Virtual Reality (VR) technology in simulation-based ITS education, which was found to improve the quality of education while increasing immersion and motivation. The study documents the application of VR technology to a microscopic simulation model within the ITS curriculum. Furthermore, the study also proposes using a standardized methodology to capture and evaluate students’ subjective experiences. The findings of the study are discussed, along with potential ways to improve the planned VR technology implementation in the ITS laboratory.
Patents on Environmental Technologies, Financial Development, and Environmental Degradation in Sweden: Evidence from Novel Fourier-Based Approaches
Authors: Serener Berna , Kirikkaleli Dervis , Addai Kwaku
Published: December 2022

This article seeks to capture the effects of patents on environmental technologies and financial development on environmental degradation in Sweden between 1995Q1 and 2019Q4 using Fourier ARDL and Fourier Toda Yamamoto (Fourier TY) causality approaches. In the estimated models, the control variables employed are economic growth and renewable energy. The Fourier ARDL long-run estimates indicate that: (i) both patents on environmental technologies and renewable energy have negative effects on environmental degradation; (ii) improvements in both financial development and economic growth positively affect environmental degradation. Finally, the Fourier TY estimates indicate that patents on environmental technologies, growth, and renewable energy have unidirectional causal effects on environmental degradation. These findings have significant policy implications, particularly for financial development and patents on environmental technologies in Sweden. The government of Sweden can enact strict regulatory policies to control the adverse impacts of financial development. In addition, the government can increase investments in patents on environmental technologies and renewable energy use to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (CO2E).
Green Hydrogen and Social Sciences: Issues, Problems, and Future Challenges
Authors: Vallejos-Romero Arturo , Cordoves-Sánchez Minerva , Cisternas César , Sáez-Ardura Felipe , Rodríguez Ignacio , Aledo Antonio , Boso Álex , Prades Jordi , Álvarez Boris
Published: December 2022

The article presents a review of the research on green hydrogen from the social sciences, identifying its main lines of research, its problems, and the relevant challenges due to the benefits and impacts that this energy vector has on energy transitions and climate change. The review analyzes a corpus of 78 articles indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) and SCOPUS, published between 1997 and 2022. The review identified three research areas related to green hydrogen and the challenges for the social sciences in the future: (a) risks, socio-environmental impacts, and public perception; (b) public policies and regulation and (c) social acceptance and willingness to use associated technologies. Our results show that Europe and Asia lead the research on green hydrogen from the social sciences. Also, most of the works focus on the area of public policy and regulation and social acceptance. Instead, the field of social perception of risk is much less developed. We found that little research from the social sciences has focused on assessments of the social and environmental impacts of hydrogen on local communities and indigenous groups, as well as the participation of local authorities in rural locations. Likewise, there are few integrated studies (technical and social) that would allow a better assessment of hydrogen and cleaner energy transitions. Finally, the lack of familiarity with this technology in many cases constitutes a limitation when evaluating its acceptance.
Sustainability Framing of Controlled Environment Agriculture and Consumer Perceptions: A Review
Authors: Gan Caixia Ivy , Soukoutou Ruth , Conroy Denise Maria
Published: December 2022

The ongoing criticism of conventional agricultural activities being unsustainable in the face of climate change and global population growth has been one of the key drivers for technological innovation in this space. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), especially in the high-tech form of vertical farming, as a new agri-food technology, has been positioned as a sustainable solution to the dilemma of feeding the world and preserving the planet. Acknowledging sustainability as a multi-dimensional concept encompassing environmental, economic, social, and cultural aspects, this review briefly outlines the evolving meaning of sustainability, and how CEA has been framed as sustainable in the literature. Specifically, the review examines studies that have investigated consumer perceptions and acceptance of CEA and discussed how sustainability features of CEA were presented to consumers in a diverse way across these studies. The review highlights that the social and cultural dimensions of sustainability were largely neglected not only in research that focused on the development of CEA, but also in the exploration of consumers’ perceptions of CEA. A more holistic examination of the sustainability of CEA and a comprehensive understanding from consumers is important for transitioning towards more sustainable production systems enabled by new technologies such as CEA.
Identifying the Key Success Factors of Plant-Based Food Brands in Europe
Authors: Rini Listia , Schouteten Joachim J. , Faber Ilona , Bechtold Kai-Brit , Perez-Cueto Federico J. A. , Gellynck Xavier , De Steur Hans
Published: December 2022

Plant-based food (PBF) is on the rise as an alternative for animal-based food. Europe is leading in the market size compared with the global market. However, the high failure rate for new food products is challenging the success of new PBF in the market. This paper aims to unravel the key success factors (KSFs) from existing brands, contributing to the knowledge on how to achieve success in PBF market. Two subsequent studies employing online surveys were included, which targeted food expert participants. Study 1 focused on the collection of KSFs related to PBF brands utilizing the card sorting approach. Study 2 employed cluster analysis to further investigate the KSFs among different PBF brands. The findings identified six clusters of KSFs under the external and internal factors supporting the success of the PBF brands. Two (‘Consumer’ and ‘Trend’) and four (‘Ideology’, ‘Marketing strategy’, ‘Innovation management’, and ‘Management structure’) clusters were assigned into external and internal factors, respectively. Furthermore, cluster analysis identified four brand clusters: ‘Mature’, ‘Targeted’, ‘Newcomer’, and ‘Established but diversifying’ clusters. Each brand cluster utilized different KSFs into their strategies; however, both external and internal factors were applied, suggesting that there is no one-size-fits-all KSF to succeed in the market.
Catching versus Counting: Comparing the Pro-Environmental Attitudes, Behaviors, and Climate Concerns of Recreational Fishers and Citizen Scientists
Authors: Varade Marissa L. , Choi Francis , Helmuth Brian , Scyphers Steven
Published: December 2022

The ongoing and interactive effects of climate change, overharvesting, and habitat loss on fish and fisheries impacts a wide array of stakeholders who rely on access to sustainable fish populations for their health, recreation, well-being, and income. Successful responses to these threats will require the involvement of stakeholders in co-developing solutions. Understanding the socio-psychological characteristics of these diverse stakeholders, including their environmental attitudes and behaviors, can potentially improve management support and effectiveness across and within these groups. Past research has focused on climate impacts and adaptation efforts in commercial fisheries, but less is known about climate-related perceptions and attitudes of recreational fishers and other stakeholders such as citizen scientists. This study investigated how pro-environmental attitudes (PEAs), pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs), and climate change concerns vary among fisheries-based recreationists based on activity type (recreational fishing, fish monitoring for citizen science) and specialization level. Among stakeholders, citizen scientists (fish counters) exhibited the strongest PEBs, followed by more specialized recreational fishers. Citizen scientists also had stronger PEAs than recreational fishers and non-fisher/non-citizen scientists, but there were no significant differences in PEAs across specialization levels. Citizen scientists showed greater concern for climate change than recreational fishers and non-fisher/non-citizen scientists. However, respondents overall showed greater concern for “the environment” than for climate change. Our results suggest that both activity type and specialization level are important considerations when developing strategies to promote pro-environmental behaviors and climate concerns and that communication frames centered on healthy ecosystems may be more effective with some stakeholders than those focused solely on climate change. We discuss implications for building public support of climate engagement efforts and sustainable, climate-resilient fisheries.
Fate of Sulfate in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants and Its Effect on Sludge Recycling as a Fuel Source
Authors: Ho Que Nguyen , Anam Giridhar Babu , Kim Jaein , Park Somin , Lee Tae-U , Jeon Jae-Young , Choi Yun-Young , Ahn Young-Ho , Lee Byung Joon
Published: December 2022

Wastewater sludge is used as an alternative fuel due to its high organic content and calorific value. However, influent characteristics and operational practices of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can increase the sulfur content of sludge, devaluing it as a fuel. Thus, we investigated the biochemical mechanisms that elevate the sulfur content of sludge in a full-scale industrial WWTP receiving wastewater of the textile dyeing industry and a domestic WWTP by monitoring the sulfate, sulfur, and iron contents and the biochemical transformation of sulfate to sulfur in the wastewater and sludge treatment streams. A batch sulfate reduction rate test and microbial 16S rRNA and dsrB gene sequencing analyses were applied to assess the potential and activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria and their effect on sulfur deposition. This study indicated that the primary clarifier and anaerobic digester prominently reduced sulfate concentration through biochemical sulfate reduction and iron–sulfur complexation under anaerobic conditions, from 1247 mg/L in the influent to 6.2~59.8 mg/L in the industrial WWTP and from 46.7 mg/L to 0~0.8 mg/L in the domestic WWTPs. The anaerobic sludge, adapted in the high sulfate concentration of the industrial WWTP, exhibited a two times higher specific sulfate reduction rate (0.13 mg SO42−/gVSS/h) and sulfur content (3.14% DS) than the domestic WWTP sludge. Gene sequencing analysis of the population structure of common microbes and sulfate-reducing bacteria indicated the diversity of microorganisms involved in biochemical sulfate reduction in the sulfur cycle, supporting the data revealed by chemical analysis and batch tests.
Stakeholders’ Perspectives for Taking Action to Prevent Abandoned, Lost, or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear in Gillnet Fisheries, Taiwan
Authors: Yang Ching-Min
Published: December 2022

Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) and ghost fishing are becoming increasingly severe, hurting marine ecology and inspiring worldwide concern. The Global Ghost Gears Initiative (GGGI) is committed to building a best practice framework for the management of fishing gear and believes that proper and systematic marking of fishing gear will help mitigate the impacts of ALDFG and ghost fishing. However, the mandatory marking of gear for fishery management, without considering the geographical characteristics of each region, could lead to confrontations between the government and the industry. This study used ranking, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and interviews to obtain the opinions of different groups regarding the choices and preferences of stakeholders in the assessed factors of taking action to prevent ALDFG and reduce the harm caused by ghost fishing. The results show that the factors “B2, Informing and counseling”, “P2, Fishing gear marking”, and “P1, Regulation” had consensus and were valued by each group. In contrast, “P3, Announcing the location”, “R1, Equipment for boat recovery”, and “R5, Environmental label” were not yet in line with the custom of gillnet fisheries in Taiwan. These results can accelerate the integration of opinions, consider appropriate compromise solutions, and coordinate ideas among different groups to implement reasonable and efficient fishing gear marking management measures.