bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Quinazolin-4(3H)-one Derivatives Incorporating Hydrazone and Pyrazole Scaffolds as Antimicrobial Agents Targeting DNA Gyraze Enzyme
Authors: Mohi El-Deen Eman M. , Nossier Eman S. , Karam Eman A.
Published: August 2022

The present work includes the synthesis of a new series of quinazolin-4(3H)-one compounds (4a–f, 5a–d) as antimicrobial agents. The starting compound, 2-hydrazinylquinazolin-4(3H)-one (2), was synthesized and treated with different carbonyl compounds to afford the hydrazone derivatives 4a–f. In addition, the hydrazone derivatives 4a–d were treated with a DMF/POCl3 mixture to give the formyl-pyrazole derivatives 5a–d. All the target compounds were evaluated as antimicrobial agents against four bacterial and four fungal strains. The majority of the tested compounds showed potent antimicrobial activity compared with the reference antibiotics. The most potent antimicrobial activity was shown by 5a with MIC values in the range (1–16) μg/mL. In addition, the most potent compounds against E. coli were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against E. coli DNA gyrase, whereas the target compounds 4a, 5a, 5c, and 5d showed the most potent inhibition to the target enzyme with IC50 values ranging from 3.19 to 4.17 µM. Furthermore, molecular docking studies were performed for the most active compounds against the target E. coli DNA gyrase to determine their binding affinity within the enzyme’s active site. Moreover, ADME evaluations of these compounds predicted their high oral bioavailability and good GI absorption.
Spatial–Temporal Correlation between the Tourist Hotel Industry and Town Spatial Morphology: The Case of Phoenix Ancient Town, China
Authors: Ma Xuefeng , Tan Jiaxin , Zhang Jiekuan
Published: August 2022

Despite the recognition of the correlation between the tourism industry and a town’s spatial morphology, there is a dearth of rigorous empirical specifications to examine it. This study uses geographic information system (GIS) tools and space syntax analysis to explore whether the tourist hotel industry and a town’s spatial morphology are consistent or if they have different spatial distributions. From a sample of Phoenix Ancient Town, China, our analysis shows the following results: First, there is a spatial correlation between the tourist hotel industry and urban spatial morphology, which is significantly related to tourist attraction distribution and traffic accessibility. Second, the spatial evolution of the tourist hotel industry and a town’s spatial morphology shows different characteristics in different periods. Third, the impact of the tourist hotel industry on a town’s spatial morphology is gradually decreasing as new business buildings arise. The analysis is theoretically important as it enriches the methodologies for analyzing the correlation between the tourist hotel industry and a town’s spatial morphology. It is important for government planners as it provides useful information for formulating territorial spatial planning.
Straw Incorporation in Contaminated Soil Enhances Drought Tolerance but Simultaneously Increases the Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Rice
Authors: Ahmad Rizwan , Hadi Fazal , Jan Amin Ullah , Ditta Allah
Published: August 2022

Heavy metals (HMs) and drought stress are worldwide issues of concern because of their adverse effects on the growth and productivity of rice. Straw burning causes air pollution via greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and it requires sustainable management. The introduction of HMs into the food chain poses a major health risk to humans. In this regard, straw incorporation into the soil could reduce air pollution and drought stress. However, its simultaneous impact on HMs’ uptake and drought stress tolerance in crops is unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the impact of rice straw incorporation in soil on HMs (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Fe) availability, accumulation, and drought stress tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown in pots under glasshouse conditions. The soil samples were collected from a non-contaminated agricultural field (control) and the contaminated field, irrigated with industrial effluent and treated with straw. Straw (1% w/w) was mixed in soils and control plants without straw application were grown under both contaminated and normal soil conditions. The results showed that straw incorporation in soils significantly enhanced the accumulation of HMs in rice grain and other vegetative parts of rice as compared to control. Moreover, straw application harmed chlorophyll and carotenoids. Straw application significantly increased proline in leaves (274.0 µg mL−1) as compared to the control (166.8 µg mL−1). Relative water contents were higher in straw-treated plants, thereby increasing drought stress tolerance. Straw application increased the accumulation of HMs and consequently reduced the biomass of the plant. In conclusion, straw incorporation enhanced drought stress tolerance but simultaneously elevated the accumulation of HMs under contaminated soil in Oryza sativa L.
Green Marketing: Drivers in the Process of Buying Green Products—The Role of Green Satisfaction, Green Trust, Green WOM and Green Perceived Value
Authors: Román-Augusto Jose Antonio , Garrido-Lecca-Vera Camila , Lodeiros-Zubiria Manuel Luis , Mauricio-Andia Martin
Published: August 2022

Green marketing is currently one of the most powerful strategies in the corporate world as it responds to a growing demand for green products. Therefore, this study aims to analyse the influence of green perceived value on green trust and green satisfaction, study how both variables impact green word of mouth in turn and, at the same time, how the three variables influence green purchase intention. Data collection was carried out through a digital survey of buyers of green products. The hypotheses posed were solved with a PLS-SEM model through the Smart-PLS software. The results showed that green perceived value positively affects green trust and green satisfaction. Furthermore, green satisfaction was found to influence green trust and green WOM. Green trust also influences green WOM. Regarding the antecedents of green purchase intention, only green satisfaction and green trust showed a positive relationship. In contrast, green WOM did not show a relationship with green purchase intention. The article shows the importance of green satisfaction for green companies in achieving green purchase intention, green WOM and green trust. Green perceived value is also an important variable, as it is the trigger for the process that leads to green purchase intention.
Research on Urban Resilience and Influencing Factors of Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle
Authors: Yang Mei , Jiao Mengyun , Zhang Jinyu
Published: August 2022

Building resilient cities is the foundation and guarantee for the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle to achieve high-quality and sustainable development. This research uses the entropy TOPSIS method to evaluate the urban resilience level of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and uses the Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) approach to analyze the configuration of contributing factors. Research indicates that the overall urban resilience level is relatively low, with more than 70% of the areas being less than 0.3. Overall, Chengdu (Level 1) and Chongqing central districts (Level 2) are 1–3 levels higher than their surrounding areas, which indicates insufficient spatial balance. The consistency scores of the single-antecedent condition necessity analyses were all less than 0.9, and the consistencies of all configuration analysis results were all greater than 0.8. This research proves that the creation of urban resilience is the result of a combination of factors, rather than the independent influence from any individual factor. Financial and innovation forces are the key driving factors that affect the level of urban resilience. The multiple driving model also helps to improve the level of resilience. The lack of cultural and innovation forces in Chongqing area has been proven to inhibit the level of urban resilience, and the lack of openness and political focus has resulted in a low level of resilience in the Sichuan area. We propose to promote the construction of a “dual core”, to create synergies between Chongqing and Chengdu, and to achieve balanced and integrated development in the entire region. We focus on the key factors affecting the resilience level of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle. In the future, we suggest further opening the market and implementing a developing strategy that is driven by economy and innovation. Regarding the construction of the Sichuan and the Chongqing areas, we encourage the two regions to adjust policies based on local conditions. First, the administration should solve the driving force deficiencies for development, then adopt differentiation strategies for regional development.
The Relationship between Geographic Accessibility to Neighborhood Facilities, Remote Work, and Changes in Neighborhood Satisfaction after the Emergence of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kim Hongjik , Shimizu Chihiro
Published: August 2022

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and working remotely may decrease the advantages of residing in populated areas. This study aims to test the relationship between remote work and changes in neighborhood satisfaction and to discern the difference according to both the status of remote work and the centrality of areas where people live in the relationships between geographic accessibility to neighborhood facilities and changes in neighborhood satisfaction. By using an ordinal logistic regression, we analyzed data from a questionnaire completed by residents of the 23 wards of Tokyo. Working remotely was found to increase neighborhood satisfaction of people living in a central (OR = 1.31) and a noncentral area (OR = 1.50). Remote workers living in single-family homes were found to be less satisfied with their neighborhoods. Less decrease (or increase) in geographic accessibility to eating facilities was found to be related to increase in neighborhood satisfaction for both remote and nonremote workers regardless of the centrality of areas where they live. The findings suggest that populated areas continue to provide benefits which will improve neighborhood satisfaction even after the start of a pandemic; however, there could be a shift of demand for facilities in central areas to noncentral areas beyond the emergence of the pandemic.
Socioeconomic Characteristics Associated with Farming Practices, Food Safety and Security in the Production of Fresh Produce—A Case Study including Small-Scale Farmers in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)
Authors: Beharielal Tashiana , Thamaga-Chitja Joyce , Schmidt Stefan
Published: August 2022

Farmer practices may influence the microbial quality and safety of fresh produce. The increasing demands to create ready-to-eat (RTE) fresh produce while providing potential niche markets for smallholder farmers might be contributing to increased numbers of fresh produce-associated foodborne disease outbreaks. This study determined the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and farmer hygiene practices of farmers using open-ended questionnaires and key informant interviews. Additionally, the relationships between farmer socioeconomic characteristics and hygiene practices were statistically analyzed. The semi-organic smallholder farmer population and the farmworkers of the organic farm were female-dominated. Tertiary education was a predominant characteristic in the organic and semi-conventional workforces. While the semi-organic and semi-conventional farms relied on a combination of ‘store-bought’ synthetic and composted organic fertilizers, the organic farm owner only used composted organic fertilizer. The irrigation water sources varied amongst the farm types. However, most of the semi-organic farmers did not pre-treat irrigation water prior to use. The irrigation water source and fertilizer type selected by farmers varied and might affect the microbial quality and safety of fresh produce. Socioeconomic factors such as gender and education may influence farmer hygiene practices. These characteristics should therefore be considered when planning farmer support interventions.
Monitoring Land Subsidence: The Challenges of Producing Knowledge and Groundwater Management Indicators in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand
Authors: Bremard Thanawat
Published: August 2022

Multiple major coastal cities face the threat of sea level rise with global climate change. This vulnerability can be further exacerbated by local contexts of urbanization and flood management. Land subsidence caused by groundwater over-extraction has long been identified as a factor that exposes cities to the threat of submergence through its interaction with the sea’s tidal regime or a river basin’s precipitation pattern and flood regime. Decision-making in regards to environmental issues such as land subsidence ultimately relies on monitoring data to frame the problem and formulate policies accordingly. Thus, in examining how subsidence has been shaped into a scientific reality in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, this article reviews the limits and uncertainties of subsidence monitoring tools and their associated indicators for risk management (safe yield, piezometric level, and subsidence rate). Our analysis of existing technical reports, supported by interviews conducted with key actors involved in the processes of knowledge production and policy-making, has pointed out how such uncertainties give way to varied interpretations of these indicators, which continue to fuel the debate concerning the establishment of a safe yield for groundwater management. Furthermore, our research has also revealed that the monitoring of land subsidence has been receiving less priority due to institutional challenges within concerned governmental agencies. Ultimately, we argue that in order to use the resource sustainably, it is crucial to keep monitoring groundwater overdraft in the neighboring provinces of Bangkok to diligently anticipate long-term flooding risks associated with the changing hydrogeological regime of the delta.
The Distribution of Emergency Logistics Centers under the COVID-19 Lockdown: The Case of Yangtze River Delta Area
Authors: Ge Jiawei , Li Xiang , Wu Zhuoling , Sun Yurou , Kanrak Maneerat
Published: August 2022

The regular lockdown policy adopted in controlling the pandemic of COVID-19 has caused logistic disruptions in some areas that have a great impact on the living standards of residents and the production of enterprises. Given that the construction of emergency logistics centers is an effective solution, this paper takes the Yangtze River Delta Area (YRDA) of China as an example and discusses the site selection and material distribution of the emergency logistics centers in the region via a two-stage model. The first stage is the selection of candidate emergency logistics centers in the YRDA. A comprehensive evaluation index system is built with 4 primary and 15 secondary indexes to evaluate the logistic infrastructure capacity of the 41 cities in the YRDA. Further, through a principal component analysis, 12 cities are selected as candidate construction sites for emergency logistics centers. In the second stage, a biobjective site selection model with uncertain demand is established and calculated via the NSGA-II algorithm. According to the time sensitivity of emergency logistics, six cities are filtered from the optimal solution set, including Hefei, Hangzhou, Xuzhou, Wenzhou, Changzhou, and Shanghai, ensuring that all 41 cities are within their service scope.
Natural Environment Protection Strategies and Green Management Style: Literature Review
Authors: Sołoducho-Pelc Letycja , Sulich Adam
Published: August 2022

The relationships between the Green Management Style (GMS) and Natural Environment Protection Strategies (NEPS) are rarely explored in scientific research. The nature of these relations is not fully explained in management sciences, and although these connections are important determinants for the choice between temporary and Sustainable Development (SD) in business organizations, they are accompanied by research gaps. The first research gap is recognized qualitatively in the literature review, which indicates the scarcity of theoretical research in the areas of NEPS and the GMS concerning Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs). The second quantitative research gap is dedicated to the rarity of empirical studies among business organizations engaged in NEPS and the GMS’s implementation. The third qualitative research gap lies in the difficulty of translating scientific assumptions from the theoretical background into business practice. This paper aims to present and explore the indicated research gaps and propose a theoretical model of the relationships between the GMS and NEPS. The adopted method used in this article is a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) supported by a bibliometric study performed in VOSviewer software. The results of the present study of relationships between the GMS and NEPS are explained by the Green Integrity Model (GIM). The green integrity between the researched elements can influence organizations’ decision-making processes related to development path directions, social and environmental responsibility, workers’ engagement, strategy communication, and organizational performance. In terms of the relationships between NEPS and the GMS, this can be seen as a part of the manner in which business organizations self-regulate.
Using Discrete-Event Simulation for a Holistic Aircraft Life Cycle Assessment
Authors: Rahn Antonia , Wicke Kai , Wende Gerko
Published: August 2022

With growing environmental awareness and the resulting pressure on aviation, ecological impact assessments are becoming increasingly important. Life cycle assessment has been widely used in the literature as a tool to assess the environmental impact of aircraft. However, due to the complexity of the method itself and the long lifespans of aircraft, most studies so far have made strong simplifications, especially concerning the operational phase. Using a combined discrete-event simulation framework, this paper aims to ecologically assess the individual life cycle phases of an aircraft. The method will be demonstrated in a case study of an A320 and subsequently compared with findings from the literature. Despite the significant environmental impact of flight operations, which covers almost 99.8% of the entire life cycle of the aircraft, a detailed consideration of all life cycle phases is essential to serve as a reference for the ecological assessment of novel aircraft concepts. The presented assessment method thus enables a holistic analysis at an early stage of the design process and supports the decision-making for new technologies and operational changes.
Potential Implications of Optimism and Mental Health for the Independent Learning of Chinese University Students
Authors: Yang Dong , Swekwi Usaporn , Dai Xiao , Tu Chia Ching
Published: August 2022

This study investigated the potential implications of optimism and mental health in promoting independent learning among Chinese university students using a theoretical model related to loneliness, optimism, mental health, independent learning, and academic achievement and the relationships between them. Valid data were obtained from 509 participants from four universities in Wuhan, China, through a questionnaire with five-point Likert scales specific to loneliness, optimism, mental health, independent learning, and academic achievement in September 2021. These data were used to construct models to test measurement validity and mediating mechanisms through structural equation modeling. The results revealed that loneliness influences mental health, thereby influencing the academic achievement of Chinese university students, and optimism can reduce the partial negative effect of loneliness on students’ mental health. Good mental health can support independent learning to promote academic achievement. This study provides recommendations for university managers to promote independent learning among Chinese university students.
The Relationship between Corporate Sustainable Development Performance, Investor Sentiment, and Managerial Overconfidence
Authors: Shen Chaohai , Fang Bingquan , Zhou Xiaolan
Published: August 2022

In the post-pandemic era, companies are facing challenges in their business development and may pay fewer attention to their sustainable development performance, whereas the investors are looking for better corporate sustainable development. Using a sample of Chinese listed companies during 2010–2018, this paper empirically examines the relation between corporate sustainable development performance, investor sentiment, and managerial overconfidence with econometric tools such as panel data regression and S-GMM estimation. Three kinds of corporate sustainable development activities as measured by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) indexes, including consumer rights, employee benefits, and environmental protection, are proved to have a positive impact on investor sentiment. Compared to the SME and GEM Board, investor sentiment in the Main Board is less affected by corporate sustainable development. Furthermore, investor’s high sentiment leads to high managerial confidence in the SME and GEM Board, and managerial overconfidence is self-correcting over time. This paper illustrates why maintaining good corporate sustainable development performance is beneficial for listed companies from a new perspective.
Study on the Carbon Emission Spillover Effects of Transportation under Technological Advancements
Authors: Liu Yunlong , Chen Leiyu , Huang Chengfeng
Published: August 2022

Regional transportation emissions reduction is the key to realizing deep emission reduction and the neutralization of transportation. Transportation development is accompanied by technological progress, and inter-regional transportation technological progress and carbon emission spillover effects are issues worthy of study. Based on the 2011–2020 provincial data of 30 provinces and cities in China, a spatial Durbin model was constructed to explore the impact of technological progress on regional spillovers of carbon emissions and the driving effect of emissions reduction. The conclusions show that the “community effect” causes direct interactions between transportation carbon emissions reduction practices in various provinces; the “acquired effect” and “leakage effect” drive technological progress between regions and cause indirect interactions between transportation carbon emissions reduction practices; transportation technology progress is more likely to occur between regions with similar transportation development. Finally, some suggestions are put forward in terms of establishing a mechanism for the coordinated reduction of regional carbon emissions, strengthening the interactions and economic connections between inter-regional transportation technologies, optimizing the spatial layout of transportation infrastructure, and building a low-carbon transportation system, so as to lay a solid foundation for the coordinated reduction of regional transportation carbon emissions.
Application of Discrete Choice Experiment in Agricultural Risk Management: A Review
Authors: Čop Tajana , Njavro Mario
Published: August 2022

The study of human behaviour has been cementing its place within economics for decades. The complexity of decisions in family farming, challenging agricultural markets, and climate change have drawn attention to human behaviour, namely risk perceptions and the decision-making process, with a focus on agricultural economics. This paper reviews current knowledge on risk management in agriculture from the behavioral perspective, and from the perspective experimental economics in particular, emphasizing a discrete choice experiment approach. A discrete choice experiment (DCE) elicits stated preferences through hypothetical choices and have been extensively applied in research on risk preferences and farmers’ willingness to apply different risk management strategies. The objective of this paper was to determine the frequency at which papers are published and their use in discrete choice experiments in general and in agriculture and emphasizes risk management in agriculture using bibliometric analysis. The PRISMA framework was used for a systematic literature review of the agricultural risk management publications that apply a DCE. The main steps to achieve the aforementioned goals are to define how many publications are primary research versus theoretical publications in the research area of agricultural risk management, which part of risk management in agriculture it covers, and how many attributes were used in each study. The authors reviewed 20 papers based on the following keyword criteria: discrete choice experiment, agriculture, risk management, and the period 2001–2021, using the Web of Science database. The results show an increase in DCE publications over the past 20 years. A comprehensive literature review of risk management in agriculture concluded that publications are primarily research focused, mainly consider on-farm strategies and smaller-scale risk-transfer strategies, and are predominantly conducted among farmers. The average number of attributes per publication is four to five. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed in the paper.
Assessing Floodplain Management in Germany—A Case Study on Nationwide Research and Actions
Authors: Heyden Janika , Natho Stephanie
Published: August 2022

After a long history of floodplain degradation and substantial losses of inundation areas over the last decades, a rethinking of floodplain management has taken place in Germany. Floodplains are now acknowledged as important areas for both biodiversity and society. This transformation has been significantly supported by nationwide research activities. A systematic assessment of the current floodplain management is still lacking. We therefore developed a scheme to assess floodplain management through the steps of identification, analysis, implementation, and evaluation. Reviewing the data and literature on nationwide floodplain-related research and activities, we defined key elements of floodplain management for Germany. We concluded that research activities already follow a strategic nationwide approach of identifying and analyzing floodplains. Progress in implementation is slow, however, and potentials are far from being reached. Nevertheless, new and unique initiatives enable Germany to stay on the long-term path of giving rivers more space and improving floodplain conditions.
The Global Demand for Migrant Care Workers: Drivers and Implications on Migrants’ Wellbeing
Authors: Hussein Shereen
Published: August 2022

Background: Demographic changes across the globe create increasing demands for care labour mobility. The contribution of migrant workers to the long-term care (LTC) systems is not confined to the western world or countries that have already completed their ageing transitions; they also play an essential role in maintaining the care systems in countries with emerging ageing populations. Despite the increased demand for LTC services, such jobs remain unattractive with difficult working conditions and insecure prospects in most European countries and are only emerging in the Middle East. This paper explores factors affecting the demand for care mobility, reflecting on the experience of some OECD countries with already aged populations and countries in the Middle East, which are currently transitioning into aged populations. Methods: Conducting a statistical review of key ageing and LTC indicators, combined with a narrative review of relevant literature, the analysis considers the increased demand on migrant care labour. Drawing on a case study of the UK, where the immigration system is being reformed post-Brexit, we utilise In-depth interviews with 27 migrants working in LTC in the UK (2018–2020) to explore impacts on care workers’ wellbeing. Results: The findings show that both sets of countries draw on migrant workers as an essential source for LTC workforce supply to maintain and enhance the wellbeing of those receiving care in host societies. Meanwhile, care mobility creates care gaps in home countries, adversely affecting migrant workers’ wellbeing. Interview analysis with migrant care workers in the UK showed that such a process adversely affects migrants’ material and emotional wellbeing. Conclusion: The ability of migrants to move and work in different countries is shaped by several intersecting systems, including the host country’s immigration and welfare regimes. Migrants working in LTC are predominantly women who are usually motivated to work in care due to financial and social needs and usually maintain caring responsibilities across borders. Migrants employ their agency to navigate complex entry systems, settlement, or cross-border mobility to provide LTC in both formal and informal contexts. The implications on migrants’ wellbeing are considerable and should be addressed within a context of increased global mobility linked to ageing populations.
Assessment of the Urban Expansion and Its Impact on the Eco-Environment—A Case Study of Hefei Municipal Area
Authors: Yao Xiamei , Chen Yuanyuan , Zhang Qingyi , Mou Zhongqiong , Yao Xiaojie , Ou Chun
Published: August 2022

With the advancement of urbanization, the ecological environmental changes caused by the continuous expansion of cities have become a major concern. Thus, this study is based on a remote sensing image map of Hefei city from 1984 to 2020, which is now in the process of rapid development. We constructed an index system with ecological land, ecosystem service value, ecological environment quality, urban land expansion coefficient, urban heat island rate index, total pollutant emissions, ecological pressure, and ecological deficit, and then evaluated the ecological environment of Hefei city with the help of the entropy weight comprehensive evaluation method. The results show that (1) in the positive evaluation index, the ecological land area was reduced to half of the original area, the ecological service value was reduced by 0.37 times its initial value, and the eco-environmental index was <35 and still decreasing. (2) In the negative evaluation index, the urban heat island ratio index increased by nearly 10 times its initial value, the total emission of various pollutants increased by 6.64 times its initial value, the ecological deficit increased year by year after 1999, and the ecological pressure in 2020 increased to 3 times that in 1999. (3) The overall environmental score of the Hefei urban area has decreased by 48.6 times its initial value. The values of positive evaluation indexes are decreasing, whereas the values of negative evaluation indexes are increasing, and both these items are moving backward, leading to the decrease in the comprehensive ecological environmental score. It can be noticed that the urban expansion of Hefei has had a severe impact on the ecological environment, resulting in the continuous reduction in the ecological land area, a serious urban heat island effect, and continuous weakening of regional ecological service functions. The study results can be used for reference in alleviating the impacts of urban expansion on the environment, promoting the optimization of the urban landscape and the sustainable development of the social economy and environment.
How Does Vertical Fiscal Imbalance Affect CO2 Emissions? The Role of Capital Mismatch
Authors: Feng Tianchu , Liu Meijuan , Li Chaozhu
Published: August 2022

Climate warming caused by greenhouse gases is an important practical issue. This study aims to explore the impact of the vertical fiscal imbalance (VFI) on CO2 emissions from the perspective of theoretical analysis and empirical research. This study uses panel data from 30 provinces in China from 2004 to 2018 in order to test this issue. The results show that the VFI has a significant positive impact on CO2 emissions and that the capital misallocation exacerbates the positive impact of the VFI on CO2 emissions. These study results also have a significant temporal heterogeneity. The sample results dating after 2008 were more significant. These conclusions provide economic and political references for local governments in order to develop CO2 neutrality and CO2 peaking policy goals and to promote an in-depth reform of the fiscal system.
An Action Research Teacher’s Journey while Integrating Green Chemistry into the High School Chemistry Curriculum
Authors: Linkwitz Michael , Eilks Ingo
Published: August 2022

In recent years, a growing number of publications have emerged discussing how to integrate education for sustainable development (ESD) and systems thinking into science education in general, and chemistry education in particular. However, when it comes to more specific fields of chemistry education, most studies focus almost exclusively on higher education. Examples of ESD units in secondary chemistry teaching are mostly limited to single topics. They often do not explicitly deal with the theoretical concepts behind green or sustainable chemistry. This paper reports on a long-term initiative to develop secondary chemistry education. This effort attempts to thoroughly integrate ESD based on the concept of green chemistry into high school programs. The project is based on teacher-centered action research, a cyclical development and research approach within authentic classroom practice. The process was supported by an academic chemistry education research group and a network of experienced action research teachers. The current paper describes the development of a teaching sequence for first-year upper secondary chemistry education. Elements of the development and selected findings from the accompanying feedback processes are reported.
Media Information, Flood Images, and Perceptions in Times of Flood
Authors: Mohd Zahari Haliza , Zainol Noor Azmi Mohd , Ismail Ariffin
Published: August 2022

Disasters in Malaysia are managed using a framework developed through Directive 20 by the National Security Council. This framework is widely used in managing floods on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. However, the prolonged rains that occurred on 17 December 2021 tested the capabilities of the existing framework: the rains caused floods in urban areas, which is unusual. This study was conducted to investigate the flood situation using data from the media, observations of the affected area, and people’s perceptions to determine their actions upon receiving flood information from the media. This study used thematic analysis to analyze the media content on the floods in Selangor. Next, observation techniques were used in one of the most affected areas, namely Hulu Langat, Selangor, where content analysis of field notes was implemented to determine the emerging themes that were being formed. Finally, an online survey questionnaire was distributed through social media. This study’s findings established that what was reported in the media was correct; however, what actually occurred was worse than what was stated in the media. Through the survey, it was found that people are extremely reliant on social media and assume that logistical constraints in the delivery of assistance have contributed to negative public perceptions of disaster management agencies.
Abusive Supervision and Turnover Intentions: A Mediation-Moderation Perspective
Authors: Ali Shahab , Yongjian Pu , Shahzad Farrukh , Hussain Iftikhar , Zhang Dawei , Fareed Zeeshan , Hameed Filza , Wang Chunlei
Published: August 2022

This study intended to provide and test a unique model describing how abusive supervision increases workers’ turnover intentions, with a mediating role of emotional exhaustion and moderating role of self-esteem. We argued that emotional exhaustion exacerbates the association between abusive supervision and turnover intentions of the workers, while self-esteem buffers this relationship, based on the unfolding model of voluntary turnover as an overarching theory. The study design reflected that abusive supervision and turnover intentions are mediated by emotional exhaustion, while the relationship between abusive supervision and emotional exhaustion is further moderated by self-esteem. A well-structured and self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 290 respondents. The data were analyzed, and hypotheses were tested using PLS-SEM. The study findings confirmed that there exists a positive and significant link between abusive supervision and turnover intentions through the indirect effect of emotional exhaustion. On the other hand, the findings regarding moderating effect indicates that self-esteem has a significant impact among abusive supervision and emotional exhaustion. This research identified a feasible way for supervisors to grasp how diverse the responses of various workers may be using the unfolding model. These research findings have important academic and practical implications for government representatives, policymakers, and entrepreneurial educational institutes that can use these findings.
Runoff Forecast for the Flood Season Based on Physical Factors and Their Effect Process and Its Application in the Second Songhua River Basin, China
Authors: Cidan Yangzong , Li Hongyan , Xuan Yunqing , Sun Hong , You Fang
Published: August 2022

The Second Songhua River Basin is located at the northern edge of the East Asian monsoon region in China. The river basin has a large interannual rainfall-runoff variation often associated with frequent droughts and floods. Therefore, the mid-long-term runoff prediction is of great significance. According to a review of the national and international literature, there are few studies on sunspots in the prediction of medium- and long-term runoff. In this study, sunspots are selected as the influencing factors of runoff based on the mechanism of astronomical factors; sensitivity analysis was used to identify the time delay of sunspots’ influence on runoff and determine the prediction factor (relative number of sunspots in January and March). The BP (backpropagation) network is used to identify the correlation between prediction factors and prediction items (monthly average inflow rate of the Fengman Reservoir and the Baishan Reservoir in the flood season), and then the prediction model is constructed. According to the test results of historical data and the actual forecast results, the forecast is working well, and the accuracy of qualitative forecasting is high.
Twenty Years of Mobile Banking Services Development and Sustainability: A Bibliometric Analysis Overview (2000–2020)
Authors: Alsmadi Ayman A. , Shuhaiber Ahmed , Alhawamdeh Loai N. , Alghazzawi Rasha , Al-Okaily Manaf
Published: August 2022

The current paper aims to analyze the keywords related to mobile banking (otherwise known as m-banking) issues by focusing on its development from 2000 to 2020, of which the first publication about this issue appeared in the Scopus database. This paper explored and analyzed 1206 research papers using the Scopus database. Bibliometric analysis and content analysis had been conducted through Excel and VOS viewer software to obtain the results. In addition, the findings of this paper reveal that the universal trends and increased production at a global level led to many changes, and the most rampant topic associated with m-banking in most periods is mobile telecommunication systems. By showcasing the creation of the key terms in m-banking, it was possible to identify significant changes in the development of the field’s key terminologies. Therefore, it is important to follow up on the development in future decades, particularly how the recent universal occurrences have influenced the changes in m-banking use at a global level. Moreover, the present study makes a significant contribution to the literature by providing a framework for future research. The framework provides opportunities for researchers to explore the research streams in future research. Finally, the current paper is the first of its kind in its method of contribution, ad according to the research databases (Scopus, Google Scholar, etc.), no work was witnessed in the published literature covering m-banking in a detailed and comprehensive multi-period manner and in such an applied method. In addition, the current paper fills this gap by conducting a bibliometric analysis and content analysis.
Effect of Exergame Training on Working Memory and Executive Function in Older Adults
Authors: Zhao Chenxi , Zhao Chenglei , Zhao Minmin , Wang Lin , Guo Jiawei , Zhang Longhai , Li Yunfeng , Sun Yuliang , Zhang Ling , Li Zheng’ao , Zhu Wenfei
Published: August 2022

Background: As the population ages, cognitive impairment and dementia have become one of the greatest health threats in older adults. Prior studies suggest that exergaming could improve cognitive function in older adults. To date, few long-term exergames intervention studies on older adults during the COVID-19 epidemic exist. This study aimed to investigate the effects of exergame on cognitive function in Chinese older adults, and to examine whether exergame was more effective than aerobic dancing for executive function and working memory. Methods: 55 participants (mean age = 65.4 ± 3.7 years) were randomly assigned to an exergame training (ET) group, an aerobic dancing training (ADT) group, or a control (CON) group. The ET and ADT groups received 36 sessions (three 75-min training sessions per week, exercise intensity = 65 to 75% HRmax) during a 12-week period. The outcome measures for cognitive function included working memory measured by the N-back test, and executive function measured by the Stroop test. Results: The ET group showed a significantly positive effect in working memory, relative to the ADT (accuracy in 1-back test: ES = 0.76, p < 0.01), and CON group (accuracy in 1-back test: ES = 0.87, p = 0.02). Moreover, the performance in the Stroop test showed some improvements in executive function after intervention in the ET and ADT groups (Stroop intervention effect: ES = 0.38; p = 0.25). Conclusions: Exergame had a positive benefit in improving cognitive functions in older adults without cognitive impairment. Long-term exergame training could improve working memory in older adults. Exergame and aerobic dancing can efficiently improve inhibitory control of executive function in older adults. Maintaining an active lifestyle is protective of cognitive health in older adults.
Financial Resilience in the Face of Turbulent Times: Evidence from Poland and Croatian Cities
Authors: Wόjtowicz Katarzyna Aleksandra , Hodžić Sabina
Published: August 2022

The financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic have affected the financial systems at various levels of government. The cities in Poland and Croatia have been no exemption. In turbulent times, they have been faced with the need to reorient their budgets to remain resilient and solvent. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to investigate the financial resilience profiles of large cities in Poland and Croatia from 2010 to 2020 and to identify the factors differentiating the identified resilience patterns. To obtain empirical results, a two-stage research procedure was employed. In the first stage, group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) was applied, while a panel data regression was employed in the second. Our research has revealed different patterns of financial resilience among the cities in Poland and Croatia; moreover, the scope of fiscal resilience of local government units (LGUs) differed over time, which made it possible to distinguish four groups of cities in every country characterized by similar resilience trajectories over time. The common predictors of fiscal resilience in both countries are the percentage of the operating surplus in total income, total income per capita and capital expenditure per capita, although the strength of its impact varies from group to group identified by GBTM. Our research has shown that the source of differences in LGUs’ financial resilience is not as much the nature and intensity of the disturbances experienced as the internal financial capacity.
In the Context of Digital Finance, Can Knowledge Enable Manufacturing Companies to Be More Courageous and Move towards Sustainable Innovation?
Authors: Tian Ying , Hong Jiayi
Published: August 2022

The advent of the VUCA era and the development of digital finance (DF) present opportunities and challenges for manufacturing companies to seek sustainable innovation by increasing their organizational resilience (OR) to withstand crises. The production, flow, and acquisition of corporate knowledge are indispensable to the establishment of organizational resilience. In this paper, we analyze how to make manufacturing enterprises more courageous and innovative in the context of digital finance. We used a perspective of knowledge channel acquisitions to achieve this aim. Using a sample of 1965 manufacturing companies in China from 2013 to 2020, we analyzed whether greater enterprise knowledge (internal knowledge and external knowledge) can yield higher levels of innovation performance and whether organizational resilience plays a role in the context of digital finance. The results show that (1) both internal enterprise knowledge (IEK) and external enterprise knowledge (EEK) have a significant positive impact on the sustainable innovation performance of manufacturing enterprises; (2) organizational resilience has a mediation role in the process of promoting sustainable innovation performance through enterprise knowledge; (3) digital finance significantly enhances the impact of enterprise knowledge on long-term growth and financial volatility of organizational resilience, and significantly positively moderates the mediation effect of organizational resilience; and (4) digital finance support policies issued by the government significantly improve the sustainable innovation performance of manufacturing firms. Based on these results, manufacturing firms can improve innovation performance by enhancing organizational resilience. This paper contributes to this field of research by providing an analysis of manufacturing firms, presenting a new view on the improvement of innovation performance in the context of digital finance.
Theoretical Model for the Analysis of Community-Based Tourism: Contribution to Sustainable Development
Authors: Naranjo Llupart María Rosa
Published: August 2022

This work aims to show a theoretical model of community-based tourism, to explain its component subsystems, to provide its theoretical–methodological foundation and to discuss the indications of its practical instrumentation in facing the changes that tourism of the future imposes and will impose. The research was carried out in the tourist context of Ecuador, for which the deductive method was applied, which allowed for examining the problem, and the more general theories related to tourist activity, which allowed for identifying the premises and objectives of the work to reach accurate conclusions on the subject studied. This was a mixed investigation that allowed for integrating the contributions of qualitative and quantitative analyses in the treatment and processing of information. The results included achieving systematization of the theoretical models linked to community-based tourism and, from a practical point of view, obtaining a new model of community-based tourism, a graphic representation of the subsystems that form this model, and its arguments. The findings show the need to update the community-based tourism model as a contribution to the scientific development of tourism as well as the systemic nature of its components from a new perspective of analysis that considers the need for changes as a developmental factor.