bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enabling School Bureaucracy, Psychological Empowerment, and Teacher Burnout: A Mediation Analysis
Authors: Tsang Kwok Kuen , Wang Guangqiang , Bai Hui
Published: February 2022

Teacher burnout is a psychological phenomenon affecting teachers’ effectiveness and wellbeing across the globe. Thus, education researchers have investigated its antecedents to identify approaches to alleviate teacher burnout. However, many of the existing studies tend to underline the effects of psychological factors but overlook the effects of structural factors on teacher burnout. Thus, the aim of this study is to fill the research gap by investigating how teacher burnout is affected by enabling school bureaucracy as a structural factor and psychological empowerment as a psychological factor based on empowerment theory. By using the self-administrated questionnaire survey, the study investigated 322 primary and secondary schoolteachers from China. It finds that structural empowerment and psychological empowerment are negatively associated with teacher burnout. Moreover, the relationship between structural empowerment and teacher burnout was mediated by psychological empowerment, especially its dimensions of meaning and competence.
Assessing Carbon Storage Potential of Forested Wetland Soils in Two Physiographic Provinces of Northern Virginia, USA
Authors: Ledford Kathryn , Schmidt Stephanie Ann , Ahn Changwoo
Published: February 2022

This study assessed the soil carbon storage potential in terms of the total carbon (TC) and total carbon stocks (TC stocks) and associated soil physicochemical properties (i.e., soil pH, bulk density (Db), and gravimetric soil moisture (GSM)) for four forested wetlands in the urbanized region of Northern Virginia (NOVA). The study sites were balanced between the two physiographic provinces of the region (Piedmont vs. Coastal Plain); at each site, soils were sampled and analyzed (n = 180) at three depth intervals (0–10 cm; 10–20 cm; 20–30 cm). There was no significant difference in TC stocks between physiographic provinces (p > 0.05); however, wetland soils had higher TC contents at the Coastal Plain (4.32 ± 0.41%) than in Piedmont (2.57 ± 0.22%; p < 0.05). Both Db and GSM significantly differed by physiographic province and were highly correlated to TC, indicating that the TC variability is strongly explained by Db (R2 = 0.38) or GSM (R2 = 0.39), respectively (p < 0.01 for all). These outcomes highlight the capacity of urban forested wetlands to store carbon, especially in their topsoil (top 10 cm). Elucidating the carbon storage potentials of forested wetlands in an urbanized landscape may assist with future efforts to combat urban carbon emissions.
Vehicle Routing Optimization for Pandemic Containment: A Systematic Review on Applications and Solution Approaches
Authors: Lin Keyong , Musa S. Nurmaya , Yap Hwa Jen
Published: February 2022

The global spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has accounted for many deaths. The effective containment of the current COVID-19 epidemic calls for a fast and sustainable delivery strategy to minimize the impact of this crisis. As such, this study aimed to conduct a comprehensive review of research on the vehicle routing problem (VRP) from a sustainable viewpoint during the pandemic and explore viable delivery solutions that may aid in the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a systematic review of the selected articles, four broad themes of pandemic containment measures from the delivery aspect were identified: efficient pharmaceutical delivery strategy, contactless distribution, sustainable waste transportation strategy, and isolated and quarantine vehicle scheduling. Following that, the methodology utilized to execute the containment measures were analyzed, research gaps were hightlighted, and possibilities for future studies were suggested. In summary, the goal of this research is to provide an overview of the literature on the application of VRPs in pandemic control and to assist academics and practitioners in learning more about the performance metrics, models, and solution techniques utilized in pandemic control delivery operations.
The Formation Mechanism of Social Identity Based on Knowledge Contribution in Online Knowledge Communities: Empirical Evidence from China
Authors: Cheng Zhichao , Gu Tongfei , Li Cui
Published: February 2022

Social identity is a key factor in the sustainable development of online knowledge communities (OKCs). The purpose of this research is to explore the formation mechanism of the respective social identities of lurkers and posters, based on knowledge contribution behavior. To evaluate the research model, an online survey was conducted in the WeChat group and QQ group, which yielded 469 usable questionnaire responses. Structural equation modeling was then adapted to examine the model. We found that knowledge contribution can produce social and psychological outcomes (i.e., cognitive communication, parasocial interaction, a sense of self-worth, social support, and social identity). The posters’ social identity arises through the mediating effects of information support and cognitive communication, while the lurkers’ social identity arises through the mediating effect of parasocial interaction. In addition, this research reveals that personalized behaviors and social identity can coexist in OKCs. Our findings may provide theoretical and practical enlightenment for managers to achieve sustainable and successful operations in OKCs.
A Preliminary Assessment of Rider/Driver Gaze Behaviour in Slovenian Urban Areas
Authors: Tollazzi Tomaž , Moharić Matej , Gruden Chiara
Published: February 2022

Motorcycle riders are an increasing group of road users. The intrinsic characteristics of powered two wheelers (PTW) allow them to be particularly flexible, both in urban and extra-urban environments. Nevertheless, crash statistics indicate that riders involved in road accidents are highly likely to suffer severe injuries, underlining the vulnerability of this group of road users. An element that can greatly affect the safety of PTW users is road design, as roads are usually designed for two-track vehicles (cars, buses, and lorries) and do not consider the needs of PTWs. Additionally, handling a motorcycle is quite different from driving a car; thus, the behaviour of riders is different to that of drivers. The aim of this paper is to compare how different road designs are perceived by riders and drivers and to preliminarily assess if riders’ behaviour and attention allocation are related. For the purpose of this research, an eye-tracking experiment was developed outdoors. Both drivers and riders travelled along a route comprising four different road designs and various road layouts, and the output was analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Although it was not possible to carry out a statistical analysis due to the limited number of participants, the results demonstrate that there is a difference in the gaze behaviour of drivers and riders, with the latter being far more focused on the left-hand side of the road and concentrating on defined elements of road design. Furthermore, the experiment demonstrated that a higher number of fixations is related to lower speeds. Finally, it was noted that both kinds of road users focus fairly well on the carriageway, leading to the conclusion that the indications given through road markings may be much more effective than vertical signalisation, which has rarely been observed.
Impacts of COVID-19 on Small-Scale Dairy Enterprises in an Indian Megacity—Insights from Greater Bengaluru
Authors: Alam Md Shahin , Schlecht Eva , Reichenbach Marion
Published: February 2022

Natural calamities and pandemics massively affect small-scale entrepreneurs. In this paper, we aim to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic affected small dairy farms in the megacity of Bengaluru, India, where they supply a high share of the milk demand. In 2020 a total of 129 farms were visited before the first lockdown (January to March) and interviewed again after the lockdown had been loosened (August to September). Questions addressed feed supply to dairy cows, milk yield and marketing, and coping strategies for lockdown impacts. Results showed that the share of farmers not feeding concentrates increased from 1% before lockdown to 7% afterward (p < 0.05), and those not offering dry forages increased from 20% to 33% (p < 0.05) due to increasing forage prices. Milk yield dropped in all surveyed farms from 3905 L before to 2861 L after lockdown (p < 0.05) due to the sale of 30% of lactating cows across the farms. Enabling farmers to better cope with shocks through feed storage and by processing their surplus milk into durable products should be prioritised by supporting institutions such as dairy cooperatives. Alternatively, insurance schemes can capacitate farmers to maintain a fresh milk supply to urban consumers in the wake of global challenges.
Learning Football for Good: The Development and Evaluation of the Football3 MOOC
Authors: Moustakas Louis , Kalina Lisa
Published: February 2022

Over the last two decades, sport has become a recognised tool to achieve sustainable development outcomes. Known as sport for development (SFD), this approach can broadly be defined as the intentional use of sport to achieve development objectives. Many SFD organisations implement methods that seek to achieve developmental goals by reorienting sport away from its competitive aspects and encouraging participation, fair play and communication. Of these methods, football3 is arguably the most widespread. Despite its popularity, there remain challenges in its implementation. As a result, there have been numerous calls to develop educational materials and opportunities around football3. In response, the football3 for all project led to the development and launch of a freely accessible, Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). However, there is still little knowledge about how online learning approaches are used in SFD, how they accommodate the practical and social nature of SFD, and whether they optimise student learning. Using findings from feedback surveys and focus group discussions, we present results from the development and evaluation of the football3 MOOC. The findings suggest a high level of satisfaction with the course, but also a need for practical tools and exchange to improve delivery on the pitch.
A Comparative Study of the Impact of Negative Word of Mouth on Travel Intentions of Chinese and Korean Consumers in Tourism Destinations
Authors: Li Weijia , Liu Ziyang
Published: February 2022

This article is based on reducing the negative effect of negative word-of-mouth on consumers’ travel intentions. We constructed a model of consumers’ travel intentions to explore the influence of negative word-of-mouth about tourist destinations on consumers’ travel intentions, examine the moderating effect of destination familiarity and the mediating utility of negative emotions, and conduct a comparative analysis between China and South Korea. Based on SPSS and AMOS analysis, we found the following: (1) Negative word-of-mouth has no direct positive effect on travel intention, and negative emotion plays a completely mediating role between negative word-of-mouth and travel intention, whereas high-intensity negative emotion is positively related to travel intention. (2) Travel destination familiarity has a moderating effect on negative word-of-mouth and negative emotions. Consumers with higher familiarity make external attributions and generate high-intensity negative emotions when they receive negative word-of-mouth; consumers with lower familiarity make internal attributions and generate low-intensity negative emotions. To improve consumers’ travel intentions, companies can enhance the relationship between tourist destination brands and tourists, adopt different management strategies for negative word-of-mouth according to the level of familiarity of destinations, and formulate tourism strategies.
Contribution of the Horizon2020 Program to the Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialization in Coal Regions in Transition: The Spanish Case
Authors: Calvo-Gallardo Elena , Arranz Nieves , Fernandez de Arroyabe Juan Carlos
Published: February 2022

This work aims to assess how regional innovation systems support research and innovation smart specialization strategies (RIS3) in coal intensive regions. Although many authors have analyzed energy transition paths for the European coal regions, no study has assessed how the network properties of their innovation systems are aligned with the priorities identified in their RIS3. This work fills this gap, relying on social network analysis (SNA) to assess innovation systems’ underlying networks, considering the active role of their nodes, thus, contributing to the innovation systems literature in the areas of modelling, simulation and performance evaluation. Within this work, regional innovation systems are modelled as research networks. These networks are promoted by the consortia funded by the European H2020 program. The assessment of the topology and properties of these networks enables the evaluation of the functioning of the innovation system, its technological strengths, as well as the key players involved. Based on these results, the characteristics of the innovation systems are compared to the priorities established by the RIS3. Three Spanish coal intensive regions (Aragón, Asturias and Castilla y León) are considered as use cases in this study. The obtained results indicate that, in some cases, the technological strengths of the regional innovation systems are not considered in the identification of the RIS3 priorities, while some RIS3 priorities are not supported by the innovation system. Considering these results, this paper proposes recommendations for regional and European policymakers, as well as for participants in the European research programs.
BIM-Based Green Hospital Building Performance Pre-Evaluation: A Case Study
Authors: Zhan Zhaoxi , Xu Wenna , Xu Lin , Qi Xinyue , Song Wenjie , Wang Chen , Huang Ziye
Published: February 2022

With ecological problems and energy crises intensifying today, greening is essential to sustainable development. Compared with other types of buildings, hospital buildings account for a relatively larger proportion of building energy consumption. In order to realize the rapid cycle optimization of a green hospital project in the design stage and improve the green grade of the building, a pre-evaluation Building Information Model (BIM) of green hospital building performance was established in this study. Firstly, the literature review and expert consultation established the building performance pre-evaluation index system for green hospitals. Then, BIM technology is taken to extract data needed for building a performance pre-evaluation system, and the Cloud Model and the Matter–Element Extension Theory are used to build models. The final green grade calculation is realized in MATLAB. Finally, the Maluan Bay Hospital is taken as an example to test the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed model. The results show that the green hospital building performance pre-evaluation model has advantages of simulation, cyclic optimization and fuzzy quantification, which can effectively guide the design and construction of a green hospital.
Implementing Online Product Reviews and Muslim Fashion Innovation for Resilience during the New Normal in Indonesia
Authors: Nurcahyanie Yunia Dwie , Singgih Moses Laksono , Dewi Dyah Santhi
Published: February 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia has harmed the fashion sector, particularly SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises). In the wake of the epidemic, the Muslim Fashion Shop (MFS) sector has experienced a drop in sales. Therefore, developing innovative products and excellent customer approaches are critical to MFS resilience. This pandemic has additionally affected the shift from offline to online sales channels. Online sales features, referred to as online product reviews (OPRs), allow customers to leave comments or evaluations. OPRs are one of the sources of product feature information, and are a means of increasing valued for online consumers that some companies are currently underutilizing. In order to develop Muslim fashion designs, this project performed OPRs. The purpose of this study is to show the benefits of OPRs in the development of new Muslim fashion products in Indonesia in order to assist businesses in surviving in the new normal era. The first phase of OPR data collection at Shopee was carried out in five steps. OPR data were collected in Shopee using NVivo’s N-Capture QSR. The data obtained from phase one were needed in order to equalize perceptions and make corrections using the member check obtained data OPR method using Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The second phase consisted of eight steps. This phase sharpened the results of phase one using expert judgement word frequency analysis in NIVO. The third and final phase analysed the fashion industry’s new normal innovation approach. This research shows the usefulness of OPR data for the evolution of fashion design in Indonesia, among other findings. According to this study, companies’ expertise, experience, and design innovation are essential variables in a changing/disruptive marketplace. Ongoing research suggests utilizing OPRs to generate new design trends, high-quality products, and innovative tactics in order to sustain Muslim fashion business.
Nationwide Evaluation of Urban Energy System Resilience in China Using a Comprehensive Index Method
Authors: Wang Ziyi , Chen Zengqiao , Ma Cuiping , Wennersten Ronald , Sun Qie
Published: February 2022

The carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals for China signify a critical time of energy transition in which energy resilience is a vital issue. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of urban energy system resilience (UESR) is important for establishing a theoretical foundation. To this end, in this paper, 309 Chinese cities were evaluated using a comprehensive UESR assessment framework composed of 113 indices that measured vulnerability and capabilities of resistance and restoration. The results showed that China’s UESR is distributed unevenly and that cities in the eastern region generally have higher resilience than those in other regions. The minimum and maximum UESR results corresponded to Tibet and Shandong, respectively, at the provincial level and Rikaze and Weifang, respectively, at the city level. Regression analysis showed a positive correlation among UESR, carbon dioxide emissions, and GDP.
Zero-Cement Concrete Resistance to External Sulfate Attack: A Critical Review and Future Needs
Authors: Kanaan Dima , Soliman Ahmed M. , Suleiman Ahmed R.
Published: February 2022

The durability of zero-cement concrete or alkali-activated materials (AAMs) is a subject of controversy, especially when exposed to sulfate attacks. This can be due to the different elemental and microstructural compositions of the broad alkali-activated systems that exhibit different degradation mechanisms in sulfate-rich environments. Various parameters, such as properties of raw source materials (nature, fineness, and mineralogy), activators (type and concentration), mixture design, curing regime, types of sulfate salt and sulfate ion concentrations, and weathering conditions, are considered to have a significant impact on zero-cement concrete sulfate attack resistance. Furthermore, the adequacy of the standard sulfate immersion tests raises more concerns about the reported behavior. This paper presents a critical review of the current aging protocol associated with ordinary cement resistance and zero-cement concrete or AAMs to external sulfate attack.
Systematic Development of Sustainability-Oriented Cyber-Physical Production Systems
Authors: Rogall Christopher , Mennenga Mark , Herrmann Christoph , Thiede Sebastian
Published: February 2022

Manufacturing companies increasingly have to address the risks and contributions related to their environmental impacts. Therefore, more data are needed in order to provide full transparency with regard to production, and to highlight the potential relationships between the process data and the environmental impacts. In order to achieve this data transparency, targeted digitalization is needed that is tailored to the goal of reaching minimized environmental impacts. Cyber-physical production systems (CPPSs) are central for the digitalization of manufacturing. However, they may also come with an initial environmental backpack. Due to unawareness of relevant interdependencies when setting up CPPS, data may be collected which is not helpful or necessary for the development of sustainability-oriented CPPS. Therefore, a critical assessment is required which data is necessary to support sustainable manufacturing and to avoid unreflective data collection. This requires the identification of the relevant factors and their interdependencies within the context of sustainability in production. By identifying the influencing factors, the measurement strategy can be linked to the appropriate sensor technologies that explicitly contribute to the target fulfillment. The design of more sustainable data structures using a cross-impact analysis is illustrated in this paper as a generic methodological approach, which will be applied to a 3D-printing use case.
Characterization and Life Cycle Exergo-Environmental Analysis of Wood Pellet Biofuel Produced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: Rashedi Ahmad , Muhammadi Irfan Ullah , Hadi Rana , Nadeem Syeda Ghufrana , Khan Nasreen , Ibrahim Farzana , Hassan Mohamad Zaki , Khanam Taslima , Jeong Byongug , Hussain Majid
Published: February 2022

Major objectives of this study were to produce low-emitting wood pellet biofuel from selected agro-forest tree species, i.e., Kikar (Acacia nilotica), Oak (Quercus semicarpifolia), and Mesquite (Prosopis juliflora), grown in the southern part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan using indigenously developed technology (pelletizer machine). Primary raw material, such as sawdust of the selected agro-forest tree species, was obtained from sawmills located in southern part of KP. Life cycle inventory (LCI) was sourced for entire production chain of the wood pellet biofuel by measuring quantities of various inputs consumed and output produced. In addition, the wood pellets were characterized to examine diameter, length, moisture content, ash content, bulk density, high heating value (HHV), low heating value (LHV), as well as nitrogen and sulphur contents. A comprehensive life cycle assessment was performed for wood pellet biofuel production chain using SimaPro v9.1 software. A functional unit of one (01) kilogram (kg) wood pellet biofuel was applied following a gate-to-gate approach. The results of the present study were in accordance with the recommended Italian standard CTI-R 04/5 except for pellet bulk density and nitrogen content. The bulk density for all wood pellets, manufactured from the saw dust of three different agro-forest tree species, were lower than the recommended Italian standard, while for nitrogen content, the results were higher than the recommended Italian standard. Among the environmental impacts, Kikar (Acacia nilotica) wood pellets were the major contributor to fossil fuel depletion, followed by ecotoxicity, mineral depletion and acidification/eutrophication. This was primarily due to lubricating oil and urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin used as inputs in the wood pellets biofuel manufacture. Likewise, human health and ecosystem quality was also affected by lubricating oil, UF resin, and saw dust, respectively. In cumulative exergy demand of 1 kg wood pellets biofuel, the highest impact was from Kikar wood pellets for non-renewable fossils, mainly due to lubricating oil used. Difference in environmental impacts, damage assessment, and exergy were examined in three different scenarios for major hotspot inputs by reducing 20% lubricating oil in case 1, 20% UF resin in case 2, and without usage of UF resin in case 3, while marked reduction was observed in ecotoxicity, fossil fuel, and mineral depletion, as well as acidification/eutrophication impact category. Moreover, a pronounced reduction was also noted in the non-renewable fossil fuel category of cumulative exergy demand of one kg of wood pellets biofuel produced.
Trends in Renewable Electricity Generation in the G20 Countries: An Analysis of the 1990–2020 Period
Authors: Sokulski Carla Cristiane , Barros Murillo Vetroni , Salvador Rodrigo , Broday Evandro Eduardo , de Francisco Antonio Carlos
Published: February 2022

The use of electricity from non-renewable sources increases environmental impacts. Therefore, several countries have committed to increase the use of renewable sources. Considering the importance of the Group of Twenty (G20), this article aims to identify trends in renewable electricity supply in these countries. The data collected are from the International Energy Agency (IEA) between 1990 and 2020. The methods measured the production of each type of electricity in the G20 matrices and identified the influence of the population, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and CO2 emissions in renewable electricity production using multiple linear regression. In terms of results, Brazil and Canada have the most renewable electricity matrices and higher per capita renewable production than non-renewable. Saudi Arabia presented the smallest renewable matrix throughout the analyzed period. All 20 countries have varied electrical production, with different amounts of solar, wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal, and tidal energy. Countries with the highest GDP are not necessarily the largest producers of renewable electricity. Hydroelectric energy, the biggest highlight in renewable production, is making room for other sources such as wind and solar, which grew the most in terms of participation in the electrical matrices. The waste, geothermal, and tidal energy participation have shown a timid but constant growth.
Sustainable Transitions Narratives: An Analysis of the Literature through Topic Modelling
Authors: Stefani Gianluca , Biggeri Mario , Ferrone Lucia
Published: February 2022

A large and fast-growing field of studies, known as sustainability transitions, emerged at the end of the 1990s, relying on a number of theoretical approaches. Transition management, strategic niche management, sociotechnical transition and technological innovation systems are among the most popular frameworks used to theorize sustainability transitions, although other approaches have been used as well. Our research analyses a specific corpus of text composed of approximately 3500 abstracts of papers collected in the Scopus database related to the term sustainability transition with the help of machine learning techniques. We explore related subfields of this literature, both related to theoretical framework or sectoral focus and their evolution across years and publication outlets, depicting different sustainability narratives.
Positive Performance Feedback and Innovation Search: New Ideas for Sustainable Business Development
Authors: Sun Yongbo , Qiu Zichen
Published: February 2022

Although the literature suggests that firms tend to adopt “conservative” behavior in the face of positive performance feedback, there are also studies that take the opposite view on the impact of positive performance feedback. Based on the behavior theory of the firm and regulatory focus theory, this study explored the impact of positive performance feedback on innovation search behavior and the boundary effect of CEO regulatory focus to gain insight into the mechanisms of innovation search behavior and to promote innovation for sustainable development. Based on data from 230 biopharmaceutical companies in China, the analysis found that: (1) positive performance feedback had a significant positive effect on depth search behavior and a significant negative effect on breadth search behavior; (2) CEOs’ promotion focus had a negative moderating effect on the relationship between positive performance feedback and depth search behavior and a positive moderating effect on the relationship between positive performance feedback and breadth search behavior; and (3) CEOs’ prevention focus positively moderated the relationship between positive performance feedback in relation to depth search behavior. This study extends the behavior theory of the firm and reveals the mechanism of the differential impact of positive performance feedback on innovation search behavior, which has implications for the study of which innovation search practices should be conducted by high-performing firms to promote sustainable development.
Lessons of the Pandemic for Family and School—The Challenges and Prospects of Network Education
Authors: Vachkova Svetlana N. , Vachkov Igor V. , Klimov Ivan A. , Petryaeva Elena Yu. , Salakhova Valentina B.
Published: February 2022

The article contains the study results of the problems with the accessibility and safety of educational resources, applications, and tools of distance educational technologies for schoolchildren during the period of distance learning. In the framework of the study, the focus was also on the satisfaction of the subjects of educational relations with the services of providers and the support system for educational institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Moscow. The article identifies the key challenge to contemporary education—are schools capable of reworking and integrating all the achievements and breakthroughs of distance learning? The results show that when implementing distance learning, it is necessary to take account of the threats and risks that it entails—(1) the barrier of technological innovation; (2) the barrier of social factors; (3) the barrier to physical and psychological health; (4) the barrier of digital didactics; (5) the barrier of legal regulation; (6) the barrier of an inclusive environment. The study results can become the basis for the preparation of proposals and the development of recommendations to provide access to high-quality education for all schoolchildren in the context of distance learning.
Improving the Contribution of Forests to Carbon Neutrality under Different Policies—A Case Study from the Hamburg Metropolitan Area
Authors: Martes Leam , Köhl Michael
Published: February 2022

As various political initiatives have set goals to reach net-zero emissions by the mid-21st century, forests will play an important role as a carbon sink for sequestering unavoidable emissions. Forest management can take two approaches by either decreasing harvest and enlarging the forest carbon stock or increasing harvest to increase carbon uptake and create harvested wood products (HWPs). Currently, these two management options seem at odds with seemingly conflicting policy directives being written. We used the BEKLIFUH model to assess six management scenarios based on carbon offset potential taking into consideration forest carbon, HWPs and the material and energetic substitution effects. The results show that while conservation leads to a higher above-ground carbon pool, including HWPs, material and energetic substitution leads to more overall carbon offsets for management scenarios with more timber harvesting. With compromise being possible by selectively conserving old growth forests with a high biodiversity value. In conclusion, if the forest sector decouples GHG reporting from forest management and includes all the secondary effects of timber harvest, this new approach can lead to a different cost–benefit analysis for the choice between harvest vs. conservation. This could result in a paradigm shift to a future where biodiversity and carbon neutrality can coexist.
SEBS-Polymer-Modified Slag–Cement–Bentonite for Resilient Slurry Walls
Authors: Cao Benyi , Zhang Yunhui , Al-Tabbaa Abir
Published: February 2022

In spite of the well-established design and construction approaches of slag–cement–bentonite slurry walls, the materials deteriorate inevitably in contaminated land. The development of effective materials which are sustainable, resilient and self-healing over the lifetime of slurry walls becomes essential. This study, for the first time, adopts a styrene–ethylene/butylene–styrene (SEBS) polymer to modify slag–cement–bentonite materials to enhance mechanical and self-healing performance. The results show that the increase in SEBS dosage results in significantly increased strain at failure, indicating the enhanced ductility thanks to the modification by the deformable polymer. The increased ductility is beneficial as the slurry wall could deform to a greater extent without cracks. After the permeation of liquid paraffin, the SEBS exposed on the crack surface swells and seals the crack, with the post-healing permeability only slightly higher than the undamaged values, which exhibits good self-healing performance. Scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography analyses innovatively reveal the good bonding and homogeneous distribution of SEBS in slag–cement–bentonite. SEBS acts as a binder to protect the slag–cement–bentonite sample from disintegration, and the swollen SEBS particles effectively seal and heal the cracks. These results demonstrate that the SEBS-modified slag–cement–bentonite could provide slurry walls with resilient mechanical properties and enhanced self-healing performance.
Tax Sustainability: Tax Transparency in Latin America and the Chilean Case
Authors: Faúndez-Ugalde Antonio , Toledo-Zúñiga Patricia , Castro-Rodríguez Pedro
Published: February 2022

This study is based on a sample of the thirty Chilean companies with the highest stock presence and which demonstrate opacity problems in their tax sustainability related to the GRI 207 standard available since 2019 (which emphasizes the disclosure of tax strategies to stakeholders, especially as regards any links with their small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)). The study also explores the literature related to tax transparency and its evolution in Latin America. Significantly different performances were found among the tax sustainability reports. The reasons for these differences are related to the fact that some demand simple declarations of principles, while others require both reporting of evidence in front of the interest groups and revealing of the tax strategy. As a result, taxpayers seem to use their corporate social responsibility activities more to moderate reputation risk than to aim at tax transparency. At the same time, the findings reveal that the actions toward tax transparency which have defined the tributary administrations of Latin American countries since the 2018 Punta del Este Global Forum do not consider the possibility of public disclosure. In this sense, the evidence highlights the need for Latin American policymakers to introduce, at the normative level, integrated tax transparency cooperation mechanisms between state administrations and regulated companies.
Understanding Source Use by Undergraduate Post-Novice EFL Writers for the Sustainability Development of Academic Literacy: Abilities, Challenges, and Strategies
Authors: Chen Weihong , Wang Junju
Published: February 2022

Source use by L2 writers is a significant topic of research in L2 writing. However, scant attention has been given to source use by undergraduate post-novice L2 writers. In contrast to undergraduate novice L2 writers who have just arrived at university and who often have little knowledge of source use and academic writing, undergraduate post-novice L2 writers are those who have achieved some proficiency in source use in academic writing assignments and have got some experience of writing from sources as they progress in their university studies (Keck, 2014; Wette, 2017). In this study, we examined source use by Chinese Year 3 undergraduate EFL writers through an analysis of their source use in essays and their perceptions of the challenges and strategies. The instances of source use in essays written by the students (N = 59) were analyzed in terms of source-use types, accuracy, and functions, which were then compared with those by novice and highly experienced writers in other studies. A subset of the students (N = 25) were interviewed to understand their perceptions of the challenges and the strategies in their source-based writing processes. The analysis of the students’ essays revealed that 71.4% of the instances of source use were paraphrases, and the majority of the instances of source use were of satisfactory quality, while a small portion were of poor quality, including exact copying (i.e., plagiarism), patchwriting, omitting references, or misrepresenting source information. The students used sources primarily to introduce or illustrate a point. An analysis of the interviews showed that the students had difficulty in searching for, understanding, and integrating sources and that they employed various strategies to cope with these challenges. This study enriches our understanding of undergraduate post-novice L2 writers’ abilities and the successive challenges when writing from sources, which has implications for the development of academic writing instruction and which will help students address these challenges and facilitate the sustainable development of their abilities to write from sources.
Measuring the Value of Blockchain Traceability in Supporting LCA for Textile Products
Authors: Carrières Vincent , Lemieux Andrée-Anne , Margni Manuele , Pellerin Robert , Cariou Sylvain
Published: February 2022

The efficiency of sustainability assessments of textile products is generally prevented because of a lack of available and reliable data across complex and globalized supply chains. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how blockchain traceability data can improve the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of textile products and to measure the actual value of exploiting this specific traceability data. To do so, a case study consisting of two LCAs modeling the production of wool top lots in China was conducted. A first LCA was conducted with generic data and the second with the added value of specific blockchain traceability data. Based on the second LCA, different wool top lot composition scenarios were then modeled to account for the environmental impact of different farming practices. Two main results were obtained: the environmental impact of wool top lots can vary up to +118% between two batches depending on their composition, and the specific data changes drastically from the impact calculated with generic data, with +36% calculated impact for the same wool composition of batches. Therefore, it was concluded that blockchain traceability data could be a strong asset for conducting LCA at the batch level by providing differentiated data on batch composition and origin and providing readily available specific data for a more representative assessment.
A Critical Review on the Impacts of Energy Storage Systems and Demand-Side Management Strategies in the Economic Operation of Renewable-Based Distribution Network
Authors: Oskouei Morteza Zare , Şeker Ayşe Aybike , Tunçel Süleyman , Demirbaş Emin , Gözel Tuba , Hocaoğlu Mehmet Hakan , Abapour Mehdi , Mohammadi-Ivatloo Behnam
Published: February 2022

Energy storage systems (ESSs) and demand-side management (DSM) strategies have significant potential in providing flexibility for renewable-based distribution networks. Therefore, combining ESSs and DSM strategies with renewable energy sources (RESs) to solve economic, operational, environmental, and power-related political issues has received special attention from power system planners around the world. In this regard, developed countries, which are pioneers in renewable technologies, have proposed various supportive policies and practices for the widespread use of ESSs and DSM strategies in the context of distribution networks. Hence, this paper performs a comprehensive review of the most recent actions taken to build the infrastructure necessary to achieve 100% renewable energy. On this basis, this paper firstly surveys the necessity of using ESSs and DSM strategies in renewable-based distribution networks. Then, the existing policies and incentive programs implemented in different countries for the development of RESs in optimal coordination with ESSs and DSM strategies are presented. The impacts of utilizing ESSs and DSM strategies in improving the economic performance of the renewable-based distribution networks are also investigated. Finally, prevalent energy management strategies, which are proposed to optimize utilization of ESSs and DSM strategies in renewable-based distribution networks, are investigated from the perspective of optimization approaches.
Comparison between the KPNP and Daedo Protection Scoring Systems through a Technical-Tactical Analysis of Elite Taekwondo Athletes
Authors: Márquez José Jesús , López-Gullón José María , Menescardi Cristina , Falcó Coral
Published: February 2022

Background: In the last two decades, the use of technology has been incorporated into taekwondo, changing the rules of the sport to employ a more objective scoring system. The current electronic Protection Scoring Systems (PSS) include sensors that register the number and power of the hits scored, but these may interfere with athlete’s techniques and tactics. This study aimed to analyze the technical-tactical differences in elite taekwondoists using two different PSS. Methods: We systematically observed 112 combats involving 224 athletes, and their actions were registered and analyzed using contingency tables. Results: Eight hundred twenty-seven effective actions were tagged, and differences were found in the types of kicks performed using different PSS. For the total sample, there were differences between PSS in technical actions (X2 = 36.08(10); p < 0.01; V = 0.21), tactical actions (X2 = 10.73(3); p < 0.05; V = 0.11), and hitting side (X2 = 30.97(1); p < 0.01; V = 0.19). In men, the differences in techniques and tactics between different PSS were found in technical actions (X2 = 27.15(10); p < 0.01; V = 0.25), guard position (X2 = 14.94(1); p < 0.01; V = 0.18), and hitting side (X2 = 11.07(1); p < 0.01; V = 0.16), while in women, significant differences were found in technical actions (X2 = 37.03(8); p < 0.01; V = 0.32), tactical actions (X2 = 24.45(3); p < 0.01; V = 0.26), guard position (X2 = 3.95(1); p < 0.05; V = 0.10), hitting side (X2 = 19.27(1); p < 0.01; V = 0.23), and laterality (X2 = 16.32(3); p < 0.01; V = 0.21). Conclusions: The present study evidenced a difference in the technical-tactical behavior of elite taekwondoists as a result of the PSS used in combat, with more marked differences in female athletes. These findings also suggest the need to adapt and review the PSS to effectively score in the same way.
An Eye-Tracking Study on the Effect of Different Signalized Intersection Typologies on Pedestrian Performance
Authors: Gruden Chiara , Ištoka Otković Irena , Šraml Matjaž
Published: February 2022

Pedestrian safety is a well-known issue, such that many road safety associations emphasize measures to improve this aspect. One of the main conflict points is pedestrian crossings, where motorized and non-motorized traffic flows directly interact and where pedestrian attention and reaction are two elements that can strongly influence their safety. Nowadays, these aspects are often deviated by the use of smartphones to surf the Internet or social media. The aim of the present study is to find out (1) whether and how intersection typology affects pedestrian behavior, both in terms of attention and crossing performance, and (2) whether and how gaze and behavioral characteristics are affected by smartphone use and social media browsing. To achieve this goal, eye-tracking technology was used to obtain qualitative and quantitative information on the number of fixations, their duration, and reaction times of pedestrians. Additionally, from the eye-tracking videos, it was possible to derive pedestrian waiting times, crossing times, and speeds. Statistical tests were conducted to determine if there is a significant difference in pedestrian behavior at the three different types of intersections and in their behavior when using or not using their device. Results confirm the initial hypotheses and quantify the difference in pedestrian gaze behavior and crossing performance when walking across three different types of signalized crosswalks.
Digital Education for Sustainable Development in Non-Formal Education in Germany and COVID-19-Induced Changes
Authors: Kohler Florian , Kuthe Alina , Rochholz Fiona , Siegmund Alexander
Published: February 2022

Digital media increasingly transform daily routines as well as everyday actions and working environments, including education. Apps, games, computer programs, and social media, etc. can support and improve learning processes. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions of social life accelerated a shift towards the application of digital media in education as well as in distance learning. This paper answers questions about the current usage of digital media in non-formal education in Germany, especially in the context of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The results of a 2020 survey in Germany with 111 participants show that digital media are an integral part of non-formal education; in particular, audio and video recording and filesharing are used often. Notably, the usage of web calls and webinars has increased since the pandemic. Regarding the disadvantages of digitals formats, participants note the investment in time and effort as well as the expensive equipment needed for development. Despite being dissatisfied with existing offers, a lot of institutions have not developed their own digital education formats (yet). This indicates a possible need for further training and education of educators in non-formal ESD, enabling them to independently create digital formats. This would also contribute to the quality of digital formats, of which many were possibly developed without proper expertise.
Capacity Development for Plastic Waste Management—A Critical Evaluation of Training Materials
Authors: Stojic Slobodan , Salhofer Stefan
Published: February 2022

The emerging problems of plastic pollution and the mismanagement of plastic waste highlight the need to find a solution that involves adopting a systematic perspective. Capacity development is recognized as an approach that can tackle these problems on a global scale and improve the performance of waste management systems. This paper focuses on the educational and training aspects of capacity development by evaluating available teaching materials and their content regarding training topics and stakeholders. The methodology used for the evaluation of teaching materials was the weighting score method, which provided information about previously defined training topics and the extent to which they were present in the material. The results of the evaluation can be beneficial for all stakeholders involved in plastic waste management, organizations that are actively included in designing and publishing such materials, and groups who are focused on capacity development. The results of the evaluation are structured in such a way to provide easy access to certain material depending on t desired training topic or targeted stakeholder. Thus, the results of the evaluation can be used either directly in the training processes or indirectly as a baseline for the preparation of new teaching materials. The study also contributes to theory by analyzing stakeholders in plastic waste management and defining essential training topics. Moreover, the study has potential to be the benchmark for future research projects in the area of education for plastic waste management.