bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Relationship between Sustainable Projects and Institutional Isomorphisms: A Project Typology
Authors: Alyamani Rakan , Long Suzanna , Nurunnabi Mohammad
Published: May 2020

With the increase in awareness about the wide range of issues and adverse effects associated with the use of conventional energy sources came an increase in project management research related to sustainability and sustainable development. Part of that research is devoted to the development of sustainable project typologies that classify projects based on a variety of external factors that can significantly impact these projects. This research focuses on developing a sustainable project typology that classifies sustainable projects based on the external institutional influences. The typology explores the influence of the coercive, normative, and mimetic institutional isomorphisms on the expected level of change, level of uncertainty, project team skills and experience levels, and the level of technology information exchange in sustainable projects. Two case studies are presented to demonstrate the use of the typology to classify sustainable projects based on the external institutional influences.
Upward Voice: Participative Decision Making, Trust in Leadership and Safety Climate Matter
Authors: Silla Inmaculada , Gracia Francisco J. , Peiró José M.
Published: May 2020

A supportive upward voice environment is critical in nuclear power plants in order to provide energy in a sustainable manner. In high–reliability organizations, front–line employees’ suggestions and concerns enable the early identification of potential problems that might have catastrophic consequences (e.g., a nuclear accident). Despite this, previous research has mostly focused on person–centered antecedents of upward voice and, to a lesser extent, the influence of the supervisor–subordinate relationship, while neglecting the importance of the organizational context. This study responds to the aforementioned research lacuna. It examined the relationship between participative decision making and upward voice, and the mediating role of trust in leadership in this relationship. Moreover, it further extends previous research by examining the role of safety climate, which is expected to moderate both the direct and the indirect effect of participative decision making on upward voice. The sample was composed of 495 workers from two nuclear power plants from the same organization. Findings supported the hypothesized moderated mediation model: the indirect effect of participative decision making (PDM) on upward voice via trust in leadership was contingent upon the level of the safety climate. The indirect effect became weaker as the safety climate increased. These findings support the relevance of the organizational context.
Cultural Antecedents of Green Entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: An Institutional Approach
Authors: Alwakid Wafa , Aparicio Sebastian , Urbano David
Published: May 2020

Recent decades have brought cultural changes toward the increase of environmentally-friendly initiatives such as green entrepreneurship. Some countries are failing to develop environmental initiatives, whereas others are transitioning and advancing toward this new trend. In particular, Saudi Arabia has initiated efforts toward becoming an ecologically-friendly society. Motivated by this, we explore whether cultural characteristics are associated with green entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia. Institutional economics is adopted to frame our hypotheses and analysis. The hypothesized relationships were empirically tested in a sample of 84 observations from 21 cities during the period 2015–2018. Data were collected from reports by the Saudi General Authority and analyzed through regression models. The main results show that cultural characteristics, such as environmental actions, environmental consciousness, and temporal orientation, increase the level of green entrepreneurial activity across cities in Saudi Arabia. The findings of this study contribute to existing knowledge on green entrepreneurship, as well as to the discussion of implications for policy and practice related to environmentally-friendly productive activities.
Optimizing the Environmental Profile of Fresh-Cut Produce: Life Cycle Assessment of Novel Decontamination and Sanitation Techniques
Authors: Vigil Miguel , Pedrosa Laza Maria , Moran-Palacios Henar , Alvarez Cabal JV
Published: May 2020

Fresh-cut vegetables, namely those that undergo processes such as washing, sorting, or chopping while keeping their fresh state, constitute an important market element nowadays. Among those operations, the washing step becomes really important due both to the extensive use of water resources and to the utilization of controversial water sanitizing agents, such as chlorine. To ideally eliminate those chlorinated compounds while decreasing water consumption, four novel filtrating technologies (pulsed corona discharge combined with nanofiltration, NF-PCD; classical ultrafiltration, UF; nanofiltration membranes integrating silver nanoparticles, NF-AgNP; and microfiltration with cellulose acetate membranes containing chitin nanocrystals, ChCA) have been proposed to eliminate any contaminating agent in recirculated water. Here, we performed a life cycle assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental effects of introducing these new solutions and to compare those impacts with the burden derived from the current strategy. The novel technologies showed a decreased environmental burden, mainly due to the enhanced water recirculation and the subsequent decrease in energy consumption for pumping and cooling the water stream. The environmental gain would be maintained even if a certain amount of chlorine was still needed. This analysis could serve as an aid to decision-making while evaluating the introduction of new sanitizing techniques.
Managerial Reporting Tools for Social Sustainability: Insights from a Local Government Experience
Authors: Cardillo Eleonora , Longo Maria Cristina
Published: May 2020

The paper is a country-specific study that explores the potential points of connection between the sustainable territorial development goals and managerial tools in the context of local authorities. In particular, the purpose of this research is to propose a set of features and criteria to evaluate the contribution of accounting documents to the pursuit, development and strengthening of social sustainability. As part of traditional accounting systems, social reporting is essential to support policy makers’ decisions in promoting social sustainability and in evaluating the effects of their choices within the institution and externally towards citizens and various stakeholders. To this end, we present a leading case study of a medium-sized Italian local authority’s accounting system in which the contributions and limits of managerial tools to social reporting are analyzed. The case study allows us to have a deeper understanding of social reporting and to get insights about issues that matter to social sustainability assessment in public administration. Since the reporting tools comply with international accounting standards, the case study offers interesting food for thought in the international debate on the assessment of sustainability in public organizations. The results identify the areas of complementarity and critical issues between social reporting and traditional accounting systems. Therefore, they enhance our knowledge about the role of public accounting system in supporting sustainable territorial development policies and programs through managerial tools’ adoption.
Assessing New Biotechnologies by Combining TEA and TM-LCA for an Efficient Use of Biomass Resources
Authors: Croxatto Vega Giovanna , Voogt Juliën , Sohn Joshua , Birkved Morten , Olsen Stig Irving
Published: May 2020

An efficient use of biomass resources is a key element of the bioeconomy. Ideally, options leading to the highest environmental and economic gains can be singled out for any given region. In this study, to achieve this goal of singling out an ideal technology for a given region, biotechnologies are assessed by a combination of techno-economic assessment (TEA) and territorial metabolism life cycle assessment (TM-LCA). Three technology variations for anaerobic digestion (AD) were assessed at two different scales (200 kW and 1 MW) and for two different regions. First, sustainable feedstock availability for two European regions was quantified. Then, the environmental impact and economic potential of each technology when scaled up to the regional level, considering all of the region’s unique sustainably available feedstock, was investigated. Multiple criteria decision analysis and internalized damage monetization were used to generate single scores for the assessments. Preference for the technology scenario producing the most energy was shown for all regions and scales, while producing bioplastic was less preferable since the value of the produced bioplastic plastic was not great enough to offset the resultant reduction in energy production. Assessing alternatives in a regional context provided valuable information about the influence of different types of feedstock on environmental performance.
Traffic Flow Prediction at Varied Time Scales via Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition and Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Chen Xinqiang , Lu Jinquan , Zhao Jiansen , Qu Zhijian , Yang Yongsheng , Xian Jiangfeng
Published: May 2020

Accurate traffic flow data is crucial for traffic control and management in an intelligent transportation system (ITS), and thus traffic flow prediction research attracts significant attention in the transportation community. Previous studies have suggested that raw traffic flow data may be contaminated by noises caused by unexpected reasons (e.g., loop detector damage, roadway maintenance, etc.), which may degrade traffic flow prediction accuracy. To address this issue, we proposed an ensemble framework via ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and artificial neural network (ANN) to predict traffic flow under different time intervals ahead. More specifically, the proposed framework firstly employed the EEMD model to suppress the noises in the raw traffic data, which were then processed to predict traffic flow at time steps under different time scales (i.e., 1, 2, and 10 min). We verified our model performance on three loop detectors’ data, which were supported by the Department of Transportation, Minnesota. The research findings can help traffic participants collect more accurate traffic flow data and thus benefits transportation practitioners by helping them to make more reasonable traffic decisions.
Design Guidelines to Develop Circular Products: Action Research on Nordic Industry
Authors: Shahbazi Sasha , Jönbrink Anna Karin
Published: May 2020

Product design and development are key to moving towards a circular economy; however, the majority of products and components that are currently recirculated have not been designed for circulation of any sort. Circular economy business models and closing the loop can be functional only if the products and services are designed for circularity. This paper presents a set of generic design guidelines for different circular strategies. The guidelines are then used to map companies’ circular product design initiatives in the early stages of product design and development. The guidelines have proved to support decision-making and enhance the circularity of products. The guidelines were developed, validated, and tested at four companies within the Nordic countries through an action research approach. Sourcing raw materials, recycling, and ensuring the robustness of products for the use phase are the most common strategies used by the studied companies. There is an ongoing transition towards other recirculation strategies, such as repair, remanufacture, and reuse.
Assessment of Spatial and Temporal Trend of Groundwater Salinity in Jaffna Peninsula and Its Link to Paddy Land Abandonment
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Tharani , Kumar Lalit , Mikunthan Thushyanthy
Published: May 2020

Salinization is an explicit global threat faced by coastal low lands. The increased seawater ingression into groundwater due to various climatic and anthropogenic factors affects functioning of ecosystems, biodiversity and the sustainability of coastal agriculture. This study was undertaken to investigate the changes in groundwater salinity in Jaffna Peninsula over a 20-year period and its relationship with paddy land abandonment. Permanently abandoned paddy areas were mapped using historical Landsat images, while groundwater salinity changes in 63 agricultural wells for the period 1999 to 2019 were analysed. The trend in salinity, including proximity to the coast, was examined. The results showed that approximately 8178 ha (43% of total paddy land) of paddy lands had been permanently abandoned while the groundwater salinity had increased by 1.6-fold over the last two decades. An increasing salinity trend with decreasing distance from the coast was observed. Presently, nearly 59% of the wells showed salinity levels that were unsuitable for crop irrigation. The results underline the need for urgent and effective management of groundwater resources in order to maintain the sustainability of the existing paddy lands and ensure availability of potable water for consumption along the coastal low land areas of Jaffna Peninsula.
Comprehensive Grassland Degradation Monitoring by Remote Sensing in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Lyu Xin , Li Xiaobing , Gong Jirui , Wang Hong , Dang Dongliang , Dou Huashun , Li Shengkun , Liu Siyu
Published: May 2020

Grassland degradation is a complex process and cannot be thoroughly measured by a single indicator, such as fractional vegetation cover (FVC), aboveground biomass (AGB), or net primary production (NPP), or by a simple combination of these indicators. In this research, we combined measured data with vegetation and soil characteristics to establish a set of standards applicable to the monitoring of regional grassland degradation by remote sensing. We selected indicators and set their thresholds with full consideration given to vegetation structure and function. We optimized the indicator simulation, based on which grassland degradation in the study area during 2014–2018 was comprehensively evaluated. We used the feeding intensity of herbivores to represent the grazing intensity. We analyzed the effects of climate and grazing activities on grassland degradation using the constraint line method. The results showed degradation in approximately 69% of the grassland in the study area and an overall continued recovery of the degraded grassland from 2014 to 2018. We did not identify any significant correlation between temperature and grassland degradation. The increase in precipitation promoted the recovery of degraded grassland, whereas increased grazing may have aggravated degradation. Our findings can not only improve the scientific quality and accuracy of grassland degradation monitoring by remote sensing but also provide clear spatial information and decision-making help in sustainable management of grassland regions.
Financial Literacy in Japan: New Evidence Using Financial Knowledge, Behavior, and Attitude
Authors: Kadoya Yoshihiko , Khan Mostafa Saidur Rahim
Published: May 2020

Success in the current complex and sophisticated financial marketplaces depends on the ability of people to make sustainable financial decisions to improve their future well-being, for which financial literacy is a pathway. This study examines the relationship between the demographic and socio-economic factors and financial literacy in Japan by segregating financial literacy into financial knowledge, attitude, and behavior, and providing a deeper understanding of the relationships. The methodology included using data from the Financial Literacy Survey 2016 by the Central Council for Financial Services Information of Japan. We used a linear regression model to explain how demographic and socio-economic factors relate to financial knowledge, attitude, and behavior. Results show that education, the balance of financial assets, and the use of financial information are positively related, while the experience of financial trouble is negatively related to financial knowledge, attitude, and behavior. We show that males are more financially knowledgeable than females, but females are more positive than males with regard to financial behavior and financial attitude. Age is positively related to financial knowledge but negatively related to financial attitude, thus suggesting that middle-aged people in Japan are more financially knowledgeable, but younger and older people are more positive with regard to financial behavior and attitude. The findings have implications for policymakers.
High-Resolution Climate Projections for a Densely Populated Mediterranean Region
Authors: Nashwan Mohamed Salem , Shahid Shamsuddin , Chung Eun-Sung
Published: May 2020

The present study projected future climate change for the densely populated Central North region of Egypt (CNE) for two representative concentration pathways (RCPs) and two futures (near future: 2020–2059, and far future: 2060–2099), estimated by a credible subset of five global climate models (GCMs). Different bias correction models have been applied to correct the bias in the five interpolated GCMs’ outputs onto a high-resolution horizontal grid. The 0.05° CNE datasets of maximum and minimum temperatures (Tmx, and Tmn, respectively) and the 0.1° African Rainfall Climatology (ARC2) datasets represented the historical climate. The evaluation of bias correction methodologies revealed the better performance of linear and variance scaling for correcting the rainfall and temperature GCMs’ outputs, respectively. They were used to transfer the correction factor to the projections. The five statistically bias-corrected climate projections presented the uncertainty range in the future change in the climate of CNE. The rainfall is expected to increase in the near future but drastically decrease in the far future. The Tmx and Tmn are projected to increase in both future periods reaching nearly a maximum of 5.50 and 8.50 °C for Tmx and Tmn, respectively. These findings highlighted the severe consequence of climate change on the socio-economic activities in the CNE aiming for better sustainable development.
Electric Vehicle Tour Planning Considering Range Anxiety
Authors: Chen Rui , Liu Xinglu , Miao Lixin , Yang Peng
Published: May 2020

In this study, the tour planning problem for electric vehicles is investigated. We aim to derive the optimal route and thus, to maximize profitability and minimize range anxiety within the time horizon. To solve this problem, a bi-objective mixed integer model is proposed. Specifically, we first introduced the reliability of route planning and quantified it as a cost with specific functions. The nonlinear model was then converted into a bi-objective mixed integer linear program, and an interactive branch and bound algorithm was adopted. Numerical experiments conducted on different networks have shown that the model that considers range anxiety offers more effective solutions. This means that our model is able to plan the routes with high reliability and low risk of profit loss and accidents.
Coal-Biomass Co-Firing Power Generation Technology: Current Status, Challenges and Policy Implications
Authors: Xu Yan , Yang Kun , Zhou Jiahui , Zhao Guohao
Published: May 2020

The severity of climate change and the urgency of ecological environment protection make the transformation of coal power imperative. In this paper, the relevant policies of coal-biomass co-firing power generation are combed, and the technical and economic evaluation of coal-biomass co-firing power generation technology is carried out using Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) model. The result is that the LCOE of coal-biomass indirect co-firing power generation project is significantly higher than that of the pure coal-fired unit, with the LCOE rising by nearly 8%. Through sensitivity analysis, the LCOE will increase by 10.7% when it combusts 15% biomass, and increase by 19.1% when it combusts 20% biomass. The LCOE corresponding to wood chips increased by 5.71% and the LCOE to rice husks decreased by 6.06%. Finally, this paper puts forward some relevant policy suggestions, hoping to provide some reference for the promotion of coal-biomass co-firing power generation in China.
ClimateCafé: An Interdisciplinary Educational Tool for Sustainable Climate Adaptation and Lessons Learned
Authors: Boogaard Floris C. , Venvik Guri , Pedroso de Lima Rui L. , Cassanti Ana C. , Roest Allard H. , Zuurman Antal
Published: May 2020

ClimateCafé is a field education concept involving different fields of science and practice for capacity building in climate change adaptation. This concept is applied on the eco-city of Augustenborg in Malmö, Sweden, where Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) were implemented in 1998. ClimateCafé Malmö evaluated these NBS with 20 young professionals from nine nationalities and seven disciplines with a variety of practical tools. In two days, 175 NBS were mapped and categorised in Malmö. Results show that the selected green infrastructure have a satisfactory infiltration capacity and low values of potential toxic element pollutants after 20 years in operation. The question “Is capacity building achieved by interdisciplinary field experience related to climate change adaptation?” was answered by interviews, collecting data of water quality, pollution, NBS and heat stress mapping, and measuring infiltration rates, followed by discussion. The interdisciplinary workshops with practical tools provide a tangible value to the participants and are needed to advance sustainability efforts. Long term lessons learnt from Augustenborg will help stormwater managers within planning of NBS. Lessons learned from this ClimateCafé will improve capacity building on climate change adaptation in the future. This paper offers a method and results to prove the German philosopher Friedrich Hegel wrong when he opined that “we learn from history that we do not learn from history.”
Does Corporate Financialization Affect Corporate Environmental Responsibility? An Empirical Study of China
Authors: Li Zhenghui , Wang Yan , Tan Yong , Huang Zimei
Published: May 2020

This paper explores the effects and mechanisms of corporate financialization on corporate environmental responsibility (CER), using panel regression and the panel quantile regression model. The data is from 484 Chinese A-share non-financial listed companies, over the period 2008–2015. Some valuable results were achieved, as follows. Firstly, corporate financialization has a significantly negative impact on CER. We attribute this fact to the hard constraint of shareholder value maximization and the soft constraint of CER by taking an extrinsic analysis. Moreover, this negative impact shows heterogeneity. As the CER level increases, the remarkable restraint taken by the corporate financialization on CER is gradually weakened. This results in the corporation aiming not only at the shareholder value maximization, but also at the social effect, rather than only the former. In addition, the effect of the moderating role played by corporate leverage and ownership concentration in the influence of corporate financialization on the CER is captured in different kinds of corporations, while different performances are shown.
Examining the Density and Diversity of Human Activity in the Built Environment: The Case of the Pearl River Delta, China
Authors: Zhao Miaoxi , Xu Gaofeng , de Jong Martin , Li Xinjian , Zhang Pingcheng
Published: May 2020

Rapid urbanization in China has been accompanied by spatial inefficiency in patterns of human activity, of which ‘ghost towns’ are the most visible result. In this study, we measure the density and diversity of human activity in the built environment and relate this to various explanatory factors. Using the Pearl River Delta (PRD) as an empirical case, our research demonstrates the distribution of human activity by multi-source data and then explores its dynamics within these areas. This empirical study is comprised of two parts. The first part explores location information regarding human activity in urbanized areas and shows density and diversity. Regression models are applied to explore how density and diversity are affected by urban scale, morphology and by a city’s administrative level. Results indicate that: 1) cities with smaller populations are more likely to be faced with lower density and diversity, but they derive greater marginal benefits from improving land use efficiency; 2) the compactness of the layout of urban land, an index reflecting the plane shapes of the built environment, is highly correlated with density and diversity in built-up areas; and 3) the administrative importance of a city has a significant and positive impact on the density of human activity, but no obvious influence on its diversity.
Development of a Web Application Based on Human Body Obesity Index and Self-Obesity Diagnosis Model Using the Data Mining Methodology
Authors: Kim Changgyun , Youm Sekyoung
Published: May 2020

Measuring exact obesity rates is challenging because the existing measures, such as body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), do not account for various body metrics and types. Therefore, these measures are insufficient for use as health indices. This study presents a model that accurately classifies abdominal obesity, or muscular obesity, which cannot be diagnosed with BMI. Using the model, a web-based calculator was created, which provides information on obesity by predicting healthy ranges, and obesity, underweight, and overweight values. For this study, musculoskeletal mass and body composition mass data were obtained from Size Korea. The groups were divided into four groups, and six body circumference values were used to classify the obesity levels. Of the four learning models, the random forest model was used and had the highest accuracy (99%). This enabled us to build a web-based tool that can be accessed from anywhere and can measure obesity information in real-time. Therefore, users can quickly receive and update their own obesity information without using existing high-cost equipment (e.g., an Inbody machine or a body-composition analyzer), thereby making self-diagnosis convenient. With this model, it was easy to recognize and manage health conditions by quickly receiving and updating information on obesity without using traditional, expensive equipment, and by providing accurate information on obesity, according to body types, rather than information such as BMI, which are identified based on specific body characteristics.
The Effect of Market-Oriented Government Fiscal Expenditure on the Evolution of Industrial Structure: Evidence from Shenzhen, China
Authors: Shu Yumin , Qi Zhongying
Published: May 2020

For looking at the effect of public fiscal expenditure of local government on industry, three contradictory points of view: improving effect, impeding effect, and no effect, have been previously discussed in the literature. However, there is no general agreement yet. As the most mature region of China’s socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics, the effect of Shenzhen’s market-oriented fiscal expenditure on the evolution of its industrial structure is worth investigating. This study applies Shenzhen’s fiscal expenditure data and industrial value-added data from 1980 to 2017 to a Bayesian Structure Time Series Model (BSTS). Empirical results show that in Shenzhen, market-oriented public fiscal expenditure presents a significant effect on the evolution of industrial structure. In addition, the promotion effect of different types of public fiscal expenditure on secondary industry is significant but largely subsides later. However, the promotion effect on tertiary industry is comparatively stable. This study suggests that Shenzhen government should apply different types of public fiscal expenditure at least five years in advance to promote the growth of secondary industry and apply fiscal expenditure to promote the tertiary industry when needed.
Identification of Regime Shifts and Their Potential Drivers in the Shallow Eutrophic Lake Yilong, Southwest China
Authors: Zhao Lei , Wang Mingguo , Liang Zhongyao , Zhou Qichao
Published: May 2020

Regime shifts in shallow lakes can lead to great changes in ecosystem structures and functions, making ecosystem management more complicated. Lake Yilong, located in Yunnan Province, is one of the most eutrophic lakes in China. Although there is a high possibility that this lake has undergone regime shift one or more times, the presence of regime shifts and their drivers remain unknown. Here, we employed the sequential t-test analysis of regime shifts to detect the regime shifts based on the long-term (1989–2018) dataset of the lake. We further determined their potential drivers, and explored the nutrient thresholds of regime shifts and hysteresis. The results showed that during the testing period, three regime shifts occurred in 1996 (restorative type), 2009 (catastrophic type) and 2014 (restorative type). The potential key drivers for the first two regime shifts (1996 and 2009) were both related to aquaculture. The abolition of cage fish culture may have led to the restorative regime shift in 1996, and the stocking of crabs and excessive premature releasing of fry possibly caused the catastrophic regime shift in 2009. However, the third regime shift, which occurred in 2014, was possibly related to the drought and succedent hydration. These results indicate that adjustments of aquaculture strategy and hydrological conditions are critical for the lake ecosystem’s recovery. Moreover, the total phosphorus thresholds were identified to be lower than 0.046 mg/L (restorative type) and higher than 0.105 mg/L (catastrophic type), respectively. In addition, an obvious hysteresis was observed after 2014, suggesting that nutrient reduction is important for this lake’s management in the future.
Study on the Optimized Mode of Waste Governance with Sustainable Urban Development—Case from China’s Urban Waste Classified Collection
Authors: Peng Liangjun , Gu Mengdi , Peng Zhijun
Published: May 2020

With the rapid growth of developing countries, their urban waste is increasing at the same pace, which, in turn, is worsening the environmental pollution and leading to an urgent demand for waste governance. Different waste governance modes will produce different social welfare levels. According to the principles of economics of maximizing the benefit of limited resources, the mathematical models of the three waste governance modes of government, market, and mixed government–market are constructed separately in this paper, and then comparisons are made as to which mode is optimal. The results show that, from the perspective of consumer surplus and producer surplus, the mode by government is optimal, while the mode by market is optimal from the perspective of total social surplus. Since the government acts as the provider of waste governance in China, its allocation of waste governance mode is not optimal from the perspective of total social surplus, as a result of which it fails to restrain the environmental pollution caused by garbage growth most effectively. Nevertheless, since the equilibrium point of waste governance quantity is dynamic, there is still much room for the optimization of waste governance in China, which will certainly inject new impetus to the high quality and sustainable development of its cities.
Money Talks: Team Variables and Player Positions that Most Influence the Market Value of Professional Male Footballers in Europe
Authors: Felipe Jose Luis , Fernandez-Luna Alvaro , Burillo Pablo , de la Riva Luis Eduardo , Sanchez-Sanchez Javier , Garcia-Unanue Jorge
Published: May 2020

The aim of this paper is to analyse different interactions of the variables (age, position, or quality of the team and the league) and the crowdsourcing Transfermarkt values of male players in the top European leagues. All players (n = 2259) in the five most highly valued European leagues—Spain, England, Italy, France, and Germany—from the 2017/2018 season were included in this study. Data were retrieved from the open-source football database (Transfermarkt). The present economic value (VPRESENT) and maximum economic value (VMAX) of all players with professional contracts were registered. Regression analysis evidenced a significant influence of the level of the team, the birth month, the league, the playing position and the age of the player on mean and maximum economic value (p < 0.05). This analysis confirms that the players participating in the UEFA Champions League, Premier League teams, playing as attacking midfielders, and born in the first quarter of the year are the most economically valued in terms of both current value (R2 of 0.33) and maximal value (R2 of 0.36). Therefore, international football entities must take into account the financial balance between competitions—and not only at the domestic level, as the attractiveness and balance of European competitions may be directly affected.
Management Strategies to Improve the Economics of Sheep Farms in Norwegian Coastal and Fjord Areas—The Effect of Animal Size and Capacities for Rangeland Utilisation
Authors: Bhatti Muhammad Azher , Eik Lars Olav , Steinheim Geir , Ådnøy Tormod , Hopkins David L. , Asheim Leif Jarle
Published: May 2020

The morphological and productive aspects of Norwegian sheep have developed over time and adapted to the diverse environment of the country. Before 1900, native Norwegian sheep were crossed with UK breeds to attain higher body weight and reproductive efficiency. Subsequent selection programs eventually led to the creation of the heavier (adults often >90 kg) Norwegian White Sheep (NWS), today constituting 70% of the recorded ewes. The modern Norwegian (White) Spæl (NS) sheep, mostly <75 kg and accounting for 10% of the recorded ewe population, originated from the native short-tailed breeds that are smaller and are believed to prefer grazing at higher altitudes than NWS. Other registered breeds of the short-tailed spæl type account for another 12% of the recorded sheep. Rugged Norwegian terrain with rich summer pastures makes the NS a complementary breed to the NWS. Increasing demand for year-round fresh meat requires changes at the farm level. Efficient use of local feed resources by extensive feeding of smaller size ewes is an opportunity for attaining economic gains and for year-round fresh meat production. The NS has a lighter bodyweight, requiring less housing space, is efficient in grazing rangeland and local pastures, and is better suited to outdoor winter grazing in coastal and fjord areas. In this paper, we compare the farm profitability (gross margin) of two Norwegian sheep breeds (NS and NWS) using a linear programming model designed for the coastal and fjord areas. The impact of ewe body weight, housing capacity, and meat produced per unit of concentrate are discussed.
The Impact of Corporate Governance Structures on Foreign Direct Investment: A Case Study of West African Countries
Authors: Appiah-Kubi Seth Nana Kwame , Malec Karel , Maitah Mansoor , Kutin Sandra Boatemaa , Pánková Ludmila , Phiri Joseph , Zaganjori Orhan
Published: May 2020

A number of studies have been done to examine the factors that impact the level of foreign direct investment in African countries. However, most of them have not considered the effect corporate governance structures have on foreign direct investment (FDI) in their estimations. This research therefore pursued the investigation of the relationship between corporate governance structures at the national level and foreign direct investment concentrating mainly on West African economies for the period 2009–2018. The study constructed a panel, sampling annual data from 17 West African countries. The System generalized method of moments (GMM) was used in analyzing the panel data to attain the objective of the research. The results of the study reveal that countries characterized by greater protection of the interest of non-controlling parties are able to accumulate progressive FDIs. Economies with firms portraying high ethical values also generally generate increasing foreign direct investment, and the existence of effective boards also significantly improves the country’s FDI inflows. Finally, the findings report that the impact of regulations in securities and the stock exchange on FDI is insignificant. The study recommends that West African countries institute corporate governance structures purely independent of political influences in order to ensure effective utilization of foreign direct investment to mitigate poverty.
Information Technologies Supporting Emergency Management Controllers in New Zealand
Authors: Huggins Thomas J. , Prasanna Raj
Published: May 2020

Emergency management controllers throughout the developed world use various information technologies to help them manage emergencies. These emergencies can evolve rapidly, meaning that efficient information management is needed to minimize a range of uncertainties. Interviews with 12 emergency operation center controllers, from diverse areas of New Zealand, were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Results of this analysis suggested that each center uses one or more software options to manage response-related information, such as: hazard assessments, task and event logs, and intelligence received in a range of formats. Their use of different software and non-electronic options appears to vary according to the experience of each emergency management controller. The current research has highlighted a range of considerations that need to be considered when developing information technologies for emergency management. As a whole, the current paper provides a rare and tangible look at how information technology is being used by important decision makers facing hard-to-predict emergency conditions in a developed country context.
Strategic Decisions to Enhance the Internationalization of the Performing Arts and Their Sustainability: The Case of Flamenco
Authors: Rastrollo-Horrillo María-Angeles
Published: May 2020

Determining how to operate in foreign markets is challenging for the performing arts (PA) because the particular nature of their activities necessarily entails sustainable complexities. This study aims to extend understanding of the internationalization of PA to shed light on the strategic decisions adopted by cultural agents to achieve an economic and cultural objective—generating international income while ensuring the symbolic value of cultural products rooted in local values. A longitudinal empirical case of one leading enterprise in international flamenco production with a successful history in international markets is reported here, and in-depth insights into four strategic decisions that can boost the sustainable internationalization of PA are gained: why (motivations), what (product), where (market selection), and how (entry modes). The results have theoretical and practical implications for a cultural sector with few examples of internationalization that is seeking for international markets to become sustainable while being subject to public financing cuts, strong competition, and globalization. The important role of intermediaries in bridging the gaps between different actors of the PA value chain and in assuring sustainable cultural management of the internationalization process is also identified.
Volatility Spillovers between Equity and Green Bond Markets
Authors: Park Daehyeon , Park Jiyeon , Ryu Doojin
Published: May 2020

This study examines the market for green bonds, which have been in the spotlight as an eco-friendly investment product. We analyze the volatility dynamics and spillovers between the equity and green bond markets. As the return dynamics of financial products typically exhibit asymmetric volatility, we check whether green bonds also share this property. Our analyses confirm that although green bonds do exhibit the asymmetric volatility phenomenon, their volatility, unlike that of equity, is also sensitive to positive return shocks. An analysis of the association between the green bond and equity markets confirms that although the two markets have some volatility spillover effects, neither responds significantly to negative shocks in the other market.
Using Mobile Devices for Educational Purposes in Compulsory Secondary Education to Improve Student’s Learning Achievements
Authors: Gómez-García Melchor , Soto-Varela Roberto , Morón-Marchena Juan Agustín , del Pino-Espejo María José
Published: May 2020

The number of mobiles surpassed the population of the planet in 2018. Without a doubt, they have become the tool of reference in our social life, as well as in our work and leisure, but in educational centers, they continue to be used inefficiently or are declared off limits to some classrooms. This study aims to establish the relationship that the use of mobile phones in secondary education schools may have in regard to the student’s academic performance. For this purpose, we will carry out a secondary exploitation of the Ministry of Education database for 2017 with the data of 1,887,027 students from 7381 compulsory secondary education schools in Spain. As a method of analysis, a multilevel correlation study is carried out. The results show a strong correlation between centers and territories that allow the usage of mobile devices in education and academic performance. Although the methodology that accompanies the use of the smartphone as an educational tool is very important, the data obtained leads us to think that using mobile phones in schools is a proposal that somehow influences the achievement of better academic results, with almost any methodology used.
Work Standardization and Anthropometric Workstation Design as an Integrated Approach to Sustainable Workplaces in the Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Realyvásquez-Vargas Arturo , Arredondo-Soto Karina Cecilia , Blanco-Fernandez Julio , Sandoval-Quintanilla Joanna Denisse , Jiménez-Macías Emilio , García-Alcaraz Jorge Luis
Published: May 2020

Poor workstation designs represent a risk factor for operators in assembly production lines. Anthropometric design of workstations facilitates the sustainable development of the workplace. This paper proposes a novel integrated approach about work standardization and anthropometric workstation design as a strategy to increase human factor performance as well as the productivity index in manufacturing companies. The integrating approach is presented through a case study in a publishing press company with operators who perform manual and mechanical tasks in production lines in the box assembly department. Currently, the company’s production capacity is below demand, and in order to satisfy customers’ requirements, the company pays a lot of overtime to operators. In order to solve this problem, the integrated approach was applied. The findings indicated that inefficient movements and body postures in operators decreased from 230 to 78, and the standard time was reduced from 244 to 199 s for each assembled box. In addition, the production rate increased by 229 units per assembly line per day, and overtime was eliminated. Therefore, the novel integrated approach allows the increase of sustainability in the company and the operators’ well-being by making a better use of the human factor, eliminating overtime, and increasing production capacity.
Effect of Bring-Your-Own-Device Program on Flipped Learning in Higher Education Students
Authors: Pozo Sánchez Santiago , López-Belmonte Jesús , Moreno-Guerrero Antonio-José , Sola Reche José María , Fuentes Cabrera Arturo
Published: May 2020

The “bring your own device” (BYOD) program is positioned as one of the fastest-emerging methods to solve accessibility problems in the flipped learning methodology. The objective of the study is to analyze the potential of a training plan through inverted learning using the BYOD program compared to inverted learning without BYOD. A quasi-experimental design was carried out on a sample of 118 Higher Education students. A questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection. The results show that the assessments of the study groups, both control and experimental, are at medium–high levels, which shows a significant incidence of the teaching and learning methodologies applied in both groups. There are only three dimensions in which a distance is observed between the groups’ assessments: motivation and autonomy, which were better valued by the experimental group, and class time, which was better valued by the control group. The study concludes that there are no great differences between the teaching methodologies applied in the groups that were subjected to experimentation, except in terms of motivation and autonomy, making these methodologies reliable for the development of these dimensions.
Analyzing Willingness to Pay More to Stay in a Sustainable Hotel
Authors: Boronat-Navarro Montserrat , Pérez-Aranda José A.
Published: May 2020

The aim of this study is to investigate differences in willingness to pay more for sustainable hotels, analyzing whether consumers’ searches for information about sustainability, the importance they assign to sustainability certifications, their previous experiences and sociodemographic variables, are all features that influence consumer intentions. We thus contribute to the literature on the importance of consumers’ concerns and awareness and how they influence consumer intentions regarding sustainability in the hotel sector. Our results, based on a sample of consumers of various nationalities, show that all the variables analyzed can explain the differences between consumers that are willing to pay more for sustainable hotels and those that are not, except those variables capturing sociodemographic characteristics. These results could help hotel managers to establish strategies to retain more responsible consumers and increase awareness of sustainability, and should prompt them to improve their sustainability practices.
Symmetric-in-Plane Compression of Polyamide Pantographic Fabrics—Modelling, Experiments and Numerical Exploration
Authors: Tran Chuong Anthony , Gołaszewski Maciej , Barchiesi Emilio
Published: May 2020

Symmetric in-plane compression of a pantographic lattice structure is modelled and simulated, and the results are compared to previously available experimental data. Said experimental results had shown a peculiar behaviour: depending on the fiber density, the deformed shape could present either one or two swellings under compression. The present article is a preliminary modelling attempt aiming at capturing that behaviour numerically.
Some Construction Methods of Aggregation Operators in Decision-Making Problems: An Overview
Authors: Zahedi Khameneh Azadeh , Kilicman Adem
Published: May 2020

Aggregating data is the main line of any discipline dealing with fusion of information from the knowledge-based systems to decision-making. The purpose of aggregation methods is to convert a list of objects, all belonging to a given set, into a single representative object of the same set usually by an n-ary function, so-called aggregation operator. As the useful aggregation functions for modeling real-life problems are limited, the basic problem is to construct a proper aggregation operator, usually a symmetric one, for each situation. During the last decades, a number of construction methods for aggregation functions have been developed to build new classes based on the existing well-known operators. There are three main construction methods in common use: transformation, composition, and convex combination. This paper compares these methods with respect to the type of aggregating problems that can be handled by each of them.