bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Which Residential Clusters of Walkability Affect Future Population from the Perspective of Real Estate Prices in the Osaka Metropolitan Area?
Authors: Kato Haruka , Takizawa Atsushi
Published: December 2021

In Japan, where the population is declining and aging significantly, walkability has attracted attention as a way to improve residents’ lifestyles. Therefore, it is essential to identify the residential clusters where walkability improvement would contribute to the maintenance of the population in order to select urban areas for the implementation of walkable designs. This study aimed to identify the residential clusters in which walkability affects the future population from the perspective of real estate prices. The reason for focusing on real estate prices is that they are expected to be a confounding factor connecting walkability and the future population. The method we used was to analyze the structural equation modeling of the impact of walkability index, real estate prices, and future population change ratio. This analysis was based on the neighborhood association scale. This study clarified that effective residential clusters are the business center cluster and the sprawl cluster. In the business center cluster and the sprawl cluster, the price of apartments for sale is the real estate value, through which the walkability index positively impacts the future population change ratio. This means that it is expected to contribute to the maintenance of the future population through a combination of walkable designs and housing policies that encourage people to change their residence types to apartments for sale when rebuilding old building stock using the location optimization plan policy.
Exploring the Convergence of Resilience Processes and Sustainable Outcomes in Post-COVID, Post-Glasgow Economies
Authors: Keenan Jesse M. , Trump Benjamin D. , Hynes William , Linkov Igor
Published: December 2021

Resilience and sustainability have each offered a path forward for post-COVID economic recovery and a post-Glasgow global financial order. Yet, the relationships between these two concepts are largely unexplored in economic policy and investment strategies. In light of emerging systemic risks and global demands for more resolute investments in resilience and sustainability, this perspective article took the position that policymakers must begin to draw greater conceptual, empirical, and practical linkages between sustainability and resilience. This perspective article provided a simplified framework for understanding the positively reinforcing, negatively conflicting, and neutral relationships between different types of resilience and sustainability consistent with two propositions. The Reinforcement Proposition argues (i) that various resilience processes may drive sustainable outcomes, and/or (ii) that an allocation of sustainable resources may reinforce resilience processes, as well as the transformative adaptation of markets. Conversely, the Conflict Proposition argues (i) that certain resilience processes may perpetuate stability features that may thwart an economic transition toward sustainability, and/or (ii) that certain sustainability outcomes associated with reorganized economic structures and relationships may undermine resources for resilience. This framework provides policymakers with an opportunity to evaluate the convergent and conflicting trade-offs of resilience processes and sustainable outcomes.
Teaching Maths within a Transmedia Learning Approach. What Is It and How Sustainable Can It Be?
Authors: Sánchez-Caballé Anna , González-Martínez Juan
Published: December 2021

This article addresses the concept of transmedia learning proposed by Jenkins from the perspective of the teaching–learning of mathematics and the sustainability of this type of processes. To this purpose, a scoping review of the literature has been carried out on the Web of Science, Scopus, ERIC, Dialnet and Google Scholar databases. The research process started with a total of 42 scientific documents, and after the corresponding selection process, a total of 14 documents were obtained. From the analysis of the selected documents, it was found that the teaching–learning transmedia learning processes in mathematics tend to be simple and aimed at a very young audience (usually children). Furthermore, most of them are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 concept of quality education. However, if sustainability is analysed from a more environmental perspective, none of them make explicit mention of it, although they tend to make responsible use of material resources.
A Review of Antecedents and Effects of Loyalty on Food Retailers toward Sustainability
Authors: Tian Yating , Kamran Qeis
Published: December 2021

With the increase in consumer awareness of sustainability and diversified retailer brands, the conceptualizations and dimensions of brand loyalty are changing. Existing research studies have focused on traditional constructs and measurements to explain new phenomena in the food retail sector but ignored the environmental and social effects on consumers’ attitudinal and behavioral loyalty. This study entails an extensive and structured review of definitions, taxonomy, dimensions, and measurements of loyalty within a food marketing context. With an additional emphasis on the notion of sustainability, it provides a perspective theory synthesis that integrates all testified antecedents of all types of loyalty to emphasize a trend of sustainability beyond brand scope, whereby sustainability values create loyalty. A systematic literature review and qualitative analysis methods were used to identify the relevant literature. The studies that qualified for inclusion were those that reported (1) research methods, (2) dimensions of brand loyalty, (3) knowledge of sustainability factors, and (4) organic marketing. This paper summarizes and compares the key constructs and measurements of loyalty to retailers. The results show inconsistencies in relation to two important attitudinal dimensions, namely, brand satisfaction and brand value. Although loyalty towards product brands, loyalty toward service organizations, store loyalty, and retailer loyalty have been studied in recent decades by marketing academics, little attention has been paid to clarifying their role in food retailing, especially regarding whether the established dimensions are relevant in conceptualizing consumer loyalty in sustainability based on organic food marketing. The theoretical implications are discussed in association with the research gap between loyalty dimensions and sustainability values, as well as multidimensional measurements development. The practical implications of this review are important for food retailers and organic food marketers that can meet the satisfaction and retain consumers’ loyalty by providing organic and sustainable products and improving related service quality involving environmental consequences and social well-being.
Limited Demand or Unreliable Supply? A Bibliometric Review and Computational Text Analysis of Research on Energy Policy in India
Authors: Goyal Nihit
Published: December 2021

Although India has made significant progress towards the sustainable development goal on energy (SDG 7), further policy innovations are essential for closing the gap, addressing geographic disparities, and harnessing energy for transformative change. Research can support this process by creating policy-relevant knowledge regarding the energy transition, but there is no systematic account of the literature pertaining to energy policy in India to map the research area and suggest key avenues for future research. In this study, I conduct a bibliometric review and computational text analysis of over 2700 publications to identify the key themes, geographies, and public policy concepts (not) examined in the research on energy policy in India. I find that: (i) the literature is dominated by topics in energy supply and less attention is paid to demand-side management, energy efficiency, and electricity distribution; (ii) existing studies have hardly examined subnational policy (-making), especially in the case of eastern and north-eastern India; and (iii) research on both analysis for policy and analysis of policy is limited. I conclude that the current foci lack the breadth and depth necessary for supporting the Indian energy transition and urge scholars to diversify the thematic, geographic, and conceptual engagement in future research.
Public Acceptability of Policy Interventions to Reduce Sugary Drink Consumption in Urban Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Lan , De Steur Hans
Published: December 2021

This study aims to assess the public acceptability of interventions to reduce sugary drinks in Vietnam, identify the key determinants, and develop a classification of consumers. A cross-sectional survey with 263 urban consumers evaluated perceptions of four potential interventions: restricting choice, taxation, nudging, and labeling. Thereby, specific attention was devoted to perceived intrusiveness and (personal and societal) effectiveness, as well personal characteristics, including Confucius values. Results showed that “hard” interventions like taxation are less acceptable to consumers than “soft” measures such as labeling. Acceptability is generally affected by perceived intrusiveness and effectiveness (especially on other people in the society), while other factors (sugary drink behavior, trust in government’s competence, personal values, age, education) only matter for some of the interventions. Cluster analysis revealed three consumer segments, depicted as anti-taxation (28%), pro-intervention (20%) and pro-labeling (52%), which further underpins the heterogeneity of intervention acceptability.
Duckweed (Lemna minor L.) Successfully Accumulates Selenium from Selenium-Impacted Water
Authors: Golob Aleksandra , Vogel-Mikuš Katarina , Brudar Nina , Germ Mateja
Published: December 2021

The absorption of selenium (Se) from water by Lemna minor L. and the influence of different concentrations and forms of Se on its biochemical and morphological characteristics were studied. Plants were exposed to various concentrations of Se: 1 mg Se L−1, 2 mg Se L−1 and 5 mg Se L−1 in sodium selenite and sodium selenate solutions and in a combination of selenite (2 mg Se L−1) and selenate (2 mg Se L−1). When the Se was added in the form of selenate, plants accumulated higher amounts of Se compared to plants exposed to selenite. Comparisons of the combined addition of selenite and selenate (2 + 2 mg Se L−1) with their individual applications (2 and 5 mg Se L−1) showed that for the combination, the L. minor fronds accumulated more Se than in selenite alone. Plants exposed to any of the concentrations of sodium selenate or sodium selenite, or the combination of selenite and selenate, showed inferior physiological performances, and lower concentrations of photosynthetic pigments, compared to control plants. Consequently, growth was also suppressed under the stress conditions caused by higher concentrations of Se in any form. The efficient absorption of Se from the water by L. minor indicates the potential use of this species in phytoremediation processes for waters polluted with Se.
Innovativeness, Work Flexibility, and Place Characteristics: A Spatial Econometric and Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Celbiş Mehmet Güney , Wong Pui-Hang , Kourtit Karima , Nijkamp Peter
Published: December 2021

This paper seeks to study work-related and geographical conditions under which innovativeness is stimulated through the analysis of individual and regional data dating from just prior to the smartphone age. As a result, by using the ISSP 2005 Work Orientations Survey, we are able to examine the role of work flexibility, among other work-related conditions, in a relatively more traditional context that mostly excludes modern, smartphone-driven, remote-working practices. Our study confirms that individual freedom in the work place, flexible work hours, job security, living in suburban areas, low stress, private business activity, and the ability to take free time off work are important drivers of innovation. In particular, through a spatial econometric model, we identified an optimum level for weekly work time of about 36 h, which is supported by our findings from tree-based ensemble models. The originality of the present study is particularly due to its examination of innovative output rather than general productivity through the integration of person-level data on individual work conditions, in addition to its novel methodological approach which combines machine learning and spatial econometric findings.
Adaptive Nonsingular Fast Terminal Sliding Mode Control for Maximum Power Point Tracking of a WECS-PMSG
Authors: Maaruf Muhammad , Shafiullah Md , Al-Awami Ali T. , Al-Ismail Fahad S.
Published: December 2021

This paper investigates maximum power extraction from a wind-energy-conversion system (WECS) with a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) operating in standalone mode. This was achieved by designing a robust adaptive nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode control (ANFTSMC) for the WECS-PMSG. The proposed scheme guaranteed optimal power generation and suppressed the system uncertainties with a rapid convergence rate. Moreover, it is independent of the upper bounds of the system uncertainties as an online adjustment algorithm was utilized to estimate and compensate them. Finally, four case studies were carried out, which manifested the remarkable performance of ANFTSMC in comparison to previous methods reported in the literature.
Occurrence and Effects of Antimicrobials Drugs in Aquatic Ecosystems
Authors: Fernandez Ronield , Colás-Ruiz Nieves R. , Bolívar-Anillo Hernando José , Anfuso Giorgio , Hampel Miriam
Published: December 2021

Currently, thanks to the development of sensitive analytical techniques, the presence of different emerging pollutants in aquatic ecosystems has been evidenced; however, most of them have not been submitted to any regulation so far. Among emerging contaminants, antimicrobials have received particular attention in recent decades, mainly due to the concerning development of antibiotic resistance observed in bacteria, but little is known about the toxicological and ecological impact that antimicrobials can have on aquatic ecosystems. Their high consumption in human and veterinary medicine, food-producing animals and aquaculture, as well as persistence and poor absorption have caused antimicrobials to be discharged into receiving waters, with or without prior treatment, where they have been detected at ng-mg L−1 levels with the potential to cause effects on the various organisms living within aquatic systems. This review presents the current knowledge on the occurrence of antimicrobials in aquatic ecosystems, emphasizing their occurrence in different environmental matrixes and the effects on aquatic organisms (cyanobacteria, microalgae, invertebrates and vertebrates).
Revenue Identification in Attaining Consensus Estimates on Income Predictions: The Function of Ownership Concentration and Managerial Ownership Confirmation from Poland
Authors: Piosik Andrzej
Published: December 2021

Financial reliability, along with clearness of business transactions, is one of the mainstays of sustainability. In this research, I investigate whether enterprises expand discretionary revenue when their income before intentional shaping is marginally under the consensus on the income prediction provided by analysts. The innovation of the paper lies in taking into account the role of managerial ownership, ownership concentration, and higher proportions of institutional investors in this situation. Higher ownership concentration and greater percentage of institutional investors in equity were analysed while considering the expropriation hypothesis. In order to assess the concern of managerial ownership for revenue manipulation, I considered the alignment of interest hypothesis. In this research, I certified that enterprises expand discretionary revenue when their revenue and operating income prior to intentional shaping barely miss the consensus forecast. I found that the existence of managerial ownership curtailed the magnitudes of upward discretionary revenue when revenue prior to intentional shaping was marginally below the consensus on revenue. Greater ownership concentration and higher proportions of institutional investors were on the bound of the statistical trend to expand discretionary revenue when net earnings, before intentional shaping, were marginally below analysts’ forecasts.
A Feasible Solution for Rebalancing Large-Scale Bike Sharing Systems
Authors: Elhenawy Mohammed , Rakha Hesham A. , Bichiou Youssef , Masoud Mahmoud , Glaser Sebastien , Pinnow Jack , Stohy Ahmed
Published: December 2021

City bikes and bike-sharing systems (BSSs) are one solution to the last mile problem. BSSs guarantee equity by presenting affordable alternative transportation means for low-income households. These systems feature a multitude of bike stations scattered around a city. Numerous stations mean users can borrow a bike from one location and return it there or to a different location. However, this may create an unbalanced system, where some stations have excess bikes and others have limited bikes. In this paper, we propose a solution to balance BSS stations to satisfy the expected demand. Moreover, this paper represents a direct extension of the deferred acceptance algorithm-based heuristic previously proposed by the authors. We develop an algorithm that provides a delivery truck with a near-optimal route (i.e., finding the shortest Hamiltonian cycle) as an NP-hard problem. Results provide good solution quality and computational time performance, making the algorithm a viable candidate for real-time use by BSS operators. Our suggested approach is best suited for low-Q problems. Moreover, the mean running times for the largest instance are 143.6, 130.32, and 51.85 s for Q = 30, 20, and 10, respectively, which makes the proposed algorithm a real-time rebalancing algorithm.
The Potential Contribution of Decentralized Anaerobic Digestion towards Urban Biowaste Recovery Systems: A Scoping Review
Authors: Ntostoglou Eftychia , Khatiwada Dilip , Martin Viktoria
Published: December 2021

The potential contribution of decentralized approaches in implementing biowaste recovery systems has attracted interest in urban policy making and scientific research. Although the scientific literature on the topic is rapidly increasing, it is still limited and scattered. A comprehensive overview of current scientific knowledge is thus needed to support future research on decentralized options for biowaste recovery systems. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a mature biowaste treatment technology that recovers energy and nutrients, and can close urban resource loops. Through a scoping literature review, this paper investigated decentralized AD and its potential contribution in implementing urban biowaste recovery systems. We identified opportunities and challenges for planning of decentralized AD, and concluded that these mainly concern: (a) digestate management; (b) the potential for local circularity with product valorization in outlets such as urban agriculture; and (c) the development and application of decision support tools. The findings highlighted the need to enhance scientific evidence on the impact of decentralized AD in different urban contexts. Results from published studies were highly context-specific, making it difficult to draw general conclusions. This study can support the transition to integrated planning of AD and wider urban biowaste recovery systems. Such planning must include a comprehensive analysis of configuration approaches.
Safety Concerns and Travel Behavior of Generation Z: Case Study from the Czech Republic
Authors: Rončák Miroslav , Scholz Petr , Linderová Ivica
Published: December 2021

Generation Z has been online since the beginning, the online space is an integral part of their lives and personalities, and they make up about 30% of the world’s population. It is claimed that this youngest cohort is already the most numerous generation on the Earth. The most important holiday parameters for them are price and location. They want to explore new places and be active while abroad. The study examines the impact of safety concerns on changes in travel behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. We focused on members of Generation Z who study the Tourism and the Recreation and Leisure Studies programs, so these students have a positive attitude towards traveling. Data were collected via internal university systems at two periods of time connected to different stages of the pandemic outbreak. The sample was chosen randomly. The sample of Period 1 (n = 150) was composed in 2020, after the lifting of restrictions at the end of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic. The sample of Period 2 (n = 126) was collected one year later, after the lifting of restrictions at the end of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic. Correspondence analysis was used for better understanding and representation. This is a unique research study on Generation Z in the Czech Republic and Central Europe. As a result of the contemporary demographic changes in the world, this generation will shape future travel demand. Hence, understanding these youngest travelers will be key to predicting how tourism trends could evolve in the next few years and how these could influence worldwide tourism. The respondents thought they would not change their travel habits in the next five years because of the pandemic. When Periods 1 and 2 were compared after one year of the pandemic, the respondents preferred individual trips to group trips and individual accommodation to group accommodation facilities. On the other hand, our findings revealed a significant increase in safety concerns related to changes in travel behavior when the above-mentioned periods were compared. The research contributes to mapping young people’s attitudes towards travel in the constrained and changing conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings help analyze the consumer behavior of the target group.
Effect of K and Zn Application on Biometric and Physiological Parameters of Different Maize Genotypes
Authors: Ali Raza Hafiz Muhammad , Bashir Muhammad Amjad , Rehim Abdur , Raza Qurat-Ul-Ain , Khan Kashif Ali , Aon Muhammad , Ijaz Muhammad , Ur Rahman Shafeeq , Ahmad Fiaz , Geng Yucong
Published: December 2021

Potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) are mineral nutrients required for adequate plant growth, enzyme activation, water retention and photosynthetic activities. However, Pakistani soils are alkaline and have serious problems regarding Zn deficiency. The current study aims at finding the nutrient–nutrient interaction of K and Zn to affect maize plants’ (i) physiological processes and (ii) productivity. For this purpose, a pot experiment was conducted at the research area of the Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. Two maize genotypes, DK-6142 (hybrid) and Neelam (non-hybrid), were used with three K fertilizer doses, i.e., 0, 60 and 100 kg ha−1 in all possible combinations with three Zn fertilizer doses, i.e., 0, 16 and 24 kg ha−1. The treatments were replicated under a completely randomized block design. The results elucidated that the combined application of K and Zn with K60 + Zn16 treatment significantly increased agronomic, productive, and physiological attributes. It has improved fresh biomass (89%), dry biomass (94%), membrane stability index (142%), relative water content (200%) and chlorophyll contents (191%) as compared to the control. Moreover, the mineral uptake of K and Zn was significantly improved with their maximum fertilization rate in hybrid genotype compared to non-hybrid and CK.
Quality Study on Vehicle Heat Ventilation and Air Conditioning Failure
Authors: Diga Dina , Severin Irina , Ignat Nicoleta Daniela
Published: December 2021

The automotive industry has set a highly demanding standard to meet customer satisfaction. The paper aimed to detail how quality analysis has been conducted to state the main causes that generated nonconformities of heat, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Problems have been reported on HVAC systems, such as noise, not being cold enough and moldy smell issues. All three problems determined by customer reports initiated the first contribution of this paper, namely by an initial quality study, and generated the investigation using is/is not problem scoping, data analysis, and graphical analysis. Pareto analysis and the Plan, Do, Check and Act (PDCA) approach are used to highlight the traceability of the actions performed in the evaluation of the problems and the detection of the causes related to each problem. The data analysis process and the data obtained from the analysis are the core of this paper. An immediate action plan is proposed, concluding with the hypothesis that the root cause is the blockage of the heater. This methodology has significant potential for being implemented, even for other components in the same industry or different sectors.
Goodbye Expert-Based Policy Advice? Challenges in Advising Governmental Institutions in Times of Transformation
Authors: Kehl Christoph , Albrecht Steffen , Riousset Pauline , Sauter Arnold
Published: December 2021

The global transformation towards sustainability has not only increased the demand for anticipatory and reflexive knowledge to support decision making, but also raises three challenges common to all forms of scientific policy advice: to appropriately consider societal norms and values (challenge of normativity), to integrate different forms of knowledge (challenge of integration) and to organize the participation of stakeholders (challenge of participation). While new forms of scientific policy advice in the field of sustainability research (SR) have emerged in response, the role of established actors such as the Office of Technology Assessment at the German Bundestag (TAB) is increasingly scrutinized. One of the fundamental characteristics of TAB’s model of scientific policy advice is a rigid boundary arrangement between politics and science that places a high value on the objectivity and authority of scientific knowledge. Based on a content analysis of digitalization-related TAB reports spanning three decades, we describe how a rather technocratic institution such as TAB has dealt with the challenges of normativity, integration, and participation, and we compare its approach with that of SR institutions. TAB has partly adapted its working mode to the new challenges, e.g., by trying out new methods to foster a stronger dialogue with stakeholders. However, TAB’s response to the challenges distinctly differs from the forms of transformative research conducted in the SR community. We argue that this is not only a necessary precondition to maintain its reputation as a trustworthy actor towards the Parliament but gives TAB and similar expert-based institutions a special role in the governance of societal transformation.
What Should Be Focused on When Digital Transformation Hits Industries? Literature Review of Business Management Adaptability
Authors: Zhang Yi , Fong Patrick Sik-Wah , Yamoah Agyemang Daniel
Published: December 2021

How traditional industries adapt to the digital economy to achieve sustainable development has attracted scholars and practitioners. Exploring the concept of BMA (business management adaptability) can not only theoretically explain adaptive micro-operation mechanisms but can provide practical guidance for enterprises to form adaptability. To date, although a lot of effort is being spent on detecting the adaptive construction elements, refining the BMA to specific management levels, a comprehensive review combines adaptability construction elements and specific levels have not yet been formed. In this trial, this paper innovatively utilizes a hybrid method that consists of a bibiometric and structural literature review to conduct a comprehensive theoretical study of relevant literatures from 1970 to 2020. By displaying current research conclusions and their defects, this study combines adaptability construction elements and innovatively forms a multi-level BMA framework. In this framework, this paper reveals the importance of setting up performance evaluation systems that focus on corporate profitability, probing and counterpoising relations between internal and external environments. Finally, this paper provides recommendations for practitioners about how to build their own competitive advantages when the digital economy hits the global world.
Research on Sustainable Management Strategies for the Machine Tool Industry during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Dyi-Cheng , Chen Tzu-Wen
Published: December 2021

The machine tool industry is an economically important industry in Taiwan. However, due to the limited natural resources in Taiwan, many of the raw materials required for production must be imported. In 2020, COVID-19, the most serious infectious disease in modern times, broke out across the globe. This has had a great impact on the economic and industrial development of various countries and indirectly affected the development of the machine tool industry. The machine tool industry generally is facing shocks and crises. Therefore, this research article mainly discusses a sustainable operation strategy for the machine tool industry during the COVID-19 epidemic period in Taiwan. Firstly, through the literature on dynamic capability theory (DCT) and expert interviews, the relevant dimensions and criteria are summarized. Then, the fuzzy Delphi method (FDM) and the analytic network process (ANP) are integrated to confirm the relevant dimensions and criteria and to sort the criteria. The five dimensions, in order, are integration ability, learning ability, quality improvement, environmental adaptation, and marketing ability. The ten criteria are diversified learning and innovation ability, integration of multiple sources of knowledge, the ability to learn across departments, the ability to adapt to the external environment, marketing strategy ability, organizational learning ability, integration of resources, improved management efficiency, market research ability, and backward integration. Finally, we put forward business strategies for the ranking results and provide relevant research and industry references.
Impact of Green Innovation Efficiency on Carbon Emission Reduction in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA
Authors: Chen Lingming , Huo Congjia
Published: December 2021

Climate change has become a global issue of general concern to human society. It is not only an environmental issue, but also a development issue. As the second largest economy in the world, China has adhered to its commitments in the Paris Agreement and formulated a series of autonomous action targets. In this context, scholars have done a lot of research focusing on carbon emission reduction, but have neglected the spatial correlation of carbon emission, and lack of research on carbon emission reduction in urban agglomerations. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) has been at the forefront of China in terms of economy, politics, ecology, and civilization by taking advantage of the “one country, two systems” policy. This article innovatively proposes that there is a non-linear relationship between the efficiency of green innovation and the carbon emission intensity of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA, and has passed quantitative verification. Based on the panel data of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA from 2009 to 2019, we used the super-efficiency slacks-based measure (SBM) model to measure the efficiency of green innovation. We used the global Moran index and Theil index to discuss the spatial correlation of carbon emissions and regional differences in carbon emission intensity in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA, respectively. Then, we used the threshold model to verify the nonlinear relationship between the efficiency of green innovation and the intensity of carbon emissions in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA. The results of the study found that the green innovation efficiency of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA is increasing overall, carbon emissions have a certain spatial correlation, and the correlation is low overall. The impact of green innovation efficiency on carbon emission intensity has a non-linear relationship and there is an “inverted U” pattern between the two, and there is an inflection point in green innovation efficiency. Based on this, this article proposes carbon emission reduction measures within a reasonable range, and looks forward to future research directions and complement the research deficiencies.
Multiple Correspondence Analysis of Factors Influencing Student Acceptance of Massive Open Online Courses
Authors: Olugbara Cecilia Temilola , Letseka Moeketsi , Olugbara Oludayo O.
Published: December 2021

There have been manifold thrilling studies strikingly conducted in recent years to explore factors influencing student acceptance of massive open online courses (MOOCs). The principal goal was to determine future prediction and sustainable use of MOOCs for providing pervasive quality education services. This has led to the examination of different theoretical models tested on varying sample sizes for factor exploration. However, existing studies have reflected heterogeneous results caused by divergent sources not observed in the literature using the multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). This study aimed to apply the data science method of MCA to explore hidden associations amongst factors influencing student acceptance of MOOCs and heterogeneity sources of theoretical models and sample sizes to blur the literature hiatus. Results based on data extracted from 54 primary studies published from 2015 to 2021 with a total of 19,638 valid student responses generally conclude the existence of four main levels of associations. The four associations were respectively composed of single, blended, extended and complex theories and each level is associated with distinct categories and a combination cloud of similar categories. Moreover, results indicated that very small sample size is the most unusual under the basic assumption that none of the variables are correlated. It is practically germane to confirm hidden associations in a dataset of influencing factors to help reach a much greater understanding of the application and performance of MOOCs for sustainable education services.
Investigations of a Weathered and Closely Jointed Rock Slope Failure Using Back Analyses
Authors: Shao Kuo-Shih , Li An-Jui , Chen Chee-Nan , Chung Chen-Hsien , Lee Ching-Fang , Kuo Chih-Ping
Published: December 2021

This study presents the case of a landslide triggered by a high groundwater level caused by several days of continuous rainfall in the northeastern region of Taiwan. The slope where this landslide occurred consists of closely jointed and weathered bedrock. By means of finite element limit analysis and the Hoek–Brown failure criterion, this study performed a slope failure simulation similar to the actual landslide and deduced the reasonable value range for the combination of key Hoek–Brown failure criterion parameters through back analyses. The results indicate that the key parameters affecting the bedrock’s slope stability were the geological strength index (GSI) and the disturbance factor (D), whereas the effects of the unconfined compressive strength (σci) were less significant. The results of the back analysis reveal that the suitable D-value range and GSI of closely jointed and weathered sandstone in the northeastern region of Taiwan are 0.8 to 0.9 and 20 to 30, respectively. These back-analyzed value ranges can serve as a reference for broader applications in the preliminary stability analysis of similar rock slopes where it is difficult to perform in situ investigation.
The Effect of Corporate Sustainable Management on the Relationship between Cost Stickiness and Earnings Transparency
Authors: Oh Hyunmin , Park Sambock
Published: December 2021

This study empirically analyzes the relationship between cost stickiness and earnings transparency. Additionally, this study examines the effect of corporate sustainable management (CSM) on the relationship between cost stickiness and earnings transparency. The evaluation scores of Korea Corporate Governance Service (KCGS) are employed to measure CSM activities. The empirical results show that the relationship between cost stickiness and earnings transparency is significant in the negative direction. This means that the more sticky the costs of a firm, the lower the earnings transparency of the firm. In addition, the relationship between the interaction variables of CSM and cost stickiness and earnings transparency is significant in the positive direction. This indicates that CSM activities act as a mechanism to mitigate the negative relationship between cost stickiness and earnings transparency. The findings of this study, which presented the effects of cost stickiness on earnings transparency and the fact that CSM activities act as a device to suppress the opportunistic cost behavior of managers, are expected to provide important implications to investors, external auditors, and supervisors.
Sustainable Development of Employability of University Students Based on Participation in the Internship Promotion Programme of Zhejiang Province
Authors: Chen Yujuan , Gan Ning
Published: December 2021

In the context of severely restricted employment opportunities, undertaking an internship is an important way for students to enhance their employability and sustainable development. The aim of this study was to judge if the implementation of the Internship Promotion Programme (IPP) at universities in Zhejiang Province, China, could enhance graduates’ employability. We conducted surveys and interviews with 400 students and 100 business executives who participated in the IPP during the past 6 years. Based on the collected data and statistical analysis, the findings show that internships help students to improve their innovative thinking, interpersonal communication abilities (domestic and international), problem-solving skills, value creation and responsibility. Participants in the IPP were compared with students who did not take part. The results demonstrated that the IPP participants exhibited higher capabilities to perform important workplace tasks and that as a result, they became more attractive to employers. The analysis, therefore, demonstrates a positive correlation between the internship experience and employability. As a result, it can be concluded that the IPP improves students’ employability and is beneficial to enhancing the quality of higher education, and hence the sustainable development of students.
Immobilization of Hazardous Wastes on One-Part Blast Furnace Slag-Based Geopolymers
Authors: Paz-Gómez Daniela Carolina , Vilarinho Inês Silveirinha , Pérez-Moreno Silvia M. , Carvalheiras João , Guerrero José Luis , Novais Rui Miguel , Seabra Maria Paula , Ríos Guillermos , Bolívar Juan Pedro , Labrincha João António
Published: December 2021

The immobilization of hazardous wastes in ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based materials has been widely studied and implemented. OPC-based materials have a high carbon footprint associated with their production and geopolymer materials are a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative. Therefore, this work aimed to immobilize two hazardous industrial wastes: copper wastewater sludge and phosphogypsum in one-part geopolymer materials. For that purpose, the precursor was partially substituted by these wastes (5, 10 and 20 wt.%) in the formulations. The geopolymer fresh and hardened state properties were evaluated, and the immobilisation of pollutants was determined through leaching tests. In phosphogypsum pastes (PG5, PG10 and PG20) it was observed that the compressive strength decreased with the increase in its amount, varying between 67 MPa and 19 MPa. In copper sludge pastes, the compressive strength of the specimens (CWS5 and CWS10) reached ~50 MPa. The mortars, MPG10 and MCWSs10, had compressive strengths of 13 MPa and 21 MPa, respectively. Leaching tests showed that pastes and mortars immobilise the hazardous species of the wastes, except for As from copper sludge, whose the best result was found in the compact paste (CWSs10) that leached 2 mg/kg of As. Results suggest that optimized compositions are suitable for the construction sector.
Effects of Patent Policy on Outputs and Commercialization of Academic Patents in China: A Spatial Difference-in-Differences Analysis
Authors: Gu Jiafeng
Published: December 2021

The development of a difference-in-differences estimator is a new move in patent policy evaluation research. However, such an estimator neglects the possibility that academic patent activities follow a spatial autoregressive process with respect to the dependent variable. The objective of this study was to propose a spatial difference-in-differences estimator accounting for possible spatial spillover effects. In this study, an empirical analysis of a sample of 31 Chinese provinces from 2010 to 2019 indicates that an incentive patent policy has a positive impact on the output and commercialization of academic patents, with positive effects also spilling over into neighboring provinces. This study further found that incentive patent policies play a placebo role in academic patent activities. Provincial patent policies are merely a proxy for other variables that characterize the systemic differences between provinces that implement patent policies and those that do not. Therefore, the promotion of academic patent activities cannot be attributed to policy incentives.
Land-Use Mix and Urban Sustainability: Benefits and Indicators Analysis
Authors: Iannillo Alessia , Fasolino Isidoro
Published: December 2021

Sustainable development is one of the biggest challenges for the future of our cities. With this in mind, eco-districts are essentially designed to respond to four challenges that place emphasis mainly on complexity and resilience by acting on aspects such as urban green spaces, mobility, energy, water management and waste management. In this study, the focus is on the concept of mixitè, from both a functional and social perspective, which is seen as a tool to increase the sustainability of urban settlements and bring benefits to the social, environmental and economic system. Despite the growing interest of research into the impacts of an urban land-use mix, there have been few methodological analyses on how to measure the functional mix in an urban environment. Therefore, the goal of this study is to define one or more indicators that are able to represent the diversity of the soil through their application to different areas. It is therefore possible to define a tool that helps to design, evaluate and support decision makers in urban planning choices. Indeed, it is important to understand how the soil mix, and subsequently the social mix, affects sustainability and how planners can take it into account in planning and developing urban policies. In this document: (a) we will highlight the theories and concepts underlying both functional and social mixitè; (b) the benefits it brings both to the city and to the individual; (c) a review of the main methods of measurement of the mixitè; (d) application and a subsequent comparison of the methods identified in case studies represented by three areas related to the establishment of the University of Salerno, in Italy, consisting of its two campuses as well as an adjacent site. The results obtained show that some of the indicators analyzed are more effective at representing the phenomenon of mixitè than others. Therefore, widening research, especially for those concerning the social mixitè, is advisable. Despite this, the results show that proper planning and management of urban devices bring about a series of advantages by increasing the sustainability and urban efficiency of settlements.
High-Speed Railway Opening and Corporate Fraud
Authors: Wang Chen , Strauss Jack , Zheng Lei
Published: December 2021

The impact of high-speed railway (HSR) on corporate behavior has recently attracted both practical and theoretical interest. In this paper, based on a sample of A-share listed companies from 2007 to 2020 in China, we use a difference-in-difference model to explore the impact of HSR openings on corporate fraud and analyze its mechanism. We find that HSR introduction has several important implications. First, it reduces the tendency and frequency of corporate fraud. Second, HSR opening restrains corporate fraud by improving the external supervision level and reducing the financing constraints of the company. Third, the inhibitory effect of the HSR opening on corporate fraud is significant when the market competition is less intense, and the company’s internal control level is poor. Fourth, after distinguishing types of fraud, HSR opening can still significantly inhibit information disclosure fraud and manager fraud, but not operation fraud. These results indicate that HSR openings promote the flow of information and labor across regions, alleviating the information asymmetry of firms. Our findings are conducive to improving the governance environment of the listed companies, which provides new clues for discovering and restricting corporate fraud.
A Model for Calculating the Spatial Coverage of Audible Disaster Warnings Using GTFS Realtime Data
Authors: Nishino Akihiko , Kodaka Akira , Nakajima Madoka , Kohtake Naohiko
Published: December 2021

In the event of a large-scale disaster, the dissemination of audible disaster warning information via sirens is effective in ensuring a rapid response. Sirens can be installed not only on fixed towers, but also on public transport and other vehicles passing through residential areas, and at spots where residents congregate, to increase area coverage. Although models to calculate the spatial coverage of audible information delivered from fixed sirens have been constructed, no general-purpose model has been developed to assess the delivery from vehicles. In this study, we focused on the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS), which is an open format for geospatial information on public transport. We conducted a spatial analysis using a geographic information system (GIS) on the basis of the acquired bus location information. We developed a model to calculate the spatial coverage of the audible information delivery for overlapping hazard maps and population. Assuming a flood occurred in the vicinity of Brisbane Central Station, Queensland, Australia, we confirmed that the developed model was capable of characterizing the time-series changes in the exposed population in the target area. Since the GTFS format is currently distributed across various countries, this assessment model is considered to be highly versatile and widely applicable.