bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comprehensive Review of Deterrents to the Practice of Sustainable Interior Architecture and Design
Authors: Ashour Mojtaba , Mahdiyar Amir , Haron Syarmila Hany
Published: September 2021

The interior environment as the place where people spend nearly 95% of their time in, has recently received considerable attention within the domain of the built environment. The concept of Sustainable Interior Architecture and Design (SIAD) and its significance have been recognized given its potential for energy conservation, and its impacts on occupants’ satisfaction, comfort, as well as their physical and psychological wellbeing. Although the adoption of SIAD is crucial in achieving the sustainable development goals, its practice is still hindered by numerous deterrents. A number of studies have reported on these deterrents; however, there is no comprehensive review of the literature on this topic. Thus, as a first step toward addressing the present gap, this article provides a two decade (2000–2021) systematic review of the relevant literature that investigates a total of 51 publications. Furthermore, a scientometric analysis was conducted, and the co-citation and co-occurrence of journals and keywords were analyzed to illustrate the scientific landscape. A comprehensive summary table is provided consisting of 61 deterrents to the practice of SIAD that are categorized into five main categories: (1) economic; (2) attitude, knowledge, and awareness; (3) market, information, and technology; (4) education and training; as well as (5) government and professional bodies. Finally, the findings are deliberated upon and directions for future research are discussed.
Research and Scientific Advice in the Second Modernity: Technology Assessment, Responsible Research and Innovation, and Sustainability Research
Authors: Grunwald Armin
Published: September 2021

The scientific and technological advance has been a major driving force of modernization for centuries. However, the 20th century was full of indications and diagnoses of a deep crisis of modernity. Currently, debates on limits to growth, pollution, and climate change indicate the serious and threatening lack of sustainability of the so-called ‘first modernity’. This crisis of modernity has motivated scholars to develop concepts of modernizing modernity, with the approach of a ‘reflexive modernization’ to reach a ‘second modernity’ being prominent. In this paper, Technology Assessment (TA), Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), and Sustainability Research (SR) are regarded as manifestations of this reflexive modernization in the field of problem-oriented and transformative research. The paper aims to (a) unfold the hypothesis regarding TA, RRI, and SR as scientific approaches within reflexive modernization, (b) clarify the respective meaning of ‘reflexive’ in these approaches, (c) identify commonalities as well as differences between the three approaches, and (d) draw conclusions for the relation and further development of TA, RRI, and SR.
Performance Dissimilarities in European Union Manufacturing: The Effect of Ownership and Technological Intensity
Authors: Belascu Lucian , Horobet Alexandra , Vrinceanu Georgiana , Popescu Consuela
Published: September 2021

Our paper addresses the relevance of a set of continuous and categorical variables that describe industry characteristics to differences in performance between foreign versus locally owned companies in industries with dissimilar levels of technological intensity. Including data on manufacturing sector performance from 20 European Union member countries and covering the 2009–2016 period, we used the random forests methodology to identify the best predictors of EU manufacturing industries’ a priori classification based on two main attributes: ownership (foreign versus local) and technological intensity. We found that EU foreign-owned businesses dominate locally owned ones in terms of size, which gives them an edge in obtaining higher profits, cash flow and investments and coping with higher personnel costs. Furthermore, ownership is a more important differentiator of performance at the industry level than the industry’s technological level. The performance of foreign-owned high-tech manufacturing industry units across the EU is the most heterogeneous compared to the other four categories, indicating particularities linked to technological level, ownership, and even location. Our findings suggest that multinational enterprises in high-tech industries transfer to eastern EU countries’ activities and processes with lower technological intensity and higher labour intensity, but also that locally owned businesses, even within high-tech industries, have lower technological levels.
Does Being a Scout Affect Confinement Due to COVID-19? A Comparative Exploratory Descriptive Study with Spanish Adolescents
Authors: Asensio-Ramón Jorge , Rodríguez-Ferrer José M. , Manzano-León Ana , Aguilar-Parra José Manuel , Díaz-López María del Pilar , Torres-López Nuria
Published: September 2021

The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has caused great social changes, some of them not yet described. This article tries to give an answer to how it has impacted Spanish adolescents in the field of domestic activity and how they use their free time and if there are differences between the normal population and people who have been involved in non-formal education programs, such as Scouts. In addition, young adolescents who actively participate as Scouts have been compared and, if so, belonging to a group has changed their behavior pattern. The sample has been obtained in a probabilistic way representing all the autonomous communities of Spain with a total of 1280 participants. To obtain the data, an online questionnaire was prepared with which qualitative analyzes were subsequently carried out. The results show statistically significant differences in behavior, both in domestic responsibilities and in what they do with their free time. Young Scouts display different behaviors than their non-Scout peers.
Promoting University–Community Alliances in the Experiential Learning Activities of Agricultural Extension Postgraduate Students at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa
Authors: Yusuf Shehu Folaranmi Gbolahan , Popoola Oluwabunmi Oluwaseun , Gwala Lindokhule , Nesengani Thinandavha
Published: September 2021

This study examines the university–community alliance with regard to experiential learning activities that may be used to enhance the competencies of agricultural extension postgraduate students (AEPS). Through research and alliance, university education provides agricultural extension students with ideal learning spaces to explore cause-related social, economic, and sustainability aspects of agriculture. The objectives of the study were for the AEPS to work on community farms for between six to eight weeks, to identify production challenges, and to attempt to solve problems using a participatory action research (PAR) approach. Students collected data daily, using parameters that included types of agro-enterprise, agricultural practices, observation and control of pests and diseases, identification, and control of weed infestation types, control of predators, and management of various security challenges. Social media were also used to share posts (pictures and videos) of the various project activities with the public for discussion and knowledge sharing. Findings show that there was an improved relationship between the students and their community collaborators. All participants mutually benefited from the programme; students gained indigenous farming knowledge from the farmers, while farmers benefited from the scientific approaches to solving common farming problems employed by the students—mostly improvised technologies with local content. Both the students and the farmers learned from the knowledge shared by various followers on Facebook, who gave suggestions to address some of the challenges posted on social media. The programme advocates the need to shift from a mostly rigid, conventional curriculum to a more dynamic, interactive one, which embraces active experimentation with theoretical knowledge. It underscores the significance of experiential learning for developing students’ technical competencies. The success of the programme could influence curriculum development and re-design to accommodate more experience-based modules.
The Synergistic Action of Three Piper Plant Extracts and Biofertilizer for Growth Promotion and Biocontrol of Blast Disease in Red Rice
Authors: Suriani Ni Luh , Suprapta Dewa Ngurah , Indrayani Agung Wiwiek , Herlambang Susila , Resiani Ni Made Delly , AL-Shwaiman Hind A. , Al Khulaifi Manal M. , Elgorban Abdallah M. , Datta Rahul , Gunawan Sri , Zuan Ali Tan Kee
Published: September 2021

Bali is a world tourist destination and has many natural resources that need to be developed to support the tourism sector. One of the local Bali resources that has the potential to be developed to support tourism and food is the local red Bali rice. This local Balinese rice is a characteristic of the ecotourism area of the Jatiluwih village of Tabanan, Bali. Balinese rice is grown with inorganic pesticides and there is an urgent need to develop organic pesticides as a sustainable approach to rice farming. In this regard, extracts of piper plants can serve as the best and greenest biopesticides as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and compost functions as organic fertilizer. The present research aimed to evaluate PGPR, compost, and the synergistic biopesticidal effects of extracts of three piper plants, namely Piper caninum, Piper betle var. Nigra, and Piper betle, against blast disease in Bali red rice plants. The results showed that the synergistic action of PGPR, compost, and crude extract of piper plant provided an inhibitory activity against blast disease in rice plants where the greatest inhibition was found in a mixture of the three extracts with an inhibition of 50 cm. This shows that the mixed compounds of the three piper extracts work synergistically in suppressing blast disease; in addition, PGPR also exhibited a positive impact on the growth of red rice because PGPR produce growth hormones and various antifungal metabolites that help the plant growth and induce systemic resistance against phytopathogens. The active principles were identified as citronella, trans-geraniol, and 4.6-dipropyl-nonan-5-one. A combination of these extracts with compost and PGPR showed potential antifungal activity against blast disease at a concentration of 2%. This application also promoted the growth of Bali red rice. There is a significant increase in the number of leaves and the number of tillers, where the height is inversely proportional to the higher the extract up to 2%, as the height of the red Bali rice plant decreases. This is good because it reduces the red Bali rice stalks’ possibility of falling during small production. The piper extract mixture at a concentration of 2% had the highest effect on grain production/tonne (6.59 tonne/ha) compared to the control at only 3.21–3.41 tonnes/ ha. The 2% concentration of the extracts from the mixture of the three pipers has the highest effect on growth and red Bali rice production, and provides the greatest obstacle to the intensity of blast disease in red Bali rice.
Corporate Sustainability and Firm Performance: The Role of Green Innovation Capabilities and Sustainability-Oriented Supplier–Buyer Relationship
Authors: Frempong Michelle Frempomaa , Mu Yinping , Adu-Yeboah Stephen Sarfo , Hossin Md Altab , Adu-Gyamfi Mavis
Published: September 2021

This study attempts to examine the impact of corporate sustainability on firm performance by examining the indirect effect of sustainability-oriented supplier partnership and green innovation capabilities of a firm. The data acquired to address the research question is collected from management personnel, officers, and experts in the Ghana manufacturing sector using a list provided by the Association of Ghana Industries. Data acquired are tested for convergent validity and construct reliability and further examine the measurement model. The structural model is examined using partial least square structural equation modeling techniques. The empirical study supports seven (7) out of eight (8) stated hypotheses. Findings indicate that a sustainability-oriented supplier partnership indirectly influences the effect of social sustainability practices on a firm’s performance. In the same view, the outcome revealed that a sustainability-oriented supplier partnership does not positively influence the relationship between environmental, economic sustainability, and firm performance. Green innovation capabilities indirectly influence the effect of social and economic sustainability on firm performance except for environmental sustainability and firm performance. The findings of the study contribute to the literature by providing insights into the indirect effect of supplier–partnership and green innovation capabilities on firm performance, especially in the manufacturing sector.
A Comparative Eye Tracking Study of Usability—Towards Sustainable Web Design
Authors: Țichindelean Mihai , Țichindelean Monica Teodora , Cetină Iuliana , Orzan Gheorghe
Published: September 2021

Websites are one of the most frequently used communication environments, and creating sustainable web designs should be an objective for all companies. Ensuring high usability is proving to be one of the main contributors to sustainable web design, reducing usage time, eliminating frustration and increasing satisfaction and retention. The present paper studies the usability of different website landing pages, seeking to identify the elements, structures and designs that increase usability. The study analyzed the behavior of 22 participants during their interaction with five different landing pages while they performed three tasks on the webpage and freely viewed each page for one minute. The stimuli were represented by five different banking websites, each of them presenting the task content in a different mode (text, image, symbol, graph, etc.).; the data obtained from the eye tracker (fixations location, order and duration, saccades, revisits of the same element, etc.), together with the data from the applied survey lead to interesting conclusions: the top, center and right sides of the webpage attract the most attention; the use of pictures depicting persons increase visibility; the scanpaths follow a vertical and horizontal direction; numerical data should be presented through graphs or tables. Even if a user's past experience influences their experience on a website, we show that the design of the webpage itself has a greater influence on webpage usability.
The Integrative Expert: Moral, Epistemic, and Poietic Virtues in Transformation Research
Authors: Poznic Michael , Fisher Erik
Published: September 2021

Over the past 50 years, policy makers have sought to shape new and emerging technologies in light of societal risks, public values, and ethical concerns. While much of this work has taken place during “upstream” research prioritization and “downstream” technology regulation, the actual “midstream” work of engineers and other technical experts has increasingly been seen as a site for governing technology in society. This trend towards “socio-technical integration” is reflected in various governance frameworks such as Sustainable Development (SD), Technology Assessment (TA), and Responsible Innovation (RI) that are at the center of transformation research. Discussions around SD, TA, and RI often focus on meso- and macro-level processes and dynamics, with less attention paid to the qualities of individuals that are needed to support transformation processes. We seek to highlight the importance of micro-level practices by drawing attention to the virtues of technical experts. Drawing on empirical study results from embedding philosophical-reflective dialogues within science and engineering laboratories, we claim that poietic, as well as moral and epistemic, virtues belong to those required of technical experts who foster integrative practices in transformation research.
Comparative Analysis between the Role of Local Communities in Regional Development inside Japanese and Russian UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserves: Case Studies of Mount Hakusan and Katunskiy Biosphere Reserves
Authors: Mammadova Aida , Smith Christopher D. , Yashina Tatiana
Published: September 2021

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization has designated the Man and Biosphere Program to foster a better relationship between the environment and people. The topic of this study is to elucidate the role of local communities in the regional development of Biosphere Reserves with a focus on management roles (top-down or participatory) and the motivational drivers of the people involved (ecocentric or anthropocentric). Based on qualitative interviews taken from the two case studies of the Mount Hakusan Biosphere Reserve in Japan and the Katunskiy Biosphere Reserve in Russia, a comparative analysis was conducted to explore the differences between the engagement of locals in the management of their biosphere reserves. This analysis examined relationships between the government and the local communities, the attitudes of the locals towards the biosphere reserves, and the historical perception on nature protection for each community. The findings showed that Russian biosphere reserves are mainly managed by local people who live inside the protected area while Japanese biosphere reserves are governed by local authorities and administration offices. This allows the Russian communities to have greater access to management processes, and therefore play a larger role in regional development.
Learning Processes and Agency in the Decarbonization Context: A Systematic Review through a Cultural Psychology Point of View
Authors: Stocco Nicola , Gardona Francesco , Biddau Fulvio , Cottone Paolo Francesco
Published: September 2021

In the scientific literature on energy transition toward decarbonization, the learning process is often described as a preferred way to achieve change. However, despite a large number of theoretical and empirical endeavors, a systematic understanding of the process is still lacking due to the diversity of disciplines and approaches and to the multi-layered nature of the phenomenon. The aim of this systematic review is to highlight the dimensions of learning processes from a cultural psychological point of view in order to understand and assess different planes of the relation between humans and technology. We thus explore the literature following the PRISMA protocol. Through a narrative synthesis, we critically assess the theoretical and methodological advancement, the presence of cultural determinants, the value ascribed to agency, and the depoliticization risk. We found that: theories and methodologies still lack systematicity and concordance in their application; learning processes are studied with little focus on the context and are mostly treated as facilitators; agency mostly lacks a psychosocial focus, despite the exploration of multi-level problems; and the depoliticization of learning is a matter of fact. Nevertheless, positive examples are present, although they are few. Epistemological and political implications are discussed, and a psychosocial conception of agency is proposed, together with a reflective stance for researchers.
Towards Smart Healthcare: UAV-Based Optimized Path Planning for Delivering COVID-19 Self-Testing Kits Using Cutting Edge Technologies
Authors: Munawar Hafiz Suliman , Inam Hina , Ullah Fahim , Qayyum Siddra , Kouzani Abbas Z. , Mahmud M. A. Parvez
Published: September 2021

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a global pandemic since late 2019 and has affected all forms of human life and economic developments. Various techniques are used to collect the infected patients’ sample, which carries risks of transferring the infection to others. The current study proposes an AI-powered UAV-based sample collection procedure through self-collection kits delivery to the potential patients and bringing the samples back for testing. Using a hypothetical case study of Islamabad, Pakistan, various test cases are run where the UAVs paths are optimized using four key algorithms, greedy, intra-route, inter-route, and tabu, to save time and reduce carbon emissions associated with alternate transportation methods. Four cases with 30, 50, 100, and 500 patients are investigated for delivering the self-testing kits to the patients. The results show that the Tabu algorithm provides the best-optimized paths covering 31.85, 51.35, 85, and 349.15 km distance for different numbers of patients. In addition, the algorithms optimize the number of UAVs to be used in each case and address the studied cases patients with 5, 8, 14, and 71 UAVs, respectively. The current study provides the first step towards the practical handling of COVID-19 and other pandemics in developing countries, where the risks of spreading the infections can be minimized by reducing person-to-person contact. Furthermore, the reduced carbon footprints of these UAVs are an added advantage for developing countries that struggle to control such emissions. The proposed system is equally applicable to both developed and developing countries and can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 through minimizing the person-to-person contact, thus helping the transformation of healthcare to smart healthcare.
Demolition-Based Urban Regeneration from a Post-Socialist Perspective: Case Study of a Neighborhood in Novi Sad, Serbia
Authors: Nedučin Dejana , Krklješ Milena , Perović Svetlana K.
Published: September 2021

Although a growing body of literature examines the post-socialist European context of urban regeneration, studies on the demolition-based approaches are relatively scarce. Moreover, the regeneration policies of cities in non-EU Balkan countries with a distinctive transitional path remain largely unexplored. The paper contributes to filling these voids by investigating a specific demolition-based urban regeneration strategy named permanent reconstruction, which has been launched in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second largest city, and applied to low-density neighborhoods with a derelict housing stock, being seen as a tool for achieving sustainable urban development. The specific research aims are to explain the origin of this strategy; analyze the institutional and planning framework, mechanisms, and dynamics of the regeneration process through a case study; and assess its outcomes based on a mixed methodology. The main research objective is to identify the issues of a post-socialist entrepreneurial urban governance, primarily deriving from Serbia’s distorted transition, which hampered the development of a strategic, integrated, and locale-conscious approach. The findings suggest that Novi Sad and other Serbian cities necessitate socially responsible and context-perceptive regeneration that would produce sustainable regeneration projects. The authors propose the means for redefining them, emphasizing the responsibilities of the public sector and the significance of involving the local community in the planning and decision-making process.
Research on the Microclimate of Protected Agriculture Structures Using Numerical Simulation Tools: A Technical and Bibliometric Analysis as a Contribution to the Sustainability of Under-Cover Cropping in Tropical and Subtropical Countries
Authors: Rocha Gloria Alexandra Ortiz , Pichimata Maria Angelica , Villagran Edwin
Published: September 2021

The use of protected agriculture structures in tropical and subtropical countries is the main alternative for intensification of agricultural production selected by producers. In general, in these regions, passive and plastic-covered structures predominate, with natural ventilation as the only method of climate control. This phenomenon has been widely studied in different types of structures using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. Therefore, this review aimed to collect and analyze the publications generated in this field of knowledge between 2010 and 2020. The search for information included the main academic databases available on the web and the analysis was carried out using bibliometric techniques, from which it was possible to identify details inherent to the scientific production, such as countries of origin, main authors, journals, and citations. Likewise, a detailed breakdown of the relevant technical information of the three phases of numerical simulation, such as preprocessing, processing, and postprocessing, was carried out. A compilation of 118 papers published in 65 journals, written by 256 authors, originating from 24 countries was achieved, where it was evident that Mexico and Colombia were the countries with the highest scientific production in the last decade. These papers analyzed, together, a total of 17 different types of structures where polyethylene-covered greenhouses predominated, with steady state simulations, for daytime climate conditions and without the presence of crops. Within the current and future research trends, the predominance of studies analyzing passive climate control methods, new models of insect-proof mesh-house structures, and, finally, studies focused on the structural analysis of greenhouses was found.
Investigating the Influence of Personalised Gamification on Mobile Survey User Experience
Authors: Carlier Stéphanie , Coppens Dries , De Backere Femke , De Turck Filip
Published: September 2021

Gamification in healthcare has shown to increase user motivation and treatment adherence. Personalisation strategies have the potential to create sustainable health change and user motivation. In striving for personalisation, surveys are often used as an easy tool to collect information about the user. But lengthy surveys are often tedious and demotivating, provoking bad respondent behaviour which results in a loss of data quality. Gamified surveys can enhance respondent behaviour but are labour-intensive to develop. This study explores the effect of a re-usable mobile survey application, using personalised gamification, on user experience. In an A/B study setting with 28 participants, The Hexad Player Type Framework is used to determine the player type of the user and personalise the survey accordingly. Results have shown that the overall user experience of the gamified application is higher than the traditional survey and 37.5% of gamified users perceived the duration of the survey as shorter than the actual time, compared to 20% of the respondents of the traditional survey. No significant difference in data quality has been detected, as loss in data quality remained limited in both versions. Future work should explore the influence of more elaborate game elements in a larger population.
Teaching Using Collaborative Research Projects: Experiences with Adult Learners in Distance Education
Authors: Rosales-Asensio Enrique , Sierra Carlos , Pérez-Molina Clara , Romero-Mayoral Jesús , Colmenar-Santos Antonio
Published: September 2021

This research studies the acquisition and improvement of specific cognitive, functional, and social competencies of the students enrolled in a university module in which we applied Collaborative Research Project (CRP) strategy. The module was Research Methodology for a master’s degree in research in electrical engineering, electronics and industrial control given at the National Distance Education University (UNED) in Spain. This practice was applied to a research project in which the private sector was interested in. We have been aiming at increasing academia–industry interaction while promoting active learning; both are principles advocated by the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Having applied this strategy, the module learning outcomes were evaluated following the guideline standards set by the National Agency for Quality Assessment of Universities (ANECA) of the Spanish Government. The results from this evaluation indicated that CRP, even when carried out by using distance learning, has encouraged the students’ interest in both research and the module. It has also fostered collaboration between students and lecturers while increasing their degree of satisfaction. We highlight the difficulties in merging all the outcomes from the students’ research as the main drawback.
Model for the Sustainable Material Selection by Applying Integrated Dempster-Shafer Evidence Theory and Additive Ratio Assessment (ARAS) Method
Authors: Hatefi Seyed Morteza , Asadi Hamideh , Shams Gholamreza , Tamošaitienė Jolanta , Turskis Zenonas
Published: September 2021

The construction industry is a vital part of the modern economic system. Construction work often has significant negative impacts on the environment and sustainable economic development, such as degradation of the environment, depletion of resources, and waste generation. Therefore, environmental concerns must be taken into account when evaluating and making decisions in the construction industry. In this regard, sustainable construction is considered as the best way to avoid resource depletion and address environmental concerns. Selection of sustainable building materials is an important strategy in sustainable construction that plays an important role in the design and construction phase of buildings. The assessment of experts is one of the most important steps in the material selection process, and their subjective judgment can lead to unpredictable uncertainty. The existing methods cannot effectively demonstrate and address uncertainty. This paper proposes an integrated Dempster-Shafer (DS) theory of evidence and the ARAS method for selecting sustainable materials under uncertainty. The Dempster-Shafer Evidence Theory is a relatively new and appropriate tool for substantiating decisions when information is nonspecific, ambiguous, or conflicting. The Additive Ratio Assessment (ARAS) method has many advantages to deal with MCDM problems with non-commensurable and even conflicting criteria and to obtain the priority of alternatives based on the utility function. The proposed method converts experts’ opinions into the basic probability assignments for real alternatives, which are suitable for DS evidence theory. It uses the ARAS method to obtain final estimation results. Finally, a real case study identifying the priority of using five possible alternative building materials demonstrates the usefulness of the proposed approach in addressing the challenges of sustainable construction. Four main criteria including economic, social, environmental, and technical criteria and 25 sub-criteria were considered for the selection of sustainable materials. The specific case study using the proposed method reveals that the weight of economic, socio-cultural, environmental, and technical criteria are equal to 0.327, 0.209, 0.241, and 0.221, respectively. Based on these results, economic and environmental criteria are determined as the most important criteria. The results of applying the proposed method reveal that aluminum siding with a final score of 0.538, clay brick with a score of 0.494, and stone façade with a final score of 0.482 are determined as the best alternatives in terms of sustainability.
Renewable Mixed Hydrogels Based on Polysaccharide and Protein for Release of Agrochemicals and Soil Conditioning
Authors: Khan Elena , Ozaltin Kadir , Bernal-Ballen Andres , Di Martino Antonio
Published: September 2021

The study deals with the combination of biopolymers to develop hydrogels intended for agriculture application. The aim is to propose a renewable and eco-compatible solution to enhance agrochemicals and water efficiency and contribute to maintaining soil fertility. We developed a set of hydrogels based on casein and chitosan for water retention and release of agrochemicals, in particular nitrogen fertilizer urea. The weight ratio of biopolymers, from 0.5 to 2, was investigated to understand the influence of their content on the morphology, swelling, swelling-drying cycles, and water retention in soil. The average content of urea in the hydrogels was 30% of the total weight, and up to 80% was released in the soil in 50 days. The biodegradation of the hydrogels in soil has been investigated by the burial method and monitoring the release of CO2. Results demonstrated that by increasing the content of chitosan, the biodegradation time is prolonged up to 20% in 90 days. The obtained results support the ultimate purpose of the work that the combination of two biopolymers at proper weight ratio could be a valid alternative of the marketed hydrogels with the final goal to promote soil fertility and water retention and prolong biodegradation.
Rural Tourism: Does It Matter for Sustainable Farmers’ Income?
Authors: He Yugang , Wang Jingnan , Gao Xiaodan , Wang Yinhui , Choi Baek Ryul
Published: September 2021

With the continuous promotion of China’s new rural construction, rural tourism is considered to be an important driving force to promote the sustainable development of rural economy. Sustainable farmers’ income is a major part of the sustainable development of rural economy. Therefore, this paper attempts to explore the effect of rural tourism on sustainable farmers’ income. Using China’s provincial panel data over the period of 2003 to 2020 and employing the mediation effect model to perform empirical analysis, four results are obtained: (1) rural tourism positively and significantly affects sustainable farmers’ income. However, among five kinds of farmers’ income, the coefficients in magnitude are different. (2) A mediation effect of rural ecological environment on the relationship between rural tourism and sustainable farmers’ income exists. (3) A mediation effect of urbanization on the relationship between rural tourism and sustainable farmers’ income also exists. (4) On the whole, the mediation effect of rural ecological environment on the relationship between rural tourism and sustainable farmers’ income is less than that of the mediation effect of urbanization. Based on the evidence this paper provides, corresponding suggestions are raised to promote sustainable farmers’ income.
Machine Tool Transition from Industry 3.0 to 4.0: A Comparison between Old Machine Retrofitting and the Purchase of New Machines from a Triple Bottom Line Perspective
Authors: Ilari Serena , Carlo Fabio Di , Ciarapica Filippo Emanuele , Bevilacqua Maurizio
Published: September 2021

The emerging scenario designed by digital technologies connected to Industry 4.0 is pushing towards increasingly sustainable companies. Access to the multiple benefits of digitalization (such as increased productivity, flexibility, efficiency, quality, lower consumption of resources, and the improvement of worker safety) is possible by purchasing new-generation machinery. However, thanks to smart retrofitting processes, companies can extend the shelf life of machinery without replacing it entirely. This work aims to present a framework to assess the sustainability of implementing a smart retrofitting process in old machines as an alternative to replacement from a triple bottom line (economic, environmental, and social) perspective. Due to the multidimensional and multidisciplinary variables that the proposed framework must consider, a multicriteria decision-making process is developed to identify the best transition solution from Industry 3.0 to 4.0. Then, we analyze a case study in which, thanks to the previously proposed methodology, two types of smart retrofitting on a column drill are compared with three replacement options for the same machine tool. In conclusion, the case study shows that retrofitting in the context of Industry 4.0 (or smart retrofitting), despite its high acquisition cost, is the best solution in terms of sustainability, and that this is because the smart retrofitting solution not only positively influences all parameters of digitization but also has a strong impact on the safety criterion.
Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions of, and Experiences with, Technology-Enhanced Transformative Learning towards Education for Sustainable Development
Authors: Avsec Stanislav , Ferk Savec Vesna
Published: September 2021

Teacher education for sustainable development (ESD) is faced with continuing unsustainability trends, which require deep and enduring social transformation. Transformative learning is a possible solution to facilitating reflection on the cognitive and socio-emotional processes underpinning students’ learning towards sustainability. The purpose of this paper is to investigate students’ perceptions of, and experiences with, technology-enhanced self-directed learning and design thinking as possible moderators of transformative learning in order to advance the concept and practice of teacher ESD. These perceptions and experiences are represented by 225 pedagogical and non-pedagogical students from the University of Ljubljana, asked to respond anonymously to three online questionnaires in May and June 2021. Findings indicate that strengthening the transformative aspect of ESD in pre-service teachers requires the consideration of critical reflection, self-awareness, risk propensity, holistic view and openness to diversity, and social support. Moreover, self-directed learning was found to be a moderator for transformative learning among pre-service science teachers, while design thinking was evenly developed among transformative learning for both low- and high-ability students, no matter the study programme. The conditioning factors and explanatory arguments for these results are also discussed.
Two Perspectives on the Gender Gap in Computer Engineering: From Secondary School to Higher Education
Authors: Alonso María Teresa , Barba-Sánchez Virginia , López Bonal María Teresa , Macià Hermenegilda
Published: September 2021

In a setting that prioritises the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), sustainable development cannot be achieved without the contribution of female talent. This paper is focused on studying the reasons for the gender gap and the offered strategies to reduce it. The debate on the reasons for the low enrolment rates of girls in technological degrees remains open in the literature. This study investigates the causes of why girls do not choose a computer engineering degree and makes a comparison between ex-ante (secondary school) and ex-post (higher education). Based on a survey of students from both secondary school (229) and higher education (171), a quantitative study on gender differences was performed. The chi-squared test was applied to compute the corresponding p-value. Gender significant differences concerning goals were found (such as, at secondary school, girls preferred to help people, whereas boys preferred to be rich or to have a lot of holidays), and degree preferences (secondary school girls showed great interest in degrees, such as psychology, criminology and medicine, while boys showed great interest in sports sciences and engineering). However, these differences cannot be attributed to the existence of gender stereotypes, to the poor social image of workers in that field, or to the goals to be achieved within this profession. Some proposals are offered to reduce the gap.
An Integrated Approach to Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Performance Evaluation by Incorporating Local Demographic Features
Authors: Rijal Sandhya , Huang Yu-Han , Lin Hung-Yueh
Published: September 2021

Recycling municipal solid waste has become a challenging task for municipalities. Appropriate recycling efficiency evaluations are, thus, essential to find practical benchmark learning targets for inefficient municipal solid waste authorities (MSWAs). This study developed a recycling performance evaluation procedure by subgrouping MSWAs with prominent local demographic features, such as population density, ratio of senior citizens, tourism index etc. Principal recycling relevant factors for MSWAs in each group were then collected, and data envelopment analysis (DEA) was applied for efficiency evaluation and benchmark learning targets. A case study of 181 MSWAs in Taiwan demonstrated the suitability of the proposed procedures. An assessment of the required efforts for efficiency improvements revealed that, in an unsegregated scenario, inefficient MSWAs representing a rural subgroup required maximum efforts to fulfill the efficiency targets, which was on average 61% higher than that determined in their respective subgroup. Furthermore, the unsegregated scenario revealed proximal efficiency results for the urban subgroup. The results indicated that consideration of local demographic features was essential for a fair assessment of recycling efficiency. Additionally, evaluating MSWAs with similar local demographic features was superior in obtaining appropriate benchmark learning targets for the inefficient MSWAs and, consequently, exhibited practicality for improving walkthroughs to achieve the efficiency goal.
Applications of Experience Economy in Craft Beer Tourism: A Case Study in Thailand’s Context
Authors: Chirakranont Rangson , Sunanta Sirijit
Published: September 2021

With Thailand as a context, this study explores the applications of Pine and Gilmore’s experience economy framework in two forms of craft beer tourism, namely brewpubs and festivals. A three-pronged qualitative research design is used wherein data was collected through observations, interviews (n = 26), and netnography (n = 203). The findings revealed that both forms of craft beer tourism implement four dimensions of the experience economy in different measures. Esthetic and escapist dimensions benefit from natural, scenic settings and a man-made environment. In addition, they advance the framework by proposing the dimension of entrepreneurship, which orchestrates the entertainment and education elements that enhance tourists’ experiences. The application of the experience economy framework is a useful strategic approach for craft beer tourism which can be applied in niche or special interest tourism, while also providing a significant influence on destination marketing and sustainable development.
Potential Impacts of Water Stress on Rice Biomass Composition and Feedstock Availability for Bioenergy Production
Authors: Hussain Nurda , Ahmed Mukhtar , Duangpan Saowapa , Hussain Tajamul , Taweekun Juntakan
Published: September 2021

Bioenergy from rice biomass feedstock is considered one of the potential clean energy resources and several small biomass-based powerplants have been established in rice–growing areas of Thailand. Rice production is significantly affected by drought occurrence which results in declined biomass production and quality. The impact of water stress (WS) was evaluated on six rice cultivars for biomass quality, production and bioenergy potential. Rice cultivars were experimented on in the field under well–watered (WW) and WS conditions. Data for biomass contributing parameters were collected at harvest whereas rice biomass samples were analyzed for proximate and lignocellulosic contents. Results indicated that WS negatively influenced crop performance resulting in 11–41% declined biomass yield (BY). Stability assessment indicated that cultivars Hom Pathum and Dum Ja were stress–tolerant as they exhibited smaller reductions by 11% in their BY under WS. Statistics for proximate components indicated a significant negative impact influencing biomass quality as ash contents of Hom Chan, Dum Ja and RD-15 were increased by 4–29%. Lignocellulosic analysis indicated, an increase in lignin contents of Hom Nang Kaew, Hom Pathum, Dum Ja and RD–15 ranging 7–39%. Reduced biomass production resulted in a 10–42% reduction in bioenergy potential (E). Results proved that cultivation of stress-susceptible cultivars or farmer’s choice and occurrence of WS during crop growth will reduce biomass production, biomass feedstock availability to biomass-based powerplants and affect powerplant’s conversion efficiency resulting in declined bioenergy production.
Factors Influencing the Visitation and Revisitation of Urban Parks: A Case Study from Hangzhou, China
Authors: Zhan Peng , Hu Guang , Han Ruilian , Kang Yu
Published: September 2021

Visitors’ satisfaction and willingness to revisit urban parks are closely linked to park longevity. However, few details of this relationship have been studied. We explored the factors influencing urban park use and factors motivating revisitation in six urban parks in Hangzhou, China. Data from 600 park visitors were collected over three months using a face-to-face questionnaire. These included socio-demographic data, residential data, personal characteristics, park satisfaction, motivations for visit, and other information. A hierarchical regression model was applied to analyze the contribution of each variable to visitation by park users. Physical and mental benefits and previous positive experiences were the main factors motivating park visitation. Age and distance to the nearest park were the main factors driving park revisitation, and they were positively and negatively correlated with visitation frequency, respectively. Long-term and short-term residents, who commute by cycling or walking, made up the majority of park visitors. Interestingly, park features had no significant impact on revisitation. Weather and time limitations were major factors limiting visitation to parks, and traffic and inadequate park facilities limited revisitation. Our results could be useful for urban planners as they develop guidelines to improve visitor satisfaction and promote the longevity of urban parks.
Animal as the Solution: Searching for Environmentally Friendly Dairy Cows
Authors: Marshall Cameron J. , Gregorini Pablo
Published: September 2021

There is increasing societal concern surrounding the environmental externalities generated from ruminant production systems. Traditional responses to address these externalities have often been system-based. While these approaches have had promising results, they have served to view the animal as a problem that needs solving, rather than as a potential solution. This review attempts to answer the question: can we breed animals that are more environmentally friendly to address environmental outcomes and satisfy consumer demand? This was done by exploring the literature of examples where animals have been specifically bred to reduce their environmental impact. The use of milk urea nitrogen breeding values has been demonstrated as a tool allowing for selective breeding of dairy cows to reduce nitrogen losses. Low milk urea nitrogen breeding values have been documented to result in reduced urinary nitrogen concentrations per urination event, which ultimately reduces the level of nitrogen that will be lost from the system. The ability to breed for low methane emissions has also shown positive results, with several studies demonstrating the heritability and subsequent reductions in methane emissions via selective breeding programs. Several avenues also exist where animals can be selectively bred to increase the nutrient density of their final product, and thus help to address the growing demand for nutrient-dense food for a growing human population. Animal-based solutions are permanent, cumulative, and often more cost-effective than system-based approaches. With continuing research and interest in breeding for more positive environmental outcomes, the animal can now start to be viewed as a potential solution to many of the issues faced by ruminant production systems, rather than simply being seen as a problem.
Debt Overhang, Gazelles’ Growth, and Fiscal Policy: A Note from the Quantile Regression Approach
Authors: Anton Sorin Gabriel , Onofrei Mihaela , Gogu Emilia , Neculau Bogdan Constantin , Mihai Florin
Published: September 2021

The paper aims to examine the relationship between leverage and firm growth and the impact of fiscal policy on this relationship using a panel data quantile regression approach. Employing a sample of gazelles from emerging Europe for the 2006–2014 period, we find that debt overhang negatively affects firm growth only for the lower growth quantiles. In addition, we found that the negative effect is higher for the gazelles located in countries with lower corporate income effective tax rates. However, for the higher growth quantiles, the impact of debt on firm growth is positive and statistically significant. Our results reconcile the mixed results of the previous studies and have practical implications for financing strategies in emerging markets.