bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigations on the Use of the Power Transistor Source Inductance to Mitigate the Electromagnetic Emission of Switching Power Circuits
Authors: Raviola Erica , Fiori Franco
Published: September 2021

With power designers always demanding for faster power switches, electromagnetic interference has become an issue of primary concern. As known, the commutation of power transistors is the main cause of the electromagnetic noise, which can be worsened by the presence of unwanted oscillations superimposed onto the switching waveforms. This work proposes a solution to mitigate the oscillations caused by the turn-on of a power transistor by exploiting its source inductance plus an external one. In this context, an optimization method is proposed to find the optimal value of the source inductance as a trade-off between oscillation damping and power dissipation. The experimental results performed on a prototyped power converter assess the proposed technique as the spectrum of the conducted emission is attenuated by 20 dB at the oscillation frequency. With respect to traditional solution based on snubbers, the proposed solution results in a similar oscillation damping, but with a 0.5% higher power efficiency.
Use of Urban Green Spaces in the Context of Lifestyle Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Tokyo
Authors: Yamazaki Takahiro , Iida Akiko , Hino Kimihiro , Murayama Akito , Hiroi U , Terada Toru , Koizumi Hideki , Yokohari Makoto
Published: September 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020 drastically changed urban lifestyles. Workers were forced to minimize commuting to their workplaces, older adults were banned from using meeting facilities, and children were prohibited from going to school. The consequent lack of exercise, accumulated stress, and reduced well-being are likely to have become problems, which may be improved by using urban green spaces (UGS). This study clarified the characteristics of users of UGS in Tokyo during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on telecommuters, older adults, and families with children. An online questionnaire survey was conducted among Tokyo residents, and 3085 responses were obtained. A binomial logistic regression analysis was conducted with the use and evaluation of UGS as the objective variables. The results showed that older adults and families with children who had been using UGS before the pandemic and telecommuters who newly started using UGS during the pandemic used UGS differently. Older adults and families with children tended to use small parks and appreciated human connections. Telecommuters often used greenways, temples, and shrines, valuing stress-reducing functions. Given that a changing lifestyle brings new UGS users new preferences, urban planners should consider that UGS require change with the time.
Analysis of Ecosystem Service Trade-Offs and Synergies in Ulansuhai Basin
Authors: Wang Lina , Yu Enyi , Li Shuang , Fu Xiao , Wu Gang
Published: September 2021

As an important grain production base and ecological barrier zone in China, Ulansuhai Basin provides a variety of important ecosystem services and ensures human well-being, and it is essential to maintain the sustainable development of the regional ecology–economy–society. Therefore, in order to explore the trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services in Ulansuhai Basin, we first evaluated the spatio-temporal characteristics of five ecosystem services in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2018 based on the InVEST model, including soil conservation, carbon storage, water production, water purification, and food supply. We then further analyzed the trade-offs and synergies of ecosystem services in Ulansuhai Basin and in different functional areas through using the Spearman correlation coefficient. The results show that different ecosystem services had obvious regional differences due to different land-use types in Ulansuhai Basin. Soil conservation, carbon storage, and water production were higher in the eastern region and lower in the central and western regions, while water purification and food supply were higher in the central region and lower in the eastern and western regions. Ecosystem services showed an overall increasing trend from 2000 to 2018. Moreover, trade-off was the dominant relationship between different ecosystem services, and trade-offs and synergies showed strengthening trends to a certain extent. The trade-offs and synergies of ecosystem services in different functional areas were obviously different. Our study aimed to clarify the trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services and to propose ecological protection and management countermeasures and suggestions, which can provide decision-making reference for regional ecological protection and management.
Supply Chain Practitioners’ Perception on Sustainability: An Empirical Study
Authors: Haroon Shaheera , Wasif Muhammad , Khalid Rameez , Khalidi Sana
Published: September 2021

The sustainability of supply chains is now one of the major global issues due to the vision of the United Nations (UN). By 2030, it is the primary focus of the UN to attain all the seventeen sustainable development goals (SDG). Hence, the primary goal of this study is to examine how practitioners think about sustainable supply chains. Five hypotheses are established to assess the perceptions of supply chain professionals. Forty-two (42) indicators are gathered from the existing literature to establish the survey instrument to collect the responses from supply chain practitioners. Finally, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is used to evaluate the mediation effects. It is found that social aspects are significantly impacted by the environmental aspects, as compared to the economic aspects. None of these indicators play any mediation effect, as all three are equally important for the sustainable supply chains.
Stakeholder Management—One of the Clues of Sustainable Project Management—As an Underestimated Factor of Project Success in Small Construction Companies
Authors: Klaus-Rosińska Agata , Iwko Joanna
Published: September 2021

According to contemporary literature, stakeholder management (which is one of the identified clues of sustainable project management) plays a significant role in successfully delivering construction projects. However, the literature focuses on the issues of stakeholder management/analysis mainly for large projects, and the authors could not find any items related to small construction projects. The aim of the article is to present the results of research conducted in small construction companies in the context of stakeholder management of their projects against the background of project success and sustainability. Many researchers have concluded that stakeholder management is one of the success factors of projects (including construction projects). Based on the conducted quantitative research, the needs in the field of stakeholder management of small construction companies’ projects were determined and the approaches used in this area were diagnosed. The research results indicate a low level of maturity of small construction companies in managing project stakeholders, which is a surprising result considering the fact that the literature on the subject emphasizes the importance of taking care of the project stakeholder management area and associating it with the project’s success.
Bio-Mitigation of Carbon Dioxide Using Desmodesmus sp. in the Custom-Designed Pilot-Scale Loop Photobioreactor
Authors: Anand Abhishek , Tripathi Kaustubh , Kumar Amit , Gupta Suresh , Raghuvanshi Smita , Verma Sanjay Kumar
Published: September 2021

Today’s society is faced with many upfront challenges such as the energy crisis, water pollution, air pollution, and global warming. The greenhouse gases (GHGs) responsible for global warming include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (NOx), water vapor (H2O), and fluorinated gases. A fraction of the increased emissions of CO2 in the atmosphere is due to agricultural and municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems. There is a need for a sustainable solution which can degrade the pollutants and provide a technology-based solution. Hence, the present work deals with the custom design of a loop photobioreactor with 34 L of total volume used to handle different inlet CO2 concentrations (0.03%, 5%, and 10% (v/v)). The obtained values of biomass productivity and CO2 fixation rate include 0.185 ± 0.004 g L−1 d−1 and 0.333 ± 0.004 g L−1 d−1, respectively, at 10% (v/v) CO2 concentration and 0.084 ± 0.003 g L−1 d−1 and 0.155 ± 0.003 g L−1 d−1, respectively, at 5% (v/v) CO2 concentration. The biochemical compositions, such as carbohydrate, proteins, and lipid content, were estimated in the algal biomass produced from CO2 mitigation studies. The maximum carbohydrate, proteins, and lipid content were obtained as 20.7 ± 2.4%, 32.2 ± 2.5%, and 42 ± 1.0%, respectively, at 10% (v/v) CO2 concentration. Chlorophyll (Chl) a and b were determined in algal biomass as an algal physiological response. The results obtained in the present study are compared with the previous studies reported in the literature, which indicated the feasibility of the scale-up of the process for the source reduction of CO2 generated from waste management systems without significant change in productivity. The present work emphasizes the cross-disciplinary approach for the development of bio-mitigation of CO2 in the loop photobioreactor.
Learning to Collaborate from Diverse Interactions in Project-Based Sustainability Courses
Authors: Konrad Theres , Wiek Arnim , Barth Matthias
Published: September 2021

Project-based sustainability courses require and facilitate diverse interactions among students, instructors, stakeholders, and mentors. Most project-based courses take an instrumental approach to these interactions, so that they support the overall project deliverables. However, as courses primarily intend to build students’ key competencies in sustainability, including the competence to collaborate in teams and with stakeholders, there are opportunities to utilize these interactions more directly to build students’ interpersonal competence. This study offers insights from project-based sustainability courses at universities in Germany, the U.S., Switzerland, and Spain to empirically explore such opportunities. We investigate how students develop interpersonal competence by learning from (rather than through) their interactions with peers, instructors, stakeholders, and mentors. The findings can be used by course instructors, curriculum designers, and program administrators to more deliberately use the interactions with peers, instructors, stakeholders, and mentors in project-based sustainability courses for developing students’ competence to successfully collaborate in teams and with stakeholders.
Identification of Methods of Reducing Construction Waste in Construction Enterprises Based on Surveys
Authors: Białko Marta , Hoła Bożena
Published: September 2021

The article presents the analysis of the dependence between methods of reducing construction waste and the size of the construction enterprise. The analysis was carried out for the following construction products: steel, concrete, wood, and small-sized (ceramic, concrete) and finishing (ceramic and stone tiles) products. Based on the literature review, the 13 most frequently used methods of reducing construction waste were identified. Surveys were then conducted among 140 construction enterprises. The research was conducted in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. In order to test whether there is a relationship between the used waste-reduction method for a given construction product and the size of the enterprise, the Pearson chi-square test of independence was used. The null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis were formulated, and the critical level of significance α = 0.05 was adopted. The results were statistically significant for 7 methods of reducing construction waste. The identified methods include appropriate storage, the training of employees in the field of waste management, the use of monitoring systems, the appropriate transport and unloading of products, the appropriate involvement of subcontractors, the use of prefabricated elements, and the reuse of products on the construction site. Based on the conducted research, it was found that these methods are more often used with an increase in the size of the enterprise. The presented analysis emphasizes the urgent need to improve, integrate, and adjust the promotion of both the reduction of construction waste and the benefits of this reduction in construction enterprises, especially those of the smallest size.
Digital Issue Movements: Political Repertoires and Drivers of Participation among Belgian Youth in the Context of ‘School Strike for Climate’
Authors: Waeterloos Cato , Conradie Peter , Walrave Michel , Ponnet Koen
Published: September 2021

It often remains unclear how young citizens are combining various forms of political participation, as well as why they choose some over others, especially within a single-issue movement. Moreover, little is known about how social networking sites (SNS) fit into the political repertoires of citizens. Therefore, this study explores youths’ political participation patterns in the context of the 2019 youth-led climate strikes. We rely on data from a paper and pencil survey among 498 high school students in Belgium. To identify different types of activists, the study used latent class analysis (LCA). In addition, a multinomial logistic regression was conducted to assess how identified participation types differ from each other. Four different participation repertoires regarding the climate issue were identified, each distinctive in the way they rely on different forms of political participation. In addition, membership to each of the different classes is associated with a unique set of characteristics (in terms of political efficacies, climate issue involvement, and online expression motives). The article shows how SNS make up a crucial part of youths’ issue-specific participation patterns and sheds light on the mechanisms underlying their participation choices within the climate movement.
Analysis of Hydrous Ethanol Price Competitiveness after the Implementation of the Fossil Fuel Import Price Parity Policy in Brazil
Authors: Nascimento Filho Aloisio S. , Saba Hugo , dos Santos Rafael G. O. , Calmon João Gabriel A. , Araújo Marcio L. V. , Jorge Eduardo M. F. , Murari Thiago B.
Published: September 2021

Competition is a relevant element in any open economy. Public policies are necessary to induce economic efficiency and to create conditions to preserve or stimulate a competitive environment. This paper aims to assess the competitiveness of hydrous ethanol price in a period of political, social and economic crises, in 15 Brazilian state capitals between the years 2012 and 2019. We compared the ethanol–gasoline price ratio behavior in two different periods, before and after the import parity price policy implemented by Petrobras in 2016. Mann–Whitney and Levene’s tests, two non-parametric statistical methods, were applied to verify significant changes between these periods. The implementation of changes in Petrobras’ pricing policy from 2016 onwards caused a statistically significant increase in the ratio coefficient of variation in two-thirds of the distribution market and more than the half of analyzed retail markets. Second, overall, the cities that showed statistically significant changes in the median and coefficient of variation in the distribution market price ratio were followed by the retail market. Our findings suggest that government interventions in the fuel and byproduct final selling prices to distributors negatively impact competition between companies that are part of the fuel distribution and retail chain, also affecting the sale of biofuels in Brazil and discouraging the initiatives to use renewable fuels to reduce the emission of pollutants.
Exploration on the Mechanism of the Impact of Green Supply Chain Management on Enterprise Sustainable Development Performance
Authors: Li Jing , Yan Da
Published: September 2021

Green supply chain management (GSCM) is an important management means for enterprises to achieve sustainable development and green transformation. However, the intrinsic mechanism by which GSCM impacts the sustainable development performance (SDP) of enterprises remains a theoretical “black box”. Based on the Porter’s hypothesis, this study constructs a moderated mediation model from the theoretical perspective of green innovation and signal transmission to explore this intrinsic mechanism. Then, this study analyzes data from China’s Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies from 2015 to 2020 to conduct an empirical analysis to test the model. The results show that GSCM has a significantly positive effect on SDP. The mediating effect of green innovation and the moderating effect of green subsidies are significant. The results remain valid after a series of endogeneity and robustness tests.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Philosophies among Hungarian Business Students
Authors: Berényi László , Deutsch Nikolett
Published: September 2021

This study attempts to identify a relationship between the perception of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the business philosophies (Machiavellianism, moral objectivism, legalism, ethical relativism, social Darwinism) among Hungarian business students. The goals of the investigations are (1) to explore the perception of CSR, (2) to analyze which business philosophies describe the students, and (3) to characterize typical patterns by means of cluster analysis. The data collection was performed by means of a self-administered, voluntary online survey including the Attitudes Toward Business Ethics Questionnaire (ATBEQ) instrument. Grouping effects were tested with non-parametric analysis of variance; cluster analysis used the K-Means method. The research sample consisted of 865 responses. Machiavellianism was found to be the most dominant business philosophy among the respondents. The cluster analysis shows three patterns, namely (1) CSR believers, (2) large business-oriented, and (3) skeptic. The correlations between CSR perception and business philosophy scores confirm the relationship assumed. The understanding of the value system of the students allows targeted curriculum development for the higher education institutions and, as a result, a more effective approach to CSR applications. Moreover, the result on business philosophies itself provides a contribution to cross-national contribution in the field. Future research should include the extension of the analysis to other students and business practitioners.
The Global Knowledge Value Chain on Sustainability: Addressing Fragmentations through International Academic Partnerships
Authors: Schorr Bettina , Braig Marianne , Fritz Barbara , Schütt Brigitta
Published: September 2021

While research on universities’ role in sustainability transitions has flourished in recent years, explorations into the potential of academic internationalization for the promotion of sustainability transitions are still rare. This article aims at contributing to this incipient literature by emphasizing an underexplored property of international academic networks and transnational academic cooperation: their potential to break disciplinary and geographical barriers in the global debates on how transitions towards sustainability can be achieved. When realizing this potential, international partnerships are able to provide more comprehensive knowledge to inform sustainability transitions while shaping sustainability transitions in various places at the same time. This article pursues three objectives: First, it introduces the concept of the “global knowledge value chain on sustainability” and explores its value as a heuristic to understand global knowledge production relevant for sustainability transitions. Furthermore, it identifies two fragmentations in this chain resulting from global inequalities and specific dynamics within the global science community. Second, it confirms empirically the fragmentations of this global knowledge value chain on sustainability. Third, it provides good practice ideas on how international academic partnerships can overcome these fragmentations by drawing on the authors’ experience with the international partnership “trAndeS—Postgraduate Program on Social Inequalities and Sustainable Development in the Andean Region” carried out by the Institute of Latin American Studies of Freie Universität Berlin and the Department of Social Sciences of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru (PUCP).
Eco-Hammam: The Complexity of Accelerating the Ecological Transition of a Key Social Heritage Sector in Morocco
Authors: Sibley Magda , Pezzica Camilla , Tweed Chris
Published: September 2021

Hammams are key providers of affordable hygiene and wellbeing services for the less wealthy in the Maghreb region. However, the UN climate change conference COP22, held in Marrakech in 2016, highlighted hammams are major contributors to air pollution, deforestation, loss of ecosystems, water overconsumption and wastage in Morocco. This paper analyses the complexity of advancing their energy transition from the viewpoint of key stakeholders engaged in two half-day virtual forums focusing on the water–energy nexus; organised as part of the AHRC funded project “Eco-Hammam: engaging key stakeholders with bespoke low-carbon technologies for lighting, heating, and water recycling to sustain a Moroccan heritage”. Results reveal that the Moroccan hammam sector could benefit greatly from stakeholders’ networking and collaboration to accelerate the uptake of low-carbon technologies and ecological practices. Key stakeholders’ priorities and barriers (economic, policy-induced or governance related) are presented and show that the lack of coordination between governmental and non-governmental organisations is perceived as contributing to the slow pace of the hammam energy transition. Although managers seem fully aware of available energy transition technologies for their furnaces, energy and water are treated independently and disconnected in their governance. Finally, Marrakech is identified as a potential hammam sustainability hub.
Ageing Urban Population Prognostic between 2020 and 2050 in Transylvania Region (Romania)
Authors: Țăruș Raisa , Dezsi Ștefan , Pop Florin
Published: September 2021

Population ageing represents a dramatic scenario and a progressive process inducing major changes in the dynamics of the population and especially in the age structure. The ageing population process is a phenomenon relevant to define not only demographic but also social, cultural, and territorial transformations in relation to the urban settlements. In this article, we present a case study regarding the ageing process persistent in urban areas from the counties of the Transylvania region. The present study emphasizing the evolution of the older adults age group between 2015 and 2019, drawing a forecast model for the prognosis period 2020–2050. The tendencies of the population decline process are revealed by the outcomes of the ageing index, outlining some long-term effects of population ageing over the years. The study of this phenomenon reveals an important framework at the regional level of Transylvania and points out the means to determine its existence in other regions or countries, since it affects the urban population evolution and its dynamics.
Examining Rapport with Local People, International Students’ Roles through Travel Experience and Sustainable Tourism
Authors: Kazakova Alisa , Karimova Meerim , Kim Insin
Published: September 2021

As the educational travel market is growing rapidly, it is fundamental to explore the role of international students in sustainable tourism. By improving the relationship between international students as tourists and local people, travel destinations can be easily recognized globally through promotion by international students. The aims of the current study were to identify important attributes of local people in developing rapport with international students during their travel experience and investigate the structural relationships among international students’ rapport with the local people, satisfaction with travel experiences and willingness to share their travel experiences online and offline. Data were collected from 220 international students currently studying in South Korea who have traveled to South Korea for the purpose of being international students. As a result of structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis, among the sub-dimensions of the attributes of local people that international students met, physical attractiveness and displaying positive emotions positively influenced the rapport between international students and local people. On the other hand, helpfulness did not affect the rapport between local residents and international students. In addition, the rapport between local people and international students has positive effects on travel satisfaction and willingness to share travel experiences online and offline. Study findings also found that travel satisfaction has a significant positive impact on the willingness to share travel experiences online and offline. Therefore, theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.
Plastic Food Packaging: Perceptions and Attitudes of Portuguese Consumers about Environmental Impact and Recycling
Authors: Weber Macena Morgana , Carvalho Rita , Cruz-Lopes Luísa Paula , Guiné Raquel P. F.
Published: September 2021

The use of plastics for packaging has some advantages, since they are flexible and inexpensive. However, most plastics are of single use, which, combined with low recycling or reuse ratios, contributes substantially to environmental pollution. This work is part of a project studying the habits of Portuguese citizens concerning plastic food packaging and focuses on aspects related to sustainability. The survey was carried out via an online questionnaire about sustainability, recycling, and knowledge of the effects of plastic materials or their residues on the environment. The results were obtained based on a statistical analysis of the data. The participants tend to think about the negative impact of plastic packages on the environment; 39% sometimes do not buy plastic; and 30% try to look for alternatives. A substantial fraction, 81%, support the avoidance of plastic utensils and reduction in the use of plastic bags. Most participants have a good knowledge of recycling and strongly agree with the use of recycled materials, and 87% of respondents practice separation of different types of waste for recycling. Changing plastic consumption habits has not been an easy task. Nevertheless, it is expected that society will increasingly move toward sustainable habits, questioning its actions and considering their impact on the environment.
A Decade of Transitioning Malaysia toward a High-Solar PV Energy Penetration Nation
Authors: Husain Alaa A. F. , Ahmad Phesal Maryam Huda , Kadir Mohd Zainal Abidin Ab , Ungku Amirulddin Ungku Anisa , Junaidi Abdulhadi H. J.
Published: September 2021

In the last 10 years, Malaysia has aggressively moved towards a higher penetration of 20% of renewable energy (RE) in the Malaysian energy mix by 2025. Several incentives and initiatives have taken place with the aim of achieving the goals in terms of installed capacity and catching up with the leading countries in these sectors. Since 2011, Malaysia started the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) before introducing Net Energy Metering (NEM) in 2017, and recently, another initiative known as NEM 3.0 has been introduced. This paper reviews all policies undertaken by the Malaysian government from 2011 to 2021 in spearheading the country to be on par with others, especially those in the Southeast Asian (SEA) region. The effectiveness of each policy on the growth of photovoltaic PV energy installation is highlighted, and the latest update on the NEM 3.0 policy is also discussed. A comparison of each approach in terms of installed capacity and system connection setup to the grid is also considered for the benefit and sharing of knowledge from one of the fastest-developing countries in the region.
Is the Aurora Borealis an Inspiration to the Performance of Nordic Economic Sustainability?
Authors: Nogueira Manuel Carlos , Madaleno Mara
Published: September 2021

The Nordic countries are well positioned in the main international economic, social, and sustainability indices, and the scientific literature that supports these indices argues that a rise in these rankings promotes economic growth. With this unprecedented empirical study, we intended to assess whether, in the case of the Nordic countries, the long term maintenance of high positions translates into sustainable economic growth. The period considered was between 2004 and 2008, and we used the ARDL methodology to assess time series. The ARDL methodology has the advantage of providing us with short and long term coefficients. Using five of the leading international indices, we conclude that, for the Nordic countries, economic freedom is not important for economic growth, while business friendly regulation is the most important variable. Three important findings of our study (in which Granger causality complemented the ARDL methodology) are that these countries were able to adapt perfectly to the globalization process, entrepreneurship makes an important contribution to the continued economic and social success of these countries (allowing them to continue to enjoy their “Nordic welfare states” in these uncertain times), and corruption harms the Nordic economy. These variables have contributed to the countries’ economic and social sustainability.
Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy Interventions
Authors: Kumar Rakesh , Verma Anurag , Shome Arkajyoti , Sinha Rama , Sinha Srishti , Jha Prakash Kumar , Kumar Ritesh , Kumar Pawan , Shubham  , Das Shreyas , Sharma Prabhakar , Vara Prasad P. V.
Published: September 2021

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Plastic waste exposed to the environment creates problems and is of significant concern for all life forms. Plastic production and accumulation in the natural environment are occurring at an unprecedented rate due to indiscriminate use, inadequate recycling, and deposits in landfills. In 2019, the global production of plastic was at 370 million tons, with only 9% of it being recycled, 12% being incinerated, and the remaining left in the environment or landfills. The leakage of plastic wastes into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is occurring at an unprecedented rate. The management of plastic waste is a challenging problem for researchers, policymakers, citizens, and other stakeholders. Therefore, here, we summarize the current understanding and concerns of plastics pollution (microplastics or nanoplastics) on natural ecosystems. The overall goal of this review is to provide background assessment on the adverse effects of plastic pollution on natural ecosystems; interlink the management of plastic pollution with sustainable development goals; address the policy initiatives under transdisciplinary approaches through life cycle assessment, circular economy, and sustainability; identify the knowledge gaps; and provide current policy recommendations. Plastic waste management through community involvement and socio-economic inputs in different countries are presented and discussed. Plastic ban policies and public awareness are likely the major mitigation interventions. The need for life cycle assessment and circularity to assess the potential environmental impacts and resources used throughout a plastic product’s life span is emphasized. Innovations are needed to reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover plastics and find eco-friendly replacements for plastics. Empowering and educating communities and citizens to act collectively to minimize plastic pollution and use alternative options for plastics must be promoted and enforced. Plastic pollution is a global concern that must be addressed collectively with the utmost priority.
Marketing Clues on the Label Raise the Purchase Intention of Genetically Modified Food
Authors: Jiang Dan , Zhang Guangling
Published: September 2021

As more and more genetically modified foods (GMFs) must be labeled, adding more information to increase the willingness to buy genetically modified food has become the focus of scholars and enterprises. Most current studies have confirmed that the consumer attitudes and purchase intention toward GMFs are not good. This study aims to match consumers’ different information-processing mechanisms by adding marketing information clues and regulating their purchase intentions by contradictory attitudes towards GMFs. According to the interest demands of GMFs, the marketing clue information was divided into functional information and environmental information. Through two studies, we find that consumers are more inclined to environmental information than heuristic. Functional information is more attractive to males, and the young generation prefers ecological information. Consumers with high ambivalence towards genetically modified foods are more inclined to choose environmental attribute information.
Framing Sustainable Fashion Concepts on Social Media. An Analysis of #slowfashionaustralia Instagram Posts and Post-COVID Visions of the Future
Authors: Lee Ellen , Weder Franzisca
Published: September 2021

The global fashion industry poses a significant threat to sustainability, occasioning the emergence of sustainable fashion concepts such as slow fashion. However, sustainability as a principle is mostly established in corporate communication and reporting and sustainable fashion is mostly debated from a marketing and consumer perspective. The study at hand fills the existing gap in research on how slow fashion is portrayed on social media, focusing particularly on slow fashion, Instagram, and an Australian context. An explorative content analysis was conducted following the hashtag #slowfashionaustralia; open-coding methods were employed to enable three thematic frames to emerge from the data; namely, slow fashion as Business 2.0: An eco-marketplace, as an authentic experience of self-expression, and as a community value. Further analysis of the identified themes yielded the framing process of slow fashion on Instagram, mainly representing empowerment for women. Methodological limitations are outlined, as well as new research potential in the area of sustainability communication.
Competence-Oriented, Data-Driven Approach for Sustainable Development in University-Level Education
Authors: Fodor Szabina , Szabó Ildikó , Ternai Katalin
Published: September 2021

Higher education has a number of key roles to play in accelerating progress toward sustainability goals. It has a responsibility to provide and teach curricula that are tailored to labor market needs, to help change people’s attitudes and motivation toward sustainability, and to reduce inequalities between different students. Course leaders and developers of curricula should monitor and assess these needs in order to improve their curricula from time to time. In the present work, we describe a data-driven approach based on text-mining techniques to identify the competences required for a given position based on job advertisements. To demonstrate the usefulness of our suggested method, the supply chain management occupation was selected as the supply chain is a constantly changing domain that is highly affected by green activities and initiatives, and the COVID-19 pandemic strongly influenced this sector, as well. This data-driven process allowed the identification of required soft and hard skills contained in job descriptions. However, it was found that some important concepts of green supply chain management, such as repair and refurbishment, were only marginally mentioned in the job advertisements. Therefore, in addition to labor market expectations, a business process model from relevant green supply chain management literature was developed to complement the required competences. The given new techniques can support the paradigm shift toward sustainable development and help curriculum developers and decision makers assess labor market needs in the area of sustainability skills and competences. The given result can serve as an input of outcome-based training development to design learning objective-based teaching materials.
Hub-and-Spoke Logistics Network Considering Pricing and Co-Opetition
Authors: Zhou Jian , Xu Kexin , Zhao Yuxiu , Zheng Haoran , Dong Zhengnan
Published: September 2021

With the rapid development of the logistics market, the construction of an efficient “channel + hub + network” logistics system, that is, a hub-and-spoke logistics network, is of great importance to enterprises. In particular, how to reduce costs and increase efficiency in both the construction of network facilities and actual operations, and to formulate reasonable prices for the logistics service needs in the entire market are crucial strategies and decisions for enterprises. Under such a background, this article starts from the perspective of duopoly logistics enterprises that jointly build networks and allow the transfer of surplus capacity and carbon credits, and studies the hub-and-spoke logistics network design that also considers the relationship between service pricing and co-opetition. Considering the corporate profit and difficulty of implementation as a whole, the co-opetition is a better choice than the complete competition and perfect cooperation. In addition, the remaining capacity of the company, the transfer of carbon credits, the joint construction and sharing of hubs, and strategic cooperation in the area of corporate common pricing under the price framework agreement are conducive to the realization of an increase in corporate operating profits, a better market share and more favorable pricing.
Keyline in Bean Crop (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for Soil and Water Conservation
Authors: del Carmen Ponce-Rodríguez Ma. , Carrete-Carreón Francisco Oscar , Núñez-Fernández Gerardo Alonso , de Jesús Muñoz-Ramos José , Pérez-López María-Elena
Published: September 2021

Soil erosion is a common problem worldwide, and in Durango, Mexico, it occurs in 77.4% of territory. Faced with this problem, the hydrological keyline design (HKD) is an alternative that helps to retain soil, increase infiltration, and keep the water uniformly in the land in order to recover its fertility. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of HKD on moisture and soil conservation in a rainfed agricultural plot during the spring–summer 2018 cycle with a bean crop (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in the state of Durango, Mexico. Two treatments were established: control and HKD. The variables to measure the effect of the treatments were: soil water content, water erosion, bean yield, and yield components. The results indicated differences (p < 0.05) between treatments for the moisture and erosion variables; the HKD retained more water than the control by five percent, while sediment transport was lower in the HKD. No differences (p > 0.05) were found regarding bean yield and yield components. However, the yield was 126% higher than regional average in terms of rainfed bean production. Therefore, the implementation of the HKD had a positive impact by retaining soil and moisture.
Examination of the Consumers’ Expectations Regarding Company’s Contribution to Ontological Security
Authors: Saáry Réka , Csiszárik-Kocsir Ágnes , Varga János
Published: September 2021

Security is considered a basic human need, according to Maslow’s hierarchy; however, it is hard to define exactly what the term means. Globalization, the digital environment, bring new dimensions and increasingly diverse interpretations of security to life. These new approaches, while reducing the consistency of the concept, allow an understanding of individual attitudes towards security. In recent years, several researchers have analyzed the psychological dimension of security at a personal level and ontological security in relation to citizens, residents, employees and students; however, based on a review of research history, there is still a scientific gap with regard to the perspective of customers and consumers. Accepting the fact that market actors are increasingly taking their share of creating a secure environment, in our empirical study we focus on corporate involvement and contribution through an examination of consumers’ perceptions of security. Corporate security is originally a field supporting the smooth operation of the organization, but nowadays it has become an important element of corporate strategy and also a factor of competitiveness. Keeping that in mind, our objective is to get a picture of how consumers judge the contribution of companies to the general sense of security in Hungary, what security-related tasks they expect from the corporate actors, and how they feel about a company’s security-related performance. In our study, we develop the ontological security model of consumers, into which we integrate—next to the individual socio-psychological features and the macro-environmental elements—the dimension of the assessment of corporate performance, the possible components of which are analyzed during the quantitative primary research.
Do Tourism and Institutional Quality Asymmetrically Effects on FDI Sustainability in BIMSTEC Countries: An Application of ARDL, CS-ARDL, NARDL, and Asymmetric Causality Test
Authors: Yang Yixing , Qamruzzaman Md. , Rehman Mohd Ziaur , Karim Salma
Published: September 2021

The motivation of the study is to investigate the nature of the relationship between institutional quality, tourism, and FDI in BIMSTEC nations for the period 1996Q1–2018Q4. Exploring their nature of association, the study performed several panel econometric models, namely Panel ARDL, Nonlinear ARDL, and Toda-Yamamoto causality test, with symmetric and asymmetric effects of institutional quality and tourism. The results of the Wald test confirmed the long-run asymmetric relationship between institutional quality, tourism, and FDI, both in the long-run and short-run. Furthermore, directional casualty established a feedback hypothesis explaining the relationship between institutional quality, tourism, and FDI.
Actual and Perceived Motor Competence in Relation to Body Mass Index in Primary School-Aged Children: A Systematic Review
Authors: Trecroci Athos , Invernizzi Pietro Luigi , Monacis Domenico , Colella Dario
Published: September 2021

Unhealthy-weight status may represent a precursor of poor actual (AMC) (i.e., process- and product-oriented) and perceived (PMC) motor competence. AMC and PMC represent key elements favoring long-term commitment in sports and day-to-day life physical activity. In fact, the development of AMC and PMC during the primary school years could help to counteract weight-related negative effects (i.e., overweight or obesity) that are responsible for sedentary or unhealthy behavior across the life span. Therefore, this review aimed to provide a synopsis of the current research investigating the relation of AMC and PMC with weight status and in the context of potential gender differences. Systematic research in five electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus) was conducted from April 2021 to May 2021 in compliance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included if they involved obese or overweight youth (6–10 years) with no physical or cognitive impairment and used a longitudinal or a cross-sectional assessment of motor competence and perceived motor competence outcomes. After the selection process and after duplicates were removed, the final sample included 27 studies. Most of the studies reported that AMC and PMC are negatively associated with weight status, with male and females differing from each other in overall and subtest (locomotor, object control, and stability skills) AMC scores. However, according to a risk of bias assessment, the level of evidence linked to the association of AMC (process and product) and PMC with weight status (BMI) remained uncertain and lacking, respectively. Further high-quality studies are warranted to improve the understanding of AMC and PMC in relation to weight status, which appears to be differently expressed by gender in primary school years. Regardless, based on the current quantitative data, the emerging inverse association between AMC/PMC and weight status implies that it would be best to limit sedentary behavior by including daily lessons in physical education to limit unfavorable conditions (i.e., obesity and overweight) during the school years.
What Kind of School Organizational Decisions Serve to Enhance Sustainable Personal and Social Growth?
Authors: Orón Semper José Víctor , Lizasoain Inmaculada , Abaurrea Jaione , González-García Concepción , Ayuga-Téllez Esperanza
Published: September 2021

Sustainable decisions in education are those which pursue long-term achievements for students. In many cases, the principals of the schools are those who must make these decisions. In this paper we explore some of the factors that influence the students’ long-term development by means of an analysis of the correlation between certain organizational aspects of the schools which directly depend on the principals and the scores that their students have obtained in the International Assessment PISA 2018 in mathematics, reading and science. The results point to a better long-term student achievement when the organizational decisions are designed to enhance interpersonal relationships (teacher-teacher, teacher-student and student-student), responding to the specific needs of each person and based on trust. Conversely, it seems that when the organizational decisions are merely made to control academic life, they either bear upon academic achievement in a negative way or do not significantly affect it. The results suggest that carefully attending to interpersonal relationships is the key factor behind all the educational decisions which generate sustainable socio-personal development.
Does Entrepreneurship Make You Happier? A Comparative Analysis between Entrepreneurs and Wage Earners
Authors: Ravina-Ripoll Rafael , Foncubierta-Rodríguez María-José , Ahumada-Tello Eduardo , Tobar-Pesantez Luis Bayardo
Published: September 2021

Currently, age is characterized by implementing business management models based on precarious work and a massive reduction in jobs. This article aims to analyze the degree of happiness perceived in Spanish entrepreneurs, as opposed to that perceived by the employees, and if that happiness is associated with certain sociodemographic variables (such as gender, level of studies, and income level). For this purpose, a brief literature review of the economy of happiness is carried out, considering studies regarding the happiness–entrepreneurship connection over the past few years. With data provided by the Sociological Research Center (C.I.S.) barometer survey, we work in two phases: (1) descriptive and inferential on possible associations between the variables, and (2) the calculation of probabilities through logistic regression. The main result shows that the entrepreneurs with employees are happiest. When the null hypothesis is rejected, the categories that seem to show the most happiness are those with higher education and those in the highest income ranges analyzed. Among the main limitations in this work is the scarcity of bibliographic production on the subject matter of this paper. This paper helps to cover part of this gap.