bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regional Logistics Industry High-Quality Development Level Measurement, Dynamic Evolution, and Its Impact Path on Industrial Structure Optimization: Finding from China
Authors: Chen Heng , Zhang Yan
Published: October 2022

This paper measures the high-quality development level of China’s regional logistics using the comprehensive evaluation method of entropy right TOPSIS. It was found that the high-quality development level of the logistics industry in most provinces of China was effectively improved during the sample observation period. Secondly, the dynamic evolution process and correlation degree are analyzed through kernel-density estimation and the grey correlation-degree method. This study reveals that upgrading the industrial structure is closely correlated with the high-quality growth of regional logistics in China. The overall sample level has a favorable promoting influence and regional variability. Finally, the panel threshold model is constructed to analyze the influence mechanism. The improvement of the industrial structure is impacted by the high-quality growth of the logistics industry, which has the threshold effect of foreign direct investment (FDI).
Experimental and Theoretical Study on Mechanical Performance of a Sustainable Method to Simultaneously Generate Power and Fresh Water
Authors: Date Abhijit , Traisak Oranit , Ward Matthew , Rupakheti Eliza , Hu Eric , Khayyam Hamid
Published: October 2022

Many regions around the world have limited access to clean water and power. Low-grade thermal energy in the form of industrial waste heat or non-concentrating solar thermal energy is an underutilized resource and can be used for water desalination and power generation. This paper experimentally and theoretically examines a thermoelectric-based simultaneous power generation and desalination system that can utilize low-grade thermal energy. The paper presents concept design and the theoretical analysis of the proposed system followed by experimental analysis and comparison with the theoretical estimations. Experiments were carried out at three heat loads 50, 100 and 150 W to achieve varying temperature gradients across thermoelectric generators. During the experiments, thermoelectric generators were maintained at a hot to cold side temperature difference between 20 to 60 °C. The experiments showed that the power generation flux and freshwater mass flux increased with the increase in the thermal energy source temperature. The power flux varied between 12 to 117 W/m2 of thermoelectric generator area, while freshwater mass flux varied between 4.8 to 23.7 kg/m2⋅h. The specific thermal energy consumption varied between 3.6 to 5.7 MJ/kg of freshwater; this is comparable to the single-stage conventional distillation system.
Vitality Evaluation of Public Spaces in Historical and Cultural Blocks Based on Multi-Source Data, a Case Study of Suzhou Changmen
Authors: Zhang Fang , Liu Qi , Zhou Xi
Published: October 2022

As an intermediate link in the three-level heritage protection system of City–Block–Relic, the historical and cultural block is the most important part. As a component of a city, the vitality of historical and cultural blocks is related to the quality of urban space and the inheritance of cultural memory, and it is of great significance to urban renewal and sustainable development. However, traditional urban vitality evaluation methods need to deal with a large number of complex data, and it is often challenging to take into account the dual characteristics of space and culture. Traditional data and independent analysis strategy cannot not function well anymore. Therefore, this study proposes a vitality evaluation model based on multi-source data, which can account for the dual characteristics of space and culture, carry out dimension-reduced analysis for complex elements, so as to display the vitality image and indicate the key influencing factors of the block vitality. This maybe of important significance for exploring the internal dynamism of historical and cultural blocks. Firstly, guided by the “space-culture” composition of historical and cultural blocks, a wide variety of multi-level complex influencing factors of the vitality can be summed up to establish a three-layer vitality evaluation model. Secondly, the integration of multi-source data is realized by using the digital platform and giving out vitality pictures of the block. In this process, the Changmen historical and cultural block of Suzhou is taken as the sample for empirical research. Finally, the evaluation model is verified by combining the field investigation and the external representation of vitality. The calculation results are compared with the external manifestation of vitality, demonstrating the critical influencing factors of the vitality of public space in historical and cultural blocks, pointing out the direction for the creation of a residential environment and the promotion of vitality in the blocks.
Impact of Insecure Land Tenure on Sustainable Agricultural Development: A Case Study of Agricultural Lands in the Republic of Benin, West Africa
Authors: Ekpodessi Serge G. N. , Nakamura Hitoshi
Published: October 2022

This study assesses the impact of insecure land tenure on sustainable agricultural development in Africa to demonstrate how the economic profitability of agriculture strongly depends on land tenure security. The Republic of Benin is used as the case study following the country’s recent enactment of land law 2013-01 that focuses on reorganizing the land sector, which has suffered from inappropriate management since the colonial era. Through an interview survey among landowners and presumed owners combined with standardized observations in designated rural areas, issues related to the use and management of rural lands in the Republic of Benin are highlighted and discussed. The result demonstrates that agricultural economic profitability strongly depends on land tenure security. The outcome reveals land security as a key factor for sustainable agriculture toward poverty reduction and confirms the unbreakable link between land tenure security, agricultural production, and sustainable development.
Industry Linkage and Spatial Co-Evolution Characteristics of Industrial Clusters Based on Natural Semantics—Taking the Electronic Information Industry Cluster in the Pearl River Delta as an Example
Authors: Tan Youwei , Gu Zhihui , Chen Yu , Li Jiayun
Published: October 2022

Identifying industrial clusters and the changes in the spatial representation of these clusters is a basic but challenging issue for understanding and promoting urban and regional development. However, the current evolution characteristics of industrial clusters pay too much attention to the spatial perspective, and some studies analyze the evolution of industrial clusters from the perspective of industrial linkages. It is very important to combine industrial linkages and spatial agglomeration to observe the evolution of industrial clusters. To solve this problem, based on the enterprise big data from 1984 to 2019, this study uses the method based on natural semantics and spatial collaborative aggregation to identify industrial linkages and spatial aggregation of industrial clusters, and takes the electronic information industry cluster in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region as an example for empirical research. It can be seen from the results that most of the industries in the PRD cluster remain stable, and the industrial linkages and spatial agglomeration within the cluster are increasing. From the overall type of change, fewer industries can maintain high linkage–high proximity, and most industries are mainly concentrated in low linkage–high proximity. Through the combination of semantic and spatial synergy analysis, this study helps urban planners and policymakers understand the changes in industrial linkages and spatial agglomeration of industrial clusters.
The Mediating Role of Learning Engagement on Learning Gains of International Students in Chinese Higher Education Institutions—Based on a Multi-Cohort Analysis
Authors: Ma Jiani , Sun Chengmengxue , Wang Yuan
Published: October 2022

Within the dynamic area of global higher education, international student education plays an important role as an educational resource for students from different countries around the world and ensures inclusive and equitable quality education to create a sustainable future for global citizens. As China’s position in the global international student education landscape continues to rise, international student education in China has entered a stage of improved quality and efficiency. The learning process and outcomes of international students in China have become a key perspective for exploring the quality of international student education in China. This study conducted a questionnaire survey with 1372 international students in China on their study experience in China and found that the learning engagement of international students in China partially mediates the relationship between college environment and study gains. A multi-cluster analysis found that the mediating model of the learning engagement of international students in China was constant across cohorts of students who were second-generation college students (or not), received scholarships (or not), and had different high school backgrounds. Some variability across international student groups of different academic levels and different places of origin occurred. Accordingly, the study makes reference to the three main actors, namely, universities, teachers, and international students, and proposes recommendations for improving the learning engagement and learning gains of international students in China.
The Effect of Silicone Resin on the Fuel Oil Corrosion Resistance of Asphalt Mixture
Authors: Gao Xiang , Pang Ling , Xu Shi , Lv Yang , Zou Yingxue
Published: October 2022

Fuel oil leaked onto asphalt pavement will damage the asphalt layer by dissolving the binder, softening the mixture and finally resulting in distress such as raveling and pitting. In the meantime, the skid resistance, high temperature stability and water stability deteriorate dramatically. Silicone resin is a fog sealing material for asphalt pavement. It forms a three-dimensional network structure with -Si-O- chains and therefore shows strong hydrophobicity and chemical stability. This paper looks into the effect of silicone resin on the fuel oil corrosion resistance of asphalt mixture. The contact angle, Cantabro test, water stability test, wheel tracking test and three-point bending test were used to investigate the road performance and the corrosion resistance under diesel and gasoline. It was found that, compared with diesel, the contact angle between gasoline and asphalt is smaller, indicating better compatibility. The gasoline corrosion decreases the properties of asphalt mixture more than that of diesel, which indicates that the compatibility is related to the corrosion effect. The results also show that silicone resin can effectively improve the adhesion, strength, water stability and high- and low-temperature performance of asphalt mixture before and after fuel oil erosion, and the improving effect on asphalt mixture after oil erosion is better.
Cross-Country Linkages and Asymmetries of Sovereign Risk Pluralistic Investigation of CDS Spreads
Authors: Ghosh Bikramaditya , Papathanasiou Spyros , Kenourgios Dimitrios
Published: October 2022

Credit Default Swap (CDS) spread is a realistic measure of credit risk. Changes in the spreads showcase changes in the underlying uncertainty or credit volatility regarding the credit risk, associated with the asset class. We use Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MF-DFA) to further investigate the presence of asymmetries and the difference between Greece and G7 countries in terms of credit risk. We have considered 2587 daily observations for each of the 48 CDS spreads. Hence, a total of 124,176 data points were under consideration across six yearly CDS categories of Greece and most of the G7 countries (Germany, USA, UK, Canada, Japan). The tenure of these CDS were 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 5 years, 7 years, 10 years, 20 years, and 30 years. We have found that the Greek CDS spread movement is purely stochastic and anti-persistent, having practically no predictability at all. On the other hand, the remaining countries’ CDSs were highly predictable, showing a consistent long memory or long-range dependence, having embedded the bubble caused by herding. This is reflected in terms of flight-to-quality behavior and in estimates of CDS premiums for insurance against a default on government bonds.
New Product Development of a Robotic Soldering Cell Using Lean Manufacturing Methodology
Authors: Pop Emanuela , Campean Emilia , Braga Ion Cristian , Ispas Darius
Published: October 2022

With the advent of manufacturing in Industry 4.0 and consumer demand, there has been a trend of mass customization of products. This customization requirement can only be achieved through the flexibility of manufacturing processes that are tailored to meet the quality standards of customers and the large volume of production in a short time. The increase of the production capacity is achieved through the processes of industrial automation of the manufacture which maintains the increased efficiency for the series production. This study was based on the Design for Six Sigma methodology (DMADV—Define, Measure, Analyze, Design and Verify) in order to determine the soldering process characteristics and how the soldering process can be automatized. When planning the implementation of a collaborative robot in a workstation in the production plant, the following must be taken into account: steps in operations that require the most time for the worker and/or that represent factors of physical and moral overload for him; the use of adequate precision fixing devices, delimitation of work areas, sensors as well as spaces for connecting the workstation to the electrical, hydraulic/pneumatic network and constant cycle time. The proposed solution can improve the productivity of the process by integrating advanced robotics and smart devices into the soldering line.
The Relationship among Four Lifestyles of Workers amid the COVID-19 Pandemic (Work–Life Balance, YOLO, Minimal Life, and Staycation) and Organizational Effectiveness: With a Focus on Four Countries
Authors: Kim Joon-ho , Jung Seung-hye , Seok Bong-ihn , Choi Hyun-ju
Published: October 2022

This study empirically analyzes the effects of four lifestyles of office workers (work and life balance, you only live once (YOLO), minimal life, and staycation), which have been changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, on organizational effectiveness (measured by job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and organizational citizenship behavior). A questionnaire survey was conducted over four months through a global research firm. In total, 649 valid questionnaires were collected. A structural equation model analysis was performed on valid samples using SmartPLS statistics. The results were as follows: (1) Work and life balance, YOLO, and minimal life had a statistically significant positive effect on job satisfaction. (2) Minimal life had a statistically significant positive effect on organizational commitment. (3) Work and life balance, and staycation had statistically significant positive effects on organizational citizenship behavior. (4) Job satisfaction had a statistically significant positive effect on organizational commitment. (5) Job satisfaction and organizational commitment had a statistically significant positive effect on organizational citizenship behavior. This is the first empirical study to focus on four lifestyles (work–life balance, YOLO, minimal life, and staycation). The results show that job satisfaction was affected the most by YOLO,’ that organizational commitment was affected the most by minimal life, and that organizational citizenship behavior was affected the most by work–life balance.
Proposal of Resilient Housing Features for the Disaster Affected Community of Bangladesh
Authors: Harun-Or-Rashid G. M. , Castro Juan Jose , Chakrabartty Mithun , Kamruzzaman Md.
Published: October 2022

Thinking resiliency in terms of housing features for post disaster housing reconstruction (PDHR) is a paramount initiative after a disaster. Therefore, the aim of this research is to ascertain the demands of the disaster victims and propose a wind-resistant, resilient housing prototype that would be affordable. Based on a three-month survey of the region severely damaged by Cyclone SIDR in Bangladesh, this research argues that PDHR’s planning features are significantly short of the victims’ choice, need, and demand, forcing them to quickly modify or transform the reconstructed houses. Based on the survey, a prototype covering an area of 37.21 sq. m (400 sq. ft) with a hybrid construction technique and a cost model are proposed that will be a resilient solution against cyclones and other natural hazards. Additionally, the proposed house was modeled using finite elements, and its findings are within the International Building Code’s allowable limits. In conclusion, this paper proposes some guidelines to strengthen Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) that would enable to build a resilient housing society in the disaster-prone areas.
Fan Responses of Sponsored Environmental Sustainability Initiatives
Authors: McCullough Brian P. , Casper Jonathan C. , Kushner Smith Danielle M.
Published: October 2022

The sport sector is advancing its efforts to be environmentally friendly. These efforts now include corporate sponsored environmental initiatives, yet fans’ responsiveness to such efforts remains unexamined. Specifically, in this study, the corporate-sponsored environmental initiatives of a college athletic department with an established history of environmental commitments were examined to evaluate the influence of a point of attachment, sport brand-sustainability fit, and receptivity to messaging on the sport organization’s desired outcomes of the campaign (i.e., sustainability behavioral, support for environmental initiative corporate partner). Data were collected from college football fans of an institution in the United States Midwest region using an internet-based survey after the 2019 football season (N = 548). We found that most of our hypotheses were supported. Specifically, attachment to athletics, athletics/sustainability fit, and ascription of responsibility to athletics explained 52.7% of the variance of receptivity to messaging from athletics. In turn, receptivity to sustainable messaging and behaviors explained 45.0% of the support for corporate partners. Our results show that sport practitioners should evaluate the ascription of responsibility their fans place on the sport organization to be environmentally responsible, increasing the receptivity of environmental messages and desired outcomes from such efforts. In addition, this study shows the versatility and applicability of the model to actual sponsored environmental sustainability campaigns of a sport organization.
Bullying and Cyberbullying Victimization and Associated Factors among Adolescents in Six European Countries
Authors: Jaskulska Sylwia , Jankowiak Barbara , Pérez-Martínez Vanesa , Pyżalski Jacek , Sanz-Barbero Belén , Bowes Nicola , Claire Karen De , Neves Sofia , Topa Joana , Silva Estefânia , Mocanu Veronica , Gena Dascalu Cristina , Vives-Cases Carmen
Published: October 2022

Bullying and cyberbullying victimization are significant factors that threaten adolescent development and mental health. Our study aimed to analyze how socioeconomic characteristics and personal experiences of violence are associated with adolescents’ experiences of bullying and cyberbullying victimization. The study participants were 1146 students, 698 females and 448 males, aged between 13 and 16 years old, from secondary schools in Spain, Italy, Romania, Portugal, Poland and the UK. Data was collected through an online questionnaire. Prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated using Poisson regression with robust variance. In total, 37.2% of girls and 35.0% of boys reported being victims of bullying and or cyberbullying. The likelihood of bullying and or cyberbullying victimization was higher when adolescents had experienced physical and or sexual abuse before the age of 15, had witnessed domestic violence against their mother or had been victims of intimate partner violence. Perceived social support from teachers and classmates and higher self-esteem were associated with a lower likelihood of becoming a victim of bullying and or cyberbullying, but an association between experience of any other form of violence and the greater possibility of becoming a victim of bullying and or cyberbullying persisted even when self-esteem and social support were included in the model. Protecting adolescents from bullying and or cyberbullying means preventing all exposure to violent experiences in childhood and adolescence. Not having such experiences seems to be the most relevant protective factor.
A Meta-Analysis of Soil Organic Carbon Response to Livestock Grazing in Grassland of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Ma Zhiwen , Qin Wenping , Wang Zhaoqi , Han Chenglong , Liu Xiang , Huang Xiaotao
Published: October 2022

Known as the “roof of the world”, the Tibetan Plateau hosts the largest pastoral alpine ecosystem in the world. Nevertheless, there is currently no consensus on how soil organic carbon (SOC) stock changes after livestock grazing on the grassland of this region. Here, a meta-analysis was performed based on 55 published studies to quantify the livestock grazing-induced changes in SOC stock (0–30 cm) in grassland on the Tibetan Plateau. The results showed that livestock grazing significantly increased bulk density by an average of 11.5%, indicating that significant soil compaction was caused by livestock grazing. In contrast, SOC content and stock significantly decreased by 14.4% and 11.9% after livestock grazing, respectively. The decline rate of SOC stock was higher in alpine meadow (−12.4%) than that in alpine steppe (−8.8%), but there was no significant difference between the two rates. The SOC stocks decreased by 10.1%, 6.2% and 20.1% under light grazing, moderate grazing and heavy grazing, respectively. The decline rate of SOC stock under moderate grazing was significantly lower than that under heavy grazing. For different livestock types, it was observed that yak grazing significantly decreased SOC stock by 15.3%. Although the decline rate induced by yak grazing was higher than those induced by Tibetan sheep grazing and mixed grazing, no significant difference was detected among them. Similarly, the grazing-induced SOC declines also did not differ significantly among subgroups of grazing season. The positive relationships between SOC stock and plant biomass indicated that the decreased plant biomass was a likely reason for the declined SOC stock under grazing condition. The findings suggested that moderate grazing with Tibetan sheep in the warm season may minimize SOC losses from grazing activities in alpine grassland on the Tibetan Plateau.
The Influence of Financial Aid Systems on Student Academic Development in Higher Education in China
Authors: Qi Shuyu , Ma Qiutong , Ji Xiaohui
Published: October 2022

The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between the multiple mixed financial aid systems and the academic development of college students in Chinese higher education. Under the assistance of National Student Financial Aid Center of China, this study used sample data from the questionnaire survey conducted among students in 11 colleges and universities, and used logistic regression analysis based on human capital theory and student development theory to investigate the effects of different forms of financial aid on students’ academic development in higher education. The main results of the study showed that, firstly, receiving National Scholarships, National Encouragement Scholarships, and National Student Loans were significantly and positively correlated with receiving excellent grades, but receiving National Grants and work-study positions were significantly and negatively correlated with receiving excellent grades. Secondly, receiving higher National Scholarships and work-study funding significantly increased students’ probability of receiving excellent grades, but receiving higher National Student Loans funding significantly decreased students’ probability of receiving excellent grades. Further analysis of the influence of different forms of financial support on students’ academic development revealed that receiving National Scholarships and National Encouragement Scholarships can significantly increase the probability of study exchanges between sponsored students, teachers, and classmates and of attending seminars; receiving higher National Scholarships and work-study positions can help sponsored students clarify their study goals and increase study exchanges with teachers and classmates. The results of this study showed that the students’ academic development is influenced by the National Scholarships and work-study positions. Based on the results of the empirical study, countermeasures and suggestions were proposed in terms of precise financial aid systems, allocation of financial aid resources, and work-study positions, so as to improve the impact of higher education mixed financial aid systems on college students’ academic development in China.
Online Education and Undergraduates’ Academic Record during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China: Evidence from Large-Scale Data
Authors: Geng Jichao , Xun Shoukui , Yang Jian , Yang Na
Published: October 2022

Digital technology-based online education is key to promoting high-quality development of higher education. Many studies have analyzed the effects of online education during the COVID-19 pandemic, but analyses based on large-scale data are lacking. This study uses a quasi-natural experiment during the COVID-19 pandemic to explore the short- and long-term relationships between emergency remote education (teaching and learning) and undergraduates’ academic record using multiple comparison analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple linear regression. The research data come from the academic record of 123,208 courses of 2622 undergraduates from the classes of 2017–2021 in a Chinese university, across nine semesters. The data do not satisfy the homogeneity of variance hypothesis test; therefore, a non-parametric test is adopted for hypothesis testing. The results show that: (1) In the online education semester, the students’ academic record improved substantially with low fluctuation and greater stability; (2) this improvement is more obvious for sophomores and juniors than for freshmen, and (3) online education during the pandemic period significantly improved the course scores of undergraduates, especially sophomores, in the following one or two semesters.
Risk Assessment of Waterlogging in Major Winter Wheat-Producing Areas in China in the Last 20 Years
Authors: Huang Yiqian , Wang Feng , Su Yao , Yu Man , Shen Alin , He Xinhua , Gao Jingwen
Published: October 2022

Against the background of global warming, agricultural meteorological disasters such as waterlogging frequently occur, significantly restricting winter wheat yield and quality formation. Studying the changing trend of meteorological characteristics of waterlogging is beneficial to stabilizing winter wheat yield. We collected meteorological and yield data of China’s main winter wheat production areas in the last 20 years to explore the impact of waterlogging in different growth stages on wheat production. The results showed that waterlogging greatly impacted winter wheat production in the main winter wheat production areas in China, and the degree of influence was larger in the south than in the north. The precipitation in the south was higher, and waterlogging occurred in most growth stages, but waterlogging at the filling stage was more consistent with the yield reduction. On the other hand, the interannual variation in precipitation in the seedling stage in the north varied greatly, which was the critical stage of waterlogging. In conclusion, waterlogging was one of the main factors affecting winter wheat production in China. For southern cities, the filling period was the key period for disaster prevention and mitigation, but it was the seedling stage in the north.
A Sustainable and Comprehensive Framework for Knowledge Transfer in MNCs: An Empirical Examination Based on Country, Company and Individual Levels of Chinese MNCs
Authors: Cheng Junshuai , Iqbal Qaisar , Ji Guangmeng , Li Weichun
Published: October 2022

The shift in business perspective helps test, extend, and build innovative management theory, then sustainably expand and enhance the understanding of business and management. The development of the global business model makes knowledge transfer not only focus on the process itself, but especially the knowledge transfer of multinational companies (MNCs). Thus, this study is based on the knowledge-based view (KBV) theory, using a sustainable perspective and establishing a spatial model, which includes three aspects: county, company, and employee. It has been mentioned many times in previous research that it is necessary to build such a comprehensive model and completely study the influence factors, while this study is the first to carry out an effective empirical way to test which levels have significant factors that impact the knowledge transfer of Chinese MNCs. Moreover, with the advancement of technology, such as video conference and remote online cooperation, whether human abilities and traits (cultural intelligence) still occupy a specific position, as the conclusions of previous studies have proved, is also a focus of this study. Therefore, this empirical study uses the partial least squares structural equation (PLS-SEM) to test the influence of different aspects on knowledge transfer in Chinese MNCs. Although this study just chose Chinese MNCs as the case, the comprehensive results make up and rediscover some tacit factors of the impact on knowledge transfer, and then support further sustainable research.
A Fuzzy Two-Echelon Model to Optimize Energy Consumption in an Urban Logistics Network with Electric Vehicles
Authors: Ghobadi Azra , Fallah Mohammad , Tavakkoli-Moghaddam Reza , Kazemipoor Hamed
Published: October 2022

With the increase in pollutants, the need to use electric vehicles (EVs) in various urban logistics activities is an increasingly important issue. Currently, there are issues with the efficiency of transport companies in recognizing the effects of uncertain factors in daily logistics operations. Thus, this research proposes a novel fuzzy two-echelon vehicle routing problem involving heterogeneous fleet EVs and internal combustion vehicles (ICVs). The first echelon is recyclable wastes collected from waste pickup points and transported to the primary centers by EVs. The second echelon is transporting recyclable wastes to recycling centers by ICVs. In the proposed models, fuzzy numbers are used to express the rate and energy consumption depending on the amount of load, vehicle speed, and recyclable waste. In addition, a penalty cost of the time windows is considered in both echelons. The models are solved by CPLEX and two meta-heuristic algorithms, gray wolf optimizer (GWO) and tabu search (TS), based on different instance sizes. The results show the efficiency of the proposed algorithms.
Similar Impact, Different Readiness: A Comparative Study of the Impact of COVID-19 on ECTE Practice
Authors: Kan Li , Degotardi Sheila , Li Hui
Published: October 2022

COVID-19 lockdowns forced universities to deliver classes wholly online, resulting in various impacts on higher teacher education institutions (TEIs) that were differently prepared for such a change. However, few studies have explored the impact of the pandemic on the shift of early childhood teacher education programs to online delivery, especially from a cross-national comparative perspective. To address this gap, this study compared how early childhood teacher educators (ECTEs) in one Australian and one Chinese TEI viewed and coped with the challenges caused by online teaching during the lockdowns. A total of 14 ECTEs participated in this triangulated qualitative study: six from the Australian TEI and eight from the Chinese TEI. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the research data. The results indicated that the Australian ECTEs were better prepared for online education than their Chinese counterparts regarding proficiency and advance in using online teaching platforms, trying different kinds of teaching styles, and their online teaching skills, literacy, and competence. However, the coded data showed that the participant Australian and Chinese ECTEs shared similar views on the negative impact of the change, such as producing ineffective interaction, broken social-emotional connections, heavier workloads, and drained staff. The findings suggest that TEIs from Australia and China need to develop contextually appropriate strategies and innovative solutions to cope with the lockdown challenges.
Globalization or Glocalization? The Emerging Scholarship on Sport Match-Fixing in Light of Asian Context
Authors: Lee Ping-Chao
Published: October 2022

This article aims to contribute to the body of knowledge in sport social science and to serve as a basis for refining the recent Asian scholarship related to sports corruption in general and match-fixing studies in particular. The main goal of this study is to synthesize the relevant evidence by reviewing the literature on documentary materials and conducting interviews with academics, media journalists, baseball coaches, and former professional baseball players. First, the results indicate that the emerging theoretical/conceptual and methodological frameworks of Asian match-fixing studies have been identified. Second, the relevant actors’ roles in their embedded structures entail that match-fixing can be better understood from different perspectives, which shape corrupted contexts. Third, this study concludes by providing the implications of its examination of the nuances of match-fixing; it articulates how Asian match-fixing cases shed light on the relevant conceptual implications and practical applications regarding the effect of different cultures and the associated social network relationships.
Response of Water Yield to Future Climate Change Based on InVEST and CMIP6—A Case Study of the Chaohu Lake Basin
Authors: Zhang Ting , Gao Qian , Xie Huaming , Wu Qianjiao , Yu Yuwen , Zhou Chukun , Chen Zixian , Hu Hanqing
Published: October 2022

The Chaohu Lake Basin (CLB) is the main flow area of the Yangtze River–Huaihe River Water Transfer Project in Central China. It is important to quantitatively evaluate the water resources in the CLB and predict their response to future climate change. This study simulated and calibrated the water yield in the CLB from 2000 to 2019 based on InVEST. We also analyzed the influence factor on the water yield and predicted the water yield in future years with CMIP6 data. The results demonstrate that: (1) The InVEST water production module had good applicability in this study region. There was a strong linear relationship between the simulated water yield and the observed surface runoff (y = 1.2363x − 8.6038, R2 = 0.868, p < 0.01); (2) The explanatory percentage of interaction between precipitation and land use/land cover for water yield in 2001, 2008, and 2016 reached 71%, 77%, and 85%, respectively, which were the two dominant factors affecting water yield in the CLB; and (3) The average annual water yield in the CLB increased under the SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 future scenarios with increasing precipitation, increased with 71%, 139.8%, and 159.5% in 2100 compared with 2040, respectively. The overall trend of water production decreased with increases in carbon emission intensity.
Accessibility of Inclusive Sports Facilities for Training and Competition in Indonesia and Malaysia
Authors: Fitri Mustika , Zainal Abidin Nor Eeza , Novan Novrizal Achmad , Kumalasari Isti , Haris Fahmil , Mulyana Boyke , Khoo Selina , Yaacob Naziaty
Published: October 2022

Although the right to participate in sports is recognized in international conventions, accessibility to sports facilities has been cited as barriers to participation. Managers of sports facilities must know the standards that refer to the rules and accessibility to meet the needs of persons with disabilities to participate in sports and to attend sporting events. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the accessibility of sports facilities for training and competition in Indonesia and Malaysia. This study used a qualitative method through focus group discussions. Fifteen focus group discussions were conducted with 90 athletes from eight sports (boccia, goalball, basketball, badminton, ping-pong, swimming, powerlifting and blind football) who trained and competed in inclusive sports facilities. There were five major themes that we identified: access to training facilities, access inside training facilities, access during matches and athletes’ expectations of training and competition facilities.
The Coupling and Coordination Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Green Innovation Efficiency (GIE) and Economic Development Levels in China
Authors: Yang Guangming , Cheng Siyi , Gui Qingqing , Chen Xinlan
Published: October 2022

Green innovation exchanges low emissions, low pollution and low output for economic development. At the same time, economic development can provide important economic support for green innovation, and managing the connection between green innovation and economic development is significant for the balanced development of a region. There is no unified definition of green innovation efficiency in academic circles, but the definitions can be divided into three types: innovation aimed at minimizing environmental damage; innovation of environmental performance; and innovation for environmental development or environmental improvement. Based on relevant data from 30 provinces and cities in China from 2008 to 2019, this paper uses the coupling coordination model and spatial autocorrelation analysis to investigate the coordination status of green innovation efficiency (GIE), the economic development standard, and their evolution over time and space. We also use the Tobit model to analyze influential factors in coupling coordination. The results show that the overall development trend of coupling coordination is rising, and the gap between the coordination standard between the east and west is obvious. Considering the spatial correlation pattern, the high innovation area is mainly centered in the east. It is empirically demonstrated through the Tobit model that patented technology facilitates the balanced development of regional GIE and economic development. These conclusions provide a new viewpoint for the projection of green innovation policies, help to combine green innovation with economic development, and afford an academic foundation for the government to mark out future development directions and policies.
Sustainability Practices and Greenwashing Risk in the Italian Poultry Sector: A Grounded Theory Study
Authors: Toscano Armando , Balzarotti Melissa , Re Ilaria
Published: October 2022

Despite the growing recognition of the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework by companies as a transparency tool to meet stakeholders’ requirements, a universal standard for ESG reporting is currently lacking, potentially fueling greenwashing phenomena. This study focuses on one of the leading sectors dominated by big players at the Italian level, the poultry sector, with the aim of analyzing how the green transition can be integrated into ESG company identity. This study employs, for the first time, the grounded theory (GT) methodology to investigate how sustainability is “perceived” and “practiced” by the entrepreneurs of the Italian poultry supply chain. The results provide insights into how changes toward greater sustainability can be transformed into concrete pathways that function within the organizational design. The outcome could be the reconfiguration of the organizational design, whereby the practice becomes incisive, or its circumvention, whereby the practice is adopted only superficially. The development of a more standardized ESG reporting system, along with incentivization measures and policies supporting small and medium-sized agrifood companies in the adoption of sustainability practices, could contribute to overcoming the “detachment” between the sustainability “perceived” and “practiced” by agrifood companies and to effectively adopting environmental sustainability as a development strategy.
How Firms Can Improve Sustainable Performance on Belt and Road Initiative
Authors: Zhao Tao , Koo Jung-Mo , Lee Min-Jae
Published: October 2022

This study investigates the digitalization capabilities and the moderating effect of green open innovation (GOI) that firms need to achieve triple bottom line (TBL) performance in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This study explores the structure of business ecosystems that firms need to achieve sustainable performance and investigates open innovations that can be promoted based on them. The data used in the analysis was collected from 474 manufacturing firms pursuing partnerships among ecosystem participants to promote Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the BRI. The moderating regression analysis is used in this study. We found that digitization capabilities (DCs) have a significant effect on a firm’s TBL performance. In addition, it was confirmed that GOI has a positive moderating effect on digitalization capabilities and a firm’s economic performance. Based on these results, we also believe our model contributes to the current knowledge by filling several research gaps, and our findings offer valuable and practical implications not only for achieving sustainable growth but also for the creation of competitive advantage.
Red Deer in Lithuania: History, Status and Management
Authors: Balčiauskas Linas , Kawata Yukichika
Published: October 2022

The history, current population status and (un)sustainable management of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Lithuania are reviewed on the basis of 57 publications and, additionally, analysis of data on numbers and hunting bag. After the extinction of the species at the beginning of the 19th century, red deer were reintroduced into the northern part of the country during World War I. Population re-establishment was further fueled after WWII by immigration from neighboring countries and local translocations. After the introduction of the Law on Hunting in 2002, which enabled hunting organizations to rent hunting grounds for longer than 10 years, local wildlife management strategies were targeted at increasing the number of animals. However, a scientifically-based target population size for C. elaphus, agreed by all major stakeholders, has still not been defined. In the last 20 years, population growth has been exponential, deer numbers in Lithuania being estimated as 68,816 individuals in 2021. An increase in the size of the hunting bag is necessary for the sustainable management of the species at the national scale and to avoid risks of over-population as observed elsewhere in Europe.
New Perspectives of Earth Surface Remote Detection for Hydro-Geomorphological Monitoring of Rivers
Authors: Zingaro Marina , La Salandra Marco , Capolongo Domenico
Published: October 2022

In the current scenery of climate change and its relatively increasing visible effects seen over the world, the monitoring of geomorphological processes and flood dynamics becomes more and more necessary for disaster risk reduction. During recent decades, the advantages offered by remote sensing for Earth surface observations have been widely exploited, producing images, digital elevation models (DEM), maps, and other tools useful for hydro-geomorphological parameters detection, flood extent monitoring, and forecasting. However, today, advanced technologies and integrated methodologies do not yet enable one to completely provide near-real-time (NRT) and very-high-resolution (VHR) observations of a river, which is needed for risk evaluation and correct operational strategy identification. This work presents an advanced remote detection analysis system (ARDAS) based on the combination of multiple technologies, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems, Structure from Motion (SfM) techniques, and cloud computing environment. The system allows to obtain VHR products, such as ortho-photomosaics and DEM, for deep observation of the river conditions, morphological modifications, and evolution trend. The test of ARDAS in the Basento river catchment area (Basilicata, South Italy) showed that the innovative system (i) proves to be advantageous in river monitoring due to its high accuracy, quickness, and data flexibility; (ii) could represent a NRT solution for timely support of flood hazard assessments; and (iii) can be further developed by integrating other technologies for direct application in land planning and safeguard activities by contributing to the value chain of the new space economy and sustainable development.
The Effects of Exercise and Social Interaction in Different Natural Environments on the Mental Health of Urban Residents
Authors: Song Yating , Lin Xuefei
Published: October 2022

Background: Together with the rapid development of China’s economy, the number of urban residents suffering from depression and psychological disorders has been increasing as a result of the general increase in life stress. As a consequence, this study investigates the effects on users’ mental health through exercise and social interaction in three different outdoor natural landscapes, and provides theoretical and practical guidance for urban landscape planning and design. Methods: In this study, pre- and post-DASS21 (depression, anxiety and stress) data were obtained by using the DASS21 scale (used to assess depression, anxiety, and stress) to test a population of users performing simple exercise and social interactions in three natural environments, and the data scale values were statistically analyzed using SPSS. Results: (1) In the natural outdoor environment within the community, there was a relationship between the outdoor environment and perceived atmospheric temperature, with (single) and (group) perceived outdoor temperatures in the community having smaller effects on the mood of community residents; (2) After analyzing the data by descriptive statistics (p < 0.05), it was found that there was a slight change in the mean scores both before the participants climbed Yuelu Mountain and after they reached the summit; the mean scores of stress, anxiety, and depression decreased after they reached the summit, and the condition improved; (3) There was a slight change in the mean of both scores before the departure to and after the return from the Tongguan Kiln attractions, with a slight improvement in the condition after the return of the stress and depression mean scores. Conclusions: Enhancing social relationships through exercise and social interaction in a natural environment in different populations significantly increases the benefits for mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress) and assists recovery from stress-related mental disorders. Different landscape types and landscape attribute characteristics have different effects on urban residents’ preferences and mental health. Rich natural landscapes, providing green exercise environments, and t social interactions have positive effects on the mental health of urban residents. Especially in environments where the change in altitude is around 200 m, climbing is very beneficial to psychological emotions.