bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lipid Extracts from Caulerpa lentillifera Waste: An Alternative Product in a Circular Economy
Authors: Srinorasing Thanyarat , Chirasuwan Nattayaporn , Bunnag Boosya , Chaiklahan Ratana
Published: April 2021

Nowadays, a circular economy is one of the main strategies for developing a sustainable economy. The objective of this work was to increase the value of Caulerpa lentillifera waste and use it efficiently as a resource for lipid extraction. A crude lipid yield of approximately 27.69% of the dry weight was obtained under the following optimized conditions that consisted of a three-stage extraction with 15 min/stage using a ratio of 1:10 (w/v) at room temperature. The crude extracts contained a total fatty acids (TFA) content of approximately 58.60% of the weight of the extracts, which consisted of 10 types of fatty acids. The proportion of palmitic acid (16:0) as the main component was above 70% of the TFA content. Moreover, it also contained chlorophylls a and b and carotenoids at approximately 1.77, 0.91, and 0.70 µg/mg of the extract, respectively. The total phenolic and flavonoids content, including 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 1,1′- diphenyl-2-picrahydrazyl (ABTS and DPPH, respectively) scavenging activities, showed that the lipid extracts had high potential for antioxidant activity. Moreover, the extracts also demonstrated α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 8.97 mg/mL. Thus, this extract could be used as an alternative product in a circular economy for preventing diabetes disease.
The Interaction Effect of Information Systems of Shipping and Logistics Firms and Managers’ Support for Blockchain Technology on Cooperation with Shippers for Sustainable Value Creation
Authors: Bae Hee-sung
Published: April 2021

Firms apply new technology to value creation. In particular, blockchain technology increases transparency and stability of shipping and logistics firms and this is connected with a high level of collaboration with shippers. In this regard, the objective of this study is to verify the interaction effect of information systems of shipping and logistics firms and managers’ support for blockchain technology on cooperation with shippers. To achieve the objective, this study identified variables based on prior research and analyzed the data collected by a survey. The results are as follows. First, information systems as a resource of shipping and logistics firms have a positive effect on cooperation with shippers. To enhance the strategic resource, they increase cooperation with shippers based on learning and logistics process improvement. Therefore, the relationship between the information systems and cooperation with shippers can be explained as a resource-based view. Second, there is the interaction effect of the information systems and managers’ support for blockchain technology on the cooperation and this can be explained as a resource-based view. Information systems are resources of shipping and logistics firms, and managers should encourage and reward staff for using new technology such as blockchains, followed by a high level of cooperation with shippers.
Green Marketing Strategies on Online Platforms: A Mixed Approach of Experiment Design and Topic Modeling
Authors: Park Eunhye , Kwon Junehee , Kim Sung-Bum
Published: April 2021

This study aimed to examine the effects of two types of green information conveyed via online platforms and the moderating role of environmental consciousness on customers’ green perceptions, positive attitudes, and behavioral intentions. This study performed a 2 (firm-initiated green information: absent, present) × 2 (customer-generated green information: absent, present) experiment. These mixed methods were further implemented by using both open-ended surveys and structured measurements. Open-ended survey answers were analyzed with structural topic modeling to discover customers’ green perceptions. The results highlighted the importance of customer-generated green information to support firm-initiated green marketing, consequently leading to enhanced customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions. Although displaying green information generated by both the company and its customers is effective in enhancing green perceptions, customers may react differently depending on their levels of environmental consciousness.
Change in Gap Perception within Current Practices in Assessing Students Learning Mathematics
Authors: Bocanet Vlad I. , Brown Ken , Uukkivi Anne , Soares Filomena , Lopes Ana Paula , Cellmer Anna , Serrat Carles , Feniser Cristina , Serdean Florina M. , Safiulina Elena , Kelly Gerald , Cymerman Joanna , Kierkosz Igor , Sushch Volodymyr , Latõnina Marina , Labanova Oksana , Bruguera M. Montserrat , Pantazi Chara , Estela M. Rosa
Published: April 2021

The COVID pandemic has touched many aspects of everyone’s life. Education is one of the fields greatly affected by it, as students and teachers were forced to move online and quickly adapt to the online environment. Assessment is a crucial part of education, especially in STEM fields. A gap analysis was performed by expert groups in the frame of an Erasmus+ project looking at the practices of six European countries. Specialists teaching university-grade mathematics in seven European institutions were asked about their perception of gaps in the assessment of students both before (2019) and during (2021) the pandemic. This qualitative study looks at the difference in perception of such gaps after almost one year of online teaching. The analysis of their responses showed that some gaps were present before the pandemic, as well as others that are specific to it. Some gaps, such as the lack of IT infrastructure and the need to adapt materials to an online environment, have been exacerbated by the outbreak.
The Development of Sustainable Assessment during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of the English Language Program in South Korea
Authors: Chung Sun-Joo , Choi Lee-Jin
Published: April 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to educational systems around the world. In particular, language learning environments being impacted by the pandemic has resulted in a shift from traditional in-person to online language teaching. This paper examines the case of an English language program in South Korea to investigate how the sudden transition to online language teaching has influenced language instructors’ teaching and assessment practice. The current study also examines the level of satisfaction of instructors and students with the changing form of English language teaching and assessment practices. Results showed that a professional learning community was formed by instructors to engage in regular communication as an attempt to develop new forms of assessment practices that were process-oriented and formative. Instructors also assigned multimodal projects to promote sustainable assessments where students could actively utilize target language forms and structures. Students were highly satisfied with new forms of language assessment practices, whereas instructors’ level of satisfaction towards their language assessment practices were somewhat low. Findings provided educators with language assessment suggestions that can offer language instructors ideas to deliver more creative and sustainable language assessment strategies that can promote self-regulated learning and sustainable development.
Alternative Food Networks in Food System Transition—Values, Motivation, and Capacity Building among Young Swedish Market Gardeners
Authors: Drottberger Annie , Melin Martin , Lundgren Lotten
Published: April 2021

This study sheds light on a new generation of Swedish food producers, market gardeners, who are attracting attention in terms of food system sustainability, prompted by increasing consumer awareness about the value of healthy and locally produced food. Market gardening is part of a global agroecological movement opposed to industrialized agriculture and its negative impacts on the environment and rural communities. These food producers challenge the incumbent agri-food regime through the building of alternative food networks. This case-based study involving 14 young vegetable producers showed that young people who engage in market gardening are strongly motivated by dual incentives, namely entrepreneurship and transformation to sustainability. Six main competences were identified as important for market gardeners: practical skills related to growing vegetables, business management, innovation and continuous learning, systems thinking, pioneering, and networking. Individuals develop their skills through continuous experiential learning and gain knowledge through peer-to-peer learning using social media. However, they need to acquire certain skills relating to their daily work in the field and to managing a business. Market gardeners currently face a number of barriers erected by the sociopolitical environment, in particular regarding access to research-based knowledge, extension services, and business support.
International Student Engagement for Sustainability of Leisure Participation: An Integrated Approach of Means-End Chain and Acculturation
Authors: Lee Nahyun , Kim Bong-Seok
Published: April 2021

This study examined international students’ engagement in leisure activities using data derived from an integrated method and analyzed through acculturation and means-end chain approaches. A cluster analysis was conducted to identify acculturation types. An initial qualitative survey with 30 respondents produced the questionnaire items, and a quantitative survey to construct value maps was conducted targeting 415 respondents. The cluster analysis identified bicultural acceptance, heritage culture maintenance, and bicultural marginalization as distinct types that distinguish the acculturation level among international students. The results from three acculturation types indicate that the significant items and strong linkages between attribute-consequence and consequence-value at each level reflect the international students’ inner thoughts and ultimate value. Such strong associations provide value maps, which differ according to the acculturation types. Such findings present that availability of leisure services is necessary to better cater to the special interests of international students at different stages of acculturation. Given that international student mobility has increased substantially, relevant leisure professionals and organizations should understand that international students’ sustainable leisure engagement can only be achieved if attention is paid to cultural contexts.
A Systematic Review of the Hydrological, Environmental and Durability Performance of Permeable Pavement Systems
Authors: Sambito Mariacrocetta , Severino Alessandro , Freni Gabriele , Neduzha Larysa
Published: April 2021

Due to urbanization, large portions of vegetated territory have been replaced by waterproof surfaces. The consequences are greater outflows, lower infiltration, and lower evapotranspiration. Pavement systems made with permeable surfaces allow the infiltration of water, ensuring reduction of runoff volume. In this paper, the methods of analysis of the hydrological and environmental performance of the pavement systems are reviewed in the context of urban drainage and regarding their durability. The purpose is to present an overview of the studies published during the last decade in the field. The Pubmed and Web Science Core Collection electronic databases were used to conduct the scientific literature survey. This generated 1238 papers, of which only 17 met the criteria and were included and discussed in this review. The evidence drawn from the knowledge on which the document is based provides useful critical interpretations of existing studies to progress the current understanding on hydrological performance and environment impacts in terms of conventional pollutant removal efficiency and the current permeable pavement systems.
Investigation of a Process to Eco-Design Led Lighting Products to Enhance the Adoption of Eco-Design Methods and Tools by Industry
Authors: Casamayor Jose L. , Su Daizhong
Published: April 2021

To date, many studies have been carried out to develop new approaches and methods to eco-design products. However, these have not been implemented and adopted by industry as much as they should. A better understanding of real-world industrial eco-design and development processes, and the eco-design tools applied during these, could inform the development of more effective and applicable eco-design methods and tools, for generic as well as for specific product categories (e.g., LED lighting products). This paper addresses this issue by describing and examining a real-world process followed to design and develop a LED lighting product by a lighting manufacturer, via case study research. The case study involved direct participatory observation to gather the data and provided new insights about the stages of the design and development process, as well as the tools applied, which were examined and discussed to inform the improvement of existing methods and tools, or the development of better new methods and tools.
Exploring the Relationship between Communication and Success of Construction Projects: The Mediating Role of Conflict
Authors: Malik Summaira , Taqi Muhammad , Martins José Moleiro , Mata Mário Nuno , Pereira João Manuel , Abreu António
Published: April 2021

The success of a construction project is a widely discussed topic, even today, and there exists a difference of opinion. The impact of communication and conflict on project success is an important, but least addressed, issue in literature, especially in the case of underdeveloped countries. Miscommunication and conflict not only hinder the success of a project but also may lead to conflicts. The focus of this paper was to examine the impact of communication on project success with the mediating role of conflict. By using SPSS, demographics, descriptive statistics and correlation were determined. Smart PLS version 3.0 was used for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal accuracy and validity estimates, hypothesis checking and mediation testing. The results showed that formal communication has a negative impact on the success of a construction project, resulting in conflicts among project team members, whereas informal communication and communication willingness have a positive impact on project success because people tend to know each other, and trust is developed. Task, process and relationship conflicts were used as mediating variables. It was found that task conflict effects the relations positively because project team members suggest different ways to do a certain task, and, hence, project success is achieved. On the contrary, process conflict and relationship conflict have a negative impact on communication and project success. Both of these conflicts lead to miscommunication, and project success is compromised. Hence, it is the responsibility of the project manager to enhance communication among project team members and to reduce the detrimental effects of process and relationship conflict on project success.
Analysis of Changes in Suitable Habitat Areas of Paridae through Rooftop Greening Simulation—Case Study of Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
Authors: Baek Kyung Youl , Kim Ho Gul , Kil Sung-Ho
Published: April 2021

As many people live in cities that lack green space, biodiversity in such areas is decreasing. Suwon, the study site, a city that strives to improve its biodiversity, is close to the capital city of the Republic of Korea (ROK), and has a large population. This study aims to identify habitat-suitable areas using the longitudinal distribution model in Suwon-si, examine habitat changes when rooftop greening scenarios are applied to various use areas, and distinguish efficient use areas to expand the number of forms. To establish a rooftop greening creation scenario, the area was calculated based on the rooftop greening promotion plan in the metropolitan area, and a representative use area where rooftop greening can be applied was selected. To generate a scenario for creating rooftop greening, the property of the green area was assigned to the corresponding use area, and it was produced as an environmental variable, while the species distribution model was driven. As a result of the study, the area of increase in habitat area according to the rooftop greening for each usage area was derived, and the efficiency of the increase in habitat area compared to the rooftop greening area for each usage area was derived. To improve biodiversity in Suwon-si, rooftop greening in residential areas was found to be the most efficient, and rooftop greening efficiency in commercial areas was the lowest. It is expected that information on the increase and efficiency of the habitat of the wild birds due to rooftop greening by area of use derived from this study will help establish a rooftop greening plan and support decision-making to promote biodiversity in the city.
The Effect of Climate-Smart Agriculture on Soil Fertility, Crop Yield, and Soil Carbon in Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Tadesse Meron , Simane Belay , Abera Wuletawu , Tamene Lulseged , Ambaw Gebermedihin , Recha John W. , Mekonnen Kindu , Demeke Getamesay , Nigussie Abebe , Solomon Dawit
Published: April 2021

It is critical to develop technologies that simultaneously improve agricultural production, offset impacts of climate change, and ensure food security in a changing climate. Within this context, considerable attention has been given to climate-smart agricultural practices (CSA). This study was conducted to investigate the effects of integrating different CSA practices on crop production, soil fertility, and carbon sequestration after being practiced continuously for up to 10 years. The CSA practices include use of soil and water conservation (SWC) structures combined with biological measures, hedgerow planting, crop residue management, grazing management, crop rotation, and perennial crop-based agroforestry systems. The landscapes with CSA interventions were compared to farmers’ business-as-usual practices (i.e., control). Wheat (Triticum sp.) yield was quantified from 245 households. The results demonstrated that yield was 30–45% higher under CSA practices than the control (p < 0.05). The total carbon stored at a soil depth of 1 m was three- to seven-fold higher under CSA landscapes than the control. CSA interventions slightly increased the soil pH and exhibited 2.2–2.6 and 1.7–2.7 times more total nitrogen and plant-available phosphorus content, respectively, than the control. The time series Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) revealed higher soil moisture content under CSA. The findings illustrated the substantial opportunity of integrating CSA practices to build climate change resilience of resource-poor farmers through improving crop yield, reducing nutrient depletion, and mitigating GHG emissions through soil carbon sequestration.
Military Leader Behavior Formation for Sustainable Country Security
Authors: Bekesiene Svajone , Meidute-Kavaliauskiene Ieva , Hošková-Mayerová Šárka
Published: April 2021

The continuous improvement of military leadership identity to maintain excellent performance with respect to the promotion of mission success is a highly desired by the Lithuanian Armed Forces. This study seeks to identify the criteria for effective leadership behavior that is appreciated by Lithuanian servicemen. The validated Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire (LBDQ XII) was used to collect data representing followers’ preferences with respect to commander–leader behavior by assessing twelve leadership behavior criteria. Additionally, commander–leaders were chosen as experts to judge the importance of the criteria by pair-wise assessment. Consequently, the Fuzzy Decision Making (FDM) with Fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method based on the new concept of the relationship between the influenced and influencing criteria were employed to analyze the ranking using leadership behavior and to establish the causal relationships among the criteria when the collected data were expressed in trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. This study contributes to military leadership by using a novel approach for identifying and prioritizing the behavior criteria for leaders. The results indicate six “cause” constructs: ability to persuade, taking the lead, result orientation, accurate forecasting, building interpersonal relationships, and cooperation with managers. These findings could assist militaries in designing effective improvement strategies for continuous leadership training.
Field Environmental Philosophy: A Biocultural Ethic Approach to Education and Ecotourism for Sustainability
Authors: Tauro Alejandra , Ojeda Jaime , Caviness Terrance , Moses Kelli P. , Moreno-Terrazas René , Wright T. , Zhu Danqiong , Poole Alexandria K. , Massardo Francisca , Rozzi Ricardo
Published: April 2021

To contribute to achieving local and global sustainability, we propose a novel educational methodology, called field environmental philosophy (FEP), which orients ecotourism practices to reconnect citizens and nature. FEP is based on the systemic approach of the biocultural ethic that values the vital links among the life habits of co-inhabitants (humans and other-than-humans) who share a common habitat. Based on this “3Hs” model (habitats, co-inhabitants, habits), FEP combines tourism with experiential education to reorient biocultural homogenization toward biocultural conservation. FEP’s methodological approach seeks to integrate social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability by generating new links between biological and cultural diversity at different spatial and social scales. Ecotourism has an underutilized potential to link sciences with education and conservation practices at different scales. By incorporating a philosophical foundation, FEP broadens both understanding and practices of environmental education and sustainable tourism. FEP has been developed at the Omora Ethnobotanical Park in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, Chile, at the southern end of the Americas since 2000, where it has oriented transdisciplinary work for the creation of new protected areas and ecotourism practices. FEP enables an integration of biophysical, cultural, and institutional dimensions into the design of ecotourism activities that transform and broaden the perceptions of tourists, local guides, students, and other participants to better appreciate local biological and cultural diversity. FEP’s methodology is starting to be adapted in other world regions, such as Germany, Japan, and Mexico, to integrate education and ecotourism for sustainability.
A Comparison of Different Approaches for Assessing Energy Outputs of Combined Heat and Power Geothermal Plants
Authors: Fiaschi Daniele , Manfrida Giampaolo , Mendecka Barbara , Tosti Lorenzo , Parisi Maria Laura
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we assess using two alternative allocation schemes, namely exergy and primary energy saving (PES) to compare products generated in different combined heat and power (CHP) geothermal systems. In particular, the adequacy and feasibility of the schemes recommended for allocation are demonstrated by their application to three relevant and significantly different case studies of geothermal CHPs, i.e., (1) Chiusdino in Italy, (2) Altheim in Austria, and (3) Hellisheidi in Iceland. The results showed that, given the generally low temperature level of the cogenerated heat (80–100 °C, usually exploited in district heating), the use of exergy allocation largely marginalizes the importance of the heat byproduct, thus, becoming almost equivalent to electricity for the Chiusdino and Hellisheidi power plants. Therefore, the PES scheme is found to be the more appropriate allocation scheme. Additionally, the exergy scheme is mandatory for allocating power plants’ environmental impacts at a component level in CHP systems. The main drawback of the PES scheme is its country dependency due to the different fuels used, but reasonable and representative values can be achieved based on average EU heat and power generation efficiencies.
The Model of Vehicle and Route Selection for Energy Saving
Authors: Lingaitienė Olga , Merkevičius Juozas , Davidavičienė Vida
Published: April 2021

The World Bank, United Nations, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and others are in line with the governments of countries that are strongly interested in the sustainable development of countries, regions, and enterprises. One of the aspects that affects the indicators and prospects of sustainable development is the efficiency of energy source use. Nationwide reductions in the greenhouse gas emissions of motor vehicles could have a direct effect on ambient temperature and reducing the effects of global warming, which can affect future environmental, societal, and economic development. Significant reductions in fuel consumption can be achieved by increasing the efficiency of use, and the performance, of current cargo vehicles. This aspect is directly related to cargo delivery systems and supply chain efficiency and effectiveness. The article solves the problem of increasing the effectiveness of cargo delivery and proposes a model that would minimize transportation costs that are directly related to fuel consumption, shortening transportation time. The model addresses the problem of a lack of models evaluating the efficiency of cargo to Lithuania that is using several different modes of transportation. For the solution to this problem, the article examines the complexity of the rational use of land and water vehicles depending on the type of cargo transported, the technical capabilities of the vehicles (loading, speed, environmental pollution, fuel consumption, etc.), and the type (cars, railways, ships). The novelty of the findings is based on the availability to select the most appropriate vehicles, on a case-by-case basis, from the available options, depending on their environmental performance and energy efficiency. This model, later in this article, is used for calculations of Lithuanian companies for selecting the most rational vehicle by identifying the most appropriate route, as well as assessing the dynamics of the economic and physical indicators. The model allows for creating dependencies between the main indicators characterizing the transport process—the cost, the time of transport, and the safety, taking into account the dynamics of economic and physical indicators, that lead to a very important issue—reducing the amount of energy required to provide products and services.
Pedagogical Variables and Motor Commitment in the Planning of Invasion Sports in Primary Education
Authors: García-Ceberino Juan M. , Feu Sebastián , Gamero María G. , Ibáñez Sergio J.
Published: April 2021

Research on Sports Pedagogy necessitates studying the knowledge possessed by pre-service teachers (PSTs) and its application in the planning of sports in school. The main objectives of this study were to consider if PSTs really apply their beliefs when planning their didactic units, and to analyse time management and its influence on external load in invasion sports. Eighteen PSTs were interviewed and 899 learning tasks were coded using the Integral Analysis System of Training Tasks. Three groups of pedagogical variables (type of task, game phase and game situation), organisational variables related to time and the external load were analysed. A descriptive analysis was made of the contents of the interviews, on the use of the pedagogical variables and on those used in the learning tasks. Application exercises were set by 50.70% of the tasks and 44.30% were without opposition. This did not coincide with teachers’ beliefs, as they did not show a clear choice of ideal type of task and indicated that individual game situations with opposition were preferable. A descriptive analysis was also made of the organisational variables according to the planned sport. Inferential analysis using the Kruskal-Wallis H test and pairwise multiple comparisons showed differences in the motor commitment and external load of the task*time depending on the type of invasion sport (p < 0.05). Time management conditioned the motor commitment and task load.
Resource Endowment, Industrial Structure, and Green Development of the Yellow River Basin
Authors: Zhao Kang , Zhang Rui , Liu Hong , Wang Geyi , Sun Xialing
Published: April 2021

The Yellow River Basin is an important energy base of China, and its green development is crucial to Chinese economic transformation. In this paper, we calculate the green total factor productivity (GTFP) to measure the green development level of the Yellow River Basin by using an Slack Based Model- Global Malmquist-Luenberger (SBM-GML) index model. On this basis, we use a Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) model to further analyze the impact of resource endowment and industrial structure on the green development of cities. The results show that resource endowment inhibits the green development of cities and that the resource curse is observed in the Yellow River Basin. The industrial structure advancement significantly promotes the green development of cities. The impact of industrial structure rationalization on green development varies significantly on the type of city. Specifically, it has an inhibiting effect on key environmental protection cities but a promoting effect on non-key environmental protection cities.
Modelling Individual Tree Diameter Growth of Quercus mongolica Secondary Forest in the Northeast of China
Authors: Hu Xuefan , Duan Guangshuang , Zhang Huiru
Published: April 2021

Quercus mongolica secondary forest is widely distributed in the northeast of China, but it usually has low productivity, unstable structure, poor health, and low biodiversity. Diameter is a tree variable that is commonly used for forest growth measurement, to provide the basis for forest management decision. Two level generalized linear mixed effects individual tree diameter growth model were developed using data from two times surveys of 12 Q. mongolica secondary forest permanent plots that were distributed among Wangqing forest farms. Random effects of 14 tree species and 12 plots were introduced into the basic model consisting of three factors: tree size, competition of surrounding trees, and site quality. The results showed that initial diameter at breast height(DBH) was the most important variable affecting diameter growth, followed by competition, while the effect of site quality on diameter growth was not significant. Compared with the basic model, the prediction accuracy of the mixed effect model was improved by 17.69 %, where R2 reached to 0.6805, indicating that it is suitable for the individual-tree diameter growth prediction of the secondary forest of Q. mongolica.
The Life Cycle Energy Consumption and Emissions of Asphalt Pavement Incorporating Basic Oxygen Furnace Slag by Comparative Study
Authors: Xie Jun , Wang Zhihu , Wang Fusong , Wu Shaopeng , Chen Zongwu , Yang Chao
Published: April 2021

Basic Oxygen Furnace Slag (BOF), as alternatives for aggregate in asphalt pavement construction, is beneficial to the environment by reducing land occupation and resource consumption. However, the quantitative effects on energy consumption and emissions reduction remains poorly understood due to the unavailability of local life cycle inventory. Therefore, its LCI needs to be built by accounting for the properties of BOF aggregate in terms of high porosity and dust content in BOF, the rainy interference condition that reducing efficiency in production, and transportation distance. Here we investigated the life cycle energy consumption and global warming potential (CO2-eq emission) of asphalt pavement incorporating BOF aggregate by performing a case study with uncertainty analysis. Five scenarios were elaborated and performed in the case study. The results show that the energy required for BOF production is 0.024 MJ/kg, approximately half the energy required for crushed stone of 0.044 MJ/kg. The pavements with BOF can reduce up to 12% of emission compared to ordinary pavement. Considerably more negative impacts of rainy weather on energy consumption of BOF than natural crushed stone can be concluded. Monte Carlo simulation indicates that the order of magnitudes of the energy values were varied, from materials extraction as the maximum contributor to transportation. The benefits for BOF utilization are gradually offset by increased transport distances and the displacement ratios of fine crushed stones, due to the increase in fuel and resource consumption for mixing, construction, and transportation.
A New Efficient Architecture for Adaptive Bit-Rate Video Streaming
Authors: Bin Waheed Muhammad Hamza , Jamil Faisal , Qayyum Amir , Jamil Harun , Cheikhrouhou Omar , Ibrahim Muhammad , Bhushan Bharat , Hmam Habib
Published: April 2021

The demand for multimedia content over the Internet protocol network is growing exponentially with Internet users’ growth. Despite high reliability and well-defined infrastructure for Internet protocol communication, Quality of Experience (QoE) is the primary focus of multimedia users while getting multimedia contents with flawless or smooth video streaming in less time with high availability. Failure to provide satisfactory QoE results in the churning of the viewers. QoE depends on various factors, such as those related to the network infrastructure that significantly affects perceived quality. Furthermore, the video delivery’s impact also plays an essential role in the overall QoE that can be made efficient by delivering content through specialized content delivery architectures called Content Delivery Networks (CDNs). This article proposes a design that enables effective and efficient streaming, distribution, and caching multimedia content. Moreover, experiments are carried out for the factors impacting QoE, and their behavior is evaluated. The statistical data is taken from real architecture and analysis. Likewise, we have compared the response time and throughput with the varying segment size in adaptive bitrate video streaming. Moreover, resource usage is also analyzed by incorporating the effect of CPU consumption and energy consumption over segment size, which will be counted as effective efforts for sustainable development of multimedia systems. The proposed architecture is validated and indulged as a core component for video streaming based on the use case of a Mobile IPTV solution for 4G/LTE Users.
Improving Adolescents’ Attitudes towards Persons with Disabilities: An Intervention Study in Secondary Education
Authors: Álvarez-Delgado Julián , León-del-Barco Benito , Polo-del-Río María-Isabel , López-Ramos Víctor-María , Mendo-Lázaro Santiago
Published: April 2021

The relationship of disabled persons with their environment is fundamental. Attitudes towards them, understood as the social constructs of those around them, play a key role in a person’s development and future, as they are one of the fundamental elements that can facilitate or hinder the inclusion process. Our work examines the need to implement educational and awareness-raising actions and programs that contemplate intervention strategies based on education and direct contact with disabled persons. The main objective of the study was to analyze the effect of a Program for Changing Attitudes towards Persons with Disabilities on a group of secondary school students (11 to 15 years of age), assigning 770 to the experimental group and 105 to the control group. The evaluation instrument used was the “Brief Questionnaire of Attitudes towards Persons with Disabilities for Adolescents, CBAD-12A”. The results have demonstrated the efficacy of the intervention for the experimental group, as it was possible to attribute the changes in attitude to the effect of the Program. Specifically, an improvement in attitudes was found in all three factors of the questionnaire (Acceptance-Rejection, Competence and Opportunity) after the intervention.
Integrating Multivariate and Univariate Statistical Models to Investigate Genotype–Environment Interaction of Advanced Fragrant Rice Genotypes under Rainfed Condition
Authors: Hashim Norainy , Rafii Mohd Y. , Oladosu Yusuff , Ismail Mohd Razi , Ramli Asfaliza , Arolu Fatai , Chukwu Samuel
Published: April 2021

Specialty fragrant rice is sold at a premium price in both local and international trade because of its superior grain qualities. In this research, 40 advanced fragrant rice accessions were evaluated in different environments. The primary objective was to identify genotypes with high grain yield and high stability using multivariate (GGE biplot) and univariate analysis (regression slope, deviation from regression, Shukla’s stability variance, Wricke’s ecovalence, and Kang’s stability statistic). The field experiment trials were laid in a randomized complete block design in three replications. The analysis of variance showed highly significant differences among genotypes, locations, seasons, and the interactions between genotype, locations, and seasons. The environment significantly explained about 43.32% (37.01 and 6.31% for locations and seasons) of the total sum of squares. Based on average ranking generated from multivariate and univariate stability measured, rice accessions were classified into three major categories, viz., genotypes having high trait performance, and high stability as category 1. The second category consists of genotypes that exhibit high mean performance but low stability, while the third category includes genotypes with high stability but low trait performance. Our results showed that breeding for yield performance was possible, and the identified genotypes could be recommended for commercial cultivation.
Blood Diamonds and Ethical Consumerism: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Schulte Meike , Balasubramanian Sreejith , Paris Cody Morris
Published: April 2021

Although ethical consumerism has witnessed significant interest in recent years, most studies have focused on low-value, commoditized product categories such as food and beverage and apparel. Despite its significance, the research on ethical consumerism in luxury product segments such as diamonds is relatively scant. This formed the motivation of this study, which examined the ethical buying behavior of consumers and the moderating effects of their income levels in the diamond industry. Four hundred eightteen responses toa structured questionnaire were collected. The framework comprising of four constructs, namely ethically-minded consumer behavior, willingness to pay more, ethical concerns regarding country of origin of diamonds, and ethical buying behavior of diamonds was first validated, and then the hypothesized relationships between the constructs were assessed using structural equation modeling. Overall, ethically minded consumer behavior had a significant positive impact on willingness to pay more, ethical concerns regarding the country of origin of diamonds, and ethical buying of diamonds. Additionally, ethical concerns regarding country of origin positively influenced the ethical buying of diamonds, while the willingness to pay more had no significant impact on ethical diamond purchases. The multi-group moderation test results revealed that the income levels of buyers do affect the relationships between constructs. For instance, for the middle income group, generic ethically-minded consumer behavior did not translate into the ethical buying behavior of diamonds. The findings provide useful insights for practitioners and policy-makers regarding ethical consumerism in the diamond industry and help to highlight the issues facing the industry, such as its poor supply chain transparency, human rights abuses, child labor, money laundering, bribery and corruption, and environmental degradation from mining activities.
Assessment of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Land: A Literature Review Based on Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Xiao Pengnan , Zhou Yong , Li Xigui , Xu Jie , Zhao Chong
Published: April 2021

A great amount of negative influence on human existence and environmental protection has been brought on by heavy metal pollution in agriculture soil. Thus, major awareness has been diverted to the evaluation of heavy metals (EHM) in agricultural land, which is used to improve the environment and ensure people’s health. Based on 3759 publications collected from the Web of Science Core CollectionTM (WoS), this paper’s aim is to illustrate a comprehensive bibliometric run-through and visualization of the subject of EHM. Contingent on influential authors, top institutions, keywords are discussed in detail. Afterwards, the ruling publications and focal assemblage of EHM and leading publications are analyzed to discover the main research topics, according to citation analysis and reference co-citation analysis. The main motive of the paper is to assist research workers interested in the area of EHM determine the ongoing potential research opportunities and hotspots.
Biogas as a Transport Fuel—A System Analysis of Value Chain Development in a Swedish Context
Authors: Arfan Muhammad , Wang Zhao , Soam Shveta , Eriksson Ola
Published: April 2021

Biofuels policy instruments are important in the development and diffusion of biogas as a transport fuel in Sweden. Their effectiveness with links to geodemographic conditions has not been analysed systematically in studying biogas development in a less urbanised regions, with high potential and primitive gas infrastructure. One such region identified is Gävleborg in Sweden. By using value chain statistics, interviews with related actors, and studying biofuels policy instruments and implications for biogas development, it is found that the policy measures have not been as effective in the region as in the rest of Sweden due to different geodemographic characteristics of the region, which has resulted in impeded biogas development. In addition to factors found in previous studies, the less-developed biogas value chain in this region can be attributed particularly to undefined rules of the game, which is lack of consensus on trade-off of resources and services, unnecessary competition among several fuel alternatives, as well as the ambiguity of municipalities’ prioritization, and regional cultural differences. To strengthen the regional biogas sector, system actors need a strategy to eliminate blocking effects of identified local factors, and national policy instruments should provide mechanisms to process geographical conditions in regulatory, economic support, and market formation.
Environmental Taxes and Innovation in Chinese Textile Enterprises: Influence of Mediating Effects and Heterogeneous Factors
Authors: Yu Yabin , Cheng Hua
Published: April 2021

Climate change and environmental conditions call for more attention to be paid to eco-friendly economic behavior. As a market-oriented environmental regulation, environmental tax can stimulate and guide enterprises’ environmental innovation in a neutral way. However, what elements connect the environmental tax and enterprise innovation activity together? Are all the enterprises’ innovation activities affected by the environmental tax in the same way? To answer the questions, the study uses the data of Chinese textile listed companies between 2004 and 2018 to explore the intermediary role of manpower and capital investment in the innovation chain and further analyze the influence of the heterogeneous factors such as property right, segmented industry, and region. The results show that the environmental tax can effectively promote the innovation capital input of Chinese textile enterprises, and the innovation manpower input plays a partial mediation role. At the same time, environmental tax can effectively promote the innovation performance output of Chinese textile enterprises, and innovation capital input plays a complete mediation role. In addition, heterogeneous factors such as property right, segmented industry and region will affect the relation of environmental tax to innovation input and output quality and greenness to varying degrees. The study makes a profound analysis of the relation of environmental tax on Chinese textile enterprises innovation by using the microdata at the enterprise level, providing a more targeted reference for making policies in the future.
Barriers on Establishing Passive Strategies in Office Spaces: A Case Study in a Historic University Building
Authors: Baía Saraiva Nuno , Dias Pereira Luisa , Gaspar Adélio Rodrigues , da Costa José Joaquim
Published: April 2021

The adaptation of spaces to different usage typologies can be complex in heritage buildings. Facilities were initially planned for a specific type of use that, when changed, require additional measures to ensure a suitable indoor environment. Passive strategies—e.g., free cooling—are commonly used as an alternative without requiring equipment installation. However, its implementation often leads to unsatisfactory conditions. Therefore, it is important to clarify the main barriers to achieving thermal comfort in readapted historic buildings. The present work investigates the thermal comfort conditions reported by workers in office spaces of a historic building in the University of Coimbra. A monitoring campaign was carried out between May and September 2020 to assess indoor conditions’ quality. Due to the current pandemic of COVID-19, offices were not occupied at full capacity. A one-day evaluation of thermal comfort was made using a climate analyzer and six occupants were surveyed on 19 August 2020. The main results highlighted discomfort due to overheating of spaces. The causes were related to the combination of inadequate implementation of the free cooling actions and the building use. Furthermore, it was recommended the installation of HVAC systems in case of full capacity.
The Relationship between Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Jumps and Their Influence on Speed Abilities: Gender Consideration
Authors: Mackala Krzysztof , Rauter Samo , Zawartka Marek , Čoh Milan , Vodičar Janez
Published: April 2021

Purpose: Plyometric exercises, in the form of jumping, are extreme physical activities. The aim of the study was to determine how symmetrical-single versus asymmetrical-continued plyometric exercises differ between men and women and affect speed abilities. Methods: Twenty-two healthy females and forty-four males from different sports practices participated in the investigation. The countermovement jump (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ) of 40/60 cm box were performed on two independent and synchronized force platforms (Bilateral Tensiometric Platform S2P, Ljubljana, Slovenia). The measurement of a standing long jump (SLJ) and all continuous jumps: standing five jumps (SFJ), standing bounce triple jump (SBTJ), five double-leg jumps (FD-LJ), and a 10 m horizontal single leg jump (HSLJ-10mL/R) were performed using OptoJump–Next Microgate (OptoJump, Bolzano, Italy). Results: Statistically significant differences were noted in all jump kinematic and somatic parameters, in favor of the men. The correlations between values of height of symmetrical jumps (bilateral) and distance (SLJ) were stronger in women despite the shorter jumps than the men. When an alpha-level of 0.01 was set, this study demonstrated a stronger correlation between symmetrical-single and asymmetrical-continuous plyometrics exercises and sprints, both men and women. This relationship is due to their similar kinematic and dynamic structures with sprinting steps. Conclusions: The results showed a large dispersion of the relationship (p < 0.05) between jumps and sprints divided into 10, 20 and 30 m, both in men and women. Both types of exercises implemented as a plyometric training regime are an extremely important tool for sprint speed development.