bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal Segmentation for the Estimation and Benchmarking of Heating and Cooling Energy in Commercial Buildings in Seoul, South Korea
Authors: Ahn Ki Uhn , Kim Deuk-Woo , Lee Seung-Eon , Chae Chang-U , Cho Hyun Mi
Published: September 2022

The building sector is responsible for more than one-third of total global energy consumption; hence, increasingly efficient energy use in this sector will contribute to achieving carbon neutrality. Most existing building-energy-benchmarking methods evaluate building energy performance based on total energy use intensity; however, energy usage in buildings varies with the seasons, and as such, this approach renders the evaluation of cooling and heating energy difficult. In this study, an information gain-based temporal segmentation (IGTS) method was used to identify the seasonal transition times based on patterns of hourly weather and corresponding building energy use. Twelve commercial buildings were considered for the study and four seasons were identified using IGTS; base-load, cooling energy, and heating energy data were gathered. For the 12 buildings, the estimated and measured heating and cooling energy during the summer and winter periods showed a linear relationship (R2 = 0.976), and the average of those differences was 9.07 kWh/m2. In addition, differences in the benchmarking results based on these energies were marginal. The results indicated that the IGTS approach can be effectively used for determining the actual heating and cooling energy consumption in buildings, as well as for energy benchmarking. This can, in turn, improve building energy use, with positive implications for achieving carbon neutrality.
A Heuristic Algorithm Based on Travel Demand for Transit Network Design
Authors: Liu Yuan , Zhang Heshan , Xu Tao , Chen Yaping
Published: September 2022

This study proposes a simultaneous optimization model that considers flow assignment and vehicle capacity for the problem of transit network design to determine the route structure and frequencies simultaneously. The problem is focused on reducing the total travel time and the number of transfers. A heuristic algorithm is developed to solve this problem. In the proposed algorithm, the initial routes are generated according to a changing demand matrix, which can reflect the real-time demand with transfers and ensure that the direction of route generation maximizes the percentage of direct service. A regulating method for a sequence of stops is used during route generation to guarantee the shortest trip time for a formed route. Vehicles are allocated to each route according to the flow share. The concept of vehicle difference is introduced to evaluate the distinction between actual allocated vehicles and required vehicles for each route. The optimization process of frequencies based on vehicle difference can ensure that the solution meets the constraints. Two scale networks are used to illustrate the performances of the proposed method. Results show that route structure and frequencies can be optimized simultaneously through the proposed method. Different scenarios are created to test the algorithm properties via various parameter values. The test result indicates that the upper bound is a key parameter to balance the proportion of direct service and average in-vehicle travel time (AIVTT), and the increased number of planning routes can improve the proportion of direct service.
Decomposition of Rapeseed Green Manure and Its Effect on Soil under Two Residue Return Levels
Authors: Wang Xiaodan , Ma Hua , Guan Chunyun , Guan Mei
Published: September 2022

The overuse of chemical fertilizers has caused various ecological problems in China, necessitating the development of organic alternative fertilizers. There are few studies on the rapidly emerging organic fertilizer rapeseed green manure, despite the importance of understanding its decomposition efficiency and impact on soil. In this study, using plant residue from 14 rapeseed cultivars, we examined the 30-day decomposition changes under conditions A and B (150 and 300 g of plant residue returned, respectively) and detected the effects of their decomposition on soil nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and microorganisms. Under condition B, the 30-day cumulative decomposition and nutrient release rates of rapeseed were higher than those under condition A, and the rapeseed decomposition rate exceeded 50% under both conditions, which is similar to results in legume green fertilizers. Moreover, the decomposition of rapeseed green manure significantly increased the soil nutrient content and effectively improved the soil bacterial community structure and diversity relative to the original soil, especially under condition B. Thiobacillus, Azotobacter, and Pseudomonas are bacteria that responded to plant decomposition, and the abundance of the three bacterial genera after plant decomposition was significantly correlated with the plant decomposition traits and soil nutrient content. In conclusion, rapeseed green manure has potential to offset the use of chemical fertilizers, promoting sustainable agricultural development, and this study provides a reference for such green fertilization measures.
Study on Relationship between Environmental Regulation and Green Total Factor Productivity from the Perspective of FDI—Evidence from China
Authors: Wang Zhaolong , Yang Yeqing , Wei Yu
Published: September 2022

The existing literature has paid less attention to the key role of FDI in the realization of Porter’s hypothesis. Based on China’s provincial panel data from 2007 to 2020, this paper uses the SBM function and the Luenberger productivity index to measure the green total factor productivity (GTFP) of China’s provinces while considering energy consumption and undesired output. Using FDI as the mediating variable and threshold variable, this paper studies the relationship between environmental regulation (ENV), FDI, and GTFP. The research results show that: (1) There is a U-shaped relationship between ENV and GTFP. China is currently on the left side of the U-shaped inflection point. Further improving the intensity of ENV can promote the growth of GTFP. (2) The mediating effect of FDI is significantly established. ENV and FDI show a significant U-shaped relationship. Further development of FDI can promote GTFP. (3) FDI has a threshold effect. When FDI is at a low level of development, ENV and GTFP are negatively correlated and insignificant; when FDI is at a high level of development, ENV can significantly promote the growth of GTFP. The marginal effect on green TFP increases with FDI growth. The results of this paper show that FDI is a necessary prerequisite for the Porter hypothesis to become a reality in China. The research of this paper has important reference value for realizing the sustainable development of environment, economy, and society.
Online Learning, Mobile Learning, and Social Media Technologies: An Empirical Study on Constructivism Theory during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Alismaiel Omar A. , Cifuentes-Faura Javier , Al-Rahmi Waleed Mugahed
Published: September 2022

The study’s main purpose was to discover the important factors that impact university students’ online learning and academic performance during the COVID-19 epidemic, as well as their usage of social media throughout the pandemic. Constructivism theory was used and developed with constructs mostly linked to leveraging social media for collaborative learning and student interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, given the context-dependent nature of online learning during the epidemic. During the COVID-19 epidemic, additional components such as collaborative learning, student participation, and online learning were implemented. The enlarged model, which assesses students’ happiness and academic performance during the COVID-19 epidemic in connection to social media use, was validated using empirical data collected via an online survey questionnaire from 480 Saudi Arabian higher education students. AMOS-SEM was used to analyze the model’s various assumptions (Analysis of Moment Structures-Structural Equation Modeling). The findings revealed that (1) using social media for collaborative learning and students’ engagement has a direct positive impact on students’ interactivity with peers and teachers; (2) students’ interactivity with peers and teachers has a direct positive impact on online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic mediates the relationship between students’ interactivity and satisfaction; (4) online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic mediates the relationship between students’ interactivity and satisfaction. Students, higher education institutions, and educational technology application suppliers would benefit greatly from the conclusions of this study, both theoretically and practically.
Analyzing Log Data of Students Who Have Achieved Scores Adjacent to the Minimum Passing Grade for a K-MOOC Completion in the Context of Learning Analytics
Authors: Kim Sunyoung , Park Taejung
Published: September 2022

Collecting and analyzing log data can provide students with individualized learning to maintain their motivation and engagement in learning activities and reduce dropout in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). As online learning becomes more and more important, the demand for learning analytics is surging to design a variety of interventions that can achieve learning success and achieve individual learning goals and targets. In response to significant demand, we intended to derive data standards for learning analytics by specifying more the factors influencing MOOC completion suggested in previous research results. Therefore, this study aims to compare the event logs of students who have achieved scores adjacent to the minimum passing score of Korean Massive Open Online Course (K-MOOC) completion by dividing them into the completion (C) group and the non-completion (NC) group. As a result of analyzing the log data accumulated on the 60 K-MOOCs, what is interesting in the results of this study is that there was no significant difference between the C group and the NC group in video viewing, which is considered the main learning activity on the MOOC platform. On the other hand, there was a statistically significant difference between the C group and the NC group for textbook interactions in the percentage of learners who performed and the average number of logs per learner, as well as problem interactions in the average number of logs per learner. Students’ assertive activities such as textbook interaction and problem interaction might have greater value for MOOC completion than passive activities such as video watching. Therefore, MOOC instructors and developers should explore more specific design guidelines on how to provide problems with individualized hints and feedback and offer effective digital textbooks or reference materials for the large number of students. The results suggest that collecting and analyzing MOOC students’ log data on interactions, for understanding their motivation and engagement, should be investigated to create an individualized learning environment and increase their learning persistence in completing MOOCs. Future studies should focus on investigating meaningful patterns of the event logs on learning activities in massive quantitative and qualitative data sets.
Development Law of Mining Fracture and Disaster Control Technology under Hard and Thick Magmatic Rock
Authors: Wu Quansen , Han Fengjun , Liang Shengjian , Sun Fanxing , Wan Daqing , Su Huairui , Ma Fuwu , Wu Quanlin
Published: September 2022

Hard and thick magmatic rocks are widely distributed in many mining areas in China. Their fracture migration could cause mechanical effects such as the evolution of overburden structure, the sudden change of surface subsidence, and the transformation of accumulated elastic properties, inducing strong dynamic phenomena and even coupled geo dynamic disasters. In this study, by means of theoretical analysis and similar material simulation testing, the fracture of hard thick magmatic rock and the fracture development characteristics of stope are analyzed, and the following research results are obtained: (1) the mechanical model of an elastic foundation beam is established, and it is found that the bending moment in the middle of hard thick magmatic rock is greater than the bending moment at the end, and the magmatic rock first produces fractures in the middle, and then the initial fracture occurs. (2) The existence of hard thick magmatic rock blocks the development of fractures in the longitudinal direction. The bed separation and fracture undergo three processes of generation, development and closure. When the working face advances 160 m, 200 m and 270 m, the maximum bed separation shape on the strike section experiences triangle trapezoid crescent shape. (3) A ladder type fissure channel is formed above the working face side and the open cut hole side. When the working face is advanced 160 m, the ladder type fissure channel develops to the bottom of the hard thick rock layer, providing a ladder type channel for gas flow. After the hard thick rock layer is broken, a large number of elastic properties are released, which produces a strong impact force on the gas rich area of the bed separation, and also causes a sharp rise in the gas pressure of the bed separation at the bottom of the magmatic rock. A large amount of high-pressure gas in the bed separation space flows reversely to the working face along the ladder type gas channel, which can easily induce a gas outburst, coal and gas outburst or other disasters. (4) The correctness of the similar simulation experiment is verified by the field data. Technical measures for preventing gas outbursts in bed separation by surface drilling and pressure relief gas extraction are put forward. The research results have a certain guiding role for the prevention and control of dynamic disasters and the design of roadway support under the condition of a hard and thick key stratum overlying the working face.
Adsorption of Metformin on Activated Carbon Produced from the Water Hyacinth Biowaste Using H3PO4 as a Chemical Activator
Authors: Mohammad Ahmad Hakky , Radovic Ivona , Ivanović Marija , Kijevčanin Mirjana
Published: September 2022

Water hyacinth biomass was used for the synthesis of activated carbons in the process of chemical activation with H3PO4, followed by controlled carbonization. The study investigates the effect of various impregnation weight ratios of H3PO4 and dry hyacinth (0.5–3.0), as well as different carbonization temperatures (T = 400–800 °C), on the surface characteristics of the produced activated carbons (AC). The activated carbon obtained with an impregnation ratio of 1.5 and a carbonization temperature of 600 °C (1.5 AC/600) showed the highest values of specific surface area of 1421 m2 g−1, representing a selected adsorbent for metformin removal. The chosen sample was characterized by elemental analysis, adsorption–desorption isotherms of nitrogen at −196 °C, via FTIR spectroscopy and the SEM method. The modeling of the experimental adsorption data showed that metformin adsorption: (i) can be best described by the Langmuir isotherm model, with the value of qmax = 122.47 mg g−1; (ii) led the pseudo-second order kinetic model; and (iii) is a spontaneous (ΔG° = −3.44 kJ mol−1) and endothermic (ΔH° = 8.77 kJ mol−1) process. A desorption study has shown that 92% of metformin was successfully desorbed in the presence of a 0.1 MHCl/ethanol mixture (volume ratio 2:1). The recovery of the adsorbent of 84%, after five successive cycles, indicated that the 1.5 AC/600 has potential to be applied in the real systems for water treatment.
Post-Earthquake Traffic Simulation Considering Road Traversability
Authors: Wu Yingying , Xu Zhen , Liang Chenxi , Song Ruizhuo
Published: September 2022

Post-earthquake road traversability is a critical factor that affects traffic conditions. Therefore, a post-earthquake traffic simulation method considering road traversability was proposed in this study. First, the impact ranges of the earthquake-induced building collapse and the post-earthquake fire spread of buildings were analyzed, and road traversability was determined accordingly. Subsequently, the post-earthquake traffic flow was predicted based on building characteristics, and micro-level vehicle behaviors were simulated considering post-earthquake road traversability to determine the traffic conditions. In addition, the simulation model was validated using actual data. Finally, a segment of the Tongzhou road network in Beijing was selected as a case study to analyze post-earthquake road traversability and simulate traffic conditions on critical road sections. The proposed method can provide post-earthquake traffic conditions, which benefits the decision-making of post-earthquake evacuation and rescue.
Built Environment and Outdoor Leisure Activity under the Individual Time Budgets
Authors: Ahn Yongjin , Won Jongho
Published: September 2022

Previous studies highlight the role of walkable neighborhoods in improving the health status of residents, hypothesizing that there is a strong relationship between the built environment and individual physical activity. However, unlike theoretical prediction, the evidence is less established that residents in inner cities engage in more physical activity than residents in suburban areas. To address this gap between theoretical prediction and empirical evidence in physical activity studies, this paper investigates the links between the built environment and outdoor leisure activities under the individual time constraint. We conducted path analysis, employing the samples of Los Angeles County in NHTS (National Household Travel Survey, 2008–2009). Empirical results revealed that individual time constraints have a significant negative effect on leisure time spent in outdoors, but the influence was marginal. Surprisingly, the access to local resource (e.g., park area) still matters even after time constraints are controlled for. Regarding the effects of other covariates, safety (perceived), attitude, and disability showed the largest association with outdoor leisure activities amongst the independent variables with the expected sign. Based on these results, this study not only confirms that the lack of time plays a role as a barrier of the outdoor leisure activity, but also proves that park area can be considered as a facilitator. However, the behavioral decision for outdoor leisure activities is about more than time constraints and the built environment since the effects of both are much smaller than other key covariates.
The Heterogeneous Effect of Economic Complexity and Export Quality on the Ecological Footprint: A Two-Step Club Convergence and Panel Quantile Regression Approach
Authors: Kazemzadeh Emad , Fuinhas José Alberto , Koengkan Matheus , Osmani Fariba
Published: September 2022

This research aims to answer two fundamental questions of the present time: First, what is the impact of the increasing complexity of economic structures and the production of complex goods on the environment? Second, can increasing export quality lead to the improvement of the environment? Given that the relationship of the ecological footprint and its determinants has been revealed to be nonlinear, the use of the quantile approach is supported. This finding led us to the central hypothesis of this research: economic complexity and export quality first deteriorate the ecological footprint (i.e., in lower quantiles), and the middle and higher quantiles contribute to reducing or mitigating environmental damage. The effect of economic complexity and export quality on the ecological footprint was researched using a two-step approach. First, club convergence was applied to identify the countries that follow a similar convergence path. After this, panel quantile regression was used to determine the explanatory power of economic complexity and export quality on the ecological footprint of 98 countries from 1990 to 2014. The club convergence revealed four convergent groups. Panel quantile regression was used because the relationship between the ecological footprint and its explanatory variables was shown to be nonlinear for the group of countries identified by the club convergence approach. GDP, nonrenewable energy consumption, and the population damage the environment. Urbanisation contributes to reducing the ecological footprint. Export quality and trade openness reduce the ecological footprint, but not at all quantiles. The effect of trade openness mitigating the ecological footprint is lost at the 90th quantile. Export quality becomes a reducer of the ecological footprint in the 50th quantile or above, and in the higher quantiles, its contribution to reducing the footprint is vast. Economic complexity aggravates the ecological footprint in low quantiles (10th), becomes non-statistically significant in the 25th quantile, and reduces the ecological footprint in higher quantiles. Policymakers must identify the impact of the ecological footprint and consider the demand and supply side of economics.
The Mechanical Behavior of Sustainable Concrete Using Raw and Processed Sugarcane Bagasse Ash
Authors: El-said Amr , Awad Ahmed , Ahmad Mahmood , Sabri Mohanad Muayad Sabri , Deifalla Ahmed Farouk , Tawfik Maged
Published: September 2022

Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) is one of the most common types of agricultural waste. By its availability and pozzolanic properties, sugarcane bagasse ash can be utilized as a partial replacement for cement in the production of sustainable concrete. This study experimentally investigated the impact of employing two types of sugarcane bagasse ash as a partial substitute for cement up to 30% on the compressive strength, flexural strength, and Young’s modulus of the concrete mixture. The first type of bagasse ash used was raw SCBA, which was used as it arrived from the plant, with the same characteristics, considering that it was exposed to a temperature of 600 °C in the boilers to generate energy. The second type of bagasse ash utilized, called processed SCBA, was produced by regrinding raw SCBA for an hour and then burning it again for two hours at a temperature of 600 °C. This was done to improve the pozzolanic activity and consequently the mechanical properties of the concrete mixture. The findings indicated that employing raw sugarcane bagasse ash had a detrimental effect on the mechanical characteristics of the concrete mixture but using processed sugarcane bagasse ash at a proportion of no more than 10% had a considerable effect on improving the properties of the concrete mixture. The utilization of processed SCBA up to 10% into the concrete mixture resulted in a 12%, 8%, and 8% increase in compressive strength, flexural strength, and Young’s modulus, respectively, compared to the normal concrete specimen. On the contrary, the inclusion of raw SCBA with varying content into the concrete mixture decreased compressive strength, flexural strength, and Young’s modulus by up to 50%, 30%, and 29%, respectively, compared to the normal concrete specimen. The experimental findings were validated by comparison with ACI predictions. ACI overestimated the flexural strength of SCBA concrete specimens, with a mean coefficient of difference between the ACI equation and experimental results of 22%, however, ACI underestimated the Young’s modulus of SCBA concrete specimens, with a mean coefficient of difference between the ACI equation and experimental results of −6%.
Monitoring and Assessing Land Use/Cover Change and Ecosystem Service Value Using Multi-Resolution Remote Sensing Data at Urban Ecological Zone
Authors: Liu Siqi , Huang Guanqi , Wei Yulu , Qu Zhi
Published: September 2022

An urban ecological zone (UEZ) is an important part of a city, focusing on environmental conservation and ecological economic development simultaneously. During the past decade, the urban scale of Xi’an city in China has been expanding, and the population has been increasing rapidly. This dramatic change is a huge challenge to urban sustainability. It puts forward higher requirements for the construction of an UEZ. Under different spatial resolution scales, this study adopted Landsat8-OLI and gaofen-2 (GF-2) satellite high-resolution remote sensing data to interpret the land use/cover change (LUCC) of the Weihe River UEZ. The ecosystem service value (ESV) was assessed, and the ecological effect was analyzed based on LUCC. The results showed that the spatial distribution of land types in the Weihe River UEZ changed significantly from 2014 to 2020. The construction land gathered to the southeast. Especially, the vegetative land (i.e., forestland, grassland and other green land) and water body showed a slightly increasing trend since the official establishment of the UEZ in 2018. The cultivated land area gradually reduced, and the vegetative land area tended to be concentrated as well as expanded. Through the interpretation of GF-2 remote sensing data, the ESV at the Weihe River UEZ showed a downward trend in general. The high-value areas were mainly distributed in the Weihe River and its surrounding beach areas, which were greatly affected by river water scope. Construction land normally had low ESV, and it was affected by human activities obviously. Therefore, the development of urban construction had significant impacts on the Weihe River UEZ.
Solar Energy Utilization Techniques, Policies, Potentials, Progresses, Challenges and Recommendations in ASEAN Countries
Authors: Pandey A. K. , Kalidasan B. , Reji Kumar R. , Rahman Saidur , Tyagi V. V. , Krismadinata  , Said Zafar , Salam P. Abdul , Juanico Dranreb Earl , Ahamed Jamal Uddin , Sharma Kamal , Samykano M. , Tyagi S. K.
Published: September 2022

Sustainable development goals not only contributes towards a clean environment but also towards better climatic conditions. Within Asia next to China and India, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are the actively developing countries in terms of economy and technologies. On the verge of achieving development, the ASEAN countries highly depend on fossil fuels for their energy needs. The ASEAN countries have taken visionary steps towards increasing the renewable energy mix with the conventional grid without hampering the ongoing development; this study presents the solar energy utilization policies, potential, progresses, and challenges adopted in ASEAN countries; furthermore, in these nations there is a huge potential of solar energy being located near the equator, therefore, they should focus on both solar to electrical and solar to thermal energy applications; however, in order to meet the peak demand and ensure the reliability of renewable energy like solar power, the development of advanced energy storage systems could be the key areas, and concrete efforts are required. Therefore, this article is a spotlight on government policies and goals focusing on energy potential, major progress in terms of energy storage and challenges in implementation of renewable energy systems in ASEAN countries; furthermore the recommended highlights on policies to accelerate the exploitation of renewable energy usage among the people are also discussed in detail, besides, the insights on reduction of carbon footprints over the next decade through incorporation of advanced energy storage systems. The issues discussed in this article will be helpful for exploring the desired energy storage systems and energy policies to be followed, which will eventually attract the stakeholders for small and medium-scale entrepreneurs for the development of renewable energy business in the region, if implemented on the ground.
A Business Model for Developing Distributed Photovoltaic Systems in Iran
Authors: Heirani Hossein , Moghaddam Naser Bagheri , Labbafi Sina , Sina Seyedali
Published: September 2022

The necessity of increasing the utilization of renewable energies and lowering the dependence on fossil energies for power generation has been increasingly regarded worldwide. Thanks to its desirable solar radiation potential, Iran can lower its level of dependence on fossil fuels for power generation significantly by developing distributed solar photovoltaic (DSPV) systems. The present research began with identifying, through a literature review, relevant business models in terms of ownership and control and the barriers encountered by the PV industry. Continuing with the research, semi-structured interviews were performed with elites in the power industry to explore different barriers hindering the development of DSPV in Iran and weigh them appropriately. Next, according to the elites’ opinions, three business models differing in ownership and control were compared and scored in terms of their ability to address the identified barriers. According to the results, the business model with customer/third party ownership and utility control was identified as the most appropriate business model in Iran. As a final discussion, the business canvas and the roles and associations of all players of this industry in relation to the development of DSPV in Iran were explained.
Assessing Household Willingness to Pay for the Conservation of the Phou Chom Voy Protected Area in Lao PDR
Authors: Sengkhamyong Xaysompheng , Yabar Helmut , Mizunoya Takeshi
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to examine whether local residents were willing to pay (WTP) for the improvement of the Phou Chom Voy Protected Area (PCV PA), by using the hypothetical scenario framework of the contingent valuation method. We interviewed a sample of 365 local residents. Among the respondents, 271 were willing to pay to maintain the protected area. Most residents who refused to pay had low incomes and stated that they did not want to increase their monthly expenses by contributing to the conservation fund. The estimated mean willingness to pay among the respondents who expressed the maximum willingness to pay for natural forest conservation because of its natural value and attractiveness for tourism was Lao Kip (LAK) 27,055/year. The aggregate willingness to pay for the protected area improvement was approximately LAK 93 million. The logit regression results revealed that age, education level, annual household income, and attitude toward conservation significantly influenced willingness to pay. The results of this study provide insights into applying willingness to pay in sustainable financing, to develop market-based conservation approaches in protected areas, thus reducing ongoing biodiversity losses and maintaining natural resources.
Managing a Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mostepaniuk Alla , Nasr Elsie , Awwad Razan Ibrahim , Hamdan Sameer , Aljuhmani Hasan Yousef
Published: September 2022

The paper is devoted to building up a comprehensive model of the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability practices based on the analysis of their main predictors to ease the process of managing CSR and sustainability activities and provide practical recommendations for businesses regarding successful realization of their business, social and sustainable development goals. Currently, businesses integrate corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability practices into their strategies to enable the fulfillment of sustainability goals and gain competitive advantages. Therefore, to achieve the aim of the study, a systematic review methodology was used in six stages: (1) defining the benchmarks; (2) extraction of papers from the two most cited databases: Web of Science and Scopus; (3) Manual content analysis of all extracted papers; (4) Identification of the dominant categories of this research topic; (5) The development of a comprehensive model of the relationship between CSR and sustainability, and(6) Discussion and control of obtained results and provision of recommendations for future studies. The model suggested is seen as a roadmap for organizations in different sectors of the economy and includes a variety of determinants that were divided into two groups depending on their relevance to an organization: the components of human and social capital, the technical characteristics of an organization and financial dimensions, and the outside business environment, which is determined by the political system and the level of corruption.
Eco-Value and Public Perceptions for Indigenous Farm Animal Breeds and Local Plant Varieties, Focusing on Greece
Authors: Tampaki Martha , Koutouzidou Georgia , Ragkos Athanasios , Melfou Katerina , Giantsis Ioannis A.
Published: September 2022

The present study aims to review the literature on the functioning of short value chains and public perceptions regarding indigenous farm animal breeds (IFABs), local plant varieties (LPVs), and their products. Our work mainly concerns Greece, providing additional concrete examples from the wider Balkan area, which is characterized by high agrobiodiversity and richness in various IFAB and LPV, enhanced by the extensive farming systems that still operate in many parts of the area. To achieve this goal, a systematic literature search of recent relevant studies was performed, followed by a description of their results and conclusions, as well as proposed measures and policies for the conservation and utilization of biodiversity in agricultural and livestock systems. According to our findings, the Balkan region is characterized by a great wealth of local plant varieties and indigenous breeds of farm animals, which is largely recognized by consumers, who would, however, recommend stronger eco-labeling of local agricultural products. Similar data are observed in Greece, which are reinforced by the Mediterranean climatic environment. NGO organizations occasionally play an important role in promoting local agricultural products and creating awareness about the need to preserve local breeds and plant varieties. Finally, the recognition, certification, and measurements carried out by local authorities, as well as EU regulations, are of great importance in highlighting the value of agrobiodiversity from a sustainable point of view.
Security of Zero Trust Networks in Cloud Computing: A Comparative Review
Authors: Sarkar Sirshak , Choudhary Gaurav , Shandilya Shishir Kumar , Hussain Azath , Kim Hwankuk
Published: September 2022

Recently, networks have shifted from traditional in-house servers to third-party-managed cloud platforms due to its cost-effectiveness and increased accessibility toward its management. However, the network remains reactive, with less accountability and oversight of its overall security. Several emerging technologies have restructured our approach to the security of cloud networks; one such approach is the zero-trust network architecture (ZTNA), where no entity is implicitly trusted in the network, regardless of its origin or scope of access. The network rewards trusted behaviour and proactively predicts threats based on its users’ behaviour. The zero-trust network architecture is still at a nascent stage, and there are many frameworks and models to follow. The primary focus of this survey is to compare the novel requirement-specific features used by state-of-the-art research models for zero-trust cloud networks. In this manner, the features are categorized across nine parameters into three main types: zero-trust-based cloud network models, frameworks and proofs-of-concept. ZTNA, when wholly realized, enables network administrators to tackle critical issues such as how to inhibit internal and external cyber threats, enhance the visibility of the network, automate the calculation of trust for network entities and orchestrate security for users. The paper further focuses on domain-specific issues plaguing modern cloud computing networks, which leverage choosing and implementing features necessary for future networks and incorporate intelligent security orchestration, automation and response. The paper also discusses challenges associated with cloud platforms and requirements for migrating to zero-trust architecture. Finally, possible future research directions are discussed, wherein new technologies can be incorporated into the ZTA to build robust trust-based enterprise networks deployed in the cloud.
Why Do Regions Differ in Growth? The Productivity of the Eurozone and Its Contribution to the Added Value of Its European Neighbors
Authors: Mihi-Ramirez Antonio , Melchor-Ferrer Elias , Garcia-Rodriguez Yolanda
Published: September 2022

Despite the fact that the European integration process has intensified cooperation among European partners, the significant impact on growth represented by the recent lengthy periods of productivity stagnation in European countries still remains unexplained, as are the growing disparities among the more advanced countries of the integrated economy. This paper focuses on long-term economic growth based on productivity and its components, as well as on the effects of integration of EMU and non-EMU member states. The use of spatial econometric models allows us to incorporate the interactions among European countries into growth models. In line with neoclassical growth models, our results contribute to explaining how the growth of a eurozone country is related to the economic growth of its neighbors. Moreover, we confirm the relevance of eurozone countries’ interactions in times of crisis (2009–2018), as European countries generate spatial spillover effects that link their economic cycles. Although capital stock (i.e., investment) has a positive effect on the eurozone’s growth, its slowdown cannot compensate for the effect of declining labor-force participation, which is proven to be a crucial factor for growth. Likewise, immigration flows affect economic growth, but this differs according to the workers’ level of education.
A Different Approach to Evaluation in Early Childhood Curriculum: Learning Stories
Authors: Cengiz Gülüzar Şule Tepetaş , Altındağ Ahmet
Published: September 2022

Many tools are used in child assessment during early childhood to support the development of children and plan the educational process. Originating in New Zealand, “learning stories” is a technique of observation that enables the assessment of children during early childhood. A learning story is the documentation by a teacher (or parent) of what a child (or group of children) is observed doing in an early childhood program. The adult must know the child well to properly assess a child’s learning. Learning stories are narratives constructed from structured observations designed to provide a collective perspective on a child’s learning. Observations obtained using this method are reinterpreted as stories, then analyzed and used as a basis for planning. Teachers collect ‘critical events’ or moments that seem important to a child. By analyzing a few of them through a narrative, they try to reveal the child’s learning path and the pattern of their learning tendencies in the form of stories. The “learning stories” method, used in many countries across the world in early childhood, is not used in early childhood education in Turkey. In this context, this study was carried out to introduce the method to educators, families and researchers working in the field of early childhood, and to present the important points that should be considered during practice in the preschool period. This study was planned as a case study, which is a qualitative research method. The study group consisted of a teacher working in the preschool period (48–60 months) and a child in the classroom. The study included observations of the preschool teacher and examples of the learning stories created using these observations, followed by the analysis of the interview conducted with the teacher. It can be argued that the learning stories method is an alternative assessment method that can be used to evaluate the curriculum in early childhood education in Turkey, as is the case in many countries.
Digital Sustainable Entrepreneurship: A Digital Capability Perspective through Digital Innovation Orientation for Social and Environmental Value Creation
Authors: Xu Guangping , Hou Guangyuan , Zhang Jinshan
Published: September 2022

With the rise of digital transformation in all domains, the relationship between digitalization and sustainable entrepreneurship has received growing attention. In practice, a new sustainable entrepreneurial model called “digital sustainable entrepreneurship” (DSE) has emerged. Aiming to establish a DSE model based on digital capability (DC) and digital innovation orientation (DIO), this study explored what kind of digital capability could be built to lead to a boost in digital sustainable entrepreneurship, to realize the creation of social and environmental value. We also revealed how DC affected DSE by introducing DIO and discussed the moderating role played therein by the manager’s cognition of sustainable opportunities (MCSO). The study adopted CFA and SEM on the model using AMOS 27.0 and used the multiple regression analysis method to conduct an empirical study into the data from 308 SMEs in pollutive industries to validate the research framework. The results show a positive relationship between DC and DSE; DC is positively correlated to DIO; DIO is positively correlated to DSE; DIO plays a partial mediating role between DC and DSE; and MCSO positively moderates the relationship among DC, DIO, and DSE. This study will be of practical significance regarding how sustainable entrepreneurs can boost digital sustainable entrepreneurship.
Phosphorus Migration and Transformation in Activated Sludge by Ultrasonic Treatment
Authors: Yu Huaixing , Yang Yuhao , Wu Xueya , Yuan Weifang , Wang Hao , Deng Huanzhong , Sun Lianpeng , Li Ruohong
Published: September 2022

Ultrasonic treatment is an effective method to disintegrate sludge and extract organic matter and nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorus, from the sludge. This study investigated the transformation of phosphorus species during the ultrasonic treatment of sludge, to reveal the mechanism of phosphorus migration in the activated sludge structure. The experimental results indicated that power density and ultrasonic time were critical parameters affecting the energy input for sludge integration. The optimal phosphorus release performance was achieved at 2.5 W/mL 10 min. The release of phosphorus showed as a layer-by-layer pattern from the inner sludge core to the outer sphere of the multiple-layer structure of the sludge. The complex sludge structure played an important role in buffering the ultrasonication process and transfer of phosphorus. Mg-P, Ca-P, and organic phosphorus are the main phosphorus species that can be extracted from the sludge core into the supernatant. The three-stage process of phosphorus migration through the sludge layers, including dissolution, reprecipitation, and equilibrium, has been revealed.
Airlines’ Sustainability Study Based on Search Engine Optimization Techniques and Technologies
Authors: Roumeliotis Konstantinos I. , Tselikas Nikolaos D. , Nasiopoulos Dimitrios K.
Published: September 2022

Digital marketing, especially search engine optimization (SEO), is an integral part of websites today. Airlines in the COVID-19 era have to use every possible means to survive despite the adverse conditions for both entrepreneurship and travel. Many of them have allocated resources and money to develop SEO strategies by applying SEO techniques to their websites to gain more visitors and bookings. Thus, this research is focused on analyzing airlines’ website presence as regards the implemented SEO techniques and their effect on airlines’ website traffic. In the first phase of the research, we gathered web data from 243 airline firms during a one-year observation period (December 2020–December 2021) using our own-developed tool. Furthermore, we proceeded to create an exploratory model using fuzzy cognitive mapping. From the technical SEO point of view and the descriptive analysis, we conclude that the traffic on airlines’ websites and, consequently, their sustainability are inseparably linked to the corresponding SEO techniques and technologies used.
Branding4Resilience: Explorative and Collaborative Approaches for Inner Territories
Authors: Ferretti Maddalena , Favargiotti Sara , Lino Barbara , Rolando Diana
Published: September 2022

This article analyzes inner and marginal territories in four Italian peripheral contexts by first discussing some of the results and future steps of the “B4R Branding4Resilience” research project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Research from 2020 to 2023. The overall research is based on three phases: (1) the exploration phase to analyze socio-economic data and territorial dynamics; (2) the co-design phase involving local actors to develop ideas for a selected pilot case; (3) the co-visioning phase where a future transformative perspective for the whole area was shared with the institutions. The article focuses on phase 1 and presents some first results achieved by the application of a methodological approach based on the integration of different qualitative and quantitative tools and methods. The results outline the exploration of the four selected territories through data analyses and mapping, perceptive-narrative explorations, field research, and explorative designs. The concept of peripherality is addressed in a critical way, trying to go beyond standardized definitions, including interdisciplinarity as an essential tool for territorial enhancement and branding. The main interpretation findings not only outline possible strategies and actions for the four analyzed inner territories, but also foster the application of the proposed methodological approach in other complex socio-economic contexts.
Learning Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ-L): Psychometric and Measurement Invariance Evidence in Peruvian Undergraduate Students
Authors: Merino-Soto César , Chávez-Ventura Gina , López-Fernández Verónica , Chans Guillermo M. , Toledano-Toledano Filiberto
Published: September 2022

Given the theoretical and applied importance of self-regulation in learning, our study aimed to report the internal structure of the psychometric properties of the Learning Self-Regulation Questionnaire. Five hundred and ninety-six Peruvian university students participated in their first to tenth semesters on campuses in Lima, Trujillo, and Cajamarca. Nonparametric scalability, dimensionality, reliability (score and item levels), and latent invariance were analyzed. The results showed that reducing the number of response options was necessary. Reducing the number of items also produced better scaling. Two slightly related dimensions were strong internal validity and acceptable item reliability; furthermore, reliability was adequate. Age and gender had trivial correlations in item variability. Finally, differences between the semesters were obtained in the means, variances, and latent correlations. In conclusion, we propose a better definition of the constructs of autonomy and control measured by the SRQ-L. This article also discusses the limitations and implications of the study.