bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does Environmental Information Disclosure Affect the Sustainable Development of Enterprises: The Role of Green Innovation
Authors: Hu Dameng , Huang Yuanzhe , Zhong Changbiao
Published: October 2021

Along with command-and-control and market-incentive environmental regulation policies, environmental information disclosure (EID) is an important measure used by the Chinese government to implement environmental governance. In the context of advocating for corporate sustainable development and green governance, this study uses data from China’s Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies in heavily polluting industries spanning 2008–2019 to empirically explore the relationship between corporate EID and green innovation (GI). The results reveal the following: (1) high-quality EID significantly promotes the absolute GI level and the relative GI level of enterprises. (2) An intermediary model found that the internal mechanism of corporate EID used to promote GI mainly comes from the government’s energy-saving innovation subsidy effect and the social media attention effect. (3) Corporate EID has a more evident promotional effect on green patents for energy conservation and green patents for inventions. (4) The EID of state-owned enterprises is more conducive to GI than to the activities of private enterprises. (5) The EID of enterprises in high-level administrative cities has no significant impact on GI. However, it has a significant promoting effect in low-level administrative cities. The research not only provides an empirical basis for China to improve the environmental information disclosure system of listed companies but also to offer guidance for companies to pursue green and sustainable development.
Green Transition: The Frontier of the Digicircular Economy Evidenced from a Systematic Literature Review
Authors: De Felice Fabio , Petrillo Antonella
Published: October 2021

Today, the issue of economic circularity is certainly not a new concept. It represents an essential issue in any production system since it is an alternative to the current production and consumption model. The importance of the topic is confirmed worldwide. However, there is still a “circularity gap” that can be bridged in the short and medium term, probably with the use of innovative and digital technologies. In fact, many researchers agree that the sustainable future can be achieved in the long term thanks to digital technologies (i.e., IoT, artificial intelligence, quantum computing etc.) which, thanks to their speed of calculation, are able to identify the right solutions at the right time. The challenge, therefore, will be to develop innovative technologies and tools for the efficient use of resources in industries for sustainable production. Thus, the aim of this study is to define the current state of the art and future research developments in this very promising field. To achieve this goal, the integration of a “set” of tools, based on the AHP method and the PRISMA protocol, is proposed. The results aim to be a guideline for decision makers and researchers interested in this topic.
Exploring Barriers for Circularity in the EU Furniture Industry
Authors: Silvius Gilbert , Ismayilova Aydan , Sales-Vivó Vicente , Costi Micol
Published: October 2021

A circular economy is seen as a potential solution to the overburdening of Earth’s resources in our global economic system. However, implementation of circularity is still in its early stages, which is attributed to a variety of barriers that companies experience. Studies on these barriers identified a substantial number of potential barriers, however, these studies did not explore the variety of perceptions of these barriers by different companies. This study therefore explores the variety of barriers to the transition to circularity, as perceived by European furniture companies. Using Q-methodology, and with participation of 30 furniture companies from five EU countries, the study revealed four patterns of the perception of barriers. These four patterns of perception are distinct from each other, with high composite reliabilities and weak correlations between the patterns. Our analysis showed that especially the perception of market and resources categories of barriers make the difference between the identified patterns. The study demonstrated that barriers to circularity are not experienced in a single generalizable way, and provided valuable insight for the development of supporting or stimulation policies for circularity.
The Rich Diversity of Urban Allotment Gardens in Europe: Contemporary Trends in the Context of Historical, Socio-Economic and Legal Conditions
Authors: Poniży Lidia , Latkowska Monika J. , Breuste Jürgen , Hursthouse Andrew , Joimel Sophie , Külvik Mart , Leitão Teresa E. , Mizgajski Andrzej , Voigt Annette , Kacprzak Ewa , Maćkiewicz Barbara , Szczepańska Magdalena
Published: October 2021

Urban allotment gardens (AGs) provide a unique combination of productive and recreational spaces for the inhabitants of European cities. Although the reasons behind the decision to have a plot, as well as the mode of use and gardening practices, are well recognised in the literature, these issues are mainly considered in relation to particular case studies within a single country. The regional diversity of European allotment gardens is still poorly understood, however. This knowledge gap became an incentive for us to carry out the present study. The research was conducted in seven countries: Austria, Estonia, Germany, France, Portugal, Poland and the UK. Surveys were used to assess the motivations of users regarding plot uses and gardening practices. Information was also collected during desk research and study visits, making use of available statistical data. Allotment gardens in Europe are currently very diverse, and vary depending on the historical, legal, economic and social conditions of a given country, and also as determined by geographical location. Three main types of plots were distinguished, for: cultivation, recreation–cultivation, and cultivation–recreation. The recreational use of AGs has replaced their use for food production in countries with a long history of urban gardening. The only exception is the UK. In some countries, the production of food on an AG plot is still its main function; however, the motivations for this are related to better quality and taste (the UK), as well as the economic benefits of self-grown fruits and vegetables (Portugal, Estonia). Among the wide range of motivations for urban gardening in Europe, there is increasing emphasis on active recreation, contact with nature and quality food supply.
Main Challenges to Concrete Recycling in Practice
Authors: Badraddin Abdulmalek K. , Rahman Rahimi A. , Almutairi Saud , Esa Muneera
Published: October 2021

While concrete recycling is crucial to protecting the environment, its implementation in practice is low in many countries. This study aims to highlight challenges to concrete recycling. To achieve that aim, the study objectives are (1) to identify the main challenges to concrete recycling in construction projects; (2) to compare the main challenges between small–medium enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises (LEs); and (3) to determine the underlying groups among the main challenges. Potential challenges were identified through a systematic literature review of journal articles and semi-structured interviews with fifteen industry practitioners. Then, the identified challenges were inserted into a questionnaire survey and distributed to industry practitioners. Eighty-nine valid responses were collected and analyzed using the mean score ranking, normalization, agreement analysis, and factor analysis techniques. The analyses show thirteen main challenges to concrete recycling. The main challenges include increased project duration, lack of national programs, lack of comprehensive rules and regulations, increased project cost, low demand for recycled concrete, low cost-effectiveness of concrete recycling, and increased transportation cost. However, there is no consensus on the criticality between SMEs and LEs. For example, increased project cost is the main challenge for SMEs but is only middlingly ranked for LEs. Finally, the main challenges can be categorized into three interrelated groups: people and technical, legal and environmental, and economic challenges. This study contributes to the literature by analyzing challenges that hinder concrete recycling in practice. The findings allow researchers and practitioners to develop strategies to reduce concrete recycling rejection.
Considering Space Syntax in Bicycle Traffic Assignment with One or More User Classes
Authors: Ryu Seungkyu , Chen Anthony , Su Jacqueline , Liu Xintao , Yu Jiangbo (Gabe)
Published: October 2021

Modeling bicycle traffic assignment requires consideration of the various factors and criteria that could play a role in a cyclist’s route decision-making process. However, existing studies on bicycle route choice analysis tend to overlook the less tangible or measurable aspects of cyclist route decision-making, such as a cyclist’s cognitive understanding of the network and a cyclist’s biking experience. This study explores the applicability of space syntax as a route cognitive attribute in a bicycle traffic assignment model. Since space syntax is a tool that links urban spatial layout to human movement, the results of a space syntax model can be used as a cognitive attribute for modeling bicycle movements with explicit consideration of the cognitive complexities of navigating through the environment. In developing a bicycle traffic assignment model, we considered relevant attributes such as route cognition, distance, and safety and integrated multiple user class analysis to reflect different biking experience levels. Numerical experiments using the Winnipeg network are conducted to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed bicycle traffic assignment model with one or more user classes.
Barriers and Drivers for Circular Economy 2.0 on the Firm Level: Russian Case
Authors: Ratner Svetlana , Gomonov Konstantin , Lazanyuk Inna , Revinova Svetlana
Published: October 2021

Historically, the development of the circular economy (CE) proceeds from the CE 1.0 stage, characterized by attention to waste management and recycling, to the CE 2.0 stage with an emphasis on resource efficiency and eco-efficiency, to the current CE 3.0 stage, in which the key factor to a company’s success is the business model. However, not all countries of the world simultaneously began transforming the national economy from a linear model to a circular one; many are still at the CE 1.0 and CE 2.0 stages, and do not have a developed system of institutions supporting the circular economy. In Russia, the concept of a circular economy has not yet received recognition in society and government; the stage of its development can be defined as CE 2.0. This study compares the barriers and drivers of CE development in the EU countries, a group of countries with a well-developed institutional support system, and in Russia, a country that does not have such a system. The study reveals that the most significant difference between countries with mature systems of institutional support and Russia lies in the regulatory sphere and in information and awareness about new available technologies and ways to increase resource efficiency, commercial attractiveness, and organizational feasibility. Changes in the first sphere are impossible without the participation of the national authorities; however, changes in the information sphere are feasible even without the government’s support. The actors in such changes can be international companies with access to resource-efficient new technologies and processes for organizing business.
Influence of Cities-Based Entertainment on Tourist Satisfaction: Mediating Roles of Destination Image and Experience Quality
Authors: Aliedan Meqbel M. , Sobaih Abu Elnasr E. , Elshaer Ibrahim A.
Published: October 2021

In response to the Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom has developed mega entertainment events in different cities, referred to as cities-based entertainment, to diversify the long prevalent oil-dependent economy and change the traditional image of the Kingdom as a sole religious tourism destination. This research develops and tests a conceptual model on the relationship between the quality cities-based entertainment recently provided at the kingdom, and destination image, quality of tourist experience, and tourist satisfaction. More specifically, the research examines the direct influence of quality cities-based entertainment on tourist satisfaction and the indirect influence through destination image and quality of tourist experience. A structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test structural relationships between the research variables. The results showed a positive and significant influence of event (cities-based entertainment) quality on destination image and on tourist experience quality. However, the results revealed that event—i.e., cities-based entertainment—quality failed to have a direct influence on tourist satisfaction. Hence, destination image and tourist experience quality were found to fully mediate the influence of event quality on tourist satisfaction. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed and elaborated.
A Parametric Scan-to-FEM Framework for the Digital Twin Generation of Historic Masonry Structures
Authors: Funari Marco Francesco , Hajjat Ameer Emad , Masciotta Maria Giovanna , Oliveira Daniel V. , Lourenço Paulo B.
Published: October 2021

Historic masonry buildings are characterised by uniqueness, which is intrinsically present in their building techniques, morphological features, architectural decorations, artworks, etc. From the modelling point of view, the degree of detail reached on transforming discrete digital representations of historic buildings, e.g., point clouds, into 3D objects and elements strongly depends on the final purpose of the project. For instance, structural engineers involved in the conservation process of built heritage aim to represent the structural system rigorously, neglecting architectural decorations and other details. Following this principle, the software industry is focusing on the definition of a parametric modelling approach, which allows performing the transition from half-raw survey data (point clouds) to geometrical entities in nearly no time. In this paper, a novel parametric Scan-to-FEM approach suitable for architectural heritage is presented. The proposed strategy uses the Generative Programming paradigm implementing a modelling framework into a visual programming environment. Such an approach starts from the 3D survey of the case-study structure and culminates with the definition of a detailed finite element model that can be exploited to predict future scenarios. This approach is appropriate for architectural heritage characterised by symmetries, repetition of modules and architectural orders, making the Scan-to-FEM transition fast and efficient. A Portuguese monument is adopted as a pilot case to validate the proposed procedure. In order to obtain a proper digital twin of this structure, the generated parametric model is imported into an FE environment and then calibrated via an inverse dynamic problem, using as reference metrics the modal properties identified from field acceleration data recorded before and after a retrofitting intervention. After assessing the effectiveness of the strengthening measures, the digital twin ability of reproducing past and future damage scenarios of the church is validated through nonlinear static analyses.
Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Mechanism Analysis of China’s Regional Innovation Efficiency
Authors: Xu Zhen , Zhu Xiang , Wei Guoen , Ouyang Xiao
Published: October 2021

Improving regional innovation efficiency is the key to developing an innovative country. Exploring the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics of regional innovation efficiency is crucial in the formulation of regional policies and the choice of innovation models. This study used the superdata envelopment analysis method with undesirable outputs in evaluating the innovation efficiency of Chinese provinces. To assess the spatial spillover effects of innovation factors, the spatial autocorrelation and spatial Durbin model were adopted to characterize the spatio-temporal evolution, spatial correlation, and mechanisms of innovation efficiency. The highlights of the results are as follows: (1) The time-series changes in innovation efficiency showed a general trend from declining to increasing. (2) There were pronounced regional differences in innovation efficiency. The innovation efficiencies at the provincial level evolved from being decentralized to concentrated. The innovation efficiency was relatively stable in the eastern region and increased significantly in the central and western regions. The east–center–west evolution pattern gradually weakened. (3) The innovative efficiency exhibited spatial dependence, and the spatial agglomeration continued to increase. The extent of hot spots expanded, while cold spots shrunk slightly. (4) The scientific research environment, entrepreneurial environment, labor quality, and market environment were the essential elements that improved innovation efficiency. The impact of the different factors on innovation efficiency at different periods exhibited significant spatial heterogeneity.
Tracking Topics and Frames Regarding Sustainability Transformations during the Onset of the COVID-19 Crisis
Authors: de Brito Mariana Madruga , Otto Danny , Kuhlicke Christian
Published: October 2021

Many researchers and politicians believe that the COVID-19 crisis may have opened a “window of opportunity” to spur sustainability transformations. Still, evidence for such a dynamic is currently lacking. Here, we propose the linkage of “big data” and “thick data” methods for monitoring debates on transformation processes by following the COVID-19 discourse on ecological sustainability in Germany. We analysed variations in the topics discussed by applying text mining techniques to a corpus with 84,500 newspaper articles published during the first COVID-19 wave. This allowed us to attain a unique and previously inaccessible “bird’s eye view” of how these topics evolved. To deepen our understanding of prominent frames, a qualitative content analysis was undertaken. Furthermore, we investigated public awareness by analysing online search behaviour. The findings show an underrepresentation of sustainability topics in the German news during the early stages of the crisis. Similarly, public awareness regarding climate change was found to be reduced. Nevertheless, by examining the newspaper data in detail, we found that the pandemic is often seen as a chance for sustainability transformations—but not without a set of challenges. Our mixed-methods approach enabled us to bridge knowledge gaps between qualitative and quantitative research by “thickening” and providing context to data-driven analyses. By monitoring whether or not the current crisis is seen as a chance for sustainability transformations, we provide insights for environmental policy in times of crisis.
The Role of UAS–GIS in Digital Era Governance. A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Hognogi Gheorghe-Gavrilă , Pop Ana-Maria , Marian-Potra Alexandra-Camelia , Someșfălean Tania
Published: October 2021

UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) technologies, also known as UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), drones, or Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) and GIS (Geographic Information System) are recognised for the value of the results that can be achieved by their combined use. However, their use and the results achieved are rarely framed within the context of Digital Era Governance (DEG), an undertaking that would significantly reduce the capabilities of knowledge transfer from the academic and/or private environment to the public domain. The purpose of this study was to highlight, by a bibliometric analysis, the areas of proposed use of this team of tools and the extent to which these can enter the sphere of interest of public administrations, especially local ones. From a methodological point of view, based on the 439 articles filtered from the Web of Science database where UAS/UAV and GIS technologies were used, several bibliometric analyses have emerged. VOSviewer and R (Bibliometrix tool) were used to conduct the bibliometric analyses. Most scientific publications that used UAV technology as a working tool have predominant applicability in photogrammetry, while GIS applications are found in publications dedicated to image processing, landslides, and cultural and archaeological heritage. We point out that from the point of view of international cooperation, at the level of institutions or countries, certain international organisations from the USA, China, and the central and northern European states have a high interest in this topic, and a low cooperation between academia and public administration is exhibited. The conclusion is represented by the apparent lack of framing of the results of UAS–GIS technologies usage into wider and more topical contexts, such as digital era governance, and also a reduced applicability of the research results.
What Nudge Techniques Work for Food Waste Behaviour Change at the Consumer Level? A Systematic Review
Authors: Barker Hannah , Shaw Peter J. , Richards Beth , Clegg Zoe , Smith Dianna
Published: October 2021

In European countries over 40% of food loss and waste occurs at the retail and consumer stages; this situation cannot be sustained and remediation is urgently needed; opportunities for change must be created. “Nudge” techniques have been shown to be effective in changing behaviour in areas related to food consumption (e.g., healthy diet), but the effectiveness of interventions using nudge techniques to change food waste behaviours remains unclear, despite a growing body of research. The aim of this review is to elucidate means to change household food waste behaviour using nudge approaches and identify priority needs for further research. Four databases, grey literature and reference lists were searched systematically to identify relevant research on nudges to change food waste behaviours. This search identified sixteen peer-reviewed research articles and two grey literature reports that were critically appraised using a critical appraisal checklist framework for descriptive/case series. Four studies deemed reliable show interventions using nudges of social norms, reminders or social norms with disclosure were effective in changing food waste behaviours at the household level, while disclosure alone, i.e., revealing environmental costs of food waste, was not. This review, unique in the application of a critical appraisal, suggests there is reliable information on the effectiveness of nudge for food waste recycling interventions when incorporating nudges of social norms, reminders or disclosure alongside use of social norms. If food waste recycling behaviour is considered an upstream measure to raise consumers’ consciousness on the amount of food waste they produce, this may have a positive impact on food waste reduction and therefore has important policy implications for food waste behaviour change at the household level.
Fiscal Economic Instruments for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Coastal Marine Areas of the Yucatan Peninsula
Authors: Vidal-Hernández Laura , de Yta-Castillo Diana , Castellanos-Basto Blanca , Suárez-Castro Marco , Rivera-Arriaga Evelia
Published: October 2021

Fiscal economic instruments (FEI) are indirect regulation mechanisms that generate public revenue for the state through rights to use, charges, and concessions. In Mexico, some of these instruments can be used in the surveillance, administration, and preservation of the environment. In this paper, we analyze the changes in Federal and State growth rates of expenditure budgets in critical areas of the Yucatan Peninsula coast to describe their contribution to sustainable development during the last 12 years. We present an adaptation of the methodological guide of economic instruments for environmental management from CEPAL, with 2013 as the base year for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) deflator and the use of the Protocol of Nagoya year as an international compromise signed by Mexico. The results obtained show that the expenditure budgets respond to economic, political, and short-term security attention without expectations for sustainability. However, alarming evidence of severe environmental deterioration in the coast is diminishing natural attraction, from tourism, for example, which is the main source of income in the region. The effective use of FEI by local governments may be useful to addressing environmental challenges from a decentralization process with better awareness of the importance of coastal areas for regional sustainability.
Housing Cost Burdens and Parental Support for Young Renters in South Korea
Authors: Lee Hyun-Jeong , Hwang Yoon-Seo
Published: October 2021

In Korea, the housing issues faced by young renters negatively impact both their parents and themselves. This study aimed at exploring young renters’ situations whereby they receive financial support from their parents in order to pay current housing expenses, and their perception of housing cost burdens. Additionally, this study examined the influences on the reception of parental support and their perceived housing cost burdens. In February and March of 2021, an online questionnaire survey was conducted amongst young renters living independently from their parents and 385 responses from Jeonse renters and monthly renters with deposits in private rental housing units were analyzed. The major findings are as follows: (1) among the subjects, 43.4% had experienced receiving parental support in order to pay for housing expenses since their first instance of independent living, and 35.6% were still receiving parental support. (2) A discriminant model with a linear combination of the variables of age, income, residential location and rental deposit was found effective in predicting the receipt of parental support with 66.5% accuracy. (3) A linear combination of the variables of gender, rental deposit and monthly cash housing expenses was found to explain 5.8% of the total variance of perceived housing cost burdens. The results imply the necessity to expand the provision of public housing and housing subsidies to alleviate the financial burdens of young renters and their parents.
Dairy Buffalo Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Affected by a Management Choice: The Production of Wheat Crop
Authors: Romano Elio , De Palo Pasquale , Tidona Flavio , Maggiolino Aristide , Bragaglio Andrea
Published: October 2021

Life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed in dairy buffalo farms representative of Southern Italian farming systems, similar due to several characteristics, with the exception of wheat production. This work evaluated the impacts derived from this management choice, comparing farms with wheat crop (WWC) or not (NWC). In agreement with the literature, economic allocation was chosen as a useful strategy to attribute equivalents to by-products, i.e., culled animals; the same criterion was also adopted to assign pollutants to wheat grain, limited to WWC farms. Environmental impacts in terms of Global Warming Potential (GWP, kg CO2 eq), Acidification Potential (AC, g SO2 eq), Eutrophication Potential (EU, g PO43-eq), Agricultural Land Occupation (ALO, m2y) and Water Depletion (WD, m3) were estimated. The production of wheat crop significantly affected (p < 0.05) the Agricultural Land Occupation (ALO) category as WWC farms need adequate land. WWC farms could allow a significant reduction in eutrophication (EU) compared to NWC farms (p < 0.05).
Volunteers Recruitment, Retention, and Performance during the CSMON-LIFE (Citizen Science MONitoring) Project and 3 Years of Follow-Up
Authors: Martellos Stefano , Pittao Elena , Cesaroni Donatella , Mereu Alessio , Petruzzella Damiano , Pinzari Manuela , Sbordoni Valerio , Tallone Giuliano , Attorre Fabio
Published: October 2021

Volunteers’ contribution to research is growing, especially since the beginning of the 21st century. Given the constant increase of Citizen Science initiatives, recruiting strategies have to be planned properly. Retention is pivotal as well, especially when time is invested in volunteers’ training. However, practically no follow-up data are available on retention after major Citizen Science initiatives. CSMON-LIFE (Citizen Science MONitoring) was a 42-month project (2014–2017) funded by the European Commission in the framework of the LIFE+ programme (LIFE13 ENV/IT/842). It aimed at increasing awareness on Citizen Science among citizens, researchers, and decision makers in Italy. During CSMON-LIFE, recruitment was based on extensive awareness raising actions on different media. In total, 5558 volunteers were engaged in different field activities during the project and its follow-up. They gathered a total of 30062 geo-referenced observations, each with an image of the reported organism. Their activities were organized in campaigns, each devoted to a different topic. This study aims at investigating volunteers’ performance and retention in the funded period of CSMON-LIFE (December 2014–November 2017) and in its after-LIFE follow-up period (December 2017–November 2020), for a total of 72 months.
Is It Possible for Young Students to Learn the AI-STEAM Application with Experiential Learning?
Authors: Hsu Ting-Chia , Abelson Hal , Lao Natalie , Chen Shih-Chu
Published: October 2021

This study attempted to evaluate the learning effectiveness of using the MIT App Inventor platform and its Personal Image Classifier (PIC) tool in the interdisciplinary application. The instructional design was focused on applying PIC in the integration of STEAM (i.e., Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) interdisciplinary learning, so as to provide sustainable and suitable teaching content based on the experiential learning theory for 7th grader students. Accordingly, the sustainable AI-STEAM course with the experiential learning framework has been implemented and verified, so as to confirm that the AI-STEAM course is not too difficult for young students. Many basic concepts involved in the AI-STEAM course, regarding programming logic, electromechanical concepts, interface design, and the application of image recognition, were measured in this study. The results showed that the students not only made significant progress in learning effectiveness, but also in particular made significant improvements in two parts: electromechanical concepts and image recognition knowledge. In the end, this study further provides some advice on the sustainable AI-STEAM course based on the survey of some important factors including active learning, and self-efficacy after confirming that it is not a barrier for the young students to learn the sustainable AI-STEAM course developed in this study.
Sustainability Assessment of Social and Economic Development of Municipalities in the Voronezh Region
Authors: Yakovenko Natalia V. , Ten Roman V. , Komov Igor V.
Published: October 2021

In Russia, the issue of improving socio-economic sustainability of municipalities in the region through the assessment of its indicators are particularly relevant. The aim of this work is to assess the sustainability of socio-economic development of municipalities in the Voronezh region. The paper uses a systematic approach for a comprehensive, structured and dynamic study of the state of socio-economic sustainability of municipalities in the region. This approach uses the methods of classification and comparative analysis. The authors propose a methodology for assessing the sustainability of socio-economic development of the region’s municipalities. The results of calculating the integral sustainability index indicate the presence of five groups of municipalities, characterized by a particular degree of socio-economic sustainability, ranging from high to crisis. The proposed methodology for assessing the sustainability of socio-economic development of municipalities allows us to highlight the problematic parameters of socio-economic development within the municipalities themselves and to identify the main strategic objectives on the way to a single strategic goal: improving the level and quality of life of the population. Regional policy measures to equalize the level of socio-economic development should be designed, taking into account the identified features of the territorial development of municipal districts.
The Effects of On- and Before- Journey Advantages Using Ride-Sourcing in Indonesia
Authors: Rizki Muhamad , Joewono Tri Basuki , Dharmowijoyo Dimas Bayu Endrayana , Prasetyanto Dwi
Published: October 2021

This paper explores the effects of on-journey (i.e., waiting and travel time reliability, driver quality), before-journey (i.e., service coverage, application quality, fare, etc.), and multi-tasking advantages when using ride-sourcing, the perceived usefulness of ride-sourcing and, in turn, the frequency of usage. Assuming a structural form without any reciprocal effects, the modified Structural Equation Model is used. This study collected data from 497 ride-sourcing users in Bandung city in 2018. As expected, ride-sourcing users who appreciate the usefulness of ride-sourcing services correlate with a higher frequency of use. This study found that situational variables or variables related to travel and built environment conditions (e.g., on-journey advantages, built environment, and travel characteristics) play a role in keeping travellers using the services. This study confirms that multi-tasking is not a reason for ride-sourcing users to use the services more often. Moreover, those who previously used motorcycles and car-based ride-sourcing (CBRS) are more loyal travellers than car, public transport users, and motorcycle-based-ride-sourcing (MBRS) users, respectively.
Mainstream Value Information Push Strategy on Chinese Aggregation News Platform: Evolution, Modelling and Analysis
Authors: Song Guohui , Wang Yongbin
Published: October 2021

At present, most news aggregation platforms use personalized recommendation technology to push information in China, which is likely to cause the phenomenon of information cocoons. In order to alleviate the occurrence of this phenomenon, this paper studies the issue of mainstream value information push from different perspectives, which can be used as a supplement for personalized recommendation technology to promote the diffusion of mainstream value information. First, we constructed an evolutionary game model to simulate the game process between news aggregation platforms and users. Through the results of evolutionary analysis, the news platform can be guided at a macro level to formulate mainstream value information push strategies by adjusting model parameters. Second, we conducted research on user behavior, and the results show that different user groups have different demands for mainstream value information. Third, we constructed two models from the perspective of user demands and platform revenue. Experiments show that user sensitivity to mainstream value information σ and platform evaluation factors val are important for finding the number of mainstream information pushes on each page. Finally, we investigated the effect of the mainstream value information from Toutiao. The survey results are consistent with the viewpoints presented in this paper.
Can Corporate Social Responsibility Decrease the Negative Influence of Financial Distress on Accounting Quality?
Authors: Choi Jun Hyeok , Kim Saerona , Yang Dong-Hoon , Cho Kwanghee
Published: October 2021

This study aimed to test how corporate social responsibility (CSR) can affect the impact of corporate financial distress on earnings management. Based on the existing literature, distressed firms tend to hide their financial crises through earnings manipulation. However, as CSR can positively affect companies in terms of performance, risk reduction, and market response, the better a firm’s CSR is the less managers will attempt earnings management even if they experience temporary distress. Consistent with the literature, test results using Korean-listed companies show that distress increased earnings management, and we confirmed that CSR weakened the positive effect of distress on earnings management. After testing each of the CSR subcategories, significant results were found mainly on environmental performance, reflecting the globally increasing interest in environmental issues. This study contributes to the literature on distress and earnings management, which rarely considers CSR as a moderating factor.
Online Communication Tools in Teaching Foreign Languages for Education Sustainability
Authors: Martyushev Nikita , Shutaleva Anna , Malushko Elena , Nikonova Zhanna , Savchenko Irina
Published: October 2021

Higher education curricula are developed based on creating conditions for implementing many professional and universal competencies. In Russia, one of the significant competencies for a modern specialist is business communication in oral and written forms in the Russian language and a foreign language. Therefore, teaching students to write in a foreign language is one of the modern requirements for young specialists’ professional training. This article aimed to study the tools of online communication that are used in teaching foreign languages. The article presents the results of an empirical study and analysis of factors of application of online communication technologies in foreign languages teaching, synchronous and asynchronous means used in online learning, and the advantages of integrating online communication tools into the educational process of teaching a foreign language. The study of the advantages and disadvantages of educational platforms is based on an analysis of information and online communication technologies used in the educational process. Based on the example of teaching a foreign language, the article shows how online communication platforms are involved in the educational process. Furthermore, the teachers’ and students’ opinions are presented on how online platforms are convenient. The survey involved 928 first-year students and 76 foreign language teachers of Volgograd State University (Volgograd), Linguistics University of Nizhny Novgorod (Nizhny Novgorod), Tomsk Polytechnic University (Tomsk), Ural Federal University, named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin (Ekaterinburg). It was revealed that the integration of online communication tools has positive effects on the formation and development of written communication skills.
The Role of Opinion Leaders in the Sustainable Development of Corporate-Led Consumer Advice Networks: Evidence from a Chinese Travel Content Community
Authors: Wu Lianren , Li Jinjie , Qi Jiayin , Kong Deli , Li Xu
Published: October 2021

Online community marketing and social media influencer marketing have aroused the interest of many researchers and practitioners around the world. Companies building online content communities to implement community marketing and influencer marketing has become a new corporate strategy, especially in the tourism and hotel industries in which experiential products are sold. However, based on the content community, maintaining the sustainable development of a consumer advice network composed of opinion leaders and consumers is a major challenge. This paper selects the travel content community of Qunar.com as the research object to study the role of opinion leaders in the sustainable development of corporate-led consumer advice networks (CANs). Empirical evidence based on network evolution data from 1356 “Hotel Sleep Testers” across 11 years shows that: (1) the creation and provision of information can obviously increase the probability of the relationship construction and increase the number of relationships, thus facilitating the formation of opinion leadership (OL); (2) active participation in interactions and withhigh-quality information brings greater effects; (3) the network structure variables, such as preferential attachment, structural equivalence, and similarity, can also better predict the probability of a potential relationship; and (4) reciprocity in consumer advice networks has no significant impact on the establishment of network relationships.
Exploring Sustainable Measurements of Academic Research: How Do Faculty Members in Teaching-Oriented Universities of China Evaluate Good Research in Tourism and Hospitality?
Authors: Zhou Ting , Law Rob , Lee Patrick C.
Published: October 2021

Academic research contributes to the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) of teaching-oriented universities in many ways, such as providing quality education, promoting the healthy and diverse development of academia, and satisfying the sustainable career development of faculty. In essence, research can facilitate knowledge advancement, dissemination, and innovation, while existing metrics are outcome-based, quantitatively measured, and have methodological and invalidity problems in achieving these orientations. This exploratory study adopted a qualitative research approach guided by constructivist grounded theory to explore the fundamental question of how to evaluate good research in tourism and hospitality. By conducting 32 in-depth interviews with full-time faculty members in 16 teaching-oriented universities in mainland China, the perceptions of good research were captured. The perceived measurements that evaluate good research were interpreted, including counting publications and research projects, citation analysis and peer review, contribution to teaching, contribution to societal service and industrial interaction, and building research teams. Finally, this study provided discussions about the orientations of academic research as well as authorships in research evaluation from the perspective of HEI sustainability.
Interoperable Permissioned-Blockchain with Sustainable Performance
Authors: Punathumkandi Swathi , Sundaram Venkatesan Meenakshi , Panneer Prabhavathy
Published: October 2021

Bitcoin is an innovative and path-breaking technology that has influenced numerous industries across the globe. It is a form of digital currency (cryptocurrency) that can be used for trading and has the potential to replace fiat money, where the underlying infrastructure is called Blockchain. The Blockchain is an open ledger that provides decentralization, transparency, immutability, and confidentiality. Blockchain can be used in enormous applications, such as healthcare, logistics, supply chain management, the IoT, and so forth. Most of the industrial applications rely on the permissioned blockchain. However, the permissioned blockchain fails in some aspects, such as interoperability among different platforms. This paper suggests a sustainable system to solve the interoperability issue of the permissioned blockchain by designing a new infrastructure. This work has been tested in ethereum and hyperledger frameworks, which obtained a success rate of 100 percent.
Passive Reactive Power Compensators for Improving the Sustainability of Three-Phase, Four-Wire Sinusoidal Systems Supplied by Unbalanced Voltages
Authors: Peñalvo-López Elisa , León-Martínez Vicente , Montañana-Romeu Joaquín , Cárcel-Carrasco Javier
Published: October 2021

Compensation of reactive power is necessary in power systems due to economical, energetic, and environmental reasons. Reactive power increases energy power losses and carbon dioxide emissions in distribution lines and power transformers. However, capacitor banks used in most industrial applications do not significantly reduce energy losses in lines and transformers when supply voltages and loads are unbalanced and therefore do not fully improve the sustainability of distribution networks. This fact is explained in this paper using positive-, negative-, and zero-sequence reactive power components in three-phase, four-wire sinusoidal power systems supplied with unbalanced voltages. Likewise, several devices have also been developed for the compensation of the total reactive power and, specifically, for each of its components in these power systems. Comparing the effectiveness of these reactive compensators and other well-known passive compensators as capacitor banks on the sustainability improvement of the electrical installation of an actual industry, reductions between 20% and 100% in energy losses and carbon dioxide emissions, caused by circulation of reactive currents in transformer and lines, can be expected depending on the type of compensator used.
Culturally Diverse Street-Level Urban Activities through the Lens of Digital Footprints
Authors: Martí Pablo , Serrano-Estrada Leticia , Aboutorabi Mohsen
Published: October 2021

Acknowledging and sustaining the ethnic and cultural diversity that the phenomenon of globalization has brought to the urban environment is one of the target objectives to seek spatial and social sustainability in today’s cities. This study aims to build upon previous research approaches that sought to characterize culturally diverse, urban public spaces. For this purpose, a method that encompasses digital and physical layers of information has been proposed to gather signs of culturally diverse, street-level urban and economic activities. Geolocated data from three social media platforms, as well as field-work observations, were collected from two case study street segments with different socio-cultural, demographic profiles. The findings suggest that economic activities related to retail and restaurants, and especially those with higher levels of personalization that reflect “cultural specialisms”, have a significative relevance in both the physical and virtual domains. However, unlike the case study area with the higher socio-economic profile, the urban vibrancy observed through field work throughout the more culturally diverse street segment was not found to be fully represented by social media data. There is still much room for research on the extent to which these sources are useful for characterizing fine-grain street-scale phenomena.
Sustainable Product Development for Accessible Tourism: Case Studies Demonstrating the Need for Stakeholder Collaboration
Authors: Nigg Joachim Josef , Eichelberger Sarah
Published: October 2021

Sustainable tourism builds on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), involving the consideration of people with disabilities, which necessitates their corresponding integration within tourism development. The noteworthy potential of accessible tourism is demonstrated in several studies. Hence, efforts have already been made to develop and adapt products in this regard. However, there are still challenges related to the inclusion of people with disabilities in tourism. Therefore, this study examines product development for accessible tourism through four case studies that have developed and implemented products for people with disabilities in the past. Data is gathered by means of qualitative interviews with managers of these product developments, and data is also triangulated with secondary information. The results show that product development for people with disabilities strongly depends on the immediate collaboration of all stakeholder groups and the inclusion of people with disabilities, building on the underlying values of the destination. Furthermore, the study indicates that in accordance with the Triple Bottom Line (TBL), sustainable product developments for accessible tourism are based on the sustainable tourism principles. Thus, both theoretical and practical implications for tourism facilities as well as for destination management organizations can be derived.