bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stair-Fall Risk Parameters in a Controlled Gait Laboratory Environment and Real (Domestic) Houses: A Prospective Study in Faller and Non-Faller Groups
Authors: Ram Malarvizhi , Baltzopoulos Vasilios , Shaw Andy , Maganaris Costantinos N. , Cullen Jeff , O’Brien Thomas
Published: January 2024

Background: Falling on stairs is a major health hazard for older people. Risk factors for stair falls have been identified, but these are mostly examined in controlled biomechanics/gait laboratory environments, on experimental stairs with a given set of step dimensions. It remains unknown whether the conclusions drawn from these controlled environments would apply to the negotiation of other domestic staircases with different dimensions in real houses where people live. Objectives: The aim of this paper is to investigate whether selected biomechanical stepping behavior determined through stair gait parameters such as foot clearance, foot contact length and cadence are maintained when the staircase dimensions are different in real houses. Methods: Twenty-five older adults (>65 years) walked on a custom-made seven-step laboratory staircase. Older adults were classified into two groups (fallers and non-fallers) based on recent fall history. Among the 25 participants, 13 people had at least one fall, trip, or slip in the last six months and they were assigned to the fallers group; 12 people did not experience any fall in the last six months, so they were assigned to the non-fallers group. In addition, these participants walked on the stairs in three different real exemplar houses wearing a novel instrumented shoe sensor system that could measure the above stair gait parameters. MATLAB was used to extract fall risk parameters from the collected data. One-way ANOVA was used to compare fall risk parameters on the different staircases. In addition, the laboratory-based fall risk parameters were compared to those derived from the real house stairs. Results: There was a significant difference in selected stair-fall biomechanical risk factors among the house and laboratory staircases. The fall risk group comparisons suggest that high-risk fallers implemented a biomechanically riskier strategy that could increase overall falling risk. Conclusions: The significant differences due to the main effects of the fallers and non-fallers groups were obtained. For example, when ascending, the fallers group had less foot clearance on the entry (p = 0.016) and middle steps (p = 0.003); in addition, they had more foot clearance variability on the entry steps (p = 0.003). This suggests that the fallers group in this present study did not adopt more conservative stepping strategies during stair ascent compared to low-risk older adults. By showing less foot clearance and more variability in foot clearance, the risk for a trip would be increased.
Coherent Off-Axis Terahertz Tomography with a Multi-Channel Array and f-theta Optics
Authors: May Karl Henrik , Mohammadzadeh Shiva , Keil Andreas , von Freymann Georg , Friederich Fabian
Published: January 2024

Terahertz tomography is a promising method among non-destructive inspection techniques to detect faults and defects in dielectric samples. Recently, image quality was improved significantly through the incorporation of a priori information and off-axis data. However, this improvement has come at the cost of increased measurement time. To aim toward industrial applications, it is therefore necessary to speed up the measurement by parallelizing the data acquisition employing multi-channel setups. In this work, we present two tomographic frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) systems working at a bandwidth of 230–320 GHz, equipped with an eight-channel detector array, and we compare their imaging results with those of a single-pixel setup. While in the first system the additional channels are used exclusively to detect radiation refracted by the sample, the second system features an f-θ lens, focusing the beam at different positions on its flat focal plane, and thus utilizing the whole detector array directly. The usage of the f-θ lens in combination with a scanning mirror eliminates the necessity of the formerly used slow translation of a single-pixel transmitter. This opens up the potential for a significant increase in acquisition speed, in our case by a factor of four to five, respectively.
Road-MobileSeg: Lightweight and Accurate Road Extraction Model from Remote Sensing Images for Mobile Devices
Authors: Qu Guangjun , Wu Yue , Lv Zhihong , Zhao Dequan , Lu Yingpeng , Zhou Kefa , Tang Jiakui , Zhang Qing , Zhang Aijun
Published: January 2024

Current road extraction models from remote sensing images based on deep learning are computationally demanding and memory-intensive because of their high model complexity, making them impractical for mobile devices. This study aimed to develop a lightweight and accurate road extraction model, called Road-MobileSeg, to address the problem of automatically extracting roads from remote sensing images on mobile devices. The Road-MobileFormer was designed as the backbone structure of Road-MobileSeg. In the Road-MobileFormer, the Coordinate Attention Module was incorporated to encode both channel relationships and long-range dependencies with precise position information for the purpose of enhancing the accuracy of road extraction. Additionally, the Micro Token Pyramid Module was introduced to decrease the number of parameters and computations required by the model, rendering it more lightweight. Moreover, three model structures, namely Road-MobileSeg-Tiny, Road-MobileSeg-Small, and Road-MobileSeg-Base, which share a common foundational structure but differ in the quantity of parameters and computations, were developed. These models varied in complexity and were available for use on mobile devices with different memory capacities and computing power. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed models outperform the compared typical models in terms of accuracy, lightweight structure, and latency and achieve high accuracy and low latency on mobile devices. This indicates that the models that integrate with the Coordinate Attention Module and the Micro Token Pyramid Module surpass the limitations of current research and are suitable for road extraction from remote sensing images on mobile devices.
Energy Consumption Analysis for Continuous Phase Modulation in Smart-Grid Internet of Things of beyond 5G
Authors: Gao Hongjian , Lu Yang , Yang Shaoshi , Tan Jingsheng , Nie Longlong , Qu Xinyi
Published: January 2024

Wireless sensor network (WSN) underpinning the smart-grid Internet of Things (SG-IoT) has been a popular research topic in recent years due to its great potential for enabling a wide range of important applications. However, the energy consumption (EC) characteristic of sensor nodes is a key factor that affects the operational performance (e.g., lifetime of sensors) and the total cost of ownership of WSNs. In this paper, to find the modulation techniques suitable for WSNs, we investigate the EC characteristic of continuous phase modulation (CPM), which is an attractive modulation scheme candidate for WSNs because of its constant envelope property. We first develop an EC model for the sensor nodes of WSNs by considering the circuits and a typical communication protocol that relies on automatic repeat request (ARQ)-based retransmissions to ensure successful data delivery. Then, we use this model to analyze the EC characteristic of CPM under various configurations of modulation parameters. Furthermore, we compare the EC characteristic of CPM with that of other representative modulation schemes, such as offset quadrature phase-shift keying (OQPSK) and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), which are commonly used in communication protocols of WSNs. Our analysis and simulation results provide insights into the EC characteristics of multiple modulation schemes in the context of WSNs; thus, they are beneficial for designing energy-efficient SG-IoT in the beyond-5G (B5G) and the 6G era.
Comparison of Shoulder Range of Motion Quantified with Mobile Phone Video-Based Skeletal Tracking and 3D Motion Capture—Preliminary Study
Authors: van den Hoorn Wolbert , Lavaill Maxence , Cutbush Kenneth , Gupta Ashish , Kerr Graham
Published: January 2024

Background: The accuracy of human pose tracking using smartphone camera (2D-pose) to quantify shoulder range of motion (RoM) is not determined. Methods: Twenty healthy individuals were recruited and performed shoulder abduction, adduction, flexion, or extension, captured simultaneously using a smartphone-based human pose estimation algorithm (Apple’s vision framework) and using a skin marker-based 3D motion capture system. Validity was assessed by comparing the 2D-pose outcomes against a well-established 3D motion capture protocol. In addition, the impact of iPhone positioning was investigated using three smartphones in multiple vertical and horizontal positions. The relationship and validity were analysed using linear mixed models and Bland-Altman analysis. Results: We found that 2D-pose-based shoulder RoM was consistent with 3D motion capture (linear mixed model: R2 > 0.93) but was somewhat overestimated by the smartphone. Differences were dependent on shoulder movement type and RoM amplitude, with adduction the worst performer among all tested movements. All motion types were described using linear equations. Correction methods are provided to correct potential out-of-plane shoulder movements. Conclusions: Shoulder RoM estimated using a smartphone camera is consistent with 3D motion-capture-derived RoM; however, differences between the systems were observed and are likely explained by differences in thoracic frame definitions.
Bite Force Mapping Based on Distributed Fiber Sensing Network Approach
Authors: Katrenova Zhanerke , Alisherov Shakhrizat , Yergibay Madina , Kappasov Zhanat , Blanc Wilfred , Tosi Daniele , Molardi Carlo
Published: January 2024

Bite force measurements are crucial in the realm of biomedical research, particularly in the areas of dentistry and orthodontic care. Various intraoral devices have been used to assess biting force, but each has limitations and drawbacks. Fiber optic sensors (FOSs) offer advantages such as electrical inertness, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and high sensitivity. Distributed fiber optic sensing allows an increase in the number of sensing points and can interrogate numerous reflections from scattering events within an optical fiber. We present four dental bites with heights of 6 mm, which enabled bilateral measurements. U-shaped sensors were prepared by embedding fibers into silicone by folding a single-mode fiber into four lines and multiplexing eight parallel nanoparticle-doped fibers. Dental bite models were created using two silicone materials (Sorta Clear 18 and Sorta Clear 40). The developed sensors were calibrated by applying weights up to 900 g, resulting in a linear response. Experiments were conducted to compare the efficacy of the dental bites. The collection of massive data was enabled by constructing a 2D map of the dental bites during multi-point sensing.
Remote Sensing Retrieval of Cloud Top Height Using Neural Networks and Data from Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization
Authors: Cheng Yinhe , He Hongjian , Xue Qiangyu , Yang Jiaxuan , Zhong Wei , Zhu Xinyu , Peng Xiangyu
Published: January 2024

In order to enhance the retrieval accuracy of cloud top height (CTH) from MODIS data, neural network models were employed based on Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) data. Three types of methods were established using MODIS inputs: cloud parameters, calibrated radiance, and a combination of both. From a statistical standpoint, models with combination inputs demonstrated the best performance, followed by models with calibrated radiance inputs, while models relying solely on calibrated radiance had poorer applicability. This work found that cloud top pressure (CTP) and cloud top temperature played a crucial role in CTH retrieval from MODIS data. However, within the same type of models, there were slight differences in the retrieved results, and these differences were not dependent on the quantity of input parameters. Therefore, the model with fewer inputs using cloud parameters and calibrated radiance was recommended and employed for individual case studies. This model produced results closest to the actual cloud top structure of the typhoon and exhibited similar cloud distribution patterns when compared with the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) CTHs from a climatic statistical perspective. This suggests that the recommended model has good applicability and credibility in CTH retrieval from MODIS images. This work provides a method to improve accurate CTHs from MODIS data for better utilization.
Incentive Mechanism for Privacy-Preserving Collaborative Routing Using Secure Multi-Party Computation and Blockchain
Authors: Wang Chaojie , Peeta Srinivas
Published: January 2024

Traffic congestion results from the spatio-temporal imbalance of demand and supply. With the advances in connected technologies, incentive mechanisms for collaborative routing have the potential to provide behavior-consistent solutions to traffic congestion. However, such mechanisms raise privacy concerns due to their information-sharing and execution-validation procedures. This study leverages secure Multi-party Computation (MPC) and blockchain technologies to propose a privacy-preserving incentive mechanism for collaborative routing in a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) context, which consists of a collaborative routing scheme and a route validation scheme. In the collaborative routing scheme, sensitive information is shared through an off-chain MPC protocol for route updating and incentive computation. The incentives are then temporarily frozen in a series of cascading multi-signature wallets in case vehicles behave dishonestly or roadside units (RSUs) are hacked. The route validation scheme requires vehicles to create position proofs at checkpoints along their selected routes with the assistance of witness vehicles using an off-chain threshold signature protocol. RSUs will validate the position proofs, store them on the blockchain, and unfreeze the associated incentives. The privacy and security analysis illustrates the scheme’s efficacy. Numerical studies reveal that the proposed incentive mechanism with tuned parameters is both efficient and implementable.
ACEK Biosensor for the Minute-Scale Quantification of Breast Cancer ctDNA
Authors: Wang Ke , Lin Xiaogang , Zhang Maoxiao , Yang Mengjie , Shi Xiang , Xie Mingna , Luo Yang
Published: January 2024

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) appears as a valuable liquid biopsy biomarker in the early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cancer. Here, a biosensing method derived from the AC electrokinetics (ACEK) effect was constructed in this study for the simple, efficient, and rapid method of detection of ctDNA. In the proof-of-concept experiment, ctDNA from the PIK3CA E542K mutant in breast cancer was quantified by detecting a normalized capacitance change rate using a forked-finger gold electrode as the sensing electrode in combination with the ACEK effect. We compared two formats for the construction of the approach by employing varied immobilization strategies; one is to immobilize the DNA capture probe on the electrode surface by Au–S bonding, while the other immobilizes the probe on a self-assembled membrane on the electrode surface by amide bonding. Both formats demonstrated ultrafast detection speed by completing the ctDNA quantification within 1 min and a linear range of 10 fM–10 pM was observed. Meanwhile, the immobilization via the self-assembled membrane yielded improved stability, sensitivity, and specificity than its Au–S bonding counterpart. A detection limit of 1.94 fM was eventually achieved using the optimized approach. This research provides a label-free and minute-scale universal method for the detection of various malignant tumors. The ctDNA biosensors based on the ACEK effect improved according to the probe type or electrode structure and have potential applications in tumor drug efficacy prediction, drug resistance monitoring, screening of high-risk groups, differential diagnosis, monitoring of tiny residual lesions, and prognosis determination.
Building a Coaching Culture in Irish Schools; Challenges and Opportunities: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Butler Paul
Published: January 2024

Coaching is a relatively new leadership style in Irish schools, but its potential is being supported by the Department of Education and Skills since 2015. This study considers the challenges and obstacles to building a coaching culture within Irish schools, recognising that as a leadership style, it is relatively unknown. It considers school cultures and the challenges as well as the opportunities leaders face in building a coaching culture. A mixed methods study consisting of a quantitative survey (n = 48) followed by semi-structured interviews (n = 12) was the chosen method, using statistical analysis (SPSS) and thematic analysis (Nvivo) to analyse the data. The results indicate that leadership coaching facilitates reflective practice for leaders and those they manage, leading to a distribution of practice that facilitates distributed leadership, therein building leadership capacity and enhancing teacher/leader well-being. However, time, workload and creating a culture of coaching in schools are still challenges, as leadership coaching is still a new and unknown leadership concept. The findings suggest that it is vital that the support services endorse its value, that time is allocated to supporting coaching and that staff need both CPD and further education on what coaching entails in order to build a coaching culture in Irish schools.
Forced Migration: A Relational Wellbeing Approach
Authors: Kohli Ravi K. S. , Fylkesnes Marte Knag , Kaukko Mervi , White Sarah C.
Published: January 2024

In this Special Issue, we consider the ways in which a relational wellbeing approach can be used to understand the lives and trajectories of refugees in general and young refugees in particular [...]
Endless Exile—Alain Resnais’s The War Is Over
Authors: Rovai Mauro Luiz
Published: January 2024

This paper aims to analyze the movie The War Is Over (La guerre est finie—France/Sweden, 1966, directed by Alain Resnais and a screenplay by Jorge Semprún). The idea is to point out a possible sociological discussion on exile, mobilizing the notion of mental images. The methodological approach is an internal analysis of the film to allow for the elaboration of sociological considerations along with the expressive elements of the film construction. To do so, we shall focus on the “leaps” within the movie’s narrative order, in which a main character (Diego) anticipates, through imagination, a series of sequences and events that might or might not have occurred. To discuss the notion of mental images and their relationship with the imaginary, the theoretical reference will be Cornelius Castoriadis’ book The Imaginary Institution of Society. This article will benefit from the discussions in the presentations about the film both at meetings in Brazil and at the last ISA Congress 2023 (International Sociological Association—Research Committee 37—Sociology of Arts). This text is one of the results of research supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).
Review of Crop Response to Soil Salinity Stress: Possible Approaches from Leaching to Nano-Management
Authors: El-Ramady Hassan , Prokisch József , Mansour Hani , Bayoumi Yousry A. , Shalaby Tarek A. , Veres Szilvia , Brevik Eric C.
Published: January 2024

Soil salinity is a serious problem facing many countries globally, especially those with semi-arid and arid climates. Soil salinity can have negative influences on soil microbial activity as well as many chemical and physical soil processes, all of which are crucial for soil health, fertility, and productivity. Soil salinity can negatively affect physiological, biochemical, and genetic attributes of cultivated plants as well. Plants have a wide variety of responses to salinity stress and are classified as sensitive (e.g., carrot and strawberry), moderately sensitive (grapevine), moderately tolerant (wheat) and tolerant (barley and date palm) to soil salinity depending on the salt content required to cause crop production problems. Salinity mitigation represents a critical global agricultural issue. This review highlights the properties and classification of salt-affected soils, plant damage from osmotic stress due to soil salinity, possible approaches for soil salinity mitigation (i.e., applied nutrients, microbial inoculations, organic amendments, physio-chemical approaches, biological approaches, and nano-management), and research gaps that are important for the future of food security. The strong relationship between soil salinity and different soil subdisciplines (mainly, soil biogeochemistry, soil microbiology, soil fertility and plant nutrition) are also discussed.
The Effect of Vitamin D Consumption on Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Athletes: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Saedmocheshi Saber , Amiri Ehsan , Mehdipour Aref , Stefani Giuseppe
Published: January 2024

Vitamin D is essential for the optimal health of the skeletal system. However, this vitamin also plays a role in other functions of the human body, such as muscle, immune, and inflammatory functions. Some studies have reported that adequate levels of vitamin D improve immune system function by reducing the levels of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can protect against the risk of post-exercise illness. This systematic review aims to investigate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on pro-inflammatory cytokines in athletes. This study was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A literature search was conducted in SPORTDiscus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar up to 1 October 2023. The quality of the articles was evaluated using the Risk of Bias 2 Tool. After searching the databases, a total of 7417 studies were identified, 6 of which met the eligibility criteria, and their outcomes were presented. The six studies included 176 participants. All six studies are randomized control trials, including a total of 176 subjects, primarily men (81%). Regarding the types of athletes, most participants were endurance athletes. Our investigation in this systematic review demonstrated that out of the six studies, only two of them reported significant changes in IL-6 and TNF-α levels after taking high-dose vitamin D. Other studies did not present any significant changes after vitamin D supplementation in athletes with respect to IL-6 and TNF-α levels. Further studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation for athletes as a disease-prone community.
Slope Stability Analysis Based on the Explicit Smoothed Particle Finite Element Method
Authors: Jia Xichun , Jiang Xuebing , Huang Jun , Yu Shunchao , Liu Bingjun
Published: January 2024

A landslide is a common natural disaster that causes environmental damage, casualties and economic losses, which seriously affects the sustainable development of society. In geomechanics, it is one of the largest deformation problems. Herein, the GPU-accelerated explicit smoothed particle finite element method (eSPFEM) for large deformation analysis in geomechanics was developed on the CUDA platform based on high-performance computing using a self-designed eSPFEM program code. The eSPFEM combines the strain smoothing nodal integration techniques found in the particle finite element method (PFEM) framework, which allows for the use of low-order triangular elements without volume locking and avoids frequent information transfer and mapping errors between Gaussian points and particles in PFEM. A numerical simulation of slope instability using the eSPFEM and based on a strength reduction technique was conducted using various examples, including a cohesive homogeneous slope, a non-cohesive homogeneous slope, a non-homogeneous slope and a slope with a thin soft band. The calculation results show that the eSPFEM can be applied to slope stability analysis under different working conditions, simulating the entire process of slope instability initiation, sliding and reaccumulation, and obtaining reliable FOS values. A numerical simulation was conducted to analyse a landslide that occurred in the Zhangjiazhuang tunnel on the Lanzhou–Xinjiang high-speed railway line on 18 January 2016. A natural unsaturated soil slope, a soil slope with a high moisture content and a soil slope with a high moisture content subjected to an earthquake were analysed. The findings of this study are in good agreement with the actual slope failure conditions. The primary triggers identified for the landslide were heavy rainfall and earthquakes. The verification results indicate that the eSPFEM can effectively simulate an actual landslide case, showcasing high accuracy and applicability in simulating the large deformation behaviour of landslides.
A Review of the Energy Policies of the BRICS Countries: The Possibility of Adopting a Just Energy Transition for South Africa
Authors: Ramluckun Rajesh , Malumbazo Nandi , Ngubevana Lwazi
Published: January 2024

This review focuses on the Just Energy Transition (JET) policies of the BRICS member countries with the aim of finding lessons and possibly adopting some of the key energy policy aspects utilised in other countries as a benchmark for the South African context. We consider the present stage of JET in South Africa while being cognisant of the energy source mix supporting the electricity sector and the lifespan and condition of its power plants. An analysis of the energy mix revealed that all nations are dependent on electricity for energy, which is produced predominantly from fossil-fuelled power plants with high GHG emissions (concentrating on high CO2 emissions). It was concluded that some of the lessons learnt from the BRICS countries might be incorporated into a South African energy plan for the transition, with options and guidance for the formulation of policies. This study will attract a responsible, environmentally conscious audience that has the commitment and drive to combat global warming and curb climate change.
Understanding Factors Affecting Consumers’ Conscious Green Purchasing Behavior
Authors: Alghamdi Omar. A. , Agag Gomaa
Published: January 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on customer behavior. A transition from traditional to environmentally friendly purchasing has been observed in the buying- and consuming-goods setting. Our research sought to discover the factors that influence customers’ conscious green purchasing behavior (GPB), even though these factors had not been extensively studied before. Additionally, it investigated how COVID-19 has impacted consumers’ conscious GPB. Drawing upon the S–O–R model, we developed an integrated model to understand factors affecting conscious GPB. A total of 884 responses were gathered and analyzed by employing the structural equation modeling technique. Our study collected data from consumers in Saudi Arabia. The findings indicate that media and peer influence have a significant effect on activating both altruistic and egoistic drives, whereas family influence was shown to be insignificant. The correlations between media exposure and peer influence were significantly mediated by altruistic and egoistic motivations. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a beneficial influence on the formation process of conscious GPB. The results suggest that peers have a greater impact on conscious GPB through multiple motives, as compared to the influence of media. The findings of this examination provide several meaningful theoretical and managerial implications for marketers in the green consumption setting.
Mindful Choices: Unveiling the Driving Factors behind Consumers’ Intention to Reduce Single-Use Plastic Utensils
Authors: Shin Ju Yeon , Kim Eojina , Jang Yoon Jung , Singal Manisha
Published: January 2024

As consumers increasingly access takeaway food from restaurants, the importance of reducing the use of single-use plastic has emerged. To investigate this complex process, the current study applies the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Norm Activation Model (NAM) to discover how this theory and model leads to discovering customers’ behavioral intentions. Data were collected from 436 respondents and reflect people aged 18 years or older who accessed an online food ordering platform within the three months prior to the study data collection. Results present that customers’ attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, awareness of consequences, and personal norms regarding reducing single-use plastic utensils influence consumers’ behavioral intentions. These findings are meaningful to academia in providing insights into the link between consumers’ behavior and reducing the use of single-use plastic utensils in the restaurant context. In addition, this study provides marketing strategies and implications for improving consumers’ awareness of the use of single-use plastic utensils in retail food services.
How Firm’s Commitment to ESG Drives Green and Low-Carbon Transition: A Longitudinal Case Study from Hang Lung Properties
Authors: Liu Jixun , Lau Stephen , Liu Shenyi Shirley , Hu Yingde
Published: January 2024

Sustainability in business is a subject of growing interest to investors, stakeholders, and companies for overcoming uncertainty. However, it is also questioned with “is this business approach is finance worthy”, how does a firm’s commitment to ESG translate into tangible outcomes that benefit investors? In this paper, textual analysis is applied to the 10-year sustainability report from 2012 to 2021 released by Hang Lung Properties (HLP) to empirically explore its ESG (environmental, social, and governance)-related strategy, initiatives, actions, and outcomes. Employed with a “commitment-action-outcomes” framework, this firm-based longitudinal case study on ESG investigates how HLP deploys and implements corporate sustainability activities, in order to increase its profits as well as stock returns. Our empirical evidence indicates that the firm’s ESG commitment leads to its green and low-carbon transition. Further, it identifies three key enablers of ESG commitment—ESG integration and evolvement, high-intensity ESG effort, and technological innovation—that can spur low-carbon transition and achieve long-term value. This paper contributes to the literature in the following ways. Firstly, it sheds light on the effectiveness of ESG commitments in promoting sustainable business practices. Secondly, it enriches the understanding to build an enterprise’s resilience and self-reliance via ESG initiatives in the face of uncertainty. Lastly, it makes an important methodological contribution by constructing a new employed textual analysis for the ESG research domain.
The Hierarchy of Sustainable Sports Coaching Competencies in Korea
Authors: Jang Jusun , So Wi-Young , Cho Namki , Shin Minhye
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to identify the significant overarching sports coaching competencies and their underlying components in contemporary Korean society and into the future. In addition, the hierarchical order of these competencies and components was investigated to assess their relative importance. This knowledge can improve pre-service and in-service sports coach training programs and their sustainability. A literature review in Korean and English related to sports coaching was performed initially to understand which competencies and components have already been researched and recognized. The subsequent study surveyed 20 experts using the Delphi process and 28 experts using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), considering seven sports competencies and 23 components based on the literature. All the competencies and components were considered appropriate sustainable measures of a sports coach’s competence based on the Delphi content validity ratio (CVR) > 0.500. The AHP results ranked “pedagogical” competence the highest, with a weight of 0.329 in the competence hierarchy, while “operational and managerial” competence ranked at the bottom with a weight of 0.057. In relation to the rank order of the components under each competence, “pedagogical communication” (0.136) and “sport-specific skill performance” (0.086) ranked first and second, respectively. In contrast, “facilities and equipment management” (0.008) ranked at the bottom and “public relations and marketing” (0.008) ranked right above it. The values of the consistency index and the consistency ratio were <1.000, indicating that the competencies and components hierarchies were reliable. The results confirm that in Korea’s pre- and in-service sports coach training programs, comprehensive and in-depth pedagogical knowledge, as well as sports knowledge in areas like sports biomechanics, sports physiology, and sports nutrition, need to be reinforced for ongoing success.
Blockchain-Enabled Construction and Demolition Waste Management: Advancing Information Management for Enhanced Sustainability and Efficiency
Authors: Ma Xiaozhi , Yuan Hongping , Du Wenbo
Published: January 2024

The construction industry is a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, primarily due to the generation of substantial construction and demolition waste. However, the current practices in construction and demolition waste management (CDWM) face various information management challenges that undermine their overall effectiveness. Correspondingly, this research proposes the integration of blockchain technology as a strategic solution to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of CDWM. Despite the potential of blockchain in revolutionizing CDWM, research in this area remains limited. To address such a gap, this study adopts a design science action research methodology to integrate the use of blockchain technology into CDWM. Specifically, this study has creatively introduced the blockchain-based data supply chain to address the principal–agent problem in CDWM and develop a novel blockchain-enabled framework for CDWM. Additionally, a six-layer system architecture for the blockchain-based CDWM information system has been developed. This integration holds the promise of streamlining and empowering CDWM processes and thereby improving the administration and regulation of CDWM. Notably, the utilization of blockchain technology also presents an innovative opportunity for carbon reduction and offsetting within the construction industry. This research makes a substantial contribution to the field by introducing a novel approach to address information management challenges in CDWM, thereby promoting sustainable practices in the construction industry.
Mineral Resources Policy for a Circular Flow of Critical Minerals: An Input–Output Approach to the Case of Their Final Destination in Japan
Authors: Shimizu Kotaro , Owada Shuji
Published: January 2024

This study indicates that the volume and distribution of critical minerals’ final destination are essential for an objective decision to create a circular flow of critical minerals from national security and circular economy aspects in mineral resources policy. We demonstrate the estimation of critical minerals’ final destination and propose a decision flow framework to identify the prioritized products and their parts to be reused or recycled. We conclude that policymakers need to consider the final destination of critical minerals, not their economic importance or intermediate volumes or distributions alone, to implement effective actions to ensure critical minerals’ circularity. This study estimates the final destination of several critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, neodymium and dysprosium) and base metals (iron, copper and aluminum) in the Japanese economy for 2015. A uniquely expanded and the latest input–output table is used for the estimation. The results reveal a detailed distribution of critical minerals and indicate prioritized implementation for creating and maintaining domestic and international circular flows of critical minerals. The developed decision flow framework provides a practical approach to national security and circular economy aspects for policymakers. For further actions, inclusive indicator development is required for policymakers to support the determination of implementation possibilities from social and technological aspects.
A Survey of Commercial and Industrial Demand Response Flexibility with Energy Storage Systems and Renewable Energy
Authors: Yasmin Roksana , Amin B. M. Ruhul , Shah Rakibuzzaman , Barton Andrew
Published: January 2024

The transition from traditional fuel-dependent energy systems to renewable energy-based systems has been extensively embraced worldwide. Demand-side flexibility is essential to support the power grid with carbon-free generation (e.g., solar, wind.) in an intermittent nature. As extensive energy consumers, commercial and industrial (C&I) consumers can play a key role by extending their flexibility and participating in demand response. Onsite renewable generation by consumers can reduce the consumption from the grid, while energy storage systems (ESSs) can support variable generation and shift demand by storing energy for later use. Both technologies can increase the flexibility and benefit by integrating with the demand response. However, a lack of knowledge about the applicability of increasing flexibility hinders the active participation of C&I consumers in demand response programs. This survey paper provides an overview of demand response and energy storage systems in this context following a methodology of a step-by-step literature review covering the period from 2013 to 2023. The literature review focuses on the application of energy storage systems and onsite renewable generation integrated with demand response for C&I consumers and is presented with an extensive analysis. This survey also examines the demand response participation and potential of wastewater treatment plants. The extended research on the wastewater treatment plant identifies the potential opportunities of coupling biogas with PV, extracting the thermal energy and onsite hydrogen production. Finally, the survey analysis is summarised, followed by critical recommendations for future research.
Forward-Thinking for Sustainable Shared Mobility Solutions in Amman
Authors: Albatayneh Omar , Gaweesh Sherif M. , Husein Malkawi Dima A.
Published: January 2024

This study presents a novel examination of shared mobility’s viability and impact in Amman, Jordan, framed within the context of sustainable urban transportation. A rigorous methodological approach that integrates advanced statistical models including Probit and Decision Tree analyses was utilized to evaluate the propensity of Amman’s residents to adopt shared mobility solutions. Notably, the Ordered Probit Model provided superior model prediction compared to the multinomial logit model, evidenced by a better goodness of fit measure. The results showed that public transportation users would highly use shared mobility services based on cost and reliability, with service convenience emerging as a pivotal factor. The classification tree identified the convenience of the service as the most important factor in adopting shared mobility. The survey data revealed an initial adoption rate of 25.4%, indicating a significant inclination towards shared mobility among respondents. This is pivotal in understanding the current readiness and potential growth of shared mobility in the city. This study is one of the first to quantify the readiness and potential growth of shared mobility in a Middle Eastern urban setting. Furthermore, the impact of this adoption rate on CO2 emissions was conducted. Emission analysis is crucial for assessing the environmental benefits of transitioning towards shared mobility options and aligning with global sustainability goals. Finally, the study extrapolates strategic guidelines for advancing sustainable transportation in Amman, identifying shared mobility options with the highest potential for successful adoption and proposing strategies to foster their implementation. This research contributes a unique perspective to the discourse on urban mobility, particularly in developing urban contexts like Amman, offering valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners.
Illegitimate Tasks, Negative Affectivity, and Organizational Citizenship Behavior among Private School Teachers: A Mediated–Moderated Model
Authors: Shaya Nessrin , Mohebi Laila , Pillai Rekha , Abukhait Rawan
Published: January 2024

Social sustainability has gained popularity over the last decade, with a growing body of research calling for researchers to focus on the personal-level determinants of employee satisfaction and well-being in the pursuit of social sustainability. By using negative affectivity as a mediating mechanism and gender and passive leadership as moderators, this study examines a novel sequential mediation–moderation model that explores the relationship between unreasonable tasks and teachers’ Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB). It employs the Conservation of Resources (COR) and Stress as Offense to Self (SOS) paradigms as a comprehensive theoretical framework for organizational stressors and organizational behavior. A total of 415 matched questionnaire responses were collected from private school teachers in the UAE. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is conducted using AMOS 20, hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) is utilized to verify the causal and moderation hypotheses, and the resulting moderated mediated conceptual model is evaluated by employing Hayes PROCESS analysis. Results demonstrate the effects of illegitimate tasks on OCB are indirect and statistically significant and are mediated through negative affectivity. The cumulative effect of illegitimate tasks and negative affectivity on OCB is magnified by the moderating effects of passive leadership.
Effect of Planning and Construction of Intercity Railways on the Economic Development of the Pearl River Delta Urban Agglomeration: An Analysis Based on the Spatial Durbin Model
Authors: Deng Yiming , Li Xiumin , Zhu Jianming
Published: January 2024

Efficient transportation is essential for regional economic development. Currently, the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration is accelerating the construction of intercity railways in the region to strengthen the links between cities. To provide a more detailed account, this study examined data spanning the years 2010–2021 across nine key cities in the Pearl River Delta. Employing a spatial Durbin model, we sought to uncover specific spatial patterns associated with intercity railways, particularly their pronounced impact on neighboring cities. Our quantitative findings, derived from the spatial Durbin model, revealed a statistically significant positive contribution of intercity railways to overall regional development. Contrary to initial concerns, the results indicate that intercity railways contribute significantly without exacerbating existing imbalances. However, according to the decomposition analysis of effects, most coefficients of the explanatory variables with a direct effect were found to be positive and significant, indicating their positive impact, while those with an indirect effect were found to be nonsignificant, suggesting that the effect of planning and construction of intercity railways on the economic development of the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration is currently at a stage of factor concentration. In conclusion, our study emphasizes the need for prioritizing regional connections in intercity railway construction. This strategy can facilitate production factor flow and foster the proactive development of transportation infrastructure, thereby ensuring a balanced and sustainable regional economic growth trajectory.
The Impact of Real Estate “COVID” Factors on Expressed Satisfaction of Residents during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Grum Bojan
Published: January 2024

This article addresses research questions on participants’ satisfaction with the essential “COVID” factors of home ownership during the COVID-19 pandemic. It analyses statistically significant differences in participants’ demographic characteristics in relation to the various “COVID” factors. The main instrument used to measure the participants’ satisfaction was a questionnaire from our previous study in 2010. The participants expressed as the most important “COVID” factors the possibility of setting up a home office, internet in the flat and the possibility of setting up a mudroom, a separate, independent space and contact with nature, which can include good natural lighting and ventilation. The results show that the statistically significant differences between the year 2010 and 2021 in terms of living conditions in the property are expressed in the participants’ satisfaction with their current living conditions, brightness of natural light, proximity to kindergartens, schools, work opinions and health centres, maintenance costs and sense of belonging to the neighbourhood. This understanding gives our study a special significance. Our study investigates the parameters of the interior of properties, so in the future, it would make sense to expand the studies in this field to include living parameters, the building, the surroundings and the neighbourhood.
An Economic Analysis of the Use of Local Natural Waste: Volcanic Ash of Mt. Etna Volcano (Italy) for Geopolymer Production
Authors: Cavalieri Marina , Ferrara Paolo Lorenzo , Finocchiaro Claudio , Martorana Marco Ferdinando
Published: January 2024

This paper analyses the net social benefits deriving from the medium-scale production of geopolymers based on volcanic ash compared to traditional cementitious materials used in construction and restoration sectors. In contrast to the existing literature grounded on the physical and mechanical characterization of geopolymers, our analysis considers two aspects: public finance savings from avoiding the disposal of volcanic ash in landfills and environmental benefits deriving from reduction in CO2 releases due to the production process at room temperature. Our case study focuses on the reuse of natural waste, namely the volcanic ash of the Mt. Etna volcano (Italy), whose disposal involves significant costs for society. Its use in the alkaline activation process avoids the exploitation of natural resources. Considering the huge amount of volcanic ash from Mt. Etna that falls on the urban areas of Eastern Sicily, the results show relevant economic benefits, in terms of both avoided costs and tax reductions for the citizens. Alongside these, significant environmental benefits are evidenced thanks to the release of up to 78% lower CO2 emissions by synthesised materials with volcanic ash than by traditional cementitious ones. Overall, the social cost savings compared to traditional materials is 0.339 EUR/kg for geopolymer.