bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrical Capacitance Characteristics of Wood Chips at Low Frequency Ranges: A Cheap Tool for Quality Assessment
Authors: Lev Jakub , Křepčík Václav , Šarauskis Egidijus , Kumhála František
Published: May 2021

Moisture content is one of the most important parameters related to the quality of wood chips that affects both the calorific and economic value of fuel chips. For industrial applications, moisture content needs to be detected quickly. For this purpose, various indirect moisture content measurement methods (e.g., capacitance, NIR, microwave, ECT, X-ray CT, and nuclear MR) have been investigated with different results in the past. Nevertheless, determining wood chip moisture content in real time is still a challenge. The main aim of this article was therefore to analyze the dielectric properties of wood chips at low frequencies (10 kHz–5 MHz) and to examine the possibility of using these properties to predict wood chip moisture content and porosity. A container-type probe was developed for this purpose. The electrical capacitance and dissipation factor of wood chips with different moisture content was measured by an LCR meter at 10 kHz, 50 kHz, 100 kHz, 500 kHz, 1 MHz, and 5 MHz frequencies. Wood chip porosity was also measured using a gas displacement method. Linear models for moisture content and porosity prediction were determined by backward stepwise linear regression. Mathematical model was developed to better understand the physical relationships between moisture content, porosity, and electrical capacitance. These models were able to predict the moisture content of observed quantities of wood chips with the required accuracy (R2 = 0.9–0.99). This finding opens another path to measuring the moisture content and porosity of wood chips in a relatively cheap and fast way and with adequate precision. In addition, principal component analysis showed that it is also possible to distinguish between individual wood chip fraction sizes from the information obtained.
Method for Rationalising the Operational Process of a Manual Motorway Toll Collection System
Authors: Kasprzyk Zbigniew , Siergiejczyk Mirosław , Rychlicki Mariusz
Published: May 2021

The article presents the verification of a developed method of rationalising the process of the operation of a manual toll collection (MTC) system on the basis of current operation tests. The review of the state of art and research on the operation of the manual toll collection system prompted the authors to develop their own method of rationalising the operation process of the manual toll collection system. The method enabled the development of an original application facilitating the process of manual toll collection system. The application makes it possible to determine the key indicator—the readiness index for the employed operation strategy of the analysed toll collection station and the readiness index for the employed operation strategy of the analysed group of toll collection stations. Additionally, the application enables an analysis of the capacity and the service assessment by motorway users. The use of the software system together with the developed method was implemented on a real toll plaza. This action allowed for the analysis and implementation of an adequate MTC service strategy. The results of the research and analysis are presented in the summary and conclusions.
The Role of Spousal Separation on Norms Related to Gender and Sexuality among Himba Pastoralists
Authors: Scelza Brooke , Prall Sean , Starkweather Kathrine
Published: May 2021

The gender-specific labor demands of arid pastoralism often lead to spousal separation. Men typically respond in one of two ways: engage in mate guarding tactics, or loosen restrictions on female sexuality. Among Himba pastoralists in northwest Namibia, the latter strategy is dominant. Rooted in a history of matriliny, Himba have strong norms promoting female sexual autonomy. We propose that these conditions, combined with a stochastic resource base, have led to women utilizing a combination of formal and informal partnerships to meet their needs and the needs of their children. Aspects of Himba socioecology also increase the costs of mate guarding for men and lower the costs of extra-pair paternity, further bolstering a concurrency strategy. Using a mix of quantitative and qualitative data, we show how spousal separation, female autonomy, and concurrency are linked, and suggest that in this harsh environment having a mix of formal and informal romantic partners may be less costly and more beneficial than a system of monogamous marriage.
Geo-Crowdsourced Sound Level Data in Support of the Community Facilities Planning. A Methodological Proposal
Authors: Graziuso Gabriella , Mancini Simona , Francavilla Antonella Bianca , Grimaldi Michele , Guarnaccia Claudio
Published: May 2021

To reduce environmental noise pollution and to safeguard people’s well-being, it is urgently necessary to move towards sustainable urban development and reconcile demographic and economic growth with the protection and restoration of the environment and the improvement of the quality of human lives. This challenge should be a concern to policymakers, who must issue regulations and define the appropriate actions for noise monitoring and management, and citizens, who must be sensitive to the problem and act accordingly. Starting from an analysis of several crowdsourcing noise data collection tools, this paper focuses on the definition of a methodology for data analysis and mapping. The sound sensing system, indeed, enables mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to become a low-cost data collection for monitoring environmental noise. For this study, the “NoiseCapture” application developed in France by CNRS and IFSTTAR has been utilized. The measurements acquired in 2018 and 2019 at the Fisciano Campus at the University of Salerno were integrated with the kernel density estimation. This is a spatial analysis technique that allows for the elaboration of sound level density maps, defined spatially and temporally. These maps, overlaid on a campus facilities map, can become tools to support the appropriate mitigation actions.
For the Sake of the Future: Can Democratic Deliberation Help Thinking and Caring about Future Generations?
Authors: Kulha Katariina , Leino Mikko , Setälä Maija , Jäske Maija , Himmelroos Staffan
Published: May 2021

This article examines whether democratic deliberation can enhance participants’ capacity to consider future generations’ perspectives and willingness to make sacrifices to ensure their well-being. In addition to normal deliberation, we are interested in the effects of a mental time travel exercise where deliberators imagine themselves in the future (without ageing). The study is based on an experiment conducted as a part of Citizens’ Assembly that contributed to the long-term planning of the Satakunta region in Finland. Our findings suggest that deliberation as such increases participants’ willingness to consider future generations’ perspectives in long-term planning; yet the mental time travel exercise had only a modest impact on perspective-taking. The results also show some support for the assumption that deliberation can enhance willingness to make sacrifices for future generations, although we do not see such an impact in case of an intergenerational conflict in flood protection.
Carpooling as an Immediate Strategy to Post-Lockdown Mobility: A Case Study in University Campuses
Authors: Tomás Ricardo , Fernandes Paulo , Macedo Joaquim , Coelho Margarida Cabrita
Published: May 2021

Carpooling is a mobility concept that has been showing promising results in reducing single occupancy use of private cars, which prompted many institutions, namely universities, to implement carpooling platforms to improve their networks sustainability. Nowadays, currently under a pandemic crisis, public transportation must be used with limitations regarding the number of occupants to prevent the spread of the virus and commuters are turning even more to private cars to perform their daily trips. Carpooling under a set of precaution rules is a potential solution to help commuters perform their daily trips while respecting COVID-19 safety recommendations. This research aimed to develop an analysis of the road traffic and emission impacts of implementing carpooling, with social distancing measures, in three university campus networks through microscopic traffic simulation modeling and microscopic vehicular exhaust emissions estimation. Results indicate that employing carpooling for groups of up to three people to safely commute from their residence area to the university campus has the potential to significantly reduce pollutant emissions (reductions of 5% and 7% in carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides can be obtained, respectively) within the network while significantly improving road traffic performance (average speed increased by 7% and travel time reduced by 8%).
Exploring Passenger Loyalty and Related Factors for Urban Railways in Thailand
Authors: Wonglakorn Nattiya , Ratanavaraha Vatanavongs , Karoonsoontawong Ampol , Jomnonkwao Sajjakaj
Published: May 2021

The research investigates the relationships among indicators related to the loyalty of urban railways passenger in Thailand at three routes, which consisted of BTS Sky train, MRT, and Airport Rail Link. The research instrument was 600 questionnaires, and the purpose was to study the indicators that affected perceived service quality and passenger loyalty by using structural equation modeling. The analysis of influence information that affects passenger loyalty revealed that trust, satisfaction, appreciation, cost of service changing, and relationships have an effect on passenger loyalty, statistically significant at 0.01. The satisfied variable was an important variable that affected passenger loyalty and was directly influenced by trust, appreciation, and perceived service quality. The perceived service quality was measured using 36 indicators and grouped into five complement groups, which were station, news, services, staffs, and vehicle, respectively. The research finding was that the cooperation concern with urban railway service can apply the result to the marketing development strategy to be a sustainable method of standardized service and urban railways system improvement.
Democracy and the Environment: How Political Freedom Is Linked with Environmental Sustainability
Authors: Carayannis Elias G. , Campbell David F. J. , Grigoroudis Evangelos
Published: May 2021

This paper aims to explore a possible relationship between democracy and the environment, more specifically between freedom and environmental sustainability (environmental performance). The conceptual lenses of the Quadruple and Quintuple Innovation Helix Frameworks were used as they emphasize the importance of democracy and ecology (environmental sustainability) for knowledge and innovation and vice versa. The empirical model focused on the following research question: What is the correlation between political freedom and environmental performance? In essence, all countries in the world with a population of one million or more were included (a total of 156 countries), and the reference year was 2016. The empirical outcome of the correlation analysis was a positive Pearson correlation of about 0.56 (or 0.73 if we examine regional country groups), and, perhaps even more significantly, this correlation was significant at the 0.001 level (two-tailed). The correlation results lend themselves to the following interpretation: The higher the political freedom in a country, the more likely it is to have a higher environmental performance. Similarly, the lower the political freedom in a country, the more likely it is to have a lower environmental performance. As a preliminary proposition, therefore, democracy, environmental sustainability, and innovation-driven knowledge economies may have a highly symbiotic and synergistic dynamic and non-linear relationship.
Public Intentions to Purchase Electric Vehicles in Pakistan
Authors: Lee Jaeyoung , Baig Farrukh , Talpur Mir Aftab Hussain , Shaikh Sajan
Published: May 2021

Electric vehicles (EVs) have the potential to lead the transition in road transportation from traditional petroleum mobility to electric mobility. Despite many environmental benefits, the market penetration rate of EVs is still low in most developing countries. Recently, Pakistan formulated its first EV policy for 2020–2025 to accelerate EV adoption. This study aims to explore the factors, including environmental concerns, perceived ease of use, effort expectancy, social influence, and perceived facilitating conditions, affecting individuals’ behavioral intentions to purchase EVs in Pakistan. The hypotheses were developed based on the literature, and an online questionnaire survey was conducted in Lahore, Pakistan, to collect the relevant data. The partial least square path modeling approach of structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesis. The results confirmed that the environmental concerns, perceived ease of use, and effort expectancy positively affect the public’s intentions to use EVs in the future. However, social influence and facilitating conditions did not significantly contribute to EV adoption in the present study. The findings suggest that the EV manufacturers aiming to accelerate EV adoption should develop marketing strategies to disseminate information regarding the environmental benefits of EVs and enhance clarity about EVs’ performance and usage.
An Empirical Study on the Coupling Coordination Relationship between Cultural Tourism Industry Competitiveness and Tourism Flow
Authors: Li Shaowen , Du Shuyun
Published: May 2021

The case study for this analysis is Henan province in China, where sustainability is a central issue for tourism development due to the area’s enormous and unexploited potential for cultural tourism. We construct a cultural tourism industry competitiveness evaluation index from cultural resource competitiveness, economic development support competitiveness, ecological environment competitiveness and basic guarantee competitiveness, and also construct a tourism flow evaluation index from tourist flow, consumption flow and effect flow. For this study, we then adopt an Entropy-TOPSIS and Coupling Coordination model to analyze the characteristics of coupling and coordinated development of them from 2009 to 2019. The empirical results show that (1) the comprehensive development index of cultural tourism industry competitiveness and tourism flow exhibits a fluctuating rise trend and maintains good development momentum; and (2) the coupling coordination degree between the cultural tourism industry competitiveness and tourism flow in Henan Province as a whole is gradually improving and the coupling coordination level developed from extreme disorder to grudging coordination, but it is unpromising in some parts of cities. Some recommendations are provided to promote the coupling and coordinated development of cultural tourism industry competitiveness and tourism flow for cities.
Enhancing Business Schools’ Pedagogy on Sustainable Business Practices and Ethical Decision-Making
Authors: Rodenburg Kathleen , MacDonald Kelly
Published: May 2021

Business school curriculums are designed to improve business skills and a student’s eventual workplace performance. In addition to these business skill sets the emerging business environment demands softer skills associated with ethical decision-making and sustainable business practices. The objective of the study is to identify the key influencers of ethical orientation and attitudes towards the environment as a first critical step for curriculum planning designed to develop both ethical decision-making and environmental sensibilities of students in business schools. Using a bivariate regression analysis (OLS) that compared the established New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale and the newly introduced Ethical Orientation Scale (EOS), this study assesses environmental eco-consciousness and ethical orientation over time and across varying socio-demographic variables. The study shows first, that in addition to socio-cultural variables, situational factors influence ethical decision-making. Secondly, it illuminates that ethical orientations as measured by the EOS predicts beliefs about the environment as measured by the NEP scale. It further provides evidence of the ethical underpinnings of the New Ecological Paradigm as well as provides initial validation for the new EOS. These outcomes provide additional levers to assist business educators in the creation of high impact teaching strategies to measure and encourage ethical decision-making and sustainable business practices that protect the environment.
An Integrated Bus Holding and Speed Adjusting Strategy Considering Passenger’s Waiting Time Perceptions
Authors: Chen Weiya , Zhang Hengpeng , Chen Chunxiao , Wei Xiaofan
Published: May 2021

To solve the problems of bus bunching and large gaps, this study combines bus holding and speed adjusting to alleviate them respectively considering the characteristics of passenger’s perceived waiting time. The difference between passenger’s perceived waiting time at stops and actual time is described quantitatively through the expected waiting time of passengers. Bus holding based on a threshold method is implemented at any stops for bunching buses, and speed adjusting based on a Markovian decision model is implemented at limited stops for lagging buses. Simulations based on real data of a bus route show that the integrated control strategy is able to improve the service reliability and to decrease passengers’ perceived waiting time at stops. Several insights have been uncovered through performance analysis: (1) The increase of holding control strength results in improvement of the headway regularity, and leads to a greater perceived waiting time though; (2) Compared to traveling freely, suitable speed guidance will not slow down the average cruising speed in the trip; (3) The scale of passenger demand and through passengers are the two key factors influencing whether a stop should be selected as a speed-adjusting control point.
Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc): A Crop for the New Millennium, Its Genetic Diversity, and Improvements to Mitigate Future Food and Nutritional Challenges
Authors: Khan Md Mahmudul Hasan , Rafii Mohd Y. , Ramlee Shairul Izan , Jusoh Mashitah , Al-Mamun Md
Published: May 2021

The world’s food and agricultural schemes have gradually fallen into an alarming state due to challenges such as high population birth rates, diverse agro-climatic zones, a lack of measures to counter global warming, severe practices of sole-culture cultivation, and asset reduction. A very high dependency on limited staple food crops is associated with repetitious diets, deprivation of food, and shortages of trace minerals, which often causes dietary sicknesses. To ensure nutritious diets worldwide, a real-world and justifiable scheme is provided to garner extra attention towards variation in both agriculture/farming approaches and food habits. The EAT-Lancet statement emphasized an increase in agri-based diets as a way of attaining global generational health. Enlarging neglected crops with plenty of genomic stocks and potentially profitable attributes is a solution that could address food and nutritional security concerns. Bambara groundnut is one such imperative and neglected legume crop that contributes positively to improving global food and nutrient safety. As a “complete food”, this crop has recently been treated as a new millennium crop, and furthermore, it is more adjusted to poor soil and climatic conditions than other dominant crops. Bambara groundnut is a repository of vital nutrients that provides carbohydrates, crucial amino acids, proteins, and energy as well as minerals and vitamins to developed and low-income countries where animal proteins are not readily available. This review explores the potential of Bambara groundnut in ensuring food and nutrient security; its variables, production, processing, nutrient values, role in reducing the nutritional gap, and diverse uses; and attempts in improving its traits. To strengthen food production, an agricultural revolution is required for underutilized crop species to feed the ever-expanding population in the world. Henceforth, advanced plant-breeding procedures, such as next-generation breeding techniques, various molecular tools, TILLING, Eco-TILLING, proteomics, genomics, and transcriptomics (which has been used for major crops), also need to be practiced to intensify production. To boost productivity and to feed the most starved and malnourished populations of the world, it is assumed that the application of modern techniques will play a vital role in the advancement of the underutilized Bambara groundnut.
Adaptive Reuse Practices and Sustainable Urban Development: Perspectives of Innovation for European Historic Spa Towns
Authors: Fabi Viola , Vettori Maria Pilar , Faroldi Emilio
Published: May 2021

Spa towns represented, for decades, a point of reference for the European panorama of health, tourism and cultural exchange. They have been the first tourist destination in the modern sense, as well as a manifesto for a renewed demand of quality and laboratories for architectural and urban experimentations. A product of territorial relations, they have been able to aggregate ideas, capital and skills in a generative logic. However, from the second half of the 20th Century, these cities underwent a series of structural changes related to health and tourism trends that deeply affected all levels of their local systems. Today, these places are witnessing numerous episodes of degradation and abandonment of their built cultural heritage. Promoting a place-based approach, this paper argues that spa towns could be reconsidered as strategic resources in the construction of the territorial capital and that adaptive reuse practices, if integrated into strategic visions, can represent a driver for the activation of a sustainability transition based on ‘fully circular’ processes. Here, the abandoned built cultural heritage represents an opportunity space, a potential catalyst of innovative synergies, and a meeting point between local and territorial interests. While referring both to theoretical profiles and applied research experiences, the paper frames urban transformation and adaptive reuse processes as an integrated challenge within change management logics. Finally, the paper proposes a set of thematic recommendations in order to stimulate the creation of receptive environments for change and deal with the different times, scales, actors and the economic and non-economic interests involved.
Formation of Professional Competences and Soft Skills of Public Administration Employees for Sustainable Professional Development
Authors: Krpálek Pavel , Berková Kateřina , Kubišová Andrea , Krelová Katarína Krpálková , Frendlovská Dagmar , Spiesová Daniela
Published: May 2021

(1) Background: The current situation is bringing about changes manifested in the digitalisation of management processes, the aspects of knowledge management, and the transmission of global risks. Demands in the area of soft skills are increasing. Therefore, this study aims to identify the requirements for competences necessary for the effective performance of job positions in public administration in the Czech Republic, including the mapping of interest in further training. (2) Methods: The data were collected in 2020 via questionnaires from 245 employees in relevant positions. The data were analysed using the correlation analysis method for establishing relationships between variables applying the Pearson correlation coefficient. Gender differences and differences between rank-and-file and executive employees were subjected to the Mann–Whitney U-test. (3) Results: The more competence is required by the employer, the more frequently it is used by employees and the more favourably the workers assess themselves in this competence. At the same time, they have a greater need and are willing to train this particular competence. A significant trend has been identified in the case of executives. Soft skills are used most frequently and the employees would like to further train them. The least interest is shown in project management training. As to professional competences, digital systems are the most frequently used and required. (4) Conclusions: The research suggests trends in the development of modern technologies, digitalisation, and information systems that will contribute to effective work in public administration. Soft skill development in rank-and-file and executive employees will also be needed.
Assessing the Impact of Corporate Governance Index on Financial Performance in the Romanian and Italian Banking Systems
Authors: Benvenuto Marco , Avram Roxana Loredana , Avram Alexandru , Viola Carmine
Published: May 2021

Background: Our study aims to verify the impact of corporate governance index on financial performance, namely return on assets (ROA), general liquidity, capital adequacy and size of company expressed as total assets in the banking sector for both a developing and a developed country. In addition, we investigate the interactive effect of corporate governance on a homogenous and a heterogeneous banking system. These two banking systems were chosen in order to assess the impact of corporate governance on two distinct types of banking system: a homogenous one such as the Romanian one and a heterogeneous one such as the Italian one. The two systems are very distinct; the Romanian one is represented by only 34 banks, while the Italian one comprises more than 350 banks. Thus, our research question is how a modification in corporate governance legislation is influencing the two different banking systems. The research implication of our study is whether a modification in legislation, thus in the index of corporate governance, is feasible for two different banking sectors and what the best ways to increase the financial performance of banks are without compromising their resilience. Methods: Using survey data from the Italian and Romanian banking systems over the period 2007–2018, we find that the corporate governance has a significant, positive and long-lasting effect on profitability and capital adequacy in both countries. Results: Taking the size of the company into consideration, the impact of the Index of Corporate Governance (ICG) on a homogenous banking system is positive while the impact on a heterogeneous banking system is negative. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence of the impact of IGC on financial performance and sheds light on the importance of the size of the company. Therefore, one can state that the corporate governance principles applied do not encourage the growth of large banks in heterogeneous banking sectors, thereby suggesting new avenues of research associated with new perspectives.
Sustainable Shift from Centralized to Participatory Higher Education in Post-Soviet Countries: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Hovakimyan Hasmik , Klimek Milena , Freyer Bernhard , Hayrapetyan Ruben
Published: May 2021

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, higher education (HE) in post-Soviet reality continues to face complex challenges, including hierarchical structures, antiquated teaching methods, and lack of international standards. In the meantime, in the US and in Europe, HE has recently focused on participatory curriculum development (PCD) and programs that seek to directly connect student learning to “real-world” problems, accelerating positive change in curricula and through their contributions to regional communities. Accepted into the Bologna Process—the standardization of European HE—Armenian HE institutions struggle to satisfy requirements and related sustainable development goals with centralized standards, inhibiting them from being internationally competitive and regional sustainability change agents. In this article, we examine post-Soviet HE development since 1991 and challenges, with a particular focus on Armenia; what participatory curriculum building may offer; and how it contributes to HE and regional sustainability transitions. A systematic literature review was applied, using specific combinations of important terms restricting the search with criteria such as language, year of publication, and descriptive or critical in nature. The results illustrate the status quo of post-Soviet HE, synthesize current barriers of HE as potential change agents, and highlight PCD as a way to overcome these barriers.
A 10-year Analysis on the Reduction of Particulate Matter at the Green Buffer of the Sihwa Industrial Complex
Authors: Yoo Sin-Yee , Choi Sumin , Koo Namin , Kim Taehee , Park Chan-Ryul , Park Wan-Hyeok
Published: May 2021

Green buffer (GB) zones are designed to prevent the spread of air pollutants and odors from industrial complexes (ICs) to residential areas (RAs). We analyzed changes in the concentration of particulate matter (PM) and the number of high PM pollution days for 10 years after the GB was implemented, using the National Atmospheric Environmental Research Stations 2001–2018 dataset. We also performed field measurements of PM10 and PM2.5 from February 2018 to January 2019 to analyze the PM concentrations at human breathing height throughout the GB. Before GB implementation (2001–2006), PM10 in the RA was 9% higher than that in the IC. After GB zone implementation (2013–2018), PM10 in the RA was 11% lower than that of the IC. Furthermore, the PM concentration in the RA (slope = ∆Concentration/∆Time, −2.09) rapidly decreased compared to that in the IC (slope = −1.02) and the western coastal area (WCA) (slope = −1.55) over the 10-year period. At PM concentrations at human breathing height, PM10 and PM2.5 in the RA were lower than those in the IC by 27% and 26%, respectively. After GB implementation, the wind speed was positively correlated but SOx was negatively correlated with the PM reduction rate at a local scale. These results show that there was a reduction of PM during and after GB implementation, implying the need for proper management of GBs and continuous measure of pollutant sources at the green buffers of industrial complexes.
The Mechanism of Operation Effectiveness of Emergency Shelter Rescue Systems
Authors: Geng Shaoqing , Hou Hanping , Geng Jiaxin
Published: May 2021

Natural disasters cause serious damage to buildings and infrastructure, and victims lose a comfortable living environment. A large number of people are left homeless. Emergency shelter is an important component that cannot be ignored in the comprehensive disaster prevention and mitigation plan. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has collectively taken into account the rapid and accurate resettlement of evacuees by taking stratification of demand, distribution of supplies, and diversion evacuation as an organic model. Given the bottleneck of rapid and accurate resettlement in the complex sheltered environment, we combine field research, literature analysis, and previous case study. This paper explains that the three main factors that affect the resettlement of evacuees are the complexity of demand, the shortage of materials, and the blindness of refuge. Additionally, then an effective analysis framework of the hierarchy of demand, distribution rapidity and refuge accuracy are constructed. Finally, this paper puts forward the structural framework of demand for layered, comprehensive distribution and diversion of evacuees and further explains the structure relationship, mode of rescue and operation strategy of effective resettlement of evacuees.
Cooperatives in the Wine Industry: Sustainable Management Practices and Digitalisation
Authors: Richter Barbara , Hanf Jon H.
Published: May 2021

In Europe, cooperatives have a long tradition and are widespread in the agricultural sector. Cooperatives in the wine sector of some EU countries even surpass a market share of more than 50%. In Germany, the first wine cooperative was established in 1868 in the Ahr region. Despite the decline in the number of cooperatives, of members and of the vineyard area cultivated by cooperatives, wine cooperatives are still accountable for roughly a quarter of the German vineyard area. Due to developments in the field of sustainability and digitalisation, cooperatives are facing increasing pressure. Based on the definition of cooperatives by the International Co-operative Alliance, one can conclude that cooperatives are a sustainable form of enterprise. A previous study from 2019 showed that sustainability and digitalisation were not mentioned by cooperative management as important topics in the competitive analysis. Also, sustainable management practices have not been analysed explicitly for wine cooperatives so far. We therefore consider sustainability and digitalisation in the context of the strategic management of wine cooperatives. Our article does not aim to show further development in the areas of sustainability and digitalisation but rather to unveil existing managerial practices in order to provide a basis for management decisions. As only limited knowledge exists, a qualitative approach was chosen. Interviews were conducted with the management of wine cooperatives (n = 13) and representatives of the regional and national cooperative associations, which in turn represent the wine cooperatives as a whole (n = 4). A data content analysis was performed. The results describe state of the art of sustainable management practices and digitalisation in wine cooperatives. Even if the understanding of sustainability and digitalisation is quite similar among the respondents, the operationalisation in the cooperatives differs strongly. However, it is clear that innovation, adaptability and sustainability are strongly interlinked. Options for future research and the limitations of the study are provided as well.
Economic and Environmental Changes in Shenzhen—A Technology Hub in Southern China
Authors: To Wai-Ming , Lee Peter K. C. , Lau Antonio K. W.
Published: May 2021

Shenzhen has been established as the technology and innovation center in China. The study reviews its economic development and environmental change over the past four decades. Specifically, it tests whether environmental Kuznets curve relationship between haze as a proxy indicator of environmental condition and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita holds in Shenzhen. The study also examines the contribution of Shenzhen’s secondary sector to its GDP and highlights some changes in the computer, communication and electronic product manufacturing industries over the years. We collected the official data from the Shenzhen Municipal Government. Economic, social and environmental changes in Shenzhen were identified using tables and stacked graphs. Environmental Kuznets curve revealed that the worst environmental condition appeared in Shenzhen during the period 2003–2004. Environmental analysis showed that Shenzhen’s computer, communication and electronic product manufacturing industries consumed 52,595 TJ of energy and produced 10.1 million tons CO2-eq in 2019. As gross output value of the industries was USD 336 billion in 2019, the industries had an energy efficiency of 156,716 MJ/million USD and an emission efficiency of 30.6 tons CO2-eq/million USD, improving by 74% and 65%, respectively, since 2008. Nevertheless, the industries should focus more on high value-added and low energy-intensive technologies and innovations. Additionally, the Shenzhen Government shall increase the use of clean energy sources such as nuclear, wind and solar power in order to sustain the continual improvement of energy and emission efficiencies for all industries.
Identifying Challenges and Solutions in Cultural Heritage Adaptive Reuse through the Historic Urban Landscape Approach in Amsterdam
Authors: Pintossi Nadia , Ikiz Kaya Deniz , Pereira Roders Ana
Published: May 2021

Cultural heritage drives and enables sustainable urban development. The adaptive reuse of cultural heritage creates values while prolonging the lifespan of heritage. Similarly, circular economy creates value while extending the useful life of materials and elements through their reuse. Existing studies on adaptive reuse challenges seldom focus on cultural heritage properties, and they are often identified through the engagement of a limited variety of stakeholders, as compared to the actors normally involved in adaptive reuse. Filling this gap, this paper provides a preliminary baseline of challenges faced by the city of Amsterdam from the perspective of various involved stakeholders, and suggests solutions to address them. The participants represented the public, private, knowledge, and third sectors. The methods used were the following: for data collection, a multidisciplinary workshop using the steps of the Historic Urban Landscape approach as an assessment framework applied to multiple scales on adaptive reuse, and for data analysis, manifest content analysis. The results expanded the range of challenges and solutions reported by previous literature on the adaptive reuse of cultural heritage in content and scale by identifying 61 themes—e.g., knowledge and civic engagement. Tools and stakeholders were also identified. These findings provide a reference for future practice, policymaking, and decision-making, facilitating the adaptive reuse of cultural heritage to capitalize on its potential for sustainable development and circular economy.
The Impact of Urban Recreation Environment on Residents’ Happiness—Based on a Case Study in China
Authors: Kang Lei , Yang Zhaoping , Han Fang
Published: May 2021

Rapid urbanization promotes the expansion of urban tourism and recreation functions, but it also brings many problems, which affect residents’ happiness. Previous studies have emphasized the direct impact of urban recreation environment on happiness, and few have explored the indirect impact of urban recreation environment on happiness through subjective evaluation. Based on the survey data of nearly 10,000 permanent residents in 40 key tourism cities in China, this paper establishes a theoretical framework of the direct and indirect impact of urban recreation environment on happiness. The objective evaluation of natural recreation environment and sociocultural recreation environment has an important influence on happiness, but the influence of natural recreation environment is greater than that of sociocultural recreation environment. Individual subjective satisfaction with urban recreation environment mediates the relationship between urban objective environment and happiness. Urban parks have a positive effect on happiness, while tourist attractions have a negative effect. The influence of urban location on happiness is nonlinear. The high-income group is more sensitive to the recreation environment, while the low-income group is less sensitive to the recreation environment. These findings provide insights for further improving citizens’ quality of life and designing urban construction in developing countries under the conditions of rapid urbanization.
A Holistic Multi-Objective Design Optimization Approach for Arctic Offshore Supply Vessels
Authors: Kondratenko Aleksander A. , Bergström Martin , Reutskii Aleksander , Kujala Pentti
Published: May 2021

This article presents a new holistic multi-objective design approach for the optimization of Arctic Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs) for cost- and eco-efficiency. The approach is intended to be used in the conceptual design phase of an Arctic OSV. It includes (a) a parametric design model of an Arctic OSV, (b) performance assessment models for independently operating and icebreaker-assisted Arctic OSVs, and (c) a novel adaptation of the Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm for multi-objective optimization of Arctic OSVs. To demonstrate the feasibility and viability of the proposed optimization approach, a series of case studies covering a wide range of operating scenarios are carried out. The results of the case studies indicate that the consideration of icebreaker assistance significantly extends the feasible design space of Arctic OSVs, enabling solutions with improved energy- and cost-efficiency. The results further indicate that the optimal amount of icebreaking assistance and optimal vessel speed differs for different vessels, highlighting the motivation for holistic design optimization. The applied adaptation of the ABC algorithm proved to be well suited and efficient for the multi-objective optimization problem considered.
Scenario Analysis of a Municipality’s Food Purchase to Simultaneously Improve Nutritional Quality and Lower Carbon Emission for Child-Care Centers
Authors: Lassen Anne Dahl , Nordman Matilda , Christensen Lene Møller , Trolle Ellen
Published: May 2021

Public procurement has been highlighted as an important strategic tool to drive sustainable development. The present study aimed at providing direction for decreasing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) by 25% for the food purchased by child-care centers in the City of Copenhagen while simultaneously providing nutritionally adequate, affordable and tasty menus. Baseline data were provided by compiling food purchase data with datasets matching each food item to a proxy food item and further with databases containing nutrient and GHGE information. For each food item, the edible amount was estimated in order to evaluate nutritional content and GHGE per 10 MJ. Two scenarios were modeled, i.e., a plant-rich diet and a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet directed at children two to five years old based on current purchase practice. Finally, the diets were translated into guidelines for menu planning. Amounts of pulses, nuts and seeds, as well as dark green vegetables and plant-based fats, were increased substantially in the two scenarios, while animal fat was decreased and the amount of meat was either reduced or eliminated in the plant-rich and lacto-ovo vegetarian diets, respectively. These kinds of changes in public food procurement have the power to significantly affect the transition toward a more healthy and sustainable food system.
Role of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions for COVID-19 in Cruise Tourists’ Decision-Making Process: An Extended Model of Goal-Directed Behavior
Authors: Xu Wenjie , Youn Hyo-Jin , Lee Choong-Ki
Published: May 2021

This study developed an extended model of goal-direct behavior (EMGB) to investigate the role of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in predicting latent cruise travelers’ decision-making process in the COVID-19 pandemic context to foster the growth of a sustainable cruise business. An online survey was conducted for Korean respondents with experience of being on a cruise, and a total of 288 valid data were collected. The proposed model was examined using SmartPLS 3.0. Results show that in general, antecedents of MGB affected the desire, which in turn influenced cruise travelers’ behavioral intentions. Desire was also found to affect NPIs, which influenced behavioral intentions. Results reveal that the perception of COVID-19 affected NPIs and behavioral intention during COVID-19. Findings provide academia with theoretical implications and cruise managers with practical implications.
Tennis Coaches’ Perceptions of Covid-19 Impact on Their Health and Professional Activity: A Multi-Cultural Approach
Authors: Crespo Miguel , Martínez-Gallego Rafael , Ramón-Llin Jesús
Published: May 2021

Tennis coaches are facing considerable challenges as the game is disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The long tradition of tennis in the Latin American region and in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking European countries makes comparing these regions particularly interesting. The purpose of this research was to study the perceptions of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking tennis coaches working in Latin American and European countries regarding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their health, professional, and economic circumstances. The perceptions of 655 coaches from 19 Latin American and European countries were collected using an ad-hoc questionnaire. Coaches reported on the incidence of the virus in terms of infection and quarantine, the impact on their coaching programs, and on their professional development, training, and education. They were also asked about their perception of the overall situation as a threat. The results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on the health and the profession of tennis coaches. Although Latin American coaches reported a greater impact on their health, economic, and professional circumstances, they viewed the pandemic as an opportunity for professional improvement and training as compared to the perceptions of European coaches. In light of these results, implications, practical applications, and future research are proposed.
Assessment of Tomato Peels Suitable for Producing Biomethane within the Context of Circular Economy: A GIS-Based Model Analysis
Authors: Selvaggi Roberta , Valenti Francesca , Pecorino Biagio , Porto Simona M. C.
Published: May 2021

Biomass is seen as one of the most dominant future renewable energy sources. In detail, agro-industrial by-products represent a cheap, renewable, and abundant feedstock useful for several new products, including biochemical, biomaterials, and above all biogas, which are taking on an ever-increasing role in Italy. In this context, the tomato chain was analysed aiming at estimating the amount of processed tomato and the related waste production as a new suitable resource for producing biofuel as a new frontier within the context of a circular economy. Due the importance of the tomato industry, this research aims at filling gaps in the knowledge of the production and yield of the by-products that are useful as biomass for energy use in those territorial areas where the biomethane sector is still developing. This aim could be relevant for planning the sustainable development of the biomethane sector by reducing both soil consumption for dedicated energy crops and GHG emissions coming from the biomass logistic supply. The achieved results show the localization of territorial areas highly characterized by this kind of biomass. Therefore, it would be desirable that the future policies of development in the biomethane sector consider the availability and the distribution of these suitable biomasses within the territory.
Sustainability of Health and Fitness Information Platform Ecosystem
Authors: Lee Chia-Wen , Huang Tzu-Chun , Lai Wei-Shiang , Li Ching
Published: May 2021

The roles of content producers, information receivers, and platform operators affect the stability of the governance of informational platforms. The purpose of this study was to identify and explore the sustainable factors of a platform ecosystem for health and fitness apps across Mainland China and Taiwan by interviewing producers, receivers, and operators. An advanced analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was applied to derive expert perspectives from apps users and operators, live streamers, key opinion leaders, scholars, and officers across Mainland China and Taiwan via four dimensions and fourteen sub-dimensions of the initial health and fitness apps. The results revealed that the weights of the dimensions of health and fitness apps were sorted by content categories, content updates, user reviews, and platform terms; furthermore, the weights of the six highest sub-dimensions were the following: exercise, new feature, functionality, correctness, monitoring, and privacy. Content producers in Taiwan cared the most about the content category, whereas content producers in Mainland China cared the most about user reviews. Information receivers in Taiwan graded the content category the highest, whereas information receivers in Mainland China rated content updates the highest. Platform operators in Taiwan paid most attention to the platform terms, whereas the platform operators in Mainland China were most concerned with the content category. This comparative study can contribute to assisting the health and fitness industry across Mainland China and Taiwan area to provide an overall strategic operative process by identifying the effectiveness of the procedures, estimative processes, and cost reduction to enhance the competitiveness and further improve users’ experiences and satisfaction for the sustainability of health and fitness information platform Ecosystem.