bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Why Have Economic Incentives Failed to Convince Farmers to Adopt Drip Irrigation in Southwestern Iran?
Authors: Yazdanpanah Masoud , Klein Kurt , Zobeidi Tahereh , Sieber Stefan , Löhr Katharina
Published: February 2022

Sustainable water usage is an important global concern and an urgent priority, especially in dryland regions such as Iran. The Iranian government is actively addressing the challenge of water scarcity by encouraging farmers to adopt new water application technology. Its main element to decrease water consumption is to encourage new irrigation systems, in particular drip irrigation. However, despite the benefits of drip irrigation technologies and the availability of generous government subsidies, adoption rates of the improved irrigation technology remain critically low among Iranian farmers. Therefore, this study seeks to determine what is limiting the uptake of improved irrigation technology in Iran. While it is well known that acceptance of new technology ultimately depends on multiple and interrelated factors, we examine those factors affecting farmers’ adoption from three theoretical perspectives in the adoption literature: farmers’ socio-economic characteristics, social capital, and technology characteristics. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in Behbahan district in Khuzestan province in southwest Iran. The sample comprises 174 farmers who adopted drip irrigation in that region and 100 non-adopters who were located in the same region. Discriminant analysis reveals that a socio-economic approach is the strongest model to predict adoption of drip irrigation technology in the study area, followed by models of technical characteristics, and social capital. These results can help agricultural extension agents and policy-makers design appropriate and effective strategies that facilitate the adoption of drip irrigation at an increasing rate.
Marketing Healthy Diets: The Impact of Health Consciousness on Chinese Consumers’ Food Choices
Authors: Huang Zhen , Zhu Yi-Dan , Deng Jia , Wang Cheng-Lu
Published: February 2022

Dietary choices, as the types and amounts of foods that individuals consume, are a major determinant of human health and environmental sustainability. From a marketing perspective, it becomes imperative to identify and understand the factors that motivate consumers to adopt a sustainable diet and purchase healthy food. This research is an attempt to contribute to the literature by revealing the major driving forces leading to healthy food consumption and identifying its underlying mechanism. Based on a survey of the diets and lifestyles of 307 Chinese consumers in several cities of the Jiangxi and Guangdong provinces, our empirical results indicate that consumer health consciousness is a major predictor of the intention to purchase healthy products. Such a relationship is explained by the psychological benefits associated with the consumption experience and the perceived naturalness of the product. Moreover, a high perceived nutritional value will enhance the mediation influences of the psychological benefit and the perceived naturalness on purchase intention while a low perceived nutritional value tends to negate such an impact.
Economic Drivers of Voluntary Return among Conflict-Induced Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria
Authors: Adekola Paul O. , Azuh Dominic E. , Amoo Emmanuel O. , Brownell Gracie , Cirella Giuseppe T.
Published: February 2022

North-East Nigeria is recovering from a decade of terrorism by Boko Haram during which the region collapsed socioeconomically and millions were displaced. The displaced live in various camps in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States, and serve as the primary source of data for this research. The Nigerian government has expressed their desire for the displaced to return home following peace restoration to the region. Their unwillingness to return despite the perceived gains of reintegration prompted this research to examine economic determinants of willingness for reintegration. Logistics regression results show a strong positive influence of having an assurance of finding employment back home on the willingness for reintegration. The results further suggest that displaced persons are 14 times more willing to return home when the government guarantees employment. To encourage willingness for reintegration, the authors recommend that displaced persons be empowered economically through the provision of jobs upon their return to their various home communities. Recommendations for the Nigerian government and interested parties are presented with suggestions to expand social institutions and their collaboration with the government.
A Comprehensive Planning Method for Low-Carbon Energy Transition in Rapidly Growing Cities
Authors: Xiao Yayu , Yang Honghua , Zhao Yunlong , Kong Geng , Ma Linwei , Li Zheng , Ni Weidou
Published: February 2022

Coping with climate change requires promoting low-carbon energy transition (LCET) in cities. However, the planning method of LCET for rapidly growing cities deserves further study because it involves dynamicity and interactions of multiple factors. This paper aims to put forward a comprehensive methodology to fill that gap. First, a theoretical framework of “energy system–sustainability–governance–operation of rapidly growing cities” is put forward to explain the general mechanism of LCET. Second, a three step method is built for LCET planning, including energy system analysis based on low emissions analysis platform modeling, operation analysis applying multilevel perspective and stakeholder theories, and governance evaluation by policy review. To verify this method, a city in Western China, Chengdu, was selected as the case study. The results show that Chengdu’s energy related CO2 emissions are expected to peak in 2025 under timely and aggressive measures. The main obstacles lie in three aspects: techno–economic insufficiencies, lack of social cognition, and problems of institution and policy. To realize this scenario, Chengdu must incorporate the target and pathway of a carbon peak as soon as possible into its policy system and enhance the coordination among governmental departments.
Environment, Social, and Governance Score and Value Added Impacts on Market Capitalization: A Sectoral-Based Approach
Authors: Șerban Radu-Alexandru , Mihaiu Diana Marieta , Țichindelean Mihai
Published: February 2022

The main goal of this study was to measure the impact of the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sustainability score and value added to companies’ market capitalization. Therefore, financial and sustainable performance were measured in a sample of 5557 companies divided into 9 economic sectors of activity from 78 countries and 6 regions (Americas: 2144; Asia: 1770; Europe: 1232; Oceania: 311; Africa: 90; United Kingdom: 10). The analyzed sample consisted of publicly traded companies ranked by market capitalization (from small-cap to large-cap), for which the ESG score was measured in the analyzed period: the financial year was 2019, before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using two methods (multiple linear regression and complementary quantile regression), we found a direct link between the ESG score and value added variables and market capitalization, with distinct impacts at the economic sector level for ESG score and relatively constant impact for value added.
A New Battery Selection System and Charging Control of a Movable Solar-Powered Charging Station for Endless Flying Killing Drones
Authors: Ali Essam , Fanni Mohamed , Mohamed Abdelfatah M.
Published: February 2022

This paper provides a design, a charging control, and energy management of a movable Photo Voltaic (PV) charging station with an Automatic Battery Replacement (ABR) system to enable drones for ongoing missions. The paper represents the first stage of a three-staged project titled Fall Armyworm (FAW) insect killer. The other two stages involve the flight control of drones and detecting and killing FAW insects. Without chemical methods, the project aims to eliminate harmful FAW insects that are rapidly spreading in Africa and Asia. The power source is a hybrid PV system with energy storage devices (batteries and supercapacitors). The maximum power from PV panels is tracked using three different online methods (PSO, IC, and P&O), and the best method with the highest accuracy is selected. The experimental and simulation results approved that PSO is the recommended method used in this project among the studied methods because of its high target reach (about 97%) and low steady-state oscillation (maximum 2.15%). An intelligent energy management system is investigated and designed to efficiently utilize solar power with a constant-current constant-voltage charger for LiPo batteries. A new Battery Selection System (BSS) is designed and verified to efficiently utilize the harvested energy and increase the mission time. The BSS targets to manage the selection of the appropriate battery to charge and control its charging rate. The system performance is tested using MATLAB software. Then, an experimental setup for the system is built to validate simulation results. The results of simulations and experiments proved the reliability of BSS in different operating cases with an efficiency higher than 97%.
Differentiation Rule and Driving Mechanisms of Collapse Disasters in Changbai County
Authors: Qian Lihui , Zang Shuying
Published: February 2022

The differentiation rule and driving mechanisms of collapse disasters in various regions are unclear, and the results from existing methods of research are not sufficiently scientific. To reveal the nature of collapse disasters, this study utilized data from the 1:50,000 geological disaster investigation results database, 1:50,000 topographic data, and TM images. Topography, human activity intensity, rock mass structure, hydrological conditions, vegetation status, and meteorological conditions were used as indicators in the DEA model to analyze their validity and to explore the differentiation law and driving mechanisms of the highway slope along the YaLu river, a location of frequent geological disasters in Changbai County. In the analysis process, each index was quantitatively graded, i.e., the number of disaster points corresponding to each index was used as an input index, and the number of disaster points and the scale and stability of disaster points corresponding to the graded quantitative index were used as the output indexes. The results of the analysis of the study area indicate that there are significant differences in geological disasters due to different regional characteristics. We carried out three evaluations and performed spatial superposition analysis of the indicators corresponding to the effective values and the regional collapse points. The driving factors of collapse disasters can be divided into three categories, namely the impact of human activities, rainfall, and gravity stress. The GIS analysis and mapping found that the collapse points located to the south of the Grand Canyon of Changbai County were primarily affected by rainfall. Additionally, the areas affected by activity intensity are mostly concentrated in county towns with concentrated populations and road slopes.
Exploring Consumer Perceptions of the Value Proposition Embedded in Vegan Food Products Using Text Analytics
Authors: Cooper Kelly , Dedehayir Ozgur , Riverola Carla , Harrington Stephen , Alpert Elizabeth
Published: February 2022

Given the increasing interest in sustainable food consumption and production, this study aims to understand how consumers perceive the value proposition of vegan food. Over 120,000 tweets relating to veganism were extracted from Twitter, which were then analysed using the text analytics tool Leximancer to ascertain the predominant themes of conversation taking place around vegan food. Our results show that, in light of the three main drivers for vegan food choice—ethical, personal health, and environmental—surprisingly, we see a limited number of environmental or sustainability motivated tweets. This is a significant finding, as, while vegan food consumption is reported to be sustainable, this is not a preferred topic of conversation for consumers. Value propositions communicated with respect to personal health attributes (e.g., dairy free, gluten free, and nutrition), and consumption benefits (e.g., tasty, delicious) are more likely to resonate with consumers and motivate increased consumption while concurrently delivering environmental benefits as a positive side-effect. Furthermore, the polarity of the attitudes and conversations taking place between vegans and non-vegans on Twitter underscores that a single value proposition is unlikely to reach both groups simultaneously and that different value propositions are likely to be required to reach these respective groups.
Nanoeconomics of Households in Lockdown Using Agent Models during COVID-19
Authors: Cifuentes-Faura Javier , Francesco Renaud Di
Published: February 2022

The world is experiencing a global pandemic with COVID-19, for which few measures have proven their efficiency. Prevention through lockdown belongs to the portfolio of Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention (NPI). The implementation of a lockdown comes with a potential health care benefit balanced with an economic and human cost: people are constrained to stay in their homes. Households hence have to live together in what we call “zero-space”, which means within the walls of their flat or house. The loss of “space-domain” freedom, preventing them to move in “free” space is accompanied by a continued “time-domain” freedom with the possibility to allocate their time, and what they do with it, within the location they are not permitted to leave (with very defined exceptions). We study the microeconomics framework in such a setting, starting from the rules shaping such a “nano-market” with very few agents (the members of the household), and its consequence for nano-economic interaction. Since the behaviour of the agents is hyperconstrained in the space domain and relatively free in the time domain, behavioral economics is used to describe decisions made in the home, for the actions remaining possible during lockdown. A minimal set of rules is introduced and illustrated to describe efficiently the agents at play in this new and particular context, which has been replicated worldwide during the pandemic. Hypotheses for this model are presented and discussed, so as to allow future variations and adaptations for other specific cases with different options chosen. Such hypotheses concern agents, their interests, behaviours, and the equivalent of non-financial “nano-market transactions and contracts”.
Environmental Accounting of the Yellow-Tail Lambari Aquaculture: Sustainability of Rural Freshwater Pond Systems
Authors: Fonseca Tamara , Valenti Wagner C. , Giannetti Biagio F. , Gonçalves Fernando H. , Agostinho Feni
Published: February 2022

Freshwater pond aquaculture is the prevailing fish culture system worldwide, especially in developing countries. The sustainability of such systems has not been assessed and it can be improved based on suitable scientific analyses. In the present study, we apply the emergy synthesis to assess the sustainability of lambari aquaculture, used as a model of freshwater pond monoculture in Brazil, to identify the key practices, and to propose changes to improve them towards sustainability. As a study model, nine semi-intensive lambari farms operating at three levels of management were evaluated: low (LC), moderate (MC) and high (HC) control. Results showed that the main inputs for LC were services (27–46%), feed (7–39%) and water (15–21%), while for the MC and HC farms, they were feed (35–49% and 17–48%, respectively) and services (33–39% and 26–36%, respectively). All farms required more than 60% of their emergy from purchased inputs, resulting in low emergy sustainability index (ESI = 0.1–0.5). Increasing juvenile productivity, using superficial water instead of springwater, controlling pond fertilization and replacing animal protein in diet composition by vegetable sources can lead systems to higher efficiency and resilience, increasing sustainability.
A Stitch in Time Saves Nine: Nexus between Critical Delay Factors, Leadership Self-Efficacy, and Transnational Mega Construction Project Success
Authors: Zaman Umer , Florez-Perez Laura , Abbasi Saba , Nawaz Shahid , Farías Pablo , Pradana Mahir
Published: February 2022

Delay factors are frequent in the construction industry globally, resulting in significant overruns in project cost and time. In context, megaprojects can be more prone to critical delays, hence, demanding a high degree of self-confident leadership. Despite the continuous scholarly attempts to examine mega construction project success, the underlying role of critical delay factors and leadership self-efficacy has been largely overlooked. Hence, to address these rarely examined linkages, the present study empirically explored the effects of critical delay factors (CDFs) on transnational mega construction project (TMCP) success with the moderating influence of leadership self-efficacy (LSE). Based on a study sample (N = 211) extracted from the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, the hypothesized relationships were tested through partial least squares–structural equation modeling. The study included nine critical delay factors and three subdimensions of TMCP success, derived from previous research. The findings revealed a negative relationship between CDFs and TMCP success, as a 1% increase in CDFs triggered a 28.8% negative change in TMCP success. A positive moderating effect of LSE on the relationship between CDFs and TMCP success was also empirically supported, as 1% increase in LSE resulted in 18.4% positive change in TMCP success. The present study bridges the fragmented literature on critical delay factors in the global construction industry, megaproject success, and project leadership, by providing the first empirical evidence linking these potential relationships. Moreover, the present study also provides an extension to existing studies to identify the role of CDFs and LSE in impacting multi-faceted success (i.e., management success, ownership success, and investment success) in mega construction projects.
How to Find the Key Participants in Crowdsourcing Design? Identifying Lead Users in the Online Context Using User-Contributed Content and Online Behavior Analysis
Authors: Zhang Jing , Guo Wei , Liang Ruoyu , Wang Lei , Fu Zhonglin , Sun Jiang
Published: February 2022

Lead users are the most valuable innovation sources in crowdsourcing design; how to identify these users is a research hotspot in the field of design and management. Existing approaches to discover lead users in the context of the online community, such as the manual method and ordering algorithm, have some limitations, for instance, low coverage and accuracy. To address these deficiencies, this article proposes a method that applies text-mining techniques, analysis of user behavior, and contributed content to identify lead users. We suggest a three-step analytical approach: First, a criterion system to evaluate the user’s leading-edge status is constructed. Second, we utilize a fuzzy analytical hierarchy process to assess the weighted value of each indicator and develop the reference sequence of the indicators. Third, grey relational analysis is employed to analyze the correlations between users’ indicators and reference sequences, and lead users are recognized based on each user’s correlation ranking. An empirical analysis is used to examine the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results reveal that the method has good precision and recall rate, can automatically process large-scale data, and has no strict requirements for respondents. Finally, the article discusses the limitations and provides possible directions for future research.
Towards Sustainability: The Involvement of the Elderly in the Educational Activities of NGOs in Lithuania
Authors: Štuopytė Edita
Published: February 2022

In an aging society, the promotion of lifelong learning is important for sustainability and the social inclusion of elderly people. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are actively involved in this process, accepting a significant challenge to promote the activity of elderly people through educational activities. Such activities with elderly people are special, as they include the integration and empowerment of the individual to re-adopt societal norms, to discover new opportunities for self-realization, and to respond flexibly to economic and social change. This study aims to reveal the involvement of the elderly in the educational activities of NGOs. To achieve this goal, a qualitative research method was chosen—the discussion of a focus group. In the case of the study, the group assessment and categorization methodologies were used. The analysis of the experiences of elderly people participating in NGO educational activities revealed that the motives for engaging in NGO activities are related to the needs for self-expression, communication, as well as social mobility, integration, and social adaptation to constant changes in society. To promote the involvement of elderly people, NGOs must focus on disseminating information on educational activities, promoting active aging, removing barriers to individual activity, and improving the competencies of elderly people, helping them to acquire new knowledge and skills, as well as focusing on the organization itself.
Coastal Vulnerability Assessment: A Case Study of the Nigerian Coastline
Authors: Oloyede Mary O. , Williams Akan B. , Ode Godwin O. , Benson Nsikak U.
Published: February 2022

Coastal regions are one of the essential spots on the earth as they are hosts to various important ecosystems, natural resources and the increasing population. Based on their proximity to the seas, they are mainly affected by sea-level rise, which is one of the adverse effects of climate change. This has resulted in associated hazards, such as beach erosion, flooding, coastal inundation, habitat destruction, saltwater intrusion into ground water aquifers and ecosystem imbalance. This study quantifies and classifies the vulnerability of the Nigerian coastline to these threats using the analytical hierarchical approach. This involved calculating the coastal vulnerability index (CVI) employing physical and geomorphological variables, and socioeconomic indicators that characterized the coastline vulnerability. The Nigerian coast was divided into seventeen (17) segments based on geomorphic units. The different vulnerability variables were assigned ranks ranging from 1 to 5, with 5 indicating the highest and 1 indicating the lowest vulnerabilities. The geomorphological and physical parameters include coastal slope, bathymetry, geomorphology, wave height, mean tidal range, shoreline change rate and relative sea-level rise, while the socioeconomic parameters include population, cultural heritage, land use/land cover and road network. The calculated CVI values (Saaty method) ranged from 11.25 to 41.66 with a median value of 23.60. Based on Gornitz approach, the calculated measures ranged between 3.51–4.77 and 3.08–5.00 for PVI and SoVI, respectively. However, the aggregated coastal vulnerability index computed using this approach ranged from 3.29 to 4.70. The results obtained from both approaches showed that 59–65% of the entire Nigerian coastline is under moderate to high vulnerability to sea-level rise. Data indicted how the coastal populations are highly vulnerable to both physical–geomorphological and socioeconomic stressors. Coastal vulnerability maps, highlighting the physical–geomorphological and socioeconomic vulnerability status of Nigerian coastline were also generated. The information from this study will assist coastal planners in identifying vulnerable segments in the study area and subsequently aid decisions that would mitigate the predicted impacts in the region.
Empirical Study on Temperature Influence on Noise Measurements with the Statistical Pass-By Method
Authors: Geluykens Michiel , de Barros Ablenya Grangeiro , Goubert Luc , Vuye Cedric
Published: February 2022

Road traffic noise measurements, such as the Statistical Pass-By method (SPB) described in ISO 11819-1, are pivotal in assessing this noise pollution problem. As temperature is a primary cause of uncertainty in tyre/road noise measurements, the SPB method results need to be temperature corrected. The ISO 11819-1 standard is currently being revised and will refer to ISO/DTS 13471-2:2021, also in the drafting stage, for a temperature-correction procedure that is not present in the current ISO 11819-1:1997 version. Compared to other methods, little research has evaluated the temperature influence using the SPB method. In this paper, 18 SPB measurements were performed at three locations, with dense asphalt concrete and SMA as the pavement type. In total, over 5700 vehicles were captured, covering the complete temperature range in ISO 11819-1. For passenger cars, a temperature coefficient of −0.103 dB/°C was obtained while no statistically significant proof was found that temperature influences the sound-pressure levels for heavy vehicles at the speeds in this study (45–65 km/h). In this speed range for heavy vehicles, not only the tyre/road noise is a significant source of pass-by vehicle noise but also the power unit noise, on which the temperature influence is more complicated. Additionally, the analysis of various temperatures (air, road and estimated tyre temperature) revealed that the air temperature appears to be best suited for the temperature correction procedure. In third-octave bands, no effect was observed in the low-frequency range for passenger cars, contradicting previous research. Negative correction coefficients were found in the middle and high-frequency range, although trends presented in other studies were not observed.
The Education for Sustainable Development, Online Technology and Teleological Rationality: A Game between Instrumental Value and Humanistic Value
Authors: Zhang Hongfeng , Zeng Yumeng
Published: February 2022

The concept of education for sustainable development (ESD) belongs to the latter exogenous type. It was not put forward as an independent concept at first. At present, it is necessary to shift from the approach to an understanding concentrating on sustainable development to an interpretation that focuses on the structure of education. Under the guidance of online technology’s pursuit of efficiency, effect, simplicity and materialization, the process of ESD embedded with online technology has highlighted its value of tools, while lacking rules and guidance of the teleological rationality, hence it cannot achieve the value tendency of humanism which accords with its reason and being good to it. In the course of realistic education, the instrumental value and humanistic value of ESD are always intertwined together, and the value choices of educational entities are often manifested as bounded rationality. Therefore, around the theme of ESD, any two of the players of educational organizations constitute the “evolutionary game with bounded rationality”. Based on the result of an evolutionary game, ESD should pay more attention to the humanization of purpose, the contextualizing of content, the experience of process and the rationalization of technology, to fully realize the return of humanistic value of ESD.
Outsourcing for Sustainable Performance: Insights from Two Studies on Achieving Innovation through Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing
Authors: Leo Ezekiel , Bui Quang “Neo” , Adelakun Olayele
Published: February 2022

(1) Background: To obtain sustainable performance through outsourcing, organizations must balance the inherent tension between pursuing cost-saving initiatives (i.e., efficiency) and pursuing innovative initiatives (e.g., developing new products). This study aims to explore this tension by exploring different ways that organizations can pursue both efficiency and innovativeness, through their IT outsourcing (ITO) and business process outsourcing (BPO). (2) Methods: This study utilizes a configurational approach in two inductive studies, both using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). The first study qualitatively compares 27 firms currently doing ITO, while the second study compares 60 firms doing either ITO or BPO. (3) Results: Our findings suggest three configurations, or combination of conditions, that enable efficiency and innovation through ITO and BPO. For ITO, firms can use a best-of-breed or a mediated multi-outsourcing configuration to enable innovation; however, firms can only use a direct multi-outsourcing configuration to enable innovation through BPO. (4) Conclusions: The study is among the first to explore both ITO and BPO practices that enable innovation and efficiency simultaneously (sustainable performance). In contrast with prior studies, all three aforementioned configurations suggest that having detailed outsourcing contracts is a necessary but not sufficient condition for innovation through outsourcing.
Risk Scenario Evaluation for Intelligent Ships by Mapping Hierarchical Holographic Modeling into Risk Filtering, Ranking and Management
Authors: Zhang Wenjun , Zhang Yingjun , Qiao Weiliang
Published: February 2022

To identify and screen the risk scenarios for the navigation risk of intelligent ships, the analysis and evaluation of navigational risks were performed in this study. Risk scenarios were developed and evaluated by mapping the hierarchical holographic modeling (HHM) into risk filtering, ranking and management (RFRM). In detail, considering the insignificant influences of some factors on navigational activities, risk factors were filtered and ranked using the RFRM model. Seven final factors were successfully determined, including traffic flow, navigation environment understanding, ship–shore interaction capabilities, target recognition capabilities, communication equipment reliabilities, professional skills, and situation judgments. The results indicated that cargo security can be guaranteed by following navigational risk identification and screening steps, and thus our findings provide theoretical guidance for the dynamic management of maritime organizations and ship companies. In addition, the proposed methodology is desirable for making predictions on maritime traffic risks.
Tailor-Made Training for Industrial Sector Employees
Authors: Kuna Peter , Hašková Alena , Hodál Peter
Published: February 2022

The paper deals with the topic of the further education of employees in the industrial sector. Even though Europe today has one of its most highly qualified cohorts of young graduates entering the labour market, approximately a quarter of European Union employees have significant professional skill deficits, their professional skills are much lower compared to those needed by an average worker to be fully proficient in their job. Companies must have employees who are able to quickly adapt to an ever-changing world market. That is why they need to invest in on-going employee training and development in order to both keep their employees and be successful. Academics from Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra have a long-term cooperation with the EATON company, a global leader in electrotechnical technologies. Within the framework of this cooperation, the university was asked by this company to assess courses which it offered to its own employees as well as employees of other companies from industrial production practices, and if appropriate to suggest an improved model of the tailor-made courses provided. The authors present a case study, the aim of which was to evaluate the effectiveness and the meeting of the objectives of the training carried out for the particular target groups of participants. They describe the methodology of the assessment carried out and the main findings resulting from it.
Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Analysis of Additive Manufacturing Repair Processes in the Mold Industry
Authors: Gouveia Joana R. , Pinto Sara M. , Campos Sara , Matos João R. , Sobral João , Esteves Sílvia , Oliveira Luís
Published: February 2022

There is a growing demand for data regarding the environmental and economic performance of additive manufacturing to establish the role of this technology in the future circular industrial economy. This paper provides a comparative analysis of direct energy deposition technology with conventional manufacturing, specifically iron casting, in the context of the repairing capabilities of the direct energy deposition system in a damaged glass bottle mold. Making use of already established methodologies for environmental and economic assessment, a life cycle assessment and a life cycle costing study was conducted on each scenario to provide a holistic perspective on the advantages and limitations of each system. With the gathered life cycle inventory, the main environmental impacts and life cycle costs were determined. The hybrid repairing scenario results show a reduction of the environmental impacts and life cycle costs by avoiding resource consumption in the production of a new mold, with underlying economic advantages identified beyond the calculated results. Through strategic integration based in life cycle approaches, it is concluded that direct energy deposition technology can play a key role in the sustainable development of tooling and manufacturing industries, especially in products with large dimensions, complex geometry, and customized design.
Socially Responsible Human Resource Management: A Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda
Authors: Omidi Afshin , Dal Zotto Cinzia
Published: February 2022

At the intersection of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and human resource management (HRM), a specific research strand has been forming and considerably flourishing over the past years, contributing to the burgeoning academic debate of what has been called “socially responsible human resource management” (SRHRM). The SRHRM debate seeks to proactively enhance employees’ work experiences and meet their personal and social expectations in ethical and socially responsible ways. Despite the increasing interest in research about SRHRM, however, the literature in this area is highly scattered, and a comprehensive study has yet to be undertaken. The present paper addresses this shortcoming by systematically reviewing 57 scholarly articles published in this research domain. It integrates previous insights on the topic to provide a far-reaching theoretical framework that highlights antecedents, practices, and outcomes of SRHRM research. As the results show, between 2011 and 2021, the Sustainability journal has published most of the empirical papers in this area, while the last three years (2019–2021) experienced a significant surge of publications on the topic. Our framework shapes a holistic overview of the SRHRM domain and illuminates different relevant elements upon which future studies in this area could be developed. This contribution is also beneficial for general CSR literature as it stresses the importance of its internal stakeholders, which have been comprehensively given less attention so far. By critically examining the recent literature on SRHRM, we further show how previous research is dominated by studies rooted in utilitarian approaches. Therefore, we set a research agenda for future studies by acknowledging the need for process-oriented studies and the importance of critical scholarship within the field of SRHRM.
On the Sustainable Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Do Remittances, Human Capital Flight, and Brain Drain Matter?
Authors: Usman Mohammed A. M. , Ozdeser Huseyin , Çavuşoğlu Behiye , Aliyu Umar Shuaibu
Published: February 2022

To solve the active macroeconomic challenges of remittances, human capital flight, and brain drain facing Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) from the perspective of costs and benefits tradeoffs for achieving Sustainable Development Goal eight (SDGs-8) targets by 2030 and the recipient communities’ wellbeing, this study investigates the sustainable economic growth in SSA: Do remittances, human capital flight, and brain drain matter? Autoregressive-Distributive Lag (ARDL) and the Error-Correction Mechanism (ECM) were used. Thus, this research is led by push–pull, altruism, and social network theories. The ARDL showed that remittances and trade positively affect economic growth. However, human capital flight, poverty, corruption, and inequality negatively affect economic growth. The co-efficient of ECTt−1 is ascertained to be negative (−0.266282) with a significant statistical value of 1% (i.e., 0.0123). Therefore, the annual requirement to restore equilibrium convergence is 26.62%. The study concludes that SSA may achieve their sustainable economic growth target, particularly by formalizing remittances and human capital flight and brain drain into the financial, economic system in SSA by 2030, since restoration to long-term convergence will take less than nine years. Enabling a labor market that offers decent work and wages, along with trade and remittance policies for sustainable growth, are recommended.
The One E-Ticket Customized Bus Service Mode for Passengers with Multiple Trips and the Routing Problem
Authors: Guan Yunlin , Wang Yun , Yan Xuedong , Guo Haonan , Zhao Yi
Published: February 2022

To alleviate the problems of traffic congestion, excessive energy consumption, and the environmental pollution caused by private cars, it is essential to use public transportation (PT). However, passengers making multiple trips in a short time period must repeatedly make travel mode choices, purchase tickets, and wait for buses for each trip, which may negatively affect their preference for PT. In order to improve the attractiveness of PT, especially for passengers requiring multiple trips in a short time period, this paper proposes the one e-ticket customized bus service mode for passengers with multiple trips (OECBSM-PMT) by customized buses (CBs). Besides, a CB-routing optimization model for the OECBSM-PMT is also developed in this paper, formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming based on a vehicle routing problem with pickup and delivery and time windows (VRPPDTW). The model aims to maximize the profit and minimize the costs of operation with considering passengers with multi-trip requests, homogeneous CB fleets with pickup/delivery-time-window constraints, and mixed loads. A service effectiveness identification procedure based on genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed to cope with the calculation considering the characteristics of passengers with multiple trips. Finally, the proposed model and algorithm are verified and analyzed using the case of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. It can be found from the results that the method can provide an optimized CB route plan and timetable, and the algorithm GA-I obtains better solutions than other solving strategies in most instances. The proposed OECBSM-PMT and corresponding optimized method can better adapt to diverse travel demands, significantly improve the convenience for passengers, especially those making multiple trips in a short time period and will eventually promote a higher level of public transport service.
Selection of Sustainability Startups for Acceleration: How Prior Access to Financing and Team Features Influence Accelerators’ Selection Decisions
Authors: Beyhan Berna , Fındık Derya
Published: February 2022

Accelerators are specially designed entrepreneurship programs that enable startups to scale up at a fast pace through mentoring, intense consulting, training, and provision of access to business networks. To cope with the challenges of the entrepreneurial process and to access resources to achieve a quick scale-up, sustainability startups need a great deal of support from intermediary organizations. In this study, we examined 7358 social-sustainability startups and 2671 environmental-sustainability startups to understand the factors that influence the probability of a sustainability startup being selected by accelerators. Our main research question was whether previous funding (in the form of equity funding or philanthropic support) received by sustainability startups affects the selection decisions of accelerators. We also investigated how team-related characteristics such as work experience diversity, female startup teams, a team’s passion or commitment, and entrepreneurial experience influence the chances of startups being selected by accelerators. Our data were drawn from the Global Accelerator Learning Initiative (GALI), which was cocreated by the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs and Emory University. The data have been collected from entrepreneurs around the world since 2013. The wave we used included a dataset covering the years 2013–2019. Our results indicate that for both social-sustainability and environmental-sustainability startups, the amount of previous equity funding and philanthropic support received from external funding providers is of critical importance for the startup to be selected by accelerators. We also found that previous funding mediates the relationship between various team-related characteristics and the probability of a startup being selected by accelerators.
Analyzing Freight Truck Platoon Accessibility with Route Deviations
Authors: Chandra Shailesh , Thai Timothy
Published: February 2022

Truck platooning is emerging as a sustainable means of transporting goods and commodities to destinations. Platooning optimizes road space and contributes to reducing freight truck emissions. However, there has been limited research on freight truck platoon accessibility to the destination that is often necessary to understand the impact of routes on which platoon is deployed. This study develops an analytical formulation for platoon accessibility by considering the possibility of the detour of trucks forming a platoon. Analyses with four prominent interstates in California, CA, USA, show that accessibility with truck platooning on select lengths of the I-5 continues to increase for about an initial 165 miles, attains a maximum there, and starts to drop after. The other three freeways, I-10, I-405, and I-710, show a continuous increase in accessibility for their lengths and the number of ramps considered. The findings can have significant implications in determining the selection of freeway routes that could be regarded as facilitators for a truck platoon.
Creating Sustainable Buildings: Structural Design Based on the Criterion of Social Benefits for Building Users
Authors: Nenadović Aleksandra , Milošević Jelena
Published: February 2022

Sustainable building involves reducing negative environmental impacts with a simultaneous increase in life quality. The aim is to optimize building performances while considering all aspects of sustainability: environmental, economic, and social. The building structure determines the building’s performances, and it should be designed and evaluated as a subsystem of the building, in line with the objectives of the system–building. This paper investigates structural design based on integrated design objectives within the criterion of social benefits for users throughout the use phase of the building, focusing on protection and safety, aspects of comfort, spatial organization, spatial adaptability, and maintenance. The problem was studied using integrative literature review methodology and system theory. The main findings of the research are a review and critical analysis of the representative literature and the derived conceptual framework for structural design based on the criterion of social benefits for building users, which should support more comprehensive and more efficient decision-making during systemic design and optimization of buildings. The presented integrated literature review indicates the need for the application of a systemic approach to structural design in order to create sustainable buildings.
Determinants of the Economic and Financial Feasibility of Real Estate Development Projects: A Comparative Analysis between Public and Private Development Projects in South Korea
Authors: Shim Heecheoul , Kim Jaehwan
Published: February 2022

We analyse the factors involved in the selection of a development site to secure the economic feasibility and profitability of a public development real estate project through a comparative analysis with private development projects. Logistic regression was used as the analysis method. In the case of public development projects, whether or not the investment screening passed was used as a dependent variable, and in the case of private development projects, the successful bid rate was used as a dependent variable. Independent variables were selected based on prior research on variables suitable for the purpose and situation of the project. The results show that the greater the total development costs of a public development project and the greater the size of a private development project, the greater the rate of approval and bidding success. For public projects, the rate of approval decreases when there are several subways, train stations, and supermarkets; however, this is not the case for private projects, owing to differences in development methods and project purposes. From a public standpoint, the balanced regional development, revitalisation of old city centres, and implementation of social overhead capital projects in neighbourhoods lacking infrastructure have a strong influence. From a private sector perspective, the mobile/resident population, modification in extra demand, and feasibility analysis have a strong influence. In sum, if the private sector avoids large-scale supermarket projects, they can be conducted as public development projects to enhance residents’ quality of life and revitalise the regional economy. Researchers should examine what could be benchmarked in the private sector in the operational stage and explore ways to maximise profitability and reduce financial burden.
How Can “Community Voices” from Qualitative Research Illuminate Our Understanding of the Implementation of the SDGs? A Scoping Review
Authors: Mbah Marcellus Forh , East Linda A.
Published: February 2022

In 2015, the United Nations committed to 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to drive global development policy and practice. Six years into the implementation of the 15-year agenda, the SDGs are subject to extensive monitoring and research at the national, regional, and global levels using quantitative data sets. In contrast, this scoping review considered the contribution of qualitative research studies published in 2021, utilizing data collected from local, place-based community participants. Qualitative research with community participants connects global policy with place-based experience, thus potentially offering a valuable perspective on SDG implementation. Searches were carried out using the Scopus database to identify studies that explicitly linked their aims and objectives to the SDGs. Fifty-four papers met the criteria for inclusion in the review and were charted, mapped, and analysed. For the majority of studies, data collection was carried out in lower-middle income and low-income countries. The “voices” of community participants highlight tensions and challenges affecting the implementation of the SDGs. Reviewing this body of research as a whole identified opportunities to strengthen future qualitative research that will further illuminate progress towards the SDGs.