bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Changes of Heat Contribution Index in Urban Thermal Environment: A Case Study in Fuzhou
Authors: Cai Yuan-Bin , Li Ke , Chen Yan-Hong , Wu Lei , Pan Wen-Bin
Published: September 2021

With the acceleration of global warming and urbanization, the problem of the thermal environment in urban areas has become increasingly prominent. In this paper, Fuzhou was selected to quantify the impact of land use cover change (LUCC) on land surface temperature (LST). The results showed that from 1993 to 2016, the land use/cover types of the study area changed greatly, especially the change of construction land, which led to an obvious change in the spatial pattern of LST. From 1993 to 2016, the spatial and temporal distribution of LST contributions in Fuzhou was uneven. The central urban area had a positive contribution to the rise of LST, while Minqing and Yongtai had a negative contribution. From the perspective of different land use/land cover types, forest or grass land, cultivated land, and water all made a negative contribution to the increase of surface temperature, while construction land made a positive contribution. Outcomes provided by the multi-distance spatial cluster analysis (Ripley’s K function) showed that there was a scale effect in the concentration and dispersion of LST; from 1993 to 2016, the concentration range of LST in the study area gradually expanded and the degree of concentration increased.
Environmental Impact Variability of Copper Tailing Dumps in Fushe Arrez (Northern Albania): The Role of Pyrite Separation during Flotation
Authors: Grieco Giovanni , Sinojmeri Agim , Bussolesi Micol , Cocomazzi Giuseppe , Cavallo Alessandro
Published: September 2021

Acid mine drainage and potentially toxic elements release are a major source of pollution in sulfide-rich mining sites. Pyrite is the most impacting mineral due to its high acidification potential when it reacts with water under oxidizing conditions. At the Fushe Arrez dressing plant in Northern Albania, a volcanic massive sulfide copper mining district, pyrite was in past separated, with a double flotation process, to produce a pyrite concentrate and relatively-pyrite-poor tailings. In the last twenty years single flotation has replaced the double flotation process and pyrite has been deposited in pyrite-rich tailings stacked separately from the old ones. The study of the solid tailing materials and natural waters flowing through the dumping area, together with leaching tests show that waters interacting with single flotation tailings are slightly more acidic and much higher in total metal contents than those interacting with double flotation tailings. Also, the metal distribution is different, with the former being higher in sulfide-hosted metals and the latter higher in gangue-hosted metals. It is thus suggested that separation of pyrite can play an important role in the sustainable mining of pyrite-rich ores, either for dumping high hazardous pyrite concentrate separately or for marketing it as a by-product. An implementation of studies for the industrial uses of pyrite is pivotal in this last case.
UGC Sharing Motives and Their Effects on UGC Sharing Intention from Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives: Focusing on Content Creators in South Korea
Authors: Park Do-Hyung , Lee Sungwook
Published: September 2021

Recently, user-generated content (UGC) has been in the limelight. This study investigates why Internet users share their own UGC and reveals how the motives behind UGC sharing affect UGC sharing intentions both quantitatively and qualitatively. Based on motivations established in existing online communication literature, theoretical UGC motives are identified. Using online surveys administered to 300 users in South Korea, factor analysis is performed to identify empirical UGC sharing motives, and regression analyses shows how UGC sharing motives affect UGC sharing intention in terms of quality and quantity. A total of 10 theoretical UGC motives are consequently factorized into five motives. It is revealed that three motives—self-creation, self-expression, and reward—are related to individual purposes. Users get enjoyment from creating content, they want to be recognized by others, and further expect to be rewarded socially and economically. The other two motives, community commitment and social relationships, are related to social purposes. Users share UGC as a means of communication, desire feedback from others, and want to feel a sense of belonging within certain communities. All of these motives positively affect UGC sharing intention. This is the first study to empirically clarify UGC sharing motives. In addition, this study reveals UGC-centric self-creation and self-expression motives, which have not been the focus of previous online communication studies. Finally, the research results suggest how UGC site managers can adopt practical strategies related to UGC management.
The Effect of Perceptions on Service Robot Usage Intention: A Survey Study in the Service Sector
Authors: Meidute-Kavaliauskiene Ieva , Çiğdem Şemsettin , Yıldız Bülent , Davidavicius Sigitas
Published: September 2021

The current age of artificial intelligence, along with the advent of robots, portends increased use of innovative technologies in the tourism industry, with higher levels of service innovation than in many other industries. In addition, factors such as an approaching worldwide pandemic have limited the amount of physical contact that people can have. So as a result, the use of service robots in service areas, such as tourism, has recently become controversial. In this study, accommodation customers’ perceptions of advantages and disadvantages about robots and the effect of the perceived value of their intention to use them were investigated. Within the scope of the research, data were collected from 1408 people living in various cities in Turkey through an online survey. The data were analyzed by structural equation modeling. As a result of the analyses, it was found that the perception of advantage and the perceived value affect the intention to use service robots positively and significantly. It has been determined that the perception of disadvantage affects the intention to use service robots negatively and significantly. The research results show that the accommodation companies should be innovative and rapidly transition to robotization, as in the manufacturing industry. Advanced technological innovation applications, such as service robots, will play an essential role in the revival of the tourism industry, especially during the global epidemic.
20 Years of Research on Real Estate Bubbles, Risk and Exuberance: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Li Shengguo , Liu Jiaqi , Dong Jichang , Li Xuerong
Published: September 2021

Since the 2008 global financial crisis, the study of real estate risks, bubbles and exuberance has attracted a lot of attention, which is of great significance to the government, enterprises and individuals. This paper carries out a statistical and bibliometric analysis of 739 studies over the past 20 years in this field, and identifies the theoretical basis, research topics and latest research hotspots in this field. Through the construction of a co-citation network and co-word network, we find that the current studies have commonly employed basic economic theories or econometric methods to detect and quantify real estate bubbles. Explosive bubbles and financialization of real estate are frontier hotspots that have gained much popularity. Based on the comparative study, we further discover that American scholars have paid more attention to topics related to the financial crisis, while Chinese scholars have studied topics more related to real estate market policies. Finally, this paper proposes several important research directions in this field for the future.
What Environmental and Personal Factors Determine the Implementation Intensity of Nature-Based Education in Elementary and Lower-Secondary Schools?
Authors: Yamanoi Takahiro , Soga Masashi , Evans Maldwyn J. , Tsuchiya Kazuaki , Koyanagi Tomoyo F. , Kanai Tadashi
Published: September 2021

As society becomes increasingly urbanized, children are becoming much less likely to experience nature. This progressive disengagement from the natural world, often termed the ‘extinction of experience’, has been viewed both as a key public health issue and one of the most fundamental obstacles to halting global environmental degradation. School education has an important role in mitigating and reversing the ongoing extinction of experience. Here, we examine the role of several factors that determine the implementation intensities of nature-based education by science teachers in the classrooms of both primary and secondary schools. We performed a large-scale questionnaire survey comprising 363 elementary and 259 lower-secondary schoolteachers. Several factors predicted the implementation intensity of nature-based education in schools. The most important predictor was teachers’ levels of nature-relatedness, with nature-orientated teachers being more likely to provide nature-based education in their classes. Levels of teachers’ ecological knowledge, frequency of childhood nature experiences, and greenness within the school were also positively associated with the implementation intensity of education. Our results suggest that, to promote nature-based education in schools, it is important to increase schoolteachers’ nature-relatedness and ecological knowledge, as well as to provide more green spaces within schools.
Chinese High Rise Reinforced Concrete Building Retrofitted with CLT Panels
Authors: Contiguglia Carlotta Pia , Pelle Angelo , Lai Zhichao , Briseghella Bruno , Nuti Camillo
Published: September 2021

Cross laminated timber (CLT) panels have been gaining increasing attention in the construction field as a diaphragm in mid- to high-rise building projects. Moreover, in the last few years, due to their seismic performances, low environmental impact, ease of construction, etc., many research studies have been conducted about their use as infill walls in hybrid construction solutions. With more than a half of the megacities in the world located in seismic regions, there is an urgent need of new retrofitting methods that can improve the seismic behavior of the buildings, upgrading, at the same time, the architectural aspects while minimizing the environmental impact and costs associated with the common retrofit solutions. In this work, the seismic, energetic, and architectural rehabilitation of tall reinforced concrete (RC) buildings using CLT panels are investigated. An existing 110 m tall RC frame building located in Huizhou (China) was chosen as a case study. The first objective was to investigate the performances of the building through the non-linear static analysis (push-over analysis) used to define structural weaknesses with respect to earthquake actions. The architectural solution proposed for the building is the result of the combination between structural and architectonic needs: internal spaces and existing facades were re-designed in order to improve not only the seismic performances but also energy efficiency, quality of the air, natural lighting, etc. A full explanation of the FEM modeling of the cross laminated timber panels is reported in the following. Non-linear FEM models of connections and different wall configurations were validated through a comparison with available lab tests, and finally, a real application on the existing 3D building was discussed.
The Concept of a Smart City Communication in the Form of an Urban Mobile Application
Authors: Janoskova Patricia , Stofkova Katarina Repkova , Kovacikova Martina , Stofkova Jana , Kovacikova Kristina
Published: September 2021

The current state of technological progress offers extensive opportunities for the development of urban infrastructure and the construction of Smart Cities, but the city will only become intelligent if it raises the living standards of all citizens in it. The Smart City uses information and communication technologies to improve its functionality and long-term sustainability and to increase the living standards of its citizens. In this context, it is necessary to address the issue of mutual communication between the city and the citizen and its implementation. The aim of the paper is to design a suitable smart solution that would streamline two-way communication between the city and its citizens. This solution is an urban mobile application, which is also a simple and yet sufficiently effective solution for the transformation of cities into Smart Cities. The main benefit is the implementation of research assessing the requirements of the citizens of a particular city for the services and functions that the application should offer. After analysing the results, a specific urban application design was processed using User Interface and User Interface design. The proposal consists of seven consecutive phases. All phases were completed in solving the design and the result can be seen in the resulting interactive prototype, which was finally tested by authors and random users representing all age categories. The results of the prototype usability tests enabled a gradual improvement of the solution, which culminated in the confirmation of its effectiveness.
Impacts of Environmental Certificate and Pollution Abatement Equipment on SMEs’ Performance: An Empirical Case in Vietnam
Authors: Tsai Jung-Fa , Nguyen Phi-Hung , Lin Ming-Hua , Nguyen Duy-Van , Lin Hsu-Hao , Ngo Anh-Tuan
Published: September 2021

Increasing global warming and intensity of disasters recently have made improving environmentally-conscious enterprises pivotal, as well as consumer demand for green products and the achievement of green strategies in some enterprises. This study explores the impact of environmental certificates and the cost of pollution abatement equipment on firm performance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In this research, the linear regression method examines the effect of environmental-related certificates and technology on SMEs’ performance using Stata version 14.0 software. The training dataset comprises 3504 manufacturing SMEs in Vietnam during 2011–2015. The results highlight the positively considerable impacts of environmental-related certificates and the cost of pollution abatement equipment on SMEs’ performance. More importantly, the findings also highlight the excessive availability of pollution abatement equipment and whether it adversely impacts enterprises’ performance. The equipment cost positively impacts firm performance while, at an extreme value, the result shows a negative correlation. Furthermore, this study enriches the current literature on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and suggests SMEs approach and embrace more environmental-related certificates and technology to increase productivity.
Research on the Efficiency of China’s Fiscal Expenditure Structure under the Goal of Inclusive Green Growth
Authors: Wu Yanghong , Zhou Xiaoliang
Published: September 2021

Inclusive Green Growth is a sustainable development mode that pays attention to the coordinated growth of the economy, society, and ecology. With the intensification of the contradiction between fiscal revenue and expenditure, adopting the goal of adjusting the fiscal expenditure structure is conducive to improving the efficiency of fiscal funds. This paper establishes a theoretical model of the efficiency of the fiscal expenditure structure under the goal of Inclusive Green Growth, and on this basis, it constructs an index system of Inclusive Green Growth. Then, it applies a DEA-Malmquist model to analyze the efficiency of the fiscal expenditure structure. The results show that from 2007 to 2018, the growth rate of Inclusive Green Growth index showed a downward trend, which was mainly due to the decline in the growth rate of economic development. It rebounded after 2016, and the growth of the inclusiveness level played a major role. In time and space, the development resources tend to the unbalanced development trend of the eastern region; the average total factor productivity of the fiscal expenditure structure in space is the lowest in the east. The fiscal expenditure should be inclined to social expenditure and green expenditure, the western region should be inclined to economic expenditure, and the allocation of the expenditure structure in the central region should imitate the high-efficiency areas. In order to achieve the comprehensive development goal, this paper provides an analytical idea for the adjustment of the fiscal expenditure structure.
Biodiesel Production Using Modified Direct Transesterification by Sequential Use of Acid-Base Catalysis and Performance Evaluation of Diesel Engine Using Various Blends
Authors: Khan T. M. Yunus , Badruddin Irfan Anjum , Soudagar Manzoore Elahi M. , Khandal Sanjeev V. , Kamangar Sarfaraz , Mokashi Imran , Mujtaba M. A. , Hossain Nazia
Published: September 2021

Biodiesel is a seemingly suitable alternative substitute for conventional fossil fuels to run a diesel engine. In the first part of the study, the production of biodiesel by modified direct transesterification (MDT) is reported. An enhancement in the biodiesel yield with a considerable reduction in reaction time with the MDT method was observed. The required duration for diesel and biodiesel blending was minimized including glycerol separation time from biodiesel in the MDT method. The development in the automotive sector mainly focuses on the design of an efficient, economical, and low emission greenhouse gas diesel engine. In the current experimental work Ceiba pentandra/Nigella sativa and diesel blends (CPB10 and NSB10) were used to run the diesel engine. A variety of approaches were implemented to improve the engine performance for these combinations of fuels. The fuel injector opening pressure (IOP) was set at 240 bar, the torriodal re-entrant combustion chamber (TRCC) having a six-hole injector with a 0.2 mm orifice diameter each, provided better brake thermal efficiency (BTE) with lower emissions compared with the hemispherical combustion chamber (HCC) and trapezoidal combustion chamber (TCC) for both CPB10 and NSB10. CPB10 showed better performance compared with NSB10. A maximum BTE of 29.1% and 28.6% were achieved with CPB10 and NSB10, respectively, at all optimized conditions. Diesel engine operation with CPB10 and NSB10 at 23° bTDC fuel injection timing, and 240 bar IOP with TRCC can yield better results, close to a diesel run engine at 23° bTDC fuel injection timing, and 205 bar IOP with HCC.
Built Infrastructure Conditions Mediate the Relationship between Stakeholders Attributes and Flood Damage: An Empirical Case Study
Authors: Mojtahedi Mohammad , Oo Bee Lan
Published: September 2021

Most of the previous research has tended to focus on the impact of flood characteristics on built infrastructure damage rather than to investigate the condition of the infrastructure and stakeholders’ capacity to manage flood risks. The role of stakeholder attributes, such as the power, legitimacy, and urgency of local governments, in reducing the impact of disasters on built infrastructure remains ambiguous. Stakeholders’ organizational attributes, together with socio-economic and built infrastructure conditions, need to be considered to provide a better understanding of how to reduce disaster risk. The main aim of this research was to empirically investigate the mediating role of socio-economic and infrastructure conditions in the direct relationship between stakeholders’ attributes and economic damage to road infrastructure from flooding. Survey data collected from local governments in New South Wales, Australia and historical data for over 20 years from archive databases were analyzed using structural equation modeling with the partial least squares estimation approach. The results showed that socio-economic and infrastructure conditions have significant mediating effects on the direct relationship between stakeholders’ attributes and flood damage. Engaging stakeholders proactively empowers legitimate stakeholders in urgent conditions, and this is essential to reduce the economic impact of flood disasters and to better manage road infrastructure. Finally, to better manage flood risks, local governments need to improve their capacity of power, legitimacy, and urgency; state and federal governments need to improve the socio-economic conditions of the communities; and the transport infrastructure authorities need to develop long-term solutions for resilient roads and bridges.
Application of Granular and Non-Granular Organic Fertilizers in Terms of Energy, Environmental and Economic Efficiency
Authors: Šarauskis Egidijus , Naujokienė Vilma , Lekavičienė Kristina , Kriaučiūnienė Zita , Jotautienė Eglė , Jasinskas Algirdas , Zinkevičienė Raimonda
Published: September 2021

Granular organic fertilizers have been increasingly used in agriculture due to the longer delivery of nutrients to plants and the milder impact on the environment. The aim of this study was to determine the energy, environmental and economic efficiency of granular and non-granular organic fertilizers. Four technological scenarios of organic fertilizer use were used for comparative assessment: (1) manure fertilization (16.0 t ha−1), (2) manure fertilization (30.0 t ha−1), (3) manure pellet fertilization (2.0 t ha−1), and (4) fertilization with meat and bone meal pellets (0.7 t ha−1). Experimental studies using the mass flow method of laser spectroscopy were performed to evaluate the comparative environmental impact of granular and non-granular organic fertilizers. Economic assessment was performed for mechanized technological operations of loading, transportation and distribution of organic fertilizers, estimating the price of aggregates used and fuel consumed, the costs of individual technological operations and other indirect costs. The results showed that for mechanized technological operations, when fertilizing with granular organic manure and meat and bone meal fertilizer, energy consumption is 3.2 to 4.0 times lower compared to fertilization with manure. The average ammonia (NH3) emissions from granular organic fertilizers were found to be six times lower than from non-granular organic fertilizers. The lowest costs for mechanized works were incurred when using meat and bone meal pellets, the highest economic benefits of organic fertilizers by elements was when using manure 30 t ha−1, and the highest costs for organic fertilizers were incurred when using manure pellets.
Landscape Pattern Evolution Processes and the Driving Forces in the Wetlands of Lake Baiyangdian
Authors: Zhao Cuiping , Gong Jiaguo , Zeng Qinghui , Yang Miao , Wang Ying
Published: September 2021

The spatiotemporal features of land use changes and the evolution process of landscape pattern from 1980 to 2017 were investigated using historical satellite images from a Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) for 1980, 1990, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2017 in the wetlands of Lake Baiyangdian in the North China Plain (NCP). Landscape pattern indices were used to quantify landscape changes in wetlands, and a redundancy analysis (RDA) was conducted to analyze the driving forces and quantitatively explain the effects of human activities and natural changes on wetland fragmentation. The results showed that the total wetland area was 234.4 km2 in 1980 but it decreased by 8.1% at an average decrease rate of 0.5 km2 per year. The dominant transition between land use types was from natural wetlands to artificial wetlands, and wetland conversion to dry land and residential land. The RDA results suggested that agricultural activities and total population were the main driving factors affecting wetland landscape. Additionally, climate change provided a potentially favorable environment for agricultural development, due to the increased temperatures and decreased wind speeds. Additionally, governmental policy changes and dam construction also played the roles in land use changes.
Distribution and Influence on the Microbial Ecological Relationship of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Soil at a Watershed Scale
Authors: Hao Yi-Long , Li Gang , Xiao Zu-Fei , Liu Ning , Azeem Muhammad , Zhao Yi , Xu Yao-Yang , Yu Xin-Wei
Published: September 2021

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are ubiquitous in the environment, with previous studies mainly focusing on the terrestrial ecosystem, which is prone to higher antibiotic application. However, the characteristics, distribution pattern, and driving factors of soil ARGs at the macro scale are still unclear. In this study, the soil ARGs, antibiotics, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), soil properties, toxic metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and bacterial community in the Taipu River Basin were analyzed to investigate the distribution and dissemination of ARGs at a watershed scale. The results revealed that ARGs were widespread in the soils along the Taipu River, and that ARG profiles varied greatly with different types of land use, but showed regional similarities. The characteristics were mainly determined by antibiotic input and the ARG transmission mediated by MGEs. The order of the contribution of environmental factors to ARG distribution was toxic metals > PAHs > soil properties. Toxic metal pollution was coupled with ARGs through MGE mediation, while PAHs and soil properties were most likely to affect the ARG distribution by shifting the bacterial community. The microbial–ecological relationship changed significantly with the enrichment of ARGs, and its impact may extend to the watershed scale. Transposon IS1247 can be used as an indicator of the ARGs impact on the microbial ecological relationship in the soils of the Taipu River Basin.
Structural and Contentual Complexity in Water Governance
Authors: Vannevel Rudy , Goethals Peter L. M.
Published: September 2021

Social-ecological systems and governance are complex systems and crises that affect those systems are likely to be complex as well. Environmental topics are multi-faceted with respect to both structure and content. Structural complexity is about societal and institutional organization and management, whereas contentual complexity deals with environmental (or societal) analyses, knowledge, and problem-solving. Interactions between both are manifold, and it is essential they are included in decision-making. Describing these interactions results in a series of nineteen units, arranged in a matrix according to their prevailing mutual dependencies. These units show dominant processes and concepts, representative of environmental analysis. This approach, called ACCU (aggregation of concepts and complex adapted systems units), is provided with evidence through practices of, in particular, water governance.
How to Restrain Regulatory Capture and Promote Green Innovation in China. An Analysis Based on Evolutionary Game Theory
Authors: Yuan Qiezeng
Published: September 2021

In response to severe environmental challenges, green innovation (GI) has been thoroughly considered by various governments. Although China has promulgated many environmental policies to promote environmental governance, regulatory capture and the lack of independent external supervisors lead to a challenging future. This study employs an evolutionary game method to explore how the policy burden and media affect decision-making between local governments and manufacturing enterprises. On this basis, the simulation method is used to examine critical factors that affect regulatory capture and GI. The results show that the policy burden is the main factor that causes regulatory capture. When the policy burden exceeds a certain threshold, it will cause regulatory capture and hinder GI. Moreover, media, as an external supervisor, can restrain regulatory capture and promote GI significantly. Specifically, when the capacity of media supervision is high enough, due to the positive role of the media, it will inhibit the negative effects of policy burdens. Finally, combined with the different development stages of China’s green industry, the corresponding policy recommendations are given. These results extend the research of regulatory capture and provide a reference for governments to promote environmental governance in practice.
Information Disclosure, Coal Withdrawal and Carbon Emissions Reductions: A Policy Test Based on China’s Environmental Information Disclosure
Authors: Li Nan , Shi Beibei , Kang Rong
Published: September 2021

How to better explore a diversity of emissions reduction paths has become the key to China achieving carbon peak and carbon neutralization goals as well as transforming the existing energy structure as soon as possible. Based on this, from the perspective of information flow, this study used the differences-in-differences method (DID) to identify the “net effect” of the carbon emissions reduction caused by China’s environmental information disclosure. The results showed the following: first, environmental information disclosure could effectively promote regional carbon emissions reductions and had a better effect on the central and western regions and low carbon emissions density regions. Second, the achievement of carbon emissions reduction targets was mainly attributed to the positive impact of information disclosure in the process of “coal withdrawal.” Finally, this study also found that environmental information disclosure helped to promote the positive effect of clean energy development on “coal withdrawal,” and the promotion of public awareness regarding environmental supervision helped to strengthen the external impact of environmental information disclosure on regional carbon emissions reduction.
51 Flavors: Regional Resource Configurations and Foreign Multinational Market Entry in the U.S. Biopharmaceutical Industry
Authors: Santos Roberto S. , Dunlap Denise R.
Published: September 2021

Creating a sustainable regional economy requires not only attracting new local ventures, but also foreign multinationals. In this regard, understanding which resources are influential in market entry decisions is crucial given that there are different resource needs between developed (DMNE) and emerging market (EMNE) multinationals. Answering calls for more neo-configurational studies in the literature, our study uses a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) approach to examine foreign multinational entry decisions in 51 regions of the U.S. We constructed a novel dataset comprised of 3287 foreign firms from 61 countries and territories operating in the biopharmaceutical industry. We find that there are substantial differences in the configuration of resources that attract DMNEs and EMNEs to regions. The resource configurations in our models account for over 80% of the factors influencing DMNE and EMNE market entry location decisions. Some resources played a more important role in these decisions, such as FDI stocks, cluster size, and manufacturing intensity. Our findings show that EMNEs seek out regions with a greater abundance of different resources than DMNEs. This study provides practical implications for firms entering foreign markets as well as for policy makers who want to attract these firms to bolster their regional economic development.
Impact of Digital Strategic Orientation on Organizational Performance through Digital Competence
Authors: Yu Jiatong , Moon Taesoo
Published: September 2021

In the era of the digital economy, enterprises need a comprehensive digital transformation of strategy, business, organization, competence, and operation. However, being limited themselves to the development of digital technology, previous studies mainly focused on the development and application of digital technology, single case studies, and multi-case studies of digital transformation. Few researchers systematically studied the digital transformation mechanism at the organizational level. Therefore, this study explored the relationship between a strategic orientation and organizational performance though digital competence at the organizational level. To accomplish the task, this study basically constructed the dimensions of digital competence according to core competence theory. Digital competence contains three hub-factors: digital infrastructure, digital integration, and digital management. This study collected 160 questionnaires from Chinese enterprises and analyzed the data using SmartPLS 3. This study analyzed the positive relationship between digital strategic orientation, digital competence, and organization performance. This study identified the importance of digital competence through the empirical analysis of enterprises that are undergoing digital transformation or had completed a digital transformation. Therefore, enterprises need to pay attention to the impact of digital competence on organizational performance. Digital competence is a reshaping of corporate resources when facing a turbulent digital environment. Moreover, digital competence can ultimately achieve value delivery through the improvement of enterprise organizational performance.
Students’ Perceptions of Public vs. Private Higher Education Institution Brand Value in Croatia
Authors: Ostojić Martina , Leko Šimić Mirna
Published: September 2021

Due to the transition process in Croatia that started about three decades ago, higher education institutions (HEIs) are forced to intensively involve themselves in market competition and become market and entrepreneurial oriented in order to keep up with new trends in higher education. The branding process in HEIs has become one of the major activities in creating value and gaining market position in many countries, including Croatia. The aim of this study is to provide a deeper insight into and understanding of differences in brand market value perceptions of students of public and private HEIs in Croatia. Altogether, 443 students (242 from a public HEI and 201 from a private HEI) responded to a questionnaire based on Aaker’s model of brand equity, from which a t-test and a correlation analysis showed that the public HEI was significantly better only in the dimension of other proprietary brand assets, while in the private HEI all other dimensions of brand market value were evaluated better. However, brand market value itself was significantly higher in the public sector HEI, mainly due to the perception of “value for money” and functional benefits, i.e., employability. The study identified several factors that need to be taken into account when branding private and public HEIs in Croatia.
Housing Supply Limitations, Land Readjustment and the Ecological Performance of the Urban Landscape
Authors: Kresse Klaas , Krabben Erwin van der
Published: September 2021

Public authorities in developing economies typically have to deal with fiscal stress, lack of resources and an underdeveloped real estate industry. This poses a severe challenge at times of rapid urbanisation. Governments typically react to housing demand shocks by introducing policies that support the real estate market’s capacity to supply housing. One prominent policy in this respect is land readjustment. It has been promoted as a best practice and has been extensively discussed from an efficiency perspective; however, little is known about the ecological performance of the urban landscapes that typically emerge with this tool. Therefore, this study developed an assessment framework that allows discussion of the ecological performance of these neighbourhoods as an outcome of the reciprocal interaction between public sector initiatives and real estate market responses. Based on a LEED ND assessment of the cases of Taipei and Seoul, the research identifies four institutional drivers of ecological costs. First, public agencies tend to neglect the ecological costs of greenfield site developments. Second, public agencies to not employ policies that promoe brownfield developments. Third, a weak public sectors’ negotiating position can result in an ecologically inefficient urban pattern. And finally, the public sector’s construction standardisation policies can impose real estate market limitations and wasteful use of resources in the long run.
Development of Virtual Reality Automotive Lab for Training in Engineering Students
Authors: Hernández-Chávez Macaria , Cortés-Caballero José M. , Pérez-Martínez Ángel A. , Hernández-Quintanar Luis F. , Roa-Tort Karen , Rivera-Fernández Josué D. , Fabila-Bustos Diego A.
Published: September 2021

A Virtual Reality application was developed to be used as an immersive virtual learning strategy for Oculus Rift S Virtual Reality glasses and through Leap Motion Controller™ infrared sensors, focused on students of the Automotive Systems Engineering academic program, as a practical teaching-learning tool in the context of Education 4.0 and the pandemic caused by COVID-19 that has kept schools closed since March 2020. The technological pillars of Industry 4.0 were used to profile students so that they can meet the demands of their professional performance at the industrial level. Virtual Reality (VR) plays a very important role for the production-engineering sector in areas such as design and autonomous cars, as well as in training and driving courses. The VR application provides the student with a more immersive and interactive experience, supported by 3D models of both the main parts that make up the four-stroke combustion engine and the mechanical workshop scenario; it allows the student to manipulate the main parts of the four-stroke combustion engine through the Oculus Rift S controls and the Leap Motion Controller™ infrared sensors, and relate them to the operation of the engine, through the animation of its operation and the additional information shown for each part that makes it up in the application.
Spatial Distribution and Sustainability Implications of the Canadian Groundwater Resources under Changing Climate
Authors: Bhatti Ahmad Zeeshan , Farooque Aitazaz Ahsan , Li Qing , Abbas Farhat , Acharya Bishnu
Published: September 2021

Groundwater availability, utilization, sustainability, and climate change implications were assessed at regional and provincial scales of Canada. It remains an unexplored resource, estimated to be renewing between 380 and 625 km3/year. However, the provinces have initiated developing their quantitative and qualitative databases for their accurate inventory. Sustainable groundwater availability at the national scale was estimated as 19,832 m3/person/year (750 km3/year), with high regional variations ranging from 3949 in the densely populated Prince Edward Island (PEI) province to 87,899 in the thinly populated Newfoundland and Labrador (NFL). It fulfills 82%, 43%, and 14% of water requirements of the rural population, irrigation, and industry, respectively. It is the potable water source for more than 9 million people countrywide (24% of the population), and provinces of Quebec, and Ontario (1.3 million people), and PEI (0.15 million people) particularly depend on it. It is mostly a free or nominally charged commodity, but its utilization was found to be well under sustainable limits (40% of recharge) at the provincial scales, i.e., under 4% for all the provinces except New Brunswick (NB), which also had just 8% extraction of sustainable availability. Nevertheless, localized issues of quantitative depletion and qualitative degradation were found at scattered places, particularly in Ontario and Quebec. Climate change impacts of warming and changing precipitations on groundwater underscored its stability with some temporal shifts in recharge patterns. In general, increased recharge in late winters and springs was observed due to reduced frost and more infiltration, and was somewhat decreasing in summers due to more intense rainfall events.
Bibliometric Literature Analysis of a Multi-Dimensional Sustainable Development Issue: Energy Poverty
Authors: Ulucak Recep , Sari Ramazan , Erdogan Seyfettin , Alexandre Castanho Rui
Published: September 2021

Energy plays a critical role in building a sustainable future—economically, socially, and environmentally. Energy poverty holds a similarly prominent position and covers certain economic, social and environmental issues that are underlined by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Due to its multidimensional role in plans for achieving sustainable development, there is a growing body of literature focusing on various aspects of energy poverty. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of this literature by utilizing more extensive data from the Web of Science, covering all information on energy poverty studies. The analysis reveals how energy poverty has attracted attention over time, who the leading authors are, which studies constitute outstanding contributions to the literature, which different sides of the research topic stand out, and also highlights the potential research gaps. The results reveal all the network flows among researchers, publications, journals, keywords, organizations, co-cited publications, and bibliographic coupling for energy poverty studies. The findings confirm the increasing popularity of energy poverty as a topic and demonstrate the increasing awareness of the issue in academia over time.
Organization’s Sustainable Operational Complexity and Strategic Overview: TISM Approach and Asian Case Studies
Authors: Sushil  , Anbarasan Periyasami
Published: September 2021

As a region, Asia comprises communist China, democratic India and many small quasi-democratic and authoritarian states. Both China and India play a significant role in maintaining multilateral world order. Asia’s regional power remains with its enormous potential of resources for domestic markets and per capita purchasing power parity. Hence, the economic and the business aspects of the Asian region require comprehensive study. Sustainable operational excellence is a notion carried by an organisation’s sustainable economic development and other values. This study incorporates the multiple case study method. Twelve case organisations such as Tata Motors, Samsung, Nissan, Indigo, Mitsubishi, Huawei, Wilmar, Canon, NTPC, Hitachi, Singapore Airlines, and L&T were chosen to study their sustainability values, and operational and strategic strands. TISM (total interpretive structural modelling) method is used for model building; four variables such as operating activities, investing activities, financing activities, and SVE (Social value expenditures) are taken for empirical analysis. Based on the available secondary data, the study incorporated panel data regression analysis. The result shows that SVE positively and significantly explains operational activities that proxy with sustainable business practices. The study concludes with a Paux strategy framework for discussion and managerial implications.
Extending ONTAgri with Service-Oriented Architecture towards Precision Farming Application
Authors: Fahad Muhammad , Javid Tariq , Beenish Hira , Siddiqui Adnan Ahmed , Ahmed Ghufran
Published: September 2021

The computer science perspective of ontology refers to ontology as a technology, however, with a different perspective in terms of interrogations and concentrations to construct engineering models of reality. Agriculture-centered architectures are among rich sources of knowledge that are developed, preserved, and released for farmers and agro professionals. Many researchers have developed different variants of existing ontology-based information systems. These systems are primarily picked agriculture-related ontological strategies based on activities such as crops, weeds, implantation, irrigation, and planting, to name a few. By considering the limitations on agricultural resources in the ONTAgri scenario, in this paper, an extension of ontology is proposed. The extended ONTAgri is a service-oriented architecture that connects precision farming with both local and global decision-making methods. These decision-making methods are connected with the Internet of Things systems in parallel for the input processing of system ontology. The proposed architecture fulfills the requirements of Agriculture 4.0. The significance of the proposed approach aiming to solve a multitude of agricultural problems being faced by the farmers is successfully demonstrated through SPARQL queries.
Effective Mooring Rope Tension in Mechanical and Hydraulic Power Take-Off of Wave Energy Converter
Authors: Nam Ji Woo , Sung Yong Jun , Cho Seong Wook
Published: September 2021

The InWave wave energy converter (WEC), which is three-tether WEC type, absorbs wave energy via moored cylindrical buoys with three ropes connected to a terrestrial power take-off (PTO) through a subsea pulley. In this study, a simulation study was conducted to select a suitable PTO when designing a three-tether WEC. The mechanical PTO transfers energy from the buoy to the generator using a gearbox, whereas the hydraulic PTO uses a hydraulic pump, an accumulator, and a hydraulic motor to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. The hydraulic PTO has a lower energy conversion efficiency than that of the mechanical PTO owing to losses resulting from pipe friction and the individual efficiencies of the hydraulic pumps and motors. However, the efficiencies mentioned above are not the efficiency of the whole system. The efficiency of the whole system should be analyzed considering the tension of the rope and the efficiency of the generator. In this study, the energy conversion efficiencies of the InWave WEC installed the mechanical and hydraulic PTO devices are compared, and their behaviors are analyzed through numerical simulations. The mechanics of mechanical and hydraulic PTO applied to InWave are mathematically expressed, and the issues of the elements constituting the PTO are explained. Finally, factors to consider for PTO selection are presented.
Estimation of the Values of Wooden Materials in Urban Regeneration: The Case of Seoullo in Korea
Authors: Lim Heesun , Eom Chang-Deuk , Ahn Byeong-il
Published: September 2021

The importance of wooden buildings has been highlighted in recent years due to the energy-efficient and carbon storage effect of wood. This study investigates the willingness to pay for one-time tax payments of the citizens currently living in Seoul when Seoullo uses wood as a material for covering the surface of the facilities. The study examines the economic feasibility of Seoullo, which is a part of the government urban regeneration project that built a park on the desolate bridge in 2017. The result indicates that Seoul citizens who participated in the survey feel a greater preference for wood material rather than existing concrete used in Seoullo despite the tax burden. As a result, it is found that the respondents with children under the age of 8, respondents who are aware of the urban regeneration project, and respondents with respiratory disease have a lower marginal willingness to pay than those in the opposite groups. Moreover, the result shows that the respondents who consider farming or returning to rural areas, respondents in need of city improvement, respondents who chose wood as a preferred building material, and respondents with the experience of visiting Seoullo have a greater marginal willingness to pay for the wooden material than those in the opposite groups.