bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study on the Efficiency Analysis of Global Terminal Operators Based on the Operation Characteristics
Authors: Jeh Jungwaun , Nam Jungwoo , Sim Minseop , Kim Yulseong , Shin Youngran
Published: January 2022

Shipping and port industries are undergoing rapid environmental changes because of the reorganization of carrier alliances, enlargement of ships, and an increase in global uncertainty. Thus, the sustainable operation of container terminals requires a new assessment of port efficiency and measures to enhance efficient operation. Hence, we classified 21 global terminal operators (GTOs) into stevedore, carrier, and hybrid GTOs based on their operation characteristics and derived a sustainable container terminal operation method using data envelopment analysis efficiency and Malmquist productivity index analysis. The results showed that stevedore GTOs exhibited improved efficiency when the terminal infrastructure was expanded. However, the returns to scale and technical change factors in the productivity change trend decreased. Meanwhile, the objective of carrier GTOs is cost reduction, unlike stevedore and hybrid GTOs, which focus on generating profits. Consequently, carrier GTOs were the most inefficient with little intention to improve efficiency. A systematic efficiency improvement strategy through the acquisition of a terminal share was effective for hybrid GTOs. However, similar to stevedore GTOs, investment in technical change was insufficient for hybrid GTOs. The efficiency analysis we conducted for each operation characteristic is expected to provide useful basic data for establishing efficiency improvement strategies for every GTO.
A Novel Hybrid Sine Cosine Algorithm and Pattern Search for Optimal Coordination of Power System Damping Controllers
Authors: Eslami Mahdiyeh , Neshat Mehdi , Khalid Saifulnizam Abd.
Published: January 2022

This paper presents an effective hybrid optimization technique based on a chaotic sine cosine algorithm (CSCA) and pattern search (PS) for the coordinated design of power system stabilizers (PSSs) and static VAR compensator (SVC)-based controllers. For this purpose, the design problem is considered as an optimization problem whose decision variables are the controllers’ parameters. Due to the nonlinearities of large, interconnected power systems, methods capable of handling any nonlinearity of power networks are preferable. In this regard, a nonlinear time domain-based objective function was used. Then, the proposed hybrid chaotic sine cosine pattern search (hCSC-PS) algorithm was employed for solving this optimization problem. The proposed method employed the global search ability of SCA and the local search ability of PS. The performance of the new hCSC-PS was investigated using a set of benchmark functions, and then the results were compared with those of the standard SCA and some other methods from the literature. In addition, a case study from the literature is considered to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed hCSC-PS for the coordinated design of controllers in the power system. PSSs and additional SVC controllers are being considered to demonstrate the feasibility of the new technique. In order to ensure the robustness and performance of the proposed controller, the objective function is evaluated for various extreme loading conditions and system configurations. The numerical investigations show that the new approach may provide better optimal damping and outperforms previous methods. Nonlinear time-domain simulation shows the superiority of the proposed controller and its ability in providing efficient damping of electromechanical oscillations.
The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Medical Education: A Case Study at a Public University in Romania
Authors: Aivaz Kamer-Ainur , Teodorescu Daniel
Published: January 2022

The spread of COVID-19 in 2020 forced universities around the world to transfer on-site education to a virtual environment. The main goal of this study was to compare the experiences regarding online learning of students in programs that require clinical experiences with those of students in programs that do not require such experiences. The authors hypothesized that the switch to online instruction has affected medical students more profoundly than other students. Using a convenience sample of students at a Romanian university, the researchers explored differences between the two groups related to technical and personal problems, course quality, and instructional strategies used by faculty. The results indicate that medical students who could not participate in clinical experiences were significantly less satisfied with the transition to online learning than students in other programs. One implication of these results is that faculty teaching in medical schools need to improve in three areas related to online course quality: pedagogy, course content, and course preparation.
Zero Tillage, Residue Retention and System-Intensification with Legumes for Enhanced Pearl Millet Productivity and Mineral Biofortification
Authors: Faiz Mukhtar Ahmad , Bana Ram Swaroop , Choudhary Anil Kumar , Laing Alison M. , Bansal Ruchi , Bhatia Arti , Bana Ramesh Chand , Singh Yudh Vir , Kumar Vipin , Bamboriya Shanti Devi , Padaria Rabindra Nath , Khaswan Shanker Lal , Dabas Jai Prakash Singh
Published: January 2022

Pearl millet-based cropping systems with intensive tillage operations prior to sowing have limited sustainable productivity in the low-irrigation conditions of semi-arid farming ecologies, such as those in the north Indian plains. The adoption of improved management practices such as zero tillage with residue retention (ZTR) and diversification with the inclusion of summer pulse crops has the potential to improve cropping system sustainability. Therefore, an experiment was designed to compare two improved management practices, zero tillage (ZT) and ZTR, to conventional tillage (CT), across three pearl millet-based cropping systems: pearl millet–chickpea (PM–CP), PM–CP–mungbean (MB), and PM–CP–forage pearl millet in a two-year experiment. Experimental treatments were compared in terms of pearl millet productivity, mineral biofortification, and greenhouse gas emissions. Results showed a significant increase in pearl millet yield attributes, grain and stover productivity, nutrient uptake, and micronutrient biofortification in the PM–CP–MB cropping system under ZTR relative to other treatment combinations. On-farm evaluation at different locations also showed that the intensification of PM–CP system using summer crops enhanced pearl millet productivity across diverse tillage systems. Overall, zero tillage practices combined with diversified pearl millet-based cropping systems are likely to be management practices, which farmers can use to sustainably maintain or increase cropping system productivity in the various semi-arid areas of the world.
Environmental Knowledge of Participants’ Outdoor and Indoor Physical Education Lessons as an Example of Implementing Sustainable Development Strategies
Authors: Pasek Marcin , Bendíková Elena , Kuska Michalina , Żukowska Hanna , Dróżdż Remigiusz , Olszewski-Strzyżowski Dariusz Jacek , Zając Magdalena , Szark-Eckardt Mirosława
Published: January 2022

(1) Background: The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of physical activity outdoors in nature as part of physical education in schools on the level of knowledge and ecological attitudes. (2) Material and methods: A total of 220 students took part in the study, with 103 of them in the treatment group, which usually practiced outdoor physical education classes, and 117 in the control group, which practiced mainly indoor. The project lasted 21 months, covering the last two years of primary school. The authors used the Children’s Environmental Attitude and Knowledge Scale CHEAKS in this study. The authors sought for an answer to the question of whether bringing a young person closer to nature by participating in a greater number of outdoor physical education lessons results in in-depth environmental knowledge. (3) Results: The appearance of seven statistically significant differences in ecological knowledge in the final study in favor of the group having outdoor physical education lessons proves the cognitively and visually stimulating role of a natural environment for physically active people. The location of physical education lessons turned out to be a much stronger condition for in-depth knowledge than gender, place of residence, parents’ education level, and subjective assessment of the financial satisfaction level. (4) Conclusion: These results are an incentive to further developing the young generation’s contact with nature through outdoor physical education lessons.
Are Coworkers in the Italian Peripheral Areas Performing Better? A Counterfactual Analysis
Authors: Mariotti Ilaria , Di Matteo Dante
Published: January 2022

Coworking spaces are “serendipity accelerators” designed to host creative people and entrepreneurs. While recent literature has started exploring the indirect effects of coworking spaces on the local context, little is still known on how coworking spaces may directly affect the coworkers’ economic performance and wellbeing. Using a novel dataset based on a survey of 326 CWs working in the Italian coworking spaces in 2018, this paper explores the potential economic impact for coworkers, depending on whether a coworking space is localized in a peripheral or an urban area. Through a propensity-score matching approach, we found that being located in a peripheral area for coworkers may represent an opportunity to earn more than working in an urban center. The same holds for the organization coworkers belong to.
The Impact of Technological Developments on Remote Working: Insights from the Polish Managers’ Perspective
Authors: Urbaniec Maria , Małkowska Agnieszka , Włodarkiewicz-Klimek Hanna
Published: January 2022

“Stay at home” orders during the COVID-19 pandemic radically changed the day-to-day operations of many organizations and moved employees from offices to homes. The sudden crisis forced companies to reformulate their operations. Enabling employees to work from home has become a necessity for both business continuity and survival. The unexpected crisis has also proved to be beneficial for some aspects of economic activity. This research focuses on identifying and measuring the benefits of and barriers to remote work from an organizational perspective, as perceived by managerial staff in Poland. We investigate the factors that influence the assessment of the scale of benefits of and barriers to remote working. The study examines the impact of various factors on the benefits of and barriers to remote working, such as a company’s previous experience with remote working, the support provided to employees by the company, the monitoring of remote working effects, and the implementation of new IT tools. These results suggest that the way the company and employees are managed in a crisis, the approach of superiors to the evaluation and control of effects on work, and the adaptation of support to the real needs of employees, all play fundamental roles. The factors examined that influence the perceived benefits of or barriers to remote working from an organization’s perspective contribute to adoption theory.
A Narrative-Driven Role-Playing Game for Raising Flood Awareness
Authors: Spyropoulos Fotios , Trichakis Ioannis , Vozinaki Anthi-Eirini
Published: January 2022

In the framework of a water resources management class in the Technical University of Crete, a narrative-driven role-playing game (RPG) was planned and tested in the classroom, with the intent to raise awareness among the students on how floods can have an impact on the everyday lives of different citizens. During this game, the students had the opportunity to act as different stakeholders. In order to assess the impact of this game on participants’ thoughts of who might be affected by a flood event, two questionnaires were used, one before and one after the game. The results show that there was very positive feedback from the participants on how this RPG helped them realize the different implications a flood event might have on citizens and decision makers. The community-based aspect that was chosen for this RPG implementation showed the difficulties the specific roles would face as single individuals and as a community in general. Using a similar approach can help any stakeholder understand the challenges in a more direct way than with traditional lecturing and presentations.
Analysis of Destination Images in the Emerging Ski Market: The Case Study in the Host City of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games
Authors: Peng Yuanxiang , Yin Ping , Matzler Kurt
Published: January 2022

This study aims to propose a text mining framework suitable for destination image (DI) research based on UGC (User Generated Content), which combines the LDA (Latent Dirichlet Allocation) model and sentiment analysis method based on custom rules and lexicon to identify and analyze the DI in the emerging ski market. The ski resorts in the host city of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games are selected as a case study. The findings reveal that (1) 9 image attributes, out of which two image attributes have not been identified before in winter destination studies, namely beginner suitability and ticketing service. (2) In the past seven snow seasons, the negative sentiment of tourists has shown a continuous downward trend. The positive sentiment has exhibited a slow upward trend. (3) For tourists from destination countries affected by the Winter Olympic Games, the destination image will be improved when the destination meets their expectations. When the destination cannot meet their expectations, the tourists still believe that the holding of the Winter Olympic will enhance the destination’s situation. The theoretical and managerial implications of these findings are discussed.
Ultrasound-Assisted Demineralization Process of Sugarcane Straw and Its Influence on the Further Biomass Conversion
Authors: Santos Daniel , Giacobe Karen , Silva Carolina M. , Saldanha Loisleini F. , Martins Ayrton F. , Flores Erico M. M. , Bizzi Cezar A.
Published: January 2022

Lignocellulosic materials have been considered as an alternative source from which liquid biofuel and fine chemicals can be produced with a moderate environmental impact. However, they can be contaminated with metals, soil, and ash, owing incrustation and corrosion of industrial reactors and pipelines. In this work, the use of ultrasound energy was applied for the removal of metals and nonmetals (Ba, Ca, Mg, Mn, P, S, Si, and Sr) from sugarcane straw. Ultrasound-assisted demineralization (UAD) experiments were carried out in ultrasonic baths in several frequencies (from 25 up to 130 kHz). The following experimental conditions were evaluated: demineralization solution (HNO3, HCl, H2SO4, H2O2, and H2O), H2O2 concentration (from 5 to 30% v v−1), extraction temperature (from 30 to 70 °C), sonication time (from 5 to 45 min), and ultrasound amplitude (from 10 to 70%). Better demineralization efficiencies (66%) were obtained employing an ultrasound bath operating at 25 kHz for 30 min, ultrasound amplitude of 60%, and using a diluted H2O2 solution (15% v v−1) at 70 °C. When the obtained results were compared with those obtained by mechanical stirring (MS, 500 rpm), it was observed that the use of ultrasound energy increased the demineralization efficiency up to 16%. Furthermore, acid hydrolysis was performed to evaluate the influence of US and mechanical stirring in fermentable sugars’ production. The total sugars’ yield (glucose, xylose, and arabinose) increased around 55% for both systems (US and MS). To prove the applicability of the proposed process, some experiments for scaling up were performed using several reaction loads (0.5 to 3 L). An attempt for scaling the proposed process up was well succeeded up to a 3 L load. Therefore, the proposed ultrasound-assisted procedure can be considered as a suitable alternative for high-efficiency demineralization from sugarcane straw.
Decision-Making Procedures and Their Relation to Knowledge Management and Quality Management
Authors: Litvaj Ivan , Ponisciakova Olga , Stancekova Dana , Svobodova Jaroslava , Mrazik Jozef
Published: January 2022

The environment in which managers currently operate is dynamic and turbulent. This fact affects the great complexity and dynamism of changes. Thus, decision-making becomes more complex in the context of sustainability. Decisive decision-making is becoming rare, and the challenge of globalization is increasing. Under its influence, decision-making is no longer deterministic. Decision-making processes prevail in conditions of uncertainty. In this context, there is a very intense need to be acquainted with progressive tools to support decision-making and management and to apply the acquired knowledge in practice. This paper focuses on three related areas. We are talking about knowledge management in connection with the most important contributing element—decision-making with quality management. We deal with the characteristics of the individual areas, defining their mutual relationship on a systemic basis. The paper also points to the necessary connection between theory and practice. More specifically, it points to the practical applications of management to decision-making as a managerial function and, at the same time, related to decision-making in quality management. Subsequently, we define the links to knowledge management with an emphasis on the use of procedures, methods, and knowledge in the decision-making process, which we use in theory and practice in quality management.
Climate Adaptation and Indoor Comfort Improvement Strategies for Buildings in High-Cold Regions: Empirical Study from Ganzi Region, China
Authors: Liu Peng , Zhang Qun , Zhong Kaiyang , Wei Youman , Wang Qing
Published: January 2022

The improvement of building and living conditions in high-cold areas has always been an issue worthy of attention, but there is currently no research using field survey data for evaluation. The Ganzi region, based in the western plateau of China, is a typical example for such a study. Restricted by factors such as natural conditions and economic level, the winter indoor thermal environment of western plateau houses is generally poor. Taking the new residential houses in the Ganzi region as a case study, the authors of this paper conducted field research and analyses. First, the authors analyzed the construction technology and functional layout of the building through thermal environment testing and investigation; second, the authors analyzed the user’s activity path according to the production and lifestyle; thirdly, the authors comprehensively evaluated the indoor thermal comfort through questionnaires and a predicated mean vote (PMV)-predicted percentage dissatisfied (PPD) evaluation model. The research results showed that: (1) the construction technology, functional layout, and temperature distribution of the new residential building were consistent with the user’s activity path, which could effectively improve thermal insulation ability and thermal comfort; (2) compared to the developed eastern regions, the users in the building showed a stronger tolerance and wider acceptable temperature range in the extreme climate environment; and (3) under certain cooperative work conditions, an indoor temperature of 10–14 °C could meet basic thermal environment requirements and thus lower the limits of the standards. The author’s method was proven to be more resilient than current standards in dealing with climate change. Therefore, this research can provide a practical reference for the improvement of peoples’ living conditions and sustainable development in cold regions and other harsh areas.
Searching for New Technology Acceptance Model under Social Context: Analyzing the Determinants of Acceptance of Intelligent Information Technology in Digital Transformation and Implications for the Requisites of Digital Sustainability
Authors: Park Ierei , Kim Donggeun , Moon Jungwook , Kim Seoyong , Kang Youngcheoul , Bae Sangseok
Published: January 2022

Intelligent information technology (IIT) based on AI and intelligent network communication technology is rapidly changing the social structure and the personal lives. However, IIT acceptancefrom various perspectives still requires extensive research. The research question in this paper examines how five factors—psychological, technological, resource, risk perception, and value factors—influence IIT acceptance. Based on an analysis of survey data, it was first found that the acceptance rate of IIT itself was generally very high. Second, in terms of IIT acceptance, among twenty-five predictors, voluntariness (+), positive image of technology (+), performance expectancy (+), relative advantage (+), radical innovation (+), and experience of use (+) were found to have significant effects on the IIT acceptance. Third, in addition to technological factors, psychological factors and risk perception factors also played an important role in individuals’ decisions regarding IIT acceptance.
Statistical Study Based on the Kriging Method and Geographic Mapping in Rigid Pavement Defects in Southern Chile
Authors: Movilla-Quesada Diana , Rojas-Mora Julio , Raposeiras Aitor C.
Published: January 2022

ASTM D6433 is used to assess the need for maintenance of pavement sections. Although the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) factor calculation method provides reliable values, this method analyzes sections and defects individually and indicates current maintenance needs, but it cannot be used to predict the occurrence of new defects. Therefore, it is necessary to complement this method by considering variables that influence the occurrence of faults, among which are the geospatial distribution and the specific characteristics of the slabs. This research focuses on the identification of multiple types of disturbances that exist in Portland Cement Pavements (PCC), located in a high traffic area in the city of Valdivia (Chile). A spatial geostatistical relationship is established through visual inspection using geographical maps, as well as distribution, using the kriging method. This technique makes use of variograms that allow quantifying the parameters used in this study, thus expressing the spatial autocorrelation of the faults analyzed. From the results obtained by spatial geostatistics and kriging, it is possible to generate a data correlation for the distribution and characteristics of the streets considered. In addition, a co-kriging method is established instead of an ordinary kriging method. The relationship between observed and predicted values improved from 0.3327 to 0.5770. The width of the slabs, as well as some streets, is shown in our analysis to be unimportant. For better model accuracy, the number of covariates associated with the type of vehicle traffic, the age and shape of the slabs, and the construction techniques used for the pavement needs to increase.
Spectral and Soil Quality Index for Monitoring Environmental Rehabilitation and Soil Carbon Stock in an Amazonian Sandstone Mine
Authors: Ribeiro Paula Godinho , Martins Gabriel Caixeta , Gastauer Markus , da Silva Junior Ediu Carlos , Santos Diogo Corrêa , Frois Caldeira Júnior Cecílio , Cavalcante Rosane Barbosa Lopes , dos Santos Douglas Silva , Carneiro Marco Aurélio Carbone , Valadares Rafael Borges da Silva , Nascimento Junior Wilson da Rocha , Oliveira Guilherme , Souza Filho Pedro Walfir Martins e , Ramos Silvio Junio
Published: January 2022

Rehabilitation is the key factor for improving soil quality and soil carbon stock after mining operations. Monitoring is necessary to evaluate the progress of rehabilitation and its success, but the use of repeated field surveys is costly and time-consuming at a large scale. This study aimed to monitor the environmental/soil rehabilitation process of an Amazonian sandstone mine by applying spectral indices for predicting soil organic carbon (SOC) stock and comparing them to soil quality index. The studied area has different chronological rehabilitation stages: initial, intermediate, and advanced with 2, 10, and 12 years of onset rehabilitation activities, respectively. Non-rehabilitated (NR) and two native forest areas (RA) were used as controls. Soil samples were analyzed for physical, chemical, and biological attributes. After determination of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Bare Soil Index, simple regression analysis comparing these indices with SOC stock showed a good fit (R2 = 0.82). Rehabilitated areas presented higher soil quality index (~1.50-fold) and SOC stock (~10.6-fold) than NR; however, they did not differ of RA. The use of spectral indices was effective for monitoring the soil quality in this study, with a positive correlation between the predicted SOC stock and the calculated soil quality index.
Proactive Corporate Sustainability via Social Innovation—A Case Study of the Hennes & Mauritz Grand Challenge in Bangladesh
Authors: Tarnovskaya Veronika , Hånell Sara Melén , Tolstoy Daniel
Published: January 2022

The purpose of the study is to explore how a multinational enterprise can use social innovations to drive change and solve grand challenges in an emerging market context. This paper brings market-shaping literature into a sustainability context, particularly by studying the implementation of social innovations in an emerging market context. Specifically, the study involves an in-depth qualitative study of H&M’s fair living wages program in Bangladesh. We find that H&M is tackling utterances of grand challenges revealed by orchestrating social innovation in collaborations with local stakeholders. Social innovation is carried out in ongoing projects involving multiple stakeholders. The study contributes to current literature by revealing that multinational enterprises indeed can use social innovation to drive change in emerging markets, although this requires long-term commitment, an ability and willingness to shape the surrounding business environment, and a prominent standing among key stakeholders.
Postharvest Losses in Quantity and Quality of Pear (cv. Packham’s Triumph) along the Supply Chain and Associated Economic, Environmental and Resource Impacts
Authors: Blanckenberg Anelle , Fawole Olaniyi Amos , Opara Umezuruike Linus
Published: January 2022

Approximately one third of the food produced globally is lost or wasted along the supply chain. Reducing this would be an important measure to increase the global food supply as the world continues the struggle to feed its people sustainably. Not merely a waste of food, these losses also represent a waste of human effort and agricultural inputs from expensive fertilizers to natural resources as well as contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions. Measuring the extent of, and understanding the reasons for, these losses can assist in developing appropriate measures required to prevent or reduce such losses. Therefore, the objective of this research was to quantify postharvest losses in quantity and quality of ‘Packham’s Triumph’ pears at farm and simulated retail levels. Pears were sampled from two farms in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, the largest deciduous fruit production and export region in Southern Africa. The greatest losses measured along the supply chain were on-farm immediately after harvest, with 18% recorded. The main reasons for on-farm losses were small size (65%), deformity (26%), and chafed peel (9%). After 14 days in cold storage (−0.3 ± 0.7 °C, 81.3 ± 4.1% RH), mean pear losses were 0.86% which increased to 1.49% after 28 days. After 10 days of further storage under simulated market conditions (5.4 ± 0.6 °C, 83.7 ± 2.9% RH), fruit losses were 1.52% during retail marketing and 2.09% during export. Storing pears under ambient conditions (25.1 ± 1.3 °C and 46.6 ± 6.0% RH) resulted in a higher incidence of losses, increasing from 0.90 to 1.55 and 2.25% after 3, 7, and 10 days, respectively. The socio-economic impacts of these postharvest losses amounted to financial losses of between ZAR 492 million (USD 34.1 million according to the conversion rate of 14 April 2021) to over ZAR 831 million annually, and this was associated with the loss of 301 million MJ of fossil energy, 69 million m3 of fresh water and contributed to the emission of approximately 19,690 tons of CO2 equivalent. The fresh water lost could sustain 3.7 million individuals daily for a whole year at a daily minimum usage rate of 0.05 m3 per day while it will require planting 0.5 million trees to sink the 19,690 tons GHG emissions of the pear losses (0.039 metric ton per urban tree planted). Decreasing postharvest losses will conserve resources as well as improve food security and nutrition, objectives of the post-2015 sustainable development agenda led by the United Nations.
Resilience of Social-Infrastructural Systems: Functional Interdependencies Analysis
Authors: Yang Zhuyu , Clemente Maria Fabrizia , Laffréchine Katia , Heinzlef Charlotte , Serre Damien , Barroca Bruno
Published: January 2022

Critical infrastructures serve human activities and play an essential role in societies. Infrastructural systems are not isolated but are interdependent with regard to social systems, including those of public health and economic and sustainable development. In recent years, both social and infrastructural systems have frequently been in dysfunction due to increasing natural or human-made disasters and due to the internal and external dependencies between system components. The interconnectedness between social-infrastructural systems (socio-economic systems and technical-infrastructural systems), implies that the damage to one single system can extend beyond its scope. For that reason, cascading dysfunction can occur and increase system vulnerability. This article aims to study the functional interdependencies between social-infrastructural systems and to propose a methodology to analyse and improve the resilience of these systems. Combining Actor Network Theory and the Functional Models approach, the social-infrastructural Interdependence Resilience (SIIR) framework was proposed. To assess the applicability of the approach, the framework was applied to study the interdependence of a social-infrastructural system in the Nantes Metropolis. The studied system was composed of the local Highway Infrastructure (an infrastructural system) and the Emergency Medical Service (a social system). The results (1) show the feasibility of SIIR for investigating the interdependencies of two urban systems, and (2) provide a guideline for decision-makers to improve the functional interdependencies of urban systems.
Sustainable Recovery of Architectural Heritage: The Experience of a Worksite School in San Salvador
Authors: Santini Silvia , Borghese Vittoria , Micheli Mario , Orellana Paz Erick
Published: January 2022

This paper presents the experience of both interdisciplinary and sustainable implementation of an educational construction site for the recovery of the architectural heritage in Central America. Rey Prendes House is representative of one hundred and forty-five houses made of wood, stamped steel sheet, and deployé that are located in the historical center of San Salvador. Its origin is linked to historical events, such as the strong migration of foreigners to El Salvador in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the presidential decrees that encouraged the reconstruction of the city with anti-seismic materials as a result of the earthquakes of 1873 and 1917. More recently, since 2017, Rey Prendes House has been included in the project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. In this paper, the phases of the survey are documented with both materials and degradation analyses, the new design construction with BIM technology for the organization of the educational construction site, the creation of offices and laboratories for restoration and treatments of timber and metal details. Moreover, the study provides a contextual framework with the aim of describing the policies and the projects implemented, highlighting the adopted strategies, the results achieved, and outlining the path followed towards the design solutions for sustainable rehabilitation relating to future use.
The Impact of Green Brand Crises on Green Brand Trust: An Empirical Study
Authors: Li Gen , Sun Xixiang
Published: January 2022

In recent years, brand crises and greenwashing events have become common for Chinese consumers. However, compared to ordinary brands, it is more challenging for green brands to rebuild trust relationships with consumers after a green brand crisis due to their unique energy-saving and environmental protection attributes. The impact mechanism of green brand crises on consumer trust is complicated. To evaluate the different effects of different types of crises, this study used a sample of more than 1000 questionnaires to allow a regressive analysis, robustness test, endogenous test, mechanism test, and heterogeneity analysis. The study’s results show that product functional and value-related crises harm green brand trust, and both brand perceived value and perceived risk play an intermediary role in the mechanism. Brand familiarity plays an essential role in the relationship between the green brand crisis and green brand trust.
Evaluation of Factors Affecting the Transition to a Circular Economy (CE) in Vietnam by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)
Authors: Trần Thảo Việt , Phan Thảo Hương , Lê Anh Thị Trâm , Trần Trang Mai
Published: January 2022

Currently, the transition to a circular economy is becoming a development trend of many countries around the world to cope with climate change and reduce carbon emissions. Vietnam is also one of the countries in the process of taking steps to transition to a circular economy. However, to make a successful transition to a circular economy, citizen participation is essential. Thus, the question is, are people ready to participate in the circular economy? Therefore, this study surveyed 431 people regarding their willingness to participate in the circular economy based on the theory of planned behavior and the structural equation model. The results of empirical research have shown that the factors attention to the environment, and attitude towards intention are the factors that have a strong impact on willingness to participate in the circular economy. Based on the given influencing factors, the authors make some policy suggestions for the Vietnamese government in the transition to a circular economy.
Implementing Design and Operational Measures for Sustainable Mobility: Lessons from Zurich
Authors: Menendez Monica , Ambühl Lukas
Published: January 2022

Increasing mobility and urbanization is important for economic prosperity but leads to higher urban traffic congestion, which is associated with many negative externalities. Therefore, cities are in need of integrative solutions that reduce their transportation network’s spatial and environmental footprint, while maintaining the highest transportation efficiency possible. Focusing on a nontraditional and more sustainable cycle of urban transportation, this paper covers an integrated perspective by describing a combination of individual design and operational measures. To do so, a case study of the city of Zurich is presented, which consistently ranks highly across different indicators, from smart city to sustainability. This paper is therefore a qualitative review of different measures that the city has implemented to become more sustainable. The measures are compared with indicators from the existing literature and classify them into three clusters: (i) measures discouraging private motorized transport, (ii) measures encouraging public transport, and (iii) measures encouraging human-powered mobility. The discussion thereof allows us to integrate the different measures to define a sustainable transportation cycle, which potentially serves as a best-practice example.
Research on Route Deviation Transit Operation Scheduling—A Case Study in Suburb No. 5 Road of Harbin
Authors: Sun Xianglong , Liu Sai
Published: January 2022

Route deviation transit is a flexible “door-to-door” service method that combines the efficiency of conventional public transport modes and the flexibility of demand response modes, meeting the travel needs of people with low travel density and special groups. In this paper, the minimum value of the sum of vehicle operating cost and passenger travel cost was the optimal goal, and the RDT multi-vehicle operation scheduling model was constructed. Taking the available relaxation time as the control parameter of the RDT system and considering the insertion process of the random travel demand of the passengers during the operation process, we used a heuristic search algorithm to solve the scheduling model. This paper took Suburb No. 5 Road of Harbin as an example, using MATLAB to simulate the RDT operation scheduling model to verify the stability and feasibility of the RDT system under different demands. The results showed that under different demand conditions, the system indicators such as passenger travel time, waiting time, and vehicle mileage in the RDT system fluctuated very little, and the system performance was relatively stable. Under the same demand conditions, the per capita cost of the RDT system was 5.9% to 10.8% less than that of the conventional bus system. When the demand ρ is 20~40 person/hour, the RDT system is more effective than the conventional bus for the 5 bus in the suburbs of Harbin.
Global Forest Types Based on Climatic and Vegetation Data
Authors: Xu Chen , Zhang Xianliang , Hernandez-Clemente Rocío , Lu Wei , Manzanedo Rubén D.
Published: January 2022

Forest types are generally identified using vegetation or land-use types. However, vegetation classifications less frequently consider the actual forest attributes within each type. To address this in an objective way across different regions and to link forest attributes with their climate, we aimed to improve the distribution of forest types to be more realistic and useful for biodiversity preservation, forest management, and ecological and forestry research. The forest types were classified using an unsupervised cluster analysis method by combining climate variables with normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data. Unforested regions were masked out to constrict our study to forest type distributions, using a 20% tree cover threshold. Descriptive names were given to the defined forest types based on annual temperature, precipitation, and NDVI values. Forest types had distinct climate and vegetation characteristics. Regions with similar NDVI values, but with different climate characteristics, which would be merged in previous classifications, could be clearly distinguished. However, small-range forest types, such as montane forests, were challenging to differentiate. At macroscale, the resulting forest types are largely consistent with land-cover types or vegetation types defined in previous studies. However, considering both potential and current vegetation data allowed us to create a more realistic type distribution that differentiates actual vegetation types and thus can be more informative for forest managers, conservationists, and forest ecologists. The newly generated forest type distribution is freely available to download and use for non-commercial purposes as a GeoTIFF file via doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.19197.90082).
Implications of Mediated Market Access—Exploring the Nature of Vertical Relationships within the Croatian Wine Industry
Authors: Katunar Jana , Mrak Marija Kaštelan , Zaninović Vinko
Published: January 2022

The aim of this research was to provide a better understanding of factors influencing the performance of (small) agricultural producers. Considering the importance of agricultural producers, not just for maintaining a steady supply of products but also for the preservation of the population (and cultural tradition) of rural areas, the development of sustainable agricultural business is a matter of public interest. This paper considers wine producers and their market channels, i.e., the factors influencing the relationship between wine producers and market intermediaries, by applying ideas taken from agency theory. We developed a conceptual model with our defined measure of agency costs as the mediator variable between multiple regressors and the firms’ financial and non-financial performance as regressions. We used the approach of Baron and Kenny to investigate whether agency costs act as a mediator variable. The data needed to test the proposed conceptual model were collected through questionnaires and contextual interviews with the Croatian wine producers (n = 124). We found that more self-reliance in the distribution process, supported by factors related to the bargaining strength, had a positive influence on wine producers’ performance. The results also support the assumption that agency costs act as a full mediator variable between a producer’s attributes and its performance.
The Mediating Role of Policy-Related Factors in the Relationship between Practice of Waste Generation and Sustainable Construction Waste Minimisation: PLS-SEM
Authors: Mohammed Musa , Shafiq Nasir , Al-Mekhlafi Al-Baraa Abdulrahman , Rashed Ehab Farouk , Khalil Mohamed Hassan , Zawawi Noor Amila , Muhammad Abubakar , Sadis Aminu Mubarak
Published: January 2022

As the construction industry grows, it produces large volumes of construction waste, which has a tremendous environmental impact and generates public concern in the neighbouring towns. The construction industry generates a significant volume of waste and faces a challenge with poor construction waste minimisation in order to prevent adverse environmental and dumping impacts worldwide. In developing countries, regional waste management systems have increased problems. Environmental pollution (air, water, and soil) and human health issues are caused by waste produced in a country as a result of different cultural, social, and religious activities. Prior studies were reviewed to choose dimensions and items for the data gathering instrument. A pilot test was conducted to identify potential questionnaire adjustments, and hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling (SEM). A total of 220 Malaysian construction professionals answered the survey, which yielded the results. Five hypotheses have direct correlations based on the findings, three of which have a significant effect. Furthermore, the findings reveal that policy-related factors mediate the relationship between improving factors and sustainable construction waste minimisation. In contrast, they did not mediate the relationship between current practices/generation and sustainable construction waste management. The established framework can help improve construction waste management and help achieve global sustainable development goals. The data reveal that adopting preventive plans to reduce construction waste is one of the most important aspects of enhancing profitability. This study could aid construction industry players in evaluating waste management components during the construction and design stages of a building project.
Investigating Predictors of Public- and Private-Sphere Sustainable Behaviors in the Context of Agritourism
Authors: Brune Sara , Knollenberg Whitney , Stevenson Kathryn , Barbieri Carla
Published: January 2022

Encouraging sustainable behaviors regarding food choices among the public is crucial to ensure food systems’ sustainability. We expand the understanding of sustainable behavioral change by assessing engagement in local food systems (LFSs) in the context of agritourism experiences. Using theory of planned behavior (TPB) and personal norms, we conducted pre–post-surveys at agritourism farms to measure the impact of changes in the TPB behavioral antecedents as predictors of the following behavioral intentions regarding LFS engagement: (1) purchasing local food (private-sphere behavior), (2) increasing monthly budget to purchase local food (private-sphere behavior) and (3) advocating for local food (public-sphere behavior). Our findings indicate that strategies to encourage LFS engagement should seek to activate moral considerations that can motivate action across private and public behaviors, which applies to various demographic groups. To stimulate collective action, strategies should target subjective norms specifically (e.g., encouraging social interaction around local food), while strategies encouraging private behaviors should focus on easing perceived barriers to buying local food (e.g., promoting local food outlets). As agritourism experiences effectively modify the three above-mentioned behavioral antecedents, we advocate for holistic experiences that provide opportunities for deeper engagement with local food, stimulate the senses, and facilitate social interaction around LFSs.
Retrofitting Existing Buildings to Improve Energy Performance
Authors: Sharma Sunil Kumar , Mohapatra Swati , Sharma Rakesh Chandmal , Alturjman Sinem , Altrjman Chadi , Mostarda Leonardo , Stephan Thompson
Published: January 2022

Energy-efficient retrofits embrace enhancement of the building envelope through climate control strategies, employment of building-integrated renewable energy technologies, and insulation for a sustainable city. Building envelope improvements with insulation is a common approach, yet decision-making plays an important role in determining the most appropriate envelope retrofit strategy. In this paper, the main objective is to evaluate different retrofit strategies (RS) through a calibrated simulation approach. Based on an energy performance audit and monitoring, an existing building is evaluated on performance levels and improvement potentials with basic energy conservation measures. The considered building is experimentally monitored for a full year, and monitoring data are used in calibrating the simulation model. The validation of the base model is done by comparing the simulation analysis with the experimental investigation, and good agreement is found. Three different retrofit strategies based on Intervention of minor (RS1), Moderate (RS2), and Major (RS3) are analyzed and juxtaposed with the base model to identify the optimal strategy of minimizing energy consumption. The result shows that total energy intensity in terms of the percentage reduction index is about 16.7% for RS1, 19.87 for RS2, and 24.12% for RS3. Hence, RS3 is considered the optimal retrofit strategy and is further simulated for a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and payback investigation. It was found that the annual reduction in CO2 emissions of the building was 18.56%, and the payback period for the investment was 10.6 years.
Expanded (Black) Cork for the Development of an Eco-Friendly Surfboard: Environmental Impact and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Correia José M. D. , Serra Gabriel F. , Alves de Sousa Ricardo J. , Pereira António B. , Fernandes Fábio A. O.
Published: January 2022

Based on global needs for sustainable development, finding new sustainable materials that can replace oil-based ones for mass products is crucial nowadays. This paper focuses on employing an expanded cork-based composite to produce a surfboard. To evaluate the mechanical properties, uniaxial tensile and compression tests were performed on the skin and core materials, respectively. Bending tests were performed on the entire representative composite structure. Numerical models of the tests were arranged and validated from experimental results. From that, a surfboard prototype model was used to simulate some experimental conditions, permitting us to draw promising conclusions. An actual prototype was also produced. It was found that expanded cork performs very well when sandwiched between wood and polyester resin/glass fibre, being able to hold substantial loads and at the same time reduce weight and the environmental footprint of the composite by 62.8%. It can be concluded that expanded cork is an excellent candidate to replace oil-based foams in surfboard manufacturing. Despite a slight increase in weight, this sustainable material aligns with all the philosophies of surf practice worldwide.