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Abstract
PurposeThis study seeks to develop an Environmental Sustainability Balanced Scorecard (ESBSC) articulated through a strategic map for collaborative implementation by municipalities by municipalities. In addition, it aims to elucidate the architecture of this tool.Design/methodology/approachThe research uses qualitative methodology, initiating with document analysis, followed by municipal-level surveys and an interview with the Norte Portugal Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N).FindingsThe study constructs an ESBSC that adopts an integrative approach to sustainability, focusing on municipal joint action. The tool fosters synergies and enhances cooperation. By incorporating a strategic mix, the tool contributes to improving the environmental management performance of the participating municipalities.Practical implicationsThis study introduces a tool designed for municipalities that aspire to incorporate environmental sustainability into their strategies. This tool facilitates the implementation and management of a long-term environmental strategy, with potential implications for organization and its culture. In addition, it highlights critical environmental factors that should serve as a starting point in future studies or applications of this tool.Social implicationsInvolving both an academic institution and multiple municipalities, this research identifies critical environmental factors that enhance environmental awareness within municipalities and designs a tool that, when consciously adopted, can influence the culture dynamics of the population involved. Furthermore, it proposes a structured and systematic research method for creating an ESBSC for joint municipal action.Originality/valueTo the best of authors' knowledge, this research constitutes the first exploratory attempt to devise an environmental strategy for joint municipal action. Although the tool emphasizes the environmental component, it promotes an integrated vision of sustainability. Despite the extensive application of balanced scorecards in various organizational contexts, their utilization in fostering environmental sustainability at a municipal level remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by developing a tailored strategic tool that operationalizes environmental priorities within municipal governance frameworks.

Abstract
The use of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models for image classification tasks has gained significant popularity. However, the lack of interpretability in CNN models poses challenges for debugging and validation. To address this issue, various explanation methods have been developed to provide insights into CNN models. This paper focuses on the validity of these explanation methods for ordinal regression tasks, where the classes have a predefined order relationship. Different modifications are proposed for two explanation methods to exploit the ordinal relationships between classes: Grad-CAM based on Ordinal Binary Decomposition (GradOBDCAM) and Ordinal Information Bottleneck Analysis (OIBA). The performance of these modified methods is compared to existing popular alternatives. Experimental results demonstrate that GradOBD-CAM outperforms other methods in terms of interpretability for three out of four datasets, while OIBA achieves superior performance compared to IBA.

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Hybrid teaching, which integrates traditional in-person learning based on students' perspectives where online learning offers a flexible approach to education, combines the benefits of technology with face-to-face interactions. Moreover, teaching and learning in a hybrid way met several challenges for both teachers and learners, including technological problems, time management, communication difficulties, and assessment complexities. This systematic review investigates six main research questions: (1) What pedagogical frameworks are used in hybrid teaching and learning? (2) How can we enhance students' engagement in hybrid teaching and learning? (3) What is the impact of technological integration on hybrid learning scenarios, both for students and teachers? (4) How do training and support measures influence the willingness and ability of university teachers to implement hybrid teaching formats? (5) How do formative assessment and feedback methods in hybrid learning environments enable teachers to effectively monitor student progress and provide tailored support? (6) How does the implementation of hybrid learning affect student learning outcomes? This study identifies the following key themes: technological integration, pedagogical innovation, faculty support, student engagement, assessment practices, and learning outcomes. Our contribution of this literature review is related to teaching and learning by showing teachers the most appropriate way to avoid the challenges encountered when teaching in a hybrid way. These include strong technology integration, innovative pedagogical strategies, strong academic development and support, active student engagement, effective assessment practices, and positive learning outcomes.

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Good sleep is crucial for human life. Research has shown that poor-quality sleep is related to several cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Sleep disorders are well categorized, and most of them have defined diagnostic criteria, with level 1 polysomnography being the gold standard. With the increasing use of technology, specifically smartphones, in people’s everyday lives, the search for alternative ways of monitoring sleep disorders or certain sleep parameters has been gaining relevance.

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As competitive and cooperative dynamics gain prominence in games, they present unique opportunities to study player behavior. This paper explores the orientations of different player types, as categorized by Bartle’s Taxonomy, through the lens of a Game With A Purpose (GWAP) called BartleZ. Bartle’s Taxonomy identifies four distinct player types–Achievers, Explorers, Socializers, and Killers. This study delves into how these different types approach competitive and cooperative gameplay, through structured dilemmas in BartleZ. Results with 45 participants, reveal that player orientations significantly influence engagement and decision-making. Achievers balanced both strategies; Explorers favored cooperation; Socializers consistently chose cooperation; and Killers preferred competition but adapted in some contexts. Overall, players leaned toward cooperation early on, with a shift toward competition as complexity increased. Our findings pinpoint the importance of tailoring GWAP mechanics with diverse player motivations, enhancing both engagement and problem-solving effectiveness. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.