bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Explaining Effects of Transformational Leadership on Teachers’ Cooperative Professional Development through Structural Equation Model and Phantom Model Approach
Authors: Kang Woonsun
Published: October 2021

This study aims to explore strategies for promoting Korean teachers’ cooperative professional development in the context of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). To this end, this study aimed to provide empirical evidence that may help in explaining the mechanism through which transformative leadership affects cooperative professional development. Based on research purposes, the author constructed a serial multiple mediation model that incorporates self-efficacy and attitudes as an underlying mechanism that explains transformational leaders’ positive impact on cooperative professional development related to ESD. A total of 203 valid cases were used to test the hypothesized model. Furthermore, the author constructed structural equation modeling (SEM) and phantom models specifying the specific indirect effects of transformative leadership on cooperative professional development. In addition, bias-corrected bootstrapped point estimates for the specific indirect effects were calculated. The data were analyzed using SPSS Ver. 25.0 and AMOS Ver. 26.0. The findings strongly supported predictive links among transformational leadership, self-efficacy in ESD teachers’ attitudes toward ESD, and cooperative professional development. Therefore, findings provided greater insight into transformational leadership and ESD research and revealed mechanisms through which transformational leadership works in the ESD contexts. Finally, the major findings were discussed to encourage teachers to participate in cooperative professional development.
An Anonymous Certificateless Signcryption Scheme for Secure and Efficient Deployment of Internet of Vehicles
Authors: Ullah Insaf , Khan Muhammad Asghar , Alsharif Mohammed H. , Nordin Rosdiadee
Published: October 2021

Internet of Vehicles (IoV) is a specialized breed of Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANETs) in which each entity of the system can be connected to the internet. In the provision of potentially vital services, IoV transmits a large amount of confidential data through networks, posing various security and privacy concerns. Moreover, the possibility of cyber-attacks is comparatively higher when data transmission takes place more frequently through various nodes of IoV systems. It is a serious concern for vehicle users, which can sometimes lead to life-threatening situations. The primary security issue in the provision of secure communication services for vehicles is to ensure the credibility of the transmitted message on an open wireless channel. Then, receiver anonymity is another important issue, i.e., only the sender knows the identities of the receivers. To guarantee these security requirements, in this research work, we propose an anonymous certificateless signcryption scheme for IoV on the basis of the Hyperelliptic Curve (HEC). The proposed scheme guarantees formal security analysis under the Random Oracle Model (ROM) for confidentiality, unforgeability, and receiver anonymity. The findings show that the proposed scheme promises better security and reduces the costs of computation and communication.
Nexus between Household Energy and Poverty in Poorly Documented Developing Economies—Perspectives from Pakistan
Authors: Shahid Iftikhar , Ullah Kafait , Khan Atif , Ahmed Muhammad , Dawood Muhammad , Miller Clark , Khan Zafar
Published: October 2021

The indicators measuring socioeconomic wellbeing, such as the human development index (HDI) and multi-dimensional poverty indicator (MPI), recognize energy as an important resource for human development. However, energy did not find due weight in determining HDI or MPI, except as a fractional contributor to MPI calculations. This study presents a regression model to establish an energy–poverty nexus in Pakistan, utilizing a real-world dataset. Defining poverty in terms of per-capita income (PCI), the proposed model incorporates education-based parameters along with the energy-dependent indicators linked to households in Pakistan. The data aggregated at districts level are extracted from the Census 2017 campaign, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Statistical analyses indicate that energy-based identifiers correlate well with the PCI and augment the education-only model, capturing 94% variability in PCI vs. 78% for the education-only model. The study highlights the criticality of relevant data collection and data-driven planning in Pakistan for creating synergy in energy planning and poverty alleviation programs and provides recommendations for considering energy as an important and integral contributory factor in the human development index (HDI).
A Systematic Literature Review of Indices for Energy Poverty Assessment: A Household Perspective
Authors: Siksnelyte-Butkiene Indre
Published: October 2021

Both developed and developing countries face energy poverty issues today. The growing interest over the last few years at the scientific level demonstrates the importance of the problem. It was a practice for many years to measure energy poverty by calculating the economic single indicators. In recent years, this practice was increasingly criticized and new, more comprehensive indices were developed. Review and analysis of indices developed can help scholars to dig deep into the specific aspects of the problem. The paper aims to review the indices for energy poverty assessment from households’ perspectives and to provide the main insights into the indicators selection process by providing the set of indicators for sustainable energy poverty assessment. The literature search and analysis follows the SALSA (Search, Appraisal, Synthesis and Analysis) and the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodologies. The literature search was carried out in the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database. The search covered the period 1994–2020. Thirty-four developed indexes for energy poverty were identified for assessment. In order to measure the most important dimensions and to reflect the modern concept of the energy poverty, the paper proposes a set of indicators for sustainable energy poverty assessment.
Evaluation and Interpretation of Tourist Satisfaction for Local Korean Festivals Using Explainable AI
Authors: Oh Hoonseong , Lee Sangmin
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we propose using explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques to predict and interpret the effects of local festival components on tourist satisfaction. We use data-driven analytics, including prediction, interpretation, and utilization phases, to help festivals establish a tourism strategy. Ultimately, this study aims to identify the most significant variables in local tourism strategy and to predict tourist satisfaction. To do so, we conducted an experimental study to compare the prediction accuracy of representative predictive algorithms. We then built a surrogate model based on a game theory-based framework, known as SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), to understand the prediction results and to obtain insight into how tourist satisfaction with local festivals can be improved. Tourist data were collected from local festivals in South Korea over a period of 12 years. We conclude that the proposed predictive and interpretable strategy can identify the strengths and weaknesses of each local festival, allowing festival planners and administrators to enhance their tourist satisfaction rates by addressing the identified weaknesses.
Modeling and Investigation of Blade Trailing Edge of Vertical Axis Offshore Wind Turbine
Authors: Pan Lin , Zhu Ze , Shi Zhaoyang , Wang Leichong
Published: October 2021

In this study, the structure of the trailing edge of the vertical axis offshore wind turbine blade is modified. First, according to the method of parameterization, the offshore wind turbine model is established, and a series of characteristics of the offshore wind turbine are obtained. Second, we add flaps with different lengths to the trailing edge of NACA0021 airfoil to obtain different dynamic characteristics. The angle of the additional trailing edge flaps is modified. Finally, a simulation model for the modified airfoil of the vertical axis offshore wind turbine is reestablished, and the variable characteristics of the performance is studied. Through the optimization and analysis of the blade structure, this study has obtained the best parameters of the length and angle of the offshore wind turbine blade trailing edge flap. The optimization of the blade structure changes the flow field around the blade, which significantly improves the maximum wind energy capture rate and self-starting ability of the vertical axis offshore wind turbine.
Smart City Taxi Trajectory Coverage and Capacity Evaluation Model for Vehicular Sensor Networks
Authors: Naseer Salman , Liu William , Sarkar Nurul I. , Shafiq Muhammad , Choi Jin-Ghoo
Published: October 2021

In a smart city, a large number of smart sensors are operating and creating a large amount of data for a large number of applications. Collecting data from these sensors poses some challenges, such as the connectivity of the sensors to the data center through the communication network, which in turn requires expensive infrastructure. The delay-tolerant networks are of interest to connect smart sensors at a large scale with their data centers through the smart vehicles (e.g., transport fleets or taxi cabs) due to a number of virtues such as data offloading, operations, and communication on asymmetric links. In this article, we analyze the coverage and capacity of vehicular sensor networks for data dissemination between smart sensors and their data centers using delay-tolerant networks. Therein, we observed the temporal and spatial movement of vehicles in a very large coverage area (25 × 25 km2) in Beijing. Our algorithm sorts the entire city into different rectangular grids of various sizes and calculates the possible chances of contact between smart sensors and taxis. We further calculate the vehicle density, coverage, and capacity of each grid through a real-time taxi trajectory. In our proposed study, numerical and spatial mining show that even with a relatively small subset of vehicles (100 to 400) in a smart city, the potential for data dissemination is as high as several petabytes. Our proposed network can use different cell sizes and various wireless technologies to achieve significant network area coverage. When the cell size is greater than 500 m2, we observe a coverage rate of 90% every day. Our findings prove that the proposed network model is suitable for those systems that can tolerate delays and have large data dissemination networks since the performance is insensitive to the delay with high data offloading capacity.
Improving the Early Properties of Treated Soft Kaolin Clay with Palm Oil Fuel Ash and Gypsum
Authors: Al-hokabi Abdulmajeed , Hasan Muzamir , Amran Mugahed , Fediuk Roman , Vatin Nikolai Ivanovich , Klyuev Sergey
Published: October 2021

Soft soil problems and increased production of fuel waste have emerged due to world population growth. These two problems are prompting engineers to introduce new methods of using waste fuel to stabilize the soil. Previous research has shown clear sustained improvements in soil properties using palm oil fuel ash (POFA) when mixed with a calcium-based binder such as NaCl, lime or cement. The use of such a stabilizing agent can reduce the economic problems associated with reducing the cost of waste disposal and create a sustainable ecological system. It is an alternative method of replacing part of the soil to ensure a balance between economic growth and ecological privilege, leading to the achievement of green technology goals. However, this research is aimed at improving the properties of processed soft kaolin clay with a combination of POFA and gypsum. The physical and mechanical properties of all samples were tested. The results showed a decrease in the specific gravity with the addition of POFA and an increase with gypsum alone, as well as a decrease with a mixture of POFA and gypsum and a decrease in the soil plasticity index due to a better increase in the plasticity limit compared to the liquid limit. This is considered a sign of improved geotechnical properties and reduced linear shrinkage. It was also shown that the treated clay showed an increase in the optimal water content and a drop in the maximum dry density. Nevertheless, it can be concluded that the initial properties of the processed soft kaolin clay with the addition of POFA can be significantly improved.
Determinant Factors for Throwing in Competition in Male Elite Handball
Authors: Tuquet Jaime , Lozano Demetrio , Antunez Antonio , Larroy Juan , Mainer-Pardos Elena
Published: October 2021

The aims of this study were to define determinant factors that affected throwing actions used to score goals in handball, and to study the effectiveness of throwing actions and their relationships with different factors during their use, such as: the throwing distance, type of arm build, type of throw, whether it is done while jumping or while supported, the last supporting foot and the previous step cycle, as well as their relationship with the final score of the game in elite male handball competitions. A total of 1049 shots from 24 matches in the 2018/19/20 International Men’s Handball Championship were analysed. The results show that distance is relevant in the effectiveness of throwing, setting the build up, throwing while supported or jumping, the type of throwing, the type of steps cycle used and the supporting foot. This seems to indicate that the determining factor that affects a throw is distance.
Strengthen the Security Management of Customer Information in the Virtual Banks of Hong Kong through Business Continuity Management to Maintain Its Business Sustainability
Authors: Chen Haosheng , Tse Daniel , Si Pengfei , Gao Gefei , Yin Chang
Published: October 2021

This article looks at studies on how to use business continuity management for Hong Kong’s virtual banks in order to reduce customer information risks, so as to maintain business sustainability. Firstly, the development of virtual banks in Hong Kong were investigated, the laws and regulations and regulatory policies of Hong Kong and the Mainland were benchmarked, and the main risks that may occur and be harmful to the bank business sustainability were analyzed. Considering the characteristics of virtual banks, the main concerns of public customers about the IT risks of virtual banks through questionnaire surveys were collected and analyzed. Moreover, the importance of business continuity management to virtual banks was drawn. Secondly, in the case studies, via understanding the overall situation of WeBank, its performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the regulations of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the practice standards of virtual banks in business continuity management were further clarified. At the end, three suggestions for virtual banks in Hong Kong were put forward to reduce customer information security risks through business continuity management, thereby maintaining its business sustainability.
Investigating the Environmental Impacts of Construction Projects in Time-Cost Trade-Off Project Scheduling Problems with CoCoSo Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Method
Authors: Banihashemi Sayyid Ali , Khalilzadeh Mohammad , Zavadskas Edmundas Kazimieras , Antucheviciene Jurgita
Published: October 2021

Currently, construction projects have a significant share in environmental pollution. Usually, the employers and managers of construction projects pay attention to the project implementation with the shortest duration and the lowest cost, whereas less attention is paid to the environmental effects of the implementation of projects. Sustainable development requires the planning and implementation of construction projects, taking environmental impacts, along with other factors, into account. Few studies have investigated the balancing time, cost, and environmental effects. Although the selection of an execution method for the project activity requires the use of decision-making methods, these methods have not been used in the project scheduling problems. This study seeks to simultaneously minimize the project time, cost, and environmental impacts. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the environmental impact of project activities in three physical, biological, and social aspects throughout the construction projects, and to attempt to minimize them as measurable values. In this paper, the environmental effects of an urban water supply construction project as a real case study are assessed in different activity execution modes by the Leopold matrix and the best execution mode of each project activity is selected using the CoCoSo (combined compromise solution) multi-criteria decision-making method, considering the time–cost-environmental impact trade-off. The CoCoSo method is employed because of its high flexibility compared to other multi-criteria decision-making methods. The results of this study will direct managers and stakeholders of construction projects to pay more attention to the environmental effects of construction project activities, together with the other conventional project goals and objectives, such as the time and cost.
An Augmented Reality Symbiosis Software Tool for Sustainable Logistics Activities
Authors: Sidiropoulos Vasileios , Bechtsis Dimitrios , Vlachos Dimitrios
Published: October 2021

Augmented Reality (AR) is an emerging technology in the Industry 4.0 and Logistics 4.0 contexts with an important role in man–machine symbiosis scenarios. Practitioners, although already acquainted with AR technology, are reluctant to adopt AR applications in industrial operations. This stems from the fact that a direct connection that is important for the management of sustainability goals is missing. Moreover, such a connection with economic, social, and environmental sustainability parameters sparsely appears in the AR literature. The proposed research, on one hand, presents an innovative architecture for a stable and scalable AR application that extents state-of-the-art solutions and, on the other hand, attempts to study AR technology within the framework of a sustainable business strategy. The developed system utilizes the Robot Operating System (ROS) alongside an AR mobile application to present an employee navigation scenario in warehouses and production lines. ROS is responsible for mapping the industrial facility, while the AR mobile application identifies the surrounding environment, along with a Real-Time Location System localizes employees in the facility. Finally, ROS identifies the shortest path between the employee and the destination point, while the AR mobile application presents the virtual path for reaching the destination.
Comparative Study of Oscillating Surge Wave Energy Converter Performance: A Case Study for Southern Coasts of the Caspian Sea
Authors: Amini Erfan , Asadi Rojin , Golbaz Danial , Nasiri Mahdieh , Naeeni Seyed Taghi Omid , Majidi Nezhad Meysam , Piras Giuseppe , Neshat Mehdi
Published: October 2021

The search for renewable energy supplies for today’s global energy demand, particularly ocean wave energy for coastal areas, has become undeniably widespread in the last two decades. The Caspian Sea represents an immense opportunity for using ocean renewable energy, especially considering its long shoreline. In this study, the locations with maximum potential wave energy were chosen in the central, eastern, and western zones of the Caspian Sea’s southern coasts. Accordingly, the wave and bathymetric data were used as the input to calculate the oscillating surge wave energy converter’s flap geometric dimensions based on previous studies. Then, the geometric model was designed, and then the wave energy converters were modeled in the Wave Energy Converter Simulator (WEC-Sim) module in the MATLAB software. Furthermore, eight models in each sea state were simulated to find the best value of the PTO damping coefficient, which led to the highest capture factor. Finally, all the external forces on the WEC’s flap and the converter’s power output results were compared, taking into account the effects of the flap height on the total power output. It was found that Nowshahr port has more potential than the Anzali and Amirabad ports, as the converter’s absorbed power proved to be 16.7 kW/m (Capture factor = 63%) at this site. Consequently, by conducting a comparative analysis between the selected sites, the excitation, radiation damping, and power take-off forces were scrutinized. The results show that the highest applied forces to the converter’s flap occurred at Nowshahr port, followed by the Anzali and Amirabad ports, due to the directional characteristics of the waves at the central coasts of the Caspian Sea.
Co-Creating a “Sustainable New Normal” for Social Work and Beyond: Embracing an Ecosocial Worldview
Authors: Powers Meredith , Rinkel Michaela , Kumar Praveen
Published: October 2021

We have an opportunity to help shape new systems and structures that redress injustices and course correct us for a trajectory that is infinitely better than the one on which we are now set. We can co-create a sustainable new normal, intentionally and mindfully, alongside those who are most impacted by factors of oppression, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Such a new trajectory would mitigate both the unintentional harm and blatant atrocities done to people and our ecosystem, as well as heal and promote holistic, mutual well-being. Since the dawn of the profession, many social workers have practiced using an expanded understanding of the person–environment framework (i.e., social, political, economic, and environmental) and have drawn upon Indigenous worldviews. However, our current mainstream professional models are entrenched in the growth ideology, which perpetuates the very injustices that we seek to eliminate. Therefore, we need to embrace an ecosocial worldview, shifting conversations and actions towards alternative approaches and establish new policies and practices. In order to equip the profession to meet these roles and responsibilities and address these interwoven injustices, we highlight examples of real, successful alternatives implemented across the globe and pose considerations for re-envisioning and co-creating a sustainable new normal, for the profession and beyond.
Differences in Attitude to Corporate Social Responsibility among Generations
Authors: Titko Jelena , Svirina Anna , Tambovceva Tatjana , Skvarciany Viktorija
Published: October 2021

The purpose of the study is to investigate the employees’ attitudes to CSR practices and reveal the differences in staff perceptions within different groups of responadents. The tasks to be accomplished are: (1) to investigate the differences of CSR perception between males and females; (2) to investigate the differences of CSR perception among representatives of different generations; (3) to investigate the differences of CSR perception among representatives of different sectors of the economy. The online survey was conducted using the authors’ developed research instrument (questionnaire). In total, 129 respondents—employed Latvian citizens—participated in the survey. To assess the influence of age, gender, and other control characteristics in the sample, the authors implemented regression-based moderation analysis in the SPSS environment. The analysis indicated the moderating role of gender in the perception of corporate social responsibility, which appeared to be strong, especially in terms of leveraging business honesty, as a predictor. The sector, too, appeared to be a moderator, though it was much less statistically significant than gender. On the other hand, generation appeared to be an independent and significant predictor of corporate social responsibility perception itself, while its moderating effect was insignificant. The findings in the paper support existing literature in terms of moderating the role of gender, as outlined previously; yet, this research estimated that males value corporate social responsibility higher than females, while our results estimate the opposite. Our research revealed that age (generation) is a significant factor, which defines a personal attitude towards corporate social responsibility, i.e., the older generation values CSR higher than the youngsters. We have not found any correlation between the economic sector and corporate social responsibility perception.
Seaweed Aquaculture in Indonesia Contributes to Social and Economic Aspects of Livelihoods and Community Wellbeing
Authors: Rimmer Michael A. , Larson Silva , Lapong Imran , Purnomo Agus Heri , Pong-Masak Petrus Rani , Swanepoel Libby , Paul Nicholas A.
Published: October 2021

Seaweed farming in Indonesia is carried out throughout much of the archipelago and is mainly undertaken by smallholder farmers. Indonesia is the largest global producer of the red seaweeds Kappaphycus and Eucheuma, which are used to produce carrageenan, and is a major producer of Gracilaria, which is used to produce agar. Seaweed farming is attractive to farmers in rural coastal communities because capital and operating costs are low, farming techniques are not technically demanding, labour requirements are relatively low (allowing farmers to engage in other livelihoods), and production cycles are short (30–45 days), providing regular income. Using reported values for seaweed-farming income, we conclude that seaweed farming can, but does not always, lift rural households above the Indonesian poverty line. In addition to direct financial benefits, seaweed farming also contributes to human and social capital within seaweed farming households and communities. Achieving continued economic and social benefits from seaweed farming will require additional policy development, as well as research and development to support improved and more consistent seaweed productivity and improved product quality at the farm level, provision of effective extension and technical support services, and diversification of the existing value chains in order to reduce the impacts of price fluctuations that are associated with limited global commodity chains.
The Fit between Technology Management and Technological Capability and Its Impact on New Product Development Performance
Authors: Ma Qian , Wu Weiwei , Liu Yexin
Published: October 2021

In recent years, the impact of technology management and technological capability on new product development performance has aroused widespread concern. As a result, research models based on the notion of fit between technology management and technological capability seems to show promise. This paper aims to whether there exists a fit between technology management and technological capability and the effect of this fit on new product development performance. Research results show that the fit between technology management and technological capability has a positive effect on new product development performance. Moreover, the fit between technology management and technological capability in firms with high new product development performance is dominated by technological capability, while that in firms with low new product development performance is dominated by technology management.
A Survey-Based Study of Students’ Expectations vs. Experience of Sustainability Issues in Architectural Education at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland
Authors: Brzezicki Marcin , Jasiolek Agata
Published: October 2021

Sustainability is currently one of the biggest concerns in the field of architecture and civil engineering. The presented study elaborates on the students’ expectations vs. experience of sustainable and ecological design in their architectural education. Students were surveyed after the interdisciplinary Hybrid Factory Design (HFD) course carried out at the Faculty of Architecture WUST, Poland. Respondents were asked to anonymously fill in a two-part online questionnaire in the last week of the summer semester of the academic year 2020/2021. The questionnaire was composed of 30 compulsory single-choice questions and 8 optional open questions. The single-choice questions were prepared using a five-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (negative answer) to 5 (positive answer). Additionally, the Expectation Fulfilment Rate (EFR)—an original tool developed by the authors—was used to assess students’ expectations. The conducted survey revealed a significant disproportion between students’ expectations and experience regarding sustainable and ecological design aspects. There are also knowledge gaps in certain areas that should be addressed. Topics related to urban planning, green areas design, renovation and adaptation are not sufficiently represented in the curriculum. Moreover, it is essential to provide students with a broad, cross-disciplinary overview of sustainable architecture to deepen their understanding of different design aspects.
Temporal-Spatial Structure and Influencing Factors of Urban Energy Efficiency in China’s Agglomeration Areas
Authors: Zhang Luping , Zhu Yingying , Fan Liwei
Published: October 2021

Energy efficiency has proved to be effective in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and is significant to carbon neutrality targets. Urban agglomeration is the major engine of urbanization supporting economic growth. To optimizing the spatial exchange structure to improve regional energy efficiency by integrating the total factor energy efficiency model and social network analysis, this study constructs the spatial network of energy efficiency among cities within five major urban agglomerations in China for the period 2011–2018 and investigates their spatial association characteristics. The influencing factors of each spatial network structure are also explored by the quadratic assignment procedure method. The findings show that the spatial association of energy efficiency within each urban agglomeration presents a typical network structure, but with considerable disparity among urban agglomerations. Most cities in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta are closely connected with each other, while the surrounding cities in the areas of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Chengyu and the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River highly depend on their corresponding central cities. The spatial adjacency and GDP per capita determine the urban spatial relationship of the energy efficiency within urban agglomerations. In addition, the spatial correlation of urban energy efficiency in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Chengyu and Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River areas is also affected by the differences in energy consumption, capital stock, number of labor force and pollutant emission. Some suggestions for improving urban energy efficiency are discussed.
Anomaly Detection with Machine Learning Algorithms and Big Data in Electricity Consumption
Authors: Oprea Simona-Vasilica , Bâra Adela , Puican Florina Camelia , Radu Ioan Cosmin
Published: October 2021

When analyzing smart metering data, both reading errors and frauds can be identified. The purpose of this analysis is to alert the utility companies to suspicious consumption behavior that could be further investigated with on-site inspections or other methods. The use of Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to analyze consumption readings can lead to the identification of malfunctions, cyberattacks interrupting measurements, or physical tampering with smart meters. Fraud detection is one of the classical anomaly detection examples, as it is not easy to label consumption or transactional data. Furthermore, frauds differ in nature, and learning is not always possible. In this paper, we analyze large datasets of readings provided by smart meters installed in a trial study in Ireland by applying a hybrid approach. More precisely, we propose an unsupervised ML technique to detect anomalous values in the time series, establish a threshold for the percentage of anomalous readings from the total readings, and then label that time series as suspicious or not. Initially, we propose two types of algorithms for anomaly detection for unlabeled data: Spectral Residual-Convolutional Neural Network (SR-CNN) and an anomaly trained model based on martingales for determining variations in time-series data streams. Then, the Two-Class Boosted Decision Tree and Fisher Linear Discriminant analysis are applied on the previously processed dataset. By training the model, we obtain the required capabilities of detecting suspicious consumers proved by an accuracy of 90%, precision score of 0.875, and F1 score of 0.894.
Estimation of Iodine Leaching in Soil Amended with Organic and Inorganic Materials Using HYDRUS 1-D Model
Authors: Mohiuddin Muhammad , Ali Jawad , Leta Megersa Kebede , Waseem Muhammad , Irshad Muhammad , Hussain Zahid
Published: October 2021

This study investigated the ability of a HYDRUS 1D model for predicting the vertical distribution of potassium iodine (200 ppm) in soil columns after amendment with five different common remediation materials (gypsum, lime, fly ash, charcoal, and sawdust) at a rate of 2.5% (w/w), relative to an unamended control soil. Results showed that relative to the unamended soil, iodine leaching was decreased by all amendments but that the magnitude of the decreases varied with the soil amendment applied. Iodine content was highest in the upper layer of the soil columns and decreased progressively with soil depth. The model was evaluated via comparison of the model simulated values with measured values from the soil column studies. The results showed that the HYDRUS 1D model efficiency was near to 1, indicating the stimulated results near to the measured values. Therefore, this study showed that iodine leaching through a soil could be ascertained well using a HYDRUS 1D model. The model over predicted iodine leaching, results in a weak correspondence between the simulated and the measured results for iodine leaching. This suggests that the HYDRUS-1D model does not explain accurately different organic and inorganic amended soil and the preferential flow that occurs in these columns. This may be due to the fact that Freundlich isotherm, which is part of the transport equations, does not sufficiently describe the mechanism of iodine adsorption onto the soil particles. This study would help to select an amendment for an effective management strategy to reduce exogenous iodine losses from agro-ecosystems. This would also improve scientific understanding of iodine transport in soil profile.
Assessment of the Effect of the Three-Year Action Plan to Fight Air Pollution on Air Quality and Associated Health Benefits in Sichuan Basin, China
Authors: Chen Juihui , Feng Xiaoqiong , Zhu Yonghui , Huang Ling , He Min , Li Yuan , Yaluk Elly , Han Li , Wang Junjie , Qiao Yuhong , Li Li
Published: October 2021

To continuously improve air quality, after implementation of the “Clean Air Action Plan, 2013–2017” (CAAP), the “Three-year Action Plan to Fight Air Pollution” (TYP) was further conducted from 2018 to 2020. However, the effectiveness of the TYP remains unclear in one of the major city-clusters of China, the Sichuan Basin. In this study, the bottom-up method was used to quantify the emission reduction during TYP based on the emissions inventory in Sichuan Basin in 2017 and the air pollution control measures adopted from 2018 to 2020 in each city. The reduction of PM2.5 concentration and the avoided premature deaths due to implementation of air pollution control measures were assessed by using an integrated meteorology and air quality modeling system and a concentration-response algorithm. Emissions of SO2, NOx, PM2.5, and VOCs in the Sichuan Basin have been reduced by 42.6, 105.2, 40.2, and 136.6 Gg, respectively. The control of non-electricity industry contributed significantly to the emission reduction of all pollutants, accounting for 26–49%. In addition, the control of mobile sources contributes the most to NOx reductions, accounting for 57%. The results illustrate that the focus of air pollution control in Sichuan Basin is still industrial sources. We also found that the emission reduction of NOx, PM2.5, and VOCs in Chengdu is significantly higher than that of other cities, which were about 3.4~15.4 times, 2.2~40.1 times, and 4.3~24.4 times that of other cities, respectively. In Sichuan Basin, the average reduction rate of PM2.5 concentration due to air pollution control measures was 5% on average, with the highest contributions from industry, mobile source, and dust emission control. The decrease rate in each city ranges between 1~10%, and the decreasing ratios in Dazhou (10%), Chengdu (8%), and Zigong (7%) are relatively higher. The number of premature deaths avoided due to air pollution control measures in Sichuan Basin is estimated to be 22,934. Chengdu and Dazhou have benefitted most from the air pollution control measures, with 6043 and 2713 premature deaths avoided, respectively. Our results indicate that the implementation of TYP has achieved remarkable environmental and health benefits.
Implementation of Local Energy Plans in Western Switzerland: Survey of the Current State and Possible Paths Forward
Authors: Diane von Gunten , Poumadère Fabien , Bungener Marc , Chiffelle Damien
Published: October 2021

To successfully reduce their climate impacts, cities need a clear strategical path to decrease their energy consumption and increase their use of renewable energy. Consequently, local energy plans have recently become popular, notably in western Switzerland. These plans propose different pathways towards the achievement of economic, social, and environmental energy objectives, often supported by an action plan describing the possible projects and policies necessary to enact these pathways. However, the implementations of these local energy plans show a strong variability in efficiency and effectiveness. In this study, we survey the state of the implementation of local energy plans in 57 municipalities in western Switzerland. Based on this survey, we make four concrete propositions to reduce the difficulties faced by cities during the implementation of local energy plans and we test these propositions in three partner cities. These new tools, which aim at reinforcing municipal energy policy, can now be reused by local administrations in the study area and beyond.
Assessing the Role of Phosphorus as a Macropollutant in Four Typical Mediterranean Basin Soils
Authors: Telo da Gama José , Loures Luis , López-Piñeiro António , Nunes José Rato
Published: October 2021

Available phosphorus (AP) is a key macropollutant predictor of ecosystem services as well as a crucial indicator of soil productivity. Long-term applications of this macronutrient and its implications on sustainability in the face of peak phosphorus harvest have raised some concerns in recent years. This study aimed to characterise the edaphic AP in nearly 15,000 ha of the Mediterranean basin, an agricultural study area whose intensification is increasing with time. Four typical Mediterranean reference soil groups (RSG)—Calcisols, Luvisols, Fluvisols and Cambisols—were analysed and compared for their AP in two different agricultural settings—rain-fed and irrigation—from 2002 to 2012, where 1417 and 1451 topsoil samples were taken, respectively. AP increased from 2002 to 2012 in the irrigated Luvisols (p < = 0.05), Fluvisols (p < = 0.01) and Cambisols (p < = 0.05), while irrigated Calcisols maintained its concentrations (p > 0.05) over time. For rain-fed soils, the AP did not reveal significant differences in time for all RSG (p > 0.05). Additionally, irrigated Fluvisols and Cambisols presented 9% (p < = 0.01) and 68% (p < = 0.01) higher AP concentrations, respectively, than the corresponding rain-fed RSGs in 2012. We provide predictive maps for both 2002 and 2012. These results suggest that this area is departing from the sustainable goals of ecosystem services equilibrium; proper management practices that counteract the anthropogenic pressures in the area should be adopted.
Eco-Innovation Diversity in a Circular Economy: Towards Circular Innovation Studies
Authors: de Jesus Ana , Lammi Minna , Domenech Teresa , Vanhuyse Fedra , Mendonça Sandro
Published: October 2021

Transition to a Circular Economy (CE) is about structural change and is predicated on the introduction of transformative eco-innovation (EI). Research on the CE–EI nexus has recently attracted attention both from an analytical and regulatory perspective. However, in-depth research exploring EI dynamics within the CE is still marginal, especially concerning the trends and dynamics of the pro-CE innovation policy and strategy. This paper addresses this gap by taking advantage of the burgeoning research on CE of the last 20 years and offers a new working synthesis. By implementing a “(systematic) review of (systematic) reviews”, this paper provides a new comprehensive framework for understanding pro-circular innovation strategies and, as a complement, argues the need to advance “circular innovation studies” as an agenda in its own right. Innovations related to recycling and recovery CE strategies along with business-model innovations and systemic/transformative innovations are found to be a major current trend in the research, connecting supply and demand side innovations and also driving other forms of innovation linked to design, product manufacturing, logistics and reverse logistics and end-of-life management and recovery. Additionally, of note is that the conceptual understanding of EI dynamics within a CE is still mainly implicit (rather than explicitly discussed) limiting the possibilities to advance knowledge in the area of innovation for CE: this is why we propose a “circular innovation studies” agenda.
Identifying Factors Associated with Consumers’ Adoption of e-Mobility—A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Stockkamp Carolin , Schäfer Juliane , Millemann Jan A. , Heidenreich Sven
Published: October 2021

Electrification of road transport—replacing internal combustion engine vehicles with new energy vehicles such as electric vehicles (EVs)—seems to be a promising step towards achieving sustainable urban development, yet the diffusion of EVs is proceeding slowly. Investigating this phenomenon, researchers have provided numerous findings. However, these findings also created a fragmented and heterogeneous body of literature. This article applies a systematic literature review to establish a status quo of factors associated with the adoption of EVs. A total of 49 articles were identified and analyzed in detail for their contribution to EV adoption. The results from the systematic literature review were synthesized. The article ends with implications for policymakers and suggests fruitful research avenues for future investigations.
A Conceptual Framework to Establish and Operate a Global Logistics Energy Hub
Authors: Hammad Mahmoud A. , Elgazzar Sara , Sternad Marjan
Published: October 2021

Energy-consuming countries are affected by obstructions in supplies or conflicts that may occur along the energy transit path. Hence, the presence of a global logistics hub for energy acting as a connecting bridge between energy-supplying and energy-consuming countries can overcome such troubles, support the sustainable flow of energy, and achieve the overall operational efficiency of the energy supply chain. However, establishing a global energy hub is a complicated issue, especially in the absence of a clear approach for this. Through conducting a systematic literature review on 36 papers over the past two decades, we identified the key determinants for each player in the energy supply chain and proposed a leading and integrated conceptual framework for establishing and operating a global logistics energy hub, with a particular focus on oil and gas. This article contributes to knowledge by providing a comprehensive review targeting energy hubs from a logistics perspective, as previous studies have addressed energy hubs from other perspectives such as political, legal, and security perspectives, while the logistics perspective has not been tackled comprehensively. Moreover, the suggested framework can be then used by further researchers to develop the performance of energy hubs. Practically, this framework can be employed to identify the requirements for a country to become a global energy hub.
Hybrid Economic-Environment-Ecology Land Planning Model under Uncertainty—A Case Study in Mekong Delta
Authors: Ma Yuxiang , Zhou Min , Ma Chaonan , Wang Mengcheng , Tu Jiating
Published: October 2021

The research on land natural resources as the leading factor in the Mekong Delta (MD) is insufficient. Facing the fragile and sensitive ecological environment of MD, how to allocate limited land resources to different land use types to obtain more economic benefits is a challenge that local land managers need to face. Three uncertainties in land use system, interval uncertainty, fuzzy uncertainty, and random uncertainty, are fully considered and an interval probabilistic fuzzy land use allocation (IPF-LUA) model is proposed and applied to multiple planning periods for MD. IPF-LUA considers not only the crucial socio-economic factors (food security, output of wood products, etc.) but also the ecological/environmental constraints in agricultural production (COD discharge, BOD5 discharge, antibiotic consumption, etc.). Therefore, it can effectively reflect the interaction among different aspects of MD land use system. The degree of environmental subordination is between 0.51 and 0.73, the net benefit of land system is between USD 23.31 × 109 and USD 24.24 × 109 in period 1, and USD 25.44 × 109 to 25.68 × 109 in period 2. The results show that the IPF-LUA model can help the decision-makers weigh the economic and ecological benefits under different objectives and work out an optimized land use allocation scheme.
Consumer Satisfaction towards Green Products: Empirical Insights from Romania
Authors: Lakatos Elena-Simina , Nan Ligia-Maria , Bacali Laura , Ciobanu George , Ciobanu Andreea-Maria , Cioca Lucian-Ionel
Published: October 2021

The current model of linear economy is causing accelerated consumption and an extensive use of natural resources that accentuates the effects of the current global environmental crisis. In this context, green products are becoming a key element in the transition to a sustainable consumption and production model. The main goal of this paper is to identify the factors predicting youth consumer satisfaction towards green products and to analyze the public perception of green brand products in Romania. Considering these goals, a questionnaire was developed and applied to 268 participants. The results show that a positive attitude towards green products and the level of information held by the consumers about them are significant predictors of green product satisfaction. Moreover, the importance of products being green significantly predicts the purchase of such products. Further implications and research directions are discussed towards the end.