bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Grazing on Soil Organic Carbon in the Rhizosphere of Stipa Grandis in a Typical Steppe of Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Zhang Meng , Li Xiaobing , Li Mengyuan , Yin Peihong
Published: September 2022

The ability of grassland ecosystems to sequester carbon has a great potential to achieve carbon neutralization. Rhizosphere deposition is the most uncertain part of the soil carbon cycle. Since grazing is one of the main ways to utilize grasslands, we conducted experiments to clarify the role of rhizosphere on soil organic carbon (SOC) cycling under grazing in a typical steppe region of Inner Mongolia, China. The experiment was conducted in grasslands under light, moderate, and heavy grazing and in a control (no grazing) in Inner Mongolia, China. Here, we present our analysis of the total soil organic carbon (TOC) and fractions in both the rhizosphere and bulk soil. Light and moderate grazing increased SOC contents in rhizosphere soil, and we found more SOC in rhizosphere soil than in bulk soil. The rhizosphere showed SOC enrichment effect, and this effect increased with an increase in grazing intensity. As grazing intensity increased, microbial biomass carbon content and its percentage of TOC increased in rhizosphere soil and were more stable than those in bulk soil. Dissolved organic carbon content and its percentage of TOC also increased in rhizosphere soil with increasing grazing intensity. These changes were more than those observed in bulk soil. Changes in potentially mineralizable carbon and particulate organic carbon in the rhizosphere and bulk soil were not synchronized in plots under different grazing intensities. Grazing changed the quantity of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, as well as the community structure of soil microbes, in rhizosphere soil and bulk soil. It also influenced the content and structure of SOC. Acidic components (e.g., organic acids) of root exudate reduced the pH in rhizosphere soil to less than that in bulk soil, which may have affected SOC cycling. The results can provide support to improve the ecosystem carbon sink function and help to achieve the goal of carbon peaking/carbon neutral target.
Multiobjective Decision-Making Model for Power Scheduling Problem in Smart Homes
Authors: Chang Chen-Yu , Tsai Pei-Fang
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study was to solve power scheduling issues in smart homes to enable demand response in smart grids. The objective of demand response is to match demand with supply by reflecting supply expectations through consumer price signals, and especially to avoid peak demand during times of high prices and when supply is limited. Three objectives were considered: first, economic rationing by minimizing the total costs for consumers with the given hourly prices; second, to achieve better efficiency in terms of supply and greater stability in a power system by reducing peaks in usage or load, which is defined by minimizing the percentage of power rate; third, related to consumer comfort levels, by reducing variance in the schedule of appliances to actual usage periods requested. This multiobjective power scheduling problem for smart homes (PHPSH) was explored using a nondominated sorting genetic algorithm, called NSGA-II. The results showed that the Pareto-optimal solutions from NSGA-II are compatible with the weighted-sum-based model from the literature, and viable alternatives are available for end users with different weighted objectives.
Working from Home, Telework, and Psychological Wellbeing? A Systematic Review
Authors: Crawford Joseph
Published: September 2022

The practice of telework, remote work, and working from home has grown significantly across the pandemic era (2020+). These practices offer new ways of working but come with a lack of clarity as to the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of staff. (1) Background: The purpose of this study is to examine the current literature on wellbeing outcomes and effects of telework; (2) Methods: This study adopts a systematic literature review from 2000–2022 using the PRISMA approach and thematic analysis guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Wellbeing, Decent Work, Gender Equality, and Inclusive Production); (3) Results: It was evident that there is a lack of clarity on the actual effects of telework on employee wellbeing, but it appeared that it had a generally positive effect on the short-term wellbeing of staff, and created more flexible and proactive work design opportunities; (4) Conclusions: There is a need for more targeted research into work designs that support wellbeing and productivity of staff, and consider the environmental sustainability changes from reduced office and onsite work and increased working from home.
The Role of Urban Planning and Architecture in Sustainable Peacebuilding: Lessons from Belfast to Syria
Authors: Rifai Ghada , Emekci Seyda
Published: September 2022

The peacebuilding process plays a critical role for urban planning in paving the way for sustainable peace or upcoming conflicts, where it is not innocent and not impartial. The paper aims to draw out lessons learned from Belfast to Syria, focusing on the urban intervention role in sustaining the peace process. The article reviews Belfast’s literature review, using the timeline to scan the recovery process and extract a few lessons learnt. This is followed by reviewing the current interventions for the recovery of Syria based on chosen articles in the Venice charter on reconstruction that define specific indicators of the role of architects and urban planners. Authors debate the way and the aspects of urban intervention in dealing with conflicts. The paper shows the critical role of urban interventions in sustaining peace process implementation and concludes with essential areas to ensure the integration of the urban intervention part of the peace process.
Hydrogen Production from Surplus Electricity Generated by an Autonomous Renewable System: Scenario 2040 on Grand Canary Island, Spain
Authors: Berna-Escriche César , Vargas-Salgado Carlos , Alfonso-Solar David , Escrivá-Castells Alberto
Published: September 2022

The electrification of final energy uses is a key strategy to reach the desired scenario with zero greenhouse gas emissions. Many of them can be electrified with more or less difficulty, but there is a part that is difficult to electrify at a competitive cost: heavy road transport, maritime and air transport, and some industrial processes are some examples. For this reason, the possibility of using other energy vectors rather than electricity should be explored. Hydrogen can be considered a real alternative, especially considering that this transition should not be carried out immediately because, initially, the electrification would be carried out in those energy uses that are considered most feasible for this conversion. The Canary Islands’ government is making considerable efforts to promote a carbon-free energy mix, starting with renewable energy for electricity generation. Still, in the early–mid 2030s, it will be necessary to substitute heavy transport fossil fuel. For this purpose, HOMER software was used to analyze the feasibility of hydrogen production using surplus electricity produced by the future electricity system. The results of previous research on the optimal generation MIX for Grand Canary Island, based exclusively on renewable sources, were used. This previous research considers three possible scenarios where electricity surplus is in the range of 2.3–4.9 TWh/year. Several optimized scenarios using demand-side management techniques were also studied. Therefore, based on the electricity surpluses of these scenarios, the optimization of hydrogen production and storage systems was carried out, always covering at least the final hydrogen demand of the island. As a result, it is concluded that it would be possible to produce 3.5 × 104 to 7.68 × 104 t of H2/year. In these scenarios, 3.15 × 105 to 6.91 × 105 t of water per year would be required, and there could be a potential production of 2.8 × 105 to 6.14 × 105 t of O2 per year.
The Association between Outside Directors’ Compensation and ESG Performance: Evidence from Korean Firms
Authors: Kang Min-Jung , Oh Seul-Gi , Lee Ho-Young
Published: September 2022

Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) has become essential for corporate sustainability. Among ESG activities, we focus on governance structure since firms can properly engage in activities related to environmental and social responsibility only when their corporate governance structures are well established. Outside directors play an important role in governance structure since they monitor the management and provide expertise to the board of directors. In this study, we pay particular attention to the compensation of outside directors, which reflects the effort, expertise, and independence of outside directors. Based on data from listed firms on the Korea Stock Exchange in South Korea between 2014 and 2020, we examine the association between outside directors’ compensation and ESG performance in certain firms with unique governance structures, namely, chaebols (or family firms). We find that the compensation of outside directors is positively associated with ESG performance, implying that outside directors’ compensation motivates effective monitoring and advisement of management and has an incremental effect on ESG performance. We suggest that the compensation of outside directors is one of the key factors that can significantly affect ESG performance. Therefore, investors and policymakers may evaluate whether a firm is doing well in terms of ESG activities by examining the compensation of outside directors.
A Study of Consumers’ Perceptions of Take-Out Food before and after the COVID-19 Outbreak: Applying Big Data Analysis
Authors: Jang Jina , Lee Eunjung , Jung Hyosun
Published: September 2022

This study explored changes in consumers’ perceptions of take-out food before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic using big data collected from social media. Using “take-out food” as a keyword, 18,544 search results were found in 2019, before the COVID-19 outbreak, compared to 20,718 search results in 2021. These keywords were analyzed using text mining, semantic network analysis, CONCOR analysis, and sentiment analysis, respectively, to understand consumers’ perception of take-out food. Using text mining, in 2019, “dining-out” was the most frequent search term associated with take-out food, followed by packing, famous restaurant, family, delicious, menu, and available. In 2021, “dining-out” was again the most popular keyword, followed by packing, famous restaurant, delivery, family, delicious, available, and Corona. A semantic network analysis showed that, in 2019, four categories emerged: delicious, meat, satisfaction, and lunchbox. The same analysis showed that, in 2021, the categories were delicious, meat, good, and home meal. These findings suggest that, after COVID-19, take-out food began to be recognized as a daily meal that can replace home-cooked meals. According to the sentiment analysis, the number of positive keywords decreased by 4.03% after COVID-19, while the number of negative keywords increased at the same rate; regarding the increase in negative keywords, such as sadness, disgust, and fear, since the emergence of COVID-19, consumers’ anxiety about eating out due to the virus was observed. This study can be useful by providing core data and an analysis method necessary for food service companies’ business activities and decision making related to take-out amid consumers’ rapidly changing needs for the dining-out environment caused by COVID-19.
Barriers to Physical Activity among Full-Time Students: A Case Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Silva Regina Márcia Ferreira , Fonseca Terra Lauryane , Fernandes Michele da Silva Valadão , Noll Priscilla Rayanne E. Silva , Abreu Luiz Carlos de , Noll Matias
Published: September 2022

(1) Background: Physical inactivity is a major public health problem that affects a significant number of adolescents throughout the world. Attaining regular physical activity is a major challenge for adolescents who study full-time. This study aimed to examine the associations between barriers to physical activity, physical activity levels, and time exposed to sedentary behavior during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic among adolescent full-time students at an institute of professional and technical education. (2) Methods: We employed mixed methods in this case study, which enrolled 119 adolescent students (52.9% of whom were female). More specifically, we applied the Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and conducted semi-structured interviews. Our statistical analysis was based on Poisson regression with robust variance, and our qualitative analysis was based on content analysis. (3) Results: The adolescents frequently presented with a “low” level of physical activity (44.4%, n = 52). The following barriers were associated with a low level of physical activity: lack of time (prevalence ratio (PR) 1.546; confidence interval (CI) 1.111–2.151), lack of motivation (PR 1.573; CI 1.102–2.245), preference for other activities (PR 1.521; CI 1.073–2.155), lack of facilities close to home (PR 1.576; CI 1.077–2.307), laziness (PR 1.463; CI 1.031–2.076), and no way of getting to a facility (PR 1.619; CI 1.005–2.606). (4) Conclusions: We observed that physical activity barriers in the psychological, cognitive, emotional, and environmental dimensions were associated with low levels of physical activity. The students reported that full-time study was a barrier to physical activity that contributed negatively to their physical activity levels and time exposed to sedentary behaviors.
Territorialised Agrifood Systems and Sustainability: Methodological Approach on the Spanish State Scale
Authors: González-Romero Gema , Silva-Pérez Rocío , Cánovas-García Fulgencio
Published: September 2022

This article presents a methodological approach for the location, characterisation and prospects of multifunctional agrifood systems territorialised on the Spanish State administrative scale. The proposal is applied to Spain, although it can be extrapolated to other locations. It is based on the determination of these systems’ dimensions (spatiality, sustainability, proximity, governance and multifunctionality) and attributes. Indicators of each of the dimensions are identified from the perspective of sustainability. The research has shown that multifunctional territorialised agrifood systems present internal territorial contrasts and differentiated features, and three basic models have initially been identified: (i) metropolitan; (ii) mountain and highland areas, and (iii) great inland plains and coasts. It is concluded that a fourth, mixed metropolitan–mountain model exists; complex and multi-scale approaches must be included in the study of the models; state scales are the most suitable for analytical purposes; the sources are limited, and acknowledgement of these approaches by public policies is essential.
Addressing the European Green Deal with Smart Specialization Strategies in the Baltic Sea Region
Authors: Lankauskienė Rita , Simonaitytė Vitalija , Gedminaitė-Raudonė Živilė , Johnson Jerker
Published: September 2022

Despite the extent and importance of the Smart Specialization strategies, achieved in a short cohesion policy period from 2014 to 2020, the evidence on the assessment of their actual effect on the economic development and the mobilization via the Smart Specialization implementation of the regions is still pending. In light of green transformation, accelerated by the European Green Deal, the heart of Smart Specialization strategies of EU regions is to avoid fragmentation and to reach a complementary in reaching the joint EU ambition of climate neutrality by 2050. This article aims to demonstrate how to identify the region-specific (place-based and bottom–up) pathways for green transformation and align them with the European Green Deal-focused Smart Specialization strategies in regions, using moderated co-creation in DPSIR analysis and policy modeling. The findings of this article are based on the moderated experimental experience from the two interconnected projects in the area, i.e., “LARS” and “GRETA”, implemented in the Baltic Sea Region (October 2017 to September 2021). The research proposes how moderated learning and knowledge transfer between matured innovators and young innovators embodies the identification of place-based pathways and help develop political course recommendations for green transformation, thus solving the homogeneity issues of the Smart Specialization strategies.
The Effects of Vocational-Skills Training on Migrant Workers’ Willingness to Settle in Urban Areas in China
Authors: Zhao Chuangxin , Tang Manping , Li Houjian
Published: September 2022

Using the micro data of the China Labor Force Dynamics Survey (CLDS), this study constructed an employment quality index of migrant workers by using the factor analysis method, it used the binary logistic model and the intermediary effect model to explore the urban-settlement intention of 1451 migrant workers in 29 cities in China, and it empirically analyzed the impact and internal mechanism of vocational-skills training on migrant workers’ willingness to settle in urban areas. The results show that (1) there is a significant positive relationship between the vocational-skills training and the migrant workers’ settlement intention. A further analysis showed that the empirical results remain robust after correcting endogeneity bias by using the instrumental variable model; and (2) participating in vocational-skills training can improve the employment quality of migrant workers, which would result in the increase of migrant workers’ willingness to settle in urban areas, and employment quality plays the significant intermediary role in this path. (3) The heterogeneity test results show that participating in vocational-skills training has a larger effect on the willingness to settle in urban areas of older-generation, female, and married migrant workers. Therefore, this paper makes the following suggestions: the government should do a good job of top-level design of vocational-skills training for migrant workers, increase investment in human capital of migrant workers, and improve the employment quality of migrant workers.
Household Food Waste to Biogas in Västerås, Sweden: A Comprehensive Case Study of Waste Valorization
Authors: Liu Tingting , Zhang Qian , Kang Xiaowen , Hou Jiaqi , Luo Tao , Zhang Yi
Published: September 2022

Sustainable large-scale household food waste (HFW) reutilization is difficult worldwide. This study presents a systematic and in-depth analysis of the case of Västerås, Sweden, where biogas has been produced from HFW for years and utilized as renewable vehicle fuel. Various aspects are covered, including the logistic flow, energy recovery, environmental benefits, cost-benefit analysis, and social survey. In 2017, 8879 tons of food waste were collected from Västerås city, which could generate 590,000 Nm3 biomethane and support 21 biogas-powered buses. A reduction of 1052.9–1541.2 tons of CO2-eq was estimated by replacing fossil fuels in vehicles and centralized composting units for HFW. The actual operating profit of this process amounted to 6.604 million Swedish Krona (SEK), and the maximized environmental economic benefit was estimated to be 3.15–3.73 million SEK/year. The active participation of the residents to source-separate their HFW was crucial to the success of the project, and the driving factors were tentatively identified as value orientation and facility convenience. With information pooled from various sectors, this study constructs a comprehensive reference case for industrial, academic, and municipal entities that are interested in similar practices in the future.
What about the City? Towards an Urban Post-Growth Research Agenda
Authors: Schmid Benedikt
Published: September 2022

This paper explores the (potential) role(s) of cities for societal shifts away from the prioritization of and dependence on economic growth. This paper is rooted in the growing field of ‘degrowth’ and ‘post-growth’ research that empirically and theoretically challenges the possibility and viability of (further) growth-based economic development. Through a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed journal articles, this paper takes stock of the increasing interest of post-growth scholars in cities and urban spaces. This paper identifies seven ways in which cities feature in the post-growth literature: as arenas, as spaces of encounter, as spaces with specific qualities, as (introversive) agents, as targets, as specific scale, and as interdependent configurations. Building on this collection of perspectives on growth-related research in (differently defined) urban contexts, this paper argues that the emergent field of urban post-growth would profit from a common frame of reference and research agenda around which urban post-growth perspectives can cohere. This paper proposes three key areas of research on post-growth in, by, and of cities while putting questions around the growth dependencies of urban systems front and center.
Research of Exhaust Gas Boiler Heat Exchange Surfaces with Reduced Corrosion When Water-Fuel Emulsion Combustion
Authors: Yang Zongming , Kornienko Victoria , Radchenko Mykola , Radchenko Andrii , Radchenko Roman
Published: September 2022

The application of water-fuel emulsion (WFE) in internal combustion engines enables to reduce the consumption of sulfurous fuel oils, thereby protecting the environment from emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides, as well revealing a great potential for the heat utilization of exhaust gases. The efficiency of utilization of exhaust gas heat in exhaust boilers (EGB) depends on their temperature at the outlet of EGB, id est. the depth of heat utilization. Exhaust gas temperature is limited by the rate of low-temperature corrosion (LTC), which reaches a level of 1.2 mm/year at the wall temperature of about 110 °C for the condensing heat exchange surfaces (HES) and reduces the reliability of the HES operation. Therefore, decreasing the corrosion rate of condensing HES at wall temperature below 110 °C to an acceptable level (about 0.2 mm/year) when undergoing WFE combustion will make it possible to reduce the exhaust gas temperature and, consequently, increase the efficiency of EGB and fuel saving during the operation of the ship power plant. The aim of the research is to assess improvements to the reliability, durability and efficient operation of condensing HES in marine EGB undergoing WFE combustion in a diesel engine based on experimental studies of the LTC process. A special experimental setup was developed for investigation. The use of WFE with a decreased wall temperature of HES below 80 to 70 °C would improve the reliability of the EGB along the accepted service life, increase the lifetime of the HES metal by almost six times as well as the overhaul period, and reduce the cost of repairing condensing HES. Furthermore, due to the reducing corrosion rate under WFE combustion, the application of low-temperature condensing HES makes it possible to enhance the efficiency of deeper exhaust gas heat utilization and provide sustainable efficient operation of a diesel engine plant on the whole at a safe thermal and environmentally friendly level.
Sustainability and Gender Dynamics of Coffee Value-Chain Development Intervention: Lessons from Ethiopia
Authors: Gurmessa Negussie Efa , Agwanda Charles , Oduor George , Musebe Richard O. , Akiri Morris , Romney Dannie
Published: September 2022

This study examines sustainability and gender dynamics of coffee value-chain development intervention in Ethiopia. The data were collected from male and female farmers and other stakeholders using key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and a questionnaire survey. The study found that some of the introduced technologies/practices were adopted and sustained whereas others were dropped or adapted depending on technical, institutional, and socio-economic factors. The value-chain intervention was generic and not gender-sensitive. Although the intervention generated positive changes and benefits for all household members (by improving coffee quality, market access, and their income), it had mixed outcomes for women. Although women were not primarily targeted by the intervention, their increased involvement in coffee harvesting and processing fostered women’s skills, confidence, and decision-making power. However, some of the new technologies/practices required additional labour, while others were labour saving and eased their work. As a result of increasing the wholesale trading of coffee, the role for marketing largely shifted to men. This study underscores the need for a proper gender analysis and embedding gender-sensitive approaches in designing development interventions to ensure women’s fair representation, and thus equitable and sustainable benefits. Such efforts should entail a paradigm shift from production to promoting women’s role and integration into the entire value chain, as well as improving their access to productive resources and services. Moreover, value-chain development interventions should consider technical, institutional, social, and economic factors that could influence their effectiveness and sustainability.
HealthGuard: An Intelligent Healthcare System Security Framework Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Sundas Amit , Badotra Sumit , Bharany Salil , Almogren Ahmad , Tag-ElDin Elsayed M. , Rehman Ateeq Ur
Published: September 2022

Utilization of the Internet of Things and ubiquitous computing in medical apparatuses have “smartified” the current healthcare system. These days, healthcare is used for more than simply curing patients. A Smart Healthcare System (SHS) is a network of implanted medical devices and wearables that monitors patients in real-time to detect and avert potentially fatal illnesses. With its expanding capabilities comes a slew of security threats, and there are many ways in which a SHS might be exploited by malicious actors. These include, but are not limited to, interfering with regular SHS functioning, inserting bogus data to modify vital signs, and meddling with medical devices. This study presents HealthGuard, an innovative security architecture for SHSs that uses machine learning to identify potentially harmful actions taken by users. HealthGuard monitors the vitals of many SHS-connected devices and compares the vitals to distinguish normal from abnormal activity. For the purpose of locating potentially dangerous actions inside a SHS, HealthGuard employs four distinct machine learning-based detection approaches (Artificial Neural Network, Decision Tree, Random Forest, and k-Nearest Neighbor). Eight different smart medical devices were used to train HealthGuard for a total of twelve harmless occurrences, seven of which are common user activities and five of which are disease-related occurrences. HealthGuard was also tested for its ability to defend against three distinct forms of harmful attack. Our comprehensive analysis demonstrates that HealthGuard is a reliable security architecture for SHSs, with a 91% success rate and in F1-score of 90% success.
Pursuing Sustainable Higher Education Admission Policy Reform: Evidence from Stakeholders’ Perceptions in China’s Pilot Provinces
Authors: Li Jian , Xue Eryong
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to examine sustainable higher-education admission policy reform and stakeholders’ attitudes toward the implementation of a new education policy. We collected 1071 questionnaires exploring stakeholders’ attitudes regarding a new higher-education admission policy. We found that administrators at provincial education bureaus, mangers from admission offices at universities and colleges, and teachers at local high schools held relatively positive attitudes toward the education policy of the new college entrance exam, specifically regarding reform directions, enrollment allocations, examination contents and methods, and means of admission. During the process of implementing the new educational policy, despite encountering some critiques regarding the formation and implementation of the new policy, the general reform direction was positively accepted by administrators, mangers, and teachers at different levels. Moreover, attitudes toward the reform direction and the equity evaluation were positively associated with individuals’ reform engagement. The implications are discussed to illustrate the rationale and context of the implementation of the new policy in contemporary China.
Priority Products for Sustainability Information and Recommendation Software: Insights in the Context of the EU’s Action Plan Circular Economy
Authors: Wurster Simone , Reis Cristina Fróes de Borja
Published: September 2022

The diffusion of sustainable products is a global objective, particularly reflected by the UN’s vision of ensuring sustainable development. Mobilising the potential of product information’s digitalization is an important topic in this context, particularly in the EU’s circular economy plan CEAP. Cross-sector analyses on the need for digital sustainability recommendation systems and related product-specific requirements do not yet exist. Questions: This article aims to deepen the insight of information requirements and recommendation software to facilitate sustainability-oriented product decisions based on three questions: (1) to identify products specifically requiring four types of sustainability information, (2) to unveil needs for software that recommends sustainable products, and (3) to specify the information it shall provide. Method: As part of the ConCirMy recommendation system project, we conducted an exploratory survey among 134 sustainability experts from 5 circular and bio-economy networks, mainly from Germany. The results show priority products regarding four sustainability information needs and recommendation software, making specific relations between European regulation and stakeholders’ interests visible. In addition, ten factors influencing these needs and facilitating further product-related sustainability classifications were unveiled. Conclusions: Our findings reflect the significance of CEAP’s priority products regarding the need for sustainability information and provide conclusions for four target groups.
Selection of Maintenance Strategies for Machines in a Series-Parallel System
Authors: Zwolińska Bożena , Wiercioch Jakub
Published: September 2022

In this paper, an assessment of the failure frequency of machines in a series-parallel structure was conducted. The analyses contain the decomposition of the system according to the general theory of complex systems. Based on the results obtained, a model for an optimal determination of the mean time to failure (MTTF) according to the expected value of the gamma distribution was proposed. For this purpose, the method of moments was used to determine the optimal values of the parameters of the estimated gamma distribution. The article is designed to be analytical. The object of consideration in this analysis is the real production system working in accordance with make-to-order, with a high degree of product customisation. Moreover, in the considered system occurs a dichotomy of mutually exclusive flows: push and pull. In the article, the main emphasis was placed on the applicability of the proposed MTTF value-shaping algorithm. Then, the maintenance strategy for each machine (reactive, preventive or predictive) was proposed. Maintenance strategy selection considered sustainable development principles in the criterion of minimizing maintenance actions, fulfilling the assumption of not interrupting the flow of the processed material. Based on inductive analyses, the concepts of improvement actions individually for each machine in the analysed subsystem were deductively defined. As a result, it was proved that a reactive maintenance strategy is appropriate for machines that have manufacturing reserves and are low priority. The equipment possessing manufacturing reserves but also having an impact on the risk of interrupting the flow of the processed material should be operated in accordance with a preventive maintenance strategy. A predictive maintenance strategy was proposed for the machines with the highest priority, which simultaneously do not have manufacturing reserves and the risk of manufacturing line operation interruption is high. The considerations were conducted with a holistic approach, taking into account the main functional areas of the enterprise.
Managing Sustainable Public Procurement: A Nationwide Survey in China
Authors: Zhang Mingshun , Zhang Li , van Dijk Meine Pieter
Published: September 2022

Sustainable public procurement (SPP) is an important element of China’s public policy and a market instrument to achieve sustainable development. This research aims at achieving insights into China’s SPP through a nationwide survey of Public Procurement Centers (PPCs), telephone interviews, and an expert workshop. The results show that China’s SPP is a hierarchical and centralized multi-level system, which is characterized by a top-down structure and is mainly driven by legal and policy initiatives, social benefits, and commitments of public bodies. There is huge potential for more SPP that remains untapped in China, and barriers are observed at the SPP operational level. The main barriers include a lack of trust in sustainability information about different products, limitations of the two SPP lists used, a lack of knowledge and skills, the perception of higher prices in the case of SPP, a lack of transparency, a lack of user-friendly tools, and soft social–environmental criteria that have low operability in the local situation. This research recommends a reform of SPP, moving from applying technical and functional specifications from the existing two-list approach to involving state-owned enterprises and infrastructure projects in a different SPP approach. Theoretical conclusions concern the Chinese SPP practice. In China, SPP is more like social responsible public procurement. Secondly, it was found that there are advantages to a more decentralized system, and finally, the implementation of SPP is declining because of specific barriers identified in this study.
Environmental Impacts of Urbanization Encroachment in the Lowlands of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: Rehman Fazeelat , Khan Abdullah
Published: September 2022

Urban encroachment due to urban sprawl and unchecked expansion in built-up areas is one of the top challenges developing countries such as Pakistan face. The fertile agricultural land is continuously converting into built-up areas reducing the capacity of food production and bringing down the livelihood opportunities associated with agricultural land. Pakistan is an agricultural country with extensive fertile areas. The GDP share of agriculture is more than 20%, and it engages more than half of the country’s total labor force, producing a handsome foreign exchange. However, this fertile and productive land is now altering due to urbanization encroachment. The primary purpose of this study was to assess the level of urbanization encroachment and its temporal dynamics in the lowlands of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The sample area of District Peshawar was selected for this purpose. First, the study’s objective was to detect the district’s temporal dynamics in the land-use pattern. Secondly, the quantification of agricultural land converted to built-up in District Peshawar was also considered. The study of urbanization encroachment in temporal dynamics focused on the conversion of agricultural land-use change using high-resolution satellite images (Arc GIS 10.5), a detailed questionnaire survey, and interviews, and focus group discussions were conducted to obtain more profound insight into the study area. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences), ANOVA, and regression models were applied where needed. For the agricultural land investigation, data from the landowners were also incorporated to learn the size of the lands they currently hold. To claw out the fragmentation of the land, the previous status of the land, its selling, purchasing, and the causes thereof, have also been probed. The results show that 46.35 sq. km of the land area has been built-up since the first census in 1981. In 2019, it increased by 173.3049 sq. km in District Peshawar against the total area of 1257 sq. km. In the sample area, the fertile agricultural land shows a change five times greater than the population increase. The land is continuously reduced and utilized for different purposes. The land values also appeal to the land owners for handsome returns, which is another crucial factor of urban encroachment over the fertile agricultural area. A proper and active regularity authority is recommended, and policies for land transformation from agriculture to built-up coverings should be formed. Decentralization of facilities, subsidies, and incentives to the farmers are recommended to slow down the speed of land conversion.
How to Decouple Tourism Growth from Carbon Emissions? A Spatial Correlation Network Analysis in China
Authors: Deng Zhaoming , Zhou Meijing , Xu Qiong
Published: September 2022

This research aims to analyze the spatial correlation network of the decoupling between tourism growth and carbon emissions in China’s 31 provinces to promote the overall decoupling through regional cooperation. This study scientifically measures the decoupling index from 2009 to 2019 based on a “bottom-up” method and the Tapio decoupling model. It analyzes the spatial correlation network of the decoupling and its driving factors by using social network analysis. The conclusions show that the decoupling between China’s tourism economic growth and carbon emissions was dominated by an expansive connection, which indicates a nonideal decoupling state. Among the regions, decoupling was stronger in the eastern provinces and weaker in the middle and western districts. The spatial correlation outside the plates was more significant, while the internal correlation was weaker. Beijing and Shanghai were in the center of the network, and the eastern developed provinces were in the subcentral place, both of which had more muscular control over the network. In contrast, the middle and western regions were on edge positions, playing passive roles in the network. In addition, the economic development level was the most vital driving force behind the spatial correlation, followed by spatial adjacency and government policy. In contrast, the industrial structure and technological level were negative influencing factors. These research findings indicate potential interprovincial cooperation in terms of tourism decarbonization, which provide a profound reference for the whole sustainable development of China’s tourism industry.
Environmentally Specific Servant Leadership and Employee Workplace Green Behavior: Moderated Mediation Model of Green Role Modeling and Employees’ Perceived CSR
Authors: Gu Fan , Liu Jiaqi
Published: September 2022

While employee workplace green behaviors (EWGBs), which contribute toward goals of organizational sustainability, have developed as an important research topic in the last decade, environmentally specific servant leadership (ESSL) is considered an important enhancer of employees’ green behaviors. From a social learning perspective, we developed a theoretical model to explore the mediating role of green role modeling and the moderating effect of employees’ perceived CSR on the relationship between ESSL and EWGB. In order to test the hypotheses, we adopted a two-wave research design and collected survey data from 512 employees from eight companies in Shandong Province, China. Structural equation modeling and the PROCESS macro for SPSS were utilized to analyze the data from the survey. The results of the quantitative analysis suggest that ESSL has positive impact on both employees’ in-role green behavior and extra-role green behavior. Meanwhile, green role modeling has a mediating effect on the relationship between ESSL and EWGB. Moreover, employees’ perceived CSR moderates the mediating relationship between ESSL and EWGB through green role modeling. The findings indicate that organizations should promote managers’ environmentally specific servant leadership and establish their own CSR policies and practices in order to motivate employee workplace in-role and extra-role green behaviors, which, in turn, contribute to sustainability, environmental protection and societal development. Overall, the theoretical and practical implications of our findings for the research on ESSL and EWGB are also discussed.
Local Government Debt, Financial Circle, and Sustainable Economic Development
Authors: Tang Zefeng
Published: September 2022

Local government debt is the biggest “gray rhino” of China’s economy and one of the most significant factors affecting the sustainability of economic growth. We use the macroeconomic data of China’s real economy development level and local government debt from 2000 to 2020 to investigate the impact of local government debt on the real economy using the spatial Durbin model, focusing on the impact of the local government debt scale on the development of the real economy in jurisdictions and non-jurisdictions and the intermediation effect of finance under the geospatial correlation characteristics of economic development. The results show that the spatial correlation of the real economy between jurisdictions prevails and the correlation deepens over time. The scale of local government debt in China has exceeded a reasonable threshold, and the crowding-out effect of debt expansion on the real economy is obvious and not limited by jurisdictions, with significant spatial spillover effects. Financial marketization can effectively mitigate the crowding-out effect of local government debt on the real economy. These findings provide useful references for mapping the correlated development characteristics of local government debt and the real economy in China, effectively preventing local government debt risks and high leverage of the real economy and financial systemic risks, and providing effective insights for other countries to resolve government debt problems, prevent crises, and promote local economic development.
Framework for Sustainable Rural Development through Entrepreneurial Initiatives in Emerging Economies
Authors: Raja Shahjahan Sarfraz , Raju Valliappan , Husnain Muhammad , Sarfraz Sania , Malik Fozia , Raja Shahnawaz Sarfraz
Published: September 2022

Sustainable rural development and higher income levels of a rural community can be achieved through indigenously owned resource-based corporations. The study aims to evolve the new economic model for the sustainable socio-economic development of rural areas by considering the entrepreneurial initiatives in emerging economies. It is an attempt to restore the pride of artificers and workmanship such as ‘mochi’ (cobbler), the lohar (ironsmith) the kumhar (potter) through interventions to rehabilitate their active role in creating a flexible, vibrant and responsive society. Therefore, it suggests a complete process to carry out the intervention in village communities of rural areas for their sustainable development. The entire model can be tested by collecting data from respondents; however, for this manuscript, the authors propose a solid framework with rationale. This study also proposes a model for the relevant literature named the ‘common prosperity model’. Furthermore, it has a variety of research dimensions that can be traced by the researchers, policymakers, interventionists, economists and sustainable rural development institutions.
Study on Overburden Structure Characteristics and Induced Scour Mechanisms of Horizontal Sublevel Mining in Steep and Extra-Thick Coal Seams
Authors: Ge Shiguo , Yuan Chongliang , Chang Qingliang , Wang Yongzhong , Zhang Biao
Published: September 2022

In order to study the space–time evolution law and the induced impact mechanism of overburden breaking in the tangential horizontal sublevel during the fully mechanized mining of extra-thick and steep coal seams, we took the Yaojie No. 3 mine as an example. Through the establishment of an overburden breaking mechanical model, the structural characteristics of hinged rock beams after overburden breaking and the space–time evolution law of overburden structure instability were analyzed, the static and dynamic load conditions that induce rockbursts were analyzed, and the induced impact mechanism of dynamic and static load superposition was revealed. Our research showed that, due to the asymmetry of the roof and floor, the coal body in the working face is in the strong shear stress zone at the end of the air inlet roadway, which easily produces shear failure. The lateral support pressure and the shear stress of the coal body in the goaf are the static load sources of the rockburst in the steep coal seam; after the roof overburden is broken, a hinge-bearing structure is formed under the support of the sliding force of the fault block and the floating gangue in the goaf. When the coal is mined in the lower section, the strong dynamic load formed by the impact of the fault block on the topmost coal is the main dynamic load source of the impact on the working face. Under the superpositions of the dynamic load and static load, the coal and rock lose stability and release energy in a large range, generating dynamic and static superimposed rockbursts. Furthermore, the internal mechanism of the occurrence of rockbursts during the mining of steep and extra-thick coal seams in the Yaojie No. 3 coal mine was revealed. The static load of the coal body comes from the clamping actions of the roof and floor, and the dynamic impact load comes from the clamping structure’s instability. The reason for the occurrence of rockbursts in the mining of steep and extra-thick coal seams in the Yaojie No. 3 coal mine was reasonably explained.