bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acoustic Forceps Based on Focused Acoustic Vortices with Different Topological Charges
Authors: Du Libin , Hu Gehao , Hu Yantao , Wang Qingdong
Published: August 2023

For enhanced energy concentration with improved flexibility for object manipulation, a focused acoustic vortex (FAV) is designed using a sector planar piston transducer array and acoustic lens that can produce the effective concentration of the acoustic field to perform the focusing function. Compared to the Gaussian beam, which tends to cause the object to deviate from the axis of acoustic propagation, FAVs can form a central valley region to firmly bind the objects, thus preventing off-target effects. The heat energy in the paraxial region is transferred to the vortex center in the form of heat transfer so that the temperature-sensitive liposomes captured can quickly release drugs, which has a good effect on targeted drug administration. The focused acoustic wave stopped acting on the tissue (gel) for 2 s, the temperature of the vortex center continued to rise, reaching 41.5 °C at the moment of 3.7 s, at which point the liposomes began to release the drug. The FAVs capture the drug and use its thermal effect to achieve accurate and rapid treatment. The simulation results show that the drug release temperature of temperature-sensitive liposomes can be achieved by controlling the action time of the vortices. This study provides a reliable theoretical basis for the clinical application of targeted drugs.
A NARX Model-Based Condition Monitoring Method for Rotor Systems
Authors: Gao Yi , Yu Changshuai , Zhu Yun-Peng , Luo Zhong
Published: August 2023

In this study, we developed a data-driven frequency domain analysis method for rotor systems using the NARX (Nonlinear Auto-Regressive with eXternal input) model established by system vibration signals. We propose a model-based index of fault features calculated in a multi-frequency range to facilitate condition monitoring of rotor systems. Four steps are included in the proposed method. Firstly, displacement vibration signals are collected at multiple monitored rotating speeds. Secondly, the collected signals are processed as output data and the corresponding input data is generated. Then, NARX models are developed with input and output data to characterize the rotor system. Finally, the NRSF (Nonlinear Response Spectrum Function)-based nonlinear fault index is calculated and compared to the healthy condition. An experimental application to the misaligned rotor system is also demonstrated to verify its effectiveness. Our results indicate that the value of the index directly reflects the severity of the misaligned fault.
Estimation of Target Motion Parameters from the Tonal Signals with a Single Hydrophone
Authors: Sun Kai , Gao Dazhi , Zhao Xiaojing , Guo Doudou , Song Wenhua , Li Yuzheng
Published: August 2023

In the shallow-water waveguide environment, the tonal signals radiated by moving targets carry modal interference and Doppler shift information. The modal interference can be used to obtain the time of the closest point of approach (tCPA) and the ratio of the range at the closest point of approach to the velocity of the source (rCPA/v). However, parameters rCPA and v cannot be solved separately. When tCPA is known, the rCPA and the v of the target can be obtained theoretically by using the Doppler information. However, when the Doppler frequency shift is small or at a low signal-to-noise ratio, there will be a strong parametric coupling between rCPA and v. In order to solve the above parameter coupling problem, a target motion parameter estimation method from tonal signals with a single hydrophone is proposed in this paper. The method uses the Doppler and modal interference information carried by the tonal signals to obtain two different parametric coupling curves. Then, the parametric coupling curves can be used to estimate the two motion parameters. Simulation experiments verified the rationality of this method. The proposed method was applied to the SWellEx-96 and speedboat experiments, and the estimation errors of the motion parameters were within 10%, which shows the method is effective in its practical applications.
Edge Detection via Fusion Difference Convolution
Authors: Yin Zhenyu , Wang Zisong , Fan Chao , Wang Xiaohui , Qiu Tong
Published: August 2023

Edge detection is a crucial step in many computer vision tasks, and in recent years, models based on deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have achieved human-level performance in edge detection. However, we have observed that CNN-based methods rely on pre-trained backbone networks and generate edge images with unwanted background details. We propose four new fusion difference convolution (FDC) structures that integrate traditional gradient operators into modern CNNs. At the same time, we have also added a channel spatial attention module (CSAM) and an up-sampling module (US). These structures allow the model to better recognize the semantic and edge information in the images. Our model is trained from scratch on the BIPED dataset without any pre-trained weights and achieves promising results. Moreover, it generalizes well to other datasets without fine-tuning.
Multi-Resolution 3D Rendering for High-Performance Web AR
Authors: Boutsi Argyro-Maria , Ioannidis Charalabos , Verykokou Styliani
Published: August 2023

In the context of web augmented reality (AR), 3D rendering that maintains visual quality and frame rate requirements remains a challenge. The lack of a dedicated and efficient 3D format often results in the degraded visual quality of the original data and compromises the user experience. This paper examines the integration of web-streamable view-dependent representations of large-sized and high-resolution 3D models in web AR applications. The developed cross-platform prototype exploits the batched multi-resolution structures of the Nexus.js library as a dedicated lightweight web AR format and tests it against common formats and compression techniques. Built with AR.js and Three.js open-source libraries, it allows the overlay of the multi-resolution models by interactively adjusting the position, rotation and scale parameters. The proposed method includes real-time view-dependent rendering, geometric instancing and 3D pose regression for two types of AR: natural feature tracking (NFT) and location-based positioning for large and textured 3D overlays. The prototype achieves up to a 46% speedup in rendering time compared to optimized glTF models, while a 34 M vertices 3D model is visible in less than 4 s without degraded visual quality in slow 3D networks. The evaluation under various scenes and devices offers insights into how a multi-resolution scheme can be adopted in web AR for high-quality visualization and real-time performance.
A Methodology to Model the Rain and Fog Effect on the Performance of Automotive LiDAR Sensors
Authors: Haider Arsalan , Pigniczki Marcell , Koyama Shotaro , Köhler Michael H. , Haas Lukas , Fink Maximilian , Schardt Michael , Nagase Koji , Zeh Thomas , Eryildirim Abdulkadir , Poguntke Tim , Inoue Hideo , Jakobi Martin , Koch Alexander W.
Published: August 2023

In this work, we introduce a novel approach to model the rain and fog effect on the light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor performance for the simulation-based testing of LiDAR systems. The proposed methodology allows for the simulation of the rain and fog effect using the rigorous applications of the Mie scattering theory on the time domain for transient and point cloud levels for spatial analyses. The time domain analysis permits us to benchmark the virtual LiDAR signal attenuation and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) caused by rain and fog droplets. In addition, the detection rate (DR), false detection rate (FDR), and distance error derror of the virtual LiDAR sensor due to rain and fog droplets are evaluated on the point cloud level. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) is used to quantify the simulation and real measurement results on the time domain and point cloud levels for the rain and fog droplets. The results of the simulation and real measurements match well on the time domain and point cloud levels if the simulated and real rain distributions are the same. The real and virtual LiDAR sensor performance degrades more under the influence of fog droplets than in rain.
Research on Finger Pressure Tactile Sensor with Square Hole Structure Based on Fiber Bragg Grating
Authors: Lu Guan , Fu Shiwen , Zhu Tianyu , Xu Yiming
Published: August 2023

Aiming at the problems of lateral force interference and non-uniform strain of robot fingers in the process of pressure tactile sensing, a flexible tactile sensor with a square hole structure based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the optimal embedding depth of the FBG in the sensor matrix model was determined by finite element simulation. Secondly, according to the size of the finger knuckle and the simulation analysis based on the pressure tactile sensor element for the robot finger, the square hole structure was designed, and the overall dimensions of the sensing element and size of the square hole were determined. Thirdly, the FBG was embedded in the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastic matrix to make a sensor model, and the tactile sensor was fabricated. Finally, the FBG pressure tactile sensing system platform was built by using optical fiber sensing technology, and the experiment of the FBG tactile sensor was completed through the sensing system platform. Experimental results show that the tactile sensor designed in this paper has good repeatability and creep resistance. The sensitivity is 8.85 pm/N, and the resolution is 0.2 N. The loading sensitivity based on the robot finger is 27.3 pm/N, the goodness of fit is 0.996, and the average value of interference in the sensing process is 7.63%, which is lower than the solid structure sensor. These results verify that the sensor can effectively reduce the lateral force interference and solve the problem of non-uniform strain and has high fit with fingers, which has a certain application value for the research of robot pressure tactile intelligent perception.
YOLOv5s-DSD: An Improved Aerial Image Detection Algorithm Based on YOLOv5s
Authors: Sun Chaoyue , Chen Yajun , Xiao Ci , You Longxiang , Li Rongzhen
Published: August 2023

Due to the challenges of small detection targets, dense target distribution, and complex backgrounds in aerial images, existing object detection algorithms perform poorly in aerial image detection tasks. To address these issues, this paper proposes an improved algorithm called YOLOv5s-DSD based on YOLOv5s. Specifically, the SPDA-C3 structure is proposed and used to reduce information loss while focusing on useful features, effectively tackling the challenges of small detection targets and complex backgrounds. The novel decoupled head structure, Res-DHead, is introduced, along with an additional small object detection head, further improving the network’s performance in detecting small objects. The original NMS is replaced by Soft-NMS-CIOU to address the issue of neighboring box suppression caused by dense object distribution. Finally, extensive ablation experiments and comparative tests are conducted on the VisDrone2019 dataset, and the results demonstrate that YOLOv5s-DSD outperforms current state-of-the-art object detection models in aerial image detection tasks. The proposed improved algorithm achieves a significant improvement compared with the original algorithm, with an increase of 17.4% in mAP@0.5 and 16.4% in mAP@0.5:0.95, validating the superiority of the proposed improvements.
IRDC-Net: Lightweight Semantic Segmentation Network Based on Monocular Camera for Mobile Robot Navigation
Authors: Dang Thai-Viet , Tran Dinh-Manh-Cuong , Tan Phan Xuan
Published: August 2023

Computer vision plays a significant role in mobile robot navigation due to the wealth of information extracted from digital images. Mobile robots localize and move to the intended destination based on the captured images. Due to the complexity of the environment, obstacle avoidance still requires a complex sensor system with a high computational efficiency requirement. This study offers a real-time solution to the problem of extracting corridor scenes from a single image using a lightweight semantic segmentation model integrating with the quantization technique to reduce the numerous training parameters and computational costs. The proposed model consists of an FCN as the decoder and MobilenetV2 as the decoder (with multi-scale fusion). This combination allows us to significantly minimize computation time while achieving high precision. Moreover, in this study, we also propose to use the Balance Cross-Entropy loss function to handle diverse datasets, especially those with class imbalances and to integrate a number of techniques, for example, the Adam optimizer and Gaussian filters, to enhance segmentation performance. The results demonstrate that our model can outperform baselines across different datasets. Moreover, when being applied to practical experiments with a real mobile robot, the proposed model’s performance is still consistent, supporting the optimal path planning, allowing the mobile robot to efficiently and effectively avoid the obstacles.
Estimation of Wind Speed Based on Schlieren Machine Vision System Inspired by Greenhouse Top Vent
Authors: Li Huang , Li Angui , Zhang Linhua , Hou Yicun , Yang Changqing , Chen Lu , Lu Na
Published: August 2023

Greenhouse ventilation has always been an important concern for agricultural workers. This paper aims to introduce a low-cost wind speed estimating method based on SURF (Speeded Up Robust Feature) feature matching and the schlieren technique for airflow mixing with large temperature differences and density differences like conditions on the vent of the greenhouse. The fluid motion is directly described by the pixel displacement through the fluid kinematics analysis. Combining the algorithm with the corresponding image morphology analysis and SURF feature matching algorithm, the schlieren image with feature points is used to match the changes in air flow images in adjacent frames to estimate the velocity from pixel change. Through experiments, this method is suitable for the speed estimation of turbulent or disturbed fluid images. When the supply air speed remains constant, the method in this article obtains 760 sets of effective feature matching point groups from 150 frames of video, and approximately 500 sets of effective feature matching point groups are within 0.1 difference of the theoretical dimensionless speed. Under the supply conditions of high-frequency wind speed changes and compared with the digital signal of fan speed and data from wind speed sensors, the trend of wind speed changes is basically in line with the actual changes. The estimation error of wind speed is basically within 10%, except when the wind speed supply suddenly stops or the wind speed is 0 m/s. This method involves the ability to estimate the wind speed of air mixing with different densities, but further research is still needed in terms of statistical methods and experimental equipment.
Teaching the Greek Language in Multicultural Classrooms Using English as a Lingua Franca: Teachers’ Perceptions, Attitudes, and Practices
Authors: Giannakou Aretousa , Karalia Kyriaki
Published: August 2023

The present study examines teachers’ perceptions, attitudes, and practices regarding the use of English as a lingua franca (ELF) to teach Greek as a second language (L2) in multicultural classrooms in Greece, a largely underexplored area in the field of applied linguistics. The research was based on self-reports collected through questionnaires, written accounts, metaphor elicitation, and semi-structured interviews provided by 20 teachers of young learners with a migrant background in public schools in Greece. The findings showed that the classroom discourse takes place mainly in the target language, i.e., Greek, and ELF was also reported to be used by both teachers and learners for specific functions, such as vocabulary translation, explanation of grammar rules, and checking for comprehension. As reported by the participants, both teachers and learners welcome the idea of ELF use because a sense of security and comfort is provided through its employment. The study suggests that ELF may allow a smooth transition into the new social reality of the host country and a better approach of L2 Greek for young learners with a migrant background in the context of multilingual and intercultural education.
Improvement of Biogas Production Using Biochar from Digestate at Different Pyrolysis Temperatures during OFMSW Anaerobic Digestion
Authors: Alghashm Shakib , Song Lin , Liu Lulu , Ouyang Chuang , Zhou John L. , Li Xiaowei
Published: August 2023

Anaerobic digestion (AD) was utilized to treat the ever-growing amount of organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) generated due to population growth and the expansion of the global economy. The widespread application of AD has led to a continuous increase in residual solid digestate that necessarily requires further disposal. Improving AD efficiency and reducing the large amount of digestate is necessary. This study investigated the chemical and physical characteristics of biochar derived from digestate at different pyrolysis temperatures (300 °C, 500 °C, and 700 °C), as well as corn stover biochar at 500 °C, and their effects on AD performance. The pH value of the biochar increased with an increase in pyrolysis temperature while the electrical conductivity decreased. Macropores dominated the biochar’s pore size, and decreased with an increased pyrolysis temperature. The biochar preparation temperature significantly influenced the AD efficiency. Biochar prepared at 700 °C outperformed the other groups, improving the biogas production yields by 10.0%, effectively shortening the lag time, and increasing the average chemical oxygen demand (COD) degradation rate by 14.0%. The addition of biochar (700 °C) and corn stover biochar increased the relative abundance of the volatile fatty acid (VFAs)-oxidizing bacteria Syntrophomonadaceae, which expedited the acid conversion in AD systems. Biochar facilitated direct interspecies electron transfer between DMER64 and Trichococcus with Methanosaeta, enhancing the biogas production performance. These findings confirmed that the biochar derived from digestate promoted biogas production and acid conversion in the AD system of OFMSW. Furthermore, biochar has an improved AD stability, which represents a promising approach to recycling digestate.
Environmental Attitudes among Youth: How Much Do the Educational Characteristics of Parents and Young People Matter?
Authors: Kirbiš Andrej
Published: August 2023

Research shows that education increases environmental attitudes, yet there is a lack of studies examining young people’s attitudes and the role of various educational characteristics in youth’s environmental engagement. The main aim of our study was to examine how several educational characteristics of young people and their parents impact youth’s environmental attitudes. We employed a survey sample of 14–34-year-olds (N = 1508; Mage = 19.25 years) collected in January 2020. The impact of five educational variables was tested: maternal and paternal educational level; students’ educational stage (primary, secondary and tertiary school students); educational track of secondary students (vocational, professional and general); and youth’s educational status (currently in education vs. not in education). We controlled for several demographic and economic confounding factors in multivariate analyses. These indicate significant between-track differences in environmental attitudes among secondary school students, while educational status and educational stage have no significant impact on environmental attitudes. In addition, the father’s (but not the mother’s) education increases Slovenian youngsters’ environmental attitudes. As findings indicate significant differences between educational tracks of secondary students independent of their parental education and other personal and family characteristics, educators may want to revise vocational and professional secondary school syllabuses to include an increased number of environmental, climate change and sustainability topics.
A Longitudinal History-Based Review of the Product-Service System: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Kohlbeck Eloiza , Cauchick-Miguel Paulo Augusto , Mendes Glauco Henrique de Sousa , Zomer Thayla Tavares de Sousa
Published: August 2023

The research field of product-service systems (PSS) has experienced rapid growth since it emerged at the end of the 80s. Consequently, the conceptual structure of the PSS research field has expanded, and this phenomenon has driven novel research topics and future trends. This study analyzes the evolution and conceptual structure of the PSS research field since its emergence. A systematic literature review based on a bibliometric analysis was conducted, followed by a co-keyword analysis and content analysis, aiming to develop a historical overview of the nature of the research. The dataset involved 868 studies published between 1988 and 2022. The results present an analysis of the evolution of the literature in the following periods: (i) from 1988 to 2015, referred to in this study as the ‘past’, and (ii) from 2016 to 2022 (the ‘present’). A comparative analysis of the two periods is carried out, and the main topics and research trends and perspectives for future studies are identified (the ‘future’). Some of the main research topics include digitalization and sustainability, for which discussions on smart PSS, life-cycle management, ecodesign, knowledge management, development of assessment tools, simulation, and modeling technologies, have appeared. Research opportunities for future studies aligned with those topics are also identified, e.g., map key success factors to positive implementation of proposals that reconcile PSS with digitalization.
Mental Health in the Post-Pandemic Period: Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Peruvian University Students upon Return to Face-to-Face Classes
Authors: Farfán-Latorre Marilú , Estrada-Araoz Edwin Gustavo , Lavilla-Condori Willian Gerardo , Ulloa-Gallardo Nelly Jacqueline , Calcina-Álvarez Dominga Asunción , Meza-Orue Llen Alin , Yancachajlla-Quispe Luis Iván , Rengifo Ramírez Sheyla Shericza
Published: August 2023

Mental health is considered an indicator of well-being in which people perceive their own potential, can face adverse life situations, function adequately and fruitfully, and are capable of contributing to society. In this sense, the objective of the present investigation was to evaluate depression, anxiety, and stress in Peruvian university students upon their return to face-to-face classes. The quantitative approach was used, the design was non-experimental, and the type was descriptive of a cross-section. The sample consisted of 746 students who were administered the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, an instrument with adequate psychometric properties. The results indicate that the students presented low levels of depression and anxiety. However, they presented moderate levels of stress. High, direct, and significant correlations were also reported between depression and anxiety (rs = 0.850; p < 0.05), between depression and stress (rs = 0.840; p < 0.05), and between anxiety and stress (rs = 0.836; p < 0.05). It was also determined that depression, anxiety, and stress were significantly associated with some sociodemographic factors such as gender and age group (p < 0.05). It was concluded that the students presented symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Therefore, it is necessary for university authorities to implement strategies for the evaluation and prevention of these symptoms and for the promotion of better mental health in future professionals to promote their personal well-being and quality of life.
Consumer Trust in AI Algorithms Used in E-Commerce: A Case Study of College Students at a Romanian Public University
Authors: Teodorescu Daniel , Aivaz Kamer-Ainur , Vancea Diane Paula Corine , Condrea Elena , Dragan Cristian , Olteanu Ana Cornelia
Published: August 2023

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the factors associated with trust in AI algorithms used in the e-commerce industry in Romania. The motivation for conducting this analysis arose from the observation of a research gap in the Romanian context regarding this specific topic. The researchers utilized a non-probability convenience sample of 486 college students enrolled at a public university in Romania, who participated in a web-based survey focusing on their attitudes towards AI in e-commerce. The findings obtained from an ordinal logistic model indicated that trust in AI is significantly influenced by factors such as transparency, familiarity with other AI technologies, perceived usefulness of AI recommenders, and the students’ field of study. To ensure widespread acceptance and adoption by consumers, it is crucial for e-commerce companies to prioritize building trust in these new technologies. This study makes significant contributions to our understanding of how young consumers in Romania perceive and evaluate AI algorithms utilized in the e-commerce sector. The findings provide valuable guidance for e-commerce practitioners in Romania seeking to effectively leverage AI technologies while building trust among their target audience.
Research on the Development Level, Spatiotemporal Evolution Characteristics, and Sustainable Development Path of the Digital Business Environment
Authors: Guo Songliang , Yuan Chunhui , Li Xiaolong
Published: August 2023

This paper aims to measure the development level and dynamic evolutionary characteristics of the digital business environment, and explore its sustainable development strategies, which would contribute to the sustainable development of the digital economy. This study employs ecosystem theory to construct evaluation indicators for the digital business environment. Utilizing panel data from 272 cities in China between 2011 and 2020, the study applies the entropy weight method to measure the development level of China’s digital business environment. It further examines the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and sustainable development strategy of the digital business environment using methods such as kernel density estimation, Markov chain analysis, Moran’s I index analysis, Dagum’s Gini coefficient calculation and decomposition, and fsQCA analysis. The results indicate that the digital business environment steadily increased during the study period. Furthermore, there has been a gradual acceleration in the upward trend since 2017, with a higher probability of transition from cities with lower levels of the digital business environment to neighboring cities with higher levels. Cities with higher development levels are experiencing an increasing gap compared to the average level. There is a significant spatial positive autocorrelation in the efficiency of the digital business environment among Chinese cities, exhibiting a distribution pattern of “high-high” and “low-low” in spatial terms. Dagum’s Gini coefficient reveals that the regional differences serve as the primary source of spatial distribution disparities in the digital business environment, and there are four configuration paths to promote a sustainable digital business environment. Moreover, our findings have implications for policy makers, such as increasing investment in digital infrastructure, leveraging the spatial spillover effects of regions with a high level of digital business environment development, and enhancing the diffusion mechanism for optimizing the digital business environment.
Synergies and Trade-Offs between Biodiversity and Carbon in Ecological Compensation
Authors: Yirdaw Eshetu , Kanninen Markku , Monge Adrian
Published: August 2023

Ecological compensation, which is widely applied, is presumed to be an important mechanism to address environmental degradation that commonly occurs due to activities related to development projects and resource use. The objectives of this review are to investigate synergies and trade-offs between biodiversity and carbon offset, the challenges in their implementation, and the potential of biodiversity and/or carbon offsets to be used as a proxy for other ecosystem functions in the implementation of ecological compensation. In comparison to carbon offsets, the implementation of biodiversity offsets are more challenging due to difficulties in biodiversity measurement, determining ecological equivalence, the relatively longer time taken, the higher level of uncertainty, the uniqueness of ecosystems, and the irreversibility of species loss. Generally, there is a positive relationship between biodiversity and carbon stocks; however, there are also cases where there are no clear or even negative relationships between biodiversity and carbon stocks. Ecosystem functions are directly or indirectly affected by environmental degradation, and ecological compensation measures usually compensate for only a few components of the ecosystem functions. Since biodiversity is interconnected and underpins ecosystem functions, it has the potential to be used solely or as one of the proxies. However, we recommend developing a sound methodology to rank the important ecosystem functions and identify the few ecosystem functions, which can be used as proxies to indicate the achievement of ecological compensation goals.
Development and Validation of the Climate Capability Scale
Authors: Horry Ruth , Rudd Jennifer A. , Ross Helen , Skains R. Lyle
Published: August 2023

Climate change poses a serious existential threat to life on our planet. If we are to mitigate the most damaging impacts of climate change, there is a need for citizens who are willing and able to make changes to their individual behaviours, but who are also politically engaged and motivated to participate in, and advocate for, systemic change; there is a need for citizens who are Climate Capable. However, there is no scale currently available with which to measure the climate capability of adults and adolescents. Through an iterative process across three studies with 849 UK adults, we developed and validated a 24-item Climate Capability Scale. In a further study, with 458 UK adolescent participants (aged 12–15), we validated the scale for use with adolescents. We demonstrate that the scale is internally consistent, has good test–retest reliability, correlates with measures of related constructs such as environmental worldview and scientific literacy, and predicts self-reported pro-environmental behaviour. The Climate Capability Scale may have particular value in educational and public engagement contexts for measuring the effectiveness of programs and interventions designed to increase Climate Capability, as well as similar approaches to heighten engagement with the climate crisis.
Study on the Impact of Common Institutional Ownership on Corporate Green Transformation in the Context of “Dual Carbon”: Evidence from China
Authors: Wu Jingtai , Cai Xinyi , Zuo Fei , Dong Yue
Published: August 2023

Corporate green transformation is important for the realization of China’s “double carbon” goal and the construction of a green economy, but existing studies only explored the role of policy factors or internal corporate factors in influencing them, ignoring the driving factors of corporate green transformation in an industry. Based on the perspective of inter-industry enterprise linkage, combined with principal–agent theory and signaling theory, this study uses the data of Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2021 and employs multiple linear regression to investigate the impact of common institutional ownership on corporate green transformation and its mechanism of action. The empirical findings show that common institutional ownership can significantly promote corporate green transformation, and the findings still hold after robustness tests. Principal–agent costs, total factor productivity, financing constraints, and business credit play a partial mediating role in this, and common institutional ownership has a better promotion effect on the enhancement of the degree of the green transformation of enterprises in non-heavily polluted industries. The results of this study not only can enrich the research on the economic consequences of joint institutional ownership but also have important guiding significance for China to promote the green transformation of enterprises and build a green economic system.
Employee Performance Implications of CSR for Organizational Resilience in the Banking Industry: The Mediation Role of Psychological Empowerment
Authors: Dekoulou Paraskevi (Evi) , Anastasopoulou Anna , Trivellas Panagiotis
Published: August 2023

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been found to be important in boosting organizations’ sustainability and resilience against crisis. Although employees constitute key internal stakeholders for CSR, limited attention has been paid to them. The purpose of this research is to examine how employee perceptions of CSR activities affect employee performance through their sense of psychological empowerment. Drawing upon a sample of 203 employees in the Cypriot banking sector, a structured questionnaire was administered to measure employee performance, psychological empowerment, and CSR activities as perceived by employees. The analysis of data, based on path modeling using the partial least squares (PLS) approach, confirms the mediating role of psychological empowerment between CSR activities (philanthropic, ethical, and environmental) and job performance. This study contributes to the theoretical evolvement of the CSR literature, as it established the mediating role that psychological empowerment plays between perceived CSR and job performance. The findings suggest that CSR should be treated not just as a pressing obligation but as a dynamic investment in organizational effectiveness, sustainability, and resilience because positive employee perceptions of CSR can contribute to staff empowerment and indirectly to job performance.
Investigating the Impacts of Urban–Rural Bus Service Quality on Rural Residents’ Travel Choices Using an SEM–MNL Integration Model
Authors: Cui Hongjun , Li Mingzhi , Zhu Minqing , Ma Xinwei
Published: August 2023

The high-quality development of urban–rural buses is an important way to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas. However, studies on the quality of bus services and its impact on bus travel-mode choice have mostly focused on urban buses, with less attention paid to urban–rural buses. This paper aims to explore how urban–rural bus service quality affects rural residents’ travel-mode-choice behavior based on survey data from rural residents in Henan Province, China. A structural equation model (SEM) is applied to examine the critical factors affecting rural residents’ satisfaction with urban–rural bus service quality and the heterogeneity of satisfaction among rural residents with different attributes. Furthermore, an integrated approach of SEM and the multinomial logit (MNL) model is proposed to identify the key factors that affect rural residents’ bus travel-mode choice. The results indicate that reliability and convenience are the key factors affecting satisfaction with urban–rural bus service quality. There are significant differences in rural residents’ satisfaction by gender, age, income, education level, occupation, and travel-mode attributes. Urban–rural bus service quality has a significant positive impact on rural residents’ bus travel-choice behavior, and its degree of influence is greater than all explicit variables except private car ownership. The findings of this study can help operators and governments formulate policies to improve the service quality of urban–rural buses and ultimately promote the use of buses.
Consumer Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Clams with Sustainability Certification in Mediterranean Countries
Authors: Xhakollari Vilma , Ahmadi Kaliji Sina , Cerjak Marija , Kovačić Damir , Mulazzani Luca , Camanzi Luca
Published: August 2023

For some types of seafood, such as clams, there are now sustainability certificates that guarantee their sustainable production. However, their consumption may be associated with some ethical and sustainability concerns, as clams are harvested in ways that may be harmful to the environment. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate consumers’ sustainability concerns based on their purchasing preferences and WTP for clams with sustainability certification in three Mediterranean countries—Italy, Spain and Croatia. Data were collected online and consumer preferences were elicited using a labelled discrete choice experiment. The results show that in general all consumers prefer clams from their country of origin, while there are differences in their appreciation for the sustainability certification. While Croatian consumers are not very interested in the current Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainability certification, consumers in Spain are willing to pay a higher price for it. At the same time, consumers in Italy are more interested in new certifications such as Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM). These results could be of interest to clam production and distribution companies trying to advance their corporate social responsibility activities and positioning.
The Effect of Energy Consumption, Income, and Population Growth on CO2 Emissions: Evidence from NARDL and Machine Learning Models
Authors: Ahmed Mansoor , Huan Wen , Ali Nafees , Shafi Ahsan , Ehsan Muhsan , Abdelrahman Kamal , Khan Anser Ali , Abbasi Saiq Shakeel , Fnais Mohammed S.
Published: August 2023

With population and income growth, the need for energy has increased in developing and emerging economies, which has inevitably led to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions (CO2e). This paper investigates the impact of energy consumption on CO2e influenced by population growth, energy consumption per capita, and income. In particular, this paper investigates whether or not an increase in energy consumption, energy intensity, energy consumption per capita, population growth, and income impacts CO2e in China, India, and the USA. The study applied the non-linear Autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) and machine learning techniques. We found a significant impact of energy consumption per capita on the CO2 emissions in China, India, and USA. Furthermore, the results revealed that, when income increased, CO2 emissions increased in India, but decreased in the USA. The results confirmed that population growth increases CO2 emissions only in India. The results revealed that a decrease in energy intensity significantly improves the environmental quality in China and India. Finally, we forecasted the CO2e trend from 2017 to 2025. The results revealed an upcoming increase in CO2e levels in China and India. Conversely, the forecasted results demonstrated a downward trend of CO2e emissions in the USA.
The Global Growth of ‘Sustainable Diet’ during Recent Decades, a Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Gialeli Maria , Troumbis Andreas Y. , Giaginis Constantinos , Papadopoulou Sousana K. , Antoniadis Ioannis , Vasios Georgios K.
Published: August 2023

The term ‘sustainable diets’ (SDs) was first introduced in the scientific literature in 1986 and later defined in detail by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as pertaining to those diets that can promote environmental health ad effectively ensure food and nutrition security as well as a healthy lifestyle in humans, combining the notion of sustainability with dietary patterns and their beneficial impacts. Since then, various international events have been held promoting sustainability as a significant component of food production, nutrition, and human health. These events have enhanced the knowledge transition and awareness between the scientific community and policymakers concerning the importance of SDs. In this aspect, this is the first study that aims to identify trends and turning points over time concerning the research on SDs. We performed a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 1407 scientific documents published in Scopus during the period 1986–2022. The documents were screened following the PRISMA guidelines, and bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Bibliometrix R-package and VOSviewer and the detection of Sustainable Development Goals with the text2sdg R-package. Overall, there was an exponential growth in the literature on SDs that followed international events from 2009 onward. Among the most impactful journals were Sustainability, Nutrients, and Frontiers in Nutrition. The leading countries in research were pointed out, as well as the high rate of collaborations and partnerships between them. The research interest was mainly focused on (a) climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental impact; (b) food systems, security, and consumption; and (c) health, Mediterranean Diet (MD), and dietary guidelines. The significance of these keywords changed over time, following the evolution of SDs concepts from the planetary environmental impact of food production to the healthier dietary habits of individuals. Among several dietary patterns, MD was identified as the most popular among the local SDs, with synergies among scientists in the Mediterranean region. Overall, the novelty of this study is the mapping of the expansion of knowledge over the last 36 years regarding the term SDs while taking into consideration international events and their impact on scientific research.
Exposure to Air Pollution in Transport Microenvironments
Authors: Marinello Samuele , Lolli Francesco , Coruzzolo Antonio Maria , Gamberini Rita
Published: August 2023

People spend approximately 90% of their day in confined spaces (at home, work, school or in transit). During these periods, exposure to high concentrations of atmospheric pollutants can pose serious health risks, particularly to the respiratory system. The objective of this paper is to define a framework of the existing literature on the assessment of air quality in various transport microenvironments. A total of 297 papers, published from 2002 to 2021, were analyzed with respect to the type of transport microenvironments, the pollutants monitored, the concentrations measured and the sampling methods adopted. The analysis emphasizes the increasing interest in this topic, particularly regarding the evaluation of exposure in moving cars and buses. It specifically focuses on the exposure of occupants to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs). Concentrations of these pollutants can reach several hundreds of µg/m3 in some cases, significantly exceeding the recommended levels. The findings presented in this paper serve as a valuable resource for urban planners and decision-makers in formulating effective urban policies.
Joint Control Strategy of Energy Storage System and Cutting Machine for Transient Stability of Direct Current Locking Rear Delivery Terminal System
Authors: Xing Chao , Xiao Jiajie , Li Peiqiang , Xi Xinze , Chen Yunhe , Guo Qi
Published: August 2023

With the gradual operation of large-capacity HVDC transmission, HVDC), the characteristics of the “strong and weak communication” of the power grid are increasingly obvious. The power impact of the DC line after locking has a great impact on the power angle stability of the system and seriously threatens the transient stability of the delivery end system. By establishing the equivalent model of the AC/DC system with the energy storage power station and analyzing the transient process after DC locking, we propose a control strategy for the transient stability of the energy storage system and the delivery system after DC locking. This strategy controls the charge and discharge of the energy storage system by collecting real-time power angle and voltage data of the grid, uses the equal area rule, and initiates the cutting machine after the energy storage system is withdrawn. To verify the validity and correctness of the proposed method, a simulation analysis was performed in a modified cross-flow CEPRI-36 node AC–DC system.
Research on the Evaluation of Cultural Ecosystem Services in Zhengzhou Urban Parks Based on Public Perceptions
Authors: Song Lili , Wu Moyu , Wu Yingying , Xu Xiaoyun , Xie Changfei
Published: August 2023

Urban parks are the primary green infrastructure for urban residents to pursue psychological restoration, promote health, relax and connect with nature. The various cultural ecosystem services (CES) provided by urban parks directly impact people’s health and well-being. Understanding the correlation between CES provided by urban parks and the different characteristics of specific groups can promote public willingness to engage with the nature and their health and well-being, and the effective information provided by CES can be used to protect and improve specific or traditional areas of parks. This study focuses on two urban parks (People’s Park and Xiliu Lake Park) located in the central urban area of Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China. A questionnaire survey and participatory mapping methods were employed to explore the priority for 10 types of CES among both local residents and visitors, aiming to reveal the public demand for CES in urban parks and provide a basis for the landscape design or renovation of urban parks. The results show that (1) the main purposes for the public visiting the parks are mental relaxation, scenery appreciation, and leisure and fitness. (2) The public has a rich perception of various types of CES in the urban parks, especially in terms of entertainment and aesthetic value. (3) The impact of education level on cultural services was substantial. (4) The trade-offs and synergies of CES of urban parks are complex and diverse. (5) The public’s perception of urban park CES and spatial value tend to be similar, with a wide distribution. Therefore, to maintain urban sustainable development, urban managers and landscape designers should consider different perspectives on CES provided by urban park stakeholders and enhance their CES through landscape design and renovation practices in urban parks, thereby improving the health and well-being of the public.
Experimental Investigations on the Response of Bedload Sediment to Vibration
Authors: Yuan Jun , Wang Pingyi , Wang Meili , Wang Mi
Published: August 2023

Research results on sediment vibration characteristics are scarce, and knowledge on the effect of the particle size on the sediment vibration response is still limited. In this study, natural pebbles of different heights—A, B and C—were selected (hA < hB < hC). Miniature acceleration sensors were installed inside the pebble. Experimental methods were used to measure the vibration process of pebbles on the rough bed surface and to measure the near-bed velocities simultaneously. The test results show that the sequence of pebble vibration and entrainment is A-C-B as the flow rate increases. The vibration intensity of pebbles A and B tended to increase before approaching the entrainment threshold but weakened when approaching the entrainment threshold; the vibration frequency, on the contrary, first decreased and then increased. The vibration intensity of pebble C decreased first and then increased, and when approaching the entrainment threshold, it rolled directly. The vibration frequency first increased and then decreased, and near the entrainment threshold, there was no vibration. Thus, it was demonstrated that with the increase in pebble height, the average vibration intensity increases, and the average vibration frequency decreases. The results of this research provide a reference for exploring the dynamic mechanism of the bed load in mountain rivers.