bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deinking of Screen-Printed Electrodes Printed on Invasive Plant-Based Paper
Authors: Kavčič Urška , Karlovits Igor , Zule Janja
Published: February 2020

The deinking of paper-based printed electronics is a growing concern regarding the increase of printed electronics products. The benefits of using paper-based substrates instead of polymer or ceramic for the single-use printed electrodes can contribute to sustainability goals. The use of invasive plant species for making paper substrates for printed electronics is a unique opportunity to have several environmental benefits. In this study, the recycling issue of these products through the use of the deinking technique was evaluated. Screen-printed electrodes printed on an invasive plant-based paper and commercial cardboard were deinked, and their optical, morphological, and silver residues in paper and corresponding water extract were analyzed. The invasive plant-based paper had higher silver content in the recycled paper sheets, which influenced the optical and surface resistivity and residue ink particle number. On the other hand, the surface-treated cardboard had lower silver particle content after deinking, but higher silver concentrations in the water extract. The results indicate that ink-paper surface and ink-fibre interaction and adhesion is vital in the ink silver particles binding during the deinking process.
Evidence-Based Landscape Architecture for Human Health and Well-Being
Authors: Brown Robert D. , Corry Robert C.
Published: February 2020

More than 80% of the people in the USA and Canada live in cities. Urban development replaces natural environments with built environments resulting in limited access to outdoor environments which are critical to human health and well-being. In addition, many urban open spaces are unused because of poor design. This paper describes case studies where traditional landscape architectural design approaches would have compromised design success, while evidence-based landscape architecture (EBLA) resulted in a successful product. Examples range from school-yard design that provides safe levels of solar radiation for children, to neighborhood parks and sidewalks that encourage people to walk and enjoy nearby nature. Common characteristics for integrating EBLA into private, public, and academic landscape architecture practice are outlined along with a discussion of some of the opportunities and barriers to implementation.
Impact of a Balanced Scorecard as a Strategic Management System Tool to Improve Sustainable Development: Measuring the Mediation of Organizational Performance through PLS-Smart
Authors: Rafiq Muhammad , Zhang XingPing , Yuan Jiahai , Naz Shumaila , Maqbool Saif
Published: February 2020

The study was carried out to investigate the empirical effect of a strategic management system on sustainable development by using a balanced scorecard (BSC), as a theoretical lens, and organizational performance, as an intervening variable. The study incorporated a positivism research paradigm in order to address the objective nature of research. As the current study has an empirical and impartial nature, a quantitative method was considered the best method for achieving the research objectives of the study. The study used questionnaires as a data collection instrument. In total, three hundred questionnaires were disturbed among Chinese power companies based in Pakistan. A stratified-random sampling approach was adopted to reach relevant respondents. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling was used for statistical analysis. BSC indicated a positive influence on sustainable development. Additionally, organizational performance depicted partial mediation between the strategic management system and sustainable development. The study underpins the theoretical foundation of a resource-based view (RBV) and a balanced scorecard view of the strategic management system. The findings suggest that non-financial measures have better consequences for employees’ performance, making them ecologically responsive, unlike the financial performance measures used previously. The study suggests taking measures related to wastage and usage of inimitable resources that focus on in-addition rather traditional measures, which can allow sustainable development.
Modeling Green Energy Development Based on Sustainable Economic Growth in China
Authors: Zhang Zhijuan , Lis Marcin
Published: February 2020

Industrial development of the economic system of any state is directly related to the use of energy potential. China’s industrial breakthrough is no exception. Today, China is one of the largest importers–consumers of oil, whose economy is extremely dependent on the energy market. The growing production and population, as well as climatic changes that directly determine the well-being of society, have become the causal basis for the development of alternative ways of generating energy. The aim of the study is to model the implementation of the sustainable development strategy in China through the production and use of biofuels. The simulation is made taking into account the following. The production capacities of Chinese licensed producers of fuel ethanol are calculated. The efficiency of bioethanol production from various types of biological raw materials is evaluated. An economic and mathematical model of bioethanol production is built. The article forecasts the profitability of bioethanol sales from various types of biological raw materials (sugar sorghum, corn) in Chinese and European markets. The study comprehensively reveals the features of the use of biofuels in an industrial country, taking into account geopolitical factors, social and market contexts, as well as technical analysis of the raw materials and production potential of Chinese companies. The article also interprets the economic processes associated with the introduction of biofuels in the ecological and economic systems of China. The article demonstrates other concepts regarding the consequences of the energy sector’s transition to the principles of energy production from biomass. The article shows the contradictory nature of the impact of biofuel production on the food market and the agricultural sector. The article analyzes possible social, resource and macroeconomic risks, and also indicates possible vectors for further research that might be aimed at diversifying the associated negative processes.
Effect of Stage Volume Ratio on Audience Acoustics in Concert Halls
Authors: Jeon Jin Yong , Seo Rosa , Jo Hyun In
Published: February 2020

This report proposes the stage volume ratio (Vo/V) as an acoustic design factor for concert halls and presents an investigation of the dependence of the acoustic parameters of an auditorium on the stage volume through computer simulation. Firstly, the ratio of the stage volume to the total volume of a concert hall was defined as Vo/V through case studies of existing concert halls. It was verified using a simple model that the stage acoustic parameter STEarly and audience acoustic parameters G and C80 decreased, whereas, the reverberation time and early decay time increased with increasing Vo/V. Secondly, a computer simulation was performed for nine existing concert halls, while changing Vo/V from −20% to 30%. The room acoustic parameters exhibited the same patterns as suggested by the simple model. Vo/V significantly affected the bass ratio and bass index. A comparison of the effects of Vo/V and the sound absorption coefficient in nine concert halls revealed that Vo/V contributed approximately 15% to the reverberation and affected the bass characteristics more substantially. Thus, Vo/V is a critical design factor when determining the warmth of the audience acoustics. The study results could be used as a basis for acoustic design in the future.
Long High-Performance Sustainable Bolt Technology for the Deep Coal Roadway Roof: A Case Study
Authors: Yang Houqiang , Han Changliang , Zhang Nong , Sun Yuantian , Pan Dongjiang , Sun Changlun
Published: February 2020

High-efficiency maintenance and control of the deep coal roadway roof stability is a reliable guarantee for safe production and sustainable development of a coal mine. With belt haulage roadway 3108 in MenKeqing coal mine as the research background, in situ investigation, theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and engineering practice were carried out to reveal the law of improving the bearing state of bolts by increasing the thickness of the roof anchoring layer. Also, the mechanism of the high-efficiency and long anchoring of the roof is revealed. Results show that increasing thickness of the roof anchorage layer could mobilize deep rock mass to participate in the bearing and promote the bolt to increase the resistance in a timely manner to limit the deformation of rock mass. Through the close link between shallow soft rock mass and deep stable rock mass, the deformation of the shallow rock mass is well controlled and so are the development and expansion of the roof separated fissures from shallow to deep. Long high-performance sustainable bolt technology for roof are proposed and carried out to control the stability of the deep roadway roof. Engineering practice indicates that deformations of roof could be efficiently controlled. The maximum deformations of the roof and sidewall-to-sidewall are 17 mm and 24 mm, respectively. No obvious separation fissures are found in the anchoring range of roof. This study provides a reference for roof stability control of deep roadway under similar conditions.
Predicting Unconfined Compressive Strength Decrease of Carbonate Building Materials against Frost Attack Using Nondestructive Physical Tests
Authors: Abdelhamid Marzouk Mohamed Aly , Li Dong , Ren Gaofeng
Published: February 2020

Carbonate building materials and engineering constructions are exposed to severe seasonal environmental fluctuations and result in a full or partial disintegration, especially in cold regions, and employment of nondestructive methods for evaluating the durability of building materials subject to frost weathering is gaining great significance. This research aims to obtain reliable relationships between unconfined compressive strength decrease and nondestructive parameters variations of limestone types under frost conditions and provide useful information regarding their durability in order to ensure the long-term viability or sustainability of these materials used for constructions against frost conditions. In this study, five important types of Chinese limestone used as construction materials were subjected to 50 frost cycles. Unconfined compressive strength, compressional wave velocity and spatial attenuation, and porosity were obtained at the end of every 10 cycles. As a result of progression in frost cycles, the increase and decrease rates were determined at the end of every 10 cycles, and the relationships between them were obtained to predict the loss ratios of unconfined compressive strength (RDσc). Results indicated that at the end of 40th cycles, there was a high correlation between RDσc and spatial attenuation loss with an R2 of 0.8584. Furthermore, there was also a strong relationship between RDσc and compressional wave velocity decrease after the end of 20th and 50th cycles with an R2 of 0.9089 and 0.9025, respectively. Therefore, these relations are reliable to provide useful information for durability and viability of studied samples under frost conditions and support the use of the ultrasonic measurements. It can also be successfully used for pre-estimation of unconfined compressive strength loss of studied limestone types against frost weathering without any tests.
Structural Performance of Damaged Open-Web Type SRC Beam-Columns after Retrofitting
Authors: Fujinaga Takashi , Sun Yuping
Published: February 2020

The structural performance of damaged open-web type of steel encased reinforced concrete (SRC) beam-columns after retrofitting was experimentally investigated. The experimental parameters were the open-web type of the encased steel and the maximum tip displacement of the columns during the initial loading. First, each column was cyclically loaded to the targeted displacement. Subsequently, the test columns were retrofitted and reloaded. The damaged portions of each column were retrofitted with the polymer cement mortar, and the epoxy resin was injected into the cracks. The experimental results indicated that the measured stiffness of the retrofitted columns was lower than the initial ones, while the displacements experienced in each column were different. The lower stiffness might be attributed to deterioration of the concrete rigidity, low rigidity of the resin and imperfect injection of the resin. Numerical analyses were also conducted to evaluate the retrofitted column behavior. The effect of the strain hysteresis of concrete at the first loading was considered for the behavior at the second loading. The analytical results predicted the experimental behaviors fairly well, which implies the validity of the analytical methods presented in this paper for evaluating the structural performance of the retrofitted SRC columns.
Achieving and Monitoring Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Edwards D. Brent , Sustarsic Manca , Chiba Mina , McCormick Mark , Goo Melissa , Perriton Sara
Published: February 2020

This paper presents the results of a systematic review of literature (56 studies) related to Sustainable Development Goal 4.7. The goal of the research reported on here is to contribute to the discussion around strategies for working towards and monitoring SDG4.7 at the institutional level. Within this overarching focus, our review of the literature was designed to identify studies that have looked at both student learning and teacher education related to SDG4.7. This twin focus stems from the recognition that achieving the SDGs will be particularly difficult if policymakers are not attentive to both sides of the learning equation—that is, first, to the ways that teachers learn to teach about issues related to SDG4.7 and, then, the ways that students acquire this knowledge and are assessed. The five findings sections of this review correspond to the five areas of emphasis embedded in the language of SDG4.7, namely, education for (a) sustainable development, (b) human rights, (c) gender equality, (d) promoting of a culture of peace and non-violence, and (e) appreciation of cultural diversity. In accordance with the purpose of this review, the synthesis for each area of emphasis digs into the details of the educational interventions, monitoring and evaluation strategies, and results that are documented in the publications analyzed. Thus, this review can be useful for informing educational or pedagogical approaches related to SDG4.7, as well as for designing monitoring and evaluation tools for the SDGs.
Implementing Green Infrastructure for the Spatial Planning of Peri-Urban Areas in Geneva, Switzerland
Authors: Honeck Erica , Moilanen Atte , Guinaudeau Benjamin , Wyler Nicolas , Schlaepfer Martin , Martin Pascal , Sanguet Arthur , Urbina Loreto , von Arx Bertrand , Massy Joëlle , Fischer Claude , Lehmann Anthony
Published: February 2020

The concept of green infrastructure (GI) seeks to identify and prioritize areas of high ecological value for wildlife and people, to improve the integration of natural values in landscape planning decisions. In 2018, the canton of Geneva, Switzerland, established a roadmap for biodiversity conservation, which includes the operationalization of GI covering 30% of the territory by 2030. In this paper, we demonstrate a GI mapping framework in the canton of Geneva. Our approach is based on the combined assessment of three ‘pillars’, namely species’ distribution, landscape structure and connectivity, and ecosystem services, to optimize the allocation of conservation actions using the spatial prioritization software, Zonation. The identified priority conservation areas closely overlap existing natural reserves. Including the three pillars in the landscape prioritization should also improve adhesion to the GI idea, without undermining the protection of threatened species. With regards to land use planning, public and private land parcels with high values for GI may require specific incentives to maintain their desirable characteristics, as they are more likely to be degraded than areas with more building restrictions. Visualizing priority conservation areas in a spatially explicit manner will support decision-makers in Geneva to optimally allocate limited resources for ecosystem preservation.
Organic Foods in Diets of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Dziuba Szymon , Cierniak-Emerych Anna , Klímová Blanka , Poulová Petra , Napora Piotr , Szromba Sylwia
Published: February 2020

Sustainable consumption is increasingly being promoted in the face of the decreasing amount of natural resources in the world. In general, sustainable consumption means using products and services that meet human basic needs while minimizing the consumption of natural resources and reducing waste. At this point, it is worth noting that the production of organic foods is conducive to the development of sustainable consumption through, e.g., natural methods of production, without the use of artificial fertilizers and crop protection chemicals. Nowadays, more and more emphasis is put on the correlations between health and diets. Consumers who care for their health often choose organic food. Therefore, the focus of this study was on the identification and presentation of the interest in organic foods among people who provide care to patients with Alzheimer’s disease. In order to achieve this aim, the theoretical part of the study attempted to demonstrate, on the one hand, the benefits of organic food and, on the other hand, the specific nutrition of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The achievement of the study aim was supported by the analysis of the related literature, including the results obtained by other authors. The results of the authors’ own survey conducted in 2017–2018 were also used, with the respondents being the carers and potential carers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and medical specialists. A statistical analysis was also carried out, including Pearson’s test analysis and a correspondence analysis. The literature survey and empirical examinations led to the conclusion that organic food is characterized by health benefits which should be taken into consideration during planning of diets for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Carers indicated the deficiency of knowledge concerning demanded diet components. They intuitively perceive the need for using organic food due to its health benefits and for the implementation of the principles of sustainable consumption. Carers are unable to identify the values which would help improve the health of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Characteristics of the Spatio-Temporal Trends and Driving Factors of Industrial Development and Industrial SO2 Emissions Based on Niche Theory: Taking Henan Province as an Example
Authors: Zhang Pengyan , Zhang Yu , Lee Jay , Li Yanyan , Yang Jiaxin , Geng Wenliang , Liu Ying , Rong Tianqi , Shao Jingwen , Li Bin
Published: February 2020

Industrial development is critical in improving a nation’s economy and in how it consumes energy resources. However, such development often causes environmental problems. Among others, the haze caused by industrial SO2 emissions is particularly prominent. Based on Niche theory and combined with Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA, a decoupling index model, and a Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) factor decomposition model, this paper reports a study on the spatio-temporal distribution and the driving factors of industrial development and industrial SO2 emissions of cities in Henan, China between 2005 and 2014. The results showed that over the studied period in Henan: (1) SO2 emissions reduced by 4.56 × 105 tons and showed a slowly decreasing trend, which gradually transitioned to a “green health” industrial structure in Henan cities; (2) studied cities with high and low industrial niche values (0.038–0.139) showed an absolute decoupling relationship between industrial development and industrial SO2 emissions; (3) except for Zhengzhou city and Hebi city, other studied cities showed a trend of gradually increasing industrial output; (4) along with increases in the values of industrial output, studied cities showed increased levels of SO2 emissions but with energy intensity and energy structure showing a fluctuating trend of increases and decreases in their contributions to SO2 emissions; and (5) the energy consumption intensity and environmental technology were critical factors that were conducive to industrial SO2 emissions and the evolving industrial structure. These findings are important for the control of industrial SO2 emissions, though the levels of their influences are different in different cities. The scale of industrial production and the composition of energy structure in a region could lead to further deterioration of industrial SO2 emissions in the future.
Energy Savings on an Industrial Building in Different Climate Zones: Envelope Analysis and PV System Implementation
Authors: Espino-Reyes Carlos A. , Ortega-Avila Naghelli , Rodriguez-Muñoz Norma A.
Published: February 2020

The energy market in Mexico is facing changes due to the incorporation of clean energy certificates (CEL) on the Electric Industry Law (LIE, Ley de la Industria Electrica). One of the aims is to increase the percentage of clean energy use in the national energy matrix. Consequently, the integration of energy efficiency strategies prior to the incorporation of renewables has become essential at different levels. Industrial buildings have significant heat gains and losses through the envelope, mainly due to their vast surface and simple construction systems. This work analyses the typical envelopes of industrial buildings in Mexico and the effect of industrial rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems over the annual energy consumption. It was found that for temperate climates, the best option would be to insulate the roof. For cities with warm climates, the best approach is to implement a cool roof on a non-insulated layer or to simply insulate the roof. Additionally, the industrial buildings with metallic roofs situated in warmer climates would benefit the most from the implementation of rooftop PV systems. After all, the results point out that the decrease in the required CELs would not influence the savings.
Disproportionate Water Quality Impacts from the Century-Old Nautanen Copper Mines, Northern Sweden
Authors: Fischer Sandra , Rosqvist Gunhild , Chalov Sergey R. , Jarsjö Jerker
Published: February 2020

Pollution from small historical mining sites is usually overlooked, in contrast to larger ones. Especially in the Arctic, knowledge gaps remain regarding the long-term mine waste impacts, such as metal leakage, on water quality. We study the small copper (Cu) mines of Nautanen, northern Sweden, which had been in operation for only six years when abandoned approximately 110 years ago in 1908. Measurements from field campaigns in 2017 are compared to synthesized historical measurement data from 1993 to 2014, and our results show that concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Cd on-site as well as downstream from the mining site are order(s) of magnitude higher than the local background values. This is despite the small scale of the Nautanen mining site, the short duration of operation, and the long time since closure. Considering the small amount of waste produced at Nautanen, the metal loads from Nautanen are still surprisingly high compared to the metal loads from larger mines. We argue that disproportionately large amounts of metals may be added to surface water systems from the numerous small abandoned mining sites. Such pollution loads need to be accounted for in sustainable assessments of total pollutant pressures in the relatively vulnerable Arctic environment.
Integration of Boosted Regression Trees and Cellular Automata—Markov Model to Predict the Land Use Spatial Pattern in Hotan Oasis
Authors: Wang Shufang , Jiao Xiyun , Wang Liping , Gong Aimin , Sang Honghui , Salahou Mohamed Khaled , Zhang Liudong
Published: February 2020

The simulation and prediction of the land use changes is generally carried out by cellular automata—Markov (CA-Markov) model, and the generation of suitable maps collection is subjective in the simulation process. In this study, the CA-Markov model was improved by the Boosted Regression Trees (BRT) to simulate land use to make the model objectively. The weight of ten driving factors of the land use changes was analyzed in BRT, in order to produce the suitable maps collection. The accuracy of the model was verified. The outcomes represent a match of over 84% between simulated and actual land use in 2015, and the Kappa coefficient was 0.89, which was satisfactory to approve the calibration process. The land use of Hotan Oasis in 2025 and 2035 were predicted by means of this hybrid model. The area of farmland, built-up land and water body in Hotan Oasis showed an increasing trend, while the area of forestland, grassland and unused land continued to show a decreasing trend in 2025 and 2035. The government needs to formulate measures to improve the utilization rate of water resources to meet the growth of farmland, and need to increase ecological environment protection measures to curb the reduction of grass land and forest land for the ecological health.
Sustainable Animal Feed Protein through the Cultivation of YARROWIA Lipolytica on Agro-Industrial Wastes and by-Products
Authors: Patsios Sotiris I. , Dedousi Anna , Sossidou Evangelia Ν. , Zdragas Antonios
Published: February 2020

Proteins are essential constituents of animal feeds, which comprise mainly vegetable protein (e.g., soybean meal), which is produced and transported globally. The decoupling of protein-production and livestock-growth areas results in protein deficiencies in certain parts of the world, and in significant environmental stress. Alternative, more sustainable protein feeds are necessary to meet the increasing needs, and to decrease the environmental footprint of animal products. Yeast Single Cell Proteins (SCP), produced locally using various agro-industrial by-product streams, have significant potential as alternative animal feed protein. Particularly, Yarrowia lipolytica, an oleaginous, non-pathogenic microorganism has been characterized as a “workhorse” in biotechnological studies, drawing the attention of many researchers. The present review summarizes available resources on critical issues concerning the applicability and commercialization of Yarrowia lipolytica as an environment-friendly protein source for animal feed. It discusses the sustainability of the yeast SCP production process, it presents the recent advances concerning Yarrowia lipolytica cultivation on low-cost agro-industrial by-products, and it stresses the effects on the health and welfare of productive animals due to the inclusion of Yarrowia lipolytica in their diet. The data presented in this study should facilitate relative research advancement and the commercialization of Yarrowia lipolytica’s use as an alternative protein source/supplement for animal feeds.
Education and Disaster Vulnerability in Southeast Asia: Evidence and Policy Implications
Authors: Hoffmann Roman , Blecha Daniela
Published: February 2020

This article summarizes the growing theoretical and empirical literature on the impact of education on disaster vulnerability with a focus on Southeast Asia. Education and learning can take place in different environments in more or less formalized ways. They can influence disaster vulnerability as the capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist, and recover from natural hazard in direct and indirect ways. Directly, through education and learning, individuals acquire knowledge, abilities, skills and perceptions that allow them to effectively prepare for and cope with the consequences of disaster shocks. Indirectly, education gives individuals and households access to material, informational and social resources, which can help reducing disaster vulnerability. We highlight central concepts and terminologies and discuss the different theoretical mechanisms through which education may have an impact. Supportive empirical evidence is presented and discussed with a particular focus on the role of inclusiveness in education and challenges in achieving universal access to high-quality education. Based on situation analysis and best practice cases, policy implications are derived that can inform the design and implementation of education and learning-based disaster risk reduction efforts in the region.
Two-Way Cooperative Priority Control of Bus Transit with Stop Capacity Constraint
Authors: Gao Qian , Zhang Shuyang , Chen Guojun , Du Yuchuan
Published: February 2020

Signal priority control and speed guidance are effective ways to reduce the delay of buses at intersections. Previous work generally focused on the optimization strategy at the intersection area, without simultaneously considering the influence on adjacent downstream bus stops. This probably leads to the size of the passed bus platoon exceeding the capacity of berths and queuing, which in turn causes additional delay to the overall bus travel time. Focusing on this problem, this paper proposes a two-way cooperative control strategy that constrains the size of the upstream platoon. Besides this, to avoid bus bunching, no more than two buses from the same route can be admitted in the same platoon. Based on these principles, we modeled how to make buses pass without stopping by simultaneously considering the signal control and speed guidance. Finally, the effectiveness was validated by simulation in Verkehr in Städten Simulation (VISSIM, German for “Traffic in cities—simulation”), a microscopic traffic simulator. The results show that compared to the existing methods, which only use signal control, the cooperative strategy reduces the total delay at the intersection and the downstream stop. It alleviates the queuing phenomenon at the downstream bus stop greatly, and the bus arrivals tend to be more uniform, which helps improve the reliability and sustainability of bus services.
Benchmarking the Swedish Diet Relative to Global and National Environmental Targets—Identification of Indicator Limitations and Data Gaps
Authors: Moberg Emma , Karlsson Potter Hanna , Wood Amanda , Hansson Per-Anders , Röös Elin
Published: February 2020

To reduce environmental burdens from the food system, a shift towards environmentally sustainable diets is needed. In this study, the environmental impacts of the Swedish diet were benchmarked relative to global environmental boundaries suggested by the EAT-Lancet Commission. To identify local environmental concerns not captured by the global boundaries, relationships between the global EAT-Lancet variables and the national Swedish Environmental Objectives (SEOs) were analysed and additional indicators for missing aspects were identified. The results showed that the environmental impacts caused by the average Swedish diet exceeded the global boundaries for greenhouse gas emissions, cropland use and application of nutrients by two- to more than four-fold when the boundaries were scaled to per capita level. With regard to biodiversity, the impacts caused by the Swedish diet transgressed the boundary by six-fold. For freshwater use, the diet performed well within the boundary. Comparison of global and local indicators revealed that the EAT-Lancet variables covered many aspects included in the SEOs, but that these global indicators are not always of sufficiently fine resolution to capture local aspects of environmental sustainability, such as eutrophication impacts. To consider aspects and impact categories included in the SEO but not currently covered by the EAT-Lancet variables, such as chemical pollution and acidification, additional indicators and boundaries are needed. This requires better inventory data on e.g., pesticide use and improved traceability for imported foods.
The Application of Photovoltaic Systems in Sacred Buildings for the Purpose of Electric Power Production: The Case Study of the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in Belgrade
Authors: Sudimac Budimir , Ugrinović Aleksandra , Jurčević Mišo
Published: February 2020

In light of climate changes, technological development and the use of renewable energy sources are considered very important nowadays, both in newly designed structures and reconstructed historic buildings, resulting in the reduction in the commercial energy consumption and CO2 environmental emissions. This paper explores the possibilities of improving the energy efficiency of sacred heritage buildings by utilizing photovoltaic systems. As an exceptionally significant cultural good, the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in Belgrade shall serve as a case study, with the aim of examining the methods of mounting photovoltaic (PV) panels, taking into account the fact that the authenticity and the aesthetic value of this cultural monument must remain intact. A comparative analysis of the two options for installing PV panels on the southwestern roof of the church was performed using simulations in PVgis and PVsist V6.84 software, with the aim of establishing the most efficient option in terms of power generation. The simulation results show that photovoltaic panels can produce 151,650 kWh (Option 1) and 150,894 kWh (Option 2) per year, while the required amount of energy is 42,726 kWh. The electricity produced exceeds the electricity requirements for the decorative lighting of the Cathedral Church, so it can be used for other purposes in the sacred complex.
Spatial and Temporal Variations in Extreme Precipitation and Temperature Events in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region of China over the Past Six Decades
Authors: Tong Runze , Sun Wenchao , Han Quan , Yu Jingshan , Tian Zaifeng
Published: February 2020

Extreme weather events can cause a lot of damage in highly populated regions, such as in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region (BTHR) in northern China. To understand where and how extreme precipitation and temperature events are changing within the BTHR, data for 1959–2018 from 25 mereological stations were used to detect trends in the intensity, frequency, and duration of these events. The results showed that intensity, accumulated amount, the duration of extreme precipitation events, and the annual number of days with precipitation greater than 50 mm decreased on a regional scale over this 60-year period. Changes in extreme precipitation events at most stations were not statistically significant, although a few stations had a significant downward trend. The combined effects of the East Asian summer monsoon and rapid urbanization are possible reasons for these trends. Both the annual maximum and minimum temperature increased on a regional and local scale. The frequency of extreme hot and cold weather also, respectively, increased and decreased, with consistent patterns on a regional and local scale. However, the spatial changes of these trends were different, reflecting the effects of irrigation and urbanization on the regional surface energy balance. These findings are valuable to decisionmakers involved in disaster prevention in the BTHR and in other highly populated regions worldwide.
Environmental Regulation, Technological Progress and Corporate Profit: Empirical Research Based on the Threshold Panel Regression
Authors: Liu Andong , Gu Xuesong
Published: February 2020

By assuming a scenario where corporations are facing increasingly stringent environmental regulation, this paper creates a theoretical framework that suggests the mechanism of how environmental regulation impacts corporate profit through the technical level. With a panel data of 900 listed corporations in China’s heavily-polluting industries from 2012 to 2016, a dynamic and static panel model and threshold model are built to present the consistency between our theoretical framework and empirical results, which indicate that the influence of environmental regulation has a threshold effect and is dependent on corporate technical level. The robustness tests on the method and variables are conducted to guarantee the robustness of our regressions. The results show that on the one hand, the marginal impacts of environmental regulation and technical level on corporate profit are mutually dependent on each other, and there is a substituting effect of environmental regulation and technical level on stimulating profit growth if the technical level is sufficiently high. On the other hand, when the technical level is lower than a certain value, the interaction effect of environmental regulation and technical level turns into a compounding effect, but corporations are fairly efficient at shifting their technical level to proper ranges where they can increase their profits by taking advantage of environmental regulations.
Eco-Efficiency in Measuring the Sustainable Production of Agricultural Crops
Authors: Baum Rafał , Bieńkowski Jerzy
Published: February 2020

Agriculture is one of the main factors with a direct impact on the natural environment (soil, water and air). An increased interest in the environmental impact of agricultural production results is due to—among other factors—significant human interference in the natural circulation of nutrients, posing a potential threat to the balance of ecosystems. Under current conditions, it is necessary to develop comprehensive diagnostic methods to control production processes in a way that would reduce costs and environmental burden throughout the product’s life cycle. Only a holistic approach that integrates environmental and economic analysis meets the criteria of analysis complexity, which is one of the main goals of methodical analysis of sustainable development. The article presents the results of the integrated environmental and economic assessment of selected crops. Maize and rapeseed production were assessed using the life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) methodologies. The analysis was carried out on farms representing plant- and animal-based farming types. The conclusion presented in the study was based on the data from a study group consisting of 69 private commercial farms located in two regions of Poland. The calculated carbon footprint of both of winter rape and grain maize production was found to be higher in animal farming types. Pig farming type presented the highest overall costs of these crops, based on the approach of the LCC. Inclusion of carbon sequestration to the assessment of greenhouse warming potential allowed for the reduction of the net global warming potential (GWP) impact associated with the production of the analyzed crops. In both crops, mineral fertilization was the main factor influencing both the total carbon footprint and the LCC.
Nepotism and Favouritism in Polish and Lithuanian Organizations: The Context of Organisational Microclimate
Authors: Vveinhardt Jolita , Sroka Włodzimierz
Published: February 2020

The phenomena of ‘nepotism’ and ‘favouritism’ are frequently observed in contemporary business, being usually associated with corruption in the public sector and the abuse of public resources. The phenomena, however, have an international scale and no country and sector of the economy are free of them. Given these facts, our paper identifies the attitude of Lithuanian and Polish employees to it in the context of revealing the organizational microclimate. Our analysis is done in relation to three basic aspects: a) Sector (public vs. private), b) gender (male vs. female) and c) five different age groups. Our research sample involved 337 respondents (Poland-PL, N = 164 and Lithuania-LT, N = 173) representing public (PL and LT, N = 119) and private (PL and LT, N = 218) sector organizations. A closed-type questionnaire was used in the survey. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed by its high psychometric characteristics. Several research methods, including factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, Spearman–Brown, factor loading and total item correlation were used in our study. The results show that there are both similarities as well as differences between the organizations analysed. As far as the private vs. public sector is concerned, in Poland, manifestation of nepotism in principal does not differ in private and public organizations, unlike in Lithuanian organizations, where a worse situation is recorded in public sector organizations. In turn, comparing employees’ attitudes by their gender, it was identified that there were more similarities than differences between Poland and Lithuania in four subcategories. Finally, comparing employees’ attitudes by their age, it was identified that the least number of statistically significant differences was identified in two age groups: 18–24 years old and over 51.
Use Frequency of Metro–Bikeshare Integration: Evidence from Nanjing, China
Authors: Liu Yang , Ji Yanjie , Feng Tao , Shi Zhuangbin
Published: February 2020

Promoting a transition in individuals’ travel mode from car to an integrated metro and bikeshare systems is expected to effectively reduce the traffic congestion that results mainly from commute trips performed by individual automobiles. This paper focuses on the use frequency of an integrated metro–bikeshare by individuals, and presents empirical evidence from Nanjing, China. Using one-week GPS data collected from the Mobike company, the spatiotemporal characteristics of origin/destination for cyclists who would likely to use shared bike as a feeder mode to metro are examined. Three areas of travel-related spatiotemporal information were extracted including (1) the distribution of walking distances between metro stations and shared bike parking lots; (2) the distribution of cycling times between origins/destinations and metro stations; and (3) the times when metro–bikeshare users pick up/drop off shared bikes to transfer to/from a metro. Incorporating these three features into a questionnaire design, an intercept survey of possible factors on the use of the combined mode was conducted at seven functional metro stations. An ordered logistic regression model was used to examine the significant factors that influence groupings of metro passengers. Results showed that the high-, medium- and low-frequency groups of metro–bikeshare users accounted for 9.92%, 21.98% and 68.1%, respectively. Education, individual income, travel purpose, travel time on the metro, workplace location and bike lane infrastructure were found to have significant impacts on metro passengers’ use frequency of integrated metro–bikeshares. Relevant policies and interventions for metro passengers of Nanjing are proposed to encourage the integration of metro and bikeshare systems.
Green-Roof: The Role of Community in the Substitution of Green-Space toward Sustainable Development
Authors: Yuliani Sri , Hardiman Gagoek , Setyowati Erni
Published: February 2020

The research challenge in the problem of the sustainable development goals is to find solutions for development control through the application of green roofs in residential areas, which is the feasibility of the role of the community. This research was based on the discipline of architecture by considering the role of the community in managing architectural green-space substitution. The purpose of this study was to identify patterns of the role of the community for green roofs feasibility based on housing, conducted in some parts of Sumatra, Java, and East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Data were collected using a survey questionnaire. Data were calculated based on percentages and analyzed using the chi-square method. The results indicated that the optimization of the community role was needed for the sustainability of the green-roof from all economic levels, both urban and rural. The aspect of public awareness and knowledge of the benefits of the green-roof is very high, but the object of the green-roof in Indonesia is still very limited because participation is still not optimal. Therefore, it is necessary to promote the green-roof application to the community by adapting local culture in sustainable green-roof technology innovation.
Unique Opportunities of Island States to Transition to a Low-Carbon Mobility System
Authors: Soomauroo Zakia , Blechinger Philipp , Creutzig Felix
Published: February 2020

Small islands developing states (SIDS) contribute minuscule proportions to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption, but are highly exposed to climate change impacts, in particular to extreme weather events and sea-level rise. However, there is little research on potential decarbonization trajectories unique to SIDS. Here, we argue that insular topology, scale, and economy are distinctive characteristics of SIDS that facilitate overcoming carbon lock-in. We investigate these dimensions for the three islands of Barbados, Fiji, and Mauritius. We find that insular topologies and small scale offer an opportunity for both public transit corridors and rapid electrification of car fleets. The tourism sector enables local decision-makers and investors to experiment with shared mobility and to induce spillover effects by educating tourists about new mobility options. Limited network effects, and the particular economy thus enables to overcome carbon lock-in. We call for targeted investments into SIDS to transition insular mobility systems towards zero carbon in 2040. The decarbonization of SIDS is not only needed as a mitigation effort, but also as a strong signal to the global community underlining that a zero-carbon future is possible.
Understanding the Eco-Friendly Role of Drone Food Delivery Services: Deepening the Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Hwang Jinsoo , Kim Insin , Gulzar Muhammad Awais
Published: February 2020

This study tried to explain consumer’s intention formation in the context of drone food delivery services based on Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior (TPB) model. In addition, this study tried to deepen the TPB by understanding the moderating effect of the awareness of consequences. The data were collected from 406 respondents using an online survey in South Korea. The results showed that all proposed hypotheses were accepted. It was also found that the awareness of consequences plays a crucial role in the relation between perceived behavioral control and behavioral intentions. Important theoretical and managerial implications are discussed in the last part of the paper.
Can Constructed Wetlands be Wildlife Refuges? A Review of Their Potential Biodiversity Conservation Value
Authors: Zhang Chengxiang , Wen Li , Wang Yuyu , Liu Cunqi , Zhou Yan , Lei Guangchun
Published: February 2020

The degradation of wetland ecosystems is currently recognized as one of the main threats to global biodiversity. As a means of compensation, constructed wetlands (CWs), which are built to treat agricultural runoff and municipal wastewater, have become important for maintaining biodiversity. Here, we review studies on the relationships between CWs and their associated biodiversity published over the past three decades. In doing so, we provide an overview of how wildlife utilizes CWs, and the effects of biodiversity on pollutant transformation and removal. Beyond their primary aim (to purify various kinds of wastewater), CWs provide sub-optimal habitat for many species and, in turn, their purification function can be strongly influenced by the biodiversity that they support. However, there are some difficulties when using CWs to conserve biodiversity because some key characteristics of these engineered ecosystems vary from natural wetlands, including some fundamental ecological processes. Without proper management intervention, these features of CWs can promote biological invasion, as well as form an ‘ecological trap’ for native species. Management options, such as basin-wide integrative management and building in more natural wetland components, can partially offset these adverse impacts. Overall, the awareness of managers and the public regarding the potential value of CWs in biodiversity conservation remains superficial. More in-depth research, especially on how to balance different stakeholder values between wastewater managers and conservationists, is now required.