bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Review on the Development of Two-Way Coupled Atmospheric-Hydrological Models
Authors: Xia Qian , Fan Yangzhen , Zhang Hairong , Jiang Cong , Wang Yafei , Hua Xiaojun , Liu Dongwei
Published: February 2023

The past two decades have seen an intensive development in two-way coupled atmospheric and hydrological models, providing new opportunities to thoroughly understand hydrology–atmosphere coupling and improve hydrometeorological forecasting, which has not been possible before. This paper summarizes recent developments in hydrological presentation in land surface models (LSMs) and climate models, and the two-way coupling of atmospheric and hydrological models. The fully coupled models have been widely applied in identifying the impact of lateral surface and subsurface water transport in a land–atmosphere coupled system, and hydrometeorological simulations using techniques such as parameter calibration, data assimilation, and hydrology model structure revision have been used to improve the model accuracy. However, their applications still face major challenges, e.g., the complexity of hydrological parameter calibration, the lack of understanding of the physical mechanisms at high resolution, the parameterization of anthropogenic activities, and the limitations in simulation domain and period. Despite these difficulties, fully coupled atmospheric and hydrological models will gradually evolve into powerful tools to reproduce regional water cycles, offering significant potential for scientifically investigating water resources security issues affected by both climate change and human activities.
Study and Application of High-Level Directional Extraction Borehole Based on Mining Fracture Evolution Law of Overburden Strata
Authors: Zhang Fan , Wang Guangsen , Wang Binbin
Published: February 2023

The technical principle of gas drainage using high-level directional extraction boreholes was analyzed. A range of overburden strata was stimulated for pressure relief during mining, the effects of different borehole parameters on gas flow in the goaf and gas concentration in the upper corner were compared, and a field test was conducted to analyze the effect and peculiarities of gas drainage. With the mining of the work plane, overburden mining fissures gradually develop forward and upward, showing a “saddle” shape along the coal seam. The fissures in the middle zone of the goaf are gradually compacted, and a gas accumulation zone is formed around the goaf. High-level directional extraction boreholes arranged in an ellipsoidal belt at the side of the air return can achieve efficient gas extraction in the roof fissure belt. Numerical simulation results showed that the height of the fully depressurized area was 65 m from the roof of the coal seam. In addition, three high-level directional extraction boreholes were drilled in the roof of the coal seam. The gas extraction concentration and gas extraction pure volume of these three boreholes first increased, then decreased, and finally tended to be stable. The sequence of their average values was borehole No.2 > No.3 (twice as much) and > No.1 (2.7 times as much), which are closely related to the evolution law of overburden mining fissures. The research results can provide a reference for the further study of gas extraction technology using high-level directional extraction boreholes in coal and gas outburst seams.
Isolated DC-DC Power Converters for Simultaneous Charging of Electric Vehicle Batteries: Research Review, Design, High-Frequency Transformer Testing, Power Quality Concerns, and Future
Authors: Sudarshan Srinath Belakavadi , Arunkumar Gopal
Published: February 2023

The transportation industry is transitioning from conventional Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICVs) to Electric Vehicles (EVs) due to the depletion of fossil fuels and the rise in non-traditional energy sources. EVs are emerging as the new leaders in the industry. Some essential requirements necessary for the widespread adoption of EVs include sufficient charging stations with numerous chargers, less to no wait time before charging, quick charging, and better range. To enable a quicker transition from ICVs to EVs, commercial organizations and governments would have to put in a mammoth effort, given the low number of installed chargers in developing nations such as India. One solution to lower the waiting time is to have multiple vehicles charging simultaneously, which might involve charging two- and four-wheelers simultaneously, even though their battery voltage ratings differ. This paper begins by providing the details of the power sources for EV charging, the charging levels and connector types, along with the specifications of some of the commercial chargers. The necessity of AC-DC converters in EV charging systems is addressed along with the power quality concerns due to the increased penetration of EVs. Next, a review of the existing research and technology of isolated DC-DC converters for simultaneous charging of EV batteries is provided. Further, several potential isolated DC-DC converter topologies for simultaneous charging are described with their design and loss estimation. A summary of the existing products and projects with simultaneous charging features is provided. Finally, insight is given into the future of simultaneous charging.
Evaluation of Real-Time Perception of Deformation State of Host Rocks in Coal Mine Roadways in Dusty Environment
Authors: Shan Pengfei , Yan Chengwei , Lai Xingping , Sun Haoqiang , Li Chao , Chen Xingzhou
Published: February 2023

Intelligent mining needs to achieve real-time acquisition of surrounding rock deformation data of roadways and analysis and provide technical support for intelligent mining construction. To solve problems such as significant error, information lag, and low acquisition frequency of surrounding rock monitoring technology at the current stage, a perception method, RSBV of roadway deformation situation, based on binocular vision is proposed, which realizes the dynamic, accurate real-time acquisition of host rocks’ relative deformation in a dusky environment. The low illumination image enhancement method is used to preprocess original images, which reduces the impact of low illumination and high dust; the K-medoids algorithm segments the target image, and the SIFT algorithm extracts feature points from the ROI (region of interest). The influence of eliminating background images on the feature point extraction is revealed, and the efficiency of feature extraction is improved; the method of SIFT feature-matching with epipolar constraints is studied, which improves the accuracy and speed of feature points. The roadway deformation characteristics are analyzed, and the reflective target is used as the monitoring point. A roadway deformation acquisition and analysis platform based on binocular vision is built in a dim environment. Zhang’s method is selected to calibrate the camera parameters, and stereo rectification is carried out for the target motion image. The adaptability of the RSBV method to different surrounding rock deformation scales is studied and compared with the measurement results of the SGBM algorithm. The results show that the error of the RSBV method is controlled within 1.6%, which is 2.88% lower than the average error of the SGBM algorithm. The average time for processing a group of binocular images is 1.87 s, which is only 20% of the SGBM algorithm. The research result provides a reliable theoretical basis for the real-time and accurate evaluation of the surrounding rock deformation mechanism.
Empowering and Disempowering Motivational Coaching Climate: A Scoping Review
Authors: Birr Caroline , Hernandez-Mendo Antonio , Monteiro Diogo , Rosado Antonio
Published: February 2023

The multidimensional model of empowering and disempowering coach climates has great relevance within the scope of intervention in the context of Sport Psychology. This scoping review of studies summarizes the scientific production of the empowering and disempowering motivational climates. The search comprised the Web of Science, Scopus, Psycinfo, and Pubmed databases for English, Portuguese, and Spanish articles published between 2013 and 2022. A total of 44 articles were found, of which 22 were included in the present study: 16 concerned cross-sectional studies, four were psychometrics validation studies, one involved a transversal cohort study, and one included a qualitative study. The questionnaire EDMCQ-C (Coach-created Empowering and Disempowering Motivational Questionnaire) is the most used and with the necessary psychometric qualities when it comes to assessing the empowering and disempowering motivational climates and their various impacts. We describe results concerning the measurement, antecedents, and effects of empowering and disempowering coach climates. Future research should invest in the study of empirical evidence that could be added to the existing nomological framework, considering antecedents, development, direct and indirect effects, moderating effects, aggregated effects, and qualitative studies.
Research of the Luminance of Asphalt Pavements in Trafficked Areas
Authors: Lunkevičiūtė Deimantė , Vorobjovas Viktoras , Vitta Pranciškus , Čygas Donatas
Published: February 2023

A key factor for safe and comfortable driving on roads are properly reflective and well visible pavement surfaces at night. The brightness of the road pavement surface depends on the amount of light falling on it and the reflection properties of the road pavement surface at any point. The luminance of the pavement depends on its physical condition, age and type of pavement, direction of illumination, and observation conditions. Different pavements can have different reflection characteristics that depend on the surface texture, materials, and binder (type and quantity). Experimental research was carried out on the carriageways and bicycle paths of Vilnius city streets, which differ in color and age. The analysis of the research results showed differences between the surface reflectance characteristics of these pavements depending on the color of the pavement, surface conditions, and age. The reflection properties of red asphalt pavements are better than black ones when the pavement surface is wet or moist. The reduced luminance coefficients of the carriageway (asphalt pavement installed in 2021) are about 12% lower than those of the carriageway pavement installed 10 years ago and about 60% lower for wet and moist pavements. The results obtained from the research are significant for street designers when choosing the type of pavement and designing street lighting.
Sustainability Assessment in Social Housing Environments: An Inclusive Indicators Selection in Colombian Post-Pandemic Cities
Authors: Escorcia Hernández Jhon Ricardo , Torabi Moghadam Sara , Lombardi Patrizia
Published: February 2023

The use of indicators for sustainability assessment in the urban planning process is a widely used approach. With the definition of the Agenda 2030 and the role of cities in achieving sustainable development goals, much work has been devoted to the definition of evaluation frameworks and indicators to assess policies and plans and support decision-making in the transition to sustainable urban environments. Therefore, there is currently a wide range of indicator frameworks for the sustainability assessment of human settlements. However, considering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the urban sustainability paradigm, the need to reassess the relevance of existing assessment frameworks in the post-pandemic context has been highlighted. Thus, this article aims to illustrate a selection of indicators to evaluate urban sustainability in developing countries’ post-pandemic contexts, using Colombia as a case study. This work comprises the characterization of the post-pandemic relevance of a set of sustainability indicators through the participation of stakeholders associated with the development process of social housing in urban environments in Colombia. Within a Delphi process, the initial indicators were taken from local and international sustainability frameworks validated before the pandemic. Further, a final selection was made through the evaluation of a survey from a sample of 45 stakeholders, and different participatory mechanisms with experts. These results acknowledged the relevance of factors, such as atmospheric conditions, risk management, the performance of public transport systems, and the availability and accessibility to key services, in the achievement of urban sustainability. These results will support the sustainability assessment of the development of post-pandemic recovery policies in Colombia and serve as a reference for other contexts in developing countries.
Sustainable Coupling Coordination and Influencing Factors of Sports Facilities Construction and Social Economy Development in China
Authors: Zheng Lin-Hong , Zainal Abidin Nor Eeza , Mohd Nor Mohammad Nazri , Xu Yue-Yun , Feng Xiao-Wei
Published: February 2023

Sports facilities are a crucial physical safeguard and means of sustaining sporting activities. The steady and healthy development of sports facilities can promote the sustainable development of the social economy. In order to explore the coordination status and influencing factors between sports facilities construction and the social economy, this paper built a coupling coordination evaluation index system and dynamic factor index system for the sports facilities construction and social economy development by using the entropy method, coupling coordination model and random effect model. This paper assessed the comprehensive level, coupling coordination relationship, and influencing factors of the sports facilities and social economy development of nine cities in the Fujian Province across China from 2016 to 2020. The results show the overall level of sports facilities construction in Fujian is better than the social economy development, and the two systems are interacting with each other. The level of coupling and coordination gradually changes from good coordination to quality sustainable coordination. The coupling coordinated relationship between the two systems is developing in a positive way. In addition, industrial development, the level of urban development, and environmental development as influencing factors have a clear positive effect on the degree of coupling coordination. This study provides several recommendations for cities to achieve sustainable coordinated development. This paper also may provide a direction and path for future research.
Microgrid Robust Planning Model and Its Modification Strategy Based on Improved Grey Relational Theory
Authors: Xu Jiayin , Gui Xu , Li Kun , Jiang Guifen , Wang Tao , Xu Zhen
Published: February 2023

A two-stage robust planning model is constructed in this paper, which can reduce the joint planning uncertainty of a wind-photovoltaic-energy storage system caused by the stochastic characteristics of renewable energy and ensure the sustainability of the power grid. Considering the life loss of energy storage system comprehensively, the joint planning is realized in the worst scenario. Addressing the problem that subjective and uniform robustness parameters in robust optimization cannot cope with the differentiated characteristics of each uncertainty, a robust microgrid-planning model and its modification strategy based on improved grey relational theory are proposed. The idea of weight distribution and dynamic value of identification coefficients are introduced into grey relational theory, so as to enhance the weight of indicators that influence planning and the relational degree between them, which can avoid the locally relational tendency. According to the relation degree, the renewable energy’s robustness parameters are modified to improve the applicability and flexibility of the microgrid-planning results. Finally, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed theory and method are verified using a case study approach.
Effects of Mineral-Based Potassium Humate on Cadmium Accumulation in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Three Levels of Cadmium-Contaminated Alkaline Soils
Authors: Li Shuangshuang , Huang Xianmin , Li Guangxian , Zhang Ke , Bai Liyong , He Huan , Chen Shibao , Dai Jiulan
Published: February 2023

Humic acid amendments in the remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals have received widespread attention. However, the impacts and related mechanisms of mineral-based humate substances on the remediation of alkaline paddy soils with different levels of cadmium (Cd) contamination are still unclear. Pot trials with four mineral-based potassium humate (MBPH) doses (0, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, w/w) and three Cd rates (slightly, moderately, and highly, 1, 2, and 4 mg Cd kg−1) were conducted to evaluate the effects of MBPH on rice. Results showed that the application of MBPH effectively reduced brown rice Cd concentrations of all Cd rates by 46.82–65.04%, 44.02–59.21%, and 15.84–43.99%, such that Cd in brown rice fell within the safe edible standards in the highly contaminated soils with the 0.5% and 1% MBPH applications. The application of MBPH significantly alleviated Cd toxicity by increasing soil solution pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and potassium (K) and decreasing free Cd and the bioavailability of rhizosphere soil Cd, as reflected by promoting rice plant growth, photosynthesis, Fv/Fm, and antioxidant enzymes activities. Additionally, high dose applications (0.5% and 1%) of MBPH significantly reduced the translocation factor of Cd from flag leaf to brown rice. Furthermore, the application of MBPH enhanced the accumulation of mineral elements (iron, manganese, copper, zinc, potassium) in brown rice. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that soil solution K at maturity stage and soil solution DOC at tillering and filling stages were the most important factors affecting Cd accumulation in brown rice under slightly, moderately, and highly Cd-contaminated soils, respectively. Therefore, MBPH application on slightly and moderately Cd-contaminated alkaline soils contributed to achieving rice grains rich with mineral elements but Cd free and Cd safe in highly Cd-contaminated soil.
Development of the Concept of Sustainable Agro-Tourism Destinations—Exploring the Motivations of Serbian Gastro-Tourists
Authors: Vukolić Dragan , Gajić Tamara , Petrović Marko D. , Bugarčić Jovan , Spasojević Ana , Veljović Sonja , Vuksanović Nikola , Bugarčić Marina , Zrnić Miloš , Knežević Snežana , Rakić Sandra R. , Drašković Bojana D. , Petrović Tijana
Published: February 2023

One of the key elements for the development of an agro-tourism destination can be specific gastronomy. In this context, research and understanding of the motivation of tourists who visit those destinations can influence the development of the concept of their sustainability, which was the goal of this research. The research was conducted during 2022 on a total sample of 607 respondents who stayed in agro-tourism destinations in the Republic of Serbia. The paper presents motivational factors that potentially influence the frequency of gastronomic tourists to try local gastronomic specialties and food in agro-tourism destinations. The results indicate that the cultural experience dimension, excitement dimension, interpersonal, relation dimension, and sensory appeal dimension show a significant influence on the visitation of agro-tourism destinations by gastronomic tourists, while the health concern dimension factor does not show statistical significance. The results undoubtedly indicate that certain socio-demographic characteristics of gastro-tourists have an impact on the development of an agro-tourism destination, in the direction that the more educated as well as women have more positive attitudes towards the influence of motivational factors on the development of an agro-tourism destination.
Identification of Priority Areas for Ecological Restoration Based on Human Disturbance and Ecological Security Patterns: A Case Study of Fuzhou City, China
Authors: Ke Shan , Pan Hui , Jin Bowen
Published: February 2023

The rapid increase in urbanization has brought about a great deal of ecological problems, and thus the systematic protection of the environment is vital. Ecological security patterns are important for maintaining regional ecological stability and sustainable urban development. Human disturbance is a key factor affecting the stability and sustainable development of ecosystems. This paper constructs an ecological security pattern and evaluates the degree of human disturbance in Fuzhou City. Through a comprehensive analysis of both of these factors, the ecological priority restoration areas in Fuzhou were identified. The study shows that (1) there are 40 ecological source areas in Fuzhou, with a total area of 4556.48 km2; 83 ecological corridors, with a total distance of 179.33 km; and 30 ecological nodes. (2) The human disturbance degree score in the study area is between 0 and 0.8. The degree of human disturbance forms two larger major cores in Cangshan District, Gulou District, and Fuqing City. (3) The scores for the degree of human disturbance with ecological sources range from 0 to 0.42. The high-priority areas in the study area are distributed at the edges of ecological sources and form two high-scoring aggregation areas in Fuqing City and Jinan District. These corridors have a high degree of human disturbance with scores between 0 and 0.56. The I and II priority areas are mostly found in longer corridors in Fuqing City and Cangshan District near coastal or urban centers, and the III priority areas are mainly distributed in ecological corridors near the inland. The human disturbance degree scores of the nodes range from 0.01 to 0.27, and the nodes with higher grades were mainly distributed in the northeast, southeast, northwest and southwest of the study area.
Predicting WEEE Generation Rates in Jordan Using Population Balance Model
Authors: Fraige Feras Y. , Al-Khatib Laila A. , Al-Shaweesh Mou’ath A.
Published: February 2023

Waste generated from electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) is increasing rapidly due to the high demand for appliances, rapid product obsolescence, coupled with rapid economic growth, urbanization and technology advancement. Setting up a proper WEEE management system, which ensures better collection, treatment, recycling and control of transboundary movement of waste is crucial to increasing resource efficiency, improving sustainable production, use and consumption, and promoting the circular economy in Jordan. However, this system requires proper assessment of WEEE generation rates and reliable figures. Estimation of historical and future electric and electronic equipment put on market (EEE POM) and WEEE generation rates in Jordan have been achieved using the population balance model (PBM), logistic growth model (LGM) and Weibull distribution from 2000 to 2050. It is expected that the total disposal of appliances will reach about 1.6 million units (53 kt) in 2022, double this figure by 2044 and hit around 5 million units (175 kt) in 2050, with increasing WEEE generation rates. This is combined with the changing composition of WEEE with time. Thus, a rapid increase of WEEE in the near future is expected; this increase requires close monitoring and immediate response to tackle this hazardous waste.
Behaviour and Design of Innovative Connections of Prefabricated CFST Columns under Tension
Authors: Hassan Md Kamrul , Saha Swapan , Rahnamayiezekavat Payam
Published: February 2023

This paper investigates the tensile behaviour of prefabricated concrete-filled steel tube (PCFST) columns with bolted connections. Innovative bolted column-column (BCC) connections are developed using standard structural bolts to simplify the construction process for the connection of two PCFST columns, especially for the corner, edge, and interior columns. The behaviour of BCC connections in PCFST columns under tension has been investigated, adopting the finite element (FE) modelling approach. Parametric studies are carried out to understand the influence of bolt arrangements (TB = 4, 6, 7, 8), base plate thickness (tbp = 8, 10, 14, and 18 mm), bolt diameters (db = 16, 18, 20, 24 mm), vertical stiffeners (ths = 4, 6, 8, 10 mm), horizontal stiffeners (ths = 10, 12, 13, 15 mm), and yield strength of steel tube (fy,t = 380, 450, and 550 MPa) on the behaviour of PCFST columns with developed BCC connections. The results show that the PCFST columns with the developed BCC connections can attain sufficient tensile strength and satisfy the tensile strength requirements recommended in AS5100 and the robustness requirements in AS1170. The outcome of this paper will be useful to practising structural engineers to design prefabricated CFST columns with BCC connections under tension.
Research on the Construction Method of Double Prevention Mechanism in Chinese Heating Enterprises Based on Bidirectional Dynamic Risk-Hidden Danger Transmission
Authors: Liu Yejiao , Teng Ting , Duan Zeyu , Cui Mengyuan , Wang Wencai , Ren Yuhui , Tian Zhichao
Published: February 2023

The heating industries are extremely dispersed in China, and most heating enterprises are small in scale, poor in foundation, and chaotic in safety management. The construction method of the double prevention mechanism of heating enterprises in China was analyzed and studied based on the PDCA cycle model and the improved risk assessment method for operating conditions. The analytic hierarchy process was used to determine the weight of dangerous and harmful factors and corresponding control measures for an accident type. The concept of “failure frequency” was introduced, and the calculation method of accident probability (L) was modified so that the accurate hierarchical control and dynamic risk assessment of accident risks can be realized. At the same time, the failure of control measures is defined as “hidden danger” in this paper. Finally, the bidirectional dynamic transmission mechanism of hidden danger investigation and treatment and risk hierarchical control was established. The main problems existing in the construction of double prevention mechanism of heating enterprises in China were discussed and some countermeasures and suggestions were put forward. According to the above methods and steps, the double prevention mechanism of heating enterprises can be reasonably established. Thus, the risks can be effectively identified, the hidden dangers can be controlled, and the safety production of heating enterprises can be guaranteed.
Advanced Manufacturing Design of an Emergency Mechanical Ventilator via 3D Printing—Effective Crisis Response
Authors: Kalkanis Konstantinos , Kiskira Kyriaki , Papageorgas Panagiotis , Kaminaris Stavros D. , Piromalis Dimitrios , Banis George , Mpelesis Dimitrios , Batagiannis Athanasios
Published: February 2023

Nowadays, there is a market need that is pushing manufacturers to support more sustainable product designs regardless of any crisis. Two important lessons that society inferred from the COVID-19 pandemic are that the industry needs an improved collaboration efficiency that can handle such emergencies and improve its resource conservation to avoid having shortages. Additive manufacturing technologies use 3D object scanners to direct hardware to deposit material, layer upon layer, in precise geometric shapes, and are positioned to provide a disruptive transformation in how products are designed and manufactured. They can provide for the planet in fighting against crisis from a materials and applications perspective. In this context, the optimization and production of emergency ventilators in health systems were investigated with plans for 3D printing received from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign. An evaluation of the printability of CAD files and a partial redesign to limit dimensional variability, acceptable surface finish, and a more efficient printing process were performed. Six parts of the design were redesigned to make printing easier, faster, and less expensive. In the case of the O2 inlet attachment, the necessary supports were difficult to remove due to the part’s geometry, leading to redesign. The modulator top and bottom part, the patient tee, the manometer body, and the pop-off valve cap were also redesigned in order to avoid dimensional variability and possible rough surfaces. Metallic and thermoplastic composite ventilators were produced and then tested in real operating conditions, such as in a hospital setting with a realistic oxygen supply. The preliminary findings are promising compared to the initial design, both in terms of construction quality and performance such as exhalation rate adjustment and emergency valve operation. Also, a combination of manufacturing technologies was evaluated. The modifications allowed optimal casting (injection molding) of the parts and therefore faster production, instead of printing each part, when high output is required.
Influence of a Soft Story on the Seismic Response of Non-Structural Components
Authors: Pesaralanka Vyshnavi , Challagulla S. P. , Vicencio Felipe , Chandra Babu P. Suresh , Hossain Ismail , Jameel Mohammed , Ramakrishna Uppari
Published: February 2023

Multi-story, reinforced-concrete (RC) building structures with soft stories are highly vulnerable to damage due to earthquake loads. The soft story causes a significant stiffness irregularity, which has led to numerous buildings collapsing in previous seismic events. In addition to the structural collapse, the failure of non-structural components (NSCs) has also been observed during past earthquakes. In light of this, this study investigates the effect of a soft story and its location on the seismic behavior of a supporting building and NSCs. The soft story is assumed to be located on the bottom (ground), middle, and top-story levels of the considered building models. Story displacements and inter-story drift ratios are evaluated to assess structural behavior. The floor response spectra and the amplification effects of NSC on the floor acceleration responses are studied to understand the behavior of NSCs. The analysis results revealed that the bottom soft story exhibits a considerable vertical stiffness irregularity, and its position substantially affects the floor response spectra. The amplification in the floor acceleration response was found to be greater at the soft-story level. This study reported that middle soft-story buildings exhibit the most remarkable amplification in the component’s acceleration. Finally, peak floor response demands are compared with the code-based formulation, and it is found that the code-based formulation’s linear assumption may lead peak floor response demands to be underestimated or overestimated.
Agricultural and Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Farmer Household Dietary Diversity in India: A Comparative Study of Visakhapatnam and Sonipat
Authors: Singh Sukhwinder , Venkateshmurthy Nikhil , Brown Kerry , Maddury Avinav , Khatkar Rajesh , Jarhyan Prashant , Prabhakaran Dorairaj , Mohan Sailesh
Published: February 2023

Using primary data from 479 farmer households, this study examined the associations between agricultural and socioeconomic factors and farmer household dietary diversity in Visakhapatnam and Sonipat. Cropping intensity was positively associated with farmers’ household dietary diversity score (HDDS), suggesting that higher cropping intensity may expand the gross cropped area and improve food security among subsistence farmers. Distance to food markets was also significantly associated with farmer HDDS, which suggests that market integration with rural households can improve farmer HDDS in Visakhapatnam. In Sonipat, wealth index had a positive association with farmer HDDS, targeting the income pathway by improving farmer HDDS in this region. Considering the relative contribution of these factors, distance to food markets, cropping intensity, and crop diversity were the three most important factors affecting farmer HDDS in Visakhapatnam, whereas wealth index, cropping intensity, and distance to food markets emerged as the top three important factors contributing to farmer HDDS in Sonipat. Our study concludes that the associations between agricultural and socioeconomic factors and farmer HDDS are complex but context- and location-specific; therefore, considering the site- and context-specific circumstances, different connections to HDDS in India can be found to better support policy priorities on the ground.
Research on the Dynamic Coupling and Coordination of Science and Technology Innovation and Sustainable Development in Anhui Province
Authors: Sun Liyan , Wang Zhuoying , Yang Li
Published: February 2023

The coupling of and coordination between science and technology innovation (STI) and sustainable development (SD) is a basic requirement for Anhui Province’s economic high-quality development. According to panel data of 16 prefecture-level cities in Anhui Province from 2010 to 2021, the entropy method was applied to quantify the comprehensive development level of the two systems. The models of coupling coordination degree, grey GM (1, 1), and ARIMA prediction were constructed to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamic evolution features of the two systems’ coupling coordination. In the time series, the two systems’ comprehensive development showed a steady increase, a high level of coupling, and an increasing overall trend of coupling coordination. Moreover, the two systems’ coupling and coordination levels show the gradient spatial differentiation characteristics of “central > east > west.” The prediction shows that the two systems’ coupling coordination degree exhibits a monotonic increasing trend and reaches the optimal coupling coordination state around 2030. This study provides a decision-making reference for the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy of Anhui Province.
Seeing the Forest and the Trees: A Scoping Review of Empirical Research on Work-Life Balance
Authors: Wong Ka Po , Teh Pei-Lee , Chan Alan Hoi Shou
Published: February 2023

Work–life balance (WLB), which has become a central issue in workers’ everyday lives, is a global issue with a growing body of investigation into its meaning and the construction of suitable measurement scales, but varying meanings for WLB have been observed in studies. Due to these discrepancies, review or summary work is needed to identify the trends and development of WLB among workers, including (a) the commonly used WLB scales, (b) the antecedents and outcomes related to WLB and (c) the frequency of the emergence of these antecedents and outcomes. This review aims to provide an overview of empirical studies investigating the antecedents and outcomes of WLB. A total of 99 published articles from 77 journals over the period of 2006–2020 were extracted. The research methods, analysis methods, countries investigated, pivot of WLB scales used, and thematic topics and research gaps were identified. The trends of WLB, including the establishment of standard working hours, the availability of working from home, the effects of technologies on achieving WLB and the benefits of WLB for subjective wellbeing, are discussed. The research insights will provide the research directions for constructing WLB scales and investigating issues that significantly affect the WLB of employees.
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Security in Southern Africa: A Review of the Vulnerability of Smallholder Agriculture and Food Security to Climate Change
Authors: Mutengwa Charles Samuel , Mnkeni Pearson , Kondwakwenda Aleck
Published: February 2023

Southern Africa is facing chronic food insecurity mainly because of the multistressor context in which agriculture is practiced in this region. Climate-change-related constraints are fueling food shortages for marginalized rural communities. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) has been recognized as a key strategy for mitigating the effects of climate change. However, there has been a minimal level of adoption of CSA among smallholder farmers in southern Africa. Factors contributing to the limited adoption of CSA include poor access to resources by smallholder farmers, poverty, poor infrastructure, and an inadequate level of farmer advisory and resource service provision. These are the same factors that have resulted in the increased vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate shocks in southern Africa. Currently, there are a limited number of reviews that simultaneously address the impacts of climate change and CSA on southern Africa’s smallholder agricultural sector. The current review synthesizes information on the contribution of smallholder agriculture to food security in southern Africa, highlighting the vulnerability of smallholder agriculture to climate shocks and the effect of CSA activities practiced in the region. To come up with this writeup, we reviewed information from reliable, published journal articles, institutional reports, and our knowledge of agricultural systems in southern Africa. The adoption of CSA agriculture can be enhanced by the advancement of favorable policies by national governments. This includes adequate participation from smallholders, particularly women, in governance via bottom-up policymaking.
Responses of the Leaf Water Physiology and Yield of Grapevine via Different Irrigation Strategies in Extremely Arid Areas
Authors: Sun Ruifeng , Ma Juanjuan , Sun Xihuan , Zheng Lijian , Guo Jiachang
Published: February 2023

The contradiction between water supply and demand has become increasingly prominent due to the large agricultural water consumption and low irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) in the extremely arid area of Xinjiang, which needs to be solved by efficient irrigation. In this study, the effects of different irrigation levels (the lower and upper limits of irrigation (LULI) were 50–80%, 60–90%, and 70–100% of the field capacity (FC), respectively) under two irrigation methods (root zone irrigation (RZI) and furrow irrigation (FI)) on the photosynthetic physiology and yield of grape were analyzed to explore suitable irrigation schemes in extremely arid areas. The results show that the diurnal variation curve of the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of grape leaves in the extreme arid region was not sensitive to the response of irrigation methods. However, RZI could improve the apparent quantum efficiency and maximum photosynthetic rate by 60.00% and 31.25%, respectively, reduce the light compensation point by 17.91%, and alleviate the photosynthetic lunch break phenomenon. Under FI, the physiological indexes of leaves increased with the increase in the LULI, while the Pn and SPAD values were the largest under RZI when the LULI was 60–90% of FC. The daily average Pn value of T2 in 2021 and 2022 ranged from 12.93 to 17.77 μmol·m−2·s−1. Compared with FI, RZI significantly improved the leaf water potential, Pn, and SPAD values by increasing the soil water content (SWC) of the 40–80 cm soil layer by 5.04–8.80%, which increased the yield by 6.86–18.67%. The results show that the yield and water use efficiency reached the peak when the LULI was 60–90% of FC under RZI, which could provide theoretical support for efficient irrigation of vineyards in extremely arid areas.
International Students’ Nostalgic Behaviour towards the Purchase of Products and Services
Authors: Hua Luhui , Rasool Zeeshan , Ansari Muhammad Akbar Ali , Khan Ali Junaid , Hanif Nadia , Ul Hameed Waseem
Published: February 2023

The literature has highlighted that international students abroad exhibit a strong preference for products from their country compared with foreign products and services, thus suggesting that the cultural disposition of consumers influences their purchasing decisions. Therefore, this current research aimed to determine how the feeling of groundedness could affect international students’ purchasing behavior in Malaysia through cultural products and services. To this end, quantitative data were collected from international students at the University of Malaya and the University Utara Malaysia and then analyzed using a structural equation model (SEM). The findings of this research highlighted that consumer behavior was influenced by a “feeling of groundedness”. This suggested that cultural services and products are valued by international students in foreign universities because of their ability to evoke a feeling of groundedness. The theoretical contributions of this study, particularly to the consumer behavior literature, are extensive, including how it highlights the influence of the feeling of groundedness on international consumers’ purchasing behavior. The marketing implications of this research are also valuable for businesses targeting international students.
Assessing the Feasibility of Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting for Food Production in Northwestern Arizona on the Hualapai Indian Reservation
Authors: Hernandez Rosales Brianda , Lutz Alexandra
Published: February 2023

With the uncertainties of climate change and the persistence of droughts in the Southwestern US, finding additional renewable water resources is crucial to ensure safe drinking water and attain food security in rural and tribal communities. Rainwater harvesting (RWH), the practice of centralizing, collecting, and storing rainwater for later use, has the potential to help alleviate some water stresses in these communities. Although RWH is not a new concept, it has not been widely practiced in arid and semi-arid environments in the United States. This study assessed the feasibility of rooftop RHW at a small scale, in Peach Springs, Arizona, on the Hualapai Indian Reservation. Working alongside the Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program (FRTEP) agent for the Hualapai Tribe, this study considered RWH from four prospective buildings to supplement irrigation practices for food production. Due to high standard deviation and coefficient of variation values, annual precipitation amounts were classified into normal, dry, and wet years to assess variability over the last 40 water years. An average total of ~29,285 L could be collected from one of the buildings considered for RWH during the growing season of April to September during a classified normal year. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) AquaCrop model was used to determine the area that can be cultivated with four staple crops, maize, tomatoes, dry beans, and sunflowers, which are currently being grown in the community garden, solely using the captured rainwater. Cultivable areas range from 8.7 m2 to 71 m2 depending on the catchment size, crop, and classified precipitation year—a wet, dry, or normal precipitation year. A total of 81.2 kg of dry corn could be harvested during a normal precipitation year, solely using the collected rainwater from one of the buildings.
How Do Overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones along the Belt and Road Affect the Economic Growth of Host Countries?
Authors: Zhang Henglong , Song Houlin , Hou Conglei
Published: February 2023

Based on the data of countries along the “One Belt and One Road” from 1998 to 2017, this paper uses the progressive Difference-in-Difference to analyze the impact of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones on the economic growth of host countries, which shows that the establishment of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones significantly promotes the economic development of host countries. Additionally, the specific mechanism of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones to promote the economic growth of the host country is analyzed using the mediating effect model, and the study shows that the overseas economic and trade cooperation zones can encourage the economic development of the host countries by attracting foreign investment inflows. Further heterogeneity analysis reveals that overseas economic and trade cooperation zones have stronger economic boosting effects on countries with lower income levels and poorer business systems. Different types of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones have other economic boosting effects on host countries. Among them, the economic impact of industrial, agricultural, and high-tech zones is significant, while the influence of logistics and comprehensive industrial zones is not yet significant. Finally, the paper carries out further discussion based on the above findings.
Planning for Future Jobs in Light of the Unified Saudi Classification of Educational Levels and Specializations—A Case Study of Graduate Students at Imam Abdul Rahman bin Faisal University
Authors: Ahmed Ahmed Osman Ibrahim , Mohammed Anas Satti Satti , Shidwan Osman Saad , Abdelgadir Mohamednour Eltathir Ahmed , EL Mekebbaty Manal Mohamed , Osman Awad Mohamed
Published: February 2023

This study deals with the issue of planning for future jobs in light of the Unified Saudi Classification of Educational Levels and Specializations. We aimed to identify the mechanism used by graduates to choose a future job and to shed light on the Unified Saudi Classification of Educational Levels and Specializations. The problem addressed in this study is the identification of the optimal formula such that the graduate can benefit from this classification. The community studied is made up of students at the College of Applied Studies and Community Service at Imam Abdul Rahman bin Faisal University in Dammam in the period from 2019 to 2022. The sample included 129 male and female students, representing 20% of the research community. The selection was random, taking into account the homogeneity of the research community. We attempted to verify the validity of the hypothesis, stating that there is a statistically significant relationship between graduates’ preferences for their future jobs and their knowledge, represented by The Saudi Standard Classification of Scientific Levels and Specializations. A number of findings resulted from this study, most notably that there was a discrepancy regarding students’ preferences for future jobs based on their gender. We conclude with a number of recommendations, including the need to shed more light on the Unified Classification of Educational Levels and Specializations in Saudi Arabia and increase communication between scientific departments and employers.
A Review of Advanced Façade System Technologies to Support Net-Zero Carbon High-Rise Building Design in Subtropical China
Authors: Zhou Yingying , Herr Christiane Margerita
Published: February 2023

While net-zero carbon buildings have been the focus of many previous studies, existing research tends to focus on low-rise buildings in temperate climates with cold winters. However, much of current building activity across the world, particularly in China, is located in hot and humid subtropical climates and typically features high-rise buildings. This review article systematically surveys recent literature on advanced façade systems that have been widely used across Europe and North America to determine their suitability for implementation in the subtropical climatic environment of southern China. To support the further research and design of net-zero carbon buildings in this context, this paper reviews existing technologies enabling zero carbon buildings, particularly those related to high-performance building facades, with a focus on South China. To this end, we present a systematic literature review of relevant studies in English conducted in the past 10 years. Following a definition of the scope of zero carbon building and design factors related to such building types, the paper discusses the rationale and mechanisms of key advanced facade technologies and their suitability for high-rise buildings in the hot and humid subtropical climate of South China, including double-skin façades, building integrated photovoltaics, façade greening systems, advanced shading systems, phase-change materials, and smart windows. The results of the review illustrate a shortage of relevant studies as well as a shortage of design tools supporting the integration of key technologies in the early architectural design stages, where decisions will have a significant impact on a building’s subsequent performance.