bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Application of PVDF-Based Piezoelectric Patches in Energy Harvesting from Tire Deformation
Authors: Nguyen Kevin , Bryant Matthew , Song In-Hyouk , You Byoung Hee , Khaleghian Seyedmeysam
Published: December 2022

The application of Polyvinylidene Fluoride or Polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF) in harvesting energy from tire deformation was investigated in this study. An instrumented tire with different sizes of PVDF-based piezoelectric patches and a tri-axial accelerometer attached to its inner liner was used for this purpose and was tested under different conditions on asphalt and concrete surfaces. The results demonstrated that on both pavement types, the generated voltage was directly proportional to the size of the harvester patches, the longitudinal velocity, and the normal load. Additionally, the generated voltage was inversely proportional to the tire inflation pressure. Moreover, the range of generated voltages was slightly higher on asphalt compared to the same testing conditions on the concrete surface. Based on the results, it was concluded that in addition to the potential role of the PVDF-based piezoelectric film in harvesting energy from tire deformation, they demonstrate great potential to be used as self-powered sensors to estimate the tire-road contact parameters.
Migrant Organizations and Their Networks in the Co-Production of Social Protection
Authors: Günzel Eva , Benz Matthias , Petermann Sören
Published: December 2022

In contributing to the social protection of migrants, migrant organizations (MOs) have become an important player in the German welfare landscape. Through their activities, they fulfill a set of social functions and integrate into a dense network of various partners characterized by different dependencies and forms of cooperation but also potential conflict. Based on the results of a survey conducted in Germany’s Ruhr region between 2021 and 2022, this article examines the organizational characteristics and activities of 15 MOs and analyzes the nature of their networks. Two exemplary qualitative case studies, as well as a quantitative multilevel analysis, were carried out to assess how these organizations and their networks function in their co-production of social protection.
Effects of Multisensory Integration through Spherical Video-Based Immersive Virtual Reality on Students’ Learning Performances in a Landscape Architecture Conservation Course
Authors: Wu Weilong , Zhao Zhanpeng , Du Ao , Lin Jiaqing
Published: December 2022

Many courses are transitioning from offline to online instruction in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Landscape architecture conservation courses face problems such as reduced interest in learning, poor learning attitudes and low learning efficiency among students. At the same time, due to the nature of landscape architecture conservation courses, students need more experience to learn well, and many landscape architecture courses do not meet this requirement. Online education also lacks the necessary education scenarios and is not very immersive, making it difficult to meet students’ learning needs. Continued advances in technology have provided new ways for people to connect with nature, increasing awareness and adoption of sustainable landscape architecture practices. To solve the above problems, this study uses multisensory spherical video-based immersive virtual reality technology to develop a VR learning system for landscape architecture conservation courses based on the senses of sight, sound and smell. This system is simple to operate, but interactive and immersive. A quasi-experimental study was also conducted to test the effectiveness of the system. Analyzing the results of the study, students in the experimental group outperformed students in the control group in terms of learning achievements, learning model satisfaction, technology acceptance, flow experience and learning attitudes, which suggests that the use of multisensory spherical video-based immersive virtual reality technology in a landscape architecture conservation course is effective in improving students’ learning performances, and that the study can provide input for the development of other courses.
Methane Emission: Strategies to Reduce Global Warming in Relation to Animal Husbandry Units with Emphasis on Ruminants
Authors: Vaghar Seyedin Seyed Morteza , Zeidi Amir , Chamanehpour Elham , Nasri Mohammad Hassan Fathi , Vargas-Bello-Pérez Einar
Published: December 2022

Concerns about global warming and greenhouse gases have increased the interest of governments and the public sector to find solutions. To reduce the effects of global warming caused by greenhouse gases, especially methane, it is necessary to change animal production systems and adopt new strategic approaches. The reduction of enteric methane in livestock is a long-standing problem regarding the energy efficiency of consumed feed. In this review, the sources of production, dissemination, and introduction of accepted scientific and practical solutions in order to reduce methane gas in breeding and production units of dairy cows have been investigated. To carry out this research, a thorough search was conducted in articles published in valid databases between 1967 and 2022. A total of 213 articles were reviewed, and after screening, 159 were included in the study and analyzed using a PRISMA flow diagram. In general, low livestock efficiency, low-quality feed, a shortage of knowledge, and inadequate investment are the main causes of emission of these gases in poor or developing countries. On the other hand, developing countries may not always have access to the same methods that are utilized in industrialized countries to minimize the production of methane and other greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide. According to their conditions, developing countries should use the available tools to reduce methane production and emission, considering the costs, local knowledge, feasibility, and local laws. In future, there will be a greater need for interdisciplinary research to look for sustainable and acceptable methods for reducing methane emissions and other greenhouse gases from animal husbandry units, especially dairy cows. To change the population of rumen methanogens, as the main producers of methane, strategies such as feeding management, addition of inhibitors and vaccination are suggested. Also, there is a need for more applied research for reducing methane emissions.
Evaluating the Environmental and Economic Performance of Municipal Solid Waste Disposal by All-Component Resource Recovery
Authors: Liang Zhenjiang , Luo Ziling , Yuan Jiangang , Li Meiyun , Xia Yongyan , Che Tingting , Huang Lingyue , Liu Jianyi
Published: December 2022

Disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) has become increasingly challenging. In this study, we used life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate environmental impacts and financial performance of a new approach for MSW disposals, namely All-components Resource Recovery (AcRR), which is based on automatic sorting. We compared AcRR with the standardized Waste-to-Energy incineration (WtE) to provide decision-making support for MSW management. The results show that WtE and AcRR are both good MSW resource treatment methods. Through MSW disposal, WtE generates electricity, while AcRR generates secondary resources such as metals, plastics, pulp and organic fertilizers. WtE releases trace amounts of HCl, PM10, heavy metals, dioxins and dust, while AcRR does not produce such pollutants; AcRR produces more odor gases such as SO2 and H2S. AcRR produces four environmental issues, i.e., Global Warming, Acidification, Photochemical Ozone Synthesis, and Eutrophication, each of which has a smaller impact than WtE; WtE has two more impacts than AcRR: Human Toxicity and Soot and Ashes. The total environmental impact potential of WtE is 3.38 times that of AcRR, and the greenhouse gas emission equivalent is 6.82 times that of AcRR. The cost of construction and operation of AcRR is lower than that of WtE, while the net profit of AcRR is much higher. In conclusion, AcRR is able to screen the mixed MSW into various secondary resources with less environmental emissions and environmental impacts and better financial performance; it may be a promising MSW disposal approach, especially for small cities, but a corresponding supporting industrial system is needed.
The Development of Traditional Food in Tourist Destinations from the Perspective of Dramaturgy
Authors: Mo Hongwei , Yin Shoubing , Liu Yunxia
Published: December 2022

The sustainable development of traditional diets in the tourist industry is an important issue. This article analyses the historical evolution and the opportunities for a traditional Chinese dish in tourism. Taking mandarin fish in Anhui cuisine as the research object and the world heritage site Hongcun as the case, this paper investigates the evolution process of the local traditional die driven by tourism and its influence on the construction of gourmet tourism destinations. Primary data were obtained via interview. It was found that, to cater to the mass tourists, the destination created the diet frontstage. Traditional food changed through menu simplification, taste changes, the standardization and scale of production, and the immobilization of presentation. The dieter’s frontstage and backstage are not entirely separated; the “middle stage”—Homestay diet is a fusion of them; it is the product of functional differentiation of the frontstage and active integration of the backstage. By expressing the actual state behind the scenes, the middle stage transforms the tourist system from a “supportive experience” to a “peak experience”.
Toward a Healthy Urban Living Environment: Assessing 15-Minute Green-Blue Space Accessibility
Authors: Liu Dong , Kwan Mei-Po , Kan Zihan , Wang Jianying
Published: December 2022

Exposure to green-blue space has been shown to be associated with better physical and mental health outcomes. The advent of COVID-19 has underlined the importance for people to have access to green-blue spaces in proximity to their residences due to pandemic-related restrictions on activity space. The implementation of the 15-min concept, which advocates that people should be able to reach locations of essential functions like green-blue spaces within 15 min of active travel, can bring green-blue spaces nearer to where people live. Nonetheless, there is still a lack of understanding of the social and spatial (in)equality in 15-min green-blue space accessibility by active travel in cities seeking to embrace the concept, such as Hong Kong. This study explores 15-min green-blue space accessibility by walking and cycling in Hong Kong to reveal the distribution of disadvantaged neighborhoods. The results show that neighborhoods in Kowloon’s districts are the most disadvantaged in accessing green-blue spaces within 15 min of active travel. Our study provides policymakers with valuable insights and knowledge conducive to formulating policies aimed at reducing inequality in 15-min accessibility.
Examining the Complexity between Boredom and Engagement in English Learning: Evidence from Chinese High School Students
Authors: Liu Honggang , Li Jing , Fang Fan
Published: December 2022

Although boredom is a negative emotion that students frequently experience in the process of learning English, boredom in language learning has received scant research attention in terms of its structure, levels and impact on language learning engagement. To fill this gap, the study focused on data obtained from 1157 high school students in six different areas of mainland China via a questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a binary structure of English learning boredom (ELB) and a tri-structure of English learning engagement (ELE). The Pearson correlation showed a low-to-moderate correlation between ELB and ELE. On the basis of our results, we present this study’s pedagogical implications.
The Dynamic Evolution of the Material Flow of Lithium Resources in China
Authors: Zhou Zhiyong , Huang Jianhui , Li Ming , Lu Yao
Published: December 2022

As a strategic emerging mineral resource, lithium is widely used in new energy, new materials and other emerging industries. There exists a changing trend of the material flow, consumption and evolution of lithium resources in the market. Thus, this research constructed a material flow analysis system for lithium resources based on the trade correlation of the whole life cycle. The study used the material flow analysis method to analyze the supply, flow and stock of lithium resources in China from 2007 to 2020. The research shows that during that timeframe, China’s cumulative consumption of lithium resources equivalent to lithium carbonate reached 309.9348 kiloton (kt). The consumption of lithium in traditional and lithium electric fields increased from 14.3653 kt and 8.08228 kt in 2007 to 49.53125 kt and 90.75866 kt in 2020, respectively. From 2007 to 2011, the consumption of lithium in the traditional sector was greater than that in the lithium electric sector. From 2012 to 2020, with the innovation of network technology and the boom in the New energy vehicles (NEV) market, the market for consumer lithium and power lithium grew rapidly, and the field of lithium with power batteries as the main driving force gradually became the major contributor to the consumption of lithium resources. With the rapid increase in the consumption demand for lithium resources, the supply structure of lithium resources in China has changed from domestic supply to international import. The external dependence of lithium resources has increased from 29.74% in 2007 to 70.75% in 2020. With increasing lithium consumption, the storage of lithium batteries increased from 20.69721 kt in 2007 to 341.6322 kt in 2020. At the same time, the scrap volume of lithium batteries increased rapidly, but the recycling volume of lithium resources was far lower than the scrap volume. The resource recycling potential is huge, and there is still a lot of room for the development of the sequential utilization of waste lithium-ion batteries.
Mapping the Research between Foreign Direct Investment and Environmental Concerns; Where Are We and Where to Go?
Authors: Al-Nimer Munther , Kayed Salah , Ullah Rizwan , Khan Najib Ullah , Khattak Muhammad Sualeh
Published: December 2022

Research on the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and environmental concerns has been drastically growing, providing opportunities to conduct systematic and bibliometric overviews. Surprisingly, to date, there has been no bibliometric study on the relationship to analyze the large volume of data. To fill the gap, we conducted a bibliometric study to address the statistical evaluation of the published studies and measure the role of the publications in the scientific community. We utilized the Scopus data from 2000–2021 and applied VOSviewer for co-citation and bibliographic coupling and SciMAT for conceptual structure and evaluation. In addition to the most influential authors, journals, and countries, we have discussed theoretical foundations and current research streams in the field of FDI and environmental concerns. We have discussed how research streams in the fields of FDI and environment transformed during 2000–2005, 2006–2010, 2011–2015, and 2016–2021. Concerning future research directions, we strongly recommend studying public policies and government incentives for environmental concerns. Consequently, we have also discussed several future research directions that can further strengthen the field.
Mn2+ Doped Cobalt Oxide and Its Composite with Carbon Nanotubes for Adsorption-Assisted Photocatalytic Applications
Authors: Fida Muhammad , Iqbal Shahid , Shah Mazloom , Fazal Tanzeela , Ismail Bushra , Rehman Hafiz ur , Al-Fawzan Foziah F. , Elkaeed Eslam B. , Pashameah Rami Adel , Alzahrani Eman , Farouk Abd-ElAziem
Published: December 2022

In this study, cobalt oxide (Co3O4), Mn-doped Co3O4 (MDCO), and Mn-doped Co3O4-functionalized carbon nanotube (MDCO-CNTs) were synthesized via the co-precipitation method using cobalt nitrate and manganese nitrate as a cobalt and manganese precursor, respectively. Synthesized materials were assessed using different characterization techniques like scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV-visible spectroscopy. Congo red in an aqueous solution was adopted as the model dye to estimate the adsorption-assisted photocatalytic efficiency of the synthesized materials. The samples studied for adsorpsstion-assisted photocatalysis were found to be highly effective and among all the samples, the best removal performance (80%) was obtained by treating the MDCO-CNTs composite for 50 min at 50 °C. Mathematical modeling shows that all of the samples followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and data best fitted to a Langmuir isotherm, implying that the process involved in the removal of Congo red dye is chemisorption.
Multielement Analysis of Fresh and Salt Surface Water from Different Continents
Authors: Zeiner Michaela , Sjöberg Viktor , Fiedler Heidelore
Published: December 2022

Metals and metalloids in aquatic environments are a result of anthropogenic activities as well as of natural events. Many investigations have been carried out focusing on certain remote or polluted areas. The present project intended to obtain a more widespread picture of elements in fresh and salt surface water. For this purpose, samples were collected from 22 countries and three continents. These were analyzed for 29 elements, covering potentially toxic elements but also saline elements, by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Statistical analysis of the obtained results showed significant differences between countries as well as between water types: Alkali metals and earth alkaline metals contributed most to the distinction of water types. The results from this study were consistent with data from the literature regarding fresh water from different locations. Al, As, Cd, Co, Mo, Ni, Se, Ni, and U correlated with the geographic provenience of the samples. A correlation analysis, which also included three perfluorinated alkyl substances from a previous study, showed a correlation between the organic contaminants and V and As.
Hydrological Response of Tropical Catchments to Climate Change as Modeled by the GR2M Model: A Case Study in Costa Rica
Authors: Mendez Maikel , Calvo-Valverde Luis-Alexander , Imbach Pablo , Maathuis Ben , Hein-Grigg David , Hidalgo-Madriz Jorge-Andrés , Alvarado-Gamboa Luis-Fernando
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to assess the impacts of climate change on streamflow characteristics of five tropical catchments located in Costa Rica. An ensemble of five General Circulation Models (GCMs), namely HadGEM2-ES, CanESM2, EC-EARTH, MIROC5, MPI-ESM-LR dynamically downscaled by two Regional Climate Models (RCMs), specifically HadRM3P and RCA4, was selected to provide an overview of the impacts of different climate change scenarios under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 2.6, 4.5 and 8.5 using the 1961–1990 baseline period. The GR2M hydrological model was used to reproduce the historical monthly surface runoff patterns of each catchment. Following calibration and validation of the GRM2 model, the projected impact of climate change on streamflow was simulated for a near-future (2011–2040), mid-future (2041–2070) and far-future (2071–2100) for each catchment using the bias-corrected GCM-RCM multimodel ensemble-mean (MEM). Results anticipate wetter conditions for all catchments in the near-future and mid-future periods under RCPs 2.6 and 4.5, whereas dryer conditions are expected for the far-future period under RCP 8.5. Projected temperature trends indicate consistently warmer conditions with increasing radiative forcing and future periods. Streamflow changes across all catchments however are dominated by variations in projected precipitation. Wetter conditions for the near-future and mid-future horizons under RCPs 2.6 and 4.5 would result in higher runoff volumes, particularly during the late wet season (LWS). Conversely, dryer conditions for the far-future period under RCP8.5 would result in considerably lower runoff volumes during the early wet season (EWS) and the Mid-Summer Drought (MSD). In consequence, projected seasonal changes on streamflow across all catchments may result in more frequent flooding, droughts, and water supply shortage compared to historical hydrological regimes.
Delineating Groundwater Potential Zones in Hyper-Arid Regions Using the Applications of Remote Sensing and GIS Modeling in the Eastern Desert, Egypt
Authors: Morgan Hesham , Hussien Hussien M. , Madani Ahmed , Nassar Tamer
Published: December 2022

The increasing demand for freshwater supplies and the effects of climate change in arid and hyper-arid regions are pushing governments to explore new water resources for food security assurance. Groundwater is one of the most valuable water resources in these regions, which are facing water scarcity due to climatic conditions and limited rainfall. In this manuscript, we provide an integrated approach of remote sensing, geographic information systems, and analytical hierarchical process (AHP) to identify the groundwater potential zone in the central Eastern Desert, Egypt. A knowledge-driven GIS-technique-based method for distinguishing groundwater potential zones used multi-criteria decision analysis and AHP. Ten factors influencing groundwater were considered in this study, including elevation, slope steepness, rainfall, drainage density, lineament density, the distance from major fractures, land use/land cover, lithology, soil type, and the distance from the channel network. Three classes of groundwater prospective zones were identified, namely good potential (3.5%), moderate potential (7.8%), and poor potential (88.6%) zones. Well data from the study area were used to cross-validate the results with 82.5% accuracy. During the last 8 years, the static water level of the Quaternary alluvium aquifer greatly decreased (14 m) due to excessive over pumping in the El-Dir area, with no recorded recharges reaching this site. Since 1997, there has been a noticeable decline in major rainfall storms as a result of climate change. The current study introduces a cost-effective multidisciplinary approach to exploring groundwater resources, especially in arid environments. Moreover, a significant modern recharge for shallow groundwater aquifers is taking place, even in hyper-arid conditions.
The Dangers of Travel—Banditry on the Roads: The Bibliometric Study of the Retrospective Literature
Authors: Godlewski Piotr , Ciszek Paweł , Mruczyk Robert , Skalski Dariusz
Published: December 2022

Since the dawn of time, one of the main barriers to travel has been the fear of leaving one’s place of residence and travelling into a foreign unknown and dangerous space. However, at the same time, firmly rooted in human nature is the desire to know and experience travel, this archetypal inner need is the motive for undertaking travel. In the past, in ancient times, it was difficult to travel safely, not always succeeding in avoiding dangerous areas and being among the friendly inhabitants of distant countries. In modern times, too, travel is dangerous and no traveler can have the comfort of carefree travel until the end. This work has the character of scholarly reconnaissance and touches on selected historical threads related to banditry on the roads in the old days. This work deals with the methodology of bibliographic information retrieval using modern search methods for the expansion and accumulation of knowledge on the criminal risks of the commuter in ancient times from antiquity to the 19th century period. The main purpose of the study was to compare existing data already obtained from autopsies with those to be obtained using Google Scholar and the EBSCO databases. Available research articles were searched for using the following keywords: history of tourism, cultural tourism, dangers of travelling, travel dangers, robbery, highwaymen, bandits, robbers. The goal was also to find qualitative studies concerning the outlined areas. This article aims to show the technology of performing a comparative literature review on the subject of the dangers of travel in a historical context. To achieve this goal, the authors used the following methods: the historical method, the historical fact-finding method, the comparative method, and the method of literature analysis and criticism. The research of the second stage yielded very interesting records for the keywords bandits—131,000; cultural tourism—45,000; travel dangers—311; tourism history—7460; and travel dangers—135.
An Insight into Gastronomic Tourism through the Literature Published between 2012 and 2022
Authors: Nistor Elena-Larisa , Dezsi Ștefan
Published: December 2022

As tourism became more accessible, the number of visitors to various destinations increased, and that led to mass tourism. In the few last decades, new types of tourism started to emerge in response to the mass tourism offer which was oversaturated. People started to want ‘something different’, and that created new trends and niches in tourism. One of these new niches is food tourism. In this article, our main research purpose is to identify the state of the research carried out on the topic of gastronomic tourism, mainly between 2012 and 2022, as well as on the correlated topic of sustainable gastronomic tourism, and consider the impact they can have on a destination. We are also answering a few research questions including who are the food tourists, where do they go for food tourism and what do they do while traveling. The main research method used was desk review, and the papers taken into consideration for this analysis were mostly published between 2012 and 2022. The novelty of this paper lies in the result of indicating the state of the literature review regarding food tourism, and where is it heading. The research is significant not only because our results answer research questions, which give an insight into gastronomic tourism, but they offer a precise overview in this field with a focus on sustainability, and on gastronomy as a way to revive cultural heritage.
Long-Term Leases vs. One-Off Purchases: Game Analysis on Battery Swapping Mode Considering Cascade Utilization and Power Structure
Authors: Li Guohao , Wang Tao
Published: December 2022

The electric vehicle industry faces intense competition and the sustainability problem. In order to obtain a differential competitive advantage, enterprises actively promote the battery swapping mode (BSM) to respond to cost pressures caused by the mismatch between demand and supply. Considering cascade utilization, the Stackelberg game models of electric vehicle supply chain under three different scenarios, in the secondary supply chain consisting of a battery manufacturer (BM) and a vehicle manufacturer (VM), were constructed, respectively. Additionally, then, through the contrastive analysis of differential power structures, the influence of power structures and related parameters on the optimal pricing strategy and enterprise profits of both parties in the supply chain were studied and compared. The conclusions show that the dominance of the supply chain determines the profit level of enterprises in BSM. Compared with VMs, the adoption of the BSM has provided BM greater profit growth. Secondly, the number of reserve batteries in the battery swapping stations and the revenue of cascade utilization are essential factors affecting the profits of battery swapping service (BSS), especially for VMs. In addition, setting a reasonable range for the pricing of BSS can achieve a win–win situation for both manufacturers.
Life Cycle Assessment of Protection Products for External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems
Authors: Pedroso Pedro Frazão , Silvestre José Dinis , Borsoi Giovanni , Flores-Colen Inês
Published: December 2022

The energy performance and thermal comfort of buildings are decisive factors for users. Thus, solutions such as the external thermal insulation systems (ETICS) that can be installed in either new buildings or buildings under thermal retrofitting, reducing the energy consumption while improving thermal comfort, tend to become mainstream. This paper purposes to quantify the environmental and economic impacts of various ETICS protection solutions to assist in decision-making at the project phase. In this study, products available on the Portuguese market are considered. The protection products considered are hydrophobic agents, biocides, multifunctional, and self-cleaning. The products are compared by type of protection, presenting some of the most impactful components, following a multicriteria analysis of some of those products gathered into different solutions, with the objective of demonstrating the influence of the weights assigned to environmental and economic indicators. Several data-linked problems were identified, such as the quantity and quality of data available for analysis, crucial to their reliability; thus, an index for quality of information was developed in order to compare different products. In the multicriteria analysis, the weights of the sensitivity analysis between environmental and economic indicators highly influence the “best solution”; therefore, stakeholders need to clearly define their objectives.
Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Babesia ovis Infecting Sheep in Nigeria
Authors: Adewumi Taiye Samson , Takeet Michael Irewole , Akande Foluke Adedayo , Sonibare Adekayode Olarewaju , Okpeku Moses
Published: December 2022

Babesiosis is a significant tick-borne disease that causes varying degrees of losses to animals and humans, as well as a severe economic impact. In Nigeria, there have been several reports on the prevalence of Babesia infection in sheep; however, to date, there is no documented report on the molecular characterization of Babesia ovis in sheep. Here, we determined the prevalence of Babesia infection in sheep using microscopy and PCR and further characterized Babesia ovis in sheep in Nigeria. In this study, 198 blood samples were collected from Abuja and Abeokuta, Nigeria. Microscopic and polymerase chain reactions were used to detect the presence of B. ovis in sheep. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples, and generic RLB forward and reverse primers were used to amplify the 18S rRNA segment of B. ovis. Sequence analysis of the generic molecular marker was used to determine the genetic characteristics of B. ovis in sheep in Nigeria. The prevalence of B. ovis infection using microscopy and PCR was 61.1% and 36.9%, respectively. There was a higher prevalence of Babesia infection in Abeokuta (38.4%) than in Abuja. Study animals of one and half years to three years had the highest percentage (45.8%) of Babesia infection, and higher infection of B. ovis was recorded in male animals (37.5%), balami breeds (40.0%), white coat colors (44.4%), emaciated animals (75.0%), and polycythaemic animals (57.1%). Sequencing analysis indicated that B. ovis 18S rRNA from southwestern Abeokuta and north-central Abuja, Nigeria, showed 90–95% identity of documented isolates from other countries. BioEdit and MEGAX software was used to clean sequences and construct a phylogenetic tree to show evolutionary relationships. In conclusion, the findings from this study offer significant information on the molecular characteristics of B. ovis infection for the first time in Nigeria, as well as its present prevalence status. Furthermore, sheep have been identified as a potential reservoir for this tick-borne pathogen; thus, the information from this study can serve as a basis to formulate effective control strategies for tick-borne pathogens circulating amongst the ruminant population in Nigeria and Africa by extension.
In, Out or Beyond? Waste Pickers and Policy Networks: A Story from Jardim Gramacho (Rio de Janeiro)
Authors: Maiello Antonella
Published: December 2022

As circularity is momentous, waste-picker communities all around the world are getting noticed. Brazil is at the forefront of waste-picker community inclusion, recognizing, by law, waste-pickers as professionals who must be part of waste management. This level of institutionalization is the result of a political struggle within the national waste policy network over more than twenty years. Understanding these political relations is key to recognising the role of waste-pickers and making the case for justice in the circularity discourse and practices. This research presents the result of an extended case study of over seven years duration conducted by the author on the community of Jardim Gramacho, in the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region. Building upon the policy network theory, this paper first maps the policy community and the issue network of waste governance. Second, through a thematic analysis of 20 semi-structured interviews, core themes are identified. These themes depict the waste-picker community beyond a paternalistic reading recognizing their agency and identifying a plurality of roles waste-pickers are playing in the waste policy community, among them the role of institutional stewards. In the conclusion, a research agenda is outlined, highlighting the need for transdisciplinarity in doing research with waste-pickers.
Sensitivity of EPA of Ground Motion to Soil Slope Dynamic Response
Authors: Zhang Jiangwei , Shen Yan , Lu Tao , Yuan Ying , Zhang Chengda
Published: December 2022

To study the influence law of effective peak acceleration (EPA) on the seismic response of soil slope, the finite element method was used to simulate the slope response under earthquake action with 100 actual seismic records were selected, the influence law of the EPA under four different definitions commonly used in domestic and foreign codes on the soil slope seismic response was discussed, and which was compared with the influence law of the peak acceleration (PGA). The results showed that the deformation and the maximum principal stress of soil slope both increased with the EPA and PGA, which had an obvious linear relationship, but the correlation degree were different with the parameters of PGA and EPA by the different definitions. EPA1 by the first definition has the highest correlation with the soil slope seismic response, followed by PGA, which was close to EPA1. Other parameters in order of correlation coefficient were EPA2, EPA3 and EPA4. In this example, EPA1 and PGA could better describe the response degree of soil slope in earthquake. The results are expected to provide a basis for the selection of seismic parameters in soil slope seismic stability evaluation.
How Does Digital Economy Affect Rural Revitalization? The Mediating Effect of Industrial Upgrading
Authors: Cen Tao , Lin Shuping , Wu Qiaoyun
Published: December 2022

Since the reform and opening up in 1978, China’s economy has grown significantly, but rural development still lags. China has implemented a rural revitalization strategy to reduce the gap between urban and rural areas. Meanwhile, the digital economy has gradually become a new economic growth engine for China. With the digitalization of rural industries, the digital economy gradually integrated into rural development and revitalization. However, how the digital economy impacts rural revitalization remains unclear. Based on the entropy method, previous studies measured rural revitalization levels from the perspectives of economy, civilization, and ecological environment. In this paper, using panel data from 11 prefecture-level cities in Zhejiang Province from 2011 to 2019, we use the entropy method to quantify the development level of the digital economy, industrial upgrading, and rural revitalization. Then, we investigate the relationship among them using fixed effect regression. The empirical results show that the digital economy obviously promotes rural revitalization. The mediation effect test shows that industrial upgrading plays a mediating mechanism between the digital economy and rural revitalization. In addition, heterogeneity analysis reveals that the promotion effect of the digital economy on rural development in southwestern Zhejiang is stronger than that of northeastern Zhejiang. The results imply that government should strengthen digital infrastructure construction in rural areas to promote rural revitalization. Moreover, rural areas with different economic development levels should implement a differentiated rural revitalization strategy.
Assessing the Ecological Risks Based on the Three-Dimensional Ecological Footprint Model in Gansu Province
Authors: Liu Hua , Li Dan-Yang , Ma Rong , Ma Ming
Published: December 2022

It has become a hot topic in sustainable development to determine how to use data series to predict the trajectory of ecological footprints (EFs), precisely map biocapacity (BC), and effectively analyze regional sustainability. The sustainability of the ecological system in Gansu province must be investigated because the province is situated in western China and serves as a significant economic and transportation hub. We used the EF model to compute the per capita EF and BC of Gansu province from 2010 to 2020. We created a three-dimensional ecological footprint (EF3D) model by incorporating the ecological footprint size (EFsize) and ecological footprint depth (EFdepth) into the EF model and the EF3D of Gansu province from 2010 to 2020 was measured. The EF3D value was estimated using the gray GM (1, 1) prediction model in order to determine the sustainability condition of Gansu province during the next ten years. Finally, the risk of ecosystem loss in the province of Gansu was ultimately assessed using an ecological risk model (EVR). The results show that Gansu province’s per capita EF and BC displayed generally rising trends and the province is experiencing unsustainable development. The region’s projected future consumption of natural capital was estimated by the results, and the EF3D of Gansu province is expected to increase significantly in the future. These findings have a certain reference value for adjusting the industrial structure and utilizing resources in Gansu province. Furthermore, these findings will assist Gansu province in achieving sustainable development policy recommendations.
The Role of Chinese Regimes of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Belt and Road Initiative in the Transformation of Its Energy Diplomacy: Quest for Economic Sustainability
Authors: Mahmood Arfan , Khan Mehran Idris , Ali Shahid , Abbas Zaheer , Khan Nouman
Published: December 2022

This paper offers a critical analysis of how the new regimes in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China complement its energy diplomacy to ensure economic sustainability driven by an uninterrupted supply of overseas energy. Recognising the centrality of energy in its foreign policy, China’s initiative in the AIIB and the BRI to complement its energy diplomacy is a subject of immense significance requiring extensive research. The present study investigates whether the transformations in China’s energy diplomacy caused primarily by these new regimes in the AIIB and the BRI are a step toward economic internationalisation or consistency of its years-old mercantilist practices. It adopts a well-defined analytical methodology by utilising the “case-based” approach of John Gerring. This article argues that the new global institutions of China successfully complement the country’s energy diplomacy, and its energy diplomacy towards Central Asia is predominantly neo-mercantilist. However, it shows a strong inclination to facilitate economic interdependence towards regions that carry some strategic weight in China’s national interests. In contrast, countries enriched in energy resources but isolated, with little strategic worth, are put under sheer dependency on China.
Impacts of Urbanization on Drainage System Health and Sustainable Drainage Recommendations for Future Scenarios—A Small City Case in China
Authors: Zhang Tianqi , Zhou Yue , Li Ming , Zhang Haoran , Wang Tong , Tian Yu
Published: December 2022

China is urbanizing at an unprecedented rate, but also accelerating the use of water resources and overloading of urban drainage systems. To analyze the impact of urbanization on the drainage-system health in Jinxi, a typical small case area in China, this study proposed an innovative methodological framework for evaluation and prediction based on statistical and modeling methods, which provides a demonstration and reference for urban development and drainage-system construction in developing countries. The result shows that the comprehensive urbanization index (CUI) of Jinxi shows an overall upward trend between 2009 and 2020. The drainage-system health index (DHI) shows a U-shaped trend of decreasing and then increasing, with the threshold in 2016. The years when the DHI and CUI are in balanced development occurred in 2014 and 2018. The impact of urbanization on the drainage-system health is divided into positive and negative aspects, depending on the drainage demands of the urban development. According to the predicted results, it is suggested that the next drainage upgrading measures will be favorable for sustainable urban development when the urbanization rate reaches 60%, the gross industrial output increases by 10%, or the total retail sales of consumer goods increase by 40%.
Revegetation on Tropical Steep Slopes after Mining and Infrastructure Projects: Challenges and Solutions
Authors: Gastauer Markus , Massante Jhonny Capichoni , Ramos Silvio Junio , da Silva Rayara do Socorro Souza , Boanares Daniela , Guedes Rafael Silva , Caldeira Cecílio Frois , Medeiros-Sarmento Priscila Sanjuan , de Castro Arianne Flexa , Prado Isabelle Gonçalves de Oliveira , Cardoso André Luiz de Rezende , Maurity Clóvis , Ribeiro Paula Godinho
Published: December 2022

The revegetation of steep slopes after mining and infrastructure projects is not an easy task. To enhance the effectiveness of revegetation projects, the present study aimed to review (i) specific challenges of steep slope revegetation, (ii) ecological succession patterns in similar environments, (iii) soil conditioning and revegetation strategies to enhance vegetation cover, (iv) the importance of microorganisms to enhance steep slope revegetation, and (v) the functional plant traits necessary to establish on steep slopes. In general, steep slopes are characterized by high bulk densities, potentially toxic elements, and low water and nutrient availability. Additionally, high temperature and elevated radiation constrain the soil conditioning and vegetation cover establishment. Lessons from ecological succession in natural steep slope habitats show that steep slope revegetation is a long-term process. Planting strategies, including hydroseeding and geotextiles, may enhance the implementation of vegetation cover. Different plant functional groups show adaptations necessary for establishment in steep slope environments, and mixtures of species containing different functional groups can promote diverse and resilient plant communities. Promising species may be retrieved from local rupestrian ecosystems, as these floras are adapted to shallow, oligotrophic soils. Further research on combining methods of soil conditioning with individual planting and/or seeding strategies of carefully selected species is necessary to enhance steep slope revegetation and rehabilitation, contributing to slope stability, erosion reduction, and carbon fixation in the long term.
Review of Regional Renewable Energy Investment Projects: The Example of EU Cohesion Funds Dispersal
Authors: Florkowski Wojciech J. , Rakowska Joanna
Published: December 2022

The study aimed at reviewing the European Union funds’ distribution mechanism supporting investments in renewable energy deployment in Poland, its effects and the relationship between the value of each investment and its location, location area characteristics, the type of investing entity, and the type of RE to be utilized once the investment is completed. The study fills a gap in the literature on the regional dispersal of cohesion funds. The presented findings are novel and contribute to a better understanding of the use of funds to support local investment projects and improve planning and implementation of evidence-based policies aimed at increasing renewable energy utilization in the European Union. The applied methods included multiple linear regression and cartograms. The data on the renewable energy investments were obtained from the SIMIK database for the years 2007–2015, while the characteristics of counties were gathered from Statistics Poland. The results show that the European Union cohesion funding was essential in overcoming the major barrier to solar renewable energy utilization, which was the cost of the initial investment. There were significant differences in the dispersal of the analyzed investments–most of them cumulated in north-eastern and eastern Poland. Although the funding distributed through operational programs was accessed by a variety of applicants, the municipality self-governments and small and medium-sized enterprise contributed most to the increased share of energy generated from solar renewable energy. The largest number of projects involved solar and wind energy, allowing applicants to lower operating costs by reducing energy bills.
A Full Population Auditing Method Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Chen Yasheng , Wu Zhuojun , Yan Hui
Published: December 2022

As it is urgent to change the traditional audit sampling method that is based on manpower to meet the growing audit demand in the era of big data. This study uses empirical methods to propose a full population auditing method based on machine learning. This method can extend the application scope of the audit to all samples through the self-learning feature of machine learning, which helps to address the dependence on auditors’ personal experience and the audit risks arising from audit sampling. First, this paper demonstrates the feasibility of this method, then selects the financial data of a large enterprise for full population testing, and finally summarizes the critical steps of practical applications. The study results indicate that machine learning for full population auditing is able to detect, in all samples, abnormal business whose execution does not adhere to existing accounting rules, as well as abnormal business with irregular accounting rules, thus improving the efficiency of internal control audits. By combining the learning ability of machine-learning algorithms and the arithmetic power of computers, the proposed full population auditing method provides a feasible approach for the intellectual development of future auditing at the application level.
Effectiveness of the FHaCE Up! Program on School Violence, School Climate, Conflict Management Styles, and Socio-Emotional Skills on Secondary School Students
Authors: Avivar-Cáceres Susana , Prado-Gascó Vicente , Parra-Camacho David
Published: December 2022

Communicative and socio-emotional skills are associated with conflict resolution and, thus, school violence prevention. However, without using a combination of techniques in peaceful conflict resolution, it is difficult to ensure such a relationship. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the FHaCE up! program, an intervention based on training in communication and socio-emotional skills, as well as conflict resolution, using a collaborative style and mediation skills to reduce school violence and improve the school climate. This training developed in two consecutive stages. The design of the study was quasi-experimental, in which 561 students (aged from 11 to 17 years) from two public secondary schools in Valencia, Spain, participated. Convenience sampling was assigned to the experimental group (N = 264) and the control group (N = 297). The results showed a significant improvement in school violence and school climate perception, as well as communication and socio-emotional skills, in the experimental group after the intervention implementation. It is concluded that the FHaCE up! program significantly positively affected teenagers’ perception of violence and school climate.