bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simplified Super Twisting Sliding Mode Approaches of the Double-Powered Induction Generator-Based Multi-Rotor Wind Turbine System
Authors: Benbouhenni Habib , Bizon Nicu , Colak Ilhami , Thounthong Phatiphat , Takorabet Noureddine
Published: April 2022

This work proposes a new indirect filed-oriented control (IFOC) scheme for double-powered induction generators (DPIGs) in multi-rotor wind turbine systems (MRWTS). The IFOC strategy is characterized by its simplicity, ease of use, and fast dynamic speed. However, there are drawbacks to this method. Among its disadvantages is the presence of ripples in the level of torque, active power, and current. In addition, the total harmonic distortion (THD) value of the electric current is higher compared to the direct torque control method. In order to overcome these shortcomings and in terms of improving the effectiveness and performance of this method, a new algorithm is proposed for the super twisting algorithm (STA). In this work, a new STA method called simplified STA (SSTA) algorithm is proposed and applied to the traditional IFOC strategy in order to reduce the ripples of torque, current, and active power. On the other hand, the inverter of the DPIG is controlled by using a five-level fuzzy simplified space vector modulation (FSSVM) technique to obtain a signal at the inverter output of a fixed frequency. The results obtained from this proposed IFOC-SSTA method with FSSVM strategy are compared with the classical IFOC method which uses the classical controller based on a proportional-integral (PI) controller. The proposed method is achieved using the Matlab/Simulink software, where a generator with a large capacity of 1.5 megawatts is used. The generator is placed in a multi-rotor electric power generation system. On the other hand, the two methods are compared in terms of ripple ratio, dynamic response, durability, and total harmonic distortion (THD) value of the electric current. Through the results obtained from this work, the proposed method based on SSTA provided better results in terms of ripple ratio, response dynamic, and even THD value compared to the classical method, and this shows the robustness of the proposed method in improving the performance and efficiency of the generator in the multi-rotor wind system.
Cookies Implementation Analysis and the Impact on User Privacy Regarding GDPR and CCPA Regulations
Authors: Pantelic Ognjen , Jovic Kristina , Krstovic Stefan
Published: April 2022

This paper will mostly focus on the analysis of the implementation of cookies and their impact on the data collected from users. The first part of the paper will describe the basic characteristics and concepts of cookies. Their functionalities, categories and possibilities for creation will be presented, as well as the role of the privacy management software and its importance in cookie processing. The last part of the paper will deal with the impact of cookies on user privacy, with reference to two important regulations related to the protection of user privacy (GDPR and CCPA). The processing refers to the technological goals and challenges that arise from the introduction of data protection principles as well as the possibility of overcoming the gap between GDPR and CCPA requirements and technical capabilities. Finally, a description of the general concept of cookies is provided, with the advantages and disadvantages of their introduction. Comparing the approaches of working with cookies contributes users’ insight into their specifications in order to correctly draw conclusions about the implementation of cookies. The authors give proposals and critical opinions on safety and potential directions for future development.
Understanding the Correlation of Demographic Features with BEV Uptake at the Local Level in the United States
Authors: Shom Subhaditya , James Kevin , Alahmad Mahmoud
Published: April 2022

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) have seen a substantial growth in the recent past, and this trend is expected to continue. This growth has been far from uniform geographically, with large differences in BEV uptake between countries, states, and cities. This non-uniform growth can be attributed to the demographic and non-demographic factors that characterize a geographical location. In this paper, the demographic factors that affect BEV uptake at the Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP) code level are studied extensively across several states in the United States to understand BEV readiness at its most granular form. Demographic statistics at the ZIP code level more accurately describe the local population than national-, state-, or city-level demographics. This study compiled and preprocessed 242 demographic features to study the impact on BEV uptake in 7155 ZIP codes in 11 states. These demographic features are categorized based on the type of information they convey. The initial demographic features are subjected to feature engineering using various formed hypotheses to extract the optimal level of information. The hypotheses are tested and a total of 82 statistically significant features are selected. This study used correlation analysis to validate the feature engineering and understand the degree of correlation of these features to BEV uptake, both within individual states and at the national level. Results from this study indicate that higher BEV adoption in a state results in a stronger correlation between demographic factors and BEV uptake. Features related to the number of individuals in a ZIP code with an annual income greater than USD 75 thousand are strongly correlated with BEV uptake, followed by the number of owner-occupied housing units, individuals driving alone, and working from home. Features containing compounded information from distinct categories are often better correlated than features containing information from a single category. In-depth knowledge of local BEV uptake is important for applications related to the accommodation of BEVs, and understanding what causes differences in local uptake can allow for both the prediction of future growth and the stimulation of it.
Historical Ecology, Archaeology and Biocultural Landscapes: Cross-Disciplinary Approaches to the Long Anthropocene
Authors: Bazan Giuseppe , Castrorao Barba Angelo
Published: April 2022

From the local to the global scale, human impact is the real protagonist of the Anthropocene [...]
Sustaining Employees’ Work Fulfilment through Multigenerational Diversity and Emotional Communication in Federal Civil Service Commission of Nigeria
Authors: Salau Odunayo Paul , Osibanjo Adewale Omotayo , Igbinoba Ebeguki Edith , Joel Opeyemi Olunike , Atolagbe Tolulope Morenike , Adegbuyi Abimbola Abidemi , Dada Augustina Esitse , Adeniji Chinyerem Grace
Published: April 2022

Emotional communication is gradually gaining the attention of various industries in Nigeria, particularly on the issues and concerns of sustaining employees’ fulfilment. Multigenerational diversity is considered a contributing factor for the retention of employees at work, but the mechanism behind this relationship remains unclear. Thus, main aim of this study was to investigate the influence of multigenerational diversity and emotional communication on sustainable employee fulfilment in the Federal Civil Service Commission of Nigeria. Respondents (i.e., directors, managers, and supervisors) were randomly surveyed across the various civil services in Nigeria using a stratified and purposive sampling technique. With the use of an online google form 416 questionnaires were retrieved and analysed using partial least squares (PLS). The results supported the predicted mediating role of emotional communication, and various ages among Gen Y have no differences within the studied relationships. The implication and limitations of these findings and directions for future research are further discussed to sustain the retention and work fulfilment of employees in the workplace.
Physiological Indices and Subjective Thermal Perception of Heat Stress-Exposed Workers in an Industrial Plant
Authors: Meng Xiaojing , Xue Shukai , An Kangle , Cao Yingxue
Published: April 2022

This study aimed to investigate the thermal responses of acclimated workers exposed to heat stress in a real work environment. The physiological indices and subjective thermal perception of the 14 acclimated workers were measured in an industrial plant. The effects of wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) on physiological indices and subjective thermal perception were studied. The differences in thermal responses between the acclimated workers and unacclimated college students exposed to heat stress were compared and analyzed. The relationship between the mean skin temperature and the thermal sensation was revealed. The results show that the mean skin temperature, oral temperature, and heart rate of the acclimated workers increase with WBGT, while the blood pressure decreases with WBGT. Compared with the unacclimated college students, the acclimated workers felt more comfortable and tolerant under the same heat stress. The thermal neutral mean skin temperature of the acclimated workers is 32.3 °C, which is approximately 1.0 °C lower than that of the unacclimated college students. The results of this study can help ensure the occupational safety and health of heat stress-exposed workers.
Steel Slag and Recycled Concrete Aggregates: Replacing Quarries to Supply Sustainable Materials for the Asphalt Paving Industry
Authors: Loureiro Carlos D. A. , Moura Caroline F. N. , Rodrigues Mafalda , Martinho Fernando C. G. , Silva Hugo M. R. D. , Oliveira Joel R. M.
Published: April 2022

Various researchers are developing efforts to integrate waste and by-products as alternative materials in road construction and maintenance, reducing environmental impacts and promoting a circular economy. Among the alternative materials that several authors have studied regarding their use as partial or total substitutes for natural aggregates in the asphalt paving industry, the steel slag aggregate (SSA) and recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) from construction demolition waste (CDW) stand out. This paper reviews and discusses the characteristics and performance of these materials when used as aggregates in asphalt mixtures. Based on the various studies analyzed, it was possible to conclude that incorporating SSA or RCA in asphalt mixtures for road pavements has functional, mechanical, and environmental advantages. However, it is essential to consider some possible drawbacks of these aggregates that are discussed in this paper, to define the acceptable uses of SSA and RCA as sustainable feedstocks for road paving works.
The Trajectories of Institutionalisation of the Social and Solidarity Economy in France and Korea: When Social Innovation Renews Public Action and Contributes to the Objectives of Sustainable Development
Authors: Bidet Eric , Richez-Battesti Nadine
Published: April 2022

This article addresses the issue of the contribution of SSE to the SDGs through a comparative analysis conducted in two countries: France and South Korea. The theoretical perspective adopted is that of public action renewal through a co-production process and the method uses a multidimensional analysis of the institutionalisation of SSE in both surveyed countries. Our results show that, far from a path dependency, there is a convergence process based on an increasing heterogeneity of the SSE dynamics in each of the national contexts. They also reveal that the institutionalisation of SSE reflects two conceptions of social innovation that each characterise the renewal of public action. In Korea, this conception is based on the production of goods and services with a social purpose by private actors, and in France, on co-construction processes that have been widely experimented with by SSE actors but remain unfinished. The result is an original and specific contribution in both countries to the SDGs, although this contribution is not fully explicit and recognised, both in terms of its results and process. This invisibilisation weakens the transformative potential of SSE in its contribution to sustainable development.
Are Trees Planted along the Roads Sustainable? A Large-Scale Study in the Czech Republic
Authors: Mácová Kateřina , Szórádová Andrea , Kolařík Jaroslav
Published: April 2022

Trees provide a wide variety of ecosystem services to society and form the character of the environment and landscape. The analyses of tree populations and their resistance to changing conditions related to climate change typically focus on urban tree communities or forest trees. Similar studies on non-forest trees in the open landscape are largely missing; even the evidence on tree species abundance and distribution is sporadic. The article aims to expand the current evidence by a large-scale study on roadside trees in the Czech Republic. Using an extensive dataset that covers 91.2% of the total tree population along roads in nine NUTS3 regions, we assess the state and observed practices in selecting tree genera for roadside planting and discuss the implications for sustainable tree planning and management. Our survey documented 133,169 tree individuals belonging to 116 species and 40 genera. The results show that 75% of the total roadside plantings along second-class motorways and first-class roads are represented by seven main genera of deciduous trees (Acer, Fraxinus, Tilia, Malus, Betula, Populus, and Quercus), the distribution of which is similar across most Czech regions. New plantings have shifted only a little from the original species distribution. Traditional roadside species are becoming a more popular choice among new plantings, and the effort not to let the invasive trees outgrow into the mature stage is apparent. Most of the original and newly planted species are relatively suitable for emerging risks related to climate change. To achieve more sustainable patterns in roadside tree species composition in the future, especially the susceptibility of some commonly planted roadside tree species to emerging pests and diseases (e.g., Fraxinus excelsior) and to unfavorable site conditions typical for roadside tree stands (Tilia cordata) is of relevance to tree managers. The relative abundance of tree genera was proven to be similar in most studied regions, which makes the recommendations equally relevant for roadside tree managers across the country.
Benchmarking City Layouts—A Methodological Approach and an Accessibility Comparison between a Real City and the Garden City
Authors: Monteiro João , Sousa Nuno , Natividade-Jesus Eduardo , Coutinho-Rodrigues João
Published: April 2022

This article presents a comparative accessibility study between a real city and its redraft as a Garden City. The benchmarking methodology involves defining and evaluating a location-based accessibility indicator in a GIS environment for the city of Coimbra, Portugal, and for the same city laid out as a Garden City, with the same number of inhabitants, jobs, and similar number of urban facilities. The results are derived as maps and weighted average distances per inhabitant to the facilities and jobs, and show that, for the Garden City, average distances drop to around 500 m for urban facilities and 1500 m for the combination of facilities and jobs, making much of the city accessible by walking and practically the whole of it accessible by cycling, with positive impact on transport sustainability and accessibility equity. The methodology can be extended to other benchmarking indicators and city layouts, and the quantitative results it yields make a valuable contribution to the debate on the ideal layout of cities. Moreover, it gives directions on how to improve real cities to address current and future sustainability concerns.
Optimization of Timetables on the Bratislava–Žilina–Košice Route in the Period after the End of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Dedík Milan , Zitrický Vladislav , Valla Michal , Gašparík Jozef , Figlus Tomasz
Published: April 2022

Quality and efficient long-distance transport as a key system of public passenger transport could be the basis for the national and international comprehensive integrated transport system. Especially due to the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 disease, the demand for long-distance transport has significantly decreased since March 2020 in the Slovak Republic on the busiest long-distance line Bratislava–Žilina–Košice. It is, therefore, necessary to propose various measures in order to increase this demand and bring passenger frequencies to at least the level of values before this period. This paper analyzes the impact of the measures on passenger frequencies in 2020, examining the amount of their fall in individual months of the first half of the year 2020 on the long-distance route Bratislava–Žilina–Košice. Furthermore, the paper deals with the long-term concept of national long-distance passenger rail transport on the mentioned line in the period after the end of the pandemic. It uses scientific methods enabling to rationalize and optimize current train timetables. The benefits of these proposals will be to offer passengers better transport services, with their frequencies expected to increase in the coming years.
A GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Analysis Framework to Evaluate Urban Physical Resilience against Earthquakes
Authors: Parizi Sedigheh Meimandi , Taleai Mohammad , Sharifi Ayyoob
Published: April 2022

As complex man-made systems that are home to the majority of the world population, cities have always faced a wide range of risks such as earthquakes. As the backbone of urban systems, physical components, including buildings, transportation networks, communication networks, and open and green spaces, are also vulnerable to disasters. To enhance the capacity to deal with disaster risks, enhancing urban resilience has recently become an essential priority for cities. This study aims to develop and pilot test a framework to evaluate urban physical resilience based on resilience characteristics and associated physical indicators. Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) was used to determine the relationships between physical indicators, and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making methods were applied to determine the relative importance of the characteristics. The results showed that the ‘Robustness of Building’, ‘Building Density’, ‘Aspect Ratio’, and ‘Street Width’ are the most important among the twenty physical indicators considered in the proposed framework. Subsequently, the proposed framework was applied to one of the districts of Kerman, a major city located in the southwest, earthquake-prone part of Iran. Overall results indicate low levels of physical resilience. The findings of this study can provide urban planners and decision-makers with more transparent and practical insights into the physical resilience of cities. Results can also be used to design and implement policies and programs to improve the current conditions.
Soil and Water Conservation Techniques in Tropical and Subtropical Asia: A Review
Authors: Huang Bin , Yuan Zaijian , Zheng Mingguo , Liao Yishan , Nguyen Kim Loi , Nguyen Thi Hong , Sombatpanit Samran , Li Dingqiang
Published: April 2022

Soil and water loss is a severe environmental problem in tropical and subtropical Asia (TSA). This review systematically summarizes the techniques that have been widely applied in the TSA region and compares the conservation efficiency of these techniques based on the runoff and sediment reduction ratios (ηr and ηs). The results show that the current techniques can be divided into biological, engineering and agricultural practice measures, and in most cases, their efficiencies in reducing sediment loss (ηs = 14.0–99.5%, 61.3–100.0% and 0.6–95.4%, respectively) were higher than in reducing runoff loss (ηr = 2.8–9.38%, 0.28–83.3% and 1.62–70.2%, respectively). Monocultures of single tree species (e.g., Pinus massoniana) sometimes showed very limited conservation effects. Vetiver and alfalfa were more effective at reducing soil loss than other hedgerow species. Contour tillage, ridge farming, and reduced tillage generally showed high efficiencies in reducing soil loss compared with other agricultural practice measures. The combination of engineering and biological techniques could more effectively reduce soil and water loss compared with the application of these techniques along. Future works should be conducted to build unified technical standards and reasonable comprehensive evaluation systems, to combine these techniques with environmental engineering technologies, and to develop new amendment materials.
Effect of the Standardization of Service Platforms for High-Involvement PropTech Services
Authors: Kim Jinmin , Cho AhRam , Kim Jaeyoung
Published: April 2022

In this study, we focus on the innovation resistance that has appeared in the process of accepting changed information technology services after the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a survey of property technology (PropTech) service users in Korea, this study proposes an extended technology acceptance model that considers the antecedent variables of the information systems success model to implement a standard PropTech service platform, and analyzes the influence of the selected parameters. Service quality was applied as the antecedent variable to define system quality and service standards, considering the establishment of the service standards process suggested by the company. The selected parameters were the demand for the personalization of the service and the resistance to innovation, which implies the degree to which consumers refuse to accept new technologies. To this end, we conducted a questionnaire survey of 524 PropTech users from 11 October 2021 to 15 November 2021. This study analyzes the factors affecting consumers’ continued use intention in order to derive the service standardization of PropTech operations, and presents the mediating effects of innovation resistance and personalization to derive the implications for service standardization. The implications of this study are as follows: first, the possibility of innovation resistance in the PropTech service sector and its mechanisms are presented. Second, the necessity of redefining the quality dimension is proposed. Finally, we identify that additional research on innovation resistance to PropTech services is needed.
Improving Water Quality in the Citarum River through Economic Policy Approaches
Authors: Yokosawa Riku , Mizunoya Takeshi
Published: April 2022

This study examines the upper basin of the Citarum River in West Java, Indonesia, to analyze the optimal environmental policy and issues affecting the balance between economic activities and water environment conservation, for example, controlling water quality while maximizing economic activities in the region. The quantitative results derived using model simulation analysis clarifies the study’s issues. An integrated model linking two sub-models describing socio-economic activities and the dynamics of water pollutants was simulated. The model incorporates government subsidies for sewerage system maintenance and septic tank installation as economic policy variables for water quality control. Further, the optimal amount of these subsidies and changes in local economic activities according to water pollution load constraints are derived in a time-series structure for each region from 2015 to 2030. The gross regional product (GRP) maximization problem is solved under the inflow constraints of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chemical oxygen demand into the river. The results showed that the most favorable balance between water environment conservation and local economic activities can be achieved by setting the inflow constraint for 2030 at +3% of the 2015 level and the maximum annual cost of the measures at 10 times the current environmental budget of the West Java Province.
Application of GIS and Machine Learning to Predict Flood Areas in Nigeria
Authors: Ighile Eseosa Halima , Shirakawa Hiroaki , Tanikawa Hiroki
Published: April 2022

Floods are one of the most devastating forces in nature. Several approaches for identifying flood-prone locations have been developed to reduce the overall harmful impacts on humans and the environment. However, due to the increased frequency of flooding and related disasters, coupled with the continuous changes in natural and social-economic conditions, it has become vital to predict areas with the highest probability of flooding to ensure effective measures to mitigate impending disasters. This study predicted the flood susceptible areas in Nigeria based on historical flood records from 1985~2020 and various conditioning factors. To evaluate the link between flood incidence and the fifteen (15) explanatory variables, which include climatic, topographic, land use and proximity information, the artificial neural network (ANN) and logistic regression (LR) models were trained and tested to develop a flood susceptibility map. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate both model accuracies. The results show that both techniques can model and predict flood-prone areas. However, the ANN model produced a higher performance and prediction rate than the LR model, 76.4% and 62.5%, respectively. In addition, both models highlighted that those areas with the highest susceptibility to flood are the low-lying regions in the southern extremities and around water areas. From the study, we can establish that machine learning techniques can effectively map and predict flood-prone areas and serve as a tool for developing flood mitigation policies and plans.
Studying Waste Separation Behaviors and Environmental Impacts toward Sustainable Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of Bang Chalong Housing, Samut Prakan, Thailand
Authors: Pongpunpurt Pavinee , Muensitthiroj Pakornkeat , Pinitjitsamut Pat , Chuenchum Pavisorn , Painmanakul Pisut , Chawaloesphonsiya Nattawin , Poyai Thaksina
Published: April 2022

This study aims to develop more inclusive and sustainable waste management practices to be implemented in Bang Chalong Housing, a model community with unsatisfactory waste separation and recycling rate. The extended theory of planned behavior was employed to investigate the effect of attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, knowledge, and situational factors on household waste separation intention and behavior, using structural equation modeling as a tool. Based on the questionnaire responses of 321 residents, the house owner’s status exhibited a considerable impact on waste-sorting behavior. Knowledge (β = 0.653; p < 0.001) and subjective norm (β = 0.160; p < 0.05) were two significant predictors of the respondents’ intention, which showed a strong influence on household waste separation behavior (β = 0.804; p < 0.001). Various waste management scenarios were also evaluated through material flow analysis and life cycle assessment. Installing a waste-sorting plant in addition to the current approach (recycling and landfilling) could annually reduce 26.4 tons of solid waste from being landfilled and mitigate GHG emissions by up to 47.4 tons CO2 equivalent. Finally, the implications of these results on designing interventions and amending waste management schemes were discussed.
The Dynamics of Youth Employment and Empowerment in Agriculture and Rural Development in South Africa: A Scoping Review
Authors: Geza Wendy , Ngidi Mjabuliseni Simon Cloapas , Slotow Rob , Mabhaudhi Tafadzwanashe
Published: April 2022

Over the years, South Africa has made significant investments aimed at transforming the agricultural sector to deliver on rural economic development and job creation. These investments have had varying levels of success; still, what is worrying is the high youth unemployment rate which is amongst the highest globally. We conducted a scoping review using the PRISMA-P guidelines to identify the challenges youth face in accessing sustainable employment in the agriculture sector. Peer-reviewed studies were retrieved from online databases (Web of Science, Cab Direct, and Science Direct) for 1994–2021. The findings showed that youth are still facing significant challenges in the demand and supply side of the labour market and lack of inclusivity in policy formulation and implementation, limiting their involvement in agriculture and rural development initiatives. Policies and strategies responding to these challenges exist, and the spectrum of support services provided are primarily focused on entrepreneurship. Yet, the implementation of programs and initiatives has not been successful. This could be attributed to the obstacles persisting in the sociopolitical environment in SA, causing additional barriers to program implementation. Therefore, to enhance youth involvement in agriculture and rural development, there is a need to connect more rural youth to support services, local employment programmes, and youth inclusion in policy formulation processes. Additionally, the focus of policy and programs should be broadened to cater to different youth knowledge and skill profiles.
Preferences of Young Adults concerning the Pocket Parks with Water Reservoirs in the Aspect of Willingness to Pay (WTP) in Warsaw City, Poland
Authors: Mandziuk Agnieszka , Stangierska Dagmara , Fornal-Pieniak Beata , Gębski Jerzy , Żarska Barbara , Kiraga Marta
Published: April 2022

The paper presents the results of a survey questionnaire conducted in order to determine the social preferences of young adults regarding their willingness to finance pocket parks in Warsaw (Poland). The preferences concerned the impact of the appearance and attractiveness of pocket parks for the inhabitants of the capital, the impact on the microclimate, the materials used to build water reservoirs, and the effect of the respondent’s income on their willingness to finance them. The data were analyzed statistically (Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney U logistic regression). The results show that young respondents prefer parks with natural water reservoirs. Willingness to pay was the highest in the case of natural parks and parks containing the most anthropogenically modified water reservoirs. It has been shown that the willingness to finance increased with the need for more greenery of this type and greater awareness of their positive impact on the improvement of the microclimate in the city. The higher the attractiveness of pocket parks for leisure and the higher the level of respondents’ incomes, the greater the willingness to finance them. The level of financing also depended on the materials used to build water reservoirs in parks—the more elements made of hydrotechnical concrete, the higher the level of financing. This type of relationship was not found for natural materials, which is surprising given the already well-known threat of climate change and the decrease of biodiversity.
Do Social Networks of Listed Companies Help Companies Recover from Financial Crises?
Authors: Lin Szu-Hsien , Chang Tzu-Pu , Lai Huei-Hwa , Lu Zi-Ying
Published: April 2022

This study aims to examine how the social networks of top management affect the recovery of their companies when facing a financial crisis. We mainly use the logit and Cox regression models to investigate whether social networks help overcome the financial distress and shorten the crisis duration. The empirical findings suggest that companies with characteristics of low degree centrality of the chairman’s bank networks and high closeness centrality of the general manager’s general networks and bank networks are more likely to overcome financial distress and get back to normal status. Furthermore, for companies with characteristics of low degree centrality of the chairman’s personal general networks, low closeness centrality of the financial executive’s personal general networks, and high degree centrality of the financial executive’s personal bank networks, it was easier to shorten the crisis duration. The practical implication is that companies need to prioritize quality over quantity in order to survive or shorten the crisis. All company top managers should not look only at the size of the company but consider how the social network is configured.
Effects of Biochar-Based Fertilizers on Energy Characteristics and Growth of Black Locust Seedlings
Authors: Gao Ting , Zhu Qian , Zhou Zhidong , Wu Yongbo , Xue Jianhui
Published: April 2022

To understand ecological and energy problems in the karst area of Guizhou, China, the effects of using biochar-based fertilizers on the energy characteristics of different species of black locust were studied. To determine the most suitable species and the best rational application method of biochar, an outdoor pot experiment was performed using three species of black locust (White-flowered locust (W), Hong-sen locust (S), and Large-leaf fast-growing locust (L)). There were six treatments: control (CK), MF, RH2MF, RH4MF, W2MF, and W4MF (M—compost; F—NPK fertilizer; RH—rice husk biochar; and W—wood biochar), where the numbers represented the mass ratio of biochar to soil. Biochar-based fertilizers had significant effects on the total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total potassium (TK), branch gross calorific values (GCV), and ash removal calorific values (AFCV) of seedlings. RH4MF had the best overall values. Different species had significant effects in all indicators (except for TN); the effect on S was better than that of W and L. Principal component analysis showed that RH4MF-S had the highest comprehensive scores. In summary, Hong-sen locust (S) was a high-quality energy species and RH4MF may be used as fertilization for energy forest development. This study provides a reference for future long-term energy forest research in this area.
China’s Public Firms’ Attitudes towards Environmental Protection Based on Sentiment Analysis and Random Forest Models
Authors: Li Cai , Li Luyu , Zheng Jiaqi , Wang Jizhi , Yuan Yi , Lv Zezhong , Wei Yinghao , Han Qihang , Gao Jiatong , Liu Wenhao
Published: April 2022

In this article, we investigated changes in public firms’ attitudes towards environmental protection in 2018–2021 in China. We crawled the firm–investor Q&A record on the website of East Money, extracted the carbon- and environment-related corpus, and then applied the sentiment analysis method of NLP (natural language processing) to calculate the sentiment weight of each firm-level record to estimate the attitude before and after towards carbon reduction. We found that there were significant changes in firms’ attitudes towards carbon reduction and environmental protection after the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of environment-related policies. We also found a heterogeneous effect of the attitude in different industries. In addition, we built several models to examine the relationship between a firm’s carbon reduction attitude and its financial performance. We found that: A goal with consequent specific policies can raise the positive attitudes of firms toward carbon reduction topics; firms’ attitudes toward ecological topics are different from industry to industry, which means that there are different needs and situations in the trend of carbon reduction from industry to industry. COVID-19 influenced firms’ attitudes toward carbon reduction and environmental protection, calling back the classic dilemma or trilemma of economic growth, carbon reduction, and energy consumption or, perhaps, epidemic control today. The stock situation also influenced the attitude toward environmental protection.
Developing an Indicator System to Monitor City’s Sustainability Integrated Local Governance: A Case Study in Zhangjiakou
Authors: Zhu Li , Wang Chen , Huang Ning , Fu Yu , Yan Zhexing
Published: April 2022

Indicator-based evaluation systems are critical for guiding and monitoring cities’ sustainable development. Zhangjiakou city is the national renewable energy demonstration zone in China, and is gaining more attention (being the co-host city of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games). It needs to seize the opportunities for its long-term sustainable development. An indicator system was developed to monitor the city’s sustainability. Local governance was integrated into an extended three-pillar evaluation model as the fourth dimension through the involvement of over 30 local government departments. Based on the interpretation of local demands, 118 assessment tools were reviewed and an international indicator inventory of 224 indicators was established. By analyzing the local relevance, 95 indicators were selected and categorized into eight modules (energy and carbon emission, resources and environment, harmony and well-being, economics and inclusion, key industries, innovation and smart, governance and efficiency, and internationalization). However, only 67 indicators were confirmed for value assignments after applicability assessment. Basic performance values (BPVs) were given as achievable goals during the 14th Five-Year Plan (FYP), and the excellent performance values (EPVs) were given towards carbon neutrality. All of the values were peer-reviewed and agreed by the local government while discrepancy still exists on carbon emission.
Does the Level of Training Interfere with the Sustainability of Static and Dynamic Strength in Paralympic Powerlifting Athletes?
Authors: Aidar Felipe J. , Cataldi Stefania , Badicu Georgian , Silva Ana Filipa , Clemente Filipe Manuel , Bonavolontà Valerio , Greco Gianpiero , Getirana-Mota Márcio , Fischetti Francesco
Published: April 2022

Background: Paralympic powerlifting (PP) presents adaptations that the training tends to provide, mainly concerning the mechanical variables. Objective: Our aim was to analyze mechanical, dynamic and static indicators, at different intensities, on the performance of paralympic powerlifting athletes. Methods: 23 athletes of PP, 11 national level (NL) and 12 regional level (RL) performed dynamic and static tests over a comprehensive range of loads. The study evaluated regional and national level athletes and the influence on the training level on the performance of strength. The study was carried out in four weeks, with the first week to familiarize with the one repetition maximum (1RM), day 1, and there was a 72-h rest and familiarization with dynamic and static tests carried out day 2. In week 2, the 1RM tests were performed (day 1 and 72 h later), and the static tests were performed with a distance of 15 cm from the bar to the chest, with the tests of maximum isometric strength, time to maximum isometric strength, rate of force development (RFD), impulse, variability and fatigue index (IF) taking place on day 2. In weeks three and four dynamic tests were performed, including means propulsive velocity, maximum velocity, power and prediction of one maximum repeat. Results: Differences were found, with better results than for RL in relation to NL in MVP (45%, 55%, and 75% 1RM), in VMax (50%, 55%, 75% and 95% 1RM). In power, the NL had better results (40%, 45%, 50%, 60% and 95% 1RM). Conclusion: RL athletes tend to present better results with regard to velocity, however in power, NL athletes tend to present better performances.
An Improved Emergy Analysis of the Environmental and Economic Benefits of Reclaimed Water Reuse System
Authors: Yang Ling , Wang Lin
Published: April 2022

Reclaimed water, a nontraditional water source, has become a desirable choice for meeting the increasing demand in areas with water shortages. However, the environmental and economic benefits of reclaimed water reuse systems (RWRSs) are unclear. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess the environmental performance of RWRSs based on emergy analysis. Notably, the emergy index system was improved by incorporating the environmental impacts of air emissions. The results show that the improved emergy indicator system was more rigorous than the traditional emergy index system. The environmental loading ratio and the emergy sustainability index of the studied system based on an improved emergy index system was 0.202 and 30.01, respectively. The environmental economic value was 3.52 × 1020 sej/y. The results show that the RWRS has good sustainability, and high environmental and economic benefits. Compared with two other RWRSs (Scenario A in Zhengzhou City and Scenario B in Chongqing City) and one seawater desalination system (Scenario C in Qingdao City), it is found that RWRSs are preferred as a way to obtain water resources over seawater desalination under the same water quality conditions. It is also important to select an appropriate treatment process according to the raw water quality and reclaimed water use in the practical application.
Sub- and Near-Critical Hydrothermal Carbonization of Animal Manures
Authors: Ro Kyoung S. , Jackson Michael A. , Szogi Ariel A. , Compton David L. , Moser Bryan R. , Berge Nicole D.
Published: April 2022

To produce hydrochar with less volatile matter (VM) and more fixed carbon (FC) to increase its stability, this study compared the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of hen (HM) and swine (SM) manures at typical HTC sub-critical temperature of 210 °C and slightly super-critical temperature of 400 °C. Physico-chemical properties such as proximate analysis; ultimate analysis; Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area; higher heating value (HHV); chemical oxygen demand (COD); and inorganic nutrients of hydrochar, gaseous, and liquid products were determined. As expected, both VM and yield decreased with temperature. The heats of HTC reactions were estimated to be exothermic, ranging from −5.7 to −8.6 MJ/kg. The FC approximately doubled, while VM significantly decreased with a yield of 42.7%, suggesting the high potential of producing more stable hydrochar via near-critical HTC (NCHTC) treatment of SM. Additional work is needed before recommendations on carbonization temperatures can be made. Specifically, there is a need to experimentally investigate how the chars produced from each carbonization condition influence plant growth and soil emissions.
An Innovative Index for Evaluating Urban Vulnerability on Pandemic Using LambdaMART Algorithm
Authors: Lin Yuming , Shen Zhenjiang
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed urban life and increased attention has been paid to the pandemic in discussions of urban vulnerability. There is a lack of methods to incorporate dynamic indicators such as urban vitality into evaluations of urban pandemic vulnerability. In this research, we use machine learning to establish an urban Pandemic Vulnerability Index (PVI) that measures the city’s vulnerability to the pandemic and takes dynamic indicators as an important aspect of this. The proposed PVI is constructed using 140 statistic variables and 10 dynamic variables, using data from 47 prefectures of Japan. Factor Analysis is used to extract factors from variables that may affect city vulnerability, and the LambdaMART algorithm is used to aggregate factors and predict vulnerability. The results show that the proposed PVI can predict the relative seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic in two weeks with a precision of more than 0.71, which is meaningful for taking controlling measures in advance and shaping the society’s response. Further analysis revealed the key factors affecting urban pandemic vulnerability, including city size, transit station vitality, and medical facilities, emphasizing precautions for public transport systems and new planning concepts such as the compact city. This research explores the application of machine learning techniques in the indicator establishment and incorporates dynamic factors into vulnerability assessments, which contribute to improvements in urban vulnerability assessments and the planning of sustainable cities while facing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Barriers and Driving Factors for Sustainable Development of CO2 Valorisation
Authors: Terjanika Viktorija , Pubule Jelena
Published: April 2022

Mitigating CO2 emissions has become a top question in international and national arenas, likewise on the city level. To initiate and maintain transformative policies related to climate neutrality, an evident-based multi-sectoral forecasting model needs to be timely and effectively deployed. Decarbonisation solutions should be considered from the economic, environmental, and social perspectives. The resulting complexity constitutes an essential barrier to implementing CO2 valorisation projects. This study aims to analyse barriers and driving factors for the sustainable development of CO2 valorisation options. In order to reach the research goal, a methodological approach based on the combination of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis, Geographical Information System and Fuzzy Logic Cognitive Analysis method was used. The method has been applied to a case study in Latvia
Pricing and Contract Coordination of BOPS Supply Chain Considering Product Return Risk
Authors: Yang Shujun , Lai Ivan Kai Wai , Tang Huajun
Published: April 2022

This study proposes a BOPS (buy online and pick up in store) model for a two-echelon supply chain, considering the product return risk to reach an equilibrium result of two omni-channel integration modes, managed by the manufacturer or the retailer, respectively. Furthermore, this study analyzes the impacts of the service cost coefficient and the consumer loyalty of the offline channel on the optimal price, service decision, and profit of different integration modes. This study also compares the profits of enterprises under centralized and decentralized decisions. The results show that centralized decision making can improve the service level of the SA (Store Assistance) effort and the sustainable performance of the supply chain. Whether the BOPS channel is managed by the manufacturer or retailer, the service cost, the product return rate, and the offline channel consumer loyalty have an impact on the decision of product sale price, wholesale price, and SA effort service level. Offline customer loyalty is less sensitive in the BOPS channel managed by the retailer than that managed by the manufacturer. It is suitable for the manufacturer to manage the BOPS channel when offline customer loyalty is low. Otherwise, it is appropriate for the retailer to manage the BOPS channel. The profit of the supply chain under the decentralized decision is less than that under the centralized decision. When executing a wholesale price contract, different omni-channel integration modes can alleviate the double marginalization effect. It can fully coordinate the supply chain members, motivate retailers to improve the service level of the SA effort, and realize Pareto improvement to support supply chain sustainability.
Risk-Compensation Trends in Road Safety during COVID-19
Authors: Islam Md Rakibul , Abdel-Aty Mohamed , Islam Zubayer , Zhang Shile
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a global impact, disrupting the normal trends of our everyday life. More specifically, the effects of COVID-19 on road safety are still largely unexplored. Hence, this study aims to investigate the change in road safety trends due to COVID-19 using real-time traffic parameters. Results from the extensive analyses of the 2017 to 2020 data of Interstate-4 show that traffic volume decreased by 13.6% in 2020 compared to the average of 2017–2019’s volume, whereas there is a decreasing number of crashes at the higher volume. Average speed increased by 11.3% during the COVID-19 period; however, the increase in average speed during the COVID-19 period has an insignificant relationship with crash severities. Fatal crashes increased, while total crashes decreased, during the COVID-19 period; severe crashes decreased with the total crashes. Alcohol-related crashes decreased by 22% from 2019 to 2020. Thus, the road-safety trend due to the impact of COVID-19 has evidently changed and presents a unique trend. The findings of the study suggest a larger need for a more in-depth study to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on road safety, to minimize fatalities on roads through appropriate policy measures.