bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainability Score Comparison of Welding Strategies for the Manufacturing of Electric Transportation Components
Authors: Hoyos Elizabeth , Serna María Camila , De Backer Jeroen , Martin Jonathan
Published: May 2023

Sustainability scores can be used to assess manufacturing strategies, going one step beyond a standard economic assessment. This work uses a previously proposed methodology to evaluate two of the most common welding processes for aluminium alloys that are specifically used in the fabrication of components for the transport industry based on their advantages in generating lightweight and dimensionally efficient parts. For comparison and as proof of concept, two welding methods were selected: Friction Stir Welding (FSW) and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW). FSW attained a higher overall sustainability score. Values were calculated for an existing aluminium product, which was part of the opening and closing system of an electric train door, and the final score was 0.78 from FSW compared to 0.69 from GTAW, which was 11% higher in FSW compared to the conventional arc welding process. The analysis carried out included economic, physical, social, and environmental impacts. Finally, an example pertinent to a current EV component is described and considered along with a plan to determine the best welding process for a particular application, and with the calculations, the score obtained for GTAW was 0.43 and 0.68 for FSW, which was 36% higher that the result for the conventional arc welding process.
Students’ Environmental Care Attitude: A Study at Adiwiyata Public High School Based on the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP)
Authors: Wibowo Novika Adi , Sumarmi Sumarmi , Utaya Sugeng , Bachri Syamsul , Kodama Yayoi
Published: May 2023

Environmental care attitude is an important factor in protecting the environment. The Adiwiyata Award is presented as the highest recognition for implementing an environmental care attitude. The aims of this study are to (1) evaluate the execution of the environmental curriculum in Adiwiyata schools; (2) to analyze the students’ environmental care attitudes in Adiwiyata schools in the Pati Regency using the new ecological paradigm (NEP) scale; and (3) to examine the students’ environmental care attitudes in Adiwiyata schools in the Pati Regency related to gender differences. Based on the criteria of Adiwiyata schools, they were used as research subjects. The research subjects were chosen using a purposive sampling technique. A questionnaire was utilized as a data collection instrument. The new ecological paradigm (NEP) scale was used to assess environmental care attitudes. This study used a Likert scale to assess environmental care attitudes. The Mann-Whitney test was used to identify gender differences in environmental care attitudes. The results found that (1) Adiwiyata schools in the Pati Regency supported the implementation of environmental education in the curriculum, as well as participation in environmental activity programs and the use of greenhouses; (2) the environmental care attitudes of students from the SMA Negeri Pati Regency were in the moderate category; and (3) there was a gender difference based on environmental care attitudes, which found that female students have a higher environmental care attitude than the male students. Environmental education plays an important role in gender differences because the Adiwiyata school has integrated learning activities with the environmental education curriculum, and participatory-based environmental activities can improve students’ environmental care attitudes. The potential implication for policy and practice in the field is that humans will consciously prevent environmental problems from occurring.
Numerical Simulation on the Effect of Infiltration and Evapotranspiration on the Residual Slope
Authors: Hamdany Abdul Halim , Wijaya Martin , Satyanaga Alfrendo , Rahardjo Harianto , Qian Zhai , Lim Aswin , Kim Jong
Published: May 2023

Soil suction plays an important role in governing the stability of slopes. Environmental sustainability could be jeopardized by hazards, such as slope failures (forest destruction, landscape alteration, etc.). However, the quantification of the suction effect on slope stability is a challenging task as the soil suction is usually affected by the precipitation and evapotranspiration. Numerical simulation plays an important role in the estimation of contour in soil suction due to rainfall and evapotranspiration as long-term and widespread monitoring is rarely conducted. The result of numerical simulation is highly dependent on the accuracy of the input parameters. Hence, suction monitoring plays an important role in verifying the result of numerical simulation. However, as a conventional tensiometer is limited to 100 kPa soil suction, it is hard to verify the performance of numerical simulation where suction is higher than 100 kPa. The osmotic tensiometer developed by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) can overcome this problem. It is now possible to monitor changes in soil suction higher than 100 kPa (up to 2500 kPa) for an extended period in the field. In this study, a procedure was proposed to estimate suction changes in residual soil based on rainfall and evapotranspiration data. Numerical simulation was carried out based on the soil properties and geometry of a residual soil slope from Jurong Formation Singapore. Changes in soil suction due to rainfall and evaporation were simulated and compared with the readings from the NTU osmotic tensiometers installed at 0.15 m and 0.50 m from the slope surface in the field. It was observed that numerical simulation was able to capture the variations of suctions accurately at greater depths. However, at shallow depths, erratic suction changes due to difficulties in capturing transpiration.
Acoustic Tomography as a Supporting Tool in the Sustainable Management of Historic Greenery: Example of the Church Garden in Horostyta (Poland)
Authors: Dudkiewicz Margot , Durlak Wojciech
Published: May 2023

Senile trees in historic church gardens have natural, aesthetic, historical, and cultural value. Cutting them down too hastily annihilates the achievements of entire generations. We should try to preserve the greenery surrounding historic churches and integrate it into a clear compositional arrangement with the sacral architecture. The primary purpose of the paper was to describe the process of inventorying 200-year-old trees and to present the revalorization project for the garden around the historic Orthodox church in Horostyta, located in the Lublin Voivodeship, in southeastern Poland. The church complex consists of a wooden 18th-century building, bell tower, garden, and cemetery. Within the church garden’s boundaries, there are 15 trees, with two predominant species: Acer pseudoplatanus L. and Tilia cordata Mill. These trees are of varying ages and health conditions. We used acoustic tomography to perform tree health diagnostics. Three trees, for which the initial visual assessment was disturbing, were examined thanks to detailed tomography tests. Then, through a project adapting the church garden to the health conditions of the ancient trees, they were separated from users by flowerbeds and no small architectural objects were placed around them. The presented development concept forms a compromise between tradition and the modern user’s needs. In 2007, a general renovation of the temple building was completed. Currently, the presented project for the church garden is being implemented.
The Effect of Primary School Education on Preventive Behaviours during COVID-19 in Japan
Authors: Yamamura Eiji , Tsutsui Yoshiro , Ohtake Fumio
Published: May 2023

Education plays a critical role in promoting preventive behaviours against the spread of pandemics. In Japan, handwashing education in primary schools was positively correlated with preventive behaviours against COVID-19 transmission for adults in 2020, during the early stages of COVID-19. The following year, the Tokyo Olympics were held in Japan, and a state of emergency was declared several times. Public perceptions of and risks associated with the pandemic changed drastically with the emergence of COVID-19 vaccines. We re-examined whether the effect of handwashing education on preventive behaviours persisted by covering a longer period of the COVID-19 pandemic than previous studies. A total of 26 surveys were conducted nearly once a month for 30 months from March 2020 (the early stage of COVID-19) to September 2022 in Japan. By corresponding with the same individuals across surveys, we comprehensively gathered data on preventive behaviours during this period. In addition, we asked about the handwashing education they had received in their primary school. We used the data to investigate how and to what degree school education is associated with pandemic-mitigating preventive behaviours. We found that handwashing education in primary school is positively associated with behaviours such as handwashing and mask wearing as a COVID-19 preventive measure but not related to staying at home. We observed a statistically significant difference in handwashing between adults who received childhood handwashing education and those who did not. This difference persisted throughout the study period. In comparison, the difference in mask wearing between the two groups was smaller but still statistically significant. Furthermore, there was no difference in staying at home between them. Childhood hygiene education has resulted in individuals engaging in handwashing and mask wearing to cope with COVID-19. Individuals can form sustainable development-related habits through childhood education.
Analysis of Traffic Characteristics and Distance Optimization Design between Entrances and Exits of Urban Construction Projects and Adjacent Planar Intersections
Authors: Xu Feng , Xu Weidi , Zhang Xiaona , Wang Yin , Wang Fu
Published: May 2023

Motor vehicle entrances/exits ensure the accessibility of traffic within urban construction projects, but the improper distance between adjacent sections can lead to vehicle queues at upstream or downstream intersections, causing congestion within the influence of the entrances and exits. It is necessary to improve the operational efficiency of entrances/exits and intersections of urban construction projects. The calculation models of the vehicle convergence section, intertwined section and queuing section are established based on the data fitting relationship curve, function relationship fitting and maximum likelihood estimation method. These are combined with the traffic characteristics of vehicles and a statistical analysis of traffic flow survey data, and the models are developed according to the equal speed offset cosine curve function, queuing theory and traffic flow fluctuation theory. Based on the analysis of the traffic flow characteristics, the minimum distance value is calculated, and the recommended value is obtained. The VISSIM simulation parameters are calibrated according to the survey data, and then the simulation is carried out and the results are output. The results show that the output values of each index are improved under the calculated distance, indicating that the study has certain significance for improving the traffic conditions and operational efficiency at entrances/exists and intersections, which verifies the applicability and effectiveness of the theoretical model proposed in this paper.
Meteorological-Data-Based Modeling for PV Performance Optimization
Authors: Alharbi Mahmood , Alahmadi Ramzi , Alahmadi Ahmed
Published: May 2023

Developing a sustainable and reliable photovoltaic (PV) energy system requires a comprehensive analysis of solar profiles and an accurate prediction of solar energy performance at the study site. Installing the PV modules with optimal tilt and azimuth angles has a significant impact on the total irradiance delivered to the PV modules. This paper proposes a comprehensive optimization model to integrate total irradiance models with the PV temperature model to find the optimal year-round installation parameters of PV modules. A novel integration between installation parameters and the annual average solar energy is presented, to produce the maximum energy output. The results suggest an increase in energy yields of 4% compared to the conventional scheme, where tilt angle is equal to the latitude and the PV modules are facing south. This paper uses a real-time dataset for the NEOM region in Saudi Arabia to validate the superiority of the proposed model compared to the conventional scheme, but it can be implemented as a scheme wherever real-time data are available.
Marginal Carbon Dioxide Emission Reduction Cost and Influencing Factors in Chinese Industry Based on Bayes Bootstrap
Authors: Peng Di , Liu Haibin
Published: May 2023

Accurate measurement of the shadow price of carbon dioxide (CO2) is fundamental to the scientific assessment of the carbon emission reduction cost and the formulation and execution of China’s carbon emission mitigation policies. Underpinned by the directional distance function, this research uses a parametric linear programming method and a Bayes bootstrap estimation method to estimate the marginal CO2 emission reduction cost of the industrial sector in China and to quantify the related influencing factors. The results revealed that the marginal reduction cost of industrial CO2 is CNY 4565/ton. The marginal reduction cost of CO2 varies by industry, with the textile industry being the highest and the petroleum, coking and nuclear fuel processing industries the lowest. Meanwhile, an increasing number of industries are shifting to cleaner production. Furthermore, the marginal reduction cost of industrial CO2 has an “inverted U-shaped” relation with carbon intensity. Carbon emission reduction can be accomplished effectively if the carbon intensity is kept below the threshold value of 0.41 tons/CNY 10,000.
Probabilistic Hesitant Fuzzy Decision-Theoretic Rough Set Model and Its Application in Supervision of Shared Parking
Authors: Ren Junxiao , Chang Xin , Hou Ying , Cao Bo
Published: May 2023

A sophisticated three-way decision model utilizing a multi-granularity probabilistic hesitant fuzzy rough set is introduced to mitigate the issue of information loss arising from hesitant fuzzy sets when characterizing decision information. Initially, the properties of probabilistic hesitant fuzzy sets are examined, subsequently proposing a distance measure and loss function tailored to these sets. Following this, a multi-attribute group decision-making model incorporating probabilistic hesitant fuzzy information is established, and pertinent decision rules that satisfy minimal risk criteria are presented. Building on this foundation, a series of critical steps for resolving a category of multi-attribute group decision-making problems that involve probabilistic hesitant fuzzy information is proposed. Lastly, the multi-attribute group decision-making model with probabilistic hesitant fuzzy information is applied to the supervision of urban shared parking platforms. The results indicate that the decision-making process based on probabilistic hesitant fuzzy sets is more reliable, and the decision-making outcome aligns with the actual situation, thus providing valuable decision-making references for managers.
Increasing Supply for Woody-Biomass-Based Energy through Wasted Resources: Insights from US Private Landowners
Authors: Vuong Quan-Hoang , Nguyen Quang-Loc , Jin Ruining , Nguyen Minh-Hieu Thi , Nguyen Thi-Phuong , La Viet-Phuong , Nguyen Minh-Hoang
Published: May 2023

Woody biomass is suggested as a substitute for fossil fuels to achieve sustainable development. However, transitioning the land purpose to produce woody biomass entails investment and a tradeoff between wood pellet production and the current utilities created by the land, hindering the willingness of private landowners. To many forest landowners, forest trees and residues considered unprofitable to transport would be left in the forest without other proper use. The wasted woody resources on the land can be a potential source to increase the woody biomass supply. To support the policymakers, logging companies, state agencies, and landowners to better capitalize on these wasted resources, we aimed to identify the characteristics of woody-resource-wasting landowners and examine how to increase their likelihood to contribute to woody-biomass-based energy. By employing Bayesian Mindsponge Framework (BMF) analytics on a dataset of 707 private landowners in the United States (US), we discovered that landowners being male, having higher income, and being a member of a state/national forestry organization were more likely to waste woody resources. Moreover, woody-resource-wasting landowners perceiving woody-biomass-based energy as a substitution for fossil fuel were more likely to sell wood. In contrast, those perceiving environmental costs over the benefits of woody-biomass-based energy were less likely to sell. These findings can be used as insights for policymakers, logging companies, and state agencies to find an additional supply of woody-biomass-based energy from landowners likely to waste woody resources.
Validation of a Contrail Life-Cycle Model in Central Europe
Authors: Rosenow Judith , Hospodka Jakub , Lán Sébastian , Fricke Hartmut
Published: May 2023

In an industry beset by economic and environmental crises, air transport, the safest and most efficient long-haul mode of transport, is confronted daily with multi-criteria challenges to improve its environmental performance. The formation of contrails through the emission of water vapor and condensation nuclei in what are actually dry and clean atmospheric layers represents one of the most unpredictable, or measurable, environmental impacts of air traffic. Following the bottom-up principle to evaluate individual contrails in order to derive recommendations for trajectory optimization, not only the calculation of the radiative forcing of the contrails but also the modeling of their life cycle is burdened with uncertainties. In former studies for modeling the microphysical life cycle of contrails based on a 3-D Gaussian plume model, the atmospheric conditions, specifically the turbulence, were often unknown and had to be considered as a free input variable. In this study, an innovative photographic method for identifying and tracking contrails in Central Europe, connected with database access to Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast (ADS-B) data (i.e., aircraft type, speed, altitude, track, etc.), and a combination of measured and modeled weather data are used to validate the contrail life-cycle model (i.e., the assumed Gaussian plume behavior). We found that it is challenging to model the position of ice-supersaturated layers with global forecast models, but they have the most significant impact on the contrail lifetime. On average, the contrail’s lifespan could be modeled with an error margin of 10%. Sometimes, we slightly underestimated the lifetime. With the validated and plausible contrail life-cycle model, we can apply the climate effectiveness of individual contrails with higher certainty in trajectory optimization and compare it, for example, with economic aspects such as delay costs or fuel costs.
Criteria Clustering and Supplier Segmentation Based on Sustainable Shared Value Using BWM and PROMETHEE
Authors: Taghipour Atour , Fooladvand Arvin , Khazaei Moein , Ramezani Mohammad
Published: May 2023

With the advent of healthy visions, two of the trends that have become extremely important in the supply chain in recent decades are corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability, which have affected the activities of buyers and suppliers. The next trend that is emerging is the vision of creating shared value (CSV), which wants to move the supply chain toward solving social problems in a completely strategic way. This research intends to develop a step-by-step framework for evaluating and segmenting suppliers based on CSV criteria in the supply chain. In the first stage, the criteria for creating sustainable shared value (CSSV) are obtained through existing activities in the field of CSR. The obtained criteria are then divided into two categories, strategic and critical, and then the weight of each criterion is obtained using the best–worst method (BWM). In the next step, based on the Kraljic model, the suppliers are divided into four clusters using the preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluation (PROMETHEE) technique. This framework helps the buyer to conclude and select purchasing decisions and relationships with suppliers through the lenses of CSV and sustainability.
Does Socially Responsible Investing Make a Better Society?—A Micro Perspective through Mutual Funds and Their Investee Companies
Authors: Wang Wennanxiang , Hu Ridong , Zhang Cheng , Shen Yang
Published: May 2023

Socially responsible investing (SRI) aims to guide corporate behavior through investing and thus to make a better society since its debut. From a micro perspective, this study aims to empirically examine whether the propensity for SRI of mutual funds promotes the corporate social performance (CSP) of investee companies and to determine what are the mechanisms under this promotion effect and under what circumstances this promotion effect gets stronger. After our main analysis confirms the promotion effect in China, our mechanism analysis shows the following: mutual funds with a high propensity for SRI promote investee CSP, because they promote internal control and demand better disclosure of social responsibility information; the promotion effect of mutual funds as shareholders from within a company can substitute for the effects of a good external environment such as a highly marketized region or a competitive industry. Our heterogeneity analysis further shows that the promotion effect is stronger in state-owned enterprises, where corporate executives are more willing to accept suggestions related to social responsibility and in a good social trust atmosphere, which sheds light on shareholder activism in private and informal manners.
Living Labs for AI-Enabled Public Services: Functional Determinants, User Satisfaction, and Continued Use
Authors: Kim Younhee , Myeong Seunghwan , Ahn Michael J.
Published: May 2023

Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a transformative force in public service delivery, promising improved efficiency and responsiveness to citizens’ needs, so it is essential to understand the functional factors that influence citizens’ adoption and intention to continue using such services. Drawing on the technology acceptance model, this study investigates the influence of six functional factors, namely, usefulness, ease of use, service reliability, service quality, responsiveness, and security, on the continued use of AI-enabled public services through the mediating effect of user satisfaction. Data were collected from an online survey of AI-enabled public services in Korea during the summer of 2021, and causal mediation analysis was conducted to examine these relationships. The results indicate that usefulness, service reliability, and security significantly influenced users’ intent to continue using AI-based services. Furthermore, causal mediation analysis confirmed that the five components of AI public services—usefulness, service reliability, service quality, responsiveness, and security—had significant effects on the continued use of AI-enabled service platforms, with user satisfaction playing a mediating role in the relationships. The main functional factors can lead to higher levels of satisfaction, and this ultimately drives the sustained adoption and continued use of AI-enabled public services by citizens.
A Big-Data-Based Experimental Platform for Green Shipping Monitoring and Its Teaching Application
Authors: Zhao Yuzhe , Zhou Jingmiao , Peng Zhongxiu , Wang Zongyao , Sheng Zunkuo
Published: May 2023

The construction of New Business Studies (NBS) in China and big data technology offer an opportunity for teaching reform. Based on the existing teaching resources, professional knowledge, data, and technology, we monitored the dynamics and checked the statistics of air pollutant emissions from ships in global waters. Various techniques of big data analysis and methods of artificial intelligence were employed, including data collection, data fusion, feature analysis, deep learning network, and system testing. Specifically, the scenario of green shipping monitoring was reproduced by virtual reality; experimental learning was carried out, involving five experimental methods, eight experimental steps, and ten interactive operations; and the results of the experimental learning were assessed. In this way, the students had a better cognition of datasets, a deeper understanding of data correlation, and an improved mastery of interactive operations. In addition, the students varied in terms of learning performance, experimental participation, and active performance inspired by individual thinking. Overall, the students were satisfied with the quality of experimental learning.
Land Consumption for Current Diets Compared with That for the Planetary Health Diet—How Many People Can Our Land Feed?
Authors: Schön Anna-Mara , Böhringer Marita
Published: May 2023

Nowadays dietary habits in many countries are disconnected from the locally available resources and land. Current diets harm ecosystems and people’s health. (Re-)regionalising food systems and aligning diets with planetary boundaries can be one way to reconnect people to the food that they eat. Within academic discourse, there are numerous debates about the benefits and drawbacks of regional agriculture, and the circumstances that determine the viability of regional agriculture as a preferable approach. An argument that often merges is that feeding a whole population using local resources cannot be accomplished. However, is this true? To test this argument, we used statistical data and created a framework to calculate land consumption in square meters per capita according to different dietary habits, among other factors. This study will focus on scenario analyses for the region of Hesse, Germany—with an emphasis on the livestock sector—as land consumption for the production of meat, milk and eggs is relatively high there. Our results show that the region is far from being able to feed the current livestock population and that it does not have the land to support the livestock needed to sustain current consumption patterns. However, the region could support a smaller livestock population with the implementation of the planetary health diet, especially if farmers were to adopt crop rotation systems and (more) extensive husbandry.
Quantification of Nutrient Fluxes from Sediments of Lake Hulun, China: Implications for Plateau Lake Management
Authors: Liu Bo , Zhang Xiaofei , Tong Yi , Ao Wen , Wang Zenglong , Zhu Senlin , Wang Yanping
Published: May 2023

Dramatic changes in lake water conditions may induce sensitive feedback in sediments, such as the release of phosphate and ammonia. There is a lack of the understanding of sediment nutrient release fluxes and their responses to various environmental factors in plateau lakes. In this study, nutrient contents in the water and sediment, sediment nutrient release rates, and their responses to various influential factors in a steppe shallow plateau lake, Lake Hulun, China, were investigated. Sediment is a large store of nutrients, with bioavailable phosphorus of 555 mg kg−1 in surface lake sediments. If water became anoxic, sediments will release appreciable amounts of phosphate (2.1 mg P m−2 d−1) and ammonia (40.0 mg N m−2 d−1), three times greater than those in oxic conditions. Raised temperatures greatly increased sediment phosphate release rates, while the highest temperature (23 °C) slightly decreased ammonia release rates due to strong nitrification. Assuming a whole year of internal loading, ammonia and dissolved reactive phosphorus concentrations in water column would increase by an estimated 0.22 mg N L−1 and 0.01 mg P L−1, respectively, which is equal to 2 and 0.5 times of their ambient concentrations. A pH increase from 8.4 to 9.4 significantly decreased internal nitrogen and phosphorus release rates by around three times. Overall, dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH had a greater impact on sediment nutrient release from lake sediments compared to temperature, and further increased the eutrophic status in the overlying water when these three parameters varied within the normal seasonal range (temperature: 1.9–23.1 °C, DO: oxic and anoxic; pH: 7.5–9.4). With the periodic low DO and frequency of drought in the future, lake management strategies that mitigate water eutrophication, such as water diversion, may need to be considered.
Sustainable Transportation for the Climate: How Do Transportation Firms Engage in Cooperative Public-Private Partnerships?
Authors: de Lange Deborah
Published: May 2023

This research examines the effectiveness of transportation-sector public-private partnerships (PPPs). Coordination across sectors is needed to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. PPPs are of interest to transportation firms, but they may prefer private-sector opportunities given that working with the public sector can present challenges. However, the challenges are not clear and, therefore, this needs research investigation to develop understandings for policy to make PPPs work better for firms. Moreover, this research informs firms so that they may better comprehend and manage the risks of PPPs or choose other opportunities. This empirical research uses a sample of 300 transportation firms across 28 countries. The findings suggest that, although government contracts may be lucrative, the institutional environment of the PPP context is not preferable to other business-oriented private-sector opportunities. If more sustainable transportation is to be constructed to address climate change and other public interests, policymakers may need to rethink PPPs to adapt to the needs of transportation firms.
Displacement Field Calculation of Large-Scale Structures Using Computer Vision with Physical Constraints: An Experimental Study
Authors: Guo Yapeng , Zhong Peng , Zhuo Yi , Meng Fanzeng , Di Hao , Li Shunlong
Published: May 2023

In recent years, computer vision-based structural displacement acquisition technique has received wide attention and research due to the advantages of easy deployment, low-cost, and non-contact. However, the displacement field acquisition of large-scale structures is a challenging topic as a result of the contradiction of camera field-of-view and resolution. This paper presents a large-scale structural displacement field calculation framework with integrated computer vision and physical constraints using only one camera. First, the full-field image of the large-scale structure is obtained by processing the multi-view image using image stitching technique; second, the full-field image is meshed and the node displacements are calculated using an improved template matching method; and finally, the non-node displacements are described using shape functions considering physical constraints. The developed framework was validated using a scaled bridge model and evaluated by the proposed evaluation index for displacement field calculation accuracy. This paper can provide an effective way to obtain displacement fields of large-scale structures efficiently and cost-effectively.
Role of Renewable Energy and Financial Innovation in Environmental Protection: Empirical Evidence from UAE and Saudi Arabia
Authors: Ben Belgacem Samira , Khatoon Ghousia , Alzuman Abad
Published: May 2023

In modern times, many countries are committed to achieving climate neutrality and environmental sustainability. Without financial innovation and green financing, switching to clean energy, reducing carbon emissions, and mitigating climate change will be impossible. The main objective of this study is to obtain zero carbon to protect the environment. To analyze sustainable development pathways, this research examines the impact of renewable energy and financial innovation on the environmental protection of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia from 2010 to 2021. The use of renewable energy sources, pollution, and climate change are all significant elements. Innovation can help slow the rate of global warming by lowering carbon emissions and expanding the usage of renewable energy sources. Green financing and innovation are powerful tools for environmental safety and deterioration. The acceleration of renewable energy growth is the primary driver of sustainable development. Moreover, green financing balances the innovation–energy–environment–climate nexus. Similarly, green finance amplifies the positive effects of innovation on using renewable energy. This study provides valuable insights into achieving zero carbon by producing renewable energy sources and modern green technology. Further research is possible by adding more dimensions of renewable energy sources.
Recruitment of Oysters by Different Collection Devices at a Longline Shellfish Farm in the Central Adriatic Sea
Authors: Roncarati Alessandra , Mosconi Gilberto , Palermo Francesco Alessandro , Magi Gian Enrico , Galosi Livio , Gennari Lorenzo
Published: May 2023

In 2020–2021, a trial to recruit flat oysters was implemented at a longline farm in the central Adriatic, whereby the efficiency recruitment (n. oyster/dm2) of different suspended substrates was evaluated. Two lantern nets (50 cm diameter; 145 cm h) had different substrates composed of 8 mm wide wrinkled ribbon and empty oyster shells positioned in the upper levels of the lanterns. The tumbling evaluation and the presence of mud were also considered. The efficiency recruitment was similar between the wrinkled ribbon and the oyster shell. Recruitment was in the same proportion on the external rough part of the shells as on the internal smooth part of the shells. No significant differences were shown when comparing the different substrates in terms of recruitment efficiency.
Women’s Participation in Firms’ Management and Their Impact on Financial Performance: Pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 Period Evidence
Authors: Basdekis Charalampos , Katsampoxakis Ioannis , Anathreptakis Konstantinos
Published: May 2023

At a time when gender equality is a key priority of all international organizations, this paper can be considered a remarkable contribution to the role of women executives in firms’ performance. More specifically, this study focuses on the effect of women holding positions of responsibility on firms’ performance worldwide. For the purposes of our research, we applied cross-sectional and panel data analysis for all sectors at an international level from 2019, the year preceding the breakout of the pandemic crisis, to 2021, while the indicators used to measure the participation of women in executive positions are classified as ESG indices. The empirical analysis findings end up showing that the participation of women in executive positions positively affects firms’ performance over time, while there is no material change observed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic period. More specifically, when the percent of women processing job positions of responsibility increases by 10%, then the index of profitability will increase from 1.4% to 1.8%, regardless of the measurement of female participation in executive positions used. The results of this study constitute a remarkable contribution to the promotion of the creative economy, the progress of societies, and sustainable development. The research’s outcome can be primarily used by policymakers drawing up policies for achieving gender equality in the labor market and workplaces and by shareholders and firms’ managers in order to trust females in executive positions in favor of their firms’ financial performance. The current study is unique in that it focuses on the period before and during the COVID-19 period, as a period of high volatility in economic activity worldwide, while the sample includes firms from large and mid-cap companies belonging to developed and emerging markets. The above approach will contribute to providing more credible information related to the role of women executives in firms’ performance.
Microclimatic Conditions Restrict the Radial Growth of Nothofagus antarctica Regeneration Based on the Type of Forest Environment in Tierra del Fuego
Authors: Martínez Pastur Guillermo , Rodríguez-Souilla Julián , Lencinas María V. , Cellini Juan M. , Chaves Jimena E. , Aravena-Acuña Marie Claire , Roig Fidel A. , Peri Pablo L.
Published: May 2023

Regeneration is crucial for forest continuity in natural and managed stands. Analyzing intra-annual dynamics can improve the understanding between growth and climate, identifying regeneration survival thresholds. The objective of this study was to determine the microclimate constraints (rainfall, air, and soil temperatures) of Nothofagus antarctica regeneration growth in closed, open, and edge forests in Southern Patagonia. We measured stand characteristics (forest structure, understory plants, soil properties, animal use), microclimate, and the daily growth of regeneration using dendrometers (n = 6) during two growing seasons. We found significant differences in the studied variables (e.g., overstory, light, soil, understory plants, animal use) in the following order: closed primary forests > open forests > edge forests with openlands. These changes defined the microclimate across the overstory gradient (e.g., soil moisture), influencing the daily growth of regeneration across the growing season (lag, exponential, stationary). Rainfall (the F factor varied from 6.93 to 21.03) influenced more than temperature (the F factor varied from 0.03 to 0.34). Daily growth in closed forests indicated shrinkage (−0.0082 mm day−1 without rain and −0.0008 mm day−1 with 0.0–0.2 mm day−1 rainfall), while for more than 0.2 mm day−1 of rainfall, growth always increased. Open forests presented shrinkage during days without rain (−0.0051 mm day−1), showing positive growth according to rainfall. Edge forests always presented positive daily growth. The resilience of regeneration under these changed conditions was directly related to the overstory. The main outputs indicated that regeneration was vulnerable during non-rainy days at the middle or closed overstory (>40% crown cover), suggesting the need for long-term monitoring to develop better silvicultural proposals.
MaaS Adoption and Sustainability for Systematic Trips: Estimation of Environmental Impacts in a Medium-Sized City
Authors: Ceccato Riccardo , Baldassa Andrea , Orsini Federico , Rossi Riccardo , Gastaldi Massimiliano
Published: May 2023

Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is often seen as a promising solution to address societal and environmental challenges. Despite the importance of quantifying its potential benefits, few previous works have focused on the impacts on the environment, and all of them considered large cities. This study aims to forecast the diffusion of MaaS in a medium-sized city and quantify the consequent reduction in pollutant emissions for commuting trips. Answers from a mobility survey administered to employees of the Municipality of Padua (Italy) were used to calibrate a model predicting MaaS adoption, which was applied to real working trips to estimate daily vehicle emissions savings in future scenarios with different MaaS bundles. The results indicated that the opportunity to have multimodal mobility options providing door-to-door travel is a fundamental element to ensure wide MaaS diffusion. Furthermore, public transport was confirmed to be the backbone of such a system. Compared to the current scenario, we observed up to a 41% reduction in pollutant emissions. The analysis pointed out that MaaS adoption is highly dependent on the characteristics of the proposed bundles, thus highlighting the importance of a proper design of the service and ex ante evaluation of emission savings.
Enhancing Operating Efficiency in China’s High-End Equipment Manufacturing Industry: Insights from Listed Enterprises
Authors: Zheng Yi , Luo Min
Published: May 2023

The high-end equipment manufacturing industry is a strategic sector for China’s manufacturing transformation and upgrading. However, this industry is facing a series of challenges, such as insufficient innovation capabilities and poor business operations. This paper uses the super-efficiency SBM model to calculate the operating efficiency of listed companies in this industry from a micro perspective and conducts in-depth multi-angle analysis of their operating efficiency. Furthermore, Tobit regression is utilized to identify the factors that affect operating efficiency. The aim is to provide a pathway for companies in this industry to achieve efficiency maximization and sustainable development. The research shows that the average operating efficiency of high-end equipment manufacturing companies was around 0.7 from 2016 to 2021, and nearly 70% of companies were in a non-DEA efficient state. The operating efficiency of the intelligent manufacturing equipment industry is far higher than other industries, and the western region has great development potential. In addition to government subsidies, factors such as company age, equity concentration, regional GDP, and regional openness all have a positive impact on the operational efficiency of high-end equipment manufacturing companies. This paper combines the characteristics of the equipment manufacturing industry and analyzes their operating efficiency from multiple dimensions, providing decision support and pathways for the high-quality and efficient development of this industry.
The Impact of Eco-Innovation Adoption on Business Performance—A Study of the Hospitality Sector in Brazil
Authors: Lopes José Luís , Basso Leonardo Fernando Cruz
Published: May 2023

The objective of this study was to explore the impact of adopting eco-innovation on the performance of companies in the hotel sector in Brazil, since a large part of the growth in this sector is evidenced by concern for the environment, which is also reflected in the increase in demand for this leisure service and contact with nature. To carry out this study, quantitative research was carried out through the application of a questionnaire, which was sent to the managers of hotels and inns and analyzed through hypothesis tests with structural equation modeling of partial least squares (PLS-SEM). The results show that environmental pressure is positively related to the adoption of environmental practices, and this adoption is positively related to operational improvements and the competitiveness of companies in the hotel sector. Furthermore, the adoption of environmental practices is indirectly positively related to competitiveness, mediated by an operational improvement. Finally, the adoption of environmental practices, although positively related to performance mediated by competitiveness, was not statistically significant, and therefore, it cannot be said that this adoption would generate better performance in companies in the hotel sector in Brazil. Thus, in a broader context, the objective of this study was to provide useful empirical evidence and bring elements, perceptions, and support to the discussion of the theme that the adoption of eco-innovation positively impacts companies in the hotel sector.
Adaptability Evaluation of the Spatiotemporal Fusion Model of Sentinel-2 and MODIS Data in a Typical Area of the Three-River Headwater Region
Authors: Fan Mengyao , Ma Dawei , Huang Xianglin , An Ru
Published: May 2023

The study of surface vegetation monitoring in the “Three-River Headwaters” Region (TRHR) relies on satellite data with high spatial and temporal resolutions. The spatial and temporal fusion method for multiple data sources can effectively overcome the limitations of weather, the satellite return period, and funding on research data to obtain data higher spatial and temporal resolutions. This paper explores the spatial and temporal adaptive reflectance fusion model (STARFM), the enhanced spatial and temporal adaptive reflectance fusion model (ESTARFM), and the flexible spatiotemporal data fusion (FSDAF) method applied to Sentinel-2 and MODIS data in a typical area of the TRHR. In this study, the control variable method was used to analyze the parameter sensitivity of the models and explore the adaptation parameters of the Sentinel-2 and MODIS data in the study area. Since the spatiotemporal fusion model was directly used in the product data of the vegetation index, this study used NDVI fusion as an example and set up a comparison experiment (experiment I first performed the band spatiotemporal fusion and then calculated the vegetation index; experiment II calculated the vegetation index first and then performed the spatiotemporal fusion) to explore the feasibility and applicability of the two methods for the vegetation index fusion. The results showed the following. (1) The three spatiotemporal fusion models generated high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution data based on the fusion of Sentinel-2 and MODIS data, the STARFM and FSDAF model had a higher fusion accuracy, and the R2 values after fusion were higher than 0.8, showing greater applicability. (2) The fusion accuracy of each model was affected by the model parameters. The errors between the STARFM, ESTARFM, and FSDAF fusion results and the validation data all showed a decreasing trend with an increase in the size of the sliding window or the number of similar pixels, which stabilized after the sliding window became larger than 50 and the similar pixels became larger than 80. (3) The comparative experimental results showed that the spatiotemporal fusion model can be directly fused based on the vegetation index products, and higher quality vegetation index data can be obtained by calculating the vegetation index first and then performing the spatiotemporal fusion. The high spatial and temporal resolution data obtained using a suitable spatial and temporal fusion model are important for the identification and monitoring of surface cover types in the TRHR.
Response of Fish Habitat Quality to Weir Distribution Change in Mountainous River Based on the Two-Dimensional Habitat Suitability Model
Authors: Wang Yue , Xia Jihong , Cai Wangwei , Liu Zewen , Li Jingjiang , Yin Jingyun , Zu Jiayi , Dou Chuanbin
Published: May 2023

Weirs are often constructed on mountainous rivers because of their low construction costs and their ability to provide irrigation and facilitate landscaping, yet there is little research on how fish habitat quality in mountainous rivers responds to weir distribution. This study categorized the distribution characteristics of weirs on typical reaches according to their sinuosity and calculated the corresponding habitat suitability index (HSI) and weighted usable area (WUA) under various discharge conditions using a coupled MIKE21 and habitat suitability model. Then, the relationship between the distribution characteristics of weirs and the quality of fish habitats under different discharge conditions was analyzed. The results show that weirs in mountainous rivers can affect the habitat suitability of the rivers, but this effect is closely related to discharge conditions and layout mainly because the key hydraulic factors that determine habitat quality for different sinuous reaches vary under different discharge conditions. This study found that in high-sinuosity rivers with high discharge conditions, water depth is the key factor determining the quality of fish habitats, so weirs can improve habitat quality by improving the suitability of downstream water depth. However, in other conditions, velocity is the key factor determining habitat quality, in which case weirs cannot improve habitat quality and can even degrade it. Therefore, other methods of improving velocity are needed to enhance habitat quality. The results of this study provide a reference for the protection of fish habitats in mountainous river channels and the determination of suitable locations for weir construction.