bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk Prioritization in a Natural Gas Compressor Station Construction Project Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process
Authors: Koulinas Georgios K. , Demesouka Olympia E. , Bougelis Gerasimos G. , Koulouriotis Dimitrios E.
Published: October 2022

Recently, the seamless construction and operation of natural gas pipelines has become even more critical, while the oil and gas industry’s capability to operate effectively with acceptable risks and hazardous situations is mainly dependent on safety. As a result, it is very important to have a wide knowledge of effective management tactics for enhancing implementation of safety regulations and procedures. The problem of assuring workers’ health and safety in the workplace is a crucial component in the endeavor to raise the productivity of labor and the level of competitiveness of building projects. To promote the health, safety, and well-being of workers, issues that are embedded within the concept of sustainability, we propose in this study a safety risk-assessment process that uses the analytical hierarchy process for assigning priorities to risks on construction worksites. This process uses a popular multicriteria method. The success of this strategy was shown by its application to the building of a natural gas compressor plant in Greece. The main contribution of this study is the application of a well-known multicriteria method for assessing risks in a natural gas compressor station construction project and prioritizing hazards to allocate budget for risk-mitigation measures.
Study on Mine Pressure Behavior Law of Mining Roadway Passing Concentrated Coal Pillar and Goaf
Authors: Li Xiaolong , Wei Shengjie , Wang Jun
Published: October 2022

Based on the special spatial position of 1–2 coal and 2–2 coal, this paper adopts a new way of modeling by fish and overcomes the difficulty of modeling, simulates the influence of the coal pillar on the 22,206 return airway after mining 1–2 coal seam by Flac3D, studies the 22,206 return airway under the influence of primary and secondary mining, and puts forward the support scheme of the 22,206 return airway. The following conclusions are obtained: (1) After mining 1–2 coal, the stress of the 22,206–return airway under the residual coal pillar of 1–2 coal increased. The maximum stress position is below the middle coal pillar of 1–2 coal, and its maximum vertical stress (σvmax) and maximum horizontal stress (σhmax) are 6.24 MPa and 4.09 MPa, respectively. (2) The rule of 22,206 return airway’s pressure appearance is that the stress and plastic zone becomes larger when near the coal pillar, becomes smaller when far from the coal pillar, the maximum failure radius of roof and floor is only 1.3 m, and 0.6 m, the maximum failure radius of roadway side is 0.6 m and 1.5 m after the second mining. (3) According to the proposed support scheme, field experiments found that the maximum displacement is less than 120 mm, which can effectively guarantee the stability of the roadway.
Interrogating Structural Bias in Language Technology: Focusing on the Case of Voice Chatbots in South Korea
Authors: Choi Lee Jin
Published: October 2022

The increasing use of language technology applications requires a more critical evaluation of the current state of language technology and its application than simply viewing it as an ideal and effective language learning aid. While an increased number of scholars have examined the issue of potential biases and hidden ideologies in language technology such as racism and gender discrimination, little attention has been paid to how the newly emerging language technology can contribute to reproduce the native speaker fallacy. This paper, focusing on the case of voice chatbots in Korea, critically examines how learning technology, in particular language technology applications, can potentially reproduce and reinforce the essentialist discourse of native speakerism, which posits native speaker accents as an ideal form of English and marginalizes nonnative English teachers and students.
Shadow Economy Estimation Using Cash Demand Approach: The Case of Serbia
Authors: Atanasijević Jasna , Danon Marko , Lužanin Zorana , Kovačević Dušan
Published: October 2022

Informalities in the Serbian economy seem to be relatively persistent and widespread, as suggested by some empirical evidence and numerous anecdotal evidence provided by citizens and companies. Nevertheless, the shadow—or informal—economy is a rather complicated phenomenon with a complex set of causes and consequences, implying that there are no universally accepted definitions nor quantification methods for determining the relative size of its impact. This paper takes a pioneering approach using the “monetary method” or the “currency demand approach” for the Serbian economy, based on econometric estimates of the demand for money. In this context, we rely on the well-known currency demand approach, expanding and applying it to the case of Serbia. Against the backdrop of the key research question, we found that the shadow economy in Serbia has decreased to roughly 20% of GDP in late 2021 from roughly 30% in 2005.
Identifying Key Components in Implementation of Internet of Energy (IoE) in Iran with a Combined Approach of Meta-Synthesis and Structural Analysis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Taghavi Mir Hamid , Akhavan Peyman , Ahmadi Rouhollah , Bonyadi Naeini Ali
Published: October 2022

The increasing consumption of energy and the numerous obstacles in the way of its extraction, including diminishing fossil fuels and the turn towards renewable energies, environmental changes, a tendency towards systems of information networks, rising costs of energy and advancement of technology have made the need for new technologies aimed at efficient management of energy more imminent. The Internet of Energy (IoE) technology has been recognized as a novel and efficient strategy that provides the necessary tools for optimal energy management. The present study was carried out with the purpose of identifying key components in implementation of IoE in Iran. This study is practical in its goal and descriptive-explorative in its methodology. First, the data were categorized using the qualitative method of meta-synthesis and using the Sandelowski and Barroso method. The statistical population of the study was the scholarly finding of 2010–2021 and 55 papers were sampled from the published works. The kappa coefficient was used to determine reliability and quality control. The kappa coefficient calculated with SPSS equals 0.87, which falls in the “excellent” category. Second, the frequency and importance of each component was determined using the Shannon entropy technique. The purpose of this method is to measure the weight or importance of each component based on frequency and to identify the key components. Third, the MICMAC structural analysis method was used to evaluate the influence/dependence of components by eight experts in the field of energy and determine strategic components. The purpose of this step is to compare the results with the results of the second step of the research. The results show that 82 indicators play a role in implementation of the concept of IoE; these indicators can be divided into ten axial categories of rules and regulations, individual and human factors, funding, technological infrastructure, cultural and social factors, security factors, technological factors, knowledge factors, learning style, and management factors. In the Shannon entropy method, technological infrastructure, management factors, and rules and regulations are the most significant, respectively. In MICMAC structural analysis, the components of managerial factors, technological infrastructure, and financing have the largest share in influence and dependence, respectively. Conclusion: The two components of management factors and technological infrastructure can be considered as key and strategic components in implementation of IoE in Iran.
Family Environment and Rural Child Development in Shanxi, China
Authors: Li He , Liu Ziyang
Published: October 2022

The family environment in rural Northwest China has undergone significant changes as a result of the accelerated migration of rural populations. We constructed an indicator system for measuring the development of rural children in northwest China and use Shanxi as an example to conduct field research on the effects of family structure on children’s education. We constructed a children’s comprehensive development index for regression analysis using the principal component method. We also built a mediating effect model based on the importance of parents’ involvement in their children’s development. Then, we examined the influence mechanism between family structure and children’s development in northwest rural areas. Finally, we found that family structure significantly affects the development of rural children in Shanxi Province, especially two-parent families. Furthermore, parental emotional involvement has a significant mediating effect on rural children’s development. Due to low parental emotional involvement, children from absent families are less developed than children from intact families. Moreover, parental behavior plays a significant role in mediating the relationship between family structure and child development. Due to a lower level of parental behavioral involvement, children from absent families are less likely to achieve comprehensive development than children from intact families. Consequently, we should set up a comprehensive management system that integrates family, schools, and local communities for the sustainable development of children.
Behavioural Responses of Common Dolphins Delphinus delphis to a Bio-Inspired Acoustic Device for Limiting Fishery By-Catch
Authors: Lehnhoff Loïc , Glotin Hervé , Bernard Serge , Dabin Willy , Le Gall Yves , Menut Eric , Meheust Eleonore , Peltier Hélène , Pochat Alain , Pochat Krystel , Rimaud Thomas , Sourget Quiterie , Spitz Jérôme , Van Canneyt Olivier , Mérigot Bastien
Published: October 2022

By-catch is the most direct threat to marine mammals globally. Acoustic repellent devices (pingers) have been developed to reduce dolphin by-catch. However, mixed results regarding their efficiency have been reported. Here, we present a new bio-inspired acoustic beacon, emitting returning echoes from the echolocation clicks of a common dolphin ‘Delphinus delphis’ from a fishing net, to inform dolphins of its presence. Using surface visual observations and the automatic detection of echolocation clicks, buzzes, burst-pulses and whistles, we assessed wild dolphins’ behavioural responses during sequential experiments (i.e., before, during and after the beacon’s emission), with or without setting a net. When the device was activated, the mean number of echolocation clicks and whistling time of dolphins significantly increased by a factor of 2.46 and 3.38, respectively (p < 0.01). Visual surface observations showed attentive behaviours of dolphins, which kept a distance of several metres away from the emission source before calmly leaving. No differences were observed among sequences for buzzes/burst-pulses. Our results highlight that this prototype led common dolphins to echolocate more and communicate differently, and it would favour net detection. Complementary tests of the device during the fishing activities of professional fishermen should further contribute to assessment of its efficiency.
Social Entrepreneurship and Complex Thinking: A Bibliometric Study
Authors: Vázquez-Parra José Carlos , Cruz-Sandoval Marco , Carlos-Arroyo Martina
Published: October 2022

This article presents the results of a bibliometric study that aimed to identify academic publications that considered the relationship between social entrepreneurship and the competency of complex thinking and its sub-competencies. The intention is to create a theoretical horizon that provides a complete overview of the current academic correlation between both competencies to identify areas of opportunity for new studies. Methodologically, we reviewed the Scopus and Web of Science databases under the PRISMA protocol. R, RStudio, and Bibliometrix were used to quantitatively analyze the data. The results showed that the number of related publications was minimal and corresponded to current studies, which sheds light on the vast possibilities to analyze the relationship between both variables.
An Ensemble Model with Adaptive Variational Mode Decomposition and Multivariate Temporal Graph Neural Network for PM2.5 Concentration Forecasting
Authors: Pei Yadong , Huang Chiou-Jye , Shen Yamin , Ma Yuxuan
Published: October 2022

Accurate prediction of PM2.5 concentration for half a day can provide valuable guidance for urban air pollution prevention and daily travel planning. In this paper, combining adaptive variational mode decomposition (AVMD) and multivariate temporal graph neural network (MtemGNN), a novel PM2.5 prediction model named PMNet is proposed. Some studies consider using VMD to stabilize time series but ignore the problem that VMD parameters are difficult to select, so AVMD is proposed to solve the appealing problem. Effective correlation extraction between multivariate time series affects model prediction accuracy, so MtemGNN is used to extract complex non-Euclidean distance relationships between multivariate time series automatically. The outputs of AVMD and MtemGNN are integrated and fed to the gate recurrent unit (GRU) to learn the long-term and short-term dependence of time series. Compared to several baseline models—long short-term memory (LSTM), GRU, and StemGNN—PMNet has the best prediction performance. Ablation experiments show that the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) is reduced by 90.141%, 73.674%, and 40.556%, respectively, after adding AVMD, GRU, and MtemGNN to the next 12-h prediction.
Self-Sufficiency of New Administrative Capitals (NACs) Based on Types and Commuting Characteristics of Citizens: Case Study of Sejong
Authors: Im Jin-hong , Jang Seongman
Published: October 2022

In recent decades, new administrative capitals (NACs) are being developed in Asia and developing countries due to the overcrowding of capitals and large cities. The self-sufficiency of a planned city is considered important for balanced national development. However, no study has specifically analyzed the degree of self-sufficiency of NACs. Therefore, focusing on the city of Sejong (NAC, South Korea) as an example, this study evaluated self-sufficiency using data regarding household composition and travel characteristics. The results of the three-step analysis are as follows: First, the commuting distance of the NAC was longer than that of traditionally developed cities, with relatively little internal commuter traffic in the NAC. Second, commuting to and from the NAC was primarily to large cities nearby. Third, regarding the characteristics of households living in the NAC, the ratio of second-generation households was higher and that of single-person households was relatively small compared with traditional cities. In addition, a spatial correlation in the form of a longer commuting distance in the second generation and shorter commuting distance in single-person households was confirmed. The findings of this study hold important implications for policymakers and urban planning bodies when developing an NAC.
Emerging Trends and Knowledge Structures of Urbanization and Environmental Sustainability: A Regional Perspective
Authors: Almulhim Abdulaziz I. , Bibri Simon Elias , Sharifi Ayyoob , Ahmad Shakil , Almatar Khalid Mohammed
Published: October 2022

More than 59 million people reside in the six member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) (the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia). The rate of urbanization is more than 80% in each of these countries. To better understand the trends and knowledge structures and to aid policy design and implementation, more research is needed on the topic of urbanization in GCC countries. In order to address this knowledge gap, bibliometric analysis and scientific mapping procedures utilizing VOSviewer were employed. A total of 415 academic papers covering four decades, from 1980 to 2021, were collected from the Web of Science database and split into three time periods: 1980–2017, 2018–2019, and 2020–2021. The findings indicate that the topics related to sustainable development, environmental regulations, renewable energy, and smart cities have received the most attention. In addition, land use planning, urban growth, and energy consumption have been dominant themes over different periods. Several intertwined factors have contributed to the evolution of research over these periods. These include the widespread diffusion of the sustainability agenda, the rise of advanced ICT, and the escalating rate of urbanization. It can also be explained by the fact that the world has been grappling with numerous environmental challenges, increasingly requiring innovative solutions for sustainability. The findings of this study can be used to develop better strategies for sustainable urban development in the region.
Lightweight Design of an Asymmetrical Generator Based on Topology Optimization for Helicopter
Authors: Chen Hainiu , Lei Jiaxin , Wang Yicheng , Qin Ling , Fang Shuhua
Published: October 2022

This paper proposes a new alternating stage permanent magnet synchronous generator (ASPMSG) that is suitable for helicopter motor applications. The machine topology and the working principle of the ASPMSG are first introduced. The slot-pole matching of the motor is studied according to the application environment and requirements of the motor. In addition, the main structural parameters of the motor, such as the maximum EMF (electromotive force) and the minimum harmonic, are optimized. Finally, the topology optimization method is used to design the lightweight motor, and the optimized mass of the optimized area reaches 68.29% while the output of the ASPMSG is almost unaffected. The simulation results show that the proposed ASPMSG topology has higher power density under the conditions satisfying the application requirements of helicopter motors.
Insight into the Critical Success Factors of Performance-Based Budgeting Implementation in the Public Sector for Sustainable Development in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Huy Pham Quang , Phuc Vu Kien
Published: October 2022

This research sets its sights on producing a precise and meticulous analysis in order to identify critical success factors (CSFs) of behavioral intention to adopt performance-based budgeting (BIA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The statistical data employed in this study were drawn from repeated cross-sectional samples of accountants within public sector organizations in relation to BIA, spanning 3 years. In order to bring forth the hypothesized interlinks, the analytical techniques used comprised structural equation modeling and mean comparisons. The analyses of the results substantiated the positive interconnections among CSFs in terms of significance and effect size. On the basis of the degree of stability of the obtained findings, the most stable CSFs of BIA were ascertained. Beyond widening the frontier of knowledge on the benefits of performance-based budgeting (PBB) in public sector organizations and the CSFs of BIA, the obtained findings can guide leaders in public sector organizations to sense and seize how they can become efficient and effective in the journey towards PBB implementation and how they can formulate intense strategies for successfully managing the transformation process. The advantages of a more fine-grained understanding in this research can allow policymakers to promulgate laws and rules for the implementation of PBB.
Exploring the Applicability of the Unified Glare Rating for an Outdoor Non-Uniform Residential Luminaire
Authors: Spieringhs Rik Marco , Phung Thanh Hang , Audenaert Jan , Hanselaer Peter
Published: October 2022

The Unified Glare Rating (UGR) and the modified version (UGR’) have been developed and widely accepted in multiple standards for measuring the discomfort glare of a luminaire in typical indoor environments; however, a standardized glare metric for non-uniform outdoor luminaires is still missing. In this paper, the possibility to apply UGR and UGR’ to an outdoor residential luminaire with a non-uniform spatial luminance distribution is explored. The luminaire was characterized in a large near-field goniophotometer (NFG) and luminance images were captured at four angles specified in the CIE 232:2019 document. Some practical issues of applying the UGR’ for a non-uniform residential luminaire are discussed, such as selecting the luminous area, the blurring parameter, the viewing angles, and the background luminance. In addition to these practical issues, possible solutions and suggestions are explored, such as a different blurring parameter, viewing angle, and background luminance. In the end, employing a human visual system to evaluate the amount of discomfort glare for both indoor and outdoor applications might be preferred.
Development of a Multi-Criteria Analysis Decision-Support Tool for the Sustainability of Forest Biomass Heating Projects in Quebec
Authors: Dias Brandao Raphaël , Thiffault Evelyne , Levasseur Annie
Published: October 2022

Residual forest biomass for heating is an alternative to fossil fuels that is in line with global greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. Even if the opportunities and the benefits of such projects may be important, one should not neglect the barriers and potential impacts of these projects regarding their sustainability. The decision support tool developed and presented in this paper will help guide and support public decision makers in selecting the best project and improving its sustainability. A reliable and relevant weighting method is determined, based on the use of the Analytic Hierarchical Process multi-criteria decision analysis method, allowing the integration of stakeholders and the consideration of their views and opinions. This choice, combined with the privileged use of quantifiable qualitative data, allows the use of the tool in a preliminary phase of the project development and enables the evaluation of the project and its sustainability from a social acceptability perspective. The tool was applied to two fictional scenarios to demonstrate its ability to guide decision making and to highlight the differentiation of weights and scenarios through both weighting and evaluation methods.
A Systematic Review of What Malaysia Can Learn to Improve Orang Asli Students’ Mathematics Learning from Other Countries
Authors: Abdullah Abdul Halim
Published: October 2022

Intending to enhance educational outcomes for indigenous students, who have long been undervalued in many present educational systems, there is an increasing variety of educational interventions in mathematics learning. This is in line with two of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are quality education and reduced inequalities, especially among indigenous students. Nevertheless, no research on indigenous students, locally known as Orang Asli, has been performed in Malaysia. Hence, the purpose of this research is to systematically review empirical studies from various countries that documented interventions to help indigenous students in their acquisition of mathematics from 2007 to 2022. This review included a total of 25 studies. Indigenous students from elementary to high school participated in these programs, which took place in both formal and informal settings. The majority of interventions are used in formal settings and elementary schools. The two key characteristics of the interventions were their scientific inquiry practice and cultural relevance. Regarding indigenous students’ cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains, all interventions indicated successful outcomes. This information will benefit not only Malaysian indigenous mathematics teachers and researchers but also academics from all over the world in order to help improve indigenous students’ mathematics learning.
Urban Shrinkage as a Catalyst of a Transition, Revolving around Definitions
Authors: Sroka Bartłomiej T.
Published: October 2022

For decades, urban shrinkage has remained a serious challenge, especially in post-socialist countries. Substantially, it is recognizable as a temporary population loss; this encourages the undertaking of a systematic review of the phenomenon—has there been any change in the urban shrinkage connotation in the past years? Empirical research examines the mechanisms that were disclosed in the literature during the first two decades of the 21st century. This paper outlines the core aspects of shrinkage in the economic, social, and spatial dimensions. The paper questions whether the phenomenon is a catalyst to a new development trajectory of cities, collecting a review of the terms attached to shrinkage itself. The analysis is based on a meta-analysis of the literature; it covers the papers and outputs of research projects that were focused on shrinkage from 2000 to 2020. The review leads to conceptual models based on the perpetual mechanism of the phenomenon.
The First 3D-Printed Building in Spain: A Study on Its Acoustic, Thermal and Environmental Performance
Authors: Salandin Andrea , Quintana-Gallardo Alberto , Gómez-Lozano Vicente , Guillén-Guillamón Ignacio
Published: October 2022

The first 3D-printed building in Spain is the object of this study, and it is presented and physically described herein from different points of view. This study combines on-site measurements, simulations, and a life cycle assessment to assess some relevant parameters concerning the acoustic, thermal and environmental performance of the 3D-printed house. The main objectives are to analyze whether the house complies with the acoustic and thermal regulations and to assess whether it can act as a sustainable alternative to conventional masonry construction, especially when time plays an important role. The build surface (3D prototype) of the house is approximately 23 m2. The internal space includes a living room (12.35 m2), a bedroom (7.36 m2) and a bathroom (3.16 m2). The total surface of the house is 22.87 m2 and it has a volume of 64.03 m3. The acoustic insulation was measured according to the ISO 9869-1:2014 standard. In terms of the acoustic insulation, the sound reduction index was tested following the guidelines of the ISO 140-5:1999 standard. Additionally, the study includes a comparative life cycle assessment comparing the 3D-printed façade with two conventional wall typologies. The 3D-printed house displays an excellent thermal performance, with a measured thermal transmittance of 0.24 Wm−2K−1, suitable for all Spanish climate zones. Regarding the acoustic insulation, the measured global sound reduction indexes of the façades range from 36 to 45 dB, which is adequate for areas with noise levels of up to 75 dB. The environmental results indicate that 3D-printed façade manufacturing emits 30% more CO2e than a façade constructed using concrete blocks and 2% less than a masonry block wall. Overall, this study shows that, in addition to its multiple advantages in terms of the construction time, the studied 3D-printed house has similar acoustic, thermal and environmental traits to the most common construction typologies. However, it cannot be considered a sustainable construction method due to its high amount of cement.
Towards a Unified Virtual Business Incubator Model: A Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Vaz Roberto , de Carvalho João Vidal , Teixeira Sandrina Francisca
Published: October 2022

Virtual business incubators have been highlighted for their positive impacts in fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in several business areas, contributing to sustainable economic growth and social development. However, despite their crucial roles, previous literature emphasizes that research concerning their business models has been largely ignored, and several important issues are still unaddressed. This article aims to contribute to filling this gap and advancing this field by providing the first bibliometric and systematic literature review, as far as the authors know, concerning virtual business incubator models. The main results reveal the following: that academic production is relatively new, fragmented, and develops under a diversity of research paths; the analyzed models (n = 12) have only some dimensions in common and are proposed based on three different perspectives (business organization and management, information and communication systems, and user experience); there is not a virtual business incubator model more suitable to support digital businesses or startups creation. Based on the results, it is argued that there is a need to further develop a model towards a unified virtual business incubator by actively involving different stakeholders during its design. This research can help managers, academics, and other professionals interested in running virtual business incubator programs.
Lead Extraction Methods in Roadside Soils and Its Relationship with Soil Properties
Authors: Nawaz Shazia , Irshad Muhammad , Tariq Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman , Mohiuddin Muhammad , Ashraf Muhammad , Bibi Sumera , Shaukat Nadeem , Shah Ashfaq Ahmad , Ng Anne Wai Man
Published: October 2022

Lead (Pb) is an environmental pollutant, and its concentration in the soil environment has received greater attention. Studies on the interrelation of Pb and major soil properties using different extraction methods have been poorly documented. The lead extraction method is important to be identified, which may accurately reflect Pb extractability from soils. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate the Pb pollution of roadside soils. Four extractants: ammonium acetate (NH4OAc), hydrochloric acid (HCl), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Soil samples were sieved for three particle sizes: finer to coarser particles (0.5 to 2 mm). Results showed that there were substantial differences for Pb concentrations among sampling sites depending on the extracting reagents: HCl > DTPA > NH4OAc > NaOH. The extractability of Pb from soil was apparently enhanced with the increasing strength of a reagent used for the soil solution. The NH4OAc extractable Pb concentrations in the surface soil samples from the Abbottabad area ranged from 67.9 to 246.7 mg kg−1, and in Haripur, the Pb concentrations ranged from 97.6 to 242.5 mg kg−1. At 20% HCl solution, the average Pb concentrations were 2.6 times higher than the NH4OAc solution in the topsoil of Abbottabad area. The roadside soils contained Pb concentrations higher than the permissible limits. The control soil samples (from a distance of 200 m) exhibited Pb concentrations in the relative range of 28.5 to 61.7 mg kg−1. Pb concentrations in the topsoil and subsoil were found to be apparently inconsistent. The concentration of Pb was higher in the soil containing a higher amount of organic matter and clay content. The soil pH and particle size were inversely related to extractable Pb in the soil. Higher Pb pollution in the soil could be associated with the higher traffic density.
Democracy, Economic Development and Low-Carbon Energy: When and Why Does Democratization Promote Energy Transition?
Authors: Clulow Zeynep , Reiner David M.
Published: October 2022

Despite the growing consensus surrounding the need to decarbonise power for meeting an increasingly ambitious temperature target as set by the 2015 Paris Agreement, the share of low-carbon energy sources in the overall energy mix has varied significantly across countries and over time. We evaluate the influence of democracy on clean energy transition by studying national solar, wind, hydro and nuclear energy shares of total energy use for electricity generation from 1980 to 2020. Using data from the Varieties of Democracy, Freedom House and Polity IV democracy indices, International Energy Agency Extended Energy Balances and Summary Statistics and World Bank World Development Indicators, we conduct a large-N study of the emissions levels of 135 countries. This article develops existing understandings about the relationship between democracy and energy transition by employing a more sophisticated—hierarchical—research design to determine whether: (i) democracy continues to be an important driver of low-carbon energy use once country-level clustering is accounted for, (ii) fluctuations in the democratic attributes of domestic political regimes have uniform effects across countries and (iii), if so, economic development plays a role in shaping the effect of democracy within individual countries. The results suggest that, even after controlling for country-level clustering and other putative drivers of energy portfolios, democracy has a significant effect on the low-carbon energy sources examined in this article. A second-order regression of the country-specific democracy effects estimated by our hierarchical model provides robust evidence that economic development plays an important role in shaping the effect of democracy within individual countries: Strikingly, democratic spells (of increased democratic institutions and processes) in advanced economies tend to inhibit solar, wind and hydro energy, but promote nuclear energy use, while, in contrast, having the opposite effects (promoting solar, wind and hydro and inhibiting nuclear shares) in developing countries.
Improving Selected Chemical Properties of a Paddy Soil in Sabah Amended with Calcium Silicate: A Laboratory Incubation Study
Authors: Chong Ivy Quirinus , Azman Elisa Azura , Ng Ji Feng , Ismail Roslan , Awang Azwan , Hasbullah Nur Aainaa , Murdad Rosmah , Ahmed Osumanu Haruna , Musah Adiza Alhassan , Alam Md. Amirul , Besar Normah Awang , Tajidin Nor Elliza , Jalloh Mohamadu Boyie
Published: October 2022

In Malaysia, the main constraints of rice yield and productivity are infertile soils and poor management practices because these soils are characterized by low pH, low nutrient availability, low organic matter, and high exchangeable Al and Fe ions, due to high rainfall and hot temperatures. Thus, an incubation study was conducted to determine the optimum amount of calcium silicate (HmbG brand) to improve the soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), exchangeable Al, available P, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of a paddy soil in Sabah, Malaysia. The Kelawat series (Typic Dystrudept) soil was incubated with calcium silicate at the application rates of 0 (T1), 1 (T2), 2 (T3), and 3 t ha−1 (T4) using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in triplicates for 30, 60, 90, and 120 days. The calcium silicate used significantly improved soil pH because of the release of SiO44− and Ca2+ ions, which neutralized and immobilized H+ ions. Furthermore, the neutralizing effects of the amendment impeded Al hydrolysis by up to 57.4% and this resulted in an increase in the available P in the soil by 31.26% to 50.64%. The increased availability of P in the soil was also due to the high affinity of SiO44− to desorb P from soil minerals and it is believed that SiO44− can temporarily adsorb exchangeable base cations such as K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+. Moreover, applying calcium silicate at 3 t ha−1 improved soil CEC by up to 54.84% compared to that of untreated soils (T1) because of increased pH and the number of negatively charged sites. The most suitable application rate of the calcium silicate was found to be 3 t ha−1 (T4). These findings suggest that calcium silicate can improve soil productivity and agronomic efficiency in rice farming. Greenhouse and field trials are necessary to ascertain the effects of the recommended treatments of this incubation study on soil productivity, rice growth, and yield.
Effect of Heat Starvation Stress on Physiological Immunity and Metabolism of Mizuhopecten yessoensis
Authors: Song Lun , Bao Xiangbo , Liu Yin , Liu Weidong , Zhao Sufang , Liu Suxuan
Published: October 2022

Mizuhopecten yessoensis is an economical maricultural bivalve mollusk in China and Japan. Due to the high mortality rate, academics have paid more attention to the effects of the environment recently. However, little is known about the physiological, immune, and metabolic effects of M. yessoensis under starvation stress at high temperatures. Herein, transcriptomic libraries of hemolymph and striated adductor muscle from feeding and starved M. yessoensis were constructed. The results showed that the immune indexes decreased in the concentration of M. yessoensis blood cells and liver lysozyme activity at 15 d, M. yessoensis fertility and liver ACP at 30 d of starvation stress, and T-AOC and BCA at 45 d of starvation stress. A total of 853.85 M clean reads were obtained from 20 libraries, with an average total mapping ratio of 83.38% to the reference genome. Based on an examination of the genes that differ in expression between the fasted and feeding groups, 27 up- and 41 down-regulated DEGs were identified in hemolymph, while the numbers in striated adductor muscle were 426 up- and 255 down-regulated. Determined by GO annotation and KEGG pathway mapping, annotations and categories of the DEGs presented diverse biological functions and processes. KEGG analysis showed that most downregulated DEGs in striated muscle were enriched in the pathways involved in metabolism. Genes encoding the enzymes, including eno, pgk, gapA, tpiA, fbp, pgi, and pgm in the gluconeogenesis pathway, were down-regulated, which was indicative of the negative effect of long-term starvation on gluconeogenesis. The down-regulation of PGD and tktA genes in the pentose phosphate pathway suggested that the carbohydrate decomposition and utilization were decreased in starved scallops. Together, the findings demonstrated the influences of food deprivation on carbohydrate metabolism and other processes in M. yessoensis. These results provide foundational information for further understanding of metabolism, especially carbohydrate metabolism of scallops under starvation, which may potentially benefit healthy aquaculture.
Firm-Level Attributes, Industry-Specific Factors, Stakeholder Pressure, and Country-Level Attributes: Global Evidence of What Inspires Corporate Sustainability Practices and Performance
Authors: Gold Nusirat Ojuolape , Taib Fauziah Md. , Ma Yaxin
Published: October 2022

This study examined differing attributes that motivate corporate sustainability practices and performance (CSP&P) in the global economy. Utilizing publicly disclosed information from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), data were gathered for publicly listed companies operating in high carbon-intensive and less carbon-intensive sectors on a global scale, and a panel ordered probit regression model analysis was conducted to arrive at the findings. The rigorous reliability and validity of the scales were ensured. Firm-level attributes, industry-specific factors, stakeholder pressure, and country-level attributes were the variables examined for each context. The findings reveal that the firm-level attributes showed that board size, board independence, sustainability committee, and firm size were linked to positive motivation, while firm age was found to negatively influence the response level. The study discovered that the industry-specific factors variable has a negative significant influence because industry leaders (firms in high carbon-intensive sectors) exhibit poor sustainability performance, suggesting a negative attitude towards environmental issues. The study discovered a positive and highly significant influence of stakeholder pressure, while country-level attributes partially played a significant role. Overall, the findings show that a disparity exists in the level of response between the different global economies. The justification for the findings is based on the theory of interested parties, political theory, and legitimacy concerns that shape the strategic choices made by companies.
Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in a Soil–Plant System from an Open Dumpsite and the Associated Health Risks through Multiple Routes
Authors: Sabir Muhammad , Baltrėnaitė-Gedienė Edita , Ditta Allah , Ullah Hussain , Kanwal Aatika , Ullah Sajid , Faraj Turki Kh.
Published: October 2022

Screening various plant species to act as hyperaccumulators and associated health risks could serve as a sustainable solution for the bioremediation heavy metals (HMs). For the first time, the present study explored the phytoremediation potential of native plants, soil enrichment, and human health risks associated with the contamination of HMs in soil and plant samples collected from a municipal solid-waste open dump site. Soil and plant samples (n = 18 + 18) from the dumpsite and (n = 18) from the control site were analyzed for selected HMs, i.e., Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), Iron (Fe), and Zinc (Zn). The phytoremediation potential of plants was assessed using the bioaccumulation factor (BAF), bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC), and translocation factor (TF), while soil pollution levels were evaluated using the contamination factor (CF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), potential ecological risk index (PERI), and human health risk indices. The results revealed that based on TF and BAC values, Alhagi maurorum Medic., Astragalus creticus Lam., Cichorium intybus L., Berberis lycium Royle, and Datura stramonium L. were hyperaccumulators for Cr while Parthenium hysterophorus L. was a promising species for both Ni and Cr. Similarly, CF values for Fe, Ni, Pb, and Cr were >6, thereby showing very high contamination, while Igeo values for Fe, Ni, Pb, and Cr were (class 6, >5), showing that the soil was extremely polluted. Furthermore, EF values for Fe, Ni, Pb, Cr, and Zn were 2 < EF ≤ 5, depicting moderate enrichment, while PERI values were in the range of 91.31–195.84, employing moderate ecological risks (95 < PERI < 190) from the dumpsite’s soil. Moreover, for non-carcinogenic exposure, none of the analyzed metals exceeded the threshold limit HRI values > 1 in both adults and children. Likewise, in the case of carcinogenic effects, the CRI values were lower than the tolerable limits (1 × 10−6–1 × 10−4) in both adults and children. Moreover, almost all studied plants could be utilized for the phytoextraction of mentioned HMs. In future, the present study can help in the implementation of public policies to ensure sustainability and developmental activities in contaminated sites. Based on these results, it is concluded that there is a dire need of monitoring solid waste dumpsites due to various types of potential risks associated with the contamination of HMs. Moreover, to minimize the potential health problems arising from the dumpsite, it is substantive that special attention should be paid to work on sustainable and eco-friendly remedial measures.
Online Second-Hand Bookstores’ Strategic Decisions: A Theoretical Perspective
Authors: Wang Yao , Majeed Abdul , Hussain Zahid , Popp József , Oláh Judit
Published: October 2022

The development of second-hand bookstores has received ample attention in the book industry. However, research on their operational strategies is still in its infancy, especially concerning how they compete with new bookstores. We used the Hotelling model to investigate second-hand bookstores’ differentiation strategy. We analyzed how product mismatch problems and consumer preferences affect bookstores’ strategies and profits. We came to three major conclusions. First, second-hand bookstores can effectively compete with new bookstores using a product differentiation strategy. Moreover, it is better to set high prices for special old books. Second, a higher breadth and depth of mismatching will increase revenue for second-hand bookstores and lower revenue for new bookstores. Third, new bookstores’ profit decreases with consumers’ preferences for special old books, while the influence of such preferences on the second-hand bookstores’ profits depends on the transportation cost. These findings provide valuable insights for second-hand bookstores to compete with new bookstores. An important implication of this study is that using a differentiation strategy for second-hand bookstores needs to consider the mismatch problems and consumers’ preferences.
Temporal and Spatial Changes of Ecological Environment Quality Based on RSEI: A Case Study in Ulan Mulun River Basin, China
Authors: Luo Meng , Zhang Shengwei , Huang Lei , Liu Zhiqiang , Yang Lin , Li Ruishen , Lin Xi
Published: October 2022

The Ulan Mulun River Basin is an essential ecological protective screen of the Mu Us Desert and a necessary energy base in Ordos City. With the acceleration of industrialization and urbanization, human activities have caused enormous challenges to the local ecological environment. To achieve the region’s economic sustainability and make local development plans more objective, it is necessary to evaluate the basin’s ecological environment quality over a period of time. First, in the Landsat historical images, we selected 5 years of data to investigate the changes in this time-period (2000–2020). Second, based on the opened remote sensing database on Google Earth Engine, we calculated the remote-sensing ecological index (RSEI) distribution map. RSEI includes greenness, temperature, humidity, and dryness. Thirdly, we assessed the ecological-environmental distribution and change characteristics in the Ulan Mulun River Basin. Finally, we analyzed the RSEI spatial auto-correlation distribution characteristics in the study area. The mean values of RSEI in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 were 0.418, 0.421, 0.443, 0.456, and 0.507, respectively, which indicated that the ecological environment quality had gradually improved. The ecological environment quality from 2000 to 2005 had the biggest change, as the area with drastically changed water levels accounted for 78.98% of the total basin. It showed a downward trend in the central and western regions. It showed an upward trend in the eastern region. For 20 years, the area of deterioration decreased by 24.37%, and the slight change area increased by 45.84%. The Global Moran’s I value ranged from 0.324 to 0.568. The results demonstrated that the Ulan Mulun River Basin ecological environment quality spatial distribution was positively correlated, and the clustering degree decreased gradually. Local spatial auto-correlation of RSEI showed that high-high(H-H) was mainly distributed in the basin’s eastern and southern regions, where the population density was low and the vegetation was in good condition. Low-low(L-L) was mainly distributed in the basin’s central regions and western regions, where the population density was high, and the industrial and mining enterprises were concentrated. This study provided a theoretical basis for the sustainable development of the Ulan Mulun River Basin, which is crucial for the local ecological environment and economic development.
Influence of Triangle-Shaped Obstacles on the Energy and Exergy Performance of an Air-Cooled Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) Collector
Authors: An Byeong-Hwa , Choi Kwang-Hwan , Choi Hwi-Ung
Published: October 2022

A photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collector is a type of solar collector that can simultaneously produce electrical and thermal energy from solar energy. In this research, the daily and annual performances of an air-cooled PVT collector with triangle-shaped obstacles were investigated and compared with those of a conventional air-cooled PVT collector. Based on the thermal circuit model, a numerical model of the air-cooled PVT collector containing triangle-shaped obstacles has been developed and validated using experimental results. A typical meteorological year’s weather data from Ulsan, Korea was used as the weather data. From the results, it was seen that the daily average thermal, electrical, and overall energy and exergy efficiencies for the PVT collector with triangle-shaped obstacles were 24.73%, 15.59%, 62.83%, and 15.57%, respectively, while those values of conventional PVT collector were 17.08%, 15.30%, 54.47%, and 15.13%, respectively. The results also showed that the annual energy and exergy outputs of the PVT collector with triangle-shaped obstacles were 12.84% and 1.98% greater than those of the conventional air-cooled PVT collector. From these results, it was clearly confirmed that the triangle-shaped obstacles can enhance the energy and exergy outputs of the air-cooled PVT collector.