bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Socio-Cultural Valuation of Urban Parks: The Case of Jose Rizal Plaza in Calamba City, The Philippines
Authors: Baltazar Dalton Erick , Labadz Jillian , Smith Roy , Telford Andrew , Di Bonito Marcello
Published: October 2022

The socio-cultural value of urban parks has rarely been studied, and this could be why they are undervalued and not given significant attention in city planning. This study presents the socio-cultural valuation (SCV) of the ecosystem services (ES) and disservices (EDS) of the Jose Rizal Plaza in Calamba City, The Philippines. Stakeholders were interviewed to assemble a list of the park’s ES and EDS. An online survey was then conducted to examine how stakeholders assign values to the park ES and EDS. Finally, the configuration of conditions leading to the assigned values was analysed. The results suggest that respondents value the park’s ES more than they worry about its EDS. They value cultural ES the highest, while they are most concerned with psychological EDS. The Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) revealed that visiting the park is necessary for a high valuation to ES. For EDS, these are: not knowing the previous land use in the area and visiting the park. Overall, the paper concludes that SCV is an effective way to assess the value of urban parks, and fsQCA could aid in determining the combination of conditions leading to these values.
Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Oregano Bioactive Lipid Compounds and Silver Nanoparticles on Broiler Production
Authors: Lohakare Jayant , Abdel-Wareth Ahmed A. A.
Published: October 2022

Feed additives could be added in the diets of broiler chickens to improve performance and for sustainable broiler production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of feeding broiler chickens with oregano bioactive lipid compounds (OBLC) and silver nanoparticles (Nano-Silver) on growth, viability, economics, carcass criteria, silver retentions, and serum biochemistry. One-day-old, unsexed Ross 308 broiler chicks (n = 320) were divided into four treatment groups. Ten replicates of eight birds each for each treatment were used. Treatments were: CONT (control diet), OBLC (CONT diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg OBLC), Nano-Silver (CONT diet supplemented with 4 mg/kg Nano-Silver), and CONT diet supplemented with OBLC + Nano-Silver at levels mentioned above were used for the study. The experiment lasted for 35 days. Supplementing OBLC and Nano-Silver individually or in combination improved (p < 0.01) body weight and feed conversion ratio when compared to CONT. The supplemented groups had a lower death rate than the CONT group, resulting in a higher net return. Supplementing broiler birds with OBLC, Nano-Silver, or their combination boosted dressing percentage and decreased abdominal fat when compared to CONT. Blood levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, creatinine, and urea were lowered in broilers fed OBLC, Nano-Silver, or combination diets. Overall, the current study demonstrates that broiler chickens fed diets with OBLC and Nano-Silver, either alone or in combination, improved growth performance, liver functions, dressing percent, silver absorption and decreased abdominal fat. The best performance was observed in the combination of OBLC and Nano-Silver group compared to other treatments.
Effects of Different Nitrogen Applications and Field Return Depth on the Diversity and Function of Bacteria in Returned Straw in Cold Paddy Fields
Authors: Liu Lin , Cheng Ming , Yang Lei , Jin Jingyi , Fu Minjie
Published: October 2022

This study investigates the degradation characteristics, bacterial community structure, and degradation mechanism of rice straw under different levels of nitrogen (N) application and depths of return of 1-mature-winter tillage in paddy fields in a cold zone from the perspective of biodegradation by using the nylon mesh bag in situ culture method. Paludibacteraceae and Ruminococcaceae were the dominant bacteria in the degradation process, and their abundance decreased with the increasing depth of return. The activities of extracellular enzymes associated with the C-cycle (α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, β-cellobiosidase, and β-xylosidase) were generally higher than those of other functional extracellular enzymes, and straw degradation extracellular enzyme activities generally increased in the middle and late stages (104 d). At an N application rate of 110–150 kg hm−2, the potential functionality of soil showed a quadratic trend with the increasing N application. When the full amount of straw was returned to the field, there was significant spatial heterogeneity in soil potential functionality. Our results showed that the most optimum N application rate was 140 kg hm−2, while the best soil return level (0–15 cm) was observed in the tillage layer under full rice straw return in the cold zone.
Sustainability of Online Teaching: The Case Study Mother Tongue Spelling Course at Montenegrin Universities
Authors: Buric Milena , Novovic Buric Milijana , Jaksic Stojanovic Andjela , Kascelan Ljiljana , Zugić Dragica
Published: October 2022

This paper aims to examine the sustainability of online teaching using the ZOOM application. The research is exclusively related to the course entitled Mother Tongue Spelling at the university level. Its main goal is to analyze the perceptions of surveyed students of Montenegrin philology faculties about the advantages and disadvantages of this type of teaching and their attitude towards traditional, online or blended models of teaching. This paper will examine the opinion of students regarding the application of dialogic, monologic, textual and blended communication methods. Descriptive statistics and the decision tree model were used in processing the survey data. The research showed that students see the availability of lecture recordings and attending lectures regardless of their current location as the biggest advantages of online spelling classes, while the most significant limitations point to technical problems and lack of social interaction. The results also showed that the students prefer the application of the blended method, while the monological method was rated the lowest. The key contribution of this paper is its focus on online learning of the students’ mother tongue, not a foreign language.
Temporal Variation and Spatial Distribution in the Water Environment Helps Explain Seasonal Dynamics of Zooplankton in River-Type Reservoir
Authors: Yin Jingyun , Xia Jihong , Xia Zhichang , Cai Wangwei , Liu Zewen , Xu Kejun , Wang Yue , Zhang Rongzhen , Dong Xu
Published: October 2022

Integrated assessment of the water environment has become widespread in many rivers, lakes, and reservoirs; however, aquatic organisms in freshwater are often overlooked in this process. Zooplankton, as primary consumers, are sensitive and responsive to changes in the water environment. Water and zooplankton samples were collected on-site at Shanxi Reservoir quarterly to determine 12 water environmental indicators and to quantify the abundance of zooplankton of Cladocera, Copepoda and Rotifera by using the ZooScan zooplankton image-scanning analysis system, combined with OLYMPUS BX51 using machine learning recognition classification. The aim was to explore the relationship between water environmental factors and zooplankton through their spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Through principal component analysis, redundancy analysis and cluster analysis, variations in the factors driving zooplankton population growth in different seasons could be identified. At the same time, different taxa of zooplankton can form clusters with related water environmental factors during the abundant water period in summer and the dry water period in winter. Based on long-term monitoring, zooplankton can be used as a comprehensive indicator for water environment and water ecological health evaluation, as well as providing scientific support for regional water resources deployment and management.
Managerial Risk-Taking Incentives and Bank Earnings Management: Evidence from FAS 123R
Authors: Bai Gang , Yang Qiurong , Elyasiani Elyas
Published: October 2022

We study the effect of CEOs’ risk-taking incentives (vega), derived from their stock options, on earnings management (EMGT) by banks. Prior research finds an inconsistent relationship between vega and EMGT in non-financial firms. In the banking industry, the effect of vega on EMGT is further complicated by the strict regulatory environment. To establish causality, we exploit the exogenous reduction in vega resulting from Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) 123R in 2005 that mandates a fair-value-based method to expense stock options and increases costs of granting option compensation. Using the difference-in-differences approach, we find that banks with a larger drop in CEO vega due to FAS 123R significantly reduce EMGT. The findings suggest that CEO vega has a positive and causal effect on bank EMGT. Our results are robust enough to employ in different research designs and specifications. Furthermore, we find that the negative effect of FAS 123R on EMGT is weaker in banks subject to a higher possibility of regulatory intervention.
The Siphon Effect of Consumption End on Production End in the Value Chain under the Data Factor Flow: Evidence from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Region
Authors: Shi Junli , Wang Tingdong
Published: October 2022

The data factor strengthens the power of the consumption end, and its high liquidity alters the relationship between the consumption end of the value chain (CEVC) and the production end of the value chain (PEVC). In this paper, we used an interaction term model to empirically analyze the role of the data factor flow in the impact of the CEVC on the PEVC at the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) functional integration stage. The results indicate that the data factor flow facilitates the effect of CEVC on PEVC, which brings about the siphon effect (SE). We conducted heterogeneity tests at the national and industrial levels, which revealed the following: (1) The SEs of data capital flow in larger economies and data researcher flow in smaller economies are significant. (2) In most instances, technology-intensive industries suppress the SE because they control the flow of core technologies. (3) Due to the integration and penetration of the data factor with conventional factors, the SE is most prevalent in capital-intensive industries. (4) In labor-intensive industries, the SE is not evident and is even suppressed due to capital substitution for labor. This study provides policy recommendations that would help to reduce the RCEP region’s reliance on external demand and foster regional sustainable development.
Student Agency for Sustainability in a Systemic PBL Environment
Authors: Guerra Aida , Jiang Dan , Du Xiangyun
Published: October 2022

To respond to the challenges posed by sustainability, students increasingly need new competencies, including systems thinking, critical thinking, anticipatory thinking, integrated problem-solving competence, collaboration, and self-awareness. While the literature predominantly focuses on students’ knowledge and awareness of sustainability, attention to students’ enactment of agency to develop such competencies for sustainability remains insufficient. The present study explores university students’ perceptions of their enactment of agency for sustainability while studying in a systemic problem- and project-based learning (PBL) environment. Driven by a proposed conceptual framework embracing three interrelated dimensions of student agency—personal values, agentic behaviors, and contexts of action—the study included an analysis of 87 responses to an online qualitative survey and follow-up interviews with six participants. While the study identified multiple sources of student agency regarding personal values such as motivation and efficacy beliefs, a gap emerged between students’ awareness and their actual engagement in sustainability practices. Several contextual factors were shown to constrain their engagement. The study offers practical implications for supporting students’ actions towards sustainability.
Blockchain Meets Sharing Economy: A Case of Smart Contract Enabled Ridesharing Service
Authors: Chang Shuchih Ernest , Chang Erik Chiaway , Chen Yijou
Published: October 2022

The ideas of the sharing economy have facilitated innovative business applications, such as Uber and Airbnb. As an example of a sharing economy application, ridesharing services take advantage of underutilized resources to create economic value. However, the unruly design of ridesharing systems may make urban traffic more congested and cause other technology-organization-environment issues. This study explores the application of blockchain and smart contract technologies to enhance ridesharing services by harvesting the blockchain benefits of transaction traceability, process transparency, system automation and disintermediation. After presenting system design and implementation details for building and deploying a blockchain-based system to support the reengineered ridesharing service with required business functions, we conduct functionality/performance tests and theory-based comparative analysis to confirm its feasibility and applicability. The results reveal that our system with blockchain-enabled benefits is superior to incumbent ridesharing systems. Moreover, while prior research rarely reports the design and implementation details of blockchain-based systems to support sharing economy services, this paper primarily contributes to extant literature by not only proposing a layered system architecture adapting blockchain and smart contracts into the desired ridesharing service but also demonstrating the design and implementation details, covering the development tools, the deployment environment and the deployed smart contracts.
‘Tiyu (体育)’ for Development and Peace? An Examination of Attitudes and Possibilities of the People’s Republic of China Regarding the Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) Movement
Authors: Li You , Bairner Alan , Kawashima Kohei
Published: October 2022

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has appeared to be inattentive towards the globally lobbied Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) movement that endeavors to leverage sport for non-sporting development, currently subscribing to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By adopting the concept of ‘tiyu (体育)’—the supposed Chinese counterpart of ‘sport’—which also seeks to achieve wider objectives grounded on its premise of ‘body cultivation’, this paper proceeds with a text-based qualitative study incorporating document analysis and literature review to examine its current links to SDP. The findings suggest that: (1) While the national development foci of the PRC have demonstrated alignment with the SDGs, its tiyu policies have not. (2) Mainstream SDP projects have failed to be accommodated in the PRC, although some non-SDP tiyu practices have shown a commitment to SDP-desired outcomes. (3) The relative lack of interest in SDP in the PRC has not prevented some tiyu scholars from heeding this movement. Accordingly, this paper assesses the prospects of changing attitudes in the PRC toward SDP.
A Characteristic Analysis of Various Air Pollutants and Their Correlation with O3 in the Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, and Anhui Provinces of China
Authors: Ju Tianzhen , Pan Bingyu , Li Bingnan , Wang Jiwei , Liu Shuya , Peng Shuai , Li Meng
Published: October 2022

Using a series of characteristic analyses of HCHO, SO2, NO2, O3, and absorptive aerosols (ultraviolet aerosol index—UVAI) in the atmosphere of the study area from 2011 to 2021, this paper reviews the pollutants present in Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, and Anhui provinces, which are the key regions for air pollution control in China. Furthermore, the correlation between various air pollutants and O3 is also examined. The results obtained show the following: (1) Within the research areas, temporal pollutant variations can be observed from 2011 to 2021. NO2 and HCHO only modestly decrease, SO2 sharply declines, while UVAI remains stable. During the study period, HCHO and O3 first increase and subsequently decline, whereas the other three pollutants exhibit the opposite behavior. (2) Among the examined pollutants, SO2 is the most unstable. (3) Our research discovered that the atmospheric transport paths at high-value points significantly vary between seasons using the public backward trajectory model. (4) Through the correlation analysis we performed, this research reveals the different degrees of spatial correlations between O3 and other pollutants. (5) Using the FNR index method, the sensitivity of O3 to its precursors (NOx and VOCs) is investigated. Based on the results, we provide some suggestions concerning the primary control pollutants and relative control strategies in different seasons and regions.
Main Agro-Ecological Structure: An Index for Evaluating Agro-Biodiversity in Agro-Ecosystems
Authors: Quintero Ingrid , Daza-Cruz Yesica Xiomara , León-Sicard Tomás
Published: October 2022

The agro-biodiversity present in agro-ecosystems is fundamental in guaranteeing sustainability and resilience. However, there are very few approaches for evaluating it and, even less, ones that include indicators to analyze the influence of the structural and spatial configuration of a landscape in order to favor agro-biodiversity connectivity to productive systems. There are also no proposals that include management and conservation practices, and the producer (farmer)’s perceptions, awareness and ability to favor it on their farm. The Main Agro-ecological Structure (MAS) is a new proposed index to describe the agro-biodiversity of agro-ecosystems, including these topics and comprising 10 criteria and 29 indicators. Connection with the main ecological structure of the landscape (CMESL), extension of external connectors (EEC), diversity of external connectors (DEC), extension of internal connectors (EIC), diversity of internal connectors (DIC), land use (LU), management practices (PM), conservation practices (CP), perception, awareness and knowledge (PAK) and action capacity (AC) are the criteria that make up the index. Methodologies for its evaluation are also described, and a possibility of adapting certain indicators according to the ecological and cultural contexts where the farms are located is discussed. The possibility of relating agro-biodiversity, evaluated using the index, to other agro-system attributes or properties would allow for one to consider its importance in the multidimensional sustainability of farms, thought to be the greatest advantage for its application.
Rail-Induced Social Changes in Central Guangzhou, China
Authors: Li Jianling , Ye Changdong , Yang Jiangxue
Published: October 2022

The economic benefits of rail development are well researched, but the social effects of rail are largely understudied, especially in China. We analyze the association between educational attainment level and urban rail development using the 2000 and 2010 census data from Central Guangzhou, China, and a linear mixed-effects modeling approach. Our results indicate that the change in education level is greater in rail neighborhoods than in non-rail neighborhoods in the central area of Guangzhou, and that the rail/metro-induced effect on educational attainment level is evidenced. This research contributes to the existing literature by exploring a new method for this line of research and providing empirical evidence of social changes in a city that has experienced rapid economic growth and pioneered rail development in China, a developing country. The limitations and implications of the research are discussed.
Social Capital Inequality According to Hukou in Unequal Economic Environments in China
Authors: Lyu Songyang , Kang Sungik , Koo Ja-Hoon
Published: October 2022

China is experiencing an increase in socioeconomic inequality in comparison to the global trend. Employing the hukou registration as a focal point, this study seeks to examine social capital differences between developed and underdeveloped regions in China. As the data for the analysis were from the China Family Panel Studies, social capital was measured by social trust, participation, and networks. The Gini coefficient, a measure of economic inequality, was calculated for 25 different provinces in China in this paper. In light of the fact that these are panel data collected between 2014 and 2018, this study employed the random-effect model for panel analysis. The first finding is that individuals, in an environment characterized by high levels of economic inequality, have low levels of social capital levels in China. Second, the inverse relationship between economic inequality and social capital varies according to social capital element. Specifically, this inverse relationship was observed in social trust and social networks, but not in social participation. Third, hukou registration moderated the inverse relationship between economic inequality and social capital. The rural hukou registration revealed a stronger inverse relationship between economic inequality and social capital than its urban counterpart. This indicates that the negative impact of economic inequality on social capital resulted in additional inequality among rural hukou holders.
Evaluation of Ambient Ozone Effect in Bean and Petunia at Two Different Sites under Natural Conditions: Impact on Antioxidant Enzymes and Stress Injury
Authors: Bandurska Hanna , Borowiak Klaudia , Zielezińska Małgorzata
Published: October 2022

Tropospheric ozone is a harmful air pollutant and greenhouse gas that adversely affects living organisms. The effect of long-term ozone stress on the activity of SOD, APX, and GuPX, as well as lipid peroxidation and membrane injury in bean and petunia growing at a city site and in a forest, characterised by different ozone concentrations, was examined. The experiments were conducted in three growing seasons with different tropospheric ozone concentrations and meteorological conditions. Plants’ exposition to increased ozone concentration resulted in enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes, level of lipid peroxidation, and membrane injury. In all years, higher ozone levels and solar radiation were observed at the forest site. The pattern of the changes in enzyme activity was dependent on ozone concentrations as well as on environmental conditions and varied from year to year. In the second year with the highest ozone concentration, the activity of GuPX and SOD increased the most. However, despite higher ozone concentration in the forest, a larger increase in APX and SOD activity in both species and GuPX activity in bean was recorded at the city site. The present results revealed that plant response to ozone might vary in different locations not only due to differences in ozone concentration but also because of the impact of other environmental factors, such as solar radiation and temperature.
Reviving Low-Tech Modes of Construction as a Method for Sustainability
Authors: El-Husseiny Mennat-Allah , El-Setouhy Hamdy
Published: October 2022

Sustainability in architectural design has been widely researched in respect to environmental, social and economic impacts on the built environment. Associated debates have been raised regarding zero CO2 emissions, clean energy consumption, simulations for optimized designs, and high-tech utilization, among other. However, little focus has been given to the possibility of reviving low-technology construction, which can contribute to the field through an added value to the identity of communities, especially in areas with special familiar construction techniques that are possible to be optimized and capitalized upon. Stemming from this, the research aims to analyze strategies and tools for contemporary projects which have adopted the experience of applying low-tech construction modes to upraise a specific local community. The “Al-Nazlah” project in Fayoum, Egypt, which has been awarded several international prizes, is the main focus of this analysis, based on first-hand information from the architect, local community, and heritage experts using interviews and questionnaires, in addition to applying Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) methodology to assess the experience collectively. The results highlight the points of strength and weakness of the revival project, in the form of a framework assessing the experiment for the familiar construction-based project in applying the three levels of sustainability in a community with special characteristics.
Development of Operation Strategy for Battery Energy Storage System into Hybrid AC Microgrids
Authors: Ramos Felipe , Pinheiro Aline , Nascimento Rafaela , de Araujo Silva Junior Washington , Mohamed Mohamed A. , Annuk Andres , Marinho Manoel H. N.
Published: October 2022

With continuous technological advances, increasing competitiveness of renewable sources, and concerns about the environmental impacts of the energy matrix, the use of hybrid microgrids has been promoted. These generation microsystems, historically composed basically of fossil fuels as the main source, have experienced an energy revolution with the introduction of renewable and intermittent sources. However, with the introduction of these uncontrollable sources, the technical challenges to system stability, low diesel consumption, and security of supply increase. The main objective of this work is to develop an operation and control strategy for energy storage systems intended for application in hybrid microgrids with AC coupling. Throughout the work, a bibliographic review of the existing applications is carried out, as well as a proposal for modification and combination to create a new control strategy. This strategy, based on optimized indirect control of diesel generators, seeks to increase generation efficiency, reduce working time, and increase the introduction of renewable sources in the system. As a result, there is a significant reduction in diesel consumption, a decrease in the power output variance of the diesel generation system, and an increase in the average operating power, which ensures effective control of hybrid plants.
Inverted Solar Stills: A Comprehensive Review of Designs, Mathematical Models, Performance, and Modern Combinations
Authors: Hussein Ahmed Kadhim , Rashid Farhan Lafta , Abed Azher M. , Al-Khaleel Mohammad , Togun Hussein , Ali Bagh , Akkurt Nevzat , Malekshah Emad Hasani , Biswal Uddhaba , Al-Obaidi Mudhar A. , Younis Obai , Abderrahmane Aissa
Published: October 2022

Fresh water is scarce, making it a worldwide issue. In order to address global freshwater demand, a filtration technique is needed. Solar distillation (SD) that purifies brackish and subterranean water has been proven to be a promising green technology. It produces distilled water which can be used as potable water for drinking and other purposes. The designs, operations, and configurations of several inverted solar stills are thoroughly examined in this article. All techniques for solar water distillation to separate saltwater from freshwater have the same fundamental idea. It has been demonstrated that for a specified mass of water in the top basin, the daily output of an inverted absorber double-basin solar still (IASS) grows with increasing water depth in the bottom basin. Nevertheless, as the water depth in the bottom basin rises from 1 cm to 5 cm, the output of an inverted absorber double-basin solar system falls by about 27%. At water depths of 4, 6, and 8 cm, the daily yields from inverted absorber solar stills paired with a refrigeration cycle (RIASS) were 6.4, 10.08, and 9.5 L/day, respectively. The results also showed a substantial rise in water temperature in the inverted absorber solar still as a result of lower bottom heat loss and larger absorptivity. In this study, the emphasis on energy, efficiency, and environmental concerns remains with the modified multi-wick basin-type inverted absorber solar panel. The performance of the inverted trickling solar still was assessed with a 60 ppm average salinity under various sun radiation, feed water flow rate, and existence conditions for natural convection. It was found that the still could produce 2.55 L/day m2 of fresh water, a 15% increase. Brackish water with a salinity of 6000 ppm was used to test the still in November at tilt angles of 47° and 32°. Condensate production at the specified angles was 2.8 and 2 L/d, respectively. A total output of 6.907, 5.681, and 4.650 kg/m2/day was also generated using the modified multi-wick basin-type inverted absorber solar still (MMWBIASS) at water depths of 1, 2, and 3 cm, respectively. With black cotton wicks, the MMWBIASS had a total thermal efficiency of 34.04%, 28.17%, and 23.61%.
Solar PV-Based Electric Vehicle Charging Station for Security Bikes: A Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis
Authors: Shafiq Aqib , Iqbal Sheeraz , Habib Salman , ur Rehman Atiq , ur Rehman Anis , Selim Ali , Ahmed Emad M. , Kamel Salah
Published: October 2022

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more attractive for a variety of reasons. One of the major advantages of EVs is that they emit fewer polluted gases. Other factors that must be addressed include an increase in fuel prices and a decline in energy resources such as fossil fuels. These characteristics have a greater impact on Pakistan’s clean and green image. Electric vehicles are becoming an attractive option for reducing global fossil fuel usage, as well as CO2 emissions, from road transportation. The electricity required to charge an EV’s battery is commonly sourced from the power grid. When EVs are charged by the electrical grid, there are significant power constraints in the system. To promote renewable energy consumption and reduce CO2 emissions, specific solar system-based charging stations should be designed. Other benefits of renewable energy generation include increased grid flexibility and reduced grid congestion. Moreover, the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, has a huge potential for solar energy. This article investigates the possibility of designing a solar photovoltaic-based EV charging station for security bikes located in the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Before installing a PV charging station, the charging station’s feasibility must be studied. The proposed study also analyzes the power reliability, energy cost, and CO2 emissions of a PV-powered charging station. The proposed system’s outcomes are compared to grid-based charging stations. In comparison to other existing approaches, there is a significant reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including CO2, CO, SO2, and NOX. The proposed study anticipates the economic and environmental benefits of EV charging stations powered by renewable energy resources.
Application of the DEA Method for Evaluation of Information Usefulness Efficiency on Websites
Authors: Nowakowski Michał , Porębski Dariusz
Published: October 2022

The article presents analysis and evaluation of information usefulness efficiency for recipients with secondary and higher education using the example of information and shopping websites. Different levels of quality and information usefulness efficiency have an impact on different ways of processing information by users which, in turn, may result in different consumer behavior and their decisions. The study describes the basic methodological assumptions, the research evaluation procedure of information usefulness efficiency, and the forms of informational content and various forms of information presentation and visualization, as well as the results of data analysis from the study conducted on a group of respondents. In order to determine the factors that have the greatest impact on the perception of information usefulness on websites by users, the data obtained from the study using various methods, such as online questionnaire, usability testing and heuristic analysis, were analyzed using the DEA method, which is usually used for the analysis and evaluation of efficiency. The results of the research presented in this article can be useful in creating assumptions for methods of content presentation and visualization of various forms of content building for the needs of different user groups for information and business websites.
Systematic Literature Review on Sustainable Consumption from the Perspective of Companies, People and Public Policies
Authors: de Oliveira Ualison Rébula , Gomes Thaís Stiegert Meireles , de Oliveira Geovani Gabizo , de Abreu Júlio Cesar Andrade , Oliveira Murilo Alvarenga , da Silva César Aldara , Aprigliano Fernandes Vicente
Published: October 2022

Sustainable consumption requires that people, companies, and nations promote correct use of their resources in the interest of environmental protection and ecosystem integrity. Given the relevance of this subject, the main objective of the present study was to provide an overview of the literature on sustainable consumption, going beyond knowledge related to consumer behavior, and addressing questions connected with the role of companies and public policies in the promotion of sustainable consumption. To achieve that, a systematic literature review was carried out by selecting 114 articles published over the past ten years, from Web of Science categories with an environmental focus. The study allowed for showing the state of the art of the subject, as well as suggestions for future studies based on gaps in the literature. It was found that there is a concentration of studies oriented toward surveying and understanding consumer behavior at the expense of those focused on examining companies and their relationship with sustainability and consumption.
Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions of Mandatory Green Certified Offices in Australia: Evidence and Lessons Learnt across 2011–2020
Authors: Kim Sumin , Lim Benson Teck Heng , Oo Bee Lan
Published: October 2022

With the changing trends in global climate and increasing awareness of the environmental impact of the built environment, private and public sector building stakeholders are under constant and mounting pressure to reduce carbon emissions, energy consumption and waste generation. Conceptually, green building regulations are claimed to be the most effective tool toward promoting better environmental outcomes. Nonetheless, there is limited empirical evidence to justify claims for their effectiveness, especially in the Australian context, despite the introduction of various green building standards and regulations over the past two decades. In addressing this gap, this research aims to map the energy consumption and carbon emissions of certified offices under the mandatory Commercial Building Disclosure program. For this, the energy and carbon efficiencies of green certified commercial offices within the eight Australian central business districts (CBD) for 2011–2020 were assessed, and the offices were classified as green and non-green offices, based on their National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) of fewer than 4, and 4 and above stars, respectively. Data were extracted from the Commercial Building Disclosure program datasheet and thereafter analysed using various descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Furthermore, the normalisation process was undertaken to capture the relative changes in energy and environmental performance between green and non-green offices. The results show an encouraging trend of a possible significant improvement in energy savings, and a reduction in carbon emissions for offices that have undergone retrofit and obtained an increase in their NABERS ratings. However, it is notable that 6-star NABERS-certified offices sometimes tend to save less energy than their 4- and 5-star rated counterparts, despite their high initial investment costs. Thus, this informs policymakers, authorities and practitioners that the highest NABERS rating does not necessarily help reduce energy consumption in buildings, and that greater emphasis should be placed on promoting the use of a whole building design approach, by exploring a more effective and appropriate combination of features, systems and materials based on stakeholders’ needs and behaviours.
Analysis on the Impact of River Basin Ecological Compensation Policy on Water Environment Pollution
Authors: Liu Sihan , Li Ying , Ge Yanxiang , Geng Xiangyan
Published: October 2022

The implementation of the river basin ecological compensation policy (ECP) is an important way to improve the ecological environment and achieve the goal of “beautiful China” (“Beautiful China” is a concept put forward by the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.). The impact analysis of the watershed ecological compensation policy provides an important basis for improving the mechanism. The research regards the Dawen River Basin ecological compensation policy in Shandong Province as a natural experiment and uses the 2005–2017 prefecture-level city panel data. Based on the two-way panel fixed effect model, Propensity Score Matching and Differences-in-Differences (PSM-DID) are applied to analyze the mechanism of the Dawen River Basin ECP pilot project and its impact on the intensity of water pollution, in order to provide experience for the development of ecological compensation work in the Yellow River Basin in the future. The empirical results show that the implementation of the river basin ECP has significantly reduced the intensity of water pollution by 22.47% with a short time lag, and the pollution reduction effect of the policy is increasing year by year. The river basin ECP has an obvious optimizing effect on industrial structure, with an inconspicuous effect on economic growth and technological progress. Finally, relevant policy recommendations are put forward from the aspects of the promotion, implementation and effect of the river basin ECP.
The Impact of Market Integration on Renewable Energy Technology Innovation: Evidence from China
Authors: Liu Xiaohong , Zhang Meiwen
Published: October 2022

China is vigorously building a unified domestic market, with priority given to regional market integration while maintaining a national unified market. Limited research has been conducted on whether market integration affects renewable energy technology innovation (RETI). This paper empirically studies this topic based on panel data of 30 Chinese provinces from 2004 to 2020 using FMOLS (Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares), DOLS (Dynamic Least Squares method), and FGLS (Feasible Generalized Least Squares). Research results have been verified by robustness tests. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) Market integration has an important positive impact on RETI, namely, boosting it. This conclusion remains robust when different indicators of innovation and market segmentation are included. (2) The regional impacts of market integration on RETI are heterogeneous, being the greatest in east China, followed by west China and central China. (3) Market integration affects RETI through energy structure and technological innovation. It can optimize energy structure, improve technological innovation, and thus enhance RETI. Based on the above conclusions, in order to improve RETI in China and expand its contribution to carbon neutrality and carbon peaking, China needs to strengthen the construction of a national unified market and implement differentiated market integration policies in east, central, and west China. Furthermore, it is necessary to give full play to the role of energy structure and technological innovation in market integration by optimizing energy structure and improving technological innovation.
Research on the Height of the Water-Conducting Fracture Zone in Fully Mechanized Top Coal Caving Face under Combined-Strata Structure
Authors: Jiang Donghai , Tang Yinfeng , Huang Wanpeng , Hou Keke , Luo Yi , Liu Jiangwei
Published: October 2022

In order to study the development height of the water-conducting fracture zone in a fully mechanized top coal caving face. The E2311 working face of Gaohe Coal Mine was chosen as the research object, and the combined-strata structure and the rock layer synergistic movement mechanism were determined by combining engineering geological investigation and theoretical analysis. The height of the water-conducting fracture zone at the working face was calculated based on the combined-strata structure, and then the theoretical results were verified by numerical simulation and field measurement. The results show that after the coal seam is extracted from the working face, the movement of the overlying rock layers is in the form of bending and sinking movement of the rock layer group as a unit. Each rock layer group is controlled by a supportive lower layer with greater thickness and strength, driving the upper layers of weaker rock layers to synchronize and coordinate the movement; the sinking curvature is the same, after the lowermost support layer is bent and broken, its overlying weaker rock layers will move and break at the same time. The height of the water-conducting fracture zone of the working face were obtained by theoretical calculation, numerical simulation, and field measurements, which are 83.82 m, 84.3 m, and 86.6 m, respectively. The results are nearly consistent, thus the prediction of the height of the water-conducting fracture zone under the combined-strata structure is more accurate.
Converting Offshore Oil and Gas Infrastructures into Renewable Energy Generation Plants: An Economic and Technical Analysis of the Decommissioning Delay in the Brazilian Case
Authors: Braga Jime , Santos Thauan , Shadman Milad , Silva Corbiniano , Assis Tavares Luiz Filipe , Estefen Segen
Published: October 2022

The offshore harnessing of oil and gas resources is made possible by massive infrastructures installed at sea. At the end-of-life stage, in the absence of new uses for offshore installations, decommissioning proceedings usually take place, requiring the removal and final disposal of all materials. In Brazilian waters, decommissioning is hampered by high costs. The offshore wind-power sector has arisen as a new clean power source, in line with worldwide de-carbonization initiatives. In this context, we propose an innovative approach suggesting offshore wind power projects as an alternative to the removal and final disposal of infrastructures, a potential solution to Brazilian offshore decommissioning. In this article we report on the assessment of structures at the end of their lifecycle along with decommissioning cost estimation. Then, we explore wind turbine installation viability along the Brazilian coast and estimate the levelized cost of energy for each wind turbine. Finally, the results allow us to conduct a critical analysis of customary decommissioning versus the repurposing of infrastructures as offshore wind power project sites in two scenarios involving site repurposing. Our main results indicate that the CapEx discount rate of wind power projects offsetting decommissioning is considerable, as are the benefits of delaying decommissioning in terms of reduced carbon emissions and the social effects of increased local employment rates, through the repurposing of offshore oil and gas infrastructures.
Study on the Reliability Evaluation Method and Diagnosis of Bridges in Cold Regions Based on the Theory of MCS and Bayesian Networks
Authors: Li Zhonglong , Ji Wei , Zhang Yao , Ge Sijia , Bing Haonan , Zhang Mingjun , Ye Zhifeng , Lv Baowei
Published: October 2022

The safety assessment of bridges in cold areas under the special environmental effects of extremely low temperatures, frequent freezing and thawing, and chloride ion erosion from snow removal with deicing salt, presents challenges that requiring solving. Thus, this paper proposes a new method of safety assessment based on a combination of Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) and Bayesian theory that achieves the reliability evaluation and reverse diagnosis of the overall safety performance of reinforced concrete bridges in cold areas. Additionally, the new method accomplishes the intelligent grading of various safety performance aspects of the bridge, which provides substantial references for the maintenance and reinforcement of in-service bridges.
Investigation of Mineral Phase Transformation Technology Followed by Magnetic Separation for Recovery of Iron Values from Red Mud
Authors: Yuan Shuai , Wang Ruofeng , Zhang Hao , Li Yanjun , Liu Liu , Fu Yafeng
Published: October 2022

Experiments were conducted to investigate the mineral phase transformation technology of high-iron red mud, effectively extracting valuable iron minerals and reducing the hazards associated with red mud stockpiling and storage. A magnetic concentrate with an iron grade of 55.84% and recovery of 93.75% could be obtained at a roasting temperature of 560 °C, roasting time of 15 min, CO concentration of 20% and total gas flow of 500 mL/min. A combination of XRD and SEM-EDS analysis was employed to evaluate the phase transformation during the roasting process. ToF-SIMS analysis was applied to assess the occurrence state of various elements during the roasting of red mud.
Research on Carbon Emission Quota of Railway in China from the Perspective of Equity and Efficiency
Authors: Guo Yanan , Tong Qiong , Li Zhengjiao , Zhao Yuhao
Published: October 2022

Under the constraint of total carbon emissions, the allocation of carbon emission quotas of 18 railway bureaus in China is conducted to the realization of carbon emission reduction targets of China’s railway transportation industry. This paper proposes a carbon emission quota model for China’s railway industry from the perspective of equity and efficiency and innovatively undertakes research on the allocation of carbon emission quotas for railway administrations. This paper constructs an econometric model to analyze the impact of various influencing factors on China’s railway operation carbon emission and predicts the total carbon emission of China’s railway operation from 2021 to 2030 by scenario analysis method. From the perspective of equity and efficiency, apply the entropy method to give weight to historical responsibility, egalitarianism, and efficiency principle to obtain the initial allocation value of the carbon emission quota of the operator’s 18 regional railway bureau groups; the ZSG-DEA model is used to obtain the optimal allocation. The results show that railway passenger turnover, freight turnover, vehicle structure, and per capita GDP have a promoting effect on railway carbon emission, and the proportion of clean energy has an inhibitory effect on carbon emission. There is a gap between the distribution results under the single principle and the comprehensive distribution results; the combination of both can more effectively promote the development of the railway industry. From the perspective of equity and efficiency, the carbon emission quota of 18 railway bureau groups in China is high in the east and low in the west. Among them, the Shanghai railway bureau obtains the most carbon emission quota, while the Qinghai–Tibet railway bureau obtains the least carbon emission quota. The research results provide a reference for the railway bureau to coordinate emission reduction and the construction of the railway transport carbon emission market.