bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation and Error Minimization of Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) Relative Height Metrics in the Amazon
Authors: East Alyson , Hansen Andrew , Jantz Patrick , Currey Bryce , Roberts David W. , Armenteras Dolors
Published: September 2024

Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) is a relatively new technology for global forest research, acquiring LiDAR measurements of vertical vegetation structure across Earth’s tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate forests. Previous GEDI validation efforts have largely focused on top of canopy accuracy, and findings vary by geographic region and forest type. Despite this, many applications utilize measurements of vertical vegetation distribution from the lower canopy, with a wide diversity of uses for GEDI data appearing in the literature. Given the variability in data requirements across research applications and ecosystems, and the regional variability in GEDI data quality, it is imperative to understand GEDI error to draw strong inferences. Here, we quantify the accuracy of GEDI relative height metrics through canopy layers for the Brazilian Amazon. To assess the accuracy of on-orbit GEDI L2A relative height metrics, we utilize the GEDI waveform simulator to compare detailed airborne laser scanning (ALS) data from the Sustainable Landscapes Brazil project to GEDI data collected by the International Space Station. We also assess the impacts of data filtering based on biophysical and GEDI sensor conditions and geolocation correction on GEDI error metrics (RMSE, MAE, and Bias) through canopy levels. GEDI data accuracy attenuates through the lower percentiles in the relative height (RH) curve. While top of canopy (RH98) measurements have relatively high accuracy (R2 = 0.76, RMSE = 5.33 m), the accuracy of data decreases lower in the canopy (RH50: R2 = 0.54, RMSE = 5.59 m). While simulated geolocation correction yielded marginal improvements, this decrease in accuracy remained constant despite all error reduction measures. Some error rates for the Amazon are double those reported in studies from other regions. These findings have broad implications for the application of GEDI data, especially in studies where forest understory measurements are particularly challenging to acquire (e.g., dense tropical forests) and where understory accuracy is highly important.
Performance of the Earth Explorer 11 SeaSTAR Mission Candidate for Simultaneous Retrieval of Total Surface Current and Wind Vectors
Authors: Martin Adrien C. H. , Gommenginger Christine P. , Andrievskaia Daria , Martin-Iglesias Petronilo , Egido Alejandro
Published: September 2024

Interactions between ocean surface currents, winds and waves at the atmosphere-ocean interface are key controls of lateral and vertical exchanges of water, heat, carbon, gases and nutrients in the global Earth System. The SeaSTAR satellite mission concept proposes to better quantify and understand these important dynamic processes by measuring two-dimensional fields of total surface current and wind vectors with unparalleled spatial and temporal resolution (1 × 1 km2 or finer, 1 day) and unmatched precision over one continuous wide swath (100 km or more). This paper presents a comprehensive numerical analysis of the expected performance of the Earth Explorer 11 (EE11) SeaSTAR mission candidate in the case of idealised and realistic 2D ocean currents and wind fields. A Bayesian framework derived from satellite scatterometry is adapted and applied to SeaSTAR’s bespoke inversion scheme that simultaneously retrieves total surface current vectors (TSCV) and ocean surface vector winds (OSVW). The results confirm the excellent performance of the EE11 SeaSTAR concept, with Root Mean Square Errors (RMSE) for TSCV and OSVW at 1 × 1 km2 resolution consistently better than 0.1 m/s and 0.4 m/s, respectively. The analyses highlight some performance degradation in some relative wind directions, particularly marked at near range and low wind speeds. Retrieval uncertainties are also reported for several variations around the SeaSTAR baseline three-azimuth configuration, indicating that RMSEs improve only marginally (by ∼0.01 m/s for TSCV) when including broadside Radial Surface Velocity or broadside dual-polarisation data in the inversion. In contrast, our results underscore (a) the critical need to include broadside Normalised Radar Cross Section data in the inversion; (b) the rapid performance degradation when broadside incidence angles become steeper than 20° from nadir; and (c) the benefits of maintaining ground squint angle separation between fore and aft lines-of-sight close to 90°. The numerical results are consistent with experimental performance estimates from airborne data and confirm that the EE11 SeaSTAR concept satisfies the requirements of the mission objectives.
The Invisible Struggle: Parents with FASD, the Courts and the Child Intervention System
Authors: Choate Peter , Gromykin Rima , Northey Jaida
Published: September 2024

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) encompasses a range of complex neurodevelopmental challenges that arise because of maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. Contrary to previous beliefs, FASD is a wide-ranging condition that is mostly invisible, affecting cognitive, social, and daily living skills. Furthermore, living with FASD may present other challenges, such as mental health issues, substance abuse, and engagement in criminal behavior. FASD is a long-term disability that requires support across the lifespan. The main objective of this research was to determine what, if anything, has changed since a prior review in 2020 of parents with FASD appearing in child intervention courts in Canada. We found eleven relevant reported cases throughout Canada from 2020 to 2024 where parents had a confirmed diagnosis or a potential FASD to be eligible for our study. Within these cases, only one parent was able to reunite with their children because of the strong and supportive system they had. There were four cases where ongoing contact between parent and child(ren) was permitted, Additionally, we found that professionals lack education regarding the potential skills that people with FASD may demonstrate. A person with FASD is seen through the lens of their diagnosis rather than a strengths-based approach, creating stigma, fear, and power imbalance. Stigma has an impact not just on how professionals see people and make decisions but also on policymakers, funding, and support from governments or other social groups. Individuals or parents with FASD are often reluctant to report their diagnosis for fear of being judged or having their children taken from their care. Thus, parents are unable to obtain access to services, and even when they do have access, they must navigate the system on their own. Parents with FASD who are involved in child intervention may be required to participate in many programs simultaneously, potentially resulting in an overwhelming experience.
Residue Addition Can Mitigate Soil Health Challenges with Climate Change in Drylands: Insights from a Field Warming Experiment in Semi-Arid Texas
Authors: Devkota Pawan , Singh Rakesh K. , Smith Nicholas G. , Slaughter Lindsey C. , van Gestel Natasja
Published: September 2024

Texas cotton production is facing challenges from increased temperatures and extended droughts. We sought to determine whether applying a multi-species grass mulch on the surface of cotton fields in a semiarid region would mitigate some of the negative effects of climate change. We used open-top chambers (OTCs) to mimic climate warming and compared whether the effects of residue addition were similar between dryland and irrigated cotton fields located in the High Plains region of Texas during the summer of 2021. The OTCs raised the average air temperature by 2 °C. Under experimental warming, residue addition increased moisture content in non-irrigated (i.e., dryland) soils (+9.2%) and reduced the daily temperature range (by −1.4 °C) relative to uncovered soils. Furthermore, when pooled across irrigation and warming treatments, the addition of residue increased microbial biomass, soil respiration (+78.2%), and cotton yield (+15.2%) relative to uncovered soils. OTCs further enhanced the residue effects on microbial biomass by 34.9%. We also observed higher soil organic matter, microbial biomass, cotton biomass, and yield in irrigated fields compared to dryland, irrespective of residue addition. Our findings suggest that residue addition in dryland agriculture can mitigate the adverse effects of warming by stabilizing soil microclimates and promoting microbial growth and biomass by providing a more labile source of carbon, which, in turn, could boost the yield of cotton plants.
Influence of Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature on Nitrogen Transport and Reaction in Point Bars of River
Authors: Song Xunchuan , Liu Ying , Feng Jinghong , Liu Defu , Yang Qilin , Lu Ziyan , Xiao Huazhen
Published: September 2024

Point bars are crucial elements of river systems, significantly enhancing the nitrogen cycle in riparian zones by facilitating hyporheic exchange between surface water and riparian zones. This study investigated the impact of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration and temperature on nitrogen transport and reactions in river point bars. A two-dimensional coupled surface water–groundwater model was developed to analyze nitrogen distribution, variations, and reaction rates in rivers with point bars. The model considered three chemical reactions controlling nitrogen transformation: aerobic respiration, nitrification, and denitrification, with DO and temperature as independent variables. The results indicated that DO variations have a limited effect on solute migration depth, whereas increased temperature reduces solute migration depth. At surface water DO concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mol/m3, nitrate removal in the riparian zone was 0.022, 0.0064, and 0.0019 mol/m, respectively. At riparian temperatures of 5 °C, 15 °C, and 25 °C, nitrate removal was 0.012, 0.041, and 0.16 mol/m, respectively. Nitrogen removal is more sensitive to temperature variations than to changes in DO concentration. In this research, the decrease in DO concentrations and the temperature increase greatly enhanced the riparian zone’s denitrification effect. This study improves our understanding of how riparian zones impact nitrogen cycling under various environmental conditions.
Effectiveness and Sustainable Applications of Educational Technology
Authors: Ye Jian-Hong , Hao Yung-Wei , Wu Yu-Feng
Published: September 2024

Over the past few decades, the development and application of educational technology has drawn the attention of governments, academic organizations, educators, teachers, and parents around the world [...]
The Impact of Architects’ Reasoning on Early Design Decision-Making for Energy-Efficient Buildings
Authors: Ouldja Sid Ahmed , Demian Peter , Eftekhari Mahroo
Published: September 2024

Architects arguably have the greatest influence on the design of buildings. One of the key factors that make it hard to improve the energy efficiency of buildings is the use of architects’ reasoning by architects at the early design stage. There is a need to assess the impact of architects’ reasoning on the energy performance of the designed building. To this end, this research was conducted in two phases. Firstly, the most influential design parameters, in terms of energy efficiency, were identified and used to develop a design exercise issued to a sample of practising architects in the north of Algeria. Design exercise participants were required to minimise expected energy consumption along with the construction cost. Secondly, computer-generated dynamic design optimisation for the same design task was conducted in DesignBuilder v6. 1 .8. The computer-generated designs decisively outperformed the human-generated designs. The experienced architects achieved the least-performing designs rather than those with less experience.
Qualitative Analysis of Nitrogen Flows within Farms in Darusa, Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Md. Torikul , Iqbal Toufiq , Nayak Dali , Smith Jo , Hasan Md. Mahmodol
Published: September 2024

To understand potential sources and losses of nitrogen from farming systems in Darusa, Bangladesh, a detailed survey of farming practices was conducted. A total of 100 households were randomly selected using demographic and agricultural information about the farmers in the study area. Data were used to stratify the farmers according to their operational land holding, livestock numbers (tropical livestock unit), use of irrigation, age, and educational level. Four clusters of farm households were identified, and nine households were randomly selected from each cluster for a total of 36 households. These 36 households completed more detailed surveys about their cropping and livestock. The surveys identified local practices of nitrogen management in different crops and types of livestock. Further information on traditional practices for soil fertility management was obtained by interviewing selected farmers. The results show that the major use for organic residues from crops and livestock is to provide fuel. Crop residues were used as fuel by 84% of farmers, with 23% using all of their crop residues as fuel. Some manure was used as fuel by all farmers, with 56% of farmers using most of their manure as fuel. As a result, 23% used no crop residues and 56% used less than half of their manure to improve soil fertility. This suggests that recycling of nitrogen in the study area is low. Soil analysis indicates that the organic matter and nitrogen contents of the soil in the study area were only 1.43% and 0.08%, respectively. Therefore, further recycling of organic residues should be practiced in order to reduce losses of available nitrogen from the system. More research is needed to quantify nitrogen lost by these practices and to draw up a full nitrogen budget for the study area.
Forecasting Visitor Arrivals at Tourist Attractions: A Time Series Framework with the N-BEATS for Sustainable Tourism
Authors: Xu Ke , Zhang Junli , Huang Junhao , Tan Hongbo , Jing Xiuli , Zheng Tianxiang
Published: September 2024

Contemporary techniques built on deep learning technologies enable precise forecasting of tourism demand, particularly for the relaunch of sustainable tourism following COVID-19. We developed a novel framework to forecast visitor arrivals at tourist attractions in the post-COVID-19 period. To this end, a time-based data partitioning module was first pioneered. The N-BEATS algorithm with multi-step strategies was then imported to build a forecasting system on historical data. We imported visualization of curve fitting, metrics of error measures, wide-range forecasting horizons, different strategies for data segmentations, and the Diebold–Mariano test to verify the robustness of the proposed model. The system was empirically validated using 1604 daily visitor volumes of Jiuzhaigou from 1 January 2020 to 13 May 2024 and 1459 observations of Mount Siguniang from 1 October 2020 to 18 May 2024. The proposed model achieved an average MAPE of 39.60% and MAAPE of 0.32, lower than the five baseline models of SVR, LSTM, ARIMA, SARIMA, and TFT. The results show that the proposed model can accurately capture sudden variations or irregular changes in the observations. The findings highlight the importance of improving destination management and anticipatory planning using the latest time series approaches to achieve sustainable tourist visitation forecasts.
Multi-Scenario Simulation of Land Use/Cover Change and Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Reserve Response in Liaoning Province, China
Authors: Gu Hanlong , Li Jiabin , Wang Shuai
Published: September 2024

Land use/cover change (LUCC) can either enhance the areal carbon reserve capacity or exacerbate carbon emission issues, thereby significantly influencing global climate change. Comprehending the impact of LUCC on regional carbon reserve variation holds great significance for regional ecosystem preservation and socioeconomic sustainable development. This study focuses on Liaoning Province, leveraging land use remote sensing data from three periods from 2000 to 2020, natural environmental data and socioeconomic data in conjunction with the Integrated Valuation of Environmental Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model, and patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) models. It analyzes the interactive relationship between LUCC and carbon reserves in Liaoning Province between 2000 and 2020 and forecasts the trajectory of carbon reserve changes in Liaoning Province under various scenarios: business as usual, urban development, cropland protection, and ecological protection, all based on LUCC simulations. The findings indicate the following: (1) Over the study period, Liaoning Province experienced significant LUCC characterized primarily by the transformation of farmland to built-up land. Carbon reserves initially declined and later increased due to LUCC changes, resulting in a cumulative increase of 30.52 Tg C. The spatial distribution of carbon reserves was influenced by LUCC, displaying a pattern of spatial aggregation, with higher values in the east and lower values in the west. (2) Across the four simulation scenarios, the spatial pattern of carbon reserves in Liaoning Province continued to exhibit the characteristic spatial aggregation of higher values in the east and lower values in the west. Under the urban development scenario, carbon reserves decreased by 34.56 Tg C tons, representing a 2.45% decrease compared to 2020. Conversely, under the business-as-usual, cultivated land protection, and ecological protection scenarios, carbon reserves displayed a growing tendency, reaching 1449.35 Tg C, 1450.39 Tg C, and 1471.80 Tg C, respectively, with changes of 0.09%, 0.16% and 1.63% compared to 2020. The substantial increase in carbon reserves under the ecological protection scenario primarily stemmed from the significant expansion of woodland and other ecological land areas. In light of these findings, Liaoning Province may consider laying down and strictly executing spatial policies for ecological protection in future land projecting. The PLUS model and InVEST model can help curb the uncontrolled expansion of built-up land, facilitate the increment of ecological land areas, and with effect augment carbon reserves, thereby ensuring the achievement of the “double carbon” target of carbon peak and carbon neutralization.
A Systematic Review on the Technical Performance and Sustainability of 3D Printing Filaments Using Recycled Plastic
Authors: Ibrahim Iman , Ashour Ayat Gamal , Zeiada Waleed , Salem Nisreen , Abdallah Mohamed
Published: September 2024

Over the past 40 years, global plastic production has increased twenty-fold, prompting efforts to mitigate plastic waste. Recycling has emerged as the predominant strategy for sustainable plastic waste management. As additive manufacturing (AM) continues to evolve, integrating recycled plastics with various additives has gained significant attention. This systematic literature review, conducted in full accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, aims to evaluate and compare the properties and effects of recycled plastics and their additives in AM. Specifically, it examines the thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of these materials, along with their life cycle environmental and economic implications. A total of 88 research publications, spanning from 2013 to 2023, were analyzed. The databases searched include Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Google Scholar, with the final search conducted in December 2023. Studies were selected through a four-stage process—identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion—based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The risk of bias was assessed using five criteria: credibility, scope, clarity, methodology, and analysis quality. The results show that most research focuses on the mechanical properties of recycled plastics, with significant gaps in understanding their thermal and rheological properties. Additionally, there is limited research on the environmental and economic viability of these materials, highlighting the need for integrated life cycle assessments and eco-efficiency analyses. This review offers additive manufacturing professionals a comprehensive understanding of the thermal, mechanical, and rheological performance of recycled plastics and additives, supporting efforts to improve sustainability in the industry.
Analysis of Short-Term Heavy Rainfall-Based Urban Flood Disaster Risk Assessment Using Integrated Learning Approach
Authors: Wu Xinyue , Zhu Hong , Hu Liuru , Meng Jian , Sun Fulu
Published: September 2024

Accurate and timely risk assessment of short-term rainstorm-type flood disasters is very important for ecological environment protection and sustainable socio-economic development. Given the complexity and variability of different geographical environments and climate conditions, a single machine learning model may lead to overfitting issues in flood disaster assessment, limiting the generalization ability of such models. In order to overcome this challenge, this study proposed a short-term rainstorm flood disaster risk assessment framework under the integrated learning model, which is divided into two stages: The first stage uses microwave remote sensing images to extract flood coverage and establish disaster samples, and integrates multi-source heterogeneous data to build a flood disaster risk assessment index system. The second stage, under the constraints of Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), optimizes the integration of random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and logistic regression (LR) base models, and then the WRSL-Short-Term Flood Risk Assessment Model is established. The experimental results show that the Area Under Curve (AUC) accuracy of the WRSL-Short-Term Flood Risk Assessment Model is 89.27%, which is 0.95%, 1.77%, 2.07%, 1.86%, and 0.47% higher than RF, SVM, LR, XGBoost, and average weight RF-SVM-LR, respectively. The accuracy evaluation metrics for accuracy, Recall, and F1 Score have improved by 5.84%, 21.50%, and 11.06%, respectively. In this paper, WRSL-Short-Term Flood Risk Assessment Model is used to carry out the risk assessment of flood and waterlogging disasters in Henan Province, and ArcGIS is used to complete the short-term rainstorm city flood and waterlogging risk map. The research results will provide a scientific assessment basis for short-term rainstorm city flood disaster risk assessment and provide technical support for regional flood control and risk management.
Unlocking Sustainable Growth: The Transformative Impact of Green Finance on Industrial Carbon Emissions in China
Authors: Zhao Xi , Zhang Siqin , Ahmad Najid , Wang Shuangguo , Zhao Jiaxing
Published: September 2024

This study investigates the crucial role of green finance in addressing the imperative of reducing industrial carbon emissions for a sustainable global economy. Encompassing facets, such as green credit, insurance, investment, and governmental help for growth in green businesses. Our research on the strength of a comprehensive dataset covering China’s 30 provinces between 2010 and 2019 employs a fixed-effects regression and heterogeneity assessment, revealing an inverse association between green finance and industrial carbon emissions. This verifies the notion that green finance serves as a deterrent to carbon emissions from the industrial sector. According to the results of this study, green financing can significantly lower the CO2 emissions from industries, which in turn can lead to an enhancement in environmental quality. Notably, our findings revealed substantial regional variations in this relationship. By proposing actionable recommendations, we advocate strategies to address regional disparities, standardize measurement protocols for green finance, optimize the environment for technological innovation, and realize industrial structures. By acknowledging these nuanced dynamics, our study not only contributes to the understanding of the impact of green finance but also offers targeted solutions to foster high-quality sustainable development in China, ensuring a more effective and comprehensive approach to mitigating carbon emissions in the industrial sector.
Innovative Design to Control Spartina Alterniflora
Authors: Xu Jinyang , Wei Dapeng , Zhang Xuedong , Chen Yanming
Published: September 2024

In order to effectively curb the rapid growth trend in Spartina alterniflora in coastal cities of China, this study proposes an innovative mechanical equipment design scheme for eradicating Spartina alterniflora. Based on literature analysis and field research, the AHP (analytic hierarchy process) model is constructed to quantify and prioritize the diverse needs of users for control equipment. Subsequently, the House of Quality (HOQ) in QFD (Quality Function Deployment) is used to analyze the key components and structure of the equipment to ensure its performance and feasibility in practical applications. Finally, combined with the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ), the potential problems encountered in the structural design of the equipment are analyzed, and the corresponding creative principles are applied to solve the contradictions and complete the optimal scheme design. This study, via the acquisition of user needs and further analysis of the machinery’s structure, proposes a scheme that can address many problems related to Spartina alterniflora in China and provide new technical ideas for the field of wetland environmental protection.
Sustainable Concrete Roof Tiles: Integrating Aluminium Foil, Fly Ash, Solar PV, and Management
Authors: Poyyamozhi Mukilan , Murugesan Balasubramanian , Narayanamoorthi Rajamanickam , Abinaya Thenarasan Latha , Shorfuzzaman Mohammad , Aboelmagd Yasser
Published: September 2024

This research investigates the use of municipal solid waste cremated fly ash as a viable substitute for natural sand in building methodologies, with a focus on sustainability. The waste material is used in the manufacturing of concrete roof tiles that are combined with solar PV systems, providing advantages in terms of both thermal comfort and improved energy efficiency. These tiles exhibit thermal insulation prowess by effectively preserving a 2-degree temperature differential and collecting heat from solar panels to enhance their energy-production efficiency. In order to enhance performance even further, aluminium foil is strategically placed on all four sides of the roof walls. The foil acts as a reflector, redirecting solar energy towards the tiles, which leads to a 5% boost in power generation. Particular alignments, such as positioning in an east-west or north-south direction, result in further enhancements in performance of 4% and 3%, respectively. This comprehensive approach not only confirms the use of waste materials for environmentally friendly construction but also emphasizes their crucial role in promoting energy-efficient building methods.
Simulation of Spatial and Temporal Variations in the Water Yield Function in the Source Area of the Yellow River and an Analysis of Influencing Factors
Authors: Liu Meijuan , Zhong Juntao , Xu Shiyu
Published: September 2024

The Yellow River source area is an important eco-fragile and sensitive zone in the northeast of the Tibetan Plateau, where anthropogenic disturbances, climate change, and environmental problems have negatively affected the amount of water in the basin, which directly impacts the ecological security and high-quality sustainable development of the Yellow River Basin. Therefore, this study takes the Yellow River source area as its research area. Based on eight periods of land use from 1985 to 2020, topographic, soil, and meteorological data are combined, and a locally modified InVEST model and geological detector method are used to simulate watershed water production, evaluate the spatial differentiation characteristics of watershed water production, and analyze its spatial heterogeneity attribution. The results revealed that water production from 1985 to 2020 varied within the interval of 152.08–302.44 billion m3, with alternating decreases and increases and an overall upward trend. In the spatial distribution, the depth of water production is high in the east and low in the west, and the high-water-production area is concentrated in the counties of Maqin and Gande. In the vertical gradient, the water production capacity is strengthened with increasing altitudes. The spatial differentiation of the water production service and degree of influence is jointly determined by multiple factors. In this work, the parameter Z of the InVEST model was locally corrected to increase the applicability of the Z value to the Yellow River Basin to improve the accuracy of the simulation results, and the spatiotemporal differences in water yield from multiple perspectives were analyzed to provide a scientific basis for the ecological protection and high-quality sustainable development of the Yellow River Basin.
How Does Digital Finance Contribute to Sustainable Wealth Growth: Perspective from Residents’ Income
Authors: Luo Dan , Wang Feifan , Gu Yue , Lv Jiamin
Published: September 2024

Sustainable growth relies on common prosperity, which is reflected in increasing total income and equitable income distribution. This study first proposes the theoretical mechanisms by which digital financial development affects residents’ total income and income distribution. After that, a two-stage generalized method of moments estimation model with endogeneity treatment is constructed to investigate the impact of digital finance on residents’ total income in 31 Chinese provinces. Moreover, Moran’s I and a spatial autoregression model are used to explore the impact of digital finance on residents’ income distribution. The results demonstrate that digital financial development can significantly contribute to the increase in residents’ total income in both urban and rural areas, thus contributing to regional sustainable wealth growth. In addition, digital finance has a spatial direct effect and a spatial spillover effect on the optimization of residents’ income distribution. This indicates that a region’s digital financial development benefits regional sustainable wealth growth, as it not only can improve residents’ income distribution within the same region but also can promote the income distribution of neighboring regions.
Evaluating the Economic Viability of Agro-Ecotourism as a Nature-Based Solution for a Climate Adaptation Strategy: A Case Study of Yuanshan Township, Taiwan
Authors: Chen Wan-Jiun , Jan Jihn-Fa , Chung Chih-Hsin , Liaw Shyue-Cherng
Published: September 2024

This study applied the contingent valuation method to evaluate the economic viability of climate adaptation policies in the climate-fragile Yuanshan Township (YST), Taiwan, focusing on the balance between forest conservation and local livelihoods. Traditional agriculture in YST is transitioning to agro-ecotourism, supported by leisure-oriented and hillside forest protection policies that attract visitors and cause the local economy to thrive. This research used non-market valuation methods to quantify the value of local recreational resources perceived by visitors at NTD 1002.00 per visitor. The findings indicate that visitors’ willingness to pay for these resources is significantly influenced by their intention to revisit YST, their trust in local conservation efforts, their gender, and their income. The value that visitors place on recreational resources and the aforementioned significant determinants of their willingness to pay highlight the economic potential of agro-ecotourism in supporting both environmental sustainability and community income. This study emphasizes that successful nature-based climate adaptation must consider the economic interests of resource users and local residents. Agro-ecotourism in YST is shown to be a viable policy for balancing forest conservation with societal benefits, providing a model for the sustainable management of local resources. The economic benefits from this transition underscore the feasibility of agricultural transformation for community income generation and climate resilience, demonstrating that environmental and economic goals can be mutually supportive in addressing climate change.
A Review of Agrivoltaic Systems: Addressing Challenges and Enhancing Sustainability
Authors: Zahrawi Amro A. , Aly Aly Mousaad
Published: September 2024

Agrivoltaics is a relatively new term used originally for integrating photovoltaic (PV) systems into the agricultural landscape and expanded to applications such as animal farms, greenhouses, and recreational parks. The dual use of land offers multiple solutions for the renewable energy sector worldwide, provided it can be implemented without negatively impacting agricultural production. However, agrivoltaics represent a relatively new technology, facing challenges including economic viability, vulnerability to wind loads, and interference with growing crops. This paper reviews the recent research on integrating agrivoltaics with farming applications, focusing on challenges, wind impact on agrivoltaics, and economic solutions. The effect of agrivoltaics on temperature control of the lands is a critical factor in managing (1) water and the soil of the land, (2) animal comfort, and (3) greenhouse productivity, positively or negatively. In this review, a contradiction between the different versions of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) standards and the wind tunnel results is shown. Important factors affecting the wind load, such as damping and mass increase, optimum stow position, and aerodynamic edge modification, are highlighted with emphasis on the significant knowledge gap in the wind load mitigation methods.
The Nonlinear Effects of Digital Finance on Corporate ESG Performance: Evidence from China
Authors: Yin Qingmin , Su Nan , Ding Chenhui
Published: September 2024

Digital finance enhances corporate ESG performance and is essential for achieving sustainable development; however, its consistent effectiveness in improving ESG outcomes remains contested. Using panel data from A-share listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges in China from 2011 to 2021, this study empirically examines nonlinear effects, transmission mechanisms, and moderating factors. The results indicate a U-shaped relationship between digital finance and ESG performance, with a positive impact becoming apparent when digital finance exceeds the threshold of 3.81. Mechanism tests reveal that green technological innovation and public environmental attention are crucial transmission channels for the nonlinear effects. Furthermore, financial regulation levels and environmental uncertainty negatively moderate this relationship, while corporate digital transformation has a positive moderating effect. Further analysis shows that the U-shaped relationship is more pronounced in areas with lesser financial advancement and higher levels of environmental regulation, as well as in non-high-tech industries, non-manufacturing sectors, smaller firms, and companies without political connections. This study provides empirical evidence and policy insights to support the promotion of financial services that better facilitate corporate sustainability.
Multi-Technique Approach for the Sustainable Characterisation and the Digital Documentation of Painted Surfaces in the Hypogeum Environment of the Priscilla Catacombs in Rome
Authors: Calicchia Paola , Ceccarelli Sofia , Colao Francesco , D’Erme Chiara , Di Tullio Valeria , Guarneri Massimiliano , Luvidi Loredana , Proietti Noemi , Spizzichino Valeria , Zampelli Margherita , Zito Rocco
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this paper is to identify an efficient, sustainable, and “green” approach to address the challenges of the preservation of hypogeum heritage, focusing on the problem of moisture, a recurring cause of degradation in porous materials, especially in catacombs. Conventional and novel technologies have been used to address this issue with a completely non-destructive approach. The article provides a multidisciplinary investigation making use of advanced technologies and analysis to quantify the extent and distribution of water infiltration in masonry before damage starts to be visible or irreversibly causes damage. Four different technologies, namely Portable Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Audio Frequency–Acoustic Imaging (AF–AI), Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF), Infrared Thermography (IRT), and 3D Laser Scanning (RGB-ITR), were applied in the Priscilla catacombs in Rome (Italy). These imaging techniques allow the characterisation of the deterioration of painted surfaces within the delicate environment of the Greek chapel in the Priscilla catacombs. The resulting high-detailed 3D coloured model allowed for easily referencing the data collected by the other techniques aimed also at the study of the potential presence of salt efflorescence and/or microorganisms. The results supply an efficient and sustainable tool aimed at cultural heritage conservation but also at the creation of digital documentation obtained with green methodologies for a wider sharing, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
Sustainable Ceramic Glaze Development from Coal Power Plant Water Treatment Sludge: A Customer-Oriented Approach Using Delphi Method, QFD, and Mixture Design
Authors: Wichiensan Nontanan , Wattanutchariya Wassanai
Published: September 2024

This research delves into the sustainable utilization of waste materials, particularly chemical sludges from coal power plant water treatment processes, in ceramic glaze development. The study background underscores the growing interest in repurposing industrial waste for sustainability in the ceramics industry. To address this, this study employs innovative methods like the Delphi method and Quality Function Deployment (QFD) to understand customer needs and guide product development. The next step will be to design an experiment to find the optimization point of the mixture of chemical sludge, silica, and soda feldspar to obtain a prototype as desired from QFD. The experimental investigations in this study highlight that resistance to cracking is a crucial factor in glaze formulations. An analysis revealed that a formulation containing 15% sludge, 52% soda feldspar, and 22% silica emerged as the optimal combination for further development. The results indicate that the prototype holds promise for future development, as demonstrated by cracking tests accelerated in an autoclave and analyzed using image processing. These findings contribute to advancing sustainable practices in ceramics, aligning with broader goals of waste minimization, circular economy principles, and resource efficiency.
Age-Friendly Urban Design for Older Pedestrian Road Safety: A Street Segment Level Analysis in Madrid
Authors: Gálvez-Pérez Daniel , Guirao Begoña , Ortuño Armando
Published: September 2024

Walking benefits older pedestrians but exposes them to traffic crashes. With an aging population, designing age-friendly cities is crucial, yet research on older pedestrian safety at a micro-level is limited. This study aims to reduce older pedestrian–vehicle collisions and create more livable environments through infrastructure policies derived from statistical data analysis. Special attention is focused on collecting a holistic set of infrastructure variables to reflect most of the street built environment elements, which helps policymakers implement short-term safety measures. Using Bayesian Poisson regression, this study analyzes factors contributing to the occurrence of crashes involving older and non-older pedestrians on road segments in Madrid, Spain. The results indicate that different factors affect the occurrence of crashes for all pedestrians versus older pedestrians specifically. Traffic crashes involving all pedestrians are affected by leisure points of interest, bus stops, and crosswalk density. Older pedestrian traffic crashes are influenced by population density, the presence of trees and trash containers, and contour complexity. Proposed measures include relocating trees and trash containers, modifying bus stops, and adding crosswalks and traffic lights. This paper also shows that these countermeasures, aimed at creating age-friendly streets for older pedestrians, are not expected to worsen the road safety of other pedestrians.
Determinants of Carbon Inventory and Systematic Innovation Methods to Analyze the Strategies of Carbon Reduction: An Empirical Study of Green Lean Management in Electroplating an Factory
Authors: Chen Wei-Hung , Yang Yen-Ming , Chen Hsin-Na
Published: September 2024

This study explored the relationship between lean management, carbon inventory, and carbon reduction, along with the main factors affecting factory carbon inventory and carbon reduction, and proposed a set of carbon emission reduction strategies based on green value stream mapping. An electroplating factory and its production line in Taiwan was selected. Fourteen carbon inventory records, three work circle meetings, and green value flowcharts were utilized to collect and analyze data. Furthermore, this study applied the DMAIC framework and TRIZ to solve the issue of carbon emissions. The key factor affecting factory carbon inventory and carbon reduction was found to be electricity waste, which could be reduced through energy-saving methods. After analyzing the green value stream mapping, effective carbon emission reduction can be implemented in the manufacturing process. The company was found to gradually progress towards carbon reduction after investigating seven major green wastes. This study confirms that lean management can help organizations achieve their carbon emission reduction goals and is valuable in improving the organization’s environmental performance and competitiveness.
Research on the Non-Coordinated Coupling Relationship between Leisure Tourism and the Ecological Environment: A Case Study of the Ili Region in Xinjiang
Authors: Li Jingjing , Wen Bin , Qiu Rumei
Published: September 2024

There is a complex relationship between leisure tourism and the ecological environment that is both interdependent and constrained. It is of great practical importance to reveal their incongruous coupling to promote ecological security and harmonious social development. Utilizing a framework model of a non-coordinated coupling driving mechanism, we have established a comprehensive evaluation index system, encompassing the three dimensions of leisure tourism resource quality, infrastructure, and economic benefits, as well as three dimensions related to ecological environment pressure, protection investment, and efficiency. We calculated the weights of each evaluation index using the coefficient of variation method and employed a non-coordinated coupling function to analyze the coupling relationship and evolution of leisure tourism and the ecological environment in the Ili region of Xinjiang. The results suggest the following: ① The level of leisure and tourism in the Ili Prefecture has exhibited fluctuations and steady growth, increasing from 0.0032 in 2001 to 0.9033 in 2022. Similarly, the ecological environment has also improved, from 0.2372 in 2001 to 0.7755 in 2022, except for a slight decrease in 2008, showing an upward trend throughout all other years. ② The coupling coordination type has undergone three significant stages of transformation: from 2001 to 2002, the degree of non-coordinated coupling decreased from 0.8825 to 0.8229, marking a high-level non-coordinated coupling phase; from 2003 to 2016, the degree of non-coordinated coupling further decreased from 0.7951 to 0.5098, entering a rectification phase; and from 2017 to 2022, the degree of non-coordinated coupling dropped from 0.4882 to 0.3531, moving into an antagonistic phase, with the relationship gradually evolving towards positive interaction. By analyzing the non-coordinated coupling and internal mechanisms between leisure tourism and the ecological environment in the Ili region, this study provides a scientific reference for promoting the sustainable and healthy development of leisure tourism and the ecological environment in the region.
Bioeconomy, Planning and Sustainable Development: A Theoretical Framework
Authors: Faulkner Jon Paul , Murphy Enda , Scott Mark
Published: September 2024

The bioeconomy concept first emerged in the 1990s in the context of the sustainable development of European economies but in specific respect to the disciplines of biology and biotechnology. This has arguably obscured the concept’s theoretical development since the biotechnology term has a limited field of application. This has led to diverse perspectives on what the bioeconomy means and how it should function. This paper aims to contribute to the theoretical development of the bioeconomy concept by interpreting the concept as a component of sustainable development, and as a spatial planning concept. This is important since such theoretical development aims to address the complex challenges facing bioeconomy transition and the need to combat climate change in a socially equitable manner. It does this by interpreting the bioeconomy through the lens of the environmental, economic, social and governance pillars of sustainable development, which is important in understanding how bioeconomy systems can most effectively function in the transition towards a renewable-based economy.
Exploring Sustainability and Efficiency Improvements in Healthcare: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Vasileiou Anastasia , Sfakianaki Eleni , Tsekouropoulos Georgios
Published: September 2024

The integration of Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) within healthcare systems presents an opportunity to improve operational efficiency, environmental sustainability, and the quality of patient care. This study examines healthcare professionals’ initial perceptions of GLSS adoption in their work environments, especially in the context of Industry 4.0, the COVID-19 pandemic, and economic constraints. Through semi-structured interviews with healthcare workers and academics, the study reveals a cautious yet optimistic outlook. Participants recognize the potential for significant efficiency gains and waste reduction but also voice concerns about resource limitations and the need for comprehensive training. These preliminary findings provide important insights into the opportunities and challenges associated with implementing GLSS in healthcare, laying a foundation for future research and practical applications aimed at enhancing hospital operations through sustainable practices.