bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are Enterprises Willing to Participate in Voluntary Environmental Regulation? A Theoretical Analysis and Empirical Test
Authors: Pan Feng , Xu Yanni , Wang Lin
Published: February 2025

Voluntary environmental regulation is characterized by its non-compulsory nature, which gives enterprises the right to make their own choices. The wide application and high prevalence of the ISO14001 standard in China make it a representative and typical standard that can effectively reflect the degree of voluntary participation of enterprises in environmental management. Therefore, this paper uses whether enterprises have obtained this certification as a proxy measure of whether they have participated in voluntary environmental regulation for model construction. Enterprises that choose to participate indicate that they have higher self-imposed limits on environmental protection and have invested significant resources in reducing pollution and emissions. In order to investigate the willingness of enterprises to participate, a four-party evolutionary game model of “central government–enterprises–investors–consumers” was developed for theoretical analysis, followed by an empirical test using a numerical simulation method, aiming at identifying the key factors influencing the voluntary participation of enterprises. The study found that the central government’s active implementation is a key factor in promoting the active participation of enterprises in voluntary environmental regulation; investors’ green investment and consumers’ concern also play an important role, but the influence of consumers’ concern is relatively small and has a partial substitution effect with investors’ green investment; increasing central government rewards and boosting the amount of green investment by investors will effectively increase the speed and motivation of enterprises to participate.
Toward Sustainable Infrastructure: Advanced Hazard Prediction and Geotechnical Risk Management in the Jiroft Dam Project, Iran
Authors: Soltaninejad Sanaz , Abdollahi Mohammad Sina , BP Naveen , Marandi Seyed Morteza , Abdollahi Marziyeh , Abdollahi Saranaz
Published: February 2025

The Jiroft Dam, situated in Kerman province, Iran, serves as a crucial infrastructure for water management, flood control, and agricultural development in the region. However, the surrounding mountainous terrain presents considerable geotechnical challenges that threaten the stability of access roads and other essential infrastructure. This study is based on comprehensive field surveys and mapping, which have revealed significant ground displacements and evidence of slope instabilities in the area. The investigation identifies key factors, including soil composition, rock formations, groundwater flow, and seismic activity, that contribute to these shifts in the terrain. To ensure the accuracy of the elevation data, the study employed Monte Carlo simulation techniques to analyze the statistical distribution of the collected survey data. By simulating various possible outcomes, this study enhanced the precision of the elevation models, allowing for better identification of critical instability zones. Additionally, the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) was utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of the current monitoring equipment and infrastructure, providing a clearer understanding of operational efficiency and areas for improvement. The findings of this study highlight the immediate need for effective risk management strategies to mitigate the potential hazards of landslides and infrastructure failure. Addressing these challenges is essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of the region’s infrastructure. In response to these observations, this research proposes practical engineering solutions such as slope stabilization techniques and improved drainage systems to address the identified instabilities. Furthermore, this study underscores the necessity of the continuous monitoring and the implementation of early warning systems to detect further ground movements and mitigate associated risks.In addition to technical interventions, this research emphasizes the importance of integrating local knowledge and expertise into the risk management process.
Exploring Knowledge Domain of Intelligent Safety and Security Studies by Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Mei Ting , Liu Hui , Tong Bingrui , Tong Chaozhen , Zhu Junjie , Wang Yuxuan , Kou Mengyao
Published: February 2025

Intelligent safety and security is significant for preventing risks, ensuring information security and promoting sustainable social development, making it an indispensable part of modern society. Current research primarily focuses on the knowledge base and research hotspots in the field of intelligent safety and security. However, a comprehensive mapping of its overall knowledge structure remains lacking. A total of 1400 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (2013–2023) are analyzed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace, through which co-occurrence analysis, keyword burst detection, and co-citation analysis are conducted. Through this approach, this analysis systematically uncovers the core themes, evolutionary trajectories, and emerging trends in intelligent safety and security research. Unlike previous bibliometric studies, this study is the first to integrate multiple visualization techniques to construct a holistic framework of the intelligent safety and security knowledge system. Additionally, it offers an in-depth analysis of key topics such as IoT security, intelligent transportation systems, smart cities, and smart grids, providing quantitative insights to guide future research directions. The results show that the most significant number of publications are from China; the top position on the list of papers published by related institutions is occupied by King Saud University from Saudi Arabia. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Sustainable Cities and Society, and IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems are identified as the leading publications in this field. The decentralization of blockchain technology, the security and challenges of the Internet of Things (IoT), and research on intelligent cities and smart homes have formed the knowledge base for innovative security research. The four key directions of intelligent safety and security research mainly comprise IoT security, intelligent transportation systems, traffic safety and its far-reaching impact, and the utilization of smart grids and renewable energy. Research on IoT technology, security, and limitations is at the forefront of interest in this area.
Digital Transformation—One Step Further to a Sustainable Economy: The Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Crisan Georgiana-Alina , Belciu Anda , Popescu Madalina Ecaterina
Published: February 2025

Digitalization has significantly reshaped human and social life worldwide, serving as a powerful enabler of a sustainable economy, while being directly aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 9, among others. The literature on digitalization and sustainability boosted since 2017, confirming its importance. Unlike most previous studies, this paper extracted articles from both the Scopus and Web of Science platforms, and the bibliometric analysis was conducted using the new Python library, pyBibX, for the cleaned concatenated dataset, as well as Bibliometrix in R for the parallel analysis on the two platforms. We conducted both a performance analysis to measure scientific impact and citations in the quest to better understand the research field and also a science mapping to visually represent the scientific research and its development. Our findings suggest that Sustainability is the main journal with published articles on digitalization and sustainability, whereas China has the largest number of papers in the field and collaborations between countries. Finally, by applying Natural Language Processing, we identified as best topics: digital, sustainable, development, sustainability, digitalization, study, research, transformation, innovation, and model. Moreover, we dug deeper into policy implications to show how these findings could serve policymakers and stakeholders in academia and industry.
A Techno-Ecological Transformative Approach of Municipal Solid Waste Landfill in Upper-Middle-Income Countries Based on Energy Recovery
Authors: Kerboua Kaouther , Cheniti Hamza , Bouvett Clyde Falzon , Gasmi Intissar , Aouissi Hani Amir , Petrisor Alexandru-Ionut , Boştenaru-Dan Maria
Published: February 2025

This paper presents several transformative scenarios of municipal solid waste landfilling sites from technical and ecological points of view, applicable to upper-middle-income countries, as per the classification of the World Bank. Our approach is based on numerical simulations of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2012 and 2025 and numerical simulations of methane emissions in a selected landfilling site, Oued Smar, in Algiers (Algerian capital city), according to the LandGem and IPCC models. Business-as-usual, landfill gas flaring, and electricity generation scenarios are considered in the numerical simulations. Finally, a novel metric dividing the recoverable electrical power by the amount of avoided greenhouse gas emissions is suggested. This paper reveals that the LandGem results were closer to reality and exhibited slightly higher values of energy recovery. A novel “techno-ecological” metric, computed as the ratio of energy recovery to avoided amounts of GHG emissions, was suggested for controlling landfill transformation. Accordingly, transitioning from uncontrolled landfilling to energy recovery could reduce GHG emissions by up to 99.87%, with a generated power of 0.89 W per ton of CO2-eq avoided by 2025.
Mapping the Path to Sustainable Urban Mobility: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Trends and Innovations in Transportation Research
Authors: İnce Enver Cenan
Published: February 2025

This article presents a bibliometric analysis of urban transportation research, focusing on trends in urban mobility from 2018 to 2023. By analyzing 2000 articles from 617 journals in the Scopus database, this study identifies key themes, such as sustainable transportation, smart mobility, and technology integration into transit systems. Emerging terms, such as public health, walkability, Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO), and Network Simulator 3 (ns-3) highlight the growing intersection of transportation with environmental and societal factors. China has emerged as a leader in urban transportation research, excelling in publication volume and international collaboration. Notable figures and journals, such as Liu Y. and “Sustainability (Switzerland)”, emphasize the field’s interdisciplinary nature. The use of tools like the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), simulation, and a Geographic Information System (GIS) underscores a comprehensive approach to sustainable urban mobility planning, helping planners make data-driven decisions. These findings add vital insights into worldwide urban transportation research and provide recommendations for future studies aimed at improving sustainable transportation policies and practices.
Evaluating Landslide Hazard in Western Sichuan: Integrating Rainfall and Geospatial Factors Using a Coupled Information Value–Geographic Logistic Regression Model
Authors: Zhou Haipeng , Mu Chenglin , Yang Bo , Huang Gang , Hong Jinpeng
Published: February 2025

The western Sichuan region, characterized by unique geological conditions and the pronounced influence of uneven rainfall patterns, is highly vulnerable to frequent geological hazards, particularly landslides. These events pose significant threats to both public safety and regional ecosystem stability. This study focuses on landslide disasters in Dechang County, Sichuan Province, and introduces a framework for assessing landslide susceptibility. The framework incorporates nine critical factors: slope, aspect, topographic relief, distance from faults, slope structure, lithology, proximity to roads, hydrological systems, and vegetation coverage. Using ArcGIS and integrating rainfall as a key factor, we applied an information value–geographic logistic regression coupled model (GWILR) to evaluate landslide susceptibility across the region. The results show landslide susceptibility in Dechang County is classified into four categories: high (14.02%), moderate (54.06%), low (34.98%), and very low (0.94%). Landslides are most concentrated along fault lines and river systems. The model’s AUC value of 0.926 outperforms the traditional information entropy–logistic regression (ILR) model (AUC = 0.867), demonstrating superior predictive accuracy. The GWILR model offers key advantages over traditional methods. Unlike ILR, it assigns region-specific regression coefficients, capturing spatial heterogeneity and nonlinearity more effectively. The inclusion of rainfall as a key factor further enhances model accuracy by reflecting both temporal and spatial variations in landslide occurrence. This approach provides a more localized and precise evaluation of landslide risk, making it highly applicable for regions with complex geological and climatic conditions. This study highlights the GWILR model’s effectiveness in landslide susceptibility assessment and provides a foundation for improving disaster risk management in Dechang County and similar regions.
Assessing Greenhouse Gas Emission Factors in Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Yang Haiyan , Wang Zhe , Zhang Xuerong , Lu Haoruo
Published: February 2025

In the context of combating climate change, accurately evaluating the environmental impact of wastewater treatment is of great significance for sustainable development. This study centers on two methods for determining greenhouse gas emission factors in wastewater treatment. One approach calculates per-unit-volume emission factors by utilizing measured greenhouse gas data and the volume of treated water. When measured data are unavailable, an alternative method is adopted to obtain empirical values. Wastewater treatment plant A, with its relatively large scale and certain monitoring capabilities, can acquire partially measured data on greenhouse gas emissions from its treatment units. Thus, both the emission factor measurement method and the empirical value calculation method were utilized to analyze the greenhouse gas emission characteristics and compare the differences in accounting results. For this plant, the average measured values of CH₄ and N₂O emissions were 0.0304 kg CO₂-eq/m3 and 0.0343 kg CO₂-eq/m3, respectively. In contrast, the empirical values were 0.0505 kg CO₂-eq/m3 for CH₄ and 0.0711 kg CO₂-eq/m3 for N₂O. Wastewater treatment plant B, due to its smaller scale, currently lacks the conditions for on-site greenhouse gas measurement. Consequently, only the empirical value calculation method could be used to analyze its greenhouse gas emission characteristics. Its empirical CH₄ and N₂O values were 0.0645 kg CO₂-eq/m3 and 0.1135 kg CO₂-eq/m3, respectively.
High-Quality Development and Decoupling Economic Growth from Air Pollution: Evidence from Daily Electricity Consumption in Fujian
Authors: Lai Guoshu , Yu Xingjin , Wu Guoyao , Lan Zhiqiang
Published: February 2025

In the context of growing challenges associated with pollution prevention and control, developing more efficient technologies and precise policy measures to address the bottleneck period is imperative. This study utilized daily electricity consumption data from nine prefecture-level cities in Fujian Province from January 2019 to June 2024 to develop a high-quality development index (HQDI) and empirically investigate how HQDI affects the decoupling of economic growth from pollution emissions. Results suggest that HQDI can significantly promote decoupling, with innovation, openness, and sharing playing positive roles, while brown industries’ development and the electricity capacity installation of small and micro-enterprises hinder these processes. Moreover, extreme high temperatures exert a significant negative impact on decoupling, whereas increased market concentration fosters decoupling. Policy recommendations include prioritizing innovation, green technologies, and energy efficiency (particularly for SMEs); addressing climate resilience; and expanding HQDI to include factors like digital technologies for sustainable growth in Fujian and similar regions.
Manufacturer Channel-Selection Strategy Considering Information Sharing Under Uncertain Demand
Authors: Huang Fang , Pan Yi , Zhao Zhi , Song Han , Liu Yuying
Published: February 2025

Taking into account retailers’ resistance and operational costs, manufacturer enterprises are facing the optimal decision-making problem of whether and what kind of direct sales channels to open. Meanwhile, against the backdrop of asymmetric demand information, how does retailers’ information sharing affect manufacturers’ channel selection? Based on this, this study considers three types of sales channels for manufacturers in the context of asymmetric demand information: a traditional channel, online direct sales channel, and subsidiary direct sales channel. Six supply chain game models are established under the retailer’s information strategy, and the manufacturer’s channel-selection decision and the retailer’s information-sharing decision are analyzed. The study demonstrates that when information is shared, the online direct sales channel represents the optimal choice. Conversely, when information sharing is absent, the manufacturer will select the subsidiary direct channel when the subsidiary sales channel opening cost is minimal, and the unit direct selling cost of online direct sales channels is moderate. Furthermore, we discover that retailers lack motivation to share demand information. Therefore, we propose an information-sharing incentive system to encourage retailers to voluntarily share information with manufacturers, aiming for Pareto optimization in the supply chain.
Fine-Grained Sentiment Analysis Based on SSFF-GCN Model
Authors: Zhao Yuexu , Fang Junjie , Jin Shaolong
Published: February 2025

The research on aspect-based sentiment analysis (ABSA) mostly relies on a single attention mechanism or grammatical semantic information, which makes it less effective in dealing with complex language structures. To address the challenges in fine-grained sentiment analysis tasks, this paper establishes a novel model of syntax and semantics based on feature fusion together with a graph convolutional network (SSFF-GCN), which includes a dual-channel information extraction layer by combining syntactic dependency graphs and semantic information, and consists of three important modules: the syntactic feature enhancement module, semantic feature extraction module, and feature fusion module. In the grammar feature enhancement module, this model uses dependency trees to capture the structural relationship between emotional words and target words and adds a dual affine attention module to enhance grammar learning ability. In the semantic feature extraction module, aspect-aware attention combined with self-attention is used to extract semantic associations in sentences, which ensures effective capture of long-distance dependency information. The feature fusion module dynamically combines the enhanced syntactic and semantic information through a gated mechanism; therefore, it enhances the model’s ability to express emotional features. The empirical results show that the SSFF-GCN model is generally superior to existing models on several publicly available datasets.
Utilizing Duplicate Announcements for BGP Anomaly Detection
Authors: Verma Rahul Deo , Keserwani Pankaj Kumar , Jain Vinesh Kumar , Govil Mahesh Chandra , Tilwari Valmik
Published: February 2025

The Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is the backbone of inter-domain routing on the internet, but its susceptibility to both benign and malicious anomalies creates substantial risks to both network reliability and security. In this study, we present a new approach for deep learning-based BGP anomaly detection utilizing duplicate announcements, which are known to be a symptom of routing disruptions. We developed our methodology based on public BGP data from RIPE and Route Views. We used the number of duplicate announcements as a baseline against which we checked for sporadic and time-based anomalies. Here, we propose a deep learning framework based on the Exponential Moving Average (EMA) model in combination with Autoencoder for anomaly identification. We also apply the Temporal-oriented Synthetic Minority Over-Sampling Technique (T-SMOTE) to overcome data imbalance. Comparative evaluations show that the Autoencoder model is significantly better than LSTM and that existing state-of-the-art methods have higher accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 scores. This study proposes a reliable, scalable, and rapid framework for real-time BGP adversary detection, which improves network security and resilience.
Word-of-Mouth Evaluation of Ancient Towns in Southern China Using Web Comments
Authors: Zhang Yihan , Guo Weizhuo , Sheng Yanling , Li Shanshan
Published: February 2025

With the rapid development of digital networks and communication technologies, traditional word-of-mouth (WOM) has transformed into electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM), which plays a pivotal role in improving the management and service quality of ancient town tourism. This study uses Python web scraping techniques to gather eWOM data from the top ten ancient towns in southern China. Using IPA analysis, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), Term Frequency–Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF), and cluster analysis, we developed a comprehensive eWOM evaluation framework. This framework was employed to perform word frequency analysis, sentiment analysis, topic modeling, and rating analysis, providing deeper insights into tourists’ perceptions. The results reveal several key findings: (1) Transportation infrastructure varies significantly across the towns. Heshun and Huangyao suffer from poor accessibility, while the remaining towns benefit from the developed transportation network of the Yangtze River Delta. (2) The volume of eWOM is strongly influenced by seasonal patterns and was notably impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. (3) The majority of tourists express positive sentiments toward the ancient towns, with a focus on the available facilities. Their highest levels of satisfaction, however, are associated with the scenic landscapes. (4) A comprehensive eWOM analysis suggests that Wuzhen and Xidi–Hongcun are the most popular tourist destinations, while Zhujiajiao, Huangyao, Zhouzhuang, and Nanxun exhibit lower levels of both attention and visitor satisfaction.
Revealing Elegance and Enchantment: Analysis of Travelers’ Reviews of Romanian Palaces and Castles
Authors: Surugiu Marius-Răzvan , Vasile Valentina , Surugiu Camelia , Mazilescu Cristina Raluca , Vasile Răzvan
Published: February 2025

This paper focuses on analyzing online visitor reviews of Romanian palaces and castles because these comments could represent the starting point for improving tourist offerings. Additionally, expert evaluations were included in analyzing the relevance of the information obtained for managerial decision-making at the company level. In the first stage of the analysis, 18 castles and palaces with a TripAdvisor account from three Romanian historical regions were identified: Moldavia, Muntenia (Wallachia), and Transylvania. The study used a qualitative technique to examine visitors’ cultural experiences by analyzing 1399 online evaluations from TripAdvisor. The findings reveal that visitors exhibited positive emotional reactions toward the castles and palaces in Romania and preferred integrated cultural services. The tourists expressed their opinions online related to visiting the respective castles/palaces, restaurants visited in the area, and the quality of the accommodation services. Research methods associated with expert evaluations applied periodically can become active support tools for managerial decisions in the adaptation/diversification of service packages based on the consumer category. The findings could serve as managerial resources for companies to enhance their cultural heritage offerings, better reach their target audiences, and align with their preferences and interests.
Sea-Level Rise and Growth Machines in Coastal Cities
Authors: Dilworth Richardson , Hughes Sara
Published: February 2025

Climate change, and sea level rise (SLR) in particular, poses new challenges for urban politics. In this paper, we use exploratory case studies of various communities along the Eastern seaboard of the United States, focusing primarily on Boston and secondarily on New York City and Norfolk, to develop hypotheses regarding the behavior of local growth machines (GMs) in response to the threat posed by SLR on local property values. Part of this analysis is a critique of the existing GM literature, which tends to simply assume GM membership and cohesiveness. By contrast, we find a likely but complex relationship between city size (in terms of both population, land, and coastline), city land value, the real and perceived threat of SLR, and GM composition and cohesiveness. We suggest a dynamic tension in GM and city responses to SLR, based on our conjectures that smaller GMs with narrower memberships will be able to act more cohesively with respect to SLR, but also must do so with less resources, and thus may more often choose an adaptation strategy of retreat over investment. By contrast, GMs in larger cities with more valuable land have more resources to respond to the threat of SLR but also represent a more diverse but therefore less cohesive set of proposed strategies, resulting typically in a mix of retreat and investment strategies.
Retrospective Evaluation of End-Diastolic Forward Flow and Restrictive Physiology in One Hundred and Sixty-Four Dogs with Pulmonary Stenosis
Authors: Boz Elisabetta , Pergamo Cesara Sofia , Signorelli Stefania , Forti Viviana , Bussadori Claudio Maria
Published: February 2025

The study of the function of the right ventricle (RV) is a topic of great interest in the scientific community, and some studies have evaluated parameters of the right ventricular systolic function and have correlated them to various RV pathologies and possible clinical findings. Less information was obtained on the right ventricular diastolic function. In veterinary medicine, the characteristics of the restrictive RV and the presence of end-diastolic forward flow (EDFF) in patients with pulmonary stenosis have not yet been described. This type of flow is an antegrade flow that is observed with the Doppler study of the pulmonary artery and occurs at the end of the diastolic phase. Pulmonary valve stenosis (PVS) is one of the most common congenital heart diseases in dogs. The echocardiographic parameter that is mainly taken as a reference for evaluating the severity of the disease is the peak gradient of the pulmonary antegrade flow. For our retrospective study, we consider a total of 164 dogs with PVS divided into 149 dogs with type A and 15 type B, seen at a reference veterinary clinic from 2020 to 2024. All these dogs underwent echocardiographic examinations to observe the morphological characteristics of the PVS and consider the presence or absence of restrictive RV with EDFF. An independent sample t-test analysis revealed that the severity of PVS is greater in dogs with EDFF, both in the group of patients with type A stenosis and in patients with type B stenosis. This study suggests that RV restrictive physiology is common in dogs with severe PVS.
Evaluating Gait Abnormalities in Asian Elephants Using Inertial Measurement Unit-Based Vertical Movement Symmetry Analysis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Khammesri Siripat , Wantanajittikul Kittichai , Namwongprom Kittikul , Kittisirikul Narueporn , Ueangpaibool Pichamon , Thitaram Chatchote , Brown Janine L. , Kongsawasdi Siriphan
Published: February 2025

The early detection of lameness in elephants is essential for effective treatment and welfare enhancement, but subtle gait abnormalities are often difficult to identify visually. This study aimed to evaluate vertical movement symmetry in Asian elephants using cross-correlation analysis of data from inertial measurement units (IMUs). Six elephants were assessed, including individuals with normal gait and one exhibiting an abnormal gait. IMU sensors were attached to the proximal and distal segments of the forelimbs and hindlimbs to record vertical movements during straight-line walking. Cross-correlation coefficients were calculated to quantify the symmetry between the left and right limbs, providing an objective measure of gait patterns. This method provided an objective assessment of gait patterns and demonstrated potential in detecting lameness in elephants. This approach could facilitate the early identification of gait abnormalities, enabling timely interventions and potentially improving treatment outcomes and the welfare of captive elephant populations. Further studies involving a larger number of elephants with confirmed gait abnormalities are necessary to validate the robustness and reliability of this approach.
Enhancing Ecological Design Principles in Vortex Settling Basins for Sustainable Water Management
Authors: Sheikh Rezazadeh Nikou Neda , Mc Nabola Aonghus , Ziaei Alinaghi
Published: February 2025

Continuous flushing systems such as vortex settling basins (VSBs) are commonly utilized to remove sediment particles in power plants and irrigation and drainage networks. This study evaluates the performance of a typical VSB, focusing on sediment removal efficiency (ηe), flow efficiency (ηflow), and inlet canal efficiency (ηin). In the continuous operation of VSBs, sediment removal efficiency remains the appropriate metric, as opposed to trapping efficiency. The impact of hydraulic and geometric parameters was analyzed using the Taguchi design, experimental modeling, and statistical analysis through response surface methodology (RSM). The performance of the VSB was evaluated using the ANOVA test, along with the Pareto chart and the desirability function approach for multi-objective optimization. The predicted optimal values for ηin, ηe, and ηflow were 94.09%, 69.40%, and 91.67%, respectively. This optimum condition for having higher efficiency in the VSB was for the case with 0.3625 mm particle diameter, 0.1 m orifice diameter, 0.1 m end sill height, 22 L/s inlet discharge, and 0.05 m outlet weir. Larger sediment particle size and inlet discharge enhanced VSB desirability, while smaller orifice size and outlet weir height are preferred for optimal performance. This paper provides a framework for the optimum design of VSBs.
Cesium-137 Distribution Patterns in Bottom Sediments of Beaver Ponds in Small Rivers in the North of the Volga Upland, European Russia
Authors: Gusarov Artyom V. , Sharifullin Aidar G. , Beylich Achim A. , Lisetskii Fedor N.
Published: February 2025

This paper presents the results of the analysis of the redistribution of cesium-137 (137Cs) in the bottom sediments of beaver ponds in two small rivers in the forest-steppe north of the Volga Upland, which is one of the most contaminated areas of the Middle Volga region (European Russia) with artificial radionuclides. This study is based on fieldwork materials, laboratory analyses of the specific radioactivity of 137Cs in soil and bottom sediment samples, their granulometric composition, and the content of organic matter in them. The obtained results indicate a significant decrease in the specific activity of 137Cs in the direction from near-water-divide surface soils (on average, 54 Bq/kg) to the bottom sediments of beaver ponds of the studied rivers (on average, no more than 6 Bq/kg). A weak (statistically insignificant) tendency towards a decrease in the specific activity of 137Cs in the bottom sediments of beaver ponds downstream of rivers was also revealed. With this detected trend, no statistically significant relationship was found between changes in 137Cs and changes in the granulometric composition of bottom sediments. However, a relatively good relationship was identified with changes in the content of total organic matter. The stage-by-stage accumulation of sediment thickness in one of the beaver ponds was revealed, with the highest concentration of 137Cs in the layer with the highest content of finely dispersed fractions and organic matter. The obtained results indicate that for a correct quantitative assessment of the migration of pollutants (including radioactive ones) in floodplain-channel systems, it is necessary to consider beaver structures (primarily ponds), which act as zones of their intensive accumulation.
Weakened Snowmelt Contribution to Floods in a Climate-Changed Tibetan Basin
Authors: Niu Liting , Wang Jian , Li Hongyi , Hao Xiaohua
Published: February 2025

Climate warming has led to changes in floods in snow-packed mountain areas, but how snowmelt contributes to floods in the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau remains to be studied. To solve this problem, we propose a more reasonable method for evaluating snowmelt’s contributions to floods. We use a distributed hydrological model with the capability to track snowmelt paths in different media, such as snowpack, soil, and groundwater, to assess snowmelt’s contribution to peak discharge. The study area, the Xiying River basin, is located northeast of the Tibetan Plateau. Our results show that in the past 40 years, the average annual air temperature in the basin has increased significantly at a rate of 0.76 °C/10a. The annual precipitation (precipitation is the sum of rainfall and snowfall) decreased at a rate of 5.59 mm/10a, while the annual rainfall increased at a rate of 11.01 mm/10a. These trends were not obvious. The annual snowfall showed a significant decrease, at a rate of 14.41 mm/10a. The contribution of snowmelt to snowmelt-driven floods is 85.78%, and that of snowmelt to rainfall-driven floods is 10.70%. Under the influence of climate change, the frequency of snowmelt-driven floods decreased significantly, and flood time advanced notably, while the intensity and frequency of rainfall-driven floods slowly decreased in the basin. The causes of the change in snowmelt-driven floods are the significant increase in air temperature and the noticeable decrease in snowfall and snowmelt runoff depth. The contribution of snowmelt to rainfall-driven floods slowly weakened, resulting in a slight decrease in the intensity and frequency of rainfall-driven floods. The results also indicate that rising air temperature could decrease snowmelt-driven floods. In snow-packed mountain areas, rainfall and snowmelt together promote the formation of and change in floods. While rainfall dominates peak discharge, snowpack and snowmelt play a significant role in the formation and variability of rainfall-driven floods. The contributions of snowmelt and rainfall to floods have changed under the influence of climate change, which is the main cause of flood variability. The changed snowmelt adds to the uncertainties and could even decrease the size and frequency of floods in snow-packed high mountain areas. This study can help us understand the contributions of snowmelt to floods and assess the flood risk in the Tibetan Plateau under the influence of climate change.
Road Salt Collection and Redistribution at an Urban Rain Garden on Sandy Soil, Gary, Indiana
Authors: Bayless E. Randall , Naylor Shawn , Lampe David C. , Story Amy A. , Artz Caleb
Published: February 2025

Rain gardens installed as green infrastructure to divert storm runoff from entering combined sewers also collect dissolved constituents and particulates. An urban rain garden in northwestern Indiana, USA, was continuously monitored from November 2019 to May 2021 to evaluate the fate of dissolved constituents entering the rain garden in runoff. Physical and chemical properties of soils in the rain garden were also monitored, along with underlying groundwater. Linear regression models relating specific conductance to chloride concentration indicated that the 0.0371-ha (3998 square feet) rain garden collected approximately 1490 kg (3285 pounds) of road salt from the surrounding 0.2228 ha (24,500 square feet) of impervious surfaces. Soils and groundwater were seasonally affected by road salt application but carryover from year to year was not indicated. Rain garden soil permeability (5.20 × 10−5 to 9.72 × 10−5 m/s) remained unchanged during the study period and soil organic carbon generally increased under native vegetation. The results suggest that a rain garden built on sandy soil can divert substantial quantities of runoff and dissolved constituents from combined sewers; however, chloride is transported to sub-infrastructure groundwater that eventually discharges to adjacent waterways with concentrations lower than those observed in runoff.
Seasonal Variations and Drivers of Total Nitrogen and Phosphorus in China’s Surface Waters
Authors: Li Jian , He Yue , Xie Tao , Song Zhengshan , Bai Shuying , Zhang Xuehong , Wang Chao
Published: February 2025

Total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) are essential indicators for assessing water quality. This study systematically analyzes the spatial and temporal distribution of TN and TP in China’s surface waters and examines the influence of natural factors and human activities on their concentrations. Utilizing data from 1387 monitoring sites (2020–2021) and employing K-means clustering and geographically weighted regression (GWR), we found that the national average concentrations were 3.89 mg/L for TN and 0.096 mg/L for TP. Spatially, higher TN and TP levels were observed in northern regions, coastal areas, and plains compared with southern, inland, and mountainous areas. Notably, TN concentrations reached up to 29.49 mg/L in the Haihe River basin and related plains, while TP peaked at 0.497 mg/L in the southeastern Shandong and northern Jiangsu coastal zones. Temporally, TN levels were approximately 50% higher in winter than summer, whereas TP levels were about 40% higher in summer. Key influencing factors included rainfall, elevation, fertilizer use, and population density, with spatial heterogeneity observed. Rainfall was the primary factor for TN change and the secondary factor for TP change. Soil type positively correlates with TN and TP changes, affecting non-point source pollution. Human activities such as land use, fertilizer application and population density had a significant effect on the nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, while woodland had a significant impact on the improvement of water quality. The geographically weighted regression analysis showed spatial heterogeneity in the effects of each factor on TN and TP concentrations, and the best fit was at the watershed scale. The findings highlight the need for enhanced control of agricultural runoff, improved sewage treatment, and region-specific management strategies to inform effective water environment policies in China.
Flood Management Framework for Local Government at Shah Alam, Malaysia
Authors: Rosmadi Haziq Sarhan , Ahmed Minhaz Farid , Radwan Neyara , Mokhtar Mazlin Bin , Lim Chen Kim , Halder Bijay , Scholz Miklas , Alshehri Fahad , Pande Chaitanya Baliram
Published: February 2025

Flood disasters are common events in Malaysia, particularly during the monsoon seasons. Hence, disaster management in Malaysia is based on the framework following “Directive 20” by the National Security Council (MKN). This study gathered qualitative information in Shah Alam Municipality through informal interviews with 20 informants following the quadruple-helix multi-stakeholders model in 2023 for flood disaster management (FDM). Thematic analysis of the qualitative information was conducted following the four main priority of action themes of the Sendai Framework for United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030) using the Taguette software. This study found coordination and inter-agency data sharing are two major issues in Shah Alam that require immediate attention for FDM. Thus, this study suggests improving district-level flood management guidelines, especially the involvement of the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA). The NADMA should have a close look at the flood management plan, which acts as Malaysia’s main disaster management coordinator, as they are usually the first agency on the scene when a disaster occurs. Hence, to prevent and lessen flood disaster impact, disaster risk preparedness and individual management through customized training are crucial in combining non-structural and structural measures for FDM.
Research on Regional Disparities, Dynamic Evolution, and Influencing Factors of Water Environment Governance Efficiency in China
Authors: Zhao Xiaochun , Yang Danjie
Published: February 2025

To investigate the effectiveness of water environment governance in China, this study employs the Super-SBM model to measure the WEGE (water environment governance efficiency) of 283 prefecture-level cities in China from 2013 to 2022. Multidimensional decomposition is conducted using the Dagum Gini coefficient, kernel density estimation, convergence models, and the Tobit model. The findings reveal the following: (1) China’s WEGE is generally at a low-efficiency development stage, exhibiting a pattern of “western regions > central regions > eastern regions”. WEGE evolves from “scattered distribution” to “multi-center aggregation”. (2) The overall Gini coefficient for WEGE in China is relatively low, with an average of 0.120. Intra-group differences and transvariation intensity are the primary sources of regional disparities. (3) The country and the three major regions exhibit right-tailed and multi-polar phenomena. (4) σ-convergence is observed exclusively in the eastern area, whereas both absolute and conditional β-convergence are evident throughout the country as well as within the three major regional divisions. (5) Government intervention has a significant positive impact on WEGE, while artificial intelligence, spatial agglomeration, and industrial structure upgrading exert negative effects on WEGE. Therefore, it is urgent to pay attention to the regional differences in WEGE and implement practical measures for collaborative water environment governance.
THE EFFECT OF COMPENSATION AND WORK ENVIRONMENT ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE BASED ON ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Sumantri Sumantri , Albetris Albetris
Published: February 2025

This study is entitled The Influence of Compensation and Work Environment According to Islamic Perspective on Employee Performance at PT Aneka Bumi Pratama (ABP) Pemayung District. In this study, it will be sought how compensation and work environment according to Islamic perspective have an influence on employee performance at PT Aneka Bumi Pratama (ABP) Pemayung District. In analyzing the data, testing was carried out using multiple linear regression analysis. This is done considering that there are several independent variables, namely compensation and work environment. Then to find the influence, the t test and coefficient of determination were used. The compensation dimension indicators are 4.30. In other words, it is categorized as very appropriate. The work environment dimension indicators are 4.37. In other words, it is categorized as very good. Meanwhile, employee performance gets responses and opinions from respondents where it has an average of 4.41 which means the scale range is very good, meaning it has a good response. The t test with the results of 3 variables that have an influence. As well as the F test with the results having a significant effect. Compensation and work environment can affect employee performance by 30.1%, while the remaining 69.9% is influenced by other variables not included in this model
THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR AND MARKETING STRATEGY IN FACING BUSINESS COMPETITION IN THE DIGITAL ERA (STUDY OF SMES IN RENGAT SUB-DISTRICT INDRAGIRI HULU DISTRICT)
Authors: Supriyadi Agus , Yulianda Airine , Yaspita Hasanah
Published: February 2025

In today's digital era, where the level of business competition is very high. Every company must pay attention to one of the most important and vital aspects of company management, namely in the field of marketing. By using marketing concepts and strategies in running a business, it will be more optimal in managing directed or effective marketing. The application of digital marketing has become the main strategy for companies in facing business competition in the digital era. This journal analyzes various aspects of digital marketing implementation, including the use of social media. The purpose of this research is to analyze the importance of organizational behavior and marketing strategies in facing business competition in the digital era (SME Study in Rengat District, Indragiri Hulu Regency). This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study method. Data collection is done through interview techniques, observation, documentation. The results of this study are expected to add insight and knowledge about the importance of organizational behavior and marketing strategies in facing business competition in the digital era.
A clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of diclofenac in multimodal pain management after cesarean section
Authors: Phan Trong Nhan , Vo Thi Thanh Kieu , Hoang Vu Khanh Hai , Nguyen Viet Anh , Nguyen Van Minh
Published: February 2025

Background: The increasing rate of cesarean section has resulted in a significant number of cases experiencing severe pain after the surgeries. Multimodal pain management, involving a combination of analgesic medications and regional anesthesia techniques, has been proven to provide significant benefits in pain reduction. However, in Vietnam, the use of systemic analgesic medications remains the primary method of pain management after cesarean section. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of diclofenac in multimodal pain management after cesarean section.

Material and method: Ninety-two postpartum women who underwent cesarean section were randomly assigned to two groups in a controlled randomized clinical trial. Group 1 was administered paracetamol, nefopam, and diclofenac via rectal suppository, while group 2 was administered paracetamol and nefopam. Pain intensity was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and functional activity scale (FAS) at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, and 24 hours after surgery. The study also recorded the rescue pain relief rate, morphin consumption, and adverse effects of the interventions. Rescue pain relief was defined as the need for 0.05 mg/kg of intravenous morphin when the VAS score was ≥ 4.

Results: The results showed that both groups had a high proportion of postpartum women with pain scores of 3 or below at rest. However, during movement, group 1 had a higher proportion of women with pain scores of 3 or below than group 2. The median pain scores at rest and during movement were lower in group 1 than in group 2 at all time points. The basic functional activity of group 1 was also better than that of group 2, with FAS A having a clear advantage, particularly after 18 hours. None of the women in group 1 required rescue morphin, while 15.22% of those in group 2 needed rescue pain relief with a median morphin consumption of 5 mg (3.6). Both groups had average rates of nausea and vomiting, with group 1 having a lower proportion than group 2.

Conclusion: The combination of paracetamol, nefopam, and diclofenac in multimodal pain management is effective in reducing pain, promoting early mobility, reducing morphin consumption, and having fewer adverse effects compared to the combination of paracetamol and nefopam.

Key words: Cesarean section, multimodal pain management, paracetamol, diclofenac, nefopam.