bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of GGBS-Based Geopolymer Concrete Incorporated with Polypropylene Fibers as Sustainable Materials
Authors: Thakur Gaurav , Singh Yatendra , Singh Rajesh , Prakash Chander , Saxena Kuldeep K. , Pramanik Alokesh , Basak Animesh , Subramaniam Shankar
Published: August 2022

Geopolymer concrete, because of its less embodied energy as compared to conventional cement concrete, has paved the way for achieving sustainable development goals. In this study, an effort was made to optimize its quality characteristics or responses, namely, workability, and the compressive and flexural strengths of Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS)-based geopolymer concrete incorporated with polypropylene (PP) fibers by Taguchi’s method. A three-factor and three-level design of experiments was adopted with the three factors and their corresponding levels as alkali ratio (NaOH:Na2SiO3) (1:1.5 (8 M NaOH); 1:2 (10 M NaOH); 1:2.5 (12 M NaOH)), percentage of GGBS (80%, 90%, and 100%) and PP fibers (1.5%, 2%, and 2.5%). M25 was taken as the control mix for gauging and comparing the results. Nine mixes were obtained using an L9 orthogonal array, and an analysis was performed. The analysis revealed the optimum levels as 1:2 (10 molar) alkali ratio, 80% GGBS, and 2% PP fibers for workability; 1:2 (10 molar) alkali ratio, 80% GGBS, and 2.5% PP fibers for compressive strength; and 1:2 (10 molar) alkali ratio, 80% GGBS, and 1.5% PP fibers for flexural strength. The percentage of GGBS was found to be the most effective parameter for all three responses. The analysis also revealed the ranks of all the factors in terms of significance in determining the three responses. ANOVA conducted on the results validated the reliability of the results obtained by Taguchi’s method. The optimized results were further verified by confirmation tests. The confirmation tests revealed the compressive and flexural strengths to be quite close to the strengths of the control mix. Thus, optimum mixes with comparable strengths were successfully achieved by replacing cement with GGBS and thereby providing a better path for sustainable development.
Does Resilience Exist in China’s Tourism Economy? From the Perspectives of Resistance and Recoverability
Authors: Zhang Pengyang , Huang Yanmei , Pan Sipei , Chen Wanxu , Zhong Hui , Xu Ning , Zhong Mingxing
Published: August 2022

Since the 21st century, crisis events have been frequent and normalized globally, and improving resilience has become the key for the tourism industry to cope with various uncertainty risks. To reveal the reality of the economic resilience of tourism in China, this study employed the autoregressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA) to construct a counterfactual function and integrated with the peaks-over-threshold (POT) model and geographical detector model to evaluate the spatiotemporal evolution and influencing factors of the economic resilience of tourism in China from the resistance and recoverability perspective, with a view to providing a reference for consolidating the resilience of the economic system of tourism in China and promoting the sustainable development of its tourism economy. The results showed that the economic resilience of tourism in China can be divided into four types—robust, self-reliant, laissez-faire, and fragile—based on a baseline resistance of −0.361 and recoverability of 0.342. Under different contraction–recovery cycles, the resistance and recoverability of China’s tourism economy have been progressively improved, transforming from the centralized model to the discrete model, from a fragile to a self-reliant type. The type of economic resilience of tourism in China exhibited a clustered contiguous development trend, with obvious zonal distribution characteristics and self-reliant tourism economic resilience areas dominating, but most areas have not yet formed stable economic resilience in their tourism sector. The ecological environment quality, government management ability, and technological innovation level were the main factors affecting the economic resilience of tourism in China. The interactions between different influencing factors were more significant in strengthening the tourism economic resilience.
The Digital Economy and Carbon Productivity: Evidence at China’s City Level
Authors: Zhao Xian , Dong Yiting , Gong Xinshu
Published: August 2022

Based on the panel data of 285 prefecture-level cities in China, this paper empirically tests the impact of digital economic development on carbon productivity by using a two-way fixed effect model, intermediary mechanism model and threshold mechanism model. The results show that: (1) the digital economy can significantly improve carbon productivity, and this conclusion is still valid after a series of robustness tests. (2) An intermediary mechanism test found that technological innovation, reducing energy consumption intensity and improving urban productivity are the three primary paths through which the digital economy significantly improves carbon productivity. (3) A threshold mechanism test found that the promotion effect of the digital economy on carbon productivity is also affected by the degree of marketization and the level of human capital, showing a single threshold effect and a U-shaped trend. (4) The impact of the digital economy on carbon productivity has regional heterogeneity, urban agglomeration heterogeneity, and resource-based city heterogeneity. This study provides substantial empirical evidence for the relevant authorities to formulate green development policies from the perspective of digital economy development.
Bioeconomy and Circular Economy Approaches Need to Enhance the Focus on Biodiversity to Achieve Sustainability
Authors: Stephenson P. J. , Damerell Anca
Published: August 2022

Bioeconomy and circular economy approaches are being adopted by an increasing number of international organizations, governments and companies to enhance sustainability. Concerns have been raised about the implications for biodiversity. Here, we present a review of current research on the two approaches to determine their relationship to each other and to other economic models, their impact on sustainability and their relationship with biodiversity. Bioeconomy and circular economy are both poorly defined, inconsistently implemented and inadequately measured, and neither provides a clear pathway to sustainability. Many actors promote goals around economic growth above environmental issues. Biodiversity is often addressed indirectly or inadequately. Furthermore, many traditionally disadvantaged groups, including women and indigenous people, may be neglected and rarely engage or benefit. These challenges are compounded by capacity gaps and legal and governance complexities around implementation, influenced by traditional mindsets and approaches. Countries and companies need to plan their sustainability strategies more explicitly around the biodiversity they impact. Opportunities include the relevance and timeliness of sustainable economics for delivering Sustainable Development Goals in a post-COVID world, the existence of work to be built on, and the diversity of stakeholders already engaged. We propose five main steps to ensure the sustainability of economic approaches. Ultimately, we can ensure sustainability only by starting to shift mindsets and establishing a more focused agenda for bioeconomy and circular economy that puts species, ecosystems and the wellbeing of local people at the center.
Factors Affecting University Students’ Sleep Quality during the Normalisation of COVID-19 Epidemic Prevention and Control in China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Yin Fang , Chen Chaoyi , Song Suyi , Chen Zhuo , Jiao Zhiming , Yan Ziqi , Yin Gang , Feng Zhanchun
Published: August 2022

Background: Insufficient and poor-quality sleep have significant negative health consequences for university students in China. In this study, we aimed to assess the subjective sleep quality of university students during the normalisation of COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control in China and to identify key factors affecting their sleep quality. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1326 university students from Hubei Province, China. Latent profile analysis was conducted on the results of class-difference tests of sleep patterns. Multinomial logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between the influencing factors and three classes of sleep quality. Results: The overall score of sleep quality (9.18 ± 3.22) among university students was assessed by using the PSQI scale, and 427 (32.20%) students reported poor sleep quality. Three distinct classes of sleep patterns were identified, namely, good sleepers (Class 1, 70.44%), poor sleep quality with less medication use (Class 2, 26.55%) and poor sleepers (Class 3, 3.01%). Conclusions: Compared with ‘good sleepers’, students having ‘poor sleep quality with less hypnotic drug use’ were influenced by their education stage, smoking habits, physical activity, depression and anxiety. Meanwhile, ‘poor sleepers’ may be affected by their age, origins, smoking habits, mental stress, depression and anxiety. Significant heterogeneity was confirmed in the sleep patterns of university students. Their behavioural lifestyles and mental health-related factors demonstrated different relationship patterns with sleep quality. Multiple sleep promotion interventions, including moderate aerobic exercises, psychological counselling and mindfulness training, should be regularly performed in groups to improve their sleep quality.
SOS-Based Nonlinear Observer Design for Simultaneous State and Disturbance Estimation Designed for a PMSM Model
Authors: Sel Artun , Sel Bilgehan , Coskun Umit , Kasnakoglu Cosku
Published: August 2022

In this study, a type of nonlinear observer design is studied for a class of nonlinear systems. For the construction of the nonlinear observer, SOS-based optimization tools are utilized, which for some nonlinear dynamical systems have the advantage of transforming the problem into a more tractable one. The general problem of nonlinear observer design is translated into an SOS polynomial optimization which can be turned into an SDP problem. For a study problem, simultaneous state and disturbance estimation is considered, a cascaded nonlinear observer using a certain parameterization is constructed, and computation techniques are discussed. Cascade nonlinear observer structure is a design strategy that decomposes the problem into its components resulting in dimension reduction. In this paper, SOS-based methods using the cascade design technique are represented, and a simultaneous state and disturbance signal online estimation algorithm is constructed. The method with its smaller components is given in detail, the efficacy of the method is demonstrated by means of numerical simulations performed in MATLAB, and the observer is designed using numerical optimization tools YALMIP, MOSEK, and PENLAB.
Exploring Biblioshiny for Historical Assessment of Global Research on Sustainable Use of Water in Agriculture
Authors: Abafe Ejovi Akpojevwe , Bahta Yonas T. , Jordaan Henry
Published: August 2022

There are quite a lot of studies from global and regional perspectives that touch on sustainable water use in agriculture. As a result, we explored Biblioshiny to review the scholarly research on the sustainable use of water in agriculture. Using data analysis and visualization technique of 4106 documents authored by 12,686 scholars in 724 journals published between 1990 and 2022, we find that research on this topic gained momentum in 2007 and has followed a steady increase with an annual growth rate of ~16.12%. The results of the co-occurrence network mappings highlight five trendy topics in research on sustainable water use in agriculture, which were categorized based on five (5) Word Minimum Frequency and Number of Words per Year. These topics include the AquaCrop model, Agroforestry, Biochar, No-tillage, and Diet. While renowned journals such as Agricultural Water Management, followed by Sustainability and Water, have taken leading roles in pushing research on sustainable water use in agriculture. Regarding the impact of perspective, in terms of institutional affiliation and countries, we found that the top three most prominent affiliated institutions producing publications allied to research on the sustainable use of water in agriculture are Northwest A&F University in Xianyang, China, China Agricultural University, and Hohai University in Nanjing, China, while the top three countries are China, the USA, and Australia, accounting for 45,039 (43.4%) of the total 103,900 global citations. The study’s findings can be helpful to scholars in presenting an overview of the literature on the sustainable use of water in agriculture.
Assessing Gridded Precipitation and Air Temperature Products in the Ayakkum Lake, Central Asia
Authors: Wang Shengjie , Li Hongyang , Zhang Mingjun , Duan Lihong , Zhu Xiaofan , Che Yanjun
Published: August 2022

We evaluated the performance of gridded precipitation and air temperature datasets near the Ayakkum Lake at the southern margin of Xinjiang, arid central Asia. Statistical measures were applied to assess these climate products on a monthly basis from 2013 to 2018. For monthly precipitation amount, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis 5 shows a good performance among the five products based on most statistical measures, and the China Meteorological Forcing Dataset can also be used as an alternative, especially for estimating the long-term annual mean. For monthly air temperature, WorldClim historical weather data are recommended because of the low mean absolute error, root mean square error and distance between indices of simulation and observation. Better spatial and temporal coverages of in-situ observations are still needed to produce an optimal correction scheme for the mountainous regions of arid central Asia.
Life-Cycle Assessment of Power-to-Liquid Kerosene Produced from Renewable Electricity and CO2 from Direct Air Capture in Germany
Authors: Micheli Matteo , Moore Daniel , Bach Vanessa , Finkbeiner Matthias
Published: August 2022

Decarbonization of the aviation sector is crucial to reaching the global climate targets. We quantified the environmental impacts of Power-to-Liquid kerosene produced via Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis from electricity and carbon dioxide from air as one broadly discussed alternative liquid jet fuel. We applied a life-cycle assessment considering a well-to-wake boundary for five impact categories including climate change and two inventory indicators. Three different electricity production mixes and four different kerosene production pathways in Germany were analyzed, including two Direct Air Capture technologies, and compared to fossil jet fuel. The environmental impacts of Power-to-Liquid kerosene varied significantly across the production pathways. E.g., when electricity from wind power was used, the reduction in CO2-eq. compared to fossil jet fuel varied between 27.6–46.2% (with non-CO2 effects) and between 52.6–88.9% (without non-CO2 effects). The reduction potential regarding CO2-eq. of the layout using low-temperature electrolysis and high-temperature Direct Air Capture was lower compared to the high-temperature electrolysis and low-temperature Direct Air Capture. Overall, the layout causing the lowest environmental impacts uses high-temperature electrolysis, low-temperature Direct Air Capture and electricity from wind power. This paper showed that PtL-kerosene produced with renewable energy could play an important role in decarbonizing the aviation sector.
Infotainment May Increase Engagement with Science but It Can Decrease Perceptions of Seriousness
Authors: Davis Lloyd S. , León Bienvenido , Bourk Michael J. , Zhu Lei , Finkler Wiebke
Published: August 2022

We presented 867 participants with one of two videos about climate change that differed only in terms of whether they had an infotainment or expository narration. They were available in either English or Spanish. The participants consisted of two distinct clusters: one in which all were over 30 with a university degree, and another dominated by younger participants without a university degree. The infotainment version produced a significantly reduced perception of the seriousness of climate change for the planet in the latter cluster. Furthermore, viewers of the English versions, who were predominantly residents in countries with low-context cultures, perceived the risk of climate change for the planet to be significantly higher after watching the video with the expository narration. Using infotainment for science communication is a two-edged sword: while it may help engagement, making light of a topic can reduce perceptions about its seriousness. We suggest that the use of infotainment should be determined by the aims of the communicators and the nature of the target audience. If the purpose is simply to convey information, then infotainment is likely to be the most effective and it has the additional benefit of engaging recipients that lack a university education. However, if the purpose is to affect attitudes and persuade an audience, then an expository narration is likely to be most effective.
A Robust Economic Framework for Integrated Energy Systems Based on Hybrid Shuffled Frog-Leaping and Local Search Algorithm
Authors: Abdalla Ahmed N. , Ju Yongfeng , Nazir Muhammad Shahzad , Tao Hai
Published: August 2022

The safe and efficient operation of the integrated energy system is severely hampered by a number of unpredictable elements, such as the output of renewable energy sources, the cost of energy purchases, and full demand response (IES). The effectiveness and excellence of the integrated energy system scheduling method can be increased with advanced modeling of unpredictable aspects. Thus, the IES robust stochastic optimisation model is constructed and solved with the hybrid shuffled frog-leaping and local search (HSFLA–LS) algorithm. Finally, a simulation analysis considering the uncertainty of energy purchase price based on the hybrid SFLA–LS algorithm is reduced by USD 1.63 (0.64%) and USD 3.34 (1.3%), compared to PSO and GA, respectively. In addition, the time taken to execute the SFLA–LS algorithm for the program is reduced by 1.886 s (1.59%), and 3.117 s (2.7%), compared to PSO and GA, respectively. The findings demonstrate that the suggested approach can lower system running expenses, and achieve the coordination and optimization of economy and robustness.
Empirical Study on the Green Transformation of the Sports Industry Empowered by New Infrastructure from the Perspective of the Green Total Factor Productivity of the Sports Industry
Authors: Dong Yanmei
Published: August 2022

In this research, under the guidance of scientific and available principles, an evaluation index system for the green total factor productivity of new infrastructure construction and the sports industry was constructed. The evaluation was conducted using Stata16, the DEA-Solver PRO13 software, and GIS technology using the entropy weight method, super-efficiency SBM model, and other methods. The results indicated the following: First, the overall level of new infrastructure in China is low (mean 0.255), being slightly higher than that of information infrastructure (mean 0.230), innovation infrastructure (mean 0.190), and convergence infrastructure (mean 0.555). The level of information infrastructure, especially innovation infrastructure, in eastern China is much higher than that in central and western China, especially western China. Second, the sports industry in most Chinese provinces is effective in terms of technology and scale and is in a constant stage of scale return, while the remaining provinces are in a rising stage of scale return. The mixed efficiency in the sports industry of eastern China is at a higher level than its scale efficiency and pure technical efficiency, while the mixed efficiency levels in the sports industries of central and western China are greater than those of the pure technical efficiency but less than the scale efficiency. Meanwhile, the level of mixed efficiency in the sports industry of northeast China is far lower than that of its pure technology and scale efficiency. There is still room for improvement in the discharge of pollutants and labor practices in the sports industry, especially in the sports service industry. Third, the impact of the new infrastructure and its three subsystems on the sports industry is significantly positive at the 1% level. By region, the marginal effect of information infrastructure in eastern China is the largest (2.469), while the effect of innovation infrastructure in central China (5.113), western China (4.866), and northeast China (3.251) is the largest.
Exploring the Variations and Influencing Factors of Land Surface Temperature in the Urban Agglomeration on the Northern Slope of the Tianshan Mountains
Authors: Liang Hongwu , Kasimu Alimujiang , Ma Haitao , Zhao Yongyu , Zhang Xueling , Wei Bohao
Published: August 2022

Changes in land surface temperature (LST) can have serious impacts on the water cycle and ecological environment evolution, which in turn threaten the sustainability of ecosystems. The urban agglomeration on the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains (UANSTM) is located in the arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China, with an extremely fragile ecological environment and sensitive to climate change. However, studies on the LST of the UANSTM have not received much attention. Therefore, this study explored the spatial distribution pattern, fluctuation characteristics, and influencing factors of the LST of the UANSTM from 2005 to 2021 based on MODIS time series LST data and the geo-detector model with optimal parameters. The results show that the UANSTM is dominated by medium- and high-temperature classes, with high- and extremely high-temperature classes clustered in Turpan City. The daytime and nighttime LST patterns are significantly different, with a typical “daytime cold island and nighttime heat island” feature in the oasis region. During 2005–2021, LST fluctuated greatly in the northwestern part of the UANSTM, with LST showing an increasing trend during both daytime and nighttime, and the warming rate was more intense during daytime than nighttime. The increasing trend of LST in Urumqi, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Shihezi, and Wujiaqu is very significant and will remain consistent in the future. Precipitation, DEM, and AOD are the most important influencing factors of LST in the UANSTM, where precipitation and DEM are negatively correlated with LST, and AOD is positively correlated with LST. Land cover factors (LULC, NDVI,, and NDBSI) are the next most influential, and socioeconomic factors (NTL, GDP, and POP) are the least influential. The results of this study can provide a scientific reference for the conservation and sustainable development of the ecological environment of the UANSTM.
Evaluation of Soil Quality in a Composite Pecan Orchard Agroforestry System Based on the Smallest Data Set
Authors: Huang Cheng , Wang Zhaocheng , Ren Xiaoliang , Ma Xiaomin , Zhou Mengyu , Ge Xiang , Liu Hua , Fu Songling
Published: August 2022

Agroforestry not only takes into account the use of land for forestry and agriculture but can also improve the efficacy of utilized above- and belowground resources, which have always garnered widespread attention. The objective of this study is to evaluate the quality of pecan orchard soil following the implementation of agroforestry. Consequently, 15 indices were selected for a principal component analysis (PCA), which was then combined with the norm value of each index and the correlation coefficients between indices to establish a minimum data set (MDS). A comprehensive index model was used to calculate the soil quality index (SQI) of the total data set (TDS) and MDS (SQI-TDS and SQI-MDS, respectively), and a linear regression of the two was performed. The results revealed that the MDS indices for the evaluation of soil fertility included the pH, electrical conductivity value (EC), bulk density (BD), available potassium (AK), total nitrogen (TN), magnesium (Mg), and the index screening and filtering rates attained 60%. The Soil Quality Index (SQI-MDS) of the four planting patterns, sorted from largest to smallest, were: PPS (0.573) > PPH (0.519) > PPL (0.355) > CK (0.315). BD and AK were the main factors that affected the quality of hickory orchard soils. The agroforestry composite system improved the availability of nutrients and soil quality. Thus, the promotion of understory intercropping and appropriate increases in potassium fertilizers for plantations are recommended.
Digitalization as a Factor in Reducing Poverty and Its Implications in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Spulbar Cristi , Anghel Lucian Claudiu , Birau Ramona , Ermiș Simona Ioana , Treapăt Laurențiu-Mihai , Mitroi Adrian T.
Published: August 2022

In the present economic context, one of the most important topics of discussion is that regarding sustainable development. According to the agenda developed by the United Nations, one of the most important objectives for the present decade is represented by the list of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Development Goals can be divided into five pillars: people, planet, prosperity, partnership and peace. One of the first stipulated goals of the UN agenda is the eradication of poverty and famine. We consider that a significant influence on the eradication of poverty is represented by the development of technology. In this paper, the authors aim to establish a connection between the rate of technological development and the poverty headcount rate. To measure the digital development of the analyzed countries, we decided to compose an index of digital development by taking into account indicators made available by the International Telecommunication Union and the poverty headcount ratio, as was calculated by the World Bank database. This empirical study is of interest for the implications that it has in shaping governmental policies regarding easing the access to digital technology. The method used to quantify the influence of digital development on poverty was the panel data GMM vector autoregressive model for a dataset composed of 35 countries for the period between 2005 and 2018. The results indicate that an increase in digital development will lead to a reduction in the poverty headcount rate. These results imply that by increasing access to technology, countries could help reduce their level of poverty. In this paper, we will also analyze the way in which adopting digital development leads to better economic performance when faced with the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the present study are of great interest to the scientific community and the public due to the implications of digital development in the field of economics and the combined effect of this phenomenon and the COVID-19 pandemic. We thus conclude that by encouraging digital development and through adopting new technologies, the government can lead to the eradication of poverty. This seems counterintuitive due to the fact that investment in shelter and primary goods can be seen as one of the primary ways of developing the economy. We conclude that better and more consistent results regarding the reduction of poverty can be obtained by increasing the digital development of a country.
Appropriate Strategies for the Use of Fairtrade Certification to Improve the Organizational Climate in a Fairtrade Banana-Producing Company
Authors: Franco Ceballos María Camila , Maussa Pérez Fausto Orlando
Published: August 2022

This article studies an international banana and plantain trading company in Colombia and its relationship with the largest Fairtrade producer in the world, whose importance lies in the global trade certification that allows consumers to buy products that were produced under fair labor standards, regulated by the Fairtrade International organization. This ignores some administrative principles that put this type of organization at risk, resulting in a series of inconsistencies in business operations. We aim to design strategies that can be implemented in this type of company, improve the organizational climate, and adapt it to certification. For the design of this model, the deductive research method with a qualitative approach will be used. The obtained results seek to improve the organizational climate and the operational and administrative efficiency of certified companies.
Electro-Microbiology: A Green Approach for Energy and Environment Sustainability
Authors: Phour Manisha , Danish Mir Sayed Shah , Sabory Najib Rahman , Ahmadi Mikaeel , Senjyu Tomonobu
Published: August 2022

Energy scarcity and environmental degradation have developed into major worldwide challenges. Electro-microbiology has the potential to turn trash into environmentally friendly and sustainable resources. Low power density MFCs remain a viable option for disposing of organic waste, as they are more cost-effective than previous methods. Coordination between researchers with diverse backgrounds is required to issues look at the new gates in waste to energy issues. Biocathodes are necessary for electrosynthesis because they require microorganisms to function as an electron source and then catalyze chemical synthesis. Organic compounds may be synthesized using discarded CO2 as a carbon source, reducing the requirement for considerable quantities of arable land. Additionally, the proposed approach can be sustainable and carbon neutral when a renewable energy source is explored. An additional benefit of microbial-assisted chemical synthesis with MECs is that it enables the production of valuable chemicals from wastewater while producing electricity. This study examines the sustainable approaches for green energy by discussing bioelectrochemical and electrochemical resources and technologies.
The Effect of COVID-19 Countermeasures on Korean Air Passenger Confidence
Authors: Kim Heejoon , Song Woon-Kyung , Park Jin-Woo
Published: August 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has sharply reduced air travel demand since early 2020. This paper aims to identify factors influencing Korean passengers’ air travel confidence after COVID-19 based on three countermeasure classifications: social distancing, health, and vaccination. Data were collected online from 307 Korean air passengers from December 2021 to January 2022. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine countermeasure influence on air passenger confidence. Health measures (face mask, temperature screening, and hand sanitizing) scored the highest on importance and air travel safety sensitivity. Social distancing measures (physical distancing, contactless boarding process, and sneeze guards) scored the lowest but were still perceived to be important. Only vaccine measures (vaccine pass check-in, vaccination rates, and personal vaccination status) were identified as having a significantly positive influence on Korean air travel confidence. The study’s results do not support past studies showing social distancing and health measures partially or fully influencing air travel confidence. This finding has significant implications for understanding how Korean passengers’ perceptions and perceived sense of safety are different or have changed two years into the crisis, as well as for achieving sustainability of the aviation and travel industries after COVID-19.
The Relationship between Environmental Factors, Satisfaction with Life, and Ecological Education: An Impact Analysis from a Sustainability Pillars Perspective
Authors: Jităreanu Andy Felix , Mihăilă Mioara , Alecu Ciprian-Ionel , Robu Alexandru-Dragoș , Ignat Gabriela , Costuleanu Carmen Luiza
Published: August 2022

The paper analyzes the link between three concepts: environmental values, ecological behavior, and satisfaction with life. Various studies indicate the links between environmental values and ecological behavior, satisfaction with life, and pro-ecological behavior, but no connection between these three concepts. The paper aimed to develop such a research direction, namely sustainability as an integrative concept. The existence of a complex conceptual model between three specific constructs is analyzed. A questionnaire to 267 students from the universities of Iasi, Romania, was applied. To identify the existence of some equations between components, PLS-SEM and PLS-MGA methods were used, through SmartPLS3.9 and SPSS 18. The final model was a reflective-formative one on two hierarchical levels, being made up of 5 latent variables and 18 observed ones. Only the existence of significant equations between knowledge of environmental values and pro-ecological behavior and between knowledge of environmental values and satisfaction with life was highlighted. The multi-group analysis: although higher values are obtained among students from the rural compared to urban, there are no significant differences. The influence of knowledge of environmental values and ecological behavior on life satisfaction among students was highlighted. The results encourage the continuation of research on a larger population, from an extended area.
Evaluation of Urban Sustainability Based on Development Structures and Economic Aggregates: A Case Study of Jiaxing, China
Authors: Zhang Xufeng , Liu Yanliang , Tleubergenova Akmaral , Liu Jin-Song , Fan Ru , Tang Yun-En , Meng Xiang-Zhou
Published: August 2022

Urban sustainability is the comprehensive manifestation of development structures and economic aggregates. The current sustainable evaluation of cities from a single aspect cannot comprehensively reflect urban sustainable development. Based on emergy, this study constructs an assessment method of urban sustainability from development structures and economic aggregates. Jiaxing is the case study explored as the sustainable development model of cities in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) of China. High sustainability of economic aggregates is found in Jiaxing, which is driven by the growth of green GDP. However, the urban development of Jiaxing primarily depends on the input of ecosystem resources, which hinders the sustainability of development structures within Jiaxing. These findings indicate that economic aggregates drive the development of Jiaxing and that the development structures within Jiaxing are unsustainable, resulting from the low sustainability of the natural subsystem and the economic subsystem. As such, it is proposed that industrial structures, development models, and management policies be adopted within cities in the YRD of China in order to promote sustainable development of cities in the YRD of China. This study, therefore, seeks to provide methodological guidance for urban sustainable evaluation.
Preparation of Fe-Based MOFs Composite as an Adsorptive Photocatalyst with Enhanced Photo-Fenton Degradation under LED Light Irradiation
Authors: Armando Patrick , Lunardi Valentino Bervia , Edi Soetaredjo Felycia , Putro Jindrayani Nyoo , Santoso Shella Permatasari , Wijaya Christian Julius , Lie Jenni , Irawaty Wenny , Yuliana Maria , Shuwanto Hardy , Abdullah Hairus , Wenten I Gede , Ismadji Suryadi
Published: August 2022

In this study, a novel MIL-100(Fe)@TiO2 composite was synthesized and used as the adsorbent to remove Rhodamine B from synthetic wastewater through adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. The composite was synthesized successfully using solvothermal methods. MIL-100(Fe)@TiO2 composite has excellent adsorption and photodegradation capability for Rhodamine B removal. The reusability of the materials was observed, with the conclusion that the material still had good adsorption and photocatalytic performance after five cycles of consecutive experiments. The adsorption isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies of the removal of Rhodamine B were also conducted. The Langmuir model represented the adsorption equilibrium data better than other models. The kinetics of adsorption of Rhodamine B was presented well by pseudo-first-order. The thermodynamic study verified that the physisorption mechanism was more dominant than chemisorption. The addition of Fenton was also proven to be successful in increasing the photocatalytic abilities of the synthesized materials.
Alternative Perspectives on Environmental and Sustainability Education: A Study of Curriculum Policies across India, China and Japan
Authors: Almeida Sylvia Christine , Hu Aihua , Inoue Michiko
Published: August 2022

Environmental and Sustainability Education (ESE) in the formal sector is evolving rapidly across global contexts. Early Childhood settings are increasingly being seen as fertile grounds for promoting ESE values, attitudes and life-long pro-environmental behaviours. This article provides an in-depth understanding of the Early Childhood policy frameworks in India, China and Japan, focusing on how these support ESE implementation in Early Childhood settings. The study provides a comparative analysis of the key commonalities in the policy frameworks, the main enablers and vital challenges. It also offers a deep conversation on the convergences and divergences that bring together these three Asian countries in their goals of ESE implementation. Finally, the paper appeals to a global audience by offering a review of non-dominant approaches in these three countries, drawing upon their distinctive social, cultural and political contexts. The paper showcases the commonalities and divergences in Eastern cultures and also provides a lens to decipher key shifts from dominant Western philosophies. Overall, the paper responds to the call of this special issue to look at alternative perspectives and understand ESE in different contexts.
Analytic Network Process-Based Sustainability Life Cycle Assessment of Concrete Bridges in Coastal Regions
Authors: Navarro Ignacio J. , Martí José V. , Yepes Víctor
Published: August 2022

Since establishing the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, the assessment of the sustainability performance of existing and future infrastructures has been in the spotlight of the scientific community. This is because the construction sector is essential for promoting the social welfare and economic development of countries, but is also one of the main environmental stressors existing to date. However, assessing infrastructure sustainability throughout its life cycle remains a significant challenge, as the criteria involved in sustainable design are often complex and conflicting. The Analytic Network Process (ANP) is recognized as a powerful decision-making tool to model such problems. Here, the life cycle sustainability performance of different design alternatives for a concrete bridge near the shore is evaluated using ANP. The obtained results are compared with those obtained using the conventional Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The results obtained using ANP are more reliable than those derived from the conventional AHP in terms of the expert’s consistency and the number of comparisons made.
Combining Different Approaches for Grape Pomace Valorization: Polyphenols Extraction and Composting of the Exhausted Biomass
Authors: Perra Matteo , Cuena-Lombraña Alba , Bacchetta Gianluigi , Manca Maria Letizia , Manconi Maria , Maroun Richard G. , Muntoni Aldo , Tuberoso Carlo Ignazio Giovanni , Gil Katarzyna A. , De Gioannis Giorgia
Published: August 2022

Grape pomace represents 60%, by weight, of the solid side-streams of the wine-making process. The quantities produced, seasonality, and the presence of polyphenols pose economic and environmental issues that require proper management approaches based on the principles of sustainability and circular economy. The present work focuses on the combined application of solid–liquid extraction of polyphenols from ground grape pomace using a hydroethanolic mixture and the composting of the exhausted pomace. The obtained results support the possibility of recovering approximately 76.5 g of extract per kg of dry grape pomace (or 1.8 g of total phenols per kg of dry grape pomace). The composting process was not affected by the extraction process. On the contrary, the composting process was enhanced by the pomace particle size reduction, in terms of final biostability and content of humic acids.
Monetary Valuation of Protected Wild Animal Species as a Contingent Assessment in North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: Mauri Jerry , Huang Yingli , Harbi Jun , Roberts Nathan James
Published: August 2022

Virtually every country has a problem with preserving protected wild animals, and some countries have their way of protecting animals through legal measures. Animals are a nation’s wealth, just as are forest timber and non-timber forest products. This asset has an economic value that is worth quantifying. Ecosystem assessment is becoming an increasingly crucial factor in determining how much the environment contributes to economic value. Such studies require additional monetary modeling and evaluation of non-market services. This research presents a willingness to pay (WTP) approach to calculate the value of protecting wild animal species. The study area was in North Sulawesi, one of Indonesia’s provinces located at the northern tip of Sulawesi Island. The questionnaire format for collecting data was the dichotomous choice contingency assessment method (DCCVM), and the sample size was 428 respondents. Based on willingness to pay, we assessed the contingency of single bounded dichotomous choice (SBDC) by estimating each protected animal’s average (mean) value in three classes, namely mammals, birds, and reptiles. The mean result of the monetary assessment of protected mammal species was IDR 1,801,870 (USD 124.27), IDR 836,670 (USD 57.70) for protected bird species, and IDR 819,700 (USD 56.53) for protected reptiles. Any loss in wild animals incurs a natural resource debt burden for future generations to repay, just as does forest loss. If we do not want to leave the forest empty for our future generations, we must continue implementing nature conservation measures, including the protection and restoration of wild animals.
Development of a Sharing Concept for Industrial Compost Turners Using Model-Based Systems Engineering, under Consideration of Technical and Logistical Aspects
Authors: Cichocki Max , Landschützer Christian , Hick Hannes
Published: August 2022

The trend of sharing concepts is constantly increasing, whether this may be for economic or environmental reasons. Consequently, numerous scientific research works have addressed the subject of sharing concepts. Many of these works have dealt with questions on the topic of sharing concepts itself, however, much less research has been dedicated to the question of how the sharing concept can be developed in the very first place. Thus, the purpose of this work was to systematically use systems engineering methods to develop a sharing concept for heavy-duty agricultural vehicles, while having a strong focus on technical and logistical aspects. Due to the multidisciplinary complexity of the sharing concept, a method from the field of model-based systems engineering, ARCADIA, was chosen. On ARCADIA’s top level, operational analysis was carried out to identify the key stakeholders. The next level, systems analysis, showed that the sharing model can be divided into three main processes: (1) data acquisition and preparation; (2) location planning; (3) and route planning. For these main processes, corresponding methods, algorithms and models were sought and compared against each other in the last level, logical analysis. It can be concluded that the ARCADIA method has provided a framework for evaluating the correlations and interrelationships between methods, algorithms and models at different levels to develop a sharing concept for compost turners from a technical perspective.
Simulation Tools for the Architectural Design of Middle-Density Housing Estates
Authors: Paris Mathieu , Sansen Marjan , Bosc Stéphane , Devillers Philippe
Published: August 2022

Temperatures in every Mediterranean city are increasing due to the effects of climate change, with a consequent increase in extreme events. A previous study of French holiday housing designed during the glorious 1930s allowed us to characterize the environmental performance of four additive morphologies. Starting from in situ measurements during a typical summer day and numerical simulations, the goal of this study is to analyze the influence of two calculation methods used in microclimate simulations on the architectural design process. The results are interpreted through the mean radiant temperature and the Physiological Equivalent Temperature, hour by hour in one day, at six different places in a public lane. This work allows us to explore the use of simulation tools for the development of middle-density housing estates to improve outdoor thermal comfort in summertime.
Arsenic-Resistant Plant Growth Promoting Pseudoxanthomonas mexicana S254 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia S255 Isolated from Agriculture Soil Contaminated by Industrial Effluent
Authors: Huda Noor ul , Tanvir Rabia , Badar Javaria , Ali Iftikhar , Rehman Yasir
Published: August 2022

In many areas of developing countries, agriculture soil is irrigated with water from drains contaminated with industrial wastewater that contains many toxic substances including arsenic. Such sites could be explored for arsenic-resistant plant growth-promoting microbes. Ten arsenic-resistant bacteria were isolated from such a site and were characterized. Their ability to resist and reduce/oxidize arsenic was determined. The bacteria were also analyzed for plant growth-promoting abilities such as auxin and hydrogen cyanide production, phosphate solubilization, and nitrogen fixation. The effect of these bacteria on plant growth was determined using Vigna radiata both in presence and absence of arsenic. Bacterial isolates S254 and S255 showed maximum resistance against arsenic; up to 225 mM of As(V) and 25 mM of As(III). The phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain S254 belonged to the species Pseudoxanthomonas mexicana and strain S255 belonged to the species Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Both P. mexicana S254 and S. maltophilia S255 showed positive results for hydrogen cyanide production, auxin production, and nitrogen fixation. P. mexicana S254 produced auxin at a concentration of 14.15 µg mL−1 and S. maltophilia S255 produced auxin as high as 68.75 µg mL−1. Both the bacteria-enhanced the growth of V. radiata and a statistically significant increase in shoot and root lengths was observed both in the presence and absence of arsenic. The application of such bacteria could be helpful for the growth of plants in arsenic-contaminated lands.
Effects of Online Learning Support Services on University Students’ Learning Satisfaction under the Impact of COVID-19
Authors: Zhao Xia , Shao Mingming , Su Yu-Sheng
Published: August 2022

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many university students have transitioned from face-to-face education in the classroom to online learning. Online learning support services (OLSS) have helped university students adapt to this new form of learning. However, the quality of OLSS may influence learning experiences and satisfaction with online learning. High-quality OLSS could improve the effectiveness of online learning and improve satisfaction rates, thus better meeting students’ education requirements. Therefore, it is of great value for us to explore the effects of OLSS on university students’ learning satisfaction. This study proposed three hypotheses to evaluate the effects of three dimensions of OLSS (cognitive support, emotional support, and management support) on the learning satisfaction of university students. Data were collected through a survey and were then analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM). We found that cognitive, emotional, and management support services each had positive correlations with the learning satisfaction of university students. Overall, our results suggest that learning support services should focus on the cognitive, emotional, and management aspects of online learning, thereby meeting personalized learning needs, improving service quality, and promoting online learning.