bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of Briquette Fuels by Co-Torrefaction of Residual Biomass and Plastic Waste Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Guo Shuai , Liu Lidong , Zhao Deng , Zhao Chenchen , Li Xingcan , Li Guangyu
Published: March 2023

Combining biomass, a clean and renewable energy source, with waste plastic, which serves as a good auxiliary fuel, can produce high-quality clean fuel. The performance of biomass-derived fuel can be improved by torrefaction. This study optimized the co-torrefaction of fungus bran and polypropylene (PP) waste plastic to obtain clean solid biofuel with high calorific value and low ash content (AC) using response surface methodology. Two sets of mixed biochars were investigated using a multiobjective optimization method: mass yield–higher heating value–ash content (MY-HHV-AC) and energy yield–ash content (EY-AC). PP increased the heat value, decreased AC, and acted as a binder. The optimal operating conditions regarding reaction temperature, reaction time, and PP blending ratio were 230.68 °C, 30 min, and 20%, respectively, for the MY-HHV-AC set and 220 °C, 30 min, 20%, respectively, for the EY-AC set. The MY-HHV-AC set had properties close to those of peat and lignite. Furthermore, compared with that of the pure biochar, the AC of the two sets decreased by 15.71% and 14.88%, respectively, indicating that the prepared mixed biochars served as ideal biofuels. Finally, a circular economy framework for biobriquette fuel was proposed and prospects for preparing pellets provided.
Synergistic Catalysis in Heterobimetallic Complexes for Homogeneous Carbon Dioxide Hydrogenation
Authors: Fickenscher Zeno B. G. , Lönnecke Peter , Müller Anna K. , Hollóczki Oldamur , Kirchner Barbara , Hey-Hawkins Evamarie
Published: March 2023

Two heterobimetallic Mo,M’ complexes (M’ = IrIII, RhIII) were synthesized and fully characterized. Their catalytic activity in homogeneous carbon dioxide hydrogenation to formate was studied. A pronounced synergistic effect between the two metals was found, most notably between Mo and Ir, leading to a fourfold increase in activity compared with a binary mixture of the two monometallic counterparts. This synergism can be attributed to spatial proximity of the two metals rather than electronic interactions. To further understand the nature of this interaction, the mechanism of the CO2 hydrogenation to formate by a monometallic IrIII catalyst was studied using computational and spectroscopic methods. The resting state of the reaction was found to be the metal-base adduct, whereas the rate-determining step is the inner-sphere hydride transfer to CO2. Based on these findings, the synergism in the heterobimetallic complex is beneficial in this key step, most likely by further activating the CO2.
Investigating the Antibacterial Effects of Synthetic Gamma-Lactam Heterocycles on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains and Assessing the Safety and Effectiveness of Lead Compound MFM514
Authors: Johari Saiful Azmi , Mohtar Mastura , Mohammat Mohd Fazli , Abdul Rashid Fatin Nur Ain , Bacho Muhamad Zulfaqar , Mohamed Azman , Mohamad Ridhwan Mohamad Jemain , Syed Mohamad Sharifah Aminah
Published: March 2023

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) continues to be one of the main causes of hospital-acquired infections in all regions of the world, while linezolid is one of the only commercially available oral antibiotics available against this dangerous gram-positive pathogen. In this study, the antibacterial activity from 32 analogues of synthetic gamma-lactam heterocycles against MRSA was determined. Amongst screened analogues for the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay, compound MFM514 displayed good inhibitory activity with MIC values of 7.8–15.6 µg/mL against 30 MRSA and 12 methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) clinical isolates, while cytotoxicity evaluations displayed a mean inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of > 625 µg/mL, displaying a potential to becoming as a lead compound. In subsequent animal studies for MFM514, a single-dose oral acute toxicity test revealed an estimated mean lethal dose (LD50) value of <5000 mg/kg, while in the mice infection test, a mean effective dose (ED50) value of 29.39 mg/kg was obtained via oral administration. These results suggest that gamma-lactam carbon skeleton, particularly MFM514, is highly recommended to be evaluated further as a new safe and efficacious orally delivered antibacterial agent against MRSA.
Polyene Carboxylic Acids from a Streptomyces sp. Isolated from Tibet Soil
Authors: Zhang Manyu , Ren Jinwei , Luo Yuanming , Xie Weidong , Li Erwei
Published: March 2023

Six new polyene carboxylic acids named serpentemycins E–J (1–6), together with three known analogs (7–9), were isolated from the fermentation medium of Streptomyces sp. TB060207, which was isolated from arid soil collected from Tibet, China. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated mainly on the basis of HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopic analyses. The inhibitory activities of compounds 1–9 against NO production in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells were evaluated. Compound 9 has an inhibition rate of 87.09% to 60.53% at concentrations ranging from 5.0 to 40.0 µM.
Multiple Bioactivities of Peptides from Hydrolyzed Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
Authors: Dou Baojie , Wu Xudong , Xia Zihan , Wu Guanghao , Guo Quanyou , Lyu Mingsheng , Wang Shujun
Published: March 2023

Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (loach) is a widely distributed benthic fish in Asia. In this study, the alkaline protease was used to hydrolyze loach, and the hydrolysate products of different molecular weights were obtained by membrane separation. In vitro antioxidant assays showed that the <3 kDa fraction (SLH-1) exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity (DPPH, hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical scavenging ability, and reducing power), while SLH-1 was purified by gel filtration chromatography, and peptide sequences were identified by LC-MS/MS. A total of six peptides with antioxidant activity were identified, namely SERDPSNIKWGDAGAQ (D-1), TVDGPSGKLWR (D-2), NDHFVKL (D-3), AFRVPTP (D-4), DAGAGIAL (D-5), and VSVVDLTVR (D-6). In vitro angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition assay and pancreatic cholesterol esterase (CE) inhibition assay, peptide D-4 (IC50 95.07 μg/mL, 0.12 mM) and D-2 inhibited ACE, and peptide D-2 (IC50 3.19 mg/mL, 2.62 mM), D-3, and D-6 acted as pancreatic CE inhibitors. The inhibitory mechanisms of these peptides were investigated by molecular docking. The results showed that the peptides acted by binding to the key amino acids of the catalytic domain of enzymes. These results could provide the basis for the nutritional value and promote the type of healthy products from hydrolyzed loach.
Antitumor and Antibacterial Activity of Ni(II), Cu(II), Ag(I), and Hg(II) Complexes with Ligand Derived from Thiosemicarbazones: Characterization and Theoretical Studies
Authors: Alshater Heba , Al-Sulami Ahlam I. , Aly Samar A. , Abdalla Ehab M. , Sakr Mohamed A. , Hassan Safaa S.
Published: March 2023

Four new complexes (Ni2+, Cu2+, Ag+, and Hg2+) were prepared from the ligand N-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(phenylglycyl)hydrazine-1-carbothioamide (H2L). Analytical and spectroscopic techniques were used to clarify the structural composition of the new chelates. In addition, all chelates were tested against bacterial strains and the HepG2 cell line to determine their antiseptic and carcinogenic properties. The Ni(II) complex was preferable to the other chelates. Molecular optimization revealed that H2L had the highest reactivity, followed by Hg-chelate, Ag-chelate, Ni-chelate, and Cu-chelate. Moreover, molecular docking was investigated against two different proteins: the ribosyltransferase enzyme (code: 3GEY) and the EGFR tyrosine kinase receptor (code: 1m17).
Volatile Metabolites of Piper eriopodon (Miq.) C.DC. from Northern Region of Colombia and Assessment of In Vitro Bioactivities of the Leaf Essential Oil
Authors: Muñoz-Acevedo Amner , González María C. , De Moya Yurina Sh. , Rodríguez Juan D.
Published: March 2023

Piper eriopodon is one of the Piper species found in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and the species has been reported with different compositions of their essential oils (EO). In this study, the volatile fractions/essential oil (by HS-SPME/SDE/MWHD-GC–MS/1H-NMR) of different parts from the plant were characterized, and assessments of the in vitro bio-properties of the leaf EO were conducted. The results indicated the following: (i) in the volatile fractions were β-caryophyllene (~23%)/myrcene (~20%) (inflorescences) and β-caryophyllene (~43%)/β-selinene (~20%) (leaves) using HS-SPME; myrcene (~31%)/β-pinene (~23%) (inflorescences), gibbilimbol B (~60%) (fruits) and gibbilimbol B (~46%)/β-caryophyllene (~11%) (leaves) through SDE; (ii) leaf EO contained gibbilimbol B (~72%), confirmed with 1H-NMR; (iii) the cytotoxic values (µg/mL) in erythrocytes/lymphocytes/Hep-2 were HC50: 115 ± 3 (eryth.), LC50: 71 ± 4 (lymph.) and LC50: 33 ± 2 (cell-line); (iv) the antibacterial susceptibilities (ϕ inh. zone, mm; 4–16 µg EO) were 22.5 ± 0.4–97 ± 4 (Staphylococcus aureus), 23 ± 2–77 ± 4 (Escherichia coli) and 17 ± 1–48 ± 3 (Listeria monocytogenes); (v) the TAA value was 2249 ± 130 mmol Trolox®/kg; (vi) the IC50 value was 13±1 µg/mL (AChE) with 20 ± 0–37 ± 6% repellency (2–4 h, Sitophilus zeamais). Thus, the EO of P. eriopodon leaves from northern Colombia could be a promising species for sustainable exploitation in the future due to its outstanding bioactivities.
The Association of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis with Appetite Regulation in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)
Authors: Podgórski Rafał , Galiniak Sabina , Mazur Artur , Domin Agnieszka
Published: March 2023

Prenatal alcohol exposure causes growth impairment and a wide range of developmental, physical, and cognitive disorders in children, collectively referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). In the course of FASDs, abnormalities can also affect eating behavior and nutritional status, but these problems have received little attention. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the levels of hormones involved in the action of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis: proopiomelanocortin (POMC), cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), in the serum of patients with FASDs. To our knowledge, none of these hormones studied have yet been evaluated in FASDs to date. We investigated 62 FASD patients and 23 healthy controls by applying an enzyme-linked immunosorbent method (ELISA). Fasting POMC levels were significantly lower in patients with FASDs (10.97 vs. 18,57 ng/mL, p = 0.039) compared to controls. However, there were no differences in cortisol concentrations. Additionally, the sex and subgroup status (fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), neurobehavioral disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (ND-PAE), and FASD risk) did not affect hormone levels. POMC was positively correlated with some clinical parameters such as age, BMI percentile, carbohydrate biomarkers, and ACTH. A positive correlation was observed between ACTH and cortisol levels, as well as ACTH and cholesterol levels. Data analysis showed no HPA axis abnormalities in the form of elevated serum cortisol and ACTH levels. Differences in POMC concentration may indicate the involvement and/or impairment of central nervous system structures in hormonal alterations in FASD individuals, caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. Hormonal dysregulation in FASDs can contribute to reduced growth and development, as well as many other disturbed processes, including neurological/neurodevelopmental dysfunctions. Further insightful studies involving a larger group of patients are needed to determine the potential impact of the measured hormones.
Exploring the Application of Micellar Drug Delivery Systems in Cancer Nanomedicine
Authors: Wang Qi , Atluri Keerthi , Tiwari Amit K. , Babu R. Jayachandra
Published: March 2023

Various formulations of polymeric micelles, tiny spherical structures made of polymeric materials, are currently being investigated in preclinical and clinical settings for their potential as nanomedicines. They target specific tissues and prolong circulation in the body, making them promising cancer treatment options. This review focuses on the different types of polymeric materials available to synthesize micelles, as well as the different ways that micelles can be tailored to be responsive to different stimuli. The selection of stimuli-sensitive polymers used in micelle preparation is based on the specific conditions found in the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, clinical trends in using micelles to treat cancer are presented, including what happens to micelles after they are administered. Finally, various cancer drug delivery applications involving micelles are discussed along with their regulatory aspects and future outlooks. As part of this discussion, we will examine current research and development in this field. The challenges and barriers they may have to overcome before they can be widely adopted in clinics will also be discussed.
Identification of Blood Transport Proteins to Carry Temoporfin: A Domino Approach from Virtual Screening to Synthesis and In Vitro PDT Testing
Authors: Marconi Alessia , Giugliano Giulia , Di Giosia Matteo , Marforio Tainah Dorina , Trivini Michele , Turrini Eleonora , Fimognari Carmela , Zerbetto Francesco , Mattioli Edoardo Jun , Calvaresi Matteo
Published: March 2023

Temoporfin (mTHPC) is one of the most promising photosensitizers used in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Despite its clinical use, the lipophilic character of mTHPC still hampers the full exploitation of its potential. Low solubility in water, high tendency to aggregate, and low biocompatibility are the main limitations because they cause poor stability in physiological environments, dark toxicity, and ultimately reduce the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Applying a reverse docking approach, here, we identified a number of blood transport proteins able to bind and disperse monomolecularly mTHPC, namely apohemoglobin, apomyoglobin, hemopexin, and afamin. We validated the computational results synthesizing the mTHPC-apomyoglobin complex (mTHPC@apoMb) and demonstrated that the protein monodisperses mTHPC in a physiological environment. The mTHPC@apoMb complex preserves the imaging properties of the molecule and improves its ability to produce ROS via both type I and type II mechanisms. The effectiveness of photodynamic treatment using the mTHPC@apoMb complex was then demonstrated in vitro. Blood transport proteins can be used as molecular “Trojan horses” in cancer cells by conferring mTHPC (i) water solubility, (ii) monodispersity, and (iii) biocompatibility, ultimately bypassing the current limitations of mTHPC.
Preface for Special Issue: Progress in Laser Accelerator and Future Prospects
Authors: Tajima Toshiki , Chen Pisin
Published: March 2023

In early 2022, one of the authors (Professor T [...]
Numerical Simulation of the Pouring Process in Deep-Water Flexible Pipe End Fittings
Authors: Li Hongxia , He Chenwei , Zhang Tao , Lu Qingzhen , Yan Jun
Published: March 2023

The pouring quality of epoxy resin in the resin cavity of deep-water composite flexible pipe end fittings has a decisive effect on the performance of the end fitting, and accurate investigation of the resin flow during the pouring process can provide a reference for optimization of the pouring process so that the pouring quality can be improved. In this paper, numerical methods were employed to investigate the pouring process of the resin cavity. The distribution and evolution of defects were studied, and the influence of pouring rate and fluid viscosity on pouring quality was analyzed. In addition, based on the simulation results obtained, some local pouring simulations were conducted for the armor steel wire, the key characteristic structure of the end fitting resin cavity that has a significant influence on the pouring quality, to investigate the influence of the geometrical characteristics of the armor steel wire on the pouring quality. Based on these results, the existing end fitting resin cavity structure and pouring process were optimized, and better pouring quality was obtained.
Effect of Hemp Hurd Biochar and Humic Acid on the Flame Retardant and Mechanical Properties of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate
Authors: Di Maro Mattia , Faga Maria Giulia , Pedraza Riccardo , Malucelli Giulio , Bartoli Mattia , Gomez d’Ayala Giovanna , Duraccio Donatella
Published: March 2023

In this work, the combination of biochar produced through a pyrolytic process of hemp hurd with commercial humic acid as a potential biomass-based flame-retardant system for ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer is thoroughly investigated. To this aim, ethylene vinyl acetate composites containing hemp-derived biochar at two different concentrations (i.e., 20 and 40 wt.%) and 10 wt.% of humic acid were prepared. The presence of increasing biochar loadings in ethylene vinyl acetate accounted for an increasing thermal and thermo-oxidative stability of the copolymer; conversely, the acidic character of humic acid anticipated the degradation of the copolymer matrix, even in the presence of the biochar. Further, as assessed by forced-combustion tests, the incorporation of humic acid only in ethylene vinyl acetate slightly decreased both peaks of heat release rate (pkHRR) and total heat release (THR, by 16% and 5%, respectively), with no effect on the burning time. At variance, for the composites containing biochar, a strong decrease in pkHRR and THR values was observed, approaching −69 and −29%, respectively, in the presence of the highest filler loading, notwithstanding, for this latter, a significant increase in the burning time (by about 50 s). Finally, the presence of humic acid significantly lowered the Young’s modulus, unlike biochar, for which the stiffness remarkably increased from 57 MPa (unfilled ethylene vinyl acetate) to 155 Mpa (for the composite containing 40 wt.% of the filler).
Religiosity and Sexual Satisfaction in Middle Age: The Moderating Role of Nonconformity
Authors: Mróz Justyna , Kaleta Kinga , Bernacka Ryszarda Ewa , Kubrak Karol , Weryszko Małgorzata , Charzyńska Edyta
Published: March 2023

The period of middle adulthood presents people with self-actualization challenges related, among others, to their religious beliefs and sexual satisfaction. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between religiosity, nonconformity and sexual satisfaction, as well as to examine whether nonconformity moderates the relationship between religiosity and sexual satisfaction in middle adulthood. The following questionnaires were used: the Religious Meaning System Questionnaire, the Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire, and the Creative Behavior Questionnaire CBQIII. A series of regression analyses using Hayes PROCESS macro was run to test the models in a sample of 667 middle adults aged between 35 and 55 (M = 42.62; SD = 5.37). The analyses revealed significant relationships between the variables. The religious meaning system showed negative correlations with both nonconformity and sexual satisfaction, whereas nonconformity was positively correlated with sexual satisfaction. An interaction effect of religiosity and nonconformity on sexual satisfaction, when controlling for gender and age, was also demonstrated. More specifically, religiosity was negatively related to sexual satisfaction in individuals with a high level of nonconformity. By contrast, for low and average levels of nonconformity, the relationship between religiosity and sexual satisfaction was insignificant. The results suggest that religiosity may interact with nonconformity when predicting the intensity of sexual satisfaction of middle adults.
Research on a Prediction Model and Influencing Factors of Cross-Regional Price Differences of Rebar Spot Based on Long Short-Term Memory Network
Authors: Wu Sen , Liu Shuaiqi , Zong Huimin , Sun Yiyuan , Wang Wei
Published: March 2023

In this paper, taking rebar steel as an example, we study the causes and influencing factors of spot price differences in rebar steel in different regions, and put forward a prediction model of rebar steel regional price differences based on the spot price of rebar from 2013 to 2022, supply and demand, cost, macroeconomics, industrial economic indicators, and policy data. Through correlation analysis, we consider all influencing factors step by step, select indicators with high correlation to add to the model, and select the optimal combination of influencing factors by comparing the results of five groups of experiments. Using the long short-term memory network, we predict the weekly spot price differences of rebar in different regions. Based on the historical-price time series, the optimal time window setting is given as the final price difference prediction model. The experimental results show that the prediction model of rebar spot price differences can support a 72.3% effective trading rate by combining the influencing factors with the LSTM model. This study has a guiding role for spot trading and can help spot enterprises, determine arbitrage trading strategies based on the prediction results, obtain sustainable returns under low risk, and realize the maximization of cross-regional arbitrage.
Effectiveness Analysis of Public Transit Pandemic Prevention Strategy Considering Traveler Risk Perception
Authors: Li Xiaodan , Xie Binglei , Gong Di
Published: March 2023

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there have been hundreds of millions of confirmed cases in the world, and people can strongly perceive the risk of infection with the virus in their daily lives, which has seriously affected people’s life and travel, thus hindering the development of all sectors of society, especially the transportation sector. Taking China as an example, since the outbreak of the pandemic, China’s overall public transportation passenger volume has decreased by about 37%, seriously affecting the normal running of the public transit. Therefore, the ways of ensuring the normal running of the public transport system during the pandemic has become the focus of this paper. In order to solve this problem, this paper constructed a SEM model based on pandemic risk perception, analyzed the impact of public transit pandemic prevention strategies (TPS) on risk perception (RP) and travel mode use according to the personal trip survey data in Harbin, China during the pandemic. The results showed that people’s risk perception had a significant negative impact on car usage and transit usage. In other words, people’s risk perception of virus infection had a great impact on travel, especially on the use of public transit. The transit pandemic prevention strategy had a significant negative impact on risk perception, and had a significant positive impact on people’s use of transit. This showed that in the current pandemic outbreak period, the transit pandemic prevention strategy proposed by the Harbin authorities cannot effectively reduce transit usage, and can provide proven and effective transit pandemic prevention strategies. This provided an important support for ensuring the normal running of the public transit system and guiding the sustainable development of public transit during the outbreak of the pandemic.
e-RetailTest: Scale to Assess the Attitude of Consumers towards E-Commerce in the Retail Sector
Authors: García-Salirrosas Elizabeth Emperatriz , Rondon-Eusebio Rafael Fernando , Millones-Liza Dany Yudet , Bejarano-Auqui Jesús Fernando
Published: March 2023

Changes in consumer behavior are driven by tastes and preferences that change over time as their socioeconomic conditions change. The objective of this study was to validate the psychometric characteristics of the e-RetailTest scale, created to measure consumer attitudes towards online shopping in developing countries, particularly in the Peruvian market. The e-RetailTest evaluates five variables present in the online purchase process: (a) quality of web design, (b) risk when making a purchase, (c) customer service, (d) security and (e) satisfaction, with a total of twenty items using a Likert scale. A total of 422 valid responses were collected from Peruvian consumers who had had online shopping experience in the retail sector. Statistically, we worked with the AFE exploratory factor analysis and the AFC confirmatory factor analysis. The results suggest that this first version of the e-RetailTest presents adequate psychometric evidence to measure the attitude of consumers towards online purchases in the retail sector in the Peruvian market. Thus, it seeks to contribute to the advancement of the study of these important variables of Latin American consumer behavior.
Beyond Climate Ready? A History of Seattle Public Utilities’ Ongoing Evolution from Environmental and Climate Risk Management to Integrated Sustainability
Authors: Grodnik-Nagle Ann , Sukhdev Ashima , Vogel Jason , Herrick Charles
Published: March 2023

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a municipal water supply, drainage, wastewater, and solid waste management utility in Seattle, Washington. This utility has explored the impacts of climate change and supported climate adaptation work since 1997. Faced with threats such as sea level rise, drought, wildfires, and extreme precipitation events, SPU has worked to “mainstream” climate science throughout its strategic planning, capital investments, management, operations, staffing, institutional culture, and more. This paper provides a descriptive, chronologically ordered account of how SPU’s climate-change-related work has evolved to become an aspect of a broader social and environmental sustainability orientation, aimed at resilience against climate impacts, but also towards improving greenhouse gas emissions reduction, carbon sequestration, water and waste circularity, green infrastructure, ecosystem and species stewardship, green and blue workforce development, affordability, an intergenerational perspective, and environmental justice. We frame this transition as a movement from a core focus on risk management toward a proactive and integrated mode of sustainable operations. While SPU’s journey has been enabled by a co-productive approach to climate services, we speculate on how this model can be broadened and diversified to help SPU pursue their goal of becoming a sustainable organization. It is our hope that this paper sparks reflection and discussion within the climate services community, amongst utilities, municipalities, and policy entrepreneurs that are interested in sustainability.
Sustainable Development of Employee Lifecycle Management in the Age of Global Challenges: Evidence from China, Russia, and Indonesia
Authors: Xiang Hua , Lu Jie , Kosov Mikhail E. , Volkova Maria V. , Ponkratov Vadim V. , Masterov Andrey I. , Elyakova Izabella D. , Popkov Sergey Yu. , Taburov Denis Yu. , Lazareva Natalia V. , Muda Iskandar , Vasiljeva Marina V. , Zekiy Angelina O.
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the employee lifecycle management (ELM) sphere, leading to the adoption of new human resource (HR) technologies and policies. This study investigates the impact of megatrends, artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and innovation on ELM and human resource management (HRM) policies in China, Russia, and Indonesia. Data were collected through structured interviews and publicly available information from companies in these countries between 2021 and 2022. The study evaluates the effects of artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation (DT), and innovations on the sustainable development of ELM and identifies differences in technological responses to ELM in companies depending on their level of digital maturity. The results show that the majority of companies have continued the process of ELM digital transformation, but the percentage varies based on the scope of activity, labor, and readiness of the country to implement new technologies. The study reveals that large companies in each analyzed country with over 10,000 employees have a greater need and opportunity to implement HR digital transformation, whereas small companies with up to 100 people can operate without automation. In addition, the findings of this study provide propositions for designing how AI and innovations contribute to ELM. This article contributes to the current debate in the literature by substantiating the positive impact of AI, digital technology, and innovation on ELM and HRM strategies, offering practical applications for companies to improve productivity. Overall, this study highlights the importance of adopting innovative HR technologies in response to global challenges and workplace trends.
Establishment and Application of a Specialized Physical Examination Indicator System for Urban Waterlogging Risk in China
Authors: Li Junqi , Zhang Haohan , Zhang Xiaoran , Wang Wenliang
Published: March 2023

With the rapid development of urbanization in China, urban waterlogging has become a significant problem in constructing the safety of the human environment. As an essential manifestation of the modernization of the urban governance system and capacity, the city physical examination establishes a multi-criteria evaluation system for problem diagnosis, rectification, and improvement. In order to accurately identify the risk of urban waterlogging, the concept of special physical examination of urban waterlogging risk was established, and the evaluation mechanism and indicator definition were improved on the basis of the “four-factor method” of flooding disaster assessment. From the perspective of urban basin flood control capacity, background disaster-bearing conditions, “Major-Minor-Micro” drainage system capacity, crucial locations and personnel protection, and emergency management capacity, twenty-four indicators in five categories were selected. The interaction between multiple factors is considered to establish a special physical examination indicator system as a characteristic evaluation mechanism of waterlogging with the goal of urban safety and resilience. The results of the study could provide theoretical and technical support for the diagnosis of urban waterlogging risk problems and the formulation of prevention and control strategies.
Relevance between Tourist Behavior and the Spatial Environment in Huizhou Traditional Villages—A Case Study of Pingshan Village, Yi County, China
Authors: Gao Xiang , Li Zao , Sun Xia
Published: March 2023

In recent years, the tourism industry in traditional villages has been developing rapidly due to the national call to vigorously advocate for and promote traditional culture, but there are plenty of problems and challenges facing the protection and development of traditional villages. The GPS action tracking method was adopted in this study to investigate the trajectory of tourists in typical traditional villages of Huizhou and to screen out different spatial sites with different characteristics based on the kernel density analysis. Thereby, people’s behavior in different spatial sites were analyzed in depth using the method of behavior observation, and ultimately, the relevance between the spatial environment of traditional villages, the characteristics of tourists’ actions, and their staying preferences were discussed, and hence an improvement strategy of spatial optimization was put forward accordingly. The research shows that, in Huizhou traditional villages, different scales and forms of space will affect tourists’ tour paths; the unreasonable distribution of commercial formats leads to the uneven distribution of village vitality; and traditional elements and landscape facilities are more likely to cause tourists to demonstrate a variety of behaviors. These findings provide (1) a basis for further understanding the spatial characteristics of traditional villages in Huizhou; (2) a basis for the spatial optimization of traditional villages; and (3) a new research perspective and feasible technical route for the protection, renewal, and sustainable development of traditional villages in other regions.
Multi-Terminal Berth and Quay Crane Joint Scheduling in Container Ports Considering Carbon Cost
Authors: Jiang Meixian , Feng Jiajia , Zhou Jian , Zhou Lin , Ma Fangzheng , Wu Guanghua , Zhang Yuqiu
Published: March 2023

As container ports become increasingly important to the global supply chain, a growing number of ports are improving their competencies by consolidating multiple terminal resources internally. In addition, in the context of energy conservation and emission reduction, ports measure competitiveness not only in terms of terminal size, throughput and service level, but also in terms of low energy consumption and low pollution. Therefore, a nonlinear mixed-integer programming model considering the cost of carbon is developed for the multi-terminal berth and quay crane joint robust scheduling problem under uncertain environments to minimize the sum of expectation and variance of total cost under all randomly generated samples. The model considers the water depth and interference of quay cranes, etc. The expected vessel arrival time and the average operational efficiency plus relaxation are used as their actual values when scheduling. Finally, an improved adaptive genetic algorithm is developed by combining the simulated annealing mechanism, and numerical experiments are designed. The results show that the joint berth and quay crane scheduling with uncertainties and a multi-terminal coordination mechanism can effectively reduce the operating cost, including carbon costs and the vessel departure delay rate, and can improve resource utilization. Meanwhile, the scheduling with the multi-terminal coordination mechanism can obtain more significant improvement effects than the scheduling with uncertainties.
Artificial-Intelligence-Supported Reduction of Employees’ Workload to Increase the Company’s Performance in Today’s VUCA Environment
Authors: Rožman Maja , Oreški Dijana , Tominc Polona
Published: March 2023

This paper aims to develop a multidimensional model of AI-supported employee workload reduction to increase company performance in today’s VUCA environment. Multidimensional constructs of the model include several aspects of artificial intelligence related to human resource management: AI-supported organizational culture, AI-supported leadership, AI-supported appropriate training and development of employees, employees’ perceived reduction of their workload by AI, employee engagement, and company’s performance. The main survey involved 317 medium-sized and large Slovenian companies. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. The results show that three multidimensional constructs (AI-supported organizational culture, AI-supported leadership, and AI-supported appropriate training and development of employees) have a statistically significant positive effect on employees’ perceived reduction of their workload by AI. In addition, employees’ perceived reduced workload by AI has a statistically significant positive effect on employee engagement. The results show that employee engagement has a statistically significant positive effect on company performance. The concept of engagement is based on the fact that the development and growth of the company cannot be achieved by increasing the number of employees or by adding capital; the added value comes primarily from increased productivity, which is a result of the innovative ability of employees and their work engagement, which improve the company’s performance. The results will significantly contribute to creating new views in the field of artificial intelligence and adopting important decisions in creating working conditions for employees in today’s rapidly changing work environment.
Model Collaboration between Farm Level Models with Application on Dutch Dairy and Arable Farms Regarding Circular Agricultural Policy
Authors: Helming John , Daatselaar Co , van Dijk Wim , Mollenhorst Herman , Pishgar-Komleh Seyyed Hassan
Published: March 2023

The ambition of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture is to stimulate the transition to circular agriculture. The objective of this paper is to develop and apply a farm level model toolbox for circular-agriculture policy assessment. Transition to circular agriculture affects farm management practices and outcome in the field of finance and economics, soil quality, use of finite resources, emissions, and biodiversity. Based on this, there is a need for an integrated assessment at farm level. Therefore, Bio Economic Farm Models should be at the core of the model toolbox. Model collaboration enables answering more complex questions and enlarges the scope of the analysis. Challenges of model collaboration are among others overlapping modules, different approaches (optimisation versus simulation), and existence of different networks of model developers and users. It is argued that a governance structure and networking will foster model collaboration. To stimulate transition to more circular agriculture practices and as a demonstration, the model toolbox was applied to assess the economic and environmental impacts of a tax on N from mineral fertiliser on a representative dairy and arable farm in a region in the Netherlands. It was found that a tax on N from mineral fertiliser has relatively large income effects, while the impacts on various environmental indicators are relatively limited.
City-Region Food Systems and Biodiversity Conservation: The Case Study of the Entre-Douro-e-Minho Agrarian Region
Authors: Filipe Mariana , Lomba Angela , Honrado João Pradinho , Cardoso Andreia Saavedra
Published: March 2023

Agriculture is the dominant form of land management with at least half of the species in Europe depending on agricultural habitats. Additionally, there is a growing demand for a more sustainable food system. In that context, food system relocalization and City-Region Food Systems (CRFS) are proposed for food resilience and environmental sustainability. This work represents the first attempt to map the relocalization of the potential foodshed (PF) of the Entre-Douro-e-Minho agrarian region, assessing its impacts on landscape heterogeneity and ecological value. The methodological approach, developed in a Geographic Information System, aimed to (1) map the ecological suitability of the study area, (2) propose a PF relocalization scenario, and (3) assess its impacts on land cover changes and landscape structure through landscape metrics. Outcomes of this research reflect land-use optimization concerning ecological suitability for agrarian uses, depicting the strong presence of temporary crops in the landscape. They also emphasize the need for greater detail in Land Use Plans, due to the vulnerability of coastal areas. Moreover, results revealed an increased landscape heterogeneity and related ecological value, highlighting the integration of landscape ecological properties into CRFS planning as a line of research and contributing to the implementation of land use compatible with biodiversity conservation.
A Robust Optimization Model for Multi-Period Railway Network Design Problem Considering Economic Aspects and Environmental Impact
Authors: Noruzi Morteza , Naderan Ali , Zakeri Jabbar Ali , Rahimov Kamran
Published: March 2023

The railway network design problem is one of the critical issues in the transportation sector due to its significance and variety of necessary applications. The major issue of this field relates to the decision of whether to increase the railways’ capacity or construct a new route to meet demand. Although the budget is a great concern of the managers for making such a decision, environmental factors should be necessarily included in the decision-making process. Therefore, this research proposes a novel robust bi-objective mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model to simultaneously minimize the total cost and environmental impact under uncertain conditions and within a given time horizon. The proposed problem addresses strategic and operational decisions through railway project selection and product flow determination. To deal with the bi-objectiveness of the model and tackle the complexity of the problem, a nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is employed. The proposed NSGA-II could reach near-optimal Pareto solutions in a reasonable solution time and showed a reliable performance for being employed in large-sized instances. It also indicates that the proposed NSGA-II can be utilized for solving large-sized samples in a very short time.
Exploring the Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Financial Performance: The Moderating Role of Media Attention
Authors: Li Jiangjun , Fu Tao , Han Shengyue , Liang Rui
Published: March 2023

In the post-epidemic era, more and more enterprises have realized the crucial significance of corporate social responsibility for enterprise development. However, there is no consensus on the relationship between CSR and financial performance (FP). We collected data on listed companies in China from 2014 to 2020 in order to demonstrate whether CSR is positively or negatively correlated with financial performance and studied this relationship for the first time using media attention as a moderating variable. Through a regression analysis, we found that (1) companies with good CSR performance show a high level of FP; (2) the higher the media’s attention on the company, the better the CSR performance; and (3) based on the nature of the emotion, we divided media attention into positive and negative reports. Positive reports weaken the positive impact of CSR on financial performance, while negative reports reinforce this positive effect. These empirical findings remain robust after controlling for endogeneity and employing alternative variable measures. The results in this paper complement recent nexus modeling work and give a better understanding of the interaction mechanism in the CSR-FP nexus with useful implications for future enterprises’ sustainable development.
The Mediating Roles of Economic, Socio-Cultural, and Environmental Factors to Predict Tourism Market Development by Means of Regenerative Travel: An Infrastructural Perspective of China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
Authors: Zulfaqar Maria , Bashir Shahid , Yaghmour Samer Mohammed Ahmed , Turi Jamshid Ali , Hussain Musaib
Published: March 2023

Even though the significance of the China–Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) is frequently discussed on various international forums, its economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impacts in a geographically constrained area have not yet been studied precisely. Consequently, the goal of this study is to look into how CPEC Infrastructural Development (CPECID) would regenerate the tourism market in Gilgit Baltistan (GB), a Pakistani administrative territory. The basic data gathered via a convenience sample strategy is subjected to a quantitative analysis approach. In total, 336 inhabitants of GB participated in a closed-ended online survey that was used to gather data. The results showed that CPECID has a favorable influence on regenerative tourist growth and development in the area and that this link is partially mediated by economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impacts. The study’s conclusions have important implications for authorities creating regenerative tourist promotion plans, in addition to adding to the body of knowledge on tourism.
Red Boat Spirit and Social Entrepreneurship Education in China
Authors: Yuan Chih-Hung , Wang Dajiang , Su Hsiang-Hua
Published: March 2023

Economic development and community revitalization can benefit from youth entrepreneurship; however, insufficient guidance for youths may weaken this beneficial effect. The Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China organized entrepreneurship events in China’s tertiary education institutes. With the aim of helping youths at university to clearly perceive social–entrepreneurship value and steadily form moral business motives, events were guided by the core of the Red Boat Spirit (RBS) and through the specific program Youth Red Dream Building Journey (YRDBJ). Youths have been part of the nation’s evolution via their contributions to various fields, including initiatives to improve the appearance of the countryside; modern innovations in agriculture; providing health and medicine supplies to alleviate poverty; and the cultural spread of RBS. Ten million university students have joined the program since 2017. Incorporating RBS and Social Entrepreneurship Education (SEE) into the special Ideological and Political Education (IPE) in China’s tertiary education, the program, YRDBJ, significantly influenced the Chinese youth in terms of social entrepreneurship at university. With this analytical approach, this study employed Marxist theories to analyze the relevant theoretical literature on entrepreneurship in order to discover the mechanism underlying the success of the program. This paper reveals the theoretical framework of YRDBJ and analyzes the factors that favorably formed the framework; moreover, it also proposes a new conceptual model bound with YRDBJ, which enriches the theoretical development of IPE and SEE. This paper also notes the limitations of YRDBJ and subjects it to scrutiny; then, we provide new ideas to improve the relationship between SEE and YRDBJ.
The Impacts of the Asian Elephants Damage on Farmer’s Livelihood Strategies in Pu’er and Xishuangbanna in China
Authors: Du Yuchen , Chen Junfeng , Xie Yi
Published: March 2023

The human–elephant conflict is a current issue that receives global attention and occurs in all elephant-distribution countries. This paper focuses on Pu′er and Xishuangbanna cities in the distribution area of Asian elephants in Yunnan Province. Based on two case studies, we collect basic information from local farmers regarding the severity of the damage caused by Asian elephants and the impact this has on their psychology. Based on the Logit model and modulation effect, we analyze the impact farmers’ livelihood capital on how they choose livelihood strategies in the distribution area and whether damage caused by Asian elephants and general conflict conditions can regulate this impact. The results show that the damage caused by Asian elephants and general conflict conditions is serious in the distribution area, but the number of farmers who choose to change their livelihood strategies is small. The damage caused by Asian elephants has a different modulation effect on farmers’ livelihood capital. In the future, we should be more considerate of the livelihood capital accumulation of local farmers in the process of protecting Asian elephants, with a view towards maintaining and improving the livelihoods of farmers.
Study on the Critical Factors Influencing High-Quality Development of Green Buildings for Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Goals of China
Authors: Zhu Wenxi , Zhang Jing , Wang Da , Ma Chongsen , Zhang Jinfan , Chen Pei
Published: March 2023

Green buildings are an important initiative to address energy and environmental issues in the construction field. The high-quality development of green buildings is affected by many factors, and it is necessary to identify the critical factors affecting the high-quality development of green buildings and analyze them systematically. The adopted literature analysis method and expert consultation method, the DIM (DEMATEL-ISM-MICMAC) model was established to explore critical factors influencing green buildings’ high-quality development and their internal hierarchical structure, interrelationships, and mechanisms. Then, targeted suggestions were put forward to promote green buildings’ high-quality development. The results showed that: (1) The critical factors influencing green buildings’ high-quality development could be divided into five levels, three groups, and four areas. The economic development level, living standard of residents, education level, incentive policies, and compulsory laws and regulations were in the deep factor group, fundamentally affecting green buildings’ high-quality development. (2) In terms of drive and centrality, the economic development level, living standard of residents, education level, and incentive policies were at the forefront, playing a vital role in the high-quality development of green buildings.