bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Game-Theoretic Approach to Design Solar Power Generation/Storage Microgrid System for the Community in China
Authors: Zhou Xue , Shou Jianan , Cui Weiwei
Published: August 2022

The utilization of solar power generation/storage microgrid systems has become an important approach, transforming the energy structure of China in order to achieve the emission peak and carbon neutrality. Meanwhile, the commercialization of household photovoltaic (PV) systems is also at the transitional period between its beginning to its maturity. This study considers developers intending to invest in building community microgrids with the concept of sustainable development, and focuses on the relationship between the developers and residential users. Firstly, an operation framework considering the autonomous behavior patterns of stakeholders is proposed. Then, a two-level mathematical programming model based on the leader–follower game is established in this paper. In the upper level, the developer decides the capacity size and the system price of the microgrid system in order to maximize profit. In the lower level, the residential users in the community optimize their power consumption behaviors in the microgrid system taking into account both benefit and fairness. They need to decide whether to support the construction of a microgrid system by comparing their electricity bills before and after participating in a microgrid system. Through solving the model and analyzing the relationship between the two sides of the game, it can be seen that only by designing the optimal system configuration and coordinating with weather conditions in terms of better sunshine intensity can the developer and all kinds of users benefit from the project under the current market data. Meanwhile, the users with higher power consumption benefit more from the microgrid system among different types of residents. Under the market structure dominated by developer, the government’s PV subsidy will greatly increase the revenue of system developer. However, it does not increase the installed capacity of system, nor does it bring more benefits to residential users. Moreover, compared with the independent operation mode, the centralized management mode can bring more benefits to both sides and encourage the developer to build larger installations.
Construction 4.0, Industry 4.0, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Sustainable Building Development within the Smart City
Authors: Chen Yali , Huang Dan , Liu Zhen , Osmani Mohamed , Demian Peter
Published: August 2022

At present, the smart city offers the most desired state of urban development, encompassing, as it does, the concept of sustainable development. The creation of a smart city is closely associated with upgrading the construction industry to encompass many emerging concepts and technologies, such as Construction 4.0, with its roots in Industry 4.0, and the deployment of building information modeling (BIM) as an essential tool for the construction industry. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the current state of the art and development trajectory of the multidisciplinary integration of Construction 4.0, Industry 4.0, BIM, and sustainable construction in the context of the smart city. It is the first attempt in the literature to use both macro-quantitative analysis and micro-qualitative analysis methods to investigate this multidisciplinary research topic. By using the visual bibliometric tool, VOSviewer, and based on macro keyword co-occurrence, this paper is the first to reveal the five keyword-constructed schemes, research hotspots, and development trends of the smart city, Construction 4.0, Industry 4.0, BIM, and sustainable construction, from 2014 to 2021 (a period of eight years). Additionally, the top 11 productive subject areas have been identified with the help of VOSviewer software keyword-clustering analysis and application. Furthermore, the whole-building life cycle is considered as an aid to identifying research gaps and trends, providing suggestions for future research with the assistance of an upgraded version of BIM, namely, city information modeling (CIM) and the future integration of Industry 5.0 and Construction 5.0, or even of Industry Metaverse with Construction Metaverse.
A Comparative Analysis on Morphological and Physiological Characteristics between Castor Varieties (Ricinus communis L.) under Salt Stress
Authors: Huang Fenglan , Jiang Yaxuan , Zhang Subin , Liu Shuo , Eh Tong-Ju , Meng Fanjuan , Lei Pei
Published: August 2022

Salt stress is one of the main abiotic factors affecting castor yield. Wild castor resources can provide important insights for cultivated castor breeding. However, little is known about how wild castor responds or adapts to salt stress. To understand the physiological mechanisms for salt tolerance in castor, the morphological and physiological responses of two varieties, wild and cultivated castor, with contrasted salt tolerance were characterized under salt stress. Seedlings were exposed to 0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl. The results showed that salt application significantly inhibited the increase in chlorophyll content and relative water content of cultivated castor. The degree of electrolyte leakage of wild castor under salt stress was significantly less than that of cultivated castor. In addition, the WT showed a lower content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under the salt stress compared to CT. The activities of antioxidant enzymes like SOD, APX, GR, and MDHAR in the leaves of WT showed higher accumulation compared to those of CT under salt stress. The ratio of ASA/DHA and GSH/GSSG in leaves of WT showed a distinct increase compared to CT. In summary, our results revealed the salt stress resistance characteristics of wild castor. Wild castor also has the potential to be used as parental material in a breeding program. These results will be valuable for salt resistance breeding of cultivated castor.
An Analysis of the Impact of the Circular Economy Application on Construction and Demolition Waste in the United States of America
Authors: Cho Namho , El Asmar Mounir , Aldaaja Mohammad
Published: August 2022

The built environment is accountable for a substantial share of global waste production. Construction and demolition (C&D) debris requires significant landfill areas and costs billions of USD. A circular economy (CE) is a business model that promotes the efficient use of materials to minimize waste generation and raw material consumption. The success of a CE model can be directly linked to the economic impact for each of the business participants. This study applies the concept of CE to estimate the macro-scale financial impact of key entities that contribute to the unclaimed C&D debris stream in the United States of America (U.S.). This study identifies three recycling steam entities: waste generators, recyclers, and end-users. The result shows that waste generators can save USD 6.5 billion by recycling in comparison to sending the current waste materials to landfills. This study could not find the estimated economic benefit for recyclers, but reasonable profit should be generated for them to sustain the C&D recycling industry. Lastly, end-users benefit by an estimated USD 34 billion, which can be achieved based on the condition of high-value recycling materials. The contribution of this paper is analyzing the macro-scale impact of CE on both business owners and consumers and showing how the impact on consumers cannot be neglected.
Application of the Innovative Model NIPA to Evaluate Service Satisfaction
Authors: Li Shang-Pin , Lin Ying-Hsiang , Huang Chih-Cheng
Published: August 2022

Customer satisfaction is one of the antecedent variables of customer loyalty, and customer satisfaction can positively affect customer loyalty. However, past research on consumer behavior has focused mainly on the direct consumption behavior of customers in service satisfaction, not in indirect behavior. This study takes the wedding garden as an example to explore the indirect behavior of customers, based on PZB’s service quality, and using the customer value hierarchy theory, adopts a questionnaire survey, and from the perspectives of users, investigates the current service quality, in order to analyze the quality of the service according to an evaluation formula. This study distributes a total of 380 questionnaires and collects 367 valid samples, for a valid return rate of 96.7%. In order to solve the problems caused by the original important performance analysis (IPA), the research constructs new important performance analysis (NIPA) to replace the original. This structural model presents a structured measurement process with risk management performance and judgment rules, which yielded different outcomes, as well as distinguished managerial implications. Furthermore, this new analysis model can provide managers with different perspectives in helping administrators in decision making.
Effect of Urban River Morphology on the Structure of Macroinvertebrate Communities in a Subtropical Urban River
Authors: Sheng Qiang , Xu Wang , Chen Long , Wang Lei , Wang Yudong , Liu Yihong , Xie Linshen
Published: August 2022

Channelization is the most common hydraulic modification of urban rivers. Here, we assessed the effects of urban river morphology on benthic communities by analyzing the characteristics of benthic communities at various sites in channelized and natural rivers of the Longgang River system in southern China. We detected four Clitellata species, five Oligochaeta species, one Polychaeta species, 10 Gastropoda genera/species, two Bivalvia genera/species, two Crustacea genera/species, and 14 Insecta genera/species. Insecta and Oligochaeta were the dominant classes in the wet and dry seasons, and Chironomus plumosus was the most dominant species. The density of Clitellata was significantly lower in channelized rivers (0–0.74 ind/m2) than in natural rivers (0.61–4.85 ind/m2). The Shannon’s diversity index was significantly lower in channelized rivers (0.66–1.04) than in natural rivers (0.83–1.28) in the wet and dry season. NH3.N was positively correlated with Shannon’s diversity index, and chemical oxygen demand and river width were negatively correlated with Shannon’s diversity index. When the concentration of total phosphorus (TP) was low (<3 mg/L), it was positively correlated with Shannon’s diversity index. Our findings indicate that river channel morphology affects benthic faunal structure and diversity, but the effects varied among seasons. Minimized channelization will prevent the loss of aquatic biodiversity in subtropical urban rivers, as will preservation of natural rivers.
Who Cares for Nature in Rural Areas? Exploration of Relationships between People’s Socio-Economic Characteristics and the Perception of Nature as a Value in Poland and Lithuania
Authors: Wojewódzka-Wiewiórska Agnieszka , Vaznonienė Gintarė , Vaznonis Bernardas
Published: August 2022

Care for nature is becoming one of the most popular topics in the scientific discourse, not only from an environmental perspective, but also in terms of strengthening people’s environmental awareness and implementing sustainable development goals. The knowledge and understanding of rural inhabitants’ attitude towards nature and their pro-environmental behaviors based on socio-economic characteristics have been less studied compared to those of urban inhabitants. The research aim is to determine the rural inhabitants’ socio-economic characteristics that influence their care for nature in Poland and Lithuania. The European Social Survey (ESS) Round 4 (2008) and Round 9 (2018) data were used in the present study. The relationships between the rural residents’ attitudes towards nature and the socio-economic variables were assessed using the chi-square test and Cramer’s V measure. The findings have suggested that the importance of nature as a value in Poland is greater than in Lithuania. Different sets of statistically significant socio-economic variables were identified in the studied countries. The research has confirmed that gender and education play an important role in the attitude towards nature, as women and more educated people tend to care more for the environment.
Green Intellectual Capital and Green Supply Chain Performance: Does Big Data Analytics Capabilities Matter?
Authors: AL-Khatib Ayman wael , Shuhaiber Ahmed
Published: August 2022

In light of global environmental concerns growing, environmental awareness within firms has become more important than before, and many scholars and researchers have argued the importance of environmental management in promoting sustainable organizational performance, especially in the context of supply chains. Thus, the current study aimed at identifying the impact of the components of green intellectual capital (green human capital, green structural capital, green relational capital) on green supply chain performance in the manufacturing sector in Jordan, as well as identifying the moderating role of big data analytics capabilities. To achieve this aim, we developed a conceptual model of Structural Equation Modelling-Partial Least squares and tested through the Smart-PLS software on a sample of 438 respondents. Empirical results showed that each of the components of green intellectual capital and big data analytics explains 71.1% of the variance in green supply chain performance and that all components of green intellectual capital have a statistically significant impact on green supply chain performance. The results also revealed that the relationship between green relational capital and green supply chain performance is moderated through big data analytics capabilities. Finally, this study made a theoretical and managerial implications to the supply chain literature and industry.
Social Organizational Life Cycle Assessment of Transport Services: Case Studies in Colombia, Spain, and Malaysia
Authors: Osorio-Tejada Jose Luis , Llera-Sastresa Eva , Scarpellini Sabina , Morales-Pinzón Tito
Published: August 2022

Freight operations are relevant for economies but can negatively impact society due to the performance of activities related to fuel production, vehicle manufacturing, and infrastructure construction. This study applies the social organizational life cycle assessment (SO-LCA) methodology to analyze the social performance of companies involved in the supply chain of road transport companies located in different contexts such as Latin American, European, and Asian. The results of the three case studies are compared to analyze the methodology’s robustness and the influence of development and culture on how social performance is perceived. An approach for the SO-LCA, based on the UNEP/SETAC guidelines, was applied to freight companies in Colombia, Spain, and Malaysia. This integrated approach considers the key components of the transport system: fuels, vehicles, and infrastructure. A multi-tier inventory analysis was performed for 26 social impact subcategories, and reference scale assessments were applied to obtain single and aggregated social performance indexes. Interviews with stakeholders were used to aggregate indexes and identify priorities for decision-making in different contexts. First, the stakeholders concurred that freight companies must focus on labor rights to improve their social performance. The second social category in order of importance was human rights, except in the Spanish case study, where it was socioeconomic repercussions. These results indicate that social impact subcategories are influenced by socioeconomic development and the culture or beliefs of its inhabitants. These specificities help identify hotspots and stakeholder concerns toward which transport companies should direct their efforts. This study expands the range of indicators for social impact measurement and the known literature by investigating social matters for different categories of stakeholders spanning three continents. When these indicators are fully developed, their consideration in management practices could benefit business practitioners.
Active Power Control of Retrofit LED Tube Lamps for Achieving Entitled Energy Savings in View of the EU Ban on Mercury
Authors: Roy Shounak , Krames Michael
Published: August 2022

The performance of commercially available retrofit LED tubes intended for the replacement of linear fluorescent lamps is measured and analyzed with respect to “real-world” installed electronic ballasts, as ascertained through field recovery from installed bases, such as office buildings, parking garages, and industrial installations in western Europe from 2018 to 2020. Results show a wide variation in lamp power draw, which not only thwarts the energy-saving and climate protection aspects of the LED retrofit solution but also poses potential safety risks. Given the EU’s goals under the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive to phase out mercury-containing fluorescent lighting, starting from September 2023, the situation is alarming. We show that this lamp power spread is due to the fundamental differences in impedance between fluorescent lamps and LEDs, in combination with the passive nature of the driver electronics that are currently employed in commercially available LED tube lamps. In response to this disparity, a novel driver topology including active power control (APC) is introduced, which shows that the power-spread problem can be avoided, and we offer a manufacturable solution. A prototype retrofit LED tube lamp incorporating this APC driver technology is shown to deliver safe and predictable energy savings, outlining a path toward guaranteeing the expected return-on-investment and positive environmental impact of the solid-state lighting replacement of mercury-containing linear fluorescent lamps.
Barriers to the Sustainable Implementation of Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing: A Contextual-Based Interpretive Structural Model
Authors: Alqahtani Ammar Y. , Makki Anas A.
Published: August 2022

The traditional production system is mainly concerned with economic growth. However, with growing pollution and the rapid depletion of natural resources, there is an urgent need to adopt environmentally conscious manufacturing (ECM) to prioritize the environment alongside society and business. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the barriers that prevent the sustainable implementation of ECM to overcome them better. This research uses interpretive structural modeling to identify and comprehend the contextual interrelationships between barriers to ECM. The identified barriers are categorized and modeled based on their interdependence and driving powers. The findings show that management’s lack of understanding of ECM is an essential barrier that leads to a communication gap. Both lead to barriers, such as a less qualified workforce, high taxation, poor policy framing and implementation, poor financial support, and lack of technological upgrades. Thereby, this leads to the poor adoption of remanufacturing, higher costs of sustainable products, and in turn, overconsumption of natural resources. Overcoming these barriers will improve the poor acceptance of ECM, the inadequate legislative framework, and the lack of its implementation. The resulting model provides a deeper understanding of the barriers and enables the better design of coping strategies toward a more sustainable implementation of ECM to its fullest potential.
Study on Overburden Movement Deformation and Roof Breakage Law of Under-Protective Steeply Inclined Coal Seam Mining
Authors: Peng Xinshan , Qi Lingling , Wang Zhaofeng , Zhou Xiaoqing , Hua Chunlei
Published: August 2022

The occurrence of a steeply inclined coal seam is extraordinary, and the coal body is seriously damaged by extrusion. The most steeply inclined coal seam is a high-gas or -outburst coal seam, and protective layer mining is the safest and most effective measure for regional prevention of coal and gas outburst. Based on considering the coefficient of lateral pressure and vertical height of the section, the deflection of the basic roof of the steeply inclined protective layer in a mine in western Henan, China, was calculated using the deflection calculation method of the thin-plate theory of elasticity. Using MATLAB to understand the deflection, the deflection curve was obtained. The law of rock movement and deformation in the mining process of the protective layer was studied by a similarity simulation experiment. The results show that, after mining, the roof mainly sinks slowly without large-scale collapse, and the largest rock strata movement is located in the upper part of the slope. Rock strata movement and fracture development can relieve the pressure of the protected layer and provide a channel for gas migration and drainage. The mining conditions of the protected layer will not be destroyed, and mining this type of protected layer in this mine has better safety and feasibility. The conclusions of this study have a guiding and scientific significance for the control of surrounding rock and the layout of gas drainage boreholes of under-protective steeply inclined coal seam mining.
Multiple Industrial Induction Motors Fault Diagnosis Model within Powerline System Based on Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Altaf Saud , Ahmad Shafiq , Zaindin Mazen , Huda Shamsul , Iqbal Sofia , Soomro Muhammad Waseem
Published: August 2022

The voltage supply of induction motors of various sizes is typically provided by a shared power bus in an industrial production powerline network. A single motor’s dynamic behavior produces a signal that travels along the powerline. Powerline networks are efficient at transmitting and receiving signals. This could be an indication that there is a problem with the motor down immediately from its location. It is possible for the consolidated network signal to become confusing. A mathematical model is used to measure and determine the possible known routing of various signals in an electricity network based on attenuation and estimate the relationship between sensor signals and known fault patterns. A laboratory WSN based induction motors testbed setup was developed using Xbee devices and microcontroller along with the variety of different-sized motors to verify the progression of faulty signals and identify the type of fault. These motors were connected in parallel to the main powerline through this architecture, which provided an excellent concept for an industrial multi-motor network modeling lab setup. A method for the extraction of Xbee node-level features has been developed, and it can be applied to a variety of datasets. The accuracy of the real-time data capture is demonstrated to be very close data analyses between simulation and testbed measurements. Experimental results show a comparison between manual data gathering and capturing Xbee sensor nodes to validate the methodology’s applicability and accuracy in locating the faulty motor within the power network.
Urban Low-Carbon Consumption Performance Assessment: A Case Study of Yangtze River Delta Cities, China
Authors: Zhu Mingming , Wang Jigan , Zhang Jie , Xing Zhencheng
Published: August 2022

Urban low carbonization has been an essential element in China’s carbon peak and carbon neutrality strategies. An assessment of urban low-carbon performance could provide valuable information for monitoring and guiding the low-carbon transition in cities. However, due to cross-regional carbon transfer, the actual level of achievement would be masked, if the assessment was based only on a production-based index such as carbon emission intensity (CEI). Focusing, instead, on consumption-based low-carbon performance, this study calculated levels of urban carbon consumption intensity (CCI) based on city-level carbon footprint accounting, investigated the patterns and drivers of changes in CCI of 26 Yangtze River Delta (YRD) cities from 2012 to 2015, and conducted a comparative analysis of CEI and CCI data from both static and dynamic viewpoints. It was found that the CCI of YRD cities decreased from 1.254 to 1.153 over the period. Cities at higher economic levels were found to have lower CCI values. Decomposition results show that shifts in production structure, intensity of emissions and changing consumption patterns contributed to the decline in CCI of the YRD area. Richer cities were found to show greater declines in CCI due to decarbonizing structures in production and consumption. The comparative results show that although the CEI and CCI of cities were generally correlated in both static level and dynamic change, the net carbon transfer impacted the correlation sensitivity between various cities. Finally, our findings provide practical guidance on achieving coordinated emission reductions at an inter-city level from both production and consumption perspectives.
An Incursion into Actuality: Addressing the Precautionary Principle in the Context of the Circular Economy
Authors: Mangău Alexandrina , Vermeșan Horațiu , Pădurețu Sanda , Hegyi Andreea
Published: August 2022

The circular economy (CE) and the precautionary principle (PP) are two current and contemporary notions; however, they are far from being sufficiently explored and exploited, since each is considered questionable in part. Sensing a niche at the conceptual and scientific research level regarding the unitary approaches of the CE and PP, we carried out a parallel analysis of the notions of the CE and PP with the aim of evaluating and identifying areas of manifestation and interaction. By superimposing the two concepts in feasible situations and analyzing one notion in connection with the other, within the presented examples, the particularities of the CE–PP manifestation were obtained, as well as the consequences of the non-uniform application of the mentioned factors. Also, the results of the research support the hypothesis of the compatibility between the CE and PP in certain cases and attest to the usefulness of the PP in fulfilling the wishes of the CE. Despite the generally parallel existence of the CE and PP, these concepts are not mutually exclusive; the CE cannot be manifested discretionarily but only with certain standards and limits including the requirements imposed by the PP. The results obtained, combined with the provision of an analysis of the current state of knowledge in the field, make the proposed study a useful material for future in-depth research activities on the topic.
A Bibliographic Analysis of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in Industrial Environments
Authors: Lolli Francesco , Coruzzolo Antonio Maria , Marinello Samuele , Traini Asia , Gamberini Rita
Published: August 2022

Air pollution is a major risk factor, and it still remains a global cause of death for millions of people. Indoor air quality (IAQ) plays an important role in human health as people spend most of their time in confined spaces. Many studies have recently addressed this issue, but no systematic analysis has been conducted, which is the aim of our study. We present a bibliographic analysis of articles on IAQ in industrial environments from 2010 to 2021. A total of 658 articles were collected, and 409 were used. The NVivo tool was used to analyze the collected documents both quantitatively and qualitatively. This analysis of the literature enables us to identify the most studied working environments and pollutants, the analysis tools, and the types of measurement used to provide a clear overview of the theme, which includes a comparison between the studied working environments and the state of origin of the authors. Our analysis of each working environment and the related frequently cited pollutants provides a clear approach to identifying the specific areas of focus when improving the quality of the air in a specific working environment. In addition, a research gap and future research areas have been identified in the conclusions.
Using Biochar and Nanobiochar of Water Hyacinth and Black Tea Waste in Metals Removal from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Elbehiry Fathy , Darweesh Marwa , Al-Anany Fathia S. , Khalifa Asmaa M. , Almashad Aliaa A. , El-Ramady Hassan , El-Banna Antar , Rajput Vishnu D. , Jatav Hanuman Singh , Elbasiouny Heba
Published: August 2022

The treatment of heavy metal-contaminated water is challenging. The use of nanomaterials from many environmental wastes is promising for removing metals and contaminants from aqueous solutions. This study is novel in using nanobiochar of water hyacinth (WH) and black tea waste (TW) as a promising approach to water decontamination owing to its unique properties that play an effective role in metal adsorption. The mono- and multi-adsorption systems of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) on biochar and nanobiochar of water hyacinths (BWH and NBWH) and black tea waste (BTW and NBTW) were investigated in this study as potential low-cost and environmentally friendly absorbents for the removal of previously mentioned heavy metals (HMs) from aqueous solutions. The WH and TW were collected from the locality, prepared, and kept until used in the experiment. Nanobiochar was prepared by grinding, characterizing, and storing in airtight containers until used. A batch experiment was designed in mono- and competitive systems to study the adsorption equilibrium behavior of HMs on biochar and nanobiochars. The Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models were fitted to the mono- and competitive-adsorption equilibrium results. The Freundlich isotherm model provided a better fit. Furthermore, it was noticed that NBWH and NBWT efficiently removed the Cd in the mono-system by ≥99.8, especially in the smaller concentration, while NBWT and BTW removed ≥99.8 and 99.7% in the competitive system, respectively. In the mono- and competitive systems, the nanobiochars of NBTW removed more than 98.8 of Cr. The sorbents were less efficient in Ni removal compared to Cd and Cr. However, their effectiveness was very high also. The results revealed that Cd was the highest metal removed by sorbents, nanobiochars were better than biochars to remove the HMs, and the results also indicated that co-occurrence of multi-metals might fully occupy the adsorption sites on biochars and nanobiochars.
Mining Height Effect and Application of Upper Protected Layer Mining Pressure Relief
Authors: Shi Zhanshan , Ye Donglin , Qin Bing , Hao Jianfeng , Sun Weiji , Fang Shengjie
Published: August 2022

In order to obtain the minimum mining height that can play an effective protective role in the mining of the non-full coal protective layer in the Hongyang No. 3 coal mine and improve its economic benefits, the relationship between the mining height and the pressure relief of the protected layer is studied. Theoretical analysis is used to establish a calculation model of the goaf stress distribution law, with the mining height as a variable. The calculation model research results show that the mining height adjusts the goaf stress distribution by adjusting the range of the “three zones”. The force of the falling zone and the frustration zone on the goaf is approximately trapezoidal geostatic stress, and the roof stress in the vertical projection area of the trapezoidal waistline is not transmitted to the goaf. The development heights of the “two zones” are different at different mining heights, and the corresponding pressure-relief ranges are different from the waistline vertical projection. The curved subsidence zone transmits stress to the goaf through the fissure zone and the caving zone below, which can be calculated by the elastic foundation beam model. The falling zone is the elastic foundation, and different mining heights have different foundation coefficients. With the increase in mining heights, the foundation coefficients first decrease and then tend to be stable. The pressure-relief range of the stress transmitted from the curved subsidence zone to the goaf first increases and then tends to be stable. According to the calculation model, the minimum mining height for effective pressure relief of the upper protective layer of thin coal in the Hongyang No. 3 coal mine is 2.5 m, which can effectively relieve the pressure of the protected layer with the floor layer spacing of 48 m.
A Review on Application of Biochar in the Removal of Pharmaceutical Pollutants through Adsorption and Persulfate-Based AOPs
Authors: Kang Ziyang , Jia Xigai , Zhang Yuchen , Kang Xiaoxuan , Ge Ming , Liu Dong , Wang Chongqing , He Zhangxing
Published: August 2022

Increasing quantities of pharmaceutical pollutants have been found in aquatic ecosystems. The treatment of pharmaceutical pollutants has been a major task that people have been committed to in recent years. The removal of pharmaceutical pollutants can be achieved by adsorption and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Compared with other carbon materials, biochar has a strong adsorption capacity and persulfate activation ability, and more importantly, biochar is cheap and easy to obtain; thus, it has higher economic benefits. This study firstly reviews the application of biochar in the removal of drugs (tetracycline (TC), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), acetaminophen (ACT), cephalexin (CPX), levofloxacin (LEV), etc.) through adsorption and persulfate-based AOPs. In addition, we summarize the adsorption mechanism of biochar for various pharmaceutical pollutants and the main attack sites on different pharmaceutical pollutants in persulfate-based AOPs catalyzed by biochar. Finally, the challenges and prospects of biochar with respect to the removal of pharmaceutical pollutants are put forward.
Consumer Psychology on Food Choice Editing in Favor of Sustainability
Authors: Yamoah Fred A. , Haque Adnan ul , Yawson David Eshun
Published: August 2022

This article examines rationale behind consumers’ vote for or against choice editing (reducing food choice) in favor of sustainable consumption to inform marketing communication strategies and sustainability policies. Based on a Qualitative analysis of free-text comments in a UK nationwide survey on sustainable healthy food consumption using inductive thematic analysis, we found that the majority (55.4%) disagreed with governments being given the right to minimize food choice options available to consumers by requesting that food industry players supply only sustainable food products whereas only 44.6% agreed with the idea. In-depth thematic analysis revealed that those who disagreed with it expressed the reasons to be “Freedom of choice”, “Individual choice to decide and responsibility”; “Producers to be encouraged to develop sustainable products”; “Need for education”; “Consumers have power”; “Consumers should be made to fund health conditions they develop from unhealthy food.”; “Government should fund production of sustainable foods”; and “this will lead to less competition within the market”. On the other hand, the agreement expressed by respondents gave reasons such as, “Food industry’s notorious for selling unhealthy food”; “Need to keep the price of sustainable products down.”; “Government should legislate.”; “All food sold should be whole natural food.”; “Retailers should produce more healthy food as obesity is a problem.”; “Healthy food is good for us.”; “Government’s obligation.”; and “GMO foods, foods grown using artificial methods, harm the environment and humans.” Our analysis revealed that change interventions have slowly reduced the pace of growth in the food industry, partially because of consumer awareness at a gradual rate. Moreover, sustainable food products are viewed as ineffective in the short run while market share for sustainable items remains substantially low. The implications of the results include inclusive policies for sustainable consumption, government intervention by making it mandatory to consume and produce sustainable items, accountability measures for food producers, the introduction of a rebate system for sustainable production, and the monitoring of food prices ensuring organic food is affordable to all.
Creating Favorable Local Context for Entrepreneurship: The Importance of Sustainable Urban Development in Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
Authors: Dubou Gabriela , Bichueti Roberto Schoproni , Costa Carlos Rafael Röhrig da , Gomes Clandia Maffini , Kneipp Jordana Marques , Kruglianskas Isak
Published: August 2022

Entrepreneurship ecosystems are dynamic local, social, institutional, and cultural processes and actors that encourage and enhance the formation and growth of new businesses. Thus, this study aims to analyze the importance of sustainable urban development in creating favorable urban conditions in the formation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Therefore, a qualitative and exploratory study was carried out, operationalized through a case study. The case of the city of Florianópolis (Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil) was studied in depth; it was intentionally selected considering that it has stood out in terms of investments in innovation, technology, and sustainability, in addition to being a reference for quality of life and for its innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. It was possible to know the characteristics of the municipality and the main management practices for sustainable urban development developed in Florianópolis. Above all, among the main findings of this study, from the point of view of urban management, we found that the characteristics present in Florianópolis, as a sustainable city, can benefit the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. In this way, by investing in management practices for sustainable urban development, the municipality promotes business growth, new technologies, and entrepreneurship, making the territory more attractive to new investments and talent retention. It was possible to find evidence of urban conditions resulting from these practices capable of favoring the creation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem, among which, the following stand out: (1) social integration and articulation between the actors; (2) high quality of life; (3) capital with the highest human development index in the country; (4) a high rate of green areas; (5) enabling legislation for investments; (6) a city where companies open faster in Brazil and 100% digitally. Among this study’s limitations, the complexity of the analyzed phenomenon and amplitude of the context stand out. In addition, the case study method does not allow for a generalization of the results, as they are related to the case of Florianópolis. Despite this, the research presents a large amount of evidence confirming the theoretical assumption of the study, which is: Sustainable urban development creates favorable conditions for the promotion of an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the city of Florianópolis.
Sustainable PV Module Design—Review of State-of-the-Art Encapsulation Methods
Authors: Schnatmann Anna Katharina , Schoden Fabian , Schwenzfeier-Hellkamp Eva
Published: August 2022

In times of climate change and increasing resource scarcity, the importance of sustainable renewable energy technologies is increasing. However, the photovoltaic (PV) industry is characterised by linear economy structures, energy-intensive production, downcycling and little sustainability. One starting point for sustainable technologies is offered by the circular economy with its circular design principles. One problematic aspect of the design of crystalline PV modules is the encapsulation. In particular, the encapsulation avoids high-value recycling or the remanufacturing of modules, which could close loops and extend the lifetime of the products. For this reason, this paper provides an overview of the current state of encapsulation methods regarding production, materials and recycling. In addition, the current state of sustainability research in the photovoltaic sector is presented using the VOSviewer tool. Furthermore, alternative encapsulation technologies are discussed and compared in terms of performance and sustainability. The current encapsulation method using ethylene vinyl acetate as the encapsulation material offers major disadvantages in terms of performance and recyclability. Alternatives are the thermoplastic material polyolefin and the alternative structure of the NICE technology. Overall, however, research should focus more on sustainability and recyclability. Alternative module structures will be a decisive factor in this context.
Analysis for Ground Deformation Induced by Undercrossed Shield Tunnels at a Small Proximity Based on Equivalent Layer Method
Authors: Liang Jiaxin , Tang Xiaowu , Wang Tianqi , Lin Weikang , Yan Jing , Fu Chunqing
Published: August 2022

Shield excavation and tail grouting are the main causes of ground deformation in tunnel construction, especially in the case of new tunnels undercrossing existing tunnels, which have stricter requirements for settlement control. This paper investigates the equivalent layer method, which is used to simulate ground deformation induced by shield construction and tail grouting via numerical analysis. The research is based on a case study of Beijing’s newly built Metro Line 12 undercrossing the existing Metro Line 10, which is constructed in soft soil. Three-dimensional finite simulation via Plaxis 3D is performed, incorporating the equivalent layer method. Parametric analysis is carried out to explore the influence of the thickness (δ) and elastic modulus (E) of the equivalent layer on surface settlement. It is shown that the surface settlement increases almost linearly with the increase in δ, and it is insensitive to changes in E. The δ is the dominating factor affecting the surface settlement. Based on the Beijing Metro Lines project, the predicted surface settlement is analyzed and compared with monitoring data. Based on a case study of Beijing Metro, the applicability of the equivalent layer method is verified, and the empirical values for δ and E are summarized. δ = 1.8 Gp and E = 2 MPa are suitable values for analysis, which could be references for other shield tunnel constructions in soft soil. With the obtained empirical values of the equivalent layer method, the deformation caused by grouting and undercrossing tunnels could be accurately predicted, which is benefit for reducing budget and environmental protection.
A Framework and Tool for Knowledge-Based Seismic Risk Assessment of School Buildings: SLaMA-School
Authors: Pedone Livio , Bianchi Simona , Giovinazzi Sonia , Pampanin Stefano
Published: August 2022

When dealing with seismic risk assessment at a large scale, the collection of relevant building data is still deemed a challenging task, often leading to limited building knowledge and, consequently, high uncertainties. Therefore, innovative yet standardized frameworks and adaptive tools are needed to support the seismic risk assessment of buildings. Towards this goal, this paper proposes a simplified multi-knowledge seismic assessment methodology involving the analytical-mechanical SLaMA (Simple Lateral Mechanism Analysis) method. An ad-hoc data collection form is first developed to identify the building vulnerabilities by merging and building on existing institutional forms at the international level and integrating new input data. The data are then used to implement the SLaMA-based methodology, at different building knowledge levels, to assess the seismic safety and the economic losses of buildings. The proposed data structure and approach is planned to be included in the “Seismic-Response” module for PELL (Public Energy Living Lab)-School platform, aiming to become a standardized and interoperable database for relevant data of Italian schools and a dashboard for allowing stakeholders to continuously monitor their energetic and static/seismic conditions. The paper discusses the potential and effectiveness of the proposed procedure for large-scale applications and its integration into platforms assessing the energy efficiency of buildings.
Exploring Environmental and Geographical Factors Influencing the Spread of Infectious Diseases with Interactive Maps
Authors: Luz Saturnino , Masoodian Masood
Published: August 2022

Environmental problems due to human activities such as deforestation, urbanisation, and large scale intensive farming are some of the major factors behind the rapid spread of many infectious diseases. This in turn poses significant challenges not only in as regards providing adequate healthcare, but also in supporting healthcare workers, medical researchers, policy makers, and others involved in managing infectious diseases. These challenges include surveillance, tracking of infections, communication of public health knowledge and promotion of behavioural change. Behind these challenges lies a complex set of factors which include not only biomedical and population health determinants but also environmental, climatic, geographic, and socioeconomic variables. While there is broad agreement that these factors are best understood when considered in conjunction, aggregating and presenting diverse information sources requires effective information systems, software tools, and data visualisation. In this article, we argue that interactive maps, which couple geographical information systems and advanced information visualisation techniques, provide a suitable unifying framework for coordinating these tasks. Therefore, we examine how interactive maps can support spatial epidemiological visualisation and modelling involving distributed and dynamic data sources and incorporating temporal aspects of disease spread. Combining spatial and temporal aspects can be crucial in such applications. We discuss these issues in the context of support for disease surveillance in remote regions, utilising tools that facilitate distributed data collection and enable multidisciplinary collaboration, while also providing support for simulation and data analysis. We show that interactive maps deployed on a combination of mobile devices and large screens can provide effective means for collection, sharing, and analysis of health data.
A Hybrid Approach for State-of-Charge Forecasting in Battery-Powered Electric Vehicles
Authors: NaitMalek Youssef , Najib Mehdi , Lahlou Anas , Bakhouya Mohamed , Gaber Jaafar , Essaaidi Mohamed
Published: August 2022

Nowadays, electric vehicles (EV) are increasingly penetrating the transportation roads in most countries worldwide. Many efforts are oriented toward the deployment of the EVs infrastructures, including those dedicated to intelligent transportation and electro-mobility as well. For instance, many Moroccan organizations are collaborating to deploy charging stations in mostly all Moroccan cities. Furthermore, in Morocco, EVs are tax-free, and their users can charge for free their vehicles in any station. However, customers are still worried by the driving range of EVs. For instance, a new driving style is needed to increase the driving range of their EV, which is not easy in most cases. Therefore, the need for a companion system that helps in adopting a suitable driving style arise. The driving range depends mainly on the battery’s capacity. Hence, knowing in advance the battery’s state-of-charge (SoC) could help in computing the remaining driving range. In this paper, a battery SoC forecasting method is introduced and tested in a real case scenario on Rabat-Salé-Kénitra urban roads using a Twizy EV. Results show that this method is able to forecast the SoC up to 180 s ahead with minimal errors and low computational overhead, making it more suitable for deployment in in-vehicle embedded systems.