bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Dual Stator Permanent Magnet Machine Based on Field Modulation Theory
Authors: Ding Ziyang , He Chao , Feng Chunmei , Yang Jianfei
Published: December 2022

Increasing industrial development puts forward high requirements for the performances of stator permanent magnet (PM) machines, such as torque density and efficiency. The paper proposes a new dual stator PM machine based on field modulation theory (DSPMM), which employs the intermediate rotor participating in the electromechanical energy conversion of the internal and external machine. The proposed machine has the advantages of high torque density and high efficiency and solves the problem of insufficient space utilization of a single stator machine. The evolution process and working principle of the proposed DSPMM are studied. The flux-switching-type PM (FSPM) and the flux-reversal-type PM (FRPM) are employed in the proposed DSPMM, which forms four representative machines. For a fair comparison, the proposed machines employ identical key parameters, i.e., PM volume, the outer radius of the outer stator, and active airgap length. Based on finite element analysis (FEA), the electromagnetic performances of the four representative DSPMM under no-load and rated load, and different copper consumption conditions are analyzed and compared. The calculated results show that the proposed DSPMM with inner FSPM stator and outer FRPM stator can provide high output torque, low torque ripple, high power factor, and high efficiency.
Global Structural Shocks and FDI Dynamic Impact on Productive Capacities: An Application of CS-ARDL Estimation
Authors: Ullah Mirzat , Sohail Hafiz M. , Haddad Hossam , Al-Ramahi Nidal Mahmoud , Khan Mohammed Arshad
Published: December 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted structural shocks on the global economic system by raising high economic uncertainty. Policymakers are exploring alternative measures and incentivizing foreign direct investment for the restoration of global economic operations to achieve short- and long-term growth. Given this, the study examines the global response of FDI inflow to measure the change in productive capacity. The productive capacity is proxied by structural change, private business sector, institutional quality, transportation infrastructure development, and natural capital. The study implements empirical analysis for a large panel of 170 countries in a data set from 2000 to 2021. Furthermore, the study employed the cross-sectional augmented auto-regressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) econometric estimation method for better examinations of current changes in an economic outbreak. From the results of the study, the estimations reveal that FDI inward has significant positive impact over the private business sector, institutional quality, transportation infrastructure, and natural capital on inward FDI. In accordance with discussions, the study suggests several pragmatic policy implications to achieve maximum output by utilizing the inward FDI as incentivized by the governments of the selected countries.
Research on Spatial and Temporal Pattern Evolution and Driving Factors of County Carbon Emissions in Underdeveloped Regions: Gansu Province of Western China as an Example
Authors: Zhang Weiping , Shi Peiji , Huang Wanzhuang
Published: December 2022

This paper used the Gini coefficient, standard deviation ellipse, and spatial autocorrelation model to analyze the overall changes, regional differences, spatio-temporal evolution pattern, and clustering characteristics of carbon emissions in 87 counties in Gansu Province from 1997 to 2017, based on which driving factors of carbon emissions were detected using the geographic detector model, so as to provide a reference for promoting low-carbon green development and ecological civilization construction in Gansu Province. The empirical research results found that county carbon emissions in Gansu Province showed a “first urgent and then slow” upward trend, and the difference in carbon emissions level has a slightly decreasing trend, and there are significant regional differences. Compared with other regions, the difference in county carbon emissions level in the Longzhong region has a smaller decline. Meanwhile, the county carbon emissions show spatial differentiation characteristics “medium-high and low-outside,” among which the carbon emissions in areas with better economic foundations are much higher than those in other areas, and the spatial polarization effect is obvious. In addition, there is a significant spatial positive correlation between county carbon emissions. The counties with high-high clusters are relatively stable, mainly concentrated in the Longzhong region, while counties with low-low clusters are slightly reduced, mainly concentrated in the southern ethnic region and the Longdongnan region, and the county carbon emission clusters type has a spatial locking effect. This is mainly due to the large differences in economic scale, industrial structure, and population size in Gansu Province, and the interaction between economic scale and other factors has a more significant impact on the spatial differentiation of carbon emissions. Moreover, the leading influencing factors of county carbon emission differences also have regional differences. Therefore, differentiated and targeted carbon emission reduction strategies need to be implemented urgently. Due to the lack of real county energy consumption statistics, the research results need to be further tested for robustness.
Evaluation of Agronomic Performance and Genetic Diversity Analysis Using Simple Sequence Repeats Markers in Selected Wheat Lines
Authors: Tahir Osama , Bangash Sajid Ali Khan , Ibrahim Muhammad , Shahab Sana , Khattak Sahir Hameed , Ud Din Israr , Khan Muhammad Nauman , Hafeez Aqsa , Wahab Sana , Ali Baber , Makki Rania M. , Harakeh Steve
Published: December 2022

Crop improvement is the fundamental goal of plant biologists, and genetic diversity is the base for the survival of plants in nature. In this study, we evaluated 20 wheat lines for morphological and genetic diversity using eight simple sequence repeats markers from Wheat Microsatellite Consortium (WMC). Morphologically, variations were observed among all of the different wheat lines for the studied trait except for single spike weight. The highest values for different agronomic traits were recorded for the different wheat lines. The maximum days to heading were recorded for Borlaug-16 (128.3 ± 2.52 days). Similarly, days to maturity were recorded and were highest in Markaz-19 (182.3 ± 5.13 days), followed by Borlaug-16 (182.0 ± 4.58 days). The highest plant height was observed for Zincol-16 (122.3 ± 2.51 cm), followed by Markaz-19 (120.0 ± 14.79 cm) and Borlaug-16 (119.7 ± 6.8 cm). The productivity measured by 100-grain weight was highest in the case of Zincol-16 (84.0 ± 7.5 g). In contrast, wheat lines Shahkar, Sehar, and Farid-6 showed the lowest values for the traits tested. The results of genetic diversity revealed a total number of 16 alleles at eight SSR markers with an average of 2.00 ± 0.534 alleles per locus. Out of eight SSR markers, one marker (WMC105) was monomorphic, and six were dimorphic, showing two alleles at each locus. The maximum number of alleles (3) was observed for marker WMC78, in which genotypes AC and AA were predominantly found in high-yielding lines Borlaug-2016 and Zincol-2016 that were distantly related to other varieties. Zincol-2016 was also agronomically distinct from the rest of the 19 wheat lines. The results obtained from this study may be of importance for the scientific community to further explore the underlying genetic polymorphism associated high yielding varieties using marker-assisted selection for sustainable agriculture.
Analysis of the Factors Influencing Inclusive Education Competency of Primary and Secondary Physical Education Teachers in China
Authors: Xue Rui , Chai Hongqin , Zhu Danxu , Yao Lei , Yan Weihua , Fu Wangqian
Published: December 2022

Teachers’ inclusive education competency is an important factor influencing the realization of high-quality inclusive education. This study investigated the current situation of the inclusive education competency of primary and secondary school physical education teachers and analyzed its influencing factors. There were 286 physical education teachers who participated in the study, including 228 males and 58 females by answering Questionnaire on the Professional Competency of Teachers in Compulsory Education. We found the professional attitude dimension score regarding the inclusive education competency of physical education teachers was significantly higher than that of professional knowledge, professional skills and capacity of acquiring support, whereas the score of professional knowledge dimension was significantly lower than that of professional skills and capacity of acquiring support, and the score of professional skills dimension was higher than that of the capacity of acquiring support dimension. There was no significant difference in the inclusive education competency of physical education teachers in terms of gender, school district and study section, whereas there were significant differences in terms of teaching age, whether children with or without disabilities were taught, and the cumulative length of training related to inclusive education. The inclusive education competency of physical education teachers needed to be further improved.
Changes of Water Vapor Budget over East Asia in Response to 4xCO2 Concentration Forcing
Authors: Shen Zhengqin , Xu Tao , Liu Guanyu , Sun Xuguang , Yang Xiu-Qun
Published: December 2022

Water resources are essential for the economic development and social security in East Asia, especially under global warming. Based on newly released CMIP6 149-year simulation data from a pre-industrial control experiment (piControl) and a forced experiment on the abrupt quadrupling of CO2 concentration (abrupt-4xCO2), changes of water vapor budget over East Asia due to 4xCO2 concentration forcing and their possible mechanisms are investigated. Change of precipitation (P) demonstrates a spatial pattern of “Southern Flood and Northern Drought” (SFND) in eastern China, which can also be seen in the change of evaporation (E), though at a much smaller amplitude. The change of water vapor budget represented by E–P is dominated by P, which is primarily induced by changes of water vapor divergence associated with both moisture-related thermodynamic contribution and atmospheric circulation-related dynamic contribution. Specifically, under global warming, tropical El Nino-like SST warming causes weakened Walker circulation through decreased zonal temperature gradient, while amplified Arctic warming induces a negative Arctic Oscillation pattern via reduced meridional temperature gradient. The combined signals from tropical and mid-high latitudes result in significant long-term changes of water vapor convergence as well as much more precipitation in the Yangtze River Valley, forming the SFND. Furthermore, the intensity of the SFND change pattern could also have notable interdecadal variation, which is mainly attributed to the modulation of interdecadal signals of the Indian Ocean basin mode (IOBM) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). Results of this study could provide an important scientific basis for the future planning and management of water resources over East Asia, specifically in eastern China.
Promoting the Tripartite Cooperative Mechanism of E-Commerce Poverty Alleviation: Based on the Evolutionary Game Method
Authors: Bai Shizhen , Yu Wenzhen , Jiang Man
Published: December 2022

E-commerce agriculture has gradually become an important force in poverty alleviation. Some large e-commerce enterprises in China, such as Alibaba and JD, have carried out poverty alleviation activities with the support of the government. With the enthusiasm of consumers towards the goal of helping farmers, they can continue to develop e-commerce agriculture and efficiently achieve this goal. However, the unstable relationship among e-commerce enterprises, the government, and consumers with regard to poverty alleviation hinders the realization of poverty reduction goals. To promote the cooperation among the three parties under e-commerce poverty alleviation, this study uses the evolutionary game method. First, this study analyzes the collaborative mechanism of the government, e-commerce enterprises, and consumers participating in poverty alleviation. Second, based on the above analysis, a tripartite evolutionary game model is constructed. A payment matrix is established to analyze the factors that affect the strategic choices of participants, and the conditions for promoting the tripartite collaborative mechanism of poverty alleviation are discussed using numerical simulation. The results show the following: (1) The reduction in poverty alleviation costs and the increase in cooperation benefits are important factors in promoting the choice of poverty alleviation strategies. (2) E-commerce enterprises are more sensitive to consumer preferences for helping farmers. When consumer preferences for helping farmers are low, the government’s early efforts to participate in poverty alleviation can guide e-commerce enterprises and consumers to participate in cooperative poverty alleviation. (3) The government and e-commerce enterprises can reduce poverty alleviation incentives and agricultural product premiums by increasing the willingness of e-commerce enterprises and consumers to support farmers in the initial stage to promote the participation of all parties in poverty alleviation at a relatively low cost.
Aspects Affecting Food Choice in Daily Life as Well as Drivers and Barriers to Engagement with Fungi-Based Food—A Qualitative Perspective
Authors: Hellwig Coralie , Bolton Kim , Häggblom-Kronlöf Greta , Rousta Kamran
Published: December 2022

Fungi-based food is expected to contribute to more sustainable food systems. The present study has three focus areas: (i) aspects that affect food choices food in daily life, (ii) aspects that affect choices of fungi-based food in particular, and (iii) drivers that motivate, and barriers that prevent, engagement in cultivating fungi and cooking fungi-based food at home. One hundred and sixty participants, who were recruited using convenience sampling, filled out qualitative questionnaires. The results show that there are numerous aspects (e.g., environmental benefits, nutrition, sensory characteristics, production practices and ingredients) that are important when people choose food in daily life. In addition to curiosity, many of these aspects also affect the choice of fungi-based food. The study identified more drivers (e.g., self-providing, curiosity, awareness of ingredients) than barriers (time, knowledge, concerns about contamination) to cultivation and cooking of fungi-based food at home. The findings are relevant for the development of fungi-based food so that this type of food is engaged with, and so that it can contribute to more sustainable food systems.
Utilitarian Qubit, Human Geography, and Pandemic Preparedness in the 21st Century
Authors: Iheanetu Chidinma U. , Maguire Kelly A. , Moricová Valéria , Tandlich Roman , Alloggio Sergio
Published: December 2022

Human actions are ambivalent in nature and this in turn has an impact on all components of socio-ecological systems. Their ambivalence results from the fact that human actions have both positive and negative outcomes and properties, which occur and manifest concurrently in the ontological realm of human existence. In terms of space–time, both micro-geography and macro-geography of human existence are intertwined during the COVID-19 pandemic, thus affecting pre- and post-pandemic space–time continuum. The utilitarian qubit can be used to describe the nature of human existence, i.e., Homo sapiens has always been experiencing a state of existence where pain and pleasure are co-extensive. In this state, it is impossible to establish to what extent pain, and to what extent pleasure, will have a definitive impact on our status as individuals and humanity as a species. In this article, the authors explore how the record of an individual’s life before and after the COVID-19 pandemic has been impacted by the wellbeing and actions of other humans and prior to one’s existence. Drawing on the utilitarian qubit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impacts on the members of Homo sapiens, can be understood as a partial outcome of the cumulative actions of humanity on the biosphere and other elements of the global ecosystem (the Age of the Anthropocene). We argue that this paper is also useful to foster disaster preparedness and resilience in the pandemic and post-pandemic era, at micro- and macro-geographical interfaces of human existence in the 21st century. The existence of individual members of Homo sapiens and humanity as a species is unfolding at the boundary between two levels: fundamental reality and situational reality. The result is the historical accumulation and ontological interconnectedness of humanity’s activities with one’s own actions. Pain and pleasure resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Age of Anthropocene, as well as the right and wrong consequences of humanity’s actions, are posited here to be symptoms of the Anthropocenic (phase of) epidemiological transition.
Mapping Soil Organic Matter Content during the Bare Soil Period by Using Satellite Data and an Improved Deep Learning Network
Authors: Xu Xibo , Zhai Xiaoyan
Published: December 2022

Soil function degradation has impaired global work in the implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs), and soil organic matter (SOM) is a basic and the most important indicator. The deep learning neural network (i.e., DL network) has become a popular tool for mapping SOM content at a regional scale. However, outlier sample data caused by environmental factors (e.g., moisture and vegetation) and uncertain noise (e.g., random noise and instability effects) have interfered with the determination of the function mapping relationship between target soil properties and spectral features, leading to DL networks with low generalization capability. Therefore, we introduced a spatial association module into a deep neural network to remove outlier sample data in order to construct an optimal sample set for calibrating an improved deep learning (IDL) network for SOM mapping. A total of 707 soil samples and a Sentinel-2B multispectral image were acquired during the bare soil period in Weibei, China. The variable importance in the projection approach was used to select the SOM-responsive spectral features for model inputs. Measured SOM contents were taken as the dependent variable, and the IDL network was constructed and applied to map SOM at the regional scale. The results showed that Band 11 was the most important band for SOM prediction. The band difference transformation method was able to integrate multiple-band information and enhance the absorption signal of SOM. The optimal SOM-responsive spectral features included B11, B1–B11, B2−B11, B3−B11, B4−B11, and B1−B12. The IDL network exhibited better performance (R2 = 0.92; RPIQ = 4.57) regarding SOM estimation compared with the DL model performance (R2 = 0.84; RPIQ = 2.84), being improved by 9.52% (for R2) and 60.92% (for RPIQ). After introducing the spatial association module, the DL network generalization capability was enhanced. SOM distribution showed a high-value (>20 g kg−1) area in the south, and a low-value (<6 g kg−1) area in the north of the study area (the area affected by seawater intrusion). These results provide a strategy based on an IDL network and satellite data for effectively and accurately mapping SOM at the regional scale.
Safety Impact Assessment of Optimal RWIS Networks—An Empirical Examination
Authors: Biswas Simita , Sharma Davesh , Kwon Tae J.
Published: December 2022

Optimal RWIS network can be defined as an RWIS configuration where the total number of stations (RWIS density) are determined based on a well-established guideline and the locations are allocated systematically assuming that it will provide the maximum monitoring coverage of the network. This paper examines and quantifies the benefit of an optimized RWIS network and how these benefits impact traffic safety. The methodological framework presented herein builds upon our previous efforts in RWIS location-allocation, where the kriging variance is used as a performance indicator for monitoring coverage. In this study, the network coverage index (NCI) parameter is proposed to gauge RWIS network performance and quantitatively evaluate its impact on traffic safety. The findings of this study reveal a strong dependency between the NCI and the RWIS network configuration. In terms of traffic safety, the relationship between NCI and safety effectiveness can be expressed as a polynomial function, where the two are proportional to one another. In the state of Iowa, an RWIS network with 80% monitoring coverage (NCI = 0.8) can reduce additional 40 collisions per site annually compared to a network without RWIS stations. Based on the findings obtained in this study, road agencies and RWIS planners can now be assisted with conceptualizing the capabilities of an optimized RWIS network, which will help them increase monitoring coverage, and in the process, gain a quantitative understanding on its potential impact on traffic safety.
COVID-19 and Well-Being in Remote Coastal Communities—A Case Study from Iceland
Authors: Cook David , Jóhannsdóttir Lára , Kendall Sarah , Chambers Catherine , Latapí Mauricio
Published: December 2022

This study utilizes a recently developed framework for the well-being economy to evaluate the impacts of COVID-19 in the sparsely populated Westfjords region of northwestern Iceland. A total of 42 semi-structured interviews were conducted with a broad spectrum of local community members, nearly all undertaken in October 2021. Local impacts to human and social capital were very evident, whilst economic consequences to individuals and business were largely mitigated through national economic packages. The remoteness of the Westfjords and pre-existing challenges, such as exposure to nature disasters, a harsh climate, and limited infrastructure, provided a bedrock of resilience with which to tackle the pandemic. This underpinned the sustainability of the communities, and flexible approaches to work and education constrained some of the worst potential effects of social distancing and isolation. Nevertheless, some socio-demographic groups remained harder hit than others, including the elderly in nursing homes and non-Icelandic speaking foreigners, who were marginalized via isolation and lack of information provision in the early, most severe outbreaks of COVID-19. The study demonstrated the coping mechanisms and solutions that were adopted to sustain subjective and community well-being, whilst reinforcing the importance of utilizing local community strengths in tackling the many challenges induced by a pandemic crisis.
Analysis Regarding the Implementation of the Circular Economy in Romania
Authors: Topliceanu Liliana , Puiu Petru Gabriel , Drob Catalin , Topliceanu Vlad Vasile
Published: December 2022

The transition to the circular economy is a basic principle of the policy of the European Union, it is the chance for a cleaner world, an ideal world with “zero waste”. This document analyzes the implementation degree of circular economy in Romania through 10 monitoring indicators defined by European Commission in ”Measuring progress towards the circular economy in the European Union—Key indicators for a monitoring framework”, released in January 2018. In order to understand the paper, it was considered necessary to define the indicators with reference to the targets proposed by the European Union. The analysis of the stage of implementation of the circular economy in Romania was made by using the data published by Eurostat. Methodologically, a comparative study was carried out between the level of implementation of circular economy indicators in Romania and the EU and the position occupied by Romania among the member states was identified for each of these 10 circular economy monitoring criteria. Each indicator is analyzed and the causes and motivations that led to the obtaining of the mentioned values are identified. The results of the study show that Romania is in the upper part of the hierarchy for certain indicators, contributing to the achievement of EU targets. It also identifies the causes that delay performance in others, indicating future solutions, necessary to be adopted to remedy the situation. Implementing the circular economy requires long-term vision, political determination and consistency, and, last but not least, funding. In these directions, governmental measures must be taken to increase performance at the national level. In conclusion with an economy that is not sufficiently strong, and affected as it is by the current crises, Romania is moving forward on the path of transitioning to a circular economy.
Creating Persuasive Environmental Communicators: Spokescharacters as Endorsers in Promoting Sustainable Behaviors
Authors: Jain Ritesh , Luck Edwina , Mathews Shane , Schuster Lisa
Published: December 2022

Effective communication strategies are vital to educating consumers about sustainable behaviors given that environmental problems such as climate change are a result of excessive human activities. This study examined the suitability of using anthropomorphic characters (i.e., spokescharacters) in environmental communication and investigated traits that make them persuasive communicators in promoting sustainable behaviors. Using the Source Credibility Model and Matchup Hypothesis as theoretical lenses, this study explored spokescharacter traits that can enhance their persuasiveness, particularly their ability to influence consumers’ recycling attitudes and behavioral intentions. An online questionnaire was administered to 314 U.S consumers recruited through Amazon’s MTurk platform. Research hypotheses were tested using Structural Equation Modelling. The results show that spokescharacter traits such as likability, expertise, and relevance positively influence spokescharacter trustworthiness, which in turn enhances the recycling attitudes and recycling intentions of consumers. Overall, the results suggest that spokescharacters can be effective communicators to promote sustainable behaviors like recycling. Theoretical and practical implications are offered, and future research directions are outlined.
Analysis of the Paths Affecting Corporate Green Innovation in Resource-Based Cities: A Fuzzy-Set QCA Approach
Authors: Zhao Yunhui , Wu Xinyue , Zhang Jian
Published: December 2022

Green innovation is essential for companies to achieve their dual carbon goals. However, academics have been researching how to encourage enterprises in resource-based cities to take the initiative to implement green innovations. In contrast, we construct a configurational framework based on organizational ecology theory and propose that corporate green innovation does not depend on a single condition, but on the interaction of spatial agglomeration, digital economy, and institutional environment. We identify and explore six conditions that influence corporate green innovation in this study based on a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis of firms in resource-based cities. We show that high-level corporate green innovation can be achieved through different combinations of antecedent conditions. There is also a clear influence of synergy between spatial agglomeration, digital economy, and institutional environment, which can jointly promote corporate green innovation. This study provides a more systematic explanation of how companies can raise their levels of green innovation, as well as valuable insights for companies seeking to improve their green innovation awareness proactively.
Forage Potential of Cereal–Legume Mixtures as an Adaptive Climate Change Strategy under Low Input Systems
Authors: Kchaou Rajia , Benyoussef Salah , Jebari Sihem , Harbaoui Kalthoum , Berndtsson Ronny
Published: December 2022

Mixed cropping systems can constitute important agroecological adaptation strategies for enhancing crop growth and productivity in view of climate change, while reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and providing important ecosystem services. The aim of this study was to investigate growth, competitiveness, and productivity of two forage mixtures combining triticale (X triticosecale Wittmack) to common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), and to fenugreek (Trigonella fœnum-græcum L.) in different mixture combinations (40% T–60% V vs. 60% T–40% V and 40% T–60% F vs. 60% T–40% F). Field results showed that both forage legumes were higher inside the different crop mixtures (+225% for vetch, +94% for fenugreek) than in monocropping. In regard to the competition ration (CR), triticale was the more dominant and competitive species in three out of four studied mixtures. Forage yield was higher in crop mixtures than for corresponding sole crops. Yield gain was greater for common vetch-based mixtures than fenugreek ones (+60% vs. +30%). The results show that using cereal–legume mixtures can provide important productivity increase for fodder yield compared to conventional pure crops. The method is an important adaptive agricultural strategy in view of climate change.
Improved Rate of Secret Key Generation Using Passive Re-Configurable Intelligent Surfaces for Vehicular Networks
Authors: Ayaz Hina , Waqas Muhammad , Abbas Ghulam , Abbas Ziaul Haq , Bilal Muhammad , Kwak Kyung-Sup
Published: December 2022

The reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) is a new technology that can be utilized to provide security to vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications at the physical layer. In this paper, we achieve a higher key generation rate for V2V communications at lower cost and computational complexity. We investigate the use of a passive RIS as a relay, to introduce channel diversity and increase the key generation rate (KGR), accordingly. In this regard, we consider the subsets of consecutive reflecting elements instead of the RIS as a whole in a time slot, i.e., instead of a single reflector, the subsets of reflectors are utilized to redirect the signal to the receiver via passive beam forming. Simulations are conducted for different sizes of RISs and subsets of reflectors per RIS. From the results obtained, it can be seen that when we consider a subset of reflectors instead of the RIS as a single entity, it becomes increasingly difficult to intercept the signal at the eavesdropper. In the proposed scheme, the KGR reaches up to 6 bps per time slot.
The Effects of China’s Participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP): A Quantitative Assessment
Authors: Jung Jaewon
Published: December 2022

This paper aims to quantify the effects of China’s participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), in particular by focusing on the possible productivity effects through the endogenous assignment of skills to technologies. In this paper, we develop a large-scale global computable general equilibrium (CGE) model in which firms are heterogeneous in technologies and workers are heterogeneous in individual skill levels so that equilibrium skill–technology assignments are endogenously determined. This study contributes to the literature with the new CGE modeling and application to the recent important issue in international trade. By calibrating the model to 23 countries and regions, we quantify the effects of China’s participation in the CPTPP. Due to the positive real productivity effects and the reallocation of workers, the results show that China’s participation in the CPTPP may generate significantly higher productivity, GDP, and welfare effects compared to previous conventional CGE models based on simplistic representative agent frameworks at a given productivity. Globally, on average, the real productivity of the manufacturing sector, the number of exporting firms, real GDP, and welfare increase by 0.52%, 19.62%, 1.36%, and USD 3.41 billion, respectively.
Optimized Operation Plan for Hydrogen Refueling Station with On-Site Electrolytic Production
Authors: Lu Di , Sun Jing , Peng Yonggang , Chen Xiaofeng
Published: December 2022

The cost reduction of hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) is very important for the popularization of hydrogen vehicles. This paper proposes an optimized operation algorithm based on hydrogen energy demand estimation for on-site hydrogen refueling stations. Firstly, the user’s hydrogen demand was estimated based on the simulation of their hydrogenation behavior. Secondly, mixed integer linear programming method was used to optimize the operation of the hydrogen refueling station to minimize the unit hydrogen energy cost by using the peak–valley difference of the electricity price. We then used three typical scenario cases to evaluate the optimized operation method. The results show that the optimized operation method proposed in this paper can effectively reduce the rated configuration of electrolyzer and storage tank for HRS and can significantly reduce the unit hydrogen energy cost considering the construction cost compared with the traditional method. Therefore, the optimization operation method of a local hydrogen production and hydrogen refueling station proposed in this paper can reduce the cost of a hydrogen refueling station and accelerate the popularization of hydrogen energy vehicles. Finally, the scope of application of the proposed optimization method and the influence of the variation of the electricity price curve and the unit cost of the electrolyzer are discussed.
Intensifying Effects of Climate Change in Food Loss: A Threat to Food Security in Turkey
Authors: Ahmed Nihal , Areche Franklin Ore , Cotrina Cabello Guillermo Gomer , Córdova Trujillo Pedro David , Sheikh Adnan Ahmed , Abiad Mohamad G.
Published: December 2022

Turkey is increasingly concerned about the effects of climate change, weather unpredictability, and severe events on agricultural production, food loss, and livelihoods. Turkey has long struggled against climate variability and catastrophic climatic events to prevent further declines in agricultural output. This study assessed the risk of climate change in Turkey from the perspective of loss in food grains and food security domain considering exposure to extreme climate events using the data from 1991 to 2019. This paper makes a theoretical contribution to the literature by identifying the relationship between food waste and food import, food prices and economic growth. It also makes an empirical contribution by administering and econometrically analyzing the impact of the loss of food grains on the aforementioned independent variables. Policy implications for the current national agriculture policy were provided using the vector auto-regression (VAR) model and derivative analysis. Food grain loss negatively correlates with food security since it increases reliance on food imports from outside. Moreover, the losses in food supplies contributes greatly to price increases. The GDP growth rate, however, was shown to be a feeble instigator. Climate change threatens food security, and the country’s progress toward sustainable development objectives is hampered in general, particularly concerning no poverty and zero hunger goals. In conclusion, climate change and its associated factors harm Turkey’s food security and economy.
Strength and Environmental Behaviours of Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Fly Ash for Cement-Stabilised Soil
Authors: Liu Zonghui , Li Jiaqi , Hu Liqiang , Zhang Xiaolei , Ding Shiying , Li Haodong
Published: December 2022

Many sandy soil foundations need to be solidified during traffic construction in Guangxi, China. Because it has a similar chemical composition as cement, municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWIFA) can strengthen sandy soil. However, the chloride ions and heavy metals in MSWIFA may have a negative influence on the solidification of sandy soil. Thus, FA resource use faces great challenges. This study evaluates the feasibility of using MSWIFA to solidify sandy soil. The acetic acid buffer solution method was used in the leaching test to simulate the weak acid groundwater environment in the Guangxi karst landform. The effects of the treatment methods (washing with ferrous sulphate solution, pre-treatment of organics via chelation, and adding sugarcane ash) on the strength and environmental characteristics of fly ash cement-stabilised soil (FACS) are discussed in detail. The results indicate that the FACS unconfined compressive strength (UCS) decreased by 24.82–46.64% when 5% cement was replaced with FA. Sugarcane ash effectively improved the strength of FACS by more than 10%. The leaching concentrations of Zn and Cu in the FACS meet the concentration limit set by GB 16889-2008. The leaching concentrations of Cr and Pb after washing with 6% ferrous sulphate solution were reduced by more than 30%. Meanwhile, the FACS strength developed faster. Organic chelating agents solidified most heavy metals.
Spatial-Temporal Evolution Characteristics of Agricultural Intensive Management and Its Influence on Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution in China
Authors: Xu Lingyan , Jiang Jing , Lu Mengyi , Du Jianguo
Published: December 2022

The influencing mechanism of agricultural non-point source pollution under intensive agricultural management is complicated. This paper adopted provincial panel data from 2008 to 2020 to estimate the level of agricultural intensive management, the agricultural chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) emissions and emission intensity of agricultural non-point source pollution in different regions of China and analyze the spatial-temporal differentiation characteristics. Moreover, the mediation effect model and spatial spillover effect model were adopted to further explore the influence mechanism of agricultural intensive management on agricultural non-point source pollution. The results show that (1) The total emissions and emission intensity of agricultural non-point source pollution both showed an increasing trend, and these areas with high levels of agricultural non-point source pollution are roughly consistent with those areas with high-level of agricultural intensive management. (2) At the overall level, there were mediating effects of natural ecology, agricultural land management, planting and rearing structure and pollution control investment between the relationship of agricultural intensive management and agricultural non-point source pollution, among which agricultural land management was the largest. Additionally, there was significant spatial heterogeneity in the influencing mechanism of agricultural intensive management on non-point source pollution. (3) There were significant spatial agglomeration characteristics in both agricultural intensive management and agricultural non-point source pollution, which showed a fluctuating trend of “rise-decline-rise-decline”. (4) Agricultural intensive management has a significant positive spatial spillover effect on COD, TN and TP emissions of agricultural non-point source pollution. However, environmental regulation could cause agricultural non-point source pollution to be transferred nearby. Scientific understanding of the spatio-temporal differentiation characteristics and influencing mechanism of agricultural non-point source pollution under the agricultural intensive management model is conducive to providing reference for policy regulation.
How Can Industrial Parks Achieve Carbon Neutrality? Literature Review and Research Prospect Based on the CiteSpace Knowledge Map
Authors: Yan Xingyun , Wang Lingyu , Fang Mingzhu , Hu Jie
Published: December 2022

Global responses to climate change have accomplished certain reductions in carbon emissions. However, current efforts are insufficient for reaching the worldwide objective of carbon neutralization. Industrial parks that integrate industrial and economic resources are priority entities concerning the achievement of national carbon mitigation. The implementation of carbon neutralization at an industrial park level is unclear. This paper used a bibliometric approach to analyze articles related to carbon emissions reduction in industrial parks. From 2001 to 2022, 114 publications were collected from the WoS database. Descriptive statistical analysis, network analysis, keyword co-occurrence network analysis, keyword clustering, co-citation analysis, and burst detection were employed to summarize the research hotspots and evolution trends in this field. The results showed that the research hotspots were energy management, industrial symbiosis, economics and development, and carbon emission assessments in industrial parks. Emerging trends are the management of integrated energy systems, circular economy, renewable energy, economic analysis, and the validation of various models. Based on these analyses, four challenges and prospects were proposed for the construction of zero-carbon industrial parks. Finally, this paper presents a systematic guidance framework for carbon neutralization in industrial parks, which provides important references for future theoretical and practical research on industrial parks.
A Method to Select and Optimize Slow Tourism Routes Using a Quality Index Procedure Based on Image Segmentation and DTM Modelling Based on NURBS: The Case Study of Multimodal Access to Inner Places from the Nodes of the Adriatic Coastline’s Infrastructure Bundle
Authors: D’Uva Domenico , Rolando Andrea
Published: December 2022

This paper tests a combination of methods that allows for the optimization of a mobility network through the multimodal interchange between fast and slow routes. These routes contribute to mending the relationship between the existing infrastructural networks and the places of interest in the landscape while respecting morphological adaptability. The case study that generated the research question explained above is the Costa dei Trabucchi in Abruzzo, Italy. The choice of a single paradigmatic case study to evaluate the method is based on the need to analyse an edge context with very scarce data, except for the coast. The advantage of this method is the efficiency based on three main conditions: overcoming limitations due to data scarcity, the use of open-source data and the multiscalarity of analyses. The result of this research work is the creation of a useful strategy to identify the most suitable routes in terms of spatial quality and walkability/cyclability. The case study is formed by the territories crossed by a railway line that has recently been decommissioned. The displacement of a railway line creates opportunities to improve the quality and use of the territory locally, with a natural evolution of the track in a greenway, and at the territorial level because it generates a network of better multimodal and sustainable mobility solutions inside and between the surrounding areas.
IoT: A Decentralized Trust Management System Using Blockchain-Empowered Federated Learning
Authors: Bi Lirui , Muazu Tasiu , Samuel Omaji
Published: December 2022

We propose a decentralized medical trust management system using blockchain-based federated learning for large-scale Internet of Things (IoT) systems. The proposed system enables health institutions to share data without revealing the privacy of data owners. Health institutions form coalitions and the leader of each coalition is elected based on the proposed proof-of-trust collaboration (PoTC) consensus protocol. The PoTC consensus protocol is based on a weight difference game where trust scores, trust consistency value, and trust deviation are factors used for evaluating nodes in the blockchain. The trust of a node is obtained either through direct trust or recommended trust evaluations. Each leader elects an aggregator who has the most credibility to manage the proposed federated learning system. The leaders become the federated clients as well as validators while the aggregator is the federated server. To ensure the decentralization of nodes, a consortium blockchain is employed. Extensive simulations are performed, which show that the proposed system not only demonstrates scalability and credibility without compromising the accuracy, convergence, and resilience properties against malicious attackers but also outperforms existing trust management systems. A security analysis is also conducted, which shows that the proposed system is robust against trust-related attacks.
Study on the Dynamic Evolution and Regional Differences of the Level of High-Quality Economic and Social Development in China
Authors: Mai Qiangsheng , Bai Mengting , Li Le
Published: December 2022

Analyzing the dynamic evolution and regional differences of the level of high-quality economic and social development based on the perspective of long time can be beneficial for informing the effect of the economy in China. This study builds a development evaluation index system oriented to high-quality economic and social development in five directions. To deepen the analysis, TOPSIS entropy is used to measure the level of economic and social development of 31 provinces in China from 2000 to 2019, considering the temporal characteristics and evolution laws of four regions. Dagum’s Gini coefficient method is also applied to measure regional differences and discover driving factors. There are three key results. First, the comprehensive development index runs well; however, the index of economic momentum, innovationability, and safety assurance differ significantly. There is obvious path dependence, demonstrating a spatial gradient, with development that is high in the east, moderate in the central part, and low in the west. Second, the trend of the comprehensive development index of each province is gratifying, but there are obvious differences in the three dimensions of economic momentum, innovation ability, and security index. Third, the overall development coordination of the four regions is weak—that is, the levels of economic and social development oriented to high-quality intensified differentiation; it will be difficult to close the regional gap in the short term, given the development heterogeneity among regions. To promote the formation of a new, balanced pattern of regional development of high quality with complementary advantages, the four regions should be targeted in a double cycle of implementing regional development strategies and enhancing development coordination. Attention should also be paid to the growth pole function of advanced regions, complementing the advantages of other regions, and ultimately promoting high-quality development jointly.