bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Key Pathways and Genes Involved in Lodging Resistance of Upland Cotton
Authors: Wang Yuan , Feng Ao , Zhao Caiwang , Ma Xiaomei , Zhang Xinyu , Li Yanjun , Sun Jie
Published: December 2024

Lodging resistance is one of the most important traits of machine-picked cotton. Lodging directly affects the cotton yield, quality and mechanical harvesting effect. However, there are only a few reports on the lodging resistance of cotton. In this study, the morphological and physiological characteristics and transcriptome of two upland cotton varieties with different lodging resistance were compared. The results showed that the stem strength; the contents of lignin, soluble sugar and cellulose; and the activities of several lignin biosynthesis-related enzymes of the lodging-resistant variety M153 were significantly higher than those of the lodging-susceptible variety M5330. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the expression level of several genes related to lignin, cellulose, starch and sucrose synthesis, and photosynthesis were significantly up-regulated in the lodging-resistant variety M153, which was consistent with the content determination results of lignin, cellulose and soluble sugar. Silencing two lignin biosynthesis-related genes (GhPAL and Gh4CL) in cotton via VIGS (Virus-Induced Gene Silencing) resulted in reduced lignin content and decreased lodging resistance in cotton. These results suggested that lignin, cellulose and soluble sugar contents were positively correlated with the lodging resistance of cotton, and lignin, cellulose and soluble sugar biosynthesis-related genes can be used as potential targets for improving the lodging resistance of cotton. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the cultivation of cotton varieties with strong lodging resistance in the future.
Transformation of Lignin Under Protection Strategies: Catalytic Oxidation and Depolymerization by Polyoxometalates Catalysts
Authors: Ma Xinyue , Xu Wenbiao
Published: December 2024

The efficient utilization of lignin, a pivotal component of lignocellulosic biomass, is crucial for advancing sustainable biorefinery processes. However, optimizing lignin valorization remains challenging due to its intricate structure and susceptibility to undesirable reactions during processing. In this study, we delve into the impact of various pretreatment agents on birch lignin, aiming to enhance its catalytic oxidation and depolymerization under polyoxometalates (POMs) catalysis. Our results reveal that pretreatment with formaldehyde effectively safeguards aryl ether linkages in lignin, leading to a notable increase in aromatic compound yields under POMs catalysis. Furthermore, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis underscores the inhibition of aryl ether linkage hydrolysis upon formaldehyde addition. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis demonstrates that formaldehyde pretreatment boosts lignin monomer yield by 2 to 3 times compared to untreated lignin, underscoring the effectiveness of tailored pretreatment strategies. This research underscores the significance of adopting rational pretreatment methods to advance lignin valorization pathways catalyzed by POMs, thereby contributing to the evolution of sustainable biomass conversion technologies.
Wind Turbine Blade Material Behavior in Abrasive Wear Conditions
Authors: Muntenita Cristian , Titire Larisa , Chivu Mariana , Podaru Geanina , Marin Romeo
Published: December 2024

The wind turbine blades are exposed, during functioning, to the abrasive wear generated by the impact with air-borne sand particles. In this work, samples of a commercial wind turbine blade, made of a multi-layered composite material, are subjected to abrasive wear tests, using an air streamed wearing particles test rig. Following the analysis of the tests’ results was found that the only protection against failure of the blade by abrasive damage is the surface layer. After its’ penetration, the layers below are quickly destroyed, leading to the blade destruction. The investigation of the main abrasive wear influencing factors—particles’ speed and acting time, showed that the particles’ speed is the most important. To prove that an artificial neural network-based model was used. Also, a method for improvement of the blade resistance to abrasive wear is proposed, consisting of applying on the blade’s surface of a polymeric foil. This offers supplementary protection of the surface layer, delaying its degradation. The tests performed on the protected samples prove the validity of the proposed method. Overall, the work showed the weakness of the blades’ resistance in case of working in abrasive wear conditions and identified an improving method.
Experimental Study on Damage Evaluation of Working Fluid Invasion in Tight Sandstone Gas Reservoirs
Authors: Chen Luyao , Fang Feifei , He Sijie , Hu Yong , Wang Jiping , Jiao Chunyan , Luo Jianning , Zhang Yuanyuan , Guo Changmin
Published: December 2024

The scientific evaluation of the damage caused by working fluid invasion in tight sandstone gas reservoirs is critical for optimizing drilling design, fracturing fluid systems, and construction design. This study focused on the tight sandstone core of the Qingshimao gas field in the Ordos Basin. A set of experimental methods and equipment were designed to facilitate the visual monitoring and quantitative evaluation of the reservoir damage caused by working fluids. Systematic evaluation experiments were conducted to analyze the extent of reservoir damage caused by working fluid invasion under varying pore pressure and permeability conditions. The results show the following: (1) As permeability increases, the real-time invasion flow rate rises, and the invasion rate accelerates. Meanwhile, as pore pressure increases, the real-time invasion flow rate decreases, and the invasion rate slows down. (2) The core’s fluid saturation after working fluid invasion exceeds 70%, with permeability damage reaching 95% or higher. (3) At the same reservoir pore pressure, cores with permeability ranges between 0.1 × 10−3 μm2 and 1 × 10−3 μm2 exhibit higher fluid-phase saturation and greater invasion damage. For cores with similar permeability, the higher the pore pressure, the higher the invasion-phase saturation, and the greater the extent of invasion damage. The research results provide certain guiding significance for evaluating the extent of the damage caused by working fluid invasion in tight sandstone gas reservoirs and achieving efficient gas reservoir development.
Experimental Study on Biodiesel Production in a Continuous Tubular Reactor with a Static Mixer
Authors: Acevedo-Quiroz Abisai , Carrera-Avendaño Edgardo de Jesús , Acevedo-Quiroz Noemi , Alvarez-Gutiérrez Peggy Elizabeth , Borunda Monica , Adam-Medina Manuel
Published: December 2024

This research on biodiesel production aims to improve energy processes to advance towards a sustainable economy. This study focuses on improving the biodiesel conversion efficiency in a helical tubular reactor coupled with a static mixer. A 23 factorial design was used to evaluate how variables such as the molar ratio of alcohol–oil (4:1–8:1), residence time (4–8 min), and catalyst concentration (0.5–1 wt%) affect the transesterification process. Soybean oil and methanol were used, with NaOH as a catalyst at 60 °C. The results show that the residence time and catalyst concentration are key factors in increasing biodiesel production by up to 10%. An experimental yield of 84.97% was obtained with a molar ratio of 6:1 alcohol–oil, 0.9 wt% NaOH, and a reaction time of 6 min. The experimental design predicted a yield of 91% with a molar ratio of 4:1 alcohol–oil, 1 wt% NaOH, and a reaction time of 8 min, with a deviation of 1.88% from the experimental values. The fit of the experimental model was R2 = 0.9632. These findings are valuable for improving the transesterification process and the development of biodiesel in continuous flow reactors.
Urban-Scale Acoustic Comfort Map: Fusion of Social Inputs, Noise Levels, and Citizen Comfort in Open GIS
Authors: Zarei Farzaneh , Nik-Bakht Mazdak , Lee Joonhee , Zarei Farideh
Published: December 2024

With advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT), diverse and high-resolution data sources, such as environmental sensors and user-generated inputs from mobile devices, have become available to model and estimate citizens’ acoustic comfort in urban environments. These IoT-enabled data sources offer scalable insights in real time into both objective parameters (e.g., noise levels and environmental conditions) and subjective perceptions (e.g., personal comfort and soundscape experiences), which were previously challenging to capture comprehensively by using traditional methods. Despite this, there remains a lack of a clear framework explicitly presenting the role of these diverse inputs in determining acoustic comfort. This paper contributes by (1) exploring the relationship between attributes governing the physical aspect of the built environment (sensory data) and the end-users’ characteristics/inputs/sensations (such as their acoustic comfort level) and how these attributes can correlate/connect; (2) developing a CityGML-based framework that leverages semantic 3D city models to integrate and represent both objective sensory data and subjective social inputs, enhancing data-driven decision making at the city level; and (3) introducing a novel approach to crowdsourcing citizen inputs to assess perceived acoustic comfort indicators, which inform predictive modeling efforts. Our solution is based on CityGML’s capacity to store and explain 3D city-related shapes with their semantic characteristics, which are essential for city-level operations such as spatial data mining and thematic queries. To do so, a crowdsourcing method was used, and 20 perceptive indicators were identified from the existing literature to evaluate people’s perceived acoustic attributes and types of sound sources and their relations to the perceived soundscape comfort. Three regression models—K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and XGBoost—were trained on the collected data to predict acoustic comfort at bus stops in Montréal based on physical and psychological attributes of travellers. In the best-performing scenario, which incorporated psychological attributes and measured noise levels, the models achieved a normalized mean squared error (NMSE) as low as 0.0181, a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.0890, and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.1349. These findings highlight the effectiveness of integrating subjective and objective data sources to accurately predict acoustic comfort in urban environments.
Decision Analysis Approaches on the Collection Methods of Polyethylene Terephthalate Waste
Authors: Oyewale Johnson A. , Tartibu Lagouge K. , Okokpujie Imhade P.
Published: December 2024

The rising challenge of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste necessitates efficient collection methods to mitigate environmental impacts. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is one of the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approaches utilized in this study. The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was used to rank each alternative according to the objective weight that AHP had produced. Also, sensitivity analysis was performed to determine how robust the findings were when considering equal weights and entropy weights to maximize PET waste collection techniques. The alternative achieved the objective of obtaining the best collection method, Threshold Plastic Bottle Waste Collection (Tpbw), out of all the three alternatives considered. Another MCDA approach, VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR), was used to compare the results and validate the ranking result achieved by the TOPSIS method. The VIKOR technique’s validation of the TOPSIS approach showed that the outcomes were highly consistent. Data for the study were gathered from the archives of waste management companies on possible practices of plastic waste collection, addressing costs, environmental impacts, social acceptance, feasibility, and efficiency. The findings provide a prioritized framework for enhancing PET waste collection strategies, contributing to sustainable waste management. Many criteria are considered when deciding the best collecting method for PET waste recycling, making it challenging. By using criteria importance, MCDA was applied in this study, and the objective weight of the criteria was determined using the AHP. The five criteria considered in this study are Initial investment cost, operational cost, transportation cost, environmental risk, employment potential, and the objective weights allocated to them. AHP results 0.4952, 0.1997, 0.1565, 0.0870, and 0.0616 are, respectively, determined.
Indra’s Palace on Mount Meru: A Study on the Design Philosophy of Wu Zetian’s Bright Hall
Authors: Wang Delu
Published: December 2024

Wu Zetian’s 武則天 Bright Hall 明堂 was an unprecedented structure, serving as both a political hub and a ceremonial center of the state, symbolizing the image of Wu Zetian’s regime. While it inherited some traditional design concepts, the core structure—such as the central pillar—differed significantly from earlier Bright Halls, aligning more closely with the Sudharmā Hall 善法堂 of the deity Indra in Buddhism. Furthermore, both the Bright Hall and the Sudharmā Hall were used for court gatherings and decision making, bearing the nature of the palace of heavenly gods. The high degree of similarity suggests that the design of Wu Zetian’s Bright Hall was likely modeled after the Sudharmā Hall. This design highlighted Wu Zetian’s identity as both the Pure Light Heavenly Maiden 淨光天女 and the Cakravartin 轉輪聖王, thereby reinforcing the political legitimacy and sanctity of her rule. The Bright Hall, together with the Celestial Pillar 天樞 which represented Mount Meru 須彌山 and the Heavenly Hall 天堂 symbolizing Tuṣita Heaven 兜率天, form a representation of Mount Meru’s cosmic landscape.
A Triple-Channel Network for Maritime Radar Targets Detection Based on Multi-Modal Features
Authors: Wang Kaiqi , Wang Zeyu
Published: December 2024

Sea surface target detectors are often interfered by various complex sea surface factors such as sea clutter. Especially when the signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) is low, it is difficult to achieve high-performance detection. This paper proposes a triple-channel network model for maritime target detection based on the method of multi-modal data fusion. This method comprehensively improves the traditional multi-channel inputs by extracting highly complementary multi-modal features from radar echoes, namely, time-frequency image, phase sequence and correlation coefficient sequence. Appropriate networks are selected to construct a triple-channel network according to the internal data structure of each feature. The three features are utilized as the input of each network channel. To reduce the coupling between multi-channel data, the SE block is introduced to optimize the feature vectors of the channel dimension and improve the data fusion strategy. The detection results are output by the false alarm control unit according to the given probability of false alarm (PFA). The experiments on the IPIX datasets verify that the performance of the proposed detector is better than the existing detectors in dealing with complex ocean scenes.
Observations of Optical Properties and Chlorophyll-a Concentration in Qiandao Lake Using Shipborne Lidar
Authors: Sang Xuan , Mao Zhihua , Li Youzhi , Zhang Xianliang , Han Chang , Zhang Longwei , Huang Haiqing
Published: December 2024

Lidar technology is increasingly applied to the inversion of oceanic biological parameters and optical properties based on empirical and semi-empirical bio-optical models. However, these models cannot be directly applied to inland waters due to their complex composition, and research on the biological parameters and optical properties of inland waters remains limited. In this study, the Fernald method was employed to retrieve the vertical distribution of optical properties in Qiandao Lake for the first time using shipborne lidar data obtained in June 2019. By quantifying the depth-resolved optical contributions of biological components, the vertical distributions of chlorophyll-a concentration were mapped with greater precision. The lidar-estimated optical properties exhibited characteristic spatiotemporal distributions, which were closely related to water quality. At the inflow of Xin’an River, the attenuation and scattering coefficient showed a gradual increase with depth. At the north–south-oriented reservoir area and the outflow of Qiandao Lake, an apparently continuous subsurface layer with the maximum signal occurred at approximately 3.5 m. The vertical distributions of chlorophyll-a profiles were consistently classified as subsurface chlorophyll maxima, with the maximum value of chlorophyll-a concentration fluctuating between 4 and 12 μg/L. The subsurface phytoplankton layer was observed at water depths ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 m, with a thickness of 3 to 6 m. Furthermore, the influences of lidar ratio Sp(z) and reference value bbp(zm) were discussed as significant sources of inversion error in the Fernald method. These results indicate that lidar technology holds great potential for the long-term monitoring of lakes.
RETRACTED: Bas et al. Embedded Sensors with 3D Printing Technology: Review. Sensors 2024, 24, 1955
Authors: Bas Joan , Dutta Taposhree , Llamas Garro Ignacio , Velázquez-González Jesús Salvador , Dubey Rakesh , Mishra Satyendra K.
Published: December 2024

The Sensors Editorial Office retracts the article, “Embedded Sensors with 3D Printing Technology: Review” [...]
I-f Control Method for SynRMs Uses Simple Inductance Identification and Voltage Injection for Current and Angle Control
Authors: Guo Yibo , Pan Lingyun , Yang Yang , Gong Yimin , Che Xiaolei
Published: December 2024

The sensorless vector control method of synchronous reluctance motors (SynRMs), based on extended back electromotive force (EMF) or flux observation, has been widely applied in the medium- or high-speed range. However, in the low-speed and low-current range, the extended back-EMF and flux are nearly zero. The use of the current frequency (I-f) control method can enable the motor to pass through the low-speed region, thereby ensuring that the back-EMF and flux reach a large value. I-f control methods that are widely used in permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) may encounter many problems when applied to SynRMs. The most serious issue is the inability to adjust the current amplitude to control the rotor angle and achieve a smooth transition to sensorless control. Based on various issues, this article proposes an I-f control method with four stages that can be used in SynRMs. This method uses a simple inductance identification method to solve the flux saturation phenomenon of SynRMs and then uses high-frequency voltage injection to continuously adjust the current amplitude and rotor angle position in conjunction with this inductance identification method. The effectiveness of this method is experimentally demonstrated on a 5.5 kW SynRM.
Novel Cost-Effective and Portable Three-Dimensional Force Measurement System for Biomechanical Analysis: A Reliability and Validity Study
Authors: Hao Letian , Yin Chao , Duan Xiaozhe , Wang Zeyu , Zhang Meizhen
Published: December 2024

The application of dynamic data in biomechanics is crucial; traditional laboratory-level force measurement systems are precise, but they are costly and limited to fixed environments. To address these limitations, empirical evidence supports the widespread adoption of portable force-measuring platforms, with recommendations for their ongoing development and enhancement. Taiyuan University of Technology has collaborated with KunWei Sports Technology Co., Ltd. to develop a portable 3D force measurement system. To validate the reliability of this equipment, 15 male collegiate students were randomly selected to perform four distinct movements: walking, running, CMJ, and side-cutting. The Bertec system served as a reference device alongside the KunWei system to collect the kinetic characteristics of the test movements. The consistency and fitting quality between the two devices were evaluated through t-tests, ICC, and NRMSE. The research results indicated that there were no significant differences in peak force between the KunWei system and the Bertec system across all four movements (p > 0.05). The ICC values for force-time curves were all above 0.98, with NRMSE not exceeding 0.165. The KunWei system exhibited high consistency and reliability under various motion conditions compared to the Bertec system. This system maintains data accuracy, significantly broadens the application scope of force measurement systems, and reduces procurement and maintenance costs. It has been successfully applied in technical support for multiple water sports and winter projects with ideal results achieved.
Investigations on the Performance of a 5 mm CdTe Timepix3 Detector for Compton Imaging Applications
Authors: Useche Parra Juan S. , Roque Gerardo , Schütz Michael K. , Fiederle Michael , Procz Simon
Published: December 2024

Nuclear power plant decommissioning requires the rapid and accurate classification of radioactive waste in narrow spaces and under time constraints. Photon-counting detector technology offers an effective solution for the quick classification and detection of radioactive hotspots in a decommissioning environment. This paper characterizes a 5 mm CdTe Timepix3 detector and evaluates its feasibility as a single-layer Compton camera. The sensor’s electron mobility–lifetime product and resistivity are studied across bias voltages ranging from −100 V to −3000 V, obtaining values of μeτe = (1.2 ± 0.1) × 10−3 cm2V−1, and two linear regions with resistivities of ρI=(5.8±0.2) GΩ cm and ρII=(4.1±0.1) GΩ cm. Additionally, two calibration methodologies are assessed to determine the most suitable for Compton applications, achieving an energy resolution of 16.3 keV for the 137Cs photopeak. The electron’s drift time in the sensor is estimated to be (122.3 ± 7.4) ns using cosmic muons. Finally, a Compton reconstruction of two simultaneous point-like sources is performed, demonstrating the detector’s capability to accurately locate radiation hotspots with a ∼51 cm resolution.
Energy-Efficient Dynamic Enhanced Inter-Cell Interference Coordination Scheme Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning in H-CRAN
Authors: Choi Hyungwoo , Kim Taehwa , Lee Seungjin , Choi Hoan-Suk , Yoo Namhyun
Published: December 2024

The proliferation of 5G networks has revolutionized wireless communication by delivering enhanced speeds, ultra-low latency, and widespread connectivity. However, in heterogeneous cloud radio access networks (H-CRAN), efficiently managing inter-cell interference while ensuring energy conservation remains a critical challenge. This paper presents a novel energy-efficient, dynamic enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (eICIC) scheme based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL). Unlike conventional approaches that focus primarily on optimizing parameters such as almost blank subframe (ABS) ratios and bias offsets (BOs), our work introduces the transmission power during ABS subframes (TPA) and the channel quality indicator (CQI) threshold of victim user equipments (CTV) into the optimization process. Additionally, this approach uniquely integrates energy consumption into the scheme, addressing both performance and sustainability concerns. By modeling key factors such as signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) and service rates, we introduce the concept of energy-utility efficiency to balance energy savings with quality of service (QoS). Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme achieves up to 70% energy savings while enhancing QoS satisfaction, showcasing its potential to significantly improve the efficiency and sustainability of future 5G H-CRAN deployments.
Osteochondral Allograft Transplant in a Young Patient with a Traumatic Hip Fracture Dislocation: A Case Report
Authors: Turnow Morgan , Davis Trent , Seebacher Thomas , Chudik Grant , Manes Taylor , Pharis Hunter , Degenova Daniel , Mehta Sanjay
Published: December 2024

Background: Femoral head fractures with osteochondral defects are rare injuries often resulting from traumatic hip dislocations. These injuries create a significant risk for post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Various surgical methods for repair have been utilized to restore these osteochondral defects, including mosaicplasty, autologous cartilage implantation, osteochondral allograft transplant (OAT), and demineralized bone matrix (DBM). Methods: We present a case of a 21-year-old male who sustained a fracture-dislocation of the left femoral head with impaction of the weight-bearing surface due to a motor vehicle collision. Due to the patient’s relatively young age, OAT plugs from a fresh-frozen proximal humerus with DBM supplementation during fracture fragment fixation were chosen to reduce the likelihood of post-traumatic arthritis. Results: The patient regained subjective function and full strength on exam with no pain at 2 years postoperatively. Conclusions: We propose that a proximal humerus allograft is a suitable alternative in an urgent setting when a femoral head allograft is not available.
Optimized Iodine Recovery from Zinc Suboxide Derived from Steel Dust Using Alkaline Washing and Air Blowing-Out: A Sustainable Industrial Approach
Authors: Lin Lin , Tian Senlin , Zhao Jie , Wang Dong , Li Kai , Ning Ping
Published: December 2024

The present paper proposes an advanced process to effectively recover and fully use iodine from steel dust-derived zinc suboxide, with considerations of effectiveness in the process and industrial viability. It includes, for example, alkali wash for the dissolution of iodine into an alkaline solution from steel dust and uses mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) to concentrate the dissolved iodine by preparing the solution for the air-blowing-out process. The hydrogen iodide is also oxidized under acidic conditions with the addition of hydrogen peroxide to form crude iodine, estimated at about 20 tons annually. As a matter of fact, using this process, up to 1.2 million tons of steel waste dust can be treated in a year, turning what was previously considered waste into something of value. The thermodynamic relationship between iodine recovery and pH value is further discussed in this study, pointing out that under alkaline conditions, iodine is predominantly in the form of iodide (I−) and iodate (IO3−), while at less than pH 2.8, it is in its molecular form I2. These insights would provide a theoretical backbone for maximum extraction efficiency, guiding process parameters toward optimum recovery and judicious use of the resource.
Formulation and Characterization of Bio-Briquettes and Bio-Pellets from Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) Biomass as Renewable Fuel
Authors: Wulandari Asri Peni , Rossiana Nia , Zahdi Farrel Radhysa Muhammad , Nuraulia Renasya , Nur’anifah Reni , Kartika Chairanisa Intan , Rahmah Lulu Aulia , Kusmoro Joko , Madihah  , Yusnaidar
Published: December 2024

This study evaluates bio-briquettes and bio-pellets made from ramie (Boehmeria nivea), sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis), and palm kernel shell (Elaeis guineensis) as renewable fuel sources. Proximate analysis was conducted to measure moisture, ash, volatile matter, fixed carbon, and calorific values, while combustion tests assessed boiling efficiency and burn time. Results reveal that bio-briquettes generally outperform bio-pellets in calorific value, with sample B-S8R2 achieving the highest at 6455 kcal/kg and the fastest boiling time of 14 min at 88 °C. This enhanced performance is attributed to its high fixed carbon (71.81%) and low volatile matter, optimizing combustion and energy yield. In contrast, bio-pellets like sample P-PO7R3, with a calorific value of 4212 kcal/kg, offer moderate heat and durability, making them suitable for household use. The high density and low moisture content across all samples support efficient combustion, while the bio-briquettes’ low ash production indicates a more environmentally friendly fuel. The findings suggest that bio-briquettes are optimal for high-energy applications due to their superior combustion efficiency and environmental benefits, whereas bio-pellets provide a viable option for moderate-energy needs. This research supports the development of sustainable biofuel from biomass waste, providing a promising alternative to traditional fossil fuels.
The Impact of Foreign Bank Entry on the Efficiency and Sustainability of Domestic Banks in Developing Countries: A Meta-Frontier Approach
Authors: Bouzidi Fathi Mohamed , Nefzi Aida Arbi
Published: December 2024

This study, which investigates the impact of foreign bank entry on the efficiency and sustainability of domestic banks in developing countries using a meta-frontier analysis to estimate efficiency scores, presents findings of significant importance to banking and finance. By incorporating financial, social, and environmental sustainability proxies—such as efficiency, loan portfolio composition, and macroeconomic conditions—this study assesses whether foreign competition enhances or undermines the long-term stability of domestic banking sectors. The results show that while foreign banks can improve financial efficiency, they may destabilize domestic banks, notably smaller or less capitalized institutions. Additionally, the findings suggest that banks with higher investments in SME lending and green projects demonstrate better social and environmental sustainability. Policymakers and financial institutions must consider these dual effects when promoting foreign bank entry.
Exploring the Impact of the Green Marketing Mix on Environmental Attitudes and Purchase Intentions: Moderating Role of Environmental Knowledge in China’s Emerging Markets
Authors: Su Siwen , Li Yannan
Published: December 2024

This study examines how the green marketing mix—comprising green product, price, place, and promotion—affects consumers’ environmental attitudes and green purchase intentions, incorporating environmental knowledge as a moderating factor, focusing on a sample of 334 environmentally conscious consumers from second- and third-tier cities in China. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data collected through SPSS 24 and AMOS 26. The results indicate that green promotion, price, and place significantly influenced environmental attitude, while green products did not show a significant effect. Both green products and promotions positively affected green purchase intention, whereas price and place had no notable impact. Environmental attitude strongly influenced green purchase intention, emphasizing its critical role in shaping consumer behavior. Interestingly, higher levels of environmental knowledge weakened the link between environmental attitude and green purchase intention, potentially due to increased skepticism toward environmental claims and the onset of “green fatigue”. By analyzing data from consumers in China’s second- and third-tier cities, this study provides valuable insights into the unique dynamics of green consumer behavior in emerging markets, offering strategic guidance for companies to develop more effective and environmentally responsible marketing approaches. It offers insights for policymakers to promote a sustainable, eco-conscious society.
Impact of Environmental Management on Sustainable Performance of Pakistani Entrepreneurial Firms: The Mediating Role of Green Product Innovation and the Moderating Effect of Transformational Leadership
Authors: Asad Muzaffar
Published: December 2024

The relationship between environmental management and firm performance is evident but not conclusive because of the diversified findings of existing studies that have been conducted in different contextual settings. This study separates environmental management into two dimensions—environmental management depth and environmental management breadth—based on the number of environmental management techniques used by entrepreneurial firms and the level of integration of environmental management with other functions. The framework was created with the theoretical backing of the resource-based perspective. Structural equation modeling was utilized to evaluate the assumptions on a sample of 384 entrepreneurial Pakistani firms. The findings demonstrate a direct relationship between environmental management and the long-term viability of entrepreneurial firms. Furthermore, the relationship between environmental management depth and environmental management breadth and the sustainable performance of entrepreneurial firms is mediated by green product innovation. Furthermore, transformative leadership attenuates the effects of both environmental management depth and environmental management breadth on the long-term viability of entrepreneurial firms.
Neutral Impact of Cattle Grazing in Pyrenean Oak Forests Integrity
Authors: Bartolomé Jordi , Amat Antonio Carrasco , Rubines Jonathan , Sesma Javier , López-Garrido Omar , Ibáñez Miguel , Hernández-Castellano Carlos , Lavín Santiago , Gort-Esteve Araceli , Hernández-Rodríguez Anahí , González Karen , Rossa Mariana , Carvalho João , Serrano Emmanuel
Published: December 2024

The combination of logging, burning, and livestock farming has been the main driver of European landscape sustainability for thousands of years. Whether or not livestock could keep these habitats on their own is under debate when extensive livestock grazing is kept understory in forests of high environmental value that, in turn, are affected by global warming. In this work, the impact of beef cattle on the diversity, shrub cover, and primary production of the Atlantic Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica Willd.) in northern Spain has been evaluated. The research studied their feeding habits using the faecal cuticle micro histological analysis in dung samples. Then, the effects of cattle grazing on the cover and alpha diversity of woody plants were evaluated. Finally, oaks’ primary production and phenology in grazed and control areas were compared. The results show that cattle feed on woody (an average of 30% of non-leguminous woody) and annual plant species (more than 20% of forbs) but do not affect plant cover or alpha diversity of vegetation. However, oak phenology differed between grazed and ungrazed treatments, probably due to the spatial variability of grazed forests. It can be concluded that understory grazing in Pyrenean oak forests could be considered a sustainable silvopastoral activity with a neutral impact on forest integrity.
A Configurational Approach to the Driving Forces for Synergistic Reduction in Pollution and Carbon Emissions
Authors: Jiang Yingting , An Wenwen , Yang Jing
Published: December 2024

In the face of escalating environmental challenges, the imperative to reduce pollution and carbon emissions has never been more critical. Synergistic effects aimed at mitigating these pressing issues constitute the central concern of contemporary environmental governance and sustainable development in the global context. This paper adopts the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework and a configurational perspective to identify three driving pathways for achieving synergistic reduction in pollution and carbon emission (SRPCE), using a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) approach: the Dual-Wheel Type, the Well-Regulated Type, and the Effective Pull Type. The Dual-Wheel Type illustrates how combining these two strategies can lead to enhanced SRPCE. The Well-Regulated Type is driven by push factors while the Effective Pull Type is driven by pull factors. This study clarifies the interplay between front-end prevention and end-of-pipe treatment in environmental protection investments. It also broadens the understanding of environmental regulation’s impact on corporate environmental governance by highlighting the nuanced ways regulations shape organizational behavior. Finally, it advances research on synergistic effects by focusing on micro-enterprises. This research thus presents a comprehensive perspective on synergistic environmental effects and yields actionable insights, suggesting that the government can adopt synergistic policies while enterprises, through self-regulation and proactive management, can implement sustainable practices to achieve effective pollution reduction and carbon mitigation.
Literacy for Sustainable Education: A Premise of Pedagogical Inclusiveness and Multilingualism in Higher Education
Authors: Chang Angel , Nkansah Jacob Oppong
Published: December 2024

Literacy has moved from conventional concepts of reading, writing, and counting skills to proficiency in reading, writing, data, technology, and education for sustainable development. The transition aims to prepare students to engage in a sustainable society and the method aims to cultivate multilingualism and inclusiveness in undergraduate education via a first-year writing (FYW) program. Considering the sustainability of such a transition, this study employs a case study of the FYW program to demonstrate to what extent literacy evolves via pedagogical inclusiveness and multilingualism in higher education. The FYW focuses on how educators can ensure pedagogical inclusiveness by inviting the varied language lingua students have before they arrive at our learning community rather than learning the language itself. The new FYW curriculum includes the World English of our students and embraces multilingualism rather than focusing on error correction so that students fit the norms and rules of American English. The longitudinal data from 2010 to 2020 were collected via five surveys with different approaches, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze them. The outcomes indicated that the new premise generates better course outcomes and fosters students as confident and comfortable writers and readers. The FYW program intersects with other STEM programs to build a more sustainable undergraduate education and cultivate students’ literacy capacity for sustainable development and lifelong learning.
Can Agricultural Credit Promote the Green Transformation of China’s Agriculture?
Authors: Zhang Lei , Xu Lili , Gao Mingzi , Zhou Mingdong
Published: December 2024

The key to sustainable agricultural development is the transition to an environmentally friendly economic growth model. The development of agricultural credit (AC) plays an important role in promoting the shift of agricultural economic growth toward a green and low-carbon direction. In this context, a key question that needs to be addressed is the theoretical basis for how AC development affects agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP), and whether this relationship can be empirically tested. This article analyzes the impact mechanism of China’s AC development on AGTFP and conducts empirical testing using provincial panel data from 2009 to 2019. The results show that AC development significantly contributes to improving AGTFP. In terms of the underlying mechanism, AC development primarily fosters agricultural green technology innovation, thereby enhancing AGTFP.
Dual Differences, Dynamic Evolution and Convergence of Total Factor Carbon Emission Performance: Empirical Evidence from 116 Resource-Based Cities in China
Authors: Wang Jiaming , Wang Xiangyun , Wang Shuwen , Du Xueyi , Yang Li
Published: December 2024

Using panel data of Chinese cities from 2006 to 2020, this study constructs the carbon emission performance index from the perspective of the dual differences in the four stages of growth, maturity, decline and regeneration of eastern, central, western and resource-based cities (RBCs). This study employs the Dagum Gini coefficient and kernel density estimation to explore σ convergence and β convergence for understanding the dual differences, dynamic evolutionary trend and convergence. Results indicate that during the sample period, the carbon emission performance index of RBCs shows a fluctuating upward trend with regional and typological imbalance influenced by geographical location and division of labour. The carbon emission performance index of RBCs of different regions and types (Growing, Mature, Declining and Regenerative) shows a fluctuating downward trend. However, the carbon emission performance index gap between the 116 RBCs in China is gradually expanding, further corroborating the influence of “excellent but outliers”. The overall level of carbon emission performance index of RBCs exhibits σ convergence, absolute β convergence and conditional β convergence phenomena. Notably, growing and regenerative RBCs demonstrate a clear “catching-up” trend compared to mature and declining RBCs. Furthermore, the inclusion of control variables reveals varying degrees of increased convergence speed. Environmental regulation intensity (ERI), gross domestic product (GDP), energy consumption structure (ECS), technology development level (T), industrial structure (IS) and foreign direct investment demonstrate significant regional and type heterogeneity in the changes in the carbon emission performance index of RBCs. Finally, based on the analysis results, implications are proposed to enhance the carbon emission performance of RBCs of different types, as well as at the national and regional levels.
Sustainability of Nuclear Energy—A Critical Review from a UK Perspective
Authors: Taylor Robin , Bodel William , Banford Anthony , Butler Gregg , Livens Francis
Published: December 2024

Many countries, including the United Kingdom, have committed to reaching “net zero” emissions by 2050. To meet this challenge requires urgent deployment of low-carbon energy-generating technologies, not just for electricity generation but also other sectors, including transportation and heating. However, this will only be successful if the other two pillars of sustainability (social and economic impacts) are balanced with the environmental drivers. All energy-generation technologies have benefits and drawbacks, and these must be objectively and fairly assessed using a “level playing field” approach. Nuclear energy has benefits that are complementary to renewables and thus can play a valuable role in delivering large amounts of low-carbon energy globally. However, critics of nuclear energy raise concerns related to safety (and security), radioactive waste management, and economics that have challenged its acceptance as a sustainable energy source in some quarters. Nevertheless, objective consideration of sustainability in global energy needs and the different generating technologies clearly indicate a valuable role for nuclear energy in a sustainable and low-carbon future. It is concluded that nuclear energy should be recognised as “sustainable”, and the analysis shows that energy portfolios incorporating nuclear provide the most sustainable system overall.
A Review of Studies on the Mechanisms of Cultural Heritage Influencing Subjective Well-Being
Authors: Kong Shaohua , Li Hanzun , Yu Ziyi
Published: December 2024

In 2022, UNESCO advocated for a systemic anchoring of culture in public policies, as an enabler and driver of emotional well-being and environmental sustainability. In recent years, economists have gradually shifted the measurement of well-being from “income” to “quality of life”, which has led to an increasing interest in subjective well-being (SWB) sustainability-related topics in academic research. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanisms by which cultural heritage and its derivative activities sustainably affect subjective well-being. To achieve this goal, we maximised relevant literature through conceptual segmentation and combination and conducted a literature review to identify mechanisms validated in previous studies. This study suggests that the richness of cultural heritage may impact subjective well-being and that the extent of this impact is influenced by two factors: the availability of cultural heritage-derived activities and the perception of cultural heritage. Considering the complexity and uniqueness of different cultural heritage perception channels, this paper provides a separate discussion and comparative analysis of different cultural heritage perception channels. This study provides valuable insights, the main idea being that cultural heritage and its derived activities have an impact on the enhancement of human well-being, and, therefore, the sustainable preservation of cultural heritage is important for the sustainable enhancement of human well-being; moreover, it provides suggestions for specific empirical studies to be conducted in the future.
Unveiling the Contemporary Research Direction and Current Business Management Strategies for Port Decarbonization Through a Systematic Review
Authors: Yildiz Ramazan Ozkan , Koc Elif , Der Oguzhan , Aymelek Murat
Published: December 2024

Port decarbonization is becoming an increasingly critical focus in the maritime industry. It facilitates prioritizing compliance with the latest regulatory updates introduced by the International Maritime Organization, the European Union, and national governments. It is also seen as a key element to tackling climate change challenges. Hence, it is essential to comprehend recent developments in port decarbonization research to address sustainability requirements of the industry. This article reveals the recent research directions and current industrial practices in response to port decarbonization requirements by employing a holistic view of the literature. The methodology of this research uses a detailed qualitative approach framework to conduct an in-depth analysis of contemporary research publications. In this study, 75 recent publications in the literature are examined in-depth using systematic review, thematic analysis, and content analysis. The findings of this study suggest a significant emphasis on innovative technologies and collaborative strategies for achieving decarbonization goals. Another important contribution of this study is the identification of key barriers and facilitators in the implementation of decarbonization practices at ports. This study also encompasses future research directions by identifying existing themes, contents, and research gaps in the literature. It is anticipated that the outcomes of this article will shed light on the main research motivations and policymaking requirements in the field of port decarbonization.
The Impact of Big Data-Driven Strategies on Sustainable Consumer Behaviour in E-Commerce: A Green Economy Perspective
Authors: Shao Jiawei , Feng Yi , Liu Ziyang
Published: December 2024

The significance of big data in modern industry is the core theme of this study. The chosen industry is e-commerce, and how big data has introduced new dynamics in sustainable purchasing was examined in this study. The development of the green economy depends on whether green products are being increasingly purchased or overconsumption is being reduced. E-commerce players tackle this issue with personalized recommendations, pricing, and target marketing strategies. Considerable data-enabled user experience has also recently become a significant development area. This study collected data from Alibaba users through a close-ended questionnaire. The model revealed that personalized recommendation, user experience, and target marketing strategies are significant predictors of consumer green satisfaction, and green purchase behaviour recommendations, user experience, and target marketing strategies are significant predictors of consumer green satisfaction and green purchase behaviour. Although targeted pricing could not find any significant relation with green purchase behaviour, it is mediated through green satisfaction. Overall, consumer green purchase behaviour can be enhanced through big data and its implications through targeted marketing, personalized recommendations, and user experience.