bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Movable Surface Rotation Angle Measurement System Using IMU
Authors: Wang Changfa , Tu Xiaowei , Chen Qi , Yang Qinghua , Fang Tao
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we describe a rotation angle measurement system (RAMS) based on an inertial measurement unit (IMU) developed to measure the rotation angle of a movable surface. The existing IMU-based attitude (tilt) sensor can only accurately measure the rotation angle when the rotation axis of the movable surface is perfectly aligned with the X axis or Y axis of the sensor, which is always not possible in real-world engineering. To overcome the difficulty of sensor installation and ensure measurement accuracy, first, we build a model to describe the relationship between the rotation axis and the IMU. Then, based on the built model, we propose a simple online method to estimate the direction of the rotation axis without using a complicated apparatus and a method to estimate the rotation angle using the known rotation axis based on the extended Kalman filter (EKF). Using the estimated rotation axis direction, we can effectively eliminate the influence of the mounting position on the measurement results. In addition, the zero-velocity detection (ZVD) technique is used to ensure the reliability of the rotation axis direction estimation and is used in combination with the EKF as the switching signal to adaptively adjust the noise covariance matrix. Finally, the experimental results show that the developed RAMS has a static measurement error of less than 0.05° and a dynamic measurement error of less than 1° in the range of ±180°.
Tribulus terrestris Cytotoxicity against Breast Cancer MCF-7 and Lung Cancer A549 Cell Lines Is Mediated via Activation of Apoptosis, Caspase-3, DNA Degradation, and Suppressing Bcl-2 Activity
Authors: Alshabi Ali Mohamed , Alkahtani Saad Ahmed , Shaikh Ibrahim Ahmed , Orabi Mohamed A. A. , Abdel-Wahab Basel A. , Walbi Ismail A. , Habeeb Mohammed Shafiuddin , Khateeb Masood Medleri , Shettar Arun K. , Hoskeri Joy H.
Published: November 2022

The primary objective of this research was to use flow cytometry to gain mechanistic insights into the cytotoxic effects of Tribulus terrestris extracts on breast cancer (MCF7) and lung cancer (A549) cell lines. T. terrestris was extracted using a Soxhlet apparatus in a progressive process. GC–MS was used to establish the phytochemical constituents. The amounts of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in the plant extracts were calculated using spectrophotometric analysis. The cytotoxicity of plant extracts was initially evaluated in non-malignant L929 cells, then in carcinogenic MCF-7 and A549 cell lines. Then, we performed an Annexin V assay, an anti-Bcl-2 assay, a Caspase-3 assay, and a DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) assay, using flow cytometry to investigate the underlying molecular processes. Based on the data, the methanolic extract of T. terrestris contained the highest amounts of phenolic compounds and flavonoids, with values of 169.87 µg GAE/g dwt and 160.12 µg QE/g dwt, respectively. Analysis by GC–MS revealed the presence of bioactive phytochemicals with proven cytotoxicity. Based on the MTT experiment, we determined that the IC50 values for the methanol extract’s effect on the viability of the MCF-7 and A549 cell lines were 218.19 and 179.62 µg/mL, respectively. The aqueous and methanol extracts were less cytotoxic when tested against the cancer-free L929 cell line (IC50 = 224.35 µg/mL). In both breast and lung cancer cells, the methanolic extract was found to activate caspase-3 and inhibit the Bcl-2 protein, resulting in early and late apoptosis and cell death via DNA damage. These findings point to cytotoxic effects of T. terrestris methanol extract against breast and lung cancer cell lines. Due to its potential as a source of anti-cancer chemotherapeutic medicines, T. terrestris warrants further investigation.
Polyaniline/Glauconite Nanocomposite Adsorbent for Congo Red Dye from Textile Wastewater
Authors: Salah Doaa , Hamd Ahmed , Soliman N. K. , Elzanaty Ali M. , Alanazi Abdulaziz M. , Shaban Mohamed , El-Sayed Refat , Ahmed Sayed A.
Published: November 2022

Glauconite (Gl), a naturally occurring clay material, was utilized as an affordable and ecologically friendly adsorbent to explore its capturing capacity towards Congo red (CR) dye from textile industrial waste effluent. To improve adsorption and removal effectiveness, a modification technique utilizing polyaniline (PAN) was investigated. An X-ray diffractometer (XRD), a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier transformer infrared (FTI-R) were applied as strong familiar characterization techniques for all used adsorbents. The effects of starting concentration, contact duration, adsorbent dose, pH, and temperature on the adsorption process were also studied. The reusability of the adsorbent was studied over four adsorption cycles. The results show that PAN modification of Gl enhances the effectiveness of CR elimination. The clearance efficiency of raw and modified glauconite at 25 °C and pH 7 was 77% and 91%, respectively. The kinetics and isotherms of Congo red dye adsorption were investigated using batch studies to determine the impacts of various experimental conditions. The maximum adsorption capacity of the glauconite/polyaniline (Gl/PAN) nanocomposite rose from 11.9 mg/g for Gl to 14.1 mg/g in accordance with the isotherm analysis, which shows that the Langmuir isotherm properly characterizes the experimental data. The pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.998) properly expresses the experimental data. The reusability research proved that the adsorbents may be reused effectively. The overall results suggest that the modified Gl by PAN might be used as a low-cost, natural adsorbent for eliminating CR color from textile effluent.
Parameter Effects and Optimisation in Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Labisia pumila
Authors: Radzali Shazana Azfar , Markom Masturah , Md Saleh Noorashikin
Published: November 2022

Labisia pumila, locally referred to as kacip fatimah, is one of the important herbs utilised in traditional medicine. Nonetheless, to the best of the researchers’ knowledge, the optimum application of Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) has not been reported for Labisia pumila (L. pumila) extraction and the understanding of this study may offer preliminary insight into the preparation of standardised extracts of L. pumila enriched with natural antioxidants prior to commercialisation at the industrial level. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimise supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SC-CO2) of functional phenolic compounds from L. pumila leaves. The factors studied were pressure, temperature, percentage of ethanol in co-solvent, and co-solvent concentration. The results demonstrated that the percentage of ethanol in co-solvent, temperature, and co-solvent concentration in the supercritical mixture had significant effects on the extraction of L. pumila. Based on the RSM results, the optimal SC-CO2 extraction conditions were at 283 bar, 32 °C, 78% (v/v) of ethanol-water in co-solvent, and 16% (v/v) of co-solvent concentration, which allowed the recovery of 14.051 ± 0.76% (g/g) of extraction yield, 1.2650 ± 0.10% (g/g) of gallic acid, 0.441 ± 0.29% (g/g) of methyl gallate, and 1.382 ± 0.37% (g/g) of caffeic acid. The experimental values were in agreement with the one predicted by RSM models, confirming the suitability of the model for optimisation of the extraction conditions.
Influence of Economic Growth, Energy Production, and Subcomponents on the Environment: A Regional Level Analytical Modeling
Authors: Naqvi Syed Asif Ali , Hussain Bilal , Shah Ashfaq Ahmad , Tariq Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman , Usman Muhammad
Published: November 2022

This study examines the long-term impact of energy production and economic growth on the environment using data on real GDP, energy production (and its subcomponents), carbon dioxide emissions, and real foreign trade. The datasets contain 99 countries that are classified into seven regions and analyzed by using MG, AMG, and CCEMG estimators. Estimates reflect that economic growth increases environmental pollution while foreign trade decreases it in all selected regions. In analyzing the conservation and neutrality hypotheses, we found that the conservation hypothesis was successfully verified for the global panel, Europe, and Africa, whereas the former was verified in North America, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific regions. The study suggests focusing on renewable energy production policies to sustain the current growth pace.
Managing Wine Tourism and Biodiversity: The Art of Ambidexterity for Sustainability
Authors: Lamoureux Claire , Barbier Nindu , Bouzdine-Chameeva Tatiana
Published: November 2022

Wine tourism is a mutually beneficial opportunity for customers to experience a wine region and for wine producers to promote their individual practices and approaches in the wine- making process. This article aims to understand producers’ perspectives on the challenges they face when trying to protect their wine estate’s biodiversity as they develop wine-related touristic activities. The research is based on an exploratory, multiple case study of wine producers, who are protecting their wine estate’s biodiversity on in Languedoc-Roussillon region, France. The study reveals the important synergies between biodiversity and wine tourism to increase global sustainability, to bond with customers and to positively impact the wine region. Yet, promoting biodiversity on a wine estate creates tensions on resources and requires investments which are not always highly profitable. Raising awareness about biodiversity is also much needed at both ends of the “producer-customer” relationship. Our results led us to develop an ambidexterity model, adapted to the management of wineries, that concurrently protects their biodiversity and develops wine tourism. We believe these results can be useful for both public and private stakeholders to adapt their wine tourism service offers, and support wine producers in their quest to develop biodiversity of their lands and overall sustainability.
Power System Voltage Stability Margin Estimation Using Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System Enhanced with Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Adewuyi Oludamilare Bode , Folly Komla A. , Oyedokun David T. O. , Ogunwole Emmanuel Idowu
Published: November 2022

In the current era of e-mobility and for the planning of sustainable grid infrastructures, developing new efficient tools for real-time grid performance monitoring is essential. Thus, this paper presents the prediction of the voltage stability margin (VSM) of power systems by the critical boundary index (CBI) approach using the machine learning technique. Prediction models are based on an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and its enhanced model with particle swarm optimization (PSO). Standalone ANFIS and PSO-ANFIS models are implemented using the fuzzy ‘c-means’ clustering method (FCM) to predict the expected values of CBI as a veritable tool for measuring the VSM of power systems under different loading conditions. Six vital power system parameters, including the transmission line and bus parameters, the power injection, and the system voltage derived from load flow analysis, are used as the ANFIS model implementation input. The performances of the two ANFIS models on the standard IEEE 30-bus and the Nigerian 28-bus systems are evaluated using error and regression analysis metrics. The performance metrics are the root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and Pearson correlation coefficient (R) analyses. For the IEEE 30-bus system, RMSE is estimated to be 0.5833 for standalone ANFIS and 0.1795 for PSO-ANFIS; MAPE is estimated to be 13.6002% for ANFIS and 5.5876% for PSO-ANFIS; and R is estimated to be 0.9518 and 0.9829 for ANFIS and PSO-ANFIS, respectively. For the NIGERIAN 28-bus system, the RMSE values for ANFIS and PSO-ANFIS are 5.5024 and 2.3247, respectively; MAPE is 19.9504% and 8.1705% for both ANFIS and PSO-ANFIS variants, respectively, and the R is estimated to be 0.9277 for ANFIS and 0.9519 for ANFIS-PSO, respectively. Thus, the PSO-ANFIS model shows a superior performance for both test cases, as indicated by the percentage reduction in prediction error, although at the cost of a higher simulation time.
Which Is More Concerning for Accounting Professionals-Personal Risk or Professional Risk?
Authors: Homayoun Saeid , Imeny Vahid Molla , Salehi Mahdi , Moradi Mahdi , Norton Simon
Published: November 2022

Personal and professional risks have been considered separately in research. However, these two concepts have not so far been investigated in research together. In this study, we first tested the importance of these two risks for Iranian accounting professionals through trade-off scenarios. The analysis of data gathered from an online survey of 487 Iranian accounting professionals shows that accounting professionals in Iran prefer to avoid personal risk rather than professional risk when facing a choice between personal and professional risk. Iranian accountants and auditors are personal risk averters and professional risk lovers, even though they think they are not risk-averse in their personal lives and not risk takers in their professional lives. Therefore, there is a gap between Iranian accounting professionals’ thoughts about their personal and professional risk aversion and their personal and professional risk aversion in practice. Furthermore, we found significant relationships between accounting professionals’ gender, religiosity, welfare, and personal risk aversion. In addition, there are significant relationships between accounting professionals’ gender and personal and professional risk aversion.
Node Centrality Comparison between Bus Line and Passenger Flow Networks in Beijing
Authors: Dai Teqi , Ding Tiantian , Liu Qingfang , Liu Bingxin
Published: November 2022

In recent decades, complex network theory has become one of the most important approaches for exploring the structure and dynamics of traffic networks. Most studies mainly focus on the static topology features of the traffic networks, and there are also increasing literature focusing on passenger flow networks. However, not much work has been completed on comparing the static networks with dynamic flow networks from the perspective of supply and demand. Therefore, this study aimed to apply the complex network approach to explore the spatial relationship between bus line organization and bus flows in Beijing. Based on the bus route data and the passenger flow data obtained from the Beijing smart bus card, this study investigated the spatial characteristics of the bus line network and the temporal bus flow networks, and presented a comparison analysis on the spatial relationship between them by using the node centrality indices, namely degree centrality, betweenness centrality and closeness centrality. The results show that the overall spatial patterns of node centralities between the bus line network and the bus flow network were similar, while there were also some differences. For weekdays, the correlation between them is higher, as calculated by the degree of centrality. For weekends, the two networks have a greater correlation measured by degree centrality and betweenness centrality. The highest coefficients of correlation between the line network and traffic network appear in the morning peak, which implies that the congestion issues during the morning peak hours might receive the highest priority in Beijing’s bus-line network planning. Our study can provide implications for policymakers to improve the public urban transport network, and thus enhance residents’ happiness.
Construction of Commuters’ Multi-Mode Choice Model Based on Public Transport Operation Data
Authors: Chen Lingjuan , Zhao Yijing , Liu Zupeng , Yang Xinran
Published: November 2022

Travel mode selection is a crucial aspect of traffic distribution and forecasting in a comprehensive transportation system, which has significant implications for resource allocation and optimal management. As commuters are the main part of urban travel, studying the factors that affect their choice of transport mode plays a crucial role in urban traffic management and planning. Based on public transport operation data, a travel chain is created by identifying boarding stations, alighting stations, and transfer behaviors, and includes detailed travel information. The regression and correlation coefficients of departures and arrivals at stations are confirmed to be 0.98 and 0.92 in the presented data, indicating the viability of the recognition method. Then, multiple travel modes are identified based on the origin and destination, and the proportion of mode selection is determined by the actual travel chain. Using maximum likelihood estimation (MLS) and NLOGIT software, the random parameter logit (RPL) mode is used to estimate the relationship between travel mode selection and characteristic variables such as travel time, distance, cost, comfort, walking distance, and waiting time. The results indicate that walking distance, travel distance, and comfort have a greater influence on travel choice, and that walking distance is a random parameter with a normal distribution, reflecting the diversity of commuters. In addition, this paper discusses the influence degree of the change of characteristic variables of a transport mode on the choice between it and other modes. These results can be used as reference for relevant departments to make measures to improve the overall efficiency of the urban transportation system.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability: From a Corporate Governance Perspective
Authors: Wu Lijuan , Jin Shanyue
Published: November 2022

Sustainable corporate development has become essential for many enterprises in the context of economic globalization and fierce technological competition. In fact, it is being tackled at a strategic level by most companies. The fulfillment of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is significant in building a corporate image, improving brand competitiveness, and promoting sustainable corporate development. Simultaneously, the level of corporate governance is a crucial factor in an enterprise’s long-term development. Therefore, this study clarifies whether CSR has a positive impact on the sustainable development of enterprises through empirical analysis; it also analyzes the effects of internal governance factors on the relationship between the two, from the perspective of corporate governance. A fixed-effects regression analysis was conducted on a sample of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2015 to 2019. According to the results, active CSR can promote sustainable development. Furthermore, corporate governance factors such as internal control, management capabilities, and accounting information quality have a moderating role in the CSR process on sustainable corporate development. This study provides a theoretical basis for future research on CSR and sustainable development, and its findings can inspire governments and enterprises from the perspective of corporate governance.
Exploring the Sustainable Delivery of Building Projects in Developing Countries: A PLS-SEM Approach
Authors: Kineber Ahmed Farouk , Hamed Mohammed Magdy
Published: November 2022

Sustainable building approaches should be included at every level of the development process for maximum benefit without jeopardising the structure’s intended usage. However, researchers have paid less attention to how they may be applied to developing nations. This study aims to investigate the numerous determinants of sustainable delivery in the construction industries of developing nations. For this to happen, existing literature was used to inform the development of a closed-ended questionnaire. Consequently, 95 structured questionnaires by building professionals investigated the importance of these factors. As a result, the factor’s structure was determined and confirmed using the study’s partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach, which was utilised to investigate the connections between these factors. According to the PLS-SEM analysis, the factors most strongly influencing sustainable delivery are those associated with the preparation, followed by evaluation and use factors, respectively. As a result of this research, authorities in Egypt’s building sector will have a road map for implementing sustainability principles to reduce building costs, boost the local ecosystem, and strengthen social cohesion.
The Space–Time Evolution of the Coupling and Coordinated Development of Public Cultural Services and Cultural Industries: A Case Study of 31 Regions in China
Authors: Xie Zhongqi , Zhang Ying , Fang Zhiqiang
Published: November 2022

The coordinated development of public cultural services (PCS) and cultural industries (CI) is conducive to sustainable regional development. Few studies focus on the coordinated development of PCS and CI. This study builds an evaluation index system for the coordinated development of PCS and CI and uses the entropy weight method, synchronous development model, coupling coordination model, and exploratory spatial data analysis method on 31 regions in China. It evaluates the synchronous development levels, coupling coordination levels, and spatial evolution characteristics of the coordinated development of PCS and CI from 2011 to 2020. The results are as follows: (1) The coordinated development level of PCS and CI has risen steadily. The leading type is dominant in space, with the leading type > synchronous type > lagging type. (2) The overall coupling degree is high. The high-level coupling in space is dominant. (3) The degree of coupling coordination has improved. Regions with good spatial and high-quality coordination are concentrated in the eastern, central, and coastal areas. (4) The coordinated development of PCS and CI shows positive spatial correlation agglomeration. The degree of agglomeration is increasing, mainly high high, forming an important growth region in the Yangtze River Delta economic region and its surroundings. Finally, we propose policy recommendations for the coordinated development of PCS and CI, and provide new ideas for the collaborative development of PCS and CI in China.
Analysis Indicators of Health-Safety in the Risk Assessment of Landfill with the Combined Method of Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making and Bow Tie Model
Authors: Abdolkhaninezhad Talieh , Monavari Masoud , Khorasani Nematollah , Robati Maryam , Farsad Forogh
Published: November 2022

The study and analysis of safety, health and environmental indicators in the risk assessment of landfill sites are essential to improving performance and reducing injuries. This study is essential in identifying effective criteria and providing useful solutions for proper waste control and management. In Gilan province, 2200 tons of waste enter landfills every day, and this has created a lot of pollution in the area. The methodology of this research was chosen using the opinions of experts and the Delphi technique. Factors affecting the risk assessment in the construction and operation phases were investigated in two phases. The risks of a landfill project were identified by combining (FANP) and (FTOPSIS) using a multi-criteria decision bow tie technique to rank and prioritize criteria. The results show that urban landfills are one of the environmental risk factors in cities. They often contaminate water sources. This has caused a disturbance in the stability of ecological systems. Using the bow tie model can control and prevent environmental health-safety risks caused by urban waste disposal. This can be a threat and a big factor in the destruction of ecosystem resources and services. The integrated approach used in this study provides a flexible tool for evaluating and developing municipal landfills. The risk assessment study proves that the most involved areas in the landfill are environment and health-safety, respectively. Socio-economic and cultural fields are in the next categories. Due to their nature and working process, lancets face many environmental, safety and health risks. The integrated approach (FANP) and (FTOPSIS) with bow ties are suitable methods for risk assessment in landfills. It is very important to use the bow tie technique in analyzing, examining and prioritizing risk sources for management and also control measures such as preventing and limiting high-risk sources.
Coupling Coordination Degree of Ecological-Economic and Its Influencing Factors in the Counties of Yangtze River Economic Belt
Authors: Li Tongning , Li Daozheng , Liang Diling , Huang Simin
Published: November 2022

The rapid economic development (ED) of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) has had a significant negative impact on regional ecosystem services (ES). Accurately understanding and properly handling the relationship between ES and ED is critical to achieving coordinated regional development of the YREB. Restricted by a minimal number of research units, traditional studies have not fully considered the spatial heterogeneity of the influencing factors, leading to results with poor accuracy and applicability. To address these problems, this paper introduces a spatial econometric model to explore the impact of influencing factors on the level of coordinated development in the YREB. For the 1013 counties in the YREB, we used the value equivalent method, the entropy weight method, and the coupling coordination model to quantify the coupling coordination relationship between the ecosystem services value (ESV) and ED from 2010 to 2020. The multi-scale geographically weighted regression model (MGWR) was adopted to analyze the role of influencing factors. The results showed the following: (1) The coupling coordination degree (CCD) of ESV and ED along the YREB demonstrated significant spatial heterogeneity, with Sichuan and Anhui provinces forming a low-value lag. The average CCD from high to low were found in the Triangle of Central China (TOCC), the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration (YRDUA), and the Chengdu–Chongqing urban agglomeration (CCUA). (2) There was spatial autocorrelation in the distribution of CCD, with high–high clustering mainly distributed in Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces. The counties with high–high clustering were expanding, mainly centering on Kunming City in Yunnan Province and expanding outward. (3) There was significant spatial heterogeneity in the impact of each influencing factor on CCD. Per capita fiscal expenditure was sensitive to low–low clustering areas of CCD; per capita, food production was a negative influence, and the rate of urbanization transitioned from negative to positive values from west to east.
Modeling the Influence of Paternalistic Leadership and Personality Characteristics on Alienation and Organizational Culture in the Aviation Industry of Pakistan: The Mediating Role of Cohesiveness
Authors: Shahzad Farrukh , Shahzad Muhammad Farrukh , Dilanchiev Azer , Irfan Muhammad
Published: November 2022

Espousing the theoretical framework of singling theory and social exchange theory, the current study examines the less explored topic of paternalistic leadership. This study contributed by scrutinizing the relationship between paternalistic leadership, personality characteristics, alienation, and organizational climate through the mediating role of cohesiveness. A convenience sampling technique was applied for this study. Data was collected through an adopted questionnaire from 723 respondents. A variance-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for testing the proposed structural model. Results revealed that paternalistic leadership and personality characteristics significantly and positively impact alienation and organizational climate. Furthermore, cohesiveness mediates the relationship between personality characteristics, paternalistic leadership, alienation, and organizational climate. Based on research findings, essential theoretical and managerial aspects with major policy-making implications are discussed in the study.
The Influence of Enterprises’ Green Marketing Behavior on Consumers’ Green Consumption Intention—Mediating Role and Moderating Role
Authors: Yang Shuli , Chai Junwu
Published: November 2022

Given the increasingly strained relationship between humans and the environment, green marketing has become a necessity for the sustainable development of society. In this context, this paper seeks to explore the influence of Chinese enterprises’ green marketing behavior on consumers’ green consumption willingness. The current study uses a survey design to collect data from 225 respondents, to analyze the data using SPSS, and to verify them with regression analysis modeling. Results from the analysis indicate that first, enterprises’ green marketing behavior has a positive impact on consumers’ green consumption intention. Consumer perceived effectiveness plays a partial mediating role in the influence of enterprises’ green marketing behavior on consumers’ green consumption intention. Secondly, consumers’ environmental awareness weakens the mediating role of consumers’ perceived effectiveness. Finally, this paper proves two conclusions through two experiments. Compared with symbolic activities, substantive green marketing activities can better promote the positive impact of enterprises’ green marketing behaviors on consumers’ green consumption intention. Compared with the situation without the presence of others, the presence of others can better promote the positive effect of enterprises’ green marketing behavior on consumers’ green consumption intention. Therefore, enterprises should adopt green marketing strategies and give consumers a better perception of their green contribution in the process of participating in green consumption, including taking CSR in environmental education, implementing substantive green marketing activities as much as possible, and optimizing offline sales scenarios so that enterprises can enhance competitiveness and achieve sustainable development.
Mathematical Modelling of Biogas Production in a Controlled Landfill: Characterization, Valorization Study and Energy Potential
Authors: Jamal Mabrouki
Published: November 2022

Methane potential is the volume of methane gas produced during anaerobic degradation in the presence of the bacteria of an initially inserted sample. This paper presents a degradation study of the green and industrial fermentable waste sheltered by the landfill of Mohammedia in which the biogas deposit and the associated recoverable energy at the end of exploitation is estimated and the power of the gas engine of the proposed cogeneration unit is calculated. The Total potential biogas production value of the household waste of the city of Mohammedia is much higher than that of the American and French household waste recommended by the US EPA and French ADEME. This calls into question the adaptability of the modeling tools for biogas production to Moroccan waste. The four modeling equations for landfill will be evaluated. The results show that the ADEME model proved to be more descriptive and better adapted to this case.
Can Renewable Energy and Export Help in Reducing Ecological Footprint of India? Empirical Evidence from Augmented ARDL Co-Integration and Dynamic ARDL Simulations
Authors: Rej Soumen , Nag Barnali , Hossain Md. Emran
Published: November 2022

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of exports, renewable energy, and industrialization on the ecological footprint (EF) of India over the period spanning from 1970–2017 by employing the newly developed augmented ARDL (A-ARDL) co-integration approach and the novel dynamic ARDL (D-ARDL) technique. The empirical results demonstrate that exports and renewable energy consumption reduce the EF, while industrialization intensifies the EF. More precisely, a 1% increase in export (renewable energy consumption) reduces the EF by 0.05% (0.09%). In addition, the short-run elasticity of the GDP is found to be larger than the long-run elasticity indicating the possibility of the existence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) of the EF for India. The study indicates that the income effect and increased policy focus on renewable energy usage can be expected to reduce India’s per capita EF in the long run. Moreover, India’s export sector has been traditionally less energy intensive, which reflects in our findings of export growth leading to a reduction in EF. Based on the empirical findings, this study recommends some policy insights that may assist India to effectively reduce its ecological footprint.
Materials and Performance of Asphalt-Based Waterproof Bonding Layers for Cement Concrete Bridge Decks: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gao Feng , Gao Xuan , Chen Qian , Li Yanduo , Gao Zhiwei , Wang Chaohui
Published: November 2022

As an important part of the bridge deck pavement system, the waterproof bonding layer plays a vital role in ensuring the integrity and durability of the pavement structure. Asphalt-based waterproof bonding materials have attracted extensive attention from researchers due to their low cost and good combination with asphalt surfaces. However, the existing research results of asphalt waterproof bonding layers are confused and there is a lack of systematic summaries. In addition, there are significant differences in the type, specification, performance, evaluation method, and evaluation index of asphalt materials. The performance evaluation indexes and methods of asphalt waterproof bonding materials need to be further studied and improved. To further promote the research and development of asphalt waterproof bonding layer materials, in this paper, the relevant specifications for the waterproof bonding layer of roads and bridges in China were systematically combed, the key performance index requirements in different specifications were compared and evaluated, the research trends of the asphalt waterproof bonding layer in China and its application in engineering construction were comprehensively reviewed, the performance of different asphalt waterproof bonding materials were systematically investigated, and the construction technology and economy of different asphalt waterproof bonding layer materials were analyzed. This paper provides a useful reference for the specification improvement and quality control of asphalt waterproof bonding layer.
Operation and Assessment of a Microgrid for Maldives: Islanded and Grid-Tied Mode
Authors: Ishraque Md. Fatin , Rahman Akhlaqur , Shezan Sk. A. , Shafiullah GM
Published: November 2022

This research work examines the prospect of a dispatch strategy governed hybrid renewable energy microgrid for the proposed location in Maldives for both off and on grid conditions. The techno-environmental-economic-power system responses of the proposed microgrid have been evaluated. The techno-environmental-economic analysis of the proposed microgrid has been conducted utilizing HOMER Pro and the power system response analysis has been conducted using DIgSILENT PowerFactory software platforms. The evaluation shows that, for both on and off grid modes, cycle charging strategy has the worst performance having net present costs (NPC) of $132,906 and $147,058 and cost of energy (COE) of 0.135 $/kWh and 0.213 $/kWh respectively. During on grid mode, generator order performs the best having NPC of $113,137, COE of 0.166 $/kWh. In off grid mode, load following strategy performs the best with NPC of $141,448 and COE of 0.024 $/kWh. The active power and voltage responses of the microgrid shows the stable operation of the proposed system by implementing dispatch techniques and voltage Q-droop and input mode P-Q controller. A comparison section is also presented for demonstrating the significance of the research work. The research work has been conducted considering a location in Maldives but provides an overall idea about establishing a microgrid in anywhere in the world having similar meteorological and load conditions.
Evaluation and Optimization of Refuge Green Space in the Central Area of Tianjin for Geological Disasters
Authors: Cao Yilun , Guo Yuhan , Wang Chang , Li Yunyuan
Published: November 2022

Refuge Green Space (RGS) plays roles in both rapid evacuation and short-term resettlement in response to sudden natural hazards, especially geological disasters. As a result, its evaluation and location optimization are crucial for the development of sustainable cities. In this study, the Three-Step Floating Catchment Area Method (3SFCA) and Moran’s I index were used as measurement models. The rapid evacuation and short-term resettlement capacity of RGS were evaluated by calculating accessibility with 5, 10, 15 and 30 min of walking. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the supply capacity of RGS in the central area of Tianjin and to provide recommendations for future additions to RGS. The results show that over 80% of the research area exhibited relatively poor service capacity within a 5–10 min walking distance, while less than 20% exhibited relatively good service capacity. Within a 15–30 min walking distance, approximately 60% of the study area was not well served by the RGS, while approximately 40% was well served. In conclusion, the layout of RGS in the central area of Tianjin exhibits unevenness and polarization of phenomena, and the supply of different categories of RGS varies widely. There is an insufficient supply of Emergency Sheltered Green Space and Temporary Sheltered Green Space, and that which is available is difficult to reach within 5–10 min. The coverage capacity of Disaster Prevention Park Space is relatively good, essentially covering the entire study area within a 15–30 min walking distance; however, the service capacity is average. Based on these conclusions, areas in which the RGS supply was weak were identified, and future potential RGS additions were identified in conjunction with the Green Space System Plan.
Video Self-Modeling (VSM) as a Strategy to Instruct CFL Students’ Sentence-Level Stress
Authors: Li Linghong , Valcke Martin , Badan Linda , Anderl Christoph
Published: November 2022

Sentence-level stress is one of the major means of expressing information focus in oral speaking, and it is of importance for Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) learners to accurately receive and send the right information in conversation. However, research related to teaching stress, especially sentence-level stress, is indeed scarce. In this study, we investigate whether video self-modeling (VSM) is applicable to improve CFL students’ sentence-level stress. VSM, as an innovative strategy, only shows the positive targeted behavior by using videos or audios of oneself, and aims to decrease students’ frustration and the negative influence caused by failed accomplishments. Twelve beginning-level CFL students, taken as the experimental group, received the edited perfect pronunciation audios with their own voice and used these own-voice audios to train their sentence-level stress. At the same time, another twelve advanced-level CFL students were taken as the control group, and received traditional instructional strategies from their class teacher. The whole training continued for ten sessions during a period of two and half months. Quantitative results show that with the help of VSM, CFL students’ sentence-level stress improved significantly as compared to the control group, with increased scores on the pronunciation of sentence-level stress words and increased scores in all three parameters: pitch, intensity, and duration. A post-training survey revealed that the participants’ preference for using their own voice as instructional material resulted in a feeling of success and satisfaction. The findings corroborate the importance of computer-assisted language learning in the second language (L2) field, and add solid evidence of using VSM in foreign-language training.
Do Personal Values and Political Ideology Affect Sustainable Consumption?
Authors: Mathur Anil , Moschis George P.
Published: November 2022

Previous research reports inconsistency in the relationship between political identity and orientations toward green consumption, and there is little information on the change mechanism(s) that link(s) political orientations and sustainable consumption behavior. In this study, we examine the mediating role of green values and beliefs about sustainability with respect to the relationship between a person’s political identity and personal values and his or her sustainable consumption behavior. Using structural equation modeling, the model was tested using data from an online survey of 179 adults. Results suggest that the effects of political identity and personal values on sustainable consumption behavior are mediated by green values and specific beliefs about sustainability, with conservatives being the least likely to adopt sustainable consumption habits. The findings also suggest that public policy makers attempting to persuade conservatives to adopt sustainable consumer behaviors may face an uphill task because deep-rooted values of conservatives might prevent them from accepting such messages in the belief formation stage. Implications of these findings for theory development and social scientists are also discussed.
Global Value Chains and Spatial Spillovers of Economic Growth—Based on the Perspective of Participation and Status Index in Global Value Chain
Authors: Men Keping , Sun Hui , Kou Minglong
Published: November 2022

This paper mainly analyzed the spillover effect of GVC participation on economic growth and deconstructed it from the spatial perspective. It used the spatial Durbin model to study the impact of GVC participation on economic growth in 42 countries through empirical analysis, using the World Bank, WIOD, UIBE and other databases. The results are as follows: the improvement of a country’s GVC participation can effectively drive the development of its own economy and have a significant spillover effect on the economic development of its neighboring countries; The improvement of a country’s GVC status not only has a great promotion effect on its own economic development, but also has a relatively obvious promotion effect on the economic development of neighboring countries.
Does the Inclusive Financial Policy Innovation Promote Rural Revitalization—A Synthetic Control Test of a National Pilot Zone for Inclusive Financial Reform
Authors: Zhao Min , Chu Peipei
Published: November 2022

The establishment of a pilot zone for inclusive financial reform is a major policy innovation in the modern financial system in China and has a lasting and far-reaching significance in accelerating the realization of the overall revitalization of rural areas. This paper takes the first pilot zone for inclusive financial reform (Henan Province) approved by the State Council in 2016 as a quasi natural experiment and uses the synthetic control method based on the “counterfactual” perspective and the intermediary effect model to empirically evaluate the net effect and impact mechanism of inclusive finance pilot policies on the improvement of the comprehensive level of rural revitalization. The results show that the establishment of the pilot zone for inclusive financial reform in Henan Province has significantly improved the comprehensive level of local rural revitalization, and this promotion effect has a trend of continuous acceleration after a one-year lag. In addition, the conclusion still holds after a series of robustness tests. The pilot policy of inclusive finance can positively contribute to rural revitalization development from both the supply and demand sides by enhancing the supply of rural credit and increasing the depth and density of agricultural insurance. Furthermore, the supply and demand sides have a synergistic effect in promoting rural revitalization development, although the effect is not significant at present. The above results not only improve the study of the impact of the pilot policy of inclusive finance on rural revitalization but also provide a strong reference for the formulation and implementation of rural financial reform policies. At the same time, the paper puts forward specific policy suggestions in terms of scientific promotion of the pilot zone, ensuring the supply and demand balance of “credit + insurance” and innovating the system and mechanism of the pilot zone.
A Hybrid Model for China’s Soybean Spot Price Prediction by Integrating CEEMDAN with Fuzzy Entropy Clustering and CNN-GRU-Attention
Authors: Liu Dinggao , Tang Zhenpeng , Cai Yi
Published: November 2022

China’s soybean spot price has historically been highly volatile due to the combined effects of long-term massive import dependence and intricate policies, as well as inherent environmental elements. The accurate prediction of the price is crucial for reducing the amount of soybean-linked risks worldwide and valuable for the long-term sustainability of global agriculture. Therefore, a hybrid prediction model that combines component clustering and a neural network with an attention mechanism has been developed. After fully integrated complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) processing of the price series, the fuzzy entropy of each component is measured as the complexity characteristic. K-means clustering and reconstruction are applied to the components before being input to the CNN-GRU-Attention network for prediction to improve the model ability and adaptability of the sequences. In the empirical analysis, the proposed model outperforms other decomposition techniques and machine learning algorithms regarding prediction accuracy. After applying the decomposition part, the results have RMSE, MAPE, and MAE values of 49.59%, 22.58%, and 21.99% lower than those of the individual prediction part, respectively. This research presents a novel approach for market participants in the soybean industry for risk response. It gives a new perspective on agricultural product prices in sustainable agricultural marketing, while also providing practical tools for developing public policies and decision-making.
Proposing a Novel Minimum Income Standard Approach to Energy Poverty Assessment: A European Case Study
Authors: Barrella Roberto , Romero José Carlos , Mariño Lucía
Published: November 2022

Energy deprivation can be identified as a manifestation of general poverty. Indeed, the former should be studied in connection with economic poverty since energy vulnerability is closely linked to a low-income level. To explore this connection, this paper proposes a novel Minimum Income Standard (MIS) approach to energy poverty indicators. In particular, this work applies the reference budgets method to the case of Spain and compares the obtained MIS indicator with one calculated using the Integration Minimum Income (RMI in Spanish) as a threshold. The results of the MIS indicator calculated with different income thresholds were critically analysed to establish a disproportionate expenditure metric based on an absolute income threshold obtained with an objective methodology. The outcomes show that the reference budget MIS indicators are generally higher than those obtained with the RMI, with the latter unable to identify energy poverty amongst certain household typologies. This result, together with the lack of scientific objectivity associated with the RMI, indicates that the reference budget MIS is more accurate when measuring an adequate minimum income. Eventually, this work might contribute to the measurement of (energy) poverty in Spain and the EU and inform policymakers to adequately target assistance programs.
Positive Solutions for a Class of Integral Boundary Value Problem of Fractional q-Difference Equations
Authors: Kang Shugui , Zhang Yunfang , Chen Huiqin , Feng Wenying
Published: November 2022

This paper studies a class of integral boundary value problem of fractional q-difference equations. We first give an explicit expression for the associated Green’s function and obtain an important property of the function. The new property allows us to prove sufficient conditions for the existence of positive solutions based on the associated parameter. The results are derived from the application of a fixed point theorem on order intervals.