bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Beamforming Approaches to Improve Passive Radar Performance in Sea and Wind Farms’ Clutter
Authors: Rosado-Sanz Javier , Jarabo-Amores María Pilar , De la Mata-Moya David , Rey-Maestre Nerea
Published: September 2022

This article presents the problem of passive radar vessel detection in a real coastal scenario in the presence of sea and wind farms’ clutter, which are characterised by high spatial and time variability due to the influence of weather conditions. Deterministic and adaptive beamforming techniques are proposed and evaluated using real data. Key points such as interference localisation and characterisation are tackled in the passive bistatic scenario with omnidirectional illuminators that critically increase the area of potential clutter sources to areas far from the surveillance area. Adaptive beamforming approaches provide significant Signal-to-Interference improvements and important radar coverage improvements. In the presented case study, an aerial target is detected 28 km far from the passive radar receiver, fulfilling highly demanding performance requirements.
Radar Target Detection Algorithm Using Convolutional Neural Network to Process Graphically Expressed Range Time Series Signals
Authors: Dai Yan , Liu Dan , Hu Qingrong , Yu Xiaoli
Published: September 2022

Under the condition of low signal-to-noise ratio, the target detection performance of radar decreases, which seriously affects the tracking and recognition for the long-range small targets. To solve it, this paper proposes a target detection algorithm using convolutional neural network to process graphically expressed range time series signals. First, the two-dimensional echo signal was processed graphically. Second, the graphical echo signal was detected by the improved convolutional neural network. The simulation results under the condition of low signal-to-noise ratio show that, compared with the multi-pulse accumulation detection method, the detection method based on convolutional neural network proposed in this paper has a higher target detection probability, which reflects the effectiveness of the method proposed in this paper.
Security and Safety Concerns in Air Taxis: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Ferrão Isadora Garcia , Espes David , Dezan Catherine , Branco Kalinka Regina Lucas Jaquie Castelo
Published: September 2022

Different from traditional transport systems, such as cars or trains, which are limited by land transit space, flying cars (such as UAS, drones, and air taxis) do not occupy space with traffic. They have a degree of freedom in space and time, smaller displacement, and consequently, less stress for their users. Large companies and researchers around the world are working with different architectures, algorithms, and techniques to test air taxi transport to serve a significant proportion of people safely and autonomously. One of the main issues surrounding the diffusion of air taxis is safety and security, since a simple failure can lead to the loss of high-value assets, loss of the vehicle, and/or injuries to human lives, including fatalities. In this sense, despite significant efforts, the literature is still specific and limited regarding air taxi safety and security. Therefore, this study aimed to carry out an extensive systematic literature review of the main modern advances in techniques, architectures, and research carried out around the world focused on these types of vehicles. More than 210 articles from between 2015 and January 2022 were individually reviewed. In addition, this study also presents gaps that could serve as a direction for future research. As far as the authors are aware, no other study performs this type of review focused on air taxi safety.
Sustainable Earthquake Resilience with the Versatile Shape Memory Alloy (SMA)-Based Superelasticity-Assisted Slider
Authors: Narjabadifam Peyman , Noori Mohammad , Taciroglu Ertugrul , Zhang Jian , Khoshnevis Behrokh , Cardone Donatello , Basu Dipanjan , Wang Tao , Elghandour Eltahry , Noroozinejad Farsangi Ehsan , Lotfi Reza , Chavoshi Mahdi , Sattarian Davood , Stirnimann Orlando Fabio
Published: September 2022

Earthquakes threaten humanity globally in complex ways that mainly include various socioeconomic consequences of life and property losses. Resilience against seismic risks is of high importance in the modern world and needs to be sustainable. Sustainable earthquake resilience (SER) from the perspective of structural engineering means equipping the built environment with appropriate aseismic systems. Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are a class of advanced materials well suited for fulfilling the SER demand of the built environment. This article explores how this capability can be realized by the innovative SMA-based superelasticity-assisted slider (SSS), recently proposed for next-generation seismic protection of structures. The versatility of SSS is first discussed as a critical advantage for an effective SER. Alternative configurations and implementation styles of the system are presented, and other advantageous features of this high-tech isolation system (IS) are studied. Results of shaking table experiments, focused on investigating the expected usefulness of SSS for seismic protection in hospitals and conducted at the structural earthquake engineering laboratory of the University of Bonab, are then reported. SSS is compared with currently used ISs, and it is shown that SSS provides the required SER for the built environments and outperforms other ISs by benefitting from the pioneered utilization of SMAs in a novel approach.
Exploring the Biosorption of Methylene Blue Dye onto Agricultural Products: A Critical Review
Authors: Sah Manish Kumar , Edbey Khaled , EL-Hashani Ashraf , Almshety Sanad , Mauro Luisetto , Alomar Taghrid S. , AlMasoud Najla , Bhattarai Ajaya
Published: September 2022

Due to their higher specific area and, in most cases, higher adsorption capacity, nanomaterials are noteworthy and attractive adsorbents. Agricultural products that are locally available are the best option for removing methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solutions. Because it is self-anionic, FT-IR and SEM investigations of biosorption have confirmed the role of the functional group and its contribution to the formation of pores that bind cationic dye. It is endothermic if the adsorption of MB by an adsorbent is high as the temperature increases; on the other hand, exothermic if it is high as the temperature decreases. A basic medium facilitates adsorption with respect to pH; adsorption is proportional to the initial concentration at a certain level before equilibrium; after equilibrium, adsorption decreases. A pseudo-second-order model applies for certain agricultural products. As per plotted graph for the solid-phase concentration against the liquid-phase concentration, the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model is favored; this model describes a situation in which a number of molecules are adsorbed by an equal number of available surface sites, and there is no interaction between adsorbate molecules once all sites are occupied. In contrast, the Freundlich model depicts non-ideal multi-layer sorption onto heterogeneous surfaces via numerical analysis; with a value of n = 1, the result is a linear isotherm. If the value of n < 1 or n > 1, then it is chemical or physical adsorption, respectively. Based on an EDX analysis, relevant elements are confirmed. BET analysis confirms the surface area. Nanoproducts categorized as agricultural products exhibit the aforementioned tendency. Even though nanoparticles show positive outcomes in terms of higher adsorption, a high specific area for the targeted pollutant is needed in real-world applications. In the relevant sections herein, the behavior of thermodynamic parameters, such as enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy, are examined. There is some question as to which form of agricultural waste is the most effective adsorption medium. There is no direct answer because every form of agricultural waste has its own distinct chemical and physical characteristics, such as porosity, surface area, and strength.
Home-Based Respiratory Care for COPD Patients
Authors: Figueiredo Ricardo G. , Laudano Caio , Muniz Jaqueline , de Bessa José
Published: September 2022

Despite significant advances in pharmacological treatment over the last few decades, COPD remains a heavy burden on the health systems around the world, affecting approximately 210 million people, with elevated morbimortality and socioeconomic impact. Barriers to healthcare access were even more evident during the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic and increased patients’ vulnerability to physical deconditioning, depression, and social isolation. Home-based respiratory care in patients with COPD provides a valuable contribution to effective disease management, with potential advantages for monitoring, treatment adherence, and cost reduction. Technological innovation allows clinical markers of interest, such as respiratory frequency, pulmonary function, and oxygen saturation, to be tracked remotely from the patients’ homes, providing a better understanding of their real needs. Home-based telerehabilitation can also be a viable alternative to hospital-based programs. Here, we highlight the full extent of health benefits of HRC in COPD, particularly for patients with a higher risk of exacerbations, multiple comorbidities, and limited access to health services.
UAV Fleet as a Dependable Service for Smart Cities: Model-Based Assessment and Application
Authors: Kharchenko Vyacheslav , Kliushnikov Ihor , Rucinski Andrzej , Fesenko Herman , Illiashenko Oleg
Published: September 2022

The paper suggests a model-based approach to assessment and choice of parameters of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fleets applied as one of the main services for Smart Cities and recommendations to assure their dependability. The principles of building and modeling a UAV Fleet as a Dependable Service (UAVFaaDS) for Smart Cities are formulated. Dependability issues for UAVFaaDS including a taxonomy of UAVF failures caused by equipment faults and attacks on assets were specified. The main results cover methodology, classification of UAVFaaDS models as models of queuing systems, and a set of queueing theory-based models for assessment of UAVFaaDS performance, and availability allowing for analysis and choice of fleet parameters. The efficiency of UAVFaaDS is assessed by the probability of successful delivery of services. The proposed modeling base and algorithms provide a choice of appropriate models for analysis and synthesis of UAVFaaDS, grounding of parameters of UAV fleets considering operation modes, and maintenance policy. The application of the developed models and algorithms during the synthesis of UAVFaaDS allows choosing the appropriate parameters of the fleet and ensuring the dependability of services, as well as service of orders with a probability of 0.9–0.99 depending on the requirements. Two cases of UAVFaaDS application for delivery of medicines in normal and emergence modes, models’ development, and recommendations for their utilization are discussed.
The Gendered Experience of Close to Community Providers during COVID-19 Response in Fragile Settings: A Multi-Country Analysis
Authors: Raven Joanna , Arjyal Abriti , Baral Sushil , Chand Obindra , Hawkins Kate , Kallon Lansana , Mansour Wesam , Parajuli Ayuska , Than Kyu Kyu , Wurie Haja , Yamout Rouham , Theobald Sally
Published: September 2022

Many countries, and particularly those including fragile contexts, have a shortage of formal health workers and are increasingly looking to close-to-community (CTC) providers to fill the gap. The experiences of CTC providers are shaped by context-embedded gender roles and relations. This qualitative research study in Lebanon, Nepal, Myanmar and Sierra Leone explored the gendered experiences of CTC providers during the COVID-19 pandemic in fragile settings. We used document review, in-depth interviews or focus group discussions with CTC providers, and key informant interviews with local stakeholders to generate in-depth and contextual information. The COVID-19-associated lockdowns and school closures brought additional stresses, with a gendered division of labour acutely felt by women CTC providers. Their work is poorly or not remunerated and is seen as risky. CTC providers are embedded within their communities with a strong willingness to serve. However, they experienced fractures in community trust and were sometimes viewed as a COVID-19 risk. During COVID-19, CTC providers experienced additional responsibilities on top of their routine work and family commitments, shaped by gender, and were not always receiving the support required. Understanding their experience through a gender lens is critical to developing equitable and inclusive approaches to support the COVID-19 response and future crises.
Women, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainability: The Case of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Abdelwahed Nadia A. Abdelmegeed , Bastian Bettina Lynda , Wood Bronwyn P.
Published: September 2022

We ran two focus groups with well-educated Saudi women; there were ten participants with established businesses and ten nascent entrepreneurs. Despite the Saudi Vision 2030’s centring of environmental sustainability as a key tenet of the country’s development, the women entrepreneurs we studied (both established and nascent) were not well informed on the topic. Further, the well-educated women in our sample were under pressure from neither their customers nor their own religious, financial, or moral imperatives to engage in sustainable practices or seek out and implement sustainable business in any form. Our respondents believed that government should incentivise businesses to undertake sustainable practices and saw no financial benefits to initiating these practices themselves. Contrary to previous literature, we found that the women entrepreneurs in our sample did not perceive sustainability as an entrepreneurial opportunity and, in many cases, did not believe that sustainability should be an intrinsic element of any for-profit business. Our research findings imply that the prevalent top-down policy approach used by the government to promote sustainable entrepreneurial practices needs to be complimented by a more inclusive multi-actor approach that would involve local and national stakeholders. Moreover, educational policies need to promote the integration of sustainability topics within the larger educational system to promote awareness and social change.
Experts’ Perceptions of the Management and Minimisation of Waste in the Australian Construction Industry
Authors: Jahan Israt , Zhang Guomin , Bhuiyan Muhammed , Navaratnam Satheeskumar , Shi Long
Published: September 2022

Effective waste management has become a crucial factor in Australia because, from 1996 to 2015, the population increased by 28%, while Australia’s annual waste increased by 170%. In the period 2018–2019, Australia generated 27 Mt of construction demolition waste (44% of all waste). Although 76% of this waste is recycled, there has been a 61% increase in the rate of waste since 2006–2007. Therefore, minimising waste and prioritising waste management are necessary to build a circular economy. This study aims to identify the current waste minimisation perceptions in the Australian construction industry. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 50 industry experts focusing on four sectors (design/planning, building information modelling (BIM), material logistics, and prefabrication). The data were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively (Severity index). The result disclosed that the designers are the first contributor to waste minimisation, followed by the material suppliers/manufacturers. It is revealed that subjective attitude and the personal reluctance to exercise waste mitigation strategies are crucial. The outcome also indicated that BIM has the potential to minimise waste significantly. Overall, 15 key points were highlighted to consider for waste minimisation, and a conceptual framework was proposed. Therefore, identifying waste management’s current practices and the responsibility of industry personnel will help minimise waste and bring sustainable development.
Study on the Influence of Seismic Wave Parameters on the Dynamic Response of Anti-Dip Bedding Rock Slopes under Three-Dimensional Conditions
Authors: Ren Zhanghao , Chen Congxin , Zheng Yun , Sun Chaoyi , Yuan Jiahao
Published: September 2022

As a result of earthquakes, the deformation and failure caused by anti-dip bedding rock slopes are large, and their seismic dynamic response law is complex. Using the three-dimensional discrete element numerical analysis software 3DEC, the influence of seismic wave parameters on the dynamic response of anti-dip bedding rock slopes was systematically studied, with special focus on the influence of the angle between seismic wave incidence direction and slope trend on the dynamic response of anti-dip bedding rock slopes under three-dimensional conditions. The orthogonal test was designed to conduct sensitivity analysis of five seismic parameters, including seismic wave amplitude, incidence angle of the S-wave, frequency, duration, and the time difference between the P-wave’s and the S-wave’s peak. The results revealed that the S-wave’s amplitude As and the holding time T of the seismic wave are positively correlated with the acceleration amplification factor of the slope, and the incident direction γ of the S-wave is negatively correlated with the acceleration amplification factor of the slope. The increase of seismic wave frequency f and the time difference Δt between the P-wave’s and the S-wave’s peak lead to the first increase and then decrease of the Y-directional displacement of the slope. The sensitivity of each seismic wave parameter to the Y-directional acceleration amplification factor at the shoulder of anti-dip bedding rock slopes in earthquake conditions is ordered as follows: S-wave’s amplitude As > frequency f > S-wave’s incidence angle γ > the time difference Δt > holding time T. the study results provide reference and basis for stability evaluation and engineering design of anti-dip bedding rock slopes in areas with high seismic intensity.
Land Comprehensive Carrying Capacity of Major Grain-Producing Areas in Northeast China: Spatial–Temporal Evolution, Obstacle Factors and Regulatory Policies
Authors: Gao Jia , Zhao Rongrong , Zhan Yuxin
Published: September 2022

Major grain-producing areas in Northeast China serve as a significant national commodity in their role as grain bases. In order to achieve sustainable land use in such areas and ensure national food security, it is critical to understand the spatial–temporal evolution features of the land comprehensive carrying capacity of such areas, ascertain major obstacle factors and propose regulatory policies for effectively improving the land comprehensive carrying capacity. In this paper, a TOPSIS model based on grey relational entropy weight is developed to analyze the spatial–temporal evolution features of the land comprehensive carrying capacity of major grain-producing areas in Northeast China from 2000 to 2020, and an obstacle degree model is employed to determine the main obstacles to improving the land comprehensive carrying capacity of major grain-producing areas in Northeast China. The study results show the following: (1) The land comprehensive carrying capacity of major grain-producing areas in Northeast China is at a low level, showing an N-shaped trendline, and its spatial–temporal evolution features are subject to changes in land food carrying capacity, land economic carrying capacity and land ecological carrying capacity.(2) The main obstacle factors for improving the land comprehensive carrying capacity of major grain-producing areas in Northeast China are urbanization rate, gross industrial output per hectare and industrial solid waste emission per hectare. Cultivated land area per capita, grain output per hectare and industrial wastewater discharge per hectare have recently become obstacle factors for the land comprehensive carrying capacity of the study areas. Based on these results, the paper proposes regulatory strategies for stabilizing agricultural population transfer to avoid its reversal, exploring the optimization and upgrading of secondary sector structures to promote a low-carbon transition to green industries, and implementing cultivated land protection policies to steadily boost cultivated land grain productivity, with a view to increasing the land comprehensive carrying capacity of major grain-producing areas in Northeast China. The findings of this study act as a scientific reference for enhancing the land comprehensive carrying capacity of major grain-producing areas in Northeast China, which is crucial for ensuring national food security.
Does ESG Performance Enhance Financial Flexibility? Evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Dingzu , Liu Luqi
Published: September 2022

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance may be one of the strategies firms adopt to enhance their financial flexibility in response to an increasingly uncertain environment and difficult sustainability conditions. We use A-share listed firms in China from 2015 to 2020 as samples to test the influencing mechanism of ESG performance on financial flexibility. The empirical results indicate that ESG performance significantly enhances financial flexibility. The mechanism results show that financing constraints mediate ESG performance and firms’ financial flexibility. The additional analysis suggests that environmental uncertainty and market attention have significant positive moderating effects. That is, the promotion effect of firms in high uncertainty environments is more apparent, and the same is true in high market attention. This study supports instrumental stakeholder theory, signaling, and social impact hypothesis. It has enlightenment significance for firms, investors, and creditors to evaluate ESG performance and government departments to formulate relevant policies.
Predicting Factors Affecting Preparedness of Volcanic Eruption for a Sustainable Community: A Case Study in the Philippines
Authors: German Josephine D. , Redi Anak Agung Ngurah Perwira , Ong Ardvin Kester S. , Prasetyo Yogi Tri , Sumera Vince Louis M.
Published: September 2022

Volcanic eruption activity across the world has been increasing. The recent eruption of Taal volcano and Mt. Bulusan in the Philippines affected several people due to the lack of resources, awareness, and preparedness activities. Volcanic eruption disrupts the sustainability of a community. This study assessed people’s preparedness for volcanic eruption using a machine learning ensemble. With the high accuracy of prediction from the ensemble of random forest classifier (93%) and ANN (98.86%), it was deduced that media, as a latent variable, presented as the most significant factor affecting preparedness for volcanic eruption. This was evident as the community was urged to find related information about volcanic eruption warnings from media sources. Perceived severity and vulnerability led to very high preparedness, followed by the intention to evacuate. In addition, proximity, subjective norm, and hazard knowledge for volcanic eruption significantly affected people’s preparedness. Control over individual behavior and positive attitude led to a significant effect on preparedness. It could be posited that the government’s effective mitigation and action plan would be adhered to by the people when disasters, such as volcanic eruptions, persist. With the threat of climate change, there is a need to reevaluate behavior and mitigation plans. The findings provide evidence of the community’s resilience and adoption of mitigation and preparedness for a sustainable community. The methodology provided evidence for application in assessing human behavior and prediction of factors affecting preparedness for natural disasters. Finally, the results and findings of this study could be applied and extended to other related natural disasters worldwide.
Does High-Speed Railway Promote High-Quality Development of Enterprises? Evidence from China’s Listed Companies
Authors: Li Yongling , Yang Junxian , Zhang Weiqiang , Zhou Zhou , Cong Jianhui
Published: September 2022

The high-quality development of enterprises is the micro-foundation of China’s economic growth model from “speed and scale” to “quality and efficiency,” in which China’s transportation infrastructure, especially the high-speed railways (HSRs), plays an indispensable role. We select the propensity score matching and difference in difference (PSM-DID) model as the identification strategy and empirically analyze the impact of the HSR on the high-quality development of enterprises based on empirical data of 1331 A-share listed companies in China. The results show that the HSR has a significant positive impact on the high-quality development of enterprises. This effect is more substantial for enterprises in the Pearl River Delta, the Triangle of Central China, and small and medium-sized cities. The HSR inhibited the high-quality development of enterprises in the mining, culture, sports, and entertainment industries in eastern and central China. The reason is the restriction of the ability to create social and environmental value and the influence of monopolistic competition. The HSR improves labor mobility, capital expansion, and knowledge spillovers, thereby promoting the high-quality development of enterprises. However, new infrastructure mainly improves the high-quality development of enterprises by promoting knowledge spillovers and technological innovation. This paper contributes to the modernization of China’s HSR network and provides essential insights for the HSR to achieve sustainable development goals.
Under the Background of AI Application, Research on the Impact of Science and Technology Innovation and Industrial Structure Upgrading on the Sustainable and High-Quality Development of Regional Economies
Authors: Li Bowen , Jiang Fangxin , Xia Hongjie , Pan Jiawei
Published: September 2022

In the opening year of the 14th Five-Year Plan, China has made significant progress in upgrading its industrial structure and improving the quality of economic growth based on the goal of technological self-sufficiency and self-improvement, and more and more artificial intelligence is being used in the market. Artificial intelligence is playing an important role in the innovation and market construction of the economy. This manuscript constructs a spatial Durbin model by measuring the level of science and technology innovation and sustainable high-quality economic development of 283 prefecture-level cities in China from 2010–2019, and explores the effects and mechanisms of science and technology innovation in promoting the sustainable high-quality economic development of Chinese cities under the background of AI application. It is found that China’s science and technology innovation not only promotes the improvement of economic quality in the region, but also has positive spatial spillover, leading to the improvement of economic quality in neighboring regions. In combination with this established background, this manuscript introduces the variable of industrial structure upgrading and explores its mechanism of action in this field. Research shows that industrial structure upgrading is an important transmission path for science and technology innovation to promote sustainable and high-quality economic development. At the same time, considering the impact of the interaction between science and technology innovation and industrial structure upgrading on the sustainable and high-quality development of regional economy, this manuscript also constitutes an innovative study. Therefore, the government should continuously promote science and technology innovation and industrial structure upgrading, take advantage of China’s mega-market, make full use of the spatial spillover effect, guide the effective allocation of innovation resources, promote the orderly flow and reasonable allocation of innovation factors, and improve the institutional mechanism for promoting the market-oriented application of independent innovation results to support sustainable and high-quality economic development.
Research on the Pounding Response and Pounding Effect of a Continuous Rigid-Frame Bridge with Fabricated Super-High Piers Connected by Grouting Sleeves
Authors: Wang Shaojian , Xu Weibing , Huang Xiaomin , Yan Xiaoyu , Ma Jun , Sun Hang , Wang Jin , Chen Yanjiang
Published: September 2022

The dynamic characteristics of a continuous rigid-frame bridge with fabricated super-high piers (CRFB-FSP) connected by grouting sleeves and adjacent continuous beam bridges (AB) are significantly different, and they are prone to pounding under earthquake excitation. At present, the pounding response between the CRFB-FSP and AB is still unclear, and the impact of the pounding on the seismic performance of a CRFB-FSP is still in the exploratory stage. In this study, two 1/20 scaled models of a CRFB-FSP (MB) and a cast-in-place AB were designed and manufactured. Then, according to the research purpose and the output performance of the shaking table, three each of non-long-period (NLP) ground motions and near-fault pulse-type (NFPT) ground motions were selected as the inputs of the excitation shaking table test. The peak ground acceleration (PGA) changes from 0.5 g to 1.5 g. According to the similarity ratio (1/20), the initial gap between the MB and AB was taken as 7 mm (prototype design: 140 mm). Furthermore, the longitudinal pounding response between the CFRB-FSP and AB, as well as its influence on the seismic performance of the CFRB-FSP, was systematically investigated through a shaking table test and finite element analysis (FEA). The results showed that the pounding with the CRFB-FSP easily caused a persistent pounding, which may increase the damage risk of the pier. The peak pounding force under the NFPT ground motion was more significant than under the NLP ground motion, whereas the pounding number under the NFPT ground motion was smaller. The peak pounding force increased with the increase in the initial gap, pounding stiffness, span, and pier height. With and without pounding, the CRFB-FSP reflected higher-order mode participation (HMP) characteristics. After pounding, under the NFPT excitation, the HMP contribution increased significantly compared with that of the without pounding condition, while this effect under the NLP excitation was smaller. The peak displacement of the main beam of the CRFB-FSP increased with the increase in the main beam span, pier height and initial gap. The peak bending moment of the pier bottom increased with the increase in the main beam span and initial gap, however, decreased with the increase in the pier height. Moreover, the peak displacement of the main beam and the peak moment of the pier bottom of the CRFB-FSP both reduced. In contrast, the corresponding seismic response of the AB increased under the same conditions.
Pathways to Alternative Transport Mode Choices among University Students and Staff—Commuting to the University of Maribor since 2010
Authors: Trček Branka , Mesarec Beno
Published: September 2022

The study of commuting behavior at the University of Maribor (UM) was the subject of our research, which focused on the building complex of the four technical faculties (BCTF) and was based on the analysis of two questionnaire surveys (with 1057 and 462 respondents, respectively) and the transport policies implemented at the study site from 2010 to 2020. The research aimed to identify the factors influencing student and staff mode choice/shift over a decade period and to understand the weaknesses, strengths, and opportunities for improving sustainable mobility at the university. Since 2010, active commuting has predominated among students, while car use has decreased by 22%. Female students were 16% more likely to walk than their peers, while male students were 5% and 12% more likely to use bicycles and cars, respectively. Active commuting and car use by staff have not changed since 2010, and there was an insignificant difference between genders, 63% of whom used cars. Mode shifts were primarily related to trip origins, subsidization of bus use, availability or unavailability of free parking, and parking fees. Questionnaire responses were a powerful tool for finding the most effective interventions to manage transport at universities. The results also suggest that transport policies can be more effective if they are planned in coordination with housing policies.
Reliability and Validity of Widely Used International Surveys on the Environment
Authors: Lavallee Joseph Paul , Di Giusto Bruno , Yu Tai-Yi , Hung Su-Pin
Published: September 2022

Do existing public opinion surveys provide valid and reliable measures of attitudes towards environmental sustainability? This question is critical given the importance of public support for achieving sustainability. Starting with 28 survey items about the environment drawn from the World Values Survey Waves 5 and 6 and the 2010 International Social Survey Program, we assessed reliability by checking for significant correlations between similar or identical items on different surveys. Next, to assess validity, we evaluated correlations between survey items and 22 objective environmental indicators drawn from the Environmental Performance Index (EPI). As the level of economic development is a likely confound, we also performed partial correlation analyses controlling for GDP per capita. From the initial 28 items, we identified 23 sufficiently reliable items, but many of these were found to have low predictive power in the validity analysis. Items about air and water pollution were valid predictors of objective environmental conditions in these areas. Items asking about the relative importance of environmental problems compared to other social issues were also good positive predictors of progress on perceptible environmental issues. Items asking about general sentiment with no clear referent performed poorly. When controlling for GDP, country-level attitudes were more aligned with country-specific environmental conditions. Finally, nearly half of all EPI indicators were associated with few or no survey items, indicating the existence of ‘blind spots’ in public awareness. Our findings should offer guidance to both survey developers and users, as well as to policy makers responsible for conveying information about environmental sustainability to the wider public.
Integrated Plant Nutrient Systems Improve Rice Yields without Affecting Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Lowland Rice Cultivation
Authors: Islam S. M. Mofijul , Gaihre Yam Kanta , Islam Md. Rafiqul , Khatun Amina , Islam Aminul
Published: September 2022

Efficient management of fertilizers and irrigation could mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase crop yields. Field experiments were conducted to determine the effects of an integrated plant nutrient system (IPNS) and water regime—alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and continuous flooding (CF)—on GHG emissions and rice yield. Fertilizer treatments included control (no N), prilled urea (PU), urea deep placement (UDP), and IPNS (50% N from poultry litter and 50% N from PU). Gas sampling and analysis were performed using a closed-chamber technique and gas chromatography. IPNS produced significantly (p < 0.05) higher seasonal total methane (CH4) emissions (9–15%) compared to the UDP treatment, but the emissions with IPNS were similar to those of PU. IPNS had an interaction effect with the water regime on nitrogen oxide (N2O) emissions. IPNS produced more emissions than PU under AWD, but their emissions were similar under CF irrigation. IPNS produced a significantly higher total global warming potential (GWP) than UDP but a GWP similar to the PU treatment in both Aus (pre-monsoon) and Aman (wet) seasons. AWD irrigation reduced the total GWP by 8% over CF without yield reductions. IPNS significantly increased rice yields compared to broadcast PU but yields were similar to those of UDP. These findings suggest that both IPNS and UDP could be effective in increasing crop yields without increasing GHG emissions.
How Corporate Social Responsibility Affects Firm Performance: The Inverted-U Shape Contingent on Founder CEO
Authors: Wang Qian , Chen Huiru , Xue Yajiong , Liang Huigang
Published: September 2022

Despite abundant research on the relationship between CSR and firm performance, prior research generated highly inconsistent findings. No consensus has been achieved on the relationship between CSR and firm performance. The objective of this research is to examine how the relationship between CSR and firm performance is contingent on founders’ management roles, especially in the situation of the founder as CEO, which will provide insights into the inconsistent impacts of CSR. Based on panel data analysis, we empirically test the nonlinear relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm performance for China’s Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) listed companies. We further explore how this relationship differs under two types of CEOs: founder CEOs and non-founder CEOs. Our econometric analysis produces two major findings. First, there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between CSR and firm performance. Second, the presence of founder CEO weakens the relationship between CSR and firm performance, making the inverted U-shaped curve flatter. This research makes both novel theoretical and practical contributions to entrepreneurship and organization research by providing an enriched understanding of the relationship between CSR and firm performance. It integrates multiple theories to create a framework within which the contingent impacts of CSR can be holistically understood. It also helps managers to realize the nonlinear economic consequences of CSR activities and the different regulatory effects of founder management.
The Interpretation of Quality in the Sustainability of Indonesian Traditional Weaving
Authors: Semuel Hatane , Mangoting Yenni , Hatane Saarce Elsye
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study was to identify emerging themes to build the quality concept by integrating various qualitative research results regarding quality from the perspective of weaving SMEs. The quality concept proposed in this study is an additional definition or concept with respect to the development of organizational culture for weaving SMEs. In the present study, we employed individual semi-structured interviews, with analysis based on systematic literature reviews and focus group discussion results suggesting a slightly different meaning with respect to the quality concept based on the weaver’s perspective. Interpretation was based on the information gathered in focus group discussions regarding the quality of weaving in Toraja, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and Bali. Weaving characteristics as a cultural product alter a new concept of quality built on the cultural and economic principles and mission of woven products. The quality concept proposed in this study will help the local government as a regulator to formulate policies for the development of the weaving SME industry based on the idea of quality.
The Impact of Political Incentives Received by Key Local Officials on Enterprises’ Green Innovations for the Development and Construction of Ecological Civilization in China
Authors: Wang Yi , Feng Junke , Yasir Nosheena , Bai Yu
Published: September 2022

In recent years, there has been an increase in awareness of the need for green innovation to attain sustainable development. Green innovation has been proven to be one of the ways to achieve sustainable development. Most research on determinants of green business innovation has focused on either personal or regulatory factors. This paper examines whether and how the personal factors of local officials are rarely concerned. While in the context of accelerating the construction of an ecological civilization, China has implemented a series of reforms, including those that concern the achievement of environmental objectives while assessing the performance and supervising the responsibility of officials. As these reforms have been designed on a personalized basis, this paper adopts a micro perspective to measure the political incentives of key local officials. Taking A-share-listed companies as our sample, our empirical investigation shows that the political motivations of key local officials can promote regional enterprises’ green innovation, and the government–enterprise relationship along with the corporate social responsibility of enterprises can strengthen this effect. Our conclusions prove that the reforms mentioned above have been operating effectively, and political incentives have improved local officials’ supervision of regional enterprises’ energy conservation and pollution reduction, which provides new evidence for the “promotion competition” of local officials during the transitional period in China.
Prediction of Gas Emissions in the Working Face Based on the Desorption Effects of Granular Coal: A Case Study
Authors: Cheng Cheng , Cheng Xiao-Yu , Gao Han , Yue Wen-Ping , Liu Chao
Published: September 2022

The aim of the study in this paper is to establish a prediction model of gas emission in the working face. The gas desorption variation characteristics of coal with different particle sizes were assessed using physical tests and based on the coal body of No. 2 coal seam in Wangjialing Coal Mine, Shanxi, China, to reveal the influence law of coal particle size on coal gas desorption. The gas desorption characteristics in the working face, the law of gas emission of coal cutting, coal caving, coal wall, and remnant coal in the goaf of the production process were then analyzed after establishing a gas emission prediction model based on the particle size of the coal. The accuracy of the gas emission prediction model was finally validated through actual measurement of the coal particle size distribution and gas emission in the test working face. The results of the current study show that the coal particle size is negatively correlated with the gas desorption capacity within a certain range. The initial desorption intensity of the coal gas decreased with an increase in the coal particle size. However, the initial gas desorption intensity and attenuation coefficient of gas emission were constant after a certain level of increase in the coal particle size. It was found that the average error between the gas emission prediction model and the actual gas emission data in the mining process was 5.29% based on the desorption characteristics of granular coal. Therefore, the established gas emission prediction model can characterize the law of gas emission in the actual production process more effectively. Furthermore, it provides reliable support for the prediction and control of gas emissions from the goaf under the condition of fully mechanized mining with top coal caving.
An Analysis of Circular Economy Deployment in Developing Nations’ Manufacturing Sector: A Systematic State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Rathi Rajeev , Sabale Dattatraya Balasaheb , Antony Jiju , Kaswan Mahender Singh , Jayaraman Raja
Published: September 2022

Globalization has created a competitive environment in the manufacturing sector in terms of the quality, cost and user experience of the product. The product life cycle has shortened, which adds multiple products to production lines. This has led to adding complexity to the input material, cost of operation and waste generation through the manufacturing system. Circular economy (CE) has a big potential to overcome the manufacturing waste and provides a competitive solution. In the present study, a systematic literature review was conducted to analyze the current state of CE in the context of India and other developing countries. The study explored the status of implementation, benefits and possible avenues for future research. The present study provides a helping hand to industry practitioners and front-line managers to understand CE benefits in their operations.
The Effect of Mixing Chamber Configuration and Submersion Depth on Centrifugal Aerator Performance
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Zheng Yuan , Xu Xiwang , Peng Bin
Published: September 2022

Centrifugal aerators are a vital piece of equipment in water treatment. To improve the efficiency and economy of their operation, a study of their mixing chamber structure and submergence depth was carried out using a combination of numerical simulations and experiments. A centrifugal aerator dissolved oxygen (DO) test bench was built and the numerical simulation was compared with the experiment, the inlet air flow rate showing only a 2.23% error, which verifies the reliability of the numerical simulation. The results show that the capacity of oxygen dissolved in the aeration tank increases and then decreases as the relative area ratio (ð) of the mixing chamber increases, reaching the best capacity at ð = 8.38. In the case of different submergence coefficients (β), the gas volume fraction increased by 31.29% on average at β = 0.15; the standard oxygen transfer rate (SOTR) increased and then decreased with the increase of β, with an average increase of 56.6%. Moreover, the oxygenation performance of centrifugal aerators was significantly improved by the reasonable submergence depth and the structure of the mixing chamber.
A Scientometric Analysis of Energy Management in the Past Five Years (2018–2022)
Authors: Ghalambaz Soodabeh , Hulme Christopher Neil
Published: September 2022

Energy management is an essential part of the integration of renewable energy in energy systems, electric vehicles, energy-saving strategies, waste-heat recovery, and building energy. Although many publications considered energy management, no study addressed the connection between scientists, organizations, and countries. The present study provides a scientometric analysis that addresses the trend of publications and worldwide dynamic maps of connectivity and scientists, organizations, and countries and their contribution to energy management. The results showed that Javaid Nadeem published the most papers in the field of energy management (90) while Xiao Hu received the most citations (1394). The university with the highest number of publications in energy management is the Islamic Azad University (144 papers), while the Beijing Institute of Technology has received the most citations (2061 citations) and the largest h-index (28). China and the United States are in the first and second rank in terms of total publications, citations, and h-index. Pakistan has the most publications relative to the country’s research and development investment level. The maps of co-authorship show islands of isolated groups of authors. This implies that the researchers in energy management are not well-connected. Bibliographic coupling of countries revealed China and USA are influential contributors in the field, and other countries were coupled mostly through these two countries.