bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indicators Affecting the Urban Resilience with a Scenario Approach in Tehran Metropolis
Authors: Farhadi Ebrahim , Pourahmad Ahmad , Ziari Keramatollah , Faraji Sabokbar Hassanali , Tondelli Simona
Published: October 2022

Urban resilience refers to the capacity of an urban system to fully recover from unforeseen calamities. This study aims to assess the physical resilience indicators used to measure urban resilience in Tehran, the political and economic capital of Iran, and to pinpoint the most significant direct and indirect influences on urban resilience. The research process divided into two parts. The environmental scanning approach (reviewing papers and published sources, interviewing specialists, and monitoring conferences) and the literature review were employed in the first part to compile a database of the key information on the elements impacting physical resilience. The most significant factors impacting physical resilience over the next ten years were requested to be identified by specialists and intellectuals in the second part. Finally, the MicMac program was used to analyze the data after 29 variables were specified in Delphi. In light of the trace-analysis-dependence diagram, which depicts the instability of the influential factors and the persistence of their impact on other variables, the results demonstrate that Tehran’s physical resilience is in an unstable condition. According to the results, the factors that have the maximum impact on other variables are granularity drivers, emergency evacuation capacity, rescue and security spaces (emergency, fire station, and police station), impermeability, rate of the amendment and retrofitting measures in the buildings of each zone, building age, and the compatibility of land uses. The variables that are most susceptible to change from other variables include the distribution status of dangerous land uses, the quality of the buildings, the rate of historically vulnerable buildings, the vulnerability of internal and external roads, the rate of improvements and retrofitting measures in buildings in each zone, as well as historically vulnerable historical buildings.
Financial Development, Heterogeneous Technological Progress, and Carbon Emissions: An Empirical Analysis Based on Provincial Panel Data in China
Authors: Liu Renzhong , Du Jingxiu , Wei Liuyan
Published: October 2022

Global warming, caused by an increase in carbon emissions, has attracted considerable attention worldwide. In addition, financial development affects technological progress and carbon emissions. Despite numerous works that explore the impact of financial development on technological progress and carbon emissions, few have integrated the three into a unified framework of research. To fill this gap, this study constructed a mediation effect model for empirical analysis based onthe provincial panel data of 30 provinces and cities in China from 2009 to 2021.Taking into account the regional differences across China, this study explored the impact of financial development on carbon emissions and the intermediary role that heterogeneous technological progress plays within. The results showed that at the national level, and in eastern and central China, the relationship between financial development and carbon emissions conformed to an inverted U, the environmental Kuznets curve, whereas in western China, carbon emissions were found to linearly increase with financial development. Among the variables of technological progress that served as mediators, generalized technology progress, environmental technology progress, energy technology progress, capital embodied technology progress, and FDI technology spillover were the transmission paths for the impact of financial development on carbon emissions at the national level. However, the effect of these variables of technological progress on the impact of financial development on carbon emissions varied among the different regions. This paper aims to provide some inspiration to reduce carbon emissions through financial development and prevent “one-size-fits-all” policies for technological advances or overall planning without considering regional differences.
Crushed Glass and Oil Extracted from Palm Oil Sludge as Primary Materials in the Production of Hydrophobic Sand for Capillary Barrier Applications
Authors: Sullivan-Porras Josefina , Badilla-Sánchez María , Rimolo-Donadio Renato , Masís-Meléndez Federico
Published: October 2022

Hydrophobic-coated sand causes a reduction in infiltration, making it suitable for hydrophobic capillary barriers. Borosilicate glass waste was crushed into a synthetic sand 180 µm average, and fatty acids (PFA) were extracted from palm oil sludge. The synthetic sand was coated with PFA using mixing (POS-M) and solvent-assisted (POS-S) methods with stearic-acid-coated sand (SA) as a standard at concentrations varying from 1 to 16 g/kg. Contact angle measurements were undertaken by applying the sessile drop method. The water holding capacity of POS-M and SA were determined, and hydraulic conductivity curves were estimated with the van Genuchten model. Finally, a qualitative assessment of POS-M’s effectiveness as a capillary barrier was performed using a set of micro-tensiometers. Maximum contact angles for POS-M, POS-S, and SA were 119.73°, 118.83°, and 107.48°, respectively, and the saturated hydraulic conductivity of hydrophobized sands showed an exponential change of minus 2. Saturated conditions above the capillary barrier and unsaturated underneath were observed. In conclusion, the results indicate that the zero-waste approach applied through the reuse of solid waste from glass and palm oil production can be a waste management alternative in the production of hydrophobic sands that can be used in hydrophobic capillary barrier applications.
Dynamic Co-Movements among Oil Prices and Financial Assets: A Scientometric Analysis
Authors: Marín-Rodríguez Nini Johana , González-Ruiz Juan David , Botero Botero Sergio
Published: October 2022

In this study, we examined the extant literature on the dynamic association between oil prices and financial assets with special emphasis on the methodologies for measuring the dependence among oil prices, exchange rates, stock prices, energy markets, and assets related to sustainable finance. We performed a scientometric review of the structure and global trends of the dynamic association among oil prices and financial assets, based on research from 1982 to 2022 (September) using techniques such as the analysis of (i) sources, (ii) authors, (iii) documents, and (iv) cluster analysis. A total of 746 bibliographic records from Scopus and Web of Science databases were analyzed to generate the study’s research data through scientometric networks. The findings indicate that the most promising areas for further research in this field are represented by co-movement, copula, wavelet, dynamic correlation, and volatility analysis. Furthermore, energy markets and assets related to sustainable finance emerge as crucial trends in investigating dynamic co-movements with oil prices. They also suggest a research gap in analyzing by means of machine learning, deep learning, big data, and artificial intelligence for measuring dynamic co-movements among oil prices and assets in financial and energy markets, especially in emerging countries. Thus, these methodologies can be implemented in further research because these methods could more robustly quantify the association among such variables. The analysis provides researchers and practitioners with a comprehensive understanding of the existing literature and research trends on the dynamic association among oil prices and financial assets. It also promotes further studies in this domain. The identification of these relations presents benefits in risk diversification, hedges, speculation, and inflation targeting.
The Interrelationship between Road Pricing Acceptability and Self-Driving Vehicle Adoption: Insights from Four Countries
Authors: Shatanawi Mohamad , Hajouj Mohammed , Edries Belal , Mészáros Ferenc
Published: October 2022

Driverless vehicles (i.e., autonomous and shared autonomous vehicles) are associated with many advantages for the transportation market. However, they may also increase the traveled miles on roads due to improved accessibility, thus aggravating congestion. Road pricing (RP) is a possible solution for mitigating traffic-related problems like congestion. Despite its benefits, RP is usually resented by the public, which may hinder its introduction. This study investigates the factors that may influence RP acceptability in the era of driverless vehicles and driverless vehicle adoption in the presence of RP. For this purpose, a survey was distributed in Hungary, Jordan, Ukraine, and Brazil. The study applied factor analysis, multiple linear regression, and multinomial logit modeling to examine RP acceptability and driverless vehicle adoption. All examined factors have a significant impact on mode choice. For instance, respondents willing to share their trips with others due to the application of RP, opted for shared autonomous vehicles, while those who enjoy driving were less likely to choose autonomous vehicles. In terms of RP acceptability, the respondents who were environmentally conscious in their trip planning showed more acceptance of RP. This study shows the significant impacts of the investigated factors on RP acceptability and driverless vehicle adoption.
Policy of Government Subsidy for Supply Chain with Poverty Alleviation
Authors: Li Haiyan , Ai Xingzheng , Song Han , He Yi , Zeng Xue , Su Jiafu
Published: October 2022

Government subsidy is a common practice in poverty alleviation. We used game theory and the mathematical model of operations management to investigate the efficiency of subsidy with different poverty scales when the firm owns the decision power of the wholesale price. Comparative analysis of the equilibrium solutions demonstrated the following results: Exclusive subsidy has a significant effect on the payoff of the poor farmer, but the dilemma is that the increase in the payoff of the poor farmer is against the payoff decrease of the regular farmer. Sharing subsidy has a counterbalancing effect on the payoff of the poor and regular farmers. Co-subsidy is the best for consumer surplus and social welfare, but it has little effect on improving the poor farmer’s payoff. Generally, when the poor farmers are in the majority, sharing subsidies or co-subsidy is more reasonable than exclusive subsidy. When the poor farmers are in the minority, exclusive or sharing subsidies will be more economical for the government than co-subsidy. Our research helps the government recognize that spending more money may achieve a poor result in poverty alleviation and help the firm realize that it is better to give more subsidies to the poor farmer than to itself. The highlights of the paper are as follows. Firstly, our work provides a new perspective in supply chain operations management with poverty alleviation by considering the participation of the poor and regular farmers together; secondly, the poverty scale is introduced into the mathematical model; thirdly, we pay attention to the impact of government subsidy to enterprise on the payoff of the poor farmer.
Shedding Light on the Brazilian Amazon Biotrade: A Study on Sustainable Development in Native Communities
Authors: Elias Marcelo , Liboni Lara Bartocci , Cezarino Luciana O. , Pinheiro Martins Flavio , Pimenta Márcio Lopes , Hilletofth Per , Hilmola Olli-Pekka
Published: October 2022

The Amazon is a biodiversity hotspot. Around 90% of its territory is inhabited by native communities, who spontaneously organize themselves into groups of extractivists and small producers, relying on biodiversity as their primary means of sustenance. This paper aims to discuss how the biotrade of Amazonian biodiversity goods affects native communities with respect to environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Based on a sample of 178 native extractivists in four communities, we concluded that biotrade enabled native communities to market their products by adapting to existing conditions, considering the difficulties and the expectations of traditional residents, and contributed to the three dimensions of sustainable development.
Numerical Simulation of Thermal Storage Performance of Different Concrete Floors
Authors: Wang Yudi , Xu Guoqiang
Published: October 2022

To improve the utilization rate of energy, the consumption of fossil energy must be reduced. In this study, a low-temperature radiant floor made of concrete is taken as the research object, and a two-dimensional low-temperature hot water radiant heating system with different concrete filling layers is numerically simulated using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software and finite element method. In this numerical model, a concrete sensible heat storage (SHTES) is adopted, while various types of concrete materials have been used to preliminarily analyze the influence of different concrete types on floor heat storage. The simulation results were further analyzed to determine the total heat storage during the heating period and the total heat storage and heat storage rate during the stable operation stage. The results demonstrate that the thermal conductivity coefficient of concrete floors had the most significant influence on the heat storage effect, with slag concrete demonstrating the most prominent heat storage effect. The total heat storage capacity of slag concrete after 7 h was 848.512 J. Overall, this study proposes a method to enhance the heat storage capacity of low-temperature radiant floors, while providing a design method for future solar energy storages and floor heat storages.
Evaluation of the Applicability of the Circular Economy and the Product-Service System Model in a Bearing Supplier Company
Authors: Chiarot Christian , Cooper Ordoñez Robert Eduardo , Lahura Carlos
Published: October 2022

Today, for most applications in industry, the overall goal of manufacturers and users is to completely rethink and improve reliability and sustainability. In relation to the performance of rotating equipment, examples of ongoing trends and related activities driven by major machine manufacturers include, among other things, saving resources by extending the service life and intervals of individual components on machines, increasing use of the minimum amount of lubrication and the growing focus on reusing, retrofitting and upgrading equipment. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the Circular Economy model of a bearing manufacturing company (Product as a Service: SKF Rotation for Life) using the ReSOLVE framework and five sustainability factors for PSS (Product-Service System) business models. Through the data obtained in the case study, it is possible to observe the link that exists between the models of the Circular Economy and PSS and how, through the reconditioning of bearings as one of the key strategies to achieve a Circular Economy, to reduce, reuse and recycle material, the company can provide services rather than products, focusing on optimizing asset performance and helping to improve the sustainable performance of industrial equipment.
Farmers’ Credit Risk Assessment Based on Sustainable Supply Chain Finance for Green Agriculture
Authors: Xia Yuehua , Long Honggen , Li Zhi , Wang Jiasen
Published: October 2022

With the development of green agriculture, the demand of farmers for operation loans is increasing. Supply chain finance is becoming a new way to solve the problem of difficult credit in agricultural development. As the importance of sustainability issues continues to rise, there are growing numbers of practical examples of combining agricultural supply chain finance (ASCF) with sustainability, and the attendant risks are emerging. The objectives of this study are first to construct a risk indicator system for sustainable ASCF, then to propose a fuzzy decision method that considers the confidence of decision-makers, and finally to perform a risk assessment of a credit case in the coffee bean supply chain. A combination of the neutrosophic enhanced best–worst method (NE-BWM) and combined compromise solution (COCOSO) is used to evaluate risk problems. The practicality and effectiveness of this research method is verified by a numerical simulation and a comparison with the method. The results show that the credit rating of core companies is the most important indicator. In the context of green and sustainable development, this indicator system is more suitable for the current green transformation development of agriculture and can help decision-makers scientifically and reasonably assess the risk level of ASCF. When loans are needed to transform green agriculture, this study provides new ideas for credit models for various actors in the agricultural supply chain and offers a new entry point to the issue of sustainable agricultural development.
Federated Learning-Based Multi-Energy Load Forecasting Method Using CNN-Attention-LSTM Model
Authors: Zhang Ge , Zhu Songyang , Bai Xiaoqing
Published: October 2022

Integrated Energy Microgrid (IEM) has emerged as a critical energy utilization mechanism for alleviating environmental and economic pressures. As a part of demand-side energy prediction, multi-energy load forecasting is a vital precondition for the planning and operation scheduling of IEM. In order to increase data diversity and improve model generalization while protecting data privacy, this paper proposes a method that uses the CNN-Attention-LSTM model based on federated learning to forecast the multi-energy load of IEMs. CNN-Attention-LSTM is the global model for extracting features. Federated learning (FL) helps IEMs to train a forecasting model in a distributed manner without sharing local data. This paper examines the individual, central, and federated models with four federated learning strategies (FedAvg, FedAdagrad, FedYogi, and FedAdam). Moreover, considering that FL uses communication technology, the impact of false data injection attacks (FDIA) is also investigated. The results show that federated models can achieve an accuracy comparable to the central model while having a higher precision than individual models, and FedAdagrad has the best prediction performance. Furthermore, FedAdagrad can maintain stability when attacked by false data injection.
National Ecosystem Services Assessment in Hungary: Framework, Process and Conceptual Questions
Authors: Vári Ágnes , Tanács Eszter , Tormáné Kovács Eszter , Kalóczkai Ágnes , Arany Ildikó , Czúcz Bálint , Bereczki Krisztina , Belényesi Márta , Csákvári Edina , Kiss Márton , Fabók Veronika , Kisné Fodor Lívia , Koncz Péter , Lehoczki Róbert , Pásztor László , Pataki Róbert , Rezneki Rita , Szerényi Zsuzsanna , Török Katalin , Zölei Anikó , Zsembery Zita , Kovács-Hostyánszki Anikó
Published: October 2022

Mapping and assessing ecosystem services (ES) projects at the national level have been implemented recently in the European Union in order to comply with the targets set out in the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2020 and later in the Strategy for 2030. In Hungary this work has just been accomplished in a large-scale six-year project. The Hungarian assessment was structured along the ES cascade with each level described by a set of indicators. We present the selected and quantified indicators for 12 ES. For the assessment of cascade level 4, human well-being, a set of relevant well-being dimensions were selected. The whole process was supported by several forms of involvement, interviews, consultations and workshops and in thematic working groups performing the ES quantifications, followed by building scenarios and synthesizing maps and results. Here we give an overview of the main steps and results of the assessment, discuss related conceptual issues and recommend solutions that may be of international relevance. We refine some definitions of the cascade levels and suggest theoretical extensions to the cascade model. By finding a common basis for ES assessments and especially for national ones, we can ensure better comparability of results and better adoption in decision making.
To Share or Not to Share? The Optimal Technology Investment in a Virtual Product Supply Chain
Authors: Fang Yuan , Shen Bin , Cao Yifan
Published: October 2022

With the rapid rise of the virtual economy, the “brand + platform” virtual product distribution model led by virtual technology platforms has emerged, bringing a series of new virtual experiences to consumers. Considering that consumers have heterogeneous preferences for virtual technologies, we investigate a virtual product supply chain consisting of a brand owner, a virtual technology platform, and consumers (where the virtual technology platform has superior information about consumer preferences). We develop a signaling game model with preference information signaled by the virtual technology investment to study the optimal information-sharing strategy for the virtual product supply chain. We find that the virtual technology platform always prefers information sharing without paying any signaling cost. Moreover, we also observe that the brand owner and the platform can achieve alignment, that is, when consumers are more likely to prefer virtual technology, both the brand owner and the virtual technology platform are better off if the virtual technology platform chooses to share information with the brand owner. Finally, we analyze the consumer welfare and find that when consumers are moderately likely to prefer virtual technology, consumers can gain more benefits in the information-sharing scenario.
Research on the Environmental Effects of China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment (OFDI): Empirical Evidence Based on the Implementation of the “Belt and Road” Initiative (BRI)
Authors: Liu Yazhen , Wang Rong
Published: October 2022

Based on the environmental responsibility of the home country against the background of high-quality development and the “double carbon” goal, with the aid of Difference-in-Differences (DIDs), this study discusses the impact of China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) on the environment of the host country. The sample data of China’s OFDI from 2003 to 2020 is used to analyze its impact on the 162 countries before and after the implementation of the “Belt and Road” Initiative (BRI). The results show that the implementation of the BRI can effectively enhance the positive environmental impact of Chinese OFDI in host countries. Further research shows that with the implementation of the BRI, the environmental effects of Chinese OFDI in developing countries have become more significant. Among developing countries in Asia, the BRI has played a significant and positive role in promoting the environmental outcomes of China’s OFDI.
Efficacy of Biological Copper Oxide Nanoparticles on Controlling Damping-Off Disease and Growth Dynamics of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Plants
Authors: Abou-Salem Eman , Ahmed Abdulmageed R. , Elbagory Mohssen , Omara Alaa El-Dein
Published: October 2022

One of the most prevalent diseases affecting sugar beet crops globally is damping-off disease, which is caused by fungi or soil-borne bacteria. The objective of the current study was to assess the antimicrobial activity of various concentrations of CuO-NPs against Fusarium oxysporum, Macrophomina phaseolina, and Pectobacterium carotovorum in a lab setting and how they influenced vegetative growth, physiological traits, antioxidant enzymes, disease incidence percentage, and mineral nutrients of sugar beet plants in a greenhouse experiment. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris cv. Oscar poly) seeds were soaked in different concentrations (50, 100, and 150 µg L−1) of the tested NPs for two hours pre-sowing. According to in vitro studies, as compared to aqueous copper sulphate and control, CuO-NPs at 25, 35, and 100 µg mL−1 had the greatest inhibitory effect (100%) on the mycelial growth of M. phaseolina, F. oxysporum, and P. carotovorum, respectively. Results from the greenhouse experiment showed that the 150 µg mL−1 concentration produced the greatest reduction in disease incidence %, with efficacy values of 24.53, 13.25, and 23.59% for F. oxysporum, M. phaseolina, and P. carotovorum, respectively. In addition, as compared to untreated control plants, the same concentration of CuO-NPs significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the vegetative development, physiological characteristics, antioxidant enzymes, and mineral nutrients of sugar beet plants. Therefore, the antimicrobial activity demonstrated by the biosynthesized CuO NPs indicates that they can resist plant pathogenic microorganisms of sugar beet plants.
Knowledge of the Legal Issues of Anti-Doping Regulations: Examining the Gender-Specific Validity of the Novel Measurement Tool Used for Professional Athletes
Authors: Stankovic Draginja Vuksanovic , Sinkovic Antonela , Sekulic Damir , Jelicic Mario , Rodek Jelena
Published: October 2022

In the present study, we aim to assess the reliability and gender-specific validity of an original questionnaire (Q-LADR) in evaluating the knowledge of legal anti-doping regulations and to examine the gender-specific associations between Q-LADR and potential doping behavior (PDB) in senior-level professional athletes. The participants were team-sport players from Croatia and Montenegro (n = 479, 179 females, 21.3 ± 3.3 years of age). Apart from Q-LADR, they were tested in sociodemographic, sport, and doping factors. The results show the proper test–retest reliability of the Q-LADR (Cohen’s kappa = 0.65; average percentage of the equally responded questions: 84%). Men achieved higher scores for the Q-LADR than women (t-test = 9.55, p < 0.001). The Q-LADR score was correlated with age in men, and with number of doping tests and sport success in men and women. Lower Q-LADR scores were correlated with neutral (in women) and positive doping attitudes (in men and women). The results confirm the importance of testing knowledge on the legal issues of anti-doping regulations for athletes, with the possible applicability of findings in the global fight against doping in sport. In order to provide equal opportunities for all to be involved in professional sport, special attention should be paid to vulnerable groups (i.e., women, younger athletes, and those who have not achieved sport success).
Does Urban Forest Control Smog Pollution? Evidence from National Forest City Project in China
Authors: Xie Hanjin , Tan Xi , Yang Chunmei , Li Cheng
Published: October 2022

The National Forest City (NFC) project is an important measure to promote the urban environment in China, but its environmental performances have not been fully evaluated yet. This paper uses difference-in-differences (DID) to evaluate the smog pollution controlling effects and mechanisms of the NFC project based on the panel data of 283 cities in China from 2000 to 2018. This study found the following: (1) The NFC project significantly reduced smog pollution by 3.4% on average; the effect strengthened over time and rose to 8.5% in the 10th year after the NFC project. The average treatment effect was also confirmed by a series of robustness tests. (2) The NFC project can control smog pollution by greening urban space and greening social culture. (3) The treatment effect was related to both natural factors and human factors. The reduction in smog pollution was much stronger in the southern, hilly, warm and humid regions. Public willingness and government attention to environmental protection help with the smog pollution controlling of the NFC project as well.
An Assessment of Ecological Protection Importance Based on Ecosystems Services and Vulnerabilities in Tibet, China
Authors: Li Jiuyi
Published: October 2022

Tibet has a unique ecosystem and unique species resources and is an important ecological protection area in China and surrounding countries. Ecological protection in Tibet needs to be strengthened and targeted regionally. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the importance of ecological protection and its spatial difference for policy formulation. In this study, the importance of biodiversity conservation, water retention, soil retention, and sand prevention, as well as the vulnerability of soil erosion and land desertification, was assessed, and the importance of ecological protection was classified. The extremely important ecological protection areas covered an area of 615,000 km2, mainly located in the Northern Tibet Plateau, the southern foot of the Himalayas, the Hengduan Mountains, and the Gangdise-Nyainqentanglha Mountains. The relationship between land-use type, elevation, and ecological protection importance was studied. The results showed that the most important ecological protection area consisted of forest and grassland in low-altitude areas or uninhabited areas 5000 m above sea level. The spatial characteristics of dominant ecological functions in different regions were identified by comparing the importance of different factors. The study found that there are significant differences in the dominant factors of important ecological protection areas in Southeast Tibet, Northern Tibetan Plateau, and Central Tibet. The results provide an effective reference for ecological function zoning and ecological protection policy formulation in Tibet, as a scientific basis for promoting ecological protection and restoration in Tibet.
Antifungal and Antiaflatoxigenic Activities of Different Plant Extracts against Aspergillus flavus
Authors: Behiry Said I. , Hamad Najwa A. , Alotibi Fatimah O. , Al-Askar Abdulaziz A. , Arishi Amr A. , Kenawy Ahmed M. , Elsamra Ibrahim A. , Youssef Nesrine H. , Elsharkawy Mohsen Mohamed , Abdelkhalek Ahmed , Heflish Ahmed A.
Published: October 2022

In the current study, four organic solvents, including ethanol, methanol, acetone, and diethyl ether, were used to extract turmeric, wheat bran, and taro peel. The efficiency of three different concentrations of each solvent was assessed for their antifungal and anti-mycotoxin production against Aspergillus flavus. The results indicated that 75% ethanolic and 25% methanolic extracts of taro peels and turmeric were active against fungus growth, which showed the smallest fungal dry weight ratios of 1.61 and 2.82, respectively. Furthermore, the 25% ethanolic extract of turmeric showed the best result (90.78%) in inhibiting aflatoxin B1 production. After 30 days of grain storage, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production was effectively inhibited, and the average inhibition ratio ranged between 4.46% and 69.01%. Simultaneously, the Topsin fungicide resulted in an inhibition ratio of 143.92%. Taro extract (25% acetone) produced the highest total phenolic content (61.28 mg GAE/g dry extract wt.) and showed an antioxidant capacity of 7.45 μg/mL, followed by turmeric 25% ethanol (49.82 mg GAE/g), which revealed the highest antioxidant capacity (74.16 μg/mL). RT-qPCR analysis indicated that the expression of aflD, aflP, and aflQ (structural genes) and aflR and aflS (regulatory genes) was down-regulated significantly compared to both untreated and Topsin-treated maize grains. Finally, the results showed that all three plant extracts could be used as promising source materials for potential products to control aflatoxin formation, thus creating a safer method for grain storage in the environment than the currently used protective method.
Comparison of DEM Models with Different Elemental Dimensions for TBM Disc Cutter Rock Fragmentation
Authors: Xu Chen , Zhu Yujie , Song Danqing , Guo Xiaogang , Liu Xiaoli , Wang Enzhi , Lu Runhu
Published: October 2022

Disc cutters are the dominant tool used in the excavation of hard rock formations in any underground construction application, such as when tunneling using tunnel-boring machines (TBM), as well as in shaft- and raise boring operations. Optimization of the cutting geometry of a given disc cutter for application in a rock formation often involves full-scale cutting tests, which is a difficult and costly proposition. An alternative to full-scale testing is the numerical simulation of TBM disc cutters for optimization under different settings. Recent efforts in the field of numerical simulations of rock cutting have shown the relative success of discrete element models, such as particle flow code (PFC), to simulate two- and three-dimensional rock fragmentation. This study is focused on a sensitivity analysis of PFC simulation of rock-cutting relative to the size of the elements. The calculated cutting forces were compared with the recorded forces under various conditions during full-scale tests using a linear cutting machine (LCM) on Colorado red granite (CRG). The estimated cutting coefficient and specific energy in the LCM tests and simulations showed good correlations, which validates the numerical simulation results. Two- and three-dimensional models showed that two-dimensional numerical models can offer a qualitative assessment of crack development, whereas three-dimensional models could be used to estimate the specific energy when cutting. The results can help in predicting the cutting forces in different rocks and ultimately improving disc-cutter geometry and cutter-head design.
Scenario Simulation for the Urban Carrying Capacity Based on System Dynamics Model in Shanghai, China
Authors: Yu Wenlong , Tao Tianhui
Published: October 2022

Shanghai, as an international metropolis, has an ever-growing population and ongoing economic development, so the pressure on the natural resources and the environment is continually increased. How to ease the tension among economy, resources and the environment? The sustainable green development of Shanghai has been the focus of the public and the government. Urban carrying capacity involves complex interactions among population, the economy and the environment. Understanding the balance between these elements is an important scientific issue for sustainable green development in Shanghai. For this purpose, the balance between urban development and ecological resources was emphasized, and population carrying capacity, GDP (Gross Domestic Product), green ecological index and added value of secondary industry were investigated to measure urban carrying capacity. The dynamic changes of the carrying population, GDP, green ecological index and the added value of the secondary industry in Shanghai during 2018–2035 were simulated using a system dynamics model including three subsystems and 66 variables from a macroscopic perspective. Five development scenarios were employed during the simulation, namely a status-quo scenario, an economic-centric scenario, a high-tech-centric scenario, an environment-centric scenario and a coordinated equilibrium scenario. The simulation results indicated that the potential of carrying population will decline by 2035, and the economic and ecological indicators will also be at a low level under the status-quo scenario, which is an inferior option, while the under coordinated equilibrium scenario, the ecological environment, population growth and economic development will all perform excellently, which is the best option. Therefore, the urban carrying capacity of population, economy and resources in Shanghai may be improved by increasing investment in scientific research, increasing the expenditure on environmental protection and improving the recycling efficiency of waste solid and water. The results provide insights into the urban carrying capacity of Shanghai city.
Impact of COVID-19 on the Disability Fund in Poland
Authors: Marska-Dzioba Natalia , Barczak Agnieszka
Published: October 2022

This study addresses, for the first time, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operation of the disability fund in Poland. The study considers the impact of deaths on the number of survivor pensions and funeral allowance paid. We selected benefits which are a direct consequence of the death of the insured person and do not involve a medical assessment or subsequent steps in the insurance procedure, which allowed for a novel result, avoiding the time-gap problem. Data of four years were included in the study: 2018 and 2019 as pre-pandemic years and 2020 and 2021 as pandemic years. The research presented in this article (unexpectedly) indicates that there is no impact of the increased number of deaths on the increase in the number of survivor pensions and therefore there is no negative impact of the COVID-19 implications on the disability fund. The relationship between the total number of deaths and the number of funeral allowances is characterized by a high correlation with a positive direction.
Exploring the Effects of Traffic Noise on Innovation through Health Mechanism: A Quasi-Experimental Study in China
Authors: Chen Xiaojia , Xu Wei
Published: October 2022

Noise pollution poses a significant hazard to humans by disrupting the maintenance of the quiet environment that is thought to promote innovation. In this study, the causal relationship between traffic noise and innovation was explored using four models. First, the panel data model with fixed effects was applied to determine the impact of traffic noise on innovation. Second, the interaction model was used to estimate the health regulatory effect. Third, the regression discontinuity model was used to identify the natural experience of the impact of traffic noise on innovation and further determine the causal effect of the noise threshold. Finally, the difference-in-differences model was used to identify the micro impact of traffic noise on innovation. The results show that from macro and micro perspectives, traffic noise suppresses innovation, and that health has a differential impact on the traffic noise–innovation relationship. In addition, we identified the critical point at which the impact of traffic noise on innovation is favorable owing to the white noise effect, providing a quantitative basis for policy implementation. Our results show that current environmental noise regulations must be re-examined to determine new measures for improving the innovative acoustic environment, promoting innovation, and achieving sustainable economic development.
Towards Lean Automation in Construction—Exploring Barriers to Implementing Automation in Prefabrication
Authors: Feldmann Finn G.
Published: October 2022

As a sustainable alternative to conventional cast-in-situ construction, modular construction (MC) offers several promising benefits concerning energy and waste reduction, shorter construction times, as well as increased quality. In addition, given its high degree of prefabrication, MC offers ideal conditions to solve the industry’s long-lasting productivity problem by implementing manufacturing concepts such as lean production and automation. However, in practice, the share of automation and robotics in the production process is still relatively low, which is why the potential of this construction method is currently far from being fully exploited. An overview of the particular barriers to implementing automation in the context of MC is still lacking. Therefore, a qualitative study was conducted including eight MC manufacturers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Following a comprehensive literature review, expert interviews were conducted based on an academically proven framework. Thereby, seven barrier dimensions with 21 sub-categories could be identified. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of current barriers to implementing automation in prefabrication and how they can be overcome most effectively. Additionally, recommendations for future research are proposed within a research agenda.
Estimation of Appropriate Acceleration Lane Length for Safe and Efficient Truck Platooning Operation on Freeway Merge Areas
Authors: Chowdhury Tanvir Uddin , Park Peter Y. , Gingerich Kevin
Published: October 2022

The length of an acceleration lane is one of the dominant freeway geometric design parameters. This length requires new analyses to anticipate the needs of heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) platooning. We evaluated the safety and operational impact of HCV platooning on acceleration lane length for a freeway ramp in Ontario, Canada. This study modified the 2018 AASHTO’s acceleration lane length estimation analytical model. Furthermore, this study used a VISSIM micro-simulation model and surrogated safety assessment model (SSAM) to examine the safety and operational impact on the real-world circumstances of HCV platooning at 0.6 s and 1.2 s headways and different market penetration rates of 0%, 5%, and 10%. The results suggest a minimum acceleration lane length of 600 m for platooned HCVs, which is inadequate compared to American and Canadian design guidelines. An extended acceleration lane length (600 m) will improve safety by reducing conflict by 19.2% and operational performance by reducing 3.9% of 85th percentile merging time for the operation of 5% HCV platooning with 0.6 s headway compared with 350 m acceleration lane length. This study suggests 5% of traffic containing two HCV platoons with 0.6 s headway may be reasonable for operation during certain hours of the day under existing conditions.
Carbon Emissions of Construction Processes on Urban Construction Sites
Authors: Weigert Maximilian , Melnyk Oleksandr , Winkler Leopold , Raab Jacqueline
Published: October 2022

For Europe to achieve “climate neutrality” by 2050, emissions from all economic sectors must be reduced to the absolute minimum. In addition to changes in raw material extraction and building material production, the construction industry must embrace emission-free construction sites. The present paper suggests a method to calculate carbon emissions on construction sites by defining all fuel-consuming processes while relying on established European standards. A set of system boundaries is defined to single out emissions that occur in the construction industry sphere. These definitions are essential to calculate savings through the entire construction process. This method is subsequently used to assess the carbon balance of four exemplary construction sites in Austria, which cover the total span of the construction life cycle. Results show that the largest share of emissions is attributed to transport during the construction of new buildings, followed by emissions from demolition and building processes.
An Optimized Clustering Approach to Investigate the Main Features in Predicting the Punching Shear Capacity of Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete
Authors: Zhang Shaojie , Hasanipanah Mahdi , He Biao , Rashid Ahmad Safuan A. , Ulrikh Dmitrii Vladimirovich , Fang Qiancheng
Published: October 2022

We developed an optimized system for solving engineering problems according to the characteristics of data. Because data analysis includes different variations, the use of common features can increase the performance and accuracy of models. Therefore, this study, using a combination of optimization techniques (K-means algorithm) and prediction techniques, offers a new system and procedure that can identify and analyze data with similarity and close grouping. The system developed using the new sparrow search algorithm (SSA) has been updated as a new hybrid solution to optimize development engineering problems. The data for proposing the mentioned techniques were collected from a series of laboratory works on samples of steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC). To investigate the issue, the data were first divided into different clusters, taking into account common features. After introducing the top clusters, each cluster was developed using three predictive models, i.e., multi-layer perceptron (MLP), support vector regression (SVR), and tree-based techniques. This process continues until the criteria are met. Accordingly, the K-means–artificial neural network 3 structure shows the best performance in terms of accuracy and error. The results also showed that the structure of hybrid models with cluster numbers 2, 3, and 4 is higher than the baseline models in terms of accuracy for assessing the punching shear capacity (PSC) of SFRC. The K-means–ANN3-SSA generated a new methodology for optimizing PSC. The new proposed model/procedure can be used for a similar situation by combining clustering and prediction methods.
Study on Stability and Ecological Restoration of Soil-Covered Rocky Slope of an Abandoned Mine on an Island in Rainy Regions
Authors: Li Xiaoyan , Qin Zipeng , Tian Yan , Zhang Hongwei , Zhao Haitao , Shen Jiafa , Shao Weilong , Jiang Guangrong , Guo Xianding , Zhang Junsuo
Published: October 2022

The eastern slope of the abandoned mine in the Zhoujiayuan Mountain Island area has been seriously damaged by local quarrying, which often triggers visual pollution, soil erosion, and landslides during rainfall. This paper carries out an ecological restoration of the abandoned mine based on indoor experiments and field investigation data. The paper also quantitatively analyzes the stability evolution laws of the soil-covered slope before and after the ecological restoration in the rainfall process, putting forward further slope reinforcement and ecological restoration measures. The results showed that the stability safety factor of the covered slope decreased to 0.92 after raining for 18 h, and the instability risk was very high. When the vegetation had recovered, the stability of the soil-covered slope with root system was significantly improved, and its safety factor was close to 1.15 after 64 h of continuous rainfall. Throughout the field observation conducted from 2019 to 2022, the slope of abandoned rock mines was found to be lush with restored plant diversity. After several continuous rainfall processes, neither soil erosion nor instability phenomena were found there. The study has certain reference significance for the ecological restoration of abandoned rock mines in rainy regions.
Does the Collective Forestland Tenure Reform Promote Rural Households’ Forestry Inputs? Based on Dual Perspectives of Rural Households’ Divergence and Inter-Generational Differences
Authors: Wei Jian , Xiao Hui , Liu Hao , Huang Xiaotao , Zhang Dahong
Published: October 2022

As the most direct subject of collective forestland tenure reform, rural households’ forestry production behavior is an important guarantee for the promotion of sustainable forestry development. Based on the survey data of 12,760 rural households in 9 provinces in China, we construct a theoretical analysis framework of the impact of collective forestland tenure reform on rural households’ forestry inputs from the perspective of rural household differentiation and inter-generational differences, and elucidate the mechanism of the effect of collective forestland tenure reform on rural households’ forestry inputs in the context of rural household differentiation and inter-generational differences. The results of the empirical analysis show that collective forestland tenure reform significantly increases rural households’ forestry inputs; this effect has a differentiated impact on rural households with different degrees of differentiation and inter-generational differences. Although the collective forestland tenure reform provides a good institutional environment for households to increase the enthusiasm of forestry inputs, the positive incentive effect of collective forestland tenure reform tends to decline as the degree of households’ differentiation and inter-generational differences deepen. Therefore, this research tries to provide an “indirect” policy adjustment idea to deepen the policies related to collective forestland tenure reform by starting from the differentiation of households and inter-generational differences.