bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bibliometrics and Knowledge Map Analysis of Research Progress on Biological Treatments for Volatile Organic Compounds
Authors: Wang Yuan , Zhou Bin , Yang Mengrong , Xiao Gao , Xiao Hang , Dai Xiaorong
Published: June 2023

The emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has resulted in increasingly severe harm to the environment and human health. In recent years, biological methods have become the preferred technology for VOC removal due to their environmental friendliness and economic advantages. Based on the theory of bibliometrics, this study analyzed research articles and reviews on biological methods for VOC removal published in the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database from 1966 to 2021. The knowledge map visualization software CiteSpace was utilized to analyze research progress in different countries, co-citation clustering, co-citation bursts, and keyword clustering in the literature data. The results indicated that early research on VOC biological treatment focused on the removal of odorous gases and single components of volatile organic waste gases. Subsequently, benzene contents (BTEX), hydrophobic VOCs, and multi-component VOCs have gradually become the focus of research. In recent years, improving VOC removal efficiency by studying packing materials and microbial communities has become an important research topic both domestically and internationally. Future research should focus on continuously improving the performance of reactors, developing novel reactors, and investigating technologies for treating complex and recalcitrant VOCs.
Reviving a City’s Economic Engine: The COVID-19 Pandemic Impact and the Private Sector’s Engagement in Bandung City
Authors: Miftah Ahmad Zaini , Widianingsih Ida , Muhtar Entang Adhy , Sutriadi Ridwan
Published: June 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected public health but has also significantly impacted the economy. Bandung, a bustling city in Indonesia serving as a satellite to the capital, has been hit hard due to its high population density, mobility, and reliance on the tourism, trade, and transportation sectors. Using a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model developed at the interregional level of Indonesia, this study investigates the microeconomic indicators of several economic activities in Bandung, namely, the transportation, accommodation and food–beverage, water supply, and trade (MSMEs) sectors, to assess the impact of the pandemic. Additionally, the study examines the role of private sector actors in contributing to the sustainable recovery efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) amidst the pandemic. The findings reveal that Bandung’s transportation, accommodation, food and beverage, water supply, and trade sectors experienced a significant decline in economic activity. However, there was a gradual recovery, with increased economic activity between 2019 and 2021. Private sector actors and the health sector were the main drivers of economic recovery, with other sectors also contributing to the effort.
Determination of Critical Period for Sustainable Weed Management and Yield of Jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) under Sub-Tropical Condition
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Shahadat , Sarker Uttam Kumer , Monira Sirajam , Ali Md. Imran , Hasan Ahmed Khairul , Kaysar Md. Salahuddin , Anwar Md. Parvez , Begum Mahfuza , Rashid Md. Harun , Rashid Md. Harunur , Hashem Abeer , Avila-Quezada Graciela Dolores , Abd_Allah Elsayed Fathi , Uddin Md. Romij
Published: June 2023

A field investigation was run to ascertain the critical period of weed control in jute (Corchorus olitorius). The study consisted of two distinct sets of treatments, with one set of weeds being left to invade the crop for a longer period of time, specifically, for 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing (DAS) and up to harvest. In the other set of treatments, the plants remained weed-free for progressively longer periods, i.e., 15, 30, 45 and 60 DAS, and until harvest. The reduction in fibre yield (FY) was recorded as 53.39% when weed interference was permitted from the beginning to harvest, as opposed to the season-long weed-free period. The critical period for weed competition (CPWC) of jute was calculated as being 11 to 68 DAS and 19 to 59 DAS, based on results of 5% and 10% yield loss, respectively. Under the 5% yield loss condition, although yield was higher (3.36 t ha−1), the benefit cost ratio (BCR) was lower (1.65), whereas yield was slightly lower (3.19 t ha−1) but BCR was higher (1.73) with respect to 10% yield loss. Therefore, jute fields should be kept weed free from 19 to 59 days after sowing, and a weed management strategy should be undertaken accordingly.
A Qualitative Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility in Saudi Arabia’s Service Sector-Practices and Company Performance
Authors: Pinto Luísa
Published: June 2023

Corporate social practices have become increasingly important in the service sector, as companies recognize the need to not only provide quality services to their customers but also to operate in a socially responsible manner. The goal of this research is to identify the practices of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Saudi Arabia’s service sector, as well as the relationship between these practices and performance. The study was based on the data collected from six semi-structured interviews with managers responsible for CSR implementation in the banking, insurance, and telecommunication sectors. The findings support the two research propositions, and reveal, based on managers’ perceptions, that companies have adopted several practices in their efforts to become socially responsible. Evidence also revealed that CSR practices have a positive impact on companies’ performance, corporate reputation, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, and employee engagement. This study adds to the current body of research on the impact of applying CSR practices by providing evidence that doing so positively improves corporate performance, and identifying the most common CSR practices that can help firms improve their performance.
Effects of p-Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid and p-Hydroxybenzoic Acid on Soil Bacterial and Fungal Communities
Authors: Li Chunge , Deng Ye , Wang Jingguo , Ruan Weibin , Wang Shang , Kong Weidong
Published: June 2023

Soil phenolic acids mainly come from crop residue and root exudates, which are often reported as allelochemicals affecting crop growth and soil microbial community. Here, two phenolic acid compounds, p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (HPA) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) were amended to the soils and were incubated under room conditions, and the soil samples were collected from soybean and corn fields separately. The soil microbial community was determined by PCR-DGGE (polymerase chain reaction-denatured gradient gel electrophoresis) and clone methods. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) was measured based on the fumigation–extraction method. The result revealed that HPA/HBA amendment significantly affected soil bacterial and fungal community structures. HPA/HBA enriched some distinct bacteria and fungi. The induced bacteria were mainly Gemmatimonas, Bacillus, and Acidobacteria, while the induced fungi were mainly Penicillium and Aspergillus. HPA amendment enhanced the more bacterial quantities of corn and soybean soils than HBA. The fungal diversity in corn and soybean soils treated with HBA was higher than that treated with HPA. It was speculated that the diversity of degrading HBA fungi was higher than that of degrading HPA. This study comprehensively analyzed the effects of phenolic acids on soil microbial community and increased the understanding of the monoculture barrier to agricultural production.
Assessment of Cultivated Soil Contamination by Potentially Toxic Metals as a Result of a Galvanizing Plant Failure
Authors: Świercz Anna , Szwed Mirosław , Bąk Łukasz , Gawlik Adam , Zamachowski Jakub
Published: June 2023

Zinc is one of the more mobile metals in the soil and thus involves the risk of entering the food chain. Zinc compounds are used in the galvanization process, which is assumed to be safe for the environment. However, random events or failures such as unsealing bathtubs with liquid zinc or hydrochloric acid, as well as violent fires in industrial halls, may pose a real threat to the environment, including human health. Therefore, this research was carried out to determine the content of zinc and selected potentially toxic metals in arable soils after a failure in a galvanizing plant located in the village of Dębska Wola (southeastern Poland). In addition, the potential risk associated with excessive accumulation of identified pollutants in the environment was assessed. In order to determine the level of contamination, soil samples were taken, and basic physical and chemical properties were analysed. The concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cd in the soil were determined using the atomic emission spectrometry technique with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-OES), and pH measurements were performed using the potentiometric method after prior wet mineralisation of the research samples. The analysed samples had a varied pH of the organic–mineral horizon from pHH2O 4.66 to pHH2O 5.33 and from pHKCl 3.89 to pHKCl 5.06. As a result of a failure, toxic metal fumes were released into the atmosphere, causing concentrations of Zn in the soil samples from 0–5 cm in the range of 1201–2007 mg∙kg−1, as well as Pb (109–509 mg∙kg−1) and Cd (4.6–17 mg∙kg−1). High contents of zinc and lead found in several soil samples are of anthropogenic nature and require detailed monitoring in order to eliminate the risk associated with their accumulation. The study area should be re-analysed to determine the rate of reclamation of degraded soils.
The Role of Renewable-Derived Plastics in the Analysis of Waste Management Schemes: A Time-Dependent Carbon Cycle Assessment
Authors: Aracil Cristina , Villanueva Perales Ángel L. , Giuntoli Jacopo , Cristóbal Jorge , Haro Pedro
Published: June 2023

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an essential greenhouse gas removal (GGR) technology used to achieve negative emissions in bioenergy plants using biomass feedstock (Bio-CCS). In this study, the climate mitigation potential of a novel GGR technology consisting in the production of renewable-derived plastics from municipal solid waste (MSW) refuse has been evaluated. This novel GGR technology allows for carbon storage, for variable periods, in stable materials (plastics), and thus overcomes the technical limitations of CCS. A time-dependent carbon cycle assessment has been conducted based on the Absolute Global surface Temperature change Potential (AGTP) metric. This new method to assess carbon emissions is presented against a traditional life cycle assessment (LCA). The production of renewable-derived plastics proves to be an effective GGR technology for both landfill- and incineration-dominant countries in Europe. The results obtained encourage the implementation of renewable-derived plastics in Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) to assess their global potential in forecasting scenarios to achieve the ambitious climate change targets set in the European Union. Thanks to this study, a novel approach toward a green and sustainable economy has been established. This study will help to fill the gaps between bioenergy and renewable materials production.
Sustainability of Local Communities in a New Oil and Gas Region: The Case of Eastern Siberia
Authors: Krasnoshtanova Natalia
Published: June 2023

The need of the global economy for natural resources encourages the movement of extractive industries to new areas, significantly affecting local communities. The study of community sustainability under the influence of extractive industries is multidimensional, as it depends on the geographical characteristics of the area, the historical background, the sociocultural and institutional environments, current government policies, and so on. Therefore, it is important for these local-level studies to comprehensively consider heterogeneous qualitative and quantitative data, paying special attention to the views of local people. This paper examines the impact of industrial natural resource development on community sustainability through a comprehensive approach that considers qualitative and quantitative socioeconomic data, including residents’ perceptions of current and future settlement development. The study is based on the example of communities located in areas of new oil and gas development in the north of the Irkutsk region (Eastern Siberia, Russia). Social science methods (semistructured interviews, surveys, questionnaires, and participant observations), comparative geographical, and statistical methods are used. A comprehensive approach allows us to identify various issues associated with maintaining the sustainability of local communities manifested under the influence of oil and gas extraction in different types of settlements. The findings contribute to the study of community sustainability during the industrial development of natural resources and have practical implications for decision-makers in terms of the socioeconomic management of the studied area and other territories with similar conditions.
The Mechanism of Leader-Expressed Humility on a Physical Education Teacher’s Work Engagement—Exploring the Chain Mediation Effect of Teacher Efficacy and Felt Obligation
Authors: Cheng Wenjuan , Wang Zhonghua , Fang Rui , Kayani Sumaira , Biasutti Michele
Published: June 2023

Motivating a teacher’s work engagement has been brought into focus within the educational field, yet there has been deficient detail on how leader-expressed humility may influence a physical education teacher’s work engagement. Based on social information processing theory and trait activation theory, the study investigates the potential effects of leader-expressed humility on a physical education teacher’s work engagement within the organizational situations of primary and secondary schools in China. Data were collected from 579 physical education teachers using self-reported questionnaires. Results fully supported the proposed chain mediation model that leader-expressed humility is a strong predictor for a physical education teacher’s work engagement, and leader-expressed humility could indirectly affect a physical education teacher’s work engagement through the independent mediating effect of teacher efficacy and felt obligation, as well as the chain mediating effect of the two. Implications for management and practice, limitations, and future research are discussed.
Enhancing Bitumen Properties through the Utilization of Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate and Tyre Rubber
Authors: Khaleel Omar R. , Al Gharbi Laila K. N. , Fayyadh Moatasem M.
Published: June 2023

The disposal of waste accumulation has become a significant challenge in Oman due to the increasing population. Co-biodegradability issues arise from accumulating two types of non-co-biodegradable waste materials: plastic and rubber. Asphalted pavements experience various stresses resulting from high traffic density, leading to numerous problems. This study aims to investigate the impact of incorporating waste plastic and rubber on the engineering properties of bitumen. Specifically, the study examines the addition of waste tyre rubber (4% and 6%) and waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (4% and 6%) to bitumen with a grade of 85/100. Three tests were conducted to evaluate the physical properties of the bitumen, including softening points, penetration tests, and viscosity tests. The results demonstrate that the penetration of bitumen with the addition of 6% waste tyre rubber and PET was 9% lower compared to the 4% mixture for both waste materials. Furthermore, tyre rubber-modified bitumen exhibited higher softening points (79 °C, 2580 s) and viscosity when compared to plain bitumen (48 °C, 1800 s) and PET-modified bitumen (53 °C, 2150 s). These differences indicate that incorporating waste PET and tyre rubber improves the engineering properties of bitumen. This study highlights the importance of increasing the softening point of bitumen in Oman’s high-temperature areas.
An Implementation Framework for On-Site Shield Spoil Utilization—A Case Study of a Metro Project
Authors: Yang Fangsheng , Cao Taibo , Zhang Tingrong , Hu Junfeng , Wang Xinrui , Ding Zhikun , Wu Zezhou
Published: June 2023

A majority of metro projects have been constructed to reduce urban traffic congestion and to improve the convenience of public transportation, but these projects also produced a significant amount of engineering slag and mud. The shield construction method could improve the efficiency and safety; this technique has been frequently used in tunnel excavation projects. However, the spoil produced during the shield construction is challenging to deal with. In literature, though there has been an increasing number of studies on the technologies of utilizing shield spoil, the on-site utilization of shield spoil is still a subject of little research. This study introduced an implementation framework for the on-site utilization of shield spoil based on successful case experiences. It aims to assist project managers in efficiently implementing on-site resource utilization projects and to address the gaps in the relevant field. A case study was conducted in the Shenzhen Metro Line 13 North Extension Project; this study collected data through six semi-structured interviews and field research, analyzed the data, and constructed a framework using thematic analysis and focus group discussions. The three components of the implementation framework are project planning, project construction, and project closing, and each section describes what must be accomplished during that phase. Additionally, three recommendations—(1) combining intelligent technology to optimize the existing equipment, (2) utilizing lean technology in project execution, (3) establishing strategic partnerships with construction waste recycling enterprises—are also made for the development of the shield spoil utilization project. This study uses the Shenzhen Metro Line 13 North Extension Project as a model to theoretically underpin future research on shielding spoil on-site during resource utilization projects and to achieve the repeatable promotion of shield spoil utilization technology in Shenzhen.
Potential of an Area in Terms of Pro-Climate Solutions in a Land Consolidation Project
Authors: Kocur-Bera Katarzyna , Rapiński Jacek , Siejka Monika , Leń Przemysław , Małek Anna
Published: June 2023

Land consolidation plays an important role in promoting changes in agricultural land use and ensuring national food security. Moreover, it allows the land structure in rural areas to be built anew. By changing the spatial structure of the countryside, it is also possible to implement water and drainage measures as well as ecological and landscape measures aimed at improving farming conditions. At the same time, they have an impact on the climate. This study analysed the potential for the implementation of pro-climate solutions that can be applied when implementing a land consolidation project in terms of reducing wind speed, increasing humidity, and affecting carbon dioxide reduction. The analyses used an indicator of the potential for implementing pro-climate solutions based on an overall synthetic index taking into account 11 attributes. The results show that the micro-location potential in the context of the possibility of applying pro-climate solutions is not homogenous. It is affected, e.g., by the soil quality, the state of farming culture of the land in agricultural use, the resource and advancement of natural landscape components, and the local needs of agricultural producers to introduce environmental solutions that will simultaneously have a positive impact on farming conditions. According to research, peri-tree land can cluster, meaning that its character represents a spatial continuity. During the land consolidation process, this continuity should be preserved, especially in areas with inferior soil quality.
A Digital Twin Approach to City Block Renovation Using RES Technologies
Authors: Bocullo Vytautas , Martišauskas Linas , Gatautis Ramūnas , Vonžudaitė Otilija , Bakas Rimantas , Milčius Darius , Venčaitis Rytis , Pupeikis Darius
Published: June 2023

The building sector accounts for over 40% of global energy consumption, and many buildings are old and inefficient. However, the current pace of building renovation is not sufficient to make a tangible impact. A new strategy is needed to accelerate the renovation process. Renovation at the district level and the use of digital tools, such as a digital twin (DT) of a city district, can provide a solution. This paper proposes a novel approach to city block renovation using renewable energy sources (RES), including photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, heat pumps (HP), and electric heaters (EH), while utilizing a DT of a city district to provide a user-friendly representation of the results and data needed for holistic solutions. The proposed method combines an optimization model of the optimal heating system with a solar PV simulation technique to analyse hybrid RES solutions and potential on-site energy generation and supply. Several scenarios are simulated to evaluate RES solutions in the renovation process of the city block using the DT concept. The simulation results demonstrate that a hybrid RES solution, which includes a PV system and a heating system, is optimal when the on-site generated energy is used not only for domestic electricity consumption, but also for the operation of HPs and EHs for heat generation. This study highlights the importance and significance of a DT approach to city block renovation and provides a new solution to accelerate the renovation process and reduce energy consumption in the building sector.
Dynamic Influence Analysis of the Important Station Evolution on the Resilience of Complex Metro Network
Authors: Meng Yangyang , Zhao Xiaofei , Liu Jianzhong , Qi Qingjie
Published: June 2023

With the flourishing development of the urban metro system, the topology of important nodes changes as the metro network structure evolves further. The identical important node has distinct impacts on various metro networks’ resilience. At present, the dynamic influences of important station evolution on the resilience of metro networks remain to be studied further. Taking Shenzhen Metro Network (SZMN) as an example, the dynamic influences of the structure evolution of important nodes on the resilience of the metro network were investigated in this study. Firstly, the dynamic evolution characteristics of complex network topology and node centralities in metro systems were mined. Then, combined with the node interruption simulation and the resilience loss triangle theory, the resilience levels of distinct metro networks facing the failure of the same critical node were statistically assessed. Additionally, suggestions for optimal network recovery strategies for diverse cases were made. Finally, based on the evaluation results of node importance and network resilience, the dynamic influences of the topological evolution of important nodes on the resilience of metro networks were thoroughly discussed. The study’s findings help us comprehend the metro network’s development features better and can assist the metro management department in making knowledgeable decisions and taking appropriate action in an emergency. This study has theoretical and practical significance for the resilient operation and sustainable planning of urban metro network systems.
The Dynamics of Indian Labour: Ramifications for Future of Work and Sustainability
Authors: Paul Bino , Datta Ramesh C. , Patnaik Unmesh , Thomankutty Saritha C. , Soman Sumesh P.
Published: June 2023

The labour market is complex to systematise into a well-behaved structure. Here, we attempt to understand the synergy between actors and institutions in the Indian labour market and to reveal the implications for the future of work and sustainability. Combining aggregated and micro-level data from multiple sources, we examine the indicators regarding the macro economy, production and engagement in firms, and changes in the occupational structure of workers. While the familiar narrative of technology–labour acrimony emerges, it is weak. In contrast, the tie between economy and technology is a favourable representation of the proximity between human capital and technology. Inadequate human capital implies chances of non-absorption in employment, especially in the future, even for a labour-abundant country such as India. While labour market flexibility through tripartite contact work does not directly relate to labour productivity, high-wage blue-collar work is a more promising factor that aligns with productivity. On the sustainability front, upgrading environmental standards results in more cohesion between labour and capital. The conventional logic of substitutability between capital and labour is invalid when firms adopt environmental standards. From a policy vantage, the scenarios of sustainability transition to cleaner technologies and decent work require complementarity between capital and labour. Considering the dimension of upgrading in order to transition towards sustainability is an essential factor for understanding the future of work.
Quantifying Causality between Climate Change and Credit Risk: A Bibliometric Study and Research Agenda
Authors: Mngadi Noluthando , Twinomurinzi Hossana
Published: June 2023

There is increasing pressure on organisations and countries to manage the financial risks associated with climate change. This paper summarises research on climate change, credit risk and the associated losses, and specifically identifies methods that could contribute to quantifying the causal relationships between climate change and credit risk. We conducted a bibliometric analysis using the Web of Science database to analyse 3138 documents that investigated climate change and credit risk. The key results reveal that climate change has a quantifiable effect on credit risk, and that the most affected industries or sectors are energy, transportation/mobility, agriculture and food, manufacturing, and construction. The prominent methods to quantify causal relationships between climate change and credit risk are regression models, but these are mostly used in preliminary and testing stages. Distance to default and credit risk are the main areas of focus when quantifying climate change and credit risk. Banks are the main type of organisation that have sought to quantify the causal relationship. We identify a research agenda to quantify these causal relationships.
The Antecedent of the Sustainable Purchasing Attitudes among Generation Z: A Terror Management Theory Perspective
Authors: Elgammal Islam , Al-Modaf Obaid
Published: June 2023

Sustainable purchasing attitudes have been a topic of increasing research interest; however, to date, limited studies have investigated its antecedents, particularly within Generation Z in developing countries. In this paper, we empirically explore the factors that affect young consumers’ attitudes to purchasing sustainably within the holistic approach of terror management theory (TMT) by qualitatively exploring how the TMT constructs of death salience and self-esteem influence sustainability attitudes within Gen Z in Saudi Arabia, while considering the role of religion in the proposed TMT framework. Using purposive sampling, qualitative rich data were collected from 18 interviews with young consumers (Gen Z). Our findings revealed insights that help to understand the attitudes that influence sustainable purchasing judgments among young consumers in Saudi Arabia. This contributes to a better understanding of the holistic literature on sustainable purchasing attitudes and may have several implications for sustainable brand management in addition to opening up new research avenues for further investigation.
A Study of the Relevant Parameters for Converting Water Supply to Small Towns in the Province of Alicante to Systems Powered by Photovoltaic Solar Panels
Authors: Fernández Rodríguez Héctor , Pardo Miguel Ángel
Published: June 2023

Solar energy is presented as the main alternative to conventional energy sources that often rely on burning fossil fuels. However, one major obstacle to its wider adoption is the limited ability to store the energy produced that can only be generated for a few hours daily. One way to overcome this limitation is using photovoltaic energy to power urban water supply pumps. This allows the energy to be stored as potential energy in regulating reservoirs while also taking advantage of the temporal coincidence between the generation of solar energy and the daily and annual water and energy supply consumption. Given that implementing solar energy in pumping devices involves an enormous investment, the optimal payback period is identified as the key indicator to know which population is one in which this action is more advisable. This work aims to find the key factors influencing the payback period of solar photovoltaic installation in urban water supply networks. To accomplish this goal, this study analyzes all 20 municipalities in the province of Alicante (which consume groundwater) where these systems can be implemented. Furthermore, this study facilitates the identification of variables that influence the decision to install a solar photovoltaic system in an urban water supply. By measuring two or three parameters, it becomes possible to easily determine the economic viability of such an investment in towns supplied with groundwater. Furthermore, these results can be extrapolated to other municipalities with similar features (irradiance, inhabitants, etc.). This study also presents a straightforward formula that supply managers can utilize to calculate the payback period of the installation using readily available data. The main factors that affect the recovery period of a photovoltaic solar installation are the difference in monthly supply consumption between winter and summer months and the average water depth.
Can Urban Greening Construction Improve the Corporate Preventive Environmental Investment? Evidence from China
Authors: Jiao Yongxiang , Xu Fen , Ma Wenjing , Yang Hongen
Published: June 2023

Preventive environmental investment can enhance corporate environmental pollution management at the source and facilitate green transformation development. As a form of government of green investment behavior, urban greening construction exhibits a “demonstration effect” and “innovation effect” on corporate preventive environmental investment. To investigate this, the present study utilizes Chinese listed company and city-level data from 2011 to 2020 to analyze the influence, mechanism, and heterogeneity of urban greening construction on corporate environmental preventive investment. The findings indicate that urban green construction significantly encourages corporate preventive environmental investments by increasing enterprises’ willingness to participate in environmental regulation and advancing their green technology innovation. Furthermore, the environmental investment impact of urban greening construction exhibits considerable regional and corporate heterogeneity. Specifically, this effect is more pronounced in areas with lower marketability degrees and environmental regulation levels. It plays a more substantial role for state-owned enterprises and enterprises with lower agency costs.
Exploring the Relationship between Land Use and Congestion Source in Xi’an: A Multisource Data Analysis Approach
Authors: Wang Duo , Chen Hong , Li Chenguang , Liu Enze
Published: June 2023

Traffic congestion is a critical problem in urban areas, and understanding the relationship between land use and congestion source is crucial for traffic management and urban planning. This study investigates the relationship between land-use characteristics and congestion pattern features of source parcels in the Second Ring Road of Xi’an, China. The study combines cell-phone data, POI data, and land-use data for the empirical analysis, and uses a spatial clustering approach to identify congested road sections and trace them back to source parcels. The correlations between building factors and congestion patterns are explored using the XGBoost algorithm. The results reveal that residential land and residential population density have the strongest impact on congestion clusters, followed by lands used for science and education and the density of the working population. The study also shows that a small number of specific parcels are responsible for the majority of network congestion. These findings have important implications for urban planners and transportation managers in developing targeted strategies to alleviate traffic congestion during peak periods.
Spatial and Heterogeneity Analysis of Environmental Taxes’ Impact on China’s Green Economy Development: A Sustainable Development Perspective
Authors: Rao Minye , Vasa László , Xu Yudan , Chen Pinghua
Published: June 2023

Environmental taxation is an important tool used by governments to promote resource conservation and environmental protection. Given the current global constraints on resources and increasing environmental degradation, exploring how environmental taxes can effectively stimulate the development of a green economy is of utmost importance. This study utilized panel data from 30 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China, covering the period from 2006 to 2020. The research findings indicate a spatial correlation between environmental taxes and green economic efficiency in China, with the former significantly promoting the development of the latter. A heterogeneity analysis revealed varying impacts of different taxes on the efficiency of green economic development in different regions. Controlling for variables, the study results demonstrated a negative correlation between industrial structure and green economic efficiency, with a significance level of 1%. Additionally, no correlation was found between pollution control efforts and green economic benefits. The effects of different taxes on regional efficiency varied, and industrial structure exhibited a negative correlation with green economic efficiency. This study recommends strengthening intergovernmental coordination, improving tax policies, optimizing industrial structure, and enhancing the pollution control efficiency of local governments to promote China’s green economy.
A Methodological Framework to Assess Road Infrastructure Safety and Performance Efficiency in the Transition toward Cooperative Driving
Authors: Tumminello Maria Luisa , Macioszek Elżbieta , Granà Anna , Giuffrè Tullio
Published: June 2023

There is increasing interest in connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), since their implementation will transform the nature of transportation and promote social and economic change. Transition toward cooperative driving still requires the understanding of some key questions to assess the performances of CAVs and human-driven vehicles on roundabouts and to properly balance road safety and traffic efficiency requirements. In this view, this paper proposes a simulation-based methodological framework aiming to assess the presence of increasing proportions of CAVs on roundabouts operating at a high-capacity utilization level. A roundabout was identified in Palermo City, Italy, and built in Aimsun (version 20) to describe the stepwise methodology. The CAV-based curves of capacity by entry mechanism were developed and then used as target capacities. To calibrate the model parameters, the capacity curves were compared with the capacity data simulated by Aimsun. The impact on the safety and performance efficiency of a lane dedicated to CAVs was also examined using surrogate measures of safety. The paper ends with highlighting a general improvement with CAVs on roundabouts, and with providing some insights to assess the advantages of the automated and connected driving technologies in transitioning to smarter mobility.
Research on Critical Peak Price Decision Optimization Considering Industrial Consumer’s Risk Appetite under the Carbon Neutrality Goal
Authors: Yu Xiaobao , Dong Zhenyu , Zheng Dandan
Published: June 2023

The existing research on critical peak price (CPP) decision-making ignores the difference in risk appetite between industries within the consumer population, resulting in a serious lag in the enthusiasm of some users to respond to CPP, and unsatisfactory improvement of power systems and carbon emission reduction on the supply and demand side. Firstly, the problem of consumer risk appetite was comprehensively analyzed, and the industrial consumer population was secondarily stratified according to the influencing factors and the enthusiasm of responding to CPP, namely: stubborn, active and conformist, and quantitatively verified by cluster analysis. Secondly, by combing the relevant paths of CPP decision-making, the critical-peak window determination model and CPP multi-objective optimization model were constructed, and the calculation of relevant indicators was introduced. Finally, taking 10 industrial enterprises in a city in Sichuan Province as an example, the clustering method was used to verify the stratification results, and the index analysis method was used to measure the load and carbon emission improvement of two typical enterprises after CPP optimization. The results showed that the stubborn users insist on using electricity, the improvement effect of load and carbon emission reduction was poor, and additional production costs will be caused. The conformist and active users had high sensitivity to electricity price fluctuations, good load and carbon emission reduction improvement effects, and significantly reduced electricity costs.
Nurturing Minds and Sustainability: An Exploration of Educational Interactions and Their Impact on Student Well-Being and Assessment in a Sustainable University
Authors: Tripon Cristina , Gonța Iulia , Bulgac Aurelia
Published: June 2023

To meet the growing demand for sustainable education, many universities have begun to integrate sustainability into their curricula. Additionally, universities are increasingly investing in digital technologies that enable them to deliver educational content in a more sustainable manner. The research results showed that students’ interactions with teachers in a hybrid environment, such as in a STEM university, can have a significant impact on student performance. The research results indicated a positive relationship between the educational environment and the well-being perceived by the students. The results showed that when the educational environment was improved, the students felt a greater sense of well-being. Furthermore, the results showed that students who felt a greater sense of well-being also perceived the educational environment to be more positive, and an improved educational environment can lead to an increased sense of well-being for students. This could be achieved by creating a more supportive and motivating educational environment, which could, in turn, lead to improved academic performance and mental health. The research found that there was a negative correlation between the students’ perceived assessment and evaluation related to their well-being. This suggests that students who felt that their assessment and evaluation were unfair or inappropriate were more likely to have poorer well-being than those who perceived their assessment and evaluation as fair and appropriate.
The Impact of Green Finance on High-Quality Economic Development in China: Vertical Fiscal Imbalance as the Moderating Effect
Authors: Yang Zhao
Published: June 2023

The vigorous development of green finance has become a national strategy in China. Green finance is gradually becoming a key driver of high-quality economic development and a key area of concern for China’s economy and ecological environment. Based on the panel data of 30 Chinese provinces from 2001 to 2019, we analyzed the impact and mechanism of vertical fiscal imbalance (VFI) and green finance (GF) on high-quality economic development (HQD) and then used the fixed-effect model and spatial Durbin model for empirical testing. We found that GF can significantly contribute to HQD, but VFI has a negative moderating effect in contrast to the positive effect of GF on HQD. This negative moderating effect is strongest in the central region. According to the analysis of the spatial econometric model based on geography, economy, and the nested spatial weight matrix, we found that the local GF has a negative spatial transmission effect on the HQD of other regions. Therefore, it is recommended that the coordinated development of green finance among regions be promoted, while affairs and expenditure responsibilities be reasonably distributed between the central and local governments to drive HQD effectively.
Carbon Price Combination Forecasting Model Based on Lasso Regression and Optimal Integration
Authors: Li Yumin , Yang Ruiqi , Wang Xiaoman , Zhu Jiaming , Song Nan
Published: June 2023

Accurate carbon price index prediction can delve deeply into the internal law of carbon price changes, provide helpful information to managers and decision makers, as well as improve the carbon market system. Nevertheless, existing methods for combination forecasting typically arbitrarily choose a certain set of single forecasting models. However, a particular selection of forecasting models do not apply to all data sets due to the nonlinearity and nonsmoothness of the carbon trading price series. Therefore, choosing suitable single forecasting models for the combination is crucial. Considering the limitations of the current study, this study constructs a combined carbon trading forecasting model based on Lasso regression and optimal integration. By invoking the Lasso regression model, we can select suitable single forecasting models for combination forecasting based on the variation patterns of different training sets. Meanwhile, ARIMA, NARNN, LSTM, and 11 other single forecasting models are screened in this study, including both traditional statistical forecasting models and artificial intelligence forecasting models. First, the carbon price index is predicted using 11 single prediction models. Furthermore, given the multi-collinearity of the single prediction series, this study employs Lasso regression to reduce the dimensions of the single prediction models, which are then used to construct an optimal combination prediction model. Finally, the proposed model is applied to SZA-2017 and SZA-2019 carbon price data in Shenzhen. The results demonstrate that the model developed in this study outperforms other benchmark prediction models in terms of prediction error and direction accuracy, showing the efficacy of the proposed method.
Evolutionary Game Analysis of Artificial Intelligence Such as the Generative Pre-Trained Transformer in Future Education
Authors: You Yanwei , Chen Yuquan , You Yujun , Zhang Qi , Cao Qiang
Published: June 2023

As an emerging research area since generative artificial intelligence (represented by Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT)) has been accessible to the public, especially in education, appropriate AI application could bring numerous benefits to education; however, its abuse has the potential to be harmful. In this paper, we aimed to explore the potential of AI in the future of education with the analytical method of evolutionary game analysis (EGA). By studying the behavior of two agents, the school and the students, EGA can be used to identify strategies that can be used to improve the effectiveness of the education model in the context of the AI era. A stable evolutionary strategy for the school and students was devised under a variety of scenarios. Additionally, we conducted a numerical analysis to further explore the impact of several key factors on the stable strategy. The results indicated that schools should adopt positive supervision to standardize the use of AI in education, and students should be more active in becoming involved in AI technology. Based on this study, we believe that the school has the ability to provide effective suggestions and practical guidelines to help students succeed academically and embrace future trends in AI education.
ABC as a Multi-Lens Sustainability Reporting System in Smart Cities
Authors: Alsaid Loai Ali Zeenalabden Ali , Mutiganda Jean Claude
Published: June 2023

There is a very short list of theoretical and empirical studies on the role of management accounting tools in the sustainability of smart cities. While the majority of these studies have addressed this role from the perspective of openness, participation, and hybridisation, others have addressed it in terms of economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Despite their early efforts often focusing on institutionalisation and governmentality processes, their analyses did not address how management accounting tools can be used to achieve sustainable goals, particularly in developing countries with a political and cultural character. This study aims to explore how an activity-based costing/ABC system is configured within urban development organisations to internalise cultural and political sustainability values at the smart city level. It applies a politico-cultural model and uses a case study approach from an Egyptian state-owned smart city enterprise. The findings reveal smart city culture and political/government compliance in the implementation of the ABC system, enabled by enterprise resource planning/ERP technology, within state-owned enterprises/SOEs. This system, seen as an emerging field, was created as a multi-lens reporting system on their political and cultural sustainability in smart cities. While political sustainability refers to SOEs’ compliance with the ABC system, cultural sustainability refers to the embodiment of national smart city values in their system implementation. This sustainability costing system of a political and cultural nature has also created recursive dynamics, exemplified by the powerful role of ERP-ABC reports in making participatory sustainability decisions at various organisational and governmental levels for smart cities.
Long-Term Performance Assessment of a Geosynthetic-Reinforced Railway Substructure
Authors: Esen Ahmet F. , Woodward Peter K. , Laghrouche Omar , Connolly David P.
Published: June 2023

Significant savings in carbon emissions, cost, and time could be achieved via the reduction in maintenance frequency, capital costs of track construction, and land used. Geosynthetic-reinforced soils offer such sustainable solutions. The experimental work presented in this paper investigates the long-term performance of a Geosynthetic-Reinforced Soil Retaining Wall (GRS-RW) system as an alternative to the conventional railway embankment. Full-scale testing was carried out on three sleeper sections of ballasted and slab tracks by simulating train loads cyclically, phased to 360 km/h. The tracks were supported by either a low-level fully confined conventional embankment or a GRS-RW substructure. The substructures were formed of a 1.2 m deep subgrade and frost protection layer, in accordance with high-speed railway design standards. The overall aim was to assess the performance of the tracks, in terms of transient displacements and total settlements. It was observed that once the GRS-RW system reached its active state, it deformed in a very similar way to a conventional embankment despite the fact that the GRS-RW system is less confined than the conventional embankment. The results indicate that the cumulative settlement of the slab track, which is due to the plastic deformation of the soil, is significantly less than that of the ballasted track, which is primarily caused by the movement of the ballast particles.