bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulation of Groundwater Flow Dynamics under Different Stresses Using MODFLOW in Rechna Doab, Pakistan
Authors: Awais Muhammad , Arshad Muhammad , Ahmad Sajid Rashid , Nazeer Aftab , Waqas Muhammad Mohsin , Aziz Rizwan , Shakoor Aamir , Rizwan Muhammad , Chauhdary Junaid Nawaz , Mehmood Qaisar , Ahmad Matlob
Published: January 2023

Groundwater is a primary source of freshwater provisions all around the world. Due to its limited availability, water has become a precious entity nowadays. The future accessibility of groundwater is endangered due to its massive exploitation, particularly in the irrigation sector. Therefore, the current study was conducted to assess the declining groundwater levels in Rechna Doab, Punjab, Pakistan, where the aquifer has been reported to be highly stressed. A groundwater flow model was developed using the MODFLOW code of the USGS, and the steady-state model was calibrated for the year 2006, followed by a transient calibration for the years 2006–2010. Finally, the model was validated for 2011–2013, and a new scenario-based approach was used. Multiple future scenarios were developed to simulate the future response of the aquifer under changed recharge and pumping. The hydrodynamics of the groundwater flow was studied for two decades, i.e., up to 2033. The results under the business-as-usual scenario revealed a net gain in water levels in the upper parts of the study area. In contrast, a lowering of water levels was predicted in the central and lower parts. A maximum drop in the water level was anticipated to be 5.17 m, with a maximum gain of 5 m. For Scenario II, which followed the historical trend of pumping, an overall decline in water levels was observed, with a maximum expected drawdown of 15.68 m. However, the proposed water management Scenario III showed a general decrease in the upper study region, with the highest drop being 10.7 m, whereas an overall recovery of 6.87 m in the lower regions was observed. The simulations also suggested that the unconfined aquifer actively responded to the different scenario-based interventions. It was concluded that the region’s aquifer needs immediate action regarding pumping and recharge patterns to avoid a potential increase in pumping costs and to preserve the sustainability of endangered groundwater resources. Moreover, proper groundwater pumping and its policy legislation for its management should be implemented in order to protect this precious resource.
Farmer Households’ Livelihood Resilience in Ethnic Tourism Villages: A Case Study of the Wuling Mountain Area, China
Authors: Xiao Yuchun , Liu Shuiliang , Zuo Jinyou , Yin Ningling , Wu Jilin , Xie Wenhai
Published: January 2023

Farmer households in tourist villages have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recovery of livelihood is proving difficult. In order to improve farmer households’ ability to cope with external shocks, we have applied the theoretical framework of resilience to study farmer households’ livelihood in ethnic tourism villages. Based on the survey data of 480 farmer households from 10 ethnic tourism villages in the Wuling Mountain area, this study constructs a livelihood resilience evaluation index system from three of the following dimensions: buffer capacity, adaptive capacity, and transformation capacity. These households are classified into three types: government-led, company-led, and community-led. In addition, the livelihood resilience and its influencing factors of each type is quantitatively assessed. The results show that the livelihood resilience of farmer households administered by the government, companies, and communities is 0.2984, 0.3250, and 0.2442, respectively. Government-led farmer households have the greatest transformation capacity, company-led farmer households have the largest buffer capacity and adaptive capacity, and community-led farmer households have the least capacity across the board. The results indicated that the company-led management of tourism development is currently the most appropriate mode of management for the local area. Four factors, namely, the number of family members engaged in tourism, the training opportunities for the development of professional skills, the education level of core family members, and the type of assistance subsidy available to a family, are the dominant obstacle factors with respect to the livelihood resilience of different types of farmer households. Finally, some recommendations are made to improve the farmer households’ livelihood resilience in ethnic tourism villages based on two aspects of organization management and farmer households’ behavior. The findings of this study can be used as a theoretical foundation for future research on farmer households’ resilience to poverty in underdeveloped ethnic tourism villages.
Bibliometric Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism
Authors: Yoopetch Chanin , Nimsai Suthep , Kongarchapatara Boonying
Published: January 2023

The large amount of research on corporate social responsibility in tourism shows its importance as a field of study. The role of tourism organizations and their impacts on sustainability have become increasingly important in recent decades. In addition, research on corporate social responsibility has expanded in scale and scope and can be found in a number of academic journals. The aim of this paper is to present the details of the academic work on corporate social responsibility in tourism and to demonstrate the intellectual structure of research in this field. This study analyzes 571 articles obtained from Scopus and published from 2002 to 2022 (August) and presents the development and growth of knowledge in corporate social responsibility and tourism. The study method used to extract the articles was based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). The results indicate that this field of study has expanded significantly from being studied primarily in Europe towards being studied also in developing countries, such as China and India. In addition, the research themes emerging in the field of corporate social responsibility in tourism include tourism behaviors and strategic approaches to corporate social responsibility. This review highlights the emerging trends in research on corporate social responsibility in tourism, the dominant academic journals, and the countries that focus on research in this area. Furthermore, directions for future research are also presented.
State and Dynamics of the Innovative Performance of Medium and Large Firms in the Manufacturing Sector in Emerging Economies: The Cases of Peru and Ecuador
Authors: Murrieta-Oquendo María Elena , De la Vega Iván Manuel
Published: January 2023

The purpose of this study was to analyze the current state and dynamics of the innovative behavior of medium and large manufacturing firms in Peru and Ecuador. It has been shown that the factors that enhance or enable the possibilities of innovation in organizations can be internal or external. This study took a quantitative approach, and regression models were applied to samples composed of firms. The relationships between external factors and business resources following the implementation of innovation were analyzed, as was the impact that these factors had on sales performance, considering the effect of the size and age of the firms. The innovations most implemented in firms in Ecuador were processes, and in Peru, organizational innovations were predominant. There were no external factors or business resources statistically related to these types of innovation for each country. For Peruvian firms, the age of the firm presented an inverse relationship to its performance. The study confirms the results of other studies conducted in Peru, and for Ecuador, these findings represent one of the first contributions on this topic. This study contributes to the discussion of the effects, in emerging Latin American countries, of a firm’s age on its ability to innovate.
How Can We Measure the Prioritization of Strategies for Transitioning to a Circular Economy at Macro Level? A New Approach
Authors: Guarnieri Patricia , e Silva Lucio Camara , Haleem Fazli , Bianchini Augusto , Rossi Jessica , Wæhrens Brian Vejrum , Farooq Sami , Reyes Edgar , Reis André Luiz Nascimento , Vieira Barbara de Oliveira
Published: January 2023

This paper aims to develop and validate a questionnaire to measure the prioritization of strategies to transitioning towards a circular economy and to compare different countries. We proposed a questionnaire based on a five-level ordinal scale to evaluate the 24 strategies of the circular economy under a set of ten criteria given technical issues, as well as social, environmental and economic dimensions of sustainability. Each strategy was defined and evaluated by the participants on the same scale, who are stakeholders involved in the transition towards a circular economy. The validation was conducted by two main procedures, including semantic validation through 17 experts from five countries and statistical validation by 347 survey respondents from 25 countries. The results show that the questionnaire seems a reliable and valid tool to analyze which circular economy strategies countries, regions and cities prioritize. Few studies have been conducted to validate instruments about the circular economy; they are focused at the micro level, (industry). Studies that validate measurement instruments regarding the circular economy at the macro level are lacking. This study is the first one to validate the circular economy instrument at the macro level. It can help researchers and practitioners from public and private sectors from a variety of organizations in proposing actions to enable the transition and create performance indicators.
Customer Experience Design for Smart Product-Service Systems Based on the Iterations of Experience–Evaluate–Engage Using Customer Experience Data
Authors: Kim Yong Se
Published: January 2023

Data about customer experiences are important in smart product-service systems. It is desired to establish a framework for customer experience data so that smart customer experiences can be designed based on customer data. Particularly such a framework should support determining what kinds of customer data are needed and how these data are effectively acquired. This paper presents such a framework where rich and structured customer experience data can be defined and customer experience evaluation data are obtained in real time together with context data. Some representative service units for smart experience design using customer experience data are also presented. Two illustrative cases are provided to demonstrate the validity of the framework of customer experience data. The validity of the framework is discussed considering both the consistency and flexibility of the framework demonstrated by the cases.
Prediction and Evaluation of Ecosystem Service Value Based on Land Use of the Yellow River Source Area
Authors: Lu Zhibo , Song Qian , Zhao Jianyun , Wang Shiru
Published: January 2023

Land-use change plays an important role in ecological change; knowing the trends in land-use change can quickly help identify problems in regional ecosystems. In 2000 to 2020, the development of a global economy caused increasing extreme weather events worldwide and lead to exacerbating changes in types of land-use. The Yellow River source area is an important water source and a central part of ecological protection efforts in China. The fragile ecosystems make the area sensitive to environmental changes. Therefore, in protecting the ecological security of the basin, simulating changes in the ecosystem service value under different scenarios is a meaningful procedure. A patch-generating land use simulation model was used to simulate different land use scenarios in 2030, including an ecological protection scenario, a production priority scenario, a carbon neutral scenario and a natural development scenario. The analysis shows that significant progress has been made in water conservation but grassland conservation faces enormous challenges. The rate of development, occupation of farmland and land dedicated to construction has increased. Unused land increased dramatically from 2010–2020 and has not been mitigated by existing policies. Based on the unit area value equivalent coefficients, the ecosystem service value rankings for the seven land use types were as follows: Grassland > Wetland > Water Area > Forest > Farmland > Unused Land > Construction Land; the four types of ecosystem service value are ranked as follows: regulating services > supporting services > supply services > cultural services; the four scenarios of ecosystem service value are ranked as follows: ecological protection scenario > production priority scenario > carbon neutral scenario > natural development scenario. The ecosystem service value of the Yellow River source area would increase by CNY 1.641 billion in 2030 with ecological protection goals and decrease by CNY 1.421 billion with the current of development. This study provides valuable insights and implications for land use, ecological protection and sustainable development by shedding light on watershed change issues and assessing and predicting the ecological status of the Yellow River source area.
The Influencing Factors of Pro-Environmental Behaviors of Farmer Households Participating in Understory Economy: Evidence from China
Authors: Chen Yaru , Han Xiao , Lv Siyao , Song Boyao , Zhang Xinye , Li Hongxun
Published: January 2023

To promote the sustainable development of agriculture and forestry economy, it is of great significance to guide farmers to consciously pursue pro-environmental behaviors in the development of the understory economy. Based on field survey data from Yong’an city of Fujian Province and Luoshan County of Henan Province, factor analysis and Oprobit models were mainly used to analyze the influencing factors and influencing the degree of the pro-environmental behaviors of farmer households participating in the understory economy. Quantitative data showed that individual characteristics of farmers (i.e., gender, education, career, feasibility evaluation, and the proportion of farming labor to household labor) and forest land management status (i.e., forest land transfer, the working time in understory economy, and proportion of understory economic income) have an obvious effect on the adoption of pro-environmental behaviors. Findings also revealed three key variables (i.e., the farmers’ environmental perception, social constraints, and government incentives) that are associated with the willingness to adopt pro-environmental behaviors. The contribution ratios of the influencing factors were environmental perception, social constraints, and government incentives. In addition to economic benefits, perceptual factors and informal institutions also play an important role in driving farmers to adopt pro-environmental behaviors. Based on the findings, it is necessary to strengthen the publicity and the education of farmers, increase environmental responsibility, accelerate the establishment and improvement of ecological reward-and-punishment mechanisms, and enhance the training of green production techniques.
Academic Adaptation of International Students in China: Evidence from the Grounded Theory and Structure Equation Model
Authors: Zhu Junqi , Gu Mengdi , Yang Li , Xun Shoukui , Wan Ming , Li Jie
Published: January 2023

With the continued increase in international students in China, the problem of their academic adaptation has become increasingly prominent. Analysis of the factors affecting the academic adaptation of international students and corresponding management practices can suggest measures to improve their academic adaptability. Based on grounded theory, this paper first summarizes the four main factors affecting the academic adaptation of international students, then uses structural equation modeling to construct a model of academic adaptation of international students that is tested and verified by a questionnaire survey of 2540 international students in China (51% male, 49% female). The main conclusions of this paper are as follows: (1) learning communication, course learning, and self-regulation are the main factors affecting the academic adaptation of international students, of which course learning is the most important factor; (2) academic communication and course learning have significant positive effects on self-regulation, while academic communication, course learning, and self-regulation have significant positive effects on the academic adaptation of international students; and (3) there was no significant difference in academic adaptation between genders, though there were significant differences by age. Among them, the mean score for overseas students is the largest for those older than 41 years (M = 4.79; SD = 0.33), showing that these students are most adaptable to study. Accordingly, this study advances policy suggestions for strengthening international students’ academic adaptation on the part of both universities and the government to improve the academic adaptation ability of international students in China.
Skid Resistance Analysis of Urban Bike Lane Pavements for Safe Micromobility
Authors: López-Molina Martín , Llopis-Castelló David , Pérez-Zuriaga Ana María , Alonso-Troyano Carlos , García Alfredo
Published: January 2023

The use of micromobility vehicles is considerably growing in cities worldwide. As a result, crashes involving these vehicles are also increasing, with single-bicycle crashes accounting for a significant percentage. In most infrastructure-related crashes, the road surface was slippery. In this context, the study of pavement skid resistance is crucial to improve micromobility safety. In this research, the British pendulum tester was used to test the skid resistance of 5 different types of pavements on 17 bike lane locations in Valencia (Spain). Additionally, micromobility users’ speed was collected to analyse users’ behaviour. The results showed that asphalt, concrete, and rough painted tile pavements had the greatest skid resistance, whereas painted cobble and smooth painted tile pavements presented poor skid resistance. These values were compared with the limits set by the few guidelines that includes skid resistance thresholds. Moreover, skid resistance variability was also studied, with asphalt pavement being the most homogeneous. Based on the results of the research, several recommendations are proposed for the pavement to be used in the micromobility facility according to its typology. To this end, the investigatory level of skid resistance and the minimum braking distance required were also defined for each type of pavement and bike lane. The findings of this study contribute to the consideration of micromobility safety from the construction stage to the pavement management.
Analysis of Double Inverted Flag Energy Harvesting System in Pipe Flow
Authors: Wang Yi-Ren , Chen Pin-Tung , Hsieh Yen-Te
Published: January 2023

This technical note numerically and experimentally studies a vibration energy harvester (VEH) consisting of a set of two parallel elastic steel sheets (ESSs) and piezoelectric patches (PZTs) in pipe flow. The roots of the elastic steel sheets are fixed on the base with the PZTs to form a double inverted flag vibration energy harvesting system (DIF-VEHS). In this note, a semi-circular receiving device (receiver) was added to the free end of the elastic steel, and a cylinder was installed upstream to generate a periodic oscillating flow field in the pipeline to obtain better electric energy generation efficiency. This study reveals the effect of different factors on the energy harvesting system, such as the distance between the ESSs, the diameter of the cylinder, etc. This study uses ANSYS software to simulate the fluid–structure interaction vibration of ESSs to determine the feasibility of this design. An experimental setup is then implemented to find the most effective combination of factors for the system. The results of this study show that with all parameters configured properly, the electric energy generation reaches a maximum average value of 1.6657 V per minute. In the future, such devices could be installed in sewers, pipes or rivers, allowing the flow energy of the fluid to be recycled to generate more energy.
Enterprise Servitization: Practical Guidelines for Culture Transformation Management
Authors: Moraes Caroline Relva de , Cunha Paulo Rupino
Published: January 2023

We propose a framework based on ADKAR (awareness, desire, knowledge, ability, and reinforcement) with guidelines to manage the organizational culture change required for servitization—the transition of a company towards a product–service system (PSS) business model that provides cohesive delivery of products and services, increasingly supported on digital technologies. We departed from a systematic literature review across five academic databases, covering human and technological aspects, that confirmed corporate culture as one of the pillars of a successful transformation, along with relevant factors to account for. The results of this work have both theoretical and managerial implications. Companies can apply the framework to support planning implementation strategies that require a corporate mind shift. Finally, we identified directions for future servitization research.
Development of a 1D/2D Urban Flood Model Using the Open-Source Models SWMM and MOHID Land
Authors: Barreiro João , Santos Flávio , Ferreira Filipa , Neves Ramiro , Matos José S.
Published: January 2023

Urban pluvial floods are the outcome of the incapacity of drainage systems to convey the runoff generated by intense rainfall events. Cities have been struggling to control such hazards due to several pressures, such as urbanization increase, more frequent experiences of extreme rainfall events, and increases in tide levels. Such pressures demand the study of adaptation strategies, which conventional one-dimensional drainage models fall short of simulating. Thus, 1D/2D models have been emerging with the aim of allowing better integration of key processes for flood modeling, namely, runoff interception by stormwater inlet devices and manhole overflows. The current paper presents a 1D/2D urban flood model based on an offline coupling procedure between the 1D model SWMM and the 2D model MOHID Land. The SWMM/Land model is applied to a synthetic street case study and to a real case study in downtown Albufeira, Portugal. The results obtained for the real case study are coherent with local observations of past flooding events, and the model shows potential for better decision-making regarding urban flood risk management.
Fiscal Decentralization, Regional Innovation and Industrial Structure Distortions in China
Authors: Song Yuchen , Ma Jingshu , Guan Shuai , Liu Yongfu
Published: January 2023

The current industrial structure in China must be adjusted to create a new development pattern and promote high-quality economic development. Based on theoretical analysis and provincial panel data from 2008 to 2018, we empirically analyzed the impact of fiscal decentralization and regional innovation on industrial structure distortion. The results showed that fiscal decentralization has hindered the evolution of the industrial structure in the desired direction but has promoted regional innovation and thus effectively alleviated the distortion of the industrial structure. Regional investigation showed regional differences between the effect of fiscal decentralization on industrial structure distortion and the mediating effect of regional innovation. In the eastern and central regions, fiscal decentralization was not conducive to improving the degree of industrial structure distortion. Still, it could reduce the degree of industrial structure distortion by enhancing the indirect effect of regional innovation, whereas this indirect effect was not significant in the western region. We provide some policy suggestions to promote the coordinated development of the industrial structure.
Digital Transformation, Green Technology Innovation and Enterprise Financial Performance: Empirical Evidence from the Textual Analysis of the Annual Reports of Listed Renewable Energy Enterprises in China
Authors: Ren Yangjun , Li Botang
Published: January 2023

Digital transformation in renewable energy enterprises offers critical opportunities for China’s green orientation and sustainable growth. Based on a statistical data of Chinese A-share listed renewable energy companies, we explore the effects of digital transformation on a company’s financial performance and the mediating role of green technology innovation. The findings indicate that there is a driving effect of digital transformation on renewable energy companies’ financial performance. Our results remain valid after a series of robustness tests. Furthermore, a heterogeneous analysis indicates that enhancing digital transformation only positively affects the financial performance of state-owned firms and firms in the eastern area, and the driving effect of digital transformation is greater for large firms. In addition, green technology innovation plays a complete mediating role in digital transformation’s impact on renewable energy enterprises’ financial performance. Specifically, when a renewable energy company has digital transformation, it has better green technology innovation leading to better financial performance. Our results provide vital implications for promoting the effectiveness of digital transformation in the development of renewable energy enterprises.
How the Target Positioning of the S&T Innovation Platform Impacts Its Network Innovation Capability in China
Authors: Aisaiti Gulizhaer , Dong Qi , Liang Ling , Xie Jiqing , Xie Jiaping
Published: January 2023

The Scientific and Technological Innovation Platform (hereafter S&T innovation platform) accumulates rich innovation resources, co-ordinates the interest between multiple innovation subjects, promotes the sharing of innovation resources, and thus enhances the platform’s network innovation capability. Therefore, based on the perspective of the target positioning of the S&T innovation platform, this paper explores the improvement path of the platform’s network innovation capability. Through empirical research, we found that the target positioning of the S&T innovation platform helps to improve the platform’s network innovation capability. The mediating mechanism of construction logic and transformational logic enhances the S&T innovation platform’s network innovation capability. At the same time, this paper studies the influence of boundary factors, such as government guidance and market lead, on the network innovation capability of S&T innovation platforms and finds that the market lead moderating effect impacts the network innovation capability of S&T innovation platforms through commercial logic and transformational logic. The government guidance positively moderates the relationship between the target positioning of the S&T innovation platform and the commercial logic under construction logic. The moderating effect under the joint impact of market lead and government guidance enhances the network innovation capability of the S&T innovation platform using social logic and transformational logic. The novelty and uniqueness of the research are based on the innovation network theory, integrating construction logic and transformational logic, and enriching the boundary conditions to enhance the network innovation capability of the S&T innovation platform by introducing the roles of market lead and government guidance.
Effects of Road Slope and Vehicle Weight on Truck Fuel Consumption
Authors: Posada-Henao John Jairo , Sarmiento-Ordosgoitia Iván , Correa-Espinal Alexánder A.
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we developed truck fuel consumption models for the particular assistance of professionals in charge of road project valuation in terms of predicting fuel used by trucks, which is an important topic on vehicle operating costs to be considered in the benefit–cost analysis of road projects. On the other hand, fuel consumption has a direct impact on emissions to the atmosphere, and thus future research can be conducted regarding estimations about emissions by trucks. In this research, we identified the effect of overall vehicle weight on truck fuel consumption in a free-flow regime. The methodology includes the design of experiments and factorial design as statistical techniques to obtain data, as well as linear and non-linear regressions to obtain models for two types of trucks: rigid (three axles) and articulated (six axles). Notably, there is no evidence of research previously conducted on the latter. We used statistical methods for the selection of trucks, equipment, road segments, and other aspects, obtaining good control in tests verifying the appropriate values for factors according to the planned ones. The results satisfy the expectations of the research, and it was demonstrated that the vehicle weight and roadway slope were significantly more important than speed alone, which was typically considered the main variable in other studies. On the other hand, longitudinal slopes higher than 5% were found to not be suitable for freight road corridors. It is recommended that 6-axle trucks instead of 3-axle trucks be used for a 16 t amount of cargo transported on a plain road (longitudinal slope under 3%). The HDM-4 model did not represent fuel consumption adequately for the current vehicle fleet operating on roads. Fuel consumption models must be updated, for instance, every 10 years, such that they can adapt to vehicle technological advances and the energetic improvement of fuels, including the proportion of biofuels and gas.
Scientometric Analysis of the Global Scientific Literature on Circularity Indicators in the Construction and Built Environment Sector
Authors: Gomis Kasun , Kahandawa Ravindu , Jayasinghe Ruchini Senarath
Published: January 2023

The circular-economy-related research has exponentially increased in recent years. The literature shows that circularity indicators represent a timely topic that requires an in-depth analysis. However, the trends and gaps in the literature in the area of the circular economy have not need analysed in depth. This study uses a scientometric analysis as the research methodology to examine the current literature on circularity and circular economic indicators. The publications were extracted from the Web of Science and were published until the end of the third quarter of 2022. The scientometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer software to map the relationships between the 1117 articles selected on the topic. The findings revealed that the most productive author and university were Jorge de Brito and Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. The overlay visualisation of the keywords identified a notable shift in research themes from dynamics, frameworks, models, and design in previous years to economy, barriers, and strategies in the current research context. The overlay visualisation of the keywords identified trending research hotspots within the current research context. This study is the first holistic and global overview of circularity and circular economic indicators in the construction context and identifies a critical need for further research to understand circularity and circular economic indicators under co-occurrence analysis conditions. This study offers academics, policymakers, and other circularity activists a guide for future research and valuable insight into circularity and circularity indicator themes.
Internal Control, Environmental Uncertainty and Total Factor Productivity of Firms—Evidence from Chinese Capital Market
Authors: Wang Kun , Liu Lichen , Deng Mengyue , Feng Yaxian
Published: January 2023

Based on the data of China’s A-share listed companies from 2009 to 2019, this paper empirically examines the relationship between internal control and total factor productivity of enterprises in the presence of environmental uncertainty. The research shows that high quality internal control can effectively improve the total factor productivity of enterprises. Environmental uncertainty negatively moderates the relationship between internal control quality and total factor productivity. Further research in this paper shows that there are heterogeneous effects on the adjusting effects of different life cycles, property rights and regional distribution of enterprises, that is, when enterprises are in the growth stage, the quality of internal control has a significant effect on the improvement of total factor productivity of enterprises. For enterprises and non-state-owned enterprises located in the eastern region, the inhibition and adjustment effect of environmental uncertainty is more significant. At the same time, the supplementary research finds that internal control directly affects the total factor productivity of enterprises through the intermediary role of promoting enterprise development and innovation and easing financing constraints. The research conclusions enrich the literature on the mechanism of internal control affecting enterprises’ total factor productivity and provide a new reference and basis for enterprises to effectively manage the internal environment, strengthen the risk control management mechanism and improve the enterprise value.
Study on Height Prediction of Water Flowing Fractured Zone in Deep Mines Based on Weka Platform
Authors: Bai Liyang , Liao Changlong , Wang Changxiang , Zhang Meng , Meng Fanbao , Fan Mingjin , Zhang Baoliang
Published: January 2023

Accurately predicting the height of water flowing fractured zone is of great significance to coal mine safety mining. In recent years, most mines in China have entered deep mining. Aiming at the problem that it is difficult to accurately predict the height of water flowing fractured zone under the condition of large mining depth, the mining depth, height mining, inclined length of working face and coefficient of hard rock lithology ratio are selected as the main influencing factors of the height of water flowing fractured zone. The relationship between various factors and the height of water flowing fractured zone is analyzed by SPSS software. Based on the data mining tool Weka platform, Bayesian classifier, artificial neural network and support vector machine model are used to mine and analyze the measured data of water flowing fractured zone, and the detailed accuracy, confusion matrix and node error rate are compared. The results show that, the accuracy rate of instance classification of the three models is greater than 60%. The accuracy of the artificial neural network model is the highest and the node error rate is the lowest. In general, the training effect of the artificial neural network model is the best. By predicting engineering examples, the prediction accuracy of the model reaches 80%, and a good prediction effect is obtained. The height prediction system of water flowing fractured zone is developed based on VB language, which can provide a reference for the prediction of the height failure grade of water flowing fractured zone.
Viewshed Analysis-Based Method Integrated to Landscape Character Assessment: Application to Landscape Sustainability of Greenhouses Systems
Authors: Mazzeo Antonio , Arcidiacono Claudia , Valenti Francesca , Leonardi Mariagrazia , Porto Simona M. C.
Published: January 2023

The visual impact of crop shelters in the rural landscape is of paramount importance for the sustainability of landscape planning. It is of utmost importance to protect a beautiful landscape characterized by archaeological sites and natural ecosystems but it is also fundamental to preserve a key economy based on agriculture. To preserve the landscape there is the need to understand its landscape units and to assess the feasibility of the application of landscape character assessment (LCA) at a local scale and adaptation to higher scales in the land-use planning process. In this study, a methodology based on viewshed analysis was integrated into LCA in order to define landscape character areas and types. An application of the method was done on greenhouse systems. Landscape evaluation was carried out by using both ECOVAST guidelines for landscape identification and indicators, which were defined and computed in order to describe the visual impact of greenhouses. The method was applied to a study area located in South Italy, in the Province of Ragusa, in the eastern part of Sicily, where the greenhouse system highly characterizes agricultural activities and made it possible to define landscape guidelines. Finally, a visibility map was drawn up to highlight the areas subject to the greatest visibility. In addition to objectifying the visual impact of greenhouses, the research verified that the proposed LCA-based methodology combined with viewshed analysis can be feasible for supporting the analysis phases of landscape and urban planning under the new territorial governance laws issued for the Region of Sicily in recent years. These analyses were useful to provide information that objectively takes into account the importance of the visual component in the context of landscape planning. Due to the limited surface of the sample area considered in this study, this research work should be considered a pilot or preliminary study. The extension of this methodology to the adjacent municipalities could represent the practical application performed by local authorities to define common regulations suitable to preserve landscape components.
Are We Putting the Money in the Right Pocket? Ascertaining the Eventual Relationship between Silvoagricultural Subsidies, Ecosystem Threats, and Ecosystem Services in Chile
Authors: Pérez Cristian , Pliscoff Patricio , Simonetti Javier A.
Published: January 2023

Due to the Aichi targets, the international community committed to the sustainable management of silvoagricultural activities and to the elimination or reform of detrimental subsidies relative to biodiversity conservation. In this context, countries should have implemented specific actions to address these commitments. In Chile, the Instruments of Productive Promotion to Finance Field Work (IPP-FFW) framework was used to fund activities related to silvoagricultural systems, including, irrigation, plantations with exotic species, and the recovery of soils. However, concerns have been raised that are associated with the need for evaluating their effectiveness, including whether impact assessments should be carried out systematically. Considering that these subsidized activities may negatively impact nature, whether IPP-FFWs had been allocated is analyzed regardless of the threat degree of terrestrial ecosystems at the commune level in Chile using the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ecosystem risk assessment methodology; moreover, the eventual relationship between changes in land use and ecosystem service provisions in case study for the Biobio region in Chile is also examined, for which the monetary consequences of the loss of ecosystem services—via the analysis of benefit transfers—are calculated. Evidence reveals that higher amounts of IPP-FFWs are allocated in communes with higher levels of threats and that a decrease in ecosystem service provision is associated with IPP-FFW’s allocation.
Do Central Inspections of Environmental Protection Affect the Efficiency of the Green Economy? Evidence from China’s Yangtze River Delta
Authors: Chen Haisheng , Shen Manhong
Published: January 2023

As an important part of China’s ecological civilization, the impact of the Central Inspections of Environmental Protection (CIEP) on the development of a green economy has been widely recognized. This article uses the first round of the Central Inspections of Environmental Protection (CIEP) and the “look-back” in cities above the prefecture level in China’s Yangtze River Delta as a quasi-natural experiment to construct more scientific green economic efficiency indicators based on OH (2010), and employs a multi-period spatial DID (difference-in-differences) model to empirically investigate the impact of the CIEP on the urban green economic efficiency. This study confirms that: (1) The Central Inspections of Environmental Protection have a significant contribution to the green economic efficiency of cities, and the “look-back” is of great significance to the long-term green development of cities. (2) The Central Inspections of Environmental Protection have had a positive impact on the building of a pro-clear government–business relationship in coastal and riverine areas, promoting the application of green technology research and development, and, thus, improving the green economic efficiency of cities. (3) Under the constraints of the central environmental protection inspection system, the southern Jiangsu region has been effective in promoting the green transformation of enterprises to enhance the efficiency of the city’s green economy due to its location endowment and historical tradition of opening ports and trading in the late Qing Dynasty. (4) Under the pressure of environmental regulation, some enterprises chose to relocate their production to non-inspected areas, which had a negative spillover effect on the green economic efficiency of the cities they moved into. Policy Implications: The impact of central environmental inspections on the efficiency of urban green economies varies from time to time and place to place, and it is important to regulate the use of administrative resources and strengthen inter-provincial coordination to promote synergy and cooperation across provincial environmental inspection systems. This paper provides ideas for understanding the logical starting point for the implementation of the central environmental inspection system, and for better promoting the green transformation and high-quality development of regional economies based on national characteristics.
A Vector Inspection Technique for Active Distribution Networks Based on Improved Back-to-Back Converters
Authors: Zhang Weiming , Fan Hui , Ren Jiangbo , Wang Xianzhi , Li Tiecheng , Wang Yibo
Published: January 2023

In this paper, an improved back-to-back converter is proposed, and the converter is used as a test power source for vector inspection of relay protection in an active distribution network, which effectively solves the problem that the output voltage and current of the test power source cannot be continuously and stably adjusted. Firstly, a three-phase back-to-back cascade converter is established to analyze the impedance characteristics of its DC terminal. Then a feedforward voltage is added to the inverter to improve the input impedance characteristics of the inverter. Secondly, the system stability and parameter stability of the improved back-to-back converter are analyzed. Finally, the improved converter is used as the test power source for vector inspection of relay protection in the active distribution network. The simulation results show that the stability of the improved back-to-back converter system is greatly improved. The experiment shows that the vector check technology based on an improved back-to-back converter can effectively check the vector of relay protection in an active distribution network and find various installation problems.
Protective and Educational Effects of Physical Activity Practice on Mental Health in Young Age during COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Gentile Ambra , Alesi Marianna , Caci Barbara
Published: January 2023

Background: The restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic have modified the lifestyle of young people, worsening their mental health. Although some countries were allowed to practice outdoor physical activity (PA) in cases of lockdown, the PA level in the general population decreased. The current study aims to assess the differences in fear of COVID-19, anxiety, neuroticism, and general self-efficacy between university students who practiced PA during the second wave of lockdown and those who did not practice any PA. Methods: The sample consisted of 276 university students (176 females, 63.8%; mean age: 22.13, SD: ±3.94) who answered an online questionnaire detecting life habits (e.g., PA practice) during COVID-19 restrictions, fear of COVID-19, anxiety, neuroticism, and general self-efficacy. In addition, a 2 (gender) × 2 (physical activity) MANCOVA model was used to compare the variables’ differences. Finally, a path analysis model was performed to assess the protective effect of physical activity. Results: The students engaging in PA during lockdown showed lower fear of COVID-19, state and trait anxiety, neuroticism, and higher levels of general self-efficacy. Gender differences concerning fear of COVID-19 and a significant interaction with physical activity emerged: physically active females displayed the highest fear of COVID-19 compared to sedentary females and active males. Gender differences also emerged concerning state and trait anxiety and neuroticism. The path analysis model confirmed a light protective effect of sport/PA practice on mitigating neuroticism and anxiety, which, in turn, affect general self-efficacy. Conclusions: According to the results, it emerged that physical activity could represent a protective and educational factor for male students’ mental health during the COVID-19 restriction and partially for female ones.
The Indonesian Digital Workforce Gaps in 2021–2025
Authors: Gayatri Gati , Jaya I Gede Nyoman Mindra , Rumata Vience Mutiara
Published: January 2023

The development and advancement of information and communication technologies have led to major changes in industry and the labor system in Indonesia. In the context of the digital economy, Indonesia needs to immediately improve digital labor policies based on research results. However, studies on Indonesian digital workforces mostly come from global nonacademic publications, which acknowledge the limitation of the workforces. This study addresses the gaps between the supply and demand of digital workforces in 2021–2025 by conducting a Bayesian analysis on the data from the 2018 Indonesian Statistics Bureau and the 2020 ILO ICT job demand forecast. According to the findings, the supply of digital workforces will outnumber the demand, which is expected to be 600,000 workers per year. This surplus number poses a new challenge for the government if the available workforce lacks the competencies needed in the industry. According to the study, IT system programmer/developer/administrator/system analyst and IT web designer/developer will still be popular job roles during this time. It is suggested that improving these digital skills in the current and future workforces should be a top priority for the government.