bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recycled Waste Materials in Landscape Design for Sustainable Development (Al-Ahsa as a Model)
Authors: Ahmed Hatem Tawfik , Aly Ashraf Mohamed
Published: July 2023

When we think about sustainability, the most common understanding relates to the environment, economy, and social issues. Environmental art is increasingly becoming a medium to address environmental challenges that offer many opportunities when included in the work of sustainable development. The research methodology explores the relevance of art and design projects using recycled or waste materials in landscape park architecture for sustainability, helping to preserve natural resources and protect the environment. Additionally, designing a landscape park in Al-Ahsa Governorate using recycled waste materials will educate society about sustainability via artistic creativity. The applied side, designing a group of artworks, was completed using computer graphic programs and AI systems to improve the visual landscape’s architectural aesthetics through sculpture parks, public sets, etc. The result provides evidence that parks in Al-Ahsa lack artwork, color, and the application of recycled materials in landscape facilities which make a negative contribution to the quality of life of society. Using recycled and waste materials in artwork will contribute to a healthy ecological system and preserve natural resources. Urban landscape designers should consider the addition of parks, land formation, growing plants, artwork, and cheerfully colored furniture with other landscape architecture facilities, which will improve people’s moods and the appearance of cities.
Employee Strengths Mindset and Voice Behavior: The Roles of General Self-Efficacy and Leader–Member Exchange
Authors: Liu Feng , Liu Jun , Ding He
Published: July 2023

The current paper aimed to explore the linkage between employee strengths mindset and voice behavior, and considered the mediating roles of general self-efficacy and leader–member exchange (LMX) in the relationship. We collected data from 556 participants from various Chinese organizations with a multi-wave design. The results of structural equation modelling analysis showed that employee strengths mindset has a positive association with voice behavior, and employee general self-efficacy and LMX, respectively, mediate the relationship between strengths mindset and voice behavior. More importantly, employee general self-efficacy and LMX also simultaneously mediate the relationship between strengths mindset and voice behavior. The current study is the first to investigate the employee strengths mindset–voice behavior linkage, and reveals the cognitive and relational mechanisms underlying the strengths mindset and voice behavior relationship.
Change and Tradeoff/Synergy Analysis of Watershed Ecosystem Services: A Case Study of Qinghai Lake Basin
Authors: Wu Xueqing , Zhang Lele , Gao Liming , Li Yankun , Liu Xuanchen
Published: July 2023

Understanding the tradeoffs/synergies between ecosystems is crucial to effective watershed ecosystem management and sustainable development. In this study, the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) and Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach (CASA) models were utilized to estimate four ecosystem services (ESs), including water conservation capacity, soil retention, habitat quality, and carbon storage services, in Qinghai Lake Basin between 2000 and 2018. Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) and tradeoffs/synergies criterion (TSC) were used to reveal the relationships between the ESs. The results show that the water conservation capacity, soil retention, habitat quality, and carbon storage service in Qinghai Lake Basin all increased between 2000 and 2018. TSC and LISA revealed that carbon storage and habitat quality, habitat quality and water conservation capacity, and carbon storage and soil retention had the same relationship, as did habitat quality and soil retention. In addition, LISA showed that the relationships between ESs are mainly based on high high clusters that concentrate in the middle of the basin. The analysis also revealed obvious spatial heterogeneity. This study aims to compensate the research deficiencies that affected previous studies of the Qinghai Lake Basin and provide a point of reference for the sustainable development of the basin.
Local Governance Support Tools for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Adaptation Strategies: The EU Contribution in the Case Study of the Municipality of Naples
Authors: Perney Marion Eva Pauline , D’Angelo Gigliola
Published: July 2023

Today’s global context poses ongoing challenges that can be addressed by implementing a systemic and strategic approach directed toward climate-resilient cities. During times of energy and digital transition, managing climate risks involves analysing sector-specific impacts and fostering a shared commitment at the national and international levels; in this sense, European programs promote the dissemination of good practices and implementation of projects and tools to improve the resilience of communities to climate challenges. This paper examines the Naples municipality as a case study within the SEACAP 4 SDG capitalization project in the implementation of innovative governance support tools for hazard and climate adaptation, mitigation, and energy rehabilitation to enhance local governance, planning, and design strategies towards a sustainable and low-emission future. Within the creation of a living lab, tools were selected as part of the project, and training sessions were held targeting key stakeholders. The training aimed to form and inform key players about the tools’ potential, leading to their incorporation into the municipality’s strategic action plan for future implementation. This case study has a high repeatability and stands as a starting point for the implementation of this approach in numerous other local municipalities.
Port Wine and Wine Tourism: The Touristic Dimension of Douro’s Landscape
Authors: Quintela Joana A. , Albuquerque Helena , Freitas Isabel
Published: July 2023

Wine tourism is one of the most important products for developing tourism in Portugal. The aim of this paper is to assess the importance of Port Wine for the tourism development of the Douro landscape, using a case study approach based on interviews with several stakeholders, through qualitative research. For this purpose, we selected a sample of respondents composed of the sector stakeholders of Port vineyards. The results allow us to ponder and highlight the importance of the Port Wine culture for the region’s development, as well as to identify the economic, social, and emotional values inherent to those who work in the sector based on an identity connected to the territory. This study focuses mainly on the approach taken to wine tourism, identifying the level of investment made in this area in terms of specialized training for employees, the creation of facilities and procedures suited to the practice of this type of tourism, as well as the values of the territory and wine that should guide the development of wine tourism activities in the Port Wine region. The impacts of COVID-19 on the sector are also analyzed, classifying them into different dimensions.
Traversing the Macroeconomic Terrain: An Exploration of South Korea’s Economic Responsiveness to Cross-Border E-Commerce Production Technology Alterations in the Global Arena
Authors: Li Yao , He Yugang , Wu Renhong
Published: July 2023

The principal aim of this study is to discern the implications of technology shocks in the sphere of cross-border e-commerce on the macroeconomic indices of South Korea. Leveraging Bayesian estimation techniques, we scrutinized quarterly data from the inaugural quarter of 2000 through to the first quarter of 2022 to perform an empirical exploration. Deductions drawn from the impulse response function indicate that a positive perturbation in the technology of sustainable cross-border e-commerce production instigated a swell in output and investment for both non-tradable and cross-border e-commerce goods producers. Conversely, the sector of traditional tradable goods exhibited a decrease in output and investment. Additionally, this favorable technology shock appears to have amplified household consumption and employment, along with wages in the non-tradable and sustainable cross-border e-commerce goods sectors. In stark contrast, the traditional tradable sector demonstrated a decline in household consumption, employment, and wages. Intriguingly, the technology shock also exerted an influence on the pricing system, causing a rise in the prices of non-tradable goods and cross-border e-commerce goods. On the other hand, the prices of traditional tradable goods experienced a downward turn. These insights provide a pathway to an understanding of how advancements in sustainable e-commerce technology can mold an array of macroeconomic factors in a digitally evolved economy such as South Korea.
Regional Agriculture and Social Capital after Massive Natural Disasters: The Case of Miyagi Prefecture after the Great East Japan Earthquake
Authors: Miyama Eriko
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to clarify how local agriculture and social capital in disaster-affected areas were transformed by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 and to identify the factors that influenced the transformation of social capital—especially trust—after the disaster. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the Miyagi prefecture’s disaster-affected areas. Survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis with ordinary least squares; the trust index was used for explained variables and personal-attribute disaster-related variables as explanatory variables. The results indicate that regional agriculture was integrated into agricultural corporations or communal management as individual farmers were unable to recover their disaster-related losses. After the disaster, participation in collaborative efforts to manage community resources decreased, while participation in community activities, such as volunteering, increased. Respondents lost trust in the people around them owing to relocation after the disaster and exposure to crime. Steps necessary to maintain or improve social capital in disaster areas include maintaining public safety in the disaster area, securing sources of income, and providing people with interaction opportunities, such as hobby groups. The findings offer practical applications for post-disaster agricultural resource management in developed countries.
Bridging Local Governments and Residents for Household Waste Source Separation Using a Business-Driven, Multi-Stakeholder Cooperative Partnership Model—A Case Study of HUGE Recycling in Yuhang, Hangzhou, China
Authors: Zhuo Qiannan , Liu Chen , Wang Beiqi , Yan Wanglin
Published: July 2023

Rapid economic development has led to an overwhelming surge in waste generation, demanding urgent and comprehensive waste management solutions, particularly in developing countries. Source separation is a critical and indispensable step in integrated waste management and is featured as a government-led pattern in general. However, its implementation challenges persist in many cities because of complex waste systems and a lack of multi-stakeholder partnerships. Since there is a paucity of empirical research focusing specifically on the recycling business, this study presents a case study of HUGE Recycling, operating in Yuhang District, Hangzhou, China, to explore the effectiveness of a business-driven, multi-stakeholder partnership model in promoting source separation. The paper reveals that the recycling business plays a significant role in bridging the gap between local governments, residents, and the recycling industry and identifies some key factors in the business-driven, multi-stakeholder cooperative partnership model, fulfilling the requirements of multi-stakeholders. This case fosters collaboration between local governments, residents, and the recycling industry, encouraging active participation and alleviating the government’s burden. The findings highlight the potential applicability of the HUGE Recycling Model to waste management in resource-constrained developing countries for better resource management.
Transboundary Collaborative Modeling: Consensual Identification and Ranking of Flood Adaptation Measures—A Case Study in the Mono River Basin, Benin, and Togo
Authors: Almoradie Adrian Delos Santos , Houngue Nina Rholan , Komi Kossi , Adounkpe Julien , Evers Mariele
Published: July 2023

The field of environmental management, specifically flood risk management (FRM), emphasizes participatory decision-making to address diverse issues and conflicting interests among stakeholders. This approach recognizes the complexity of decisions and their long-term impact on sustainability. Collaborative knowledge production is crucial for understanding the system, generating scenarios, and establishing consensus on mitigation and adaptation measures. Transboundary FRM requires an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach, employing suitable tools and methods for assessment and decision-making. In the context of the CLIMAFRI project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), we evaluated the practicality of a participatory Collaborative Modeling framework in the transboundary Lower Mono River (LMR) basin, shared by Togo and Benin. This framework enables holistic understanding, stakeholder engagement, and the identification of appropriate adaptation-mitigation measures based on predefined evaluation criteria and a Multi-Criteria Decision Method. Our study customized and evaluated the framework considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted face-to-face interactions. The study’s results indicate that in both countries, FRM is characterized as being more proactive rather than preventive, meaning the actions taken mainly address a broader range of potential issues and opportunities rather than targeting specific risks to minimize their impact. Moreover, it is crucial to enhance preventive measures and further improve the flood assessment capacity. The information obtained from scenarios involving the Adjarala Dam, land-use, and climate change under RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios for the years 2030, 2050, and 2100 is valuable for decision-making regarding the development and prioritization of adaptation measures. The ranking of the seven measures shows that capacity building is the most preferred, followed by dykes, early warning systems, regulation of land use, insurance, and retention zones. The group ranking of Togo and Benin highlights differences in their perceptions and interests, where Togo leans towards soft measures, while Benin prefers hard (physical) measures.
Effectiveness of Polyvinylidene Fluoride Fibers (PVDF) in the Diffusion and Adsorption Processes of Atrazine in a Sandy Soil
Authors: de Deus Vieira Gabriella Melo , da Costa Lemos Moisés Antônio , Cavalcante André Luís Brasil , Dal Toé Casagrande Michéle
Published: July 2023

Sustainable solutions are increasingly being sought in the containment and remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater, and the use of fibers is promising. In this context, polyvinylidene fluoride fibers (PVDF) have potential applications in various fields due to their mechanical and hydraulic properties, highlighting the sorption capacity due to their hydrophobic nature and large surface area. This study aimed to evaluate the sorption capacity, adsorption, and diffusion of atrazine by PVDF fibers with a concentration of 555.63 ppm in diffusion cells containing sandy soil and a composite of the fibers in blanket format at different contents (2% and 4%) relative to the dry mass of the soil. The diffusion and determination coefficients for each cell were calculated using Wolfram Mathematica software by means of a 3D model (Space × Time × cw/c0). The absorption results showed a mass gain, with and without prior drying of the fibers, of 70% and 60%, respectively, while the adapted adsorption tests showed retained amounts of atrazine of 0%, 11.4%, and 21.8%, respectively, for the samples without fiber, with 1.5 g of fiber, and with 4 g of fiber. And finally, the diffusion coefficients resulted in 6.25 × 10−13 m2/s, 6.03 × 10−13 m2/s, and 3.64 × 10−13 m2/s, respectively, for the sample without fibers, with 1.5% fiber, and with 4% fiber. This suggests that the use of PVDF fibers may be a viable solution for the containment of contaminated soil and groundwater.
Integrating Circular Economy Principles in Modular Construction to Enhance Sustainability
Authors: Garusinghe Garusinghe Dewa Ayesha Udari , Perera Balasooriya Arachchige Kanchana Shiromi , Weerapperuma Umesha Sasanthi
Published: July 2023

Modular construction (MC) has gained attention due to its potential for fast construction, reduced construction waste, and lower environmental impact while having several other issues on stimulating sustainability. The circular economy (CE) focuses on better resource management through a closed-loop system. Even though MC enhances sustainable practice, several pitfalls barricade sustainability in MC (high initial investment, design consideration, and technology challenges). Nevertheless, the synergy between CE and MC has not been investigated in past studies to address the issues in MC to achieve sustainability. This study investigates the integration of CE principles in MC to enhance sustainability. This study used a qualitative approach via the Delphi technique by conducting three semi-structured expert interview rounds with the use of a purposive sampling method. The collected data were analysed using manual content analysis. This study identified nine notable issues in MC to achieve sustainability, and all CE 9-R (rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, recycle, and recover) principles could address those identified issues. Accordingly, thirty implementation strategies were recognised to fill the gap between the problems in MC and the potential of CE principles to solve the issues. The results provide insights for construction practitioners, policymakers, and researchers on integrating CE principles into MC processes to achieve sustainability goals. Ultimately, this study highlights the significance of a holistic approach by theoretically combining MC and CE principles as a benchmark for future studies. As a contribution, CE strives to make the planet a safe place to live by combatting resource depletion.
An Efficient White Shark Optimizer for Enhancing the Performance of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Authors: Fathy Ahmed , Alanazi Abdulmohsen
Published: July 2023

This study investigates the substantial contribution of the recent numerical optimization technique known as the White Shark Optimizer (WSO) to evaluate the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) design parameters that play a considerable role in boosting its effectiveness. A numerical code was developed and implemented via MATLAB software to achieve the research goal. The proposed WSO was employed to identify the unknown parameters of the PEMFC equivalent circuit, considering experimental data. The analyzed objective function was the root mean squared error (RMSE) between the measured and estimated fuel cell terminal voltages. Additionally, the proposed WSO was compared with other intelligent approaches such as the salp swarm algorithm (SSA), Harris hawks optimization (HHO), atom search optimization (ASO), dung beetle optimization algorithm (DBOA), stochastic paint optimizer (SPO), and comprehensive learning Archimedes optimization algorithm (HCLAOA). The numerical simulations revealed that the RMSE values varied between lower and higher values of 0.009095329 and 0.028663611, respectively. Additionally, the results indicated that the mean fitness value recorded in the considered PEMFC 250 W stack was 0.020057775. Moreover, the minimum fitness value was obtained using the proposed WSO, with an operating temperature of 353.15 K and working anode and cathode pressures are 3 bar and 5 bar, respectively. The proposed WSO offered the best results in terms of absolute errors compared to the other optimizers, confirming the robustness of the results in all considered cases.
Short-Term Multi-Step Wind Direction Prediction Based on OVMD Quadratic Decomposition and LSTM
Authors: Liu Banteng , Xie Yangqing , Wang Ke , Yu Lizhe , Zhou Ying , Lv Xiaowen
Published: July 2023

Accurate and reliable wind direction prediction is important not only for enhancing the efficiency of wind power conversion and ensuring safe operation, but also for promoting sustainable development. Wind direction forecasting is a challenging task due to the random, intermittent and unstable nature of wind direction. This paper proposes a short-term wind direction prediction model based on quadratic decomposition and long short-term memory (LSTM) to improve the accuracy and efficiency of wind direction prediction. Firstly, the model adopts a seasonal-trend decomposition procedure based on the loess (STL) method to divide the wind direction series into three subsequences: trend, seasonality and the remainder, which reduces the impact of the original sequence’s complexity and non-stationarity on the prediction performance. Then, the remainder subsequence is decomposed by the optimal variational mode decomposition (OVMD) method to further explore the potential characteristics of the wind direction sequence. Next, all the subsequences are separately input into the LSTM model, and the prediction results of each subsequence from the model are superimposed to obtain the predicted value. The practical wind direction data from a wind farm were used to evaluate the model. The experimental results indicate that the proposed model has superior performance in the accuracy and stability of wind direction prediction, which also provides support for the efficient operation of wind turbines. By developing advanced wind prediction technologies and methods, we can not only enhance the efficiency of wind power conversion, but also ensure a sustainable and reliable supply of renewable energy.
The Spatial Interface of Informal Settlements to Women’s Safety: A Human-Scale Measurement for the Largest Urban Village in Changsha, Hunan Province, China
Authors: Zhang Ni , Zhu Li , Li Jiang , Sun Yilin , Wang Xiaokang , Wu Honglin
Published: July 2023

Building sustainable communities is always related to the occupants’ physical and psychological safety, environmental security and human settlements inclusivity, etc. The interfaces of Chinese urban villages have shown features that are irregular and chaotic, which led to potential safety hazards for women. This study revealed the blind spot of how environmental interfaces affect women’s safety and proposed interface micro-renewal strategies that would have sustainable positive impacts on the safety of vulnerable populations in the future. Taking the largest urban village in Changsha as a case study, a total of 764 samples were collected from human-scale surveys and interviews; t-tests and various regression models were adopted to explore the correlation of nine interface variables on their safety perception. Multiple equations were constructed through ANOVA analysis and the machine learning model (ROC). The results show that interfaces have a strong association with women’s perceived safety compared to men, especially women aged 41–55 who were not engaged and had manual work at night. The safety ranking of variables follows the penetrability > proximity > scale, but it shows differences in terms of work type and age. This study would provide the necessary research to complement a sustainable urban transition and gender equality in the informal settlements of the Global South.
Development and Validation of the Decent Work for Inclusive and Sustainable Future Construction Scale in Italy
Authors: Zammitti Andrea , Valbusa Isabella , Santilli Sara , Ginevra Maria Cristina , Soresi Salvatore , Nota Laura
Published: July 2023

Although different assessment instruments have been developed to assess decent work, there is a need for a new instrument that takes into consideration the importance of decent work in achieving sustainable development. This article reports the development and psychometric requisites of the Decent Work for Inclusive and Sustainable Future Construction Scale, that is, a parsimonious measure regarding the perception of decent work for an inclusive and sustainable career construction. Overall, the research involved 1626 Italian adults, 740 men (45.5%) and 886 women (54.5%), aged between 16 and 76 years (M = 26.17; SD = 9.42), that were randomly involved in 1 of the 5 studies. Study 1 developed the scale and found the unidimensional structure of the scale via exploratory factor analysis (EFA). In Study 2, we confirmed the unidimensional structure of the six items based on confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Study 3 examined the concurrent validity of the scale, finding positive correlations with meaningful work and life satisfaction. With Study 4, we provided measurement invariance across gender. Finally, Study 5 tested a model in which the tendency toward a social and equitable socio-economic view in career activities predicted decent work through career curiosity. Results provided strong psychometric support for Decent Work for Inclusive and Sustainable Future Construction Scale as a valid unidimensional instrument that, compared to the already existing scales, proposes the evaluation of decent work from a broad perspective that also looks at inclusion and sustainability.
Comprehensive Evaluation of the Efficient and Safe Utilization of Two Varieties of Winter Rapeseed Grown on Cadmium- and Lead-Contaminated Farmland under Atmospheric Deposition
Authors: He Mengke , Yang Junxing , Zheng Guodi , Guo Junmei , Ma Chuang
Published: July 2023

To determine the feasibility of planting rapeseed to safely utilize heavy metals (HMs)-contaminated farmlands surrounding working smelters under atmospheric deposition, a field trial was conducted to analyze the yields, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) concentrations, health risks, and economic benefits of 15 rapeseed cultivars (13 Brassica napus L. and two Brassica campestris L.) in Jiyuan City, Henan Province, China. The results show that the seeds’ Cd concentration was 0.12–0.64 mg·kg−1 and the seeds’ Pb concentration was higher than Cd at 0.49–1.22 mg·kg−1. The Cd bioconcentration factor of B. campestris (0.702–0.822) was higher than that of B. napus (0.246–0.502). Additionally, Cd and Pb transfer factors from the stems to the pods and seeds were 0.34–1.20 and 0.54–4.53, respectively. Combined with a comprehensive analysis of the annual deposition data of Cd and Pb, 16.40 and 345.79 kg·hm−2, respectively, HMs in the seeds were not only derived from those in the soil, but were also derived from the atmosphere. Furthermore, the Cd and Pb levels in rapeseed oil, meal, and straw met the requirements stipulated in the standards for food safety, feeds hygiene, and organic fertilizer in China. Rapeseed–maize rotation yielded a profit of 15,550 CNY·a−1·hm−2, thereby increasing the economic output by 133.8%. A cluster analysis revealed that B. campestris SYH and ZS100 and B. napus ZY-821 showed the greatest comprehensive benefits. In conclusion, rapeseed cultivation is a viable and extendable approach that can achieve the safe utilization of typical HMs-contaminated farmland caused by atmospheric deposition in Northern China.
Correlation between the Experimental and Theoretical Photoelectrochemical Response of a WO3 Electrode for Efficient Water Splitting through the Implementation of an Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Diaby Mamy , Alimi Asma , Bardaoui Afrah , Santos Diogo M. F. , Chtourou Radhaoune , Ben Assaker Ibtissem
Published: July 2023

Since the discovery of photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting with titanium dioxide electrodes in the presence of ultraviolet light, much work has been conducted to build an effective PEC water splitting system and develop novel photoelectrodes. Using a facile and controllable electrodeposition method, a thin tungsten trioxide (WO3) film electrode onto a stainless steel (SS) substrate was synthetized. The effect of the deposition time on the structural, morphological, optical, and electrical properties of the as-grown WO3 thin films was assessed. XRD spectra of the obtained films reveal the polycrystalline nature of WO3 with a triclinic phase and exhibit a sharp transition to the (002) plane when the deposition time was extended beyond 10 min. The surface morphology showed a remarkable change in the grain size, thickness, and surface roughness when varying the deposition time. UV–Vis spectrophotometry revealed that the optical band gap values of WO3 decreased from 1.78 to 1.36 eV by extending the electrodeposition duration from 10 to 30 min, respectively. Notably, as indicated from the PEC measurements, the obtained photoelectrode exhibited the effects of the deposition time on the photocurrent density, and the maximum value obtained was around 0.07 mA cm−2 for the sample deposited at 10 min. Finally, this study presents for the first time an artificial neural network model to predict the PEC behavior of the prepared photoanode, with a highly satisfactory performance of less than 0.05% error. The low cost and simply synthetized WO3/SS electrode with superior electrochemical performance and the excellent correlation between the experimental and theoretical results demonstrate its potential for practical application in water splitting and hydrogen production.
Enhancing R&D Performance Management: A Case of R&D Projects in South Korea
Authors: Lee Kiwon , Lee Suchul
Published: July 2023

This study introduces a comprehensive system designed to monitor and manage the performance of research and development (R&D) projects. The proposed system offers project managers a systematic methodology to enhance the efficiency of R&D performance management. To achieve this, the system categorizes R&D performance indicators based on their feasibility of measurement and the frequency of output generated during R&D activities. The progress rate of each indicator is then represented in terms of observable and latent progress, considering the unique characteristics of each indicator. The calculation methods vary depending on the classification of the indicator. Additionally, a progress priority matrix is developed to aid decision-making by evaluating the current progress and rate of progress increment of the indicators. This matrix enables project managers to prioritize tasks effectively. To assess the validity and usefulness of the proposed system, it is applied to a real case of large-scale R&D projects conducted at a Korean research institute. Interviews with project managers validate that the proposed system surpasses the effectiveness of the legacy system in monitoring R&D progress. Through its comprehensive framework and practical application, this study contributes to the enhancement of R&D project performance monitoring, providing valuable insights for project managers seeking to optimize their R&D management processes.
Energy Saving and Emission Reduction Potential Evaluation of a Coal Mine Based on Fuzzy Hierarchical Analysis
Authors: Xu Fenfang , Hu Ruili , Zhang Minbo , Zhang Weizhong , Kang Qinrong , Du Mengzhen
Published: July 2023

Due to the non-renewability of coal resources and the effect of excessive resource loss on the economic development of enterprises forming a constraint, breakthroughs in high energy consumption to achieve energy saving and emission reduction in coal mines represent an important way to promote the development of coal enterprises. This paper takes the energy-saving work of the Wuyang coal mine, which is very representative of China’s Shanxi Province, as an example, and uses hierarchical analysis to establish an assessment system for energy conservation and emission reduction in coal mines. We adopted on-site research, expert scoring, and project guidance to divide the factors affecting energy conservation and emission reduction in the Wuyang coal mine into 24 categories, and we then used fuzzy mathematical calculations to assess potential, which is of better practicability. The study shows that the grade of energy saving and emission reduction in the Wuyang coal mine is of a medium level, and the potential of energy saving and emission reduction is large. The main influencing factors are improving the recovery rate of refined coal, renovating pressurized filters, eliminating high-energy-consuming equipment, optimizing the parking process, replacing the flotation machine, and ensuring the intelligent management of power metering. According to the relevant factors derived from the energy-saving and emission reduction work at the Wuyang coal mine for implementing the relevant measures, we provide a reference for the work of energy saving and emission reduction in mines in order to promote the sustainable development of the coal mining industry.
Impact of Biomass Moisture Content on the Physical Properties of Briquettes Produced from Recycled Ficus nitida Pruning Residuals
Authors: Abdel Aal Ahmed M. K. , Ibrahim Omer H. M. , Al-Farga Ammar , El Saeidy Ehab A.
Published: July 2023

Despite its vital importance for life and societal development, energy is a source of conflict and war in many places worldwide. It is also a source of pollution and harmful natural phenomena that affect human life and the environment. These factors have led scientists to consider alternative clean, cheap, and eco-friendly renewable energies. Examples include briquettes consisting of compressed agricultural waste, such as pruning residuals. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of briquettes derived from the pruning residuals of Ficus nitida trees. The results indicate that moisture content was the main factor affecting the physical properties of the produced briquettes. The ideal moisture content for producing high-quality briquettes was 8%. With this moisture content, the briquette durability was 96.9%, the bulk density was approximately 0.18 g·cm3, the compressive strength was 18.5 MPa, and its calorific value was 3250.7 Kcal/kg (17.38 MJ/kg). In conclusion, our research confirms the high quality of briquettes made from the pruning residuals of F. nitida and their promising potential as an energy source.
Priorities in Croatian School Building Maintenance: A Comparison of the Main Stakeholders’ Views
Authors: Tijanić Štrok Ksenija , Car-Pušić Diana , Marenjak Saša
Published: July 2023

This paper aims to examine the opinions of the main recognized stakeholders in the maintenance of school buildings (i.e., the construction experts within the founders’ organization, the school staff, and the students), compare their views on the maintenance priorities, and identify certain differences. These data provide information about user needs, can help school founders make maintenance decisions, and are the basis for developing a new, balanced system of maintenance priorities. In the research, the survey questionnaire method was used to collect the data, whereby three groups of stakeholders evaluated the priority of eliminating certain defects in school buildings on a 5-point scale. For the purposes of the questionnaire, a model of 32 defects of the school buildings was created. In the questionnaire, 76 experts, 338 school staff, and 297 students participated. The research is limited to the Republic of Croatia. By conducting non-parametric statistical tests (Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney), it was shown that there were statistically significant differences in the stakeholders’ attitudes towards most maintenance priorities. There were also defects where statistically significant differences were not recognized, namely, regarding faulty lighting fixtures, faulty toilets, faulty sinks, faulty space cooling systems, faulty space heating systems, and faulty hot water heating systems. According to the experts, it is most urgent to remove faulty electrical installations, while according to the school staff, the highest priority is faulty sewage installations. The students believe that the priority is faulty toilets. The lowest priority is removing damage to the external environment (experts) and the facade (school staff and students).
Characteristics of Land-Use Carbon Emissions and Carbon Balance Zoning in the Economic Belt on the Northern Slope of Tianshan
Authors: Abbas Gulmira , Kasimu Alimujiang
Published: July 2023

How to identify variables for carbon reductions was considered as one of the most important research topics in related academic fields. In this study, the characteristics of landuse carbon emissions of the economic belt on the northern slope of Tianshan (NST) were tentatively investigated. Taking 12 cities in NST as the case study, land use carbon emissions and carbon intensities were estimated and analyzed based on the Landsat remote sensing image and socio-economic statistical data in 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. Moreover, Moran’s I model was applied to study spatial autocorrelation between carbon emissions and carbon intensities. Results show that (1) urban land and cropland were increased rapidly during the past three decades; (2) carbon emissions were increasing significantly, and the urban land was responsible for the majority of the carbon emission; (3) negative spatial correlations on both net carbon emissions and carbon intensities were obtained between 12 cities; and (4) based on carbon balance zoning analysis, NST could be divided into four different zones. The rising ratio of carbon emissions and intensities was significantly higher than urbanization expending speed. Results could provide references and useful insights into related arrangements of policies and attempts on carbon reduction for cities in NST.
Thermal Comfort Improvement Strategies for Outdoor Spaces in Traditional Villages Based on ENVI-Met: Shimengao Village in Chizhou City
Authors: Xiao Tieqiao , Sheng Lanlan , Zhang Shaojie , Zheng Licheng , Shui Taotao
Published: July 2023

The thermal comfort of outdoor spaces in traditional villages must be improved because high building density combined with complex and narrow spaces leads to a poor thermal environment. In traditional villages, outdoor spaces are the most frequently used places by local residents and tourists. In this study, the Shimengao Village in Tangxi Town, Chizhou City, a typical mountainous area in the southern Anhui Province, was selected as the research object, and Depthmap software was used to identify the most frequently used outdoor spaces. The spatial layout and three different outdoor spaces of the traditional village were measured and validated using ENVI-met software. In addition, the distribution of thermal comfort in the core area of the village and influencing factors were analyzed. Our results demonstrated that during summer, PET reached its highest value at 15:00, exhibiting a poor thermal environment in the core area of traditional village integration. From 15:00 to 21:00, PET values declined, resulting in improved thermal comfort levels. Open spaces had better thermal comfort ratings throughout the day. The thermal comfort distribution of three different types of outdoor space in traditional villages was also analyzed. The courtyard space had the worst thermal comfort, followed by the street space, whereas the square space had the best thermal comfort environment. This was correlated with the spatial layout of traditional villages, external facilities of buildings, microlandscapes (plants, water availability, etc.), and outdoor ground materials. Hence, we propose that optimizing the overall spatial layout of a traditional village, increasing the external facilities of buildings, creating “micro landscapes,” and optimizing the materials of outdoor spaces are important for improving the thermal comfort of the outdoor spaces of traditional villages.
Neighborhood Identity Formation and the Changes in an Urban Regeneration Neighborhood in Gwangju, Korea
Authors: Yun Hae Young , Kwon Hyun-ah
Published: July 2023

Since the Urban Regeneration Act in 2013, central and local Korean governments have endeavored to regenerate deprived urban neighborhoods. This study analyzed how these efforts have changed the nature of neighborhood identity in Yanglim, Gwangju, Korea. The authors analyzed 62,386 Naver blog posts from 2013 to 2022, utilizing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) technique, Topic Modeling (i.e., Latent Dirichlet Allocation). Using trend analysis by topic, three phases were identified: (1) Phase 1: Flourishment (January 2013 to October 2016); (2) Phase 2: Maturation (November 2016 to February 2020); and (3) Phase 3: COVID-19 (March 2020 to October 2022). In the first phase, the collective actions between the local government and citizens to improve the declined neighborhood formed the Yanglim area’s reputation as the “History and Cultural Village” and as “Penguin Village”. The unique identity of the area in the second phase, along with gentrification issues, created a hot spot (e.g., cafés and restaurants), drawing the attention of tourists and locals. More recently, the Yanglim area has become a place for locals’ daily activities with their loved ones, as tourist traffic greatly dropped off due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Until now, the Yanglim area has experienced a process of successful urban regeneration from flourishment to degentrification. AI techniques represent a novel application that can support policy makers and stakeholders in understanding citizens and taking further actions to create economically and socially sustainable neighborhoods.
Numerical and Machine Learning Approach for Fe3O4-Au/Blood Hybrid Nanofluid Flow in a Melting/Non-Melting Heat Transfer Surface with Entropy Generation
Authors: Jakeer Shaik , Easwaramoorthy Sathishkumar Veerappampalayam , Reddy Seethi Reddy Reddisekhar , Basha Hayath Thameem
Published: July 2023

The physiological system loses thermal energy to nearby cells via the bloodstream. Such energy loss can result in sudden death, severe hypothermia, anemia, high or low blood pressure, and heart surgery. Gold and iron oxide nanoparticles are significant in cancer treatment. Thus, there is a growing interest among biomedical engineers and clinicians in the study of entropy production as a means of quantifying energy dissipation in biological systems. The present study provides a novel implementation of an intelligent numerical computing solver based on an MLP feed-forward backpropagation ANN with the Levenberg–Marquard algorithm to interpret the Cattaneo–Christov heat flux model and demonstrate the effect of entropy production and melting heat transfer on the ferrohydrodynamic flow of the Fe3O4-Au/blood Powell–Eyring hybrid nanofluid. Similarity transformation studies symmetry and simplifies PDEs to ODEs. The MATLAB program bvp4c is used to solve the nonlinear coupled ordinary differential equations. Graphs illustrate the impact of a wide range of physical factors on variables, including velocity, temperature, entropy generation, local skin friction coefficient, and heat transfer rate. The artificial neural network model engages in a process of data selection, network construction, training, and evaluation through the use of mean square error. The ferromagnetic parameter, porosity parameter, distance from origin to magnetic dipole, inertia coefficient, dimensionless Curie temperature ratio, fluid parameters, Eckert number, thermal radiation, heat source, thermal relaxation parameter, and latent heat of the fluid parameter are taken as input data, and the skin friction coefficient and heat transfer rate are taken as output data. A total of sixty data collections were used for the purpose of testing, certifying, and training the ANN model. From the results, it is found that the fluid temperature declines when the thermal relaxation parameter is improved. The latent heat of the fluid parameter impacts the entropy generation and Bejan number. There is a less significant impact on the heat transfer rate of the hybrid nanofluid over the sheet on the melting heat transfer parameter.
Investigation of the Optical Spectra of Barium-Zinc (Aluminum) Fluoroborates and Barium-Zinc Fluorocarbonate from First Principles
Authors: Zhuravlev Yurii N. , Atuchin Victor V.
Published: July 2023

The Raman scattering, infrared absorption, and reflection spectra of hexagonal non-centrosymmetric BaZnBO3F and BaAlBO3F2 and centrosymmetric BaZn3BO3F2 and BaZnCO3F2 are calculated using the standard procedures of the CRYSTAL package with the basis of localized orbitals and the B3LYP hybrid functional within the framework of the Hartree-Fock conjugate perturbation method. It is shown that the layered structure of crystals manifests itself in the spectra of vibrational modes polarized along and perpendicular to the c axis with wavenumbers for the lattice region formed by displacements of atoms in [BaF]∞ and [MAO3]∞ (M: Zn, Al; A: B, C) layers, for molecular deformation outside and in the plane of anions BO3 and CO3. The quantitative and qualitative composition of the spectra is determined by the symmetry of the crystal lattice.
Applicability of Technology Maturity Level Evaluation Methodologies within Small- and Medium-Sized Organizations: Prospects and Proposals
Authors: Rodríguez López Nuria , Alvarez Cabal José Valeriano , Cuiñas Marcos Cueto , Ortega Fernndez Francisco
Published: July 2023

Most industrial companies (e.g., SMEs or start-ups) have very limited assets (time, human, and financial efforts, etc.) for the development of their R&D projects. To be competitive, these organizations must carefully evaluate the feasibility of their R&D projects and select the one that best suits their business priorities and their needs. Introducing new technologies can provide a significant competitive advantage, but it also involves risk. Moreover, in accessing public funding, the maturity level of a technology is one of the factors to be considered in terms of access to specific calls for proposals. In recent times, one of the most common measures to assess the maturity of a technology is based on the concept of “technology readiness level” (TRL), which allows the classification of the technology according to its maturity (research, development, or market readiness of the solution). But it has some drawbacks related to the SMEs’ lack of specialized resources and the subjectivity of the current assessing methods. Determining the TRL of a given technology in an objective way, based on indicators, would be of great help for the formulation of R&D projects. This paper considers whether it is possible to use existing methodologies for the determination of the TRL from indicators in organizations with limited access to bibliographic resources. Based on the state-of-the-art, modifications of the methodologies will be proposed to make them applicable to organizations with fewer resources. The outcome of this study will form the basis of a novel approach to achieve a more appropriate methodology for these organizations.