bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Priority Conservation Area of Quercus mongolica Under Climate Change: Application of an Ensemble Modeling
Authors: Liu Lei , Li Fengzi , Hai Long , Sa Rula , Gao Minglong , Wang Zirui , Tie Niu
Published: November 2024

As the primary secondary tree species in Northeast China, Quercus mongolica possesses significant ecological and economic value. This study employed the Biomod2 platform in conjunction with ArcGIS spatial analysis to assess the potential suitable habitat distribution area of Q. mongolica under current climatic conditions. Furthermore, it forecasted the distribution range and niche changes of potentially suitable habitats for Q. mongolica from 2022 to 2090 and pinpointed the key environmental factors influencing its distribution. The findings reveal that the total potential suitable area for Q. mongolica covers 74,994.792 km2, predominantly spread across Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and other regions. The primary determinants of suitable area distribution were peak temperature of hottest month, lowest temperature of coldest month, and altitude. Under future climate scenarios, the potentially suitable habitats of Q. mongolica are anticipated to diminish to varying extents, with the distribution center exhibiting a tendency towards northward migration. Concurrently, the overlap among different climate scenarios is predicted to expand over time. This investigation facilitates a comprehensive understanding of Q. mongolica’s adaptation to climate change, enabling informed adjustments and serving as a valuable reference for the preservation and sustainable management of Q. mongolica populations.
Carbon Footprint Accounting and Verification of Seven Major Urban Agglomerations in China Based on Dynamic Emission Factor Model
Authors: Wang Lingling , Dai Shufen
Published: November 2024

Amidst the prevailing trends in environmental conservation and the imperatives of energy conservation and emission reduction, the precision in assessing and forecasting carbon emissions has acquired heightened significance. The conventional emission factors, typically derived from historical data and empirical knowledge, often remain unchanged and fail to swiftly account for the reductions in emissions that are a consequence of technological advancements and green innovations. (1) This paper establishes a dynamic emission factor model, then uses city data and provincial data to verify the model, and compares the research results of other relevant researchers. The research results show that this method not only considers the different characteristics of energy types, but also considers regional differences and industry characteristics, making the emission factor more suitable for the actual situation. The results show that the method takes into account not only the different characteristics of energy types, but also regional differences and industry characteristics, making the emission factor more suitable for the actual situation. (2) This paper systematically compares the diverse methods for calculating the carbon footprints of Chinese provinces and cities. It encompasses a spectrum of methods, including carbon footprint accounting based on emission factors, accounting based on dynamically adjusted emission factors, and accounting from the perspective of carbon sinks. Each of these methods possesses its own set of applicable scenarios and inherent limitations. The emission factor method is apt for basic carbon emission accounting, while the adjusted emission factor method is tailored for scenarios where the evolution of technology and shifts in energy paradigms are pivotal. Concurrently, the carbon sink accounting framework is optimally suited for the evaluation of the carbon footprint within the realm of natural ecosystems.
A Study on the Rational Decision-Making Process of Vessel Organization—Focusing on Cases of Vessel Accidents
Authors: Kim Yunjae , Lee Dohyung
Published: November 2024

Vessel organizations are exposed to the risk of accidents due to the limited experience and intuition of the top decision makers in the organization in the special environment of the sea. This study aims to provide a direction for sustainable and rational decision-making in vessel organization through decision making process theory and case studies of actual vessel accidents. The results obtained from the actual case studies show that all three vessel accidents were caused by the arbitrary decision of the decision maker based on the Garbage Can model. This can be attributed to the closed nature of the vessel’s organization, which requires a decision-making process that is a hybrid of the Carnegie Decision model and Management Science model. Implications include the introduction of a ‘My Ship’ system, the de-subjectivization of top decision makers, situational awareness, and the need to provide top decision makers with the context and information relevant to their decisions. Limitations of this study include the fact that the case study was conducted only on Korean-flagged vessels and the study was limited to vessel accidents that occurred in the waters off Korea, China, and Japan, which limits the generalizability of the findings. In order to overcome these limitations, it would be interesting to conduct a follow-up study to include vessel accidents of different nationalities or to further investigate the characteristics of the decision-making process in vessel accidents by country.
Sustainable Cropping Sequences to Improve Soil Fertility and Microbiological Properties
Authors: Ankit  , Prakash Dhram , Sheoran Sunita , Yadav Parmod Kumar , Raj Dev , Rachna  , Gupta Rajeev Kumar , El-Hendawy Salah , Mattar Mohamed A.
Published: November 2024

Different cropping systems and nutrient management techniques impact the microbiological characteristics of soil and nutrient availability for plants. This study assessed four cropping systems—rice–wheat, cotton–wheat, pearl millet–wheat, and pearl millet–mustard in Hisar district, Haryana, using 80 soil samples (20 from each system) collected in April 2022 after the Rabi crop harvest. The cotton–wheat system had the highest accessible nitrogen (N) at 155.9 kg ha−1, while both the cotton–wheat (59.3 kg ha−1) and rice–wheat (54.0 kg ha−1) systems had higher available sulfur (S) levels compared to pearl millet–wheat (41.2 kg ha−1). Pearl millet–wheat also showed 12.4% higher potassium (K) levels than rice–wheat. The rice–wheat system exhibited the highest phosphorus (P) concentration at 54.3 kg ha−1 and greater DTPA-extractable micronutrients. Soils from the rice–wheat system had higher DTPA-extractable micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu) and superior microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN, 54.7 mg kg−1), urease (37.9 µg NH4+-N g−1 h−1), and alkaline phosphatase activity (APA, 269.7 µg PNP g−1 h−1) compared to other systems. Canonical discriminant functions explained 88.1% of the variability among cropping systems, while principal component analysis identified available P, DTPA-extractable Zn, and Cu as key soil quality indicators, accounting for 66.9% of the variance. These insights can inform policymakers on promoting effective cropping systems and sustainable soil health in northwestern India.
Has Trade Liberalization Promoted Energy Efficiency in Enterprises?
Authors: Liu Xinxing , Liu Xinheng , Li Lei , Xu Rong , Ban Qi , Xu Rui
Published: November 2024

Improving energy efficiency is a way for China’s economy to achieve sustainable development. Using data on listed industrial enterprises in China from 2000 to 2022, we investigate the impact of trade liberalization on the energy efficiency of Chinese firms and its mechanism of action at the micro-firm level. Our findings suggest that trade liberalization has greatly contributed to firms’ energy efficiency and the main conclusions in this paper still hold after a series of robustness tests. Further research shows that two channels that contribute to the improvement of firms’ energy efficiency are the expansion of the firm’s size and the improvement of production efficiency induced by trade liberalization. Another significant route according to which trade liberalization influences energy efficiency improvements by firms is the dynamic decomposition of industrial energy efficiency, which shows that 70.07% of industrial energy efficiency enhancement is due to structural adjustments. The heterogeneity analysis results show that the energy saving impact of trade liberalization is stronger for non-exporting, foreign-funded, growth-oriented enterprises that are based in the eastern region. Our study presents new ideas for the realization of energy conservation and emissions reduction from the perspective of trade liberalization, which is instructive in regard to the improvement of sustainable development of enterprises.
Decision-Making Approach for Land Use in Urban Industrial Area Redevelopment Projects
Authors: Danilina Nina , Korobeinikova Anna , Teplova Irina
Published: November 2024

The process of industrial transformation, becoming the most important for building up sustainable cities, is in urgent need for studying alternative options for land use to ensure sustainable city development. Rapid urbanization requires new built-up design in strong correlation with urban spatial planning issues. The objective of this paper is to contribute for the studies of sustainable land use solutions through investigating the problems of the reorganization of depressed industrial areas. The research methodology is based on the multicriteria decision-making method to provide primarily social functions of depressed industrial areas, depending on environmental and economic aspects of their historical location in urban structure. Since the article highlights the concept of the 15-min city to build a polycentric urban spatial structure, the assessment of supply and demand matching of social facilities is based on the analysis of 15 min accessibility to the serviced within either industrial zone and the city on the whole. The GIS spatial analysis method supports the developed criteria set to evaluate main city functions. The research provides the methodology for defining the priority land use solution for a specific industrial area in a specific location. The proposed methodology suggests a procedure for evaluating the importance of the land use composition for the city community, considering environmental requirements and cost-effectiveness of the project. Three different industrial zones located in the same city are a case study to asses the reliability of the proposed methodology. The research conclusion provides implementing sustainable land-use solutions for improving urban environment quality as well as the quality of life for the population.
Has There Been a Recent Warming Slowdown over North China?
Authors: Zhang Man , Zhang Chengguo , Xiao Dengpan , Chen Yaning , Zhang Qingxi
Published: November 2024

The warming slowdown observed between 1998 and 2012 has raised concerns in recent years. To examine the temporal and spatial variations in annual mean temperature (Tmp) as well as 12 extreme temperature indices (ETIs), and to assess the presence of a warming slowdown in North China (NC), we analyzed homogenized daily observational datasets from 79 meteorological stations spanning 1960 to 2020. Additionally, we investigated the influences of 78 atmospheric circulation indices (ACIs) on ETIs during the period of warming slowdown. To compare temperature changes, the study area was divided into three parts based on topographic conditions: Areas I, II, and III. The results revealed significant warming trends in Tmp and the 12 ETIs from 1960 to 2020. Comparing the time frames of 1960–1998, 2012–2020, and 1998–2012, both Tmp and the 12 ETIs displayed a cooling trend in the latter period, confirming the existence of a warming slowdown in NC. Notably, indices derived from daily maximum temperature exhibited higher cooling rates during 1998–2012, with winter contributing most significantly to the cooling trend among the four seasons. The most pronounced warming slowdown was observed in Area I, followed by Area III and Area II. Furthermore, our attribution analysis of ACIs concerning the temperature change indicated that the Asia Polar Vortex Area Index may have had the greatest influence on ETIs from 1960 to 2016. Moreover, the weakening of the Tibet Plateau Index Band and the Asian Latitudinal Circulation Index, and the strengthening of the Eurasian Latitudinal Circulation Index, were closely associated with ETIs during the warming slowdown period in NC. Through this research, we aim to deepen our understanding of climate change in NC and offer a valuable reference for the sustainable development of its natural ecology and social economy.
Web-GIS Application for Hydrogeological Risk Prevention: The Case Study of Cervo Valley
Authors: Aschieri Davide Lorenzo Dino , Sobrino Noemi , Macii Enrico
Published: November 2024

Natural disasters have increasingly threatened human life, infrastructure, and ecosystems, exacerbated by climate change, urbanization, and deforestation. Effective disaster risk management is crucial to mitigate these impacts. Traditionally, Geographic Information Systems (GISs) have provided spatial data analysis capabilities, but the advent of Web-GIS applications has revolutionized this field. Web-GIS platforms enable real-time data access and facilitate enhanced stakeholder collaboration. This paper details the development of a Web-GIS application tailored for hydrogeological risk management in Cervo Valley, part of the NODES—Nord Ovest Digitale e Sostenibile project under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The application integrates both static and dynamic geospatial data to create an interactive interface for evaluating and planning responses to hydrogeological hazards, specifically floods, landslides, and debris flow cones. By utilizing advanced Web-GIS capabilities, the project aims to refine the risk management practices and decision-making processes, thereby bolstering territorial resilience and addressing contemporary spatial challenges with enhanced precision and efficiency.
The Effects of an Adaptive Ventilation Control System on Indoor Air Quality and Energy Consumption
Authors: Vasile Vasilica , Iordache Vlad , Radu Valentin Mihai , Petcu Cristian , Dragomir Claudiu-Sorin
Published: November 2024

Indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy consumption (Q) are well-known building estimators, but they are used separately. Energy consumption is used during the design stage, while IAQ is used during operation. The novelty of our approach is that we propose using both estimators simultaneously during building operations. The purpose of this study was to find an adaptive ventilation strategy that maintained good indoor air quality with minimal energy consumption. The second novelty of our approach consists of IAQ estimation. While the operation of ventilation systems depends only on the indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration at present, our novel approach uses a more global IAQ index that includes four different air pollutants. Physical models are used for the hourly prediction of the two indices: global IAQ and Q. This study presents a comparative analysis of several ventilation operations strategies: fixed versus adaptive. The main findings show that a decrease in the ventilation rate, na, from 3.5 h−1 to 2.0 h−1 leads to a diminishment in energy consumption of 42.9%, maintaining the global IAQ index under the limited health risk value (VRL). Moreover, an adaptive ventilation strategy of na, maintaining the global IAQ index value under VRL, achieves a further reduction in energy consumption of 72.9%, highlighting its efficiency.
Bioleaching of Printed Circuit Board Waste to Obtain Metallic Nanoparticles
Authors: Rodrigues Éllen F. , Cesa Rovaris Beatriz , Valerio Alexsandra , de Oliveira Débora , Hotza Dachamir
Published: November 2024

In this work, a biological recovery of metals (copper and gold) from computer printed circuit board (PCB) waste was carried out by bioleaching using Aspergillus niger. Three bioleaching methods comprising one or two steps or using spent medium were tested in an incubator shaker at 30 °C and 160 rpm with different PCB waste concentrations (2.5 to 10 g/L). Glucose was used as the carbon source. The best condition evaluated was carried out in a stirred tank reactor. The FTIR spectrum confirmed the presence of oxalic, citric, and gluconic acids. A. niger showed an efficiency of bioleaching of up to 100% and 42.5% for copper and gold, respectively, using the two-step method with 2.5 g/L PCB waste after 14 days of the process. The efficiency of bioleaching in a stirred tank reactor was 83% for copper and 24% for gold. The mean metallic particle size obtained after bioleaching varied according to the PCB waste concentration (2.5–10 g/L) added in the experiments. A transmission electron microscope analysis confirmed the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles with spherical morphology. The results indicated that the PCBs bioleaching process with A. niger can be an environmentally friendly alternative to current mechanical and metallurgical processes for metal leaching.
The Generative Generic-Field Design Method Based on Design Cognition and Knowledge Reasoning
Authors: Mo Zhenchong , Gong Lin , Zhu Mingren , Lan Junde
Published: November 2024

Large language model (LLM) and Crowd Intelligent Innovation (CII) are reshaping the field of engineering design and becoming a new design context. Generative generic-field design can solve more general design problems innovatively by integrating multi-domain design knowledge. However, there is a lack of knowledge representation and design process model in line with the design cognition of the new context. It is urgent to develop generative generic-field design methods to improve the feasibility, innovation, and empathy of design results. This study proposes a method based on design cognition and knowledge reasoning. Firstly, through the problem formulation, a generative universal domain design framework and knowledge base are constructed. Secondly, the knowledge-based discrete physical structure set generation method and system architecture generation method are proposed. Finally, the application tool Intelligent Design Assistant (IDA) is developed, verified, and discussed through an engineering design case. According to the design results and discussion, the design scheme is feasible and reflects empathy for the fuzzy original design requirements. Therefore, the method proposed in this paper is an effective technical scheme of generative generic-field engineering design in line with the design cognition in the new context.
AI-Enhanced Strategies to Ensure New Sustainable Destination Tourism Trends Among the 27 European Union Member States
Authors: Pinho Micaela , Leal Fátima
Published: November 2024

The United Nations 2030 Agenda defines the priorities and aspirations for global development based on seventeen ambitious sustainable development goals encompassing economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Tourism plays a vital role in the list of actions for the people and the planet. While the tourism industry drives economic growth, its environmental and social impact is equally high. Sustainable tourism aims to reduce the damage caused by the tourism industry, protect communities, and guarantee the industry’s long-term future. These changes require tourists’ collective and concerted effort. The question arises whether tourists are willing to be more demanding about sustainability when looking for a destination. This study uses artificial intelligence to classify a new trend in European citizens’ search for sustainable destinations and to generate intelligent recommendations. Using data from the Flash Eurobarometer 499, we use a tree-based algorithm, random forest, to obtain intelligent citizens classification systems supported by machine learning. The classification system explores the predisposition of citizens to contribute to the three pillars of sustainability when choosing a destination to visit based on gender, age, and the region of living. We found that European citizens place little emphasis on the social sustainability pillar. While they care about preserving the environment, this competes with the cultural offerings and availability of activities at the destination. Additionally, we found that the willingness to contribute to the three pillars of sustainability varies by gender, age, and European region.
Review of Economic, Technical and Environmental Aspects of Electric Vehicles
Authors: Koniak Marcin , Jaskowski Piotr , Tomczuk Krzysztof
Published: November 2024

Electric vehicles (EVs) have seen significant advancements and mainstream adoption, prompting in-depth analysis of their economic, technical, and environmental impacts. Economically, while EVs offer lower operational costs than internal combustion engine vehicles, challenges remain, particularly for urban users reliant on public charging stations and the potential implementation of new road taxes to offset declining fuel tax revenues. Technically, electric motors in EVs have fewer moving parts, but battery management and cybersecurity complexities pose new risks. Transitioning from Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) to Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP) batteries reflects efforts to enhance thermal stability and mitigate fire hazards. Environmentally, lithium extraction for batteries has profound ecological impacts, including for water consumption and pollution. Battery production and the carbon footprint of the entire lifecycle remain pressing concerns, with battery recycling and second-life applications as crucial mitigation strategies. Smart integration of EVs with the energy infrastructure introduces challenges like grid stability and opportunities, such as smart, intelligent, innovative charging solutions and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. Future research should develop economic models to forecast long-term impacts, advance battery technology, enhance cybersecurity, and conduct comprehensive environmental assessments to optimise the benefits of electromobility, addressing the multidimensional challenges and opportunities presented by EVs.
Surrogate Modeling for Solving OPF: A Review
Authors: Mohammadi Sina , Bui Van-Hai , Su Wencong , Wang Bin
Published: November 2024

The optimal power flow (OPF) problem, characterized by its inherent complexity and strict constraints, has traditionally been approached using analytical techniques. OPF enhances power system sustainability by minimizing operational costs, reducing emissions, and facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources through optimized resource allocation and environmentally aligned constraints. However, the evolving nature of power grids, including the integration of distributed generation (DG), increasing uncertainties, changes in topology, and load variability, demands more frequent OPF solutions from grid operators. While conventional methods remain effective, their efficiency and accuracy degrade as computational demands increase. To address these limitations, there is growing interest in the use of data-driven surrogate models. This paper presents a critical review of such models, discussing their limitations and the solutions proposed in the literature. It introduces both Analytical Surrogate Models (ASMs) and learned surrogate models (LSMs) for OPF, providing a thorough analysis of how they can be applied to solve both DC and AC OPF problems. The review also evaluates the development of LSMs for OPF, from initial implementations addressing specific aspects of the problem to more advanced approaches capable of handling topology changes and contingencies. End-to-end and hybrid LSMs are compared based on their computational efficiency, generalization capabilities, and accuracy, and detailed insights are provided. This study includes an empirical comparison of two ASMs and LSMs applied to the IEEE standard six-bus system, demonstrating the key distinctions between these models for small-scale grids and discussing the scalability of LSMs for more complex systems. This comprehensive review aims to serve as a critical resource for OPF researchers and academics, facilitating progress in energy efficiency and providing guidance on the future direction of OPF solution methodologies.
Exploring the Realization Level and the Obstacles Affecting Different Types of Ecological Product Value—A Typical Case from Zhejiang, China
Authors: Wu Lijun , Wu Zebin , Liu Weidong
Published: November 2024

The realization of ecological product value (EPV) is a crucial pathway for green economic development and the practical implementation of both the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and China’s “Two Mountains Theory”, which emphasizes the need for harmony between ecological protection and economic growth. While China has initiated several pilot projects, there remains no consensus on the classification of ecological products or the measurement of EPV realization levels, largely due to limitations in the existing accounting systems, which fail to address EPV’s complexity. This study introduces a novel framework for measuring EPV realization, categorizing ecological products into pure public, quasi-public, and operational types. It demonstrates the economic value of ecological conservation, providing viable economic incentives for green development. This framework allows governments and businesses to see that protecting and sustainably utilizing natural resources can also yield economic benefits, thus offering a new feasible pathway for green development. Using Zhejiang Province as a case study, the authors present an improved coupling coordination model and a mechanical equilibrium model to assess EPV levels, emphasizing the importance of tailored regional strategies. Additionally, an obstacle degree model is employed to identify and analyze the factors limiting EPV realization. The results show that (1) different types of ecological products follow distinct value realization paths within the “economic–ecological–social” system; (2) EPV realization varies significantly across regions, with a trend of being lower in the southwest and higher in the northeast; (3) obstacles to value realization differ across subsystems, with particular attention needed to improve quasi-public ecological products in the ecological and social domains; (4) factors such as pesticide use and the number of tourist attractions affect EPV realization at the provincial and municipal levels, respectively. This study presents a new EPV measurement framework and highlights the spatial–temporal variability of EPV realization across regions. It provides valuable insights for developing countries and ecologically vulnerable areas seeking to optimize their EPV realization, supporting sustainable development and advancing “Two Mountains Theory” transformation.
Economic Sustainability Foraging Scenarios for Ruminant Meat Production—A Climate Change Adapting Alternative
Authors: Chetroiu Rodica , Rodino Steliana , Dragomir Vili , Turek-Rahoveanu Petruța Antoneta , Manolache Alexandra Marina
Published: November 2024

Climate changes affect all agricultural production systems, directly or indirectly, including that of ruminant meat, through the limitation of forage resources sensitive to reduced water regimes and drought. The present paper assessed the economic sustainability of ruminant meat production in the context of climate change, with a particular focus on integrating bioeconomy principles through the use of drought-resistant crops such as sorghum and millet in livestock feed. This study included scenarios for two farm-level models, a sheep fattening farm and a cattle fattening farm, to determine the economic benefit and impact of integrating resilient crops in the total feed ration. The findings showed that the dry scenario system could offer economic and environmental advantages over traditional water-intensive crops like maize. The results demonstrated that replacing maize with sorghum or millet could result in a reduction in feed costs and enhanced economic benefit over the traditional feed system.
Model and Ensemble Indicator-Guided Assessment of Robust, Exploitable Groundwater Resources for Denmark
Authors: Henriksen Hans Jørgen , Troldborg Lars , Ondracek Maria
Published: November 2024

Groundwater constitutes 99% of the Earth’s liquid freshwater and is crucial for human health, economic development, and ecosystem sustainability. This study assesses groundwater sustainability in Denmark by employing a comprehensive hydrological model and a set of ensemble indicators. The paper describes the methodology and the results based on nine selected indicators. Three indicators focus on recharge capture and aquifer sustainability, one focuses on groundwater level and wetland capture, two focus on baseflow and drainage flow capture, and three focus on eco flow capture. Our findings highlight that while overall exploitable groundwater resources are estimated at 1.1 billion m3/year, significant regional disparities exist, with certain areas, notably Zealand, facing over-exploitation rates exceeding 250% of sustainable limits. The indicators developed not only provide a framework for assessing current groundwater resource limits, but also serve as a basis for future monitoring and adaptive management strategies. This research underscores the need for stakeholder engagement and integrated approaches to ensure the sustainability of groundwater resources in the face of growing anthropogenic pressures and climate change. Our work contributes to the ongoing discourse on sustainable water management and offers a robust methodology for assessing groundwater sustainability.
Correction: Xu et al. The Effect of the National Specially Monitored Firms Program on Water-Polluting Firms’ Green Total Factor Productivity. Sustainability 2024, 16, 8049
Authors: Xu Kefan , Yuan Peng , Wang Guangjie , Yu Renjie
Published: November 2024

The authors would like to make the following corrections to the published paper [...]
Can the Synergy of Digitalization and Greening Boost Manufacturing Industry Chain Resilience? Evidence from China’s Provincial Panel Data
Authors: Li Gang , Cheng Yan , Chen Yanan , Zhang Quan
Published: November 2024

The synergy of digitalization and greening (DGS) enhances the resilience of the industrial chain (ICR), a critical aspect for the sustainable growth of the national economy. This symbiotic relationship not only facilitates the enhancement of quality and efficiency within the manufacturing sector but also propels forward sustainable economic development. Therefore, how DGS can improve ICR deserves in-depth study. Drawing on the panel data encompassing manufacturing industries across 30 provincial-level administrative regions in China from 2013 to 2022, this study employs a regression model to delve into the mechanisms through which DGS within manufacturing industries impacts ICR. The main results are as follows: (1) DGS in manufacturing makes a positive contribution to ICR; (2) The impact of DGS on ICR varies across regions, with a diminishing effect from the eastern to the western region. (3) Technological innovation reinforces the influence of DGS on ICR. (4) Spatial measures show that the development of DGS in one location has a negative spatial spillover effect on ICR in neighboring areas. Based on the above conclusions, this paper puts forward a series of recommendations aimed at promoting industrial chain resilience.
Integrated Framework for Enhancing Liveability and Ecological Sustainability in UAE Communities
Authors: Alzaim Mhd Amer , AlAli Mariam , Mattar Yara , Samara Fatin
Published: November 2024

Urban growth is vast in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to economic development, and there is a need to consider liveability and sustainable ecosystems for future urban expansion. Promising strategies for sustainability focus on minimizing a building’s effects on the environment and improving residents’ quality of life, which is important in the desert and when confronting the issues of water and climate change. Sustainable practices that impact the livelihood of people in the UAE include factors such as walkable areas, open space, policing, healthcare, education, housing, and ensuring friendly transport that enhance the overall quality of life of residents in the region. Recognizing and appreciating the UAE’s cultural values is crucial when incorporating these aspects, allowing references to the nation’s character when creating communal areas. The primary research included quantitative surveys of three identified communities, composed of fifty participants each, where the findings indicate partial to full compliance, with 85.7% of the liveability indices being about public transport and green space. Through this analysis, liveability and sustainability principles need to be trialed and incorporated into future urban development to embrace the ecology as well as the inhabitants. To realize these targets, the proposed study adopted a four-part approach. Initially, an analysis of related studies concerning the UAE or the Gulf area was carried out to obtain important liveability and quality-of-life factors. A total of 6 dimensions and 51 indicators were extracted from the literature to inform the next stage. Subsequently, the authors identified and evaluated the design of three chosen communities in various cities in the UAE concerning liveability and sustainability indices. Consequently, a conceptual redesign of a typical community was made, illustrating the improved quality of life and sustainability. Lastly, a survey with respective facets from an urban planning architect and environmental scientist cum environmental economist was conducted to evaluate the practicality of the proposed design. This research gives a comprehensive picture of how liveability and sustainable ecosystem concepts need to be implemented in the UAE urban context and offers a direction to develop lively, context-specific, culturally attached, and sustainable urban environments for the present day and for the future.
Economic Decentralization and High-Quality Urban Development: Perspective from Local Effect and Spatial Spillover in 276 Prefecture-Level Cities in China
Authors: Li Yiming , Bai Liru
Published: November 2024

The advancement of high-quality urban development is of paramount importance for the enhancement of sustainable development and competitiveness at the city level. The economic decentralization system represents a pivotal institutional driving force in this regard. This paper examines the impact of decentralization on the high-quality development of Chinese cities. It constructs the high-quality urban development index (HUDI) through the entropy weight method and analyzes the mechanisms and spatial correlations between fiscal and financial decentralization on the high-quality development of cities through the establishment of panel and spatial regression models. The findings indicate that fiscal and financial decentralization exert a positive influence on urban high-quality development. However, the two forms of decentralization do not exhibit synergies but rather exert an inhibitory effect on one another. Furthermore, decentralization has a considerable positive spatial spillover effect on urban high-quality development. Heterogeneity analyses demonstrate that the impact of the economic decentralization system varies across different regions, reform periods, and cities with varying administrative levels. The robustness test of this paper provides further evidence of the reliability of the research findings. This paper offers theoretical support and policy recommendations for optimizing economic decentralization systems and promoting high-quality urban development.
Digital Competences and Years of Access to Technologies Among Chilean University Students: An Analysis Based on the DIGCOMP Framework
Authors: Rioseco-Pais Marcelo , Silva-Quiroz Juan , Vargas-Vitoria Rodrigo
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the relationship between access time to digital technologies and the devel-opment of digital competences among Chilean university students, using the DIGCOMP-PED in-strument based on the DIGCOMP framework. Methods: The instrument was applied to 4360 first-year students at a Chilean public university, and an expert validation process was carried out to identify relevant competences for academic training. Results: The findings indicate a positive but non-linear relationship between years of experience using technologies and performance in certain areas of the DIGCOMP framework. Although the study was conducted between 2021 and 2022, with the follow-up analysis completed in 2024, access alone does not guarantee the acquisition of ad-vanced skills across all competences. Conclusions: The study emphasizes the complexity of the re-lationship between access to technology and the development of digital competences, highlighting the importance of pairing access with quality education and structured guidance in digital literacy to prepare students for the challenges of the digital world.
Enhancing Supply Chain Sustainability and Reliability Through WSM and TOPSIS: A Symmetrical Real-World Case Study
Authors: Abhilasha Anshu , Danish Faizan , Alrasheedi Melfi
Published: November 2024

Large corporations have recently demonstrated an increasing propensity to enhance the sustainability and reliability of their supply chains in order to comply with environmental regulations and improve customer satisfaction through on-time demand fulfillment. There are two phases to this study: mathematical modeling and model solution using precise techniques. In the first step, a mixed-integer linear programming model is developed. This model is an improvement of an existing supply chain model. Further, our suggested strategy is verified by using numerical data based on three criteria and four suppliers. The goals of the proposed model are to maximize supply chain reliability, economic profit, and social responsibilities by taking suppliers’ priorities into account. Modeled as a mixed-integer linear programming problem, the constraints on the problem include budget, emission, demand, allocation, facility, and shipping capacity. Power symmetry and information symmetry are incorporated in order to perform symmetric analysis. The weighted sum method (WSM) and the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) are the two methods used in the second step of solving the model to identify the best supplier. In order to evaluate how well the proposed methodology was applied, a practical case was considered and implemented.
Generating Bent Functions and Dynamic Filters: A Novel Equivalence-Based Approach
Authors: Nelson Joseph , Srinivasan Chungath , Nair Anand R. , Koduvayur Viswanathan Lakshmy
Published: November 2024

Boolean functions are fundamental building blocks in both discrete mathematics and computer science, with applications spanning from cryptography to coding theory. Bent functions, a subset of Boolean functions with maximal nonlinearity, are particularly valuable in cryptographic applications. This study introduces a novel equivalence relation among all Boolean functions and presents an algorithm to generate bent functions based on this relation. We systematically generated a collection of 10,000 bent functions over eight variables, all originating from the same equivalence class, and analyzed their structural complexity through rank determination. Our findings revealed the presence of at least five distinct affine classes of bent functions within this collection. By employing this construction, we devised an algorithm to generate a filter function capable of combining Boolean functions. This filter function can be dynamically adjusted based on a key, offering potential applications in symmetric cipher design, such as enhancing security or improving efficiency.
Advanced System for Optimizing Electricity Trading and Flow Redirection in Internet of Vehicles Networks Using Flow-DNET and Taylor Social Optimization
Authors: Somakumar Radhika , Kasinathan Padmanathan , Elavarasan Rajvikram Madurai , Shafiullah G. M.
Published: November 2024

The transportation system has a big impact on daily lifestyle and it is essential to energy transition and decarbonization initiatives. Stabilizing the grid and incorporating sustainable energy sources require technologies like the Internet of Energy (IoE) and Internet of Vehicles (IoV). Electric vehicles (EVs) are essential for cutting emissions and reliance on fossil fuels. According to research on flexible charging methods, allowing EVs to trade electricity can maximize travel distances and efficiently reduce traffic. In order to improve grid efficiency and vehicle coordination, this study suggests an ideal method for energy trading in the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) in which EVs bid for electricity and Road Side Units (RSUs) act as buyers. The Taylor Social Optimization Algorithm (TSOA) is employed for this auction process, focusing on energy and pricing to select the best Charging Station (CS). The TSOA integrates the Taylor series and Social Optimization Algorithm (SOA) to facilitate flow redirection post-trading, evaluating each RSU’s redirection factor to identify overloaded or underloaded CSs. The Flow-DNET model determines redirection policies for overloaded CSs. The TSOA + Flow-DNET approach achieved a pricing improvement of 0.816% and a redirection success rate of 0.918, demonstrating its effectiveness in optimizing electricity trading and flow management within the IoV framework.
Exploring the Origins of Hexaploid Wheats: Typification of Archaeological Triticum vulgare var. antiquorum and Description of Modern Triticum sphaerococcum subsp. antiquorum (Poaceae: Triticeae)
Authors: Rivera Diego , Ferrer-Gallego Pedro Pablo , Obón Concepción , Alcaraz Francisco , Laguna Emilio , Goncharov Nikolay P.
Published: November 2024

This study addresses a critical issue in plant taxonomy and phylogeny: the relationship between archaeological materials and potentially analogous living populations. Given the current limitations in definitively establishing the identity between archaeological and contemporary materials, we propose an intermediate approach. This approach serves as a useful framework while scientific methods advance towards definitively assessing whether an archaeological wheat sample, approximately 5000 years old from Central Europe, belongs to the same species as a modern wheat currently endemic to Central Asia. This approach consolidates the taxonomic validity of both archaeological and living materials, allowing them to be treated as distinct taxa while preserving the possibility of future identification convergence. Triticum vulgare var. antiquorum, an archaeobotanical small-grained, free-threshing wheat, was originally described in 1865. The 1982 discovery of morphologically similar living wheat in Tajikistan raised questions about their taxonomic relationship. Our study reviews the nomenclature of both taxa, designating an illustration from the original description of T. vulgare var. antiquorum as the lectotype to align with the traditional concept of the name. We address the ambiguity surrounding “Triticum antiquorum” as used by Russian agronomists and botanists, proposing a more precise circumscription within the current systematic framework of the genus based on cytogenetic data. Consequently, we describe a new taxon, Triticum sphaerococcum subsp. antiquorum. The holotype, selected from material with available cytogenetic data and grown from Professor Udachin’s original Pamir (Tajikistan) collection, is preserved in the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (WIR) collection. It is deposited at the I.M. Krasnoborov Herbarium of Central Siberian Botanical Garden SB RAS (NS), with an isotype at the WIR. This taxonomic revision and new subspecies designation provide a robust framework for reconciling archaeological and contemporary wheat diversity, advancing our understanding of wheat evolution and agricultural history.
Reliable and Resilient Wireless Communications in IoT-Based Smart Agriculture: A Case Study of Radio Wave Propagation in a Corn Field
Authors: Atanasov Blagovest Nikolaev , Atanasov Nikolay Todorov , Atanasova Gabriela Lachezarova
Published: November 2024

In the past few years, one of the largest industries in the world, the agriculture sector, has faced many challenges, such as climate change and the depletion of limited natural resources. Smart Agriculture, based on IoT, is considered a transformative force that will play a crucial role in the further advancement of the agri-food sector. Furthermore, in IoT-based Smart Agriculture systems, radio wave propagation faces unique challenges (such as attenuation in vegetation and soil and multiple reflections) because of sensor nodes deployed in agriculture fields at or slightly above the ground level. In our study, we present, for the first time, several models (Multi-slope, Weissberger, and COST-235) suitable for planning radio coverage in a cornfield for Smart Agriculture applications. We received signal level measurements as a function of distance in a corn field (R3 corn stage) at 0.9 GHz and 2.4 GHz using two transmitting and two receiving antenna heights, with both horizontal and vertical polarization. The results indicate that radio wave propagation in a corn field is influenced not only by the surrounding environment (i.e., corn), but also by the antenna polarization and the positions of the transmitting and receiving antennas relative to the ground.
Applying Evidence Synthesis for Constructing Directed Acyclic Graphs to Identify Causal Pathways Affecting U.S. Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment Receipt and Overall Survival
Authors: Patel Naiya , Karimi Seyed M. , Little Bert , Egger Michael , Antimisiaris Demetra
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: Directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) inform the epidemiologic statistical modeling confounders to determine close to true causal relationships in a study context. They inform the inclusion of the predictive model variables that affect the causal relationship. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is frequently diagnosed, aggressive, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Determining factors affecting both the guideline-concordant treatment receipt and survival outcomes for early-stage lung cancer will help inform future statistical models aiming to achieve a close to true causal relationship. Methods: Peer-reviewed original research published during 2002–2023 was identified through PubMed, Embase, Web of Sciences, Clinical trials registry, and the gray literature. DAGitty version 3.1, an online software program, developed implied DAGs and integrated DAG graphics. The evidence synthesis for constructing directed acyclic graphs (ESC-DAGs) protocol was utilized to guide DAG development. The conceptual models utilized were Andersen and Aday for factors affecting treatment receipt and Shi and Steven for survival outcome factors. Results: A total of 36 studies were included in the DAG synthesis out of 9421 retrieved across databases. Eight studies served in the synthesis of treatment receipt DAG, while 28 studies were used for the survival outcomes DAG. There were 10 causal paths and 13 covariates for treatment receipt and 2 causal pathways and 32 covariates for survival outcomes. Conclusions: There are very few studies reporting on factors affecting early-stage NSCLC guideline-concordant care receipt compared to factors affecting its survival outcomes in the past two decades of original research. Future investigations can utilize data extracted in the current study to develop a meta-analysis informing effect size.