bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kinematic ME-MAFA for Pseudolite Carrier-Phase Ambiguity Resolution in Precise Single-Point Positioning
Authors: Liu Kai , Guo Xiye , Yang Jun , Li Xiaoyu , Liu Changshui , Tang Yuqiu , Meng Zhijun , Yan Enqi
Published: October 2020

Precise single-point positioning using carrier-phase measurements can be provided by the synchronized pseudolite system. The primary task of carrier phase positioning is ambiguity resolution (AR) with rapidity and reliability. As the pseudolite system is usually operated in the dense multipath environment, cycle slips may lead the conventional least-squares ambiguity decorrelation adjustment (LAMBDA) method to incorrect AR. A new AR method based on the idea of the modified ambiguity function approach (MAFA), which is insensitive to the cycle slips, is studied in this paper. To improve the model strength of the MAFA and to eliminate the influence of constant multipath biases on the time-average model in static mode, the kinematic multi-epoch MAFA (kinematic ME-MAFA) algorithm is proposed. A heuristic method for predicting the ‘float position’ corresponding to every Voronoi cell of the next epoch, making use of Doppler-based velocity information, is implemented to improve the computational efficiency. If the success rate is very close to 1, it is possible to guarantee reliable centimeter-level accuracy positioning without further ambiguity validation. Therefore, a computing method of the success rate for the kinematic ME-MAFA is proposed. Both the numerical simulations and the kinematic experiment demonstrate the feasibility of the new AR algorithm according to its accuracy and reliability. The accuracy of the horizontal positioning solution is better than 1.7 centimeters in our pseudolite system.
Effects of Multipath Attenuation in the Optical Communication-Based Internet of Underwater Things
Authors: Qadar Rabia , Bin Qaim Waleed , Nurmi Jari , Tan Bo
Published: October 2020

The propagation of light underwater is tied closely to the optical properties of water. In particular, the underwater channel imposes attenuation on the optical signal in the form of scattering, absorption, and turbulence. These attenuation factors can lead to severe spatial and temporal dispersion, which restricts communication to a limited range and bandwidth. In this paper, we propose a statistical model to estimate the probability density function of the temporal dispersion in underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) based Internet of Underwater Things (IoUTs) using discrete histograms. The underwater optical channel is modeled using Monte Carlo simulations, and the effects of temporal dispersion are presented by measuring the magnitude response of the channel in terms of received power. The temporal response analysis is followed by an extensive performance evaluation in terms of bit error rate (BER). To facilitate in-depth theoretical analysis, we have measured and presented magnitude response and BER of the channel under different field-of-views (FoVs), apertures, and water types. The three main areas under study are (i) BER versus link distance behavior, (ii) temporal response of the channel, and (iii) effect of scattering on photon travel. Our study shows the two main factors that contribute to beam spreading and temporal dispersion are (i) diffusivity of the optical source and (ii) multiple scattering. Furthermore, our results suggest that temporal dispersion caused due to multiple scattering cannot be mitigated completely; however, it can be minimized by optimizing the receiver aperture.
Localisation of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) in Complex and Confined Environments: A Review
Authors: Watson Simon , Duecker Daniel A. , Groves Keir
Published: October 2020

The inspection of aquatic environments is a challenging activity, which is made more difficult if the environment is complex or confined, such as those that are found in nuclear storage facilities and accident sites, marinas and boatyards, liquid storage tanks, or flooded tunnels and sewers. Human inspections of these environments are often dangerous or infeasible, so remote inspection using unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) is used. Due to access restrictions and environmental limitations, such as low illumination levels, turbidity, and a lack of salient features, traditional localisation systems that have been developed for use in large bodies of water cannot be used. This means that UUV capabilities are severely restricted to manually controlled low-quality visual inspections, generating non-geospatially located data. The localisation of UUVs in these environments would enable the autonomous behaviour and the development of accurate maps. This article presents a review of the state-of-the-art in localisation technologies for these environments and identifies areas of future research to overcome the challenges posed.
Quantitative Explanation of Basic Compound Retention Mechanisms in Reversed-Phase Mode Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Hanai Toshihiko
Published: October 2020

The quantitative analysis of the chromatographic behavior of basic compounds measured with pentyl-, hexenyl-, and octyl-bonded silica gels were analyzed in silico employing model phases. The main retention force was the van der Waals (VW) interaction, and the main desorption force was an electrostatic (ES) interaction. The contribution of hydrogen bonding (HB) was weak compared to that for acidic compounds. The quantitative explanation was achieved utilizing the calculated VW, HB, and ES energy values obtained from a molecular mechanics program. The electron localization was observed at the molecular interaction-site calculated MOPAC program. This fundamental approach was like that of explaining chemical reactions. The difference was electron localization in chromatography or electron transfer in a chemical reaction.
Welcome to Sexes: A New Open Access Journal on Sexuality and Sexual Health
Authors: Rowland David L.
Published: October 2020

It is my pleasure to introduce you to Sexes, a new open access journal dedicated to the publication and worldwide dissemination of inter- and multi-disciplinary research on sexology and to the promotion of greater global understanding of critical issues in sexuality and sexual health [...]
The Story of 13 Moons: Developing an Environmental Health and Sustainability Curriculum Founded on Indigenous First Foods and Technologies
Authors: Donatuto Jamie , Campbell Larry , LeCompte Joyce K. , Rohlman Diana , Tadlock Sonni
Published: October 2020

The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community developed an informal environmental health and sustainability (EHS) curriculum based on Swinomish beliefs and practices. EHS programs developed and implemented by Indigenous communities are extremely scarce. The mainstream view of EHS does not do justice to how many Indigenous peoples define EHS as reciprocal relationships between people, nonhuman beings, homelands, air, and waters. The curriculum provides an alternative informal educational platform for teaching science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) using identification, harvest, and preparation activities of First Foods and medicines that are important to community members in order to increase awareness and understanding of local EHS issues. The curriculum, called 13 Moons, is founded on a set of guiding principles which may be useful for other Indigenous communities seeking to develop their own curricula.
A Potential Sustainable Pathway for Community-Supported Agriculture in Taiwan: The Consumer Perspective in a Farmers’ Market
Authors: Pisarn Punnaros , Kim Man-Keun , Yang Shang-Ho
Published: October 2020

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become an alternative approach for small-sized farmers in many countries. However, CSA is a somewhat challenging concept in Taiwan because many CSA projects face difficulties and obstacles related to sustainability, so relevant literature is rare. This pilot study investigates a potential CSA program in a farmers’ market to observe whether farmers’ market consumers would like to participate or not. A total of 320 survey responses collected from a farmers’ market were examined by an interval regression model. Results show that respondents are willing to pay and to be a CSA member of the farmers’ market. This study identifies that consumers are willing to share the risks of upfront payment with farmers. The preferred length of the contract means that a compromise is made in order to implement the CSA program. The implications involving a flexible length of contract and the budget should be taken into consideration by farmers, farmers’ market managers, and policymakers for devising promotion strategies, enrolling shareholders, and promoting CSA in Taiwan. Future study should focus on the consumer characteristics and factors affecting their decision to subscribe to CSA.
Holistic or Traditional Conceptions of Heritage among Early-Childhood and Primary Trainee Teachers
Authors: Moreno-Vera Juan Ramón , Ponsoda-López de Atalaya Santiago , López-Fernández José Antonio , Blanes-Mora Rubén
Published: October 2020

This study examines the conception of heritage—holistic or traditional—among future early-childhood and primary teachers. In order to do this, our objective was to analyze trainee teachers’ perceptions surrounding the conception of heritage. To carry out the analysis, we designed and validated a questionnaire with closed-ended questions (Likert scale 1–5) and one open-ended question about the elements that respondents considered to be part of what we define as heritage. The participants (n = 602) study at the universities of Alicante, Murcia, and Córdoba, and the investigation took place during 2018/19 and 2019/20 academic years. The results show a traditional conception that is still attached to immovable monumental heritage, with lower scores for intangible and natural heritage. However, there were some high scores for traditions and popular festivals, which are a frequent educational resource in early-childhood and primary classrooms. In conclusion, this non-holistic conception of heritage could be changed if an active and varied use of heritage resources were introduced from the early stages of education.
Data-Driven Detection Methods on Driver’s Pedal Action Intensity Using Triboelectric Nano-Generators
Authors: Cheng Qian , Jiang Xiaobei , Zhang Haodong , Wang Wuhong , Sun Chunwen
Published: October 2020

Driver’s driving actions on pedals can be regarded as an expression of driver’s acceleration/deceleration intention. Quickly and accurately detecting driving action intensity on pedals can have great contributions in preventing road traffic accidents and managing the energy consumption. In this paper, we report a pressure-sensitive and self-powered material named triboelectric nano-generators (TENGs). The generated voltage data of TENGs, which is associated with the pedal action, can be collected easily and stored sequentially. According to the characteristics of the voltage data, we have employed a hybrid machine learning method. After collecting signals from TENGs and driving simulator simultaneously, an unsupervised Gaussian mixture model is used to cluster the pedal events automatically using data from simulator. Then, multi-feature candidates of the voltage data from TENGs are extracted and ranked. A supervised random forest model that treats voltage data of TENGs as input data is trained and tested. Results show that data from TENGs can have a high accuracy of more than 90% using the random forest algorithm. The evaluating results demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed data-driven hybrid learning algorithm for recognition of driver’s pedal action intensity. Furthermore, technical and economic characteristics of TENGs and some common sensors are compared and discussed. This work may demonstrate the feasibility of using these data-driven methods on the detection of driver’s pedal action intensity.
Teaching Multi-Criteria Decision Making Based on Sustainability Factors Applied to Road Projects
Authors: Paredes Gabriela , Herrera Rodrigo F.
Published: October 2020

Currently, there is a need for civil engineering programs to train their students in subjects associated with sustainability. Additionally, civil engineers in their work must constantly make decisions, so their training is necessary. Therefore, the goal of this research is to present a methodology for teaching multi-criteria decision-making methods in the context of civil engineering and road infrastructure projects using sustainable factors. To achieve the objective of this study, a decision-making simulation activity has been designed based on a five-step research process: (1) definition and contextualization of the case study; (2) design and planning of the simulation activity; (3) implementation of this activity; (4) evaluation of indicators; and (5) statistical analysis of metrics. The teaching methodology used is of a practical-theoretical type and allows for the step-by-step teaching of three multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods that, according to the literature review, are widely used in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. This teaching activity is intended for undergraduate students and professionals in the AEC industry who require a decision-making tool that promotes transparency in problem-solving and who have no knowledge of MCDM. The results obtained in this research show that the method perceived by the group of students with the least difficulty was the weighting rating and calculating (WRC), because of its previous familiarity and use in academic environments. It is recommended that MCDM methods be taught in semester courses to students in training so that they can develop a deep understanding of these tools and can demonstrate their usefulness for decision making where there are many variables to consider, where there are many decision-makers, and for the incorporation of sustainable factors for project evaluation.
Changing Agricultural Landscapes in Ethiopia: Examining Application of Adaptive Management Approach
Authors: Haileslassie Amare , Mekuria Wolde , Schmitter Petra , Uhlenbrook Stefan , Ludi Eva
Published: October 2020

Ethiopia has decades of experience in implementing land and water management interventions. The overarching objectives of this review were to synthesize evidences on the impact of implementation of land and water management practices on agricultural landscapes in Ethiopia and to evaluate the use of adaptive management (AM) approaches as a tool to manage uncertainties. We explored how elements of the structures and functions of landscapes have been transformed, and how the components of AM, such as structured decision-making and learning processes, have been applied. Despite numerous environmental and economic benefits of land and water management interventions in Ethiopia, this review revealed gaps in AM approaches. These include: (i) inadequate evidence-based contextualization of interventions, (ii) lack of monitoring of bio-physical and socioeconomic processes and changes post implementation, (iii) lack of trade-off analyses, and (iv) inadequacy of local community engagement and provision of feedback. Given the many uncertainties we must deal with, future investment in AM approaches tailored to the needs and context would help to achieve the goals of sustainable agricultural landscape transformation. The success depends, among other things, on the ability to learn from the knowledge generated and apply the learning as implementation evolves
The Role of Open Innovation and Value Co-creation in the Challenging Transition from Industry 4.0 to Society 5.0: Toward a Theoretical Framework
Authors: Aquilani Barbara , Piccarozzi Michela , Abbate Tindara , Codini Anna
Published: October 2020

Advanced manufacturing solutions, augmented reality, and cloud and big data are technologies pertaining to Industry 4.0. These technologies improve working conditions, create new business models, and increase both productivity and firm quality production. However, they can also improve life and society as a whole. This new perspective, oriented toward social and global well-being, is called Society 5.0. As has happened for all past industrial revolutions, Industry 4.0 will support the transition to a different society, i.e., Society 5.0. In this transition, open innovation and value co-creation can play an important role. The aim of the study was twofold: to examine how Industry 4.0 features and enabling technologies can support the transition to Society 5.0 and to investigate the roles of both open innovation and value co-creation within this transition. A conceptual framework was developed to jointly consider for the first time Industry 4.0, Society 5.0, open innovation, and value co-creation, which are all challenging issues that firms must cope with nowadays. Managers could profit from these insights to design ad hoc strategies in order to benefit from the opportunities emerging from this transition and overcome the main related challenges.
Social Entrepreneurship on Its Way to Significance: The Case of Germany
Authors: Cagarman Karina , Kratzer Jan , von Arnim Laura Helen , Fajga Kristina , Gieseke Michaela Jacqueline
Published: October 2020

The environmental context plays a very important role in the success of entrepreneurial behaviour. Governments used this opportunity by introducing specific programmes, but do social entrepreneurs have a comparable chance of getting governmental support as commercial entrepreneurs do in these programmes? We analyze the EXIST Start-up Grant in terms of likelihood for entrepreneurs following economic and social sustainable development goals (SDGs). Our results indicate that there is a decreased probability to get the EXIST Start-up Grant when following social SDGs. We argue that it is about time to introduce specific programmes for social innovation and/or reassess existing programmes in terms of their openness to social entrepreneurs.
Analysis and Measurement of Carbon Emission Aggregation and Spillover Effects in China: Based on a Sectoral Perspective
Authors: Liu Jinpeng , Wei Delin
Published: October 2020

Faced with the environmental pressure of global warming, China has achieved certain results in emission reduction, but this needs to be completed more efficiently. Therefore, this article conducts a more comprehensive and in-depth study of China’s carbon emissions from the perspective of the development of national economic sectors and taps the potential for emission reduction in various sectors. Taking into account the adjustment of the national economic sector and the current status of carbon emissions, the study period was from 2003 to 2017. The logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method was used to measure and analyze the impact of seven factors, including urban construction conditions, on the carbon emissions of various sectors. According to the commonalities and differences of the impacts, 42 sectors were aggregated into four categories. At the same time, the input–output structure decomposition analysis (IO–SDA) model was used to analyze the spillover effects of intersectoral carbon emissions. According to the research results, based on the characteristics of the four types of sectors, and fully considering the spillover effects, the improvement of life cycle management to control energy consumption in the entire supply chain was taken as the leading idea. Moreover, combined with the actual development situation, four types of sectoral carbon emission reduction paths and optimization strategies are proposed to establish a more sustainable demand structure in order to achieve emission reduction.
Novel Sources of Variation in Grain Yield, Components and Mineral Traits Identified in Wheat Amphidiploids Derived from Thinopyrum bessarabicum (Savul. & Rayss) Á. Löve (Poaceae) under Saline Soils in India
Authors: Khokhar Jaswant Singh , Sareen Sindhu , Tyagi Bhudeva Singh , Wilson Lolita , Young Scott , King Julie , King Ian , Broadley Martin R.
Published: October 2020

Salt-affected soils constrain wheat production globally. A wild wheat species, Thinopyrum bessarabicum (Savul. & Rayss) Á. Löve (Poaceae), and its derivatives are tolerant of high external NaCl concentrations but have not been tested yet in field conditions. The aim of this study was to study the performance of amphidiploids derived from T. bessarabicum for grain yield (GYD), yield components and grain mineral composition traits under normal and saline soil conditions. Field experiments were conducted at Karnal (pH(water) = 7.3) and Hisar (pH(water) = 8.3) sites in 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 in India. Grain samples were analysed using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Yield and yield component traits of amphidiploids were typically greater at Karnal than Hisar. The GYD was greater at Karnal (1.6 t ha−1) than Hisar (1.2 t ha−1) in 2014–2015. However, GYD was greater at Hisar (1.7 t ha−1) than Karnal (1.1 t ha−1) in 2015–2016. Mean grain zinc (Zn) concentration of eight amphidiploids, averaged across sites and years, varied from 36 to 43 mg kg−1. Some amphidiploids derived from T. bessarabicum showed greater GYD and grain Zn concentration under saline soils (Hisar) than normal soils (Karnal). These might be potential new sources for the development of salt-tolerant wheat varieties with increased grain Zn concentration under salt-affected soils.
Influence of Different Types of Land Use on the Contents of Potentially Toxic Elements and De-icing Salts in Roadside Soils and Trees in Urban Areas
Authors: Ju Jin-Hee , Park Ju-Young , Yoon Yong-Han
Published: October 2020

In order to manage the urban environment and reduce pollution, it is essential to determine potentially toxic elements and de-icing salts in roadside soils and plants, which are major components of green infrastructure. A field study was conducted to elucidate the influence of land use on potentially toxic elements and de-icing salts in roadside soil and trees in urban areas. The effect of land use was determined in commercial, residential, industrial, and green areas of Cheongju city. The roadside soil and plant samples were collected from four different sites along a major roadway in the city. The chemical parameters determined were pH, electronic conductivity, potentially toxic elements (Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr, As, Pb, Ni), and de-icing salts (Na, Ca, Mg). The pH, electronic conductivity, potentially toxic elements (except copper), and de-icing salt values were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the land use. On the other hand, the potentially toxic element (except zinc and nickel) levels in roadside tree leaves (Ginkgo biloba) were not affected by the different land use, whereas the de-icing salt levels were significantly different (p < 0.05). The enrichment factor (EF) of potentially toxic elements was found to be lower than that of de-icing salts with the highest values of sodium in green areas and of magnesium in commercial areas. These results provide information on the implications of land use, including the surrounding area of influenced roadside soil and plant chemistry for the urban ecosystem.
Bridging Sustainable Human Resource Management and Corporate Sustainability
Authors: Mazur Barbara , Walczyna Anna
Published: October 2020

The rise of the Sustainable Development (SD) concept contributed to the increasing interest in practices encompassing the Sustainable Human Resource Management (Sustainable HRM) and the results of these practices. This article relates to the area of Human Resource Management and activities undertaken by HR departments to implement the principles of sustainable development in the enterprise. In particular, it refers to the concept of Sustainable HRM, recognized by many researchers as a new paradigm in the area of HRM. Although an intensely-studied subject, there is a clear gap in research regarding Sustainable HRM in Polish companies. Additionally, there is a lack of research contribution on the Podlasie region—ecologically and ethnically the most diverse region in the country. While sustainability in environmental terms is evident in the region, the article focuses on sustainability implementation in the business sector. The article helps to close the research gap. Its aim is to examine the two-fold role of HR departments in: Implementing activities in the area of Sustainable HRM, and introducing the principles of sustainability to corporate strategies. It was assumed that such activities contribute to corporate sustainability. In order to verify the role of HR departments, a new, comprehensive research model, based on the work of De Prins, was built. The model relates to the double-task of HR departments in organizations. The added value of the article stems from the research model proposal, which can be applied without geographical limitations and to numerous organization types. The paper introduces one of the applications of the model—a regional one. The model was tested in a questionnaire survey conducted among employees of enterprises operating in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, which is unique in terms of environment, culture, and economy in Poland. The respondents were participants of MBA studies at one of the universities of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. The results of the study fully confirmed the hypothesis adopted in the study regarding the performance of activities by HR departments in the psychological and social areas of Sustainable HRM. The third aspect of the study, regarding the ecological area, was not clearly confirmed in the study. It was found that this may result from the restrictive law regulating the issue of the impact of enterprises on the natural environment. The results of the study allowed for the verification of the main hypothesis assumed in the research model, thus confirming its truthfulness.
Importance of Proper Monetary Liquidity: Sustainable Development of the Housing and Stock Markets
Authors: Chiang Ming-Chu , Tsai I-Chun
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we infer that when no excess monetary liquidity exists, people tend to invest available capital in assets associated with a high return or low risk. However, when excess monetary liquidity occurs, capital may successively boost asset markets, and the stock market wealth is thus likely to spill into housing markets, resulting in bubbles in these two markets and therefore in the unsustainable development of both the housing and stock markets. This paper uses relevant data from the United Kingdom from January 1991 to March 2020 to verify whether excess monetary liquidity is a crucial factor determining the relationship between the housing and stock markets. Continuous and structural changes are found to exist between housing price and stock price returns. This paper employs the time-varying coefficient method for estimation and determines that the influence of stock price returns on housing returns is dynamic, and an asymmetrical effect can occur according to whether excess monetary liquidity exists. An excessively loose monetary policy increases asset prices and can thus easily result in a mutual rise in asset markets. By contrast, when excess monetary liquidity does not exist, capital transfer among markets can prevent autocorrelation during excessive market investment and thereby aggravate market imbalance.
Studying the Transition towards a Circular Bioeconomy—A Systematic Literature Review on Transition Studies and Existing Barriers
Authors: Gottinger Alexandra , Ladu Luana , Quitzow Rainer
Published: October 2020

The European Commission’s strategic long-term vision for 2050, “A Clean Planet for All”, identifies the bioeconomy and the circular economy as key strategic areas for achieving a climate-neutral economy. Focus is given to the sustainability of biomass and the circularity of materials. However, in order to facilitate the transition toward a sustainable bio-based circular economy and to unlock its potential, strong accompanying measures are required. These should be designed based on a systematic understanding of transition drivers and barriers. This paper, after providing a systematic review of transition research on the circular bioeconomy, focuses on the identification and classification of transition barriers, clustering them into relevant categories. Moreover, it provides a comparison of the barriers identified by various frameworks.
Systematic Evaluation of Nutrition Indicators for Use within Food LCA Studies
Authors: Bianchi Marta , Strid Anna , Winkvist Anna , Lindroos Anna-Karin , Sonesson Ulf , Hallström Elinor
Published: October 2020

Expressing the environmental impact of foods in relation to the nutritional quality is a promising approach in the search for methods integrating interdisciplinary sustainability perspectives. However, the lack of standardized methods regarding how to include nutrient metrics can lead to unharmonized results difficult to interpret. We evaluated nutrient density indexes by systematically assessing the role of methodological variables with the purpose of identifying the index able to rank foods with the highest coherence with the Swedish dietary guidelines. Among 45 variants of the nutrient density index NRF (Nutrient Rich Food), a Sweden-tailored NRF11.3 index, including 11 desirable nutrients and 3 undesirable nutrients, calculated per portion size or 100 kcal with the application of weighting, ranked foods most coherently with the guidelines. This index is suggested to be suitable as complementary functional unit (FU) in comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) studies across food categories. The results clarify implications of methodological choices when calculating nutrient density of foods and offer guidance to LCA researchers on which nutrition metric to use when integrating nutritional aspects in food LCA.
Critical Factors Influencing the Sustainable Construction Capability in Prefabrication of Chinese Construction Enterprises
Authors: Dang Pei , Niu Zhanwen , Gao Shang , Hou Lei , Zhang Guomin
Published: October 2020

Compared with the conventional cast-in-situ method, prefabricated construction (PC) is a sustainable construction method. In China, the sustainable performance qualities of PC—such as its improved quality, lower cost and shorter turnaround—have barely been achieved. This is likely attributable to the weak sustainable construction capability of construction enterprises in undertaking PC projects. This study observed that there is relatively scant research on critical influencing factors relating to this capability, after investigating the most recent literature about PC development obstacles. Without a clear understanding of this knowledge, construction enterprises are unlikely to formulate effective measures to enhance their sustainable construction capability to tackle efficiency, cost, risk, and broader performance issues in PC. Therefore, this study identified 27 factors from the literature and interviews, ranked these factors using the Entropy method and the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP), examined the top five critical factors, and discussed the problem-solving measures. This study drew the conclusion that construction enterprises should focus on PC business scope expansion, project delivery quality improvement, and technology investment and innovation, as well as the return on investments in technology. It is also suggested that incentivised strategies be formulated by the Chinese government in order to improve industry practitioners’ capability of implementing sustainable PC projects. This will eventually expedite the industry’s transformation towards leaner, more efficient and sustainable practice.
Environmental Footprint of Cementitious Adhesives—Components of ETICS
Authors: Czernik Sebastian , Marcinek Marta , Michałowski Bartosz , Piasecki Michał , Tomaszewska Justyna , Michalak Jacek
Published: October 2020

Energy saving is one of the strategic challenges facing our civilization today. Without decisive actions to reduce energy consumption, it is impossible to maintain the current standard of living. Energy consumption for heating and cooling purposes is one of the primary energy consumption sources in many countries. The external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS), which is today the most widely used solution in EU countries, increases buildings’ energy efficiency. This article investigates the impact of producing cementitious adhesives, as part of ETICS with expanded polystyrene (EPS) or mineral wool (MW), on the natural environment using the cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) method. Cementitious adhesives have a relatively low impact on most of the environmental indicators analyzed in the paper concerning other ETICS components. The paper aims to raise awareness of the importance of the environmental impact related to the production of cementitious adhesives. Knowledge of the construction products’ environmental impact is fundamental for creating reliable databases, based on which, in the future, their environmental requirements will be determined. The environmental performance of building elements is essential for the correct determination of the buildings’ sustainability.
Soil Contamination in Areas Impacted by Military Activities: A Critical Review
Authors: Broomandi Parya , Guney Mert , Kim Jong Ryeol , Karaca Ferhat
Published: October 2020

Military activities drastically affect soil properties mainly via physical/chemical disturbances during military training and warfare. The present paper aims to review (1) physical/chemical disturbances in soils following military activities, (2) approaches to characterization of contaminated military-impacted sites, and (3) advances in human health risk assessment for evaluating potential adverse impacts. A literature search mainly covering the period 2010–2020 but also including relevant selected papers published before 2010 was conducted. Selected studies (more than 160) were grouped as follows and then reviewed: ~40 on the presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), ~20 on energetic compounds (ECs) and chemical warfare agents (CWAs), ~40 on human health risk assessment, and generic limits/legislation, and ~60 supporting studies. Soil physical disturbances (e.g., compaction by military traffic) may drastically affect soil properties (e.g., hydraulic conductivity) causing environmental issues (e.g., increased erosion). Chemical disturbances are caused by the introduction of numerous PTEs, ECs, and CWAs and are of a wide nature. Available generic limits/legislation for these substances is limited, and their contents do not always overlap. Among numerous PTEs in military-impacted zones, Pb seems particularly problematic due to its high toxicity, abundance, and persistence. For ECs and CWAs, their highly variable physiochemical properties and biodegradability govern their specific distribution, environmental fate, and transport. Most site characterization includes proper spatial/vertical profiling, albeit without adequate consideration of contaminant speciation/fractionation. Human health risk assessment studies generally follow an agreed upon framework; however, the depth/adequacy of their use varies. Generic limits/legislation limited to a few countries do not always include all contaminants of concern, their content doesn’t overlap, and scientific basis is not always clear. Thus, a comprehensive scientific framework covering a range of contaminants is needed. Overall, contaminant speciation, fractionation, and mobility have not been fully considered in numerous studies. Chemical speciation and bioaccessibility, which directly affect the results for risk characterization, should be properly integrated into risk assessment processes for accurate results.
CFD-Simulation Assisted Design of Elastocaloric Regenerator Geometry
Authors: Navickaitė Kristina , Penzel Michael , Bahl Christian , Engelbrecht Kurt , Tušek Jaka , Martin André , Zinecker Mike , Schubert Andreas
Published: October 2020

Elastocaloric cooling is a promising alternative to conventional cooling using the vapour compression cycle, with potentially higher theoretical exergy efficiency. Nevertheless, there is a number of challenges to be tackled before the technology can be commercially available world-wide. In this study, the potential of double corrugated regenerators to enhance the cooling power of an elastocaloric device that would be operating under compression loading was investigated. The numerical performances of two types of double corrugated geometries are presented and compared to a flat plate regenerator as a reference. The double corrugated geometry significantly increases the surface area to volume ratio and convection of the regenerator, which allows an increase in the power density of the device.
To Mod or Not to Mod—An Empirical Study on Game Modding as Customer Value Co-Creation
Authors: Bilińska-Reformat Katarzyna , Dewalska-Opitek Anna , Hofman-Kohlmeyer Magdalena
Published: October 2020

A spiking interest in customer’s value co-creation may be observed lately, especially in the gaming industry. The general purpose of this study is to identify the customers’ inclination to perform game modding as a manner of value co-creation which benefits both companies and other game users. The current knowledge regarding the factors determining this behaviour is, relatively speaking, weak. The authors conducted qualitative research in the forms of in-depth interviews and focus groups with Polish game players (including mod users and mod creators). This study provides evidence for the peculiar motives of the customers performing different levels of engagement: mod users are driven by game enjoyment, focusing on the motives and social affiliation of multiplayer groups, while mod creators are mainly motivated by the enjoyment of creation, pride, creativity, and epistemic curiosity; engagement and social affiliation are received by mod creators with unique talents. The paper provides tentative evidence for specific customers’ motivations to co-create, which benefits both companies (game developers) and other game users. The players are perceived as an inseparable part of the gaming industry, who deliver extra value to the market through game modding activities. The paper provides useful, executable guidance on how to encourage and support players to engage in value co-creation in virtual words. The study may enrich our understanding of customers’ inclinations on both theoretical and empirical levels, showing some of the motivations both to use and create mods. In comparison to previous research, mod creators and mod users were researched separately in this study, and thus a distinction of their different sets of motives was enabled. Both practitioners and researchers may find what is uncovered in the paper engrossing.
Understanding Business Environments and Success Factors for Emerging Bioeconomy Enterprises through a Comprehensive Analytical Framework
Authors: Adamseged Muluken Elias , Grundmann Philipp
Published: October 2020

The development toward the bioeconomy requires, among others, generating and institutionalizing knowledge that contributes to technical and nontechnical inventions and innovations. Efforts to support innovation are often linked with the development of business models that facilitate the development in bioeconomy. However, the interdependences between the business models and their business environments are not sufficiently well understood in a way where misalignments that can obstruct the development can be dealt with adequately. Given this lacuna, this research aims to contribute to the development of a comprehensive analytical framework for better understanding the conditions of business environment as well as empirically apply the framework in an empirical study on cases of bioeconomy enterprises in Europe. In this paper, a comprehensive business environment framework is developed and applied for analyzing over 80 cases, thereby allowing for critical action arenas and crucial success factors to be identified. The findings are derived from a systematic application of the framework to relevant action arenas for business development: institutional development, technology and knowledge, consumers’ agency, market structure, funding, resource and infrastructure, and training and education. The results show that businesses in the bioeconomy, unlike other businesses, have to deal with more and very specific constraining legislative issues, infant and non-adapted technology and knowledge, as well as unclear values and perceptions of consumers. Due to this, businesses have to develop new forms of cooperation with different stakeholders. Successful businesses are characterized by the fact that they develop specific strategies, steering structures, and processes with a particular focus on learning and innovation to overcome misalignments between the business environment and their business models. Focusing efforts on learning and innovation in institutional development, technology and knowledge, consumers’ agency, and funding are especially promising as these turned out to be particularly critical and in particular need of institutional alignment for reducing different kinds of transaction costs in the development of bioeconomy.
A Comprehensive Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of the Use of Hydrochar Pellets in Combined Heat and Power Plants
Authors: Mohammadi Ali , Venkatesh G. , Sandberg Maria , Eskandari Samieh , Joseph Stephen , Granström Karin
Published: October 2020

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) has been seen as a potentially beneficial process for converting wet biomass into value-added products. It is, however, necessary to overcome the challenges associated with handling the powdered form of hydrochar—a solid product of the HTC process—by controlling the formation of dust and facilitating smoother transportation and distribution in a potentially wide marketplace. In this paper, the authors investigate the environmental consequences of different alternatives for using hydrochar pellets produced from mixed sludges from pulp and paper mills in Sweden, using the environmental life cycle assessment (E-LCA). Two scenarios for possible end-uses of hydrochar in combined heat and power (CHP) plants as a source of energy (heat and electricity) were assessed. In these scenarios, hydrochar pellets were assumed to be combusted in CHP plants, thereby avoiding the use of combustible solid wastes (Scenario A) and coal (Scenario B), respectively, to recover energy in the form of electricity and heat. The environmental damages to Human Health, Ecosystem Quality, Climate Change, and Resources are evaluated based on 1 tonne of dry sludge as the functional unit. The results from this analysis illustrate that Scenario B, in which hydrochar replaces coal, offers the greatest reduction in all the environmental damage characterizations, except the Resources category. The displacement of energy-based coal due to hydrochar combustion contributed most significantly to the environmental damages wrought by the system—ranging from 52% in Resources to 93% in Ecosystem Quality. Overall, the results highlight that the application of hydrochar pellets for energy recovery to offset waste- and coal-based energy sources has great environmental benefits. The favorability of sludge hydrochar over solid wastes as fuel for CHP plants may be counter-intuitive at first, since HTC is an energy-intensive process, but when accounting for the necessity of dependence on imports of wastes for instance, the hydrochar pellet may well emerge as a good option for CHPs in Sweden.
Hydrogeological Changes along a Fault Zone Caused by Earthquakes in the Moncayo Massif (Iberian Chain, Spain)
Authors: Sanz Eugenio , Menéndez Pidal Ignacio , Escavy José Ignacio , Ojeda Joaquin Sanz de
Published: October 2020

The response of springs to earthquakes in the zone of moderate seismicity associated with the fault under study (the Talamantes–Castilruiz fault, Soria, Spain) always leads to a flow decrease regardless of the magnitude of the earthquake and the distance from the epicenter. The sensitivity of the springs is explained by the different degrees of the confinement of their aquifers. The semi-confined aquifer of the Vozmediano spring (1100 L/s) experiences short post-seismic events with a variable decrease in flow and an increase in turbidity, depending on the intensity of the earthquakes felt at the site (Intensity). These changes are likely due to elastic deformation and an increased permeability in their aquifers. This spring is an example of how previous (historical) earthquakes can break the aquifer through the fault causing horizontal movements of the groundwater and displacing the discharge point to a different fracture site located six kilometers from the initial point.
Assessing Landscape Ecological Risk Induced by Land-Use/Cover Change in a County in China: A GIS- and Landscape-Metric-Based Approach
Authors: Liu Jianxiao , Wang Meilian , Yang Linchuan
Published: October 2020

Landscape ecological risk assessment (LERA) evaluates different types of potential environmental impacts and their cumulative effects, thereby providing policy insights for sustainable regional land-use and ecosystem management. In a departure from existing literature that heavily relies on low-resolution land-use data for LERA at provincial or municipal scales, this study applies high-resolution land-use data to a relatively small research area (county). In addition, this study modifies the evaluation units of LERA from equal-sized grids to watersheds and refines the ecological vulnerability weight on the basis of finer-resolution data. The main findings are summarized as follows: (1) In 2011–2013, nearly 866 ha of land use in Xiapu County changed; moreover, the construction land, which was mainly concentrated in Songgang Street and Xinan Town, increased the most (340 ha). (2) Landscape ecological risk (LER) was roughly maintained, and areas of high ecological risk were mainly concentrated along the coast. (3) The spatial distribution of LER maintained a relatively aggregated pattern, with no trend toward more aggregated or more dispersed change. This study further discusses the relationship between local LER and land-use change and how to balance global and local LER in planning practices.
Active Learning Methodologies in Teacher Training for Cultural Sustainability
Authors: Molina-Torres María-Pilar , Ortiz-Urbano Raimundo
Published: October 2020

Within the framework of sustainable development, the concept of cultural heritage is linked to the heritage awareness of a specific spatial context, and to the conservation of collective memory. Despite the clear interest in cultural sustainability, the lack of research devoted to interpreting different teaching methods for transmitting patrimonial assets and preserving natural heritage is noteworthy. For this reason, the present study takes various scientific contributions as the background for considering sustainable education as a fundamental instrument to recover and conserve heritage resources, both from an informative and educational point of view. The aim of this study was to assess the training of new teachers in terms of the particular skills needed to develop active learning methods related to the teaching of heritage sustainability. The research sample consisted of 488 students in the Degree in Primary Education program. The methodology combined both qualitative and quantitative techniques, to obtain information from both observation and an opinion survey given to the students. The results show several opinions related to achieving and facilitating the implementation of innovative methodologies, due to a lack of initial university training. Generally speaking, this work provided an opportunity for students to analyze a series of prejudices regarding their working methods, and to overcome excessive theorization in their university studies.