bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vehicle Emission Changes in China under Different Control Measures over Past Two Decades
Authors: Yang Ning , Yang Lei , Xu Feng , Han Xue , Liu Bin , Zheng Naiyuan , Li Yuan , Bai Yu , Li Liwei , Wang Jiguang
Published: December 2022

Vehicle emissions have become a significant source of air pollution in urban cities, especially in China. Mobile sources account for 45% of local fine particle emissions in the Chinese capital Beijing. The Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) area, one of China’s most representative urban clusters, is suffering from severe air pollution. With the rapid growth of vehicle ownership in the past two decades, vehicle emissions in China have also undergone great changes under various management measures. The BTH region is also a place where mobile source emission management was carried out earlier. It is of important research value to understand the evolution trend of the vehicle ownerships in the BTH region and the actual effects of various management measures for the control of vehicle emissions. Due to the imperfect evaluation of the current vehicle emission limitation measures from 2000 to 2019, the vehicle emission inventory of the BTH region was established, and the major control measures in the BTH region were evaluated. Results showed that the vehicle ownership has been increasing year by year over the past 20 years, from 2.39 million in 2000 to 25.32 million in 2019, with an average annual growth rate of 13.24%. However, the pollutants discharged by motor vehicles showed a trend of first rising and then falling due to various measures except CO2. The unsynchronized control measures have resulted in huge differences in vehicle growth trends and emissions among Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. The emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and particulate matter (PM10) in Beijing showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. The changes in these pollutants in Tianjin were similar to those in Beijing, but there was a secondary increase for NOX and PM10 in the later period. The discharge of all pollutants in Hebei Province showed a growing trend except sulfur dioxide (SO2). The major emission source of CO and VOCs in BTH was PCs, and the contribution rate of PCs to VOCs, reached 86.0–89.6% in 2019. Heavy-duty trucks (HDTs) and buses were the main sources of NOX emissions, contributing 78.2–85.4% of NOX in 2019. Eliminating high emission vehicles was the best control measure in the BTH Region, which had a good emission reduction effect on all pollutants. For sustainable development of the BTH region, it is suggested that Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province implement vehicle control policies simultaneously and establish a joint management mechanism.
Problem Solving by Agricultural Extension Students with Various Levels of Creativity through a Neurocognitive Lens
Authors: Liang Chaoyun
Published: December 2022

The cultivation of agricultural extension talent is key to sustainable agricultural development because it can help create unique economic relationships, add new knowledge and skills to traditional agriculture, identify marketing advantages in emerging markets, and promote the transition to a sustainable society. This study identified the activated brain regions and thought patterns of agricultural extension students when they performed numerical, spatial, and verbal intelligence tasks. The cerebral activity of the student participants was captured through electroencephalography to analyze their activated brain regions and thought patterns during the problemidentification and resolution-reaching phases. A total of 36 participants were recruited and divided into high-creativity (HC) and low-creativity groups to analyze differences in their thought patterns. The results indicated that numeric problem solving activated the frontoparietal network and was associated with a high level of self-generated thought. The function of evaluating creativity was inhibited in the HC group, and the participants engaged in divergent semantic processing during the numeric task. Spatial problem solving activated the frontal regions and was associated with intensive visual search tasks. The HC group exhibited suppressed creativity evaluation and analogical reasoning. Verbal problem solving activated the frontoparietal regions and was associated with verbal memory, semantic-based word processing, and self-generated thought. Creative associations in the verbal task were enhanced in the HC group. This study adopted innovative approaches to address a complex topic that has not been thoroughly investigated but is essential for the theoretical development of both neurocognitive science and agricultural sustainability.
Multilayer Granular Recycled Rubber for Its Application to Technical Flooring
Authors: Sanz Buades Victoria , Juliá Sanchis Ernesto , Segura Alcaraz Jorge , Montava Belda Isaac , Gadea Borrell José María
Published: December 2022

The aim of this study is to investigate the static and dynamic behaviour of multilayer materials manufactured from granular recycled rubber applied to technical flooring. The studied samples were manufactured by varying their thickness, density and granulometry, as these are the parameters that determine the performance of these rubbery materials. Two mechanical tests, static and dynamic, were carried out under controlled conditions to evaluate the mechanical behaviour of these materials by means of its modulus of elasticity and dynamic stiffness. Relating dynamic stiffness to impact sound insulation, it can be concluded that these materials are suitable for use in technical flooring, such as in fitness facilities. The selection will vary for static and dynamic behaviour, with different materials suitable for different applications. In general, the most suitable material for high stiffness applications is the one that reached values of 67.3 MPa for the static modulus and 72.96 MPa for the dynamic modulus of elasticity. The results allow for the consideration of these materials as substitutes for the most commonly used materials, such as ethylene vinyl acetate.
Simulation of Land Use/Land Cover Dynamics Using Google Earth Data and QGIS: A Case Study on Outer Ring Road, Southern India
Authors: Padma SrinivasaPerumal , Vidhya Lakshmi Sivakumar , Prakash Ramaiah , Srividhya Sundaresan , Sivakumar Aburpa Avanachari , Divyah Nagarajan , Canales Cristian , Saavedra Flores Erick I.
Published: December 2022

The land use and land cover change dynamics is in par with the increasing growth of urban developments and associated sprawl. The objective of the study is to quantify such land cover changes caused due to the urban expansion along the outer ring road using Remote Sensing and GIS. The land cover maps are created for four segments namely Chikkarayapuram, Nazarathpettai, Meppur, and Perungalathur for the years of 2009, 2012, and 2016, respectively. The land cover maps are analyzed for changes among seven classes, namely agriculture, barren land, residential units, industry, water body, other vegetation, and marshland (swamp). Further, the land cover maps of the four segments are analyzed for changes in terms of spatiotemporal aspects (area-based land cover change), environmental aspects (green cover change), and economical factors. The urban growth of the Chikkarayapuram, Nazarathpettai, Meppur, and Perungalathur segment along the outer ring road corridor in the years 2009, 2012, and 2016 are (5.16%, 20.10%, 7.14%, and 12.63%), (14.31%, 30.62%, 13.9%, and 22.18%), and (19.67%, 33.1%, 23.22%, and 40.27%), respectively. The urban areas have increased from 2009 to 2016 by 20, 76,530 sq. m. The agriculture regions have been reduced from 2009 to 2016 by 12, 62,700 sq. m. Besides, using the MOLUSCE plugin in open-source GIS (QGIS), simulated maps for the year 2022 were created based on the land cover maps of the three years (2009, 2012, and 2016) which are then validated with the ground-truth points obtained from Google Earth. The scope of the study utilization of Google Earth Engine (GEE) and automated feature extraction algorithms for predictive analysis.
Does Local Confucian Culture Affect Corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance Ratings? Evidence from China
Authors: Fu Panpan , Narayan Seema Wati , Weber Olaf , Tian Yonggang , Ren Yi-Shuai
Published: December 2022

We investigate the influence of local Confucian culture on firms’ commitment to environment, social, and governance (ESG). We hypothesize that local Confucian culture will encourage firms to increase their commitment and effort to ESG practices, as a basic idea of Confucianism is akin to the golden rule, which dictates that one must treat people fairly and well if one wishes to be treated the same manner. Using geographic distances to local Confucian temples and centers to create geographic proximity-based measures of local Confucian culture, we confirm that local Confucian culture in the vicinity of corporate headquarters is positively associated with firms’ ESG performance. Further, we hypothesize and find that the role of local Confucian culture is more prominent in state-owned firms, larger firms, firms with greater media coverage and analyst following, and in more recent years, when environmental, social, and governance practices are more relevant and receive greater attention. Our research shed light on studies evaluating the influence of local cultural norms on investment decisions within the framework of ESG.
Influences of Naphthalene Concentration on Starch Anaerobic Digestion: Focusing on Digestion Performance, Extracellular Polymeric Substances and Function Microbial Community
Authors: Yao Yilin , Li Jingyi , Xue Hanhan , Liu Yutong , Qiao Junpeng , Tang Jingchun , Liu Rutao , Niu Qigui
Published: December 2022

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely distributed in the sludge environment due to activities such as oil extraction and pose a serious threat to deep-seated anaerobic microorganisms. Thus, in this study, we discussed the dose–response efficiency of naphthalene (Nap, a typical PAH) on anaerobic digestion (AD) through co-metabolic degradation via batch experiments. The batch results showed that 30 mg/L Nap promoted the AD with the accumulation of CH4 18.54% higher than the control (without Nap) by increasing the efficiency of hydrolysis and acetogenesis 99.49% and 61.95%, respectively. However, adverse effects were observed with an excessive dosage of Nap (higher than 100 mg/L) with a decrease of methane production (37.16) with 2000 mg/L Nap. Interestingly, the concentrations of the polysaccharide and protein reached the highest at 138.76 mg/L and 400.41 mg/L, respectively, in 1000 mg/L Nap. Furthermore, the high activities of hydrolase and transmembrane ATPase were acquired in 30 mg/L Nap. In addition, Nap significantly affected the methanogenic microbial abundance and diversity, especially diminishing Methanolinea and Syntrophobacter. Furthermore, the enrichment of Bacteroides in 30 mg/L Nap showed moderate Nap could facilitate hydrolysis. The genes relevant to cellular processes were activated by Nap. This research provided a reliable basis for the anaerobic microbial response under Nap stress.
Sustainability Investigation in the Building Cement Production System Based on the LCA-Emergy Method
Authors: Wang Hairuo , Liu Yexin , Zhang Junxue , Zhang He , Huang Li , Xu Dan , Zhang Chunxia
Published: December 2022

As one of the highest energy and resource consumption industries in China, discussion on the sustainability of the cement production system has great significance. This study conducted sustainable calculations and analyses for cement production systems based on the emergy method. This study also considers the sustainability impact of clean energy on the overall cement production system. Through a series of sustainable indicator measurements, the results prove that: (1) the two primary sections, non-renewable resource and non-renewable energy, contribute 88.6% and 11.1% of the emergy proportion, respectively; (2) the emergy sustainability indicator (ESI) was only 0.058, which is significantly less than the standard; (3) through the analysis of eight hypotheses, a very small change between the absolute values was found, which demonstrates that the sensitivity changes are within acceptable limits for the cement production system; and (4) by integrating the biological power generation subsystem, sustainability has been optimized in the cement production system. Finally, two ameliorated strategies are discussed in this paper for the better sustainability performance of the cement production system in the future.
Vehicle Telematics for Safer, Cleaner and More Sustainable Urban Transport: A Review
Authors: Ghaffarpasand Omid , Burke Mark , Osei Louisa K. , Ursell Helen , Chapman Sam , Pope Francis D.
Published: December 2022

Urban transport contributes more than a quarter of the global greenhouse gas emissionns that drive climate change; it also produces significant air pollution emissions. Furthermore, vehicle collisions kill and seriously injure 1.35 and 60 million people worldwide, respectively, each year. This paper reviews how vehicle telematics can contribute towards safer, cleaner and more sustainable urban transport. Collection methods are reviewed with a focus on technical challenges, including data processing, storage and privacy concerns. We review how vehicle telematics can be used to estimate transport variables, such as traffic flow speed, driving characteristics, fuel consumption and exhaustive and non-exhaustive emissions. The roles of telematics in the development of intelligent transportation systems (ITSs), optimised routing services, safer road networks and fairer insurance premia estimation are highlighted. Finally, we outline the potential for telematics to facilitate new-to-market urban mobility technologies, signalised intersections, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication networks and other internet-of-things (IoT) and internet-of-vehicles (IoV) technologies.
Industry Perspectives on Water Pollution Management in a Fast Developing Megacity: Evidence from Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Liu Jennifer , Brouwer Roy , Sharmin Dilruba Fatima , Elliott Susan , Govia Leah , Lindamood Danielle
Published: December 2022

Industry representatives are key stakeholders in addressing pollution in the rivers surrounding Dhaka, Bangladesh, a fast growing megacity. Drawing on insights from political-ecology and framing water management as a sociotechnical system, we present an analysis of in-depth interviews conducted with representatives from key polluting industries. Three main thematic areas resulting from these interviews relate to the management of effluent treatment plants, the need for enhanced education, both technical and moral, and sociocultural factors that shape attitudes toward water management. In these areas, industrial representatives show multiple ways and realms in which more sustainable water governance in Dhaka may be enacted.
Factors Influencing Consumer Satisfaction of Fresh Produce E-Commerce in the Background of COVID-19—A Hybrid Approach Based on LDA-SEM-XGBoost
Authors: Guan Gaofeng , Liu Dong , Zhai Jiayang
Published: December 2022

In order to clarify the influencing factors of fresh produce e-commerce consumer satisfaction in the context of COVID-19, a hybrid approach based on LDA-SEM-XGBoost was proposed by studying online reviews. Firstly, topic elements were extracted through the LDA topic model, PLS-SEM was established to explore the paths between variables, and XGBoost models were applied to rank the importance of each topic variable based on satisfaction. The results showed that epidemic factors had a significant impact on logistics factors, product factors, and platform factors, with the epidemic factors having the greatest impact on logistics factors. Logistics factors, product factors, platform factors, and epidemic factors had a significant impact on consumer satisfaction, with logistics factors having the greatest impact on satisfaction. The topic variables affecting fresh produce e-commerce consumer satisfaction were, in order: logistics time, shipping speed, product quality, delivery speed, after-sales strategy, logistics packaging, product price, the impact of COVID-19, marketing strategy, and product brand. Based on these findings, recommendations are made for the sustainable production and marketing of fresh produce.
Review on Improvements to the Safety Level of Coal Mines by Applying Intelligent Coal Mining
Authors: Wu Xuefei , Li Hongxia , Wang Baoli , Zhu Mengbo
Published: December 2022

China suffers the worst coal mine disasters in the world. Lots of miners lose their lives or suffer occupational injury. Fortunately, China is developing vigorously intelligent coal mining, which is the combination of traditional coal mining and the latest technology. Mining expects to relieve or solve coal mine safety, health and intensive labor issues and ensure energy security by applying intelligent coal mining. This paper fully reviews the promotion of intelligent coal mining to coal mine safety. Firstly, a brief history of intelligent coal mining is introduced. Then the safety motivation of the intelligent coal mine is discussed in four perspectives, including current the coal mine safety tendency, the positive impact of mechanized coal mining on safety, coal mine safety conception of “Mechanization Replacement and Automation Reduction”, and government initiatives. The intelligent prevention and control scheme of major disasters matching intelligent coal mining are also reviewed in the present paper, including intelligent gas extraction, intelligent coal and gas outburst/rock-burst prevention, and the real-time monitoring of water diversion fissure zone. Finally, the positive impacts of intelligent coal mining on safety are evaluated. Compared with traditional longwall face, the number of miners of coal cutting shift is reduced from 20~30 to 5~7, and the working environment is greatly improved. The statistics have shown that the employees in large coal mines, the mortality rates per 106 tons of coal output, and the number of deaths decreased by 33%, 72.2%, and 66.9% during the period of rapid development of intelligent mining technology (2016–2021). In the future, more and more key technologies and management skills should be introduced, aiming at workless mining and the intrinsic safety of the coal mine. This paper provides a way for safety researchers around the world to understand the tendency of coal mine safety in China.
Integrated Flood Risk Management Approach Using Mesh Grid Stability and Hydrodynamic Model
Authors: Pathan Azazkhan , Kantamaneni Komali , Agnihotri Prasit , Patel Dhruvesh , Said Saif , Singh Sudhir Kumar
Published: December 2022

Today, inhabitants residing in floodplains face a serious and perpetual threat of flooding. Flooding causes fatalities and considerable property damage in metropolitan areas. Therefore, robust structural measures need to be adopted to eliminate flood catastrophe. Structural measures in the floodplain are the most promising solutions. However, there are cost-associated factors for proposing a flood retention plan. Navsari city (98.36 km2, area extent) of Gujarat was used as a case study to investigate the impact of mesh grid structures (100 m, 90 m, and 50 m) along with structural measures for the preparation of a flood retention plan. The HEC-RAS 2D hydrodynamic model was performed for the Purna River. The output of the model was characterized by four different scenarios: (i) Without weir and levees (WOWL), (ii) With weir (WW), (iii) With levees (WL), and (iv) With weir and levees (WWL). The statistical parameters (R2, RMSE, NSE, inundation time, and inundation area) were determined to evaluate model accuracy. The outcome of the model revealed that a 50 m size mesh grid exhibited more accurate results, yielding high NSE and R2 values (0.982 and 0.9855), a low RMSE value (0.450 m), and a smaller inundation area (114.61 km2). The results further revealed that the WW scenario was the most effective flood retention measure as it delayed the flood water for up to 16 h, and managed the flood with the WOWL case. Moreover, the mean error (WW scenario) estimated from profiles 1 and 2 ranged from (−0.7 to 0.62) and from (−0.1 to 0.02 m), respectively, which were evaluated as very low when compared with other scenarios. The novel scenario-based flood retention plan emphasizing the stability of mesh grid structures using the hydrodynamic model can be applied to any other region around the globe to recommend efficacious structural flood measures for flood decision making systems.
An Explanatory Model of Doping Susceptibility Examining Morality in Elite Track and Field Athletes: A Logistic Regression Analysis
Authors: García-Grimau Elena , De la Vega Ricardo , De Arce Rafael , Casado Arturo
Published: December 2022

The aim of the present study was to develop an explanatory model of doping susceptibility among competitive track and field athletes using a logistic regression analysis accounting for some morality-related variables which were not explored in previous studies. A total of 281 Spanish elite track and field athletes (49.5% women, 48.4% have competed with the national team) completed an online survey measuring different constructs in relation to doping susceptibility. The final model demonstrated that nutritional supplements (OR: 2.39; CI: 1.16–4.90; p < 0.05), moral disengagement (OR: 2.17; CI: 1.48–3.19; p < 0.001), acceptance of gamesmanship (OR: 1.29; CI: 1.12–1.49; p < 0.001), and descriptive norms (OR: 1.21; CI: 1.04–1.41; p < 0.05) are the factors better explaining doping susceptibility. The profile of the athlete at risk of being more susceptible to doping is represented by someone who is aged under 20 years, believes that doping is present in his/her sport, has positive attitudes of acceptance of gamesmanship, is morally disconnected from doping, and frequently consumes nutritional supplements. It is recommended to deliver education related to the use of sports supplements and potential ill-effects of performance-enhancing substances or methods, and to engage athletes in doping prevention programs at an early age.
Role of Resource Circularity in Carbon Neutrality
Authors: Murakami Shinsuke , Shimizu Kotaro , Tokoro Chiharu , Nakamura Takashi
Published: December 2022

With the help of circular strategies, products can be used longer (i.e., reuse, repair, and refurbish). Products that are difficult to use will be recycled efficiently. The present paper provides actionable guidelines for reducing environmental impact at all stages of a product’s life cycle, including the manufacture and assembly of the materials that make up the product, environmental impacts during use, and environmental impacts at final disposal, as well as specific actions and evaluation mechanisms. The circular economy is a concept that encompasses specific actions and their evaluations. To clarify the contribution of this circular economy to carbon neutrality, the present paper highlights how it is important to recognize the role of carbon as both an energy carrier and a material. CO2 is a waste product from burning and powering carbon. CO2 must be disposed of like any other waste product, but carbon itself is also an energy carrier. Thus, when promoting the carbon cycle, it is important to harmonize carbon’s function as a material with its role as an energy carrier. The further introduction of renewable energy and societal shift towards circular economy would contribute to carbon neutrality and more resource efficient use in a mutually complementary manner.
Assessment of Motorway Impact on Agricultural Land with a Simplified Method and GIS Data as a Tool for Selecting the Optimal Route
Authors: Bacior Stanisław , Chmielowski Krzysztof , Prus Barbara
Published: December 2022

The highway network has to grow because of the increasing vehicle use, the effort to improve road safety, and the needs generated by economic development and efficient international transport. The negative impact of the motorway on agricultural holdings in its vicinity can be determined with general agricultural land valuation methods. However, this approach necessitates an in-depth analysis of land cultivated by each farm, which is rather labour-intensive. Impact on agricultural land should be assessed after the detailed plans for constructing a motorway are ready or even after construction. Nevertheless, simplified methods can be applied as early as the preliminary design stage or when evaluating potential alternative routes. Less labour-intensive, these methods can determine the harmful impact of a motorway on agricultural land with sufficient accuracy. The simplified and automated method presented for assessing the impact of a motorway on agricultural land uses GML files to automatically acquire data for the calculations, using the linear nature of the motorway. The prepared input data is then processed to optimally place the motorway in space. The final step is the visualisation of the road investment. The process has been automated to facilitate rapid analysis and employment of the data in linear project modelling and assessments of available options.
Towards a Creative MICE Tourism Destination Branding Model: Integrating Heritage Tourism in New Orleans, USA
Authors: Kim Eunhye Grace , Chhabra Deepak , Timothy Dallen J.
Published: December 2022

MICE tourism had become a significant development tool for local economies before the COVID-19 outbreak. An effective destination brand is one way in which MICE stakeholders can work together to redesign and rebrand MICE tourism in the post-pandemic times. This study argues that heritage resources at a MICE destination add to the attractiveness of the business destination brand. This study proposes a Creative MICE Destination Branding Model (CMDBM) to examine co-created destination branding. The study shows that the core component of the CMDBM is based on MICE travelers’ evaluations of the destination’s potential to build brand equity by integrating its cultural/heritage resources as value-added attractions. The proposed CMDBM, amended based on the study results, indicates that the significance of the destination brand experience is enhanced because of cultural experiences and the support of local heritage institutions.
Silicon-Rich Biochar Detoxify Multiple Heavy Metals in Wheat by Regulating Oxidative Stress and Subcellular Distribution of Heavy Metal
Authors: Li Zheyong , Yuan Yajun , Xiang Luojing , Su Qu , Liu Zhenyan , Wu Wenguang , Huang Yihao , Tu Shuxin
Published: December 2022

Silicon is a quasi-essential trace nutrient for plant growth and is frequently employed to remediate soils of heavy metal pollution in agriculture. However, silicon’s role and mechanism in reducing heavy metal toxicity have not been well understood, especially for multi-heavy metals such as cadmium, zinc, lead, and arsenic (usually treated as a heavy metal). In this study, the effects of different silicon-rich materials (silicate, rice husk biochar (RHB), and RHB + bentonite) on growth trait, antioxidant response, heavy metal accumulation, and distribution of wheat grown in two soils polluted by multiple heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Pb, and As) were investigated. The results revealed that the addition of silicon-rich materials enhanced plant growth, improved the photosynthetic attributes in leaf tissues, and decreased the contents of Cd, Zn, Pb, and As in wheat shoots and grains. The examination of the subcellular distribution of heavy metals in plants implied that silicon-rich materials transferred heavy metals as intracellular soluble fractions to the cell walls, indicating the reduction of mobility and toxicity of heavy metals in the plants. In addition, the application of the silicon-rich materials reduced oxidative damage in plants by downregulating plant antioxidant response systems and decreasing the production of malondialdehyde (MDA), ascorbic acid (AsA), and glutathione (GSH). Moreover, fractionation analysis of soil heavy metals showed that silicon-rich amendments could convert bioavailable heavy metals into immobilized forms. With the comparation of different silicon-rich materials, combined RHB and bentonite could better remediate multi-heavy metal-polluted soils and promote wheat production. The effect of the silicate component was stressed in this paper but some of the potential benefits might have arisen from other components of the biochar.
The Relationship between Childcare Services Participation and Parental Subjective Well-Being under China’s Three-Child Policy—Based on the Mediation Effect of Parenting Stress
Authors: Hong Xiumin , Wang Jingyuan , Zhu Wenting
Published: December 2022

This study examined the relationship between children’s participation in childcare services from birth to 3 years of age and their parents’ subjective well-being, as well as the mediating role of parenting stress. In total, 990 parents of children aged 0–3 years from Beijing were surveyed. First, independent samples t-tests after propensity score matching revealed that parents who participated in childcare services may have significantly higher overall subjective well-being and life satisfaction than those who did not participate. Second, a descriptive analysis and an analysis of variance results indicated that remote location, low quality, and high price may be the major reasons for parents’ dissatisfaction with childcare services, and a regression analysis of childcare dissatisfaction showed that high-priced childcare services had a significant negative relationship with parent’s subjective well-being. Third, the results of a mediation analysis of parenting stress revealed that childcare services have significant direct effects on parents’ subjective well-being, and a small mediating effect of parenting stress on parent’s childcare service participation and parental subjective well-being. The findings demonstrate the importance of childcare services, especially for the provision of affordable childcare to improve parents’ subjective well-being and relieving pressure on parents.
Research on Technical Efficiency of Feed Use for Sustainable Beef Cattle Breeding in China: Evidence from 169 Beef Cattle Farmers
Authors: Wei Mian , Zhou Hui , Ma Jiliang , Khan Nawab , Cao Jianmin , Hu Xiangdong
Published: December 2022

Sustainable green development, cost saving, and efficiency improvement have become the main theme of the high-quality development of China’s animal husbandry and the problem of overuse of feed should be paid more attention. Based on the 3-year input–output data of 169 beef cattle farmers, a trans-logarithmic stochastic frontier function was used to study the relationship between feed utilization efficiency and beef cattle breeding scale. The results showed that the average technical efficiency of feed utilization was 0.56, and the technical efficiency of feed utilization increased year by year. Simultaneously, it showed that Chinese beef cattle farmers pay more attention to feed utilization efficiency at this stage; the feed utilization efficiency of retail and medium-sized beef cattle farmers was in the best state in 2015 and 2016. In 2017, the feed utilization efficiency of small-scale beef cattle farmers was the best; the technical efficiency of beef cattle breeding will increase with the expansion of scale. The technical efficiency of beef cattle breeding will increase with the expansion of the scale, and the feed utilization efficiency of large-scale farmers is also better than that of retail farmers, and the scale of beef cattle breeding can bring better benefits. However, from the perspective of feed utilization efficiency, it is not the largest scale that represents the best efficiency, and from the perspective of breeding technology efficiency, the gap between various scales is gradually narrowing. This should also prove that under the condition of hard resource constraints, the large-scale development of beef cattle breeding is in line with the basic national conditions of China at this stage.
Nitrite Accumulation at Low Ammonia Concentrations in Wastewater Treatment Plants
Authors: Keerio Hareef Ahmed , Bae Wookeun , Panhwar Sallahuddin
Published: December 2022

At higher ammonium concentrations, nitritation can be easily attained by picking out the inhibitor. In low-concentrated reactors, nitrite accumulation without using any chemical inhibitor is a challenging process. In this study, two continuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTR) with biofilm and without biofilm were operated with total ammonium nitrogen feed concentrations of ~50 mg/L and ~30 mg/L and effluent concentrations of ~1 mg/L. A CSTR without biofilm was operated in three phases. In phase 1, a substrate-shock concentration of 1 to 2000 mg total ammonium nitrogen (TAN)/L was tested. It was found that the shock concentration was not successful in long-term operations because nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) recovered rapidly. In phases 2 and 3, the sludge-treatment method was applied, and a high nitrite accumulation efficiency was achieved (~98%). In a CSTR with biofilm, the free ammonia shock concentration was ~91.7 mg/L, and a nitrite accumulation efficiency of ~90% was achieved.
Preliminary Studies on Conversion of Sugarcane Bagasse into Sustainable Fibers for Apparel Textiles
Authors: Jalalah Mohammed , Khaliq Zubair , Ali Zulfiqar , Ahmad Adnan , Qadir Muhammad Bilal , Afzal Ali , Ashraf Umer , Faisal M. , Alsaiari Mabkhoot , Irfan Muhammad , Alsareii Saeed A. , Harraz Farid A.
Published: December 2022

Owing to increased environmental awareness and the implementation of stringent governmental regulations, the demand for the valorization of natural fibers has increased in recent years. Sugarcane bagasse after juice extraction could be a potential source of natural fibers to be used in textile applications. In this paper, sugarcane bagasse is converted to textile fibers. Sugarcane fibers are extracted through alkali and H2O2 treatment with varying concentrations (6, 10, 14) g/L and (8, 12, 16) g/L, respectively. To soften the fibers for textile use, extracted fibers were post-treated with a constant ratio of silicone softener (50 g/L). Treatment of sugarcane fibers with varying concentrations of alkali–H2O2 significantly influenced the fiber surface morphology. Furthermore, an increase in the crystallinity of extracted fibers was observed, whereas a reduction in fiber linear density from 54.82 tex to 45.13 tex as well as moisture regain (6.1% to 5.1%) was observed as the ratio of alkali–H2O2 treatment was increased. A notable improvement in overall mechanical strength was achieved upon alkali–H2O2 treatment, but at a higher concentration (conc.) there was a loss of mechanical strength, and the torsional and flexural rigidity also increased significantly. Based on the results, sugarcane fibers treated with 10 g/L NaOH, 12 g/L H2O2 and 50 g/L silicone softener showed the most optimum results. These sustainable fibers have the potential to be used in textile applications due to their enhanced softness, optimum moisture regain, and better mechanical properties.
Telework during COVID-19: Effects on the Work–Family Relationship and Well-Being in a Quasi-Field Experiment
Authors: Chambel Maria José , Carvalho Vânia Sofia , Santos Alda
Published: December 2022

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations are forced to adopt teleworking. However, little is known about this work modality longitudinally. This study aims to clarify the impact of continuing to work on the organization’s premises and shifting to a telework situation on the work and family relationship and employees’ well-being. Using a sample of 435 bank employees with two waves, two groups were compared: (1) workers who continued to work on the organization’s premises (213), and (2) workers’ who had shifted to a telework situation (222). The first set of data were collected prior to the pandemic and the second approximately 10 months after its onset. The study found no statistically significant change to the work and family relationship (i.e., work–family conflict and work–family enrichment) as a result of a shift to telework. However, the shift to telework had a beneficial effect on work engagement, as opposed to remaining on the premises of the company. This study emphasizes the absence of effects on the work–family relationship resulting from the adoption of telework in response to COVID-19.
Analysis of the Relationship between Vegetation and Radar Interferometric Coherence
Authors: Cao Yuxi , Li Peixian , Hao Dengcheng , Lian Yong , Wang Yuanjian , Zhao Sihai
Published: December 2022

To effectively reduce the impact of vegetation cover on surface settlement monitoring, the relationship between normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and coherence coefficient was established. It provides a way to estimate coherence coefficient by NDVI. In the research, a new method is tried to make the time range coincident between NDVI results and coherence coefficient results. Using the coherence coefficient results and the NDVI results of each interference image pair in the study area, the mathematical relationship between NDVI and the coherent coefficient was established based on statistical analysis of the fitting results of the exponential model, logarithmic model, and linear model. Four indicators were selected to evaluate the fitting results, including root mean square error, determinant coefficient, prediction interval coverage probability, and prediction interval normalized average width. The fitting effect of the exponential model was better than that of the logarithmic model and linear model. The mean of error was −0.041 in study area ROI1 and −0.126 in study area ROI2.The standard deviation of error was 0.165 in study area ROI1 and 0.140 in study area ROI2. The fitting results are consistent with the coherence coefficient results. The research method used the NDVI results to estimate the InSAR coherence coefficient. This provides an easy and efficient way to indirectly evaluate the interferometric coherence and a basis in InSAR data processing. The results can provide pre-estimation of coherence information in Ningxia by optical images.
Sustainable Manufacturing through Systematic Reduction in Cycle Time
Authors: Goyal Ankur , Vaish Dinesh Chandra , Agrawal Rajat , Choudhary Sonal , Nayak Rakesh
Published: December 2022

The lean manufacturing strategy is used to eliminate waste, improve quality, reduce time and costs, and enhance operational efficiency. This paper explores the method of systematic cycle time reduction for sustainability (environmental, social, and economic) through the lens of the theory of constraints. This paper uses a case study method in support of a developed method of systematic cycle time reduction. The findings suggest that reduction in cycle time results in improved sustainability performance. Results also demonstrate that sustainability performance can be improved with low investment and without compromising working conditions of any manufacturing operation.
Study on Blasting Effect Optimization to Promote Sustainable Mining under Frozen Conditions
Authors: Cheng Ping , Li Yanbo , Lu Caiwu , Jiang Song , Xu Hanhua
Published: December 2022

In order to respond to the theme of national green and healthy sustainable development and in response to the problems of large block rates and pollution of the environment after the blast mining of underground rocks in alpine areas, we conducted research on the joints of underground rocks and the blastability of frozen rocks. According to the actual geological conditions of an underground mine blasting in Heilongjiang Province, three kinds of joint blasting geometric models were established. The rock mass blasting process of different types of joints was simulated by LS-DYNA software and the influence law of joints on rock mass blasting was summarized. The blasting crater test and the triaxial compression test of frozen rock were carried out. Combined with the blasting fragmentation characterization function (R-R and G-G-S), the blasting fragmentation, strength and stiffness of frozen rock at different temperatures were obtained. Based on the above, the blasting parameters of a multi-joint underground rock mass in an alpine region were optimized: hole spacing 4.0 m, row spacing 2.5 m, hole depth 11.5 m, V-type initiation network. The optimized blasting parameters significantly improved the mining efficiency and reduced the large lump rate to 3.1%. In order to promote the sustainable exploitation of resources in alpine regions, this study optimized the blasting technology of underground rock mass.
Linking Fintech Payment Services and Customer Loyalty Intention in the Hospitality Industry: The Mediating Role of Customer Experience and Attitude
Authors: Karim Rashed Al , Sobhani Farid Ahammad , Rabiul Md Karim , Lepee Nusrat Jahan , Kabir Mohammad Rokibul , Chowdhury Mohammad Abdul Matin
Published: December 2022

Although Fintech services benefit the hospitality industry significantly, studies conducted in Bangladesh are limited. Investigations on the mediating role of customer experience and attitude in the relationship between Fintech services and customer-loyalty intention are also scarce. Therefore, this study explores the association between Fintech services and customer-loyalty intention in the hospitality sector in Bangladesh. Additionally, it looks into how customer attitude and experience mediate the link between Fintech services and customer-loyalty intention. Data were collected from 365 respondents (customers) selected conveniently from 15 hotels (3-, 4-, and 5-star) in the two most renowned cities in Bangladesh, i.e., Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar. Smart-PLS was used to test the proposed model. The results of the study revealed that Fintech services, customer experience, and customer attitude significantly impacted customer-loyalty intention. Moreover, customer experience and customer attitude mediated the relationship between Fintech services and customer loyalty intention. The distinctive contribution of this investigation is the mediation of customer experience and customer attitude in the Fintech services and customer-loyalty intention relationship, as well as adding value to the existing Fintech literature. The study’s findings will help the hospitality sector in Bangladesh become more competitive and improve the quality of its services. Fintech companies and hospitality organizations must make careful plans to encourage the widespread implementation of Fintech.
Open Urban Space Regeneration Strategies Based on Urban Welfare: A Project and Experiment in the San Lorenzo District in Rome, Italy
Authors: Mariano Carmela , Gràvalos Lacambra Ignacio , Di Monte Patrizia
Published: December 2022

The current socio-economic dynamics and the consequences induced by the pandemic emergency have generated a reflection on the need to recover the dimension of proximity and to share resources, spaces, infrastructures, and experiences. This solicits a remodelling of the system of public open spaces, based on a resilient, adaptive model; multifunctional and linked to the temporality of the functions that spaces can accommodate. The paper deals with the issues of planning and design of public open spaces around the needs of proximity and welfare. This is achieved through collecting and systematizing state of the art concepts on the role of public space within the urban structure of the city, and the formulation of guidelines for design, deduced from an empirical application conducted on a pilot district in the city of Rome. The paper aims to suggest to policymakers and planners a new approach and a path for future research and practice in the planning and design of more sustainable and inclusive green areas and public spaces, meeting the diverse needs of citizens. We undertook this objective through the experimental application of an intervention methodology on the public space system of the San Lorenzo neighbourhood in Rome.
Experimental and Numerical Characterisation of a Non-Tubular Stirling Engine Heater for Biomass Applications
Authors: García David , Suárez María-José , Blanco Eduardo , Prieto Jesús-Ignacio
Published: December 2022

In the current context of environmental deterioration and rising energy costs, systems based on Stirling engines are interesting not only because of their proven efficiency and very low noise level, but also because of their ability to use renewable energies. Micro-CHP units based on Stirling engines fuelled by both solar energy and biomass can reduce CO2 emissions on a household scale, but the second option avoids problems usually related to the intermittency of solar energy. This paper describes the geometry and experimental characterisation of a new non-tubular heater design that is potentially interesting for biomass applications, and its analysis by means of a CFD model. The CFD model provides valuable information, under engine operating conditions, on the temperature distributions in the walls and the working gas, as well as the pressure and velocity of the gas particles, which are operating variables that are almost impossible to measure in practice. The new heater can be coupled to the Stirling engine of a previously developed micro-CHP unit for solar energy conversion, which has another non-tubular heater. The heat transfer rates achieved with both non-tubular heaters are compared with each other and with the values of the SOLO V160 engine heater, which consists of a tube bundle. The results show that the micro-CHP Stirling unit would develop more indicated power with the biomass heater than with the solar heater, providing information for future improvements of the indicated efficiency.
Optimization and Construction of Ecological Security Patterns Based on Natural and Cultivated Land Disturbance
Authors: Ma Tianyue , Li Jing , Bai Shuang , Chang Fangzhe , Jiang Zhai , Yan Xingguang , Shao Jiahao
Published: December 2022

In previous research on the construction of ecological security patterns (ESPs), the positioning characteristics of urban development were rarely considered, resulting in the identification of key conservation areas that are insufficient to support the ecological security of the entire region and the overall development of urban functions. Firstly, a “quality-importance-connectivity-balance” framework was created to identify ESPs and chose Liaocheng City (LC), a typical main agricultural production area, as the study site. Secondly, the ecological security level of the watershed perspective is an integrated resistance assessment method that exhibits topography, human activities, distance, and agricultural environmental impacts. Finally, the coordination pattern between agriculture and ecology was divided by the comprehensive quality of cultivated land and ESPs. A “six cores-seven belts-three zones” optimization pattern was constructed based on the components of ESPs and the distribution of cultivated land comprehensive quality. The study presents a novel approach for measuring ESPs and is an essential resource for ecological conservation and regional development planning in agroecologically complex regions.