bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Enterprise Digital Transformation on Green Technology Innovation: A Quantitative Study on Chinese Listed Companies
Authors: Tang Liang , Jiang Haifeng , Hou Shanshan , Zheng Jun , Miao Lianqi
Published: June 2023

Promoting enterprise digital transformation is of great significance in accelerating the innovation capability of green technology and boosting green and low-carbon economic development. Therefore, based on the textual analysis of enterprise annual reports, the measurement index of enterprise digital transformation was constructed, and combined with the data of listed, A-share companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen from 2011 to 2021, a quantitative study was conducted on the relationship between enterprise digital transformation and green technology innovation. The quantitative study shows that there is a significant positive correlation between enterprise digital transformation and green technology innovation. The CEO IT background plays a positive moderating role between digital transformation and green technology innovation in enterprises. Based on the quantitative study from the perspective of fiscal incentives, it was found that different fiscal incentive policies play different roles in an enterprises’ digital transformation and green technology innovation; that is, government subsidies play an intermediary role between the two, and tax preferences play a positive moderating role between the two. This research enriches the mechanism analysis between enterprise digital transformation and green technology innovation, and it provides a useful exploration for the further promotion of both enterprise digital transformation and green technology innovation.
Evaluation of Watershed Water Quality Management According to Flow Conditions through Factor Analysis and Naïve Bayes Classifier
Authors: Jung Woo Suk , Kim Young Do
Published: June 2023

Previous studies on water quality assessment for watershed management have predominantly focused on specific seasonal or annual average values, rather than considering water quality variations based on flow fluctuations. It is crucial to identify the water quality characteristics within a watershed by incorporating flow conditions to establish a customized watershed management approach over different time periods. In this study, a vulnerability analysis was conducted to attain the target water quality (TWQ) in 22 watersheds within the Nakdong River system in South Korea. Additionally, factor analysis (FA) was employed to analyze the characteristics of water quality fluctuations in relation to flow conditions. The FA results categorized the pollution source characteristics of the 22 watersheds into various types, indicating the need for specific pollution source management strategies. These findings enabled an initial decision-making process regarding which water pollution sources to prioritize based on flow conditions. Moreover, detailed analyses of pollution sources were performed for watersheds, where achieving TWQ was challenging. Subsequently, a data-based prediction model was developed using the naïve Bayes classification model to determine the likelihood of achieving TWQ. As a result, this study proposes a technique for water quality management in watersheds by introducing a water quality excess probability model, which employs data-based analysis instead of traditional numerical modeling for watershed water quality assessment and proactive prediction. The study discusses the potential of various data-based tools to reduce development and analysis time, providing a powerful alternative to physical-based models that require extensive input data and are time-consuming. To advance future studies, the establishment of comprehensive water environment big data, improvement of real-time monitoring systems within watersheds, and advancements in spatial and temporal observation technologies are emphasized as essential for the development of an advanced watershed management system.
Integrating Prospective LCA in the Development of Automotive Components
Authors: Grenz Julian , Ostermann Moritz , Käsewieter Karoline , Cerdas Felipe , Marten Thorsten , Herrmann Christoph , Tröster Thomas
Published: June 2023

The development of automotive components with reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is needed to reduce overall vehicle emissions. Life Cycle Engineering (LCE) based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) supports this by providing holistic information and improvement potentials regarding eco-efficient products. Key factors influencing LCAs of automotive components, such as material production, will change in the future. First approaches for integrating future scenarios for these key factors into LCE already exist, but they only consider a limited number of parameters and scenarios. This work aims to develop a method that can be practically applied in the industry for integrating prospective LCAs (pLCA) into the LCE of automotive components, considering relevant parameters and consistent scenarios. Therefore, pLCA methods are further developed to investigate the influence of future scenarios on the GHG emissions of automotive components. The practical application is demonstrated for a vehicle component with different design options. This paper shows that different development paths of the foreground and background system can shift the ecological optimum of design alternatives. Therefore, future pathways of relevant parameters must be considered comprehensively to reduce GHG emissions of future vehicles. This work contributes to the methodological and practical integration of pLCA into automotive development processes and provides quantitative results.
Removal and Adsorption Mechanisms of Phosphorus, Cd and Pb from Wastewater Conferred by Landfill Leachate Sludge-Derived Biochar
Authors: Zhang Huiqin , Lu Kexin , Zhang Juan , Ma Chao , Wang Zixian , Tian Xiaofang
Published: June 2023

There is a high treatment cost and secondary pollution to the environment due to the high organic content and complex composition in landfill leachate sludge in refuse incineration power plants. Landfill leachate sludge-derived biochar (LLSDB) was prepared via pyrolysis in order to realize its resource utilization and remove pollutants from wastewater. The study focused on the removal of nutrients phosphorus and heavy metals (Cd(II) and Pb(II)) from wastewater through the adsorption process using LLSDB. The investigation also looked into the kinetics and thermodynamics of the adsorption process. It was found that the Freundlich–Temkin–Langmuir model was the best model for describing the initial concentration of total phosphorus, (TP) 0–1.0, 1.0–20, and 20–120 mg/L, respectively, while the Freundlich–Langmuir model was the best model for Cd(II) 100–500 mg/L, Pb(II) 500–5000 mg/L, respectively. Additionally, while the exothermic entropy reduction process for TP (˂1.0 mg/L) was spontaneous, the endothermic entropy increment processes for TP (≥1.0 mg/L), Pb(II) and Cd(II) in wastewater increased with the adsorption temperature. It was inferred for the adsorption mechanism of LLSDB that the adsorption of low concentrations of TP, Cd(II) and Pb(II) from wastewater was mainly physical adsorption, following a linear distribution, while that of high concentrations was mainly chemical adsorption because of a series of chemical reactions; TP, Cd(II) and Pb(II) from wastewater were nicely adsorbed and removed by LLSDB600, which was an incredibly superior strategy for controlling waste with waste.
Assessment of Vietnam Tourism Recovery Strategies after COVID-19 Using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach
Authors: Lin Wu-Chung , Wu Chihkang Kenny , Le Thi Kim Trang , Nguyen Ngoc Anh
Published: June 2023

Tourism is the economic sector most heavily influenced by COVID-19, and it has suffered unprecedented losses. The competitiveness and resilience of the tourism industry have recently become a topic of great concern for global stakeholders. A series of ambitious recovery strategies have been announced by countries to rebuild the tourism industry, that aim to make “smokeless industry” more resilient and sustainable. The objective of this study is to evaluate and rank the effectiveness of nine recovery strategies in the post-COVID-19 period for Vietnam’s tourism industry. A combined model of the Best–Worst Method (BWM) and the Group Best Worst Method (GBWM), an efficient tool using the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach, is used to rank the tourism solutions. The assessment process is carried out by six stakeholder groups considered decision makers, including tourism operators, enterprises, scholars, employees, residents, and tourists. In the context of Vietnam, the most influential tourism recovery strategy is using innovative tourism business models (ST2), which is a solid step forward in utilizing potential resources, meeting current tourism needs, and adapting to natural changes. The model results reflect that the tourism model’s restructuring is necessary to provide new types of experiences and entertainment suitable for the new tourism context. The findings illustrate that the priority of strategies depends on the perception of decision-makers, levels of involvement in the tourism industry, and local conditions. The study has contributed a theoretical framework for tourism recovery solutions and decision support in the post-pandemic stage. The model can be applied to other countries worldwide in improving tourism performance or assisting in decision-making for similar issues.
Examining the Threshold Effect of Environmental Regulation: The Impact of Agricultural Product Trade Openness on Agricultural Carbon Emissions
Authors: Lu Jingwen , Dai Lihua
Published: June 2023

Agricultural product trade openness is a crucial factor impacting agricultural carbon emissions. This study analyzes the relationship between trade openness and carbon emissions in China. Using panel data from 2002 to 2020 for 31 provinces, a threshold panel model is employed to examine the non-linear relationship from an environmental regulation perspective. The findings reveal a significant single-threshold effect of environmental regulation. When environmental regulation intensity is low, trade openness is positively associated with agricultural carbon emissions. However, when environmental regulation intensity is high, trade openness significantly reduces carbon emissions. Regional regression analysis indicates that this single-threshold effect holds true in major grain-producing, grain-selling, and grain- producing- selling balance areas, although regional differences exist. This study emphasizes the need to coordinate environmental regulations and trade policies, strengthen environmental control, and leverage the threshold effect of environmental regulation in reducing carbon emissions through agricultural product trade openness.
Designing Iowa Agricultural Landscapes to Improve Environmental Co-Benefits of Bioenergy Production
Authors: Parish Esther S. , Karlen Douglas L. , Kline Keith L. , Comer Kevin S. , Belden William W.
Published: June 2023

Cellulosic bioenergy feedstocks are needed to improve carbon (C) management while provisioning biomass for bioproducts and biofuel. The transition to increased cellulosic biomass production can be guided by land management plans designed to improve economic, environmental, and ecological performance. We constructed a sustainability model to compare landscape designs for biofuel production from corn (Zea mays L.) stover and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) in central Iowa, USA. We used the model to compare environmental and socioeconomic outcomes associated with four landscape management strategies, with and without cellulosic biomass markets. We evaluated (1) a fuelshed area containing over 1.2 million ha (3 million acres) of corn and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) within 80 km (50 miles) of a commercial-scale cellulosic biorefinery in Nevada, Iowa, and (2) the South Fork watershed containing over 72,000 ha (178,000 acres) of these row crops within eight north central Iowa HUC-12 (hydrologic unit code) watersheds. At both landscape scales, we found that it is possible to achieve multiple environmental and socioeconomic benefits concomitantly with cellulosic biomass production by strategically collecting corn stover and converting the 10% of the lowest-profitability row crop land to perennial switchgrass. Potential benefits from landscape design include increased biodiversity, soil and water quality improvements, increased soil carbon sequestration for climate change mitigation, and reduced fertilizer use and cost. Our model results showed that increasing benefits can accrue when complementary conservation practices (e.g., reduced tillage, use of a rye cover crop) are combined and integrated throughout a fuelshed or watershed area. We conclude that ecologically based landscape designs offer valuable insights about costs and benefits of land management alternatives, with relevance for achieving stakeholder goals.
The Effect of Sustainability Orientation on CRM Adoption
Authors: Al-Shuridah Obaid Mobarak , Ndubisi Nelson Oly
Published: June 2023

As research stresses the relevance of sustainability orientation and the necessity of viewing it as a key source of organizations’ competitive advantage, interest in it from a number of academic fields is growing and gaining ground. Furthermore, organizations are under tremendous pressure to be more socially responsible and environmentally sustainable while staying customer-focused. This has resulted in the development of the practice of customer relationship management (CRM) towards sustainability, which considers social, economic, and environmental implications while developing fruitful, long-term customer relationships. The main goal of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between individuals’ sustainability beliefs and their intention to use CRM systems (intention) and commitment to organizations that provide CRM systems (commitment). It is proposed that sustainability orientation indirectly predicts two outcome constructs, intention and commitment, through two mediators, namely, attitude towards using CRM systems and trust in firms providing such systems. The data were collected from Australia using an online survey panel with a total of 303 completed responses. The results showed that the hypothesized relationships between sustainability orientation and attitude towards using CRM systems and trust in the firms providing CRM systems were all significant and in the proposed direction. Attitude and trust were found to significantly affect intention to adopt CRM systems and commitment to the firms that provide such systems, confirming the hypothesized mediation role of attitude and trust. Furthermore, this mediation was partial since there were significant and direct relationships between sustainability orientation and the two outcome constructs, intention and commitment.
Combined Application of a Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm and Life Cycle Assessment for Evaluating Environmentally Friendly Farming Practices in Japanese Rice Farms
Authors: Masuda Kiyotaka
Published: June 2023

When organic practices may have negative environmental effects, understanding the trade-offs between the economic and environmental outcomes of organic agriculture is essential in its promotion. This paper examines whether organic rice was planted in Japanese rice farms using the combined application of a multi-objective genetic algorithm and life cycle assessment. A modeled farm with 30 hectares (ha) of paddy fields is constructed using information from an agricultural management handbook. The planted crops considered are environmentally friendly rice with reduced use of chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides, organic rice, conventional wheat, and conventional soybeans. A bio-economic farm model with both economic and environmental objectives is created. The Pareto-optimal solutions indicate that the planted area of organic rice is 2.3 ha, at best, in the modeled farm. The cultivation of organic rice is likely to be constrained compared with that of environmentally friendly rice, and even though it produces an increase in income, it does not necessarily exert positive effects on the environment. The findings suggest that when organic farming has negative impacts, countermeasures against problems that emerge through its practice should be included in the essential requirements for subsidization.
A Content Analysis of Architectural Atmosphere Influencing Mindfulness through the Lens of Instagram
Authors: Thampanichwat Chaniporn , Bunyarittikit Suphat , Moorapun Chumporn , Phaibulputhipong Prima
Published: June 2023

Mindfulness is a psychological construct that enhances sustainable behaviors, environmental behavior, environmental consumption, mindful consumption, and water and energy sustainable consumption. The state of mindfulness can be affected by the determinator of the physical environment as architecture via the architectural atmosphere. The previous studies show that the discrete areas of knowledge between architecture and mindfulness are still widely unknown. However, image-centered social media platforms such as Instagram seem to be able to provide big data for studying people’s perceptions of architecture. Thus, this study aims to describe the concept design and characteristics of architectural atmosphere in architecture images tagged mindfulness posted to Instagram. A coding framework developed from a previous systematic literature review was conducted for this content analysis. A total of 354 architectural images were screened, coded, and analyzed by five architects. The results highlight that the Japanese traditional architecture (59.20%) looks to be the most architectural atmosphere concept that influences mindfulness, following by Biophilic Design (33.05%), and Buddhist contemplative space (20.06%). In addition, it was found that the most common architectural atmosphere characteristic fostering mindfulness performed calm space (73.58%), focus object (54.45%), concrete material (85.71%), hue color (78.17%), hard light and shadow (78.98%), and view with a tree (60.11%).
The Impact of a Child-Friendly Design on Children’s Activities in Urban Community Pocket Parks
Authors: Zhang Le , Xu Xiaoxiao , Guo Yanlong
Published: June 2023

Urbanization is a global trend that is expected to continue, and by 2025, it is estimated that almost 60% of the world’s children will live in urban areas. Urban community pocket parks provide a solution to the need for parks in high-density urban communities due to their flexible location, small size, and patchy distribution. This paper aims to examine and optimize the construction of urban community pocket parks from a child’s perspective to encourage children’s participation in these parks. The first step was to conduct a literature review to identify key evaluation indicators for assessing the child-friendliness of pocket parks. Then, the AHP-entropy TOPSIS approach was used to establish an indicator system to effectively evaluate the child-friendliness of pocket parks in urban communities. The system included physical space, cognitive ability, emotional development, environmental perception, and social interaction. Finally, suggestions for optimization were made based on the weighting of influencing factors. The results show that freedom of movement (6.2%) significantly affects the child-friendliness ratings of community pocket parks. Additionally, Hefei residents are not sufficiently influenced by the diversity of play (2.29%) and play facility planning (2.58%) in pocket parks. Therefore, consideration should be given to focusing on the degree of nature adaptation in park construction and renewal projects, as well as understanding children’s perception of nature.
Comparing the Substitution of Nuclear Energy or Renewable Energy for Fossil Fuels between the United States and Africa
Authors: Tsai Bi-Huei , Huang Yao-Min
Published: June 2023

This study explores the differences in energy consumption between the highly economically developed United States and economically underdeveloped Africa. This study conducted the parameter estimation and equilibrium analysis of a Lotka–Volterra model to investigate the short-term and long-term relations of different types of energy, respectively. The parameter estimation results show that nuclear energy consumption increases the consumption of fossil fuels in the United States but decreases fossil fuel consumption in Africa. This implies that Africa can replace fossil fuels with nuclear energy in the short run. Given the current state of energy consumption, the results of the equilibrium analysis indicate that the United States’ nuclear and fossil fuel consumption will reach a stable long-term equilibrium. However, Africa will experience significant fluctuations in nuclear and fossil fuel consumption, and both nuclear and fossil fuel consumption will eventually be depleted. The highly economically developed United States arranges energy consumption in an environmentally friendly way and reshapes economies to achieve sustainability, so its long-term energy consumption is more stable than economically underdeveloped Africa. Accuracy analysis results show that the nuclear or renewable energy consumption predicted by the Lotka–Volterra model is more accurate than that of a Bass model since the Lotka–Volterra model considers energy interactions.
An Experimental Study to Improve the Nutrients and the Mechanical Properties of Copper Tailings Sand in China’s Arid Zone by Biomineralization of Locally Isolated Urease-Producing Bacteria
Authors: Yue Jianmin , Song Naiping , Meng Chen , Xie Li , Chang Daoqin
Published: June 2023

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology is an environmentally friendly technique that can contribute to tailings consolidation and ecosystem restoration. Our study found that local MICP bacteria, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, could remediate copper tailings pollution at different slope positions (K1, K2, and K3) in arid areas. We analyzed the effect of MICP treatment on the slag from macro- to microscopic levels with a dissolution test, soil physical and chemical tests, wind tunnel testing experiments, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results demonstrated that the MICP bacteria, L. fusiformis, effectively remodeled the slag structure, thereby preventing the diffusion of tailing slag caused by wind erosion. This structural remodeling resulted in a significant increase in slag strength (maximum strength: 2707 KPa) and an increased content of CaCO3. Furthermore, it led to a significant reduction in total salinity content (36.4–43.6%), pH (4.1–4.4%), and improvement in nutritional status (total potassium content (16–31.4%) and the available phosphorus content (2.1–2.3 times) of the tailings slag (p < 0.05). There was also a 15% increase in urease and catalase activity in K1, a 7% increase in invertase activity in K3 (p < 0.05), and a significant increase in carbon and nitrogen microbial biomass in K1, K2, and K3 (p < 0.05).
Finding Sustainable Countries in Renewable Energy Sector: A Case Study for an EU Energy System
Authors: Faraji Abdolmaleki Shoeib , Esfandiary Abdolmaleki Danial , Bello Bugallo Pastora M.
Published: June 2023

This study aims to identify sustainable countries within the European Union in terms of renewable energy. The objective is to support renewable alternatives and enhance sustainability in the renewable sector among the top economic countries. The study reviews key drivers of sustainable development, establishes criteria for each dimension, and selects up-to-date indicators. The fuzzy analytical hierarchy process and expert judgments are employed to rank the countries, ensuring unbiased results, and reducing uncertainty. The findings indicate that Sweden, Belgium, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, and Italy exhibit their positions from the most advanced to the lower sustainable countries, respectively. Energy and environmental indicators play a primary role as the most influential drivers. Economic factors contribute as tertiary drivers, while social and institutional indicators have a relatively minor influence. Notably, Sweden, Belgium, and Ireland, despite being among the last three in terms of economic ranking, emerge as the most sustainable countries in renewable energy, surpassing stronger economies such as France, Germany, and Spain. On the other hand, the Netherlands, Poland, and Italy, as middle economy countries, rank lower in terms of sustainability. These results provide insights for harnessing renewable energy in high-growth economies and offer valuable policy advice for implementation.
Interannual Variability of Energy and CO2 Exchanges in a Remnant Area of the Caatinga Biome under Extreme Rainfall Conditions
Authors: Mendes Keila R. , Marques Ana M. S. , Mutti Pedro R. , Oliveira Pablo E. S. , Rodrigues Daniele T. , Costa Gabriel B. , Ferreira Rosaria R. , Silva Any C. N. da , Morais Leonardo F. , Lima José Romualdo S. , Antonino Antonio C. D. , Menezes Rômulo S. C. , Silva Cláudio M. Santos e , Bezerra Bergson G.
Published: June 2023

Research focusing on energy, water vapor, and CO2 exchanges over the Caatinga Biome is recent. Consequently, there exist research gaps on this topic that limit our ability to understand and project interannual and long-term variations in the CO2 cycle of this environment. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of the energy and CO2 balances of the Caatinga Biome under extreme rainfall conditions (extreme drought and intense rainfall) using simulations of the SITE model (Simple Tropical Ecosystem Model). Meteorological data from the years 2009 (heavy rainfall) and 2012 (extreme drought) obtained from an INMET automatic station were used. Relationships between monthly GPP and NEE values and rainfall were also analyzed. Although the SITE model had been previously calibrated for the region, adjustments to the calibration were necessary for our study due to the extreme climatic values of the selected years. The results highlight the impact of rainfall on energy and mass exchanges over the Caatinga, particularly evident in the partitioning of the energy balance and the CO2 balance. In 2009 (during heavy rainfall), the fraction of Rn converted into LE was nearly 6% higher compared to the values observed in 2012 (during extreme drought). Regarding CO2, it was found that the Caatinga behaved as a sink, even under extreme drought conditions (2012), with annual average values of −1.86 µmol m−2 s−1 (2009) and −0.81 µmol m−2 s−1 (2012). Relationships between monthly GPP and NEE values and rainfall were also investigated, revealing an asymptotic relationship between the components of CO2 balance and rainfall. It was evident that both the monthly values of GPP and NEE tend to stabilize when monthly rainfall volumes exceed 200 mm.
Review of the Relationship Management Strategies for Building Flood Disaster Resilience through Public–Private Partnership
Authors: Osei-Kyei Robert , Tam Vivian W. Y. , Komac Ursa , Ampratwum Godslove
Published: June 2023

Relationship management is critical in public–private partnership (PPP), especially when the PPP concept is adopted to build community flood disaster resilience. In this regard, this study aims to conduct a systematic review to explore the relationship management strategies for using public–private partnership to build community flood disaster resilience. A systematic literature review was conducted to retrieve relevant publications related to the subject area. Through a thorough three-stage search using Scopus, a total of twenty-nine relevant journal articles were selected for analysis. From the review, a total of twenty-eight individual relationship management strategies for building community flood disaster resilience using PPP were derived. These strategies were put into six categories based on their individual meaning and relation to other factors; these include effective communication, legal and coordination, knowledge co-production, monitoring and evaluation, social initiatives, and consistent funding. Further, a conceptual framework was developed using a meta-governance approach, in which a four-step process is proposed to make the derived relationship management strategies actionable. The outputs of this study will be impactful for future empirical investigations on the use of PPP in building flood resilience.
Urban Forests, Territorial Planning and Political Stability: Key Factors to Face Climate Change in a Megacity
Authors: Ferreira Maurício Lamano , Kniess Claudia Terezinha , Silva Wanderley Meira , Ferreira Anderson Targino da Silva
Published: June 2023

Megacities across the planet face a range of economic and territorial challenges. Future climate predictions suggest that several urban areas will present greater social and environmental problems in the coming decades, which makes strategic planning urgent and necessary for sustainable adaptation in all senses, i.e., economic, social and environmental. Some cities in the global south, such as Sao Paulo, had a history of rapid urban development without environmental planning throughout the 20th century, making urgent the need to expand green infrastructure, especially with the connection of forest fragments to the urban fabric. Therefore, this study aimed (i) to evaluate the increase in official urban parks throughout history, considering the spatialization and typologies of new parks in the territory of Sao Paulo, (ii) to understand the ecosystem services provided by urban forests and its distribution in the city, and (iii) to associate the temporal stability attributes of recent environmental secretaries with the officialization of protected areas in the city of Sao Paulo. The results revealed that only at the beginning of the 21st century was there an effective increase in the number of protected areas that shelter fragments of urban forests, contrasting the strong socio-spatial segregation that occurred in the 20th century with an economically vulnerable population that occupied peripheral areas with greater natural disaster risk. Political stability was a key factor for success in the environmental management of a megacity. The scenarios of environmental injustice reported in this manuscript can be revised with the implementation of policies and actions aimed at expanding green infrastructure in strategic sites, based on specific park typologies for each location. Such actions may come from public–private partnerships (PPP) that subsidize the socio-environmental transformation of the territory.
State/Academia Key Stakeholders’ Perceptions Regarding Bioeconomy: Evidence from Greece
Authors: Trigkas Marios , Karagouni Glykeria
Published: June 2023

While researchers of the area try hard to conceptualize the bioeconomy, it appears that it is harder for the variety of stakeholders to agree on the critical elements that form sustainable bioeconomy models. The aim of the present paper is to gain insight into major players’ understanding of the bioeconomy concept to form policies and strategies or direct education and research. Using data collected from academia and state stakeholders in Greece, this paper articulates perceptions regarding the concept of bioeconomy from an academic, technological, and economic point of view. According to the results, the bioeconomy concept seems to be related to applied life and economic sciences, and engineering and technology sciences. Its technological interpretation regards innovation, new product development, and technologies. Empirical findings indicate an almost catholic acceptance of bioeconomy as an economic activity, no matter the science field or the state position of the stakeholders. They also highlight a clear need for synergies and a coherent cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary approach to produce novel knowledge, skills, technology, and innovation. The research contributes to the existing debate on the buzzing concept of the bioeconomy and fills a scientific gap at the regional level of a typical Mediterranean economy, enriching the related literature.
Field Measurements and Human Perception to Remediate Noise Pollution in the Urban Public Parks in Saudi Arabia
Authors: AlSaleem Saleem S. , Almhafdy Abdulbasit , Berardi Umberto , Al-Shargabi Amal A. , Ali Ahmed AbdelMonteleb M.
Published: June 2023

The deleterious effects of noise pollution on public health have been well documented, with traffic noise being identified as a significant contributor to stress and adverse impacts on the human body and mind. In this study, sound levels at 12 different points in Al-Oqailat Park in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, were measured using a sound level meter (SLM), with the study’s primary objective being to conduct this measurement. The experimental results were then compared with perception measurements collected from users who frequently visited Al-Oqailat park. Sound measurements were taken in four different zones (A, B, C, and D) during rush hours between 1:30 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. It was found that noise levels at point A1 peaked at 79 dBA at 4:40 p.m., while the lowest level recorded was 41.1 dBA at point D2 at 2:35 p.m. The range of noise levels varied between 79 and 41 dBA, with a rate of decline of 48.10%. Zones A and B seemed to have the highest noise levels during rush hours, since they were located closest to King Fahd Road and Al-Adl Street, while zone D exhibited the lowest noise levels due to its location as a parking lot for Buraydah Court. An intermediate noise level was found in zone C, in the middle of Al-Oqailat park. The people perception results, completed by 84 park visitors, showed that zone A was identified as having exceptionally high noise levels compared to the other zones, with zone D having the lowest levels. These results were consistent with the experimental findings and reflected that the points along King Fahd Road and Al-Adl Street had the highest noise levels. Overall, the research highlighted the dominance of car traffic and horns as the primary sources of noise pollution in and around Al-Oqailat Park, emphasizing the significance of meticulous site selection for parks in urban areas.
Cyberbullying Victimization and Social Anxiety: Mediating Effects with Moderation
Authors: Xia Tiansheng , Liao Jieying , Deng Yiting , Li Linli
Published: June 2023

Cyberbullying experiences are considered an important factor contributing to social anxiety among college students. However, potential mediators of the relationship between cyberbullying and social anxiety, which may strengthen or weaken this relationship, are unclear. The present study examined the mediating role of self-esteem and appearance anxiety, as well as the moderating role of gender. A total of 269 college students participated in a questionnaire survey on cyberbullying victimization, appearance anxiety, self-esteem, and social anxiety, and 240 valid questionnaires were obtained, including 71 from males and 169 from females. The results show that cyberbullying victimization was significantly and positively correlated with appearance anxiety and social anxiety; appearance anxiety was significantly and positively correlated with social anxiety; and self-esteem was significantly and negatively correlated with social anxiety. Cyberbullying victimization mainly affects college students’ social anxiety in two ways: the mediating role of appearance anxiety and the sequential mediating role of appearance anxiety and self-esteem. In addition, gender plays a moderating role between self-esteem and social anxiety. We discussed the practical implications of the current study and measures of behavioral interventions for college students.
Configurational Path of Decarbonisation Based on Coal Mine Methane (CMM): An Econometric Model for the Polish Mining Industry
Authors: Tobór-Osadnik Katarzyna , Gajdzik Bożena , Strzelec Grzegorz
Published: June 2023

This study presents the econometric model for the Polish mining industry on the topic of the configuration path of decarbonisation based on coal mine methane (CMM). CMM is released from coal mines around the world, including Poland. CMM is taken into account in the decarbonisation of countries with the highest underground coal production. Over the past ten years, CMM emissions have been gaining greater attention due to their status as We accept greenhouse gas (GHG) and their potential use as a clean energy resource. The very important problem for the mining plants is the system of controlling the level of methane. In this paper, we present an econometric model for mine production linear programming, taking into account both market considerations and controlling the amount of methane released into the air from mines. This model can use to control methane in the Polish mining industry. Moreover, this model can be used in the strategy of decarbonisation of the Polish industry according to the European strategy toward net zero (2050).
Impact of Economic Policy Uncertainty on Industrial Convergence: Evidence from China
Authors: He Jianjia , Wang Danyuan
Published: June 2023

The uncertainties in current economic policies have increased, and Decisions about industrial convergence by businesses are impacted by uncertain macroeconomic policy. Using a fixed-effects model, the article selects annual data from A-share listed Chinese companies from 2010 to 2021 and empirically analyzes the relationship between economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and industrial convergence, as well as the mediating and moderating effects of diversification strategies and financial distress under this path of action. The findings are as follows: (1) EPU has a significant negative impact on industrial convergence, and this phenomenon is most obvious for non-state enterprises. (2) Enterprise diversification strategy mediate the relationship between industrial convergence and EPU (3) Corporate financial distress has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between EPU and industrial convergence. (4) The nature of firm property rights has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between EPU and industrial convergence. The aforementioned conclusions have implications for policy: the government should always ensure the long-term stability of economic policies and direct and encourage the development of cross-industry convergence of enterprises. Enterprises need to actively empower development with joint efforts to achieve win-win cooperation.
Exploring an Integrated System for Urban Stormwater Management: A Systematic Literature Review of Solutions at Building and District Scales
Authors: Chen Yu , Gaspari Jacopo
Published: June 2023

Climate change has aggravated the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, particularly in flood-related hazards. Cities nowadays face significant challenges in stormwater management from frequent heavy rainfalls. Traditional urban drainage systems can no longer cope with large amounts of surface runoff; cities are searching for new ways to deal with urban stormwater. Green roofs and other nature-based solutions have been widely used for stormwater management by combining water purification and retention functions but have not yet fully solved the flood problems. This article aims to (1) explore the different aspects of urban water management, particularly the urban stormwater topic, and (2) identify the existing solutions and discuss the potential and barriers to integrated solutions implementation. By introducing the concept of four domains and finding the overlapping area to investigate, we analyzed different solutions to reduce rainwater runoff from the roof and ground level, aiming at building and district scales. This paper proves that further research direction could constitute an integrated system to work together for urban stormwater management.
Traffic Safety Sensitivity Analysis of Parameters Used for Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Calibration
Authors: Miqdady Tasneem , de Oña Rocío , de Oña Juan
Published: June 2023

Recently, the number of traffic safety studies involving connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) has been increasing. Due to the lack of information regarding the real behaviour of CAVs in mixed traffic flow, traffic simulation platforms are used to provide a reasonable approach for testing various scenarios and fleets. It is necessary to analyse how traffic safety is affected when key parameter assumptions are changed. The current study conducts a sensitivity analysis to identify the parameters used in CAV calibration that have the highest influence on traffic safety. Using a microsimulation-based surrogate safety assessment model approach (SSAM), traffic conflicts were identified, and a ceteris paribus analysis was conducted to measure the effect of gradually changing each parameter on the number of conflicts. Afterwards, a two-at-a-time sensitivity analysis was performed to explore the influence of simultaneously varying two parameters. The results revealed that reaction time, clearance, maximum acceleration, normal deceleration, and the sensitivity factor are key parameters. Studying these parameters two at a time revealed that low maximum acceleration, when combined with other parameters, consistently resulted in the highest number of conflicts, while combinations with short reaction time always yielded the best traffic safety results. This investigation broadens the understanding of CAV behaviour for future implementation for both manufacturers and researchers.
Workflows for Knowledge Co-Production—Meat and Dairy Processing in Ohio and Northern California
Authors: Hollander Allan D. , Hoy Casey W. , Armstrong Kevin S. , Dimock Michael R. , Huber Patrick R. , Jackson-Smith Douglas , Quinn James F. , Riggle Courtney M. , Tomich Thomas P.
Published: June 2023

Solving the wicked problems of food system sustainability requires a process of knowledge co-production among diverse actors in society. We illustrate a generalized workflow for knowledge co-production in food systems with a pair of case studies from the response of the meat and dairy production sectors in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first case study serves as an example of a scientific workflow and uses a GIS method (location allocation) to examine the supply chain linkages between meat and dairy producers and processors in Ohio. This analysis found that meat producers and processors are less clustered and more evenly distributed across the state than dairy producers and processors, with some dairy processors potentially needing to rely on supply from producers up to 252 km away. The second case study in California adds an example of a stakeholder workflow in parallel to a scientific workflow and describes the outcome of a series of interviews with small and mid-scale meat producers and processors concerning their challenges and opportunities, with the concentration of processors arising as the top challenge faced by producers. We present a pair of workflow diagrams for the two case studies that illustrate where the processes of knowledge co-production are situated. Examining these workflow processes highlights the importance of data privacy, data governance, and boundary spanners that connect stakeholders.
A Novel Color Visual Cryptography Approach Based on Harris Hawks Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Ibrahim Dyala , Sihwail Rami , Arrifin Khairul Akram Zainol , Abuthawabeh Ala , Mizher Manar
Published: June 2023

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide use computing devices and services, including smartphones, laptops, and messaging apps. Visual cryptography (VC) is one of the most secure encryption methods for image encryption in many applications, such as voting security, online transaction security, and privacy protection. An essential step in VC is encrypting secret images into multiple digital shares to hide them with the intention of successfully reverting them to their original form. Hence, a single share cannot reveal information about the secret image. Issues including pixel enlargement, high processing costs, and low decryption quality influence the current state of VC. We address these issues by introducing a novel technique based on (2, 2) secret sharing and the algorithm of Harris hawks optimization (HHO) for color photos. For the encryption process, the appropriate color levels are determined using the HHO algorithm. Consequently, images are decrypted with improved quality and a small impact on the overall processing complexity. The suggested scheme is also non-expandable due to the equal size of the initial secret image and the shared images. This results in lower memory requirements and improved image quality. The approach is applied to a set of well-known benchmark images. Moreover, a set of standard metrics is used to assess the robustness of the proposed scheme, including its capability in defending against cryptanalytic attacks, a correlation, a histogram, and the quality of encryption. According to the findings, the proposed solution provides better reconstructed image quality, time-efficient encryption, and nearly optimal statistical properties compared to previous approaches.
Attractive Landscape Features as Drivers for Sustainable Mountain Tourism Experiences
Authors: Dax Thomas , Tamme Oliver
Published: June 2023

Mountains are perceived as places of biodiversity, as attractive places with breathtaking aesthetic views and epitomized by their unique landscape features. As mountains are the second most demanded outdoor destination category at a global level after beaches and islands, the steady growth of tourism places high pressure on sensitive mountain ecosystems. As can be observed from tourism practice in mountain environments, the distribution of tourism activities is highly uneven. In the Alps, one of the best-known regions with relentless tourism growth, a substantial concentration of tourism intensity can be traced to specific locations and valleys, whereas other parts have to cope with trends of marginalization. In this situation, many concerned stakeholders have long advocated for more balanced economic and tourism development. The initiative of “Mountaineering Villages” promoted by the Alpine Convention is one of a few respective actions to shift perspectives and persuade tourists to engage in sustainable tourism activities. The paper explores how these activities are linked to the balanced use of cultural landscapes and the narratives that are exposed as convincing development models in these regions.
Multistage Detection of Tetrodotoxin Traces in Diodon hystrix Collected in El Salvador
Authors: Fuentes-Monteverde Juan Carlos , Núñez Marvin J. , Amaya-Monterosa Oscar , Martínez Morena L. , Rodríguez Jaime , Jiménez Carlos
Published: June 2023

This study describes a multistage methodology to detect minute amounts of tetrodotoxin in fishes, a plan that may be broadened to include other marine organisms. This methodology was applied to porcupinefish (Diodon hystrix) collected in Punta Chiquirín, El Salvador. A three-stage approach along with post-acquisition processing was employed, to wit: (a) Sample screening by selected reaction monitoring (HPLC-MS/MS-SRM) analyses to quickly identify possible toxin presence via a LC/MS/MS API 3200 system with a triple quadrupole; (b) HPLC-HRFTMS-full scan analyses using an ion trap-Orbitrap spectrometer combined with an MZmine 2-enhanced dereplication-like workflow to collect high-resolution mass spectra; and (c) HPLC-HRMS2 analyses. This is the first time tetrodotoxin has been reported in D. hystrix specimens collected in El Salvador.