bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A critical analysis of the integration of life cycle methods and quantitative methods for sustainability assessment
Authors: Cerchione Roberto , Morelli Mariarosaria , Passaro Renato , Quinto Ivana 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe utilization of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and its corresponding methodologies gained considerable attention within the realm of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability assessment. Nevertheless, a lack of extensive investigation on their integration along with quantitative procedures, for example, statistical techniques and artificial intelligence (AI), has emerged. The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the extent to which these methodologies have been connected so far in order to achieve objectives concerning the assessment of sustainability. The scope of the study was restricted to articles published in peer‐reviewed journals throughout the period from 1960 to 2022. The investigation was conducted by using a broad set of keywords, encompassing both life cycle methods, including Life Cycle Assessment, Environmental Life Cycle Costing and Emergy Accounting, and quantitative methods, such as mathematical methods, economic methods and building information modeling methods. A total of 144 articles addressing the combined use of life cycle methods and quantitative methodologies for the evaluation of sustainability were identified in the literature review. The greater part of these studies relied on the combined use of LCA with mathematical models, statistical methods and AI methods. As a result, the studies proven that the joint application of such methods can improve consistency of sustainability assessment and enhance CSR. Additionally, many articles suggested novel approaches, including a combined use of LCA and building information modeling as well as simulation methods. The combined use of life cycle methods alongside quantitative methods offers promise in enhancing sustainability assessment by offering more precise and consistent outcomes. However, it becomes imperative to carefully evaluate the hypotheses, accuracy of data, and uncertainty associated with each method within the integration process. Additional research needs to be conducted in order to establish standardized protocols for combining these methodologies as well as to identify the most suitable procedures for their integration with respect to specific objectives concerning sustainability assessment.
Human capital efficiency, corporate sustainability, and performance: Evidence from emerging economies
Authors: Al frijat Yaser Saleh , Elamer Ahmed A. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThis study examines how corporate sustainability (CS) influences the relationship between human capital (HC) effectiveness and corporate performance (CP) in the context of emerging economies. Drawing on HC theories and CS, we employ partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM) to analyze data from 94 industrial and service firms listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) between June and October 2022. Our findings reveal the dual role of HC, which not only directly influences CP but also significantly reinforces CS efforts. This research contributes to strategic management literature by highlighting the mediating role of CS in the HC‐performance nexus. The results underscore the strategic value of HC in enhancing sustainable practices, which positively affect CP. These insights are particularly relevant for emerging economies, where understanding the role of HC can guide corporate strategies toward sustainable growth. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, with a focus on the importance of HC development to promote resilience and support sustainability goals in emerging markets. Future research could explore these dynamics across other industries and regions.
Molten‐Salt‐Mediated Chemical Looping Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane with In‐Situ Carbon Capture and Utilization
Authors: Vogt‐Lowell Kyle , Chacko Dennis , Yang Kunran , Carsten Jace , Liu Junchen , Housley Matthew , Li Fanxing 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe molten‐salt‐mediated oxidative dehydrogenation (MM‐ODH) of ethane (C2H6) via a chemical looping scheme represents an effective carbon capture and utilization (CCU) method for the valorization of ethane‐rich shale gas and concurrent mitigation of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Here, stepwise experimentation with Li2CO3‐Na2CO3‐K2CO3 (LNK) ternary salts (i) assessed how each component of the LNK mixture impacted ethane MM‐ODH performance and (ii) explored physicochemical and thermodynamic mechanisms behind melt‐induced changes to ethylene (C2H4) and carbon monoxide (CO) yields. Of fifteen screened LNK compositions, nine exhibited ethylene yields greater than 50 % at 800 °C while maintaining C2H4 selectivities of 85 % or higher. LNK salts rich in Li2CO3 content yielded more ethylene and CO on average than their counterparts, and net CO2 capture per cycle reached a maximum of ~75 %. Extended MM‐ODH cycling also demonstrated long‐term stability of a high‐performing LNK medium. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations suggested that the molten salt does not directly activate C2H6. Meanwhile, an empirical model informed by experimental data and reaction thermodynamics adequately predicted overall MM‐ODH performance from LNK composition and provided insights into the system′s primary drivers.
Coordination Tuning of FeNi‐HMT Frameworks Derived Effective Hybrid Catalysts for Water Oxidation
Authors: Wang Yunmeng , Fu Luhong , Wu Jiawei , Yang Fulin , Feng Ligang 
Published: October 2024

AbstractFeNi‐based hybrid materials are promising oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts for water electrolysis in hydrogen generation. In this work, the coordination tuning of FeNi‐HMT frameworks was achieved by simply changing the Fe/Ni ratios using hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) as an organic ligand, and the derived hybrid FeNi catalysts with varied compositions were probed for OER. Incorporating varying amounts of Fe3+ by adjusting the Ni/Fe ratio results in different metal‐organic framework (MOF) structures, and higher Fe feed leads to the formation of amorphous structures due to the coordination structure destruction from the weaker coordination capacity of Fe3+ compared to Ni2+ combining with the tertiary amine ligand. Among them, the FeNi‐HMT (with the Fe/Ni molar ratio of 1/1) derived catalyst, consisting of Fe0.36Ni0.64 alloy/Ni0.4Fe2.6O4 spinel oxide heterostructures supported by graphitized carbon matrix, exhibits the highest OER performance. The unique structure facilitates significant electron transfer at the alloy/spinel interface due to the large work function difference between each phase. This strong electronic effect downshifts the d‐band center of the catalyst and optimizes the binding energies to the crucial oxygenated intermediates, thereby promoting the OER kinetics. This work highlights the importance of the coordination tuning of FeNi‐HMT frameworks for highly efficient catalyst development.
Semitransparent Cu2O Films Based on CuO Back Layer for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting and Photovoltaic Applications
Authors: Wu Linxiao , Cheng Jinshui , Luo Jingshan 
Published: October 2024

AbstractCuprous oxide (Cu2O) as an intrinsic p‐type semiconductor is promising for solar energy conversion. The major challenge in fabricating Cu2O lies in achieving both high transparency and high performance in a tandem device. The Cu2O photocathodes often employ gold as the back contact layer. However, it is not an optimal choice in tandem device due to its poor transmission, scarcity, and electron‐hole recombination at the interface of Au and Cu2O. Here, we presented a facile method that utilizes the earth‐abundant material copper oxide (CuO) to fabricate highly transparent Cu2O devices. The maximum transmittance of the Cu2O film on CuO (FTO/CuO/Cu2O) increased from 42 % to 58 % compared with Cu2O film on Au (FTO/Au (3 nm)/Cu2O) in 550–800 nm. After coating atomic layer deposition (ALD) layers and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalyst, the photocurrent density at 0 V (versus RHE) of the semitransparent Cu2O photocathode with CuO as the back layer for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting reached −4.9 mA cm−2, which showed a 24.5 % improvement compared with FTO/Au/Cu2O photocathode. Moreover, expanding the CuO layer strategy to the field of solar cells enables Cu2O solar cells to achieve a PCE of 2.37 %.
Why aren't we teaching this? Smart local energy systems and the young person's perspective
Authors: Ingram Charlie , Halford Alison , Jonah Sokipriala 
Published: October 2024

AbstractWith the UK government's target of Net Zero by 2050, alongside the rising cost of energy in the UK, it is imperative that public opinion aligns with and promotes affordable, greener energy systems. Within this dialogue, young people's voices and lived experience are needed to deepen the impact of energy policy intervention strategies. This article stresses the importance of a formal curriculum that informs future generations on the subjects of Smart Local Energy Systems (SLES), and the digitalisation advances of energy systems. This paper explores the development of a toolkit to educate and engage young people in these subjects and reviews young people's attitudes and understanding from three schools in England, UK. We find through an interpretive qualitative analysis of both images drawn by the young people, and insights gathered from focus groups, that (i) for these young people, SLES are a useful innovation regarding energy management and distribution, (ii) young people recognise that the education system as it currently stands is not aware of, or informed by smart energy technologies and (iii) that despite being a generation that is the most integrated with personal assistance technology, these young people have significant concerns over the reliability and safety of AI in SLES. These findings are set alongside calls for widespread education in key stages 4 and 5 (ages 14–18) around the subject of SLES, and their benefits to wider society, thereby enabling a future that empowers young people to make change, encourage engineering and computer science‐based career options and secure a fairer, cleaner, sustainable energy transition in the future.
The influence of climate change on the potential distribution of Ageratum conyzoides in China
Authors: Wang Yuan , Yang Yonggang , Zhang Minggang 
Published: October 2024

AbstractAgeratum conyzoides L., an invasive plant originating from South America, is characterized by rapid growth and strong ecological adaptability, posing a threat to China's ecosystems, agricultural industry, and biodiversity. In this study, we optimized the MaxEnt model using the ENMeval package and constructed an ensemble model using the Biomod2 package based on global geospatial distribution data of A. conyzoides and considering climate, soil, and topography factors. We simulated the potential suitable distribution of A. conyzoides in China at present and in the future (2041–2060, 2061–2080). Through multivariate environment similarity surface and most dissimilar variable analysis, we identified the main environmental variables influencing the distribution of A. conyzoides. Additionally, niche analysis elucidated temporal and spatial variations in A. conyzoides' climate niche. Our results demonstrate that the ensemble model, constructed from the top seven single models, outperforms the individual models in predicting the suitable habitat of A. conyzoides. The ensemble model achieved the true skill statistic (TSS) of 0.833 and the area under the subject curve (AUC) of 0.971, indicative of outstanding predictive performance. Presently, the suitable habitat of A. conyzoides in China primarily exists in the region between 18° and 28° N, covering approximately 1.47 million km2. The temperature annual range, precipitation of the wettest month, and mean temperature of the coldest quarter were identified as the primary environmental variables influencing its distribution, while soil and elevation variables had minor roles. Under future climate conditions, the suitable habitat of A. conyzoides is expected to expand northeastward, with the centroid of its habitat shifting northward as the climate warms. The migration speed of A. conyzoides is projected to increase with the degree of warming. Furthermore, the climate niche of A. conyzoides will undergo certain changes and may face both niche expansion and a decrease in niche overlap under different climate conditions.
Understory plant biodiversity is inversely related to carbon storage in a high carbon ecosystem
Authors: Carter Trevor A. , Buma Brian 
Published: October 2024

AbstractGiven that terrestrial ecosystems globally are facing the loss of biodiversity from land use conversion, invasive species, and climate change, effective management requires a better understanding of the drivers and correlates of biodiversity. Increasingly, biodiversity is co‐managed with aboveground carbon storage because high biodiversity in animal species is observed to correlate with high aboveground carbon storage. Most previous investigations into the relationship of biodiversity and carbon co‐management do not focus on the biodiversity of the species rich plant kingdom, which may have tradeoffs with carbon storage. To examine the relationships of plant species richness with aboveground tree biomass carbon storage, we used a series of generalized linear models with understory plant species richness and diversity data from the USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis dataset and high‐resolution modeled carbon maps for the Tongass National Forest. Functional trait data from the TRY database was used to understand the potential mechanisms that drive the response of understory plants. Understory species richness and community weighted mean leaf dry matter content decreased along an increasing gradient of tree biomass carbon storage, but understory diversity, community weighted mean specific leaf area, and plant height at maturity did not. Leaf dry matter content had little variance at the community level. The decline of understory plant species richness but not diversity to increases in aboveground biomass carbon storage suggests that rare species are excluded in aboveground biomass carbon dense areas. These decreases in understory species richness reflect a tradeoff between the understory plant community and aboveground carbon storage. The mechanisms that are associated with observed plant communities along a gradient of biomass carbon storage in this forest suggest that slower‐growing plant strategies are less effective in the presence of high biomass carbon dense trees in the overstory.
Occurrence of Fox Squirrels Influenced by Fine‐Scale Landscape Characteristics on a College Campus
Authors: Whitman Daniel A. , Werdel Ty J. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTUrbanization and urban sprawl generally degrade and diminish wildlife habitat, threatening to extirpate local populations. However, certain synanthropic species (e.g., coyotes, white‐tailed deer, and squirrels) are able to persist in urban environments and may even occur at greater densities than they do in their natural habitats. Eastern fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) are large tree squirrels that are known to be present in greater densities within urban areas. To determine how landscape characteristics may affect fox squirrel presence, we conducted line‐transect surveys along sidewalks on the Texas A&M University—College Station campus to record presence of fox squirrels and nearest tree species. We calculated Jacobs’ index of selectivity (D) for use of trees by fox squirrels along the transects. Squirrel density was calculated for all transects and modeled using linear regression with environmental (e.g., tree density) and survey (e.g., transect distance) variables. Fox squirrels preferred only a small number of the available tree species, primarily Quercus and Ulmus species. Observed fox squirrel density significantly increased with time of day, temperature, density of oaks (Quercus spp.), and density of all trees, and decreased with distance and area of the transect. These results suggest that even when urban areas contain suitable habitat, use of urban environments by wildlife is still highly selective and dependent on specific habitat requirements.
Heat wave impacts on crop‐pest dynamics are dependent upon insect ontogeny and plant resistance
Authors: Acosta Nalleli Carvajal , Zehr Luke N. , Snook Joshua S. , Szendrei Zsofia , Kalwajtys Michael , Wetzel William C. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractHeat waves, brief periods of unusually high temperatures, are damaging to agroecosystems and are increasing in frequency and intensity due to climate change. Despite growing appreciation for the threat that heat waves pose to agricultural sustainability, we have a poor understanding of what determines their impact on agroecological interactions in the field. Here, we report the results of a field experiment that examined how heat waves and their timing interact with crop pest resistance to influence the interactions between potato (Solanum tuberosum) and its most damaging pest, the Colorado potato beetle (CPB; Leptinotarsa decemlineata). We used open‐top chambers and ceramic heaters to generate heat wave conditions in field plots with pest‐resistant and pest‐susceptible potato varieties at four CPB developmental stages. We then assessed CPB performance, leaf herbivory, and tuber yield. The neonate‐stage heat wave reduced larval survival by 10%, but the surviving larvae were 18% larger and developed 15% faster. However, these effects occurred only on the susceptible variety; both larval survival and growth were unaffected by the heat wave in the pest‐resistant variety. Moreover, the neonate‐stage heat wave reduced adult survival by 15%, suggesting negative carry‐over effects of early‐life heat exposure. Heat wave events after the neonate stage had no effects on CPB performance, crop damage, or tuber yield. Our results indicate that timing and pest resistance in crops are essential for understanding the impacts of extreme heat events on crop‐pest dynamics. Agroecological pest management in an increasingly variable and extreme climate will likely benefit from the development of strategies that account for the seasonal timing of potential heat events and from the continued use of crop varieties bred for pest resistance, which our results suggest may dampen the impacts of extreme temperatures on crop‐pest interactions.
Exploratory modeling of social‐ecological systems
Authors: Eppinga Maarten B. , Reader Martin O. , Santos Maria J. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractNavigating social‐ecological systems toward sustainable trajectories is an important challenge of the Anthropocene. Models of social‐ecological systems can increase our understanding of how social and ecological subsystems interact, their response to environmental changes, and how their dynamics may be altered by management interventions. However, the level of representational detail required for models to describe a particular social‐ecological system with high fidelity (i.e., accurately quantifying system dynamics) may hamper both the interpretability of model results and our ability to identify key processes and feedbacks within the system. In contrast, stylized models describe simplified interactions between a small subset of social‐ecological system elements. Stylized models are a useful tool to identify potential consequences of specific key processes and feedbacks on system functioning. However, the relatively low level of representational detail in these models limits their ability to deliver concrete management options for a particular social‐ecological system. Here, we describe how an exploratory modeling approach can utilize the strengths of stylized models before the construction of social‐ecological system models with high fidelity and representational detail. This exploratory modeling approach is an iterative strategy, with the initial steps comprising the development of stylized models informed by empirical observations. We illustrate this with two examples of stylized modeling of isolated and connected social‐ecological systems. Through repeated confrontation of alternative models with empirical data, exploratory modeling provides useful stepping stones toward the development of models that describe social‐ecological systems in increasingly specific settings with increasing levels of representational detail. When these latter types of models reach a high level of fidelity, they could be used for scenario‐based analyses and participatory decision‐making processes. At this stage, the conceptual insights previously obtained during the exploratory modeling phase may aid in the interpretation and communication of the outcomes of scenario‐based analyses. Hence, exploratory modeling aims to create a synergy between the insights obtained from stylized models and system‐specific, high‐fidelity models in order to generate a deep understanding of the drivers of social‐ecological system dynamics, and how to leverage these drivers to initiate desired changes.
Trends and Disparities in Coronary Artery Disease and Obesity‐Related Mortality in the United States From 1999–2022
Authors: Ahmed Mushood , Javaid Hira , Shafiq Aimen , Nadeem Zain Ali , Ahsan Areeba , Nofal Abdullah , Ahmed Raheel , Alam Mahboob , Fudim Marat , Fonarow Gregg C. , Mamas Mamas A. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundAlmost half of the US adult population has obesity, which predisposes to atherosclerosis and can lead to poor prognosis in coronary artery disease (CAD). We aim to identify CAD and obesity‐related mortality trends among adults in the United States stratified by age, sex, race and geographical location.MethodsThe CDC‐WONDER database was used to extract death certificate data for adults aged ≥ 25 years. Crude mortality rates (CMR) and age‐adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 persons were calculated, and temporal trends were described by calculating annual percent change (APC) and the average APC (AAPC) in the rates using Joinpoint regression analysis.ResultsFrom 1999 to 2022, a total of 273,761 CAD and obesity‐related deaths were recorded in the United States. The AAMR increased consistently from 1999 to 2018 (APC: 4.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.4–4.9) and surged thereafter till 2022 (APC: 11.4; 95% CI: 7.7–19.1). During the COVID‐19 pandemic (2020–2022), AAMR almost doubled that of the rest of the study period. Additionally, the AAMR for males was nearly twice that of females. Non‐Hispanic (NH) Blacks or African Americans displayed the highest AAMR, followed by NH Whites, Hispanic or Latino, and other NH populations. AAMRs showed minimal variation by census regions. Rural areas exhibited a higher AAMR (AAMR: 5.9, 95% CI: 5.8–5.9) than urban areas (AAMR: 4.4, 95% CI: 4.4–4.5).ConclusionsWe observed increasing trends in CAD and obesity‐related deaths throughout the study period reaching a peak during the COVID‐19 pandemic.