Earth-abundant Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ (CZTSSe) is a promising nontoxic alternative compound for commercially available Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)₂ thin-film solar cells. In this study, a MoO₃ nanolayer was applied as a sacrificial layer to optimize the quality of the interface between the CZTSSe and Mo back contact. MoO₃ nanolayers can greatly improve CZTSSe grain growth and suppress the formation of some harmful secondary phases, especially the undesirable MoS(e)₂. In terms of device performance, the series resistance was reduced from 1.83 to 1.54 Ω·cm², and the fill factor was significantly enhanced from 42.67% to 52.12%. Additionally, MoO₃ nanolayers improved CZTSSe absorber quality by lowering the defect energy levels from 228 to 148 meV. Furthermore, first-principles calculations demonstrate that the partial sulfoselenized MoO₃ nanolayers may function as the (p-type) hole-selective contacts at Mo/CZTSSe interfaces, leading to an overall improvement in device performance. Lastly, a CZTSSe solar cell with about 26% improvement (compared with reference cells) in power conversion efficiency was achieved by inserting 5 nm MoO₃ sacrificial layers. Full article

China is currently the world’s largest energy consumer and carbon emitter. In order to reduce the harm of carbon dioxide to the global ecological environment, the use of natural gas instead of coal is a realistic choice for China to achieve the “dual carbon” goal. Opportunities also bring new challenges, and the price of natural gas is an important method of promoting the upstream and downstream industrial chains of natural gas, so it is of great practical significance to study the price of natural gas. This paper builds a three-level supply chain model consisting of suppliers in the natural gas market, city gas companies and consumers in the market and uses the Stackelberg game to study the decision-making models of different subjects under their own dominance and centralized decision-making; it also considers the pricing mechanism and profit situation of stakeholders in the natural gas market under the low-carbon preference of consumers and the level of corporate carbon emission reduction. The research results show that when considering consumers’ low-carbon preferences, the sales prices of various stakeholders in the market have increased, which is beneficial for all entities in the natural gas industry chain. At the same time, with the low-carbon transformation of energy companies, the production method drives the price of raw materials to rise in the process of low-carbon innovation, which, in turn, makes the price of various stakeholders in the natural gas market and the level of carbon emission reduction per unit show a positive relationship; in order to maximize the overall profit of the supply chain, the natural gas market should adopt a centralized decision-making method to further promote the reform of China’s natural gas marketization. Full article

Host residents’ support is of paramount importance for the success of spectator sports events. Factors influencing event support have been investigated in past research, but usually in isolation. The current study includes multiple factors by analysing the relationship among involvement, social impact experiences, and event support. Data were collected online four and six months before, during, and two months after the 2021 UCI Road World Championships from 3219 from residents, representative for the city of Leuven (Belgium). The 2021 UCI Road World Championships offered a unique context, as it was the first large spectator sports event organised in Flanders since COVID-19. The event had a limited social impact, but this increased over time (e.g., community spirit and event support). Social impact experiences mainly exerted a significant influence on event support rather than attitudinal and behavioural involvement factors. The results of this study inform national and local policymakers to attract events, event organisers to achieve impact and legacy, and other scholars to improve the understanding of spectator sports event research. Full article

Marine picocyanobacteria belonging to the genus Synechococcus are one of the most abundant photosynthetic organisms on Earth. They are often exposed to large fluctuations in temperature and CO₂ concentrations in the ocean, which are expected to further change in the coming decades due to ocean acidification and warming resulting from rising atmospheric CO₂ levels. To decipher the effect of changing temperature and CO₂ levels on Synechococcus, six Synechococcus strains previously isolated from various coastal and open ocean sites were exposed to a matrix of three different temperatures (22 °C, 24 °C and 26 °C) and CO₂ levels (400 ppm, 600 ppm and 800 ppm). Thereafter, the specific growth rates, photophysiological parameters (σ_PSII and F_v/F_m), C/N (mol/mol) ratios and the nitrogen stable isotopic composition (δ¹⁵N (‰)) of the strains were measured. Temperature was found to be a stronger driver of the changes in specific growth rates and photophysiology in the Synechococcus strains. Carbon-concentrating mechanisms (CCM) operational in these strains that shield the photosynthetic machinery from directly sensing ambient changes in CO₂ possibly played a major role in causing minimal changes in the specific growth rates under the varying CO₂ levels. Full article

Monitoring the satisfaction of sales representatives is a major challenge in business based on multi-level marketing systems (MLM), as a high level of satisfaction could determine the sales representatives’ loyalty and subsequent business growth. The purposes of this study are (i) to measure the sales representatives’ satisfaction with various experiences they face within the MLM system, (ii) to identify the main satisfaction factors that synthetically illustrate the sales representatives’ experiences with the MLM system, and (iii) to determine the influence of satisfaction factors with MLM experiences on the intention to recommend the system to other people interested in joining the business. The research was based on a survey among 412 sales representatives of companies that use an MLM system in various fields of activity. The main factors that summarize the experiences that sales representatives have within the MLM systems have been identified by using an exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Further, the satisfaction with these factors was analyzed in relationship with the intention to recommend the system for the development of their individual business. The research results indicate three major experiences of the sales representatives: (i) experiences within the MLM system, (ii) experiences with customer relationships, and (iii) experiences with the product. The results also show that the higher satisfaction with these factors is, the higher the likelihood to recommend the MLM system. This study provides a contribution to the body of knowledge in using experiential marketing for sustainable business development and provides management insights for companies that use MLM systems. Full article

The Belt and Road Initiative puts higher requirements for the logistics industry. As one of the most energy-consuming industries, logistics is a high-carbon emission industry. Its impact on the environment cannot be ignored. In this context, how to respond to the “Belt and Road” under the concept of sustainable development, to promote the logistics industry to achieve “low consumption, low emissions, high efficiency” of regional sustainability, has become the most important development of China’s logistics industry. Therefore, based on previous research, this paper establishes an input–output index system and uses the SBM-DEA model and Malmquist index model to analyze the efficiency of low-carbon logistics in 17 provinces from 2006 to 2020, explore the overall level of the logistics and the factors affecting efficiency, and compare the efficiency in different periods and regions. Then, through the Tobit regression model, the four main factors affecting the efficiency of the logistics industry are analyzed. The results show that: (1) The highest value of low-carbon logistics efficiency of each province is 1.0000, and the lowest value is only 0.0944. The difference in logistics efficiency values among provinces is large, so there is great room for improvement and development potential. (2) From 2006 to 2020, the low-carbon logistics efficiency of the regions showed an overall upward trend, and the MI index values of each province reached or approached the DEA effective state. Among them, technological progress has a promoting effect, while scale and pure technical efficiency have hindered the efficiency growth. (3) Economic growth and industry structure have a positive effect, while energy consumption and government expenditure are negatively correlated with efficiency. Full article

Ground control point (GCP) is an important calibration factor when correcting position information during unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing. Studies of the optimal number and distribution shape of GCPs have been conducted worldwide in recent years. However, when conducting surveys at houses, construction sites, farming lands, forests, and some other locations, it is both difficult and destructive to install GCP inside the subject area. In many cases, it is only possible to install GCP at the outer edge around the area. Therefore, this study aims to suggest the optimal GCP distribution pattern, which can provide the highest accuracy, when only the outer edge of a particular area is available. In this research, 88 GCP patterns have been validated and compared at an 18 ha farm. Results show that the patterns with GCPs distributed evenly around the field provided the best calibration (RMSE = 0.15 m). If this kind of pattern is not achievable because of obstructions, patterns with GCPs distributed evenly around half of the field or forming an evenly distributed triangle can provide moderate accuracy (RMSE = 0.18 m and 0.43 m, respectively). Patterns with GCPs forming a straight line yielded the worst accuracy (RMSE = 2.10 m). This shows that GCP distributions of a two-dimensional shape, even if the surrounding area is small, are better calibrated than a long, straight line. These results strongly suggest that appropriate GCP distribution patterns in the study areas will provide satisfactory accuracy for constructing integrated monitoring systems of diverse resources. Full article

Essential oils (EOs) have been reported as a promising group of naturally extracted compounds due to their various reported biological activities. Ipomoea carnea is a widely distributed plant with many traditional uses worldwide. However, although the EOs of various Ipomea species have been reported, I. carnea remains poorly studied. Therefore, the present investigation aimed to characterize the chemical profile of the EO of I. carnea growing in Egypt via gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and correlate its profile with other reported species via chemometric analysis using agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) and principal component analysis (PCA). In addition, the aim was to determine the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the extracted EO. Depending on the GC-MS analysis, 31 compounds were identified, mainly terpenes (94.82), with traces of carotenoid and apocarotenoid-derived compounds. The major compounds were tau-cadinol (35.68%), α-cadinol (26.76%), spathulenol (8.11%), and caryophyllene oxide (6.56%), which were assigned as major compounds. The chemometric studies showed that the Egyptian ecospecies of I. carnea differs in chemical profile from those growing in Brazil, as well as those reported for other Ipomea species. The EO showed significant DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging abilities, with IC₅₀ values of 33.69 and 40.86 mg L⁻¹, respectively. Additionally, the I. carnea EO displayed significant inhibition against the growth of all tested bacterial strains, where it showed an MIC range of 82–1442 mg mL⁻¹. Based on the current results, the I. carnea EO, particularly the major identified compounds, could be used as a potential eco-friendly green resource for antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Therefore, further study is recommended to evaluate the biological significance of the main compounds, either individually or in combination, as well as assess their modes of action and safety. Full article

In recent years, with the introduction of the concept of a local climate zone (LCZ), researchers have proved that adding an LCZ to the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model can improve the simulation effect. However, many existing studies cannot explain whether the improvement of accuracy in the model results is the effect of the refined zone or the effect of urban area correction, so they cannot explain the advantages of LCZ data. Therefore, this paper uses remote sensing images to generate two kinds of land use data sets and introduces them into the Weather Research and Forecasting Model coupled with the building energy model (WRF-BEM). In this paper, the two factors of urban area expansion and fine classification are considered, and three numerical examples are set up to simulate high-temperature weather in August 2019. The research shows that the simulated 2 m temperature of the scheme of correcting only urban area is the closest to the observed data. Although the RMSE in the 2 m temperature simulated by the LCZ scheme is 0.43 °C higher than that of the scheme of correcting only the urban area, it can well reproduce the spatial variation characteristics of 2 m temperature. In addition, different urban morphologies affect the spatial distribution of the surface urban heat islands in Beijing. High surface urban heat island effect zones mainly appear in the compact low-rise, compact mid-rise, and large low-rise types. Full article

Metal degradation due to corrosion is a major challenge in most industries, and its control and prevention has to maintain a balance between efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The rising concern over environmental damage has greatly influenced this domain, as corrosion prevention should comply with the waste regulations of different regions. In this respect, a fundamental question is which modern synthetic materials are more viable from the point of view of their effectiveness. Therefore, this paper is aims to provide an advanced and holistic review of corrosion prevention and control methods. Corrosion prevention techniques have become extensive; however, the literature indicates that polymer coatings, nano-composite coatings, and encapsulation techniques consistently provide the most efficient and feasible outcomes. Therefore, this review article examined the phenomenon of corrosion inhibition mainly from the perspective of these three techniques. Moreover, this research utilized secondary qualitative methods to obtain data and information on comparative techniques. It is found that due to the rapid development of novel materials, corrosion inhibition techniques need to be developed on scales that are more general, so that they could be applied to varying environments. The self-healing coatings are generally based on epoxy-resins incorporated with synthetic compounds such as inhibitor ions, amino-acids, or carboxylic acids. These coatings have become more widespread, especially due to bans on several traditional prevention materials such as compounds of chromium (VI). However, self-healing coatings are comparatively more costly than other techniques because of their method of synthesis and long-term durability. Therefore, although self-healing nanomaterial-based coatings are viable options for limited usage, their utilization in large and complex facilities is limited due to the costs involved. Amino acids and other biological macro-molecules provide another option to attain environmental sustainability and long durability, especially due to their origins being most of naturally occurring compounds such as lignin, cellulose, and proteins. Full article

The presence of acid mine drainage (AMD) poses health risks to humans and other living organisms. While much research on AMD has been conducted, the absence of a widely accepted AMD treatment technology makes it an ongoing topic for further exploration. The present study explored the potential of nano-clay adsorbents for the removal of iron and manganese from AMD. The two nano-clay adsorbents used in this study were synthetic hydrotalcite (HT) and modified bentonite (MB) clays. The adsorption media were characterised before and after adsorption using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to explain the adsorption mechanisms. To investigate the efficiency of the clays, batch adsorption studies were carried out by varying the concentration, pH, and time. To establish the kind of adsorption mechanism that occurred, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were applied. It was found from characterisation results that HT and MB contained hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups responsible for surface complexation mechanisms; XRD showed that isomorphic substitution and precipitation also occurred in adsorption using HT. The specific surface area for modified bentonite and hydrotalcite as determined by BET was 3.13 and 44.7 m²/g respectively. The XRD and the SEM results showed that HT was crystalline while MB was amorphous, probably due to the irregular stacking of the surfactant. It was observed that the adsorbent deprotonated as pH increased, resulting in an increase in metal removal. The Langmuir isotherm provided the best monolayer adsorption capacity with R_L < 1 and correlation coefficients ranged from 0.95 to 0.99 for both adsorbents. Full article

This study investigates the phytoremediation of composite industrial effluent (CIE) released from multiple industries within the SIIDCUL cluster, Haridwar, India, using the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) plant. Batch-mode phytoremediation experiments were conducted using three selected concentrations (0%: borewell water as control, 50%, and 100%) of CIE for 45 days. Results show that the N. nucifera plant significantly reduced loads of physicochemical and heavy metal pollutants of CIE. In particular, the maximal removal of total dissolved solids (TDS: 89.56%), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD: 78.20%), chemical oxygen demand (COD: 79.41%), total Kjeldahl’s nitrogen (TKN: 86.48%), phosphorus (P: 76.37%), cadmium (Cd: 70.37%), copper (Cu: 85.82%), chromium (Cr: 68.61%), iron (Fe: 72.86%), lead (Pb: 76.92%), and zinc (Zn: 74.51%) pollutants was noted in the 50% CIE concentration treatment. Heavy metal bioaccumulation and translocation factor values (>1) for root and leaf parts show that the N. nucifera plant was a hyperaccumulator. However, the contents of heavy metals were higher in the root than the leaf part of the N. nucifera plant. Moreover, the selected plant growth attributes such as fresh plant biomass (760.70 ± 8.77 g/plant; without flowers), chlorophyll content (4.30 ± 0.22 mg/g fwt.), plant height (154.05 ± 4.55 cm), root length (70.35 ± 2.42 cm), leaf spread (41.58 ± 0.26 cm), number of leaves (10.00 ± 1.00 per plant), and number of flowers (16.00 ± 2.00) were also maximal in the 50% CIE concentration. This study provides a sustainable approach towards the effective biotreatment of noxious mixed effluent using plant-based green technology. Full article

External corrosion is one of the major defects for oil and gas pipes. Multiple repair techniques are used for repairing such pipes, which have different environmental effects. In this study, the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach has been used to investigate the environmental impacts of four commonly used repair techniques. The techniques are fillet welded patch (FWP), weld buildup (WB), mechanical clamp (MC), and non-metallic composite overwrap (NCO). The repair processes based on guidelines from repair standards are carried out on a defected pipe specimen and experimental data required for LCA are collected. The paper conducts a cradle-to-gate LCA study using SimaPro software. Six environmental impact categories are used for the comparison of repair processes. The results for a repair life of ten years indicate that non-metallic composite overwrap has the highest whereas the fillet welded patch has the lowest environmental impacts. Full article

Traceability information as a solution option becomes an important task for the industry in providing products, preparing sustainable raw materials, and ensuring adequate safety quality. The emergence of these demands makes the industry perform tracking in order to prepare product inventories ranging from raw materials to products that have been produced. Based on these reasons, the scope of this paper is to provide a systematic review of the literature on various aspects of implementing information traceability models and sustainability of supply chain on economic, social, environmental, technological, institutional, and infrastructural dimensions. For this purpose, we use the Scopus, Science Direct, EBSCO Host, and ProQuest databases. We used the PRISMA model to identify, filter, and test for the eligibility of articles to be included. We selected 52 articles contributed by this search engine. We found was that between 2018 to 2021 there was increasing interest in this research. The dominant traceability information model in the article uses blockchain, the rest use operations research (OR), Google Earth Engine (GEE), website-based, Unified Modeling Language (UML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), physical markup language (PML), logit, enterprise resource planning (ERP), soft independent modelling of class analogies (SIMCA), and Spatially Explicit Information on Production to Consumption Systems (SEI-PCS). Full article

Aiming to explore whether governments should choose anti-pandemic or subsidy strategies in the post-pandemic era, this study constructed a three-level food supply chain that was composed of a leading third-party logistics provider, a supplier and a retailer, in which the third-party logistics provider used blockchain technology for food traceability to address consumer concerns about food safety. We then used game theory to analyze the pricing decisions, traceability levels, anti-pandemic effort levels and subsidy levels of the supply chain under different governmental anti-pandemic or subsidy strategies. Our results showed that in all scenarios, the higher the consumer preference for traceability information, the larger the traceability levels and anti-pandemic effort levels and the more favorable the outcome for all parties; thus, governments should improve consumer awareness of pandemic prevention. For the benefit of all parties, governments should adopt anti-pandemic and subsidy strategies simultaneously, even in the post-pandemic era. Interestingly, for the scenario in which governments could only adopt one strategy, when the cost coefficient of traceability was small, the governmental subsidies would actually lead to lower traceability levels of the 3PL. This study could provide decision-making references for governments during the post-pandemic era and a new possibility for blockchain application. Full article