Sustainability

Locating transportation logistics centers (TLCs) is significant in organizing and easing the shipment of commodities. By choosing the right place and building a brand TLC, various producers and trade companies will benefit from its services. This paper applies the Euclidean theorem and graph theory to select an optimal place. Because the price of transportation services is an important challenge, this article shows ways to reduce it for the companies that are customers of the TLC. This study hypothesizes that a TLC network standardizes and improves services and reduces prices and after the building of Iranshahr’s TLC, our aim is to synergize and connect it with a network of TLCs. Case studies were carried out on the building of a network of TLCs with four nodes in Coburg, Ashgabat, Iranshahr, and Chabahar. The novelty of this research is in the method used, which studies TLCs in two statuses—separately and with a network. The research includes, simultaneously, TLCs in both developed and developing economies with various socioeconomic formations. The paper analyses, methodologically, the economic behavior of the TLCs in the two situations using a mathematical model. The model uses two Lagrange target functions to prove that the network decreases prices while improving presented services. We found that multimodal cargo transportation by one TLC within a network of TLCs decreases the costs of transportation services and that the TLC network improved economies of scale through knowledge, technology, and experience synergy. The outcomes and model of this study will assist transportation planners and engineers in building and managing a TLC and including it in a network. Full article

Identifying the bottleneck segments and developing targeted traffic control strategies can facilitate the mitigation of highway traffic congestion. In this study, we proposed a new method for identifying the bottleneck segment in a large highway network based on the percolation theory. A targeted on-ramp control approach was further developed by identifying the major vehicle sources of the bottleneck segment. We found that the identified bottleneck segment played a crucial role in maintaining the functional connectivity of the highway network in terms of meeting the required level of service. The targeted on-ramp control approach can more effectively enhance the service level of the highway network. Full article

Radiative sky cooling is an appealing form of heat exchange between terrestrial objects and outer space through thermal radiation, which is attracting worldwide interest due to its nature as passive cooling, that is, cooling without consuming energy. Due to a recent breakthrough in material science, sub-ambient daytime radiative sky cooling has been effectively achieved, which has significantly stimulated research interest in this field. In view of the numerous radiative coolers being reported as having excellent spectral properties and cooling ability under sunlight, integrating these superb cooling materials into building skins is a promising route to implementing radiative sky cooling technology. To this end, this study deploys state-of-the-art colored radiative cooling coatings as a new retrofitting strategy for building walls, and then conducts a comprehensive performance evaluation by considering a high-rise building situated in the hot-humid city of Hong Kong. Potential benefits of implementing differently colored cooling wall strategies, including their performance regarding thermal insulation, energy savings, economic viability, and environmental sustainability, were thoroughly investigated. The obtained results elucidate that for the utilization of the porous P(VdF-HFP)-based bilayer wall, relative to the monolayer, the frequency of the wall temperature exceeding the surrounding environment on an annual basis can be further reduced by up to 4.8%, and the yearly savings in cooling electricity vary from 855.6 to 3105.6 kWh (0.4–1.5%) with an average of 1692.4 kWh. Besides this, the yearly savings in net electricity cost vary from 1412.5 to 5127.3 HKD and the reduction in carbon emissions ranges from 1544.4 to 5606.1 kg with an average of 3055.0 kg. In addition, discussions of the combination of the super-cool roof strategy with blue porous polymer-based cooling walls reveal that the achievable savings in terms of energy costs and reductions in carbon emissions are 1.6 and 2.2 times more than either the application of the super-cool roof or porous polymer bilayer walls alone, respectively. This research offers new understandings of the deployment of colored cooling coatings on vertical building façades in hot and humid regions, which can considerably facilitate the realization of low-energy buildings in a passive approach for stakeholders. Full article

In recent years, the conflicts of the human–land coupling system (HLS) in the cross-border transportation corridor areas have become increasingly severe, especially in the China–Mongolia–Russia Cross-Border Transportation Corridor (CMRTC). The vulnerability assessment of the HLS-CMRTC is the key scientific issue for regional sustainable development. Based on the nearly 20 years of a scientific expedition, we set the CMRTC as the study area, constructed the vulnerability assessment index system and quantitative model, assessed the vulnerability of the HLS-CMRTC, revealed the key influencing factors, divided vulnerability risk prevention zones, and proposed the targeted optimization countermeasures. This study found that: (1) The overall vulnerability pattern of the HLS-CMRTC showed a vulnerability level gradually increasing from south to north. (2) Permafrost instability risk, land desertification, temperature increase, and backward social development were key influences. (3) Vulnerability risk prevention zones were divided into four priority and two general zones. The targeted optimization countermeasures were proposed, such as establishing an ecological security barrier, carrying out collaborative ecological risk monitoring, and early warning. The conclusions could provide a decision-making basis for the study area to reduce the vulnerability of the HLS. They could also provide reference and scientific support for achieving sustainable development of the economy and environment in similar regions of the world. Full article

Global warming is one of the most dangerous ecological issues facing the globe. Refrigerants are a major contributor to global warming. This investigation mainly focuses on the analysis of a greener nanorefrigerant. Nanorefrigerant can improve the efficiency of refrigeration and air conditioning systems that use vapor compression. In the present investigation, mathematical and computational methods are used to assess the heat transfer and pressure drop properties of TiO₂/R1234yf. In order to analyze the heat transfer characteristics and the transport features of the innovative nanorefrigerant, appropriate mathematical predictive models were adapted from earlier investigations. The models are validated by the experiments using TiO₂/POE nanolubricant as a test fluid. The investigation was conducted with a temperature range of 10 °C to 40 °C and a volume percentage of nano-sized TiO₂ particles in R1234yf refrigerant ranging from 0.2 to 1%. According to the research, the introduction of nanoparticles increases viscosity, thermal conductivity, and density. However, as the amount of nanoparticles rises, the specific heat capacity of the nano-enhanced refrigerant decreases. The nanorefrigerant’s heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop are improved by 134.03% and 80.77%, respectively. The outcomes observed from the predictive technique and the simulation approach had an average absolute variation of 9.91%. Full article

Efficient sign layouts play a crucial role in guiding driving in underground construction caverns and enhancing transportation safety. Previous studies have primarily focused on evaluating drivers’ gaze behavior in tunnels to optimize individual traffic sign layouts. However, the lack of a theoretical framework for visual perception of visual capture and information conveyed by sign groups hinders the measurement of drivers’ comprehensive visual perception and the layout optimization of sign groups. To address this gap, this study introduces a calculation method for sign group information volume and a visual cognition model, establishing a comprehensive evaluation approach for sign group visual cognition. Eye movement data, collected using eye-tracking technology, were utilized to evaluate the comprehensive visual perception and optimize the layout of sign groups. The findings indicate that a low information volume fails to enhance recognition ability and alleviate the psychological burden. Conversely, excessive information may result in overlooking signs positioned on the left and top. Furthermore, drivers are unable to improve cognitive efficiency and driving safety even with self-regulation when faced with an information volume exceeding 120 bits within a 100 m span. Overall, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method in promoting the long-term safety effect of temporary signage layouts in underground construction areas. Full article

Self-care practices are considered an important resource for workers’ psychophysical well-being. These resources were especially relevant during the COVID-19 outbreak, during which both workaholism and sleep–wake problems were documented. Our study aimed to examine whether workaholism could predict sleep–wake quality through the mediating effects of self-care practices. A convenient sample of 405 Italian workers (71.1% females; mean age = 42.58 ± 10.68 years) completed the Self-Care Practices Scale, Mini-Sleep Questionnaire, and Working Excessively and Working Compulsively Scale during the first lockdown in Italy in 2020. The main results showed that workaholism directly affected sleep–wake quality, suggesting that high levels of workaholism increased the likelihood of sleep–wake problems being reported. At the same time, people with high levels of workaholism reported scarce use of self-care practices and, in turn, lower sleep–wake quality. Our findings confirm the importance of monitoring the quality of life at work to protect workers’ sleep–wake cycle quality and investing in self-care. Both individual and organizational efforts can help break the vicious cycle of workaholism and sleep–wake disorders. Full article

As the environment reaches field capacity and is unable to regenerate waste naturally, challenges resulting from municipal solid waste management (MSWM) are showing a global increase, especially in developing countries. Nigeria is a country with a huge quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) without a functional and operational MSWM system. This systematic review of the literature (SLR) aimed at investigating knowledge application in view of the circular economy (CE) model in the management of MSW in Nigeria, while answering research questions on the adoption and implementation of the circularity principle. In line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, a comprehensive search strategy was developed to source electronic versions of updated articles from the Scopus, Web of Science, and Sage databases. The search retrieved 476, 878, and 374 results, respectively. The search was limited to publications written in the English language between 2008 and 2022 and was downloaded via Endnote and screened using Rayyan.ai. The SLR was conducted between February and October 2022. Findings revealed some potential opportunities for the transition and implementation of CE by identifying major indicators and enablers, but pointed out some barriers, including weak legislation, poor funding, the non-engagement of professionals, the absence of infrastructure, a lack of strategic planning, uncivilized behavioral conduct, and demography. The need to improve the current practice of MSWM from the linear economy (LE) of take–make–dispose is crucial. Summarily, the transition towards CE in MSWM is feasible and it can be initiated through the application of the 3Rs and 12Rs while anticipating the provision of infrastructural and novel technologies for a functional MSWM framework. Full article

Traffic flow monitoring plays a crucial role in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) by dealing with real-time data on traffic situations and allowing effectual traffic management and optimization. A typical approach used for traffic flow monitoring frequently depends on collection and analysis of the data through a manual process that is not only resource-intensive, but also a time-consuming process. Recently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) approaches like ensemble learning demonstrate promising outcomes in numerous ITS applications. With this stimulus, the current study proposes an Improved Artificial Rabbits Optimization with Ensemble Learning-based Traffic Flow Monitoring System (IAROEL-TFMS) for ITS. The primary intention of the proposed IAROEL-TFMS technique is to employ the feature subset selection process with optimal ensemble learning so as to predict the traffic flow. In order to accomplish this, the IAROEL-TFMS technique initially designs the IARO-based feature selection approach to elect a set of features. In addition, the traffic flow is predicted using the ensemble model that comprises a Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), Long Short-term Memory (LSTM), and Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (BiGRU). Finally, the Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA) is applied for the adjustment of the optimum hyperparameters of all three DL models. In order to highlight the improved prediction results of the proposed IAROEL-TFMS algorithm, an extensive range of simulations was conducted. The simulation outcomes imply the supremacy of the IAROEL-TFMS methodology over other existing approaches with a minimum RMSE of 16.4539. Full article

Regional development issues can be reflected in land use and addressed through land use restructuring. It is commonly recognized that strengthening the role of small towns in the coordinated and sustainable development of counties, towns, and villages is effective in solving land use problems. However, relevant studies do not focus on the county space and lack scale extensions to reflect the role and status of small towns. In this paper, an analytical framework is developed and some research hypotheses are proposed from the perspective of “Scale-Space” interaction. Then, a county in central China is used as a case study to reveal the mechanism of rural land use restructuring by comparing the changes in land use structure in different locations in recent years. The study finds that under the constraint of the basic principle of “Requisition-Compensation Balance”, the county has reorganized the spatial and landscape pattern of the countryside through extensive “demolition of the old” and “construction of the new”. Among them, towns that are distant from the county center, while improving their cohesion, give full play to their role as regional sub-centers, and are expected to become an important force driving urbanization in the future. Full article

Asthma is the most prevalent cause of chronic respiratory diseases. Herein, we evaluate the asthma burden in Mexico based on results from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD 2019) study 2019. Using data from the GBD 2019, we estimated asthma prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted lived years (DALYs) counts and crude and age-standardized rates per 100,000 people with a 95% uncertainty interval (UI) by sex and age at the national and subnational levels in Mexico from 1990 to 2019. At the national level, asthma affected 3.35 million (95% UI, 2.59–4.37) people, with 606.0 thousand (433.0–811.1) new incident cases and 1655 (3–1931) deaths during 2019. Asthma caused a slightly higher burden in females and affected mainly age groups between 1 and 14 years of age. The burden of asthma gradually decreased from 1990 to 2010. However, during the last decade (2010–2019), prevalence increased by 8.2%, as did incidence, by 11.3%, whereas mortality and DALYs decreased by 23.3 and 1.6%, respectively. Finally, the burden of asthma displayed a heterogeneous pattern of disease at the subnational level. In conclusion, asthma causes a significant health loss in Mexico that differentially affects the population distributed among the states of the country, thus causing health disparities that should be addressed to provide sustainable asthma diagnosis and control to reduce its burden, especially in the early stages of life. Full article

The safe and efficient mining of coal seams with low porosity, low permeability, and high heterogeneity under complex geological conditions is a major challenge, with the permeability of coal seams playing a crucial role in coal mine gas extraction. The development of coal seam permeability enhancement technology can help coal mines produce safely and efficiently, while the extracted coal bed methane can be utilized as green energy. To study the effect of freezing and thawing on the evolution of the mechanical and permeability properties of coal, triaxial permeability tests were conducted on low-permeability coal under two different confining pressures. Simultaneously, dry, saturated, and freeze-thaw coal samples were set up for comparison, and the effects of water and freeze-thaw were isolated from each other. The triaxial mechanics and percolation laws of dry, saturated, and freeze-thaw coal rocks were obtained; the results show that saturated coal has the lowest initial permeability, while freeze-thawed coal has the highest initial permeability. Through analyzing the effects produced by water, freezing and thawing on coal specimens, the mechanism of the influence of freeze-thaw on the permeability evolution of coal was revealed. The research results can provide theoretical guidance for the development of gas extraction technology for low-permeability coal seams. Full article

Infectious disease transmission can be greatly influenced by human mobility. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese Government implemented travel restriction policies to mitigate the impact of the disease or even block the transmission chain of it. In order to quantify the impact of these policies on the number of infections and the peak time of transmission, this research modified the traditional SIR model by considering human mobility. The proposed model was validated using a Baidu Qianxi dataset and the results indicate that the number of total infections would have increased by 1.61 to 2.69 times the current value and the peak time would have moved forward by 3 to 8 days if there were no such restriction policies. Furthermore, a mixing index α added in the proposed model showed that the proportion of residents using public transport to travel between different areas had a positive relationship with the number of infections and the duration of the epidemic. Full article

Scooter-sharing services, that is, short-term rental of electric scooters, have been gaining popularity among last-mile transport solutions in recent years, winning both their supporters and opponents. Recognizing the different approaches of societies to scooters in the world, the objective of this work was to determine the perception of scooter-sharing services in Poland, that is, the fifth largest European market in terms of micromobility. The study was based on survey data conducted using the CAWI method among the points of active users of scooter-sharing systems. The article presents the results regarding the perception of electric scooters in terms of safety, use, operation, education, and elements of communication behavior. The results indicate that the respondents perceive the Polish market of sharing electric scooters well. They believe that riding a scooter is safe (despite pointing out numerous technical faults that may indicate insufficient technical knowledge about what they can mean for users), and they are against mobility hubs and disrupting free systems. Interestingly, respondents emphasize the need to modernize the regulations, the need for penalties for damage to vehicles, and the need to reduce fees. The results provide valuable clues on how to manage the new electric mobility. They also indicate a different approach of Polish users to the issue of perceiving scooters in relation to other European societies (such as France or Denmark), which is a valuable clue for modeling transport behavior. Full article

Attractiveness plays a key role in the marketing activities that promote the sustainable development of tourist destinations. Many researchers have acknowledged that regional tourist destinations face challenges in attracting tourists due to homogeneity. Achieving sustainability of the ecological landscapes of tourist destinations, creating a unique image that differentiates them from other destinations, and fostering cooperative relationships among regional tourist destinations remain significant challenges. To investigate the reasons behind this and potential solutions to the homogeneity of tourist attractions in regional tourist destinations, our research team employed methods including landscape pattern analysis, tourist destination image analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), clustering algorithm (K-means), text analysis, word frequency analysis, sentiment analysis, and semantic network analysis. Through an in-depth examination of the homogenization phenomenon in the ancient towns of the southern Yangtze River, our research confirms that the spatial form of these ancient towns has become increasingly simple and scattered over time, with a concentration of the same land use types. Half of the sampled ancient towns had exhibited homogeneity in landscape patterns by 2020, with pronounced homogeneity observed in cultivated land, water networks, and hand-made land. Excessive commercialization has further contributed to the loss of local characteristics, resulting in homogeneity issues in the image of tourist destinations in the Jiangnan water towns and ancient towns. This article discusses the characteristics of homogeneity in the ancient towns of the Jiangnan water towns and their practical implications, offering valuable insights and experiences to tourism planners, designers, researchers, and other stakeholders engaged in the study of sustainable regional tourism destinations. Full article

This paper presents the results of a survey of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Poland that have benefited from crowdfunding (CF). Based on these results, a new business model was developed. On this basis, the CF equity, reward and donation models were analyzed, and the impact of CF on the way of creating value in the company in the context of sustainable development was determined. The survey results show that the use of CF promotes the sustainable development of SMEs in Poland and significantly impacts their business model. In practical terms, this research has contributed to a better understanding of value creation by these companies. The results of our analysis are useful for consulting companies and CF platforms that help SMEs organize campaigns. In theoretical terms, the study conducted and the methodology used allow the presentation of a new definition of CF and a sustainable business model for a company using CF as well as contribute to the value management theory in SMEs. Full article

Environmental awareness has sparked increasing interest in changing the way humans interact with their environment. This awareness includes the change in paradigm of considering human manure (humanure) not as a waste but as a valuable bioproduct instead. In this regard, composting is an age-old technique for nutrient recovery that has gained renewed interest, as it may be a sanitary and financially viable solution to closing the loop of human–nature interactions. This work investigates environmental solutions for toilet systems that are user-friendly and sustainable based on systems that filter nutrients via vermicomposting. The methodology is based on (1) reviewing several surveys across different continents to select the most appropriate interface of a targeted society, and (2) investigating the microbial dynamics of vermicomposting. The microbial activity was compared with the activity of the aerobic composting systems by measuring soil temperature, soil composition, decomposition rate, stabilization factor, and biological diversity. The microbial decomposition process in vermicomposting was faster due to the presence of earthworms, but the increase in temperature and volatile ammonia led to the earthworms burrowing into the soil. Overall, the flush toilet is still the most socially accepted toilet interface, and the connection of vermicomposting to this toilet interface poses challenges in managing high ammonia content and maintaining healthy conditions for the earthworm population. Full article

Weighted student funding (WSF) systems have been implemented in various countries to give schools more autonomy over how to allocate their funding. School principals use funding to maintain school operations and foster innovation for achieving educational goals. However, despite the importance of this process, scholarly research has largely overlooked how principals make decisions about allocating their financial resources. Accordingly, this study seeks to provide practical insights into the strategies used by one school by highlighting their staff’s perceptions about using their WSF to maintain school operations and spur innovation. Using a case study approach, we investigated a principal who effectively used a school’s WSF to transform a failing school into an innovative one. The findings revealed that the principal strategically implemented financial management mechanisms in a way that inspired teachers to consider more profoundly how a school’s WSF can help achieve educational goals. The principal fostered consensus on the school’s direction, encouraged innovation through hands-on experiential learning and strategic planning, and facilitated funding for innovative teachers by guiding proposal development. In the final section of this article, insights into the shifting cultural and practical landscape of financial resource utilization within schools are discussed. Full article

In the town of Sacapulas located in the mountainous country of Guatemala, there is a constant risk of natural disasters. Floods and landslides occur frequently, resulting in the loss of human lives and cultural aspects. Specifically, in the region, the creation of black salt is the most affected. This resource has been created since the time of the Mayans on the salt beach surrounding the town. However, from the 1940s onwards, this industry has shrunk, impacting the sustainability of indigenous people. After conducting several area and space analyses, it was found that the black salt beach has evolved considerably since the last research conducted in 2001. The shape of the space has been reduced, while the use of the area has been modified by the people of the town, who specifically use the hot springs located below the river shore of the beach. This new usage can coexist with the Salt making industry is only made by a few people now, there are few working in this industry, and they only work in the dry season. The result is an opportunity for economic growth and an increase in tourism if the area handled properly by managing the land and planning ahead. Full article