Get the win-win: Sustainable circular model of 'generation-value-technology' of industrial solid waste management

The management of industrial solid waste (ISW) and promoting sustainable circular development of the industrial economy is an urgent priority today. Therefore, this article constructs a sustainable circular model of 'generation-value-technology' of ISW management through the lens of industrial added value (IAV) and technology level. Also, the importance of the role of government is considered in the model. Based on actual data of China, this article simulates the future trend of the model using a system dynamics approach. The chief findings of the study are as follows: (1) under the current policy, China's future industrialization is increasing and the technological level of industrial enterprises is rising, but this is accompanied by a climb in ISW generation. (2) The win-win situation of ISW decrease and IAV increase can be achieved through enhanced information disclosure, technology innovation and government incentives. (3) Government subsidy should be oriented towards supporting technology innovation in industrial enterprises while reducing the proportion of incentives for ISW management results. Based on the results, this study proposes targeted policy implications for government and industrial enterprises.

Special collections for applying artificial intelligence techniques to encourage economic growth and maintain sustainable societies

Efficient resource use requires substantial evaluation and re-evaluation of production processes. Since not all production details can be properly and timely monitored and adjusted, improvement of resource allocation has long been a critical issue in commodity production, technique selection, and sustainable development. The progress of artificial intelligence (AI) offers a possibility. For example, with deep learning techniques and extensive data analysis, most previously unincorporated or unknown information associated with a firm's activities can be appropriately reflected and calculated. Once the firms take the report, a more efficient and economically friendly production strategy could be made. The central theme of this special collection is to invite studies on how the design and application of AI benefit not only the fields of computer science and information engineering but also the interdisciplinary fields, including renewable energy development, environmental protection, and economic analysis. Fourteen papers are published in this special collection.

Risk communication in multistakeholder engagement: A novel spatial econometric model

Existing studies on the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) neglect the inverse effect of pollution transfer from environmental regulation interactions on pollution reduction from a risk analysis perspective. Based on the regional differentiated attitudes on the environmental regulation reached in risk communication by the risk awareness biases of multiple interest groups, this article clarifies the causality between risk communication and risk transfer based on multistakeholder engagement processes; furthermore, the article incorporates the simultaneous action of the technological innovation effect and pollution risk transfer effect to construct a spatial environmental hyperbolic model with a bidirectional correlation between pollution emissions and economic growth in different regions. To verify our model, we select the pollution from agricultural watersheds in China as a sample to examine the two inverse effects. The results demonstrate that (1) agricultural watershed pollution and economic growth show an inverted U-shaped relation and a U-shaped relation in the local region and adjacent regions, respectively; (2) the pollution reduction assessment of the classical EKC model can be largely attributed to pollution risk transfer behavior; and (3) the turning point of the U-shaped curve appears earlier than that of the inverted U-shaped curve in the spatial hyperbola model. The findings suggest that stakeholders should consider the risk awareness bias caused by the imbalance of regional economic development and the scenarios that provide a "haven" for pollution risk transfer. Moreover, our study expands the theoretical connotation of the classical EKC hypothesis and is more suitable for pollution reduction scenarios in developing countries.

Affiliate performance feedback and technology innovation: The mediating effect of the parent's response

The relationship between firm performance feedback and technology innovation has been studied extensively, but limited attention has been paid to factors that mediate this relationship. We examine how a parent firm addresses an affiliate's performance level and its influence on the affiliate's technology innovation. Integrating the behavioral theory of the firm and the concept of parent functions, we argue that the parent firm addresses the affiliate's performance level in two ways: hierarchy management and resource allocation. Specifically, unlike the case of outperforming affiliates, the parent firm facilitates the technology innovation of underperforming affiliates through hierarchy management and resource allocation. Regression analyses of 2010-2020 data of listed affiliates belonging to Chinese business groups provide strong evidence supporting our conjecture. Our study sheds light on the importance of considering the parent's influence when affiliates adopt technology innovation in light of its performance feedback.

Agricultural Supply-Side Structural Reform and Path Optimization: Evidence from China

The agricultural sector's supply-side reform is fundamental to ensuring food security and social stability. This paper uses a comprehensive analysis method to reflect on China's agricultural reform from 1970 to 2020. We observe that China's agriculture made significant progress before 2020 due to preferential policies and demographic dividends. This production-oriented mode has led to the co-existence of overstocking, the rapid growth of imports, and ecological degradation. A follow-up survey acknowledged that rural complex is a comprehensive social network with substantial radiant effect involving government-sponsored projects, sector-specific programs, corporate and societal assistance. The sustainable development of the rural complex lies in industrial planning, system restructuring, and institutional arrangement. Therefore, this article anchors its system structure under the ESG principle and green development philosophy. It diversifies the agro-economy to advance digitalization and de-carbonization of the rural economy.

Influencing Factors and Realization Path of Power Decarbonization-Based on Panel Data Analysis of 30 Provinces in China from 2011 to 2019

2011-2019 was the critical period of the low-carbon transformation of the power industry, reflecting the deepening influence of market mechanisms. Decarbonization of the new power system is a systematic project that needs to strengthen the top-level design and overall planning. Therefore, the paper first evaluates the decarbonization of the existing power system and controls the grid architecture, power structure, energy utilization, supply chain, and trading market to further optimize the system by strengthening the basic theoretical research of the new power system, exploring the key elements of the low-carbon development of the power system, promoting the breakthrough of the key subjects, and formulating the new power system decarbonization path. In the international push for carbon neutrality goals, identifying key factors in the decarbonization of the power system is critical to achieving low-carbon development in the power sector. Combined with the characteristics and development trends of the power industry, the five dimensions of "Power generation decarbonization (SP)", "Energy utilization efficiency (EU)", "Supply chain decarbonization (SC)", and "Power grid decarbonization (PG)", and "the Trading system (TS)" are selected to construct an evaluation index system for the power decarbonization and identify the key factors. The Analytic Network Process (ANP) Method is used to calculate the index weight and measure the decarbonization level of the power industry in 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2019. The evaluation results reveal that the overall decarbonization level of the power industry is on the rise and has stabilized after peaking in 2016. The regression results of the systematic GMM estimation show that "the intensity of cross-regional transmission", "the degree of carbon market participation", "technology innovation", and "policy support" can significantly promote power decarbonization, and different regions have heterogeneity. Therefore, we propose to achieve technological innovation and upgrading in the eastern region, strengthen the construction of smart grids in the central region, optimize the power structure in the western region, and improve the market mechanism as a whole, to form a low-carbon development path for the power industry.

Coupling coordination analysis of low-carbon development, technology innovation, and new urbanization: Data from 30 provinces and cities in China

Technology innovation capability as an endogenous driving force plays an increasingly important role in the low-carbon transformation of new urbanization. This paper's purpose is to delve into the coupling coordination relationship among the three variables, and promote system's and region's synergy development. Based on the coupling coordination degree model, spatial autocorrelation model and obstacle degree model, this paper investigated the coupling coordination of low-carbon development (LCD) quality, technology innovation (TI) capability and new urbanization (NU) level in China from 2009 to 2019. The results indicate: (1) The coupling coordination degree (CCD) of LCD quality, TI capability and NU level in all regions of the country were fluctuating for a long time, and the regions that reach the coordinated development level showed a slow rising trend with obvious regional differences. (2) Three subsystems' CCD showed significant spatial correlation characteristics, and the degree of spatial agglomeration was constantly increasing. (3) The obstacles affecting the systems' synergy mainly reflected in economic and social indexes. In the end, this paper proposed that policy coordination and linkage should be strengthened, emphasizing the integrated development of the three subsystems. It is necessary to formulate development plans in combination with geographic location and resource endowment to enhance the regional driving effect.

The Impact of Information Infrastructure on Air Pollution: Empirical Evidence from China

Information infrastructure construction has become an essential support for the new global technological revolution and industrial change. To examine whether information infrastructure can mitigate the level of air pollution, this paper measures the development level of information infrastructure in each region using the entropy-TOPSIS method based on the data of 31 Chinese provinces from 2013 to 2020. On this basis, it explores the impact of information infrastructure on atmospheric pollution and its mechanism using spatial measures and mediating effects. The results show that: (1) Information infrastructure can effectively improve air quality, though its spatial spillover effect is not obvious. (2) In addition to directly reducing air pollution, information infrastructure can also improve air quality by influencing industrial structure upgrading, or by influencing technological innovation first and then industrial structure upgrading. By exploring the impact of information infrastructure on air pollution and its action path, this paper expects to provide some scientific reference value for the construction of information infrastructure under the background of the new global technological revolution.

Can a Glove-Coach Technology Significantly Increase the Efficacy of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation on Non-healthcare Professionals? A Controlled Trial

Introduction: Cardiovascular accidents are the world's leading cause of death. A good quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can reduce cardiac arrest-associated mortality. This study aims to test the coaching system of a wearable glove, providing instructions during out-of-hospital CPR. Materials and Methods: We performed a single-blind, controlled trial to test non-healthcare professionals during a simulated CPR performed on an electronic mannequin. The no-glove group was the control. The primary outcome was to compare the accuracy of depth and frequency of two simulated CPR sessions. Secondary outcomes were to compare the decay of CPR performance and the percentage of the duration of accurate CPR. Results: About 130 volunteers were allocated to 1:1 ratio in both groups; mean age was 36 ± 15 years (min-max 21-64) and 62 (48%) were men; 600 chest compressions were performed, and 571 chest compressions were analyzed. The mean frequency in the glove group was 117.67 vs. 103.02 rpm in the control group (p < 0.001). The appropriate rate cycle was 92.4% in the glove group vs. 71% in the control group, with a difference of 21.4% (p < 0.001). Mean compression depth in the glove group was 52.11 vs. 55.17 mm in the control group (p < 0.001). A mean reduction of compression depth over time of 5.3 mm/min was observed in the control group vs. 0.83 mm/min of reduction in the glove group. Conclusion: Visual and acoustic feedbacks provided through the utilization of the glove's coaching system were useful for non-healthcare professionals' CPR performance.

Public Health and Online MICE Technology During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Health Beliefs and Technology Innovation

The traditional meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry has been hit hard by social distancing regulations introduced to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, with concerns about pandemic risks and personal hygiene increasing the demand for online MICE technology. With the introduction of innovative new technologies to the MICE industry, it is important to study the psychology of online MICE attendees, particularly the factors affecting their behavioral intention to adopt online MICE technology during the pandemic. This study investigates the attitudes toward attending online MICE since the start of the epidemic based on the health belief model (HBM) and innovation diffusion theory (IDT). A total of 439 valid questionnaires were collected in China and used for structural equation modeling. The results show that the perceived safety threat, the comparative advantage, trialability, and outcome expectations positively impact the attendees' attitudes. Moreover, this study finds that attitude completely mediates the impact of perceived safety threat, comparative advantages, trialability, and outcome expectation on behavioral intention to attend online MICE events. These findings theoretically enrich the understanding of online MICE technology, the HBM, and the IDT and offer managerial implications for MICE organizers and exhibitors.

Impact of Technology Innovation on Air Quality-An Empirical Study on New Energy Vehicles in China

China's high economic growth has been accompanied by deteriorating air quality in recent decades. This paper aims to explore the relation between technology innovation (defined as the invention patent counts of each region) of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China and air quality. A panel fixed effect model is used to analyze this relation and the mediating effect methods are used to examine the role of the output of NEVs (defined as the annual production quantity of NEVs in each region (unit: thousand)). The results of our study show: (1) the impact of the technology innovation of NEVs on air quality is positive and statistically significant; (2) the mediating role of the output of NEVs is confirmed in the relation between NEVs innovation and air quality improvement; (3) the technology innovation of NEVs has a more notable impact on the air quality in the regions with higher vehicle and vessel tax (VVT). The present study implicates for the first time that the technology innovation of NEVs can enhance air quality with the mediating role of the output of NEVs and the moderating role of VVT.

Towards Achieving Sustainable Development: Role of Technology Innovation, Technology Adoption and CO2 Emission for BRICS

In the digital era, technology innovation and adoption trigger economic growth and enhance CO₂ emissions through productivity, which places it in the mainstream policy debate. For BRICS economies, this paper uses the first method proposed in the literature to quantify their information and communication technology (ICT) and innovatively links each country to their information technology adoption rate, as a surrogate indicator for measuring information and communication technology. Environmental Kuznets curve evidence is also examined, using technology innovation, technology adoption, and trade openness as the control variables for sustainable development. The results show that two out of three technology innovation instruments, fixed telephone, and broadband subscriptions increase CO₂ emissions. Simultaneously, mobile cellular subscriptions have a lowering effect on CO₂ emission in BRICS. The technology adoption indicators, high-technology exports, and electric power consumption also cause an upsurge in CO₂ emission. Moreover, trade openness also enriches the level of CO₂ emission in the BRICS regions. There is a need to devise technology innovation and adoption policies to better use technology and to ensure a green environment.

The Safe Shelter Collaborative: An Innovative Approach to Locating Emergency Shelter for Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Survivors

When your residential program is full, finding emergency shelter for human trafficking and domestic violence survivors can be challenging. Advocates often spend hours calling one agency after another to locate an appropriate placement. The Safe Shelter Collaborative is an innovative technological approach to locating emergency shelter. By sending out a blast alert to certified users within a geographic network, agencies provide faster access for a greater number and diversity of survivors. This article reports on an evaluation of the Safe Shelter Collaborative and the ways it has transformed the process of finding emergency shelter.

The role of mHealth intervention on maternal and child health service delivery: findings from a randomized controlled field trial in rural Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

The provision of consistent and quality maternal and child health (MCH) services is a challenge for Ethiopia where most of the population lives in the rural setup. Health service delivery is constrained mainly by shortage of health professionals, meager resources, limited awareness among the society and bureaucratic procedures. Low health service utilization of antenatal care (ANC), delivery services, and postnatal care (PNC) are believed to contribute for high maternal and child mortality rates. Innovative approach like mHealth based technological intervention believed to alleviate such challenges in countries like ours. However, currently, there are few evidences that demonstrate the impact of mHealth technology applications on the level of service utilization. Therefore, the objective our study is to assess the role of mobile phone equipped with short message service (SMS) based data-exchange software linking community health workers to Health Centers in rural Ethiopia affect selected MCH outcomes.

METHODS

A community-based randomized control trial (RCT) was conducted in three woredas of Guraghe zone (Ezha, partial &Abeshge full intervention, Sodo Control). Mobile phones equipped with FrontlineSMS based, locally developed application was distributed to all health extension workers (HEWs) to both intervention woredas who filled maternal, child and stock related forms and submitted to the central server which in turn sends reminder about the scheduled date of ANC visit, expected date of delivery, PNC, immunization schedule and vaccine and contraceptive stock status. Moreover, in Abeshge, the voluntary health workers (vCHW) and HEW supervisors in both intervention woreda were given a phone to facilitate communication with the HEW. No mobile was offered to the control woreda.Pre [2012] and post [2013] intervention community based survey on mothers who have under 5 and under 1 year old child was done to assess the effect of the mobile intervention on selected MCH process indicators. Structured and pretested questionnaire was used to collect data and SPSS v16 statistical software was used for analysis.

RESULTS

Three thousand two hundred and forty mothers, 1,080 from each, were surveyed in the three woredas. The study revealed that the proportion of mothers receiving more than four ANC visits increased significantly in both intervention woredas. Besides, the rate of ANC delivered by HEWs improved in Ezha woreda (T1) (19.01% to 28.27%), proportions of deliveries attended by skilled health workers increased and home delivery decreased in all woredas; most pronounced increases in referrals from health post to health center by HEWs, reported in Ezha and Abeshge. The intervention also led to a significant reduction in stock-outs of preferred contraceptive products in Ezha (T1) from 16.96% to 8.24% but no change was observed in both contraceptive prevalence and immunization rates in the control and the other intervention woreda.

CONCLUSIONS

The study confirmed the positive contribution of SMS based mobile phone intervention in most of the selected MCH service indicators, like improvement in the percent of recommended number of ANC visit, percentage of delivery attended by health workers and facilitating the work processes of the health workers in rural Ethiopia.

World Stem Cell Summit 2014. 3-5 December 2014, San Antonio, TX, USA

Among the many international conferences in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, WSCS is distinct in focusing its efforts to serve as the meeting point by multisector communities of research, clinics, industry, regulation, policy making and ethics. All are aiming at advancing stem cell innovation and new therapies, under the banner of 'connect, collaborate and cure'. As same as past years, presenters and attendees included not only researchers but also clinicians, funding agencies, government officials, industries and patients. Thus, many sessions focused on the clinical translation from basic research. Another important agenda were industrial and social aspects, and problems to be solved before realization of practical and sustainable stem cell-based therapies.