Search

In this study, we successfully synthesized CsPbBr 3 QDs and Mn-doped CsPbCl 3 QDs, which exhibited dual-wavelength emission and achieved a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of up to 83.4 %. To enhance the environmental stability of the QDs, we synthesized QDs/Polycaprolactone (PCL) composites. Using the Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing technique, we printed composite patterns using CsPbBr 3 /PCL and Mn-doped CsPbCl 3 /PCL. These patterns displayed dual-color fluorescence when excited at 365 nm and single-color fluorescence when excited at 410 nm. This excitation-sensitive property is due to the significant difference in emission and absorption wavelengths between CsPbBr 3 QDs and Mn-doped CsPbCl 3 QDs. Furthermore, we transferred the pattern onto a flexible anti-counterfeiting label using a transfer printing technology with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This research represents a significant advancement in the development of CsPbX 3 QDs for flexible fluorescent anti-counterfeiting applications. CsPbBr 3 and Mn-doped CsPbCl 3 QDs are used to print composite patterns by EHD printing technique. The composite pattern exhibits both orange and green colors under ultraviolet light exposure, while only the green pattern is visible under blue light illumination. By encapsulating the pattern with PDMS, a flexible transparent anti-counterfeiting label is obtained. [Display omitted] • Mn-doped CsPbCl 3 QDs in collaboration with CsPbBr 3 QDs are applied in anti-counterfeiting technology. • A fluorescence anti-counterfeiting lable is created by using EHD technology. • The label exhibits varying color information by manipulating wavelength of exciting light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Classification of phases and technological readiness level of bioinputs. • Delphi-SWARA applied based on interviews with experts in the field. • Framework that standardizes and simplifies the development of biological products. • Contribution to technology transfer in the field of bioinputs. • Weight and importance of bioinput development. Universities are essential for economic growth, as they generate scientific and technological innovation. For this innovation to reach society, it is necessary to encourage and improve the processes of technology transfer. In this context, this research proposes a method to identify and weigh the stages of development of a bioinput for biological control (BBC), an area in expansion with great potential for research in universities. The method uses the Delphi and SWARA methods, applied from interviews with twenty-one experts in the area. The results allow validation of the stages and their descriptions and assign weights to each. Phase 3, which consists of standardizing the production and formulation of the product, is the most important, representing 25.1% of the total. This phase also indicates that 63.5% of the process was completed, which makes the technology more attractive to companies. The study contributed to the technology transfer in the area of bioinputs by presenting a structure that can homogenize and facilitate the understanding of the development of these technologies, assisting the development of new products and the transfer of products that are in development in order to foster the relationship between academia and market, as one of the most relevant issues that the company seeks to know is the level of technological readiness so that it can measure the time, financial resources, uncertainties, and technical risks involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the effect of local government multi-objective competition on the transfer of polluting industries is of great practical significance for promoting the high-quality development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. This paper adopted the extended shift-share analysis method to measure the scale of inter-provincial transfer of polluting industries in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2008 to 2020. Considering local governments' economic, innovation, talent and environmental protection competition, the paper examined the effects of local government multi-objective competition on the transfer of polluting industries in the region, and tested its spatial spillover effects. The results showed that: 1. Different competitions had different effects on the transfer of polluting industries. Economic competition intensified the transfer of polluting industries, while talent, innovation, and environmental protection competition all restrained it, among which environmental protection competition had the strongest restraining effect. 2. Compared with the transfer of polluting industries, the direction of economic competition and environmental protection competition on the transfer of industries did not change, but the degree of influence was reduced, talent competition instead promoted industrial transfer of the research region to some extent. 3. From the basin level, government competition in the upstream region more obviously intensified the transfer of polluting industries; while from the economic scale level, the restraining effect of government competition in the developed region on the transfer of polluting industries was much stronger. 4. Both innovation and environmental protection competition had positive spatial spillover effects. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the promotion and assessment mechanism of local officials, adopt differentiated competitive constraint mechanisms in accordance with local conditions, guide local governments to transform their development concepts, promote the sharing and common use of technological innovations, and promote the orderly transfer of industries in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. • Government economic competition intensified the transfer of polluting industries. • Talent, innovation, and environmental protection competition had restraining effect. • Environmental protection competition had the strongest restraining effect. • The impact of government competition had regional and scale heterogeneity. • Innovation and environmental protection competition had spatial spillover effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercialization of novel adsorbents technology for providing safe drinking water must consider scale-up methodological approaches to bridge the gap between laboratory and industrial applications. These imply complex matrix analysis and large-scale experiment designs. Arsenic concentrations up to 200-fold higher (2000 µg/L) than the WHO safe drinking limit (10 µg/L) have been reported in Latin American drinking waters. In this work, biochar was developed from a single, readily available, and taxonomically identified woody bamboo species, Guadua chacoensis. Raw biochar (BC) from slow pyrolysis (700 °C for 1 h) and its analog containing chemically precipitated Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles (BC-Fe) were produced. BC-Fe performed well in fixed-bed column sorption. Predicted model capacities ranged from 8.2 to 7.5 mg/g and were not affected by pH 5–9 shift. The effect of competing matrix chemicals including sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, chloride, acetate, dichromate, carbonate, fluoride, selenate, and molybdate ions (each at 0.01 mM, 0.1 mM and 1 mM) was evaluated. Fe 3 O 4 enhanced the adsorption of arsenate as well as phosphate, molybdate, dichromate and selenate. With the exception of nitrate, individually competing ions at low concentration (0.01 mM) did not significantly inhibit As(V) sorption onto BC-Fe. The presence of ten different ions in low concentrations (0.01 mM) did not exert much influence and BC-Fe's preference for arsenate, and removal remained above 90%. The batch and column BC and BC-Fe adsorption capacities and their ability to provide safe drinking water were evaluated using a naturally contaminated tap water (165 ± 5 µg/L As). A 960 mL volume (203.8 Bed Volumes) of As-free drinking water was collected from a 1 g BC-Fe fixed bed. Adsorbent regeneration was attempted with (NH 4) 2 SO 4 , KOH, or K 3 PO 4 (1 M) strippers. Potassium phosphate performed the best for BC-Fe regeneration. Safe disposal options for the exhausted adsorbents are proposed. Adsorbents and their As-laden analogues (from single and multi-component mixtures) were characterized using high resolution XPS and possible competitive interactions and adsorption pathways and attractive interactions were proposed including electrostatic attractions, hydrogen bonding and weak chemisorption to BC phenolics. Stoichiometric precipitation of metal (Mg, Ca and Fe) oxyanion (phosphate, molybdate, selenate and chromate) insoluble compounds is considered. The use of a packed BC-Fe cartridge to provide As-free drinking water is presented for potential commercial use. BC-Fe is an environmentally friendly and potentially cost-effective adsorbent to provide arsenic-free household water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green technology transfer can improve the economic benefits accrued by firms and promote regional green development. Patent value can comprehensively reflect the development prospects of green patents and is an important indicator for predicting green technology transfer. In order to explore the impact of patent value on green technology transfer, this study used a sample of 16,169 green technology patents from Chinese manufacturing industry, which were analyzed using the binary logistic regression model. The results suggest that the technical and economic value of green technology patent positively impact green technology transfer, while the effect of legal value is opposite. Industry competition strengthens the negative impact of the legal value of green technology patents on green technology transfer and weakens the positive impact of green technology patent's economic value. This study explores the factors impacting firms' green technology transfer from a value perspective and proposes suggestions for the transformation of green technology in firms. • The technical and economic value of green technology patents have a positive impact on the transfer of the technology. • The legal value has a negative impact on transfer. • Industry competition strengthens the negative impact of the legal value of green technology patents on the technology's transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world faces various challenges in terms of environmental sustainability. An increasing world population, the rigidity of traditional production and consumption patterns, the complexity of economic activities, globalization, and harmful emissions intensify environmental pressures. In this context, the evaluation of various environmental policy instruments is important to alleviate environmental pressures and, thus, combat climate change. This study aims to investigate the impact of environmental taxes, renewable energy consumption, and environmental technology on the ecological footprint in OECD countries by using data from 1994 to 2018 and modern panel data techniques. The results of the AMG estimator indicate that environmental taxation and renewable energy consumption play a role in reducing the ecological footprint; however, results imply that environmental technology does not have a statistically significant effect on the ecological footprint. In addition, we applied DCCE and CS-ARDL estimators to obtain robustness results and observed that the findings remained valid. Therefore, the results of the study suggest that regulations to increase the effectiveness of environmental taxes, renewable energy consumption, and environmental technology should be promoted to ensure environmental sustainability. • We examined the impact of environmental taxes on the ecological footprint in OECD countries. • This study applied an advanced panel data model for the period 1994–2018. • Environmental taxes have the effect of reducing the ecological footprint. • DCCE and CS-ARDL approach validated the robustness of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An implementation proposal that seeks to globalize the scope of the sustainable technologies developed in the University laboratories is presented. This approach uses the generation of triple-impact projects placing people at the center of technological development to bring technical and scientific knowledge into a service design oriented to global sustainable solutions. This research is an approach to what a hub for scientific research, technological implementation, and human needs would look like by designing common environments in which to interact and expand knowledge in an iterated way through the experience of all the actors involved in technological implementation. As a control case, a new technology developed at the Universidad de Buenos Aires, consisting of using sustainable materials as tubular reactor fillers for water treatment was chosen. Based on data obtained within the framework of a University extension project, in which the water quality diagnosis for human consumption was carried out and cross-examined with the mathematical analysis of sorption, design parameters of the reactor, participatory design, and open source concepts application, different virtual environments were generated with distinct objectives: i) open design environment: publishing and mapping of installed sorption reactors, reactor model plans, and useful information related to drinking water quality (aimed at contributors of the open source design environment); ii) platform for academic actors linking: connecting data between prototyping lab for participatory design of sorption reactors (aimed at university research users); iii) information disclosure page: space where the implemented technology impact is displayed and shows options to contact researchers and request a reactor design diagnosis for another community (aimed at beneficiary users). A technological service designed to link the University with the community was proposed, by resolving one of the main gaps related to the possibility for communities to access public financing for self-managed improvement projects, increasing the appropriation of the adopted technology and democratizing public investment, making it sustainable over time. [Display omitted] • A sustainable technology implementation requires a human-centered design vision. • Participatory design of sorption reactors increases the growth and adaptability of the technology developed in academia. • For sustainable technology implementation, active participation of all agents related to the problem is required. • Designing open-source sorption reactors allows mapping water basins and assessing people's water consumption • Participatory and open design empower people to be part of the solutions they need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Concentrating solar power (CSP) is a promising technology in Tunisia. However, its diffusion is facing many barriers which deter investments. Through the analysis of a CSP plant in Southern Tunisia by using the Global Risk Analysis (GRA) method, we try to analyze the main risks faced by investors. The main objective of this research is to identify and analyze the risks faced by CSP investors in Tunisia and develop strategies that should be adopted to accelerate the process of diffusion of this technology. This analysis allows us to conclude that the CSP project is very exposed to political, financial, physical-chemical, legal, and strategic hazards. Moreover, we show that among the four phases of the project, the preparation phase is the most vulnerable to hazards. In fact, the GRA method makes it possible to determine the list of the major risks, such as the risk of not obtaining permission to build a CSP plant, the risk of non compliance with the deadline, the risk of failure to achieve the expected performance, the risk of insufficient access to capital, and the risk of conflicts with local residents. In order to de-risk CSP technology in Tunisia, we propose some strategies, such as strengthening the public-private partnerships, using participatory approaches, creating local employment, etc. Highlights • Concentrating solar power (CSP) is a promising technology in Tunisia. • Political, financial, physical-chemical and legal hazards are the most critical barriers. • The preparation phase contains the highest share of hazardous situations. • CSP technology needs the public-private partnerships to accelerate its diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current academic and business landscape does not provide a clear path for doctoral trainees graduating. Moreover, the fundamental need of the hour is diversification of the workforce where PhD graduates need to be trained to do more beyond basic scientific research. One of the possible paths that is now becoming popular as science enters its translational phase is research commercialization and technology transfer. This short article provides an comprehensive overview of the technology transfer field and possible paths trainees can take to position themselves as a successful technology transfer professional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geophysical methods are used increasingly for characterization and monitoring at remediation sites in fractured-rock aquifers. The complex heterogeneity of fractured rock poses enormous challenges to groundwater remediation professionals, and new methods are needed to cost-effectively infer fracture and fracture-zone locations, orientations and properties, and to develop conceptual site models for flow and transport. Despite the potential of geophysical methods to “see” between boreholes, two issues have impeded the adoption of geophysical methods by remediation professionals. First, geophysical results are commonly only indirectly related to the properties of interest (e.g., permeability) to remediation professionals, and qualitative or quantitative interpretation is required to convert geophysical results to hydrogeologic information. Additional demonstration/evaluation projects are needed in the site remediation literature to fully transfer geophysical methods from research to practice. Second, geophysical methods are commonly viewed as inherently risky by remediation professionals. Although it is widely understood that a given method may or may not work at a particular site, the reasons are not always clear to end users of geophysical products. Synthetic modeling tools are used in research to assess the potential of a particular method to successfully image a target, but these tools are not widely used in industry. Here, we seek to advance the application of geophysical methods to solve problems facing remediation professionals with respect to fractured-rock aquifers. To this end, we (1) provide an overview of geophysical methods applied to characterization and monitoring of fractured-rock aquifers; (2) review case studies showcasing different geophysical methods; and (3) discuss best practices for method selection and rejection based on synthetic modeling and decision support tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea of linking stressors, services providing units (SPUs), and ecosystem services (ES) is ubiquitous in the literature, although is currently not applied in areas contaminated with heavy metals (HMs), This integrative literature review introduces the general form of a deterministic conceptual model of the cross-scale effect of HMs on biogeochemical services by SPUs with a feedback loop, a cross-scale heuristic concept of resilience, and develops a method for applying the conceptual model. The objectives are 1) to identify the clusters of existing research about HMs effects on ES, biodiversity, and resilience to HMs stress, 2) to map the scientific fields needed for the conceptual model's implementation, identify institutional constraints for inter-disciplinary cooperation, and propose solutions to surpass them, 3) to describe how the complexity of the cause-effect chain is reflected in the research hypotheses and objectives and extract methodological consequences, and 4) to describe how the conceptual model can be implemented. A nested analysis by CiteSpace of a set of 16,176 articles extracted from the Web of Science shows that at the highest level of data aggregation there is a clear separation between the topics of functional traits, stoichiometry, and regulating services from the typical issues of the literature about HMs, biodiversity, and ES. Most of the resilience to HMs stress agenda focuses on microbial communities. General topics such as the biodiversity-ecosystem function relationship in contaminated areas are no longer dominant in the current research, as well as large-scale problems like watershed management. The number of Web of Science domains that include the analyzed articles is large (26 up to 87 domains with at least ten articles, depending on the sub-set), but thirteen domains account for 70–80% of the literature. The complexity of approaches regarding the cause-effect chain, the stressors, the biological and ecological hierarchical level and the management objectives was characterized by a detailed analysis of 60 selected reviews and 121 primary articles. Most primary articles approach short causal chains, and the number of hypotheses or objectives by article tends to be low, pointing out the need for portfolios of complementary research projects in coherent inter-disciplinary programs and innovation ecosystems to couple the ES and resilience problems in areas contaminated with HMs. One provides triggers for developing innovation ecosystems, examples of complementary research hypotheses, and an example of technology transfer. Finally one proposes operationalizing the conceptual methodological model in contaminated socio-ecological systems by a calibration, a sensitivity analysis, and a validation phase. [Display omitted] • 16,176 articles about heavy metals, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and resilience. • The nested analyses with CiteSpace show the dynamics of knowledge clusters. • A concept of resilience using service-providing units in the integration of studies. • Top-down and bottom-up catalyzers of interdisciplinary research networks. • Research priorities for the resilience of biogeochemical services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deployment of greenhouse gas removal (GGR) technologies has been identified as an indispensable option in limiting global warming to 1.5 °C by the end of the century. Despite this, many countries are yet to include and promote this option in their long-term plans owing to factors such as uncertainty in technical potential, deployment feasibility and economic impact. This work presents a country-level assessment of the deployment potential of five GGR technologies, including forestation, enhanced weathering (EW), direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS), bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and biochar. Using a multi criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach consisting of bio-geophysical and techno-economic factors, priority regions for the deployment of these GGR technologies were identified. The extent of carbon dioxide removable by 2100 via these technologies was also estimated for each of the 182 countries considered. While the obtained results indicate the need for regional cooperation among countries, it also provides useful evidence on the need for countries to include and prioritise GGR technologies in their revised nationally determined contributions (NDCs). • The GGR potential of 182 countries was evaluated. • The cheaper natural GGR methods are sufficient options for developing nations. • OECD nations are expected to drive the deployment of engineered GGR options. • There is need for regional cooperation and resource sharing among countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is insufficient research on how to reduce the destructive effects of command-based environmental regulation through institutional design. The implementation of the National Key Monitoring Enterprises provides new evidence to assess the effects of vertical monitoring. This study integrates and matches three types of micro databases in China: industrial, pollution, and patent, and constructs firm-level panel data from 2004 to 2010. The empirical evidence shows that the policy reduces the energy use intensity of monitored enterprises by about 10.4% and sulfur dioxide emission intensity by about 23.9%. The mechanism test shows that this effect is achieved by means of energy structure optimization, process innovation, and end-of-pipe treatment, but the effect on total factor productivity is not significant. Among them, the positive impact is stronger for high-profit and emerging firms. Further, we quantify the policy-induced capacity transfer and technology spillovers from monitored enterprises to non-monitored enterprises. In terms of scale, the policy leads to a simultaneous increase in output and pollution emissions of unmonitored firms in the same industry. However, in terms of efficiency, the policy reduces the energy use intensity and pollution emission intensity of enterprises in the same industry. • We construct the time-varying DID by using a large sample of microdata to examine the effect. • Vertical monitoring by the central government has reduced the energy use intensity of regulated companies by about 10.4%. • Enterprises achieve emission reductions through capacity compression, end-of-pipe treatment, and technological innovation. • Differential regulation of firms leads to the transfer of polluting outputs and technologies to unmonitored enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns about mitigating and adapting to climate change resulted in renewing the incentive for agricultural research investments and developing further innovation priorities around the world particularly in developing countries. In the near future, development of new agricultural measures and proper diffusion of technologies will greatly influence the ability of farmers in adaptation and mitigation to climate change. Using bibliometric approaches through output of academic journal publications and patent-based data, we assess the impact of research and development (R&D) for new and existing technologies within the context of climate change mitigation and adaptation. We show that many developing countries invest limited resources for R&D in relevant technologies that have great potential for mitigation and adaption in agricultural production. We also discuss constraints including weak infrastructure, limited research capacity, lack of credit facilities and technology transfer that may hinder the application of innovation in tackling the challenges of climate change. A range of policy measures is also suggested to overcome identified constraints and to ensure that potentials of innovation for climate change mitigation and adaptation are realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the Global North is historically responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, Newly Industrializing Countries (NICs) are expected to overtake developed country emissions in the coming years. At the same time, NICs are climbing the ladder of the global economy, increasing their competitiveness on the global stage and catching up with technological competencies of developed economies. Against this background, this paper explores innovation and collaboration in Climate Change Mitigation Technologies (CCMTs) in NICs. The research question is whether the propensity to innovate and diffuse CCMTs is impacted by technological collaboration with two highly developed countries, Germany and The United States. The sample of NICs includes the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) plus Israel, Mexico, and Turkey, in a panel from 1995 to 2015. The empirical results suggest that collaboration with both Germany and the U.S. is highly significant for domestic CCMT innovation in NICs. These findings are important because, stepping beyond the literature on the merits and drawbacks of global climate governance tools such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and related UNFCCC processes, they show that collaboration for climate and environmental technologies could become a key tool to significantly improve the chances to stay in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. Finally, the policy advice for NICs and developing countries is to, above all else, focus on incubating strong technological innovation systems, including strengthening domestic Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), as well as to enhance technological collaboration with developed countries. • We present a time-series panel from 1995 to 2015. • This research explores Climate Mitigation Technologies (CCMTs) in Newly Industrializing Countries. • Technological collaboration with Germany and the U.S. drives NICs CCMT innovation. • Novel empirical models capture the role of absorptive capacities and domestic innovation systems. • A machine-learning governance index is used as a reliable proxy for governance quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diode (UV-LED) is a potential decontamination technology for reducing bacterial loads on meat. This study investigated the efficacy of UV-LED technology to reduce Listeria monocytogenes , Salmonella Typhimurium, total viable counts (mesophiles (TVCm) and psychrophiles (TVCp)) and total Enterobacteriaceae counts (TEC) when suspended in beef broth and after inoculation onto diced beef. Inoculated samples (107 CFU/mL) were treated with UV light using single (255, 265, 285 nm) and combined (255 and 265 nm, 255 and 285 nm, 265 and 285 nm) wavelengths, exposed for 2, 30 or 60 min. Significant (p < 0.05) reductions in all of the target bacteria were achieved after 2 min with almost complete elimination after 60 min for all the individual and combinations of wavelengths tested, with the exception of 255 nm. On the diced beef, significant (p < 0.05) reductions in L. monocytogenes , TVCm and TEC were achieved using 285 nm and all of the combined wavelength treatments after 60 min. It was concluded that UV-LED technologies have potential application for the decontamination of beef products and validation in a commercial plant should be undertaken to facilitate the transfer of this technology to the meat sector. • UV-LED significantly reduced L. monocytogenes in beef broth and on diced beef. • S. Typhimuirum were also significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in beef broth. • The most effective single UV wavelength treatment was 285 nm. • Wavelength 285 nm combined with 255 nm or 265 nm enhance bactericidal inactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to global warming and increasingly severe resource and environmental constraints, the role of renewable energy in reducing pollutant emissions and mitigating environmental degradation has gradually attracted the attention of all countries. This study examines the relationship between government corruption, market segmentation, and renewable energy technology innovation. The regression results show that government corruption can increase the degree of market segmentation, and both government corruption and market segmentation can significantly reduce regional renewable energy technology innovation. Further analysis shows that the improvement in market segmentation can lead to a negative moderating effect of corruption on renewable energy technology innovation. In addition, corruption and market segmentation have complementary effects on the impact of renewable energy technology innovation. The improvement of corruption level can increase the negative influences of market segmentation on renewable energy technology innovation. Similarly, the higher degree of market segmentation can increase the restraining effect of corruption on renewable energy technology innovation. Therefore, this study provides a valuable reference for all countries to accelerate the construction of regional market integration, break through interprovincial barriers, and improve renewable energy technology innovation. [Display omitted] • The market segmentation index in China is measured. • The influence of corruption on renewable energy technology innovation is investigated. • Market segmentation has a negative effect on renewable energy technology innovation. • Corruption can significantly improve the regional market segmentation level. • Market segmentation and corruption have a complementary effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study is to explain the long-run and causal effects of innovation, financial development, and transportation infrastructure on CO 2 emissions using the combined cointegration and wavelet coherence approaches over the period from 1971 to 2018 , while using economic growth as a control variable in the model. The outcomes of the Bayer-Hanck cointegration test show that there is an important cointegration equation among CO 2 emissions, innovation, financial development, transportation infrastructure, and real GDP. Moreover, the findings from a wavelet power spectrum reveal that there is a significant vulnerability in innovation, financial development, transportation infrastructure, and CO 2 emissions at different time frames and frequencies. Furthermore, the outcomes of wavelet coherence approach reveal that (i) Innovation is observed as a significant predictor of CO 2 emissions over the period from 2007 to 2013; (ii) In the long run, there are negative correlations between CO 2 emissions and financial development; (iii) Over the periods from 2000 to 2015, and from 1985 to 1989, transportation significantly causes CO 2 emissions. Our findings have substantial policy implications that suggest there is a need to strengthen innovation and transportation infrastructure to achieve environmental sustainability targets. • This study examines the determinants of CO 2 emissions in China following COP21. • This study employs Bayer-Hanck cointegration and wavelet coherence approaches. • Transportation and innovation significantly cause CO 2 emissions in the long run. • There is negative correlation between CO 2 emissions and financial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The families' data damaged by the earthquake and flood in villages and towns along Fujiang River in Sichuan are collected by using intelligences Internet of, and the process and the degree of ruined the production and life of the farmers in this area are evaluated through the information diffusion technology. The villages and towns had suffered a large loss of integrated risk from floods and earthquakes, with an average annual loss of 5.758 million Yuan. Through the comprehensive suppression and blocking intervention combined with the village watershed management and post-disaster reconstruction, the frequency and the degree of disaster occurrence have gradually decreased in the past decades, and the resilience of infrastructure such as regional rivers and diversion canals to resist integrated disasters have been enhanced and the effect of this design scheme of comprehensive disaster prevention and controlling is remarkable. • The micro data of farmers' families damaged by the earthquake and flood in village and town are effectively gathered by using intelligence Internet. • The comprehensive loss of earthquake and flood disasters are evaluated through information diffusion technology. • In combination with the post-disaster reconstruction plan of rivers and diversion channels in the basin, an engineering treatment plan to block the development of the disaster and inhibit the occurrence of the disaster has been designed. • In the past 10 years, this kind of active engineering intervention has strengthened the resilience of regional rivers and diversion channels to resist comprehensive disasters. • The frequency and loss of comprehensive disasters have gradually decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the enlarging inter-provincial disparities in China as regards carbon emissions and carbon intensity (carbon emissions per unit gross domestic product), this paper is the first study to investigate the inter-provincial carbon imbalance by constructing and employing the Kaya-Zenga index. We use China's panel data of provincial-level carbon emissions over 1995–2016 to quantitatively measure the levels of inter-provincial imbalance and polarization in carbon emissions and carbon intensity. Further, we decompose the Kaya-Zenga index into different contributing factors both regionally and structurally and perform a scenario analysis to identify the corresponding regionally differentiated countermeasures regarding carbon emission reduction. The results show that the imbalance in carbon emissions is mainly caused by imbalances in population scale and income level, while the imbalance in carbon intensity predominantly results from imbalances in energy efficiency and energy mix. In addition, for heavy manufacturing provinces, the respective emission-reduction strategy should aim at lowering energy intensity through local technology improvement and inter-regional technology transfer. For light manufacturing and high technology provinces, carbon emission reduction is harder to be achieved; however, a mix of policies of improving energy efficiency, optimizing energy mix, and industrial upgrading should be implemented. The results of the scenario analysis indicate that reducing imbalance in carbon intensity under different scenarios can lead to a substantial reduction in carbon emissions (up to 10%). • We investigate the inter-provincial carbon imbalance within China. • We construct the Kaya-Zenga index and decompose the index into four contributors. • We use a panel data set of 30 provincial-level regions in China over 1995–2016. • Carbon imbalance is mainly caused by imbalances in population and energy efficiency. • Reducing intra-group imbalance in carbon intensity can abate carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite pressures to increase performance and decrease costs, innovation has been slow to emerge in the municipal wastewater sector. The relationship between regulation and innovation in this sector is a particularly interesting aspect of this conundrum, given the degree to which public utility decision-making is influenced by regulation. Using a national survey, this paper examines US wastewater utility managers' perceptions of how regulation influences the adoption of new technologies. Recognizing that the relationship between innovation and regulation is complex, we develop the concept of regulation as multifaceted and examine three interrelated aspects of regulation: (1) regulatory requirements, (2) regulators and relationships, and (3) the broader regulatory environment. Specifically, we seek to understand whether and in what ways wastewater utility managers perceive these aspects of regulation as hindering or encouraging the adoption of new technologies. We find that, although stringent effluent limitations are perceived to be a moderate barrier to innovation, most survey respondents did not identify weakening them as a way to encourage innovation. Instead, respondents generally identified factors related to regulatory relationships and factors related to the broader regulatory environment as barriers to innovation, and indicated that addressing these aspects of regulation would encourage innovation. We conclude that loosening or tightening regulatory requirements is not the most effective way to promote innovation in the municipal wastewater sector. Rather, those parties with an interest in innovation can focus on helping utilities and regulators build relationships and better navigate the processes that influence decisions about new technologies. • Innovation in municipal wastewater has complex intersections with regulation. • Regulation can be conceptualized to include requirements, relationships, and context. • Utility managers emphasize relationships and context over specific requirements. • Uncertainty, capacity, and the "regulatory approach" are key barriers to innovation. • Expanding funding, reducing risk, and improving collaboration are top opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we start by pointing out that Yoneda's notion of a regular span S : X → A × B can be interpreted as a special kind of morphism, that we call fiberwise opfibration , in the 2-category Fib (A). We study the relationship between these notions and those of internal opfibration and two-sided fibration. This fibrational point of view makes it possible to interpret Yoneda's Classification Theorem given in his 1960 paper as the result of a canonical factorization, and to extend it to a non-symmetric situation, where the fibration given by the product projection P r 0 : A × B → A is replaced by any split fibration over A. This new setting allows us to transfer Yoneda's theory of extensions to the non-additive analog given by crossed extensions for the cases of groups and other algebraic structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]