Economic Construction Research Articles

Surface Corrosion‐Resistant and Multi‐Scenario MoNiP Electrode for Efficient Industrial‐Scale Seawater Splitting

AbstractThe construction of efficient and durable multifunctional electrodes for industrial‐scale hydrogen production presents a main challenge. Herein, molybdenum‐modulated phosphorus‐based catalytic electrodes (Mo‐NiP@NF) are prepared via mild electroless plating. Heteroatoms doping or heterostructures construction can reconfigure the intrinsic electronic structure of the pre‐catalyst and optimizes the key intermediates adsorption. Moreover, the (hypo/meta‐)phosphite anions (POxδ−) and molybdate ions (MoOxδ−) on the electrode surface of Mo‐NiP@NF afford resistance to chloride (Cl−) corrosion. Mo‐NiP@NF exhibits ultralow overpotentials of 278/550 and 282/590 mV at 1 A cm−2 during the hydrogen/oxygen evolution reaction (HER/OER) in alkaline simulated and real seawater, respectively, whereas catalytic overall seawater splitting (OWS) reach 1 A cm−2 at 1.96 and 1.97 Vcell. Remarkably, Mo‐NiP@NF maintains stable operation for 1500 h in OWS. The scalability of Mo‐NiP@NF allowing the assembly of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer powered by photovoltaic energy, simulating a portable hydrogen‐oxygen respirator provides an oxygen/hydrogen flows of 160/320 mL min−1. Expanding further, the trace ruthenium‐loaded Mo‐NiP@NF catalyst sodium borohydride (NaBH4) hydrolysis achieving a hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of 11049.2 mL min−1 g−1. This work provides strategic innovations and optimization solutions for the economical and mild construction of multi‐scenario durable green energy conversion materials at industrial‐scale application.

Impact of excavation footage on vertical shaft lining deformation and surrounding rock stress in Xiyu conglomerate

The Xiyu conglomerate, which is extensively distributed in Xinjiang, China, presents challenges for vertical shaft construction owing to its poor cementation and low strength. The selection of an appropriate footage length is paramount for ensuring safe construction. Based on the shaft pipeline construction project of the Xinlongkou Hydropower Station on the Kuitun River, this study investigated the impact of footage length on the stability of vertical shafts within the Xiyu conglomerate strata using finite element simulation and measurement data to analyze the lining displacement and change in stress in the surrounding rock. The results show that the excavation footage has little effect on the lining’s horizontal displacement during vertical shaft excavation. A mathematical model was developed to describe how the vertical displacement of the lining varies with the excavation footage and vertical shaft depth. Below a critical threshold, the stress in the surrounding rock cannot be effectively alleviated, leading to a concentration of stress; above that critical threshold, an excessively large excavation increases the load on the surrounding rock. Based on the simulation results and factors such as economic benefits, construction speed, and safety, an excavation footage of 4 m is judged to be appropriate.

Optimization and prediction of paver block properties with ceramic waste as fine aggregate using response surface methodology

The ceramic industry produces a significant volume of ceramic waste (CW), representing around 20–30% of its the entire output. The waste mostly comes from challenges noticed in the manufacturing process, overproduction, and damage to products. Considering the substantial worldwide production of ceramics, it is crucial to efficiently handle and recycle this waste to promote sustainability efforts. This study explores the conversion of ceramic waste into fine aggregates suitable for the production of paver blocks. Currently, a variety of assessments are being conducted to determine the effectiveness of these enhanced paver blocks. The evaluations involve aspects like compressive strength, water absorption (WA), dry density, flow table measurements, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and rebound hammer tests. The results indicate that replacing natural aggregates with up to 30% CW significantly improves compressive strength (CS) and Rebound results from tests. This study provides useful information into optimising the content of CW in paver blocks, contributing to the development of sustainable and economical construction materials. Furthermore, it focusses on minimising landfill waste and preserving natural resources.

The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Green Technology Innovation: Evidence from the Threshold Effect of Absorptive Capacity

ABSTRACT Promoting green technology innovation has become a pivotal driver for nations worldwide to achieve sustainable development as a result of the increasingly pressing challenge posed by climate change. As one of the main forms of modern capital internationalization, foreign direct investment (FDI) has become a focal point for countries aiming to leverage its potential for green technology innovation. This article employs a panel threshold model to examine the impact of FDI on green technology innovation in China from the perspective of absorptive capacity, primarily characterized by economic advancement, infrastructure construction, and environmental regulation. The results demonstrate that, first, the impact of FDI on green technology innovation exhibits a distinct threshold effect; when absorptive capacity falls below the threshold value, FDI can impede green technology innovation, but when absorptive capacity exceeds the threshold value, FDI can facilitate green technology innovation. Second, the impact of FDI on green technology innovation is more pronounced in the eastern region and the southeastern region of Hu line. Third, the impact of FDI on green technology innovation reveals a boundary effect within provincial border cities. However, the radiation effect of FDI on green technology innovation demonstrates limitations. The advancement of green technology innovation can effectively address environmental challenges. This article enhances our understanding of the impact of absorptive capacity on FDI and the role that plays on green technology innovation. The contribution of this work will broaden understanding of the relationship between FDI and green technology innovation.

Multisource remote sensing monitoring and analyzing for land subsidence and crop growth in a coal mining area under different rainfall conditions

Coal has been crucial in driving economic development and production construction. However, the mining-induced subsidence may cause irreversible damage to the surrounding environment of vegetation growth. Meanwhile, with the worsening of global warming, the frequency and intensity of extreme water-related weather events, such as droughts and excessive rainfall, are on the rise, which leads to heightened impacts on ecosystems and agricultural production. Consequently, extreme water-related weather, the distribution of land subsidence, and its effect on vegetation have attracted significant attention. Based on the Sentinel-1 radar data and Sentinel-2 multispectral data from 2017 to 2022, the SBAS-InSAR technology, the object-oriented classification, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were employed respectively in the study to obtain the spatial-temporal evolution of land subsidence, subsidence-induced water, and crop growth in Tiefa mining area, a representative coal mining area in Northeast China. Moreover, the relationship between land subsidence, subsidence-induced water, and vegetation change was analyzed combined with summer precipitation data. The results showed that: (1) The average cumulative subsidence of the mining area was 256.8 mm, and the subsidence area was 42.525 km2 for the six years. Among them, the heaviest subsidence reached a maximum of 380.5 mm in 2022, and the largest subsidence area was 20.109 km2 in 2017. (2) When the rainfall was excessive, the area of subsidence-induced water would increase sharply, with a proportion jumping to 9.71% from 5.37%, which indicated the subsidence would further amplify the destructive effect of excessive rainfall and waterlogging on land resources. (3) In addition to the existing water pits, ground cracks and shallow subsidence pits appeared under the influence of underground coal mining. The direct impact of ground cracks on crops was not apparent, while the effect of subsidence pits on crops under different rainfall conditions was dual character. In dry years, crops in the subsidence pits could grow better due to higher soil moisture. In wet years, crops in the subsidence pits would suffer the more severe waterlogging. The research results are of great significance for further understanding the influence of coal mining on surface vegetation in mining areas in Northeast China.

Some Developments and Vulnerabilities in the Child Rights Protection System under the Umbrella of the European Family

Bearing in mind that the European Economic Community was originally a purely economic construction, there is no consistent and relevant degree of conventionality in the relationship between the EU, on the one hand, and the family, in all its configuration, on the other. However, indirectly, through its own policies, the Union has shaped certain aspects of the concept of family, the free movement of European citizens and their family members being a case in point. In this study we aim to determine to what extent we can speak of the existence of the concept of the European family and to present the European standards that circumscribe the child in a family unit, including the adaptation of some "classic" rights of EU law to best suit the specific interests and needs of the child. Last but not least, we aim to present some vulnerabilities in the European system of protection of children's rights, caused either by inconsistency of the European legislator or by a lack of refinement in the interpretation of legal provisions relating to fundamental rights. Keywords: Child; Freedom of movement; Citizenship; Family member

Es mi pelo donde otra academia es posible

It's My Hair could be seen as the result of several things: on the one hand, a life experience of a group of academics men and women, black and white, old and young, who form a whole, and this despite not being so, who reflect on racism, decoloniality and the importance of the body, and who are structured around a research group we call ALMARGEN. But it is also the tension between the processes of domination and the awareness, in a social rather than psychological sense, of the importance of a key element of African and Afro-descendant society: hair. Finally, it is a huge summary of what happens with afro hair, how it is structured and becomes part of an identity, of a social, political and economic construction and, above all, the support of racism, contempt and marginalization.

Novel 3D FRP system used for more effectively and readily strengthening of precast concrete elements

The burgeoning precast concrete market necessitates innovative strengthening solutions to ensure the durability and safety of precast elements. This study presents a 3D Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) system designed to reinforce precast concrete elements, providing a more effective and efficient method compared to traditional Externally Bonded (EB) and Near Surface Mounted (NSM) FRP techniques. The system utilizes extended FRP strips that function as bent anchorages, U-wraps for anchorage protection, and additional FRP patches to prevent anchorage cutoff at bent corners. A comprehensive experimental campaign involving 33 specimens assessed the system's performance, demonstrating significant improvements in flexural and shear capacities with minimal surface preparation requirements. The experiments included varying strip widths and anchorage configurations to optimize the system's effectiveness. Numerical models were developed to simulate the flexural behavior of the 3D FRP reinforced elements, accurately predicting load-deflection responses and failure modes. Both experimental and numerical results suggest that the 3D FRP system not only enhances the load capacity and structural integrity of precast concrete elements but also simplifies the installation process, offering a promising solution for the construction industry. The findings also offer practical guidelines for the design and fabrication of 3D FRP reinforced concrete elements, contributing to a more sustainable and economical construction approach.

Promotion Effects of High-Speed Rail on Urban Development: Evidence from Three Lines in China

Amid the vigorous development of the high-speed rail (HSR) network, local governments in China generally consider the construction of HSR as a crucial task in their regional development strategies. Currently, most provincial capitals and prefecture-level cities in the eastern and central regions of China already have operational HSR services. This study aims to examine a key question: has the objective of local governments to promote urban development through the construction of HSR been effective? The research selects cities along the Beijing–Shanghai, Beijing–Guangzhou, and Harbin–Dalian HSR lines as the study subjects. Based on the principles of proximity and similarity, cities with operational HSR and those without are chosen as the experimental group and the control group, respectively. Following the double difference (difference-in-differences) approach, an advantage index is proposed to systematically evaluate the impact of HSR operation on urban development from three dimensions: population aggregation, economic development, and expansion of construction land. Furthermore, the evaluation results are systematically clustered to identify city types that exhibit different promotional effects in various dimensions. The research findings indicate the following: (1) The promotion effect of HSR on the development of small to medium-sized cities is more reflected in economic growth and construction land growth. (2) The promotion effect of HSR on the development of large cities is more reflected in the growth of the employment population. (3) For smaller or economically less-developed cities, HSR may be detrimental to the aggregation of resident and employment populations. (4) Cities with moderate size and good economic development have the opportunity to use HSR to promote population aggregation. On this basis, combined with the findings above, strategies to promote the coordinated development of high-speed rail construction and urban systems are discussed.

The New Qualitative Ecology of Cultural Studies and the Diverse Pathways of Inquiry within Museum SEZs

The intricate interplay between human economic and social constructs and the cultural milieu engenders a multifaceted and dynamic ecosystem. Within the perpetual evolution of nascent economic urban centres, cultural ecology underscores the imperative of harmonizing and mutually reinforcing economic frameworks with cultural landscapes. This investigation advances a novel conceptual framework delineating the economic-cultural interplay within contemporary Chinese burgeoning urban landscapes, particularly emphasizing the sustainability of cultural ecology. Pioneering in its approach, this research offers a groundbreaking analysis unprecedentedly through the prism of museums. The findings elucidate that museums exhibit remarkable adaptability to emerging urban economic paradigms, thereby catalyzing the enhancement of cultural ecosystems and emerging as verdant bastions fostering the endurance of urban cultural landscapes.

Enhancement of mechanical properties in coral concrete via seawater and sea-sand: Experimental insights into the use of dual plastic fibers

The South China Sea contains many coral reefs, and there is a lot of discussion about the best way to dispose of them. Finding ways to use these materials effectively in marine engineering could help address the shortage of natural aggregates in coastal engineering. One potential solution is using coral concrete, which offers cost-effective and enhanced properties. A type of coral fiber concrete using sea sand is created by combining coral rock, sea sand, seawater, PVA fiber, and PP fiber. The findings indicate that by utilizing the optimal ratio of the two fibers (3 kg PVA + 1 kg PP and 2 kg PVA + 2 kg PP), the cubic and axial compressive strength of the new concrete can be increased by 10 % and 20 %, respectively compared to ordinary coral concrete. Furthermore, incorporating these fibers can also reduce axial displacement, resulting in an elastic modulus that is 30–50 % higher than non-fiber variants while enhancing axial toughness. Finally, this study examines stress-strain curves at three different stages through analysis of macroscopic and microscopic failure mechanisms. It was found that there exists a correlation exceeding 0.9 between two mathematical models and measured stress-strain curves from this study. The effective use of composite plastic fiber significantly enhances concrete material performance while providing valuable data support for marine economic facilities construction.

Population dynamics, economic injury levels and life table construction of mealybugs: A review

Population dynamics, economic injury levels and life table construction of mealybugs: A review

The Role of Alcohol Expectancies in the Association Between Behavioral Economic Alcohol Demand, Relative Reinforcement, and Alcohol Problems.

Alcohol consumption and related problems are common among college students. Prior research links behavioral economic (BE) constructs of alcohol demand and relative reinforcement (RR), and alcohol expectancies, with alcohol consumption/problems. However, research has yet to examine the associations between BE, expectancy theory, and alcohol use outcomes. In this study, college students (n = 287) completed a single online survey assessing demand, RR, alcohol expectancies, and alcohol use/problems. We examined the cross-sectional indirect association of expectancies and drinking on the relationship between demand and alcohol problems and between RR and alcohol problems. The final model showed adequate fit, χ2(26) = 67.23, RMSEA = .07, CFI = .95, SRMR = .06. Higher demand and RR were associated with stronger alcohol expectancies, which demonstrated an indirect association on the relationship between demand, and RR, and alcohol problems. Findings suggest that demand and RR may be directly related to alcohol expectancies; a relationship that has not been previously identified. Moreover, alcohol expectancies may impact the associations among demand, RR, and alcohol problems. Thus, alcohol expectancies may be an important intervention target for reducing alcohol problems. Future longitudinal research is needed to evaluate this association over time and assess if these findings have potential impact for intervention research.

Impacts of forest cover change on local temperature in Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta urban agglomerations of China

The continuous economic and ecological construction in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and Pearl River Delta (PRD) has caused frequent temporal and spatial changes in local forests, thus affecting the regional climate. Yet few studies have addressed the temperature feedback through biophysical mechanisms due to forest change in two urban agglomerations of China. We compared MODIS and Landsat-based land cover data to detect a more accurate forest cover change. We then used the moving window strategy and spatiotemporal pattern change analysis method to quantify and compare the actual impact of forest cover change on temperature and the differences in driving factors (e.g., evapotranspiration (ET), albedo, and precipitation) from 2010 to 2020. The results showed that Landsat-based land cover data performed well. The conversion from forest to cropland was dominated in YRD and PRD, followed by the conversion of cropland to forest, with a small proportion of forest converting to impervious surface. The afforested areas in the two regions showed a diurnal cooling effect (-0.18 ± 0.07 °C and -0.10 ± 0.13 °C, respectively), which was greater than the air temperature. Forest converting to impervious surfaces led to stronger warming (0.39 ± 0.37 °C in YRD) than that of cropland (0.05 ± 0.03 °C in YRD and 0.07 ± 0.06 °C in PRD). The daytime LST variations can be explained by ET and inconsistent albedo effects. Seasonally, the cooling effects induced by afforestation predominated during the growing season (spring and summer), accompanied by the relatively high ET. This study shows that rational afforestation and control of deforestation are helpful to achieve sustainable forest management in urban agglomerations and to regulate climate warming.

Intelligent planning of safe and economical construction sites: Theory and practice of hybrid multi objective decision making

Intelligent planning of safe and economical construction sites: Theory and practice of hybrid multi objective decision making

Green New Deal: Exploring the Path of Promoting Sustainable Development by Environmental Governance

The new development concept put forward by the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee-innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development concept, reflects CPC's deepening understanding of the law of economic and social development, greatly enriches the Marxist development concept and innovates the theoretical system of Socialism with Chinese characteristics' political economy. Green development is a brand-new development concept that integrates ecological civilization and beautiful China construction into all aspects and the whole process of economic, political, cultural and social construction. Under the guidance of the "four comprehensive" strategic layout, we should bravely face the difficulties and problems faced by China's sustainable development, follow the "five in one" overall layout, establish the "green+" strategy, fully integrate the "green+" strategy into the whole process and all-round development of the national economy and society, and practice the new development concept.

The Analysis of Electric Phase Separation and Common Technical Issues of High-speed Railway System in China

The electric railway, as a vital economic transportation artery, offers high efficiency and effectiveness compared to other modes of transportation. The characteristics of efficient transport, comfortable ride and environmental friendliness have effectively driven regional economic construction and industrial economy along the route, which has significantly enhanced cultural and economic exchanges between different regions, becomes the preferred mode of transportation for medium-distance and long-distance travel, and plays an irreplaceable role in China’s current transportation system. Under the increasing demand for passenger flow, the high-speed and high-density tracking operation of trains has become the new normal of high-speed railway operation management. In the background of national science and technology innovation development strategy, how to further shorten the train tracking interval to improve transportation efficiency and further reduce the energy consumption of train operation to improve the energy utilization level of the railway industry is the focus of the current electric railway construction and operation management department. The electric phase separation is a special and intricate part of the traction power supply system in China’s electric railway, and it is an indispensable component. The article describes that some main techniques relating to electrical phase separation are utilized extensively in China’s high-speed railway, by studying the technologies of electric phase separation, a few new methods were given and shared, which will solve the issues of high energy consumption, increased breakdowns, large equipment loss, and the lower speed, to better serve economic and social development and people’s travel.

Construction and Comparative Analysis of Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones Outside China

China's construction of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones is one of the important measures for the Chinese government to promote opening up and strengthen international cooperation. The Chinese government supports powerful enterprises to carry out various forms of mutually beneficial cooperation abroad, so as to promote the common development with the host country. When Chinese enterprises invest in overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, they will attract more enterprises to invest and set up factories in the host countries, which will increase the employment and tax revenue of the host countries, increase foreign exchange earned through export, improve technological level and promote common economic development. This paper aims to explore the characteristics, models and similarities and differences of China's overseas economic and trade cooperation zone construction with similar mechanisms in other countries through comparative analysis, so as to deeply understand China's role in the global economy. The construction of China's overseas economic and trade cooperation zones will provide important opportunities for Chinese enterprises to expand the international market and improve their international competitiveness, and also make positive contributions to promoting global economic cooperation and development.

Mechanism Analysis and Response of Digital Financial Inclusion to Labor Economy based on ANN and Contribution Analysis

Abstract Given the inclusiveness of digital inclusive finance (DFI) and its complex impact mechanism on the labor economy, this study uses the characteristics of adaptive and self-learning ability of artificial neural network (ANN) to simulate the process of delivering stimuli to nerve cells in the human brain through linear weighted summarization and functional mapping, and implement the optimization learning algorithm to adjust the weights in the network structure, thus completing the hierarchical analysis of index weight. At the same time, the neural network structure is used to approach the greatest extent and Garson algorithm is used for sensitivity analysis. We use data on the labor economy and digital financial inclusion in Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces in China from 2011 to 2021 as a training dataset. The study found that (1) the indexes of DFI have different importance to the indexes of labor economy, among which the most important are the number and amount of insurance per capita and the proportion of the number and amount paid by digital technology, which have a normalized importance of 100 and 99.3%, further, R-square coverage is above 0.95, respectively, for labor economy indicators; (2) For different subdivided indicators, the indexes of DFI determine different significance. This study employs tools and policies related to DFI to address labor economy challenges, so as to promote the overall economic construction. This study studies the response and transmission mechanism of the concept of DFI to the labor economy, and explores the labor economy problems such as improving labor productivity and labor mismatch in the economy under its “inclusive” principle. Compared with the traditional weight analysis, it is closer to the real situation and has a stronger ability to fit the reality. In the future, the model could be rebased and measured against absolute indicators and a wider dataset could be adopted for extension to more areas.

Strategic Choices of General Contractors in the Context of China’s Industry Chain of Construction Industrialization

Amidst the challenges of economic downturn and construction industrialization, the profits obtained by general contractors through comparative advantage strategies are slowly decreasing, and thus, new strategic choices are required. The collaborative division of labor effect in the industry chain can improve profits and labor productivity, which is an important driving force for enterprise transformation and development. Therefore, a need arises to improve the profits of general contractors in the industrial chain system composed of prefabricated component suppliers, general contractors, and building development enterprises. Accordingly, this paper constructs a backward integration, forward integration, and bidirectional integration Stackelberg game model based on the proportion of resource investments, with general contractors as the main decision-making body. It then compares and analyzes the optimal decision-making values in different situations to study the optimal strategic decision-making problem of general contractors. Research results indicate the following. (1) All three integrated strategies can improve the profits of general contractors. When the proportion of resource investment meets certain conditions, the profits of general contractors under the bidirectional integration strategy are the highest, while the sustainable performance of the industrial chain and prefabricated buildings can be increased and the coordination of the industrial chain can be achieved. Thus, it is the best choice for a general contractor. (2) As a prefabricated component supplier needs to carry out continuous technological innovation activity to obtain a cumulative effect, the return on investment of forward integration is less than that of backward integration. (3) General contractors may consider choosing to carry out bidirectional integration strategies of forward integration followed by backward integration.