Virtuous Circle Research Articles

Analysis of Synergistic Effect of Energy Efficiency Improvement and Vocational Competence Development

INTRODUCTION: Growing global energy demand and constant competition for energy resources have made energy efficiency a focus of international attention. At the same time, occupational competency development is crucial for sustained individual and overall economic growth.OBJECTIVES: This study explores the synergistic effects of energy efficiency improvement and occupational competence development to inform policy-making and business strategies.METHODS: A literature review summarises relevant theories and research progress on energy efficiency improvement and occupational capability development. Then, the relationship between energy efficiency improvement and vocational ability development was analyzed in depth using econometric models and a large amount of empirical data.RESULTS: There is a significant positive association between energy efficiency improvement and vocational ability development. Specifically, improving energy efficiency not only reduces the cost of energy consumption and enhances productivity but also helps promote technological innovation and industrial upgrading, which in turn enhances the level of occupational ability of workers. In turn, improving occupational ability further encourages technological innovation and productivity in enterprises, forming a virtuous circle and promoting the sustainable development of the economy.CONCLUSION: This study reveals the synergistic effect between energy efficiency improvement and vocational competence development, emphasizing the critical role of energy efficiency improvement and vocational competence development in promoting economic growth and achieving sustainable development.

Can Sovereign Green Bonds Accelerate the Transition to Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

This paper focuses on sovereign green bonds issued in Europe. By issuing green bonds, European governments commit themselves to realizing environmentally friendly projects and encourage other entities, including private-sector ones, to do the same, thus increasing further domestic investments in addressing climate change. However, considering that governments could pursue their sustainable goals by also issuing conventional bonds, this begs the question of why governments should prefer green bonds. A dataset of European sovereign green bonds was retrieved from the Bloomberg Fixed Income database to answer this question. The data cover all European sovereign green bonds issued until the end of 2023. Quantitative analysis confirms the existence of a small green premium for the issuers, representing an incentive to increase the issuances of sovereign green bonds. Furthermore, the government's carbon emissions reduction, the power sector decarbonization, and good climate policies, measured by the Government Climate Risk Score, contribute to further reducing a country's climate risk and consequently the costs of the issuance, thus triggering a virtuous circle which could, in turn, accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions. Despite these benefits, hurdles still exist, and have curbed the development of the market. Examples include divergence between the use of funds raised through green bonds, which should be earmarked exclusively for climate and environmental projects, and the fungibility requirements for proceeds from sovereign debt and fiscal revenues.

Corporate privileges and the formation of Cabildos in the rise of two New Granada Villas: Guasimal de Cúcuta and San José de la Marinilla, 1790-1795

Abstract. Objective/context: In the context of the installation of cabildos in the viceroyalty of the New Kingdom of Granada, this article studies the transition of two towns inhabited by «free people» to the status of villas: the parroquia of Guasimal de Cúcuta and the sitio of San José de La Marinilla. This process shows how the fact that the Catholic monarchy gave the jurisdictional quality of villa to specific towns fostered a virtuous circle in which various local and metropolitan agencies became intertwined and promoted a policy of negotiated integration, which ceded autonomy in local government. Methodology: Based on primary documentary sources detailing the establishment and functioning of chapter governments, we analyze the process of administrative cession in jurisdictional terms and, in general, the establishment of provincial governments in towns in the viceroyalty of the New Kingdom of Granada. Originality: The examination of the documentation allows us to reveal the materialization of a historical process of generalized integration in Hispanic America, induced by the ministers of Charles III, which gave jurisdictional qualities to mestizo population groups, seeking to benefit the royal rents of the economic growth that these populations were experiencing and to determine the new municipal political architecture in the time of the Bourbons. Conclusions: In the cases analyzed, we can see how, in search of administrative rationality, the crown negotiated the granting of autonomy to parroquias and towns of «free people» as a policy of integration that should strengthen centralization and increase productivity to achieve income and economic growth. It can also be seen how the patricians were diligent in giving institutionality to the new republics, guided by royal regulations that even embraced strengthening the branches of propios y arbitrios (such as health and coercion, among others).

Slow sustained releasing LiNO3 from graphite electrode reservoir to regulate solvation structure and stabilize interface

The high de-solvation energy derived from the solvent-rich Li+ solvation sheath and the resultant porous organic-rich electrode/electrolyte interface has hindered the commercialization of low-concentration electrolytes (LCEs). Here, unlike the common method so far reported, we invent an approach of sustained releasing LiNO3 from the graphite (Gr) anode reservoir to optimize the solvation structure and form a stable interface in LCEs. The solubility limit can be overcome by introducing LiNO3 directly in the Gr slurry. Moreover, the stronger binding energy between NO3– and Li+ drives NO3– enter the Li+ solvation sheath, weakening the shielding effect of solvent on Li+, and surprisingly increasing the coordination of PF6- to Li+. Thermodynamically, the corresponding lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels of anions decrease, reducing the de-solvation energy of Li+ and forming a Li3N&LiF-rich solid electrolyte interface (SEI). This inorganic-rich SEI demonstrates advantages of inhibiting the decomposition of solvent and facilitating the transmission of Li+. As a result, the cell with Gr anode containing 1 wt% LiNO3 exhibits superior cycle performance in LCE, almost no degradation within 200 cycles, even higher than that in conventional concentration electrolyte. More importantly, the continuous consumption of NO3– in turn promotes its sustained redissolution from the anode, constituting a virtuous circle of regulating solvation structure, stabilizing interface and improving battery performance. This work blazes a new trail to revive lithium salt additives with low solubility, and expands the design strategy and application prospect of LCEs by building the bridges between regulating the solvation structure and constructing favorable electrode/electrolyte interface.

Role of Women Entrepreneurship in Economic Development of Nepal

The study tells that women entrepreneurs play a vital role not only in the development of industrial sector of a country but also in the development of farm and service sector. The role of women entrepreneurship in economic development varies from economy to economy depending upon its material resources, industrial climate and the responsiveness of the political system to the entrepreneurial function. The objective of the study is to find out the role of women entrepreneurship in economic development of our country. The study is based on secondary data and analytical approach. Women entrepreneurs, in the form of new goods & services, result in new employment, which can produce a cascading effect or virtuous circle in the economy. It is necessary that we understand the benefits of women entrepreneurs, a balanced approach to nurturing entrepreneurship will definitely result in a positive impact on economy and society.

A Self-Righteous, Not a Virtuous, Circle: Proposing a New Framework for Studying Media Effects on Knowledge and Political Participation in a Social Media Environment

To explain the participatory effects of news exposure, communication scholars have long relied upon the “virtuous circle” framework of media use and civic participation. That is, news consumption makes people more knowledgeable, and trustful toward institutions and political processes, making them active and responsible citizens, which then leads them to engage in various political activities. In a social media environment, however, the applicability of the “virtuous circle” is increasingly dubious. A mounting body of empirical research indicates that news consumption via social media does not necessarily yield actual information gains. Instead, it often fosters a false perception of being well-informed and politically competent, thereby stimulating political engagement. Furthermore, selective information consumption and interaction within like-minded networks on social media frequently exacerbate animosity toward opposing political factions, which can serve as a catalyst for political involvement. In light of these findings, we propose replacing the “virtuous circle” framework for a “self-righteous” one. In this new model, social media news users develop a heightened sense of confidence in their knowledge, regardless of its accuracy, and consequently become more inclined to engage in politics by reinforcing the perception that the opposing side is inherently wrong and that achieving victory is imperative.

Japan’s quest for a sustainable, virtuous circle of growth and innovation

ABSTRACT Large Japanese corporations which have accumulated substantial reserves are now under pressure to spend them, but on what, or on whom? Should they increase their (domestic) capital and R&D expenditure, which languished between 2000 and 2020; or invest more in their employees, whose wages have stagnated; or increase their shareholder returns, which have already surged; or raise executive remuneration closer to overseas counterparts? This article examines tensions in recent developments in Japan’s political economy, from Society 5.0 to Kishida’s ‘new form of capitalism’ and Keidanren’s ‘rebuilding the middle class’, from the perspective of these dilemmas.

Health literacy, governance and systems leadership contribute to the implementation of the One Health approach: a virtuous circle

One Health is an important approach to addressing health threats and promoting health through interdisciplinary health, policy, legislation and leadership research to achieve better human and animal health and better outcomes for the planet. The Covid-19 pandemic has triggered an urgent awareness of the need to develop innovative integrative solutions to address root causes of such threats to health, which requires collaboration across disciplines and amongst different sectors and communities. We explore how achieving the Quadripartite Organizations’ One Health Joint Plan of Action can be supported by the concepts of ‘One Health literacy’ and ‘One Health governance’ and promote both academic and policy dialogue. We show how One Health literacy and One Health governance influence and reinforce each other, while an interdisciplinary systems leadership approach acts as a catalyst and mechanism for understanding and enacting change. Based on our understanding of how these elements influence the implementation of the One Health approach, we describe a model for considering how external triggering events such as the Covid-19 pandemic may prompt a virtuous circle whereby exposure to and exploration of One Health issues may lead to improved One Health literacy and to better governance. We close with recommendations to international organisations, national governments and to leaders in policy, research and practice to enhance their influence on society, the planetary environment, health and well-being.

'ALL ABOUT MY IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE': Users, family members and experts by experience discussing a co-designed service.

Many studies have investigated patients' understandings of how to optimise mental health services. However, only a few studies in the Italian context have involved experts by experience (EbEs), who can be ex-users, family members of ex-usersor current service collaborators. Their role is crucial in implementing collaborative service quality assessment projects. The study investigated the experience of 35 EbEs, users, and family members who carried out a 9-month fortnightly project aimed at imagining an 'ideal service'. The facilitators of the discussion groups (two EbEs) were interviewed; written reports of each meeting were produced with relevant comments, notesand specific suggestions; and content analysis was applied. The most important result concerns the effectiveness of the project management method and group leadership carried out by the two EbEs. This approach allowed for complete autonomy of the work, without professional gaze or power imbalance. Also, the ideas and specific contents focused on by the two groups offer strategies to facilitate users' entry and reception in health care centres, to reduce the stigma of mental illness, to improve the centres' physical environment, to improve organisational aspects, to keep family members actively involvedand to network mental health services with other territorial services. EbEs have proven to be key figures in ensuring equity of role in the service co-design process. This also concerns a context, the Italian one, where their role has not yet been recognised and legalised. Their contribution and ideas to improve services could be fundamental not only in mental health centres, but also in other health facilities, and could concern the entire service delivery process rather than being limited to quality assurance, according to a virtuous circle based on active participation and transformation of the role of users. This work resulted from close collaboration between the two EbEs who conducted the groups, users and family members, the university, and the psychiatrist in charge of the service. All of them contributed to the research. The EbEs, researchersand psychiatrist participated in the interpretation of the data and are the co-authors of this paper.

Where and How to Transfer: Knowledge Aggregation-Induced Transferability Perception for Unsupervised Domain Adaptation.

Unsupervised domain adaptation without accessing expensive annotation processes of target data has achieved remarkable successes in semantic segmentation. However, most existing state-of-the-art methods cannot explore whether semantic representations across domains are transferable or not, which may result in the negative transfer brought by irrelevant knowledge. To tackle this challenge, in this paper, we develop a novel Knowledge Aggregation-induced Transferability Perception (KATP) for unsupervised domain adaptation, which is a pioneering attempt to distinguish transferable or untransferable knowledge across domains. Specifically, the KATP module is designed to quantify which semantic knowledge across domains is transferable, by incorporating transferability information propagation from global category-wise prototypes. Based on KATP, we design a novel KATP Adaptation Network (KATPAN) to determine where and how to transfer. The KATPAN contains a transferable appearance translation module T_A() and a transferable representation augmentation module T_R(), where both modules construct a virtuous circle of performance promotion. T_A() develops a transferability-aware information bottleneck to highlight where to adapt transferable visual characterizations and modality information; T_R() explores how to augment transferable representations while abandoning untransferable information, and promotes the translation performance of T_A() in return. Experiments on several representative datasets and a medical dataset support the state-of-the-art performance of our model.

교사의 마을교육과정 운영에 대한 질적 사례연구 - 지역사회의 지속가능성 관점에서 -

This study analyzed teacher practices in village-linked curriculum implementation from the perspective of sustainability of communities. A village-linked curriculum is a school curriculum that aims to realize the vision of a village education community and is based on the virtuous circle perspective that local capacity can be mobilized to improve the quality of education, which in turn can improve the community. This study analyzed teacher practices from the perspective of sustainability to provide an in-depth understanding of how a village-linked curriculum enhances local sustainability and to suggest policy measures to enhance teacher practices. For this purpose, an analytical case study was conducted to analyze the experiences of a typical teacher who had been implementing a village-linked curriculum for more than six years. Various materials, such as literature, interviews, photos, and videos, were analyzed; supplementary interviews were conducted; and validity was ensured through member checks and peer verification. The study found that in terms of the education system, the teacher aimed to improve the welfare system, engage in governance activities and build social capital, and create a virtuous cycle of education and society. In terms of curriculum implementation, the teacher provided lessons that were designed to foster their students’ sense of local identity and community belonging, as well as the students’ agency for local development. The policy recommendations for enhancing teacher practices include building a school-centered welfare system, improving the system for educational autonomy, building a local education―career―vocation linkage system, budgeting for school equality, and building an educational system focused on the lesson.

Concluded project of the Ministry of Education University-Industry Collaborative Education Program: Cultivation of the Technological Innovation Ability for Young Backbone Teachers

Artificial intelligence and other new technologies not only have a wide application prospect in civil field, but also have very important application value in national defense and military field, especially in electronic countermeasures. In order to adapt the teaching ability and scientific research and innovation ability of young backbone teachers to the development of new technology, with the help of the Ministry of Education industry-university cooperation and collaborative innovation platform, local superior companies and enterprises to adopt the school-enterprise cooperation mode of industry-education integration, carry out the training of young backbone teachers in technological innovation ability. This project can improve the team members' scientific research and innovation ability and professional teaching level, and achieve a virtuous circle of joint improvement of the level of teachers, scientific research ability and talent cultivation.

Diabetes Health Supervision and Treatment Strategy Based on Data Management and Analysis on eKTANG Platform.

The management of diabetes-related risk factors could effectively reduce the occurrence of its complications, improve the quality of life of patients, and reduce the mortality of patients. Data analysis based on the eKTANG platform could greatly improve the efficiency of communication between patients and doctors, and strengthen the treatment and management of diabetes. We created eKTANG to monitor patient health effectively. The eKTANG health management system aims to extensively intervene in blood glucose monitoring, nutrition, exercise, medicine, and health education to enable diabetes patients to achieve optimal treatment results. Diabetes patients diagnosed by Henan University Medical School included through the eKTANG platform were randomly divided into three groups: member service package group, discharge/ outpatient follow-up group, and out-of-hospital care group. We conducted intensive out-ofhospital interventions for three groups of patients for three months to help patients formulate precise blood glucose control plans and conduct training. The traditional group was compared with the eKTANG platform group, and the physiological indicators and patient compliance of the four groups were observed 6 months later. In the eKTANG platform management group, the average blood glucose compliance rate increased significantly, and the percentage of average blood glucose in the range of 3.9-10.0 showed an upward trend. Fasting blood glucose and postprandial blood glucose showed a downward trend. At the same time, the number of patients per capita blood glucose monitoring showed a significant increase compared with the control group. The establishment of the eKTANG platform can improve the efficiency of patient's medical treatment, improve their lifestyles, reduce the incidence of patient complications, and build a virtuous circle gradually. This research has strengthened the health management and autonomy of diabetic patients and improved the efficiency of treatment. It is worthy of promotion.

Transdisciplinarity among universities as a catalyst for a gender-sensitive revolution. Strategies and approaches from the perspective of communication design

One of the most influential and proven vehicles for sustainable development is inclusive and quality education. This is why it is crucial to promote gender equality in higher education and research, for only in this way can we build a fairer world where everyone has equal opportunities to contribute, create, fulfil their dreams, use their talents, and above all, develop a more sustainable world in collaboration with other human beings. This contribution intends to approach the issue of the university’s role in closing the gender gap from the disciplinary perspective of Communication Design. The contribution therefore aims to fuel the reflection on the role and strategies that the educational path in design can experiment and equip itself with to promote a shift in perspective and contribute to a positive change. The presentation of the case study «A multidisciplinary awareness-raising campaign project against gender-based violence, from the university for the university» has the aim of supporting the argumentation. The case study constitutes a practical example of an inter-university multidisciplinary project, an awareness-raising campaign, in which the synergy and juxtaposition of different and complementary disciplines enable the activation of a virtuous circle of knowledge and awareness. The strategy implemented in this case involved the university on several intertwining levels: from the university, through the university, for the university. The actors engaged in the research and project were located at different levels of the academic pathway: Professors, researchers and students worked together and with different roles in the various stages of the project

Investment in the Virtuous Circle: Theory and Empirics

Investment in the Virtuous Circle: Theory and Empirics

Dual-Correction-Adaptation Network for Noisy Knowledge Transfer.

Unsupervised domain adaptation (UDA) promotes target learning via a single-directional transfer from label-rich source domain to unlabeled target, while its reverse adaption from target to source has not been jointly considered yet. In real teaching practice, a teacher helps students learn and also gets promotion from students, and such a virtuous cycle inspires us to explore dual-directional transfer between domains. In fact, target pseudo-labels predicted by source commonly involve noise due to model bias; moreover, source domain usually contains innate noise, which inevitably aggravates target noise, leading to noise amplification. Transfer from target to source exploits target knowledge to rectify the adaptation, consequently enables better source transfer, and exploits a virtuous transfer circle. To this end, we propose a dual-correction-adaptation network (DualCAN), in which adaptation and correction cycle between domains, such that learning in both domains can be boosted gradually. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first naive attempt of dual-directional adaptation. Empirical results validate DualCAN with remarkable performance gains, particularly for extreme noisy tasks (e.g., approximately + 10 % on D → A of Office-31 with 40 % label corruption).

Reliable and Sustainable Product Evaluation Management System Based on Blockchain

To facilitate the consumers’ online shopping, it is very necessary to build a reliable and sustainable product evaluation management (PEM) system to store, secure, and retrieve the evaluation data of products. To this end, we propose a novel PEM system based on blockchain technologies. In this PEM system, the evaluation data of products including evaluation scores and comments are stored in the interplanetary file system (IPFS), and then the data hash addresses are returned and stored on the blockchain. Then, the retrieval of evaluation data is implemented by designing and deploying smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. Since it is almost impossible to change any data stored in blockchain and IPFS, the proposed PEM system can protect the comment data from intentional or unintentional modifications. Moreover, the proposed PEM system allows users to efficiently and reliably retrieve the relevant evaluation data of a certain product by a given query keyword with the increase of data stored on the blockchain. In addition, to achieve high sustainability, the proposed system also contains an economic incentive mechanism, which is beneficial to form a virtuous circle in online shopping. The proposed system is simulated on the popular blockchain platform, i.e., Ethereum with Solidity programming language. The experimental results and analysis demonstrate that the proposed PEM system achieves desirable usability, reliability, and sustainability.

Ecological governance of Hainan coastline from the perspective of one health: A case study of the sustainable development of people’s livelihood after the coastline of Qionghai city was repopulated

Purposes It aims to discuss how to effectively carry out the ecological governance of the coastline of Qionghai City, Hainan Province under the concept of One Health [1] to promote the sustainable development of residents’ income and provide practical cases and theoretical references for the ecological governance of the Hainan Coastline. Methods Use field research and random interview methods to obtain relevant data and conduct quantitative analysis. Results and shortcomings Residents’ income has stable growth, water pollution control effects are outstanding, and the governance of air pollution is obvious. However, there are still problems such as serious degradation of coral reef ecosystems and lack of effective funding for ecological compensation, mainly due to the threat of insufficient capital investment and human activities. Conclusions It is recommended to improve the sustainable development capacity of the township governments, build a reasonable ecological compensation mechanism, accelerate the transformation of the township governments to the ecological government, increase the implementation of green GDP, form a virtuous circle of compared to achieve ecological environmental protection and economic development. Department decision -making provides a scientific basis.

Building smallholder-adapted climate-resilient systems: Evidence from China's apple farms

Climate change affects crop production globally, and cash crops are particularly vulnerable, which may threaten human livelihoods. However, limited attention has been paid to building climate-resilient systems, especially for smallholders producing cash crops such as apples, which account for 13% of the global fruit consumption. In this study, we developed a smallholder-adapted climate-resilient system (SA-CRS) conceptual framework and applied this in an empirical assessment of the adaptation of smallholder apple farmers (SAFs) to the risk of low temperature during flowering (LTF) in China. The results show that average daily minimum temperatures have decreased by 1.77 °C, and the LTF hazard probability has increased by 6.1% from 1999 to 2018. Approximately 96.4% of the SAFs in the study regions reported LTF impacts in 2018, and 29.8% experienced apple yield losses averaging 16.43 t/ha. Notably, most SAFs in the Loess Plateau region with poor SA-CRS reported apple yield reduction. Such adverse effects lowered economic returns and further prevented SAFs from adopting adaptive measures, resulting in a vicious circle. By contrast, an effective SA-CRS in the Bohai Bay region has greatly reduced the risks, and a positive economic return further incentivizes the adoption of further adaptive measures, creating a virtuous circle. Our study showed that to achieve an effective SA-CRS, a market-oriented nexus approach is required that integrates an institutional price-enhancing mechanism (contributing 84% to smallholder decision-making), an organizational production-support system, and a public extension system tailored to the needs of SAFs.

The representation of migration in parliamentary settings: critical cross-linguistics corpus-assisted discourse analyses

This study examines migration representation in three parliamentary chambers: the Spanish Chamber, the European Parliament, and the British House of Commons. The time span of its analysis coincides with the eighth Legislature of Spain (2004–2008). The reasons for this decision are straightforward. If parliaments portray or construct ideological debates in democratic societies, it seems logical to turn our attention to them as a means of assessing the nature and quality of comparable but different multicultural environments in which migration is a major defining feature. Furthermore, this time span allows for an examination of such societies at different ideological phases, for example, Spain’s conceptualisation of migration in the initial stages of parliamentary representation. The study expands the method of corpus-assisted analysis through a critical theoretical framework proposed by the socio-political scientist Zapata-Barrero. Data were obtained from the European Comparable and Parallel Corpus Archive of Parliamentary Speeches. Well-established tools in corpus linguistics, such as frequency and collocation, were employed, leading to an examination of Zapata-Barrero’s reactive and proactive discourses. The quantitative methods used were especially in-depth, undertaking an exhaustive descriptive and statistical treatment and aiming to strengthen the validity of subsequent qualitative analyses. Consequently, a virtuous circle was achieved: the corpus linguistic procedures reached higher levels of theoretical abstraction, while Zapata-Barrero’s framework gained robustness and more potential for generalisation. The study’s originality, thus, lies in the mutual synergies activated by this theoretical and methodological combination.