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Publications - 6515

The role of democracy and institutional quality on environmental performance: empirical evidence using a stochastic directional distance model

Cristian Barra Pasquale Marcello Falcone

Publication Name: Economics of Governance

Publication Date: 2026-12-01

Volume: 27

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This paper investigates the role of institutional quality and democratic governance in enhancing environmental performance across global economies. As countries confront escalating environmental challenges, understanding these factors is crucial for achieving sustainable development. Despite existing literature emphasizing the importance of high-quality institutions and democratic governance in improving environmental performance, empirical evidence remains inconsistent. Our study refines this understanding by exploring how specific dimensions of institutional quality and varying degrees of democracy impact environmental performance. Basically, we use a stochastic directional distance model to assess how democracy and institutional quality directly affect environmental performance in an unbalanced heterogeneous sample (127 economies) between 1996 and 2018. We find that high institutional quality generally improves environmental performance, though its impact varies with different degrees of democracy. The synergy between higher institutional quality and democratic governance enhances environmental performance, though the effects’ magnitude and direction are context-dependent. This paper provides new insights into how institutional quality and democratic governance work together to enhance environmental performance, offering valuable implications for policy development aimed at balancing economic growth with ecological sustainability.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/s10101-026-00353-7

Mechanical and morphological properties of PP/XNBR blends produced with rubber latex

László Lendvai

Publication Name: Journal of Polymer Research

Publication Date: 2023-07-01

Volume: 30

Issue: 7

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

In this work, polypropylene (PP)/carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR) binary blends were prepared with the elastomer component dosed in its suspension (latex) form into the polymer matrix during melt compounding. For this purpose, samples containing 0-20 wt.% rubber were prepared using two different PP grades as matrices with lower and higher viscosity. Analogous reference samples with the same composition were also fabricated using traditional melt mixing by introducing the rubber in its dry, bulk form in order to analyze the efficiency of the latex route. Mechanical, thermomechanical and morphological analyses were used to investigate the structure-property relationships of the blends. Based on the SEM images the average domain size of the dispersed XNBR domains became markedly smaller when the rubber was introduced in its suspension form into the PP. Based on the Charpy impact tests and the tensile test results, the decreased rubber domain size led to improved ductility and toughness. The improvement was more prominent when the difference between the viscosity of the PP matrix and the XNBR rubber was higher.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/s10965-023-03660-3

The Role of Public Transport in Transport Safety and Public Safety

Agoston Winkler Diána Henézi

Publication Name: Eurasia Proceedings of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 23

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 505-512

Description:

Public transport has a significant role in sustainable urban transport including the reduction of congestion, noise and air pollution. The main purpose of this paper is to present other important impacts of public transport i.e., the improvement of transport safety and public safety, too. Public transport is one of the safest transport modes according to the indication numbers in traffic accident and injuries. This phenomenon is illustrated through literature research as well as statistical data. Further opportunities are presented with a case study based on the transport system of the city of Győr, especially the positive impacts of the possible expansion of night public transport services. The severity of traffic accidents at nights is significant, and the enhancement of public safety is outstanding. Marketing is one of the most important tools for attitude formation, the paper contains some suggestions in this regard as well as in order to promote the goals above.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.55549/epstem.1374907

ICE Relevant Physical-chemical Properties and Air Pollutant Emission of Renewable Transport Fuels from Different Generations – An Overview

György Szabados Jan Knaup Ákos Bereczky

Publication Name: Periodica Polytechnica Transportation Engineering

Publication Date: 2022-01-01

Volume: 50

Issue: 1

Page Range: 11-22

Description:

The fuel demand in transport sector seems to be raised on a short and also on a long term base in the European Union and worldwide as well. A constantly growing trend is foreseen through 2050 worldwide as for using bio-based energy or fuels. Questions can arise before using these kinds of fuels in connection with the use of clean water or in terms of soil degradation, plant nutrients. It is also questionable whether they can be useful regarding their usage. First-, and second generation liquid as well as third generation gaseous bio-based fuels will be in focus in this article. They will be analyzed from physical-chemical properties and pollutant emission points of view.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3311/PPtr.14925

Microplastic pollution in the Szigetköz section of the Danube: sources, composition and FTIR-based quantification

K. Kozma András Torma Anikó Zseni Gábor Bordós Eszter Kókai Bence Prikler Gergely Zoltán Macher Anett Bedő

Publication Name: Environmental Systems Research

Publication Date: 2026-12-01

Volume: 15

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Microplastic (MP) pollution in river systems has become an increasing environmental concern, particularly in transboundary rivers such as the Danube. This study provides the first detailed assessment of microplastic contamination in the Szigetköz section of the Danube and its major tributary, the Mosoni-Danube. Depth-resolved pumped water samples were collected at three locations (Rajka, Mecsér and Gönyű) and analysed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with automated spectral evaluation. MP concentrations showed a clear downstream increase, with average values of 83.8 particles/m³ at Rajka, 237.6 particles/m³ in the Mosoni-Danube at Mecsér, and 795.9 particles/m³ at Gönyű. Polyethylene (PE) was the dominant polymer in the tributary (70.6%), whereas both PE and alkyd resins were prevalent at the main Danube sites (Rajka: alkyd 37.7%, PE 31.8%; Gönyű: alkyd 39.9%, PE 37.3%). Particle size distribution also shifted downstream, with a higher proportion of smaller (50–100 μm) particles detected at Gönyű compared to upstream sites. The results suggest that the tributary may represent an important input to the main Danube channel in this section, while differences in polymer composition point to varying source characteristics within the study area. These findings provide an important baseline for future monitoring and support the development of targeted mitigation strategies in this transboundary river system.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1186/s40068-026-00473-3

Motional finite element simulation of a single-phase induction motor

Miklós Kuczmann D. Marcsa

Publication Name: Pollack Periodica

Publication Date: 2009-08-01

Volume: 4

Issue: 2

Page Range: 57-66

Description:

The paper deals with the analysis of the single-phase induction motor of Problem No. 30a of the COMPUMAG TEAM Workshop. The problem has been solved by the motional two-dimensional time-harmonic Finite Element Method (FEM) using different potential formulations, the A , V - A , -potential formulation and the T , Φ - Φ -potential formulation. Here the problem is a linear eddy current field problem.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1556/Pollack.4.2009.2.6

Sustainable disaster response management related to large technical systems

Daniel Rohacs Anita Boros Sergey Kinzhikeyev József Rohács

Publication Name: Sustainability Switzerland

Publication Date: 2020-12-02

Volume: 12

Issue: 24

Page Range: 1-25

Description:

Numerous investigations assess the technical, technological, and managerial aspects of disaster response related to large technical systems. This paper deals with the possibility of synthesizing these aspects in a disaster response methodology, thus combining the technical, technological methods, tools, and software with the art of management. Its objective is to develop a preliminary methodology that supports the response management decision making processes related to earthquake-damaged large technical systems. The introduced methodology is demonstrated with the example of railway systems. It utilizes a combination of (i) a probabilistic model of railway system damage caused by earthquakes, (ii) a Markov model related to the damage and recovery phases, (iii) a probabilistic model of aftershocks, (iv) a statistical model of secondary effects, (v) impact models of management support actions, and (vi) response process management supported by a Markov Decision Process. The simulation results validate the concept. Based on these research results, the authors recommend that the described preliminary response management approach be further specified and implemented in disaster management procedures.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/su122410290

Integrated regional development and river basin management

Anikó Zseni M. Bulla

Publication Name: Wit Transactions on Ecology and the Environment

Publication Date: 2011-01-01

Volume: 153

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 397-408

Description:

The paper presents a multidisciplinary expert system which can be applied in the field of ex-ante assessment both of regional development programmes and river basin management planning. The research introduces the 'complex knowledge space' model which is a further improvement of the environmental management model which was presented during the Conference on Environmental Engineering Education and Training organised by WIT 1996. © 2011 WIT Press.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.2495/WS110351

Modelling optimal investment planning for household photovoltaic and battery systems under dynamic electricity market conditions

Botond Bertok Márton Frits D. J.S. Chong

Publication Name: Discover Sustainability

Publication Date: 2026-12-01

Volume: 7

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Capacity sizing and calculating cost savings for residential households in a rapidly evolving energy market, influenced by fluctuating electricity prices and changing government incentives, is a highly complex problem. The key challenges stem from multiple interacting factors, including retail electricity prices, the desired payback period, household size, applicable electricity schemes, and the capacity factor of the photovoltaic (PV) system. The nominal power output of the solar energy system is constrained by both the specifications and the number of installed inverters and PV panels. As solar generation is intermittent and non-dispatchable, it is inherently weather-dependent and often unable to align with the dynamic fluctuations in household electricity consumption. From a financial modelling perspective, the length of the accounting period directly determines the time resolution of the model, influencing both the accuracy of cash flow estimation and investment decision-making. The proposed two-level investment planning model is based on the process network synthesis approach. At the upper level of the process model, solar generation technologies, including inverters and solar panels, are technically and economically assessed. At the lower level, which represents the load consumption side, the periodical energy balances for production, storage, demand, and purchase are considered. In order to accurately evaluate the solar energy system, the model is developed with both a monthly framework and a detailed hourly framework. The time resolution allows the model to account for grid intake, electricity sold, and storage inventory conditions over the defined periods, ultimately providing the optimal sizing for a solar system equipped with battery storage. Case studies are conducted to investigate the effects of household size, extended payback periods, varying retail electricity prices, and grid reliability. These scenarios demonstrate the key parameters that significantly influence the economic feasibility and optimal sizing of the solar energy system, which are discussed in detail in this paper.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/s43621-026-02683-2