Income or Assets—What Determines the Approach to the Environment among Farmers in A Region in Poland?

The theory about the impact of farm size, income and assets on the environmental approach of farmers is ambiguous. We contribute to the existing discussion in two ways. Firstly, we look for the determinants of the environmental approach. Secondly, we treat farm size as a heterogeneous factor, affected not only by the value of assets but also flows of incomes. The main objective of the article is, therefore, to recognize the impact of assets and income on the environmental approach of agricultural producers. We analyze the results of surveys carried out in 2020 on a group of 120 farms from the Wielkopolska region (Poland), using structural equation modelling (generalized structural equation modelling (GSEM)-multiple indicators and multiple causes (MIMIC) model). Our results indicate that both the income and assets of the agricultural producers have a positive impact on their approach to the environment. However, to a greater extent, the farmer’s approach to the environment is influenced more by income than by assets. This may be influenced by the capitalization of subsidies in the price of agricultural land, which makes this element of farm assets detached from real processes. It is easier for farms with a higher income and assets to realize the orientation towards sustainability.

Effect of Irreversible Electrochemical Reaction on Diffusion and Diffusion-Induced Stresses in Spherical Composition–Gradient Electrodes

Composition–gradient electrodes have been proved to have excellent electrochemical performances. The effect of irreversible electrochemical reaction on diffusion and diffusion-induced stresses in such electrodes is investigated. The diffusion equation and mechanical equation considering the electrochemical reaction and the heterogeneous factors are derived, and the distributions of lithium (Li) concentration and stresses in a spherical electrode are obtained under potentiostatic charging. The results indicate that the electrochemical reaction will slow down the diffusion process and enhance the stresses of the electrode. However, the heterogeneous factors of the electrochemical reaction could provide a positive effect on the stresses, which means that the heterogeneous factor is conducive to avoid capacity fading of the battery. The results suggest that the composition–gradient electrodes could be designed to have a decreasing transition form of forward reaction rate and an increasing transition form of the difference of atomic volume between reactants and the reaction product.

A stochastic model for the estimation of renewal periods of sharply curved metro rails

Rail wear is the most common defect that affects sharply curved metro rails, thus impacting their renewal periods. This article presents a stochastic model, based on a Weibull distribution, for the estimation of the renewal periods of sharply curved metro rails based on the analysis of the characteristics of rail wear. The model considers several heterogeneous factors to determine their effects on the deterioration process and is shown to be able to estimate the life expectancy of these rails in any wear state, as well as their remaining lives and renewal periods, with respect to these heterogeneous factors. The model is validated by a case study of the Beijing Metro, based on 10 years of rail wear inspection data and heterogeneous factor data of 200 sharp curves.