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A Quantified Methodology for Evaluating Engineering Sustainability: Ecological Footprint Measurement Modeling

With the gradual increase in public awareness of ecological environmental protection, how to manage the increasingly tight supply of natural ecological energy and resources and the more evident greenhouse effect, how to properly treat and deal with the relationship between people, engineering and the ecological environment during the construction phase of engineering projects as well as how to evaluate the degree of environmental friendliness and sustainable development ability of engineering projects will become an urgent issue. Stakeholders in engineering projects must seriously consider these vital issues. Existing studies on the evaluation of engineering–ecology sustainable development capacity mainly focus on the regional and industry levels, with less research focusing on the sustainability of individual engineering projects; furthermore, they are primarily concentrated on the qualitative evaluation perspective. In order to refine these shortcomings, based on the viewpoint of the ecosystem of construction projects, this paper integrates the concept of whole life cycle with the ecological footprint measurement model and defines the notion of the ecological footprint of the whole life cycle of construction projects. Subsequently taking the above concept as the foundation and making the ecological footprint of various activities throughout the life cycle of a construction project a specific study object, the research establishes the ecological footprint measurement model of the whole life cycle of the project, and comprehensively evaluates the impacts on the surrounding environment, which include the consumption of energy resources, CO2 and the absorption of solid wastes across the whole life cycle of the project. We then measure the sustainable development ability of engineering projects by comparing the ecological footprint with the ecological carrying capacity of a certain surrounding region. Finally, the practicability and reliability of the model is verified through the example’s application. Thus, the results of the study have significant theoretical and practical implications: (1) the introduction of the ecological footprint addresses the gap about the quantitative evaluation of the sustainability of individual engineering projects from a micro perspective; (2) it compensates for the shortcomings of other evaluation methods that only evaluate a single element, such as only CO2, resources, energy or solid waste and so on; and (3) stakeholders can use the measured model to quantitatively assess the sustainability of new projects or urban renewal projects, providing strong support for project feasibility studies and project-establishment.

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Science and Innovation Management: Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 9 as Challenges for Poland

This manuscript continues the series of research publications on Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 9 (SDGs 8 and 9). Innovations play an essential role in the global and national economies, as they contribute to the growth of economic productivity, the creation of new products, services, and jobs, and improve the quality of life. In the context of innovation, economy and artificial intelligence (AI) are the ideological and technological components of the innovation process. The authors hypothesized that the Polish system for assessing the importance of scientific economic journals is ineffective for social development and for creating an innovation-based economy. The research methods are a scientometric analysis of 795,070 scientific sources by the keywords “Economy” and “Artificial Intelligence”, a bibliometric analysis of 219,739 sources by the keywords “Economy”, “Economic productivity”, and “Innovation”, correlation analysis, and testing statistical hypotheses. The study led to the adoption of an alternative statistical hypothesis, which is a strong confirmation of the basic hypothesis. A new model for assessing the weight of scientific journals was created based on the existing system. Two management recommendations were formulated in the rules for determining the weight of journals. The high R2 value indicates that the new model effectively predicts the result. The correlation coefficient of the weight of journals in the new model is more than 98%. When verifying statistical hypotheses, a high significance level of 99.0 was used. The study’s practical significance is in the movement of Polish science to a leading place in the world market of scientific products.

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The Multifaceted Soils of Himachal Pradesh, India: Types and Characteristics

The soils of Himachal Pradesh face a multitude of pressing issues that threaten their health and agricultural productivity. The diverse geographical features, temperature regimes and biological zones of Himachal Pradesh have resulted into a vast range of soil types in the state. Alpine, forest, alluvial and sub-mountain soils are the four major soil categories into which the state's soils can be generally divided. Only a particular species and adapted plants can thrive in the extreme weather circumstances of alpine soils, which are located at higher elevations and possess soils having thin, stony and acidic in reaction. The mid-hill areas are dominated by forest soils which are distinguished by their high levels of organic matter and nutrients. These soils support luxuriant vegetation and make effective agricultural methods possible. Alluvial soils, which are mostly found in river valleys and are deposited by ravine systems are extremely rich and perfect in fertility and suitable for growing a range of crops including vegetables, rice and maize. Located in the foothills, sub-mountain soil exhibits a blend of traits from alluvial and forest soils, thus providing a range of uses for horticulture and agriculture. In addition to supporting a diverse array of plant and animal life, Himachal Pradesh's varied soil types are vital to the region's agricultural economy. One of the biggest problems is soil erosion, which is made worse by the steep terrain and abundant rainfall in the area. This results in the loss of topsoil and decreased fertility. Deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable farming methods all contribute to land degradation, which further reduces biodiversity and soil quality. Furthermore, crop development is impacted by soil acidity in high-altitude regions, which restricts nutrient availability. However, these issues need efficient conservation measures and soil management techniques. In order to maintain Himachal Pradesh's rich biodiversity and agricultural potential for future generations, sustainable agricultural development and environmental protection in this ecologically sensitive area depend on an understanding of the complex soil dynamics. Addressing these interconnected issues requires a comprehensive approach, emphasizing sustainable land management practices, community engagement, and restoration efforts to preserve the vital soil resources of this ecologically sensitive region.

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The Contribution of Quality of Work Life to Employee Job Satisfaction in Travel and Tourism Industry: A Theoretical Construct

Tourism industry is one of the most intensive labor sector in the world which generates employment opportunities and income for the global economy, but the work in tourism industry is characterized by difficulty due to irregular and long working hours and pressure that employees have to work under to satisfy the expectations of various customers. For the purpose of sustainable tourism development, the management of tourism industry has to take care of quality of work life in order to enable employees to meet their important personal needs and to effectively balance their personal and work life. The objective of the current study is to find out whether there is contribution of QWL to employees job satisfaction in tourism industry, to add to literatures of tourism and human resources and to provide some valuable recommendations that can be applicable by tourism service providers to enhance QWL of employees and hence their level of job satisfaction.. After reviewing several literatures the study found that there is a significant relationship between QWL and employee job satisfaction or in other words, QWL contributes significantly to employee job satisfaction in tourism industry. The study highly recommended that the management of tourism industry should promote QWL practices to enhance the level of employee job satisfaction and hence employee productivity in tourism industry from one hand and to enhance customer satisfaction from the other hand and this last plays a crucial role in success of tourist establishments and tourism industry in general.

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Innovative Perspectives on Ecological Assessment in the Agro-Pastoral Ecotone of Inner Mongolia: An Integrated Evaluation and Forecast of Landscape and Ecological Risks and Drivers

The agro-pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia, one of China’s most ecologically vulnerable regions, requires careful evaluation and prediction of landscape ecological risks to improve its environment and support sustainable development. Our study built a model to assess the landscape ecological risks from 1990 to 2020 using land use data from Google Earth Engine. We examined the changes in landscape ecological risks and their driving factors through spatial autocorrelation analysis and geographic detectors. Future ecological risks from 2025 to 2040 were predicted using the multi-criteria evaluation-cellular automata-Markov model. Results revealed a declining trend in both disturbance and loss intensity across land use types, with the overall ecological risk index also decreasing. Higher risk areas were concentrated in the east and southwest, while lower risks were observed in the north and center. Temperature and precipitation are key natural factors, while the impact of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a human factor, on ecological risk is increasing and surpassed natural influences in 2015 and 2020. In the future, the highest risk areas will remain in the southwest and northeast. This study provides detailed evidence and guidance for ecological safety and sustainable development in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia.

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Systematic Review of Dimensions and Indicators in Sustainable and Smart Cities: Trends, Interdependencies, and Continental Variations

Accelerated urbanization challenges cities globally. Ensuring good quality of life and environmental protection requires innovative, data-driven solutions. Sustainable and smart cities (SSCs) offer a promising response, but effective implementation depends on selecting and using appropriate dimensions and indicators. The main objective of this article is to present a systematic review within the framework of SSCs to study trends in the use of dimensions and indicators. A citation frequency index (Q) considering quartiles is used to determine the importance of the variables considered in this study. A spatiotemporal analysis of the dimensions and indicators detected is also performed. The results suggest that the multifaceted nature of SSCs necessitates a holistic approach, with environmental (Q3 = 0.536) and social (Q2 = 0.403) dimensions being principal. Despite the lower ranking (Q1 = 0.080) of the information and communication technology (ICT) dimension, its pervasive influence highlights its evolving importance. Effective ICT implementation relies on robust social and environmental foundations, illustrating their interdependence. The governance (Q1 = 0.169) dimension is also essential for the creation of transparent and equitable urban policies. Key indicators related to energy systems (Q2 = 0.379), data analysis (Q2 = 0.327), and resource management (Q2 = 0.291) are crucial for operational efficiency and sustainability. Continental differences in prioritizing SSC dimensions highlight the importance of context-specific strategies, reflecting unique challenges and opportunities faced by different continental areas. By understanding and addressing these continental differences, policymakers and urban planners can more effectively promote sustainable and resilient urban development worldwide.

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Case report: High grade serous fallopian tube carcinoma with rare NRG1 gene fusion presenting as widespread peritoneal carcinomatosis

The discovery of gene fusions involving Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) within solid tumors has important therapeutic implications, as they are being actively explored as targets for emerging ERBB/ERBB2/ERBB3-directed anti-cancer agents. NRG1 fusions are very uncommon across all tumor types and are infrequently documented in the medical literature. We report a female patient presenting with widespread peritoneal carcinomatosis diagnosed as high grade serous fallopian tube carcinoma, which harbored a previously undescribed MYH10::NRG1 fusion. Moreover, we queried the whole transcriptome sequencing results of neoplasms analyzed by a commercial laboratory (Caris Life Sciences) to determine the overall incidence of NRG1 fusions in carcinomas of the ovary, fallopian tube, and peritoneum (0.18%). Twenty-five additional tumors were found to demonstrate NRG1 fusions, including 20 new genes partners that had not been previously identified in gynecologic carcinomas. Overall, NRG1 fusion events are rare in ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal carcinomas, but they may carry diagnostic significance in the context of borderline/low grade serous tumors, which demonstrated exclusively CLU::NRG1 fusions, and could have important predictive implications for response to ERBB/ERBB2/ERBB3-directed therapies.

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Food and land system transformations under different societal perspectives on sustainable development

Abstract The future of food and land systems is crucial for achieving multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, given their essential role in providing adequate nutrition and their significant impact on Earth system processes. Despite widespread consensus on the need for transformation, discussed strategies vary widely, from technology-driven to sufficiency-focused approaches, emphasizing different agents of change and policy mixes. This study assesses the implications of a new generation of target-seeking scenarios incorporating such diverse sustainability perspectives. We apply two integrated assessment models to explore food and land futures under three whole-economy Sustainable Development Pathways (SDPs): Economy-driven Innovation, Resilient Communities, and Managing the Global Commons. Our assessment shows that all SDPs align sufficient food supply with progress towards planetary integrity, halting biodiversity loss, mitigating adverse impacts from irrigation, and significantly reducing nitrogen pollution. While all pathways comply with the Paris climate target, they diverge in the timing of climate mitigation efforts and focus on different greenhouse gases and emission sources. The Economy-driven Innovation pathway rapidly achieves net-negative CO2 emissions from the land system, whereas Resilient Communities and Managing the Global Commons significantly decrease agricultural non-CO2 emissions. Moreover, sustainability interventions attenuate trade-offs associated with narrowly focused mitigation pathways and reduce reliance on carbon dioxide removal strategies like re/afforestation and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage.

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Combating Greenwashing of Construction Products in New Zealand and Australia: A Critical Analysis of Environmental Product Declarations

The construction industry’s increasing environmental impact has led to the widespread adoption of sustainability claims, yet the prevalence of greenwashing—where organizations make misleading environmental claims—threatens genuine sustainable development efforts. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) have emerged as a potential solution, particularly in the New Zealand and Australia construction sectors, where recent government climate regulations have accelerated their adoption. However, the effectiveness of EPDs in combating greenwashing and their practical implementation remain understudied. This research addresses this gap through a comprehensive analysis of EPDs in construction, employing a systematic literature review of 82 articles from 2010 to 2024 across major databases. Using ATLAS.ti 9 software, this study makes three key contributions: (1) develops a novel framework for evaluating EPD programs and their effectiveness in preventing greenwashing, (2) establishes a standardized methodology for assessing the completeness and accuracy of life cycle assessment information in EPDs, and (3) provides evidence-based recommendations for improving EPD implementation in the construction industry. The findings reveal critical shortcomings in current EPD practices, including inconsistent assessment methodologies and incomplete life cycle data. This study proposes specific reforms to enhance EPD reliability and transparency, offering practical guidelines for industry stakeholders to verify environmental claims. These contributions advance both the theoretical understanding of environmental certification systems and practical implementation of sustainable construction practices by developing regulatory frameworks.

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