Advent Research Articles

Land-use and ceramics in the Andean highlands of Patagonia, Argentina

The aim of this paper is to study the use of ceramics of small-scale societies during the late Holocene in northern Patagonia. The technological investment model predicts that use-time and utility will determine the investment spent in ceramics. We explore how ceramics were used in short-term camps and aggregation sites during summer at high elevations, and residential camps during winter at lower elevations. To test the investment in ceramics we use four technological variables: temper size, average thickness, surface treatment and firing. Our results indicate that hunter-gatherers expected a short-term use in summer locations and therefore made a low investment in ceramics.

How has the rural digital economy influenced agricultural carbon emissions? Agricultural green technology change as a mediated variable

Digital economy is being closely integrated with agricultural development and tapping into its unique potential to alleviate agriculture’s carbon emissions To explore the mechanism of how digital economy reduce the agricultural carbon emissions, this paper constructs a systematic evaluation method with extend STIRPAT model and panel data drawn from 29 provinces (or municipalities and autonomous regions) in the Chinese mainland from 2013–2020. The results show that the development of the rural digital economy has a significant negative influence on agricultural CEs, and this result is still valid given robustness tests. Second, the alleviation of CEs based on the rural digital economy is more significant in the higher technological investment zones than that in the lower technological investment zones, and the central and eastern regions also have more significant CEs reduction effect. Third, the influence mechanism analysis shows that agricultural green technology change is an effective means to promote the rural digital economy’s CEs reduction effect. This paper not only provide new empirical evidence for understanding nexus between digital economy and agricultural carbon reduction, but also give constructive policy implication to improve agricultural green development.

Management Information Systems Towards Improving the Quality of Nursing Care Services: A Literature Review

Background: Many developing countries are striving to further develop health information technology at the healthcare service level, particularly through the implementation of electronic health records (EHR). Objectives: This research aims to evaluate the quality and impact of implementing electronic health records in healthcare services from various perspectives. Methods: The research design employed in this study is a literature review, involving the collection of articles from selected databases, including PubMed and Cochrane. The article search started from the year 2014, and the Boolean operators used were "Electronic Health Record" OR "Electronic Medical Record" OR "EHR" AND "Quality" OR "Documentation" OR "Quality Documentation" OR "Quality Care" AND "Nurs*". The research design incorporated into this study is observational. Results: The use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) has a significantly positive impact on various healthcare service sectors. Hospitals that have fully implemented EHR show a significant improvement in the quality of patient medical records, a decrease in information delivery delays, and a reduction in patient admission costs. Conclusion: Investment in EHR technology can be considered a crucial step in enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare services while reducing operational costs. However, it is important to note that EHR implementation is not a straightforward task and requires consideration of various factors mentioned above to achieve optimal results in health information management.

The Influence of Supply Chain Integration, Agility, and Innovation on Company Performance

This research aims to determine and investigate the role of supply chain integration, agility, and innovation in the performance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) operating in the food and beverage sector. By optimizing these factors, companies can enhance the value and profitability generated across the supply chain, encompassing value addition from suppliers to manufacturers, manufacturers to distributors, and ultimately to consumers. This value is created from the service value and price of a finished product, with the total costs borne by the entire supply chain system. The study focuses on MSMEs in the Yogyakarta region, employing random sampling techniques to gather data from various stakeholders, including owners, managers, and operational staff. Questionnaire-based data collection is followed by Structural Equation Model (SEM) analysis using AMOS software. The results of this research indicate that integration, agility, and innovation have a positive effect on company performance, both in terms of financial performance and operational performance. This study contributes to the supply chain literature, specifically in the food and beverage industry, by expanding the understanding of supply chain dynamics. To enhance supply chain integration, managers can implement broader strategies and utilize information technology for better collaboration. To improve supply chain agility, the focus should be on developing flexibility and partnering with agile businesses. Supply chain innovation can be promoted through investments in technology and prioritizing innovation in products, processes, and business models.

Integrated management of abatement technology investment and resource extraction

As the need for increased renewable energy generation to meet climate goals grows, so does the demand for critical minerals in the industrial sector. This raises concerns about the availability of supply and the reliability of investment in critical minerals. Based on this, the study proposes an analytical framework for the integrated management of mineral extraction and renewable energy investments. Different from the previous strategy of separate management, this study has established an integrated model that utilizes new energy technology as the downstream application of emission reduction technology. It also utilizes copper, zinc, aluminum, rare earth elements, and other materials as the upstream raw material supply. In terms of minimizing costs, the entire supply chain process is optimized to achieve an empirical case. In addition, considering the significant uncertainty in the process of reducing emissions from new energy technologies, this study also incorporated a forward control stochastic programming method to model and solve it. We obtained confidence intervals for optimal technological investment paths and metal mining paths under various scenarios. Our findings indicate that: (1) Biomass, as a renewable energy technology with the lowest resource demand, should be prioritized for development. However, there is significant uncertainty surrounding the installed capacity of photovoltaics. (2) Copper ore reserves have little impact on the development of renewable energy technologies, while zinc ore and aluminum ore have a greater impact on wind energy and photovoltaics, respectively. (3) By optimizing the cut-off ratio of raw ore under a specific amount of ore storage, we can ensure the availability of materials needed for downstream energy technology.

Advancements in Aesthetic Breast Augmentation: Evaluating the Safety, Efficacy, and Naturalistic Outcomes of Ergonomix2 Implants.

This pioneering study evaluates the safety, efficacy, and Aesthetic outcomes of Ergonomix2 Motiva Ergonomic Implants in breast augmentation. It aims to assess their capability to offer more natural touch and dynamics, delineate the learning curve for surgical techniques, and examine their safety profile compared to Ergonomix1 implants. A prospective cohort study was conducted, comparing 31 patients who received Ergonomix2 implants with a control group of 51 patients with Ergonomix1 implants. Eligible patients were those seeking Aesthetic breast augmentation without prior surgeries or chronic illnesses. Detailed documentation of surgical techniques, implant characteristics, and patient demographics was performed. The study assessed surgical learning curve, implant positioning accuracy, and short-term and early complications. Aesthetic outcomes were evaluated using the BreastQ questionnaire and quantitative elastography. Patients with Ergonomix2 implants showed significant improvements in Aesthetic outcomes, including breast contour symmetry and natural feel. The learning curve demonstrated a decrease in surgical time and higher implant positioning accuracy. The safety profile was favorable, with a low complication rate and high patient satisfaction levels. Ergonomix2 implants exhibited enhanced softness and pliability, closely mimicking natural breast tissue, as confirmed by elastographic analyzes. Ergonomix2 implants represent a significant advancement in Aesthetic breast surgery, offering natural-feeling and dynamically adaptable outcomes. Despite the promising results, the need for specialized surgical techniques and further research on long-term safety and efficacy is emphasized. This study contributes foundational knowledge to the field of ergonomic breast implants and their application in modern plastic surgery. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Financial technology and economic growth nexus in the East African community states

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the causation linking financial technology to economic growth in the East African Community states from 1997 to 2019.Design/methodology/approachAutoregressive distributed lag is used. Gross domestic product per capita proxies economic growth, automated teller machines, point of sale, debit card ownership and mobile banking measure financial technology.FindingsThe results unveil a significant relationship between financial technology and economic growth. The findings show bidirectional causality between automated teller machine and economic growth, with unidirectional causation from economic growth to point of sales and internet banking, mobile banking and government effectiveness to economic growth. The error correction term is negatively significant, demonstrating a long-term convergence between Fintech measures and economic growth.Research limitations/implicationsThe governments should effectively enact and implement policies that protect investments in financial technologies to boost economic growth in the East African Community countries. The government should reduce taxes on financial technology equipment and related services. The use of automated teller machine, debit card ownership and internet banking should be encouraged through cashless transactions. Financial institutions should adopt cashless operation policies to encourage the use of financial technologies.Originality/valueResearch results on the bond between financial technology and economic growth are not conclusive. These studies demonstrate that technological innovations are double edged-swords, with both positive and negative sides. The results are conflicting; some reveal positive relationships, while others show negative links. Hence, research is required to fill the lacuna.

Analysis of Transportation Systems for Colonies on Mars

The colonization of Mars poses unprecedented challenges in developing sustainable and efficient transportation systems to support inter-settlement connectivity and resource distribution. This study conducts a comprehensive evaluation of two proposed transportation systems for Martian colonies: a ground-based magnetically levitated (maglev) train and a low-orbital spaceplane. Through simulation models, we assess the energy consumption, operational and construction costs, and environmental impacts of each system. Monte Carlo simulations further provide insights into the cost variability and financial risk associated with each option over a decade. Our findings reveal that while the spaceplane system offers lower average costs and reduced financial risk, the maglev train boasts greater scalability and potential for integration with Martian infrastructural development. The maglev system, despite its higher initial cost, emerges as a strategic asset for long-term colony expansion and sustainability, highlighting the need for balanced investment in transportation technologies that align with the goals of Martian colonization. Further extending our exploration, this study introduces advanced analysis of alternative transportation technologies, including hyperloop systems, drones, and rovers, incorporating dynamic environmental modeling of Mars and reinforcement learning for autonomous navigation. In an effort to enhance the realism and complexity of our navigation simulation of Mars, we introduce several significant improvements. These enhancements focus on the inclusion of dynamic atmospheric conditions, the simulation of terrain-specific obstacles such as craters and rocks, and the introduction of a swarm intelligence approach for navigating multiple drones simultaneously. This analysis serves as a foundational framework for future research and strategic planning in Martian transportation infrastructure.

Socio-economic constraints to low-carbon transitions: insights from Kazakhstan’s Emissions Trading Scheme

ABSTRACT In this research, we examine energy facilities’ (both electricity and heat) responses to emissions trading in Kazakhstan, a fossil-fuel-dependent developing country, to understand why facilities have delayed the adoption of substantial carbon mitigation measures. Our research relies on the frameworks of sociotechnical systems (STS) and firm-level exploration-exploitation trade-offs (EET) because energy transitions are dependent on firm-level characteristics as well as industry – and society-level environments. We find poorly designed and inconsistent regulations, ambivalence to the carbon emissions, challenges from vested interests, energy security regulations and desire for stable socio-economic conditions to be the main society-level factors impeding the effectiveness of the Kazakhstan Emissions Trading Scheme (KazETS). The main industry-level factors hindering the KazETS were found to be the involvement of the state-owned enterprise (SOE) Samruk Energo which accesses government funding for coal-based facility investment, abundant coal reserves that are extracted at low cost, increasing costs and decreasing quality of fuel, relatively very high cost of natural gas, increasing demand for electricity and heat, lack of market competition and no international firms operating in energy generation. Finally, the main firm-level factors restricting investment in low-carbon technologies are low market incentives for investment to replace technologically obsolete assets, the lack of firm-level carbon strategies and very low capacity of workers.

ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬ ГАЗОСНАБЖЕНИЯ НА ОСНОВЕ ЦИФРОВОЙ ТРАНСФОРМАЦИИ

Abstract. The relevance of the research is based to the need for effective implementation of digital technologies in the field of gas supply. The study of energy supply from natural gas was carried out in accordance with the functional patterns of technological processes and gas consumption factors in conjunction with the directions of digital transformation. 
 Subject: The main aim of the research to define and propose criteria for digital transformation, based on features of the gas supply industry for the gradual progressive development of the regional economy. 
 Materials and methods: The functional relationship with gas supply was determined based on the analysis and generalization of the main directions and criteria for the digital transformation. The method of comparing the results of digital transformation with a technological approach and with a relative assessment of investments was used. 
 Results: Groups of indicators that are technologically interconnected in gas supply are presented as criteria for digital transformation. An additional function to expand the boundaries of evaluating the economic efficiency of digital technologies is to provide a mechanism for creating added value in Russia. The increasing capitalization through investments in digital technologies is not a factor in increasing efficiency without a reasonable practical effect. 
 Conclusions: The implementation of digital transformation should not lead to an excessive increase in tariffs for gas supply to Russian regions, since energy supply is a necessary condition for the development of the economy.

Revisiting the Nexus between Renewable Energy Consumption and Economic Growth in Nigeria: The VECM Approach

The research investigates the effect of renewable energy consumption on economic growth as well as analyzing the dynamic relationship between both variables from 1990 to 2022. Annual secondary data covering the period between 1990 and 2022 were used in the study. Data on real gross domestic product, renewable energy consumption (% of total final energy consumption), gross capital formation (% of GDP), labor force, total and trade (% of GDP) were sourced from World Development Indicator. The study applies Johansen co-integration test and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to examine the effect of renewable energy consumption on economic growth and other explanatory variables as well as using pairwise granger causality test to examine the causal relationship between both variables. The empirical evidence revealed long-term relationship between renewable energy consumption and economic growth. Evidence shows that there is no causality either unidirectional or bi-directional between both variables. In short run, renewable energy consumption revealed a significant positive impact on economic growth. This shows that renewable energy may stimulate economic growth, particularly as it has a greater short-term impact on economic growth than capital formation. The key policy implication drawn from the results indicate the need for investment in renewable energy technologies and infrastructure, which can help to increase the availability and affordability of renewable energy, improve workforce development in Nigeria renewable energy sector.

Does Cultural Embeddedness on Cigarette Packages Mitigate Environmental Information Credibility? Evidence from China

ABSTRACT Drawing on the behavioral consistency theory, we examine whether cultural embeddedness on cigarette packages as a sinful behavior window dressing affects environmental information credibility, and further investigate the moderating role of high-quality external audit (Big4 auditors). Using hand-collected data from China, our findings reveal that cultural embeddedness on cigarette packages at the province level is significantly negatively associated with corporate environmental information credibility, suggesting that cultural embeddedness on cigarette packages shapes unethical social atmosphere around firms, triggers managers to cover up environmental misconducts, and eventually mitigates environmental information credibility. Moreover, Big4 auditors weaken the negative relation between cultural embeddedness on cigarette packages and environmental information credibility. Above findings are robust to a variety of sensitivity tests using alternative proxies for cultural embeddedness on cigarette packages and environmental information credibility, and further our conclusions are still valid after using the propensity score matching method, two-stage instrumental variable OLS-TOBIT regression procedures, and Heckman two-stage regression approach to address the endogeneity issues. Furthermore, cultural embeddedness on cigarette packages significantly positively induces greenwashing. Lastly, our main findings are more pronounced for firms without pollution control departments, with lower investment in environmental technologies, with less media coverage and in provinces with lower legal enforcement.

IFRS, financial development and pollutant emissions: an empirical analysis of developed and developing countries

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between pollutant emissions, financial development and IFRS in developed and developing countries between 1998 and 2022.Design/methodology/approachData were obtained from World Development Indicators and World Governance Indicators of the World Bank.FindingsUsing FGLS and GMM estimators, the results provide evidence that financial development has a significant positive impact on a variety of pollutant emissions. However, this positive impact is moderated by IFRS for the overall sample and country income groups.Practical implicationsGovernments and regulatory organizations should support companies’ investments in clean energy and technologies to slow down environmental degradation. Tax credits and subsidies may be helpful to achieve this goal. Also, governments may encourage companies to cooperate with universities and research institutions to develop environment-friendly production and distribution methods to reduce pollution. Although stakeholders may obtain information about environmental issues in financial statements that are prepared in accordance with IFRS, there is a need for standardization of their contents.Social implicationsGreenhouse gases are major contributors to climate change and global warming. In addition to private costs borne by producers, the production and consumption of products have social costs arising from pollution that affects air, water, and soil. Pollution adversely affects people's physiological and psychological health, which decreases labor productivity, thereby leading to a decrease in economic growth. Originality/valueAccording to the author’s knowledge, this is the first study that examines the impact of IFRS on the relationship between financial development and pollutant emissions.

Adoption of renewable energy to phase down fossil fuel energy consumption and mitigate territorial emissions: evidence from BRICS group countries using panel FGLS and panel GEE models

The recognition of climate change as real and unprecedented has been acknowledged by global communities. Furthermore, fossil fuel energy consumption and territorial emissions are identified as major drivers of climate change. Data collected from the World Bank for BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) group of countries for the period from 1990 to 2018, and analyzed using Panel FGLS and Panel GEE models, revealed an inverted U-shaped relationship between GDP per capita and its square with fossil fuel energy consumption in BRICS countries. However, this relationship was not observed with territorial emissions. It is indicated that the BRICS group of countries is making efforts to reduce fossil fuel energy consumption, but investment in green technology is insufficient to reduce territorial emissions. Therefore, it is recommended that climate policies need to be more aggressively implemented to support investment in clean and green energy technology.

Robots and reshoring: a comparative study of automation, trade, and employment in Europe

Abstract This paper constitutes a comparative assessment of the impact of robots on local labor markets across eight European countries. Doing so, we find that robots generally reduce employment in the manufacturing sector, while their impacts on total employment are more ambiguous. Though local markets experienced significant employment losses in Italy, Norway, and the United Kingdom, we find no statistically significant impact of robots on employment in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Spain. Job losses were seemingly offset by employment gains in other sectors of the economy. We explore two mechanisms that might explain these patterns: differences in investment in complementary job-creating technologies and robot-induced reshoring. Our analysis provides some support for both mechanisms in elucidating the differential impacts of robots on jobs across space.

President’s Column: How Members Can Help Improve the Industry’s Public Image

Editor’s Note: This is a summary of the April episode of the President’s podcast. We encourage you to listen to the episode to hear the full conversation. In this podcast episode, I am joined by Paige McCown, senior manager of communication and energy education, to discuss the importance of how SPE engages with external stakeholders to help improve the industry’s public image, particularly through programs like energy4me. I start the episode by emphasizing how the industry’s public image is a critical concern for our future, and it’s a common question among members about what SPE can do to help. Although environmental scrutiny of the industry has always been present, it has become more pronounced with the increased focus on climate change and emissions. The energy industry has made many positive impacts across the world, from providing energy for almost everything we do to producing everyday products and conveniences. I also believe that the industry is best positioned to solve today’s energy challenges. However, two main problems related to our public image hinder our ability to meet these challenges: our ability to attract the best talent, and our ability to attract investments in technology and innovation. The discussion turns to ways to change public perception. I review some of the topics discussed at the Presidents Panel that I participated in at IPTC 2024. These include how engaging students at a young age and making them aware of the benefits of the industry helps change the narrative at an early age. Also, it is important to engage teachers, guidance counselors, and communities in promoting our positive aspects. The conversation moves to how SPE is equipping its members to engage in these efforts. I highlight SPE’s energy4me program which provides an exploration and production curriculum and hands-on activities to teach the science behind the industry. To accompany the program, SPE worked with DK Publishing to publish the Oil and Natural Gas book, available in nine languages, which helps convey the importance of the industry and provides talking points for members to use in their communities. SPE deploys the program through workshops at key events, virtual workshops, and the Energy4me Ambassador program. Sections and chapters across the globe are active in this program, so in 2022 SPE created the Corporate Ambassador program. Companies like ExxonMobil, EOG Resources, and Aramco Americas participated in the program. The program can help some companies meet their corporate responsibility and community outreach goals. I also spend time discussing how local sections and chapters are using the program in their communities. We highlight various initiatives including STEM education programs, workshops for teachers and guidance counselors, and outreach events like Family Science Day. The Calgary section YPs organize an annual Family Science Day, aimed at educating students about oil and gas and putting on fun experiments.

Industrial policy for a circular industrial transition in Sweden: An exploratory analysis

Currently, both the US and the EU are pursuing industrial policies to support climate mitigation objectives. The climate transition will require increased use of material resources, but the envisioned industrial policies do not sufficiently address resource use, despite the current unsustainable global resource-use trajectory. The lack of industrial policy in this field is therefore relevant and timely to address. This exploratory contribution aims to gain an understanding on how an industrial policy for Circular Economy (CE) transition in Sweden could be designed. The methods employed are literature reviews and interviews with 18 senior experts. The research finds that a Swedish industrial policy focusing on the CE transition is needed, together with larger public investments in CE-related technologies. Few existing policy instruments functioning as industrial policy for CE are identified, but many additional instruments could potentially serve this objective. The interviews provide insights into the specific policy needs, the factors determining policy-design, and the choice of sectors and value chains for policies to target. A relevant policy mix includes policy instruments such as green tax shifting, differentiated Value Added Tax, Circular Public Procurement, funding schemes, but also an improved institutional framework. Policy criteria should be based on environmental impact, but also on potential competitive advantages, and close alignment with European Union policies. The study concludes that a policy mix combining new and expanded industrial policy instruments, focusing on correcting market failures, market creation, and capacity-building, can support a circular industrial transition.

The pandemic push: Digital technologies and workforce adjustments

Using a novel firm survey matched to administrative employee records, we demonstrate that the COVID-19 pandemic was a push factor for the diffusion of digital technologies in Germany. Two out of three firms invested in digital technologies. Three quarters of those investing firms invested because of the pandemic, particularly in hardware and software to enable decentralized communication, management, and coordination. These investments also fostered additional firm-sponsored training, underscoring the complementarity between investments in digital technologies and training. We then show that the investments helped firms insure their workers against the economic downturn. Firms with additional digital investments retained more of their employees on regular working hours and relied less on short-time work. Low- and medium-skilled, as well as young workers, benefited the most from the insurance effect of digital investments.

Implementing Digital Innovations: Overcoming Organizational Challenges

While real estate owners play a significant role in advancing digitalization and sustainability within the sector, there's limited understanding of their innovation processes. This article aims to increase understanding on the innovation processes and dynamic capabilities in real estate owner organizations. The article examines a longitudinal case study within a prominent Swedish real estate owner known for significant investments in smart building technologies. Despite these investments, practical benefits face hurdles, reflecting broader challenges in real estate sector digitalization projects. These obstacles include top-down innovation focus, limited cross-functional and user-centric innovation, innovation process discontinuities, ambiguous innovator roles, hierarchical communication, resource constraints, and uncertainties in technology implementation. The study emphasizes the inclusion of diverse perspectives in innovation processes and suggests further research on organizational and user-centric aspects. It contributes to real estate and facility management literature by proposing potential solutions to innovation processes, offering valuable insights for industry practitioners and researchers alike.

Developing technology policy in Africa

This article suggests a revised perspective for technology policies in Africa, one that focuses more on the direct facilitation of economic production at domestic levels. Up until now there has been a strong tendency for public investment in science, technology and innovation (STI) to be confined to national science councils and higher education bodies with little direct impact on national production. The article argues that STI investment as conventionally understood needs to be supplemented by policies that stress facilitation of its use, an argument also made strongly by a recent World Bank publication and indirectly by UNCTAD in its recently published report on African development. This is likely to be especially important in small-scale and informal sectors and will certainly require support on the part of local and national governments (and aid related bodies). Hopefully we will then begin to enjoy a scenario in which the gross financial inequalities that have beset Africa for so long will begin to be modified to the ultimate benefit of all.