Attainment Of Sustainability Research Articles

Tax Revenue and Economic Sustainable Development of Sub-Sahara African Countries

The focus of every nation is on meeting the year 2030 global target for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially in the sub-Sahara African (SSA) countries. However, sub-Sahara African Countries are still lagging in achieving the SDGs as there is still a high level of hunger, poverty, and poor standard of living. This paper examined the effect of tax revenue on economic sustainability in sub-Sahara African Countries using a quantitative approach, A panel data of 38 sub-Sahara African Countries for 21 years (2001–2021) was employed. The output of the regression analysis carried out using the system generalized moment method revealed that tax revenue had a significant effect on economic sustainability, and governance quality significantly controlled the effect of tax revenue on economic sustainability in sub-Sahara African countries. The study concluded that tax revenue enhanced the attainment of economic sustainability in sub-Sahara African countries. It was recommended that the government of sub-Sahara African countries should adopt comprehensive tax reforms and strengthen governance quality to boost the funds needed towards the attainment of economic sustainability in the region.

The Food‑Energy‑Water Nexus Optimization: A Systematic Literature Review

The sudden rise in population and the need to sustain natural resources have subjected many researchers to another dimension of an interesting study, such as integrating food, energy and water into a single entity. Tampering with natural resources, especially food, energy, or water, could be an aspect that hinders the requirement to meet the world’s growing city needs. The food-energy-water nexus has become even more difficult due to agricultural globalization, the essential task of which is to secure regional food and water. Therefore, the systematic literature review in this article critically investigates food interactions with energy and water optimization for sustainable development and illustrates the key points, networks, and gaps within this literature. The databases from Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect were the key retrieved data in this study from 2010 to 2024. A total of 641 research journals, book chapters and conference papers were systematically reviewed. The results based on country mapping analysis strongly favour advanced countries, for example, Germany, the United States , and the United Kingdom, recording almost more than 40% of published articles; while China, including other developing countries, record more than 5% of food-energy-water nexus research. In addition, several food-energy-water nexus articles are restricted to about one-quarter of subject categories, such as water resources, environmental sciences and green sustainable science technology. The results also depicted that the food-energy-water nexus method encourages inter-sectoral and multilevel governance, scholarly and private sector, thereby supporting the intricacies and inadequacies in attaining the sustainable development goals. The prioritization of the food-energy-water nexus approach, particularly during the incident of COVID-19, can be a complete method to sustainably exploit natural resources to support the attainment of environmental sustainability. Thus, studying the integration of food, energy and water would produce better knowledge in advancing the flexibility of natural resources and decreasing multifaceted global poverty.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal attainment with "inclisiran first" versus usual care in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Abstract Background Rapid and sustained attainment of guideline-recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals is critical for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In VICTORION-INITIATE, inclisiran administered twice-yearly by a healthcare professional earlier in the treatment pathway allowed more patients with ASCVD to achieve and sustain LDL-C goals vs current usual care (UC). Purpose To evaluate cumulative LDL-C exposure in the overall population and LDL-C goal attainment and safety in subgroups of participants (type of ASCVD, timing of ASCVD event, and history of statin intolerance) who received an "inclisiran first" implementation strategy (IF; adding inclisiran immediately on failure to achieve LDL-C <70 mg/dL [1.8 mmol/L] with maximally tolerated statins) compared with UC. Methods VICTORION-INITIATE was a 330-day, prospective, pragmatically designed trial that randomised participants 1:1 (stratified by insurance status) to IF (open-label inclisiran 284 mg at Days 0, 90 and 270 plus UC) or UC alone (lipid management directed by treating physician’s discretion). The study took place at 45 sites across 20 states in the USA. Treating physicians had access to LDL-C measurements and were encouraged to intensify treatment per clinical practice guidelines. This prespecified subgroup analysis evaluated LDL-C goal attainment by timing of the most recent ASCVD event (<1 year/≥1 year prior to consent), ASCVD subtype (coronary heart disease [CHD], peripheral arterial disease [PAD], and cerebrovascular disease [CVD]) and statin intolerance status. Cumulative LDL-C exposure over time in the overall population and safety by subgroup were also evaluated. Results Of 450 patients randomised to IF or UC, 11.1% and 84.2% had an ASCVD event <1 year or ≥1 year prior to consent, respectively; 91.8%, 18.2% and 14.7% had a history of CHD, CVD or PAD, and 25.8% were statin intolerant. Cumulative exposure to LDL-C to Day 330 was lower in patients treated with IF vs UC (mean time-adjusted LDL-C: 42.4 mg/dL vs 90.7 mg/dL, Figure). Significantly more patients who received IF achieved LDL-C goals of <70 mg/dL and <55 mg/dL at Day 330 vs UC, irrespective of subgroup (Table). Across subgroups, the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and serious TEAEs were similar between IF and UC (IF: 52.6−71.2%, UC: 46.2−66.0% and IF: 10.7−28.3%, UC: 11.4−22.2%, respectively). Conclusions Participants with ASCVD and LDL-C >70 mg/dL who received IF had lower cumulative LDL-C exposure over the study period than those treated with UC. IF resulted in rapid and sustained achievement of LDL-C goals regardless of ASCVD subtype, event timing and statin intolerance. The safety profile of IF was consistent across the subgroups analysed.

Retraction Note: Does the individual effect of resource rents imperative in the attainment of environmental sustainability? Evidence of Southeast Asian economies.

Retraction Note: Does the individual effect of resource rents imperative in the attainment of environmental sustainability? Evidence of Southeast Asian economies.

Sequential carbonization of pig manure biogas residue into engineered biochar for diethyl phthalate removal toward environmental sustainability

Manure biogas residue has attracted increasing attention in waste recycling but faces substantial challenges because of its low carbon content, high ash content, and high heavy metal content. A novel sequential carbonization approach was proposed for recycling biogas residue; this approach consisted of pre-pyrolysis, activation with Ca(OH)2, and then activation with KOH. Pig manure-derived biogas residue was upcycled into engineered biochar (EB) with a high yield (26 %) and showed excellent performance in removing a typical plasticizer, diethyl phthalate (DEP). The proportion of carbon content greatly increased from 18 % (biogas residue) to 67 % (EB); however, the ash content decreased from 50 % (biogas residue) to 24 % (EB). The concentration of heavy metals decreased, and Zn had the largest decrease from 713 mg kg−1 to 61 mg kg−1 (p < 0.001). The sorption of DEP onto EB was rapid and reached equilibrium within 20 h. The developed specific surface area of EB was 1247 m2/g and provided abundant sorption sites for DEP; additionally, the sorption quantity reached 309 mg/g. The sorption capacity was dominated by surface adsorption. The oxygen-containing functional groups, graphene structure, porous structure, and hydrophobicity of EB contributed to the pore filling, hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking, and partitioning processes. Furthermore, the EB showed excellent practical application potential and great cycling stability. A sequential carbonization strategy was proposed to upcycle manure biogas residue into the EB for DEP removal; moreover, this strategy can aid in the attainment of environmental sustainability, including sustainable waste management and environmental pollution mitigation.

Strategies for economic sustainability: An empirical study on Muri, Mura, and Muda in the readymade garment sector

Achieving economic sustainability in the garment manufacturing industry necessitates the implementation of several strategic measures. Basic strategies like adoption of automation, utilization of sustainable energy sources, diversification of markets and products, enhancement of supply chain resilience, etc. lead to the attainment of economic sustainability in the garment manufacturing industry. Additionally, the underlying component of these strategies for ensuring economic sustainability is the minimization of process waste, which can be effectively achieved through the application of lean manufacturing principles, specifically targeting the elimination of Muri, Mura, and Muda. This strategic commitment ensures business longevity amid evolving industrial landscapes, fostering innovation and competitiveness. In emerging economies like Bangladesh, pinpointing precise approaches to reduce waste is vital. This study explores into Muri, Mura, and Muda in the RMG sector, utilizing Pareto analysis, Fuzzy theory, Total Interpretative Structural Modeling (TISM), and Matriced’ Impacts Cruoses Multiplication Applique an un Classement (MICMAC) analysis. After the initial identification of 21 (twenty) factors, Pareto analysis pinpointed the primary 16 (sixteen) factors. Subsequently, these factors underwent analysis through fuzzy TISM and fuzzy MICMAC. The results highlighted “Demand variation”, “Supplier variation”, “Workforce variation”, and “Energy supply variation” as the most crucial factors. The novelty of this study lies in exploring Muri and Mura factors in correlation with Muda employing the existing hybrid and effective methodology that combines Pareto analysis, Fuzzy MICMAC, and Fuzzy TISM methodologies. It offers fresh perspectives on their significance for economic sustainability in the garment sector. Prior research has not explored this integrated approach to reduce process waste by addressing Muri and Mura factors in emerging economies’ garment industries. This research is poised to significantly impact waste reduction in the RMG sector, enhancing competitiveness, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers, and ensuring industry standards adherence essential for sustained success. The contribution of this research is grounded in helping the practitioners and entrepreneurs in developing nations make strategic choices that will lead to the RMG sector’s resilience and, ultimately, economic sustainability.

Design With, Not For, Local Community: Utilizing e-Participation Tools in the Design of Socially Sustainable Vertical Emirati Public Housing

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is slowly transitioning from traditional single-family public housing to a ‘vertical’ typology to meet the increasing demand on public housing, solve the problem of the scarcity of land in urban areas, and contribute to achieving its local agenda for sustainable development goals. However, the direct involvement of Emirati residents in the design process of the recently developed limited number of vertical public housing projects has been missing. This research aims to involve a sample of Emirati residents, representing the targeted category for vertical public housing, in the pre-occupancy evaluation of the design of Al Ghurfa, the very recently developed vertical public housing project, focusing mainly on assessing the attainment of social sustainability in this design. The research method included four phases, including initiating a conceptual framework from relevant literature reviews, digitalizing the case study design, developing the conventional and e-Participation interview scenarios and scripts, and selecting a sample of Emirati young citizens who participated in the study. The results of the study successfully highlighted the participating residents’ preferences and concerns regarding the design of the investigated pioneering vertical public housing project. The findings revealed the interviewed citizens’ perceptions of the investigated social sustainability principles in the vertical housing design pertaining to mixed-use development within and outside the vertical residential building, social integration among neighbors of the building, vertical and horizontal accessibility inside and outside the building, security measures for the residents of the buildings and their privacy, design measures of the high-quality living environments, the user-responsive design of the housing units, and the importance of their involvement in the design. This helped propose a set of recommended design actions for attaining social sustainability in vertical housing design tailored to the specific needs of Emirati residents. The research has also revealed the successful merger between the conventional and advanced e-Participation tools in involving the residents in assessing the professional design of vertical public housing as a new emerging typology that is expected to prevail in the near future.

Strengths and Limitations of Different Teaching Modes:

Whether in language teaching or elsewhere, sustainable attainment of a pedagogical goal is closely related to a successful teaching mode. In a bid to have a gambit in a teaching procedure with a proper choice of a teaching mode, a teacher is expected to be well acquainted with the strengths and limitations of the prevailing teaching modes. Regarding this, over the years researchers have made efforts in exploring the immense ideological horizons, while in our country, still, lecture mode is the most commonly found one. Along with making thorough study of different aspects of various teaching modes, this current study scrutinizes some practical cases and examples in the academic context of Bangladesh. It attempts to recommend the optimum success level of lecture mode and to which extent lecture mode needs to be alternated or to be assimilated with others as well as how to minimize the weakness of it and ensure the maximum potentiality of the other teaching modes, basing on the established ideas in this field and the empirical studies done by these authors.

The influence of fintech and financial knowledge on sustainable business success: exploring the mediating effect of financial accessibility in Indian

PurposeThe present study aims to investigate the effects of sector 4.0 technologies, particularly Financial Technology (Fintech), on Sustainable Business Success (SBS) within the Indian garment sector. It aims to analyse the impact of Fintech Integration (IF) and Extent of Financial Knowledge (EFK) on sustainability performance, with a focus on understanding the mediating effect of Financial Accessibility (FA) in this relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilizes covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) to analyse data collected from 683 enterprises in the Indian garment sector. The theoretical frameworks of Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT) and the Resource-Based View are employed to guide the research.FindingsThe investigation reveals that Fintech Integration (IF) and environmental friendliness knowledge significantly impact the promotion and maintenance of sustainability within the Indian garment sector. Moreover, the study highlights the moderating influence of financial Accessibility (FA) on the associations among fintech integration, Extent of Financial Knowledge, and sustainability attainment. Furthermore, sensitivity studies demonstrate that improved financial access positively affects a firm’s sustainability performance.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing literature by addressing significant knowledge gaps and offering practical insights for managers and policymakers in the Ready-Made Garments (RMG) industry. It provides a comprehensive approach that integrates fintech and financial expertise to enhance credit accessibility and foster long-term viability for enterprises within the Indian garment sector. The originality lies in its holistic perspective, combining technological integration with the Extent of Financial Knowledge to drive sustainability in a specific industrial context, thus providing valuable guidance for industry stakeholders.

Modelling eco-friendly smart home appliances’ adoption intention from the perspective of residents: a comparative analysis of PLS-SEM and fsQCA

PurposeThis research aims to explore the factors influencing the adoption intention of eco-friendly smart home appliances among residents in densely populated urban areas of a developing country.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research approach was employed to gather data from 348 respondents through purposive sampling. A comparative analysis strategy was then utilized to investigate the adoption of eco-friendly smart home appliances, combining both linear (PLS-SEM) and non-linear (fsQCA) approaches.FindingsThe results obtained from PLS-SEM highlight that performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, price value, and environmental knowledge significantly influence the adoption intention of eco-friendly smart home appliances. However, the findings suggest that effort expectancy, social influence, and habit are not significantly associated with customers' intention to adopt eco-friendly smart home appliances. On the other hand, the fsQCA results identified eight configurations of antecedents, offering valuable insights into interpreting the complex combined causal relationships among these factors that can generate (each combination) the adoption intention of eco-friendly smart home appliances among densely populated city dwellers.Research limitations/implicationsThis study offers crucial marketing insights for various stakeholders, including homeowners, technology developers and manufacturers, smart home service providers, real estate developers, and government entities. The findings provide guidance on how these stakeholders can effectively encourage customers to adopt eco-friendly smart home appliances, aligning with future environmental sustainability demands. The research implications underscore the significance of exploring the antecedents that influence customers' adoption intention of eco-friendly technologies, contributing to the attainment of future sustainability goals.Originality/valueThe environmental sustainability of smart homes, particularly in densely populated city settings in developing countries, has received limited attention in previous studies. Therefore, this study aims to address the pressing issue of global warming and make a meaningful contribution to future sustainability goals related to smart housing technologies. Therefore, this study employs a comprehensive approach, combining both PLS-SEM (linear) and fsQCA (non-linear) techniques to provide a more thorough examination of the factors influencing the adoption of environmentally sustainable smart home appliances.

Carbon Emission Reduction of Reclaimed Water Use Substitution for Inter-Basin Water Transfer and Sustainability of Urban Water Supply in Valley Area

Urbanization confronts the dual challenges of water scarcity and environmental degradation, prompting the exploration of diverse water sources for mitigating these impacts. Inter-basin water transfer (IBWT) has emerged as a solution to balance urban water demand and supply in areas with local water shortages. While IBWT can deliver high-quality water over long distances, it is costly, often contributing significantly to carbon emissions. Reclaimed water use (RWU) presents a promising alternative to address this dilemma. In this paper, a valley region of Chongqing municipality in Southwest China, which is confronted with water and environmental risks resulting from rapid urbanization, was explored and discussed as a case study to assess the potential impact of RWU on reducing carbon emissions as compared to IBWT. A method of accumulative accounting was adapted to calculate and sum up carbon emission intensities at various stages, revealing that the operational carbon emission intensities of IBWT and RWU are 0.7447 KgCO2/m3 and 0.1880 KgCO2/m3, respectively. This indicates that RWU substitution can reduce carbon emissions by 0.5567 KgCO2/m3 or 75%. This paper further elucidates the mechanism behind carbon emission reduction, highlighting the energy-saving benefits of using reclaimed water locally without recourse to extensive transportation or elevation changes. Additionally, this result presents three scenarios of reclaimed water use, including urban miscellaneous water, river flow replenishment, and agricultural irrigation in relation to their substitution effects and environmental impacts. Estimates of carbon emission reductions from reclaimed water use were projected at the planned scale, with the maximum potential of reclaimed water utilization predicted. Finally, this paper proposes an enhanced strategy to identify and prioritize factors affecting reclaimed water utilization and the effect of carbon emission reduction. This paper aims to facilitate the establishment of a robust legal, institutional, and managerial framework while fostering interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral cooperation mechanisms in valley urban areas. The methodology employed can be universally applied to other regions grappling with severe water stress, thereby facilitating endeavors toward carbon reduction and contributing significantly to the attainment of water sustainability.

Enhancing Najran’s sustainable smart city development in the face of urbanization challenges in Saudi- Arabia

ABSTRACT This research offers valuable perspectives on the nexus between urbanization and the smart environment within the Najran city, Saudi Arabian context. Najran City, with its diverse districts and evolving urban landscape, is at the forefront of adopting advanced technologies and participatory governance models to create a resilient, environmentally conscious, and sustainable urban environment, likewise positioning itself as a model of smart urban development but is also fostering an innovation-driven community equipped to address the difficulties and exploit the prospects given by the 21st century. The study systematically analyzes the multifaceted factors of smart city variables in Saudi Arabia and their direct impact on urban sustainability through extensive quantitative investigations. This study reveals the positive correlations between smart city attributes, on the attainment of urban sustainability. In order words, the smart city’s attributes such as IoT (Internet of Things) devices, smart infrastructure, and data-driven solutions are linked to the creation of a resilient urban environment in the face of urbanization and sustainability challenges. On the other hand, the study noted that the integration of smart technologies might lead to unintended consequences in urban planning. For example, an overemphasis on technology may overshadow human-centric approaches, which might potentially affect the community well-being and social cohesion. Study’s insights provide policymakers, urban planners, and players with an in-depth knowledge of the pathways to harness smart city attributes for sustainable Najran urban development. The implications of this research extend beyond the borders of Saudi Arabia, serving as a valuable reference for regions worldwide grappling with similar urbanization and sustainability challenges in the 21st century. By harnessing the potential of smart cities, Saudi Arabia and other nations can pave the way for greener, more resilient urban futures.

Assessing ecopreneurship impact on composite sustainability in the food and beverage industry: A holistic AHP approach integrating economic and environmental dimensions.

The implementation of ecopreneurship is evolving to address environmental sustainability challenges posed by industrial pollution. Scholars are exploring ways to enhance ecopreneurship implementation globally. However, there's a gap in understanding how ecopreneurship affects sustainability across economic and environmental dimensions. This study aims to explore the impact of ecopreneurship on sustainability, considering both economic and environmental indicators. The investigation was conducted through Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) methodology covering 102 ecopreneurs operating in the Tanzania food and beverage industry. The results of the study showed that implementation of ecopreneurship results in the attainment of sustainability through composite scores of 79.5%. In conclusion, this study underscores the significant impact of ecopreneurship implementation on composite sustainability, as evidenced by notable reductions in environmental emissions and improvements in economic performance within the studied industries. The findings highlight the importance of integrating environmental considerations into entrepreneurial endeavors for achieving sustainability goals. It is recommended that stakeholders actively promote and incentivize the adoption of ecopreneurship practices, invest in eco-friendly technologies, foster collaboration, implement effective monitoring mechanisms, and integrate sustainability into business strategies. The study recommends stakeholders' efforts directed towards enhancing the implementation of ecopreneurship practices in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, 2015–2030), specifically goal nine (9) on pollution prevention through the implementation of Eco practices-based solutions to foster innovations and sustainable industrialization. Thus, strategizing the implementation of ecopreneurship practices is considered to have an essential contribution to addressing the challenges of sustainability and therefore enriching the realization of the global sustainable development agenda.

BOARD GOVERNANCE, EARNINGS MANAGEMENT, AND FIRM FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY: A CONCEPTUAL OVERVIEW FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF EMERGING ECONOMIES

The attainment of financial sustainability is of paramount importance for firms since it guarantees their enduring viability and achievement. It enables organisations to navigate periods of economic decline, allocate resources towards expansion prospects, and fulfill their commitments to employees and stakeholders. By focusing on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this study aims to draw a conceptual framework for how board governance affects firm financial sustainability with the mediating effects of earnings management. This study expects board governance to be the significant determinant of firm financial sustainability, and earnings management will act as a key player in the relationship. To the best of our knowledge, this is a unique study that considers the mediating effects of earnings management in the association between board governance and firm financial sustainability. The result of this study will be useful for the regulators in enhancing the board governance issues to deter earnings management and to improve firm financial sustainability. The study will also add value as a battery for future research and studies, particularly in the context of board governance and financial sustainability relationships in emerging as well as developing economies with similar economic perspectives.

Greening the E7 environment: how can renewable and nuclear energy moderate financial development, natural resources, and digitalization towards the target?

ABSTRACT This study examines the extent to which green energy vectoring renewable energy and nuclear energy moderates the effects of natural resource dependence and digitalization on environmental sustainability (measured by carbon emissions per capita and ecological footprint) in selected emerging seven (E7) countries. The study considers the intervening roles of financial development, economic growth, and population growth from 1996 to 2019. The verification of the empirical hypotheses anchors on advanced estimating techniques comprising cross-sectional dependence autoregressive distributed lag and augmented mean group. Results reveal that natural resource dependence and financial development hinder the attainment of environmental sustainability by inducing significant rise in carbon emissions per capita and ecological footprint. Conversely, digitalization promotes the strides toward environmental sustainability by significantly mitigating the surge in both pollutants. The direct and indirect effects of green energy are observed to sufficiently promote environmental sustainability. Moreover, while economic growth in the selected economies displays a significant level of support for sustainability targets, population growth portrays otherwise. Besides, the country-level analyses anchored on Fully Modified OLS show that natural resource dependence significantly hinders sustainability targets in Russia alone. More so, the existence of EKC finds support in Brazil and Mexico. Policy insights emanate from the findings.

Greening the Future: Harnessing ICT, Innovation, Eco-Taxes, and Clean Energy for Sustainable Ecology—Insights from Dynamic Seemingly Unrelated Regression, Continuously Updated Fully Modified, and Continuously Updated Bias-Corrected Models

This research endeavors to investigate the impacts of information and communication technology, green technological innovation, and environmental tax on the attainment of ecological sustainability with advanced panel date estimation for 2001–2019. The results of this study demonstrate a noteworthy inverse relationship between information and communication technology and ecological footprint, suggesting that progress in ICT has the potential to yield positive consequences in terms of ecological restoration and the promotion of environmental sustainability. Furthermore, this study underscores the significance of GTI in mitigating carbon emissions and effectively addressing environmental challenges. The findings indicate that the incorporation of environmentally sustainable technology can yield favorable ecological consequences and make significant contributions towards the attainment of worldwide climate targets. Nevertheless, the study highlights the importance of considering potential rebound effects. It underscores the imperative for ongoing research and the implementation of comprehensive policies within the realm of environmentally sustainable technology. Moreover, the present study elucidates the favorable ramifications of GF on ecological sustainability, underscoring its pivotal contribution in curtailing carbon emissions, augmenting environmental benchmarks, and facilitating the ecological footprint. Enhancing the utilization of green finance, making adjustments to national regulatory frameworks, and achieving harmonization of public financial incentives to bolster sustainable development are important. Additionally, the study posits that the incorporation of ET can catalyze businesses and individuals to embrace environmentally friendly energy sources and sustainable practices, thereby fostering positive outcomes for the environment. The study offers significant insights into the contributions of information and communication technology, green technology innovation, and environmental technology to advancing ecological sustainability. It emphasizes the need for collaborative endeavors among academia, industry, and government to cultivate a supportive ecosystem for sustainable development.

Bioinspired Multifunctional Silver Nanoparticles for Optical Sensing Applications: A Sustainable Approach.

Silver nanoparticles developed via biosynthesis are the most fascinating nanosized particles and encompassed with excellent physicochemical properties. The bioinspired nanoparticles with different shapes and sizes have attracted huge attention due to their stability, low cost, environmental friendliness, and use of less hazardous chemicals. This is an ideal method for synthesizing a range of nanosized metal particles from plants and biomolecules. Optical biosensors are progressively being fabricated for the attainment of sustainability by using opportunities offered by nanotechnology. This review focuses mainly on tuning the optical properties of the metal nanoparticles for optical sensing to explore the importance and applications of bioinspired silver nanoparticles. Further, this review deliberates the role of bioinspired silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in biomedical, agricultural, environmental, and energy applications. Profound insight into the antimicrobial properties of these nanoparticles is also appreciated. Tailor-made bioinspired nanoparticles with effectuating characteristics can unsurprisingly target tumor cells and distribute enwrapped payloads intensively. Existing challenges and prospects of bioinspired Ag NPs are also summarized. This review is expected to deliver perceptions about the progress of the next generation of bioinspired Ag NPs and their outstanding performances in various fields by promoting sustainable practices for fabricating optical sensing devices.

Balancing Agriculture and Industry through Waste Utilization for Sugarcane Sustainability

The Bio-Circular-Green Economy initiative adopted in Thailand encourages using sugar mill by-products for food production, benefiting both farmers and the environment. This study assesses the feasibility of applying by-products from the sugar mills and distilleries into sugar plantations for irrigation, fertilization, and soil conditioning. It addresses challenges in sustainable waste utilization and offers recommendations. This study reviews literature, conducts preliminary surveys, and analyzes samples from sugarcane fields in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. The findings reveal that while vinasse and filter cake demonstrate promise as soil conditioners, their application requires careful consideration of soil type and pre-treatment processes. Vinasse, rich in essential nutrients, can benefit sandy soils by improving microbial activity and nutrient availability. Filter cake exhibits positive effects on soil texture, water permeability, and mineral content. Treated wastewater can be used for ferti-irrigation. However, about one-third of farmers lack confidence in its use due to concerns about limited nutrient availability, high transportation costs, and potential negative impacts on health, agriculture, and the ecosystem. To enhance farmer adaptability and ensure the successful utilization of waste, several challenges must be addressed, including: (1) assessing financial and technical feasibility of waste transportation and value-added products, (2) overcoming regulatory barriers related to transportation and utilization of industrial wastes, (3) disseminating knowledge to farmers regarding proper fertilization and waste utilization practices, and (4) implementing long-term monitoring on ecosystem health and conducting sustainability assessments of the waste utilization to affirm sustainability attainment.

Novelty and Sustainability: The Generation Process of Original Business Model Innovation

Compared to incremental business model innovation, the impact of original business model innovation on both enterprises and societal development is more significant. The process of its emergence has attracted considerable attention. This article defines the concept of original business model and divides the process of its formation into two steps: achieving novelty and sustainability. Employing an exploratory multiple case study method, the research and analysis are conducted on six startup enterprises with characteristics of original business model innovation. The study reveals that achieving novelty involves three stages, i.e., heterogeneous knowledge accumulation, pain point perception, and opportunity identification, as well as cross-domain thinking application and creative formation. Achieving sustainability entails three stages: concept definition, business model development, and business model validation. Throughout this process, the effective integration of cross-domain knowledge is achieved through iterative experimentation, garnering support and recognition from stakeholders. The attainment of sustainability is pivotal to the success of original business models.

Does the individual effect of resource rents imperative in the attainment of environmental sustainability? Evidence of Southeast Asian economies.

This study investigates the impact of natural resource exploitation on environmental sustainability in Southeast Asian economies, while testing the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) inverted U-shaped hypothesis, a model which suggests an initial increase in environmental degradation with economic growth followed by a decrease at a certain level of income. Utilizing World Development Indicators data from 1995 to 2018, the research dissects the long-term influence of various resource rents, namely coal, oil, and forest. The research highlights the indispensable role of renewable energy in maintaining ecological balance. Results indicate that while coal rent exacerbates environmental degradation, forest and oil rents prove eco-friendly, although this is only confirmed in fully modified OLS estimation. The study underscores the importance of forest rents in achieving environmental sustainability. Renewable energy emerges as vital for promoting sustainable low-carbon practices. In line with the EKC hypothesis, the study finds that economic growth initially increases carbon emissions, but eventually reduces them. It calls for appropriate measures to manage resource exploitation, ensure renewable energy availability, alleviate energy poverty, and curb deforestation, thereby mitigating ecological damage.