Environmental Practices Research Articles (Page 1)

A novel collaborative position and orientation control scheme (CPOCS) for dual-arm robots is proposed, which is capable of controlling the end-effectors' positions with high precision while preserving their orientations unchanged to some practical tasks (e.g., box handling). To solve the proposed CPOCS in real time while considering key factors such as unknown bounded noise and strict time response constraints in practical engineering environments, this article proposes a novel precisely predefined-time convergent barrier recurrent neural network (PCB-RNN) based on a newly developed piecewise barrier evolution formula. Unlike existing RNNs, the proposed PCB-RNN, owing to its piecewise barrier evolution formula, can achieve precisely predefined-time convergence (PPTC) when addressing the proposed CPOCS under unknown bounded noise conditions. Comprehensive theoretical analysis rigorously proves the PPTC ability of the PCB-RNN under both noise-free and unknown bounded noise conditions. Furthermore, extensive simulation and physical experiments on dual-arm robots validate the effectiveness of the proposed CPOCS and demonstrate the advanced PPTC capability of the proposed PCB-RNN under unknown bounded noises.

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of environmental, social and governance (ESG) implementation practices followed by select Indian corporations in the NIFTY 100 index. Using a qualitative multi-case study of 11 high-performing companies, the study investigates organizational understanding, implementation strategies, barriers and opportunities for ESG. Conducted using reflexive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with ESG professionals and senior executives, the study finds seven central themes that exemplify effective ESG implementation: organizational understanding and perspective, environmental practices and climate disclosures, social impact and community initiatives, governance structures and board composition, barriers to strategic ESG adaptation, mitigation strategies and emerging opportunities. The findings significantly enhance theoretical understanding and practical implementation of ESG in the context of emerging markets, providing valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers alike, while underscoring the importance of technology, stakeholder engagement, and value creation as crucial enablers for successful ESG implementation.

As patient diversity continues to expand, nursing staff are increasingly required to support neurodivergent individuals, particularly in the context of diabetes care. This article explores the principles of neurodiversity and outlines how nurses can provide informed, inclusive support to both patients and colleagues across various healthcare settings. It considers communication techniques, sensory considerations, environmental design, and policy recommendations. A key focus is placed on strategies for behaviour change, managing comorbid conditions, and tailoring diabetes care to individuals with specific learning differences. Consistent communication plans, reasonable adjustments, and multiagency collaboration have been shown to significantly enhance care outcomes. There is a need for increased recognition of neurodiversity within nursing education and practice environments. Embracing neurodiversity fosters more equitable, person-centred care and supports nursing staff in delivering high-quality services.

Abstract Environmental protection is widely considered a core function of the state. Yet more than 210 million people currently live under the control of armed non-state actors (ANSAs), many of whom exercise state-like authority over vast, environmentally important territories. Despite growing legal and political science scholarship on ANSAs, their role in environmental protection remains largely unexplored. International law, shaped by conflict-centric frameworks, often fails to account for ANSAs’ non-military dimensions – especially those related to environmental service provision. Similarly, theories of rebel governance have yet to meaningfully incorporate environmental service provision as a governance facet. The article addresses this gap by examining the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP) in Colombia, drawing on documentary analysis and interviews with former combatants. It shifts the limited ecological perspective on war, arguing that the FARC-EP’s environmental practices amounted to a form of rebel environmental governance – structured, intentional and legally plural. Through this case study, the article challenges dominant narratives that view ANSAs solely as environmental spoilers or incidental protectors and instead advocates for a more comprehensive understanding of their impact as environmental service providers and lawmakers. In doing so, the paper reframes ANSAs as socio-legal actors whose environmental practices merit scholarly attention – particularly in ongoing debates around accountability and transitional justice in conflict-affected regions.

The growing challenges of climate change, coupled with the unprecedented rise in global food demand, calls for transformative strategies in agricultural systems to ensure long-term food security without compromising ecological sustainability. Climate-smart farming has emerged as an approach that enables farmers to maximize the potential of available resources with the main aim of increasing productivity and improving efficiency of applied inputs, and integration of emerging technologies paving way to a greener and climate-resilient agricultural future. Aligning with the objectives of climate-smart agriculture, crop models have proven to be invaluable tools for achieving food security. These mathematical models simulate crop growth under varying environmental conditions and management practices. Evolving from models which was used to study the complex weather–soil–plant interactions, to sophisticated operational systems for farm-level decision-making, crop models play a key role in optimization of resource use, sustainable management and to strengthen climate resilience. This review underscores the critical role of crop modelling in promoting climate-smart agriculture, highlighting its applications in yield forecasting, resource optimization, pest and disease management, and climate change adaptation. It also emphasizes future prospects for integrating emerging technologies to improve model accuracy, thereby supporting sustainable, resilient, and climate-smart agriculture.

Purpose We examine the relationship between CEO social capital and environmental disclosures and the moderating role of board gender diversity on the basis of stakeholder theory. Design/methodology/approach We use 937 firm-year observations from public companies, excluding the financial sector, in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand for the 2017–2023 period. A fixed-effects regression model is used as the primary model and robustness tests, such as dynamic panel entropy balancing, propensity score matching and selection bias tests, are conducted to address endogeneity. Findings The results indicate that CEO social capital improves environmental disclosure practices. However, board gender diversity weakens this relationship, indicating that more gender-diverse boards tend to have lower levels of environmental transparency. Path analysis confirms that CEO social capital increases firm value through a complex mediating mechanism involving gender diversity and environmental disclosures. Practical implications This study emphasises that CEO social capital is a strategic asset that strengthens environmental transparency and legitimacy. Companies are advised to evaluate the professional networks, social reputation and external engagement of CEO candidates during the recruitment process and strengthen social capacity through cross-sector collaboration and sustainability forums. Originality/value This study addresses the gap in the literature by demonstrating how CEO social networks and gender diversity simultaneously influence sustainable governance in developing countries.

ABSTRACT I didn't expect to meet Kanchendzonga in a plastic storage container in a British Museum study room. This is the chief mountain deity for my community in the Sikkim Himalayas; we live in his shadow in the valleys of Sikkim, and interact with him through daily rituals. My first response was to engage in a ritual apology that he had been left for so long. My next was to consider how this ritual apology may be extended into an act of ritual care that traces the provenance of this mask as a way to renew relationships between Kanchendzonga and the people of Sikkim, far from the British Museum, as an alternative to the extractive environmental practices underway in the Himalayas. This article contributes to discussions about Indigenous engagement and provenance histories in museum collections, and affirms the importance of ritual care as a form of rematriation.

ABSTRACT This study investigates the Proactive Environmental Practices (PEPs) adopted by U.S. craft breweries, addressing a significant gap in the literature that has largely overlooked the operational and managerial dimensions of sustainability in this sector. While the craft brewing industry contributes significantly to the U.S. economy, it also generates substantial environmental impact through energy use, water consumption, and waste. Existing research tends to focus either on consumer preferences or technological efficiency, leaving the perspectives of brewery owners underexplored. Using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design, we conducted 31 semi-structured interviews with brewery owners across all U.S. regions, followed by a nationwide survey of 237 brewery owners and general managers. Guided by the 6 R framework (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Rationalize), we identified and ranked 41 PEPs based on their level of perceived importance. Findings reveal that low-cost and high-visibility practices such as spent grain reuse, LED lighting, and filtered water systems are widely adopted, while more capital-intensive solutions like solar energy and rainwater harvesting are underutilized. The analysis also uncovered that most breweries prioritize waste reduction over energy and water conservation. This research provides actionable insights for practitioners, policymakers, and sustainability advocates. It offers practical guidelines for integrating environmental practices into small and medium-sized brewery operations and contributes to broader discussions on sustainability in resource-intensive industries.

Introduced by Harris and Fallot in 2001, trauma-informed care (TIC) is a call to shift culture and protocols within the human services to acknowledge trauma’s impact and sequelae. The COVID-19 pandemic saw simultaneous escalation of interest in TIC and uptake of virtual mental health care, yet little research documents how to translate TIC principles into digital or remote therapy. This qualitative study used a template analysis approach to explore how 29 social workers who identify themselves as trauma-informed practitioners adapt components of the TIC model to practice in a virtual environment. We report specific strategies used by participants, identifying five themes—accessibility, visual presentation, amplified communication, altered relational dynamics, and increased potential for client choice—that emerged across these practices.

This study aims to describe the entrepreneurship education process at SMP PAB 23 Bandar Klippa as a strategic step in developing a creative and independent young generation. The approach used is descriptive qualitative with data collection techniques through observation and interviews with one principal, three teachers, and thirty-nine students. The research activities were carried out during the Real Work Lecture (KKN) program which lasted for ten days in September 2025. The main focus of the study was the Market Day activity designed as a learning tool for entrepreneurial practices in the school environment. The results showed that this activity was able to foster an entrepreneurial mindset, increase creativity, build collaborative skills, and foster students' confidence in planning and managing simple businesses. Thus, entrepreneurship education has been proven to play an important role in fostering independence, creativity, and readiness of students to face future economic challenges.

Background: It is essential to establish sustainability practice in the university environment, this can be evolved through raising the positive attitudes among university students especially among undergraduate health and medical sciences students for being future responsible citizens. Objective: to assess the attitudes of medical and nursing undergraduate university students in Babylon university, Iraq. Methods : this was a cross-sectional comparative study conducted on convenient samples of undergraduate nursing and medical students in Babylon university (nursing and Hammurabi medical colleges) during the period October 2024, through January 2025, data collection was done through a self-filled pre-determined and validated questionnaire adopted from other studies , this approach included the demographic characteristics and questions related to students beliefs about sustainable development goals mainly (environment, economy, society and education), differences of attitudes between the two group were assessed using t independent statistical test. Results: Total of 302 students from both schools were enrolled in this study, males are predominant among medical students, more than half of the study sample were rural dwellers. There was a significant correlation for attitudes toward sustainable development goals (SDGs) as perceived by nursing and medical students across the four dimensions: environment, economy, society, and education. Overall, the results highlight that attitude toward SDGs are interrelated, with stronger correlations observed in the economy and society dimensions for both groups. The high mean score in the societal dimension in this study indicates that both nursing and medical students place significant importance on societal well-being and equity. Conclusion: both groups share a common positive attitude regarding economic dimension, nursing students had higher attitudes score in education dimension. Contents about SDGs strategy should be introduced in the college curricula, further large-scale analytic studies are strongly requested.

To achieve carbon neutrality,the high-temperture CO2electrolysis technology using solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) has attracted much attention.However,their traditional Ni-based cathodes have become a promising alternative due to their excellent stability and anti-coking properties. This paper first analyzes the performance enhancement mechanisms such as oxygen vacancy regulation and interface engineering. Then, it reviews the research progress of fluoride-based materials (GCO, Fe-SDC), perovskite and derivative materials (SFMC, HE-PSCFMMN), and composite structure materials (Ru-modified SDC), including their material characteristics, modification methods, and case studies. Currently, these materials suffer from issues such as insufficient activity at medium and low temperatures. Future research should focus on dynamic interface regulation and other directions to promote the industrialization of SOECs.Moreover, exploring multi-element doping strategies to tailor the electronic conductivity and ionic diffusion pathways of cathode materials could effectively bridge the activity gap across temperature ranges. Additionally, integrating in-situ characterization techniques to track the structural evolution of materials during long-term electrolysis will provide critical insights for optimizing their durability in practical industrial environments.

ABSTRACT Spectrum sensing (SS) is a key enabling function in cognitive radio Internet of Things (CR-IoT) networks, facilitating dynamic spectrum access by identifying available frequency bands without causing interference to licensed primary users (PUs). However, in practical wireless environments, severe fading and path loss significantly attenuate PU signals, leading to unreliable detection at low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Conventional energy detection (ED) schemes often fail to achieve the regulatory detection probability requirement (Pd ≥ 0.9) when SNR < −15 dB, resulting in inefficient spectrum utilization. To overcome this limitation, this paper proposes an intelligent reflecting surface (IRS)-assisted spectrum sensing framework for CR-IoT networks. The IRS employs M passive reflective elements to enhance the effective channel gain between the PU and secondary user (SU) through optimized phase shift configuration, thereby improving the received signal power at the SU. The proposed technique adaptively adjusts the IRS phase shifts to maximize PU signal reflection without additional power consumption. Simulated results demonstrate that suggested method achieves up to 60% higher Pd and significantly reduces the false alarm (Pf) compared to conventional and adaptive ED techniques, particularly under low SNR conditions and short sensing durations (e.g., 4 ms), highlighting its potential for next-generation wireless networks.

This study explores the impact of environmental accounting practices on corporate environmental performance in Greek enterprises. Grounded in environmental management accounting (EMA), strategic management theory, Stakeholder Theory, and Institutional Theory, it employs a quantitative analysis of data collected via a Likert-type questionnaire in 2024. The focus lies in GRI-based indicators, green technologies, environmental investments, and reporting mechanisms. While international standards such as ISO 14001 and EMAS are considered conceptually, they are not empirically assessed. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 29.0) and SmartPLS (version 4.0). The results show that organizations implementing structured environmental accounting systems experience enhanced environmental performance, including greater transparency, regulatory compliance, and innovation capacity. This study fills a gap in the Greek context and emphasizes the strategic role of environmental accounting in advancing sustainability and competitiveness.

The article discusses the way in which sustainability can be viewed as an integrated part of the organizational strategy by incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices into core components of business administration. When ESG is seen as a strategic framework versus compliance, the corporation will develop corporate resilience, build stakeholder trust, and increase long-term profitability. The study addresses the theoretical aspects of ESG with respect to strategic management and describes how ESG integration affects decision-making throughout administrative, financial, and operational functions. By synthesizing current literature, the paper highlights how effective ESG adoption contributes to innovation, competitiveness, and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It also discusses the barriers organizations face, such as limited standardization, high implementation costs, and cultural resistance. The findings emphasize that embedding ESG into business administration is essential for organizations seeking sustainable growth, improved governance, and long-term stakeholder value in an increasingly dynamic global market.

ABSTRACT This study investigates how multiple directorships, often referred to as ‘busy’ boards, influence firms’ information environment and stock price crash risk. We find that multiple directorships are positively associated with crash risk, and this effect is primarily driven by busy outside directors rather than busy inside directors. Further analysis shows that the negative monitoring effects of busy outside directors are mitigated when local communities and corporate governance practices emphasise a long-term perspective. We also document that firms with busy outside directors disclose their environmental practices less frequently and in less detail, which further increases crash risk.

Despite the rapid growth of digital tools in education, many classrooms still struggle with limited engagement, rigid instructional methods, and equity gaps that hinder personalized learning. Traditional teaching often fails to provide safe, interactive environments for skill practice, while access to advanced resources remains uneven across regions. Generative artificial intelligence (AI), however, offers a transformative solution by powering immersive technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality to create learner-centered classrooms. AI-enhanced VR delivers adaptive simulations and virtual field trips; AI-driven augmented reality overlays personalized content on physical textbooks; and AI-guided mixed reality blends real objects with virtual overlays for safe, hands-on practice. Core strategies include AI-supported virtual reality field trips, augmented reality enhanced textbooks, mixed-reality simulations, real-time analytics dashboards, adaptive difficulty, and teacher-in-the-loop professional development. In Southeast Asia, applications are already visible—Singapore deploys AI-enabled driving simulators, Malaysia builds extended reality studios and immersive-ready schools, and the Philippines integrates AI-powered augmented reality history apps and virtual reality campus tours within the MATATAG Curriculum. Together, these examples highlight how AI and immersive technologies not only overcome traditional barriers but also boost engagement, personalize instruction, bridge equity gaps, and equip learners with future-ready competencies.

Self-powered sensor technologies are receiving increasing attention owing to their ability to operate independently without the need for external batteries or power supplies. This autonomy enables continuous and real-time monitoring in various applications. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are particularly promising as electrode materials and energy-harvesting components, owing to their excellent electrical conductivity, mechanical robustness, and tunable surface properties. This review provides a concise overview and critical perspectives on recent progress in CNT-based self-powered sensors, focusing on their structural designs, operating mechanisms, and application areas. The sensors are classified according to their practical application environments, including environmental, wearable, and implantable applications, rather than by their energy-harvesting mechanisms or detection targets. Furthermore, current critical challenges, such as durability, scalable fabrication, and in vivo validation, which must be solved to achieve fully autonomous CNT-based sensors for healthcare and environmental monitoring, are discussed. This review underscores the pivotal role of CNT-based self-powered sensors in driving next-generation autonomous monitoring technologies and offers insights for the implementation of such sensors in practical biomedical and environmental applications.

The Job Shop Scheduling Problem (JSP), a classical NP-hard challenge, has given rise to various complex extensions to accommodate modern manufacturing requirements. Among them, the Dynamic Flexible Job Shop Scheduling Problem (DFJSP) remains particularly challenging, due to its stochastic task arrivals, heterogeneous deadlines, and varied task types. Traditional optimization- and rule-based approaches often fail to capture these dynamics effectively. To address this gap, this study proposes a hybrid algorithm, GA-HPO PPO, tailored for the DFJSP. The method integrates genetic-algorithm–based hyperparameter optimization with proximal policy optimization to enhance learning efficiency and scheduling performance. The algorithm was trained on four datasets and evaluated on ten benchmark datasets widely adopted in DFJSP research. Comparative experiments against Double Deep Q-Network (DDQN), standard PPO, and rule-based heuristics demonstrated that GA-HPO PPO consistently achieved superior performance. Specifically, it reduced the number of overdue tasks by an average of 18.5 in 100-task scenarios and 197 in 1000-task scenarios, while maintaining a machine utilization above 67% and 28% in these respective scenarios, and limiting the makespan to within 108–114 and 506–510 time units. The model also demonstrated a 25% faster convergence rate and 30% lower variance in performance across unseen scheduling instances compared to standard PPO, confirming its robustness and generalization capability across diverse scheduling conditions. These results indicate that GA-HPO PPO provides an effective and scalable solution for the DFJSP, contributing to improved dynamic scheduling optimization in practical manufacturing environments.

Abstract The main objective of this study was to investigate environmental factors affecting yearling weight (YW) in pasture-raised Nellore cattle. The dataset encompassed records from 143,332 animals across 60 farms, integrating animal-level information (ie, phenotype and pedigree relationships) with farm-level data on environmental conditions (climate, soil classifications, and elevation) and management practices at the rearing sites, hereafter referred to as descriptors. Farm-level descriptors were carefully selected based on three steps: (1) evaluation of each descriptor’s contribution to explaining the variance of YW across farms, (2) assessment of collinearity among farm management descriptors, and (3) comparison of models using a stepwise selection procedure. The selected descriptors were subsequently included as fixed effects in the genetic evaluation of YW. The analysis began with a traditional animal model (M1, benchmark model). It was extended to three alternative models that incorporated environmental descriptors (M2), farm management descriptors (M3), or both (M4). Model comparisons were based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and the proportion of the farm variance in YW explained by the fixed effects. The results indicate that climate and soil classifications, elevation, guidance from animal breeding technicians, period of the breeding season, age and weight of heifers at first breeding, no-till farming, reproductive technique (categorized as natural service, fixed-time artificial insemination—FTAI, synchronization protocols and/or herd bulls), years enrolled in the breeding program and livestock land area (categorized as small: ≤100 ha; medium: 101–999 ha; or large: ≥ 1000 ha) are key factors describing the macro-environmental effects contributing to variation of YW across farms. Among them, guidance from animal breeding technicians, age and weight of heifers at first breeding, and no-till farming were directly or indirectly associated (P &amp;lt; 0.05) with several descriptors of soil, supplemental feeding, and reproductive management. Indeed, when these environmental and farm management descriptors were simultaneously included in the genetic evaluation model (M4), they explained 65.7% of the YW variance across farms, while maintaining the model’s goodness-of-fit. This finding explains substantial sources of environmental variation commonly accounted for by contemporary groups (CG) in genetic evaluations. This suitable characterization of environmental factors might be essential for future genetic evaluation in the context of genotype by environment interaction (GxE), as well as for forecasting cattle performance under different environmental conditions.