Industry Activities Research Articles

EXPLORING THE NEXUS BETWEEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN ROMANIA’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

The recent geopolitical upheavals have significantly impacted manufacturing, with volatile energy prices disrupting firms' cost structures and competitiveness. In this context, assessing the readiness of Romania's manufacturing sector structure to face these geopolitical challenges is crucial. The present paper explores the nexus between energy efficiency and structural changes in Romania’s manufacturing industry over the past two and a half decades, analyzing the dynamics of energy consumption and efficiency. The analysis shows that structural changes were crucial in decreasing energy consumption, as the manufacturing activities with the lowest energy efficiencies underwent the most significant output reductions. Moreover, the evolution of investment intensities in the manufacturing industry activities reflects both the sectors that have undergone successful restructuring and those that have proven attractive to investors. In terms of structural breaks, the results of the Bai-Perron (2003) test conducted on the output of the manufacturing activities revealed that the activities identified as the most energy-efficient, such as the Manufacture of furniture; other manufacturing, and the Manufacture of machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified (n.e.c.) also exhibit a considerable number of structural breaks.

Efficient directional biosynthesis of isoquercitrin from quercetin by Bacillus subtilis CD-2 and its anti-inflammatory activity

Isoquercetin, as the sole product, was directionally biosynthesized from quercetin in a non-aqueous system using Bacillus subtilis CD-2 (1 g/L quercetin), and its structure was identified by LC-MS and NMR analysis. CCK8 assays showed no cytotoxicity and good cell proliferation. The anti-inflammatory experiments demonstrated strong inhibition of NO release, transcriptional downregulation of classical effective cellular factors tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and transcriptional upregulation of interleukin-10 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Its stronger anti-inflammatory activity than quercetin provided a reference for modifying the structure of quercetin to obtain more compounds with better pharmacological activities for medical industry.

How do industry and other actors undermine tobacco control policies post-adoption? A scoping review

Abstract Background Over recent decades, many countries have strengthened their tobacco control policies. To be effective, full implementation is needed. Tobacco industry interference is widely recognised as a key barrier to tobacco control progress and evidence-based models like the policy dystopia model (PDM) list industry strategies, focusing on those avoiding and undermining policy adoption. While prior research highlighted industry activities post-adoption, these have not been captured systematically. This review aimed to map the efforts of industry, front groups and other actors to undermine the implementation of policies, including marketing, packaging, smokefree and flavour measures. Methods We searched six literature databases, relevant bibliographies and grey literature, and consulted experts. We included articles describing one or more attempts to undermine adopted policies, including marketing, packaging, smokefree and flavour. The PDM served as starting point for coding; additional strategies were identified inductively. Strategies were charted against aims and policies. Results Several aims and strategies were identified which were similar across policies. Following policy adoption efforts to 1) overturn and 2) weaken measures, and 3) delay implementation continued. Legal strategies were utilised and there were attempts to influence stakeholders. In addition, tobacco industry and other actors sought to 4) undermine policy effectiveness by creating confusion, circumventing policies, and noncompliance, and 5) use implementation as an opportunity to enhance industry reputation. Conclusions Interference from tobacco industry and other actors threatens effective tobacco control policy implementation. The public health community must continue to monitor, expose and counter industry conduct after policy adoption. More research is needed to enhance our understanding of how industry interferes in policy implementation, and how this can be pre-empted and countered. Key messages • The interference from tobacco industry and other actors following policy adoption threatens effective tobacco control, and needs to be monitored, exposed and countered by the public health community. • Policymakers and civil servants need to be wary of efforts to undermine tobacco control policies and act to ensure effective policy implementation.

Tobacco industry corporate social responsibility activities and other interference after ratification of a strong tobacco law in Ethiopia

BackgroundSince strict new tobacco control laws were introduced in 2019 and 2020, the National Tobacco Enterprise (NTE), the main manufacturer and distributor of cigarettes in Ethiopia, strategically engaged in corporate...

The Benefits and Applications of Lactobacillus plantarum in Food and Health: A Narrative Review.

Lactobacillus plantarum is a type of gram-positive lactic acid bacteria. This bacterium is considered a safe probiotic and, many applications and benefits including prolonging food shelf-life, enhancing antioxidant activity, improving food flavor characteristics and antimicrobial activities in the food industry, and application as a potential starter for dairy products have been attributed to it. Various studies have also emphasized its health-giving properties. As a result, the features and wide application of this bacterium, as well as the safety of L. plantarum and its strains, have made it a popular probiotic in the food and medical industries. Thus, in the present study keywords including L. plantarum and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum along with application, benefits, food, health, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anti-depression were searched in databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Sience direct and Google Scholar with no time restriction. Then, important features, benefits, and uses of L. plantarum were categorized and discussed. The ability of L. plantarum on the food such as prolonging food shelf-life, enhancing antioxidant activity, improving food flavor characteristics and antimicrobial activities in the food industry, and as a potential starter for dairy products is effective. In addition, several studies have emphasized of L. plantarum health-giving properties.

Effect of Pandemic Covid-19 to the Operation Management Activities in Industry

COVID-19 pandemic has affected the activities related to operations management in the manufacturing industry under the scope of production interruption of raw materials and spare parts, labour, logistics, finance as well as supply and demand fluctuation. Manufacturing industry has faced limitation in the import of raw materials and spare parts which cause delay in manufacturing projects and activities. Due to the pandemic, standard operating procedures are implemented to ensure the labour can work in a safer environment without having the risk of getting infected. Logistics are also adapted with a new practice to ensure contactless delivery of products and items are disinfected before delivering. The pandemic has caused companies to face many financial issues where they are forced to shut down or take loans to sustain their business. Moreover, the supply and customer demand for the products fluctuate as the lifestyle of people changes to adapt themselves to the pandemic. The effects have showed the importance of implementing countermeasures to prepare the manufacturing industry for the post-pandemic world.

A sustainable semiconductor supply chain under regulation

Modern life would not exist without semiconductors as all electronic components used in computers, telecommunications, health care, transportation, and energy systems are equipped with chips. To examine both backward and forward activities in semiconductor industry, this paper formulates the industry as a closed-loop supply chain. It articulates how old semiconductors are processed and recycled to manufacture new silicon and chips, and examines the impact of a commonly applied subsidy scheme on the performance of semiconductor firms which operate in upstream and downstream layers of the industry. Specifically, the proposed semiconductor supply chain involves (i) a return function sensitive to monetary incentives; (ii) a subsidy legislation rewarding end-users for recycling; (iii) upstream industry where silicon is produced using virgin and scrap materials; (iv) downstream industry in which semiconductor manufacturers (such as TSMC, Samsung, Intel) buy silicon and other materials, hire workers, and then produce and sell chips. We characterize Stackelberg equilibrium silicon and semiconductor prices and outputs and calibrate model parameters using actual data to quantify the effects of subsidy and collection channels on silicon and semiconductor firms’ performance. We find that the subsidy scheme neither distorts firms’ strategies nor causes any inefficiency for the semiconductor industry. It stimulates circular economy activities and provides economic and environmental benefits.

Evolution of Pandemic Discourse: Portrayal of Diseases, Public Healthcare and Culture Anxiety in Pandemic-Themed Film

The pandemic-themed film reveals how quickly a virus spreads and kills hundreds or perhaps millions of people. It also highlights the horrible conditions surrounding the outbreak, especially the collapse of the country's healthcare system. The film also depicts the newly discovered infectious sickness as the interconnectedness of animals, the environment, and humans. The pandemic cinema in the past contains attributes such as illegal immigrants, public healthcare, and zoonoses in its narrative conventions. In the present films, the contemporary global issue have encroached on an ignorance on environmental issues among the government, the industry players, and the public on health and the high possibility of viruses spreading due to the activities of industry. This paper aims to assess the evolution of the portrayal of diseases and public healthcare that reflects cultural anxieties in pandemic cinema and what messages that these films convey. After screening seventy films with pandemic themed released within hundred years, only six films were analysed using Altman’s syntax approach. The findings found that, given the current state of the virus, this kind of film encourages viewers to understand pandemics as the result of pathogens attacking social interactions, interpersonal relationships, and other aspects of society.

New image, same tactics: global tobacco and vaping industry strategies to promote youth vaping.

E-cigarette use (or vaping) is widespread in young people and is a rapidly growing public health problem. While the tobacco and vaping industry has promoted vaping as a smoking cessation aid for adults, the industry has strategically targeted young people through marketing and appealing designs to orientate a new generation of consumers to use their products. These strategies are not new and replicate what we have previously seen employed by the tobacco industry in past decades to maintain and grow their tobacco profits. We review the evidence on tobacco and vaping industry interference, highlighting the calculated and strategic use of interference tactics as a discourse to curb tobacco control efforts. We demonstrate how these tried and tested strategies are now being purposefully re-used in the context of vaping. As Australia is currently undergoing significant policy reforms for the access and retail of vaping products, we also provide a case study of the industry response played out in this contemporary landscape. Government and public health advocates are in a key position to be one step ahead in proactively tackling the vaping crisis. We recommend that continued monitoring of industry activities and strategies, achieving political transparency and tightening loopholes in current regulations are all needed to identify and eliminate the tobacco and vaping industry's influence on policymaking. Given their previous track record, we emphasize the need to counter industry interference tactics with urgency to prevent a new generation of nicotine dependence and to support and protect future action in tobacco control.

Logistic transportation role for sustainable ecotourism industry

Abstract Transportation plays a pivotal role in the industrial landscape, and the ecotourism sector, particularly sustainable ecotourism, is no exception. Sustainable ecotourism places emphasis on the responsible management of natural resources, aiming to foster comprehension, appreciation, and the conservation of both the environment and cultural heritage. The purpose of this research is to examine how the emergence of logistics transportation studies is driven by the transportation needs of island communities and tourists to increase sustainable ecotourism industry activities. Logistics transportation services that support ecotourism is a relatively new study of existing logistics resources in Indonesia. This study chooses sea transportation routes for the Karimunjawa Islands and Jepara. The logistics services for tourism transportation provided by the government and third parties pay little attention to sea transportation routes that pass-through conservation areas, namely the Panjang Island Conservation Area and Karimun Jawa National Park. Indeed, there has been a sea route provided, but several obstacles arose when passing through the conservation area. The establishment of novel transportation routes emerges as a viable solution for bolstering the sustainable ecotourism sector and addressing the transportation requisites of the local community. Additionally, these new transportation routes can yield positive outcomes for the safeguarding of conservation areas.

К вопросу об определении места градостроительного права в системе права России

A relevant and controversial aspect in the modern theory of law in the development of the modern doctrine of the legal system is the question of the intersectoral division of the Russian legal system, the criteria for its construction, as well as the isolation and systematization of legal norms that are complex in nature. The purpose of the article is to establish intersectoral connections, criteria for systematization and the place in the system of Russian law of urban planning norms as a legal community that combines elements of private law and public law influence in the mechanism of legal regulation. A systematic approach and such logical research methods as analysis and synthesis made it possible to determine the place of urban planning norms in the system of Russian law as an independent branch of law with a special mixed type of legal regulation. Scope of application of the results: the main results and conclusions of the study can be used as the basis for the formation of new approaches to building a legal system and criteria for differentiating legal norms. In addition, the recognition of urban planning law as an independent branch of law will significantly facilitate the processes of law enforcement and law-making activities in the urban planning industry. Conclusions: the totality of the subject, method, principles, goals and functions of urban planning norms, forming a special mechanism of legal regulation, indicates the qualitative originality of the regulated sphere of social relations and the isolation of urban planning law as part of the Russian legal system as a branch of law. At the same time, the complex nature of urban planning law by type of legal regulation is due to the interpenetration of private law and public law interests.

Research on High-Quality Development Strategies for the Homestay Industry from the Perspective of Value Chain

This study uses value chain analysis to examine the basic and supporting activities in the homestay industry, explore the challenges present in the value chain activities, and offer recommendations. The study points out that homestay businesses should focus on core competencies and implement a series of measures to achieve value creation and cost control. Additionally, optimizing the policy environment and applying sustainable development are crucial for the transformation and upgrading of the homestay industry. The results provide practical guidance for the industry to achieve sustainable development in an increasingly competitive market.

Spatially explicit analysis of production and consumption responsibility for the PM2.5-related health burden towards beautiful China

Promoting good health and ensuring responsible production and consumption are essential components of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by of the United Nations, as well as the goals of beautiful China. While the health impacts of air pollution have garnered significant attention, there remains a paucity of studies comparing the disparities in responsibility arising from production versus consumption. This paper integrates the Weather Research and Forecasting - Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions (WRF-CAMx) model, the multiregional input‒output (MRIO) model, and the global exposure mortality model (GEMM) to assess the extent of PM2.5-related premature deaths caused by production and consumption activities in 30 Chinese provinces. The findings reveal a spatial mismatch in health burdens between production and consumption. Considering pollutant emissions and their transfer only through the supply chain leads to the finding that the net outflow of emissions from producers is mainly located in most of the northern provinces of China. However, when atmospheric transport and health impacts are included, the producing provinces are mainly located in central China, while the consuming provinces are located in the southeastern coastal and remote western and northern regions. Additionally, the long-range impact of consumption provinces with respect to the health burden is more than twice as large as that of production provinces, and its potential impact on the health burden cannot be ignored. From a sectoral perspective, production emissions from the non-electricity industry and services sectors contribute to 60% of the health burden, while their consumption emissions contribute to over 80% of the health burden. Furthermore, consumption activities in the non-electricity industry and services sectors significantly influence production emissions in the transport, agriculture, and electricity sectors. The geographical separation of consumption and production regions facilitated by trade is a critical yet often overlooked aspect in current regional air quality planning in China. A more comprehensive analysis of life-cycle emissions driven by final consumption could yield greater reductions compared to direct production reductions.

Analisis Islamic Green Economy dalam Penanganan Limbah PKS dengan Pendekatan Pentahelix

Handling efforts by reusing palm oil industry waste in accordance with the green economy concept are considered capable of minimizing the negative effects of industrial activities. The aim of this research is to explore green economy opportunities in overcoming the negative impacts of the industry. Data collected through field observations, interviews and questionnaires, was tested using EFAS and IFAS techniques and then formulated using the SOAR matrix. The results of analysis found that the S-A strategy in green industrial activities uses power to achieve aspirations so that companies can use it as an excuse to continue implementing and developing sustainable concepts. With efforts to reuse waste and with assistance and monitoring of the five elements of the pentahelix in efforts to handle waste, it is found that the negative influence of palm oil industry activities can be minimized.

FEATURES OF MARKETING ACTIVITIES ON THE BOOK MARKET OF UKRAINE

Goal. elucidation of the role and features of marketing activities in the book market of Ukraine. Achieving the goal will be facilitated by the achievement of the following tasks: 1) identification of factors influencing the behavior of consumers of book products; 2) disclosure of key aspects of marketing activity in the book market of Ukraine; 3) establishment of directions for increasing the effectiveness of marketing activities on buyers in the book market. Method. Methods of systematic and comparative analysis were used to identify factors influencing consumer behavior. The methods of analysis, synthesis and comparative analysis were used to reveal the marketing activity in the book market of Ukraine and to study the factors and the degree of their influence on the behavior of the buyer in the book market. Methods of synthesis and generalization were used to establish directions for improving the effectiveness of marketing activities on buyers in the book market. The results. The main aspects of the marketing activities of publishers and book distributors on the Ukrainian book market are outlined, the toolkit of the marketing mix used by market entities is highlighted, which made it possible to formulate the key areas of increasing the effectiveness of marketing activities for sellers of book products, which include: the need for market research; production of a quality marketing book; increasing the number of bookstores; application of merchandising and other methods of maximizing sales; improvement of the personnel policy due to the selection of personnel, systematic improvement of the qualifications of employees; implementation of logical pricing, use of price incentives; provision of activities for the popularization of reading and promotion of book products; development of effective state support measures for book publishing. Scientific novelty. Conducting a theoretical and practical analysis of the use of marketing mix tools in the book market of Ukraine and developed recommendations for increasing the effectiveness of marketing activities in the publishing industry. Practical significance. The results of the analysis are suitable for use in the development of effective marketing programs of Ukrainian book publishers and sellers of book products.

Strategies for Performance Optimization: Risk Mitigation in Tourism Supply Chains of Indonesia

In the context of optimizing performance, the tourism industry has great potential as a source of income for regions and countries. One area that has great potential in the tourism industry is Rembang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. However, this industry is also vulnerable to various risks, such as natural disasters, pandemics, and security issues. Therefore, this research aims to identify risks in the tourism industry supply chain in Rembang Regency and develop effective mitigation strategies. The research method used is decision matrix risk assessment (DMRA), which involves supply chain mapping, risk identification, risk assessment, risk response development, and risk response control. The results of identifying risks that need to be mitigated from travel agents to tourist activities include fluctuating products/services, incompatibility with tourist destinations, and failure in promotional programs. Meanwhile, stakeholder activities in the tourism industry include failure in formulating policies and promotional programs. Proposed mitigation measures include diversifying supply chains, improving communication between suppliers and the tourism industry, and developing flexible policies. Implementation of this strategy is expected to strengthen the tourism industry supply chain in Rembang Regency, improve the tourist experience, and support sustainable economic growth. Risk mitigation in the tourism industry also contributes to the performance of the tourism industry and the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) by providing benefits to the environment, economy, and local communities.

Value Chain Identification and Impact of the Music Industry on Employment in Serbia

Research Question: The aim of paper is to identify value chain of the music industry and to determine the impact of music industry on employment in Serbia. Motivation: Creative industry is a very attractive topic among both scholars and professionals. A total of 52 sectors are considered as creative industry sectors, including music industry. Our goal was to identify the impact of the music industry on the economy, in addition to the entertaining and amusement value of the music. In order to do so, our goal was to understand all the sub-sectors and activities within music industries. Idea: Although excising NACE nomenclature of activities is rigid, our goal was to identify music industry activities within NACE codes, and to define how the value creation is distributed among various activities within the music industry value chain. Data: Measuring employment is based on combining data from the official statistics entities. Tools: Research required data on the four-digit level of activity (NACE), that were cross-referenced with the findings of the primary research and defined value chain activities of the music industries. Findings: The paper analyses the complexity of the value creation and value chain in the creative industries, specifically in the music industry. Findings support excising literature review and confirms complexity of the value chain in the music industries. In addition, the paper adds value to the scientific research by presenting novel approach that is based on using the Porter value chain model in the music industry and identifying a total of 29 activities within. Further, using created value chain model, paper results demonstrate the impact of the music industry on the employment in Serbia, that has been growing over the analysed period, no matter the COVID-19 crisis. Contribution: The paper expands the existing research related to creative industries and formulates the music industry value chain activities. The significance of this paper stems from the fact that, similar to other sectors within the creative industries, music industry is insufficiently covered by the data of the national statistical authorities. In addition,the paper measures the music industry impact on the employment in Serbia.

The Potential of Building Information Modeling in Agricultural Operations

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been widely adopted in the construction industry, providing a virtual representation of physical objects and systems. In the context of agriculture, BIM can be applied to monitor and manage the physical and operational characteristics of farms and agricultural facilities using BIM digital twins. A BIM digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical object or system that is based on data from BIM models and other sources. The integration of sensors is essential in creating a BIM digital twin as they provide real-time data that can be used to update and maintain the virtual representation. The use of BIM digital twins in agriculture has the potential to improve the management of agricultural facilities, reduce environmental pollution, and promote the sustainability of agricultural land. Sensors can be used in agriculture to monitor various parameters such as soil moisture, temperature, and nutrient levels. BIM digital twins can also be used to monitor and manage sources of pollution, such as the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and to develop strategies to minimize their impact on the environment. BIM digital twins provide a comprehensive view of the condition of agricultural land and the factors that influence it, such as weather patterns, industry activities, and human activities. 4D BIM is an extension of traditional 3D BIM that adds a time dimension to the model. In the context of agriculture, 4D BIM can be used to visualize and simulate various processes related to time and soil management, such as planting and harvesting cycles, and to evaluate the impact of different planting strategies on crop yields. 4D BIM can also be used to model the impact of weather patterns on crop growth and to develop contingency plans for weather- related events. The use of BIM in agriculture has the potential to transform the industry by providing a new level of insight and control over agricultural operations. BIM models can be used to simulate and visualize different scenarios for agricultural facilities, such as the use of water, fertilizer, and energy, leading to improved efficiency and reduced waste. By using BIM to optimize operations, agricultural companies can increase their productivity and profitability. The integration of BIM digital twins and 4D BIM in agriculture has the potential to revolutionize the industry by providing new tools for monitoring and managing agricultural operations. The use of BIM digital twins and 4D BIM can help reduce environmental pollution, promote sustainability, and improve the efficiency and productivity of agricultural operations. Testing is needed to fully understand the potential benefits of BIM and BIM digital twins in agriculture and to develop best practices for their implementation.

Analisis Bibliometrik Industri Kreatif Berkelanjutan di Indonesia

This paper aims at providing an overview and synthesis of the existing body of knowledge about Creative Industry in Indonesia. Special attention is paid to the articles directly linked with sustainability creative industries in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach – A bibliometric analysis was performed over 925 documents extracted from the Google Scholar database, using PoP, Zotero, and VOS viewer software programs. Findings – Publications related to the sustainable creative industry are still very minimal. The publication mainly reviews case studies and analyzes of the phenomena of creative industry activities in a narrow, local and thematic way. There have not been many publications regarding the theory, direction and future of sustainable industries globally. Social implications – The development of scientific knowledge about sustainability of creative industry puts this social claim on the spotlight of business management studies, helping bussinesmen and to reduce the environmental impact of corporate activities. Studying sustainability will help to reduce its frequency and, therefore, heal the planet. Conclusion - Facing the increasingly threat of damage due to developments in human needs, the sustainable industrial sector absolutely needs attention. Likewise in the creative industry sector. More attention is needed from the government and creative industry players to place greater emphasis on environmentally friendly and socially friendly industries. Thus, Scientific studies that examine sustainable creative industries must be increased and become a concern for all of us

Industry Panel at WFCS 2024 [News in Industry Activities

Industry Panel at WFCS 2024 [News in Industry Activities