Sustained Interest Research Articles

Steam Explosion-Based Method for the Extraction of Cellulose and Lignin from Rice Straw Waste

This paper focuses on the optimisation of an efficient extraction process for cellulose and lignin from rice straw waste from the Albufera of Valencia using the steam explosion method. This method is particularly pertinent given the environmental and economic challenges posed by the current disposal practices of agricultural waste. The technique comprises a high-temperature cooking stage followed by instantaneous decompression, effectively altering the biomass’s physical and chemical properties to enhance its surface area and porosity. Our adaptation of the steam explosion technique specifically addresses the challenges of rice straw waste, marking a significant departure from previous applications. This innovation is crucial in addressing the urgent need for more sustainable waste management practices, as it effectively deconstructs the lignocellulosic matrix of rice straw. This facilitates the selective extraction of cellulose at a 70% efficiency, with a 20% yield and the subsequent recovery of lignin. The results of this study are significant for sustainable biomaterial production, offering novel insights into optimising these crucial biomass components. By refining the process and focusing on critical parameters, our work advances the application of steam explosion methods for agricultural waste, enhancing efficiency and sustainability. By utilising rice straw biowaste, this research not only proposes a solution to a pressing environmental issue but also demonstrates the potential to create new market opportunities, increase the economic value for rice producers, and significantly reduce the environmental footprint of existing waste disposal methods. The holistic and ecological approach of this study underscores the vital need for innovative strategies in agricultural waste management, positioning the valorisation of rice straw waste as a key component in the pursuit of environmental sustainability.

Be the Change You Want to See: Problem-Based Learning to Promote Diversity, Justice, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Sustainability in the Classroom and Workplace

This study presents a problem-based learning (i.e., PBL) assignment to engage students around the areas of diversity, justice, equity, inclusion, belonging (i.e., DEI), and sustainability in the classroom and workplace. The assignment is developed based on the learning objectives of an upper division business course following an outlined three-step process. A pretest-posttest research design with a control group demonstrates that the experiential assignment is effective in enhancing students’ problem-solving skills which, according to employers, recent college graduates need to improve upon. The PBL approach also increases students’ interest in DEI and sustainability so that they want to make a difference in society. While students’ confidence in their preparedness to become a manager decreases over the course of a semester, this loss in confidence is mitigated by students’ active participation in the PBL assignment.

Sustainable Entrepreneurship: The Impact of Corporate Size and Innovation on the Integration of Environmental and Social Responsibility in Business Ventures

Sustainable entrepreneurship, portrayed by the combination of ecological and social obligation in business exercises, has arisen as a groundbreaking power in the contemporary business milieu. The review set out a thorough investigation of the unique parts of maintainable business ventures, especially digging into the vital job of environmental practices in forming corporate reputation. Corporate size is placed as a mediating variable because it takes part in environmental practices and is also directly proportional to the corporate reputation whether it’s negative or positive, while innovation capacity expects the job of a moderating variable because it helps to make environment-friendly goods which help to enhance the corporate size. Because of the heightening worldwide familiarity with natural and social worries, organizations are constrained to reevaluate their systems, mirroring a detectable shift towards sustainability. This change in perspective requires a nearer assessment of the transaction between environmental practices, corporate size, innovation capability, and corporate standing. Utilizing a cross-sectional review strategy inside a quantitative exploration plan, the concentrate deliberately examines the many-sided associations between these factors. The exact discoveries approve the hypothetical establishment, offering observational help for a positive relationship between environmental practices and both corporate reputation and size. Outstandingly, corporate size arises as a middle person, revealing insight into the nuanced effect of hierarchical size on the positive results of manageable drives. These insights not only contribute significantly to academic discourse but also offer practical implications for businesses, policymakers, and specialists. By unraveling the intricate elements crucial to the pursuit of sustainability in the entrepreneurial landscape, this study serves as a valuable resource for informed decision-making, practitioners, and policymakers in the evolving business environment.

Ethical Decision Making and Sustainable Development in Green Washing

The pursuit of sustainability has become a pillar of corporate responsibility in the quickly changing business environment of today. But despite the admirable attempts to embrace eco-friendly behaviors, a disturbing occurrence called "greenwashing" endures. The false representation of a company's environmental activities as more environmentally friendly than they actually are is known as "greenwashing." In this piece, we explore the vital nexus between sustainable development, moral decision-making, and the widespread problem of greenwashing. The foundation of corporate conduct is ethical decision-making, which is based on principles like accountability, respect, justice, and reliability. This paradigm gives company owners the ability to tackle problems fairly and with concern for all parties involved, carefully assessing theiroptions to make moral decisions. In addition to fostering trust, fostering an ethical culture makes ensuring that business

Green banking practices and environmental performance: navigating sustainability in banks.

The growing concerns about global climate change have thrust green banking and green finance into the forefront of discussions. The research suggests that green banking plays a pivotal role in advancing environmental sustainability. This study focuses on examining the profound impact of green banking practices on the environmental performance of banks, with a specific focus on both private and public sector banks operating in India through a survey involving 500 bank employees the study employed partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings highlight various aspects of green banking, encompassing employee-related practices, operational procedures, customer engagement, and policy adherence, and significantly contribute to the promotion of green finance, resulting in substantial positive effects. Moreover, the study underscores the substantial and positive influence of banks' green financing on their environmental performance. Interestingly, the operational features of green banking practices emerged as having a notable impact on banks' environmental performance, whereas aspects related to employees, policies, and customers did not directly and significantly influence environmental performance. The results of the study carry significant policy implications, especially for India's banking sector, in the pursuit of environmental sustainability.

섬 관광의 지속가능성에 관한 연구

Purpose: Achieving a balance between development and conservation for sustainability in island tourism destinations necessitates a profound understanding of tourists' perspectives. This research aims to assess how tourists perceive the social, environmental, and economic sustainability aspects, often referred to as the Triple Bottom Line.
 Methods: Utilizing the Martilla & James Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA), with Deng's modifications, this study focuses on Chinese domestic tourists with experience in Weizhou Island in China. Through convenience sampling, data were collected via online surveys from November 1 to November 7, 2023, resulting in 300 valid responses for final analysis.
 Results: The revised IPA technique revealed that, from the tourist's standpoint, effective management of tourism products and services, especially souvenir prices and transportation costs, at an appropriate level is crucial. Tourists emphasize the need for prioritized attention to achieve this. Furthermore, while tourists generally rate the economic value creation through dominant island tourism positively, concerns arise regarding excessive dependence on tourism in both industry and regional economies.
 Conclusion: This study highlights two key academic implications. Firstly, it emphasizes that although similar factors contribute to the pursuit of sustainability, tourists' evaluations may vary depending on specific attributes. Secondly, evaluating sustainability from the perspective of external stakeholders, such as tourists, holds significance.

The influence of material and color of food packaging on consumers’ perception and consumption willingness

Packaging of food products is currently considered to be one of the most important factors influencing consumers’ perceptions and purchasing behavior. Though there are plenty of studies on packaging, there is still a need for research investigating different packaging factors together within one study. In our online study, each participant was presented with 12 pictures displaying food items from different food categories. The packaging of these items varied in color and material. We assessed their judgments regarding several aspects of the food (e.g., sustainability, healthiness). The results show that food items with cardboard packaging were rated as more sustainable and expensive than the same food items packaged in plastic, while green (vs. original) colored packaged food received higher healthiness ratings. Participants’ willingness to consume the products was primarily predicted by the tastiness ratings (which were not influenced by our packaging variations). Another significant predictor of consumption willingness was the perceived sustainability of the products, while the healthiness ratings were not relevant. Overall, consumers indicated a lower willingness to consume the food products, the more they valued sustainability in food production in general. No interaction of packaging color and material was found indicating that the effects of these factors are independent from one another. The present findings emphasize consumers growing interest in sustainability within the food packaging domain.

Calcium gluconate-based flame retardant towards simultaneously high-efficiency fire safety and mechanical enhancement for epoxy resin

Flame retardants containing biomass receive growing interest in environmental friendliness and sustainability but usually face the low flame-retardant efficiency and deterioration on mechanical property of matrix. Herein, a calcium gluconate-based flame retardant (CG@APP) was chemically prepared using calcium gluconate (CG) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) via ion exchange reaction, and enabled the excellent fire safety and mechanical enhancement for epoxy resin (EP). The resulted EP composites containing 6 wt% CG@APP (EP/CG@APP6) exhibited V-0 ratings in UL-94 test. Furthermore, with respect to EP/APP6, the peak of heat release rate (pHRR) and peak of smoke production rate (pSPR) of EP/CG@APP6 decreased by 70.5 % and 50.0 %, respectively. The well synergistic flame-retardant mechanism of CG@APP between gaseous and solid phases was revealed to generate denser and more continuous charring residuals, which could do well work on insulation for heat transfer and fuel diffusion. In addition, the shell rich in hydroxyl group and Ca2+ on the surface of CG@APP well enhanced the interface compatibility through the hydrogen bond and coordinated bond, thus the tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength of EP/CG@APP6 increased by 18.2 %, 4.5 % and 9.1 % compared with pure EP, respectively. This work provided a simple and sustainable way to construct excellent fire-safety composites.

The contribution of public-private partnership (PPP) to sustainability: governance and managerial implications from a literature review

Purpose Based on the theoretical background of stakeholder capitalism, the purpose of this paper is to contribute to the scientific debate on the topic of public–private partnerships (PPPs), considering in particular how this governance structure relates to the pursuit of sustainable development. Specifically, this objective will be pursued with a focus on stakeholder relations and governance aspects, to highlight enablers and barriers in change for sustainability. Design/methodology/approach The systematic literature review is applied starting with the use of keywords in Web of Science, which leads to the extrapolation of 629 articles on the topic of “PPP and sustainability”. Subsequently, through various skimming steps, 75 papers are sampled. A mixed (quantitative-qualitative) approach is then followed: a co-word semantic network to identify the pattern of discourse and a more in-depth and explanatory analysis of the papers. These quantitative and qualitative tools synergistically work together to evidence the main aspects related to the aim of the paper. Findings With reference to the governance structure and stakeholders of PPPs, the analyses highlight the shift towards a triadic type of relational governance that considers stakeholders (especially the community) in addition to public–private partners. This can improve the partnership's performance (particularly in sustainable development) and social legitimacy. With reference to the role of PPPs in the implementation of sustainable development, they have positive potential in terms of implementing sustainability and raising stakeholder awareness of it. Nevertheless, PPPs may entail risks to the implementation of sustainability. The findings lead to some concluding remarks on future research opportunities. Research limitations/implications The research leads to some managerial implications, such as the need to follow a competitive collaboration approach among stakeholders, to develop relational governance skills and related managerial tools and to incorporate sustainability aspects starting from the design of PPPs. Originality/value The originality aspect of this research is the consideration of a PPP by relating it to the pursuit of sustainability. Such an inter-organizational structure could be suitable to deal with the complexity inherent in the implementation of sustainability and is peculiar in terms of governance and stakeholder relations, considering that it is characterised by the presence of several partners of different nature (public and private).

Research on human-computer interaction and user experience of smart home system

This article aims to present a perceptive summary of cutting-edge home automation systems, exploring basic topics including human-computer interaction, communication technologies, networking protocols, and the fascinating science underlying the industry's most well-known applicationthe robotic vacuum cleaner. Put succinctly, using intelligent sweeping robots in smart homes signifies a significant advancement in machine autonomy and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, integrating renewable energy and grid management solutions with smart home systems will be fueled by the pursuit of sustainability and energy efficiency. Ultimately, exploring the intelligent home system's core has shed light on technology and its revolutionary effects on our day-to-day existence. As we stand on the edge of a better future, the convergence of connection, communication, and interaction invites us to embrace innovation and push what is possible in our personal lives.

Selection of PEG-Matrix Combinations to Achieve High Performance Form-Stable Phase Change Materials for Building Applications

The construction sector’s pursuit of sustainability, driven by growing concerns about climate change and resource depletion, requires innovative solutions to reduce the energy consumption necessary to ensure thermal comfort in buildings. The introduction of phase change materials (PCMs) in construction elements represents an effective solution to these problems. PCMs are, in fact, able to regulate internal temperature by storing and releasing thermal energy during their phase transitions. In particular, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based organic PCMs offer high heat storage capacity, compatibility with building materials, and minimal environmental impact. They are often used in building applications incorporated in an inert matrix, using the “form-stable method”. This article critically examines various matrices proposed in the existing literature to realize PEG-based PCMs, with the aim of analyzing their influence on the final characteristics of any PCM. In addition, an attempt to correlate the quantity of PEG with the heat stored and released by the PCM is presented, using a linear regression model applied to groups of matrices of the same chemical nature. The results of these analyses would, in fact, provide useful indications for an optimal choice of the PEG/matrix system capable of responding to specific application needs, particularly in the building sector.

Mobile health (m-health) smartphone interventions for adolescents and adults with overweight or obesity.

Mobile health (m-health) smartphone interventions for adolescents and adults with overweight or obesity.

Spatiotemporal heterogeneity in ecosystem service trade-offs and their drivers in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, China

ContextUncovering the trade-offs among ecosystem services (ESs) is crucial for enhancing overall ES benefits and human well-being, as well as for improving regional landscape sustainability. However, research on whether relationships among ecosystem service (ES) change across spatial and temporal dimensions has been infrequent, particularly at fine scales.ObjectivesOur study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the trade-off strength and their influencing factors in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain.MethodsIn this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution patterns of four ESs: food provision (FP), soil conservation (SC), carbon sequestration (CS), and water yield (WY) across the years 2000, 2010, and 2020. We utilized root mean square error, automatic linear models and geographically weighted regression to quantify the trade-off strengths among ESs and uncover the primary influences on the spatiotemporal evolution.ResultsThe trade-off strengths including FP_SC and CS_SC, were relatively high, particularly in the southwest region, surpassing 0.5. High-value regions for FP_WY and WY_CS were predominantly concentrated in the north, while WY_SC was mainly located in the south. Spatial heterogeneity was apparent in the factors influencing the trade-off strengths of ESs. NDVI positively influenced the degree of FP_WY in the western region but had a negative impact in the central region. Enhancing landscape configuration to reduce ES trade-offs involves diversifying and adding complexity to the landscape shape in the southwestern areas by adjusting landscape richness and shape. Regarding human activities, economic development would gradually encourage the coordination of FP_SC and FP_WY.ConclusionsOur study suggested that although the trade-offs among ESs may remain constant, the predominant type and intensity of their relationships vary across both space and time. Precipitation and NDVI emerged as the primary factors influencing the strength of ES relationships in this region. This research contributes to balancing the trade-off strengths among ESs and facilitates the pursuit of regional landscape sustainability.

Evolving strategic IS themes

The field of Information Systems continues to change rapidly. The business landscape is being altered by rapid technology development, innovative business models, and a sustained business interest in digital transformation (Marr 2023). This offers an amazing terrain for researchers. We looked back at what was published 20 years ago in JSIS and compared it to current publications. The following pages provide two snapshots of JSIS content during these periods, as well as some reflections on the evolution of research published in JSIS.

Fuzzy decision-making in tourism and hospitality: A bibliometric review

Fuzzy decision-making is increasingly becoming a pivotal approach to solving complex and intricate issues in tourism and hospitality management. The primary objective of this study is to unveil the developmental status, key themes and research trends within fuzzy decision-making in tourism and hospitality management (FDMTH) using Bibliometrix, CorText Manager and VOSviewer tools. As such, we conduct a comprehensive bibliometric and content-wise analysis of selected 341 publications concerning FDMTH. For one thing, we use valuable bibliometric indicators to conduct a general feature peek and performance analysis of the audited corpus. The research findings reveal a sustained scholarly interest in FDMTH. As a critical player, Pappas, Nikolaos leads the volume of publications. The Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems stands out as the preferred outlet for FDMTH research. For another, the contingency matrix and bump graph modules are employed to detect the knowledge flow and intellectual connections in FDMTH. The results of network mapping tentatively identify geographic and thematic biases in FDMTH. More importantly, bibliographic coupling analysis reveals four specific themes, namely multi-criteria decision-making and evaluation, factors identification, fuzzy programming and forecasting, and fuzzy intelligence. Our pioneer work will contribute to the present understanding of the complexity and interdisciplinarity of FDMTH.

Navigating Indian Societal Dynamics: Explorations and Vision

The traditional Aristotelian unities, once confined to the realm of tragedy, now transcend their original context and play a crucial role in contemporary society’s pursuit of inclusivity and sustainability. This paper examines the pressing challenges faced by humanity, as evidenced by reports such as the World Happiness Report and the Global Hunger Index, and emphasizes the urgent need for addressing fundamental human needs. While the debate over human evolution persists, the focus of this study shifts towards the exploration of life’s purpose. By juxtaposing Aristotelian principles with modern paradigms of science, humanity, and society, this research prompts discussions on empathy, human sensitivity, and emotional intelligence. Highlighting the interconnectedness of individual choices and societal impacts, the paper advocates for prioritizing Emotional Intelligence (EI) over the prevalent trend of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to foster deeper societal understanding. In the Indian context, a nation known for its multiculturalism and pluralism, the narrative centers on post-independence India’s journey. Despite the challenges posed by colonial rule, India has emerged as a beacon of inclusivity, championing knowledge sovereignty and celebrating diverse moralities. Embracing the ethos of Indian Swaraj, citizens are positioned as agents of change, driving progress through parallel knowledge systems and advocating for global inclusivity. The forthcoming Presidency of G20 presents an opportunity to promote productive global collaborations and foster peaceful coexistence. Additionally, the paper explores the philosophical underpinnings of Emile Durkheim’s Structural-Functionalism, offering insights into social integration and coherence. It also examines the practical implications of scientific knowledge, highlighting its transformative potential in societal contexts. Ultimately, this discourse serves as a call to action, urging societies to reassess their paradigms, embrace inclusivity, and prioritize emotional intelligence in navigating contemporary challenges. Through proactive engagement and celebration of diverse perspectives, societies can chart a path towards a more equitable and harmonious future.

Deep Learning-Based Managing Disaster with Smart Education in Environmental Sustainability while Avoiding Fake News

Networking continues to increase day by day to invest increasingly our daily, creating a huge volume of various and precise data: it is not easy to collect content, especially in crisis times. We focus on Smart Education proposed as the primary tool of a hybrid of Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN)-Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)-based model to retrieve content efficiently: CNN is used to extract meaningful features from multiple sources, enabling to have qualitative and sure information, notably with an efficient fake news security, and LSTM is used to maintain long-term dependencies in the extracted features with recurrent connections. This model has been compared to previous approaches to the performance of a publicly available dataset to demonstrate its highly satisfactory performance. This new approach makes it possible to integrate artificial intelligence technologies, deep learning, social media, and detecting or avoiding fake news into the crisis management model. It is based on an extension of our previous approach, namely disaster management based on short-term memory and education: this experience constitutes a background for this model. It combines representation training with awareness and education while retrieving pattern information by combining various search results from multiple sources. We have extended it to improve our disaster management model and evaluate it in the case of COVID-19 while obtaining promising results, through past programs and experiences that have shown overwhelmingly positive effects of education for vulnerability reduction and disaster risk management, in the pursuit of Environmental Sustainability

Methods for Risk Reduction: Training and Exercises to Pursue the Planned Evacuation

Natural and anthropic disasters produce relevant economic and environmental losses at a global level. Many countries have adopted a risk management cycle to limit these losses. Agenda 2030 defined specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and relative targets dedicated to disaster risk reduction. Planned actions can pertain to the context “before” or “after” a disastrous event. The United Nations recommend a risk-informed approach for achieving the SDGs by working on anticipation and prevention. Planning with training and exercises, referring to transport systems in emergency conditions, can limit disaster impacts and strongly support the pursuit of sustainability. This research focuses on actions and methodologies for increasing preparedness levels “before” a disastrous event, to improve the capabilities of managers and people by increasing awareness of the effects of planned actions. Transport system models (TSMs) play an important role in simulating the evacuation of people to reduce theoretical risk, thereby reducing theoretical exposure. In this work, a method is presented that allows us to investigate how this theoretical reduction can become effective, through training and exercises. The paper proposes a general framework of training and exercises for risk reduction based on a given transportation planning model. The framework supports ex ante evaluations of exposure reduction produced by an evacuation plan. The obtained results show that the effectiveness of the planned actions increases with different levels of exercise implementation. The progressive implementation of exercises contributes to achieving the risk reductions estimated at the evacuation planning stage. The TSM in the mitigation phase is the basis for the development of specific quantitative evacuation plans, that must be implemented in the preparedness phase by means of training and exercises to test the planned actions in terms of reducing the exposure risk component. Some exercises implemented worldwide verify the proposed framework by means of some empirical evidence. The results and discussions reported in this paper can be useful for researchers, decisionmakers, and society by offering a contribution to the growing knowledge about risk and the potential actions and their relative effects on reducing it.

Green Human Resource Management as a Catalyst for Sustainable Performance: Unveiling the Role of Green Innovations

Green human resource management (GHRM) has emerged as an essential strategy for achieving environmental sustainability within organizations. However, there remains a significant gap in understanding its direct impact on sustainable performance. This study seeks to address these gaps by investigating the relationship between GHRM and sustainable performance, with a focus on the mediating role of green innovation and the moderating influence of transformational leadership. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to explore the interrelationships between green HRM, green process and product innovation, sustainability, and the role of sustainable leadership. The study’s findings reveal a positive and significant relationship between green HRM practices and sustainability, encompassing environmental, economic, and social aspects. The findings suggest that management support for environmental initiatives is a critical factor in enhancing the effectiveness and spread of green innovations, emphasizing the importance of GHM in the broader context of organizational change and sustainability. In addition, the study underscores the critical role of transformative leadership in fostering sustainable practices, particularly the significant moderator role of responsible leadership in driving sustainable business practices. In summary, this study provides a roadmap for businesses, particularly SMEs, to leverage HGRM as a strategic tool in their pursuit of sustainability.

Research Perspectives on Buildings’ Sustainability after COVID-19: Literature Review and Analysis of Changes

The concept of sustainability introduced in 1987 has characterised the world of research in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) sector, directing it to try to tackle the problems inherent to the impacts of climate change on buildings. In addition, the advent of COVID-19, disrupting the world and people’s habits, has obviously also strongly affected the academic world. Indeed, this paper aims to analyse the changes and differences between the pre- and post-pandemic periods through a two-stage hybrid literature review. First, through a systematic literature review, 90 articles were selected, filtered through different keywords (sustainability, climate, architecture, and buildings). Once the reasoned selection of papers had been made, it was possible to proceed to the second phase, which involved a thematic analysis according to the three classic macro themes of sustainability (Environment, Social, and Economic) and the inclusion of a fourth macro theme (Management and Development), which made it possible to reintroduce a holistic view of the problem. The results of this literature review revealed the presence of a growing interest in the topic analysed and a more homogenous distribution across all continents, with no distinction between developed and developing countries. Economic sustainability interests emerge post-COVID-19 through the deepening of the themes of clean energy and direct control of consumption. At the level of Environmental sustainability, on the other hand, COVID-19 replaced the house at the centre of people’s lives. In addition, the Management and Development macro theme highlighted the need for an integrated view of the problem and the unexpected return of researchers preferring new constructions, which, despite alternative green approaches and renovations, can guarantee better performance.