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Goal 4 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) concerns inclusive, equitable quality education and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all. Libraries excel at early-education offerings and lifelong or recreational learning. However, less prevalent is support for the "middle"—adults with higher education aspirations. An educated workforce supports an information-resilient society, yet individuals in rural communities experience informational barriers and underrepresent degree holders. This research examines the provision of college planning programs and information in central Appalachia through a content analysis of 89 public library websites. Though the region enjoys a close-knit connectedness that could place libraries at the forefront of degree attainment and information resilience, findings suggest there is much room for improvement if the libraries aim to support goal 4 as related to postsecondary education. This research is relevant to audiences worldwide as postsecondary education has been shown to impact economic development in international lower-income contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document titled "Green Chemistry" published by the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2024 showcases cutting-edge research in the field of green chemistry for a sustainable future. The contents include editorial pieces, critical reviews, tutorial reviews, communications, and papers covering various topics such as biomass-derived molecules, clean production, and chemical recycling. The journal aims to advance scientific knowledge and promote environmentally friendly practices in the chemical sciences. [Extracted from the article]

Organic electrochemical synthesis, a sustainable alternative to traditional organic synthesis, faces challenges in practical applications, such as limited current density, difficulty in recycling homogeneous electrochemical mediators, and large waste supporting electrolyte generation. In this work, we addressed these challenges by proposing a tandem electrochemical–chemical catalysis strategy, using selective alcohol electrooxidation to valuable aldehydes as a model transformation. Hypochlorite electro-generation and heterogeneous TEMPO-catalyzed alcohol oxidation were decoupled spatially, allowing each step to proceed independently under high rates and selectivity. Consequently, this strategy achieved industrially relevant current densities of 300–600 mA cm−2 with 64.7–81.8% faradaic efficiencies, resulting in a space–time yield (STY) of up to 516.95 kg (m3 h)−1 for benzaldehyde synthesis that significantly surpassed existing strategies. In addition, this strategy utilized the silica-supported TEMPO catalyst filled in a packed-bed reactor to achieve efficient single-pass conversion of alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes without the need for downstream catalyst separation, substantially reducing energy consumption for downstream separation. Furthermore, we developed a closed-loop tandem electrochemical–chemical catalysis system for gram-scale steroidal aldehyde synthesis, which incorporated an inline liquid–liquid separator for electrolyte recycling, thus significantly reducing the supporting electrolyte waste generation, which aligns with the principles of green chemistry and sustainable development. This work demonstrates a viable approach for the electrosynthesis of value-added organic intermediates under practical current densities with minimal waste electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-Hydroxymethyl furfurals (HMF) is one of the versatile platform chemicals. However, green routes to produce it directly from lignocellulosic biomass are lacking. A significant amount of HMF produced during the hydrothermal valorization of lignocellulosic biomass is considered undesired and ends up in a waste stream. The study transformed the undesired byproduct into a valuable coproduct by advancing the existing biofuel production process. A detailed economic and environmental sustainability analysis of the integrated biorefinery design was performed. The evaluation showed that the biorefinery could afford a maximum feedstock purchasing price of $115.17 per MT and produce HMF with a minimum selling price of $4.54 per kg which is ∼75% lower than the commercial price of HMF. The median global warming potential of HMF was estimated to be 3.92 kg CO2-eq. per kg HMF which was ∼32% less than its counterpart bio-based p-xylene. Diverse coproducts produced in the biorefinery using transgenic feedstock positively impacted sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PET chemical upcycling is essential for advancing sustainable development and a circular economy, while also presenting a dependable option to produce value-added chemicals. Herein, we report a boronic acid involved EG valorization strategy for the upgradation of waste PET into DMT and diverse boronic esters under metal-free conditions without protodeboronation of boronic acids. Based on the remarkable catalytic performance of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIm][OAc]) both in PET methanolysis and p-tolylboronic acid esterification, this method achieves complete PET degradation, resulting in 99% yield of DMT and 98% yield of 2-(p-tolyl)-1,3,2-dioxaborolane (PTDB). This approach not only preserves the high DMT yield in various waste PET and other polyester treatment processes, but also facilitates the transformation of EG into a variety of aryl, heterocyclic, and alkyl boronic esters. The 1H NMR and FT-IR results confirmed that the hydrogen-bonding interaction between [EMIm][OAc] and reactants (PET, EG, and MeOH) enhances both PET methanolysis and boronic acid esterification processes. This method underscores its applicability for upcycling a variety of discarded polyesters and polycarbonates. The conversion of PTDB into other valuable chemicals (phenols, amines, and biaryl compounds) further illustrates the practical utility of this approach in PET disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of sustainable development is driving shell biorefineries to develop a cost-effective and environmentally benign approach to transform chitin into high-value products. This study describes a green, simple, and flexible shell biorefinery process for producing two kinds of nanochitins (NCh), chitin solid residues (ChSRs) and chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs), by using p-toluenesulfonic acid-assisted hydrothermal treatment. The ChSR is a bundled nanocrystal with a long length ranging from 100 nm to 450 nm and a width ranging from 10 nm to 30 nm. It has an excellent interfacial behavior between the water and oil phases due to its amphiphilic nature; thus, a foodstuff-related emulsion has been successfully fabricated from soybean oil and a ChSR suspension without the addition of any synthetic surfactants. The further hydrolysed ChNC with a length and width range of 25–225 nm and 15–30 nm, respectively, and a high zeta potential of 41 mV exists as an individual nanocrystal. Owing to the abundance of positively charged groups distributed on its surface, ChNC enables self-assembly to a highly ordered hierarchical structure. Hence, ChNCs show promising results in fabricating large-area photonic films, e.g. for application in bright and vivid automobile painting. Altogether, we provide a novel approach to produce NCh materials from crustacean shell waste and bridge the gap from process engineering to high-value product development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ohmic heating (OH) is a volumetric heating technique which emerged as an alternative to conventional heating in numerous sectors. Ohmic assisted extraction provides a potential approach to extract the valuable compounds from botanical origin and to get beyond the drawbacks of traditional extraction techniques. This novel technique proffers advantages such as increasing extraction efficiency, saving energy and time and remarkably enhances the quantity of heat labile and other bioactive compounds in the plant extracts. The present study provides a detailed overview of the applications of ohmic technology for extracting various compounds including essential oils, pectin, inulin, colors, juices and other bioactive substances from plant materials in comparison to conventional extractions. The principle of OH along with the factors affecting its functioning during extraction are outlined. The effects of this technique on the processing temperature, time, energy consumption, yield, and quantity of bioactive compounds in the extracts are discussed. Advantages of ohmic assisted extraction over conventional extraction techniques include high energy efficiency, short processing period, high extraction yield and better extract quality in terms of quantity of bioactive compounds and functional properties. Further research on safety and sustainability along with economic study are prerequisites for commercial application of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of agricultural lands is crucial for sustainable development in rural areas. In this paper, an augmented model that utilizes multimodal satellite-based data samples for identifying agricultural lands via incremental learning. The Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) is used for augmenting collected images and data samples to enhance the accuracy of the model under real-time conditions. To identify agricultural lands, Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are trained on the augmented data samples. Additionally, the incorporation of Q-Learning for continuous optimization of the model to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness in identifying agricultural lands. The proposed model offers many edges over existing methods. Firstly, the use of multimodal satellite-based data samples allows for a comprehensive and accurate analysis of agricultural lands. Secondly, the incorporation of the Whale Optimization Algorithm enables the augmentation of collected data samples, leading to improved accuracy and reliability of the model. Thirdly, Deep CNNs allows the extraction of complex features from the data, leading to more accurate identification of agricultural lands. Finally, the use of Q-Learning ensures that the model is continuously optimized to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. The need for this work arises from the limitations of existing methods in accurately identifying agricultural lands. Traditional methods based on manual surveys and visual interpretation are time-consuming, expensive, and prone to errors. Moreover, existing automated methods often lack the ability to analyse multimodal satellite-based data samples and fail to provide accurate results. Based on these observations, the proposed augmented model offers a promising solution for identifying agricultural lands for sustainable development. The use of multimodal satellite-based data samples, WOA, Deep CNNs, and Q-Learning allows for an accurate and efficient analysis of agricultural lands, which can aid in sustainable development planning and decision-making operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dialogues between ecological wisdom across the East and the West contribute to generating unorthodox education, improving cross-cultural ecopedagogical praxis, and reinforcing education for sustainable development (ESD). In this article, Chinese Daoism and Norwegian Naessian ecosophy are compared and integrated to form an intercultural ecopedagogy. Indigenous Daoist wisdom entails profound ecopedagogical implications in learning from nature, human-nature reciprocity, and spontaneous, altruistic, and harmonious modes of action. Moreover, the cosmo-metaphysical notion of qi (氣) implies an alternative ecopedagogy that may empower learners to consolidate psychosomatic learning and embody human-nature oneness. Correspondingly, Arne Naess' life philosophy promotes ecocentric living and education that underline experiential relations, non-violent symbiosis, and activeness in sensing and feeling. Naess' postulation on subjective aesthetical identification with nature can be seen as one sensible complement to objective scientific knowledge of the ecosystem, facilitating individuals' holistic and personally meaningful formation of be(com)ing ecocitizens. The reciprocity of Lao Zhuang's and Naess' ecological wisdom is argued to shed new light on theories and practices of ecopedagogy and combat dualism and anthropocentrism cross-culturally and innovatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development assessments in hydrographic sub-basins are powerful tools used to guide stakeholders. However, there remains a gap in incorporating new indicators (e.g., biodiversity indicators) into sustainability indexes, which have generally underestimated the environmental dimension. We propose an update to these indexes by incorporating biodiversity data on hydrographic sub-basins. Our goal was to introduce a new ecological sustainability index for hydrographic sub-basins (ESI-sb) that utilizes aquatic ecological indicators. We selected 16 indicators and aggregated them into four sustainability dimensions: economic, social, eco-environmental and negative environmental. We used a multi-criteria analysis based on the analysis hierarchy process (AHP) method to catch stakeholders' importance level of each indicator. The ESI-sb was calculated using the weighted average between the sub-indexes that represent the dimensions. Finally, we applied Gi* statistics to identify the ecological sustainability hotspots and coldspots regions, and the results showed in the Serra do Mar region, the southern region, and the Federal District had high ecological sustainability values; meanwhile, the hydrographic sub-basins that formed the coldspot clusters were located in the western region of the Upper Paraná River basin. The incorporation of aquatic biodiversity data into the index represents an innovation in sustainability indexes recently proposed to hydrographic sub-basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current agricultural production systems face challenges of poor economic returns, soil fatigue and negative environmental outcomes from excess use of nitrogenous fertilizers, especially in wheat production under middle gangetic plains. To overcome these challenges, the current study was conducted to optimize nitrogen management in different wheat genotypes with precision nitrogen management tools and approaches. The field experiment was laid out in split-plot design, with three genotypes assigned to the main plot and six nitrogen management practices to the sub-plot. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture, with low levels of organic carbon and available nitrogen, and medium levels of available phosphorus and potassium. Results revealed that the HD-2967 genotype outperformed others in terms of growth, grain yield (4.7 and 4.81 t ha−1), gross return (1417.41 and 1505.48 US$ ha−1), net return (953.43 and 1019.76 US$ ha−1), and B-C ratio (2.04 and 2.08) in 2015-16 and 2016-17, respectively. Among the nitrogen management practices, application of 150 kg N ha−1 in three equal splits demonstrated improved crop growth, grain yield (4.7 and 4.81 t ha−1), and economic returns (gross return, 1500.40 and 1607.65 US$ ha−1, net return, 1025.40 and 1110.38 US$ ha−1 and B: C ratio, 2.17 and 2.23) in 2015-16 and 2016-17, respectively. However, it resulted in higher nitrogen losses. Green seeker guided N application significantly reduced apparent nitrogen losses compared to all other nitrogen applied treatments. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing wheat production by selecting appropriate genotypes and implementing precision nitrogen management techniques to enhance yield, profitability, and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 1. Food packaging waste is one of the main contributors to global environmental changes. • 2. Quality of recycled packaging materials is a threat to circular economy. • 3. Recycling method selection depends on the composition and nature of recyclate. • 4. Quality of recycled materials can be evaluated by using analytical methods. • 5. Migration analysis should be done to evaluate recycled material safety. Food packaging waste significantly impacts global environmental changes, prompting the adoption of a green circular economy approach. Recycling packaging waste is a critical element of this strategy. However, it faces challenges related to the quality of recycled materials and concerns about their safety. Thus, this review aimed to highlight different analytical methods alone or in combination to evaluate the quality of the recycled material. Furthermore, the safety and health aspects related to the migration of contaminants and their relevant regulations have also been discussed. An important parameter while selecting an appropriate recycling method is the composition and nature of the recyclate, for instance, HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene), PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), and PP (Polypropylene) materials can be recycled using mechanical and chemical recycling, however, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) and PS (Polystyrene) present challenges during mechanical recycling due to lower molecular weight and complex compositions, thus are often downcycled into lower-grade products. Still, recycled papers can be more problematic than recycled plastics due to the nature of the materials and the impact of recycling. The literature review suggested that three quality properties i.e., presence of low molecular weight compounds, degree of degradation, and composition should be analyzed by using different spectroscopic, thermo-mechanical, and chromatographic techniques to obtain a detailed understanding of recycled material quality. Furthermore, recycling should be done in such a way that the migration of contaminants should be lower than the migratory limits set by the relevant authorities to avoid any toxicological effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation is the source of economic growth. Innovation in a region comes from its own knowledge creation and knowledge spillovers from other regions. Previous studies showed that R&D factors flow benefits knowledge spillover, thereby promoting economic growth. But these studies ignored the impact of a region's knowledge-absorptive capacity on knowledge spillovers. Ignoring the impact of regional absorptive capacity means that the knowledge spillover from the same R&D factors flow is the same, clearly inconsistent with reality. This thesis analyzes the impact of R&D factors flow on economic growth and explores the moderating effect of regional absorptive capacity on the relationship between R&D factors flow and economic growth from theoretical and empirical perspectives. First, we construct a knowledge creation and diffusion model of the new economic geography, including regional absorptive capacity, and analyze the theoretical logic of the flow of R&D factors and regional absorptive capacity influencing economic growth. Second, we employ spatial econometric models to examine the impact of R&D factors flow and regional absorptive capacity on economic growth, utilizing panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2008 to 2021. The results demonstrated a spatial positive correlation between regional economic growth in China. The R&D factors flow could have significantly promoted not just a region's direct economic growth, but also the economic growth of surrounding regions via spatial spillover effects. Furthermore, the stronger the regional absorptive capacity, the greater the direct effects and spatial spillover effects of the R&D factors flow on economic growth. The novelty of this article is to introduce regional absorptive capacity into the theoretical model, refine the methodology for assessing regional absorptive capacity in empirical research, and examine its moderating effect between the inflow of R&D factors and regional economic growth. This article reveals that the positive impact of the inflow of R&D factors on spatial spillovers and economic growth varies depending on regional absorptive capacity. According to the conclusions above, enhancing regional absorptive capacity is equally important as facilitating the flow of R&D factors. Therefore, it is vital for a region to strengthen its absorptive capacity for new knowledge while promoting R&D factors flow. The study provides valuable policy insights for accelerating the flow of innovation factors, enhancing regional absorptive capacity, and consequently promoting long-term sustainable economic development in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern construction methods, such as additive manufacturing, are aimed to enhance the efficiency and quality of construction processes while potentially reducing waste generation and material use, thus contributing to sustainability performance (SP). However, comprehensively understanding the sustainability trade‐offs associated with these methods is crucial for guiding both research and practical applications toward sustainable development. This study aims at quantifying the SP of various construction methods for housing, including traditional, prefabricated, and additive manufacturing approaches. A sustainability index, integrating economic, environmental, social, and technological criteria, is utilized to assess different alternatives. Findings reveal promising aspects of 3D printing technologies, such as potential cost reductions through scale increase and process optimization, minimized material waste generation, creation of skilled employment opportunities, and enhanced construction flexibility and ease. Nevertheless, challenges persist, notably significant greenhouse gas emissions and limited supplier availability. Addressing these challenges is imperative for advancing the sustainable implementation of additive manufacturing in construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using methods such as Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and content analysis, this paper does a comprehensive analysis of Anatolia‘s contributions to tourism and hospitality research over the last 27 years, analyzing publishing trends, regional distribution, and topic evolution. The results show a significant increase in worldwide contributions, covering 92 nations, and an interdisciplinary strategy in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) 11. Important subject clusters are identified by the study, underscoring the journal’s growing influence and its part in determining the course of future research. Through the identification of emergent topics, the study highlights Anatolia‘s engagement in varied topics and offers a strategic framework for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces an education for sustainable development (ESD) framework and professional development system called Teaching for Sustainability and Altruism through Project-Based Learning (SAPBL). The framework conceptualizes how a global moral identity develops through project-based pedagogy. The SAPBL framework fosters sustainability citizenship and altruistic living by empowering learners, starting in early childhood, to engage with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals in their local context. A qualitative case study is presented to describe how early childhood teachers from the U.S. and China completed the SAPBL course and implemented this approach to ESD with their students. Teachers reported increased confidence to facilitate sustainability projects, greater ability to connect curricula to societal issues, increased examination of local-to-global challenges by students, and students’ increased action to improve their world. Preparing students for global citizenship can start in preschool by motivating young children to act sustainably and altruistically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite recognized need and reasonable demand, health systems and rehabilitation communities keep working in silos, independently with minimal recognition to the issues of those who require rehabilitation services. Consolidated effort by health systems and rehabilitation parties, recognizing the value, power and promise of each other, is a need of the hour to address this growing issue of public health importance. In this paper, the importance and the need for integration of rehabilitation into health system is emphasized. The efforts being made to integrate rehabilitation into health systems and the potential challenges in integration of these efforts were discussed. Finally, the strategies and benefits of integrating rehabilitation in health systems worldwide is proposed. Health policy and systems research (HPSR) brings a number of assets that may assist in addressing the obstacles discussed above to universal coverage of rehabilitation. It seeks to understand and improve how societies organize themselves to achieve collective health goals; considers links between health systems and social determinants of health; and how different actors interact in policy and implementation processes. This multidisciplinary lens is essential for evidence and learning that might overcome the obstacles to the provision of rehabilitation services, including integration into health systems. Health systems around the world can no longer afford to ignore rehabilitation needs of their populations and the World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution marked a global call to this effect. Therefore, national governments and global health community must invest in setting a priority research agenda and promote the integration of rehabilitation into health systems. The context-specific, need-based and policy-relevant knowledge about this must be made available globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This could help integrate and implement rehabilitation in health systems of countries worldwide and also help achieve the targets of Rehabilitation 2030, universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating how human disturbance affects the ecosystem service scarcity value (ESSV) is crucial for maintaining ecosystem stability and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study separately assessed ESSV and human disturbance in Guangxi from 1990 to 2020, revealing their spatiotemporal distribution differences over time. The environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) is used to analyze the interrelationship between the two, with the purpose of filling the gap in current research. The main results are as follows: (1) From 1990 to 2020, ESSV in Guangxi increased significantly and reached its highest value in 2020. Under the four scenarios, ESSV increased significantly in Scenarios 2 and 4. Spatially, high ESSV was mainly distributed in some cities in central, southern, western and northeastern Guangxi. (2) The index of human disturbance in Guangxi continued to increase during the study period, with a high level of human disturbance in the central urban area and a low level of human disturbance in the peripheral areas, which were distributed in a radial pattern. (3) According to the EKC, the relationship between ESSV and human disturbance in Guangxi followed an inverted N-shaped curve. In addition, after 2010, the coupling and coordination level was dominated by "slightly balanced development", and the area of "ESSV significantly lagged" gradually increased. This study provides a new perspective for understanding ESSV and its relationship with human disturbances, and provides an important reference for the sustainable management of ecosystems and the formulation of ecological conservation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic growth has brought about escalating environmental challenges. The purist of socioeconomic and environmental coordination necessitates a deep understanding of their interplay. Therefore, a game theory stepwise-cluster factorial coupling coordination model (GSFCM) has been developed to investigate the spatial and temporal patterns and driving forces of socioeconomic and environmental coordination in the Yangtze River Delta Region. Results reveal an upward in socioeconomic and environmental status from 2015 to 2020. All 41 cities in the region show progress towards coordination, coupled with spatial inequalities. Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Zhoushan demonstrate the highest coupling coordination degree (CCD), while Bozhou, Suzhou, and Fuyang located in Anhui exhibit the lowest levels. Socioeconomic factors contribute 82.98% to the enhancement of CCD, environmental factors contribute 11.05%, and their interaction accounts for 5.92%. Main drivers influencing CCD include Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, the proportion of the added value of tertiary industry, PM2.5 concentration, and their interactions. Policy related to regional collaboration, industrial upgrades, and investment in environmental infrastructure are recomended to achieve a harmonious balance between economic growth and environmental protection. These insights are expected to support policy decisions in sustainable development of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving farmer cooperatives' operating performance is essential for their economic sustainability and for promoting sustainable agricultural development. Despite the prominent role of benefit distribution and asset specificity in cooperation organizations, their impact on performance remains controversial, and the relationship between the three is unclear. This study focuses on cooperative benefit distribution in terms of their rebates (first and second rebates) and investigates the relationship between asset specificity, cooperative rebate and operating performance. The results show that both the first and second rebates have a positive impact on operating performance and play substitutive roles in increasing operating performance. Physical asset specificity (PAS) impacts first rebates positively, whereas human asset specificity (HAS) impacts first rebates negatively. PAS has a positive effect on operating performance whereas HAS has no significant influence on operating performance. Furthermore, the first rebate mediates the relationship between PAS and operating performance and suppresses the relationship between HAS and operating performance. These findings provide support for developing relevant policies to improve cooperative performance and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relentless devastating impacts of global warming and other climate change effects leading to incessant ecological damages have compelled governments across the globe to rethink the pattern of natural resource depletion. This has motivated policymakers, governments, international organizations, and research pundits alike to advocate for a transition to sustainable consumption and production of natural resources. Consequently, there is a growing call for sustainable production and consumption practices, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG‐12). This research probes how natural resource production and consumption facilitate or hinder environmental sustainability in G7 economies from 1996 to 2020. The empirical evidence incorporates green energy, green technology, green finance, environmental tax, financial development, economic growth, and population as control variables within the STIRPAT theoretical framework. Second‐generation estimating techniques are utilized for empirical verification. An outstanding contribution of this study among others is the estimation of the moderating effects of green energy in mitigating the ensuing impact of natural resources on environmental sustainability. The results indicate that both production and consumption of natural resources, particularly coal and oil negatively affect environmental sustainability. Furthermore, green technology, energy, and finance as well as environmental tax are found to play a crucial role in promoting environmental sustainability. Green technology plays significant part in subduing the deteriorating effects of natural resources on the ecosystem. The robustness analyses further buttress the main analyses. Policy recommendations are proposed based on the empirical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

D-allulose, a naturally occurring monosaccharide, is present in small quantities in nature. It is considered a valuable low-calorie sweetener due to its low absorption in the digestive tract and zero energy for growth. Most of the recent efforts to produce D-allulose have focused on in vitro enzyme catalysis. However, microbial fermentation is emerging as a promising alternative that offers the advantage of combining enzyme manufacturing and product synthesis within a single bioreactor. Here, a novel approach was proposed for the efficient biosynthesis of D-allulose from glycerol using metabolically engineered Escherichia coli. FbaA, Fbp, AlsE, and A6PP were used to construct the D-allulose synthesis pathway. Subsequently, PfkA, PfkB, and Pgi were disrupted to block the entry of the intermediate fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) into the Embden−Meyerhof−Parnas (EMP) and pentose phosphate (PP) pathways. Additionally, GalE and FryA were inactivated to reduce D-allulose consumption by the cells. Finally, a fed-batch fermentation process was implemented to optimize the performance of the cell factory. As a result, the titer of D-allulose reached 7.02 g/L with a maximum yield of 0.287 g/g. • Design of a synthesis pathway capable of producing only D-allulose from glycerol. • Enhancing cell factory performance by gene knockout and fermentation optimization. • Substrate conversion was dramatically increased compared to Izumoring epimerization. • Using glycerol rather than hexoses theoretically facilitates product purification. • Development of a green route that is widely applicable to synthesizing rare sugars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural solid waste (RSW) exhibits distinct characteristics compared to municipal solid waste (MSW), such as dispersed distribution, long governance chains, and low recycling value, making it unsuitable to apply the same management measures as MSW. Government-led RSW management results in excessive administrative costs, and the inherent characteristics of RSW reduce market enthusiasm for its management. To address these issues, this paper integrates the " multi-subject governance " model with RSW management and establishes a systematic evaluation index system for RSW governance. Utilizing the Best-Worst Method (BWM), key factors were identified. Utilizing the VIKOR method, representative provinces in China were used as case studies to validate the scientific nature of the evaluation indices. The research findings indicate that the multi-subject governance model is an effective approach for RSW management. Key factors influencing RSW management effectiveness include various governmental measures, waste sorting, and a long-term multi-subject governance mechanism. Case analysis reveals a strong correlation between the level of economic development and the effectiveness of RSW management. However, constructing a government-led, multi-subject collaborative urban-rural interconnected RSW management model can effectively address RSW management issues in economically underdeveloped areas. This research provides innovative solutions for RSW management, contributing to high-quality and sustainable development in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sustainability science has become a crucial aspect of interdisciplinary research aimed at finding practical solutions and driving lasting change. This article examines the challenges facing sustainability science to move beyond the analysis of problems within interconnected systems and critically evaluate the interplay of social, political, and technological factors in the application of knowledge to action. Results: The study highlights the influence of innovation implemented by companies on their sustainability performance, the establishment of innovations that positively affect sustainability performance, and analyzes the youth and local community perspectives on scientific innovations for a sustainable future. Conclusions: The main conclusion is that sustainable development needs to focus on four areas of research: the impact of values ​​on research and decisions; community perspectives on sustainability; fostering socio-technical progress; and promoting learning for sustainable development. By decoding science, positive change can be achieved through the implementation of strategies such as transparency, understandability, and openness to scientific knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is closely related to commercial banks' promotion of "dual-carbon" goals and the concept of sustainable development. The impact of ESG performance on commercial banks' support for green innovation remains an issue for in-depth study. This paper studies 36 Chinese commercial banks in China from 2010 to 2021 and finds that the ESG performance of commercial banks can promote green innovation, and this promotion is more obvious when bank remuneration incentives are effective. Meanwhile, this paper verifies the mediating role of the non-performing loan ratio and the Lerner index in it, which provides channel support for ESG to effectively promote green innovation development. This study enriches the existing literature on environmental, social, and governance performance and green innovation in commercial banks and provides new perspectives and directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Since the 2000s, rural elites have engaged in ‘greening’ the Amazon extractive frontier. Private and state‐led initiatives have consolidated the agro‐industrial system by incentivizing compliance and effectively legalizing deforestation. Brazil's Rural Environmental Registry (Cadastro Ambiental Rural — CAR) is fundamental to ‘sustainable producer’ initiatives and international and local carbon markets. Since its emergence at the end of the 1990s, it has been funded and promoted by European countries and the World Bank through the G7 Pilot Programme for the Conservation of Brazilian Rainforests and the Amazon Fund. This analysis draws on a critical political economy approach and several years of multi‐site interviews, participant observation and archival research to illuminate how donor and recipient agencies have sustained territorial and georeferencing technologies as an international state project to enable the green economy, despite political shifts and the inherent contradictions of this instrument. The article shows how ecological modernization technologies enable the ‘greening’ of agro‐industry expansion while exacerbating land conflicts and marginalizing Indigenous and traditional peoples’ collective land rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creating decent work is among the priority issues for sustainable employment and development. This study aimed to determine the effect levels of the International Labour Organization (ILO) decent work criteria by augmenting nine indicators in the ILO manual to 12 criteria through a comprehensive literature review. Fuzzy DEMATEL, a multi-criteria decision-making method, has been preferred in this context. According to the analysis results of the study, the most heavily ranked criteria are ‘healthy workplace environment’, ‘decent working hours’ and ‘safe working conditions’ respectively, which contribute to the decent work concept. Further, ‘balance between work–family–personal life’ has been found the most affected criterion, while ‘education and training system’ has been the most affecting. Based on the findings, remedial and developing strategies are suggested on issues such as corporate culture, working hours regulation, safe working environment, subordinate–superior relations, social activities and regulations that take family life into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the impact of China's regional emergency logistics response capabilities on economic growth sustainability, this study develops a set of comprehensive indicators. It applies the entropy weight method combined with the TOPSIS method to evaluate these capabilities across regions. Based on panel data from 30 provinces in China from 2012 to 2021, this study employs panel models, panel quantile regression, and panel threshold models to analyze the impact of emergency logistics response capability on sustainable economic growth. By measuring the regional emergency logistics response capability and examining its effects on the sustainability of economic growth, this research provides foreign investors with a clearer understanding of the ability of different regions in China to handle unexpected public incidents. This, in turn, helps reduce investment uncertainty, mitigate certain risks, and offers valuable insights for enhancing the efficiency of international investments in China. Key findings are: (1) Since 2018, the establishment of the Ministry of Emergency Management has significantly improved China's regional emergency logistics capabilities, with the eastern region outperforming the central and western regions. (2) Enhancing China's emergency logistics response capability helps improve the sustainability level of economic growth. This reflects how China's emergency management departments can mitigate the adverse impacts of public emergencies on economic growth by transforming social logistics into emergency logistics. (3) As emergency response capabilities have strengthened, their impact on economic sustainability initially decreased but later increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015 represent the current perceptions of humans regarding understanding and monitoring development. Achieving all 17 goals simultaneously is unrealistic. Considering the interconnected nature of SDGs, identifying their critical dimensions, goals, indicators, and mutual relationships is necessary. In addition, with increasing reservations about the sustainability of SDGs, it is crucial to explore consistency across different dimensions to ensure policy coherence in maximizing synergies and minimizing trade-offs. Our study employed multiple factor analysis (MFA) and hierarchical clustering on principal components (HCPC) to investigate these issues and analyze the results based on the public value (PV) theory. The results indicated that the Human Development Index (HDI) and gross domestic product per capita (GDPP) constitute the first principal component (PC) and are determinants in differentiating country clusters. However, they contradict environmental indicators such as CO2 emissions per capita and ecological footprint gha per person (EFP) and have low synergy with the Happy Planet Index (HPI). Additionally, the relationships between income level, inequality, and environmental quality correspond to a combined Kuznets curve and an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC). Moreover, governance capacity has become increasingly crucial in sustainable development, particularly in the capability to prioritize different PVs in a timely and strategic manner. Finally, despite the novelty of EFP and HPI, they cannot reveal the entire development story. SDGs require embracing more such indicators to enrich the value bases of development and achieve a sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The bioeconomy, an evolving concept promoting sustainable use of renewable biological resources, confronts the challenge of balancing growth and sustainability across sectors like biotechnology, agriculture, and forestry. This study aims to elucidate the bioeconomy's dynamic nature, constructing a comprehensive theoretical model addressing these complexities. Methodology: Through an extensive literature review, foundational elements for this model were identified: defining the core concept, delineating relevant variables, specifying assumptions and parameters, and depicting relationships through equations or diagrams. Special attention was given to integrating Georgescu-Roegen's insights, emphasizing causal links, state variables, measurement scales, and validation plans. Results: The model incorporates Georgescu-Roegen's insights, highlighting the importance of clearly defining the bioeconomy for a comprehensive understanding. The proposed model leverages variables, assumptions, and equations within Georgescu-Roegen's framework, serving as a crucial tool for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. This approach facilitates research structuring, informed decision-making, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Conclusion: By addressing the bioeconomy's evolution, and cross-sectional boundaries, and adopting a broader perspective, this study contributes to policy development for a more sustainable and integrated bioeconomy. Based on empirical knowledge, this model provides not only a solid theoretical framework but also practical guidelines for advancing toward a balanced and resilient bioeconomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolyzing seawater to produce hydrogen is a promising sustainable energy production technology. The current non-precious metal-based hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts demonstrate inadequate catalytic activity and poor stability in seawater electrolyte. Therefore, developing stable and efficient non-precious metal-based HER electrocatalysts is a major challenge for achieving sustainable green energy development. This work reports a multi-component intermetallic catalyst FeCoCuAlMo prepared by arc melting and chemical dealloying methods. The electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance of catalysts with varying atomic ratios (FeCoCu) 20 (Al 70 Mo 30) 80 , (FeCoCu) 30 (Al 70 Mo 30) 70 , (FeCoCu) 40 (Al 70 Mo 30) 60 , and (FeCoCu) 50 (Al 70 Mo 30) 50 in alkaline seawater and alkaline electrolyte was studied. The findings indicate that these catalysts primarily consist of AlMo 3 and (Cu 0.35 Fe 0.35 Co 0.3)Al, among which the dealloyed (FeCoCu) 30 (Al 70 Mo 30) 70 exhibits excellent catalytic activity with overpotentials of 137.54 and 116.91 mV at a current density of 100 mA/cm2 in alkaline seawater and alkaline electrolyte, respectively, outperforming most catalysts. Additionally, it demonstrated long-term stability in alkaline seawater and alkaline electrolyte for 250 and 400 h without significant decay at overpotentials of 236 mV and 276 mV, respectively. This improved performance can be attributed to the unique structure of the multi-component intermetallic compound, which provides good thermodynamic stability and synergistic effects among its constituents, thereby enhancing HER performance. Within this multi-component intermetallic compound, AlMo 3 particles serve as the primary conductive medium to accelerate electron transfer, while (Cu 0.35 Fe 0.35 Co 0.3)Al serves as the main active site, resulting in a stable structure that provides the catalyst with high catalytic activity and good stability. Thus, the (FeCoCu) 30 (Al 70 Mo 30) 70 electrocatalyst is a promising candidate for seawater electrolysis aimed at hydrogen production. [Display omitted] • Intermetallic composed of AlMo 3 , Al 5 CuMo 2 , and (Cu 0.35 Fe 0.35 Co 0.3)Al was prepared. • AlMo 3 and (Cu 0.35 Fe 0.35 Co 0.3)Al provide pathways and active sites for the catalyst. • It exhibited an overpotentials of 137.54 mV at 100 mA/cm2 in alkaline seawater. • The catalyst shows excellent durability at overpotentials of 276 mV for 400 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employment of yeasts as bio-templates to obtain hollow structured microspheres is recognized as a promising strategy in the view of resource utilization and sustainable development. In this study, carbon modified Bi 2 MoO 6 /Bi 2 S 3 hollow microspheres with rich oxygen vacancies were successfully prepared via in situ hydrothermal synthesis instead of removing yeast templates by calcination. As-obtained samples were characterized using SEM, EDS, TEM, XRD, XPS, EPR and UV–vis DRS analysis. It was shown that carbon modified Bi 2 MoO 6 /Bi 2 S 3 hollow microspheres, with a diameter of 2.2 μm, inherited the ellipsoidal shape from primitive yeast templates. In situ hydrothermal synthesis not only resulted in the integration of yeast-derived carbon into the Bi 2 MoO 6 structure through Bi–O–C and Mo–O–C bonds, but also produced oxygen vacancy defects in the sample. Under visible light irradiation, the carbon modified Bi 2 MoO 6 /Bi 2 S 3 photocatalyst exhibited an excellent degradation efficiency, achieving 87.0 % removal of methylene blue (MB) within 100 min. With photoelectric tests and active species trapping experiments, the potential mechanism for the remarkable photocatalytic performance of carbon modified Bi 2 MoO 6 /Bi 2 S 3 was discussed preliminarily. This work explored an economical, simple and feasible approach for the multi-strategy modification of photocatalysts, and provided a new cognition on the versatile application of biological templates in material design and fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, with far‐reaching implications for ecosystems, economies, and societies worldwide. Human capital (HUC) and economic complexity (ECC) "understood as structural transformation toward more sophisticated and knowledge‐based production" can be pivotal in curtailing ecological degradation. In this context, the study explores the intricate relationship between HUC, financial development, financial globalization, gross domestic product, ECC, and ecological footprints from 1995 to 2021. To achieve this objective, advanced econometric estimation methods are employed. The results indicate the presence of cross‐sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity in the dataset. The variables present a mixed order of stationarity, while the Westerlund test indicates the presence of a long‐run equilibrium association. The results from the Method of Moments Quantile regression indicate that ECC posed a positive but insignificant effect in the lower quantile (τ = 0.1–0.25), while negative and significant in the middle (τ = 0.50) and upper quantiles (τ = 0.75–0.90). Moreover, financial globalization negatively and significantly affects ecological footprints through all the quantiles except the lower quantile (τ = 0.1). Financial development, gross domestic product, and HUC enhance environmental degradation by escalating ecological footprints. Based on the results, the study suggested enhancing the ECC and financial globalization, while sustainable utilization of HUC and strict regulations for the financial sector to foster sustainable development in E7 countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on social exchange theory and reasoned action theory, this study aims to investigate the relationships among residents' perceptions, community participation, ecotourism development, and sustainable tourism development. The relationships were examined using the serial mediation model of Hayes (2013). Data were collected from the local people living in Hasan Mountain Culture and Tourism Conservation and Development Area (CTCDA) in Aksaray province of Türkiye (N = 568). The findings show that community participation and ecotourism development serially mediate the effects of residents' perceptions on sustainable tourism development. In the light of the findings, positive residents' perceptions establish the eligible conditions for the strong community participation. Enhanced community participation contributes to ecotourism development, and as a result, ecotourism development promotes sustainable tourism development. This study is the first study in the literature that reveals the relationships between residents' perceptions, community participation, ecotourism development, and sustainable tourism development through the serial mediation model. The current study contributes to the literature by addressing the direct and indirect effects of residents' perceptions on sustainable tourism development. We suggest planners in CTCDAs to pay attention to residents' perceptions and community participation as the weakest link during development processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing concern about the relationship between carbon emissions and trade liberalization. Have carbon emissions been affected by trade liberalization? To what extent has it been affected? To answer this question, we creatively constructed a dataset of Chinese listed companies and its re‐appraisal, using the difference‐in‐difference method to investigate the impact of trade liberalization on carbon emissions at the micro level. Our results show that WTO accession leads to lower carbon emission intensity for Chinese exporters engaged in general trade compared to those engaged in processing trade, which are not directly affected by China's WTO accession. In other words, trade liberalization is beneficial for the reduction of carbon emissions and sustainable development. We also test the robustness of our results. In addition, we decompose the question of how trade liberalization affects companies' carbon emissions into research and development mechanism and productivity mechanism for analysis. Our study refines the model of carbon emission and trade issues by incorporating company import indicators and carbon emission indicators into the company production model. It also has important policy implications. Green trade and reduce carbon emissions should be advocated when developing the economy through trade liberalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abundance of natural resources (NRR) is often regarded as a double‐edged sword, with the potential to promote or hinder sustainable development. Nevertheless, it is imperative to effectively manage the resources to ensure their sustainability and minimize their detrimental economic and environmental effects. Environmental regulations of nations and a structural shift towards more advanced and knowledge‐intensive modes of production can substantially contribute to this objective. Using a holistic index of sustainable development, this study aims to explore the interplay between NRR, economic complexity (ECI), environmental regulations, economic globalization, and sustainable development in 25 European Union (EU) countries from 1995 to 2019. The empirical results from the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MM‐QR) reveal a negative relationship between NRR and sustainable development, supporting the hypothesis of the resource curse. Conversely, the study demonstrates that ECI and environmental regulations drive sustainable development. Furthermore, economic globalization is found to have a detrimental effect on sustainable development. Finally, panel causality results revealed causal links from NRR, ECI, and environmental regulations to sustainable development. Meanwhile, ECI and environmental regulations have a causal impact on NRR. Our key findings lead towards the manifestation and emphasis of the importance of appropriate policies for the sustainable utilization of NRR and, concurrently, underscore the significance of environmental regulations and ECI in the pursuit of sustainable development in EU countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In water electrolysis, the use of an efficient catalyst derived from earth-abundant materials which is cost-effective and stable is essential for the economic sustainability of hydrogen production. A wide range of catalytic materials have been reported upon so far, among which Fe2O3 stands out as one of the most credible candidates in terms of cost and abundance. However, Fe2O3 faces several limitations due to its poor charge transfer properties and catalytic ability; thus, significant modifications are essential for its effective utilization. Considering the future of water electrolysis, this review provides a detailed summary of Fe2O3 materials employed in electrolytic applications with a focus on critically assessing the key electrode modifications that are essential for the materials' utilization as efficient electrocatalysts. With this in mind, Fe2O3 was implemented in a heterojunction/composite, doped, carbon supported, crystal facet tuned system, as well as in metal organic framework (MOF) systems. Furthermore, Fe2O3 was utilized in alkaline, seawater, anion exchange membrane, and solid oxide electrolysis systems. Recently, magnetic field-assisted water electrolysis has also been explored. This comprehensive review highlights the fact that the applicability of Fe2O3 in electrolysis is limited, and hence, intense and strategically focused research is vital for converting Fe2O3 into a commercially viable, cost-effective, and efficient catalyst material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Based on upper echelons theory and social contagion theory, we investigate how environmental leadership affects GIC via green human resource management (GHRM) and examine the moderating role of environmental climate. Design/methodology/approach: We conduct hierarchical regression and use the bootstrap method to analyze the two-waved data from 317 Chinese manufacturers in order to verify the hypotheses. Findings: The results indicate that GHRM mediates the impacts of environmental leadership on green human capital, structural capital and relational capital. In addition, environmental climate strengthens the positive impact of environmental leadership on GHRM. Originality/value: Our study enriches the literature on GIC by uncovering the "black box" between environmental leadership and GIC, providing a logical framework opposite to mainstream GIC research, and expanding the boundary condition for GIC accumulation. This study provides more logical paths for enterprises and governments to increase the accumulation of GIC and promote green intellectual economy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the textile and apparel industry sustainable development implies that companies pursue economic benefits while protecting the environment and fulfilling social responsibilities. Achieving sustainable development in Ethiopia' s textile and apparel industry is not only crucial for the country' s economic growth but also important for safeguarding and enhancing the returns on China' s overseas investments. However the development of Ethiopia' s textile and apparel industry still faces numerous challenges including an incomplete industrial chain severe shortage of upstream raw material supply and low labor quality. These challenges not only individually affect industrial development but also interact with each other increasing the complexity of formulating solutions. Currently research on the sustainable development of Ethiopia's textile and apparel industry is generally limited to one or a few influencing factors with rarely systematical and comprehensive studies on the influencing factors. Although some studies have attempted to adopt a more systematic approach to discuss influencing factors they often approach from the perspective of international investors and fail to fully consider the viewpoints of local experts and government departments resulting in a lack of comprehensive and multiperspective understanding of the industry. More critically existing research lacks in-depth exploration of the interrelationships between influencing factors and the extent and importance of influencing factors on industrial sustainable development. These limitations hinder the identification of key influencing factors which in turn affects the optimization of industrial resource allocation and the formulation of effective development strategies. To explore the interrelationships between influencing factors of sustainable development in Ethiopia' s textile and apparel industry and identify key influencing factors this study first constructs a set of influencing factors based on literature review and semi-structured interview data from 10 senior experts investing or serving in Ethiopia' s textile and apparel industry using the grounded theory method. Next the fuzzy set theory and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory Fuzzy-DEMATEL method are employed to quantitatively identify the key influencing factors of sustainable development in Ethiopia's textile and apparel industry by analyzing the evaluation data of 12 experts and scholars in this field excluding the aforementioned 10 interviewees on the degree of mutual influence between factors. Finally targeted recommendations for the sustainable development of Ethiopia' s textile and apparel industry are provided. This study conducts an in-depth exploration of the interrelationships between influencing factors and the extent and importance of influencing factors on industrial sustainable development based on qualitative and quantitative research data further identifying key influencing factors and formulating targeted development strategies. The results show that the sustainable development of Ethiopia' s textile and apparel industry is constrained by 15 influencing factors across three dimensions enterprises industry and government among which labor productivity infrastructure construction endogenous motivation policy and institutional support and government self-construction are five key influencing factors. Accordingly the key sustainable development strategies for this industry are optimizing production management enhancing employee skills increasing investment in critical infrastructure promoting technological innovation and knowledge transfer establishing sound policies and regulatory mechanisms and improving the professional capabilities and service levels of government officials. Compared to influencing factors identified by other methods the influencing factors identified by this study's method are more systematic and comprehensive. Meanwhile the development strategies discussed based on the identified key influencing factors are more targeted than those in other studies. The research systematically analyzes the complex interrelationships of influencing factors on the sustainable development of Ethiopia's textile and apparel industry through the Fuzzy-DEMATEL method pointing out the direction for further development of the country' s textile and apparel industry and also providing technical reference for identifying influencing factors of sustainable industrial development in other developing countries [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the swift expansion of the electric vehicle industry, the imperative for alternative battery technologies that balance economic feasibility with sustainability has reached unprecedented importance. Herein, we utilized Perovskite-based oxide compounds barium titanate (BaTiO3) and strontium titanate (SrTiO3) nanoparticles as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries from straightforward and standard carbonate-based electrolyte with 10% fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) additive [1M LiPF6 (1:1 EC: DEC) + 10% FEC]. SrTiO3 and BaTiO3 electrodes can deliver a high specific capacity of 80 mA h g−1 at a safe and low average working potential of ≈0.6 V vs. Li/Li+ with excellent high-rate performance with specific capacity of ~90 mA h g−1 at low current density of 20 mA g−1 and specific capacity of ~80 mA h g−1 for over 500 cycles at high current density of 100 mA g−1. Our findings pave the way for the direct utilization of perovskite-type materials as anode materials in Li-ion batteries due to their promising potential for Li+ ion storage. This investigation addresses the escalating market demands in a sustainable manner and opens avenues for the investigation of diverse perovskite oxides as advanced anodes for next-generation metal-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is one of the largest contributors to global waste streams, simultaneously posing significant environmental and resource management challenges. The management of CDW, particularly its potential for energy recovery and industrial symbiosis, has garnered increasing attention as part of a circular economy approach. This comprehensive review explores global practices in CDW management, analysing theoretical developments, technological advancements, and emerging resource recovery and reuse trends. Background: CDW accounts for more than a third of all waste generated in the EU. A wide variety of materials, such as concrete, bricks, wood, glass, metals, and plastics, make it a very un-homogenous waste stream with high potential for material recovery through different approaches. Methods: This review draws on an extensive analysis of scientific literature, case studies, and industry reports to assess current practices in the CDW stream and assessment of the feasibility of energy recovery, industrial symbiosis, and object reconstruction. Results: The originality of the current research is based on a Latvian case study on CDW management that provides valuable insights into household-level practices and progress towards relevant UN SDGs. Conclusions: Various CDW streams have an undeniable potential for valorization through various approaches. Currently, the most common approach is recovery and recycling, although CDW has the potential to broaden its application within the circular economy framework. For instance, industrial symbiosis is a solution that can not only boost the valorization of CDW but also significantly increase material circularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have identified the importance of access to electricity and the socio-economic environment for poverty reduction, but the comprehensive interplay and synergistic relationships between them remain unclear. Using data collected from Myanmar, this study establishes and tests conceptual models to explore the paths from access to electricity and socio-economic environment to capability and income poverty reduction. The results of structural equation modeling show that capability poverty reduction acts as a complete mediator between access to electricity and income poverty reduction, and plays a partial mediating role between socio-economic environment and income poverty reduction. Analysis of fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis demonstrates that lack of electricity is a key barrier impeding poverty alleviation efforts. Moreover, five effective configurations of poverty reduction factors are identified for Myanmar by considering the heterogeneity of different regions. This indicates that individual factors could not ensure a highly effective poverty reduction and different factors need to be appropriately configured for achieving the synergistic effects. These findings contribute to practical insights into poverty reduction policy making and sustainable development for developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the research was to assess Polish rural municipalities' investment activity connected with the development of a low-carbon economy, supported with EU funds in the 2007–2013 and 2014–2020 financial frameworks. The empirical study was based on data from Poland's Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Ministry of Finance, and Statistics Poland, analysed through basic descriptive statistics and a logistic model to identify key factors influencing investment activity. The study showed that the greatest number of agreements on funding were, in fact, signed by rural municipalities in the period under analysis. The predominant measures undertaken during this time were the promotion of renewable energy sources and the improvement in energy efficiency. In the earlier financial framework, low-carbon economy projects in rural areas were more often implemented by municipalities with developing demographic potential, including those characterised by a higher level of enterprise development. In the subsequent financial framework, human capital turned out to be of key importance for the investment activity of rural municipalities. Experience gained from 2007–2013 positively influenced fund absorption in 2014–2020, improving project value, number, and support. The study confirmed that rural municipalities play a vital role in advancing a low-carbon economy, as local actions are key to achieving sustainable development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of green production types such as personalized production and shared manufacturing, which use additive technologies in city multifloor manufacturing clusters (CMFMCs), has led to an increase in last-mile parcel delivery (LMPD) activity. This study investigates the integration of electric vehicles and crowdshipping systems into smart CMMCs to improve urban logistics operations related to the distribution of products to consumers. The aim of this study is to improve the LMPD performance of these integrated systems and to provide alternative solutions for sustainable city logistics using the potential of crowdshipping and vehicle sharing fleets (VSFs) in the city logistics nodes (CLNs) of CMFMCs. The issues presented by the loading–unloading operations and sustainable crowdshipping scenarios for LMPD in CMFMCs are considered. This paper presents a new performance evaluation model for crowdshipping LMPD in CMFMCs using VSFs. The case study shows that the proposed model enables the analysis of LMPD performance in CMFMCs, taking into account their finite production capacity, and that it facilitates the planning of cargo turnover and the structure of VSFs consisting of e-bicycles, e-cars, and e-light commercial vehicles (e-LCVs). The model is verified based on a case study for sustainable LMPD scenarios using VSFs. The proposed model enables the planning of both short- and long-term logistics operations with the specified performance indicator of VSF usage in CMFMCs. The validity of using the integrated potential of crowdshipping and vehicle sharing services for LMPD under demand uncertainty in CMFMCs is discussed. This study should prove useful for decision-making and planning processes related to LMPD in CMFMCs and large cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces constitute a vital component of the ecosystem. This study focused on urban green spaces located within the Fifth Ring Road of Beijing, using Gaofen 7 (GF-7) as the primary data source for analysis. The main objective was to develop a system for extracting and classifying urban green spaces in Beijing by applying deep learning and machine learning algorithms, and further, the results were validated with ground survey samples. This study provides detailed extraction and classification of urban green space coverage by creating a comprehensive evaluation system. The primary findings indicate that the deep learning algorithm enhances the precision of green space information extraction by 10.68% compared to conventional machine learning techniques, effectively suppresses "pretzel noise", and eventually aids in extracting green space information with complete edges. The thorough assessment of green spaces within the study area indicated favorable outcomes showing the high service capacity of park green spaces. The overall classification accuracy of the final extraction results was 94.31%. Nonetheless, challenges, such as unequal distribution of green zones and a significant fragmentation level throughout the study area, were still encountered. Consequently, the use of GF-7 high-resolution imagery, in conjunction with the collaborative application of deep learning and machine learning techniques, enabled the acquisition of highly accurate information regarding urban green zone coverage. According to the established grading standards of evaluation indices, the landscape pattern of urban green spaces within the study area was comprehensively assessed. This evaluation offers essential data support for monitoring urban green spaces and planning landscape patterns, thereby contributing to the achievement of sustainable development objectives related to urban greening and ecological conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological environmental protection and poverty alleviation are of great significance for the study of human–land relationship coordination and sustainable development, and they have also been a focus of attention in China in the past few decades. In this study, we chose 13 contiguous poverty-stricken areas in China as the study area. Using MODIS Leaf Area Index (LAI) data from 2000 to 2020, the spatial–temporal changes in greenness were obtained using the Bayesian spatial–temporal model (BYM). Spatial autocorrelation was used to identify the spatial distribution of poverty using socio-economic statistical data. Driving factors, including natural factors, poverty factors, and the Grain for Green Policy (GTGP), and their influence on greenness were analyzed by using the Geodetector model for detecting spatial differentiation and factors' interactions. The results showed the following: (1) In 13 contiguous poverty-stricken areas (CPSAs) in China, 59% of the area presented an increasing trend of greenness. (2) In 2000, the high poverty levels with larger MPI values were widely distributed. After 20 years, the overall MPI value was lower, except in some northwest regions with increased MPI values. The spatial autocorrelation of poverty, which relates to the mutual influence of poverty in adjacent areas, also decreased. (3) In the study area, 65.24% of the regions showed strong synergistic effect between greening progress and poverty reduction in the interaction between poverty status and green development. With the improvement of greenness level, the positive correlation between poverty alleviation and ecological environment improvement has become increasingly close. (4) The impacts of interaction factors with the highest q values changed from temperature interacting with precision to regional division interacting with the Grain for Green Policy. The conclusions are that from 2000 to 2020, the impact of natural factors, geographical division, and poverty status on greenness has shown a decreasing trend; The effect of the Grain for Green Policy is gradually increasing; At the same time, the interaction and overlapping effects between the Grain for Green Policy and poverty were increasing. Taking into account the needs of ecological environment, poverty alleviation, and rural revitalization, this research provides valuable reference for formulating and implementing relevant policies based on the actual situation in different regions to promote harmonious coexistence between human-land relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is the solid carbonaceous product of biomass pyrolysis. The properties of biochar depend on the biomass feedstock as well as the pyrolysis temperature and time. Therefore, biochars with different properties and functionalities can be produced. Biochar research has been intensive in the past 15 years, focusing mainly on soil applications, wastewater treatment, and contaminant remediation. However, a formal definition of biochar and related terms is missing, which hinders the standardization of scientific results worldwide and the scaling-up of research at the industrial level. Furthermore, an official terminology may promote the development of a harmonized legal framework for biochar production and applications, both at regional and national levels. This glossary of terms consists of 178 scientifically sound definitions of the most commonly used terms in biochar research. The definitions of this glossary are interconnected, allowing the reader to further explore the synergies between terms. The distribution of terms reflects the multidisciplinarity of biochar research: chemistry, material science and engineering, and soil science are the main disciplines represented here. The list of terms is by no means exhaustive and the strategic objective of this effort is to develop a dynamic document in which more terms will be added in the future, and the existing ones will be refined, as biochar research evolves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tsetse flies are vectors of the parasite trypanosoma that cause the neglected tropical diseases human and animal African trypanosomosis. Semiochemicals play important roles in the biology and ecology of tsetse flies. Previous reviews have focused on olfactory-based attractants of tsetse flies. Here, we present an overview of the identification of repellents and their development into control tools for tsetse flies. Both natural and synthetic repellents have been successfully tested in laboratory and field assays against specific tsetse fly species. Thus, these repellents presented as innovative mobile tools offer opportunities for their use in integrated disease management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental issues play a crucial role in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). In this context, countries may not have the budget to improve all factors at the same time. Due to this situation, more significant items should be identified with the help of a comprehensive evaluation. However, there are limited studies in literature that focused on this issue so that there is a strong need for a new study regarding this subject. Accordingly, this study aims to determine the most significant environmental factors for the sustainable development and investment goals of European economies. A criteria list is generated by making a detailed literature evaluation and considering United Nations' SDGs. They are weighted by using q-ROF DEMATEL approach. Later, 30 European countries are ranked by the q-ROF TOPSIS method. The main contribution of this study is that a novel model is suggested by considering a hybrid decision making approach based on q-ROFSs to make more objective evaluation. Additionally, the relevant environmental factors are prioritized so that effective strategies can be proposed to the countries for achieving their SDGs in a more efficient manner. The findings show that the use of renewable energy has the greatest effect on sustainable economic development and investment goals. In this process, Iceland, Norway, and Finland have been identified as the most successful European countries. Countries should assign a higher priority to renewable energy sources in terms of energy consumption. For this purpose, governments should provide some tax advantages to renewable energy investors. Similarly, low-cost financing resources should be offered for investments in renewable energy technologies. This situation will increase investments and contribute to achieving SDGs of the various countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]