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Introduction: The global financial crisis has affected the financial markets and has had social consequences in addition to economic ones. The concept of 'sustainability' concerns firms reaching their main corporate goals. So, to maximise corporate financial performance (FINP), firms pay attention to non-financial data, such as elements of governance, social, and environmental concerns (henceforth referred to as ESG). Therefore, non-financial information provided by EGS factors measured by the ESG score has a crucial role in incorporating strategy and firm performance. Purpose: This chapter looks at how ESG scores affect the performance of firms. The term 'ESG' describes how corporate operations include ESG principles. The ESG score is a novel way to gauge a company's sustainability. Methodology: ESG practices are a current phenomenon that has taken the attention of researchers in the last decades. Besides the amount of research conducted, researchers still need consensus regarding its impact. This chapter implements a systematic literature review to compile the research on ESG performance (ESGP) and how it affects business performance. Findings: Businesses can incorporate sustainability practices into their operations with the help of ESG reports. ESG reports and scores provide non-financial information, which is crucial for businesses to achieve sustainability in their activities and attract more investors. The chapter contributes to the literature by creating value through a comprehensive and theoretical literature review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current agriculture system has become complex and fragile in recent years. With an increase in population, the demand for food is increasing, but the resources such as arable land and water are limited, and clearing forest land for cultivation and over-extraction of groundwater are changing land-use patterns and depleting groundwater resources, which again are responsible for multiple risks in agriculture and food system. The limited land and water resources with increased global population and its demand for food have mainly stressed small farmers. The rising environment, social and economic risks such as crop disease outbreaks, climate risk causing natural hazards such as floods, famine, drought, exposure to chemicals, technology risks such as genetically modified crops, and biofuels, food demand disparities, demographic and dietary changes, financial risk, conflict and political unrest, biological diversity loss, psychological factors in long-term decision making, and emerging complexity within agriculture system network are the some of the examples of multiple risks faced by small farmers in developing nations. Understanding the link among multiple domains such as environment, soil and hydrology, science, technology, finance, psychology, nutrition, and relation and conflicts is vital to study the multiple risks associated with the agriculture system as these domains overlap. Thus, sustainable long-term solutions cannot be confined to a single discipline approach. Therefore, there is a need to understand the intertwined nature of multiple risks affecting farmers. First, the author emphasizes on understanding the interconnected nature of rising multiple risks in modern industrial agriculture and food system in terms of social, environmental, and economic dimensions, this understanding is crucial for sustainable agriculture policy framing. Second, providing policy implications that will help policy makers to develop legalize mechanism to reduce rising risk of hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SET domain genes (SDGs) are significant contributors to various aspects of plant growth and development, mainly includes flowering, pollen development, root growth, regulation of the biological clock and branching patterns. To clarify the biological functions of the chrysanthemum SDG family, the SDG family members of four chrysanthemum cultivars and three related wild species were identified; their physical and chemical properties, protein domains and conserved motifs were predicted and analyzed. The results showed that 59, 67, 67, 102, 106, 114, and 123 SDGs were identified from Chrysanthemum nankingense, Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium, Chrysanthemum seticuspe, Chrysanthemum × morifolium cv. 'Hechengxinghuo', 'Zhongshanzigui', 'Quanxiangshuichang' and 'Jinbeidahong', respectively. The SDGs were divided into 5–7 subfamilies by cluster analysis; different conserved motifs were observed in particular families. The SDGs of C. lavandulifolium and C. seticuspe were distributed unevenly on 9 chromosomes. SDG promoters of different species include growth and development, photo-response, stress response and hormone responsive elements, among them, the cis-acting elements related to MeJA response had the largest proportion. The expression of chrysanthemum SDG genes was observed for most variable selected genes which has close association with important Arabidopsis thaliana genes related to flowering regulation. The qPCR results showed that the expression trend of SDG genes varied in different tissues at different growth stages with high expression in the flowering period. The ClSDG29 showed higher expression in the flower and bud tissues, which indicate that ClSDG29 might be associated with flowering regulation in chrysanthemum. In summary, the results of this study can provide a basis for subsequent research on chrysanthemum flowering time regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is an integral part of climatic, environmental, and socioeconomic current affairs and a cross-cutting component of certain United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hence, reliable information on air pollution and human exposure is a crucial element in policy recommendations and decisions. At the same time, Earth Observation is steadily gaining confidence as a data input in the calculation of various SDG indicators. The current paper focuses on the usability of modern satellite remote sensing in the context of SDGs relevant to air quality. We introduce the socioeconomic importance of air quality and discuss the current uptake of geospatial information. The latest developments in Earth Observation provide measurements of finer spatial, temporal, and radiometric resolution products with increased global coverage, long-term continuation, and coherence in measurements. Leveraging on the two latest operational satellite technologies available, namely the Sentinel-5P and the Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS) missions, we demonstrate two potential operational applications for quantifying air pollution at city and regional scales. Based on the two examples and by discussing the near-future anticipated geospatial capabilities, we showcase and advocate that the potential of satellite remote sensing as a, complementary to ground station networks, source of air pollution information is gaining confidence. As such, it can be an invaluable tool for quantifying global air pollution and deriving robust population exposure estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This practical study explores the shared challenges faced by individuals managing chronic health conditions and entrepreneurs within the context of post-crisis periods, focusing on diversity, innovation, and individual empowerment. The aim is to develop a theoretical framework elucidating the mechanisms behind these challenges and their implications for fostering diversity, social innovation, and sustainability. Methodologically, an integrative approach was employed, drawing upon insights from psychology, sociology, health management, and entrepreneurship literature to conduct a comprehensive analysis. The research utilized mixed methods, including scoping reviews and qualitative analysis of virtual communities, to uncover the dynamic mechanisms that drive empowerment. This approach not only validated the theoretical framework but also proposed practical strategies to harness diversity, innovation, and entrepreneurship in post-crisis contexts. Drawing upon Dubin's methodology, the study structured the theoretical framework to highlight the interconnectedness of empowerment experiences within communities. The findings underscore the interconnectedness of empowerment experiences within communities and highlight the vital role of collaborative environments and support networks in promoting diversity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Ultimately, this research contributes to the development of strategies that capitalize on cultural diversities and reap the benefits of different nationalities, knowledge areas, and cultures, particularly in the aftermath of crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Social Innovation has become a crucial point in discussions about the connection between agriculture and sustainability, and it can result in new actions that significantly contribute to the 2030 Agenda. Through a literature review, this article aims to analyze how SI in agriculture can contribute to achieve the social sustainable development goals. The outcomes indicated that SI can be a powerful tool to connect producers and consumers, avoiding intermediaries. The social inclusion and the notion of justice as fair distribution of gains along food chains are also highlighted as achievements in the introduction of SI organizational arrangement as short food supply chains. The SI initiatives could contribute to achieve the main social SDGs. The paper sheds light on the concept of justice and how SI could promote justice. However, the outcomes indicated a focus more on distributive justice regarding the gains promoted by SI initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is used for various religious purposes, including ablution for billions of Muslims around the world. Water savings in ablution can make a positive contribution towards achieving the water-related sustainable development goals (SDGs). A survey-based study was conducted at St Mary's Mosque in Sydney, Australia, to understand the water usage during ablution and how water can be saved by Muslims in mosques. It has been found that the participants of the survey use 4 to 8 L of water to perform one ablution. About 82% of the participants are careful about saving water in ablution. It has also been found that about 70% of the participants believe that wastage of water during ablution is 'haram' (unlawful). Some 95% of the participants believe that religious motivation can play a significant role in saving water during ablution, and Imams can make a notable positive difference by encouraging their followers to save water during ablution. It has also been found that 64% of the participants are willing to use harvested rainwater for ablution. The findings of this study will help Muslims in Australia and around the globe to save water and contribute to the circular economy, as saving potable water (by reducing water use during ablution and using harvested rainwater at the source of water collection) saves energy and encourages responsible consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable development goals (SDGs) are a guide for caring for the planet, guaranteeing the fundamental rights of its inhabitants and shaping sustainable economic growth. In the current context, characterised by great challenges and geopolitical conflicts, the figure of the CEO is key to driving the necessary transformation of companies and the prioritisation of their commitment to the current challenges of the world we live in. In this regard, the aim of this paper is to deepen current knowledge on the role of CEO visionary leadership in shaping inclusive and sustainable business models aligned with the goals of the 2030 Agenda. For the period 2019–2022, we study the information reported by the top 3910 companies worldwide on their contributions to the SDGs and analyse whether these commitments are determined by the structural power of the CEO within these companies. The results obtained confirm previous arguments, contradicting some of the previous evidence. In this sense, our findings show that the information disclosed by companies in relation to projects aligned with the SDGs is positively associated with leadership figures who wield power that allows them to influence the agenda and decisions made by the board of directors. The influence of leaders is reinforced in scenarios where companies excel in sustainability performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) receive increasing international attention for landing around 40% of global marine fisheries catches and employing millions of people globally. Their contributions to food security and poverty alleviation, especially in developing countries, make it relevant to consider them when discussing sustainable development goals (SDGs). Achieving SDGs by supporting SSF means understanding fisheries in their broader context, from the health of marine ecosystems to social and economic features such as employment, public health, culture, and the effects of global change. Social–ecological relationships in SSF are complex and poorly understood, thus challenging the identification of policies that could improve and preserve the contributions of SSF to sustainable development. Here, we developed an expert-based rapid appraisal framework to identify and characterize the relationships between SSF and SDGs. The framework serves as a diagnostic tool for identifying strengths and gaps in SSF potential in enhancing SDG achievement in data-limited situations. Our structured approach extends beyond SDG 14 and target 14.b, offering insights into SSF's contributions to 11 other SDGs. As a proof of concept, we illustrate the approach and its potential contributions in two case studies in Madagascar. The method effectively captured the multiple dimensions of the SSF through the SDG lens, providing a contextually relevant understanding of how global UN goals can be achieved locally. Further research is needed to define mechanisms for aggregating and reporting the multiple, case-specific contributions of SSF to monitor progress toward the SDGs at national and global levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of generative artificial intelligence tools on critical thinking and collaboration among university students, highlighting the importance of investigating these technologies due to their increasing integration into higher education and their potential to transform traditional pedagogical practices. A predominantly female sample was surveyed to assess their familiarity with and experience and perceptions of these tools. A total of 87% of the respondents had prior knowledge of generative AI tools, with 38% using them occasionally. Among the most popular tools are Canva 2024 (33%), Chat PDF (26%), and YOU.COM (24%). Additionally, 64% of the respondents believe that these tools significantly improve their critical thinking ability. Despite their high familiarity with and occasional use of these tools, the need for continuous training and technical support was identified. While generative AI tools show promising potential for enhancing collaboration and critical thinking in higher education, previous research has limitations, such as the lack of longitudinal data and the inadequacy in addressing ethical considerations and potential biases. More comprehensive research is needed to understand their long-term impact better and maximize their potential benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanoma is a highly malignant skin cancer that may be fatal if not promptly detected and treated. The limited availability of high-quality melanoma images, which are needed for training machine learning models, is one of the obstacles to detecting melanoma. Generative adversarial networks (GANs) have grown in popularity as a strong technique for image synthesis. This research is also targeted at the sustainable development goal (SDG) for health care. In this study, we survey existing GAN-based melanoma image synthesis methods. In this work, we briefly introduce GANs and how they may be used for generating synthetic images. Ensuring healthy lifestyles and promoting well-being for everyone, regardless of age, is the main aim. A comparative study is carried out on how GANs are used in current research to generate melanoma images and how they improve the classification performance of neural networks. Various public and proprietary datasets for training GANs in melanoma image synthesis are also discussed. Lastly, we assess the examined studies' performance using measures like the Frechet Inception distance (FID), Inception score, structural similarity ındex (SSIM), and various classification performance metrics. We compare the evaluated findings and suggest further GAN-based melanoma image-creation research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management scholars increasingly seek to make a contribution to addressing the big issues faced by society (climate change, poverty, migratory crises, etc.), often using the term grand challenges to refer to these. However, after an initial phase of enthusiasm, the lack of coherence and distinctiveness of a relatively new management research concept – typical of an ‘umbrella concept’ – has been criticized. This article addresses the research question of how grand challenges can pass the tests of validity and rationalization in order to improve the robustness of the concept. To this end, we map out the literature on grand challenges using a mixed methodology of bibliometric analysis, combining co-citation and bibliographic coupling. By identifying the intellectual foundations and research streams, our paper analyzes the different uses of grand challenges in the literature as well as the resulting inconsistencies – thereby tidying up the concept. The current weaknesses of the grand challenges concept call for a clarification of its attributes. We pinpoint the importance of this redefinition and how it can be achieved, and discuss the possibilities for theoretical development of the field.

Abstract The SET domain genes (SDGs) are significant contributors to various aspects of plant growth and development, mainly includes flowering, pollen development, root growth, regulation of the biological clock and branching patterns. To clarify the biological functions of the chrysanthemum SDG family, the SDG family members of four chrysanthemum cultivars and three related wild species were identified; their physical and chemical properties, protein domains and conserved motifs were predicted and analyzed. The results showed that 59, 67, 67, 102, 106, 114, and 123 SDGs were identified from Chrysanthemum nankingense, Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium, Chrysanthemum seticuspe, Chrysanthemum × morifolium cv. ‘Hechengxinghuo’, ‘Zhongshanzigui’, ‘Quanxiangshuichang’ and ‘Jinbeidahong’, respectively. The SDGs were divided into 5–7 subfamilies by cluster analysis; different conserved motifs were observed in particular families. The SDGs of C. lavandulifolium and C. seticuspe were distributed unevenly on 9 chromosomes. SDG promoters of different species include growth and development, photo-response, stress response and hormone responsive elements, among them, the cis-acting elements related to MeJA response had the largest proportion. The expression of chrysanthemum SDG genes was observed for most variable selected genes which has close association with important Arabidopsis thaliana genes related to flowering regulation. The qPCR results showed that the expression trend of SDG genes varied in different tissues at different growth stages with high expression in the flowering period. The ClSDG29 showed higher expression in the flower and bud tissues, which indicate that ClSDG29 might be associated with flowering regulation in chrysanthemum. In summary, the results of this study can provide a basis for subsequent research on chrysanthemum flowering time regulation.

ABSTRACT: The limited supply of fossil fuels towards carbon neutrality has prompted massive efforts to replace fossil fuel vehicles with electric vehicles. This research investigates the recovery of lithium in leaching solutions through solvent extraction experiments using several experimental parameters such as ratio, extraction time, solvent concentration, type of diluent and stirring speed. Lithium leaching in Sidoarjo mud has been carried out using a hydrometallurgical process followed by solvent extraction. The solvent used is Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) with Kerosene and vegetable oil as diluents. The Taghuchi L8 orthogonal arrangement was carried out to identify process parameters that influence the concentration of lithium extract. The influence of parameters was examined by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) through contribution percentages. Investigation of optimized lithium extraction is a ratio of 1:1, extraction time of 30 min, solvent concentration of 1 M, type of vegetable oil diluent and stirring speed of 300 rpm. Thus, the results show that ratio is the most influential factor with a Lithium contribution percentage of 67.22 %.