Monther M. Tahat, Kholoud M. Alananbeh, Yahia A. Othman
et al.
A healthy soil acts as a dynamic living system that delivers multiple ecosystem services, such as sustaining water quality and plant productivity, controlling soil nutrient recycling decomposition, and removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Soil health is closely associated with sustainable agriculture, because soil microorganism diversity and activity are the main components of soil health. Agricultural sustainability is defined as the ability of a crop production system to continuously produce food without environmental degradation. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), cyanobacteria, and beneficial nematodes enhance water use efficiency and nutrient availability to plants, phytohormones production, soil nutrient cycling, and plant resistance to environmental stresses. Farming practices have shown that organic farming and tillage improve soil health by increasing the abundance, diversity, and activity of microorganisms. Conservation tillage can potentially increase grower’s profitability by reducing inputs and labor costs as compared to conventional tillage while organic farming might add extra management costs due to high labor demands for weeding and pest control, and for fertilizer inputs (particularly N-based), which typically have less consistent uniformity and stability than synthetic fertilizers. This review will discuss the external factors controlling the abundance of rhizosphere microbiota and the impact of crop management practices on soil health and their role in sustainable crop production.
There is a growing need for robotic apple harvesting due to decreasing availability and rising cost in labor. Towards the goal of developing a viable robotic system for apple harvesting, this paper presents synergistic mechatronic design and motion control of a robotic apple harvesting prototype, which lays a critical foundation for future advancements. Specifically, we develop a deep learning-based fruit detection and localization system using an RGB-D camera. A three degree-of-freedom manipulator is then designed with a hybrid pneumatic/motor actuation mechanism to achieve fast and dexterous movements. A vacuum-based end-effector is used for apple detaching. These three components are integrated into a robotic apple harvesting prototype with simplicity, compactness, and robustness. Moreover, a nonlinear velocity-based control scheme is developed for the manipulator to achieve accurate and agile motion control. Test experiments are conducted to demonstrate the performance of the developed apple harvesting robot.
Abstract Society 5.0 is the vision of a new human-centered society in the fifth stage launched by Japan. This paper explores a prospective model of science, technology and innovation (STI) activities in Society 5.0 from an ecosystem perspective. STI policy review and statistical analysis are conducted in comparison with Germany and the United States to describe the historical transformation of Japan's STI ecosystem. Major socio-economic risks on Japan's STI ecosystem can be classified as labor, capital and spatial risks. Shifting from a push-based STI ecosystem to a pull-based STI ecosystem and increasing the system resilience through value creation for society are essential to reduce three risks and to revitalize productivity and growth in Society 5.0.
Modern macroeconomic monetary theory suggests that the labor share of income has effectively become a core macroe-conomic parameter anchored by top policymakers through Open Market Operations (OMO). However, the setting of this parameter remains a subject of intense economic debate. This paper provides a detailed summary of these controversies, analyzes the scope of influence exerted by market agents other than the top policymakers on the labor share, and explores the rationality of its setting mechanism.
Fatimah Z. Muhammed, Kentaro Yamaguchi, Kusumaningdyah Nurul Handayani
et al.
Rapid urbanization in developing regions presents a critical challenge to the provision of affordable housing. This systematic review, conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, analyzed 91 studies (2013–2024) from Scopus and Google Scholar to identify cost-effective materials and innovative techniques suitable for the developing context. Findings reveal that achieving affordability in developing regions requires a holistic approach that integrates material innovation with human capacity building. The analysis of critical success factors (CSFs) in the Rumah Unggul Sistem Panel Instant (RUSPIN) system from Indonesia and the Recycled Plastic Formwork (RPF) system from South Africa exemplifies this integration. Both systems show high potential for scalability and technological transfer using local materials and labor training. The review also highlights that materials commonly used in developed countries (e.g., autoclaved aerated concrete, expanded polystyrene, and light steel gauge framing) face adoption barriers in developing regions due to challenges related to supply chains, industry capacity, and regulatory frameworks. Conversely, locally available materials (e.g., earth, bamboo, and recycled waste) require ongoing research to enhance their availability and structural performance. Ultimately, achieving affordable housing depends on an integrated approach that combines locally sourced materials, innovative construction techniques, and the strategic application of critical success factors.
Modern cities increasingly rely on ridesharing services for on-demand transportation, which offer consumers convenience and mobility across the globe. However, these marketed consumer affordances give rise to burdens and vulnerabilities that drivers shoulder alone, without adequate infrastructures for labor regulations or consumer-led advocacy. To effectively and sustainably advance protections and oversight for drivers, consumers must first be aware of the labor, logistics and costs involved with ridehail driving. To motivate consumers to practice more socially responsible consumption behaviors and foster solidarity with drivers, we explore the potential for gamified in-ride interactions to facilitate engagement with real (and lived) driver experiences. Through nine workshops with 19 drivers and 15 passengers, we surface how gamified in-ride interactions revealed passenger knowledge gaps around latent ridehail conditions, prompt reflection and shifts in perception of their relative power and consumption behaviors, and highlight drivers' preferences for creating more immersive and contextualized service experiences, and identify opportunities to design safe and appropriate passenger-driver interactions that motivate solidarity with drivers. In sum, we advance conceptual understandings of in-ride social and managerial relations, demonstrate potential for future worker advocacy in algorithmically-managed labor, and offer design guidelines for more human-centered workplace technologies.
Supply chain networks are complex systems that are challenging to analyze; this problem is exacerbated when there are illicit activities involved in the supply chain, such as counterfeit parts, forced labor, or human trafficking. While machine learning (ML) can find patterns in complex systems like supply chains, traditional ML techniques require large training data sets. However, illicit supply chains are characterized by very sparse data, and the data that is available is often (purposely) corrupted or unreliable in order to hide the nature of the activities. We need to be able to automatically detect new patterns that correlate with such illegal activity over complex, even temporal data, without requiring large training data sets. We explore neurosymbolic methods for identifying instances of illicit activity in supply chains and compare the effectiveness of manual and automated feature extraction from news articles accurately describing illicit activities uncovered by authorities. We propose a question tree approach for querying a large language model (LLM) to identify and quantify the relevance of articles. This enables a systematic evaluation of the differences between human and machine classification of news articles related to forced labor in supply chains.
AbstractOnline freelancing, an alternative form of work where independent workers offer services on digital labor platforms, gains increasing importance in IS research. While the general understanding of this form of work is growing, research lacks understanding careers on digital labor platforms. However, these differ from careers in offline labor markets due to volatility, global matching and platform mediation, the digital and temporary nature of work, and algorithmic management as particular platform working conditions. Therefore, to understand how working conditions on digital labor platforms influence the dynamic career paths of freelancers, we conduct an exploratory analysis using 35 interviews with freelancers and clients on digital labor platforms. We thus contribute to the body of knowledge on alternative forms of work on digital labor platforms by developing a long‐term freelancing career model and outlining the dynamics of advancement, decline, and exit within platform careers. We also illustrate mechanisms between career phases in terms of platform lock‐in effects, which arise from the career advancement dynamics and career exit dynamics.
This research focuses on examining the impact of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 on the energy industry, specifically in the Hail region, by exploring the role of technological and economic strategies in fostering sustainable energy development. The study aims to identify key factors that facilitate the implementation of Vision 2030 to assess the current energy landscape in Saudi Arabia. By delving into the economic and technological dimensions of Vision 2030, the research seeks to determine the essential components that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia needs to establish systems and initiatives that align with global scientific and technological advances, ensuring competitiveness and progress in the global arena. By surveying 60 faculty members from Hail University, the study employs a descriptive-analytical approach to unravel how economic activities and technological advancements collaborate to shape a sustainable and competitive energy sector. The findings highlight the crucial role of technological innovations, including advances in administrative processes, human resource management, regulatory frameworks, and technical infrastructure related to energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Furthermore, the study evaluates economic aspects such as labor market reforms, skill development programs, and support for emerging energy enterprises. The results underscore the positive impact of technological and economic interventions on the energy sector in the Hail region, with significant improvements in energy project management efficiency and the creation of a conducive environment for sustainable energy practices. The study reveals that the integration of technological and economic initiatives has led to notable improvements in the energy sector, reflected in average values ranging from 68% to 84%. These results underscore the fundamental role of Vision 2030 in advancing sustainable energy development and underscore the importance of leveraging economic and technological strategies to achieve energy sustainability and competitive advantage. This research contributes to understanding how Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is driving progress in the energy industry and emphasizes the importance of integrating economic and technological approaches in shaping a sustainable energy landscape. The findings provide valuable information for policymakers and stakeholders in the energy sector, highlighting the need for concerted efforts to harness economic and technological advancements to promote sustainable energy development. By showcasing the transformative impact of Vision 2030 on the energy sector in the Hail region, this study underscores the originality and importance of research in advancing the goals of sustainable energy development in Saudi Arabia.