Nicolás Depetris-Chauvin, Antoine Pinède, Heber Rodrigues
Product packaging is a critical tool influencing consumer perceptions. This study examines how the perceived personality of disruptive products like canned wine links to social stereotypes of their drinkers. Surveying 1307 consumers in Italy, Switzerland, and the UK, we found a significant association between product perception and judgments of the user. Specifically, product Sincerity and Excitement correlated with highly positive views of the drinker, while Ruggedness was associated with negative traits. Theoretically, we propose a ‘product-to-person’ trait transfer mechanism, extending brand personality theory by showing how product traits act as a heuristic for forming social stereotypes. Practically, our findings identify Sincerity and Competence as key traits for fostering a positive social image. Communication strategies focusing on these perceptions can mitigate negative stereotypes, enhancing the acceptance of sustainable packaging and benefiting consumer social identity.
Environmental effects of industries and plants, Economic growth, development, planning
Accurate modeling of urban spatial dynamics is crucial for regional land resource allocation and sustainable development. However, most existing studies lack spatiotemporal collaborative considerations of historical development processes when mining transition rules for cellular automata (CA)-based modeling. Traditional pixel-based spatial units also tend to produce fragmented simulation results that are inconsistent with reality. To address these gaps, this study proposed a novel spatiotemporal collaborative convolutional and patch-based multilevel CA (SC-Pb-CA) model and applied it to simulate urban growth in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) urban agglomeration. The results revealed that the SC-Pb-CA model outperformed the other traditional hybrid models in terms of simulation accuracy, with the kappa and figure of merit (FoM) indices increasing by 0.011–0.049 and 3.9 %–28 %, respectively. Multiscenario simulations indicated that the urban expansion trend in the PRD region remains significant in the future, particularly under the economic development priority (EDP) scenario, with projected increases reaching 17.86 × 104 ha, 30.23 × 104 ha, and 48.12 × 104 ha by 2025, 2035, and 2050, respectively. The integrated economic–ecological development (IEED) scenario resulted in an urban land area of 80.34 × 104 ha by 2035, which does not exceed the 1.3-fold upper limit stipulated in regional planning, making it more aligned with future sustainable development requirements. These findings emphasize the need for coordinated regional ecological and economic development. They also revealed the importance of strategies such as infilling development, cross-regional coordination, and ecological reflux for promoting sustainable urban spatial development in the PRD. This study provides new theoretical support for urban expansion simulation research and offers scientific guidance for regional urban spatial planning.
Environmental sciences, Environmental effects of industries and plants
Vast quantities of food are lost along the food value chain. Although much is known about losses at the consumer level, relatively little is known about the producer level. Using a qualitative approach, this study examines farmers' views on vegetable losses in potatoes, carrots, onions, tomatoes and lettuce. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 farmers in Switzerland to find out 1) during which operations losses occur, 2) what quantities are lost, 3) drivers and barriers for the reduction of losses, 4) farmers’ strategies to reduce the losses and 5) how losses are disposed of. Only one farmer in our sample indicated that they recorded losses. Consequently, the quantification of losses is mostly based on estimates and subject to great uncertainty. Farmers identified various reasons for losses along the food value chain (e.g. quality deficiencies, standards of retailers or wholesalers, and market demand). Their reduction efforts were largely influenced by regulatory frameworks and market dynamics, both as drivers and barriers. Further, we found that some farmers understand vegetable food losses as intrinsic to farming, positively picturing the use of losses as feed or compost as a circular use of resources. Some farmers identified food losses as an economic issue and described strategies they use to reduce losses, again covering different stages from production to processing and market (e.g. multiple sales channels and good cultivation practices). Our study contributes to both research and practice by offering a foundation for policy development and industry initiatives aimed at reducing vegetable losses.
Environmental effects of industries and plants, Economic growth, development, planning
M. Afif Khoiruddin, Agus Suman, Ferry Prasetyia
et al.
Despite growing attention to child poverty in developing countries, limited empirical evidence exists on how household labor informality contributes to multidimensional child poverty in Indonesia. This study addresses this gap by examining the relationship between employment status and child deprivation using nationally representative data from the 2022 Indonesian National Socioeconomic Survey (Susenas). Multidimensional child poverty is measured through seven deprivation indicators following the Multiple Overlapping Deprivation Analysis framework. Using binary and multinomial logit regressions, we estimate the effects of formal, informal, and self-employment (in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors) on children’s poverty status across national, rural, and urban contexts. Our findings reveal that informal employment is consistently associated with higher risks of multidimensional child poverty, particularly in rural areas. In contrast, formal employment and non-agricultural self-employment reduce poverty risks. Socio-demographic characteristics such as parental education, number of children, and single-parent status also play a critical role in shaping child deprivation. Access to social protection significantly mitigates poverty risks. The results highlight two critical policy insights: the need to facilitate transitions from informal to formal employment especially in rural areas, and the importance of integrating inclusive social protection programs that target vulnerable households to break intergenerational cycles of poverty.
Economic growth, development, planning, Human settlements. Communities
Giulia Chiaraluce, Deborah Bentivoglio, Alessia Del Conte
et al.
One of the challenges that Europe has undertaken is the transition from a linear economic system to a circular economy, where waste and resources are recovered and regenerated. The practice of upcycling in the agri-food sector represents one of the most promising solutions to the enormous problem of food waste. However, the information available to consumers about foods made with upcycled ingredients is still scarce, limiting their acceptance and creating a critical barrier to their success in the market. The objective of this study is to determine the factors that affect Italian consumers’ intention to purchase and willingness to pay for a specific upcycled food enriched with a high-value vegetable by-product by applying a logit model, an interval regression, and a contingent valuation. Results show that knowledge about upcycling and the circular economy is still limited. Innovative consumers who are already aware of upcycling, who are not food neophobic, and who have a positive opinion of recycling are more willing to purchase upcycled products. At the same time, women who are already aware that the food industry produces considerable quantities of waste and who have a positive image of recycling are more willing to pay for a specific upcycled food. Finally, our sample proved to be willing to pay a premium price for an upcycled frozen margherita pizza. An informed consumer, aware of the environmental and health benefits of upcycled products, may become more willing to purchase them and to pay more compared to the same conventional products.
Environmental effects of industries and plants, Economic growth, development, planning
The relevance of research on the conceptual foundations of personnel strategy formation in industrial enterprises under the conditions of digitalisation appears to be very relevant, which is due to the following factors. The digital transformation of industrial enterprises leads to the emergence of new technologies, processes and personnel requirements. The HR strategy must adapt to these changes in order to ensure that the company has the necessary qualifications and skills. Under the conditions of digitalisation, the demand for specialists in the field of information technologies and digital data processing is increasing. Companies need to develop strategies to attract, retain and develop such personnel in order to remain competitive. Digital technologies make it possible to automate and optimise business processes, so the HR strategy must reflect these changes and take into account the new roles and requirements for personnel. As technologies and processes change, there is a need for continuous training and development of personnel. The HR strategy should include training and development programmes aimed at increasing digital skills. Studying the conceptual foundations of personnel strategy development in the conditions of digitalisation will help companies to effectively adapt to contemporary challenges and ensure their competitiveness. The purpose of the article is to disclose the conceptual foundations of forming a personnel strategy at industrial enterprises in the context of digitalisation. The methodology of the study is an interdisciplinary approach based on the idea of effective development of an industrial enterprise as a sociotechnological system, which allowed to combine systemic knowledge that will help to understand how social factors affect the implementation of technologies and the development of the enterprise as a whole. The enterprise as a complex social and technological system should be analysed within the framework of the socio-humanistic approach, which is based on the recognition of the human being as the subject and object of all processes. In the context of a socio-humanistic approach to business analysis, it is important to address aspects related to social relations, human needs and values, and the interaction between employees and management. The fundamental principles of the socio-humanistic approach, such as taking into account the individual needs of employees, supporting their development and satisfaction from professional activities, can be applied to the analysis of an enterprise's performance. This means that the efficiency and success of an organisation is assessed not only by financial indicators, but also by the level of satisfaction and development of its employees. Studying the social interactions, communication and psychological climate of the team can help to understand what factors contribute to or hinder the effective functioning of the organisation. This approach allows to see the company as a living, organic system in which human relationships and values play an essential role. The study opens up the possibility of integrating different scientific disciplines, such as sociology, technology, economics, psychology and management, in order to understand the complex relationships in today's industrial companies. The implementation of the recommendations will help companies improve the efficiency of personnel management, provide the necessary human resources and meet the requirements of the modern market. The research generates new knowledge in the field of personnel management and digitalisation, has direct practical application for companies in increasing their competitiveness and stability in the market.
The rapid urbanization of Lagos City has resulted in an expansion of urban and nighttime lights, which, in turn, places a significant burden on natural resources. This burden exacerbates the adverse impacts of changes in climate parameters, underscoring the need for measures to mitigate its effects. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between economic development, population growth, urban expansion, and climate change in Lagos City over two decades. GIS and remote sensing methods were used to process nighttime light, Landsat images, changes in climate parameters, and NDVI data to measure Lagos’ sustainability level. The results show that: (1) between 2000 and 2020, nighttime light coverage grew from 175.53 km<sup>2</sup> to 631.16 km<sup>2</sup>. Lagos’ GDP grew by 88.9%, while the population increased from 13.4 million in 2000 to 26 million in 2019. (2) The built-up areas significantly increased from 13.0% in 2000 to 33.6% in 2020, while vegetation land declined, decreasing from 63.7% in 2000 to 46.4% in 2020. (3) Furthermore, Lagos City has experienced changes in climate parameters, with a decrease in annual rainfall from 2954.81 mm in 2000 to 1348.81 mm in 2020 and an increase in the average maximum temperature from 31.56 °C in 2000 to 31.79 °C in 2020. However, the rapid growth of cities has brought about significant environmental impacts. A strong relationship exists between horizontal urban development and nighttime light, indicating that urban areas encroach on natural landscapes as Lagos grows. Then, there is a relationship between urban development and vegetation and between temperature and vegetation. A compact city planning approach, which prioritizes vertical development and efficient land use to mitigate urban sprawl and preserve green spaces, is recommended.
Dedy Yuliawan, Dedi Budiman Hakim, Bambang Juanda
et al.
One of the common characteristics of rural areas is their vulnerability to socio-economic and environmental shocks. Therefore, rural development policies should consider these features to take full advantage of the benefits of rural development. This study aims to develop a pastoral assessment based on the TOPSIS-Etropy-Inhomogeneity Method. This research was conducted in Lampung Province using data at the regency level. The data uses village data from the 2018 Village Potential Survey (PODES). The results show that rural areas' exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity factors play an essential role in rural development regarding vulnerability and resilience. Pesisir Barat, Mesuji, and Tulang Bawang Regencies are highly susceptible to low adaptation factors such as difficult access to health centers, inadequate credit facilities from the government, quiet village anticipation and mitigation, and a lack of security systems. The lowest vulnerabilities are in Tanggamus and North Lampung Regencies with common sensitivity factors, where people with malnutrition, persons with disabilities, households living in slums, and the habit of not using river water or the like for drinking or cooking have lower scores. In addition, other factors contribute to vulnerability, and these factors should be considered in rural development policies
The aim of the research is comparison between average order picking times obtained using the analytical model and simulation methods for shared storage systems. We also compare the results obtained with the results obtained for dedicated storage. We assume the random and ABC-class storage (with within and across aisle storage policies). We select the locations by means of the TOPSIS method for two take-out strategies: quantity adjustment (QA) and priority of partial units (PPU). We determine the route by using s-shape and return heuristics. In most cases, the simulated average order picking times are shorter than the analytical ones. It results from not considering the criteria' weights in calculation of the analytical order picking time. Also, the results for shared storage with QA strategy are in most cases better than for dedicated storage. This might imply an advantage of shared over dedicated storage, but needs further confirmation. (original abstract)
Aleksandar Anastasovski, Predrag Rašković, Zvonimir Guzović
et al.
The widespread use of fossil fuels and their limitation leads to find other sources of energy. Solar thermal energy is a possible solution. There are many projects that use renewable energy. Solar thermal energy can be easily used for heating. However, there are problems in the efficiency of solar collectors, the loss of heat, the consistency of heat supply, temperature and weather conditions, the biggest problem being the heat storage. In this paper is provided an overview of the methodologies for thermal integration of solar heating systems implemented in various projects and research. Solar heating systems have different designs and can generate heat in different temperature ranges. The main emphasis in this comprehensive overview is the systematisation of the various methodologies used in the integration of solar heat in production. In principle, solar heating systems are directly connected to the production systems. Furthermore, a few methodologies like Pinch technology, mathematical modelling and cogeneration are included.
Maiara Thaís Tolfo Gabbi, Nilson Luiz Costa, Gabriel Nunes de Oliveira
et al.
O estudo teve como objetivo analisar as trajetórias de exportações de Brasil e Argentina no comércio internacional de soja em grãos, farelo de soja e óleo de soja entre 1990 a 2018. Para tal utilizou-se um modelo econométrico de taxa de crescimento através da coleta de dados secundários no Department of Agriculture (USDA) para o período de 1990 a 2019. Os resultados mostram de forma comparada que a Argentina apresentou uma taxa de crescimento anual maior nas exportações de farelo de soja 7,05% e óleo de soja 6,16%, enquanto a taxa geométrica de crescimento das exportações para soja em grãos representou 5,15%, no consumo doméstico a Argentina obteve uma taxa de crescimento anual de 7,22%. Já o Brasil, obteve uma taxa de crescimento maior nas exportações de soja em grãos 12,12%, enquanto as exportações de farelo de soja e óleo de soja representaram respectivamente, 1,97% e 1,92%, e no consumo doméstico obteve uma taxa geométrica de crescimento de 3,91%. Por fim, o modelo econométrico de taxa de crescimento permitiu analisar o cenário de exportações de Brasil e Argentina e concluir que nas últimas décadas a Argentina se destacou pelo aumento nas exportações de farelo e óleo de soja, enquanto o Brasil pelo aumento nas exportações de soja em grãos, o que evidencia trajetórias de exportação antagônicas.
Mehdi Hasankhani, Farajollah Rahnavard, Habibollah Taherpour
et al.
Employee commitment, sometimes called work involvement/ belongingness/ engagement, materializes when people have interest in their job, enjoy doing it and try harder to accomplish it. This study aims to investigate the effective factors which can enhance the commitment of employees at individual, group and organizational levels. It also intends to identify and reach a model for the relations among variables. Using structural equations model, data were collected from 65 Iranian state organizations. Findings show that at an organizational level such factors as organizational structure, organizational support,organizational culture, compensation; at group level such factors as effective leadership, pleasant work environment, employee participation, organizational trust, constructive feedback, role transparency; and at individual level such factors as job security, work autonomy, internal motivation, organizational commitment, perceived organizational justice, religious commitment, and extraversion have an impact on employee commitment.
Economic growth, development, planning, Employee participation in management. Employee ownership. Industrial democracy. Works councils
Cesare Forzano, Paolo Baggio, Annamaria Buonomano
et al.
Phase change materials are considered a very promising technology to reduce energy consumption for space heating and cooling purposes in buildings. In this framework, this paper presents a comprehensive energy performance analysis of building envelopes integrating phase change materials to provide suitable selection and design criteria of such technology. To this aim, an in-house dynamic simulation model implemented in a computer code, and validated by means of experimental data, has been used. The performance of phase change materials embedded in building enclosures and their optimal configuration (i.e., positions with respect to the construction layers) are evaluated. The results obtained by applying the code to suitable case studies (several climate zones and buildings are investigated) return that the energy saving percentage potentials per cubic meter of phase change materials range from 1.9%/m3 to 18.8%/m3. Finally, interesting design criteria for their adoption in buildings are provided.
En este artículo intento hacer ver una dialéctica de Marx que no consiste simplemente en "poner a Hegel de pie", sino que es, incluso, radicalmente distinta de la dialéctica hegeliana. Partiendo del "imperativo categórico" formulado por Marx en 1844, se concluye que este se encuentra también en El capital, y precisamente, en una parte decisiva de esta obra. Se trata de un humanismo de la praxis que es posible recuperar y seguir desarrollando para enfrentar las grandes amenazas de nuestro tiempo.
<p>Australia’s cities face significant social, economic and environmental challenges, driven by population growth and rapid urbanisation. The pressure to increase housing availability will lead to greater levels of high-density and medium-density stock. However, there is enormous political and community pushback against this. One way to address this challenge is to encourage medium-density living solutions through “precinct” scale development. Precinct-scale development has the potential to include additional hard and soft infrastructure that may offset the perceived negativities of higher densities. As part of Australian research into precinct-scale development, and as part of our broader Smart Cities approach, or more specifically City Analytics approach, new digital planning tools – Envision and ESP – have been developed to support scenario planning and design needs. They utilise a data-driven and scenario planning approach underpinned by Geographic Information System (GIS) functionality.</p><p>We focus on a case study in the City of Blacktown, Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. By 2036 Blacktown is forecast to grow to approximately 500,000 people (an increase of over 30 %) and 180,000 dwellings. Most new dwellings will be delivered through urban infill. The Blacktown master plan promotes higher density housing, mixed employment uses and continued improvements to the public domain. Our study provides a unique opportunity to implement this broad strategy within a specific case and location. Specifically, this paper provides information on how these digital planning tools supported Blacktown planners in identifying, co-designing and implementing a new approach for precinct level planning. It also presents the results of an evaluation of digital-planning tools in the context of the Blacktown case study.</p>