Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been detected in the influent, effluent, and sludge/biosolids of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) globally. Due to their potential to bioaccumulate in humans, wildlife, and the environment over time owing to their seriously persistent nature and/or strong C-F bonds, PFASs can cause public health concerns. Conventional processes in full-scale WWTPs are usually inefficient in PFASs removal from wastewater and sludge, and advanced treatment technologies are needed for PFASs removal. This study intends to briefly (i) summarize the technologies for PFASs remediation in wastewater and sludge; (ii) review PFASs removal in full-scale WWTPs; (iii) discuss some possible theoretical configurations for the wastewater processing train of modern WWTPs for PFASs remediation; and finally (iv) provide future directions. Further research regarding the techno-economic assessment and optimization of treatment technologies in removing PFASs (especially short-chain PFASs) from real wastewater as well as the performance of full-scale WWTPs consisting of advanced innovative efficient treatment technologies for PFASs removal and associated costs (i.e., construction, operation, maintenance, chemical, energy, and amortization) is still required.
{"title":"Some Possible Process Configurations for Modern Wastewater Treatment Plants for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) Removal","authors":"Shahryar Jafarinejad","doi":"10.3390/su16188109","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188109","url":null,"abstract":"Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been detected in the influent, effluent, and sludge/biosolids of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) globally. Due to their potential to bioaccumulate in humans, wildlife, and the environment over time owing to their seriously persistent nature and/or strong C-F bonds, PFASs can cause public health concerns. Conventional processes in full-scale WWTPs are usually inefficient in PFASs removal from wastewater and sludge, and advanced treatment technologies are needed for PFASs removal. This study intends to briefly (i) summarize the technologies for PFASs remediation in wastewater and sludge; (ii) review PFASs removal in full-scale WWTPs; (iii) discuss some possible theoretical configurations for the wastewater processing train of modern WWTPs for PFASs remediation; and finally (iv) provide future directions. Further research regarding the techno-economic assessment and optimization of treatment technologies in removing PFASs (especially short-chain PFASs) from real wastewater as well as the performance of full-scale WWTPs consisting of advanced innovative efficient treatment technologies for PFASs removal and associated costs (i.e., construction, operation, maintenance, chemical, energy, and amortization) is still required.","PeriodicalId":22183,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142265294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mobility, a vital part of daily life, significantly impacts human well-being. Understanding this relationship is crucial for shaping the future trajectory of mobility, a connection often overlooked in previous research. This study explores the complex relationship between mobility and well-being and proposes a holistic framework for mobility’s future, prioritizing individual and societal well-being. The motivation for this research stems from the growing need to balance technological advancements in transportation with the well-being of diverse populations, especially as the mobility landscape evolves with innovations like autonomous vehicles and intelligent mobility solutions. We employ bibliometric methods, analyzing 53,588 academic articles to identify key themes and research trends related to mobility and well-being. This study categorizes these articles into thematic clusters using the Louvain modularity maximization algorithm, which facilitates the formation of cohesive groups based on citation patterns. Our findings underline the significant impact of mobility on physical, mental, psychological, financial, and social well-being. The proposed framework features four pillars: vehicle, infrastructure and environment, mobility stakeholders, and policy. This framework underscores the importance of collaboration between institutional and individual actions in shaping a future mobility landscape that is technologically advanced, socially responsible, and conducive to an improved quality of life.
{"title":"Envisioning the Future of Mobility: A Well-Being-Oriented Approach","authors":"Yousif Elsamani, Yuya Kajikawa","doi":"10.3390/su16188114","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188114","url":null,"abstract":"Mobility, a vital part of daily life, significantly impacts human well-being. Understanding this relationship is crucial for shaping the future trajectory of mobility, a connection often overlooked in previous research. This study explores the complex relationship between mobility and well-being and proposes a holistic framework for mobility’s future, prioritizing individual and societal well-being. The motivation for this research stems from the growing need to balance technological advancements in transportation with the well-being of diverse populations, especially as the mobility landscape evolves with innovations like autonomous vehicles and intelligent mobility solutions. We employ bibliometric methods, analyzing 53,588 academic articles to identify key themes and research trends related to mobility and well-being. This study categorizes these articles into thematic clusters using the Louvain modularity maximization algorithm, which facilitates the formation of cohesive groups based on citation patterns. Our findings underline the significant impact of mobility on physical, mental, psychological, financial, and social well-being. The proposed framework features four pillars: vehicle, infrastructure and environment, mobility stakeholders, and policy. This framework underscores the importance of collaboration between institutional and individual actions in shaping a future mobility landscape that is technologically advanced, socially responsible, and conducive to an improved quality of life.","PeriodicalId":22183,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142265243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Francesca Silvia Rota, Luigi Bollani, Maria Giuseppina Lucia, Alessandro Bonadonna
In recent decades, the literature on food risk has grown significantly. Consumers are increasingly interested in being informed about the relationship between the food they purchase, their health, and current sustainability goals. In this study, university students’ opinions on food quality attributes were collected through a survey in search of emerging common traits and taking into account the students’ socio-demographic characteristics. The sample for the analysis consists of 5133 students enrolled at the University of Turin (Italy), whose perceptions of food risk are analyzed using hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The results reveal the existence of four clusters within the surveyed student population: “Detached”, “Warranty-oriented”, “Inattentive”, and “Made in Italy-oriented”. In particular, the analysis shows a significant influence of age, education level, income, and employment on students’ preferences concerning the purchasing process and food safety. The results also provide some suggestions to stakeholders, underlying the necessity to strengthen the knowledge of the origin of food products and the awareness of the challenges of the global–local food system.
{"title":"Food Quality and Risk Perception: An Empirical Study Based on the Opinion of University Students","authors":"Francesca Silvia Rota, Luigi Bollani, Maria Giuseppina Lucia, Alessandro Bonadonna","doi":"10.3390/su16188116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188116","url":null,"abstract":"In recent decades, the literature on food risk has grown significantly. Consumers are increasingly interested in being informed about the relationship between the food they purchase, their health, and current sustainability goals. In this study, university students’ opinions on food quality attributes were collected through a survey in search of emerging common traits and taking into account the students’ socio-demographic characteristics. The sample for the analysis consists of 5133 students enrolled at the University of Turin (Italy), whose perceptions of food risk are analyzed using hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The results reveal the existence of four clusters within the surveyed student population: “Detached”, “Warranty-oriented”, “Inattentive”, and “Made in Italy-oriented”. In particular, the analysis shows a significant influence of age, education level, income, and employment on students’ preferences concerning the purchasing process and food safety. The results also provide some suggestions to stakeholders, underlying the necessity to strengthen the knowledge of the origin of food products and the awareness of the challenges of the global–local food system.","PeriodicalId":22183,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142265244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rajagopal Vadivel, Kotha Sammi Reddy, Yogeshwar Singh, Dhananjay D. Nangare
To enhance pomegranate production on marginal gravelly lands, standardized planting techniques were evaluated in an 8-year-old orchard. Trenching, wider pit excavation, pit digging, and auger digs with dimensions of 1 and 2 m were employed. Utilizing native soil from barren land, with or without spent wash, and mixing it with black soil up to 1 m deep, growth parameters, leaf nutrients, fruit production, and fruit quality were assessed. The trench and wider pit methods outperformed others, yielding greater above-ground biomass (>70.3 kg tree−1), root biomass (>24.5 kg, tree−1), and cross-sectional area (>3.30 m2 tree−1). These methods also produced longer roots (>4.0 m tree−1) and higher leaf phosphorus (>0.28%) and potassium (>1.81%) levels, fruit juice content (>48.50%), and total soluble solids (>16.05°) compared to other planting methods. This resulted in higher and more sustainable fruit yield production under the trench and wider pit planting methods (>7.21 t ha−1). Similarly, the native and black soil mixture produced healthy fruit trees, improved fruit quality, and sustainably higher fruit yield over the native soil alone. In summary, the trench and wider pit methods (2–3 m3), combined with a soil mixture, are recommended for sustainable, high-quality fruit production in shallow gravelly terrains, thereby improving food security and the livelihoods of farmers in arid regions.
{"title":"Effect of Pit and Soil Types on Growth and Development, Nutrient Content and Fruit Quality of Pomegranate in the Central Deccan Plateau Region, India","authors":"Rajagopal Vadivel, Kotha Sammi Reddy, Yogeshwar Singh, Dhananjay D. Nangare","doi":"10.3390/su16188099","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188099","url":null,"abstract":"To enhance pomegranate production on marginal gravelly lands, standardized planting techniques were evaluated in an 8-year-old orchard. Trenching, wider pit excavation, pit digging, and auger digs with dimensions of 1 and 2 m were employed. Utilizing native soil from barren land, with or without spent wash, and mixing it with black soil up to 1 m deep, growth parameters, leaf nutrients, fruit production, and fruit quality were assessed. The trench and wider pit methods outperformed others, yielding greater above-ground biomass (>70.3 kg tree−1), root biomass (>24.5 kg, tree−1), and cross-sectional area (>3.30 m2 tree−1). These methods also produced longer roots (>4.0 m tree−1) and higher leaf phosphorus (>0.28%) and potassium (>1.81%) levels, fruit juice content (>48.50%), and total soluble solids (>16.05°) compared to other planting methods. This resulted in higher and more sustainable fruit yield production under the trench and wider pit planting methods (>7.21 t ha−1). Similarly, the native and black soil mixture produced healthy fruit trees, improved fruit quality, and sustainably higher fruit yield over the native soil alone. In summary, the trench and wider pit methods (2–3 m3), combined with a soil mixture, are recommended for sustainable, high-quality fruit production in shallow gravelly terrains, thereby improving food security and the livelihoods of farmers in arid regions.","PeriodicalId":22183,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142265254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is a crucial indicator of ecological environment quality. To better understand the carbon absorption and carbon cycling capabilities of Henan Province, this study investigates the trends and driving factors of NPP across different climatic zones and land use types. The Theil–Sen Median trend analysis method and the Mann–Kendall trend test are employed to monitor NPP changes from 2001 to 2020. The average annual NPP in Henan Province during this period was 414.61 gC·m−2·year−1, showing a significant increasing trend with a growth rate of 3.73 gC·m−2·year−1. Spatially, both the annual average NPP and its increase rate were higher in the western part of Henan compared to the eastern part, and NPP variability was more stable in the southern region than in the northern region. By classifying climatic zones and using the Geodetector method to assess NPP sensitivity to natural factors, the results show that climate and vegetation factors jointly influence NPP variations, with annual precipitation being the primary natural factor affecting NPP trends in Henan Province from 2001 to 2020. By analyzing the NPP gain and loss matrix, the impact of land use changes on NPP was evaluated. Forests had the highest average annual NPP at 483.52 gC·m−2·year−1, and the conversion of arable land to urban areas was identified as the primary land change type leading to NPP reductions. In the subtropical zone of Henan, forests, croplands, and grasslands exhibited higher NPP values and increase rates compared to those in the warm belt. This study provides new insights into the spatial variation of NPP caused by changes in climatic zones and land use types.
{"title":"The Analysis of NPP Changes under Different Climatic Zones and under Different Land Use Types in Henan Province, 2001–2020","authors":"Yi Cao, Xingping Wen, Yixiao Wang, Xuanting Zhao","doi":"10.3390/su16188096","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188096","url":null,"abstract":"Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is a crucial indicator of ecological environment quality. To better understand the carbon absorption and carbon cycling capabilities of Henan Province, this study investigates the trends and driving factors of NPP across different climatic zones and land use types. The Theil–Sen Median trend analysis method and the Mann–Kendall trend test are employed to monitor NPP changes from 2001 to 2020. The average annual NPP in Henan Province during this period was 414.61 gC·m−2·year−1, showing a significant increasing trend with a growth rate of 3.73 gC·m−2·year−1. Spatially, both the annual average NPP and its increase rate were higher in the western part of Henan compared to the eastern part, and NPP variability was more stable in the southern region than in the northern region. By classifying climatic zones and using the Geodetector method to assess NPP sensitivity to natural factors, the results show that climate and vegetation factors jointly influence NPP variations, with annual precipitation being the primary natural factor affecting NPP trends in Henan Province from 2001 to 2020. By analyzing the NPP gain and loss matrix, the impact of land use changes on NPP was evaluated. Forests had the highest average annual NPP at 483.52 gC·m−2·year−1, and the conversion of arable land to urban areas was identified as the primary land change type leading to NPP reductions. In the subtropical zone of Henan, forests, croplands, and grasslands exhibited higher NPP values and increase rates compared to those in the warm belt. This study provides new insights into the spatial variation of NPP caused by changes in climatic zones and land use types.","PeriodicalId":22183,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142265252","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In recent years, with the dramatic surge in the demand for health and elderly care services, the emergence of the health dividend has presented good development opportunities for health and wellness tourism. However, as a sector of the economy, health and wellness tourism still faces numerous challenges in achieving high-quality development. Therefore, this paper focuses on 31 provinces in China and constructs a multidimensional evaluation index system for the high-quality development of health and wellness tourism. The global entropy-weighted TOPSIS method and cluster analysis are used to conduct in-depth measurements, regional comparisons, and classification evaluations of the high-quality development of health and wellness tourism in each province. The research results indicate that: (1) From a quality perspective, the level of health and wellness tourism development in 11 provinces in China has exceeded the national average, while the remaining 20 provinces are below the national average. (2) From a regional perspective, the current level of high-quality development in health and wellness tourism decreases sequentially from the eastern to the central to the western regions, with significant regional differences. (3) Overall, the development in the 31 provinces can be categorized into five types: the High-Quality Benchmark Type, the High-Quality Stable Type, the High-Quality Progressive Type, the General-Quality Potential Type, and the General-Quality Lagging Type. (4) From a single-dimension analysis perspective, there are significant differences in the rankings of each province across different dimensions. Finally, this paper enriches and expands the theoretical foundation on the high-quality development of health and wellness tourism; on the other hand, it puts forward targeted countermeasures and suggestions to help promote the comprehensive enhancement of health and wellness tourism.
{"title":"Measurement and Evaluation of the Development Level of Health and Wellness Tourism from the Perspective of High-Quality Development","authors":"Huali Pan, Huanhuan Mi, Yanhua Chen, Ziyan Chen, Weizhong Zhou","doi":"10.3390/su16188082","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188082","url":null,"abstract":"In recent years, with the dramatic surge in the demand for health and elderly care services, the emergence of the health dividend has presented good development opportunities for health and wellness tourism. However, as a sector of the economy, health and wellness tourism still faces numerous challenges in achieving high-quality development. Therefore, this paper focuses on 31 provinces in China and constructs a multidimensional evaluation index system for the high-quality development of health and wellness tourism. The global entropy-weighted TOPSIS method and cluster analysis are used to conduct in-depth measurements, regional comparisons, and classification evaluations of the high-quality development of health and wellness tourism in each province. The research results indicate that: (1) From a quality perspective, the level of health and wellness tourism development in 11 provinces in China has exceeded the national average, while the remaining 20 provinces are below the national average. (2) From a regional perspective, the current level of high-quality development in health and wellness tourism decreases sequentially from the eastern to the central to the western regions, with significant regional differences. (3) Overall, the development in the 31 provinces can be categorized into five types: the High-Quality Benchmark Type, the High-Quality Stable Type, the High-Quality Progressive Type, the General-Quality Potential Type, and the General-Quality Lagging Type. (4) From a single-dimension analysis perspective, there are significant differences in the rankings of each province across different dimensions. Finally, this paper enriches and expands the theoretical foundation on the high-quality development of health and wellness tourism; on the other hand, it puts forward targeted countermeasures and suggestions to help promote the comprehensive enhancement of health and wellness tourism.","PeriodicalId":22183,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142265246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Keeeun Lee, Youngchul Song, Minyoung Park, Byungun Yoon
Recent advancements in digital transformation (DX) in the industrial sector have spotlighted digital collaborative factories, which emphasize relationships with partners, particularly in the manufacturing sector. However, existing DX maturity assessment models primarily focus on evaluating individual companies, lacking consideration of partnerships and thereby failing to reflect the complexities of collaborative systems. To address this limitation, this study aims to develop a DX maturity assessment model tailored to digital collaborative factories while accounting for collaborative relationships. Initially, 25 existing DX maturity assessment models were reviewed, and the evaluation elements related to collaboration were extracted from each. Accordingly, the maturity assessment model was created with 15 evaluation factors, including organizational aspects, process management, quality control, and logistics operations. Finally, to verify the applicability of the model, the DX maturity levels of a lead company—a forklift-manufacturing company—and its partner—an automotive component manufacturer—within the same value chain were assessed, and the model’s suitability was evaluated. The results indicate that the lead company needed to improve on the intelligence, connectivity, and automation aspects, while its partner needs to streamline production process operations and technological connectivity. This approach enables manufacturers to obtain more reliable information in resolving issues arising from collaboration with partners, as well as in establishing future strategies. The findings suggest that strengthening collaboration systems among partners and advancing DX based on digital collaboration will raise competitiveness within the manufacturing sector.
{"title":"Development of Digital Transformation Maturity Assessment Model for Collaborative Factory Involving Multiple Companies","authors":"Keeeun Lee, Youngchul Song, Minyoung Park, Byungun Yoon","doi":"10.3390/su16188087","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188087","url":null,"abstract":"Recent advancements in digital transformation (DX) in the industrial sector have spotlighted digital collaborative factories, which emphasize relationships with partners, particularly in the manufacturing sector. However, existing DX maturity assessment models primarily focus on evaluating individual companies, lacking consideration of partnerships and thereby failing to reflect the complexities of collaborative systems. To address this limitation, this study aims to develop a DX maturity assessment model tailored to digital collaborative factories while accounting for collaborative relationships. Initially, 25 existing DX maturity assessment models were reviewed, and the evaluation elements related to collaboration were extracted from each. Accordingly, the maturity assessment model was created with 15 evaluation factors, including organizational aspects, process management, quality control, and logistics operations. Finally, to verify the applicability of the model, the DX maturity levels of a lead company—a forklift-manufacturing company—and its partner—an automotive component manufacturer—within the same value chain were assessed, and the model’s suitability was evaluated. The results indicate that the lead company needed to improve on the intelligence, connectivity, and automation aspects, while its partner needs to streamline production process operations and technological connectivity. This approach enables manufacturers to obtain more reliable information in resolving issues arising from collaboration with partners, as well as in establishing future strategies. The findings suggest that strengthening collaboration systems among partners and advancing DX based on digital collaboration will raise competitiveness within the manufacturing sector.","PeriodicalId":22183,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142265247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Katarzyna Przybyła, Maria Hełdak, Marian Kachniarz, David Ramsey, Alina Kulczyk-Dynowska, Katarzyna Szara
The aim of this article is to determine and assess the changes in the central functions of major Polish cities in the context of Poland’s 1999 administrative reform. This study covers a period of twenty-two years (1998–2019), which provides a solid perspective for evaluating the functional changes occurring within the current territorial division of the country. The conclusions indicate that the dynamics of changes in central functions in former provincial capitals differed from those in cities that retained this status. At the same time, it was found that the administrative reform sanctioned the scope and scale of earlier socio-economic dependencies in the present regional centers. The research results suggest that administrative reforms in Poland solidified existing socio-economic development paths in cities, but were not the sole catalyst for change. They point to a complex interaction of factors influencing urban evolution. By utilizing indicators that measure the centrality of cities in relation to their demographic potential, this research offers a quantitative assessment of the level of development of central functions, which is crucial for monitoring progress towards sustainable urbanization. By providing this information, this research also contributes to a broader discussion on the advancement and dynamics of sustainable urban development.
{"title":"The Central Functions of Cities in Poland in Light of Administrative Reform","authors":"Katarzyna Przybyła, Maria Hełdak, Marian Kachniarz, David Ramsey, Alina Kulczyk-Dynowska, Katarzyna Szara","doi":"10.3390/su16188097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188097","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of this article is to determine and assess the changes in the central functions of major Polish cities in the context of Poland’s 1999 administrative reform. This study covers a period of twenty-two years (1998–2019), which provides a solid perspective for evaluating the functional changes occurring within the current territorial division of the country. The conclusions indicate that the dynamics of changes in central functions in former provincial capitals differed from those in cities that retained this status. At the same time, it was found that the administrative reform sanctioned the scope and scale of earlier socio-economic dependencies in the present regional centers. The research results suggest that administrative reforms in Poland solidified existing socio-economic development paths in cities, but were not the sole catalyst for change. They point to a complex interaction of factors influencing urban evolution. By utilizing indicators that measure the centrality of cities in relation to their demographic potential, this research offers a quantitative assessment of the level of development of central functions, which is crucial for monitoring progress towards sustainable urbanization. By providing this information, this research also contributes to a broader discussion on the advancement and dynamics of sustainable urban development.","PeriodicalId":22183,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142265250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrzej Skwiercz, Tatyana Stefanovska, Olexander Zhukov, Anita Zapałowska, Adam Masłoń
Miscanthus × giganteus biomass plays a crucial role in producing renewable energy and bio-based products, supporting global sustainability objectives. However, its introduction into the European Union has made it susceptible to the ectoparasitic needle nematode Longidorus spp., which are known vectors of severe viral diseases. The aim of the presented research was to assess the effectiveness of the following soil amendments: vermicompost from Eisenia fetida and silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) applied to the soil with Miscanthus plants following artificial inoculation of Longidorus elongatus. A two-year experiment was conducted at the National Institute of Horticulture Research in Skierniewice using concrete rings filled with medium sandy soil amended with 10% peat. Treatments included: control (no amendments), vermicompost (4 L of E. fetida vermicompost), and Ag-NPs (60 mg/L soil). Each treatment was replicated four times. Application of both vermicompost and Ag-NPs positively influenced soil parameters and crop yield while suppressing nematode populations. Significant reductions in L. elongatus density were observed: vermicompost reduced nematode population by 80% and Ag-NPs by 90% compared to the control (15%).
{"title":"Effect of Silver Nanoparticles and Vermicompost on the Control of Longidorus elongatus (De Man, 1876) in Miscanthus × Giganteus and Its Growth and Development","authors":"Andrzej Skwiercz, Tatyana Stefanovska, Olexander Zhukov, Anita Zapałowska, Adam Masłoń","doi":"10.3390/su16188093","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188093","url":null,"abstract":"Miscanthus × giganteus biomass plays a crucial role in producing renewable energy and bio-based products, supporting global sustainability objectives. However, its introduction into the European Union has made it susceptible to the ectoparasitic needle nematode Longidorus spp., which are known vectors of severe viral diseases. The aim of the presented research was to assess the effectiveness of the following soil amendments: vermicompost from Eisenia fetida and silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) applied to the soil with Miscanthus plants following artificial inoculation of Longidorus elongatus. A two-year experiment was conducted at the National Institute of Horticulture Research in Skierniewice using concrete rings filled with medium sandy soil amended with 10% peat. Treatments included: control (no amendments), vermicompost (4 L of E. fetida vermicompost), and Ag-NPs (60 mg/L soil). Each treatment was replicated four times. Application of both vermicompost and Ag-NPs positively influenced soil parameters and crop yield while suppressing nematode populations. Significant reductions in L. elongatus density were observed: vermicompost reduced nematode population by 80% and Ag-NPs by 90% compared to the control (15%).","PeriodicalId":22183,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142265249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on customer satisfaction and the value relevance of customer satisfaction. COVID-19 is an unprecedented pandemic that has changed all areas of business. Customer relations are one of the biggest paradigm shifts of this period. Companies have placed more attention on customer relations than on any other areas, and customer relations are an essential element in corporate sustainability. The value relevance directly represents the sustainability of corporations. It is very important for firms to retain their customers in the market, create a potential demand, and, thus, increase the firm value. We investigate whether companies financially benefit from customer relations. Employing the value relevance model, we regress firm value on the customer satisfaction scores with other control variables. We find that the customer satisfaction score has increased throughout the sample period, and that the value relevance of customer satisfaction has declined after the COVID-19 outbreak. Together, we interpret the results as indicating the impact of COVID-19 on the value relevance of customer satisfaction, especially the decreasing trends in value relevance. The results are robust even after controlling endogeneity and outliers. This study has several implications for practitioners and academia regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the value relevance of customer satisfaction.
{"title":"The Impact of COVID-19 on the Value Relevance of Customer Satisfaction","authors":"Ha-Yeon Park, Cheong-Kyu Park","doi":"10.3390/su16188090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188090","url":null,"abstract":"This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on customer satisfaction and the value relevance of customer satisfaction. COVID-19 is an unprecedented pandemic that has changed all areas of business. Customer relations are one of the biggest paradigm shifts of this period. Companies have placed more attention on customer relations than on any other areas, and customer relations are an essential element in corporate sustainability. The value relevance directly represents the sustainability of corporations. It is very important for firms to retain their customers in the market, create a potential demand, and, thus, increase the firm value. We investigate whether companies financially benefit from customer relations. Employing the value relevance model, we regress firm value on the customer satisfaction scores with other control variables. We find that the customer satisfaction score has increased throughout the sample period, and that the value relevance of customer satisfaction has declined after the COVID-19 outbreak. Together, we interpret the results as indicating the impact of COVID-19 on the value relevance of customer satisfaction, especially the decreasing trends in value relevance. The results are robust even after controlling endogeneity and outliers. This study has several implications for practitioners and academia regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the value relevance of customer satisfaction.","PeriodicalId":22183,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142265255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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