Search Results (113)

This article offers an exploratory overview of the contemporary Ethiopian textile, fashion and apparel system. The contribution originated from a teaching experience in Addis Ababa within the framework of the AICS–UNIDO-funded project “Ethiopia: Support to Youth and Women through Products and Services Development and Public–Private Partnerships in the Fashion Value Chain” which prompted the authors to deepen their understanding of the local fashion ecosystem. Drawing on informal conversations, observations, and ethnographically oriented field notes, the authors developed the analysis through desk research and a review of the relevant literature. The picture that emerges reveals both the creativity and strong entrepreneurial drive of Ethiopian designers, alongside the structural barriers they commonly face, including limited access to materials, investment, and institutional support. Designers are shown to negotiate ongoing tensions between cultural heritage and global aesthetics, while also contending with local consumption patterns situated between second-hand clothing markets and international brands. These dynamics highlight both the challenges and the potential of the Ethiopian fashion scene, pointing to opportunities for mutual learning and for fostering fashion practices that are sustainable, globally relevant, and firmly grounded in local contexts. Full article

I analyze the nonlinear Hamiltonian equations of motion for a one-dimensional chain of transverse magnetic nano-islands, seeking solutions for different types of static domain walls (DWs) connecting uniform static states. The system of elongated magnetic islands oriented transverse (y-direction) to the chain direction (x-direction) experiences an applied magnetic field transverse to the chain. The macro-spin model includes dipole interactions between islands, their uniaxial and easy-plane anisotropies, and Oersted energy of the applied field. DWs can form most easily between pairs of degenerate uniform states, described by their local magnetizations as oblique, y-parallel, and y-alternating. The DWs between oblique states are well described with scalar ${\phi }^4$ theory. General DW structures are found via a numerical energy relaxation scheme. At some anisotropy and field parameters, nearest-neighbor dipole interactions drive antiferromagnetic order inside the DW itself. Full article

The increasing vulnerability of global food systems—exacerbated by the pandemic, climate change, and disruptions to international supply chains—has highlighted the importance of local food production for sustainability, food security, and rural resilience. At the same time, the LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) value system is gaining prominence, shaping consumer demand for locally produced, environmentally responsible, and health-oriented products. While the existing literature predominantly addresses LOHAS consumers and local food systems as separate research domains, limited empirical attention has been paid to the value-based alignment between LOHAS principles and local food producers, particularly from a territorial and place-based perspective. This study seeks to address this gap by examining how LOHAS value dimensions are reflected in the self-identification and operational practices of local food producers, and by analyzing how such value alignment may be interpreted as contributing to the sustainability and resilience of territorially embedded rural production systems. From a systems perspective, LOHAS-related value alignment may be interpreted as a potential coordination mechanism that may contribute to strengthening feedback loops between producers and consumers and may enhance the adaptive capacity of short food supply chains as socio-ecological systems. The empirical analysis draws on an online survey conducted in the second quarter of 2024 among 73 local producers operating in Zala and Vas counties in Western Hungary. Factor analysis and cluster analysis were applied to identify underlying value structures and producer typologies. The results reveal two distinct producer clusters, one of which exhibits a strong alignment with LOHAS values. Producers within this cluster place particular emphasis on sustainability, environmental responsibility, health consciousness, and authenticity, alongside a pronounced commitment to local embeddedness and community-oriented practices. Overall, the findings demonstrate that LOHAS-related values are not confined to the consumer side but are increasingly embedded in territorially grounded local production models. This value alignment may contribute to strengthening short food supply chains rooted in specific geographical contexts, thereby contributing to the long-term socio-economic and environmental sustainability of rural regions. Full article

Two metallacyclic tetranuclear Fe(III) complexes, [{Fe₂(μ-O)(μ-RCOO)₂(tpon)}₂](BPh₄)₄ [R = Me (1), Ph (2)], where the flexible ditopic ligand tpon (N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)octane-1,8-diamine) links two μ-oxo-bis(μ-carboxylato) triple-bridged dinuclear units, have been prepared. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction establishes that both complexes adopt a 26-membered macrocyclic framework featuring an internal cavity capable of guest inclusion. Notably, incorporation of a monoatomic μ-oxo bridge enforces an outward orientation of the ligand alkyl chains, thereby suppressing the “zipper effect” observed in the previously reported Mn(II) analogue and facilitating the encapsulation of an acetone molecule. UV–vis absorption and diffuse-reflectance spectra confirm that the tetranuclear scaffold remains intact in both the solid state and in solution. These results demonstrate that modulating local coordination directionality via μ-oxo bridging is an effective strategy for controlling the global conformation and host–guest properties of large metallasupramolecular architectures. Full article

Planar multi-loop mechanisms often generate a large number of non-isomorphic candidate topological graphs during automatic synthesis, making it difficult to efficiently identify configurations that satisfy engineering-oriented functional requirements. To address this issue, a loop-constrained connectivity calculation method and a connectivity-based localization and screening procedure are proposed. The proposed connectivity calculation is directly formulated for general planar non-fractionated kinematic chains (NFKCs), including those with multiple joints. For planar fractionated kinematic chains (FKCs), however, the present method is not applied directly at the full-system level, but only to decomposed non-fractionated subchains after system-level decomposition. Starting from a structurally admissible set of candidate topological graphs, a connectivity matrix is established for automatic localization of the base and the end-effector (EE). Functional screening is then performed by combining the connectivity criterion with object-oriented rules on hydraulic driving-pair arrangement and driving-redundancy patterns. The method was validated using the 10-link, 3-DOF single-joint equivalent of the KC1 subchain of a mine scaler manipulator arm. Under the prescribed structural and functional constraints, 249 admissible configurations were obtained. The results indicate that the proposed method provides an effective basis for application-oriented topological screening and subsequent dimensional synthesis. Full article

Vulnerabilities in conventional agri-food supply chains (CAFSCs) necessitate a shift toward resilient, localized production models. Within the Agri-Food 4.0 landscape, urban Controlled-Environment Hydroponic Agriculture (CEHA) systems address these challenges by shortening supply chains and mitigating climate-induced breakdowns. However, structurally aligning Triple Bottom Line (TBL)-oriented stakeholder needs with complex technical specifications remains a critical challenge in sustainable CEHA system design. To address this challenge, the present study proposes a novel framework integrating the Full Consistency Method (FUCOM) and Quality Function Deployment (QFD) within a Finite Interval Type-2 (FIT2) Gaussian fuzzy environment. This approach systematically translates TBL-oriented priorities into precise engineering specifications, mapping 17 stakeholder needs (SNs) to 30 technical design requirements (TDRs) while capturing linguistic uncertainty and hesitation. The findings reveal a clear strategic focus on environmental and social sustainability. Specifically, high product quality, food safety and traceability, consumer acceptance, and minimization of environmental impacts emerge as the primary drivers of CEHA adoption. The QFD translation identifies scalable IoT infrastructure, sensor maintenance and calibration, and AI-enabled decision support as the most critical TDRs. The framework’s reliability and structural robustness were rigorously validated through comprehensive analyses, including Kendall’s W test to confirm expert consensus, alongside a Leave-One-Out (LOO) approach, weight perturbations, and a structural evaluation of TDR intercorrelations. These findings provide a scientifically grounded roadmap for designing sustainable, intelligent urban agricultural systems. Ultimately, this framework offers actionable managerial implications for agribusiness stakeholders to bridge strategic TBL-oriented goals with practical engineering, significantly enhancing agri-food supply chain resilience. Full article

The badminton smash is a decisive scoring technique whose effectiveness depends on adequate preparation and a proper proximal-to-distal sequencing of the kinetic chain. This study integrates a You Only Look Once (YOLO)-based real-time vision detector with five wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) attached to the right shoulder, right elbow, right wrist, right hip, and right knee of right-handed players. A high-speed camera provides video for shuttlecock and joint localization via YOLO, and the IMUs provide instantaneous joint accelerations at impact. The following four coaching-oriented indicators are defined: (1) rapid lowering of the center of mass after the opponent’s shot; (2) immediate forward acceleration after the shuttle is released; (3) alignment at the hitting position with the right shoulder/hip rotated backward and the left shoulder facing the approaching shuttle; and (4) a proximal-to-distal sequence in which the shoulder leads the elbow and then the wrist. Using two athletes with 15 trials each, the system achieved an overall recognition accuracy above 93% against manually annotated video. The method can provide objective feedback for coaches and players and is suitable for instructional use in physical education classes. Full article

Global environmental norms increasingly shape commodity governance in the Global South, with the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) representing a prominent attempt to govern land-based products through extraterritorial sustainability criteria. This study examines how such norms are received, reinterpreted, negotiated, and resisted in Indonesia’s palm oil sector, focusing on smallholder-dominated value chains in Serdang Bedagai and Simalungun, North Sumatra. Centered on everyday resistance and policy decoupling as its core interpretive lenses, and drawing on habitus as a supporting concept, the study employs qualitative fieldwork, in-depth interviews, field observations, and critical discourse analysis to investigate tensions between deforestation-free supply chain expectations and local realities marked by fragmented landholdings, informal tenure, intermediary dependence, and cashflow-oriented livelihood strategies. The findings show that the EUDR is widely perceived not as a sustainability opportunity, but as an externally imposed regulatory pressure that threatens income stability and market access. Local actors respond through discursive reframing, continued reliance on informal trading practices, and partial or symbolic implementation of legality and traceability requirements. The study argues that inclusive deforestation-free governance requires differentiated obligations, transitional legality pathways, and cooperative-based traceability mechanisms that better align global norms with local institutional capacity and livelihood structures. Full article

As interest in sustainable food consumption grows, local food has emerged as a key strategy for enhancing environmental sustainability, regional economic vitality, and food system resilience. This study examines how consumers’ sustainable value perceptions influence willingness to pay (WTP) and future purchase intention for local food within an integrated analytical framework. Using survey data from 400 consumers in South Korea, sustainable value perceptions were measured across social, environmental, and economic dimensions. Exploratory factor analysis and cluster analysis were used to identify consumer segments, while one-way ANOVA and binomial logistic regression analyzed differences in WTP and purchase intention. The results identify four consumer clusters and show that social and environmental value perceptions are positively associated with higher WTP and stronger purchase intention, whereas economic value perception does not significantly affect purchase intention. Prior purchase experience further reinforces purchase intention. This study contributes by proposing and empirically validating an integrated framework linking value perceptions, consumer segmentation, WTP, and purchase intention. The findings highlight the importance of value-based communication, information transparency, and experience-oriented strategies in promoting sustainable local food systems and strengthening agri-food supply chain resilience. Full article

The dominant agri-food system’s well-documented failures—biodiversity loss, deepening rural inequalities, and the erosion of small-scale farming livelihoods—have elevated SSE initiatives and social innovation in the agri-food sector and bioeconomy from a niche policy concern to a structural priority. This paper examines how SSE arrangements drive meaningful transformation in agri-food chains while advancing sustainable development at local and regional scales. Through a narrative review of interdisciplinary peer-reviewed literature and key institutional sources, the paper synthesizes evidence that SSE initiatives generate transformation through three interconnected mechanisms: (a) the reconfiguration of governance structures; (b) the deepening of producer–consumer relationships through spatial proximity and relational transparency; and (c) the more equitable redistribution of value across agri-food territories. These findings suggest that place-based SSE models occupy a central—rather than peripheral—role in sustainability transitions and local development. The paper presents a structured analytical framework linking SSE practices to agri-food chain transformation and develops nine concrete policy implications for scaling and sustaining SSE innovations through coordinated collaboration among public, private, and social economy stakeholders. The findings contribute to a sharper understanding of the conditions under which SSE-driven models can foster sustainable, socially inclusive, and community-oriented agri-food systems and of why the solidarity dimension, rather than organisational form alone, is the decisive criterion for identifying genuinely transformative initiatives. Full article

High-technology supply chains are increasingly concentrated in advanced economies, limiting the industrial upgrading potential of emerging regions. At the same time, growing sustainability pressures require the integration of circular economy principles into production systems. However, existing research rarely integrates supply chain localization, circular value creation, and regional capability within a unified framework. This study addresses the following research question: how can circular supply chain design be structurally integrated into high-technology localization strategies to support sustainable industrial development in emerging economies? To answer this question, the study develops an integrative conceptual framework through the synthesis of localization theory, circular supply chain design, and capability accumulation literature. The framework is structured around three interdependent structural dimensions (SDs): (1) core technological supply chain processes, (2) circular value creation mechanisms, and (3) regional capability accumulation pathways. The framework embeds circular mechanisms—such as modularity, repairability, remanufacturing, and lifecycle management—within the supply chain architecture, enabling the transition from linear acquisition models to lifecycle-oriented systems. It provides an analytical basis for understanding circular localization and offers practical insights for policymakers and firms seeking to develop sustainable high-technology supply chains in emerging economies. This contribution advances the integration of circular economy and localization strategies and supports sustainable industrial transformation. Full article

The decarbonization of agri-food supply chains represents a critical challenge and an opportunity for achieving global climate targets and Sustainable Development Goals, extending beyond pure environmental mitigation to integrated sustainability management. This study focuses on the wine industry, a major global sector with significant macroeconomic weight and substantial potential for emission reductions. Through a systematic literature review, this research maps scientific trends and identifies strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the entire supply chain, from viticulture and winemaking to distribution and waste valorization. Analyzing 65 publications, this study identifies three thematic clusters: (i) agronomic and environmental practices (Cluster 1); (ii) innovation, social welfare, and corporate governance (Cluster 2); and (iii) energy transitions and methodological accounting tools (Cluster 3). The key findings highlight that while packaging and logistics remain primary emission hotspots, significant mitigation can be achieved through soil carbon sequestration, renewable energy adoption, and circular economy practices. This research contributes a cohesive set of sustainability-oriented operational strategies derived from previously fragmented technical mitigation strategies. By acknowledging that decarbonization strategies extend beyond ecological metrics, this framework address the intersecting socioeconomic and operational impacts experienced by local communities. The results reveal a disconnect between macro-level legislative frameworks, such as the European Green Deal, and micro-level operationalization. This review highlights the need for a shift toward harmonized governance and standardized metrics to reconcile competitiveness with climate stewardship. Full article

The built environment continues to encounter significant challenges related to waste generation and resource depletion, driving increased interest in circular economy strategies that extend material lifecycles and mitigate environmental impacts. This systematic review synthesises findings from 60 studies on waste-to-resource innovations across construction and household contexts. Although the existing literature predominantly addresses construction and demolition waste, this review foregrounds household operational waste, an area that remains insufficiently explored despite its importance for everyday resource recovery. The analysis examines how materials generated through routine use, maintenance, and minor renovation activities can be captured and redirected into productive resource streams, with particular attention to governance mechanisms such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The findings indicate that effective waste-to-resource systems depend on coherent regulatory frameworks and enforcement, economic incentives, enabling technologies, community engagement, and product design that facilitates reuse and disassembly. Key barriers include low public awareness, fragmented supply chains, high recovery costs, weak compliance mechanisms, and materials that are difficult to separate. The review concludes that improving waste-to-resource outcomes in the built environment requires coordinated action among producers, households, local authorities, and technology providers, and it articulates policy-relevant and community-oriented pathways to support more effective resource recovery systems. Full article

The aim of this study is to identify the factors that shape the ability of producers in short food supply chains in Slovakia to utilize different types of distribution channels and to penetrate higher-demand markets. The analysis was based on a database compiled from a public SFSC platform, comprising 986 agri-food producers, 1434 points of sale, and 1908 producer–point of sale ties. The data were analyzed as a two-mode network using ERGM models. The results show that most producers remain tied to local direct sales, while access to more demanding channels and distant markets is concentrated among a small group of actors. The study shows that the functioning of SFSCs in Slovakia is strongly shaped by producer size, value added, and the form of production organization. Organic certification emerges as a key tool of product differentiation that enhances ability to access distant and urban markets, although its importance in a post-socialist context is highly dependent on market characteristics. Family farms are selectively able to supply distant markets, while cooperatives, despite their expected association with commodity-oriented production, are able to overcome capacity and logistical barriers within SFSCs, indicating the emergence of new collaborative structures and business models. Full article

Globalization has reorganized industrial spatial patterns, embedding regional economies into complex global production systems. However, the existing literature primarily focuses on the national level, leaving the “global-national-local” multi-scale linkages of sub-national regions underexplored. Focusing on Guangdong, which is China’s most open economic gateway, this study constructs a nested Multi-Regional input–output (MRIO) model to systematically reveal its industrial linkage paths across multiple scales. The results demonstrate that Guangdong features “strong local services and extensive global connections.” Specifically, the network is led by the high-R&D-intensity category and supported by energy and low-R&D categories, highlighted by two core supply paths, which are non-metallic mineral supply for construction and metal product support for optical–electrical manufacturing. Four heterogeneous modes are identified: resource security, innovation-driven dual circulation, cost-competitive regional division, and export-oriented service support. Crucially, the provincial “domestic intermediate chains plus international core chains” logic underscores Guangdong’s role as a bridge connecting Global and Domestic Value Chains. Theoretically, this work enriches the local dimension of Global Production Network theory. Methodologically, it provides an operational tool for nested analysis. Practically, it offers policy evidence for open economies to optimize industrial layouts and enhance supply chain resilience. Full article