Search Results (292)

Against the dual backdrop of rapid population aging and legacy neighborhood renewal, morphologically planning-locked legacy neighborhoods in high-density cities face persistent imbalances in outdoor activity spaces that undermine aging-in-place participation and health equity. This study advances a Spatial Pathology framework. Using nine representative communities in Longtan Subdistrict, Dongcheng District, Beijing, we develop a GIS-assisted spatial audit, a systematic behavioral observation protocol with temporal-intensity metrics, and a validated perception instrument. These tools form a closed evidentiary loop with explicit indicator definitions, formulas, and decision thresholds, alongside a reproducible analytic and visualization pipeline. Tri-dimensional baselines revealed substantial inter-community disparities: Spatial Quality Index (SQI) ranged from 43.3 to 77.0; activity intensity varied from 1.5 to 15.7 persons/100 m²·hour; and overall satisfaction scores spanned 3.88–4.49. It quantifies and identifies three core paradoxes in outdoor activity spaces within this context: (1) the Functional Failure Paradox with FFI exceeding +0.5 and ELR surpassing 60% in dormant communities; (2) the Value Misalignment Paradox where Facilities & Equipment showed the strongest satisfaction impact (β = 0.344) yet the largest unmet-need gap (VQGI > +8); (3) the Practice–Perception Decoupling Paradox evidenced by a negative correlation (r = −0.38) between usage intensity and satisfaction. These paradoxes reveal the spatial roots of planning-locked legacy neighborhoods—compound mechanisms of planning inertia, decision–demand information gaps, and elderly adaptability masking environmental deficits. We translate the diagnosis into typology-specific prescriptions—reactivating dormant spaces via “route–node–plane” continuity and proximal micro-spaces; decongesting peak periods through elastic zoning and equipment redistribution; and precision calibration of facilities and walking loops—implemented through co-creation and light-touch stewardship. This provides evidence-based, precision-targeted intervention pathways for micro-renewal of aging neighborhoods, supporting localized implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 11 Sustainable Cities; SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities). This methodological framework is transferable to other high-density aging cities, offering theoretical scaffolding and empirical reference for multi-source geographic data-driven urban spatial analysis and equity-oriented age-friendly retrofitting. Full article

Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is a Mediterranean staple food valued for its cultural heritage, gastronomic identity, nutritional profile, bioactivities, and socio-economic and environmental relevance. This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on chestnut fruits and by-products, linking ecophysiology and genetic diversity to chemical composition and functionality. It summarizes the nutrient profile (high starch and dietary fiber; gluten-free; B vitamins; essential minerals; and favorable fatty acids) and the diversity of phytochemicals—particularly phenolic acids, flavonoids, and ellagitannins (e.g., castalagin and vescalagin)—that underpin antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-proliferative, and metabolic effects demonstrated across in vitro, cellular, and in vivo models. We compare conventional and green extraction strategies (e.g., hydroethanolic, ultrasound-/microwave-assisted, and supercritical and subcritical water), highlighting method-dependent yields, composition, and bioactivity, and the valorization of shells, burs, and leaves within circular bioeconomy frameworks. Technological applications span functional foods (gluten-free flours, beverages, and emulsions), nutraceuticals, and cosmetics (skin-protective and regenerative formulations), and active packaging/biopolymers with antioxidant and antimicrobial performance. We discuss sources of variability (cultivar, environment, maturation, and processing) affecting bioactive content and efficacy, and outline future directions. Finally, this review emphasizes the importance of university-facilitated co-creation with companies and consumers—within the framework of Responsible Research and Innovation—as a pathway to strengthen the economic valorization and full utilization of the chestnut value chain, enhancing its societal relevance, sustainability, and health-promoting potential. Full article

This mixed-methods study examines how cultural heritage identity and co-creation value influence the tourist heritage experience in Prenggan Tourism Village, Yogyakarta, particularly focusing on local wisdom’s role as a mediator of these effects. This study was conducted in two sequential phases: the qualitative phase explored community narratives, cultural practices, and co-creation activities through interviews and observations, while the quantitative phase validated these insights using survey data collected over the past year from 208 domestic tourists. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the reliability and validity of the results and evaluate the hypothesized relationships. The findings reveal that both cultural heritage identity and co-creation value significantly strengthen local wisdom, which in turn enhances the depth and authenticity of the tourist heritage experience. This study demonstrates that local wisdom serves as a bridge between cultural identity and visitor engagement, promoting immersive and meaningful experiences. This research aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): it contributes to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by supporting local livelihoods through tourism, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by preserving cultural heritage and empowering local communities, and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by fostering sustainable and culturally respectful tourism practices. The findings contribute theoretical insights to the heritage-based experiential co-creation literature and offer practical implications for policymakers and destination managers aiming to enhance community-based tourism sustainability. Full article

The shift towards renewable energy demands decision-making tools that unite economic performance with environmental stewardship and social equity. The conventional evaluation methods fail to consider these interconnected factors, which results in substandard investment results. The paper establishes a sustainability accounting system that uses the Elimination and Choice Expressing Reality (ELECTRE) method to optimize investment distribution between solar power, wind power, and bioenergy systems. The evaluation framework uses six performance indicators, which include cost efficiency and return on investment, together with CO₂ emissions intensity, job creation, energy output, and financial sustainability indicators, like Net Present Value (NPV) and payback period. The barrier optimization algorithm solved the model in 10 iterations, which took 0.10 s to achieve an optimal objective value of 1.6929. The wind energy source demonstrated superior performance in every evaluation criterion because it achieved the highest concordance scores, lowest discordance levels, best payback period, and strongest NPV. The maximum allocation went to wind at 53.3%, while bioenergy received 31.0%, and solar received 16.7%. The optimized portfolio reached a total sustainability index (SI) of 1.70, which validates the method’s strength. The research shows that using ELECTRE with sustainability accounting creates an exact and open system for renewable energy investment planning. The framework reveals wind as the core alternative yet demonstrates how bioenergy and solar work together to support sustainable development across environmental and economic and social dimensions. Full article

This study examines the critical success factors for digital transformation in South Africa’s public services, where systemic inefficiency, corruption, and limited transparency have eroded public trust. Using a PRISMA-guided systematic literature review of 64 studies, this study synthesises evidence on digital governance challenges and opportunities through the lenses of New Public Management and Digital-Era Governance, complemented by value co-creation and a citizen-centred design. The analysis shows that transformation efforts often falter because of infrastructure deficits, bureaucratic resistance, and policy misalignment. Successful initiatives rest on five mutually reinforcing pillars: (1) coherent policy and regulatory frameworks; (2) equitable and reliable digital infrastructure; (3) committed leadership with sustained institutional capacity-building; (4) meaningful citizen engagement via co-design and co-production; and (5) data-enabled accountability and process efficiency. Persistent barriers include disparities in access and digital skills across municipalities, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and legacy–system incompatibilities that impede end-to-end integration. This study proposes an implementation framework that aligns technical solutions with governance reforms, such as depoliticised administration, performance-based accountability, and localised service customization to enhance operational efficiency and rebuild trust. It concludes that bridging the digital divide and embedding context-sensitive, participatory, and ethically grounded approaches are essential for sustainable digital transformation in South Africa’s unequal socioeconomic landscape. Full article

This paper investigates how the existing pellet plant of the Energy Community of Karditsa (ESEK) can be leveraged to strengthen RESCoop operations by integrating a variety of biomass feedstocks as (i) urban residual biomass, (ii) forest residues, and (iii) alternative sources such as spent coffee grounds (SCGs). The RESCoop envisions an extended role as an Energy Service Company (ESCO) by installing and operating biomass boilers in local public buildings. The paper provides an overview of the technical and business support that was provided to the RESCoop for the development of such new business activities and aggregates the lessons learned from engaging the rural society towards sustainable bioenergy production. More specifically, the study covers the logistical aspects of the new RESCoop value chains, including availability, collection, transportation, and processing of the feedstocks along with their costs. A base case scenario investigates the feasibility of installing biomass boilers in municipal buildings through a detailed financial viability study examining capital and operational expenses, revenues, and key financial indicators. Further, the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the new RESCoop activities are evaluated in terms of CO₂ equivalent savings compared to fossil fuel solutions and new job creation, respectively. This detailed analysis highlights the potential for sustainable bioenergy integration and provides valuable insights for similar initiatives aiming to diversify and enhance sustainable energy practices in local communities. Full article

Value co-creation is essential for the success and sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), enabling them to integrate resources and knowledge from multiple stakeholders, such as customers, suppliers, and universities, to develop innovative offerings. However, research drawing on Service-Dominant Logic (SDL) and Resource-Based View (RBV) has devoted limited attention to how entrepreneurial ecosystem cooperation and marketing innovation jointly shape SME value co-creation, particularly in smaller and peripheral economies. This study examines the impact of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) on value co-creation in SMEs, focusing on the moderating role of marketing innovation. EEs provide SMEs with access to new knowledge, technologies, and financial resources, which support innovation and enhance their competitiveness. Using microdata from the Portuguese Community Innovation Survey (CIS) 2020 and logistic regression models, we investigate how cooperation with key stakeholders (universities, customers, suppliers, consultants, competitors and government agencies) affects the likelihood that SMEs engage in value co-creation with users. The results show that ecosystem cooperation significantly contributes to value co-creation, with cooperation with universities, customers and suppliers exerting the strongest effects. Marketing innovation further strengthens the association between ecosystem cooperation and value co-creation, especially for knowledge-intensive and market-oriented partners. Theoretically, the study extends SDL by applying its multi-actor value co-creation perspective to entrepreneurial ecosystem configurations and specifying how cooperation with distinct actors activates co-creation mechanisms in SMEs. It extends RBV by conceptualising ecosystem cooperation as an externally orchestrated bundle of strategic resources and by positioning marketing innovation as a dynamic capability that shapes the returns to such cooperation. The findings also provide practical guidance for SMEs and policymakers seeking to design ecosystems and marketing strategies that support collaborative innovation in the knowledge economy. Full article

Green co-creation plays a vital role in promoting sustainability by engaging both firms and consumers in value creation, yet most studies examine competition and cooperation separately without considering their interplay. This study investigates the dynamics of coopetition in green co-creation by developing a two-stage biform game that integrates competitive interaction and cooperative bargaining within a unified framework. The results show that (1) greater green co-creation efforts, representing deeper firm–customer interactions, improve both parties’ equilibrium outcomes; (2) cooperation leads to greater green effort investment than pure competition; and (3) when Nash bargaining conditions are satisfied, coopetition improves both individual profits and total welfare compared with sole competition. These findings highlight that coopetition not only strengthens mutual economic benefits, but also enhances sustainability performance by balancing competitive and cooperative forces. This study provides an analytical foundation for understanding firm–customer coopetition and offers actionable insights for advancing sustainable value creation in green supply chain management. Full article

Digital content platforms rely on value co-creation among users, creators, and the platform. Content value, including historical accumulation, influences platforms’ pricing strategies, quality decisions, and monetization potential. This study explores the impact of content value on pricing and quality strategies under centralized and decentralized content configurations. We capture the relationship between historical content quality and user engagement. The interplay of historical quality and content type is characterized as content value dynamics, which influence platforms in managing content supply, user engagement, and revenue generation under different modes. Results show that operational modes offer distinct advantages depending on subsidy levels, advertising revenue-sharing mechanisms, and the platform development stage. The centralized mode performs better under limited subsidies, particularly by offering content with higher continuity. The decentralized mode benefits from diverse creation and flexible incentives to achieve rapid market scaling when subsidies are sufficient. Notably, higher advertising revenue-sharing is not always optimal, especially in low-advertising environments. Additionally, the platform development stage affects optimal mode selection. The decentralized mode with low subsidies may achieve early profitability, whereas the centralized mode offers greater potential for sustainable long-term growth. This work contributes to platform-based supply chain theory by incorporating dynamic content value into operational decision-making. It provides operational insights for platforms regarding mode design and the optimization of value-based monetization strategies. Full article

This study investigates the influence of entrepreneurial leadership, knowledge management, and digital capability on entrepreneurial performance in Indonesia’s education sector while also examining the mediating role of value co-creation. Grounded in the Resource-Based Theory, Capability Theory, Behavioral Approach to Leadership, Service-Dominant Logic, and Entrepreneurship Theory, this research provides a comprehensive framework to understand how intangible resources, leadership behavior, and value co-creation jointly enhance institutional performance. Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected through a survey of 350 junior high schools selected via multistage cluster sampling, with respondents comprising principals, teachers, and school committee members. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied to test the reliability, validity, model fit, and structural relationships among variables. The results reveal that knowledge management and digital capability play a pivotal role in improving entrepreneurial performance. Furthermore, entrepreneurial leadership, knowledge management, and digital capability collectively enhance value co-creation within educational institutions. These findings suggest that strengthening knowledge management and digital capability strategies is essential for advancing school-level entrepreneurial performance. From a policy perspective, this study highlights the need for training initiatives, supportive regulations, and institutional frameworks to promote sustainable educational entrepreneurship. Full article

At present, the digital construction of museums has created a novel cultural ecosystem that integrates digital preservation of cultural heritage, intelligent management, immersive experiences, and cloud-based services. However, insufficient synergistic integration of technological applications constrains the comprehensive release of the digital construction’s efficacy, while the absence of cultural assessment dimensions hinders the effective articulation of mechanisms whereby digital technology empowers cultural innovation. These concerns collectively constitute the primary impediments hindering museums from attaining sustainable development. The effectiveness of museum digital construction is fully clarified by combining grounded theory qualitative research methods with cultural cycle theory in this study. The Analytic Network Process (ANP) is used to manage interdependent relationships between factors, and cloud models are used to clarify indicator ambiguity, which allows for accurate assessment of digital construction results, consequently bolstering the sustainability of museum digitalization initiatives. The developed ‘qualitative–quantitative’ collaborative evaluation methodology for museum digital construction includes three sub-objectives: technology embedding, value co-creation, and institutional adaptation, as well as five primary indicators and ten secondary indicators. An empirical analysis of the ‘Smart Jiangxi Museum’ digital construction initiative at the Jiangxi Provincial Museum in China indicates that the project has achieved an ‘excellent’ standard. The findings of a previous qualitative study are effectively supported by this conclusion. This study presents a systematic approach for museum evaluation and gives decision-making guidance for museums to attain sustainable use of cultural resources, promote social knowledge transmission, and facilitate green, low-carbon transformation of operational models in the digital era. Full article

Inclusive education represents a central pillar of social sustainability, demanding a nuanced understanding of the factors shaping students’ attitudes toward people with disabilities. Grounded in the social–relational model of disability—which conceptualizes disability as the interaction between individual characteristics and environmental barriers—this study examined the effects of emotionally valenced video stimuli (positive, negative, neutral), gender, and tolerance level on university students’ attitudes, using a randomized quasi-experimental design with repeated measures. The intervention was implemented entirely online to ensure consistency and accessibility. A total of 179 undergraduate students from the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest (Romania), aged 20 to 23 years (M = 21.4, SD = 1.6), participated in the study, which lasted approximately two weeks. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention assessments, including the Elementary Tolerance Scale and a 25-item Attitude Scale combining strengths-based descriptors with stereotype-consistent items used diagnostically to detect bias (without endorsing such framings). Results revealed a significant main effect of video type, F(2,176) = 10.07, p < 0.001, with higher post-test scores for the positive condition (M = 93.82) compared to the negative (M = 85.88) and neutral (M = 82.67) conditions. Gender (p = 0.033) and tolerance level (p = 0.034) also emerged as significant moderators. We explicitly reject deficit-oriented terminology, contextualizing its use solely for diagnostic and analytical purposes; wherever possible, affirming, strengths-based, and socially grounded language is prioritized. These findings highlight the value of brief, emotionally tailored interventions for fostering inclusive attitudes in higher education and emphasize the importance of ethically curated, co-designed educational materials and measurement practices grounded in dignity and human rights. Ethical Note (Content Warning): The study adopts a social–relational, human-rights perspective on disability. Deficit-based narratives were analyzed exclusively as subjects of critique and are not endorsed. Descriptions of the “negative” stimulus were deliberately minimized to reduce potential harm and included only for scientific transparency. Negative-valence questionnaire items reflect prevalent stereotypes and were used solely as diagnostic indicators of bias. Future research should prioritize collaborative co-creation with scholars and advocates with disabilities and employ ethically curated, inclusive stimuli. Full article

The European Union air transport sector has been repeatedly exposed to major disruptions such as the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and volatile energy prices. Strengthening resilience has, therefore, become a strategic priority. This study examines how strategic energy investments—covering renewable energy, sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), electrification, hydrogen technologies, and advanced infrastructure—contribute to the resilience of the EU air transport system. The methodology integrates both primary and secondary data from EU policy documents, ICAO and IATA databases, Eurostat, and national statistics. A multi-criteria evaluation was applied using four key performance indicators: emission reduction efficiency (ER), annual exposure index (AEI), investment performance index (IPI), and net present value (NPV). Projects were assessed through Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), complemented by sensitivity analysis. The results show that the Pioneer project delivers the strongest environmental and financial outcomes, ranking first in ER, AEI, and NPV. Hermes performs best in job creation and social impact, while BioOstrand achieves substantial absolute CO₂ reductions but lower cost efficiency. TULIPS shows limited effectiveness across all indicators. Sensitivity analysis confirmed that rankings remain robust under alternative weighting scenarios. The findings underscore that project design and alignment with resilience objectives matter more than investment size. Strategic energy investments should, therefore, be prioritized not only for decarbonization but also for their ability to reinforce both technological and socio-economic resilience, providing a reliable foundation for a sustainable and crisis-resistant EU air transport sector. Full article

Despite major policy, industry, and individual efforts to reduce global environmental damage, the industry-induced carbon footprint continues to persist under changing geographical patterns. Having shifted significantly from advanced economies to emerging economies and developing world regions, greenhouse gas emissions from footprint-heavy activities, such as raw material sourcing and waste disposal, are not addressed by institutional and corporate solutions due to different regional standards or the overall absence of mandatory reporting. Rooted in the analysis of industry practices and past literature, the present research presents an integrated theme-based perspective on the interplay between focal firms and their suppliers in the context of advanced and emerging economies in underreported Scope 3 activity carbon footprint management. We argue that it is technology-driven unified efforts, which enforce factors such as traceability, transparency, and predictive and prescriptive capabilities within Scope 3 activities, that need to be addressed to ensure the activation and maintenance of a truly sustainable global value chain (GVC). By departing from traditional command-and-control practices and extending upon the existing governance-focused framework of sustainable value creation, this paper highlights the essential co-creating stance of non-focal actors in achieving a circular approach to sustainability within GVCs. Full article

Social media-based content entrepreneurship is evolving rapidly and emerging as a significant and growing form of employment. Generative AI (GenAI) offers content entrepreneurs a powerful tool for content creation; however, the technology can be abused to produce deepfakes, rumors, plagiarism, and other injurious content. This triggers value co-destruction across the creator economy and society, making it particularly crucial to enhance content entrepreneurs’ compliance with GenAI policies. Aiming to develop an effective governance framework, this study adopts a mixed-methods approach, beginning with exploratory interviews to uncover factors affecting GenAI policy compliance intention. Subsequently, it employs confirmatory quantitative research with a survey to validate the proposed research model. The results indicate that both the deterrence triad (i.e., perceived sanction certainty, severity, and celerity) and perceived social norm strengthen GenAI policy compliance intention. Meanwhile, perceived social norm weakens the impact of perceived sanction certainty on policy compliance intention. Furthermore, peer communication enhances policy compliance intention by increasing perceptions of sanction certainty and celerity as well as social norm. These findings contribute to the sustainable development of content entrepreneurship and effective GenAI governance, fostering a symbiotic creator economy. Full article