Search Results (12,321)

This study investigates how artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities shape sustainable entrepreneurship (SE) among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies. Focusing on knowledge management (KM) as a mediator, entrepreneurial orientation (EO) as a moderator, and government policy support (GPS) as an enabler, the research draws upon the Knowledge-Based View, Dynamic Capabilities Theory, and Institutional Theory. Using data from Saudi Arabian SMEs operating within the Vision 2030 agenda, the structural model demonstrates that AI primarily influences sustainability when firms possess robust KM systems capable of translating digital insights into actionable practices. Both EO and GPS strengthen the conversion of knowledge into sustainable outcomes, where EO fosters innovation and proactivity, and GPS provides essential resources and legitimacy. Nevertheless, excessive reliance on policy incentives may divert firms toward compliance rather than substantive transformation. Conceptually, this paper situates KM at the core of sustainability transformation, with policy support shaping the institutional context. The findings offer actionable guidance for SME managers and policymakers seeking to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through strategic engagement with AI and KM. Full article

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) stocks in croplands play a key role for climate change mitigation and soil sustainability, with proper management techniques enhancing carbon storage to support these goals. This study focuses on the development of a hybrid carbon modeling approach for the simulation of topsoil SOC stocks across the entire agricultural area of Lithuania. In essence, the proposed hybrid approach combines a custom cloud-based Soil Data Cube (SDC) and the RothC process-based model. High-resolution annual soil layers produced via the SDC (developed using Earth Observation and Copernicus datasets processed through AI-based methodologies) were incorporated into the RothC model to achieve reliable and detailed spatial estimations of SOC stocks. Moreover, 20-year projections into the future were conducted for (i) the business as usual scenario, and (ii) two different IPCC climate change scenarios (RCP 4.5 and 8.5) for the estimation of the SOC stock changes. The initial SOC stock varies from 15 to over 80 $\mathrm{t}\mathrm{C}/\mathrm{h}\mathrm{a}$ while the projections present an average SOC loss of $-0.14$$\mathrm{t}\mathrm{C}/\mathrm{h}\mathrm{a}/\mathrm{yr} \mathrm{f}$ or the business-as-usual scenario and an average SOC sequestration of $-0.24$ and $-0.34$$\mathrm{t}\mathrm{C}/\mathrm{h}\mathrm{a}/\mathrm{yr}$ under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, respectively. The framework aims to provide a robust and cost-effective solution for estimating SOC stocks under climate pressures, supporting EU policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy. Full article

Engineering education continues to grapple with the shift from lecture-centered instruction to approaches that connect theory with practice and strengthen transferable competencies. This study examines an educational intervention in the Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Miguel Hernández University of Elche. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of a challenge-based learning (CBL) strategy, supported by optional artificial intelligence (AI) tools and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The intervention took the form of a design challenge in which 48 students, working in teams, developed a mechanical artifact using laboratory resources, prepared a technical report, and justified design, material, and process decisions. Data were collected through student surveys to assess perceptions of skill development, AI use, and SDG awareness. Findings indicate improved understanding of manufacturing processes, more critical and selective use of AI, stronger sustainability awareness, and gains in transferable competencies such as creativity, decision-making, and technical communication. These results suggest that integrating CBL with emerging technologies can enhance learning outcomes and motivation in technical degree programs, while offering a practical model that other engineering courses can adapt. Full article

This paper proposes a framework for evaluating the sustainability of higher education institutions (HEIs) using a combination of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and TOPSIS. This approach aims to align higher education institutions’ activities with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (UN). It addresses shortcomings in existing evaluation systems, such as a lack of transparency and insufficient consideration of institutional diversity. The framework uses a comprehensive set of 34 indicators, divided into policy-based and data-driven categories, to measure alignment with all 17 SDGs. AHP is applied to determine the relative importance of each criterion, ensuring a balanced evaluation based on expert input. The TOPSIS method was then used to rank universities based on their proximity to an ideal performance level. The framework is noted for its flexibility, transparency, and ability to generate practical recommendations, although challenges such as reliance on expert judgment and data limitations are acknowledged. Full article

Employers are highlighting the importance of knowledge and professional skills, including personal, interpersonal, communication, and thinking, in their quest for graduates who are prepared for the workforce. Collaborative research is an essential toolbox that integrates knowledge, skills, and attitudes, which is important for future engineers; nonetheless, undergraduate students often struggle to engage effectively in this key competency. This study presents an undergraduate sustainability research experience (CUSRE) that is built into two courses, utilizing a collaborative-based learning (CBL) setting aimed at creating knowledge, improving skills and competencies, encouraging inclusivity, and advancing equitable education. The objective of the study is to narrow the achievement gap, improve graduation rates, and boost students’ enthusiasm and readiness for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It encompasses a strategy that integrates key approaches, including collaborative research, sustainability as a core value and practice, and educational equity supported by compensatory pedagogy that emphasizes teamwork. Introduced at the University of Ottawa (uOttawa) in Canada, the initiative engaged students to deepen their understanding of the SDGs through research cases and projects. This experience yielded significant knowledge gains and a considerable success rate among participants. Moreover, it has been successfully scaled and adapted for the Global Banking School (GBS) in the UK, thereby broadening its impact to a larger audience. Full article

The rapid global shift toward transportation electrification has positioned e-mobility as a key part of low-carbon transition strategies. Saudi Arabia, as a major energy producer undergoing economic diversification under Vision 2030, has recently increased its policy efforts for electric mobility. This study performs a qualitative document analysis of 52 national policies, strategies, and institutional publications issued between 2010 and 2025, creating a longitudinal dataset of 1240 coded references. Using a PRISMA-aligned screening process and NVivo-based thematic coding, the analysis highlights main policy trends, institutional priorities, and implementation challenges influencing the Kingdom’s e-mobility transition. Results show a clear shift from early technology-neutral sustainability rhetoric to a more explicit policy framework focusing on industrial localization, charging infrastructure growth, renewable energy integration, and regulatory development after 2020. Despite these advances, gaps remain in governance coordination, market readiness, charging accessibility, and user adoption incentives. The paper provides a systematically mapped view of Saudi Arabia’s e-mobility policy landscape and places it within global transition trends. The findings offer practical insights for policymakers aiming to strengthen implementation, accelerate adoption, and align transport electrification with national decarbonization goals. Full article

This project’s focus is to create a morphing wing with variable geometry that will improve aerodynamic performance. The NACA 0018 airfoil, known for its stable aerodynamic characteristics and symmetrical shape, is chosen as a base airfoil for modification in this approach. To investigate the effects of flexible trailing edge deformation under aerodynamic loading, various new morphing airfoil designs have been designed and analyzed. Both the performance results of a conventional hinged wing design and morphing airfoil designs were compared. Identifying the most effective airfoil design that could produce higher lift-to-drag ratios, less turbulence, and better overall aerodynamic behavior was the main goal. Because of its elasticity and flexibility, natural rubber latex (Hevea brasiliensis) was utilized as the primary skin material. This allows for a seamless, hinge-free morphing wing. To evaluate aerodynamic efficiency, structural integrity, and material behavior under various situations, computational fluid dynamics simulations were carried out. The most promising airfoil design was determined based on performance. By reducing drag, increasing lift, and reducing mechanical complexity, this new approach offers a sustainable and effective substitute for traditional wing designs, advancing the development of adaptive aeronautical structures. Full article

This study focuses on the search for the optimal value of the cost per liter of raw milk. The sample included 59 farms with different types of labor, containing 422 elements maintained in different accommodation conditions. The farms are located in an urban area in the country’s capital. This study was essentially based on mathematical methodology close to a variant of the Cobb–Douglas function used by many economists. This made it possible to find expressions of the relationships linking different parameters involved in the evaluation of the optimal value of the cost per raw liter, as well as certain critical values of the number of elements to be determined. The results show that the variation in the cost per liter follows two levels; the first relates to a number of elements between one and ten, where the increase occurs in a linear and progressive manner. The second level concerns the range between 10 and 30 elements. It is characterized by a linear increase and is more accentuated than in the previous case. The results also suggest that a critical number indicates the separation between the two levels. Application of these wastes as fertilizers aligns with the EU Action Plan on the Circular Economy and can contribute to achieving SDGs 2 and 12. Full article

This study compares how academics and company managers prioritize environmental sustainability criteria using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Three main criteria were evaluated: resource and waste management, energy management, and product sustainability. The study examines these priorities by identifying key sustainability criteria, comparing stakeholder assessments, and interpreting their implications for SDG-focused decision-making processes. The findings, based on the hypothesis that managers prefer market-sensitive strategies while academics prioritize ecological management, show that these different perspectives are complementary and can contribute to more inclusive sustainability policies together. The results show that company managers place greater importance on product-related practices such as the use of recycled materials, supply chain control, and product certification, reflecting market-oriented sustainability expectations. On the other hand, academics place greater emphasis on resource and waste management, including water resource protection (SDG 6), solid waste management (SDG 15), and the use of recycled materials (SDG 12). Both groups emphasize renewable energy (SDG 7) and greenhouse gas reduction (SDG 13) in the energy dimension. Full article

In the context of global sustainable development and China’s “Dual Carbon” goals, green transformation has emerged as a crucial pathway for manufacturing enterprises to enhance their ESG performance. This study develops a comprehensive and novel framework for assessing green transformation and uses panel data from Chinese A-share listed manufacturing firms spanning 2009 to 2022 to systematically evaluate the impact of this transformation on ESG performance. It also investigates the moderating effects of financing constraints, firm size, and digital transformation. The empirical findings reveal three key results. First, green transformation exerts a significant positive influence on corporate ESG performance, and this conclusion remains robust after conducting multiple endogeneity and sensitivity tests. Second, the beneficial effect of green transformation is more pronounced in state-owned enterprises, firms in central, western, and northeastern China, and younger enterprises. This reflects the substantial impact of policy orientation and resource base on the effectiveness of implementing green strategies. Third, financing constraints amplify the ESG benefits derived from green transformation. In contrast, firm size exhibits a negative moderating effect, indicating that small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) derive greater advantages. Although digital transformation generally enhances ESG performance, it presents a synergistic imbalance with green transformation that diminishes its marginal effect. This study provides theoretical foundations and robust empirical evidence to support the advancement of corporate ESG performance through initiatives focused on green transformation. Full article

This study addresses the technical gaps in current flood simulation for regulated lakes, such as insufficient accuracy in simulating complex gate and dam operation processes and low computational efficiency that fails to meet practical engineering needs. By employing an improved two-dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic model, it systematically analyzes flood control strategies for large regulated lakes. Using the August 2018 flood event for model validation, the final simulation results indicate that the current flood control capacity meets standards for 50-year floods (Nanyang 36.79 m, Weishan 35.99 m) but fails for 100-year floods, exceeding limits by 0.23 m (Nanyang 37.22 m) and 0.15 m (Weishan 36.64 m). The designed conditions reduce 100-year flood levels to 36.98 m and 36.47 m, respectively, achieving the required flood defense standard for 100-year events. The findings provide a quantitative framework for evaluating flood control capacity across different planning scenarios, which advances flood risk management and offers implementable insights for achieving sustainable water resource management in regulated lake basins globally. This, in turn, contributes directly to two United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): enhancing human community safety and resilience (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities) through improved flood control engineering and operations, and strengthening climate adaptation (SDG 13: Climate Action) by boosting basin-wide resilience to extreme rainfall and flooding. Full article

Natural Product Synthesis (NPS) is a cornerstone of organic chemistry, historically rooted in the dual goals of structure elucidation and synthetic strategy development for bioactive compounds. Initially focused on identifying the structures of medicinally relevant natural products, NPS has evolved into a dynamic field with applications in drug discovery, immunotherapy, and smart materials. This evolution has been propelled by advances in reaction design, mechanistic insight, and the integration of green chemistry principles. A particularly promising development in NPS is the use of photochemistry, which harnesses light—a renewable energy source—to drive chemical transformations. Photochemical reactions offer unique excited-state reactivity, enabling synthetic pathways that are often inaccessible through thermal methods. Their precision and sustainability make them ideal for modern synthetic challenges. This review explores a wide range of photochemical reactions, from classical to contemporary, emphasizing their role in total synthesis. By showcasing their potential, the review aims to encourage broader adoption of photochemical strategies in the synthesis of complex natural products, promoting innovation at the intersection of molecular complexity, sustainability, and synthetic efficiency. Full article

The global biodiversity crisis brings significant environmental and social impacts, necessitating innovative approaches to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. This is particularly relevant for coastal peripheries that are rich in both natural and cultural capital. The Reknotting Marine Biodiversity project adopted a trans-disciplinary approach to integrate participatory science and education, involving local communities and researchers in biodiversity monitoring using environmental DNA metabarcoding along the coast of Marina di Camerota, Southern Italy. This approach compared Posidonia oceanica habitats with areas subject to anthropogenic pressures. Results show a greater diversity of pelagic fish and benthic organisms in the presence of P. oceanica, nine species that can potentially cause Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), and eight species responsible for non-toxic algal blooms in less pristine areas. This study highlights the value of coastal habitats and the strategic value of citizen science in raising ecological awareness, proposing a replicable model for local marine observatories jointly managed by scientists and citizens. Full article

The article aims to determine how ergonomic measures support the achievement of ESG goals and how ergonomics as a discipline can be used in sustainability reporting. The study was designed as a mixed-method approach, started with a systematic review of the literature conducted according to the PRISMA protocol, and was followed by a qualitative analysis of the identified literature. The search strategy was based on a combination of keywords in the areas of ergonomics and environmental management. The results of the review identify the main trends in combination of ergonomics with ESG: Ergoecology, Green ergonomics, Environmental ergonomics, and Immaterial ergonomics, as well as indicating areas of objectives particularly reinforced by ergonomic interventions and documenting examples of good practices valuable for ESG reporting. The main results of the study are as follows: (1) organizing research trends in ergonomics for sustainable development; (2) a systematizing approach to green ergonomic practice; (3) a set of ergonomic practices for sustainability that are most frequently described in the literature; and (4) a conceptual model termed the Sustainability through Ergonomic Excellence Model (StEEM). The proposed framework organizes a range of practices into seven areas of excellence and assigns the collected green ergonomic practices to them, showing their contribution to implementing ESG metrics. The research carried out indicates that the role of ergonomics is still underestimated in current reporting standards. The proposed mapping and StEEM frameworks provide a framework to facilitate the systematic integration of ergonomics into ESG strategies and reporting and to provide a structured foundation for future empirical and evaluative research. Full article