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This study compares the differences in the attitudes of last-mile delivery companies operating with different business models toward economic, environmental, and social sustainability. The economic perspective focuses on productivity, the environment, and social sustainability, and where the environment and social sustainability are concerned, on carbon neutrality goals and means, and on what societal factors companies consider important, respectively. In this multi-case qualitative study, a literature review was carried out and 11 semi-structured expert interviews were conducted in companies representing three business model categories: crowdshipping companies, last-mile providers, and traditional logistics service providers. Based on this study, crowdshipping and last-mile companies were largely loss making, whereas logistics service providers were profitable. The first two groups invest heavily in growth, which explains the loss. All logistics service providers, half of the last-mile providers, and no crowdshipping companies set a carbon neutrality target. The biggest difference in environmental measures comes from the fact that in the crowdshipping business model deliveries are performed partly in conjunction with other travel, emphasizing job creation in society and freedom of work. In contrast, the last-mile and traditional logistics companies emphasized the responsibilities of the employer. For the scientific community, this study provides new insights into the subject from the perspective of different business models. For management, this research provides insight into the views of other companies that can be utilized in future decision making. For example, if the legislation of crowdshipping becomes clearer, then traditional companies could consider using it in their own operations to overcome labor shortages.

We compare intra-urban localization patterns of advertising and IT companies in three large Czech cities. The main aim of our analysis is an empirically-based contribution to the question to what extent do knowledge bases affect the spatial distribution of various knowledge-intensive business industries. The central research question is: To what extent is the localization of these two industries influenced by different modes of innovation/knowledge bases (symbolic vs. synthetic) and to what extent by contextual factors, such as urban size, morphology, position in the urban hierarchy and economic profile of the given city. We found that the urban contexts shape the localization patterns of advertising and IT companies more than differences in knowledge bases—both industries cluster primarily in the inner cities and urban cores. Formation of more suburban IT “scientific neighborhoods” is limited.

Understanding how software works and writing a program are currently frequent requirements when hiring employees. The complexity of learning programming often results in educational failures, student frustration and lack of motivation, because different students prefer different learning paths. Although e-learning courses have led to many improvements in the methodology and the supporting technology for more effective programming learning, misunderstanding of programming principles is one of the main reasons for students leaving school early. Universities face a challenging task: how to harmonise students’ education, focusing on advanced knowledge in the development of software applications, with students’ education in cases where writing code is a new skill. The article proposes a conceptual framework focused on the comprehensive training of future programmers using microlearning and automatic evaluation of source codes to achieve immediate feedback for students. This framework is designed to involve students in the software development of virtual learning environment software that will provide their education, thus ensuring the sustainability of the environment in line with modern development trends. The paper’s final part is devoted to verifying the contribution of the presented elements through quantitative research on the introductory parts of the framework. It turned out that although the application of interactive features did not lead to significant measurable progress during the first semester of study, it significantly improved the results of students in subsequent courses focused on advanced programming.

In Pakistan, many subsurface (SS) drainage projects were launched by the Salinity Control and Reclamation Project (SCARP) to deal with twin problems (waterlogging and salinity). In some cases, sump pumps were installed for the disposal of SS effluent into surface drainage channels. Presently, sump pumps have become dysfunctional due to social and financial constraints. This study evaluates the alternate design of the Paharang drainage system that could permit the discharge of the SS drainage system in the response of gravity. The proposed design was completed after many successive trials in terms of lowering the bed level and decreasing the channel bed slope. Interconnected MS-Excel worksheets were developed to design the L-section and X-section. Design continuity of the drainage system was achieved by ensuring the bed and water levels of the receiving drain were lower than the outfalling drain. The drain cross-section was set within the present row with a few changes on the service roadside. The channel side slope was taken as 1:1.5 and the spoil bank inner and outer slopes were kept as 1:2 for the entire design. The earthwork was calculated in terms of excavation for lowering the bed level and increasing the drain section to place the excavated materials in a specific manner. The study showed that modification in the design of the Paharang drainage system is technically admissible and allows for the continuous discharge of SS drainage effluent from the area.

Compared with Western developed countries, corporate social responsibility (CSR) implementation in China started relatively late, but so far, its development has been going on for more than ten years. Therefore, the development process of CSR reporting as a vital tool to reflect the CSR related information of Chinese listed companies is worth studying. It has been asserted in a large amount of literature that the government of a country has an important influence on the development of CSR reporting. Thus, in this paper, we aim to study the trends in CSR reporting practices of Chinese listed companies through statistical analysis methods and then consider the role of the government in it. The results show that the number of CSR reports issued by Chinese listed companies has increased year by year; notably, the number of voluntary CSR disclosure and environmental information disclosure has increased significantly. However, the overall disclosure rate of CSR reports is low and shows no upward trend, the published CSR reports lack third-party certification, and the information disclosure level of most CSR reports is concentrated at a relatively low level. The findings provide some useful references for the future development of Chinese CSR related laws, regulations, and guidelines.

Erzincan plain is one of the most fascinating regions in Turkey for plant biodiversity. The area is very rich in terms of gene, species and ecosystem diversity. Having a number of natural habitats, mountains, etc., the region is one of the richest regions in Turkey for plant endemism as well. In northern parts of the region, in particular in Üzümlü, Bayırbağ and Pişkidağ districts, grape production dominates agriculture production and the famous ‘Karaerik’ grape cultivar has been cultivated for a long time on the very special traditional ‘Baran’ training system to avoid cold damage that occurs in winter months. The cultivar is harvested between 1 September and 1 October according to altitude in the region. The cultivar is well known in Turkey and there is a great demand for this cultivar in Turkey due to its perfect berry characteristics. In this study, yield, marketable product, cluster weight, cluster form, organic acids, specific sugars and sensory characteristics of the ‘Karaerik’ grape cultivar grown in three altitudes (1200 m a.s.l., 1400 m a.s.l. and 1600 m a.s.l., respectively) in Üzümlü district were investigated. For each altitude, grape clusters were sampled from ten vineyards and an average sample was formed. Marketable product, cluster weight, cluster form, organic acids and specific sugars were determined on those samples. Yield was determined as per decare. Sensory characteristics of samples were determined by five expert panelists. Results showed that the cluster weight was the highest in lower altitude and increasing altitude formed a more conical cluster form compared to winged cylindrical clusters at lower altitudes. The highest yield (740 kg per decare) was obtained in 1200 m a.s.l. and was followed by 1400 m a.s.l. (682 kg per decare) and 1600 m a.s.l. (724 kg per decare), respectively. Altitude strongly affected sugar and organic acid composition and ratio in berries of the ‘Karaerik’ grape. Fructose and tartaric acid were the main sugar and organic acid at all altitudes and were found between 10.04–14.02 g/100 g and 2.17–3.66 g/100 g, respectively. Sensory scores were also the highest at lower altitudes and decreased parallel to altitude increase.