• Energy Research
• social sciences close
• 12. Responsible consumption close
• 11. Sustainability close
• 7. Clean energy close
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Energy efficiency is an important design paradigm in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) and its consumption in dynamic environment is even more critical. Duty cycling of sensor nodes is used to address the energy consumption problem. However, along with advantages, duty cycle aware networks introduce some complexities like synchronization and latency. Due to their inherent characteristics, many traditional routing protocols show low performance in densely deployed WSNs with duty cycle awareness, when sensor nodes are supposed to have high mobility. In this paper we first present a three messages exchange Lightweight Random Walk Routing (LRWR) protocol and then evaluate its performance in WSNs for routing low data rate packets. Through NS-2 based simulations, we examine the LRWR protocol by comparing it with DYMO, a widely used WSN protocol, in both static and dynamic environments with varying duty cycles, assuming the standard IEEE 802.15.4 in lower layers. Results for the three metrics, that is, reliability, end-to-end delay, and energy consumption, show that LRWR protocol outperforms DYMO in scalability, mobility, and robustness, showing this protocol as a suitable choice in low duty cycle and dense WSNs.

Globally, sustainable procurement is seen as a crucial component of public sector sustainability initiatives. This research investigates the internal and external barriers to the implementation of sustainable procurement in China’s public sector. Primary data for this research were gathered using survey techniques from 287 respondents who were procurement officials at higher education institutions that are part of the public sector. Twelve hypotheses were developed based on the conceptual model and literature review and evaluated using SEM-AMOS in order to look at the correlations between the variables. The study’s findings demonstrate that employee competency, employee motivation, training programs, financial aspects, management commitment, government rules and regulations, unavailability of green products, supplier capacity, and third-party pressure statistically influence the sustainability of public procurement. At the same time, green practices, the ineffectiveness of green products, and prices of green items had statistically no significant influence on sustainability in public procurement. This is a crucial effort to identify the factors that influence sustainable purchasing in China’s public colleges. This study draws interest from stakeholders and adds to the scant body of knowledge on sustainability in developing nations. In addition, this research is crucial for creating a roadmap for China’s long-term sustainable development in the area of procurement.

Pakistan is an energy deficient country with depleting energy reserves and increasing energy demand. Due to excessive population growth, the domestic and commercial energy sectors are experiencing rising demand. To meet the requisite demand, renewables are favored rather than conventional counterparts. In this study, we model hybrid power systems using solar, wind and biomass resources for electrifying remote areas. The four locations are chosen for the study around a developing country, Pakistan, where each site is designed according to an isolated microgrid with maximum indigenous resources potential as per the requisite demands. A survey is conducted for the load demand and biomass availability. Optimization is conducted across objectives of minimum levelized cost of the generated energy, least the net present cost and lesser payback period. The optimal results were achieved in-terms of required objectives across southern sites as compared to northern counterparts. The cost of generated energy is comparable to grid electricity and ensures 24 h power supply without cut off and load shedding to the un-electrified rural area. The hybrid power system has a low carbon footprint across emissions due to the use of renewable resources. All the estimated load of rural communities is met with the available resources and mid-career impact has also been conducted across 10 years of the project life to fulfill the increasing load demand of the communities after installation. The results are validated via comparative analysis and show the effectiveness of the proposed study.

Les concepts d'opérations de fabrication allégée et de durabilité sont de nature congruente, marqués par la facette de l'amélioration de l'efficacité organisationnelle.Toutefois, seule la définition des déchets fait la différence.Cette définition prend une nouvelle dimension par la durabilité en intégrant la vaste gamme de réductions des conséquences environnementales sous la forme de 6R (réduire, réutiliser, recycler, récupérer, reconcevoir et remanufacturer) ; ce qui nécessite une approche intégrée consolidée.Par conséquent, pour affirmer l'exigence, une revue systématique de la littérature a été effectuée qui a examiné recherches antérieures en raison de leur originalité, de leur méthodologie, de leurs objectifs et de leurs limites. Sur la base de cette étude documentaire, 25 approches les plus connexes (approches intégrées Lean et durables) ont été sélectionnées et leur originalité a été étudiée. L'enquête a révélé que peu d'articles de recherche intègrent des approches Lean et durables. Cette étude identifie l'écart de l'intégration des pratiques Lean avec les 6R et un cadre a été développé qui a été mis en œuvre sur l'étude de cas qui porte la capacité d'atteindre des systèmes de production Lean durables basés sur les 6R. En raison d'une atmosphère plus sociale et respectueuse de l'environnement obtenue grâce à la mise en œuvre basée sur les 6R, les résultats obtenus sont une diminution de 50 % des coûts de chauffage en redessinant les fours (des fours à mazout aux fours à gaz), une amélioration de 36,33 % du temps à valeur ajoutée, de 40,14 % du délai d'exécution et de 22 % de réduction de l'utilisation de la main-d' œuvre. Cette amélioration indique que l'utilisation du cadre intégré proposé est très bénéfique pour tout type de secteur manufacturier. Los conceptos de operaciones de manufactura esbelta y sostenibilidad son de naturaleza congruente, marcados por la faceta de mejorar la eficiencia organizacional. Sin embargo, solo la diferencia radica en la definición de residuo. Esta definición recibe una nueva dimensión por sostenibilidad al incorporar el amplio alcance de las reducciones en las consecuencias ambientales en forma de 6R (reducir, reutilizar, reciclar, recuperar, rediseñar y remanufacturar); lo que requiere un enfoque integrado consolidado. Por lo tanto, para afirmar el requisito, se ha llevado a cabo una revisión sistemática de la literatura que examinó investigaciones anteriores en vista de su originalidad, metodología, objetivos y limitaciones. Con base en este estudio de literatura, se seleccionaron 25 enfoques más relacionados (enfoques integrados Lean y sostenibles) y se investigó su originalidad. La investigación reveló que pocos artículos de investigación están integrando enfoques Lean y sostenibles. Este estudio identifica la brecha de la integración de prácticas Lean con 6R y se desarrolló un marco que se implementó en el estudio de caso que conlleva la capacidad de lograr sistemas de producción Lean sostenibles basados en 6R. Debido a una atmósfera más social y respetuosa con el medio ambiente lograda a través de la implementación basada en 6R, los resultados logrados son una disminución del 50% en el costo de calefacción al rediseñar los hornos (desde hornos de petróleo hasta hornos de gas), una mejora del 36.33% en el tiempo de valor agregado, un 40.14% en el tiempo de entrega y una reducción del 22% en la utilización de la mano de obra. Esta mejora indica que el uso del marco integrado propuesto es altamente beneficioso para cualquier tipo de sector manufacturero. The concepts of lean manufacturing operations and sustainability are congruent in nature, marked by the facet of improving organizational efficiency.However, only difference lies in the definition of waste.This definition is given a new dimension by sustainability by incorporating the extensive scope of reductions in the environmental consequences in the form of 6R (reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, redesign and remanufacture); which requires a consolidated integrated approach.Therefore, as to affirm the requirement, a systematic literature review has been carried out which scrutinized previous researches in view of their originality, methodology, objectives and limitations.Based on this literature study, 25 most related approaches (lean and sustainable integrated approaches) were selected and their originality was investigated.Investigation revealed that few research articles are integrating lean and sustainable approaches.This study identifies the gap of the integration of lean practices with 6Rs and a framework was developed which implemented on the case study that carries ability to attain 6R based sustainable lean production systems.Because of more social and environmentally friendly atmosphere achieved through 6R based implementation, the results achieved are 50% decrease in heating cost by redesigning furnaces (from oil furnaces to gas furnaces), 36.33%improvement in value added time, 40.14% in lead-time and 22% reduction in labour utilization.This improvement indicates that use of proposed integrated framework is highly beneficial for any kind of manufacturing sector. تتطابق مفاهيم عمليات التصنيع الرشيقة والاستدامة بطبيعتها، وتتميز بجانب تحسين الكفاءة التنظيمية. ومع ذلك، يكمن الاختلاف الوحيد في تعريف النفايات. يتم إعطاء هذا التعريف بعدًا جديدًا من خلال الاستدامة من خلال دمج النطاق الواسع للتخفيضات في العواقب البيئية في شكل 6R (التقليل وإعادة الاستخدام وإعادة التدوير والاسترداد وإعادة التصميم وإعادة التصنيع) ؛ الأمر الذي يتطلب نهجًا متكاملًا موحدًا. لذلك، لتأكيد المتطلبات، تم إجراء مراجعة منهجية للأدبيات التي تم فحصها الأبحاث السابقة في ضوء أصالتها ومنهجيتها وأهدافها وقيودها. استنادًا إلى هذه الدراسة الأدبية، تم اختيار 25 نهجًا أكثر صلة (مناهج متكاملة مرنة ومستدامة) وتم التحقيق في أصالتها. وكشف التحقيق عن أن عددًا قليلاً من المقالات البحثية يدمج المناهج الرشيقة والمستدامة. تحدد هذه الدراسة فجوة دمج الممارسات الرشيقة مع 6Rs وتم تطوير إطار عمل تم تنفيذه على دراسة الحالة التي تحمل القدرة على تحقيق أنظمة إنتاج رشيقة مستدامة قائمة على 6R. بسبب تحقيق المزيد من المناخ الاجتماعي والصديق للبيئة من خلال التنفيذ القائم على 6R، تحققت النتائج انخفاض بنسبة 50 ٪ في تكلفة التدفئة عن طريق إعادة تصميم الأفران (من أفران النفط إلى أفران الغاز)، وتحسين بنسبة 36.33 ٪ في وقت القيمة المضافة، و 40.14 ٪ في المهلة الزمنية، وانخفاض بنسبة 22 ٪ في استخدام العمالة. يشير هذا التحسن إلى أن استخدام الإطار المتكامل المقترح مفيد للغاية لأي نوع من قطاع التصنيع.

Sharing economy represents a new business model with an increasing impact on economic life by generating consequences for the traditional business sector. Considering its development during the last years, it is important to know how the governance system should react to the new challenges determined by this kind of doing business. The aim of the article is to identify and analyze some general issues regarding the impact on the sharing economy in tourism, based on a study regarding the needs determined by this business model in Brașov. Considering that tourism is a relevant sector for the “sharing” business type, the authors considered it important to get opinions about the way that the local authorities and stakeholders should contribute to the creation of a regulatory framework for sharing tourism, so, two focus-groups were organized. The respondents were chosen so that all kinds of stakeholders involved in tourism were represented. The results of the research revealed that even though there are some provisions regarding this sector, and despite the fact that local and regional authorities are preoccupied about regulations in sharing tourism, the most representative part of this sector is unregistered and it works according to its own rules.

Salt mines, a significant category of local, regional, national, and/or European underground heritage, are becoming attractive tourism destinations. This paper examines three cases of salt mining in different European countries, namely Wieliczka in Poland, Campina de Cima in Portugal, and Turda in Romania. They are analyzed in the context of history, typical attributes of their attractiveness, and new uses after the salt extraction was or is going to be stopped, in order to detect their unique values as important assets for both Underground Built Heritage (UBH) and Salt Heritage Tourism (SHT). The results of their comparison show that despite a positive impact related to their protection as cultural and industrial heritage, there are also some negative aspects related to increasing costs of their maintenance and adaptation of salt mines to new functions and to meet the tourism needs. By putting in place measures to enhance the awareness of their values and for activating the local community, the three mines are showcases for the economic outputs for their sites and regions, as well as for increasing knowledge regarding UBH.

Automation and digitalization, as long-term evolutionary processes, cause significant effects, such as the transformation of occupations and job profiles, changes to employment forms, and a more significant role for the platform economy, generating challenges for social policy. This systematic literature review aims to provide an overview of the research to date related to influences of the Industry 4.0 Revolution on human capital development and consumer behavior. A search on the Web of Science identified 160 papers that met the inclusion criteria. The major objectives aimed to identify: the main types of influences of the Industry 4.0 Revolution on human capital development and consumer behavior; the main opportunities and challenges for new directions in education associated with shifting the work environment; and the drivers for human capital development and consumer behavior through the lenses of the Industry 4.0 Revolution. The results revealed some key aspects for the development of human capital: information, new jobs, the Internet, technology, training, education, new skills, automation, communication, innovativeness, professionals, productivity, artificial intelligence, digitalization, e-recruitment, and the Internet of Things, as well as the main drivers of consumer behavior: information, e-commerce, digitalization, the Internet of Things, e-distribution, technology, digitalization, automation, personalized, performance, artificial intelligence, behavior intention, e-shopping, and data mining.

The concept of tourism destination image is closely related to the brand image of the destination. A good public image of a certain location is the first step in establishing or enhancing the branding of that destination. The image of the destination can be a primary, secondary or global one, the latter incorporating the first two. The sustainability of a positive image of the destination is based on both positive secondary image and positive global image. The purpose of this research is to separately analyze the two types of images for a given tourist destination (Bihor, Romania) that has registered, in recent years, a remarkable increase in the number of visitors. The increase in the number of visitors was accompanied by a substantial increase in tourism revenues, which drew attention, both for the policy makers and researchers, to investigate how the image of this popular place is perceived. The research is based on a questionnaire-based survey applied on a sample of 607 persons, residents in Romania. The research method used was the questionnaire-based survey, which was applied between May and June 2020 on online city groups. The collected data were processed with IBM Statistical package for social sciences version 25 and the results show significant differences between the two types of images (secondary image and global image), a dangerous situation in the medium and long term for destination management. The nuances in the perception of the image of a destination based on the two types of respondents (who experienced and who did not experience the destination) can be explained by the aggressive strategy of promoting the tourist destination, but this is an inefficient strategy for younger age groups. The study allows us to formulate conclusions and to propose measures to correct the situation.