ALBERT

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Framed within theories of fairness and stress, the current paper examines bystanders’ intervention intention to workplace bullying across two studies based on international employee samples (〈em〉N〈/em〉 = 578). Using a vignette-based design, we examined the role of bullying mode (offline vs. online), bullying type (personal vs. work-related) and target closeness (friend vs. work colleague) on bystanders’ behavioural intentions to respond, to sympathise with the victim (defender role), to reinforce the perpetrator (prosecutor role) or to be ambivalent (commuter role). Results illustrated a pattern of the influence of mode and type on bystander intentions. Bystanders were least likely to support the victim and more likely to agree with perpetrator actions for cyberbullying and work-related acts. Tentatively, support emerged for the effect of target closeness on bystander intentions. Although effect sizes were small, when the target was a friend, bystanders tended to be more likely to act and defend the victim and less likely to reinforce the perpetrator. Implications for research and the potential for bystander education are discussed.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Extensive research has documented the harmful effects associated with working for a narcissistic supervisor. However, little effort has been made to investigate ways for victims to alleviate the burdens associated with exposure to such aversive persons. Building on the tenets of conservation of resources theory and the documented efficacy of functional assets to combat job-related stress, we hypothesized that subordinates’ resource management ability would buffer the detrimental impact of narcissistic supervisors on affective, cognitive, and behavioral work outcomes for subordinates. We found support for our hypotheses across three independent samples of US workers (〈em〉N〈/em〉 = 187; 199; 136). Specifically, higher levels of subordinate resource management ability attenuated the harmful effects of supervisor narcissism on employee-reported emotional exhaustion, job tension, depressed mood, task performance, and citizenship behavior. Conversely, these relationships further deteriorated for subordinates with lower levels of resource management ability. Overall, our research contributes to the literature that, although extensively documenting the harmful ramifications of narcissism in organizations, has neglected to investigate potentially mitigating factors.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Whereas previous research on ego depletion and ethics suggests that employees who are depleted of their self-control resources are more likely to engage in unethical behavior, our current research focuses on how observers perceive and react to depleted employees’ unethical behavior. Integrating ego depletion and attribution theories, we hypothesize and find that observers judge depleted employees’ unethical behavior more leniently than non-depleted employees as a result of lower levels of perceived intentionality. These perceptions in turn lead to lower levels of punishment. Results further suggest that not all types of depletion lead to the same effects on observers’ lenient moral judgments—depletion due to externally imposed reasons are more likely to result in lenient moral judgment, compared to depletion due to internally imposed reasons.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The “Protect, Respect, Remedy” Framework along with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights is the current global standard regarding corporate conduct. This article analyses the UN Framework from the vantage point of labour rights in India by looking at the garment supply chain. It argues that it can do little to induce states and businesses to bring substantive improvements to working conditions in a largely informal economy like India. Without the state performing its duty to protect human rights, the secondary responsibility of corporations can do very little in realising the rights of workers. Nonetheless, its tallest contribution is that it has given a platform for civil society to push for better conduct from all businesses and marks the beginning of a unified international business and human rights agenda.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Recent research has uncovered the dark side of creativity by finding that creative individuals are more likely to engage in unethical behavior. However, we argue that not all creative individuals make trouble. Using moral self-regulation theory as our overarching theoretical framework, we examine individuals’ moral identity as a boundary condition and moral disengagement as a mediating mechanism to explain when and how individual creativity is associated with workplace deviant behavior. We conducted two field studies using multi-source data to test our hypotheses. In Study 1, the results indicated that creativity positively predicted moral disengagement for those low in moral identity. In Study 2 with multi-wave data, we replicated the finding that moral identity moderated the effect of creativity on moral disengagement in Study 1 and further revealed that moral disengagement mediated the interactive effects of creativity and moral identity on workplace deviant behavior. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This study focuses on mindfulness programs in the corporate world, which are receiving increasing attention from business practitioners and organizational scholars. The workplace mindfulness literature is rapidly evolving, but most studies are oriented toward demonstrating the positive impacts of mindfulness as a state of mind. This study adopts a critical perspective to evaluate workplace mindfulness practice as a developmental process, with a focus on its potential risks that have ethical implications and are currently neglected by both researchers and practitioners. We draw from a Buddhist perspective that understands mindfulness training as an ethics-based, longitudinal, and holistic path. To this end, we develop a four-stage model to illustrate a potential developmental process for participants in workplace mindfulness programs. This model comprises four stages of preliminary concentration, deep concentration, self-transcendence, and reengagement, each of which has its own underlying characteristics and impacts on individual participants and organizations.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This study introduces the concept of deviant behavior in a moderated-mediation framework of incentives and organizational justice perception. The proposed relationships in the theoretical framework were tested with a sample of 311 academics, using simple random sampling, via causal models and structural equation modeling. The findings suggest that incentives might boost the apparent performance, but not necessarily the intended performance. The results confirm that employees’ affection for incentives has direct, indirect, and conditional indirect effects on their deviant behavior likelihood. The relationship between employee deviant behavior likelihood and affection for incentives was moderated by organizational justice perception and partially mediated by reward expectancy, thus having significant contributions toward the extant literature of deviant behavior and incentives. The findings have important implications for managers, academicians, and policy makers for mitigating adverse behavior in professional employees through proper use of incentives.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This paper seeks to join studies which have drawn attention to the ethical reflexivity of research and the research enterprise in the organisational studies’ field. Towards this end, we review OB, HRM, and IR studies on direct employee participation in organisations post-1990s to examine their normative underpinnings. Using Fox’s (Industrial sociology and industrial relations. Research Paper 3, Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers’ Associations, HMSO, London, 〈span〉1966〈/span〉, Beyond contract: Work, power and trust relations. Faber and Faber, London, 〈span〉1974〈/span〉) three frames—unitarist, pluralist, and radical—we compare the underpinnings within and across the chosen disciplines to bring ethical reflexivity to studies in this area of inquiry. Implications are drawn out to take forward the quest for more ethically reflexive employee participation research.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Social impact investing (SII) is transforming the availability of private capital for nonprofits and social enterprises, but demand is not yet meeting supply. This paper analyzes the perceived barriers faced by nonprofits in engaging with SII, arguing the need to assess differences using a policy field framework. Four parameters of a subsector are conceptualized as shaping participation in SII: the scale of investment required, embeddedness in place, the need for radical innovation, and the configuration of intermediaries (such as loan funds and market brokers). Based on 25 interviews with leaders of nonprofits and intermediaries in affordable housing and community economic development in Canada, the study finds that significant barriers are a lack of knowledge of the market, inadequate financial literacy, and the challenges of measuring and valuing social impacts. In addition, nonprofits report that, in spite of the inherent importance of social impact in this form of investing, they currently make limited use of evaluation and impact metrics, and perceive that intermediaries and investors, particularly in affordable housing, still put a greater emphasis on financial over social returns.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Importance of the indicator-based neighborhood sustainability assessment (NSA) systems is widely accepted. The requirement of NSA systems for assisting and monitoring neighborhood sustainability is evident. Development of such systems needs analysis, frameworks, methods, expertise, etc. However, due to the large geographical area and regional variations, international application of these systems is an issue. Similarly, there lie contextual differences in developing and developed countries. Here, we derive a framework for formulating sustainability assessment system for developing countries. The available literature shows scarce research on NSA systems in developing countries. The study classifies the popular sustainability assessment systems from both context (developed and developing countries), presenting their approaches. Our results help in knowing the focus of NSA systems in each context. The classification is based on parameters (input, evaluation and output) and indicator distribution. The study finds that 〈em〉energy〈/em〉, 〈em〉water and wastewater,〈/em〉 and 〈em〉transportation〈/em〉 themes are given emphasis in NSA systems of developing countries, whereas the social theme is given attention in developed countries. We anticipate the results to be useful for classifying NSA systems. Furthermore, the framework can be a starting point for researchers to formulate new assessment systems for developing countries.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This research work has been performed to institute a proper landfill leachate treatment program by the integrated sequence of air stripping, coagulation–flocculation (CF), and adsorption. In this study, air stripping removes up to 96.3% of NH〈sub〉3〈/sub〉–N, 49.3% of COD, and 74.1% of BOD〈sub〉5〈/sub〉 within an optimum retention period of 36 h. Optimization of CF and adsorption were accomplished by employing central composite design of response surface methodology. The application of CF resulted in the removal of COD by 55.3%, BOD〈sub〉5〈/sub〉 by 83.9%, color by 91.8%, and Hg by 42.2% at the optimized state of pH 5.2 and FeCl〈sub〉3〈/sub〉 dose of 3.1 g/L. In case of adsorption, about 56.1% of COD and 89.2% of Hg removal were observed at the optimum conditions of pH 7, adsorbent dose of 0.6 g/L of chitosan beads, and 66.4 min of contact time. Langmuir isotherm model satisfactorily described adsorption isotherm and fitted with pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Adsorbent was characteristically specified by FTIR and SEM with EDAX analysis. Desorption study showed that 77.2% of adsorbed Hg could be recovered effectively by EDTA. The overall treatment schedule demonstrates a net removal of 96.3% of NH〈sub〉3〈/sub〉–N, 91.8% of color, 95.8% of BOD〈sub〉5〈/sub〉, 90.0% of COD, and 95.8% of Hg.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of community-based organizations (CBOs) on the adoption of agricultural adaptations to climate change impacts. To this end, we first analyze farmers’ perceptions on changes in local climatic condition, its impact and adaptations on agriculture based on information collected through a questionnaire survey of 720 farming households in six districts of Nepal. The findings reveal a widespread feeling of weather getting warmer, decreasing precipitation, and increasing weather unpredictability. It is found that climate change has adversely affected agriculture in Nepal, and farmers have adopted various adaptation practices to minimize the impacts. Second, we employ propensity score matching technique to examine the impact of CBOs on climate change adaptation. About 62% of the sampled farming households were associated with CBOs, and several socioeconomic factors influence such association. This study provides evidence supporting the argument that CBOs play important role in reducing the negative impacts of climate change by enhancing the adoption of adaptation strategies. It is also evident from the study the need of further strengthening and institutionalizing the informal farmers’ groups and institutions for the successful adaptation.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Local governments in developing countries are christened as proadaptation agents. However, global research effort has virtually ignored inherent adaptation policy implementation nuances in developing countries, ostensibly assuming that narratives from existing policy implementation literature could fill the void. Drawing on qualitative data from six LGs from Ghana, this paper examines the motivation, agenda setting processes and teething challenges constricting the implementation of decentralized climate change adaptation governance in Ghana. Though adherents of decentralization argue that local governments are more likely to conceive and implement proadaptation-related interventions, evidence from Ghana provides fascinating lessons. This paper shows that local governments’ ability to mainstream adaptation-related actions into local governance is constricted by taxonomy of local political economy issues and the “science-heaviness” of climate change. It concludes that local government are unlikely to be a fulcrum of adaptation governance as touted if reasonable efforts are not made at strengthening and broadening its resource basket.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Pothole is an exceptional dynamic micro-fluvial erosional landform of the river bed. Subarnarekha River is a rejuvenated antecedent river and occupies a significant part of the Chotanagpur Plateau. The river bed of the Subarnarekha River and the confluence zones of Subarnarekha-Lokjoriya and Subarnarekha-Kharsoti have favourable conditions for the development of potholes. Geological (joint and fracture on river bed) and hydrological (stream power, water discharge, flow velocity) parameters are taken into consideration to understand the mechanism of pothole growth. Multi-criteria analysis (MCA) has been done to understand the governing factor influencing the mechanism of pothole development. The results are analysed in a quantitative way, and the micro-scale field observations have been represented using ArcGIS10.2.2 and IBM SPSS 22. Using the MCA it has been inferred that ‘joint length’ is the prime contributing factor responsible for pothole formation in the middle Subarnarekha River basin, Ghatsila. The main significance of this research work is the study of micro-geomorphic landforms mechanism near confluence and other places of the river bed.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Groundwater is envisaged as a valuable common resource. In the present day, groundwater is declining very rapidly due to human intervention. Stress on groundwater in the semiarid locale of West Bengal, especially in Purulia district, is very high due to immense demand and overexploitation. The fundamental goal of the study is to discover potential groundwater zones for the appraisal of groundwater availability in the Kumari river basin, India. Survey of India topographical maps, elevation data (ASTER DEM 30 m), satellite imageries (Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2) and Google Earth images were analyzed using RS-GIS software (ArcGIS 10.3, ERDAS IMAGINE 9.2, MicroImages TNT MIP Pro 2016) to prepare various thematic data layers like altitude, slope angle, drainage density, geomorphology, soil type, geology, land use/land cover, lineament density, distance from rivers and mean annual rainfall. All prepared maps were changed with GIS software utilizing the raster converter apparatus in the raster space. Weighted layer for each thematic data layer was statistically computed by assigning weight values to individual parameters. Class rank was assigned in light of their significance to underground water recharge. Finally, a groundwater potential zone map was prepared utilizing analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and five distinct zones were arranged accordingly. ROC (receiver operating characteristics) curve and groundwater depth map were prepared using the field data to validate the groundwater zonation map of the Kumari river basin.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Day by day, the quantum of “end-of-life tires” (ELT) is increasing at a rapid rate across the globe. The conventional methods, namely landfilling, stockpiling, and burning adopted for the management or disposal of this hazardous waste, are proven to have a greater amount of adverse impact on the environment, ecological systems, and health of human beings. The feasible and voluminous utilization of this inexpedient hazardous waste is only possible either in concrete industries or as an amendment of soil to attain the cleaner production for the rubber manufacturing and tire retreading and regrooving industries. Besides that, it could resolve the problems of authorities associated with the environmental aspect of waste rubber tire disposal. This paper enlightens the published research work carried out by geotechnical investigator’s fraternity on the geotechnical properties of fine-grained soil containing various forms of end-of-life tires, namely shreds, granulates (crumbles), fibres (buffings), chips, and ash. The effects of different forms of end-of-life tires on Atterberg’s limits, compaction parameters, shear strength, tensile strength, consolidation, swelling, permeability, California bearing ratio, durability, dynamic properties, and microstructure of fine-grained soil have been reviewed. Review reveals that inclusions of ELT in fine-grained soil have a promising future for its disposal, but still more in-depth investigations are required to solidify the conclusions drawn by past investigators for its popularization as construction material for embankments of highways and railways, as base and sub-base material for roads, and as filler material behind retaining wall.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Environmental concern has become one of the major global issues that affect all nations individually and/or collectively. One of the most important methods for environmental impact assessment (EIA) is Folchi method. An improvement for Folchi method in EIA is done in this paper by using fuzzy method. A fuzzy expert semi-quantitative methodology is designed to assess the EIA within the Folchi framework. The proposed fuzzy method has the advantage of allowing consideration of uncertainties in the Folchi method in comparison with classic expert semi-quantitative method that only unique codes are used to quantify the effect of each impacting factor on each designed environmental component. Since the fuzzy system is used to minimize subjectivity of the weights which are computed in the Folchi method, the “Fuzzy Delphi” and “Folchi” methods were merged. Due to the high potential of cement plants in the creation of environmental impact, environment impact assessment of the development of cement plants is very important. To test the proposed method, the Shahrood cement plant was selected as a case study. According to the results, the contamination generated by the plant, especially for environmental components such as air quality, soil of the area, area landscape, area usage, and ecology, is more significant than other environmental components. The newly proposed approach is an efficient tool in EIA and hence can be operational in humanistic decision-making systems with existence of uncertainty, vagueness, and imprecision.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Effective protected area (PA) conservation relies heavily on positive social perception, attitude and values, especially by the stakeholders most affected by PA regulations. Random samples of residents around (〈em〉n〈/em〉 = 401) and quota samples of visitors to (〈em〉n〈/em〉 = 542) two emblematic, environmentally similar National Parks (NPs) in Spain: Ordesa y Monte Perdido NP (Ordesa NP) and Sierra de Guadarrama NP (Guadarrama NP) were surveyed on their attitudes, perceptions and values using structured questionnaires. The results show similarities and differences between stakeholder groups and NPs. Most differences can be explained by the different geographic, historical and socioeconomic contexts. Residents near Guadarrama NP visited it less frequently, whereas non-residents visited the NP more frequently than Ordesa NP. Residents’ and visitors’ perception on the conservation state was better for Ordesa NP than for Guadarrama NP. The main perceived threats by both groups were wildfires, massive visitation and insufficient environmental awareness. Local participation in management was deemed improvable in both NPs. Stated importance on both NPs was similarly high for both stakeholder groups. Half of residents and over two-thirds of visitors to both NPs were willing to pay an entrance fee. A daily fee of 3 € per person would be acceptable to most. Willingness to pay (WTP) was negatively correlated with ‘frequency of visits’ in Guadarrama NP. WTP increased substantially with measures that ensure equity, transparency and accountability. These results present PA managers with updated key stakeholders’ attitudes and perceptions, and provide a feasible alternative to regulate massive visitation and enhance financial sustainability of Spanish NPs.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Efforts to slow down and eventually reverse the trend of climate change will take time, and in some cases, the negative impacts of climate change will be felt long before long-term solutions to this problem can bear fruit. Adaptation and mitigation strategies constitute the front line of attack for rural households in developing countries that rely on agricultural production and natural resource use as their main source of income and growth, and whose livelihoods are threatened by climate change. This study models the determinants of adoption of sustainable production practices by coffee producers in the department of Matagalpa, in northern Nicaragua. Using primary survey data, we analyze the extent to which cooperative membership impacts adoption of ten different practices. We find that coffee farmers who belong to cooperatives have adopted sustainable practices at higher rates than non-members, and that the odds of adoption are higher for members than for non-members. A factor analysis was conducted to determine the underlying structural differences between the ten practices, and from this analysis three factors emerged and were modeled. We find that cooperative membership is a significant determinant of practices that promote water conservation, yet not significant for practices that promote soil and plant health, nor for practices related to field management. These findings are valuable for policy makers, donors, and development and extension practitioners in the coffee sector, as they can better inform and guide policies toward more efficient and effective paths of long-term climate change adaptation.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Customer civility is an established construct in the study of ethical consumption. However, scholars have paid insufficient attention to customer civility in relation to the flourishing peer-to-peer (P2P) economy. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to develop and test a theoretical framework which examines the antecedents of the customer civility in the P2P economy. We use social exchange theory to develop a model that posits customer interaction experiences with 〈em〉property owners, properties〈/em〉, and 〈em〉P2P platforms〈/em〉 (e.g., Airbnb) as antecedents of customer civility in the P2P economy. Two studies were used to test our framework: Study 1 comprises a survey of Chinese customers (〈em〉n〈/em〉 = 476); Study 2 involves secondary data crawled from the Web site of Xiaozhu, one of China’s largest P2P accommodation platforms. OLS regression analysis was used for hypothesis testing. Results demonstrate three antecedents of customer civility in the P2P accommodation sector: 〈em〉interpersonal trust, property experience〈/em〉, and 〈em〉platform governance〈/em〉. In addition, the positive effect of interpersonal trust on customer civility is stronger when customers have high 〈em〉economic incentive〈/em〉, while the effect of property experience is significantly stronger when customers have low economic incentive.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Peri-urban fisheries- and fishing-dependent livelihoods face multiscalar threats of climate change, water pollution, transforming land initiatives and volatile markets. The objectives of this study were to assess the livelihood strategies and assets as well as the vulnerability of peri-urban fisherfolks in Lakes Chivero and Manyame, Zimbabwe. Furthermore, the study investigated the perceptions of fisherfolks towards climate change and its effects on their livelihoods. We employed a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods based on the livelihood indicator approach to assess climate risks and the associated vulnerabilities of peri-urban fisherfolks for the period November 2015–January 2017. Results indicate that the livelihood of the majority of fisherfolks (92.3% in Lake Manyame and 97.1% in Lake Chivero) is predominantly based on fishing and farming. More than 60% of the fisherfolks have attained formal education with some even attaining university education. Most (87%) peri-urban fisherfolks in the Lake Chivero and Manyame are aware of climate change and attest to its negative effects on their fishing-dependent livelihoods. Synergistic and multiplier relations between climatic and non-climatic factors such as water quality and quantity deterioration, obsolete fishing equipment and low working capital are key drivers of vulnerability. Economic diversification is the main adaptive strategy adopted by fisherfolks to reduce vulnerability. Non-significant differences in livelihood strategies, fisherfolk responses and perceptions towards climate change are attributed to the contiguity of the two lakes. Application and implementation of similar climate mitigation and adaptive strategies is a potential solution to reduce current and future vulnerability of fisherfolks in contiguous peri-urban lakes.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Urbanization leads to the expansion of construction land. The rapid and intense construction land expansion in the Jing-Jin-Tang (Beijing–Tianjin–Tangshan) region has had various impacts on the economic development and natural environments. Based on remote sensing images, trajectory analysis was used to depict the dynamic changes of land use types over past three decades and explore the impact of urban expansion on the environment. Adopting Tapio’s decoupling analysis, we considered the relationship between the rate of change in areas of agricultural land occupied by construction land (ALO) and the non-agricultural GDP (NAGDP) growth rate to determine and compare the ecological consequences and economic impacts of urban expansion between cities with different industrial structures in the region. Our results show that: (1) during the study period, expansion of construction land in Beijing, Tianjin and Tangshan increased first and then decreased. (2) Early in the study period, most of areas converted to construction land had originally been agricultural land, but this gradually changed to include more other land use types. (3) The expansion of construction land not only occupies a large amount of agriculture land and ecological land, but also aggravates urban ecological problems. (4) The decoupling state of Tianjin was more ideal compared with those of Tangshan and Beijing. (5) Finally, the rate of change in ALO area began to decrease over the study period, even though the NAGDP growth rate continually increased in the whole region, meaning that the decoupling states were moving in an ideal direction.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The emergent water paucity calls for more resourceful alternatives of water conservation. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is one of the most capable systems to increase availability of water and agriculture output in the semi-arid regions. Nevertheless, the assessment of RWH potential and selection of appropriate RWH locations pose a great challenge for the water managers due to lacking biophysical data and infrastructure. The present study attempts to assess the RWH potential and identifying probable RWH locations in the Betwa sub-basin using geospatial and multiple criteria decision analysis techniques (MCDA). The spatial theme such as land use land cover was derived by supervised classification method and lineament and drainage by edge enhancement method from Landsat ETM + satellite image and other secondary published maps. The surface runoff was determined from modified Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) method. These parameters were assigned suitable weights and integrated with a geospatial (GIS) technique to generate RWH site suitability map and to identify possible locations for RWH structures. SCS-CN technique displays that the water-body and built-up areas have high runoff potential, while forest area shows low runoff. The analysis indicates that 5.6% (87.7 km〈sup〉2〈/sup〉) is suitable for percolation tanks, 3% (46.6 km〈sup〉2〈/sup〉) suitable for farm ponds and for check dams (0.7 km〈sup〉2〈/sup〉) of the study area. The study reveals combined methodology of geospatial and MCDA procedures in planning of rainwater harvesting at a regional scale.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Exploring the structure, function, and dynamics of regional sustainability system (as ecosystem) can help providing insights into the importance of how environmental management answers to socioeconomic and environmental changes for transitioning to sustainable development. The connectivity (structure) and stability (function) of regional sustainability system are investigated through making regional radiation capability model and spatial coordination index model, which is relied on how keystone province influences the other provinces from society, economy and environment dimensions. The brand new models are then applied to the two largest urban agglomerations in China during period 2001–2014. The results show that the connectivity and stability in BHR are distinctly weaker than in YRD, and reveal the essential characteristics and underlying drivers of regional sustainability system. To be specific, initially, it reflects that on the whole BHR harbors larger difference and lower radiation capability than YRD. Additionally, the regional sustainability system of YRD has much higher stability and better interactive function than of BHR. Thirdly, although the sustainable development level of both BHR and YRD increases at a certain speed year by year, the disparity among various provinces shows an apparent decline and the contribution mainly comes from intra-BHR. Finally, it also provides that how the key province and the surrounding province interact and what the main contributors to the dynamics of regional sustainability system are. Overall, taking regional sustainability system as ecosystem can well reveal this complex system and can provide references to any other urban agglomerations in worldwide.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The paper assessed the existing adaptation strategies implemented by farmers in the Upper East Region of Ghana to reduce the adverse impacts of climate change and variability. The paper used data collected through a series of participatory methods including focus group discussions, questionnaire surveys and key informant interviews in 4 farming communities with different socioeconomic backgrounds in the Bongo and Talensi-Nabdam Districts of the Upper East Region. Results showed that farmers’ adaptation to climate change and variability may be categorized under agricultural, water management, communal pooling and livelihood diversification techniques. Specific livelihood diversification adaptation practices identified in the study communities include charcoal or fuel wood sales, temporal and permanent migration to urban areas in search of non-existing jobs. Communal pooling, involving joint ownership and sharing of wealth, labor or incomes across households, is not widely practiced and should be enhanced. The findings showed that male and female farmers may engage in different set of adaptation practices to cope with climate change. Further, the results showed that farmers, especially female farmers, were constrained by a lack of property rights of farmlands, lack of credit facilities and lack of access to irrigation facilities, inadequate climate change information and inadequate seeds for planting. The paper recommends that farmers should be encouraged to form farmer-based associations to network socially, access credit facilities, land, insurance products, extension services and training to empower communities and women. Fostering peer exchange of information between communities will ensure best practices, and lessons learnt are shared and scaled-up. This paper contributes to the literature on mechanisms employed by farmers in dryland farming systems to cope with climate change and variability.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Disposing waste on land is one of the major effects of urbanization and has adversely affected the urban landscape quality of the cities especially in developing countries. In the process, the quality of the wastes which has the potential for reuse in productive landscape purposes is not considered/tapped. This paper considers unused land/existing dumpsites as specific example cases that can be transformed or upgraded to a productive landscape space by exploiting up the nutrient potential of the major fraction of urban waste that is organic in nature. In order to achieve this idea, the work proposes a waste management strategy developed based on an onsite experiment at the neighbourhood level. Here the organic waste from the households in the neighbourhood is segregated, collected and brought to an identified vacant/unused land area within a neighbourhood where it is processed, maintained and transformed to a green space simultaneously as a cyclic process. The onsite experiment has helped to come out with a nomogram which incorporates depths, degradation time of the waste and plant growth period as variables based on the number of households, and their expected quantity of waste generation within the neighbourhood premises. Wherever applicable a refinement of this neighbourhood level attempt can be replicated at an urban scale to develop productive landscape spaces that cater to larger user group. The work thus analyses the process of developing any vacant land/dumpsite as a space having the potential to naturally process the waste adding to the aesthetic appeal of the city in a structured manner.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉In the absence of effective judicial remediation mechanisms after business-related human rights violations, companies themselves are expected to establish remediation procedures for affected victims and communities. This is a challenge for both companies and victims since comprehensive company-based grievance mechanisms (CGM) are currently missing. In this paper, we explore how companies can provide effective remediation after human rights violations. Accordingly, we critically assess two different approaches to conflict resolution, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and restorative justice (RJ), for their potential to provide dialogue-based, non-judicial remediation. We argue that remedy through agreement-driven ADR mechanisms risks marginalizing the interests and concerns of victims and affected community members, particularly in weak institutional contexts. Hence, we develop a dialogue-driven framework for corporate remediation of human rights violations grounded on RJ principles. This restorative framework provides a comprehensive CGM that focuses on the harms and needs of victims and aims at restoring justice through restorative dialogue. Based on a prompt discovery and a thorough investigation of the grievance, companies should design and prepare the remediation process together with victims, offenders and affected community members. Through restorative dialogue with the affected parties about the circumstances and impacts of the wrongdoing, companies can repair the harm, regain legitimacy amongst stakeholders as well as transform their business practices to avoid future human rights violations.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Green Parties are not the most popular in polls. However, their electoral scores have been achieving more significance since the 1990s, especially in European elections. This paper discusses the role of various Green seats occupied in 36 democracies in terms of the country’s control of pollution. Using different specifications for system GMM, the regressions here discussed concluded that higher shares of parliamentary seats occupied by Green Parties tended to be observed in countries with the most significant reductions in estimated levels of different pollutant gases (CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉, N〈sub〉2〈/sub〉O, SO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉, CH〈sub〉4〈/sub〉, and GHG). Additional robustness checks have also been discussed.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The present study assessed the air quality of an industrial town Mandi Gobindgarh, one of the critically polluted areas specified by Central pollution control board, India. Air quality was assessed in terms of Indian Air Quality Index (IND-AQI) by analyzing concentration of the air pollutants like particulate matter (PM〈sub〉10〈/sub〉, PM〈sub〉2.5〈/sub〉), sulfur dioxide (SO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉), and nitrogen dioxide (NO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉). Half-yearly wind roses were prepared from wind data from October, 2013 to March, 2015 for selecting sites on the basis of prevailing wind direction and speed. On the basis of wind roses, land use pattern and industrial clusters, 11 sampling sites were selected, i.e., 7 were industrial, 2 were residential, and 1 was agricultural. AQI was calculated for different seasons from March, 2015 to February, 2016; on the basis of IND-AQI. Results indicate that pollutant responsible for maximum sites for higher AQI was PM〈sub〉10〈/sub〉 and industrial sites were having “Poor” air quality, making area more susceptible to a large number of airborne disease. Annual cycle shows highest concentration of pollutants and water soluble ions to be higher in winter season and the lower during monsoon season. The concentration of water soluble ions for samples collected during winter season at commercial site was found to vary in the order of NH〈sub〉4〈/sub〉〈sup〉+〈/sup〉 〉 Cl〈sup〉−〈/sup〉 〉 SO〈sub〉4〈/sub〉〈sup〉2−〈/sup〉 〉 Na〈sup〉+〈/sup〉 〉 Ca〈sup〉2+〈/sup〉 〉 K〈sup〉+〈/sup〉 〉 NO〈sub〉3〈/sub〉〈sup〉−〈/sup〉 〉 Mg〈sup〉2+〈/sup〉. Values of SO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉/NO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 obtained vary from 1.23 to 1.99 at various selected sites which depict that the impacts of vehicular sources were marginally less, when compared to industrial sources.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is the market-based mechanism introduced to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) during various activities. Enormous literature has been available on the GHG mitigation activities in energy, transport, agriculture, construction, waste handling activities, afforestation and reforestation sectors using CDM. However, no single study has been carried out for reduction of fugitive emissions or leakages which releases during the industrial activities. Therefore, this paper presents a critical assessment of CDM projects implemented to reduce fugitive emissions during industrial activities. Out of entire 7749 registered CDM projects (in all sectors of CDM), only 154 (1.98%) fugitive emission reduction projects were implemented up to 2016. These 154 projects contribute up to 147,563,247 MTCO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉e (8.87%) estimated emission reduction out of total 1,663,533,108 MTCO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉e estimated emission reduction in all sectors of CDM (〈a href="https://cdm.unfccc.int/about/index.html"〉https://cdm.unfccc.int/about/index.html〈/a〉). Out of these 154 registered fugitive projects, 125 projects were assessed for fuel emissions, 19 for halocarbons (HCF) emissions and 10 for sulphur hexafluoride (SF〈sub〉6〈/sub〉) emissions. The details of the projects were gathered from Project Design Document (PDDs) of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) project cycle search and further verified by monitoring the reports of each project. These projects were studied to examine estimated emission reductions with special emphasis on the achieved emission reductions in terms of Certified Emissions Reduction (CERs) to calculate financial benefits. Available CDM methodologies to reduce fugitive emissions were also studied. Further, the distribution of these projects across India was mapped using Arc-GIS. Findings show India is second most country after China in registration of CDM projects. Westerns and northern part of India covers maximum CDM activities. Amongst various methodologies, abatement of methane from coalmines (ACM0008), approved methods decomposition of fluoroform (HFC-23) and point of use abatement device to reduce SF〈sub〉6〈/sub〉 emissions (AM0078) were used extensively for reduction of fuel, HFC and fluoride gas emissions. 260,064,195 MTCO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉e of CERs (14.5%), i.e. emission reduction was achieved from these projects till 2016 (〈a href="https://cdm.unfccc.int/about/index.html"〉https://cdm.unfccc.int/about/index.html〈/a〉). Therefore, some key challenges or barriers are discussed for development and disclosure of carbon strategies to get transparency in entire CER trading processes.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This study addresses the perceptions of indigenous people in Bangladesh in relation to the causes and impacts of climate change and how they use their indigenous knowledge to manage their forest resources and apply a variety of coping strategies in the face of climate change. This study selected two indigenous communities living in Lawachara Punji (Khasia community, 18 households) and in Dolubari/Dulahazra (Tripura community, 60 households). This study used purposive sampling and collected information through a survey questionnaire as well as in-depth interviews. Findings show some differences between the two indigenous communities in terms of their beliefs about the causes and impacts of climate change, as well their perceptions, techniques, and knowledge as indigenous people in terms of managing their forest resources and coping with the effects of climate change. Tripura respondents believe that climate change has had adverse impacts on humans and that human activities are responsible for climate change, while Khasia respondents hold different beliefs in these respects. Khasia respondents emphasize government responsibility, raising public awareness, and the various roles people need to perform to mitigate the effects of climate change. Findings from this kind of study can provide a deeper understanding of people’s views of the causes and impacts of climate change and related dimensions, including forest resource management and coping strategies in terms of indigenous beliefs and practices. These findings can contribute to policy making in countries like Bangladesh that are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, contributing to environmental sustainability in developing countries.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This paper assessed environmental sanitation implication of the disposal of the dead in two traditional African cities (Ile-Ife and Oyo in Nigeria) based on residents’ perception. Each of the cities was stratified into three residential zones: traditional zone, transition and peripheral zones. Across the residential zones, questionnaires were administered on 331 and 397 residents in Ile-Ife and Oyo, respectively. Findings revealed that dumping was the commonest method of the disposal of carcasses and burial was the commonest for corpses. The practices of the disposal of dead in the cities were without concern for environmental sanitation and public health. The study recommended enforcement of environmental sanitation laws and the need for planning for the dead as feeders for policy making, review and implementation on the disposal of the dead and other related issues in environmental studies both in the cities and others with similar setting.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Explanation in terms of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) has become standard practice in evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo). In this paper, we argue that GRNs fail to provide a robust, mechanistic, and dynamic understanding of the developmental processes underlying the genotype–phenotype map. Explanations based on GRNs are limited by three main problems: (1) the problem of genetic determinism, (2) the problem of correspondence between network structure and function, and (3) the problem of diachronicity, as in the unfolding of causal interactions over time. Overcoming these problems requires dynamic mechanistic explanations, which rely not only on mechanistic decomposition, but also on dynamic modeling to reconstitute the causal chain of events underlying the process of development. We illustrate the power and potential of this type of explanation with a number of biological case studies that integrate empirical investigations with mathematical modeling and analysis. We conclude with general considerations on the relation between mechanism and process in evo-devo.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Society increasingly demands corporations to be accountable for their past misbehaviours. Some corporations engage in forgetting work with the aim of avoiding responsibility for their wrongdoings. We argue that whenever social actors have their past actions called into question and engage in forgetting work, an ethics of remembering takes place. A collective project of social forgetting is contingent on the emergence of coordinated actions among players of an industry. Similarly, sustained efforts of forgetting work depend on the continuity of the project through various generations of employees, which presumes the existence of frameworks of remembering in place. We analysed this paradox through a historical case study of the U.S. tobacco industry. We conclude that forgetting work may be a double-edged sword. It might be beneficial in the short run, to the extent that corporations can successfully maintain the public ignorance about their deceitful pasts. In the long run, however, it creates additional layers of historical irresponsibility and may turn into a compounded liability in the event the memory of the collective strategy of social forgetting becomes public.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Aristotle’s philosophical insights into ethics, wisdom and practice have drawn the attention of scholars. In the current professional context where ethics are often compromised, this debate assumes a necessary urgency. This subject is highly relevant to business schools, given the general neglect of this quality in executive management development. Our research involved an analysis of contemporary literature on phronesis in the management scholarship, practice and teaching domains. Our definition of phronesis identifies themes and paradoxes distilled from this literature. Stories are by nature multi-layered and paradoxical, embracing ambiguity and contradiction, so we incorporate narrative as essential to our enquiry. While it appears to be easily grasped, phronesis is complex, nuanced and paradoxical, seen as an unorganised set of characteristics in the management scholarship domain. We argue that the neglect of phronesis in modernity flows from the challenging nature of developing it, itself the consequence of its indistinctness. It calls for Einstein’s words “I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity”. This article argues that developing this virtue as a form of practical wisdom, should be an integral part of executive management development if we are to cultivate morally responsible leadership. A typology of managerial phronesis will encourage contextually appropriate leadership excellence based on the virtue-attributes of managers-as-scholars. The typology we propose is based on a Grounded Theory synthesis of relevant literature. We adopt a phenomenological stance. Through incorporating Grounded Theory second order themes, we offer a grainier understanding of the qualities of managerial phronesis.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This paper investigates whether and how the disclosure tone of earnings conference calls predicts future stock price crash risk. Using US public firms’ conference call transcripts from 2010 to 2015, we find that firms with less optimistic tone of year-end conference calls experience higher stock price crash risk in the following year. Additional analyses reveal that the predictive power of tone is more pronounced among firms with better information environment and lower managerial equity incentives, suggesting that extrinsic motivations for truthful disclosure partially explain the predictive power of conference call tone. Our results shed light on the long-term information role of conference call tone by exploring the setting of extreme future downside risk, when managers have conflicting incentives either to unethically manipulate disclosure tone to hide bad news or to engage in ethical and truthful communication.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Although scholars have long known that entrepreneurship involves the interaction of countless individuals beyond the entrepreneur, traditional performance metrics are limited to capturing the economic value that is created for shareholders. Multiple scholars have suggested that it should be possible to develop a more complete assessment that is able to simultaneously capture both the economic and non-economic consequences of entrepreneurship that exist for the broader network of firm stakeholders. The purpose of this paper is to provide a more nuanced understanding of entrepreneurial performance by operationalizing the concept of stakeholder capabilities. Building on concepts from stakeholder theory and the human development and capability approach in welfare economics, we argue that the pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities can either create or destroy value for multiple stakeholders, and that this value is best conceived in terms of increases and decreases in individual capabilities (social, psychological, economic, physiological and intellectual). Approaching entrepreneurial performance from a stakeholder capabilities lens has implications for how we view entrepreneurs’ impact on society, what we mean by the creation and destruction of “value,” and how we define failure and success in entrepreneurship.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This research aims to understand how two basic schemas—vigilante and reparation—influence online public complaining. Drawing on two experiments, a longitudinal field study and content analysis of online complaints, the current research makes three core contributions. 〈em〉First〈/em〉, we show that for similar service failures, each schema is associated with different justice motivations (i.e., in terms of recovery, revenge, and protection of others), which have different moral implications for consumers. 〈em〉Second〈/em〉, vigilante and reparation complainers write complaints in a different manner and are drawn to different online platforms; this information is helpful to identify complainers using each schema. 〈em〉Third〈/em〉, the schemas moderate the process leading to different post-complaint benefits (i.e., resolution and positive affect). Specifically, perseverance has a greater effect on obtaining a resolution for reparation complainers compared to vigilantes. Additionally, whereas a recovery leads to an increase in positive affect for reparation complainers, vigilantes experience a high level of positive affect simply by posting their complaint (regardless of the resolution). The theoretical, ethical, and managerial implications of these findings are discussed.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This paper is a contribution to the discussion of how religious perspectives can improve business ethics. Two such perspectives are in natural law of antiquity and recent Catholic social doctrine and teaching (CSD/T). This paper develops a conceptual framework from natural law and CSD/T that business leaders can adopt to build an ethos of humanistic management. This “Human Dignity-Centered” framework fills the gap between time-tested Christian norms and contemporary firm-leaders’ concrete needs. “Human dignity” is used as a rhetorical device to convey the idea that firms are composed of dynamic social networks, with an ultimate purpose of serving human needs. Ultimately, the principles and virtues the framework employs have a logic that should inspire excellence, as ethical practices and concern for human welfare lay a foundation for long-term business prosperity. In a one-frame visual representation, this paper portrays: firm leadership challenges; a transforming ethical prism of principles and virtues; and results and feedback mechanisms. The accompanying narrative describes each element and how each affects humanistic management. Finally, illustrative company examples and questions are provided to illustrate how the framework can be used to benefit human flourishing. The framework provides an adjunct to current formulations of improving managerial excellence.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉In terms of reversal theory, both dominant and alternative explanations of the initiation of organizational wrongdoing assume that its perpetrators act in a telic state of mind. This leaves us with explanations of organizational wrongdoing that are insufficiently appreciative of the agent’s experience. The human mind can be creative and imaginative, too, and people can fully immerse in their activity. We suggest that the paratelic state of mind is relevant for the phenomenological understanding of the initiation of original, creative, daring courses of action, and that the paratelic state of mind may originate courses of action that social control agents, at a later moment in time, may label as organizational wrongdoing. Our proposal is especially relevant when organizational agents are on a course of exploration, facing uncertainty, complexity, and unavailability of information.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Environmental research has usually highlighted that the existence of slack resources in an organization helps allocate investment to innovative initiatives. However, the existing literature has paid very limited attention to how slack resources can influence the effects of focused and diversified innovations in different ways. Agency theory scholars claim that a manager’s first preference when confronted with discretionary resources will not generate positive investments for the firm, but their own opportunistic preferences. The differences between focused and diversified environmental innovations allow us to gain a better understanding of the financial impact of being focused and how slack resources matter in this context. We analyze a longitudinal sample of 5845 environmental patents from the 75 largest companies in the electrical components and equipment industry worldwide. Our results show that high levels of slack resources reduce the existing positive relationship between focused environmental innovations and a firm’s financial performance. These results contribute to delineating the theoretical and empirical implications of focused versus diversified environmental innovations and extend the literature on ethical dilemmas concerning managers’ use of slack resources in the firm.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Recent developments around the sharing economy bring to the fore questions of governability and broader societal benefit—and subsequently the need to explore effective means of public governance, from nurturing, on the one hand, to restriction, on the other. As sharing is a predominately urban phenomenon in modern societies, cities around the globe have become both locus of action and central actor in the debates over the nature and organization of the sharing economy. However, cities vary substantially in the interpretation of potential opportunities and challenges, as well as in their governance responses. Building on a qualitative comparative analysis of 16 leading global cities, our findings reveal four framings of the sharing economy: ‘societal endangerment,’ ‘societal enhancement,’ ‘market disruption,’ and ‘ecological transition.’ Such framings go hand in hand with patterned governance responses: although there is considerable heterogeneity in the combination of public governance strategies, we find specific configurations of framings and public governance strategies. Our work reflects the political and ethical debates on various economic, social, and moral issues related to the sharing economy, and contributes to a better understanding of the field-level institutional arrangements—a prerequisite for examining moral behavior of sharing economy organizations.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Economists have suggested it was optimal to signal the odious character of bonds when they were issued. However, since the odious debt doctrine has not been recognized by any court, one could argue that denouncing odious debts is useless. Exploiting a unique historical episode, this paper quantifies the impact of protests on odious debts. In 1906, the Russian government floated a bond in Paris to cover the costs of its war against Japan but also to raise money to crush the political movements wishing to reform Russia’s political system. Issued without parliamentary consent, this loan met with fierce opposition. Press campaigns in Great Britain, France and Germany denounced its odious character. If failure or success is determined solely by the ability to prevent a loan from being issued, then the campaign failed. We argue, however, that failure or success should be determined in light of the financial costs imposed on the issuer for future loans and even the ability to force a postponement of these loans. We show that these campaigns increased the yields of all Russian bonds traded in Paris, and thus Russia’s future borrowing cost. Yields on the 1906 loan, which was specially targeted by the campaigns, rose even more. However, once the press campaigns stopped, yields experienced a declining trend, highlighting the important role the press may have on odious debts.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Many business ethicists assume that if a type of conduct is illegal, then it is also unethical. This article scrutinizes that assumption, using the rideshare company Uber’s illegal operation in the city of Philadelphia as a case study. I argue that Uber’s unlawful conduct was permissible. I also argue that this position is not an extreme one: it is consistent with a variety of theoretical commitments in the analytic philosophical tradition regarding political obligation (i.e. the moral duty to obey the law because it is the law). I conclude by showing why business ethicists would have a better rejoinder to the “dominant view” of business ethics associated with Milton Friedman if they dispensed with the assumption that illegal implies unethical.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The increasing interest in water protection creates a new complex business environment. On account of firms’ large-scale impacts on the environment and water resources as well as the important role of specific industry sectors, such as water utilities, in water protection, various groups of stakeholders have lately requested for firms to provide transparent and extensive information about their water management strategies implemented to deal with water risks and opportunities. In this regard, sustainability reports play a critical role in informing stakeholders about their water risk performance and management practices. Despite the popularity of sustainability reports as a communication tool for environmental and water-related information, there is not a widely applied technique for evaluating and reporting water risk information. To advance the water risk reporting practices, this paper develops an evaluation framework which could assist firms, especially water utilities, in disclosing accurate and detailed information and data about water risks. The proposed methodological framework was applied in a sample of water utilities in order to examine its applicability, highlighting the strong and weak points.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This study investigates the overall effect of individual-level variables on predicting recycling in a cross-cultural context. The objective of the study was to investigate the role of social norms and perceived behavioral control as moderators and/or mediators of the relations between culture and reported recycling behavior. A survey was conducted among 172 Jewish and Muslim-Bedouin residents of a rural regional council in Israel. The survey included scales measuring social norms, perceived behavioral control, and reported recycling. Results revealed strong cross-cultural differences in reported recycling behaviors, with higher reported recycling among Jewish than among Muslim-Bedouin residents. Perceived behavioral control made an almost identical contribution to the explained variability of recycling among both Jewish and Muslim-Bedouin residents. Social norms were a significantly stronger predictor in explaining recycling among Muslim-Bedouin than among Jewish residents, yet, no significant interaction effect was found between culture and social norms in explaining recycling. Both social norms and perceived behavioral control mediated the relations between culture and recycling.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Ghana’s oil city—the Sekondi–Takoradi Metropolis—has rapidly urbanized over the past three decades. Combined with the effects of climate change, changes in land use and cover (LULC) threaten the hydrological cycle of the metropolis. It is, therefore, prudent to examine how the LULC change over time has impacted its watershed and the potential threats that such changes pose. This paper’s objective was to investigate and discuss the potential impacts of land development intensity (LDI) on the local hydrology of the metropolis, using remote sensing and GIS. Our results revealed interesting dynamics in the LULC changes in the metropolis that may have immensely affected and continued to impact the local hydrological cycle. Of the overall urban expansion in the metropolis, more than 50% occurred within its main watershed, which covers about only 35% of the entire metropolis. Urban expansion within the watershed occurred at the expense of forest and agricultural lands. The continual LDI increase in the watershed has potential significant hydrological consequences in terms of flooding, groundwater subsidence, and saltwater intrusion. To achieve sustainable water management, it is critical that policy decisions recognize and incorporate the potential impacts of LULC changes to limit future impacts.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The southern part of Bangladesh is one of the most affected regions facing the devastating impacts of climate change particularly in case of crop production. Impacts of climate-induced disasters and climatic variability on cropping pattern and crop production in 〈em〉Satkhira〈/em〉 district have been studied. Thirty-five year (1980–2014) climatic data (temperature, humidity, and rainfall) were used for seasonal (〈em〉Kharif〈/em〉-〈em〉I, Kharif〈/em〉-〈em〉II,〈/em〉 and 〈em〉Robi)〈/em〉 trend analysis. It has been identified that the cropping pattern needed to be modified by local farmers due to climate change impacts and crop production has declined severely in the study areas. For instance, in the 〈em〉Kharif〈/em〉-〈em〉II〈/em〉 season, during the period 2008–2009 with an agricultural land area of 13,670 hectares, the average production was only 2.58 mt per hectare. The study shows a significant strong positive correlation between seasonal average rainfall and seasonal average humidity (〈em〉r〈/em〉 = 0.75, 〈em〉p 〈/em〉〈 0.05) during the 〈em〉Robi〈/em〉 season. A significant strong negative correlation between seasonal average temperature and seasonal average humidity (〈em〉r〈/em〉 = − 0.60, 〈em〉p〈/em〉 〈 0.05) during the 〈em〉Kharif〈/em〉-〈em〉I〈/em〉 season was also found. We suggest some adaptation strategies to cope with the changing condition such as increased use of salt- and flood-tolerant varieties, floating bed vegetable cultivation, and dyke cropping system (mainly for vegetable), which can eventually reduce vulnerabilities and increase food security.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Well-organized ethnic diversity plays a crucial role in performing quality environment and international trade. Discrimination, segregation and bigotry are escalating the pressure on world’s population and spreading prejudice, later as a consequence may lead to social exclusion. This study aims to investigate whether ethnic or religious diversity affects international trade and the environmental performance by using the data of 187-countries (including 56 high-income, 102 middle-income and 29 low-income countries) of the world. The results indicate that diversity (ethnic and religious) plays a significant positive impact on international trade and environmental performance of high- and middle-income countries and vice versa with low-income countries. This study further suggested that diversity cannot be abbreviated; however, its disastrous effects may be curtailed by providing equal opportunities and peace in society to ensure the well-being of people through cohesiveness.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉In large part of the world, rivers are polluted with sewage, industrial and agricultural wastes. The objective of this study is to determine farmers’ willingness to pay to improve the water quality of the Aksu River in Kahramanmaras Province. For this purpose, a survey was conducted with 236 farmers in the study area and the contingent valuation method and binomial probit model were used to evaluate river quality. As a result of the analysis, it is determined that average farm size was 188.2 decares, average annual income was $ 40377.56 and 87.3% of the respondents want to do good agricultural practices, which is a form of production that does not harm the environment, human and animal health. Model results showed that the region (polluted and not polluted area) and the use of fertilizers according to soil analysis results affect farmers’ willingness to pay positively. On the other hand, the education level of farmers and bid price have a negative effect on the willingness to pay. As a result of the analysis, it is determined that the farmers wanted to pay $8.03 per decare to improve the river water quality.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The topic of fundraising ethics has received remarkably little scholarly attention. In this paper, we review the circumstances that precipitated a major review of fundraising regulation in the UK in 2015 and describe the ethical codes that now underpin the advice and guidance available to fundraisers to guide them in their work. We focus particularly on the Code of Fundraising Practice. We then explore the purpose and rationale of similar codes and the process through which such codes are typically constructed. We highlight potential weaknesses with the current approach adopted in fundraising and conclude by offering a series of normative perspectives on fundraising ethics that could be used to review and revise the current code and potentially improve the quality of future fundraising decision making.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The Kantian categorical imperative process of rational reflection and reasoned social discourse is theoretically capable of forming the moral environmental maxims applicable to business. This article argues that rational environmental discourse demands that business has an imperfect duty to develop relevant unbiased information, and perhaps to disseminate this information through participation in business-public coalitions. For the environmental problem, this “rationality” particularly concerns (i) our obligations toward future generations and distant people while recognizing that they cannot participate in current discourse, and (ii) the rules for gathering and assessing the evidence that should govern our environmental preservations and enhancements. Both these concerns demand certain scientific information requirements, as well as logical decision criteria that are perceived as stable across both overlapping generations, and affected peoples (as argued by Rawls in a different context). The criteria for Rawls’ “considered moral judgments” are shown to apply to resolutions of these business-related ethical conundrums. In a way similar to Kant’s anthropological examinations of humanity’s antisocial behaviors, this article also examines various biases that inhibit this social reasoning.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This work empirically tests the concept of the ‘whistleblowing triangle,’ which is modeled on the three factors encapsulated by the fraud triangle (pressure or financial incentives, opportunity and rationalization), in the Indonesian context. Anchored in the proposition of an original research framework on the whistleblowing triangle and derived hypotheses, this work aims to expand the body of knowledge on this topic by providing empirical evidence. The sample used is taken from audit firms affiliated with both the big 4 and non-big 4 companies operating in Indonesia. The results of analysis using the PLS-PM method found a significant relationship between the components of the whistleblowing triangle and the intention of blowing the whistle. We found that financial incentives are the most significant predictor of auditors’ intention to blow the whistle in Indonesia. Other components, such as opportunity and rationalization, also play an important role in supporting auditors’ intention to blow the whistle. Our findings also suggest that related pressures are the top priority for audit firms in Indonesia to consider in increasing whistleblowing intention. We expand the previous literature on whistleblowing which has been derived from the components of the fraud triangle (Brown et al. in Account Public Interest 16(1):28–56, 〈span〉2016〈/span〉; Smaili and Arroyo in J Bus Ethics, 〈span〉https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-017-3663-7〈/span〉, 〈span〉2017〈/span〉) by adding empirical evidence.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉In recent years, the sharing economy (SE) has attracted considerable attention, both scholarly and popular, relating to its capacity to enforce or undermine extant economic conventions. However, the process through which technological developments can effectively have this outcome of altering extant conventions on what is morally acceptable or desirable is still unclear. In this paper, we draw on the work of Boltanski and Thévenot (On justification: economies of worth. Princeton University Press, Princeton, 2006) and the notion of 〈em〉agencement〈/em〉 to investigate the moral and performative dimension of controversies related to the SE. The research stems from a qualitative case-based study of the controversy following Uber’s implementation in Montréal’s taxi market. We contribute to the literature on the SE through an empirical study of the moral debates entailed in the unfolding in situ of a SE device. We also add to the literature using the ‘Orders of Worth’ framework (2006) by showing how a compromise is solidified. We find that beyond discursive strategies, it is the concrete recomposition of laws, conventions, devices, persons, etc. that harmonised different definitions of the common good. Finally, we contribute to the literature on the relationship between technology, ethics, and social change by capturing the specific values that legitimise Uber, and by following their unfolding throughout a controversy.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This study mainly focuses on the source identification of various ions in meltwater and estimation of CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 consumption rate by chemical weathering in the Batal glacier basin on the basis of 2 years of study (2015 and 2017). The glacier meltwater has been monitored as slightly acidic in nature having mean pH value of 6.6. Ca〈sup〉2+〈/sup〉 was observed as the most dominant cation contributing about 76% of TZ〈sup〉+〈/sup〉 (total cations), whereas SO〈sub〉4〈/sub〉〈sup〉2−〈/sup〉 was observed as the most dominant anion contributing about 70% of TZ〈sup〉−〈/sup〉 (total anions) in the stream meltwater. High ratios of (Ca + Mg) versus TZ〈sup〉+〈/sup〉 (mean value: 0.89 ± 0.02) and (Ca + Mg) versus (Na + K) (mean value: 8.51 ± 2.07) elucidate that stream water chemistry of the Batal glacier is largely controlled by carbonate weathering. Concentration of total dissolved solid in the glacial stream water was higher during the low-melt season (September) and lower during the high-melt period (July). The average value of daily mean TDS flux of the study area was calculated to be 12.4 t/day. The mean values of CWR (carbonate weathering rate) and SWR (silicate weathering rate) for the Batal glacier basin were calculated to be 97.4 and 22.8 t/km〈sup〉2〈/sup〉/year, showing higher contribution of CWR as compared to SWR in the investigation area. CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 consumption rate by the combined silicate and carbonate (chemical) weathering was estimated to be 11.1 × 10〈sup〉5〈/sup〉, 28.8 × 10〈sup〉5〈/sup〉 and 35.5 × 10〈sup〉5〈/sup〉 mol/km〈sup〉2〈/sup〉/year during the study period September 2015, June 2017 and July 2017, respectively. The annual CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 drawdown by the Batal glacier basin on the basis of CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 consumption rate by chemical weathering is much lower as compared to the Gangotri glacier, which may be due to bigger size and higher meltwater runoff of the Gangotri glacier as compared to the Batal glacier. 〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Indicators are one of the tools available in planning and management projects that aid in the decision-making process and the monitoring of those decisions on the path to sustainable use and management of water and natural resources. However, the quality and trustworthiness of the indicators depend on the constant improvement in the means to assess and design criteria sets. The identification of criteria to evaluate indicators and its subsequence selection are not an ordinary task. The research identified a proliferation of unconsolidated criteria in use in the sustainability and water resource management domains. In response, a process of synthesis and consolidation was undertaken in order to reduce the level of redundancies and to identify possible candidates for “core criteria” that are identified as being a relevant part of most evaluation frameworks. A representative collection of sources from the specialized literature was screened for evaluation criteria. Altogether, 74 sources were assessed, comprising 346 mentions of criteria applied for indicator assessment. A detailed synthesis was performed to organize the criteria and identify possible redundancies. The analysis allowed a reduction from the 346 initial criteria to 60 unique criteria. The study offers a standard title and description for each criterion, contributing to improve clarity and avoid ambiguity. The criteria were also ranked to identify which criteria were in more systemic use. Of the 60 criteria found, the 12 most cited were identified as possible core criteria for framework development. Also, in order to facilitate the design of indicator sets, all 60 criteria were divided into two approaches (scientific/top-down or end-use/bottom-up). This study identified significant redundancies and a lack of standardization in the use of criteria, and it also ranked criteria to facilitate multi-method framework development. Thus, it is essential that indicator designers not only consider criteria that have some level of standardization to be able to compare and communicate with other agencies and communities but also consider how to utilize core criteria in the design of indicator sets.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉In this paper, thermal performance of a solar air heater (SAH) having arc-shaped ribs with symmetrical gaps has been investigated experimentally and compared with that of smooth SAH. An experimental investigation has been carried out to observe the effect of various gap widths on heat transfer and friction characteristics. The investigation includes the roughness parameter; relative gap width (〈em〉g〈/em〉/〈em〉e〈/em〉) ranging from 2 to 5 and flow parameter; and Reynolds number ranging from 3000 to 18,000. The fixed parameters for this study were relative roughness height (〈em〉e〈/em〉/〈em〉D〈/em〉) of 0.047, arc angle (〈em〉α〈/em〉) of 60° and relative roughness pitch (〈em〉P〈/em〉/〈em〉e〈/em〉) of 12. Results of the present work have also been compared with previously published work. Nusselt number and friction factor for roughened absorber surface is found to be 3.66 and 2.77 times higher than that obtained for smooth plate, respectively. Maximum value of thermo-hydraulic performance parameter is found to be 2.66 at 〈em〉g〈/em〉/〈em〉e〈/em〉 = 4. Heat transfer and friction factor correlations for proposed roughness have also been developed.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This paper shows strategic neuro-fuzzy (N-fis) control scheme for wind-driven-based doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) using artificial neural network (ANN)-controlled solar PV array. The complete system of DFIG is designed using neuro-fuzzy control scheme for harnessing the maximum power from both solar and wind. The output solar PV array is connected to DC link terminal of DFIG through boost converter. ANN is used to trigger the IGBT switch of the boost converter which consists of 30 neuron structure arranged in three hidden layer. Selection of 30 neuron structure for ANN using back-propagation delay is decided by methodology which gives least square error and best regression analysis. Initially, the Simulink model of 15 kW DFIG is designed in which rotor and grid-side converter is controlled by using neuro-fuzzy (N-fis) scheme. The N-fis scheme is used for switching the GSC and RSC converter with the help of PWM converter. The wind turbine acts as mechanical input to rotor shaft of DFIG which is controlled by pitch angle, tip-to-speed ratio and power coefficient. Further 20 kW ANN-controlled solar PV array is designed which is equipped with DC link terminal of DFIG. The complete system shows the dependency, reliability and truthfulness of DFIG on renewable energy (wind & solar both). Comparative analysis is shown for 10 kW DFIG of wind–solar combination and with wind only. This also shows the significance of solar in wind power-based DFIG which reduces the requirement choke coil filter that makes the system economical and efficient.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The study assessed the sustainability of community-managed water supply services drawing empirical evidence from a small town water supply system in Ghana. The study followed a fully quantitative research approach. Data were collected from 387 respondents who were almost all public standpipe users (98.45%) using a structured survey questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were reported, and MACBETH was the method of analysis. The study revealed that quality drinking water and reliability are the most important criteria in the opinion of survey respondents for small town water supply system. Building on this empirical understanding, the differences in importance that respondents attributed to each of these criteria were measured, and, for example, implementation of policies and public disclosure was their lowest priority. The results revealed that survey respondents believe that all criteria are currently within a range that indicates a sustainable water supply system. The paper recommend among other things that management of community-managed water supply system should be well positioned to ensure continuous water quality testing while designing drinking water quality improvement plans.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉In this study, wastewater formed in marble mines operated as open mines with the aid of a cutting slope in the soil clarification tanks, which were made impermeable by using membranes and similar impermeable elements, was collected after the sedimentation process. The reusability of the water during the process was also investigated. In the marble mines where the study was carried out, an average of 25 m〈sup〉3〈/sup〉/day of water is used as the process water for cutting operations. It is thought that ~ 10 m〈sup〉3〈/sup〉/day of this water is evaporated or remains between the marble blocks. However, in the facility, 15 m〈sup〉3〈/sup〉/day of wastewater was collected in the clarification tank that was made impermeable with a plastic cover. The initial (I) and final (F) values for the suspended solid (SS), pH, colour (C), oil and grease (OG) and Cr〈sup〉6+〈/sup〉 were determined as SS〈sub〉I〈/sub〉 = 106.5 mg/l, SS〈sub〉F〈/sub〉 = 58.3 mg/l, pH〈sub〉I〈/sub〉 = 8.06, pH〈sub〉F〈/sub〉 = 7.93, 〈em〉C〈/em〉〈sub〉I〈/sub〉 = 83.5 (Pt–Co), 〈em〉C〈/em〉〈sub〉F〈/sub〉 = 47.5 (Pt–Co), (Cr〈sup〉6+〈/sup〉)〈sub〉I〈/sub〉 = 〈 0.05 mg/l, (Cr〈sup〉6+〈/sup〉)〈sub〉F〈/sub〉 = 〈 0.05 mg/l, OG〈sub〉I〈/sub〉 = 8.7 mg/l and OG〈sub〉F〈/sub〉 = 2.3 mg/l. The fact that these values are below the required limits in the Water Pollution Control Regulation applied in Turkey indicates that the treatment is successful and that the clarification tank is working effectively. Therefore, this method can be used successfully in marble mines.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Natural disasters, such as flood, earthquake or hurricane, can cause environmental damage, infrastructural destruction, economic disruption and result in the loss of human lives. The goal of this paper is to assess vulnerability of the interdependent sectors and to determine the impact of a disaster. As part of our investigation, we explore the inoperability input–output model (IIM) to obtain ballpark estimate of losses. IIM can quantify the effect on production level and measure ripple effect of perturbation on the interdependent system by calculating the economic loss and inoperability level. Furthermore, PROMETHEE (preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluations) is integrated with IIM, incorporating the criteria of economic system linkages, economic losses and percentage of the inoperability. It will help to analyze the effect of disaster and rank the most vulnerable sectors—based on the defined criterion. A case study is performed in Pakistan (an Asian developing country) which was hit by floods in 2011–2012, perturbing the demand in various sectors. To analyze the perturbation level and system linkages, an interdependent input–output matrix—based on the Pakistan’s economy—is constructed. Further research analysis gives perspicacity in terms of describing criticality and sensitivity of the independent economic system. It is concluded that the agriculture and service sectors have suffered with the highest inoperability level. The results also identify significant sectors of the economy after flood strikes; these sectors can be prioritized for policymaking activities to reduce the sector-specific impact in the aftermath of a catastrophic event.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Transport sustainability is an important foundation for achieving sustainable development in an economy. Particularly, environmental policies cannot overlook the growing importance in the transport sector as the economy expands. In this context, it is necessary to investigate the relationship between transport energy consumption (TEN), transport economic growth (TGDP), and transport CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 emissions (TCE) to formulate the reasonable and specific transport policies. This paper investigated the long-run elasticity and causality between TEN, TGDP, and TCE for the case of China using the panel data covering 30 provincial regions during the period 2004–2016. Firstly, the stationary of each variable series was examined using the panel unit root test. Secondly, the cointegrating relationship in bivariate models was investigated by employing the panel Pedroni cointegration test. Thirdly, based on the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), the long-run elasticity coefficients in bivariate models were estimated. Finally, the panel Granger causality test based on the vector error correction model was utilized to determine whether the causality existed between the variables. The empirical results indicated that: (1) each variable was found to be integrated of order one, and the cointegrating relationship existed in all bivariate modes. (2) The panel FMOLS tests revealed that the long-run elasticity of TCE to TEN was almost equal to the long-run elasticity of TEN to TCE; the long-run elasticity of TCE to TGDP was significantly higher than the long-run elasticity of TGDP to TCE; and the long-run elasticity of TEN to TGDP was significantly higher than the long-run elasticity of TGDP to TEN. (3) Importantly, the bidirectional causal relationships existed between the TEN, TGDP, and TCE both in the short-run and in the long-run.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉I respond to recent criticism of my analysis of the permissive-instructive distinction and outline problems with the alternative analysis on offer. Amongst other problems, I argue that the use of formal measures is unclear and unmotivated, that the distinction is conflated with others that are not equivalent, and that no good reasons are provided for thinking the alternative model or formal measure tracks what biologists are interested in. I also clarify my own analysis where it has been misunderstood or ignored.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This critical note responds to Guiaşu and Tindale’s “Logical fallacies and invasion biology,” from our perspective as ecologists and philosophers of science engaged in debates about invasion biology and invasive species. We agree that “the level of charges and dismissals” surrounding these debates might be “unhealthy” and that “it will be very difficult for dialogues to move forward unless genuine attempts are made to understand the positions being held and to clarify the terms involved.” Although they raise several important scientific, conceptual, and ethical issues at the foundations of invasion biology, we believe Guiaşu and Tindale’s attempts to clarify the debate were unsuccessful. Like some other critics of the field, they tend to misrepresent invasion biology by cherry-picking and constructing “straw people,” inaccurately portraying invasion biology, and thus failing to elevate the dialogue. In this critique, we clarify areas in the invasion biology literature misrepresented by Guiaşu and Tindale. We attempt to provide a more balanced view of areas of reasonable debate within invasion biology, including disputes about empirical evidence, diverse risk attitudes, and other diverse ethical commitments.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉We call 〈em〉affective brainocentrism〈/em〉 the tendency to privilege the brain over other parts of the organism when defining or explaining emotions. We distinguish two versions of this tendency. According to 〈em〉brain-sufficient〈/em〉, emotional states are entirely realized by brain processes. According to 〈em〉brain-master〈/em〉, emotional states are realized by both brain and bodily processes, but the latter are entirely driven by the brain: the brain is the master regulator of bodily processes. We argue that both these claims are problematic, and we draw on physiological accounts of stress to make our main case. These accounts illustrate the existence of complex interactions between the brain and endocrine systems, the immune system, the enteric nervous system, and even gut microbiota. We argue that, because of these complex brain–body interactions, the brain cannot be isolated and identified as the basis of stress. We also mention recent evidence suggesting that complex brain–body interactions characterize the physiology of depression and anxiety. Finally, we call for an alternative dynamical, systemic, and embodied approach to the study of the physiology of emotions that does not privilege the brain, but rather aims at understanding how mutually regulating brain and bodily processes jointly realize a variety of emotional states.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The term adaptive radiation has been recurrently used to describe evolutionary patterns of several lineages, and has been proposed as the main driver of biological diversification. Different definitions and criteria have been proposed to distinguish an adaptive radiation, and the current literature shows disagreements as to how radiating lineages should be circumscribed. Inconsistencies increase when authors try to differentiate a clade under adaptive radiation from clades evolving under ‘regular’ speciation with adaptation, a pattern anticipated and predicted by the evolutionary theory in any lineage. The most important disagreement is as to which evolutionary rate (phenotypical or taxonomical) authors analyze to characterize a radiation; a discussion embedded in a prevailing inability to provide mechanistic explanations of the relationship among evolutionary rates. The union of pattern and process in the same term, the inadequacy of reported null hypotheses, and the frequent use of ad hoc comparisons between lineages have also contributed to the lack of consensus. A rigorous use of available terms and the articulation of solid criteria with objective methodologies in distinguishing evolutionary patterns are imperative. Given the difficulties in detecting adaptation, the use of the ‘adaptive’ term to qualify a radiation should be avoided unless methodologically tested. As an unambiguous method to distinguish radiating lineages, the statistical detection of significant increases in taxonomic diversification rates on monophyletic lineages can be considered a distinctive signature of a radiation. After recognizing this pattern, causal hypotheses explaining them can be stated, as well as correlates with other rates of evolution.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This paper compares the effectiveness of activated carbon prepared by khat and neem leaves in treating the wastewater collected from automobile service stations. Wastewater was collected from service stations in the Haramaya city of Ethiopia. Proximate analysis of different leaves, such as khat, neem and gudhal, was tested, and the fixed carbon percentage is 81, 78 and 72, respectively. On the basis of high percentage of fixed carbon, khat and neem activated carbon are selected for further study. Zinc chloride is used for activation, and the samples khat and neem activated carbon are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The turbidity and pH of wastewater was tested before and after the treatment. In the case of khat activated carbon, turbidity was reduced up to 30 mg/lit and the combination of khat and neem activated carbon removed up to 15 mg/lit. In both the cases, khat activated carbon is effective in neutralizing pH and reducing turbidity.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉There is considerable correspondence between theories and models used in biology and the social sciences. One type of model that is in use in both biology and the social sciences is the fitness landscape model. The properties of the fitness landscape model have been applied rather freely in the social domain. This is partly due to the versatility of the model, but it is also due to the difficulties of transferring a model to another domain. We will demonstrate that in order to transfer the biological fitness landscape model to the social science it needs to be substantially modified. We argue that the syntactic structure of the model can remain unaltered, whilst the semantic dimension requires considerable modification in order to fit the specific phenomena in the social sciences. We will first discuss the origin as well as the basic properties of the model. Subsequently, we will demonstrate the considerations and modifications pertaining to such a transfer by showing how and why we altered the model to analyse collective decision-making processes. We will demonstrate that the properties of the target domain allow for a transfer of the syntactic structure but don’t tolerate the semantic transfer.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉In this commentary of Koonin’s target paper, we defend an extended view of CRISPR-Cas immunity by arguing that CRISPR-Cas includes, but cannot be reduced to, defence against nonself. CRISPR-Cas systems can target endogenous elements (for example in DNA repair) and tolerate exogenous elements (for example some phages). We conclude that the vocabulary of “defence” and “nonself” might be misleading when describing CRISPR-Cas systems.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The urban agglomeration is the unplanned growth of a city into its surrounding peri/rural areas causing unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. This leads to an increase in the land surface temperature that in turn results in climatic issues ranging from local to global scales. In the current study, an attempt has been made to map the urban growth and its associated land surface temperature variations in and around Vijayawada city of Andhra Pradesh state, India. Temporal Landsat satellite images from 4 years, viz. 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2018, were used to generate land use/land cover maps with four major classes such as built-up, vegetation, water body, and others. Change detection and transition of the natural land cover to man-made land use were statistically computed for the study area. Sprawl analysis of the city was carried out by generating multiple buffer rings over the study region to evaluate the urban density and annual urban growth rate. Shannon’s entropy was employed to identify the nature of city expansion. The seasonal variation of the land surface temperature was studied using Mono-window algorithm. The temperature variation over individual classes was computed with the aid of a self-designed random point method. Results showed a steady increasing trend in the urban density and land surface temperature with the distinct formation of a heat island over the city, especially during winters throughout the study period. The settlement area has increased from 28.20 km〈sup〉2〈/sup〉 in 1990 to 138.01 km〈sup〉2〈/sup〉 in 2018. The directional growth analysis captured the pattern of city growth as tentacle-type development in conjunction with infill development. The sprawl happening around Vijayawada ignores the depletion of natural resources, leading to anomalies in the land surface temperature.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The CRISPR-Cas systems of bacterial and archaeal adaptive immunity have become a household name among biologists and even the general public thanks to the unprecedented success of the new generation of genome editing tools utilizing Cas proteins. However, the fundamental biological features of CRISPR-Cas are of no lesser interest and have major impacts on our understanding of the evolution of antivirus defense, host-parasite coevolution, self versus non-self discrimination and mechanisms of adaptation. CRISPR-Cas systems present the best known case in point for Lamarckian evolution, i.e. generation of heritable, adaptive genomic changes in response to encounters with external factors, in this case, foreign nucleic acids. CRISPR-Cas systems employ multiple mechanisms of self versus non-self discrimination but, as is the case with immune systems in general, are nevertheless costly because autoimmunity cannot be eliminated completely. In addition to the autoimmunity, the fitness cost of CRISPR-Cas systems appears to be determined by their inhibitory effect on horizontal gene transfer, curtailing evolutionary innovation. Hence the dynamic evolution of CRISPR-Cas loci that are frequently lost and (re)acquired by archaea and bacteria. Another fundamental biological feature of CRISPR-Cas is its intimate connection with programmed cell death and dormancy induction in microbes. In this and, possibly, other immune systems, active immune response appears to be coupled to a different form of defense, namely, “altruistic” shutdown of cellular functions resulting in protection of neighboring cells. Finally, analysis of the evolutionary connections of Cas proteins reveals multiple contributions of mobile genetic elements (MGE) to the origin of various components of CRISPR-Cas systems, furthermore, different biological systems that function by genome manipulation appear to have evolved convergently from unrelated MGE. The shared features of adaptive defense systems and MGE, namely the ability to recognize and cleave unique sites in genomes, make them ideal candidates for genome editing and engineering tools.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The microalgae culture medium should contain essential nutrients for their optimal growth. However, landfill leachate contains these nutrients; merely, the use of leachate in the cultivation of microalgae is not conceivable because of its high toxicity. This survey proposes to demonstrate the growth performance in terms of biomass production, chlorophyll contents and cell morphology of two microalgae, namely 〈em〉Chlorella〈/em〉 sp. and 〈em〉Scenedesmus〈/em〉 sp., in different concentrations of leachate (10%, 30%, 50%, 80% and 100% (v/v) crude leachate). Changes in chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammoniacal nitrogen (NH〈sub〉4〈/sub〉〈sup〉+〈/sup〉–N) and salinity content were also monitored. Results showed that when the two algae were mixed, the culture medium containing 10% (v/v) of leachate caused an optimal and selective growth of 〈em〉Chlorella〈/em〉 and a total mortality for 〈em〉Scenedesmus〈/em〉 cells. Also, this culture medium containing 10% (v/v) of leachate promoted the cell growth of 〈em〉Chlorella〈/em〉 sp., of around 2 times in terms of cell density and 10 times in terms of chlorophyll content as compared to the result obtained for the standard culture medium “Bold’s Basal Medium (BBM).” Abatement rates of COD, NH〈sub〉4〈/sub〉〈sup〉+〈/sup〉–N and salinity of 60%, 100% and 10% were, respectively, achieved by pure cultures of 〈em〉Chlorella sp〈/em〉. Therefore, the strain of 〈em〉Chlorella〈/em〉 sp. appeared resistant in this unfriendly environment as compared to the strain of 〈em〉Scenedesmus〈/em〉 sp. As a perspective, the tested landfill leachate could be convenient for culturing 〈em〉Chlorella〈/em〉 sp. for leachate purification and biofuel production.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Evolutionary psychology tends to be associated with a massively modular cognitive architecture. On this framework of human cognition, an assembly of specialized information processors called modules developed under selection pressures encountered throughout the phylogenic history of hominids. The coordinated activity of domain-specific modules carries out all the processes of belief fixation, abstract reasoning, and other facets of central cognition. Against the massive modularity thesis, I defend an account of 〈em〉systemic functional adaptedness〈/em〉, according to which non-modular systems emerged because of adaptive problems imposed by the intrinsic physiology of the evolving human brain. The proposed reformulation of evolutionary theorizing draws from neural network models and Cummins’ (J Philos 72(20):741–765, 〈span〉1975〈/span〉) account of systemic functions to identify selection pressures that gave rise to non-modular, domain-general mechanisms in cognitive architecture.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉In the construction industry of developing countries, the term sustainability has still not been adequately perceived. These countries are trying to overcome barriers to sustainable construction. In this study, managerial perceptions at various levels on main barriers to sustainable construction: firm level and project level, will be analysed. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to respondents in Vietnam to collect data. First, barriers are ranked based on their mean. Kendall test affirmed that a consistency of responses given by both directors and project managers significantly exists regarding the barriers. Moreover, Mann–Whitney 〈em〉U〈/em〉 test proved there are no statistically significant differences among these two groups responding to the five main barriers. Through statistical analyses, the study identified the five most significant barriers, namely incompetence of project managers, limited sustainable materials and technologies, maintaining the current practice and resisting the change towards sustainability, lack of government incentives, and low implementation level of sustainable practices. From the findings, measures are also given to help stakeholders, especially directors and project managers, initially overcome the most significant barriers as well as gradually acquaint with the sustainable construction concept in developing countries.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The puzzle of how altruism can evolve has been at the center of recent debates over Hamilton’s Rule, inclusive fitness, and kin-selection. In this paper, I use recent debates over altruism and Hamilton’s legacy as an example to illustrate a more general problem in evolutionary theory that has philosophical significance; I attempt to explain this significance and to draw a variety of conclusions about it. The problem is that specific behaviours and general concepts of organism agency and intentionality are defined in terms of concepts of evolutionary “costs” and “benefits,” and these terms have determined the role that agency should play in evolutionary explanation. However, costs, benefits, and agency are not only or even best conceived through evolutionary effects in a biological context. The paper proceeds as follows: first, I explain how the issue of agency relates to the evolutionary puzzle of altruism. Next, I discuss how questions about agency have figured in recent debates over Hamilton’s legacy. In the final section, I argue that Denis Walsh’s “situated Darwinism,” which attempts to return the organism to central status in biological explanation, offers a more productive route for thinking about different forms of costs, benefits, and agency. Finally, I argue that the upshot of all this is that there may be many different, and equally valid, ways to express what organisms are doing and how they are behaving based on different currencies of cost and benefit—even if these may stand in some tension. I illustrate this through returning to the case of altruism and using examples to show that even in non-humans there can be many forms of altruism, even if they are not all 〈em〉biological altruism〈/em〉 as defined in the conventional evolutionary terms.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉In their paper “Is psychopathy a mental disease?”, Thomas Nadelhoffer and Walter Sinnott-Armstrong argue that according to any plausible account of mental disorder, neural and psychological abnormalities correlated with psychopathy should be regarded as signs of a mental disorder. I oppose this conclusion by arguing that at least on a naturalistically grounded account, such as Wakefield’s ‘Harmful Dysfunction’ view, currently available empirical data and evolutionary considerations indicate that psychopathy is not a mental disorder.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This research merges literature from organizational behavior and marketing to garner insight into how organizations can maximize the benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for enhanced CSR and organizational engagement of employees. Across two field experiments, the authors demonstrate that the effectiveness of employee co-creation activities in increasing employees’ positive CSR perceptions is moderated by self-construal (i.e., whether an individual views the self as relatively independent from or interdependent with others). In particular, the positive effect of co-creation on CSR perceptions emerges only for employees with a salient interdependent self-construal (either measured as an individual difference or experimentally manipulated). Moreover, the results demonstrate that increased positive CSR perceptions then predict increased CSR engagement and organizational engagement. The research thus highlights the need to consider self-construal when trying to utilize co-creation to predict CSR engagement and organizational engagement, via CSR perceptions.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Recent judicial rulings and changes in federal and state legislation have given for-profit corporations a growing list of rights and constitutional protections, including the right to practice religion free from many types of federal or state restriction. In this paper, we highlight the implications of these developments using Rawls’ (A theory of justice, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1971) Theory of Justice to explore the consequences of for-profit corporate religious freedom for consumers and employees. We identify preliminary principles to spark a discussion as to how expanding religious freedom for businesses and fair access to goods and services can coexist in the for-profit marketplace.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉 The private sector is vital to building and sustaining peace. These efforts are often recognized as “Business for Peace” or “Peace through Commerce.” Academic research on Business for Peace is almost twenty years old and tends to be theoretical. This paper is the first to present qualitative findings on businesses operating in an active violent conflict such as the case of Iraq. Companies in Iraq operate under the constant threat of violence and yet many still try to enhance peace through operations. We interviewed more than 40 participants who were business owners, managers, government officials, and international policymakers who were active in the Iraqi theater. We discuss our findings that relate to the perception of company activities as peace enhancing into four categories: capacity building, rule of law, social cohesion, and local engagement. Our findings support the existing business and peace categories of rule of law and social cohesion. Our findings also suggest that current theory may be missing capacity building and local engagement as important business activities to promote peace. We conclude by noting the limitations of the paper and the need for more qualitative research.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Stakeholder engagement and dialogue have a central role in defining the relations between organisations and their internal and external interlocutors. Drawing upon the analysis of dialogic motifs, power–conflict dynamics and sociopolitical perspectives, and based on a set of interviews with the stakeholders of a consumer-owned cooperative, the research explores the dialogic potential of stakeholder engagement. The analysis revealed a fragmented picture where the co-design and co-implementation aspects were mainly related to the non-business areas of cooperative life, while business logic dominated the most central aspects. Stakeholder engagement was mainly related to consensus building, while dialogic engagement based on a pluralistic understanding was only partially considered and then neglected. The social capital in the local area, the growing size of the organisation and the related power structure embrace stakeholder engagement, influencing the orientation of the (un)dialogic dynamic. The analysis indicates that a dialogic exchange is a relative concept which depends on the interests involved and the topics discussed. It also reveals that the key factors in the democratisation of stakeholder engagement are a mutual understanding and long-term opportunities. Common sociopolitical aspects are also important, but they do not necessarily guarantee the creation of dialogism paths. The research contributes to the critical dialogic literature in revealing whether and how stakeholder engagement has been implemented in a specific setting. It also shows the limitations of voluntarist stakeholder engagement initiatives.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a force to “pull” customers to the organizational mission and values, and influence them to contribute to the organization. The primary purpose of the research is to assess how CSR contributes to customer value co-creation. The research also seeks evidence on the moderation mechanisms of servant leadership and relationship marketing orientation for the effect of CSR on customer value co-creation behavior. The data were collected from 873 employees and 873 customers in software industry in Vietnam context. The data analysis supported the positive effect of CSR on customer value co-creation behavior. Servant leadership and relationship marketing orientation were also found to play moderating roles for the CSR–customer value co-creation linkage.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This study compares the different emphases on virtuous characters presented in their values, across global firms considering country and industry of origin. It presents a content analysis of the 122 codes of conduct statements from Fortune Global 500 firms, drawn from four sectors and using correspondence analysis. American firms tend to emphasize courage, while European firms emphasize integrity and empathy, surprisingly with Asian firms being closer to European ones. Retailers and pharmaceutical firms emphasize empathy, while banks and petroleum emphasize courage. This study extends the newly emerging strategic paradigm of organizational virtue, by introducing an empirical study of ethical values. Implications for multinational companies are then discussed.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This study investigates the effect of country-level emancipative forces on corporate gender diversity around the world. Based on Welzel’s (Freedom rising: human empowerment and the quest for emancipation. Cambridge University Press, New York, 〈span〉2013〈/span〉) theory of emancipation, we develop an emancipatory framework of board gender diversity that explains how action resources, emancipative values and civic entitlements enable, motivate and encourage women to take leadership roles on corporate boards. Using a sample of 6390 firms operating in 30 countries around the world, our results show positive single and combined effects of the framework components on board gender diversity. Our research adds to the existing literature in a twofold manner. First, our integrated framework offers a more encompassing, complete and theoretically richer picture of the key drivers of board gender diversity. Second, by testing the framework empirically, we extend the evidence on national drivers of board gender diversity.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Climate change is a serious environmental problem, to be solved only with global participation. However, implementation of global policies is associated closely with national, regional and local processes. For this reason, it is critically important to strengthen our understanding of the diversity of experiments because such urban climate change initiatives may affect the expectations and demands that will be placed on future projects. Moreover, to reveal the effect of the factors, such as participation in transnational networks, on the experiments at local level is also critically important in contextually different settings. From this point of view, the present study aims to present experimentation in addressing climate change in the case of the Nilüfer Municipality in northwestern Turkey and to examine the effect of joining an international network, as a key factor that may support urban climate experiments. The research is designed as a case study built on both primary and secondary sources. The Nilüfer Municipality is selected as the case area as it is the only signatory of Mayors Adapt and one of sixteen signatories of the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) among the 1397 municipalities within the Turkish Republic. Finally, this case study shows that although local governments have not been involved in the climate change policies at the national level in the Turkish context, the Nilüfer Municipality was able to develop its own experiments by being part of a transnational network, especially after signing the Covenant of Mayors in 2014. This finding leads us to the conclusion that supranational organizations can have significant impact on the climate experiments initiation of local governments that are important actors in the implementation of policies to address climate change as a global problem.〈/p〉

Description: 〈span〉 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉In this essay, I discuss Dennett’s 〈em〉From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds〈/em〉 (hereafter From Bacteria) and Godfrey Smith’s 〈em〉Other Minds: The Octopus and The Evolution of Intelligent Life〈/em〉 (hereafter Other Minds) from a methodological perspective. I show that these both instantiate what I call ‘synthetic philosophy.’ They are both Darwinian philosophers of science who draw on each other’s work (with considerable mutual admiration). In what follows I first elaborate on synthetic philosophy in light of From Bacteria and Other Minds; I also explain my reasons for introducing the term; and I close by looking at the function of Darwinism in contemporary synthetic philosophy.〈/p〉 〈/span〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Although the concept of modularity is pervasive across fields and disciplines, philosophers and scientists use the term in a variety of different ways. This paper identifies two distinct ways of thinking about modularity, and considers what makes them similar and different. For philosophers of mind and cognitive science, 〈em〉cognitive modularity〈/em〉 helps explain the capacities of brains to process sundry and distinct kinds of informational input. For philosophy of biology and evolutionary science, 〈em〉biological modularity〈/em〉 helps explain the capacity of random evolutionary processes to give rise to highly complex and sophisticated biological systems. Although these different ways of thinking about modularity are largely distinct, this paper proposes a unifying feature common to both: 〈em〉isolability,〈/em〉 or the capacity of subsystems to undergo changes without resulting in substantial changes to neighboring or interconnected subsystems.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉In the field of placebo studies residual disagreement about the terminology ‘placebo’ and ‘placebo effect’ still persists. We differentiate between the conceptualization of placebos in clinical trials; and placebo effects understood as a psychobiological phenomenon. With respect to the latter, we argue that a scientific ‘placebo paradigm’ has emerged, indicating that—at least among placebo scientists—there exists relatively stable consensus about how to conceive of placebo effects. We claim that existence of a placebo paradigm does not protect concepts from revision; nonetheless, we argue that scientific progress is dependent on, and guided by relative conceptual stability. Therefore, to mount persuasive arguments for conceptual revision in respect of ‘placebo effects’ we argue, critics either need to defend the claim that a placebo paradigm is not underway, or that there are major scientific failings in respect of it. With these considerations in mind we examine three alternative proposals for conceptual reform: Grünbaum/Howick’s relativity models of placebo concepts; Moerman/Brody’s meaning response; and Nunn/Turner’s proposal for conceptual eliminativism. We derive two conclusions from this evaluation. First, we conclude that no convincing arguments have so far been presented for conceptual overhaul of ‘placebo effects.’ Notwithstanding this analysis, we conclude that refinement of this concept is likely. Second, we agree with Turner and Nunn that the term ‘placebo’ in the context of randomized controlled trials remains a source of confusion for many researchers, risking the design and scientific integrity of clinical findings. Therefore, in these contexts, replacing the term ‘placebo’ with ‘control’ is justified.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉In this paper, we examine the relationships between three of the Big 5 personality traits (conscientiousness, openness to experience, and agreeableness) and willingness to justify unethical behavior. We also consider the moderating relationship of four of the GLOBE cultural dimensions (institutional collectivism, humane orientation, performance orientation, and assertiveness) on the above relationship. We tested our propositions on a sample of 38,655 individuals from 23 different countries obtained from the latest data available from the World Values Survey Group’s survey (WVS 2014). We found that conscientiousness and agreeableness were both negatively associated with willingness to justify unethical behavior. We also conducted Hierarchical Linear Modeling and found significant interaction effects of selected GLOBE cultural dimensions (humane orientation, assertiveness, institutional collectivism, and performance orientation) on the relationships between personality traits and willingness to justify unethical behavior. We provide managerial implications of our findings, as well as suggestions for future research.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Using an ethical approach to the study of employability, we question the mainstream approach to career self-direction. We focus on a specific category of employees that has been neglected in past research, namely vulnerable workers who have been unemployed for several years and who have faced multiple psychosocial problems. Building on the Ability-Motivation-Opportunity model, we examine how establishing clear expectations, developmental inducements, and social organizational goals can foster employability competences of vulnerable workers. Our study took place in the particularly relevant context of social enterprises, which have a primary goal to enhance the employability competences of vulnerable workers. Multilevel analysis of data from 38 CEOs of social enterprises, 121 leaders and 594 workers, demonstrated that establishing clear expectations and developmental inducements enable vulnerable workers to anticipate and optimize their employability competences. Furthermore, a positive association was found between establishing clear expectations and the balance dimension of employability, yet only in social enterprises that prioritize social organizational goals, suggesting the need to recognize the extent organizational goals shape opportunities for vulnerable workers. Establishing clear expectations and developmental inducements can therefore enhance vulnerable workers’ employability competences in supportive contexts; however, there may be detrimental side effects to drifting away from social organizational goals.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The present study demonstrates the efficacy of information entropy for the development of water quality index (WQI) for irrigation purpose and its application on Bharalu River. Water quality for irrigation suitability was assessed by using derived parameters such as permeability index (PI), Kelly’s ratio (KR), magnesium adsorption ratio (MgR), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) using annual data from April’2008 to April’2013 and April’2016, April’2017 over a period of 8 years. Values obtained in the study varied from 1.85 to 39.35% for SSP, 0.08 to 1.37 for SAR, 31.7–60.0% for MgR, 0.0–5.45 for RSC, 0.33–2.36% for PI, an 0.01–0.52 for KR. The derived parameters values indicate that water of Bharalu River is suitable for irrigation except April’2008 and April’2011. United States Salinity Laboratory (USSL) and Wilcox diagrams were used for categorizing of water quality. USSL and Wilcox diagrams categorized the water samples as S1-C2 and S1-C3, and ‘Excellent to Good’ and ‘Good to Permissible’ respectively, which suggest River Bharalu’s irrigation suitability. Entropy weighted irrigation water quality index (EIWQI) has been proposed and applied on Bharalu River data for assessing its suitability and variability for irrigation. EIWQI was found to be less than 1 for all the years except April’2011, which showed its appropriateness for irrigation. This study can be of great help for policymakers and researchers to effectively manage water resources.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Opencast coal mining has caused severe environmental degradation globally. In India, Jharkhand is infamous for the environmental damage already caused by unregulated coal mining practices so far. In the present investigation, surface water samples from 31 locations in Charhi and Kuju coal mining areas were analysed for physical and chemical parameters of water. Statistical analysis was performed to understand the magnitude of contamination and suitability of the water samples for agricultural as well as domestic uses. Analysis of variance indicated significant site-wise (6 out of 15 parameters) and seasonal variations (13 out of 15 parameters), while Pearson correlation indicated significant positive correlations between TDS-EC (〈em〉r〈/em〉〈sup〉2〈/sup〉 = 0.74–0.99) and total hardness—HCO〈span〉 〈sub〉3〈/sub〉 〈sup〉−〈/sup〉 〈/span〉 (〈em〉r〈/em〉〈sup〉2〈/sup〉 = 0.95–0.98). Scatter plot between Ca, Mg and HCO〈sub〉3〈/sub〉 revealed a positive interrelationship in all the three seasons. Surface water quality indices exhibited variable results of sustainable utilization potential of the water for various uses. Though water quality index advocated the quality of water to be good in the majority of the samples, health water quality index based on selected parameters hinted, the majority of the samples to be of poor category. Observations collated together suggest that though the area is in the initial phases of mining, contamination of the surface water bodies is increasing gradually and higher concentrations of metals (As, Fe, Mn, Se) are the most significant problem now. This study can serve as a baseline data and an early sentinel towards the increasing pollution and its effective environmental management in similar mining regions of the world.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Biometric technology was once the purview of security, with face recognition and fingerprint scans used for identification and law enforcement. This is no longer the case; biometrics is increasingly used for commercial and civil applications. Due to the widespread diffusion of biometrics, it is important to address the ethical issues inherent to the development and deployment of the technology. This article explores the burgeoning research on biometrics for non-security purposes and the ethical implications for organizations. This will be achieved by reviewing the literature on biometrics and business ethics and drawing from disciplines such as computer ethics to inform a more robust discussion of key themes. Although there are many ethical concerns, privacy is the key issue, with associated themes. These include definitions of privacy, the privacy paradox, informed consent, regulatory frameworks and guidelines, and discrimination. Despite the proliferation of biometric technology, there is little empirical research on applied biometrics and business ethics. As such, there are several avenues for research to improve understanding of the ethical implications of using this technology.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This study examined the interactions between social and ecological dynamics in a savannah ecosystem in Mali. In a context of cotton crises and of forest reform with the creation of rural woodfuel markets managed by woodcutters’ cooperatives, we assessed the impact of changes in savannah characteristics (biomass, biodiversity) on the delivery of fuelwood by comparing woodcutting practices in selected savannah sites and households from 2003 to 2010. Our findings show that changes in the delivery of fuelwood over the study period led to a shift in activities and roles and consequently affected the social status of different savannah users. Marginalized users (women and young men) benefited from the changes in savannah structure to secure independent livelihoods, and opportunities emerged for women and young men to increase their economic autonomy. Although the observed trends did not produce a radical transformation of existing (unbalanced) gender- and age-based power relations, this study demonstrates how changes in the savannah structure may offer vulnerable people an opportunity to change certain power imbalances and limitations. 〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Ng (Biol Philos 10(3):255–285, 〈span〉1995〈/span〉. 〈span〉https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00852469〈/span〉) models the evolutionary dynamics underlying the existence of suffering and enjoyment and concludes that there is likely to be more suffering than enjoyment in nature. In this paper, we find an error in Ng’s model that, when fixed, negates the original conclusion. Instead, the model offers only ambiguity as to whether suffering or enjoyment predominates in nature. We illustrate the dynamics around suffering and enjoyment with the most plausible parameters. In our illustration, we find surprising results: the rate of failure to reproduce can improve or worsen average welfare depending on other characteristics of a species. Our illustration suggests that for organisms with more intense conscious experiences, the balance of enjoyment and suffering may lean more toward suffering. We offer some suggestions for empirical study of wild animal welfare. We conclude by noting that recent writings on wild animal welfare should be revised based on this correction to have a somewhat less pessimistic view of nature.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Landslide susceptibility map provides a useful tool to the decision-makers to prevent and mitigate landslide hazards. For this study 16 spatial parameters and past landslide inventory have been taken into consideration and these are categorized under six factors clusters. For providing relative importance to the parameters modified analytic hierarchy process is taken into consideration. Landslide susceptible zone (LSZ) is prepared compositing all those multiparametric spatial data layers. The obtained result shows that 7.80% area of total basin is highly susceptible for landslide. Correlation and regression analysis suggests that lithological factors cluster is the dominant one for determining very high LSZ. The validation shows that very high LSZ is associated with very high landslide frequency density. Besides this, receiver operating characteristics curve also shows 90.20% predicted area under the curve. So, this model can be treated as valid.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Estimation of incinerability of municipal solid waste (MSW) can play a crucial role in the feasibility assessment of waste incineration. A composite indicator called incinerability index or 〈em〉i〈/em〉-Index was developed to estimate the incinerability of MSW incorporating the 3-E concept, i.e. the potential to impact the environment, energy recovery and economy of operation. Eight input parameters that encompass the 3-E concept form the part of the index structure. While some of these parameters may be readily available, a few other input parameters may need to be estimated either experimentally or theoretically. The objective of this study is to effectively demonstrate the estimation of the input parameters, thus facilitating the quantification of incinerability using 〈em〉i〈/em〉-Index. A theoretical approach to the computation of parameters is introduced as an alternative technique, which can simplify the computation of the index for practical purposes. Following these approaches, the input parameters for MSW generated in South Delhi were estimated and the corresponding 〈em〉i〈/em〉-Index amounted to 66.1. In comparison with the 〈em〉i〈/em〉-Index of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) which amounted to 80, the incinerability of MSW generated in South Delhi thus quantified was low. Further, the paper also provides a brief account of a few potential applications of incinerability estimation using 〈em〉i〈/em〉-Index.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Scientists have been arguing for more than 25 years about whether it is a good idea to collect voucher specimens from particularly vulnerable biological populations. Some think that, obviously, scientists should not be harvesting (read: killing) organisms from, for instance, critically endangered species. Others think that, obviously, it is the special job of scientists to collect precisely such information before any chance of retrieving it is forever lost. The character, extent, longevity, and span of the ongoing disagreement indicates that this is likely to be a hard problem to solve. Nonetheless, the aim of this paper is to help field biologists figure out what do to when collecting a voucher specimen risks extinction. Here I present and assess varying practices of specimen collection for both extant (i.e., neontological) and extinct (i.e., paleontological) species in order to compare and contrast cases where extinction risk both is and is not a problem. When it comes to taking vouchers from extant species at some risk of extinction, I determine that those advocating for conservative approaches to collection as well as those advocating for liberal information-gathering practices have good reasons to assess things in the way they each do. This means that there is unlikely to be a decisive, one-size-fits-all response to this problem. Still, progress can be made. We can acknowledge the risks of proceeding in either manner, as well as the uncertainty about how best to proceed (which will be deep in some cases). We can proceed as thoughtfully as possible, and be ready to articulate a rationale for whichever procedure is used in any particular case.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉I offer four ways of distinguishing paleobiology from neontology, and from this develop a sketch of the philosophy of paleobiology. I then situate and describe the papers in the special issue 〈em〉Paleobiology and Philosophy,〈/em〉 and reflect on the value and prospects of paleontology-focused philosophy.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Both paleobiology and investigations of ‘major evolutionary transitions’ are intimately concerned with the macroevolutionary shape of life. It is surprising, then, how little studies of major transitions are informed by paleontological perspectives and. I argue that this disconnect is partially justified because paleobiological investigation is typically ‘phenomena-led’, while investigations of major transitions (at least as commonly understood) are ‘theory-led’. The distinction turns on evidential relevance: in the former case, evidence is relevant in virtue of its relationship to some phenomena or hypotheses concerning those phenomena; in the latter, evidence is relevant in virtue of providing insights into, or tests of, an abstract body of theory. Because paleobiological data is by-and-large irrelevant to the theory which underwrites the traditional conception of major transitions, it is of limited use to that research program. I suggest that although the traditional conception of major transitions is neither ad-hoc or problematically incomplete, its promise of providing unificatory explanations of the transitions is unlikely to be kept. Further, examining paleobiological investigations of mass extinctions and organogenesis, I further argue that (1) whether or not transitions in paleobiology count as ‘major’ turns on how we conceive of major transitions (that is, the notion is sensitive to investigative context); (2) although major transitions potentially have a unified theoretical basis, recent developments suggest that investigations are becoming increasingly phenomena-led; (3) adopting phenomena-led investigations maximizes the evidence available to paleobiologists.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉In this study, the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in various components in the Meric-Ergene River Basin which is one of Turkey’s intensive industrialization centers and which accordingly has faced significant environmental pollution and has about 1300 industrial plants within its boundaries. In the river basin, 16 USEPA PAHs were measured in a total of 192 samples consisting of soil, lichen, pine needle and total deposition samples for 1 year to represent the four seasons at a total of 12 points in 4 different regions which were determined as intensive industrial area, industrial + residential area, agricultural area and background. According to the results obtained, the total PAH values, in all sampling points, varied between 69.6 and 1277.7 ng/g (dry wt) for soil, lichen and pine needle samples and between 0 and 937.8 ng/m〈sup〉2〈/sup〉-day for the total deposition samples. The highest values were determined in the fall season for the lichen samples and industrial area. The data obtained were evaluated in terms of spatial and seasonal variations, and according to their molecular weights. The incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCRs) of exposing to soil PAHs were calculated, and maximum ILCR values were observed in industrial areas for child and adults. The diagnostic ratios were performed for determining the source, and the comparison of bioindication features was made for lichen and pine needle samples by comparing with Koa and Kow values of PAHs.〈/p〉