Search results

This study aims to examine the effect of the board of directors (BoD) structure on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance in publicly traded non-financial firms from the perspective of agency theory, with investors as the principal, the management team as the agent, the BoD as an information system that reduces information asymmetries between them and ESG performance as a shareholder’s expectation.

Sample data is cross-sectional as of January 2023 and includes 1,695 non-financial firms listed in 59 stock markets across 54 countries. Data were sourced from the FactSet Research Systems database. The generalized least squares method was used to run quadratic and exponential models to assess the research hypotheses.

Results revealed that board size, independence, age, gender diversity and participation on other corporate boards have a nonlinear relationship with ESG performance. Board tenure is the only BoD attribute for which a nonlinear association is not found. This study found that firms with larger boards and more female board members tend to exhibit a stronger commitment to ESG performance. In contrast, companies with a board of directors consisting of independent members, advanced age, service on other corporate boards and CEO duality may struggle to prioritize positive ESG outcomes.

This study contributes to the academic discussion on BoD–ESG by examining nonlinear relationships among a large sample of publicly traded firms; providing results that could be applied internationally; using ESG data that is based on the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board's materiality framework, which identifies key ESG factors for investors; emphasizing the significance of diversity and inclusion within the decision-making bodies of public companies, thereby improving their ESG performance; and supporting the agency theory perspective and suggesting that the effect of board structure on ESG may reflect the board's focus on investors’ best interests.

Human activities in recent years with the excessive emission of greenhouse gases have had a negative impact on increasing global temperatures. In this regard, one of the best ways to control it is to move toward sustainability with more use of renewable energy. Therefore, this study aims to assess the indicators of sustainable energy, explore benefits of sustainable energy and evaluate strategies to enhance energy sustainability in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7.

Quantitative research strategy was adopted. Questionnaires were developed and administered through convenience and snowball sampling techniques to professionals in the energy sector. Data collected was validated by using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and discriminant validity, whereas objectives were analyzed by using the relative importance index, mean score ranking and Kruskal–Wallis test.

From the findings, the significant indicators of sustainable energy were as follows: reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from energy production, use of renewable energies and policies on proper utilization of energy resources. Furthermore, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, less harm caused to the environment and an increase in the economic and social development process were the major benefits of sustainable energy. Finally, the findings of the study revealed that a strong and accounted policy program, adopting sustainable energy indicators and strategic communication are the significant strategies needed to be put in place to enhance energy sustainability.

The study serves as a reminder to policymakers of the crucial role they have to play in enhancing energy sustainability by putting in place suitable policy programs and methods.

The originality of this study is that it is arguably a pioneering study in Ghana and contributes to the body of knowledge on energy sustainability.

This study aims to comprehensively analyze the current developments and applications of paper-based electrochemical platforms for blood glucose detection, focusing on their potential to revolutionize point-of-care testing through cost-effective and accessible diagnostic solutions.

The review systematically examines fundamental principles of paper-based platforms, including substrate properties, fluid transport mechanisms and electrochemical detection methods. It critically evaluates recent technological advances in materials science, fabrication techniques and signal amplification strategies while analyzing various case studies demonstrating successful implementations.

Recent innovations in paper-based glucose sensors have achieved remarkable performance metrics, with detection limits reaching sub-millimolar ranges and response times within seconds. The integration of nanomaterials, particularly graphene-based composites and carbon nanotubes, has significantly enhanced sensor sensitivity and stability. Advanced enzyme immobilization techniques using layer-by-layer assembly have demonstrated sustained activity for up to 10 weeks, while novel signal amplification strategies incorporating bimetallic nanoparticles have pushed detection limits into the sub-picogram range.

This review uniquely synthesizes the latest developments in paper-based electrochemical glucose sensing, providing critical insights into the synergistic integration of advanced materials, fabrication methods and detection strategies. It offers valuable perspectives on overcoming current technical challenges and highlights emerging opportunities in smart device integration and artificial intelligence applications, serving as a comprehensive resource for researchers and practitioners in the field of point-of-care diagnostics.

This study aims to improve the sensitivity of magnetic detection. In this article, a multi-frequency modulation technique is used to increase the magnetic detection sensitivity of diamond nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers sensors.

In the field of magnetic detection, NV centers have corresponding advantages due to their unique long coherence property at room temperature. The important indicators for NV centers magnetometers are the magnetic detection sensitivity of the NV centers and the integration of the magnetometer. To solve this problem, the authors propose a multi-frequency modulated magnetic detection technique, using an integrated probe as well as a lock-in amplifier for the double enhancement of sensitivity as well as integration.

The following results can be obtained by processing and calculating the experimental data with an integrated lock-in amplifier circuit with an area of 27.50 cm² and a probe volume of 3.12 cm³. The multi-frequency modulation technique was used to increase the magnetic detection sensitivity of the NV centers from 8.59 nT/Hz1 / 2–2.42 nT/Hz1 / 2.

The authors propose a signal modulation technique with an integrated design, which achieves an improvement in the sensitivity of the sensor’s magnetic detection through practical testing.

The authors propose a signal modulation technique with an integrated design, which achieves an improvement in the sensitivity of the sensor’s magnetic detection through practical testing. This technique provides new research solution for the subsequent improvement of the magnetic detection sensitivity.

The circular economy (CE) has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its potential in combining the economic growth positively with businesses, society and the environment simultaneously. The purpose of this review is to provide a concise summary of the existing literature regarding how CE strategies can help mitigate climate change.

A comprehensive review of extant literature is undertaken on the topic of CE and climate change. Six sectors are explored in this chapter; although these sectors are different, but still, they are interdependent and are not completely separate.

Thorough study of literature reveals that the energy, transport and manufacturing sectors have the greatest potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while the waste and building sector have a moderate potential for savings. The agriculture sector, on the other hand, is predicted to have the lowest potential for savings.

This chapter provides implications for achieving a sustainable future in terms of economic growth, social harmony and environment conditions by developing efficient and affordable methods to achieve the goal of CE.

This chapter is a unique endeavour to explore the intricate relationship between CE and climate change. Although both concepts have been explored individually by various studies, but our study is one of the few attempts made to emphasise the crucial role of CE to mitigate the climate change.

The application of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams is limited in practice, partially due to the lack of accurate shear strength prediction models. This study aims to develop a reliable shear strength prediction model for SFRC beams.

In this study, an artificial neural network was employed to predict the shear strength of SFRC beams, utilizing a comprehensive database of 562 experimental studies. Multiple neural networks were established with varying hyperparameters, and their performance was evaluated using statistical parameters.

The neural network with 11 neurons showed superior results than other networks. The performance evaluation, efficiency and accuracy of the selected neural network were examined using margin of deviation, k-fold cross-validation, Shapley analysis, sensitivity analysis and parametric analysis. The proposed artificial neural network model accurately predicts the shear strength and outperforms other existing equations.

This research contributes to overcoming the limitations of existing prediction models for shear strength of SFRC beams without stirrups by developing a highly accurate model based on ANN. Utilizing a comprehensive database and rigorous evaluation techniques enhances the reliability and applicability of the proposed model in practical engineering applications.

Health tourism is a relatively new branch of international tourism that has developed more rapidly than other tourism sectors in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the effect of government supports on health tourism development by considering the mediating role of internal and external infrastructures.

The study population consisted of all experts of two hospitals in Iran, which are frequently visited by foreign tourists (N = 151). A questionnaire, developed by combining standard and researcher-made questionnaires, was used to collect the data. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) model was developed in SmartPLS 3 to test the hypotheses.

The main hypothesis test results indicated that government supports positively affect the development of health tourism. Internal and external infrastructures were also found to mediate the relationship between government supports and health tourism development. In addition, the sub-hypothesis test results showed that internal and external infrastructures are positively affected by government supports, which puts forth the development of health tourism. As the results explained, the most important aspects of internal infrastructures affected by government support were health service quality, cost of health services and applying advanced medical technologies, respectively. Also, different aspects of external infrastructures affected by government supports are as follows: economic, infrastructures and cultural factors.

This study is the first of its kind to examine the impact of both medical and non-medical factors on health tourism and signifies the crucial role of governments in the development of health tourism.

This study aims to investigate the interrelationship among consumers, celebrities and brands within social media environments. It proposes a theoretical framework based on an integrative approach that combines parasocial relationship theory and the meaning transfer model.

This study collected data from 342 Generation Z fans, and structural equation modeling was used for the analysis.

The results revealed that social media use strongly affects celebrity worship, but its impacts on brand love and online brand advocacy are weak. Celebrity worship significantly influences brand love; however, the relationship with online brand advocacy is nonsignificant, highlighting the crucial mediating role of brand love. The mediating effects of celebrity worship and brand love significantly strengthened the relationship between social media use and online brand advocacy.

By using an integrative approach, this study advances the understanding of the dynamics of consumer–brand relationships, revealing the serial mediating path that highlights the roles of celebrity worship and brand love.

Responsible management of water resources is critical owing to its effects on the environment and society. This study aims to address customer perceptions of a water utility during a severe environmental crisis that affected northern Italy and aims to deepen the understanding of the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR), perceived crisis response and corporate reputation.

This study draws on legitimacy theory and attribution theory, adopting a quantitative design. In detail, a moderated mediation model is used to investigate the direct effect of CSR on reputation, the mediating effect of perceived crisis response on the relationship between CSR and reputation and the moderating effect of blame attribution on the relationship between CSR and perceived crisis response. In addition, the evolution of the crisis event and its management is traced through the analysis of the water utilities’ sustainability reports published since the beginning of the crisis.

The findings show that CSR affects corporate reputation directly and via perceived crisis response. In addition, CSR improves perceived crisis response, especially when an organization is held responsible for a crisis. The analysis of the CSR report allows for understanding the evolution of CSR policies of water utilities, shifting attention from a merely informative role of sustainability disclosure to a more comprehensive approach to perfluoroalkyl substances risks in the struggle of contributing to sustainable development. Theoretical and managerial implications are also discussed.

The findings suggest some managerial implications about the usefulness of adopting CSR for crisis management and, furthermore, the importance of communicating CSR policies to all stakeholders overall – the customers of public utilities.

This paper focuses on the relationship between CSR, reputation and blame attribution. Literature on this topic is still scarce overall in the field of public utilities. Furthermore, this study is relevant because it faces one of the major European environmental crises that affected the water sector and provides helpful insights for all public utility sectors and, more generally, for environmental crisis management.